Samsung has just announced that the product launch event at CTIA Fall planned for next week with Google won’t be happening. Here’s Samsung’s statement:

Samsung and Google have decided to postpone the Samsung Mobile Unpacked event during the CTIA in San Diego, previously scheduled for Oct. 11. Under the current circumstances, both parties have agreed that this is not the appropriate time for the announcement of a new product. We would ask for the understanding of our clients and media for any inconvenience caused. We will announce a new date and venue in due course.”

We know the Google and Samsung teams have been working around the clock on the Galaxy Nexus, but a postponement a few days before the event doesn’t make too much sense. We’ve reached out to Samsung and Google for further clarification, but it looks like we’ll have to keep re-watching that leaked video from this morning over and over for a bit longer now.

UPDATE: Updated with newer statement from Samsung.

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Google’s upcoming flagship device, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, has leaked out in video form courtesy of Gadget.ro, and it’s almost a minute and half of pure Google. Ice Cream Sandwich looks like an evolution of Honeycomb, and it certainly does look like it will be at home on both smartphones and tablets. There are also thankfully some nice subtle design enhancements that start to make Android seem more cohesive. Video is after the break.

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We just spent some quick time with the HTC Rhyme here at HTC’s event in New York City. The device is sleek, reasonably thin, and feels good in your hand. It’s soft-touch coated and obviously is geared towards more of the female audience with the fashion-focus and color, though the phone itself doesn’t alienate anyone. Specifications are on-point with a mid-range smartphone, and the docking station and other accessories round out a decent package. We’ll have to see how interested consumers are at a $199.99 with a two-year agreement, however, especially with much more capable handsets available and coming soon. Check out the hands-on photos in our HTC Rhyme gallery, alright?

If the BlackBerry Bold 9900 isn’t doing it for you, there’s a version that’s based on the popular BlackBerry 9700, and yes, there’s a touchscreen and keyboard on this Bold, too. The BlackBerry Bold 9790 will feature a 5-megapixel camera, 8GB of built-in storage, NFC, GPS, Wi-Fi and we believe a 1.2GHz processor. If all goes well, this device could launch before the end of the year, even as early as next month. Hit the gallery for the rest of the photos, including a size comparison with the BlackBerry Bold 9900.

The Motorola DROID BIONIC for Verizon Wireless combines everything you might want in a phone into a single, lust-worthy package. From 4G LTE, to a supersized 4.3-inch display and 1080p HD video capture, this phone has it all. Verizon Wireless has launched several 4G phones now, but they have all arguably been lacking due to their shortcomings in either size (thickness), weight or battery life. Is the Motorola DROID BIONIC the first phone to bring 4G to the next level on Verizon? Check out the full review after the break to find out for yourself.

Hardware / Design

The DROID BIONIC started out as a much different device when it was announced a shocking nine months ago at CES 2011. Verizon and Motorola wouldn’t reveal exactly why it took so long to launch, and why the device we have today is very different than the device announced in January, but it’s pretty obvious, at least to me.

Verizon told Motorola to go back to the drawing board and deliver a more competitive handset. Things like using a TI OMAP processor instead of an NVIDIA Tegra 2, a thinner and edgier design and different screen materials have allowed the device Motorola and Verizon released to be absolutely competitive with what’s out there, and to also be the best in several key areas. The Motorola DROID BIONIC is the first 4G LTE handset to be slim enough to not get in the way. It’s also the first 4G LTE handset I have wanted to keep using because of the combination of features the device offers.

The hardware and design of the BIONIC is robotic and edgy, yet soft enough that the phone could appeal to a variety of demographics. On front, you’ll find a slab of high quality Gorilla Glass overlaid on a 4.3-inch qHD display. The glass panel on the DROID BIONIC is the first from Motorola that I can remember that’s made of this material; it feels like a glass touchscreen should, unlike the Motorola PHOTON, ATRIX, or DROID 3. Additionally, there’s a beautiful beveled edge that gives the device a perfect contrast to the thin metallic bezel surrounding the display.

There’s a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera toward the top of the front panel, with a proximity sensor and an LED notification light and that is invisible unless in use. On the right side there’s a volume up and down button, on the left you’ll find the microUSB port and mini-HDMI out port, and on top is the power/lock/unlock key and a 3.5mm headset jack.

Around back, there’s an 8-megapixel camera with support for 1080p HD video capture an LED flash and a speaker. The rear of the device features a battery cover that engulfs the entire back of the phone in a soft-touch rubberized finish, and physically, the BIONIC is like other recent Motorola devices in terms of Style. It sports a thicker top portion, tapering down into a thinner design about a quarter of the way down.

The display and touch performance on the Motorola DROID BIONIC is possibly the best of any Android device I have used. It just goes to show how much of a difference hardware and software, working perfectly together, can make. There is no lag whatsoever. Each tap is instantly recorded. Swiping from one home screen to the next — something that performed terribly on the DROID 3 for me — flows incredibly well on the DROID BIONIC. Touch performance isn’t as good as iOS in some areas, but it’s getting so close that it doesn’t really matter anymore.

The screen itself looks exactly like Motorola’s other qHD offerings. It’s a PenTile display that will be incredibly frustrating to around 1% of the people who own it; most people don’t notice, and don’t care. The resolution is great, the display is bright and colors look good, though whites don’t appear to be perfect white due to the PenTile display.

Software

The BIONIC is the first Verizon 4G LTE smartphone to feature Google’s latest OS, Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread, and that means the DROID BIONIC provides out of the box support for video calling over 4G, 3G and Wi-Fi in Google Talk, in addition to a slew of other enhancements with the latest Gingerbread build. The BIONIC also features printing over Wi-Fi with MOTOPRINT, and a new app and service from Motorola called ZumoCast that allows you to access multimedia, documents and other files from your home or office computer for free, over 4G or 3G.

As far as Motorola’s software customizations, there isn’t very much that I haven’t seen before. Something that that feels different, though, is how well the software works on the BIONIC. It’s a different experience than any other Motorola Android device I have used. The phone doesn’t stutter and software doesn’t hang; it really seems like Motorola has finally started melding its hardware and software together almost seamlessly. And it should, as the company’s teams have been working on Android development for years, but it’s starting to show.

Phone / Battery

I have really enjoyed using the Motorola DROID BIONIC on and off as a phone since Verizon gave me a review unit last week. Calls come in very clear on Verizon’s network, dropped calls were not an issue, and people could hear me very clearly. The speaker, on the other hand… well, it’s pretty terrible for both speakerphone use and audio playback. It sounds almost muffled, reproduces audio poorly, and isn’t loud enough.

One bug I have noticed that is incredibly annoying is that when you’re on phone call, and the phone is against your ear, you can not adjust the volume of the call if the screen is off. I have tried repeatedly to get this to work and it hasn’t. If you take the phone away from your ear you can change the volume once the proximity senor triggers the display, but once you start talking again after a moment against your ear, you cannot adjust the volume.

Battery life has been excellent. Now, that’s a bit of a relative statement as this is a 4G LTE device, but it’s easily the best-performing LTE device I have used as far as the battery goes, and it actually is pretty comparable with some 3G Android phones Verizon offers. Standby time isn’t as great as I’d have liked, but as far as daily use with consistent 4G LTE service, the Motorola DROID BIONIC really delivers.

Accessories

Motorola and Verizon are positioning the DROID BIONIC as not only their most powerful and best smartphone to date, but as a device that can power and handle all of your travel and home entertainment needs. Just like the Motorola ATRIX 4G, the BIONIC can make use of Motorola’s laptop dock, which is a laptop shell that is powered completely by the BIONIC itself. There are also a several docks and adapters that allow the phone to power 1080p HD content on your home set up.

For extremely light work on the go, the laptop dock configuration isn’t necessarily a bad option, but for most users it’s too clunky and too limited to be useful — even though you’re able to use a desktop-grade version of FireFox complete with full Adobe Flash support for browsing. As far as the multimedia docks, if you typically store most of your music, TV shows and even movies on your phone, it’s a reasonably good option. And the entry-level multimedia adapter for the BIONIC is a great value at $29. Verizon is also offering a discount on the laptop dock to BIONIC customers for a limited time.

Conclusion

The Motorola DROID BIONIC is the first 4G LTE smartphone to really deliver. It’s packed to the brim with all of the latest cutting-edge specs and features, and it’s all melded together in an incredible package. In fact, this is probably my favorite smartphone Verizon has offered exclusively, ever. Android is still Android with all of its strengths and weaknesses, but Motorola has done an amazing job finally working out issues with its customizations to get them to a place where they start to add to the phone as a whole, instead of subtracting from it.

The phone satisfies technology enthusiasts, packing in a screaming dual-core processor, an 8-megapixel camera with 1080p HD video capture, 4.3-inch qHD display, built-in storage, expandability and more. It also is thin enough and it’s footprint small enough where I have no problem recommending it to friends who are in the market for a new smartphone on Verizon, especially someone looking for a 4G device. It’s one of the most expensive smartphones Verizon has offered in recent years at $299.99 with a two-year agreement, but it’s also one of the best phones the nation’s top carrier has ever carried, and in my view, it’s well worth it.

We know these next-generation iPhone rumors have been out of control (aren’t they every year right before a new iPhone is slated to be released?), but we just received some new information from an incredibly solid source of ours. According to our source, Apple will indeed be launching a prepaid / lower cost iPhone this year. We are told the handset will retail for no more than $350 without contract. Ready for the really interesting part? It’s entirely possible that the low-cost iPhone will in fact be the iPhone 3GS. We reported that we were able to independently confirm that the iPhone 5 featured a radical new design, however this source of ours isn’t quite sure that will be the next iPhone. Whether it’s the iPhone 4S or 5, it will be coming out or “at least announced by the end of Summer, late August-ish.” They theorized that we’d have seen new 3rd party cases by now if the upcoming iPhone featured a different exterior, though Apple has surely been cracking down on their case specification leaks. If this turns out to be true, it will mean there would be an iPhone 4S in addition to the prepaid iPhone 3GS available within the next month to two. Let’s do one better, though. In addition to that news, we are told that Apple will continue to sell the current iPhone 4 as well, finally giving the company a full range of devices in the lower, mid, and high-end price segments. Coupled with rumored launches on Sprint and T-Mobile in the U.S. alone, Apple seems prepared to once again take charge and lead in the smartphone market.

We’ve just been sent a shot of AT&T’s upcoming Facebook-centric device, the AT&T HTC Status. The device looks pretty identical to the European HTC ChaCha, save for the obvious AT&T branding. We exclusively reported the HTC Status would be the official name of the device here in the U.S., and now that it’s confirmed, we have to say, it’s one of the most logical names for a device we can think of in recent memory. One more shot of the Facebook phone that’s not a Facebook phone, after the break.

Holding out for arguably the best Android device in the world to finally hit AT&T? Well, it’s coming. We don’t know exactly when, but thanks to an international Samsung Facebook page, the Samsung Galaxy S II for AT&T looks like it has been updated to the carrier’s specifications, sporting four Android menu keys and styling similar to the AT&T Infuse 4G. While Samsung’s Galaxy S II is available for purchase in the U.S. with AT&T 3G bands, you’d be paying full retail price upwards of $700 as opposed to picking up an AT&T-branded one with a two year agreement for what we’re guessing will end up being $199.

[Via Engadget]

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We’re only a couple hours away from finding out, but a photo has been making the rounds depicting what some are claiming to be part of the enhanced notifications UI in iOS 5. As you can see the in the photo, Twitter mentions are displayed on a second bar below the status bar, much like how Apple displays tethering or background voice calling. The question is, if the photo is indeed real, does tapping on the status bar then bring you to a page with all of your unread notifications? Is there an Android style drop-down panel? TechCrunch, which originally published the photo, says at the very least it has been told the photo is the “right idea,” even if it is not authentic. We’ll know in under two hours and we’ll be covering WWDC 2011 live.

Just waiting for Motorola’s update to the extremely popular DROID lineup? The Motorola DROID 3, which we’ve seen leaked in bits here and there, has now been shown off in a pretty detailed way. Enthusiast blog PhonePads has posted 3 how-to videos featuring the Motorola DROID 3 and they look like corporate-produced videos. We’re sure we’ll see the Motorola DROID 3 get official sooner than later, but the question is, are you interested? Videos are after the break!

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We just tore into T-Mobile’s HTC Sensation 4G, and while we saw the device before its official debut a few months back, well, there’s just nothing like your own retail unit, is there? Everything about this handset exudes quality — the build is fantastic, it’s proportionally weighted, the materials all look like high-end finishes with brushed metal and glass, and the feel in your hand is perfect thanks to the phone’s tapered edges and soft-touch plastic on the back. There is one downside to the case on the HTC Sensation 4G, though: the power button isn’t optimally placed and it’s quite difficult to press, so it makes locking and unlocking the phone a bit difficult. The qHD display really shows off vivid and bright colors and text is crystal clear. It’s incredibly reflective, but that’s probably the only negative thing we could say about. The phone zipped through any task we threw at it in the couple hours we have been playing with it, and this is already one of our favorite Android handsets to date. Hit the break for the full photo gallery and stay tuned for the official review.

Ah, we see you again, BlackBerry Curve (Apollo). We’ve just scored some more hands-on time with RIM’s upcoming next-generation Curve, now named the BlackBerry Curve 9360. That’s what we’re being told is the final model number for this handset, though knowing RIM, there are sure to be some variations on that. This unit feels like a production unit to us, and with a final model number, it can’t be too long before they start infiltrating your local carrier’s store shelves. In the mean time, check out our hands-on gallery below!

P.S. We’ve heard that RIM won’t be using NFC for mobile payments for a “little while.” Instead, RIM will focus its initial NFC efforts on things like contact sharing and adding users to your BlackBerry Messenger list, etc.

Awaiting yet another 4G LTE device to take advantage of the fastest 4G network in the country? The LG Revolution for Verizon Wireless might be your handset… on second thought, maybe not. While we had high hopes for the LG Revolution, even in our short time with the phone, we came away disappointed. The device itself feels a little thinner than the chunky HTC ThunderBolt and it’s more comfortable to hold and use, but most of the positives end there. We can’t stress this enough, but the display on the Revolution is just disappointing. It’s dull, lacking colors, and looks extremely pixelated. LG’s custom UI doesn’t help as well, as it feels like a knock-off version of Samsung’s TouchWiz without the added benefits. LG’s default keyboard in Android is the poorest attempt at a software keyboard we’ve seen lately, and the way LG organizes their app drawer is chaotic. We haven’t spent enough time with the device to get a good handle on the battery life, but if it’s anything like the ThunderBolt, well, you’re going to be looking for an extended battery STAT. Check out our LG Revolution hands-on gallery below while we get revolving on the review.

There isn’t anything quite like a dual-core Android handset to brighten up your Saturday, huh? We have just spent some time with the Motorola DROID X2 for Verizon Wireless, and while the external casing hasn’t changed much, this is indeed a very new phone. For starters, like we mentioned, that super-fast 1GHz CPU that powered the original DROID X is now a screaming-fast 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2 processor. If that wasn’t enough, the screen now features qHD resolution, bringing the LCD into modern times. The DROID X2 still features an 8-megapixel camera around back, and also runs Android 2.2 with a 2.3 upgrade coming at some point. The UI is a little bit refreshed as well, and we like the four static apps on the bottom of every screen as opposed to the overlay that used to appear, which was viciously annoying. All in all, this is one of the fastest devices available on Verizon Wireless, and while it isn’t a 4G phone, it’s certainly one of our favorites already. There’s a few more hands-on photos in the gallery!

We spent some time earlier with the new Samsung Infuse 4G, and to not beat around the bush… this is by far our favorite Android device from Samsung so far. Samsung tells us it will be the fastest device available on AT&T’s network when it launches on May 15th, and that’s due to the phone’s support for 21Mbps of pure HSPA+ goodness. While there is a fine line between large displays on smartphones and displays that are too large, the Infuse 4G’s 4.5-inch screen really works beautifully with the handset’s ridiculously thin body — it totally balances out and we could see ourselves using this device frequently. Speaking of displays, the Samsung Infuse 4G’s Super AMOLED Plus screen is gorgeous; incredible black levels, deep, rich color, and boy is it bright. It’s all powered by a screaming fast 1.2GHz processor, and an 8-megapixel rear-facing and 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera round out the superphone nicely. Pricing is set at $199 with a new two-year agreement. Check out our Samsung Infuse 4G hands-on gallery and if you’re up for it, the full press release is after the break.

BIGGEST YET THINNEST, SAMSUNG INFUSE™ 4G DEBUTS MAY 15

Exclusive Angry Birds Version to be Featured on the Nation’s Thinnest 4G Smartphone with Largest AT&T Display

DALLAS, May 5, 2011 — AT&T* and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S., today announced the upcoming availability of the Samsung Infuse™ 4G.

Key Facts

·     Exclusive to AT&T customers, the Samsung Infuse 4G will be the nation’s thinnest 4G smartphone at 8.99mm at its thinnest.

·     Delivers the largest display in AT&T’s smartphone portfolio with a brilliant 4.5-inch screen featuring next-generation Super AMOLED™ Plus technology.

·     Powered by a 1.2 GHz processor and the Android™ 2.2 platform, the Samsung Infuse 4G also boasts an 8-megapixel camera, and a $25 credit to download movie content from Samsung Media Hub.

·     Pre-loaded version of Angry Birds features an exclusive hidden level for Infuse 4G customers.

·     Samsung Infuse 4G will be available in AT&T company-owned stores and online at www.wireless.att.com on May 15 and will cost $199.99 with a two-year contract and no mail-in rebate. (Minimum $15 data plan required)

Customer Benefits

The Samsung Infuse 4G will be the thinnest 4G smartphone available in the U.S. and will feature the largest screen — at 4.5 inches — in AT&T’s smartphone lineup, and the largest touch screen on any Samsung phone. Powered by a 1.2 GHz application processor and running the Android 2.2 platform,  the device delivers a brilliant display using Samsung’s next-generation Super AMOLED™ Plus technology which features 50 percent more sub-pixels for better contrast. The display also offers unmatched outdoor viewing quality, even in the brightest sunlight.

With the Infuse 4G, Samsung and AT&T are raising the stakes on pre-loaded content that is not available on any other device. In collaboration with Rovio, the Infuse 4G will feature a special edition of Angry Birds pre-loaded on the smartphone. Players can unlock a special “Golden Egg” level of the game, and once the special level is completed, users can register to win Samsung prizes exclusive to Infuse 4G users.**

The smartphone also includes an 8-megapixel camera/camcorder with auto-focus and flash that shoots HD video with incredible detail. A front facing camera is perfect for self portraits or video chat. Customers can also watch hit movies and TV shows from preloaded apps like Samsung Media Hub, U-verse Mobile and U-verse Live TV.

The first 500,000 Infuse 4G units sold will include a $25 voucher for consumers to get started on downloading content from Media Hub. With Media Hub’s progressive downloading feature, users can start watching their content almost immediately as the rest of the file downloads to the Infuse 4G. Plus, all Media Hub content can be shared among five Media Hub-enabled devices on the same account. The Infuse 4G also comes with a 2GB microSD card with preloaded trailers for upcoming summer movies.

Compatible with the Infuse 4G and other devices on the Android 2.2 platform or better, AT&T has also launched a new, fun app called JustUs. The app combines both social media and text activity from five favorite contacts into an animated wallpaper, keeping users better connected with those that matter most. Customers can download the app for free in Android Market today.

Quotes

“The 4.5-inch screen on Infuse 4G is enhanced further with Samsung’s Super AMOLED Plus technology.  Colors are rich and bright, even while outdoors in sunlight,” said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, Devices, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “When you juxtapose that with the fact that it’s the thinnest 4G smartphone out there today, it’s an incredibly compelling choice for our customers.”

“When you combine the powerful 1.2 GHz application processor with AT&T’s advanced 4G network, this device will truly be the fastest smartphone Samsung has ever created with AT&T,” said Omar Khan, chief technology officer & chief product officer for Samsung Mobile. “The Infuse 4G is our latest example of Samsung’s global leadership in Android platform smartphones. With every Android smartphone that we launch, we’re bringing something new and exciting to the market.”

Smartphone Portfolio

AT&T is a pioneer in smartphones and devices and expects to widen its portfolio in 2011. In January, AT&T committed to introducing 20 4G devices and 12 additional Android devices by the end of the year. Samsung Infuse 4G will be one of several new 4G devices that have been offered to AT&T customers in the first half of 2011.

Samsung Infuse 4G Accessories

To prepare for the arrival of the Samsung Infuse 4G in AT&T stores, the company has prepared a robust lineup of 14 fashionable and functional accessories including multiple case options, a vehicle mount and desk mount.  All accessories are available in AT&T company-owned stores and online at www.wireless.att.com. For more details on the lineup visit www.att.com/mobilephones-news.

Key Specifications

•     Android™ 2.2 platform

•     4G: HSDPA CAT 14  and HSUPA CAT 6

•     8.9 mm to 9.24mm thin

•     UMTS 850/1900/2100

•     GSM 850/900/1800/1900

•     1.2 GHz processor

•     4.5-inch Super AMOLED™ Plus screen

•     8-megapixel camera with HD 720p video camera and 1.3-megapixel front facing camera

•     Virtual QWERTY keyboard

•     Expandable memory up to 32GB with microSD card

•     Text/Picture and Video Messaging support

•     Samsung Media Hub, U-verse Mobile, U-verse Live TV, and Angry Birds

To learn more about the Samsung Infuse™ 4G, visit www.att.com/mobilephones-news, www.att.com/infuse4G or www.samsung.com/mobile.