08
Feb
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HTC Thunderbolt DELAYED By Verizon, New Launch Date To Be Decided

Posted by in News, Thunderbolt (Mecha), Verizon Wireless

Some internal document sent somewhere at some point today was captured by someone and then sent on to Droid-Life, and the news it contains isn't going to be making anyone particularly happy:

thunderbolt-delay

Here's the deal: the Thunderbolt won't be launching on the 14th (next week). Amazon and Best Buy apparently had it wrong, and Amazon has since updated its page to reflect that unknown launch date.

The Thunderbolt's Mobile Hotspot feature has also been pushed back, but I would assume this is merely to accommodate the device's new release date. The XOOM also got a mention - something about a delay with the "creative" for the device, I presume this is in reference to advertisements and kiosks and such (correct me if I'm wrong on this, commenters).

01
Feb
HTC_Inspire_4G

HTC Inspire 4G To Start Inspiring February 13th On AT&T For $99

Posted by in AT&T, Inspire 4G (Ace, Stallion), News

The first of AT&T's entourage of Androids for 2011 has had its release date and pricing set in stone. The Inspire 4G, essentially an AT&T version of the Thunderbolt, will be dropping on February 13th for 99 bucks on contract or upgrade pricing. And for a double-digit price, the Inspire 4G is packing some respectable specs.

  • 4.3"  SLCD display
  • 1GHz single-core processor
  • HSPA+ connectivity (AT&T's first stab at "4G")
  • 8MP Rear camera
  • 768MB RAM
  • Android 2.2 w/ HTC Sense 2.0 (the "new" Sense)

HTC_Inspire_4G

What remains unknown is whether or not AT&T will charge a premium fee for access to its HSPA+ "4G." Given the fact that AT&T has made explicit its plans to eventually roll out true LTE 4G in Q4 2011, it might serve their publicity machine better to keep data plan rates as they are until that time.

31
Jan
thunderbolt-external-compare1

Verizon Comparison Charts Show Thunderbolt's LTE Speeds Crush WiMax, HSPA+

Posted by in News, Thunderbolt (Mecha), Verizon Wireless

A couple of leaked Verizon charts popped up on Droid Life this morning, their contents? HTC Thunderbolt propaganda - well, at least in one of them.

thunderbolt-external-compare1

If Verizon's estimated LTE speeds aren't just hot air, then Sprint and T-Mobile (and AT&T) should probably be worried right now. Sprint's smartphone plan price hike probably isn't winning them any points, and T-Mobile's 4G handsets aren't exactly new and exciting (G2, myTouch, or a rehashed Vibrant - take your pick).

I don't know where Verizon gets their network speed estimates for T-Mo and Sprint, but they seem pretty forgiving - given the speed ranges shown.

30
Jan
image

HTC Thunderbolt, aka HTC Incredible HD, Shows Up In Early Unboxing Video With Some Interesting Details

Posted by in HTC, News, Thunderbolt (Mecha), Verizon Wireless, Videos
Last Updated: April 5th, 2011

HTC Thunderbolt, announced at CES earlier this year, may only seem like it's underpowered compared to the dual-core offerings, but according to a very early unboxing by someone named Michael, it's quite a beast with some very admirable features. I don't know how Michael got his hands on this device so early - perhaps he's a tester, a ninja reviewer, or a VZW employee receiving Thunderbolt training (I'm most likely inclined to side with the latter), but he does spill some interesting details that I've summarized below, conveniently mixed in with some specs.

Oh, and this is the same video that was used in this post to cross reference the UPC codes - the problem was the original 720p video disappeared off the Interwebs only to resurface from ahart814's cache last night, except in a not-as-awesome 360p resolution the original video is back online.

24
Jan
verizon-10-75-plan

Verizon Drops To One 3G Data Plan, Premium 4G Pricing Imminent

Posted by in News, Verizon Wireless
Last Updated: December 30th, 2011

Well, we knew it was coming. Did you honestly think Big Red would bundle your 3G and 4G into one big, happy family? Neither did we. An anonymous Engadget tipster snapped a picture of Verizon's latest data plans - probably set to be released in time for the iPhone 4. Check it out:

verizon-10-75-plan

Droid-Life posted a helpful companion image of the old pricing for comparison's sake:

verizon-data-plans2-600x226

Notice the 150MB smartphone plan has vanished, along with an increased base data cap for feature phones. This is likely meant to simplify things for upcoming 4G devices and new iPhone 4 adopters - Verizon doesn't want to have more than one 3G smartphone plan confusing customers, they'll leave that to the more profitable 4G tiers.

20
Jan
eric_schmidt_hi

Eric Schmidt In HBR: "Preparing For The Big Mobile Revolution"

Posted by in Android OS, News, Off-Topic

While only tangentially related to Android, a post on the Harvard Business Review by Eric Schmidt (the CEO of Google, in case you weren't aware) provides a glimpse of what he sees coming in the world of mobile technology. His post isn't especially long, and I'm not too keen on plagiarism, so here are Schmidt's three points:

  1. Focus on developing LTE networks
  2. Using mobile phones for commerce (to transfer money)
  3. Smartphone proliferation - put smartphones in the hands of the poor

While short, it's an interesting piece; certainly worth a read.

[Source: Harvard Business Review]

11
Jan
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Editorial: iPhone 4 Is Coming To Verizon Wireless - Should Android Be Worried?

Posted by in AT&T, Editorials, News, Verizon Wireless

The big question on everyone's mind (well, at least ours) today is: How will the iPhone coming to Verizon next month change the smartphone landscape? At this point, it's anyone's guess, but Android's unabashed domination on the US's largest wireless carrier will certainly be challenged in the coming months. However, there are significant forces at work that won't exactly help the iPhone with its Verizon debut - namely, Verizon and Android. That's not to say the Verizon iPhone won't be a success, it's just a question of exactly how much of a success it will be. Here's our take.

Upgrade or Downgrade?

06
Jan
IMG_8124_wm

CES 2011: Quick Hands-On With Verizon's LG Revolution: 4G LTE In A Semi-Stock 4.3" Package

Posted by in LG, News, Revolution, Verizon Wireless, Videos

At Verizon's 4G event today, we got some quick demo time with LG's initial LTE offering, the Revolution. Sporting a trendy 4.3" display, the device is obviously geared towards content creation and consumption. Not only does it include a 720P-capable 5 MP camera on the back, it also makes a mark with it a 1.3 MP front facing camera for video calls.

Unfortunately, it only has a single-core processor, clocking in at 1 GHz with 512 MB RAM alongside, but that shouldn't stop it from being a fairly decent performer all around. Best of all, the version of Froyo that LG has chosen to ship the Revolution with looks relatively uncontaminated, and with merely a tinted status bar here and altered icon there, the changes seem fairly forgivable in the near-mandatory custom UI sphere of Android lately.

06
Jan
IMG_8118_wm

CES 2011: Quick Hands-On With Verizon’s Samsung i510 – 4G LTE, 4.3″ Super AMOLED Plus Display, And More [Video]

Posted by in Charge (i510), News, Samsung, Verizon Wireless, Videos

Not impressed with the HTC Thunderbolt, the LG Revolution, or the Droid Bionic? Samsung might just have the perfect device for you.

Though we have yet to discover the device's name, we do have its model number - i510 - and (some of) its specs:

  • 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display
  • Android 2.2 (Froyo) with Samsung's TouchWiz UI
  • 1 GHz Hummingbird processor
  • 8MP rear camera
  • 1.3MP front-facing camera
  • 2GB internal storage
  • 32GB microSD card slot out of the box

Artem also managed to get hands-on with the device at CES - check it out in the video below:

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IMG_8110_wm IMG_8112_wm IMG_8113_wm

IMG_8114_wm IMG_8115_wm IMG_8117_wm

IMG_8118_wm IMG_8119_wm IMG_8120_wm

IMG_8121_wm IMG_8122_wm

Press release:

Verizon Wireless And Samsung Mobile Announce Samsung’s First 4G LTE-Enabled Smartphone

Features Android 2.2 platform, Super AMOLED™ Plus Display, 1GHz Application Processor and Rear and Front-Facing Cameras

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — From the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Verizon Wireless and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) today announced that the Samsung 4G LTE smartphone will be available on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network.

06
Jan
IMG_8096_wm

CES 2011: Quick Hands-On With The (Now Official) HTC Thunderbolt: 4.3-Inch Display, Froyo, And LTE [Video]

Posted by in HTC, News, Thunderbolt (Mecha), Verizon Wireless, Videos

I'm slightly miffed that HTC doesn't seem to have a dual-core Android device in the works (at least for now), but the LTE-capable Thunderbolt still isn't anything to scoff at.

It features:

  • A 1 GHz Snapdragon processor
  • A 4.3-inch WVGA (800x480) display
  • An 8MP rear camera capable of recording 720p HD video
  • 1.3MP front-facing camera
  • Android 2.2 Froyo with the new HTC Sense, as seen on the Desire HD and the Desire Z
  • 32GB (!) microSD card slot out of the box
  • Integrated kickstand
  • Dolby and SRS surround sound audio
  • Skype mobile pre-installed (presumably the new version with video calling)
  • DLNA support
  • Mobile hotspot (presumably with a nice fat fee attached)
  • An LTE radio

Want more?

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