Our good friend P3Droid at MyDroidWorld seems to have gained some trustworthy information regarding the applications coming installed on Verizon’s Nexus Prime. He’s go the full list and, as you will be able to tell, the only VZW apps you see here are those that pertain to Verizon’s network (meaning you won’t be seeing anything Verizon-branded on the phone unless you venture into the Manage Applications screen). That’s all good news, though as with anything we can’t fully trust it until the device is in users’ hands. Read on for the full list. [Via, Source]
The Motorola XOOM WiFi has received a quick maintenance update. Users are reporting that it brings with it the new Android market update that stylistically resembles the version for phones. Other than that, there are no other obvious changes (we’ll just assume the obligatory round of bug fixes are in here). HTK75D is the version you’re looking for. Go to Settings>About tablet>System updates to pull it down. [Pics Source, Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
[Update]: The installable APK file for version 3.1.5 of the Android market (the update began appearing in phones last week) also includes the Honeycomb version, meaning if you have a Honeycomb tablet you can grab that file, install it and say hello to the new market. Most non-XOOM owners will want to do this. Grab this link and install it like you would any application. [Source]
Popular (and highly addictive) puzzle game Cut the Rope has gotten a new update. It’s the first of many promised from the developers. This one is called “Toy Box” and it brings with it 25 new levels. They’ve even brought new game mechanics so throw any and all reservations about familiarity out the window. Find the update in the Android market today.
PhoneArena has heard it from someone they believe is reliable that Best Buy will be offering the HTC Flyer to consumers starting October 6th for just $300. The 6th is not a Sunday (where Best Buy usually posts temporary price cuts) and PhoneArena didn’t mention anything about it being anything other than temporary.
Yesterday’s big announcement by Amazon for the Kindle Fire likely drove this change, they believe, as their new Android tablet (which is hardly Android at the surface, from what we can tell) will come in at just $200. Simply the joys of good competition. We wish carriers would respond to each other in this manner.
The HTC Holiday is expected to come to America for AT&T and their brand new 4G network and the FCC has somewhat confirmed that. We have an HTC device with the frequencies AT&T uses for its 4G network and a sizable device. We’d say the Holiday fits that profile well with its 4.5 inch display. For specs, there’s a 1.2Ghz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, an 8 megapixel camera with HD video recording, a front-facing camera and more. We’re expecting it to be here in time for the holidays. (OK that’s the last time I do that.) [FCC, via]
If leaked news or a trip to your local store weren’t enough to confirm that the Sprint Premier program would be no more, perhaps these nice letters arriving to customers’ mailboxes will do it. Sprint’s informing everyone through snail mail (and likely online) that the Premier program is being shut down.
Sprint cites changing times in the wireless industry with 4G phones and unlimited data as reasons why they had to axe the popular program. If you don’t know, Sprint premier customers received perks like yearly upgrades, discounts on accessories and first access to new devices.
Slowly but surely, we saw this coming. Not long before initial word of the program coming to a complete halt, Sprint moved to a tiered system for their rewards program. Customers were split into silver and gold. Silver was maintained for people who met the previous conditions and the only incentives they got to keep were early device access and discounted accessories. Gold status was given to customers who paid a bit more and they kept everything from the old program.
And now it’s completely gone. Customers were outraged with this change alongside many others. Some have said that their pricing, premier program and unlimited data were the last things they had going for them. Scratch one off the list. The hard part is always wondering what’s next to go. What’s the over/under on unlimited data? [Sprint Feed]
We first caught wind of the Motorola DROID 3 update assigned build number 5.6.890 via a changelog posted to Verizon’s support site. It has been a few weeks since we first viewed that document, but the update is now rolling out to handsets. You will recall the feature to receive top billing in this new software version is support for Google Talk with Video. Other fixes and tweaks abound. Check “System update” under Settings/About phone to see if the new software version awaits you.
Huawei isn’t usually known for anything more than budget-priced fodder, but with the upcoming release of their Android-powered Honor they hope to change the aura around their brand. While still not stretching into dual-core powerhouse territory, the Huawei Honor sports a 1.4GHz CPU, 4-inch display, and 8MP camera. While not as cheap as your typical Huawei offering, the handset will retail for a modest $400. A video overview of the Honor has been posted by Greek outlet Techblog giving us a pretty clear look at what to expect. The handset doesn’t look bad at all, and with indications we could see this one in the US the Honor could be a pleasant surprise for smartphone buyers not looking to drop top dollar while still being rewarded with a fairly impressive list of specs. Check out the video below.
Verizon and Motorola have just announced that the 4G LTE upgrade promised to those who purchased the XOOM tablet via the wireless provider will begin tomorrow for all existing owners. The upgrade, which was initially offered to a small group of test users, requires owners to ship their tablets back to Motorola for the installation of an LTE radio and a software re-flash that will enable support for 4G. Instructions for completing the upgrade can be found over at Verizon’s site.
Verizon will begin offering the Motorola XOOM with 4G radio pre-installed to customers beginning October 13th for the price of $499.99.
Motorola XOOM™ 4G LTE Upgrade Available Tomorrow
Upgrade to Add the Speed of the Largest 4G LTE Network in America
Sept. 28, 2011
BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Sept. 28, 2011 – Verizon Wireless and Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE: MMI), today announced the Motorola XOOM 4G LTE upgrade will be available for existing Motorola XOOM customers beginning tomorrow. The Motorola XOOM 4G LTE will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com beginning Oct. 13 for $499.99 with a new two-year contract.
Starting tomorrow, Motorola XOOM customers can visit www.verizonwireless.com/Xoom4GLTEupgrade for complete instructions and to begin the 4G LTE upgrade process. Customers who signed up for email alerts will receive an email notification with instructions tomorrow. Customers should expect to get their updated Motorola XOOM with 4G LTE back in approximately six business days. The 4G LTE upgrade is free of charge and customers do not have to change their current data plan when upgrading to 4G LTE. Customers are encouraged to back up any personal information prior to shipping.
Faster speeds and connections enhance the Motorola XOOM experience, allowing customers to download songs in seconds and movies in minutes. Customers should expect average download speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G LTE mobile broadband coverage areas. When customers travel outside of a 4G LTE coverage area, the Motorola XOOM automatically connects to the Verizon Wireless 3G network, enabling customers to stay connected from coast to coast.
Key features:
10.1-inch widescreen HD display
32 GB built-in storage (actual formatted capacity is less), with microSD card slot supporting additional 32 GB
Android™ 3.2 Honeycomb – supports Google™ Mobile Services including Gmail™, YouTube™, Google Talk™, Google Search™, Google Maps™, Google Movies™, Google Books™ and Android Market™
Dual-core 1 GHz processor
Adobe® Flash® 10- enabling the delivery of rich Flash based web content including videos, casual games and applications
2-megapixel front-facing camera for video chats over 4G LTE, 3G and WiFi
5-megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash
Data plans:
Motorola XOOM customers will have the option to choose one of the following mobile broadband data plans:
$30 monthly access for 2GB monthly allowance
$50 monthly access for 5GB monthly allowance
$80 monthly access for 10GB monthly allowance
For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com. Visit www.verizonwireless.com/4GLTE for more information about Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network.
US Cellular is adding a few new HTC devices to its stable of Android offerings including two new smartphones and a tablet. In the high-end category we have the HTC Hero S features a 4-inch Super LCD display with qHD resolution, Android 2.3 with HTC Sense, and a 5MP camera (1.3MP front-facing). The HTC Wildfire S drops down into the mid-range with a 3.2-inch display, 5MP camera, and Android 2.3. Rounding things out we have the HTC Flyer, the 7-inch tablet first introduced last spring.
The Hero S will retail for $199.99 on-contract after a $100 mail-in rebate, the Wildfire S costs $79.99 on the same terms, and the Flyer will be available for $199.99 with rebate and contract. A release date isn’t known at this time. Full press release follows.
U.S. Cellular Announces Three HTC Android-Powered Devices Coming Soon
Carrier’s Device Line-up Offers Something for Everyone
CHICAGO (September 28, 2011) – U.S. Cellular (NYSE: USM) announced today that the HTC Wildfire S™ and HTC Hero S™ smartphones, and the HTC Flyer™ tablet, will arrive in stores next month. All three devices are powered by the Android™ operating system, which gives customers endless options to customize the devices to fit their lifestyles.
”We’re excited to give our customers even more choices by offering these cutting-edge devices,” said Edward Perez, vice president of sales and marketing operations for U.S. Cellular. ”Our associates’ commitment to helping each customer find the right device to organize and simplify their life is one of the reasons we have the happiest customers in wireless.”
HTC smartphones and tablets powered by Google’s Android operating system lets wireless users personalize the devices. With more than 550,000 Android devices activated each day and more than 250,000 helpful apps available to stay organized, entertained and in touch with family and friends from anywhere, consumers are realizing the unique benefits that Android-powered devices offer.
The sleek and stylish HTC Hero S runs on Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) with HTC Sense™, which helps keep customers at the center of their social world by bringing together all the different ways they communicate – from calls to IMs to status updates. It also features HTC Watch™, which allows customers to view their favorite television shows and movies on the smartphone’s vibrant 4-inch Super LCD touchscreen with qHD resolution. The Hero S also features a 5-megapixel camera with autofocus and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera that lets users quickly capture pictures and video. The Hero S will be available for $199.99 after $100 mail-in rebate along with purchase of a data plan.
Also powered by Android 2.3, the Wildfire S will appeal to customers moving up to their first smartphone. Available in grey and purple, it features a vibrant 3.2-inch touchscreen with HTC Sense and a 5-megapixel camera. Customers new to smartphones can easily download and enjoy useful apps. The Wildfire S will be available for $79.99 after $100.00 mail-in rebate along with purchase of a data plan.
The HTC Flyer is small enough to hold in one hand and powerful enough for e-mail, web browsing, entertainment and apps. The 7-inch tablet is driven by a 1.5 Ghz Snapdragon processor that lets customers cruise through applications, play games and watch TV and movies. The HTC Flyer also comes with 32GB of memory on-board to store music and videos. An optional HTC Scribe™ pen can highlight text, make notes, draw and even sign documents right on the screen. The HTC Flyer will be available for $199.99 after $100 mail-in rebate with a two-year contract and a $54.99 data plan.
U.S. Cellular’s value-packed national plans are tailored to meet customers’ data needs. The $79.99 Primary Plus Plan is the best value in wireless and offers 5GB of data with unlimited text, picture and video messaging. The plan also comes with 450 voice minutes, free incoming calls, free nights and weekends, and free mobile-to-mobile calls. A family of four who switches to U.S. Cellular can save more than $1,000 a year with the company’s National Premium Plus family plan.
U.S. Cellular customers also get unique benefits, like new phones faster without continuously signing contracts, free incoming calls, text and pix, free Battery Swap and a rewards program where they get points for paying monthly wireless bills on time, adding a line or referring new customers. All U.S. Cellular devices are backed by the carrier’s high-speed nationwide network, which has the highest call quality and network satisfaction of any national carrier.
To help smartphone and tablet users get the most out of their devices, U.S. Cellular hosts free in-store Device Workshops. Associates guide attendees through all of the features and functions of the company’s Android-powered, Windows Phone and BlackBerry devices, and help them personalize their phones to enhance their lives. The workshops are open to everyone.
For more information about all of U.S. Cellular’s Device Workshops, deals, plans and phones, visit any U.S. Cellular store, go to uscellular.com or check out U.S. Cellular on Facebook.
The HTC Hero S will be available for $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate. The HTC Wildfire S will be available for $79.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate. Purchase of a data plan is required, and a new two-year agreement and activation fee may apply for new customers. The HTC Flyer will be available for $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a two-year contract and a $54.99 data plan. Additional terms, conditions and/or charges may apply.
