22
Feb
Screen shot 2011-02-22 at 1.57.33 PM

OK, so unboxings aren't exactly the most exciting videos on the web, but when they involve a certain tablet called the "Motorola XOOM," they're definitely worth a look. Such is Wirefly's latest creation:

Items of note:

  • Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) - boot times seem really fast
  • 10.1-inch 16:10 display - larger than an iPad
  • 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2 processor
  • 32GB of internal storage
  • 2MP front camera
  • 5MP rear camera capable of recording 720p HD video

Interestingly, the video mentions a slot for a 4G SIM card, which is odd since Verizon and Motorola say the XOOM will require a hardware software upgrade to connect to LTE.

22
Feb
atrix4g

AT&T has officially started selling the Motorola Atrix 4G for $199.99 with a 2-year contract.

Additionally, true to its word, RadioShack has also started offering the Android 2.2 smartphone for $149.99. The dock will set you back a further $329.99 when bought with the phone or $479.99 when purchased separately.

moto-shack

The advertisement for the Atrix 4G on the RadioShack website.

Not to be outdone, Amazon has the device for $149.99. The phone and dock can be purchased as a bundle for $499.99 (after a $100 mail-in rebate and purchase of the Data Pro 2GB/4GB plan with tethering), while the dock on its own costs $499.99.

22
Feb
xoom

Verizon's latest press release confirms rumors that the Motorola XOOM will cost $599 with a 2-year contract and $799 without (though we already knew the latter price thanks to Verizon's website) when it launches this Thursday.

Data contracts will start at $20/month for 1GB of data, with Verizon confirming once again that the XOOM will be upgradeable to 4G LTE in Q2 of 2011 at no extra charge.

Read more about it in the official press release:

MOTOROLA XOOM TABLET TO BE AVAILABLE ON THE VERIZON WIRELESS NETWORK ON FEB. 24

“Best of Show” Winner at 2011 Consumer Electronics Show Delivers the World’s First True Tablet Experience, With Upgrade to 4G LTE in Q2
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and LIBERTYVILLE, Ill.

21
Feb
epic09watermarked4_thumb (1)

Ah yes, Android 2.2 (build number EB13) for the Epic 4G is finally here. Well actually, that's not quite accurate if you're waiting for the official OTA rollout - which won't start until 9:00 p.m. PST - but if you're willing to flash the update as a ROM, you can have it now.

In addition to all the usual Froyo goodies, EB13 brings GPS enhancements, "user friendly" tethering for 3G and 4G, and TouchWiz 3.0 (you can get the full rundown here). Sprint will be rolling the update out in stages, with all Epic 4Gs running Froyo within four days.

21
Feb
Sony logo
Last Updated: June 30th, 2011

Hot on the heels of the mock-up leak for the PlayStation certified "S1," Engadget has caught wind of another Android-powered Sony tablet currently in the works. Continuing with the theme of wacky design, the device is rumored to be a clamshell-style, dual-touchscreen device. Each display will measure 5.5 inches, and when closed, the device has a cylindrical form factor reminiscent of the giant crayon-shaped calculator I had when I was 5.

Sony S2 draft2

Engadget's sources say that it will be running a custom version of Honeycomb with apps that are optimized for the dual screens. Google Maps is supposed to display a map on one screen while showing turn-by-turn navigation instructions or Streetview on the other.

21
Feb
US-Cellular-Logo-Feb-09

There are deals, and then there are deals. US Cellular's latest offer definitely falls into the latter category - now through March 10th, customers can buy a Samsung Mesmerize ($99.99) and receive five free Optimus Us. Alternatively, you could buy one Optimus U for $29.99 and get five more for free - ridiculously awesome.

That's not all, however; US Cellular also announced that it's trimming the price of each and every one of its Android phones - the HTC Desire now costs $69.99, the LG Apex goes for $29.99, and the Samsung Acclaim can be had free of charge.

Sure, US Cellular's phones might not be the flashiest devices on the market anymore, but there's no denying that these are two insane deals.

21
Feb
image

The most anticipated Verizon phone of the month, the HTC Thunderbolt, just got its first official commercial, complete with lightning, thunderbolt (no kidding), and a guy on the hunt for HTC's newcomer who ran away straight from the Ocean's 11 set. Two things are for sure - rooftops are definitely cooler than barns, and lightning is always a good idea.

Oh, and you know what else would be a good idea? A release date for the very thing Verizon is advertising as well as Skype at launch. That would be just super.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2TkxqVrVeQ

Source: VerizonWireless

21
Feb
MEWANTHONEYCOMB

Update:  If you're a Nexus One or Desire owner and you're feeling a little left out of the Honeycomb SDK fun, I have some good news. The folks over at XDA managed to get a port running on both devices over the weekend. Hit up the links below to check them out and remember, these ports lack the basic functions of a phone and should only be used by people who know what they're doing. Enjoy!

Desire: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=962759

N1: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=961994

(Also, Brian gave the N1 port a shot. He only made it a few minutes before flashing to a normal ROM.

21
Feb
nec1
Last Updated: January 21st, 2013

If rumors are to be believed, NEC's newest Android phone - the MEDIAS E-04C - will be the world's thinnest smartphone at 7.7mm when it launches this Thursday. It has only been a short time since Sony Ericsson launched the razor-thin Xperia arc and Samsung crowned its Galaxy S II phone as the "world's thinnest smartphone," but at 8.7mm and 8.49mm at their thinnest points, respectively, these phones look positively obese in comparison.

nec1

According to Akihabara News, Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo will be announcing its new spring collection later this week, but apparently someone could not wait and leaked photos of NEC's newest offering to Japanese blog Ameba.

21
Feb
verizon-xoom-600x387

Verizon just updated its product page for the Motorola XOOM, and in the process, the tablet's release date has been made official. Just as expected, you'll be able to buy the Honeycomb-loaded beast this Thursday (2/24), but unfortunately, Adobe's Flash Player won't be included out of the box. Instead, the page's fine print says, the software is "expected in Spring 2011."

Engadget speculates that Verizon / Motorola are waiting for Flash 10.2, which is supposed to launch in the coming weeks, and I would say that's a pretty fair assumption. Still, it's kind of disappointing that the XOOM won't have Flash at launch since even the Galaxy Tab can play back Flash content.