ESPN Fantasy Football Hits The Market Just In Time For Football Season

A couple of weeks ago, the official NFL Fantasy Football app landed in the Android Market, much to the delight of football fans across the nation. Today, ESPN has released its official Fantasy Football app, allowing you to manage your team on-the-go. The app offers full team management for multiple teams and leagues, lets you add, drop, and trade players; real-time stats and scoring, push notifications for injuries, substitutions, and scoring updates; as well as fantasy news and access to your team's message board.

The app is free for all, so hit the widget below to grab it.

ESPN Fantasy Football 2011

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Millennial Media: Android Accounts For 61% Of All Smartphones, A 15% Growth Month-Over-Month

Mobile advertiser Millennial Media has released its monthly "Mobile Mix" report detailing the state of the mobile industry from its eyes. Things are looking good for Android, while still remaining basically the same overall:

Android had a strong growth month, and increased 15% month-over-month. Android had a 61% share of overall smartphone impressions and was in the top spot for the 8^th straight month.




Samsung grew 28% month-over-month as a manufacturer, and was the second leading manufacturer on our network.




Motorola was the 5^th leading manufacturer, and had 3 phones in the top 11 mobile phones.




When breaking down ad spend from applications on our network, 48% came from Android apps, while 43% came from iOS apps.




Devices with both a touchscreen and QWERTY keyboard grew 7% month-over-month and represented 16% of all impressions. This was tied to both the Motorola Droid and BlackBerry Torch.




Gaming apps made up 34% of the ad spend for Android applications. On our network overall, gaming apps held a 29% share (which is a 35% increase month-over-month).

The Nexus S is currently the most popular Android phone, representing 5.73% of the top 20 devices. Of course, the iPhone is holding on tight to the number one spot, with 13.6% of the impression share. Surprisingly, the Blackberry Curve is hot on the heels of the Nexus S, with 5.23%, the OG Motorola Droid is still alive and kicking with 3.94%, and the Blackberry Bold II rounds out the top five devices with 1.93%. Overall, an impressive 16 of the top 20 devices run Android.

Similarly, Apple is the top device manufacturer, representing 26% of the manufacturer impression share. Samsung is gaining steam on a monthly basis, holding the number two spot at 19.11%, making up a 28% growth month-over-month. Rounding out the rest of the top five manufacturers is RIM with 11.45%, HTC with 10.98%, and Motorola at 10.26%.

Out of the overall smartphone category, Android is running on 61% of all devices, a 15% increase month-over-month. Despite only running on one specific hardware, iOS is still representing 21% of the market, with RIM right behind at 14%. Symbian and Windows Mobile/Phone 7 make up the remaining 4%.
Of course, these results are far from concrete and can drastically vary from study-to-study, as we've seen in the past.

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Just in Time For IFA – Samsung Introduces Galaxy Y, Y-Pro, M-Pro and W

First up is the Samsung Galaxy Y (above). The “Y” stands for “Young” and can be seen as Samsung entry level handsets meaning affordable price with lower-end specs. This one in particular will be running on Android 2.3 Gingerbread, 832MHz processor, 3-inch 320×240 LCD display, 2MP camera, 7.2Mbps HSDPA and 1200mAh battery. Like all of Samsung’s new Android devices, it will offer support for Hubs, come with Swype pre-installed and feature TouchWiz UI.

Next is is the Samsung Galaxy Y-Pro. Essentially this is the Galaxy Y with a full QWERTY in a Blackberry form factor. Not much other details were given on the device so expect the same internals, with a slightly different resolution screen.


The Galaxy M-Pro is Samsung’s “Magical” mid-tier handsets designed to offer more power yet still remain affordable. The M-Pro has a 2.66-inch 480×320 LCD display, 1GHz processor, 5MP rear/.3MP front facing cameras, 1350mAh battery and running Android 2.3. Since this will be aimed at the business market, the device will come pre-installed with apps like Cisco Mobile, Webex, Sybase Afaria and others.

And now we’ve come to the Samsung Galaxy W. According to Samsung’s handy chart, the “Wonder” devices are classified as their “high-tier” line of Android handsets. Like all the others, it will be running off of Android 2.3 Gingerbread and feature a 1.4GHz single-core processor, 3.7-inch 800×480 LCD display, support for 14.4Mbps HSDPA, 5MP camera and a 1500mAh battery. You can expect the typical Samsung software and the Galaxy W will also offer support for Kies Air which can be used to access the phone wirelessly using WiFi.

So, that’s pretty much it from Samsung’s pre-IFA lineup. We’ll have to wait until August 30th before we learn more. Let’s hope Sammy unveils the Galaxy R and S tier of handsets and just maybe, they’ll give us some deets on that U.S. launch for the Galaxy S II. As always, we’ll be keeping you posted.

Samsung introduces new GALAXY smartphone naming strategy, expands GALAXY smartphone range

SEOUL--(Korea Newswire) August 24, 2011 -- Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., a leading mobile phone provider, today announced a new naming strategy for its GALAXY range of smartphones. The creation of the new naming system is marked by the release of four new GALAXY smartphone, the GALAXY W, GALAXY M Pro, GALAXY Y and GALAXY Y Pro, all of which run on the powerful Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating systems.

Samsung has created a new and simplified system of naming its smartphones, focused on its ever-expanding portfolio of industry-leading Android devices. The naming structure will organize and group all devices into five classes, identified by a single alphabetical letter. Devices will then be further designated by an additional indicator which will identify specific functionality.

"As Samsung continues to innovate, our goal is to provide consumers with an experience uniquely tailored to their needs. We have introduced steps to ensure users can simply identify the device designed to deliver the perfect experience for them," said JK Shin, President and Head of Samsung's Mobile Communications Business.

"In addition to this new naming strategy at IFA this year we unveilling the GALAXY W, GALAXY M Pro, GALAXY Y and GALAXY Y Pro – designed with the professional and social consumer in mind. These products further build on the phenomenal success we have enjoyed with the GALAXY range."

New ways to identify your GALAXY Smartphones

According to the new naming structure, new class designators refer to the specific category that the smartphone product fits into, for example a premium device, or an entry-level device. All classes will be used within the higher branding of the 'GALAXY' smartphones.

- "S" (Super Smart) – Devices at the very pinnacle of Samsung's mobile portfolio. This class will only be used on flagship devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S, the award-winning smartphone that has already sold 10 million units throughout the world.
· "R" (Royal / Refined) – Premium category models, a combination of power, performance and productivity for the individual who wants to be defined by the technology they carry.
· "W" (Wonder) – High quality, strategic models, perfect for those seeking a balance between style and performance.
· "M" (Magical) –High-performance models at an economic price-point.
· "Y" (Young) – These are entry models or strategic models for emerging markets or a younger audience more sensitive to price.
Class indicators allow a more specific description of the key selling points of a device:

- "Pro" – This indicates that the device includes a QWERTY keyboard for speedier email typing and increased productivity for professionals.
- "Plus" – This indicates that the device is an upgrade from an existing model.
- "LTE" – This indicates that the device is designed to utilize LTE (Long-Term Evolution) connectivity standards, a 4G standard to provide increased mobile network capacity and speed.

Introducing the Samsung GALAXY W

Equipped with high-spec technology including a 1.4GHz Processor, HSDPA 14.4 Mbps connectivity and a large 3.7" touch screen, the GALAXY W is the ideal solution for those who need to Live Fast and Live Smart. This powerful performance is enhanced with the inclusion of Samsung's Game, Social and Music Hubs, providing one-stop solutions for a consumer's gaming, socializing and listening needs. Kies Air enables additional control, allowing users who have misplaced their phone to track it, meaning complete peace of mind.

GALAXY M Pro

Providing a strong performance for high value, the GALAXY M Pro is the ideal solution for young and sociable professionals. A QWERTY keyboard provides swift, accurate typing on the go - enhancing productivity when drafting memos, documents and messages. The keyboard also simplifies communication with Social Hub allowing users to talk to whoever they want, however they want, all from their contact list. Communication history, instant messaging and updates from social networking sites are all readily available.

An optical track pad and touch screen ensures the interface is easy and simple to use. This productivity and functionality is packed into a sleek 9.97m body. Designed with professionals in mind, the GALAXY M Pro offers extensive productivity through a variety of enterprise solutions, including Exchange Active Sync, Sybase Afaria, CISCO Mobile and CISCO WebEx.

GALAXY Y

Compact but with a full range of features and allowing the ability to stay social on-the-go, the GALAXY Y is an ideal device for younger consumers. Seamless multitasking is enabled thanks to the device's powerful 832MHz processor. The GALAXY Y includes Samsung's Social Hub, allowing users to stay connected with their online social circles. Equipped with Samsung's TouchWiz User Interface, the GALAXY Y delivers a simple and intuitive experience. Additionally, the inclusion of SWYPE facilitates speedy typing. The GALAXY Y is available in a variety of colors ensuring it can fit with anyone's style.

GALAXY Y Pro

Equipped with a QWERTY keyboard as well as enhanced social and professional features, the GALAXY Y Pro Smartphone is optimized for young professionals looking to manage both their work and home lives with ease. Users can stay constantly connected with Social Hub Premium, which supports email, social network integration and instant messaging.

An optimized, intuitive touch screen interface allows an accessible and intelligent experience, while users are able to work on the go thanks to ThinkFree mobile office, enabling a variety of Office documents (Word, PPT, Excel and PDF) to be edited from the handset. Productivity is enhanced thanks to the combined power of touch screen and QWERTY keyboard inputs, enabling smooth navigation with efficient and professional input. WiFi Direct also allows faster transfer rates, allowing content to be shared quickly.

[Via SammyHub]

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Google Nexus S vs Google Nexus Prime

We're keeping it in the family this time around, as we compare Google's Nexus S with the upcoming Nexus Prime

Google's Nexus range has been impressive from the get-go and as the dynasty grows we, the smartphone buying public, get more and more features, tech and hardware stability to help us run our lives and stay in touch with the people that matter most.
So we thought it apt to honour the genus with this week's comparison, as we see whether the popular and powerful Nexus S can hold off a challenge from its brother, the Nexus Prime.
(Note: It's worth bearing in mind that we aren't dealing with certainties in regards the Nexus Prime's spec sheet - the final hardware may well be different)

Display
Google's Nexus S features a unique curved Super AMOLED screen that measures a fairly roomy 4-inches and operates at a resolution of 480x800.
The Nexus Prime is rumoured to feature a huge 4.7-inch, 720P display though, which makes use of Samsung's PenTile Matrix technology.
Bigger isn't always better but the quality being mooted for the Nexus Prime speaks volumes about both Google and Samsung's intentions in the market and seems to generate a clear message: watch out, iPhone 5.
Winner - Nexus Prime

Power
As you'd expect from the next generation Google superphone the Nexus Prime features something special under the bonnet. Namely a dual-core 1.5GHz CPU, which will make mincemeat out of anything else around.
Add to that 1GB RAM and a PowerVR SGX540 GPU and you've got yourself a pretty special device.
The Nexus S, though very capable, pales in comparison with a 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 CPU and 512MB RAM. GPU duties are ably handled by the same PowerVR SGX540 that is rumoured to feature in the Nexus Prime though, so it isn't all bad.
Winner - Nexus Prime

Software
Both our contenders run, unsurprisingly, on Google's Android platform.
The Nexus S ships with the ever popular version 2.3.4 (also known as Gingerbread), while the Nexus Prime will reportedly launch version 4.0 (or 2.4) genially known as Ice Cream Sandwich or ICS.
Ice Cream Sandwich is the next step in Android's development and the platform takes all the best bits from iterations past and present to create a full mobile experience for both tablets and smartphones.
The Nexus Prime may well be the first to offer the newest version of Android but it won't be the only one, as Google plans to use Ice Cream Sandwich to unify the rapidly fragmenting Android ecosystem. As such all devices, old and new, can expect to see an update. Hurrah!
Winner - Draw

Camera
The Google Nexus S features a nice 5-megapixel camera with LED flash, geo-tagging, touch-focus and autofocus which takes surprisingly good images even in low light. In addition to its primary camera the Nexus S also sports a front-facing VGA, to handle video calling.
The WVGA video capture, while decent enough for most people who shoot the occasional clip, isn't great though, but the next big software update for the device is rumoured to be bumping that up to 720p.
Rumours regarding the Nexus Prime's camera have been a little underwhelming to say the least. The device is rumoured to be shipping with the self-same 5-megapixel snapper that the Nexus S has!
The only discernible improvement, if the rumour mill has it right, is that the Nexus Prime will offer a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, as opposed to the VGA on offer in the Nexus S.
Disappointing, if that's the case!
Winner - Draw

Form
Early reports indicate the minimalist draftsmen have been hard at work on the Nexus Prime, giving it a bare, button free façade.
We haven't got any concrete measurements with which to truly compare the device to its predecessor, but with a 4.7-inch display it sure isn't going to be a pocket friendly smartphone.
The Nexus S, however, is a comfortable device to both hold and tote around in your jeans pocket.
The device measures a fairly modest 123.9 x 63 x 10.9 mm and tips the scale at 129g, making it pretty average for a device in its class.
The curved form factor (and screen) really add to the device's comfort though, and we've seldom come across a more ergonomically pleasing device.
If we were to drum up a complaint it would be that Samsung has used cheap materials to craft the device. A little metal would have been nice.

Winner - Nexus S
So it's a resounding victory for the unconfirmed Nexus Prime, but should we really be surprised?
Comparing the Nexus Prime with the Nexus S is like comparing Homo sapiens with Neanderthal man, because for all its smarts and capability it's nothing more than a primitive entity when held up against the next step of evolution.
Put simply, if the leaked specifications surrounding the Nexus Prime are accurate, this October will see the release of the most powerful smartphone ever devised. And that's very exciting.

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Exclusive: HTC Puccini in the wild, AT&T LTE support confirmed!

That, friends, is the AT&T-bound HTC Puccini, and it'll be the first tablet to hit Ma Bell with inbuilt LTE support. According to our sources, the Android-based slate is currently in testing, and should be hitting the markets in the not-too-distant future. 'Course, AT&T just started shipping its first two LTE devices, but having something other than a WWAN modem would certainly be appreciated. As for specs? We've confirmed that a 1.5GHz processor is onboard, alongside 1GB of RAM, Honeycomb, 16GB of storage and a 10.1-inch WXGA touchpanel. We're digging for more as we speak, and will be updating accordingly. Meanwhile, feel free to peruse the gallery below -- oh, and that "smaller" device? That's the WiFi-only Flyer that we saw soar through the FCC in April. That'll be let loose on US shores next month, and we're sniffing around for a price as we speak.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

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Facebook fighting Twitter, Google with acquisitions

Facebook is expecting to acquire a total of 20 new companies in 2011 in an effort to better compete with Twitter and Google, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday. The social network purchased 10 new companies last year and just one in 2009, but has already acquired 13 various firms this year. Most recently, Facebook purchased the group-messaging service Beluga, which was created by several former Google employees, and re-released it as the “Facebook Messenger” product for the iPhone and Android smartphones. In an interview with Bloomberg, Facebook’s director of corporate development Vaughan Smith explained the strategy behind Facebook’s acquisitions. “Two years ago we didn’t have a track record in acquisitions,” Smith said. “While we expected them to work well, it was still a crapshoot how they’d turn out. We’ve built a culture that supports entrepreneurs, and it’s working incredibly well.” Facebook other big purchases this year include Snaptu, design firm Sofa and Push Pop Press.
Read

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ASUS Transformer minor OTA Update rolling out, Netflix now working

Today ASUS has started the rollout for a small OTA update to the ASUS EeePad Transformer Tablet. From initial reports the update brings the Transformer up to build 8.6.5.9 and many are reporting that Netflix is now fully supported. We saw the Netflix logo appear on the homepage for the ASUS Transformer but we’ve still yet to see any official comments or support as of late.

While users are claiming Netflix still doesn’t show up in the market, you can download it manually and it works without root or making any changes. Download Netflix here and let us know if it works in the comment section below. The Asus Transformer recently received Android 3.2 Honeycomb so this could also bring a few changes and bug fixes for that, but we don’t have a change-log to confirm any details thus far.

This latest OTA update that is rolling out to Transformer users now also brings with it an update for the dock software. If you dock your Transformer that software will also be updated to version EP101-0213. We recently saw a few accessories and docks leak over on Amazon and this new software update might be just what was needed for those accessories.
Go ahead and check for updates and feel free to share any details, comments, or concerns in the comment field below.

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : Eee Pad Transformer

Manufactuer : Asus

Carrier : AT&T T-Mobile

Announced Date : January 20, 2011

Release Date : April 13, 2011

Also Known As :

Display

• Screen Size : 10.10 Inch


• Resolution : 1280x800


• Screen Type : LCD

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 10.67 Inch


• Width : 6.73 Inch


• Depth : 0.51 Inch


• Weight : 680 Grams

Battery & Power

• Battery Type:


• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 6547 mAh


• Talk Time : NA


• Stand By Time : NA

Software

• Android OS:


• 3.0.x

• Audio Playback:


• MP3

• Video Playback:


• h.263


• h.264 / AVC


• MPEG-4 (MP4)

• Messaging:


• SMS

Hardware

CPU : Tegra 2

CPU Clock Speed : 1000 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1024 MB

Internal Storage : 32.768 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution :5 MP

• Camera Features:


• Auto focus


• Flash

• Sensors:


• Accelerometer


• Ambient light


• Proximity

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

• Network Technology:


• GSM

• GSM Band:


• 850


• 900


• 1800


• 1900

Device Connectivity

• Wi-Fi:


• 802.11b


• 802.11g


• 802.11n

• Bluetooth:


• Bluetooth 3.0

• Location Features:


• Compass


• GPS


• Cellular location


• Wi-Fi location

FM Radio :

[via Droid-Life]

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HTC Status Facebook Phone getting discontinued already?

It appears AT&T is ready to de-friend the HTC Status. Are AT&T and HTC looking to discontinue the HTC Status (aka Facebook phone) already? I know deep down all you readers are screaming NOOO silently because you all just love this little phone. Some new rumors are floating around and have yet to be confirmed that are claiming that AT&T is ready to put this little guy down after only a short while on the market.

For those unfamiliar with this “awesome” phone it is AT&T’s version of the HTC ChaCha that launched in Europe with that popular Facebook button on the bottom. Although I guess we can’t really call the button popular because it looks like no one is buying into the idea. In his review he loved the hardware (as we do with most HTC phones) and the keyboard was awesome to say the least, but the good points ended there.
Apparently a trusted source of TechCrunch is now claiming that due to a severe lack of demand, and poor sales AT&T is ready to ditch the HTC Status after only a short 36 days on the market. Even the HP TouchPad lasted longer than that, but only by about 10 days or so. I guess this little 2.8″ display phone packed with a hardware keyboard and that lovely Facebook button will have to try elsewhere because so far no one seems to be taking the bait. If we hear anything official we will report back, but for now you can call the HTC Status de-friended.

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : ChaCha

Manufactuer : HTC

Carrier : AT&T

Announced Date : February 15, 2011

Release Date : January 01, 2011

Also Known As : HTC ChaCha, HTC ChaChaCha, HTC Status

Display

• Screen Size : 2.6 Inch


• Resolution : 480x320


• Screen Type : TFT

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 4.5 Inch


• Width : 2.54 Inch


• Depth : .42 Inch


• Weight : 120 Grams

Battery & Power

• Battery Type:


• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 1250 mAh


• Talk Time : NA


• Stand By Time : 430 hours

Software

• Android OS:


• 2.3.x

• Audio Playback:


• AAC


• AMR


• MID


• MP3


• WAV


• WMA

• Video Playback:


• 3GP


• MPEG-4 (MP4)


• WMV

• Messaging:


• SMS


• MMS


• IM

Hardware

CPU : Qualcomm MSM7227

CPU Clock Speed : 800 Mhz

Core : 1

Ram : 512 MB

Internal Storage : .512 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution :5 MP

• External Storage:


• MicroSD

• Camera Features:


• Auto focus


• Flash

• Sensors:


• Accelerometer


• Ambient light


• Proximity

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

Device Connectivity

• Wi-Fi:


• 802.11b


• 802.11g


• 802.11n

• Bluetooth:


• Bluetooth 3.0

• Location Features:


• Compass


• GPS


• Cellular location


• Wi-Fi location

FM Radio :

[via TechCrunch]

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HTC EVO 3D coming soon in White thanks to RadioShack

RadioShack today has announced they will be launching the popular glasses-free 3D phone the HTC EVO 3D come September 9th, and it will be dressed in White. We saw the original EVO 4G get a similar make over but the entire device wasn’t changed and mainly just the back cover. This time around the entire phone will get spiced up, that includes the camera bezels and everything. What do you think?

It does look nice don’t get me wrong, I just don’t see the point in going through all the trouble to make and launch a white version. To each his own I guess. This isn’t the first White HTC EVO 3D to hit the streets either. Thanks to a daring XDA member we have seen this before as a few have torn down their own EVO 3D’s and added some flare of their own. Here are the details and pictures of his White EVO 3D.
Today over on Twitter @RadioShack made the announcement for the White HTC EVO 3D and they’ve also updated to tell everyone that this will be available come September 9th. So either you can do this on your own using the pictures for the DIY job linked to above, or just wait for RadioShack to take care of it for you in a few more weeks. What does everyone think about the White EVO 3D? Would you specifically wait a few weeks to buy one or only snag it if you happened to see it in stores?

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : EVO 3D

Manufactuer : HTC

Carrier : Unknown

Announced Date : March 22, 2011

Release Date : June 24, 2011

Also Known As :

Display

• Screen Size : 4.30 Inch


• Resolution : 540x960


• Screen Type : S-LCD

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 5.00 Inch


• Width : 2.60 Inch


• Depth : 0.47 Inch


• Weight : 170 Grams

Battery & Power

• Battery Type:


• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 1730 mAh


• Talk Time : NA


• Stand By Time : 355 hours

Software

• Android OS:


• 2.3.x

• Audio Playback:


• AAC


• MP3

• Video Playback:


• h.263


• MPEG-4 (MP4)

• Messaging:


• SMS


• MMS

Hardware

CPU : Snapdragon

CPU Clock Speed : 1200 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1024 MB

Internal Storage : 4.096 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution :5 MP

• External Storage:


• MicroSD


• MicroSDHC

• Camera Features:


• Auto focus


• Flash


• 720p Video Recording

• Sensors:


• Accelerometer


• Ambient light


• Proximity

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

• Network Technology:


• CDMA

• CDMA Band:


• 800


• 1900

Device Connectivity

• Wi-Fi:


• 802.11b


• 802.11g


• 802.11n

• Bluetooth:


• Bluetooth 3.0

• Location Features:


• Compass


• GPS


• Cellular location


• Wi-Fi location

FM Radio :

[via RadioShack]

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