Motorola Droid 2 Global Gingerbread Update Now Available

Quick reminder for those that may be running with a Droid 2 Global, no Verizon and Motorola didn’t forget about your update, they just were making sure to get it right and now it is finally available. Although FroYo was cold and tasty Motorola now has some fresh baked Android 2.3 Gingerbread ready for the D2 Global and it should be rolling out right now.

Back in August the Droid 2 Global 2.3 Gingerbread build was leaked and available for all but this latest release is the official version and should be hitting handsets all week. The standard Droid 2 just started its update a few days ago so it’s good to see users didn’t have to wait long for the official version.

As always with most updates this is rolling out in phases and you should see it within the next few days. I know there are always a few that don’t want to wait and as usual you can manually pull the update by going to Menu > Settings > About Phone > System Update to get the Gingerbread goodness started. From there the entire update process should take about 10-15 minutes.

I’d back up anything of importance just to be safe, but you should be good to go. Enjoy the Gingerbread and feel free to drop us any comments below if you have any issues or comments after the update.
[via Motorola]

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 vs Apple iPad 2

We take a look at two of the hottest tablets on the market, Samsung's Galaxy Tab 7.7 and Apple's trend setting iPad 2

The tablet market is rapidly becoming as diverse and popular as the smartphone one. Manufacturers are beginning to push boundaries with every release, looking to create the ultimate product.
Two tablets that have come pretty close to perfection are Samsung's Galaxy Tab 7.7 and Apple's iPad 2, and we're here to play a little game of tablet top trumps to see which one has the most to offer.

Screen
Apple's iPad 2 comes equipped with a 9.7-inch LED-backlit IPS TFT touchscreen which operates at resolution of 768x1024 pixels and performs brilliantly. Colours are well represented, responsiveness is good and the overall user experience is pleasing.
Unfortunately the iPad 2 doesn't bring the fabled Retina Display to the tablet market. In fact its pixel density, 136ppi, is lower than average, but studies have shown the quality to be A+ regardless.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 boasts - yep, you guessed it - a 7.7-inch Super AMOLED Plus touchscreen that runs at a resolution of 800x1280.

To put it bluntly, the Galaxy Tab 7.7's display is fantastic. Colours are vivid, responsiveness is excellent, blacks are pitch and the pixel density (196ppi) gives the device a great level of detail.
Winner - Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7
 
Power
Both of our competitors are dual core toting tablets, with the Apple iPad 2 offering up a 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 and the Galaxy Tab 7.7 a 1.4GHz Cortex A9, giving the Galaxy Tab 7.7 a fair bit more punch.
Both devices offer high performance GPU's too, though, the Galaxy Tab 7.7's Mali-400MP again gives it the edge over the iPad 2's PowerVR SGX543MP2.

It's a similar tale when you look at installed memory too, as the Galaxy Tab 7.7 comes with 1GB and the iPad 2 only 512MB of RAM.

The iPad 2 knows how to use what power it has, but we can't see it being a very future proof device. But we think that could be what Apple wants, so mission accomplished.
Winner - Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7

Software
The iPad 2 runs on Apple's iOS platform and it's as pleasing to use on a tablet as it is on the iPhone.
The OS runs quickly, it's simple and looks great, plus you get access to the Apple App Store which is where the iPad 2 really comes into its own, as you get access to hundreds of thousands of quality apps, not to mention tons designed solely for the iPad.

Samsung's Galaxy Tab 7.7 runs on version 3.2 (Honeycomb) of Google's Android platform, which has been designed with tablets firmly in mind.
As well as plenty of new speed and security enhancements, you're treated to re-designed core apps and a vast array of UI improvements.

Some of those UI tweaks won't be visible at first glance though, because the Galaxy Tab 7.7 comes with Samsung's TouchWiz UX UI - a custom overlay designed to allow the user to get the most out of the tablet.
TouchWiz UX brings new widgets, icons, social networking integration and a whole lot more to-boot, but even with all this third-part finery has been added it still doesn't feel as slick and smooth as the iPad 2.

Winner - Apple iPad 2

Camera
The Galaxy Tab 7.7 comes with a primary 3.15-megapixel camera with LED flash, autofocus and geo-tagging, as well as 720p video capture. The device also offers a 2-megapixel secondary camera.
Apple's iPad 2 is similarly underwhelming in the camera stakes, with a 0.7-megapixel primary offering that captures video at 720p and a paltry VGA secondary for FaceTime duty.
Neither of these devices are going to set tongues wagging based on their photographic capability, but the Galaxy Tab 7.7 is the least disappointing so it takes this round by default.
Winner - Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7

Form and build
The Galaxy Tab 7.7 measures 196.7x133x7.9mm and weighs-in at a respectable 335g, making it a sure-fire hit with those that cart their tablet everywhere with them.
It's constructed largely of plastics with a smattering of metal thrown-in to give it a lightweight yet premium feel.

The iPad 2 measures 241.2x185.7x8.8mm and tips the scale at a comparatively obese 607g, which isn't quite as bad as it sounds, but still a way behind the compact and bijou Galaxy Tab 7.7.
As with all Apple products, the iPad 2 has a neat, premium feel to it and the materials used in construction are top-tier.

One area where the iPad 2 pips the Galaxy Tab 7.7 is battery life, with the iPad 2 offering up to 10 hours of usage thanks to the built-in 6930mAh cell. The Galaxy Tab 7.7 only comes with a 5100mAh battery, so you can expect a bit less. However, only our review will reveal whether that's actually the case.
Winner - Apple iPad 2

Verdict
Samsung's Galaxy Tab 7.7 has taken-on the mighty iPad 2 and beaten it, with a respectable score of 3-2.
If you're after a small, high performance tablet then the Galaxy Tab 7.7 must make your shortlist. It's a wonderful gadget that looks to excel in nearly every area, though it could have done with a better snapper.
The iPad 2 is still, despite its loss, a fantastic tablet and let's not forget it's the follow-up to the device, which re-ignited the tablet trend, makes it something akin to tablet royalty.

The apps on offer are great and the user experience is second-to-none, and they are arguably the most important thing with any device, so you'd be hard pushed to find a better tablet if you're looking to one-up the iPad 2 there.
Overall there can only be one winner though, and the Galaxy Tab 7.7 is a worthy one!

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LG Optimus 3D vs HTC Evo 3D: Which has the better 3D camera?

Your local cinema has 3D, it’s invaded the home, and now it is going for your mobile phone. Both LG and HTC have 3D-ready smartphones on the market: the LG Optimus 3D and the HTC Evo 3D.
They both profess to offer you the ability to capture 3D images and video on the go, and more importantly, both let you play them on the handset without having to wear silly glasses.
So if you’re a fan of 3D, which should you go for when it comes to capture and playback? We decided to put the two together to find out.

The HTC EVO 3D

The HTC EVO 3D comes with a 4.3-inch screen, runs Android with the HTC Sense UI over the top and is powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core MSM8660 Snapdragon processor with 1GB RAM. On the camera front it has dual-5-megapixel rear cameras and a 1.3-megapixel one on the front. It records in 720p resolution for both 2D and 3D.

On the connectivity front, it's 3- or 4G-enabled (depending on where you are in the world), Wi-Fi, DLNA, HDMI, and Bluetooth 3.0.

The LG Optimus 3D

The Optimus 3D also sports a 4.3-inch screen, runs Android with LG's custom skin on the top and is powered by a 1GHz dual-core TI OMAP4430 processor with 512MB RAM. On the camera front it has dual-5-megapixel cameras at the rear and a 0.3-megapixel camera on the front. It records in 1080p (2D) and 720p (3D).

Connectivity wise it has 3G, Wi-Fi, DLNA, HDMI, and Bluetooth 3.0. Beating the HTC EVO 3D it has 8GB of onboard storage.

Testing the 3D cameras

To test the two cameras we took them to the Earls Barton Steam Rally in Northamptonshire, to see what it would be like using them in the field. We'd take a series of photos and video and then enjoy them in the field (literally) as well as back home on an LG LX9900 3D television via the USB-out socket both of them sport.
We haven’t benchmarked them, taken pictures in a controlled environments, or subjected them to the same test after test, because that’s not how you use your phone or your phone's camera in everyday life. This is how they perform in the real world.

Test 1: Using 3D on the go 

With both phones, accessing the 3D camera is very simple. HTC has gone for a hard sliding switch, while LG has picked a hard button. Both are clearly marked, however; HTC’s approach of a 2D/3D switch is clearer in allowing you to see what mode you are in at a glance, even though in reality just looking at the screen is going to tell you.

In addition to pressing the hard 3D button to launch the 3D services, LG has opted for that button to either let you switch from 3D to 2D in the camera mode or via a further software button in the camera app that you can toggle on and off quickly and easily.

Test 2: 3D glasses-free viewing

Before we get to the capture elements, it’s worth covering the screen. After all, that’s what you're going to be viewing your content on, on the go. Both come with a very glossy 4.3-inch display each of which we struggled to view in bright sunlight - especially when in 3D mode.

According to the spec sheets, the HTC screen sports a higher resolution; however, in practice we found that the LG screen, when it came to 3D playback, offered a more rich colour experience. The whites are more yellow compared to the HTC’s bluer tones.

Additionally the LG Optimus 3D has a wider sweet spot that means we found there was greater room for moving your head while watching your captured 3D without losing the effect. That’s something that wasn’t as easy on the HTC Evo 3D.

Interestingly, in 2D, the HTC Evo 3D screen resolution and quality is noticeably sharper and crisper.

Test 3: 3D camera stills performance

Again, the quality of the shot varied massively depending on the photograph. Clean portraits with little in the background proved best on both handsets with the EVO 3D giving a more natural look to the LG's rich colours. Think creams compared to blue whites.

Which one you prefer will depend on whether you like cold or warm photos because, while you can change both to suit your needs (white balance etc), you'll have to bury yourself in the settings panels to do so.

Test shot from the HTC EVO 3D turned into a animated GIF using 3D Porch

Test shot from the LG Optimus 3D turned into a animated GIF using 3D Porch

When it comes to settings, the LG Optimus 3D also has more "3D" options. You can change the focus of the 3D from Border to Centre as well as tinker with the strength of the 3D effect to get the best results.
The HTC Evo 3D settings don't offer any of this. However, it does let you decide from the start which 3D file format you want to save in; .jps or .mpo.

While, on the surface, you'll think that it makes no difference whatsoever, it's the one frustration we did have with the LG Optimus 3D. It doesn't give you the option to choose which file format to save on the first save, opting to save its 3D stills in the .jps file format rather than .mpo.

What does that mean? Well when it came to viewing the images on our 3D TV we weren't able to see the ones taken on the Optimus because our LG TV, strangely, couldn't see that format. Bonkers, we know. The only way we could get it to work was via an HDMI cable as even DLNA between the two didn't work either.

That's likely to be a shame for those keen to share their images on the big screen quickly. With a bit of fiddling - like saving the files to the .mpo format on your phone or your computer within the gallery - you'll get around the problem, but it's annoying that you can't just change the file format and save settings like you can with the HTC EVO 3D at the start. Very silly.

Test 4: 3D video performance

The results of the EVO 3D on a 47-inch television are very much like the results we witnessed on the back of the phones 4.3-inch screen. The recording was cooler in colour than the LG Optimus 3D, and while that gave us a more natural, honest look, we have to say that we preferred the richer tones and colour of the LG 3D smartphone.

Aside from that, though, the quality of both was good. However, both showed plenty of ghosting to the image. This could be, and we suspect it is, down to what and how we filmed. The scene was crowded with plenty of people walking about and, apart from a fence post in the foreground designed to hopefully give a better sense of 3D to the overall footage, we didn't really give the rest of the framing much thought.

That means that the crowd of people standing by the tent is a bit cluttered and certainly for us doesn't work that well in 3D. That said, what does work are the big steam engines slowly rolling past.

On the sound front both phones coped well on what was basically a fairly noisy, windy, wet day, but you'll need some 3D kit if you're hoping to appreciate our test videos.

Test video of the HTC EVO 3D

Test video of the HTC EVO 3D

Test 4: 3D extras

Aside from the capturing of 3D images, the LG Optimus 3D also comes with a greater emphasis on 3D than the Evo. There is a dedicated 3D menu system designed to highlight the 3D content. There are three 3D games from Gamesloft bundled in for free, direct links to YouTube’s 3D video area and even a 3D book - Gulliver’s Travels. Even the Android applications menu has been changed to show the 3D elements the phone has to offer. HTC’s approach is you get a 3D camera and that’s it.

Conclusion

From a quality perspective, we have to say that we prefer the LG Optimus 3D. The colours are richer and the viewing experience on the phone is better and wider. What lets the Optimus down, however, is the inability to save as a .mpo file from the beginning. While this won't affect your playback onscreen on the phone itself, it did mean that sharing the results with a TV, an LG TV even, was harder than with the HTC Evo 3D.
We also preferred the additional 3D content that LG has provided here, making you really feel like you've actually bought a 3D device. The HTC Evo 3D outside of the camera is just a standard, if not very nice, Android smartphone.

It's worth pointing out while the LG Optimus device was superior at 3D the Evo 3D's 2D screen is better. So, which should you buy as a better 3D phone? The LG Optimus 3D, hands down.
          

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BlackBerry App World 3.0 now available

RIM has released BlackBerry App World 3.0 for its smartphone users. The redesigned front-end for the company's store has been crafted to make it easier to find applications, games and themes, with each category getting its own channel.
Other new features include App Social Sharing, an option to tell friends about a newly discovered application through BBM, Twitter, Facebook, email or SMS, straight from the app's screen; My Account, offering direct access to account information from the home screen, thereby making it easier to manage BBID and payment options; An evolved App Details screen, which now presents a?quick summary, screenshots and star ratings, and allows the user to check out reviews; And there are improved search options, with a search bar now appearing on the storefront home screen. It also offers the ability to filter by?App Name, Price, Rating, Newest, Best Match, or Popular.
The update will be available for BlackBerry OS 5.0+ users and will be rolled out over the next couple of days. Some owners are reporting that it's already arrived for their devices.
The full list of BlackBerry App World 3.0 features are as follows:
Sleek New Design - The BlackBerry App World experience has been enhanced to help users discover the latest and greatest apps and content, starting right on the BlackBerry App World home screen where rotating spotlight banners show off all that’s new and exciting.
New Channels - Apps, Games, and Themes now have their own channels so users can get to what they want even faster.
Introduction of My Account - My Account makes managing BBID and payment options easy with direct access to all account information from the home screen.
New My World Features - My World gives users a streamlined view of their apps and status, and now at a glance, in addition to seeing which apps are installed and uninstalled, users can manage subscription content and services.? When new updates or subscription renewals are available for apps, users will be notified using push technology.
App Social Sharing - When a user finds an app they can’t live without, they can share it directly from the app details screen through BBM, Facebook, Twitter, email and SMS.
Evolved App Details Screen - At a glance, users can get a quick summary, check out reviews and star ratings, take a look at screen shots, and more.
More Search Options - Quickly find apps with a Search Bar now appearing on the storefront home screen and search results are presented across Channels as well as My World.? Search Bars are also within each Channel and users have the ability to filter by App Name, Price, Rating, Newest, Best Match, or Popular.

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HTC Holiday Smiles For The Camera, Shows Off AT&T's LTE Network Speeds

A couple of weeks ago the first photos of the HTC Holiday emerged, displaying its impressive hardware innards for the world to see. Now, BGR has landed some new photos of this up-and-coming device, which includes speed tests that show what AT&T's LTE network is capable of. Clocking an astounding 29Mbps, AT&T is looking to put the hurt on VZW's LTE network once it becomes more widespread.

     

^{Yes, a cotton swab is now an acceptable standard of measurement.}

The hardware on this phone is nothing to scoff at either, as early reports revealed a 4.5-inch qHD display, 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, 1GB RAM, 8MP and 1.3MP cameras, and Android 2.3.4.
There's no official word on when we can expect this device to hit Ma Bell's sales floor, but from the look of it, that time should be drawing near.
[via BGR]

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Sprint sues to block AT&T/T-Mobile merger

Sprint announced on Tuesday that it has filed a lawsuit with a federal court in the U.S. District of Columbia in an effort to block AT&T’s planned $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom. The suit is related to the Department of Justice’s lawsuit, which was filed on August 31st. “Sprint opposes AT&T’s proposed takeover of T-Mobile,” Sprint’s vice president of litigation Suzan Haller said. “With today’s legal action, we are continuing that advocacy on behalf of consumers and competition, and expect to contribute our expertise and resources in proving that the proposed transaction is illegal.” Sprint argued that the merger will “harm retail consumers and corporate customers by causing higher prices and less innovation” and said it will “entrench the duopoly of AT&T and Verizon” by allowing those two carriers 90% of U.S. wireless profits and more than three quarters of the market. Sprint also said the merger would “harm Sprint and other independent wireless carriers” and would give AT&T control of backhaul, roaming and wireless spectrum. AT&T responded to the DOJ’s suit last week and said the deal is in the best interest of consumers and the “facts will prevail in court.”  Read on for the full press release from Sprint.

Sprint Files Suit to Block Proposed AT&T and T-Mobile Transaction
WASHINGTON (BUSINESS WIRE), September 06, 2011 – Sprint Nextel [NYSE:S] today brought suit against AT&T, Inc., AT&T Mobility, Deutsche Telekom and T-Mobile seeking to block the proposed acquisition as a violation of Section 7 of the Clayton Act. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in the District of Columbia as a related case to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) suit against the proposed acquisition.
“Sprint opposes AT&T’s proposed takeover of T-Mobile,” said Susan Z. Haller, vice president-Litigation, Sprint. “With today’s legal action, we are continuing that advocacy on behalf of consumers and competition, and expect to contribute our expertise and resources in proving that the proposed transaction is illegal.”

Sprint’s lawsuit focuses on the competitive and consumer harms which would result from a takeover of T-Mobile by AT&T. The proposed takeover would:

• Harm retail consumers and corporate customers by causing higher prices and less innovation.
• Entrench the duopoly control of AT&T and Verizon, the two “Ma Bell” descendants, of the almost one-quarter of a trillion dollar wireless market. As a result of the transaction, AT&T and Verizon would control more than three-quarters of that market and 90 percent of the profits.

• Harm Sprint and the other independent wireless carriers. If the transaction were to be allowed, a combined AT&T and T-Mobile would have the ability to use its control over backhaul, roaming and spectrum, and its increased market position to exclude competitors, raise their costs, restrict their access to handsets, damage their businesses and ultimately to lessen competition.

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With or without AT&T/T-Mobile merger, analyst says Sprint already lost

Lead by chief executive Dan Hesse, Sprint has likely been the most vocal opponent of AT&T’s proposed $39 billion T-Mobile USA acquisition. The Department of Justice announced last week that it was filing a lawsuit in an attempt to block the deal, and while AT&T was none too happy with the news, Sprint predictably responded by applauding the DOJ’s decision to fight the merger. But even if the merger is blocked, Sprint has arguably already lost to AT&T and Verizon Wireless according to Stifel Nicolaus analyst Christopher King. “It essentially maintains the status quo, which, given the results of Sprint over the last couple of years, is not the best place to be,” King told The New York Times. Read on for more.
As Sprint continues to shed subscribers at an alarming rate — the nation’s No. 3 carrier lost 101,000 postpaid subscribers last quarter — analysts are rightfully beginning to wonder how Sprint’s situation will improve if AT&T and T-Mobile do not merge. With the amount of time and resources Sprint is putting into fighting the acquisition, this is certainly a valid question. The addition of Apple’s iPhone 5 is expected by some to bolster Sprint’s business when it launches next month, but each of the four major wireless carriers in the U.S. will carry the handset beginning next month according to reports. As such, the addition of the iPhone 5 could do more to increase smartphone sales among Sprint’s current subscriber base — and put more stress on the carrier’s network thanks to its unlimited data plans — than it will to attract new business.

Sprint’s 4G plans also weigh heavily on investors’ minds right now. Sprint announced plans to adopt 4G LTE in addition to its WiMAX services in a deal with LightSquared worth $13.5 billion for the carrier over the next 15 years. LightSquared is having issues with its LTE build-out however, as its spectrum is found to interfere with frequencies used by GPS services. Sprint’s WiMAX partner Clearwire is also planning to adopt LTE, but only if it can find the cash. Sprint is expected to discuss its 4G strategy next month during a press event on October 7th, where BGR will be reporting live.

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White Samsung Galaxy S II now available from Vodafone UK

That white version of Samsung's Galaxy S II flagship smartphone that we expected to arrive on September 1 is now available to purchase from Vodafone UK. It may be a few days late, but that hasn't stopped the white version from looking as dapper as ever. Fashionably late, right? Interested buyers can pick it up for free with a new two-year contract and a monthly plan of 36 GBP or greater.

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LG Thrill 4G 3D Handset Software and Hardware Specs, Debut Price of $29

Everyone loves new technology, and first-ever greatness. The Evo 3-D 4G mobile handset was the first mobile smartphone to offer the ability to view 3-D content without the need for special glasses or other hardware. And for a couple of months it remained the only smartphone, and one of only two mobile devices, the Nintendo 3DS being the other, to deliver effectively on the promise of 3-D glasses free viewing. Now, AT&T’s new 3-D handset joins this exclusively small group of such capable devices.
The LG Thrill is offered on the AT&T 4G network at a retail price of $99 with new two-year activation. Matching the HTC 3-D Evo 4G handset in screen size while offering a lower retail price, LG and AT&T hope to steal market share from the Sprint HTC 3-D Evo phone. In many ways, the two handsets are very similar. They both employ duel rear facing cameras to capture content for processing in three dimensions, and they both offer Android’s 2.2 Froyo operating system out-of-the-box, with a free over the air upgrade in the future.
The stereoscopic 3-D imaging software required employs a 3-D hardware graphics accelerator and aforementioned dual five megapixel cameras. Three-dimensional recording can be obtained by simply taking simultaneous images wor video from two separate angles. 3-D software can then guess what a 3-D image would look like. This is the same system used by HTC for their Evo 4G 3-D handset, and is employed here as well with the LG Thrill 4G.

A Texas Instruments OMAP dual core processor at 1.0 GHz with 512 MB of RAM memory and 3-D software engine process the LG Thrill user’s requests, and those dual five megapixel cameras can record in true 1080p 2D high definition or 720p 3-D resolution. LED flash and autofocus features are also on board the LG Thrill 4G, and 3-D still shots as well as video recording can be taken.
Physically, the LG Thrill 4G is approximately 50% heavier than the average 4G smartphone, at 5.9 ounces, and is 5.07 x 2.68 x 0.47 inches in size. The familiar rectangular black slab form is employed by LG, and the Android operating system gives full support of Adobe’s Flash media player.
A microUSB port offers multiple device interfacing and connectivity options, and a microSD slot allows for future storage upgrades. The LG Thrill 4G handset is also Bluetooth and Wi-Fi accessible, and offers video out relay to a large screen HDTV or monitor via the HDMI out port.  The Thrill has debuted on AT&T at an affordable $99 and at Amazon for $29.

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