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Samsung Galaxy Ring arrives at Virgin Mobile, delivers Jelly Bean for $180
Jelly Bean has been making its way to ever cheaper phones in recent months, and that's very conspicuous with the launch of Virgin Mobile's new Samsung Galaxy Ring. For $180, you're getting Android 4.1 in a price range where 4.0 is still common. You're also getting a surprisingly capable device under the hood -- while there's no LTE, the prepaid handset carries a reasonably quick 1.4GHz processor, a 4-inch screen, a 5MP rear camera and a 1.3MP front-facing sensor. We'd still consider shelling out a little more cash for a future-ready 4G device, but Virgin users determined to scrimp and save can pick up the Galaxy Ring today.
HTC confirms Android 4.2 is still coming to the One, despite rumors to the contrary
HTC has been relatively quiet with its plans to push Android 4.2 to the One (aside from a few unofficial leaks), but Three UK is hoping to start the conversation. In a recent tweet, the mobile operator answered a customer's query regarding the update, stating that HTC pulled the firmware, with no specific details on when (or if) the new version of Android will arrive. We reached out to HTC and received confirmation that Android 4.2 is in fact still coming, although users may need to wait a little longer before it becomes available. We'll continue to update as soon as we hear more official news from the manufacturer, but at least we know it's still in the plans. [Thanks, Josh]
Vodafone Smart Mini delivers cheap-as-chips Android for £50
In one sense, many budget smartphones aren't budget enough; they often require some substantial financial discipline for the typical buyer. Not so Vodafone UK's new Smart Mini: at just £50 ($78) on pay as you go service, it's very nearly an impulse purchase. You're even getting a bit more than you'd expect for that small cash outlay. While the 3.5-inch HVGA screen, 2MP camera, 1GHz MediaTek chip and 4GB of storage won't floor anyone, the Smart Mini ships with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean -- we've seen more expensive phones that carry older software. Those who like the Smart Mini's back-to-basics proposition can pick up a black or white model today.
This is the HTC One Mini
The leaks are true: HTC's rumored M4 is indeed the One Mini. We know because a trusted source in possession of the "petite" 4.3-inch handset has fed us a direct image, while also confirming some specs. From what we've seen, the few renders and blurrycam shots that bled out earlier this year appear to be dead-on. The One Mini's a more approachable (and affordable) version of the One -- both inside and out -- with some notable differences. For starters, its screen size has been reduced to 4.3-inches, much like Samsung's Galaxy S 4 Mini, making it much more palm-friendly and deserving of the Mini moniker. But we don't yet have a clear handle on its resolution. Certainly, the Mini's not going to ape the One's dazzling 1080p Super LCD 3 display -- what's more likely is that this "smaller" screen is of the 720p variety. The Mini still features the much-lauded metallic unibody HTC ushered in with the One and Beats Audio branding on the back, although now its front face is ringed with plastic. The consequence of that latter design change should aid in reducing its weight, but it also means you're getting considerably more bezel than on the One. There's also no IR blaster on the device, so you won't be able to use it as a handy replacement for your tv remote. And cosmetically, that's about as far as the Mini strays from the One. Much could change by the time the One Mini is released later this year -- should be sometime in Q3 -- but for the moment, the handset's running a Sensed-up version of Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with BlinkFeed on board. Specific details on the UltraPixel cameras weren't made available to us, but we do know the rear module's capable of full HD video recording and Zoe share capture. As for the processor inside, our source provided us with a few benchmark results, pegging the CPU as a 1.4GHz dual-core setup -- presumably, a Snapdragon 400 just like the HTC First. That's about the extent of what we have on the One Mini. For anything further, you'll just have to wait for more leaks or HTC's official announcement later this fall.
LG Optimus L7 II Dual listed running Android 4.3?
While Android 4.3 never actually materialized at Google I/O last month, the latest version of Jelly Bean keeps popping up and making cameos all over. It most recently appeared in the specs for LG's Optimus L7 II Dual (that name's a handful, we know) on the company's website. The handset was running Android 4.1 when we played with it at Mobile World Congress and appears to have shipped with that OS version in some markets. Obviously, it's only a matter of time until Android 4.3 becomes official but we fully expect it to debut on Google's own Nexus 4 flagship before coming to any other device. In light of this, and considering the Optimus L7 II features a 4.3-inch screen, perhaps we're just looking at a typo? We've reached out to LG for clarification -- we'll keep you posted. Update: LG confirmed this is a typo. Move along -- nothing to see here.
ZTE Imperial for US Cellular leaks in official docs, poised for June 17th launch
Now that the mid-range LG Optimus F7 has joined U.S. Cellular's lineup, the carrier's getting ready to welcome another budget-minded smartphone to the clan. We've gotten ahold of internal documents indicating that the ZTE Imperial will arrive on June 17th carrying a 4-inch 480x800 display, and will run Android 4.1 on a 1.2 GHz single-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of built-in memory and a 2,5000 mAh battery. A 5-megapixel rear-facing shooter and a microSD slot will make an appearance on the hardware as well, along with LTE data, Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi and GPS. There's no price attached to the handset just yet, but with these specs, you can expect it to be easy on the wallet.%Gallery-190736% [Thanks, Anonymous]
Mid-range LG Optimus F7 arrives with LTE and $100 price tag on US Cellular
The LG Optimus F7 with LTE is now available on US Cellular, shortly after leaked documents robbed it of any surprise. It comes with a healthy spec sheet for a mid-range Jelly Bean device, with a 4.7-inch 720p IPS display, a 1.3-megapixel front cam, and an 8-megapixel rear camera. The device is powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and has 8GB of internal storage, expandable via the miracle of microSD. You can get the Optimus F7 via US Cellular's website for $99.99 on a two-year contract, but don't move a finger-muscle until you've checked out our hands-on.
Lenovo IdeaTab A1000 and A3000 available to order, starting at $189
Not everyone wants an iPad. In fact, some people might even prefer affordable Android tablets if all they want is a slate that can connect to the internet. Two new devices that fit the bill perfectly are Lenovo's IdeaTab A1000 and A3000, which are available to order now in the US for $189 and $229, respectively. Both are pint-sized 7-inch tablets with 1,024 x 600 displays, each running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. However, the A1000 is equipped with a 1.2GHz dual-core MediaTek MT8317 processor while the A3000 is equipped with a 1.2GHz single-core MT6575 chip. They each come with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage that can be supplemented by a microSD card, but only the A3000 will play nicely with 64GB modules. While the tablets both have a VGA front-facing camera, the more expensive one also has a 5-megapixel rear cam. Curiously, the A3000 has a 7-hour battery life that's rated at an hour less than A1000's. Note that if you pre-order the entry-level tablet on Lenovo's website (shipping will begin on June 12th), you can get it at a $40 discount. You can also pre-order the $229 slate, but you'll have to wait at least four weeks before it starts shipping.
Jelly Bean now on 33 percent of active Android devices, Gingerbread still leads
Google's pushed out its latest survey of the Android landscape, and Jelly Bean is finally creeping up on Gingerbread for the crown. While Gingerbread accounts for 36.5 percent of active devices sporting Mountain View's OS, versions 4.1 and 4.2 stand just behind with a total of 33 percent, up 4.6 percent since last month. Ice Cream Sandwich is helping itself to 25.6 percent of the statistic pie, while Froyo, Eclair and Donut each trail behind with less than five percent combined. Now that Jelly Bean is within a 3.5 percent striking distance of the top spot, this may be the last time we see Gingerbread in the lead.
Refresh Roundup: week of May 27th, 2013
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!
LG Optimus F7 for US Cellular leaks through company documents
US Cellular isn't just looking to spice up its device roster with the ATIV Odyssey. We've obtained documents that point to LG's upper mid-range Android smartphone, the Optimus F7, also reaching the carrier in the near future. Outside of the unintrusive branding on the back, it's a very straightforward port: the F7 should still carry its 4.7-inch qHD screen, LTE data, a dual-core 1.5GHz processor, an 8MP rear camera and a 1.3MP front camera. The materials we've seen make no mention of launch details, although we're not expecting either a long wait or a high price. [Thanks, anonymous tipster] %Gallery-189993%
Acer Iconia B1-710 tablet swings by the FCC (updated)
Back when Acer unveiled the Iconia A1 tablet, it slipped out an upgrade to its starter Iconia B1 series, the B1-710. That refresh has at last surfaced in the US -- through the FCC, anyway. The 7-inch, WiFi-toting slate has cleared the FCC's approval process with its subtle design tweaks and doubled 1GB of RAM in tow. Unfortunately, Americans aren't much closer to actually buying one. While Canadians may get a turn when we've spotted a (currently unconfirmed) $230 Acer Canada listing, the new B1 is primarily bound for Europe. It should cost £110 / €129 (about $166) for the WiFi model's June release, and £129 / €179 (between $195 and $230) for a 3G-equipped B1-711 edition arriving in July. Update: The Canadian listing now appears to be an A1, not the B1 we saw earlier.
Umeox X5 handset gets photographed, shows off its 5.6mm-thick body
Umeox isn't exactly a household name in the smartphone market, but the company's apparently getting ready to introduce the world to its most recent creation: a handset with an extremely slim profile. And while other details about the Umeox X5 remain light, rumors on the interwebs peg this 5.6mm-thick device as one that's running a pretty fresh version of Android -- Jelly Bean, to be precise. Unfortunately, things like screen size and more info on the X5 internals are still unknown, but, if all plays out as GizChina reports, we'll find out all there is to know on that front when Umeox officially launches it "sometime in July." For now, you'll have to make do with the extra pics at the source below -- and, if you have some time, perhaps you could even compare it with other slabs looking to take home the "world's slimmest" title.
Android 4.3 reportedly spotted on a Nexus 4 with new camera software (update: video)
We've already seen evidence confirming the existence of Android 4.3, and we now have our first shots that appear to show the OS running on an actual device. According to a member of the xda-developers forum, the phone above was spotted at the Thailand Mobile Expo currently taking place, with the about section of the OS and its familiar easter egg clearly indicating that it's Android 4.3 -- and still going by the Jelly Bean moniker. Of the three shots provided, the only one revealing any significant changes is the camera app, which sports some retooled controls that have been shifted to the side. Update: A video has now turned up that offers a better look at the new camera interface. Check it out after the break.
Hands-on with Maxwest's $65 7-inch dual-core Jelly Bean tablet at CTIA 2013
It's true that cheap affordable Android tablets are a dime a dozen at most trade shows these days, but here at CTIA 2013 we stumbled upon something that caught our eye -- a 7-inch dual-core tablet running Jelly Bean that costs just $65. The Maxwest TAB-7155DC aka. Ippo Y88 measures 182 x 122 x 10mm (7.16 x 4.8 x 0.39inch), weighs 187g (6.6oz) and comes in several hues (black, white, silver, red, blue and pink). It features a 7-inch 1024 x 600-pixel capacitive multitouch LCD, an Infotmic IMAPx820 SoC (1GHz dual-core Cortex A5 CPU with Mali 400 GPU), 512MB of RAM, 4GB of built-in storage, dual VGA cameras (front and back), WiFi b/g/n and a 2800mAh battery. The screen isn't covered in glass and there's no sign of any Bluetooth or GPS radios, but then again, what do you expect for $65? You''ll find a power / lock key, DC socket, micro-USB port (with on-the-go support) and mini-HDMI output on the top edge, plus a 3.5mm headphone jack, volume rocker and microSD card slot on the right side. A microphone and speaker round things up in back. The tablet runs a mostly stock version of Jelly Bean (Android 4.1.1, to be specific) and includes the usual assortment of Google apps along with access to the Play Store. Performance is adequate -- not buttery smooth but perfectly usable. Build quality and materials are surprisingly decent for the price (the plastic is color-through), but the display leaves a lot to be desired (viewing angle are poor and the acrylic covering the screen is scratch-prone). Then again, it's only $65, right? Check out the gallery below for our rose-colored hands-on with this inexpensive tablet. %Gallery-189293%
Rumors persist of HTC One with stock Android, despite the official denial
Is Russell Holly a seer of the future, or did he just manage to get lucky? That's the question we're currently kicking around at Engadget. You see, when he first revealed that a Galaxy S 4 would be introduced at Google I/O with stock Android, we quickly dismissed it as something that'd never happen in a million years. Then it came true the very next day. Now, Holly is back with another mighty tall claim: "HTC is considering a stock Android variant of the One for release in the US." In fairness, rumors of such a phone began to circulate last week, but were quenched just as quickly by HTC. Contrary to the denial, however, Holly claims that multiple sources have informed him of an HTC One that's in the works with stock Android 4.2.2. It's tough to make heads or tails of Holly's report, especially since he follows the assertion that HTC is "considering" such a phone with a claim that it'll be announced within the next two weeks. Naturally, we're taking this with more than the usual dose of skepticism, but like Fox Mulder, we want to believe. [Image credit: Pencilshade / deviantART]
Hisense's Sero 7 LT and Pro tablets hit Walmart stores tomorrow for $99, $149
There are a lot of 7-inch tablets on the market, but few can be had at a US-based retailer for less than 100 bucks. Chinese manufacturer Hisense is set to undercut that saturated market with a pair of budget Jelly Bean tablets: the Sero 7 LT, priced at $99, and the Sero 7 Pro with a $149 MSRP. While both devices include similar housings, the internals differ significantly, as you might expect. The cheaper model includes a 1.6GHz dual-core CPU, 1GB of RAM, 4 gigs of internal storage (plus a microSD slot with support for 32GB cards), a 1,024 x 600-pixel 7-inch display, 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera, a four-hour battery and Android 4.1. The Pro model boasts a 1.3GHz quad-core Tegra 3 processor, 1GB RAM, 8 gigs of storage, an upgraded 1,280 x 800 display, a 2MP camera up front with a 5MP cam on the rear, up to 10 hours of battery life and Android 4.2. You should be able to snag both tablets at your local Walmart store or through the retailer's website beginning tomorrow.
Huawei Ascend P6 leaks in official imagery, may launch on June 18th
Huawei's upcoming Ascend P6 must be as slim as we've heard, because it just keeps slipping out -- this time, in an official rendering obtained by @evleaks. The imagery appears to validate what we've previously seen in photos, including the wafer-like 6.2mm thick body, a metal chassis and an iteration of the Emotion UI layer that we just saw on the Ascend Mate. And in case there's any lingering doubts, we've even received a possible launch window from the company itself. In a quickly deleted Sina Weibo post referring to the previous leak, Huawei Device Chairman Richard Yu told his followers that this device is indeed part of the P series, and should be revealed at the company's June 18th event in London. At this rate, all that's left for the company is to walk on stage and make its skinniest Ascend official.
Huawei Ascend Mate review: a supersized phone with supreme battery life
When Huawei revealed the Ascend Mate at CES this year, it felt like smartphones had reached an end point -- they surely couldn't get any larger. We've since been proven wrong by Samsung's Galaxy Mega 6.3, but the 6.1-inch Ascend Mate has gone on sale first, and it's every bit as intimidating as it was in January. The question is whether or not Huawei has more than just size on its side. Is this nearly tablet-sized device worth putting in our pockets, and can it fend off the suddenly tiny-looking Galaxy Note II and Optimus G Pro? Read on past the break, and you'll find out.%Gallery-189060%
AT&T to carry Samsung Galaxy S 4 in Aurora Red on June 14th
Looks like there are more smartphone-loving vampires than we first thought. Following Samsung's plans to offer the Galaxy S 4 in multiple new colors, AT&T has scored a US exclusive for the smartphone in a very distinctive Aurora Red. The crimson-hued Life Companion will be available for pre-order on May 24th, with retail stores getting their supply on June 14th. The lone disappointment is the capacity: AT&T is only offering red for the 16GB, $200 model. Still, we're happy that we won't have to wait for the Galaxy S 4 Active just to get a Samsung flagship in a livelier color.
