HTC Incredible Android 2.3 Gingerbread now rolling out

I must say that was pretty fast HTC. Just a few short days ago they mentioned the Thunderbolt and Incredible would both get 2.3 Gingerbread in September. Now two or so days later it appears the Incredible is already getting the OTA update because it’s hitting handsets right this minute. If you are confused, the update was started back on the 15th but was quickly delayed for a few bugs HTC or Verizon found.

A few days after the first OTA started rolling out it was halted for some fixes but now all systems are a go because its live again. This is the newest version coming from HTC and shouldn’t have any issues or bugs the previous builds had. The last OTA was later leaked online but this official build is what you want.

For all the details regarding the official Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread update for the HTC Incredible feel free to stop by the Verizon support page. As always the update should hit handsets over the course of the next week and those that do not wish to wait can always manually update by going to Settings>About Phone>HTC Updates and then hit OK.
With this finally starting today does this mean the official update for the Thunderbolt is coming soon too?

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : Droid Incredible

Manufactuer : HTC

Carrier : Verizon

Announced Date : April 15, 2010

Release Date : April 29, 2010

Also Known As :

Display

• Screen Size : 3.70 Inch
• Resolution : 480x800
• Screen Type : AMOLED

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 4.63 Inch
• Width : 2.30 Inch
• Depth : 0.47 Inch
• Weight : 130 Grams

Battery & Power

• Battery Type:
• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 1300 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : 146 hours

Software

• Android OS:
• 2.2.x

• Audio Playback:
• AAC
• AAC+
• AMR
• MID
• MP3
• WAV
• WMA

• Video Playback:
• 3GP
• MPEG-4 (MP4)
• WMV

• Messaging:
• SMS
• MMS

Hardware

CPU : Snapdragon

CPU Clock Speed : 1000 Mhz

Core : 1

Ram : 512 MB

Internal Storage : 8.192 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution :8 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 2.0

• Location Features:
• Compass
• GPS
• Cellular location
• Wi-Fi location

FM Radio :

[via androidforums]

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Upgrade to a Smartphone on Verizon and get a $100 Gift Card

Everyone likes a good deal and now Verizon is all set to introduce their new trade-in program. It’s actually really simple, upgrade to a new smartphone and then mail them your feature phone (dumbphone) and they’ll send you a $100 gift card you can use as you please. Sounds pretty great right? Obviously this deal varies a bit with new subscribers and what not but they are offering this to almost anyone eligible for a new plan, upgrade, and all new subscribers.

If you are already a subscriber at Verizon you are still eligible for the deal if you are ready for an upgrade, or if you add an additional line of service. Here is how it works according to Verizon:
-Activate a Smartphone line of service with a new 2 yr contract agreement and data plan (or resign).
-Within 5 days, you will receive your promotion code via email or text message after you’ve activated your phone.
-Then, visit our Trade-In program web site to submit you request along with your promo code.

-You will receive a postage paid envelope (within 5 days) and mail in your used basic device. You must return your device within 30 days of trade-in submittal.
-Allow up to 3 weeks for us to process your Verizon Wireless Gift Card.
-Receive your $100 Verizon Wireless gift card in the mail. Use it to pay your bill, buy accessories, purchase ringtones and ringback tones plus more.
That may seem like a lot of steps but it really isn’t. Buy a new amazing smartphone like the upcoming Droid Bionic, wait for an email, ship your old phone back, wait a bit longer and boom — you just got $100 dollars. I’m reading that this is an online only special but you may be able to call in or head down to your nearest store and give it a try.
Now go get with the times and upgrade to an Android smartphone already.
[via Verizon Wireless]

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HTC Flyer Receives Honeycomb Upgrade [Leak]

Several weeks ago we were holding the HTC Flyer for the first time, a brand new tablet running a unique version of HTC’s Sense user interface on top of Android 2.3 Gingerbread, all in a mid-sized tablet form factor with a special “Scribe” stylus for on-screen writing. We got to look at this device as the HTC Flyer (a Wi-fi version of the tablet) and the HTC EVO View, a WiMAX-capable black instead of white plastic casing version. Now what we’ve got coming down the underground pipeline is a Honeycomb upgrade for the full tablet experience!

But wait, wasn’t HTC able to get ahold of Honeycomb back when they first started producing the HTC Flyer? We’d like to think that they were able to do so since the Motorola XOOM had already technically been released right around that time earlier this year, and certainly several Android 3.x Honeycomb devices had been released before the Flyer was sent out to stores, so what gives? More than likely it was simply much more feasible to build Sense around Gingerbread at the time of development for this device than it was to work with Honeycomb.
Now we’ve got this totally-unauthorized BETA, and an early Beta at that, build of Honeycomb for the HTC Flyer in RUU – you can access it at MoDaCo courtesy of Paul – if you should take the risk and run it, let us know how it goes. Meanwhile check out what we know about the AT&T HTC Jetstream, the manufacturer’s first 10-inch tablet and first device running Honeycomb. We’ll more than likely take a look at the tablet before it’s released to the public having been excited about its existence since it was simply called the Puccini.

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HTC Sense UI 3.5 Ported to the Desire HD

Those that saw the new HTC Sense UI screenshots recently and would love to give it a try now can. Thanks to some nifty dev work over at XDA users with the Desire HD can now give it a test run. We first saw HTC Sense UI 3.5 screenshots leak last week and thanks to the HTC Bliss devs are now porting it to other devices.

Recently we received a full video walk-through of Sense UI 3.5 on the HTC Bliss shown here and now it’s available for those with a Desire HD via a custom ROM. A leaked RUU build of the HTC Bliss was leaked and that is where this custom ROM gets the bits of Sense UI 3.5 and while its not perfect, it looks great from what we are hearing and seeing.


If you can handle a few bugs with bluetooth and having the camera be completely non-functional (for now) go ahead and give the new Desire HD build a try and test Sense UI 3.5 for yourself. This is still a work in progress and will likely be completely stable over time, as always this is one of those at your own risk type of deals. Be sure to back up all user data or do a Nandroid backup but you should know all that already.
Full details and download instructions are available at the source link below thanks to XDA.
[via XDA Forums]

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Motorola DROID Bionic Live Demo Units Arriving at Verizon Stores

While Verizon still hasn’t officially announced this phone we know everything there is to know about it basically. They’ve recently launched the ARena Scavenger Hunt App to go along with the DroidDoes.com website and we are now seeing the official commercial on TV’s saying September 8th, all we need is Verizon to officially say the word, or do we?

A few sources are now spotting the actual phone in Verizon stores. With all sorts of launch kits, dummy models, and even live demo units appearing across multiple Verizon Wireless stores (Live Phone, Charge Me Up). In case you missed it the DROID Bionic Facebook page is now live and yesterday we learned the full retail price will indeed be $589, and $299 with a new contract.

The Verizon commercial is now stating September 8th so get ready guys. We learned this morning the Droid Bionic has already been rooted so now all we need is to get this thing in our hands already. I’ll be stopping by my local Verizon Stores this weekend hoping to maybe snag a demo unit sitting out.
[via Droid-Life]

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Barnes and Noble Nook Color 2 in the works

It appears that the booksellers Barnes & Noble have another Android tablet in the works, this next generation Nook Color 2 (or whatever it may be called) appearing to be set to be released as early as this month, so says Digitimes in Taiwan. It is in Taiwan that manufacturers are said to be speaking about a brand new version of what we know as a quite decent eReader and undeniably hackable Android tablet. Details on the next eBook reader are at the moment still sparse, but we’re to understand that this new device will have the same 7-inch display size as the current generation, companies TPK Holdings and Inventec responsible for touch panels and the device’s assembly process respectively.

One of the new unique features we’re seeing as a possibility for this next tab is a possible E Ink partnership with the company providing e-paper backplates for the Nook Color 2, this meaning the tablet may have one of the first color E Ink displays on the mass market. Take a look at Chris Davies hands-on with a new color E Ink tablet over at IFA 2011 and let us know if you think this is what the Nook Color 2 could be looking at:



[via Digitimes]

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Verizon to offer free NFL Mobile Premium Access to 4G LTE Customers

The lockout is over and now Verizon has yet again teamed up with the NFL to provide exclusive NFL content to their subscribers. With the Verizon NFL Mobile App users will have access to all things Football. Teasing us all with the Droid Bionic on the flyer the NFL and Verizon has announced that they will be giving 4G LTE customers the premium app service for free.

I almost want to switch to Verizon for the NFL Mobile App alone. With this new deal 4G LTE customers will get the NFL Premium subscription absolutely for free. 3G and regular users pay $10 a month for the same service so this is a pretty stellar deal. With NFL Premium you get to watch every ESPN Monday Night, NBC Sunday Night & NFLN Thursday Night Football games. Basically you have all the games one would ever need.
Even better is you’ll get access to NFL RedZone where they show every single scoring play from every game across the league. Again head over to the Android Market and download the official NFL Mobile App, and now you have just one more reason why you should buy the Bionic.
[via Verizon]

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Motorola DROID Bionic Rooted Before We Can Even Get an Official Release Date

MyDroidWorld have already found a method to root the DROID Bionic. It looks like it’s the same method being used on most new high-end Motorola phones. Their source loaned them the “tools” (and by tools I certainly do mean the DROID Bionic) to get the job done and the result was obviously satisfactory. Now we just need the device, Verizon. [via Droid-Life]

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Philips unveils new Fidelio docks for Android that are full of rock

Philips has shown off three new docking stations in the Fidelio family and all three of these are made specifically for the Android devices out there. The docking station line includes the AS111, AS351, and the AS851. The Android units are based on the same speaker systems as the range made for the iPhone and promises superior sound. The key to allowing the docking stations to work with all Android devices is a special micro USB connector on the dock.

The connector can be adjusted for portrait and landscape modes allowing any tablet or Android phone to be plugged in. Philips also has a dedicated Fidelio app for Android devices that pairs the smartphone with the docking station using Bluetooth. The app has some interesting features like the ability to let you find new artists, new music styles using music and media stores, and it can play your media library along with media from the web.
The AS851 is the high-end offering with 30W RMS of output power and special bass pipes to provide deeper bass. The A351 is made for use at home and the go with options for AC power or battery power. It has bass boost technology and 10W RMS total power. The last model is the AS111, which is a compact dock. It has a 360-degree design made to sit on a table and offers omni-directional sound.
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