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LG LS720 hits the FCC, hints at a mid-tier Sprint or Virgin phone with Jelly Bean
LG isn't done creating intrigue at the FCC just because the E980 has made the rounds. A second device, the LS720, has popped up at the agency. Don't expect the same kind of telltale clues that might have given away its AT&T cousin, however -- we mostly know that it's a phone with Sprint-friendly LTE bands, and browser strings suggest that it could ship with Jelly Bean. Is it a sequel to the Optimus Slider (LS700) for Virgin Mobile? A spiritual successor to the Viper 4G LTE? It's difficult to tell at this stage, although the numbering scheme points to something below LG's 800- and 900-series devices like the Mach (LS860) and Optimus G (LS970). We'll keep our eyes peeled.
Archos GamePad arrives in the States for $179
Tired of waiting for the WikiPad? Needing some immediate gratification for your thumbs? Willing to consider Archos to fill that void? If your answer to all three was a mighty, "Aye!" then you'll be glad to know that the Archos GamePad is now for sale in the US at various online retailers. The portable gaming system combines Android 4.1, a 7-inch 1,024 x 600 screen and honest-to-goodness physical buttons, all within a 0.3-inch thick enclosure that's priced between $179 and $189. The GamePad sports a 1.6GHz dual-core CPU and a Mali-400 MP GPU, and while it may lack the cachet of the WikiPad, it has the distinct advantage of being available now. And you know what? Sometimes, that's all that matters. [Thanks, Duncan]
Verizon to update the Droid 4 with Jelly Bean 4.1 starting tomorrow
It's always a good day when we can report on older handsets getting updated with some fresher software. If you happen to have bought the Droid 4 when it came out on Verizon last year, then today's your lucky today: the carrier has confirmed it will begin updating the phone to Android Jelly Bean (4.1) starting tomorrow. As always, this is more of a rollout than anything else, so try and stay patient if your phone doesn't immediately show an update prompt. And as ever, do hit us back and let us know how the upgrade goes.
Gmail update lets Jelly Bean users archive and reply to emails from notifications
Got a relatively recent version of Android on your smartphone? Good, because today, Google's giving Jelly Bean users another reason to be happy. In the company's latest update to Gmail, users will now find the ability to archive, delete and reply to incoming mail directly from the notifications drawer -- a small improvement, but we'll gladly take it. What's more, users of Ice Cream Sandwich and above will benefit from faster searches (online and off), along with a few performance improvements and bug fixes, too. So, time to tap that update button, eh?
Refresh Roundup: week of March 11th, 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!
BLU Life Series phones include quad-core CPU, Android 4.2, start at $229 unlocked
Coming this April, BLU Products will have three new smartphones vying for your hard-earned dollar. The trio of dual-SIM handsets, known as the Life View, Life One and Life Play, will be sold unlocked on Amazon and will range in price between $229 and $299. As a nice touch, Android 4.2 will be common among the bunch, as will backside-illuminated sensors on the cameras and the quad-core, 1.2GHz MediaTek MT6589 (Cortex A7) SoC. Likewise, each smartphone will also feature an HD IPS display. The Life View ($299), the largest of the bunch, includes a massive 5.7-inch display, a 12-megapixel rear / 5-megapixel front camera, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage and a 2,600mAh battery. Meanwhile, the more reasonably sized Life One ($299) includes a 5-inch display, a 13-megapixel rear / 5-megapixel front camera, similar storage specs and a 2,000mAh battery. Lastly, the sleekest of the three, the Life Play ($229), includes a 4.7-inch display and measures 7.9mm thick. Here, you can expect to find an 8-megapixel rear / 2-megapixel front camera, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of expandable storage and an 1,800mAh battery. You'll find the band support for each of the three phones in the PR after the break, but needless to say, you'll be safe on AT&T (and in many areas, T-Mobile).
Google Fiber app reaches all Android 4.1 devices
If you're one of the precious few to have access to Google Fiber, you may have been disappointed by the need to use its companion app on a Nexus 7 -- a fine tablet, but certainly not the only device in Google's universe. Thankfully, a new update significantly broadens that pool. The app should now offer remote control and content browsing on phones and tablets that run Android 4.1 or later, whether it's a Nexus 4 or the upcoming Galaxy S 4. Viewers should also see a simpler interface, no matter what hardware they're using. Those fortunate enough to have the fiber TV service just need to swing past Google Play to expand their control of the living room. Update: As many of you noticed and now Google has confirmed in a blog post discussing the redesign, the update lets the app run on any devices running Android 4.1 or higher, not just 4.2.
Sony Xperia SP render possibly spied, puts the Xperia Z design in a smaller package
So you're enamored with the Xperia Z's premium look, but not the slightly hand-defying 5-inch screen size. There might not be reason to worry: an apparent press-quality image making the rounds in China shows the Xperia SP (aka Huashan), which now seems to be a more compact expression of Sony's Omnibalance design. The render doesn't suggest much on its own besides a familiar software layout, although previous rumors have hinted that it could be a slightly reworked Xperia T with a similar 4.6-inch 720p display, a faster 1.7GHz Snapdragon S4 and a scaled back 8-megapixel camera. While there's nothing here to validate talk of a launch as soon as next week, the existence of a seemingly final press shot implies that there won't be long to wait for the real deal.
Motorola outs RAZR D1, D3 in Brazil: dual-SIM support, Jelly Bean and more
Folks around the interweb are still wondering what a certain unidentified Motorola smartphone could be, but while we wait for that mystery to unfold, the company's taken the time to announce a pair of new Android handsets in Brazil. The RAZR D1 and D3 clearly nab a design cue from their M cousin, however both are packing smaller 3.5- and 4-inch displays, respectively. Screen size aside, the better-specced of the two, the D3, boasts an undisclosed 1.2GHz, dual-core CPU alongside 1GB of RAM and a 2,000mAh battery, while the entry-level D1 is loaded with a 1GHz CPU, the same amount of RAM and a slightly less powerful 1,785mAh cell -- plus, each one offers dual-SIM features and runs a rather fresh version of Google's OS, aka Jelly Bean. Per Motorola Mobility, Brazilians can now snag a D1 beginning at R$ 549 (about $280) for the dual-SIM model; the D3, on the other hand, is expected to hit shelves "in several weeks" with a starting tag of R$ 799.%Gallery-181487%
Samsung Galaxy S IV: the rumor roundup
Compared to the sheer deluge of rumors surrounding last year's Galaxy S III, talk about the Galaxy S IV has been relatively hushed. That's partly owing to the contracted launch schedule -- despite Samsung's initial denials, the company is unveiling its next Android flagship almost two months before the GS3's first birthday. There's still been a fair share of rumormongering, however, and a picture is emerging of just what Samsung could unveil for yet another encore. Will the smartphone giant make a sharp break from tradition? Read past the break for a roundup of what to expect when Samsung hits the stage at Radio City Music Hall.
Goophone i5S KIRFs the iPhone 5S early, gives the iPhone 4S a run for its money (video)
Ah, Goophone. The company that made its name keepin' it real fake with eerily similar clones of other companies' devices, sometimes before the originals have even launched. It's clearly not dropping that tradition anytime soon, as it just previewed the i5S, an attempt to preempt the supposed iPhone 5S before even the rumor mill has produced anything tangible. As you'd almost expect, it's really a not-very-subtle imitation of the current iPhone 5 body and software that does its best to mask the use of Android (this time Jelly Bean) rather than iOS. Don't think that Goophone has learned any more about shadowing Apple on the technology front, however. The i5S is running hardware that would sometimes be trounced by a 2011-era iPhone 4S, including a dual-core 1GHz MediaTek processor, 512MB of RAM, an 854 x 480 screen and a 5-megapixel rear camera. The firm is mostly banking on absurdly low pricing to make up for the sleight-of-hand -- at its $150 launch price, the i5S costs a fraction of the real iPhone 5's price while undercutting the older yet somehow more sophisticated Goophone i5. Catch a video demo of the uncanny facsimile after the break.
LG Optimus L5 II debuts in Brazil, international rollout to follow
If the diminutive Optimus L3II is too small for you, and the L7II too big, today's porridge could be just right: LG's Optimus L5II is now available. Following in the footsteps of L3II, this 4-inch dual-SIM smartphone will make its debut in Brazil, eventually trickling out to unspecified markets in Central / South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The handset's 1Ghz processor and 512MB of RAM will be powering Jelly Bean of course (Android 4.1.2, specifically), layered in the latest LG UX specific tweaks: Quick Button and Safety Care. The launch of the L Series II's middle child rounds out the second generation lineup, leaving LG to focus on matching the previous generation's sales record. Looking for the official details? Read on for the full press release.
Refresh Roundup: week of March 4th, 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!
Lenovo S920 and S820 leak, could pack Android 4.2.1, quad-core CPUs and dual-SIM slots
Lenovo's still far from a boldfaced name when it comes to Android smartphones. Its Clover Trail+-packing K900 aside, the company's mobile focus tends to skew towards the lower-end. And so it seems the company's prepping two new Jelly Bean handsets for the Asian market, the purported S920 (pictured above) and S820, judging by a few leaked blurrycam shots over on MyDrivers.com. From what we can see, the devices appear to share a similar slim, rounded edge design language with a rear-facing camera protruding prominently on back. According to the rumored specs, both are tipped to rely on MediaTek's quad-core Cortex-A7 SoC, include dual-SIM support and run Android 4.2.1 (skinned, of course). It's not clear what resolution Lenovo has in store for the phones, but if the S920's 5.3-inch screen size proves true, it's likely to be of the 720p variety. The S820 is more of an unknown, but the Chinese site maintains it's meant for a more fashionable, female demo. Here's to hoping it launches with a charm dongle. Remember that?
HTC Myst specs purportedly leak, hint at a second-gen social phone
We wouldn't exactly call the social networking-focused HTC ChaCha (aka Status) and Salsa resounding successes in the smartphone world when they were quickly overshadowed by... just about everything with a Facebook app, really. Still, there have been murmurs of a comeback, and Unwired View's historically reliable @evleaks has obevleakstained specs for what's supposedly the follow-up. The HTC Myst (Myst #UL, to be exact) wouldn't have any special tricks on the surface beyond preloaded Facebook apps, but it could be surprisingly well-equipped for a mid-range Jelly Bean device: a 4.3-inch 720p screen, a dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4, LTE and 16GB of non-expandable storage would be nothing to sneeze at. About the only sacrifices would be the 1GB of RAM and a potentially UltraPixel-free 5-megapixel rear camera. While there's no guarantee that these details will reflect a shipping device, there's talk of the Myst reaching the US as early as the spring -- we won't have long to learn the truth. Just don't expect that other Myst in the box.
LG Optimus G for Sprint updated to Android 4.1.2
Today's been a good day for smartphone updates. In addition to the One X on AT&T and the Droid RAZR on Verizon both receiving bumps to Jelly Bean, Sprint is giving another reason to smile with an update to Android 4.1.2 for the Optimus G. Along with the usual set of improvements such as Google Now, Chrome replaces the default Android browser in this release, and users will also find improved voice search and a new camera app. Additionally, users of alternative launchers will be glad to know that system widgets can be now be installed without root access. All in all, it's high time that this top shelf smartphone made the leap into the world of Jelly Bean, so go ahead and grab the OTA update today.
Motorola Droid RAZR and RAZR Maxx get updated to Android 4.1
Today is the day for Jelly Bean updates on older carrier-branded devices, apparently. In this round, it's the Verizon-branded Motorola Droid RAZR and RAZR Maxx that have the honor of being bestowed with Google Now, expanded notifications and the rest of everything Android 4.1 has to offer. The rollout will take place in phases, so don't be terribly concerned if you don't see the update showing up on your device right away. We haven't had the chance to play with it yet, but soak tests seemed to indicate that much of the Droid-related bloatware has been removed in favor of several stock Google apps; if you get the update, let us know in the comments if this is the case.
AT&T HTC One X finally receives update to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
Global variants of the HTC One X have enjoyed the good graces of Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) for a few months now, but it appears that the AT&T model is finally ready to get in on the action. The carrier's firmware update will feature the usual Jelly Bean trimmings along with a new countdown timer for the front-facing camera, ISIS support and AT&T apps like DriveMode, Locker and Messages. Check the source for all the info.
Sony Xperia Tablet Z with LTE to hit NTT DoCoMo on March 22nd
Sony's major Mobile World Congress product reveal turned out to be the very same slate it had already taken the wraps off of this past January in Japan: the Xperia Tablet Z. Now that the 10-inch Android tablet's been officially announced for global availability, it's time for it to start trickling out to market and (surprise, surprise) Japan's getting first dibs. Starting March 9th, NTT DoCoMo will begin accepting pre-orders for the LTE-enabled tablet (in black or white) with a general launch date set for March 22nd. There doesn't seem to be any indication of pricing as of yet, but we've seen figures that indicate this region-specific Xperia Tablet Z could retail for around ¥85,470 (about $900 USD). If you like what Sony's done with this waterproof, Jelly Bean tablet and you live in the Land of the Rising Sun, well then you know what to do. For everyone else around the globe, there's always the vague promise of a Q2 launch to cling to.
Android 4 use finally overtakes Gingerbread, Jelly Bean nears 17 percent
What a difference a month makes. When we last checked in early February, Gingerbread was still the most commonly used major version of Google's mobile OS despite having launched all the way back in 2010. As of the start of March, there's a different story to tell: variants of Android 4 are at last more popular, collectively representing 45.1 percent of active use versus Gingerbread's 44.2 percent. Most of those on the newer OS are still using the 2011-era Ice Cream Sandwich, although we have good news again when Jelly Bean has grown to represent 16.5 percent of current users. There's a long distance to go before any one version of Android 4 surpasses Gingerbread, but the gap is closing fast.
