By:
Dan Graziano | Feb 22nd, 2012 at 11:00PM

LG continues to announce an array of new smartphones ahead of next week’s Mobile World Congress trade show. On Wednesday, the company unveiled its follow up to the original Optimus 3D, the Optimus 3D Max. The handset is equipped with a 1.2GHz dual-core TI OMAP4430 processor beneath a 4.3-inch 3D WVGA display that is protected by Corning’s second-generation Gorilla Glass. The Optimus 3D Max also features 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, a 5-megapixel duel-lens 3D rear camera, 3D video editing capabilities and NFC, and it runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread. LG, like many other companies, has promised an upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich “shortly after the launch.” The Optimus 3D Max is slated to be released in Korea in March and then slowly rolled out to other markets starting with Europe. Read on for LG’s press release.
By:
Zach Epstein | Feb 22nd, 2012 at 09:45PM

T-Mobile on Wednesday revealed the latest addition to the Galaxy-brand lineup of Samsung smartphones. Towing the line between mid-range and high-end, the Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G is more than just a sleek smartphone with a whopping nine syllables in its name. The handset features a dual-core 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 processor, a 3.97-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen display, a 5-megapixel camera capable of recording 720p HD videos, a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera for video chats, HSPA+ 42 compatibility and Android 2.3 Gingerbread. “The Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G is loaded with rich features and services to keep consumers entertained and connected virtually anywhere they want to go,” T-Mobile SVP of marketing Andrew Sherrard said in a statement. “Paired with T-Mobile’s fast 4G network and our unlimited data plans, we’re making it easy for consumers to enjoy the benefits of 4G experiences at a price they can afford.” The Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G will become available online and in stores in late March for $149.99 on contract. T-Mobile’s full press release follows below.
By:
Dan Graziano | Feb 22nd, 2012 at 07:15PM

The New York Times claims to have confirmed previous rumors stating that Google is developing Android-based glasses with a built-in heads-up display (HUD). While earlier rumors suggested that the glasses were not ready for a mass roll out, the Times quotes unnamed Google employees who said “the glasses will go on sale to the public by the end of the year.” The HUD glasses will reportedly come equipped with a 3G or 4G data connection, a number of sensors including motion and GPS, and they are expected to cost “around the price of current smartphones,” or between $250 and $600.
By:
Dan Graziano | Feb 22nd, 2012 at 06:10PM

T-Mobile is urging federal regulators to block Verizon’s planned spectrum acquisition from SpectrumCo, a joint venture formed by Comcast, Time Warner and Bright House Networks. Verizon’s pending purchase could be worth $3.9 billion and would help the company build out its nationwide LTE network. In a filing late Tuesday, T-Mobile said the Federal Communications Commission should block the deal because it would place an “excessive concentration” of wireless spectrum in Verizon’s hands, reports the Associated Press. The AWS bands that Verizon is looking to acquire uses the same frequencies that T-Mobile uses for its HSPA+ network. T-Mobile claims that the nation’s No.1 carrier already has a large amount of spectrum and does not need any more, and T-Mobile can “quickly, more intensively, and more efficiently” put the spectrum to use compared to Verizon. MetroPCS, the nation’s fifth-largest wireless provider, also urged the FCC to block the deal, claiming both parties had not provided enough information to prove that the acquisition is in the public’s best interest. Verizon and SpectrumCo hope to close the deal by the middle of this year.
By:
Zach Epstein | Feb 22nd, 2012 at 04:30PM

Nokia on Tuesday released a teaser video showing off the remarkable camera included on a handset it plans to unveil next week at the annual Mobile World Congress trade Show in Barcelona, Spain. The device is thought to be a high-end Windows Phone with a 12-megapixel camera that has surfaced in a number of earlier reports. A new report on Wednesday claims that Nokia has plans to announce a new cheaper Windows Phone at the show next week as well, however, suggesting that the Finnish phone maker plans to address multiple market segments with its Windows Phone announcements once again. Read on for more.
By:
Dan Graziano | Feb 22nd, 2012 at 03:35PM

Google may be in the process of bringing its mobile operating system to desktop and notebook computers, according to a recent patent filing. The patent, which was discovered by Patently Apple, showcases desktop control features similar to Apple’s multitouch MacBook trackpad and Magic Trackpad. The current Android operating system has been designed for touch commands and actions, however in the future it may be expanded to support different means of control, Google said in the patent overview. Using a multitouch trackpad, a user can “directly interact with graphical elements located at the current pointer location as if they are using a touchscreen device, and perform traditional touchscreen operations (e.g., dragging/flinging content, scrolling).” Following Google’s acquisition of Motorola Mobility, it is believed that the Mountain View-based company will now explore a variety of new hardware products.
By:
Dan Graziano | Feb 22nd, 2012 at 02:25PM

Whether you’re fan of Apple products or not, there is no denying the influence Steve Jobs had on the world. Simon Lau — a freelance Web, iPhone and iPad developer — built a tribute to Mr. Jobs using Facebook’s Timeline feature. Facebook’s Timeline replaces a user’s traditional profile page with life events, check-ins, new friends additions, photos and more, all listed in chronological order. Lau’s Timeline of Jobs, which was promptly removed by Facebook only to later be restored, features an array of photos and life events that highlight the Apple co-founder’s time on Earth. Hit the break for a video showcasing Steve Jobs’s Timeline.
By:
Dan Graziano | Feb 22nd, 2012 at 01:20PM

According to a leaked accessory sheet, the HTC Ville and Huawei Prism are headed to T-Mobile in the U.S. The sheet, a screenshot of which was obtained by TmoNews, provides little information outside of device names and “warehouse arrival” dates for various accessories. Accessories, which sometimes arrive weeks before a handset launches, are set to arrive for both devices in early April. BGR exclusively reported this past November that HTC will unveil the Ville at next week’s Mobile World Congress trade show. The device is rumored to be thinner than Apple’s iPhone 4S and will feature Android 4.0, Sense 4.0, a 4.3-inch qHD Super AMOLED display, a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon Series 4 processor, an 8-megapixel camera, HSPA+ and a 1,650 mAh battery.
Review
By:
Zach Epstein | Feb 22nd, 2012 at 12:01PM

You know what they say about guys with huge phones… They’re compensating for tiny data plans. Samsung’s Galaxy Note is a giant smartphone. Or a teeny tablet. After using AT&T’s version of this device for several days now, I’m still not quite sure which is the case. It handles voice calls like a cell phone and it runs Google’s Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread smartphone operating system, but it feels very much like a tablet and it includes a stylus, which hasn’t been seen alongside a smartphone in this hemisphere for quite some time. Somehow, however, Samsung manages to pull it all together into one interesting package that might not have been worth the $10 million introduction, but it could certainly find a niche in today’s supersized smartphone market. Maybe.
By:
Dan Graziano | Feb 22nd, 2012 at 11:10AM

A new bug has been discovered in iOS 5.0.1 that provides unauthorized access to a user’s contacts on passcode-protected iPhones. The bug, which was discovered by iPhoneIslam, is not easily reproduced and requires the attacker to have a spare SIM card or access to the victim’s phone number. The method involves inserting and ejecting the iPhone’s SIM card, which will eventually bypass the phone’s passcode and give unauthorized access to the contacts and phone app. The attacker can then make calls, view call history, view contacts and use FaceTime. The threat is seen as a somewhat minor issue that Apple will most likely fix in an upcoming iOS update.
By:
Dan Graziano | Feb 22nd, 2012 at 10:00AM

We have received a number of reports this morning from Verizon Wireless customers complaining that the carrier’s 4G LTE network was down in various parts of the country. The carrier’s support forums have also been flooded with complaints from irate users who claim the service is down across the country, and Verizon customers service representatives have reportedly confirmed the outage to a number of subscribers. Verizon customers have suffered from data problems before — the carrier recently had three massive outages in a single month.
UPDATE: Verizon says all issues have been resolved and its 4G LTE network came back up around 1:00 p.m. Eastern.
By:
Dan Graziano | Feb 22nd, 2012 at 12:00AM

Samsung may be looking to launch its own cloud service to compete with Apple’s iCloud. The South Korean manufacturer originally enlisted Samsung SDS to develop the infrastructure behind the company’s new “S-Cloud” service, however it turned out to be unsuitable for the global market, reports ETNews. The company’s Media Solution Center (SMSC) is now reportedly looking to establish an infrastructure by utilizing proven commercial solutions from KT or even Amazon to help build its cloud network. The publication states that the service will more than likely be delayed due to the heavy modifications to its infrastructure.
By:
Dan Graziano | Feb 21st, 2012 at 10:45PM

LG on Tuesday announced three more Android smartphones ahead of next week’s Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona, Spain. The “L-style” series will feature the Optimus L3 (3.2-inch), L5 (4-inch) and L7 (4.3-inch), three smartphones for design-conscious consumers. “Design is consistently the top or second most important factor for customers when choosing a mobile phone,” president and CEO of LG Mobile Dr. Jong-seok Park said. “With smartphones, we sometimes took a more functional approach to design but with L-Style we’re going back to our roots as a company focused on how our products fit into the lifestyle of our customers.” The “L-style” focuses on five major design elements: modern square style, “floating display” technology, more intuitive arrangement of keys, metallic accents and a “sensuous slim shape” to naturally draw one’s attention. The L5 and L7 will both launch with Android 4.0 in the first half the year and the L3 Gingerbread phone will be released in March.
By:
Dan Graziano | Feb 21st, 2012 at 09:30PM

Samsung on Tuesday announced two new additions to the company’s Galaxy smartphone line; the Galaxy Ace 2 and Galaxy mini 2. The Ace 2 features an 800MHz dual-core processor with a 3.8-inch WVGA display. The handset is also equipped with a 5-megapixel rear camera, VGA front facing one, Android 2.3, 4GB of internal storage and a microSD slot. The mini 2 comes with an 800MHz processor and a 3.27-inch HVGA display with a 3-megapixel rear camera, microSD slot and Android 2.3. Both devices also ship with Samsung’s ChatON, Social Hub and Music Hub services, allowing one-step access to social networks and over 17 million songs. The GALAXY Ace 2 will be available in the U.K. in April, and the GALAXY mini 2 will be available in France in March before being rolled out globally. Samsung has not announced any details with regard to a North American launch. Read on for Samsung’s press release.