22
Sep
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We had a pretty good idea it was coming, and now it's here: Verizon has started rollout of the Android 2.2 update for the Droid X. As usual, some users are already receiving notification that an update is available, but if you don't want to wait, you can always check for the update manually.

Obviously, the most major change comes from updating Android itself. However, it looks like Verizon has also made a few other tweaks while it was at it. Full slide (same one from yesterday):

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And that's about all there is to it. Go forth, download, and enjoy.

21
Sep
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If you remember, a few months ago, I found a nice, strong 4G signal around Mountain View/Santa Clara, right in the heart of the Silicon Valley. Sprint promised 4G in the Bay Area by the end of the year, so it was only logical to see them starting some testing. Today, it looks like Sprint kicked the testing up a notch and lit up San Francisco, according to reports by both IntoMobile and Engadget.

Being a San Francisco resident, I was unable to confirm around the Ingleside district, so the coverage is likely to be spotty and concentrated on the downtown area for now.

20
Sep
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I'm not sure how much money Sprint spent on this but I'm sure whatever the amount was, they overpaid. In an effort to promote the recently launched Samsung Epic 4G handset and the new Media Hub, the company shot a series of short movies, all with the word "Epic" in the titles.

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The website layout, production quality, and presentation are all top notch. What is not top notch, however, is the most important part - the content. Plain and simple, it sucks. It is mostly the opposite of I would call funny or entertaining, ends way too abruptly (yeah, they really are short films), and makes no sense in the scope of effectively promoting both the phone and the new media service.

20
Sep
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Good news for those of you with Verizon phones and a 'Total Equipment Coverage' insurance plan. VZW have just let us know that they are partnering with Asurion to provide some useful security functions for Android owners. The free Mobile Recovery application includes the ability to remotely:

  • Sound an alarm on the phone, even when on silent
  • Locate the phone using GPS, with maps and directions to the handset
  • Lock or wipe the phone, if it is irretrievable

Sounds pretty great for a free service (if you have the qualifying insurance, obviously), and may help to soothe any envious pangs you felt following the demonstration of HTCSense.com’s new security features.

20
Sep
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It’s difficult to keep track of all the leaked device names out there, we know, but if you can cast your mind back a month or so you may remember the mysterious HTC Lexikon and HTC Bee phones whose details were sourced from the 911sniper blog. Well, the same guys over in China have just posted what is believed to be a copy of the Lexikon’s operating system, complete with “VERIZON” in the filename, and a render of the phone to keep you hooked.

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From the image alone, the Lexikon looks to be similar in styling to the still extant Droid Incredible.

20
Sep
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Orlando residents have 2 exciting things going on as of today - Disney World and now Sprint's 4G service. Today, the company officially announced the launch of 4G in Florida's 5th largest city, immediately available to all EVO 4G and Epic 4G users.

Sprint has been on fire lately - the announcement follows hot on the heels of last week's Nashville 4G launch and the introduction of Epic 4G in the beginning of the month. Sprint’s 4G service now covers 53 markets.

Users of the only 2 aforementioned devices capable of running on Sprint’s 4G network are charged an extra $10 "premium data" fee, no matter whether 4G is available in their area or not.

19
Sep
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The world of smartphones moves fast. How fast, you ask? So fast that a device that is just days over being a month old is already apparently getting phased out. The Motorola Droid 2 was just released in August but it's possible that this Droid lived fast and will die young.

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You'll notice that underneath the words "Droid 2 by Motorola" it states "while supplies last," indicating that there are a finite number left. According to BGR, the word on the street is that this could be to make way for the rumored Droid 2:World Edition which, as its name suggests, is simply the Droid 2 with world capabilities.

18
Sep
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Unlocked HTC Desire owners have been enjoying their chilled Froyo update for over a month now, and today T-Mobile UK announced that its customers are finally going to be able to catch up to the rest of the pack.

Want to know what Froyo can offer you on top of Éclair? Check out our Everything You Need To Know About Android 2.2 Froyo roundup.

Over at T-Mobile UK forums, Sorcha from the T-Mo team posted the following announcement:

Hi all,
We have some exciting news for all our Desire users.
The 2.2 firmware update (FroYo) will be available from today and will be sent over the air (OTA) direct to your phone over the coming weeks.

18
Sep
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Rain, shine, or literally freakin' tornado in the part of the country which isn’t supposed to have such weather, Android Police is there. As promised, I attended the press event thrown by Samsung on Thursday, during which they were to announce their "latest Android-powered device" as well as their new Media Hub service.

While the fact that Samsung was to announce a tablet device was officially a secret, we all pretty much knew the mystery device was going to be the Galaxy Tab.

Samsung also took the occasion to announce the launch of their new website, which went live the day of the event.

18
Sep
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A couple of weeks back, Boy Genius Report got their hands on some photos of a very svelte looking, EVO-esque HTC phone that is supposedly coming to Verizon.

Now they have a suspicion that it is in fact Verizon’s model of the Desire HD, announced a few days ago in London.

There are one or two things to say about this - firstly, the handset they obtained images of has a kickstand, a feature notably absent in the super-slim Desire HD. Also, there have been no announcements as yet of a CDMA version at all, although that may well come in the future.