HTC Explorer press shot revealed, HTC Sense 3.5 and more

HTC seems to have no plans on slowing down when it comes to hitting every aspect of the Android market. With top tier phones like the Sensation 4G, and low end phones like the pictured HTC Explorer. What we have here is the official press shot of the HTC Explorer, known previously and leaked as the HTC Pico. Along with a slight design change and some Sense UI 3.5 the Explorer aims to be a decent entry level smartphone.

Like we mentioned above this was first leaked as the HTC Pico, but now it will be known as the HTC Explorer. It features some pretty low to mid-range specs that line up nicely with an entry level phone such as the HTC Wildfire S. With similar specs and size it should be a nice little budget phone.
With a rumored Qualcomm 600 Mhz processor, Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and Sense UI 3.5 is clearly shown in the image above looking slightly different than what we’ve seen thus far in phones like the HTC Bliss. Along with the entry level 600 MHz CPU we have a 5MP camera on the rear and a 3.2″ HVGA display. Most likely this will replace the current line of entry level phones but we wont know until we hear more.
We could see this announced tomorrow at the HTC Event in NYC. We will be there live capturing all the details so don’t go too far. HTC may announce the HTC Runnymede or even the HTC DROID Incredible HD and either way we can’t wait to see what HTC has to say come tomorrow. We should see the HTC Explorer sometime this fall so stay tuned.
[via PocketNow]

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Google Wallet launches officially on Nexus S 4G

It’s the 4G version of the Nexus S that’ll receive the update to Google Wallet first, Google tells us, this brand new NFC-based electronic payments system working with Visa, American Express, and Discover right out of the gate. This system will allow you, as you may already know, to tap your device to an in-store payment device and instantly pay your bill with your “Wallet”. Your update to full alpha Google Wallet functionality will occur in an over-the-air manner, meaning that if you’ve got a Samsung Nexus S 4G, you’ll be seeing a notification right away immediately if not soon.


With this announcement, Google reminds us all that they pledged a commitment to an open commerce ecosystem and that they thank very much the folks at MasterCard and Citi bank for being their launch partners. To encourage those who wish to use the system first, Google is offering a $10 free bonus to their Google Prepaid Card if users decide to set up their Google Wallet before the end of 2011. That could buy you a whole lunch, goodness!
EDIT: apparently MasterCard works out of the gate, while Google notes that “today, Visa, Discover and American Express have made available their NFC specifications that could enable their cards to be added to future versions of Google Wallet.”
You’ll notice that George Costanza was the very first person to use Google Wallet a little bit earlier this past week:

Google states that it is their goal to allow you to add ALL of your payment cards, whatever they may be, to your Google Wallet so you can get rid of the bulk in your traditional pocketbook. You’ll notice in both New York City and San Francisco that payment consoles are beginning to crop up as early as this morning. Neato!
As Samsung notes, you can check on your update status in the following way:

Check the Software Version on Your Mobile Device
1. Press the Home button home.jpg > Menu button menu.jpg.
2. Touch Settings > About phone
3. The Build number shows the current software version on your mobile device.
Note: If your current software version is GRJ90, you will receive a network notification for the GWK74 software update.
Software Update (GWK74) Details
Google Security Fixes
Google Wallet

Sound good? Sounds good!

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Android Ice Cream Sandwich Unofficial Launcher and Screenshots [Download]

Before we get started what we have here are screenshots of Android 2.4 Ice Cream Sandwich, or at least the launcher running on a phone. This is an unofficial launcher of Android 2.4 Ice Cream Sandwich made by a few awesome developers over at XDA and we have some pictures for you and a video.


We are still looking for any details as to what all this contains but from what we are hearing and seeing this is a 3rd party launcher made from previous leaked screenshots, as well as rumors of what Android 2.4 Ice Cream Sandwich will contain. What these smart developers have done is copied the images from the leaked ICS screenshots and added some settings and options based on a few rumors and developed a pretty awesome and real looking home replacement launcher for Android based on ICS.
I’ve quickly installed this to my phone and so far it looks awesome, this is only currently an alpha build and they have some work to do, but so far I love it. Screen animations while scrolling needs some improvement but other than that this is quite impressive. Hitting the multi-tasking button doesn’t bring up actual previously launched apps like Honeycomb, rather a populated list. That and the settings button doesn’t work.
ICS 2.4 Launcher alpha hands-on


For more details and pictures regarding this awesome launcher head to XDA forums and join in on the discussion. — Thanks @htcclay
Ice Cream Sandwich 2.4 Launcher – Download

[via XDA Forums]

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Google preparing developers for Ice Cream Sandwich with some useful tips

Google’s Android Ice Cream Sandwich is coming and the release is getting so close I can almost taste the Vanilla. Today the Android Developers Team posted some useful details and tips for developers to help them with the transition to Ice Cream Sandwich. Although the SDK isn’t available for developers yet, Google plans to have them more than ready when the time comes.

Today on the developer blog they go through some useful tips and information regarding mainly Android 3.x Honeycomb and how developers can make them compatible with both smaller and larger screen devices for when ICS comes to market. They’ve also included details on how to exclude their apps only to Honeycomb should the app developer choose to do so. Android ICS will merge the two OS version together and developers need to start preparing now because it will be here before you know it — latest leaks suggest November 3rd.

Here are a few quotes from the blog post I found interesting and important:

Ice Cream Sandwich is coming, and with it, handsets will be able to install apps built on Honeycomb. We haven’t released the ICS SDK just yet, but you can start preparing your Honeycomb apps by thinking about how they should work on smaller screens.
Stay tuned to the blog for more information about ICS as it nears release.

and

an app developed for Honeycomb is compatible with a device running ICS, which could be a tablet, a phone, or something else.

This is a good sign that is for sure. Hopefully Google will start to announce more details as things get closer to a launch date. It appears that ICS will be taking over, as if we didn’t know that already but either way this is really exciting. I can’t wait for some Android 2.4 or 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.
[via Android Developers Blog]

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Samsung Galaxy Nexus/Prime to offer a QWERTY keyboard version [Rumor]

Just like I said earlier about the Droid Prime and Galaxy Nexus rumors earlier today, they will continue to drop as the days and weeks get closer. In another random tweet by the recently popular Tom at @tfleming223 we may have just received another tip about the upcoming Galaxy Nexus, or DROID Prime but more details are after the break.

After tons of tweets by Tom and his sidekick all weekend regarding a Samsung DROID Prime, Galaxy Nexus and an exclusive launch on Verizon coming November 3rd. He has now hinted at a built-in QWERTY keyboard version of this highly rumored smartphone. Again this is just a rumor, but both Tom and @black_man_x have been known in the past to have accurate information so I’m going to still take this with a few grains of salt, but imagine the possibility.

As if he’s had some hands-on with both of the devices today he tweeted, “The one with the keyboard is what I enjoy”. Leaving us all to start another round of rumors and speculation that we may see a QWERTY keyboard version of the next superphone. With a dual-core processor, Android 2.4 Ice Cream Sandwich, and a 1280 x 720p HD display that would be one superphone indeed. I have a feeling we will see some sort of Samsung slider coming to multiple carriers again soon. With ICS being a touchscreen only OS with no hardware buttons what would you really want a keyboard for, other than typing easily?
Rumors followed by more rumors is what we have here, but I figured you’d all love to hear about another possibility. Although I personally have no use for a QWERTY keyboard powered smartphone, I know many readers still do. Take this as you will and let your mind wander.
– Thanks cheese
[via Twitter]
)

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Samsung Galaxy Nexus coming before the DROID Prime

I almost don’t even know where to start. We’ve heard so many rumors regarding this upcoming device lately that things are starting to get a bit out of hand. First off, we are now hearing the Samsung Galaxy Nexus will launch come November 3rd, on Verizon Wireless. They are known for launching devices on Thursday so this could be somewhat accurate. New rumors are also claiming the Galaxy Nexus will come first, and will not be the DROID Prime, more details after the break.

The DROID Prime name could very well be what we see soon from Verizon and Samsung, but it may be the DROID Charge 2. With the Samsung Galaxy Nexus being a Google device that comes first and will be the first phone with Google’s Android 2.4 Ice Cream Sandwich. Now obviously this could all be real, or very much faked. Take everything with a grain of salt for now until things develop further.
The November 3rd launch date comes from a few tricky guys we all know plenty about over on Twitter. @black_man_X and his friend Tom using @tflemming223 put out a nice little poem over the weekend regarding the next Nexus and here is the poem in full:

While things that go bump in the night, surely give you a fright,
It’s all in good fun as I share treats and panda fun.
So Instead of filling your belly with candies, jellies and other hollows eve fare,
Perhaps your palate will cast a ballot, for an ice cream sandwich instead.
With an internal date now set and LTE a sure bet,
Those that get Tim Cook’s new pet will be filled with green eyed regret.
But wait you cry for what date can you buy?
This the panda did shall share…
Fore on the date Bruce Wayne’s true father did die;
you shall in fact be able to buy in stores of red and black.
But those who pay other masters don’t fret,
over exclusive deals and bets
For in many other favors you will get your treat
be they GSM or wimax radios inside, the nexus brand will ride world wide

Sounds like we will be seeing a release of the next Nexus from multiple carriers, but Verizon should get the initial exclusive (if the rumors are true). That along with some regret for those seeking the next iDevice. We could go on forever regarding both the Poem, and the information from the source linked to below, but it’s all still just speculation. Devices and release dates are always subject to change, rumors will continue to drop, and details will remain tight. Obviously take all of this with a grain of salt until something more concrete surfaces. Although @black_man_x has had inside information multiple times regarding devices from Verizon there seems to be a lot of confusion still with these upcoming phones so I think I’ll just sit back and enjoy the show.
What do you guys think?
[via TheDroidGuy]

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Meizu MX could be first Android quad-core smartphone

New details are now available regarding the Meizu MX we first mentioned back in August. This quad-core powered Android superphone was said to be coming late September in a 16GB dual-core variety, as well as a 32GB quad-core beast and now we have more details and a release date.

Meizu, the company responsible for the iPhone-esque M9 is now all set to release their quad-core Meizu MX smartphone running on Android, sadly this is most likely only for the Chinese markets. What we are hearing is a 4.3″ qHD 540 x 960 display, a Cortex-A9 quad-core processor and 32GB of internal storage.

Like we mentioned above, sadly this will debut in China with a 32GB version for ¥4,999 ($780) and 16GB version for ¥3,999 ($625). We are hoping to hear more details and maybe, just maybe a US release but that is highly unlikely. We don’t have any other specs regarding the front or rear camera, Android version, or anything else at the moment but it should be available shortly. I do know that hearing qHD and quad-core in the same sentence with a September/October release date gets me very excited.
I might just have to import one of these bad boys here to the US and give it a whirl.
[via Engadget Chinese]

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Android 2.3.4 update available for TELUS Samsung Galaxy S Fascinate 4G

TELUS has just made the Android 2.3.4 update for the Samsung Galaxy S Fascinate 4G available on its website. If you want to grab it, you will have to head to TELUS’ website. You will also need Samsung Kies and a Windows-powered PC. This means that you will not be able to download the update over-the-air.
Here is the list of enhancements brought by this update:

• Make phone calls over the internet with VOIP when connected to Wi-Fi.
• Improved power management for better battery life and device performance.
• Back up even more features on your Google account and remember things like Wi-Fi passwords, wallpapers, text messages and more

If you run into any issues while updating upur device, TELUS advises you to call Samsung Hub or email them at sh.support@samsung.com.
via TELUS

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LG Optimus 3D CyanogenMod 7 Alpha now available

In what developers are calling “Almost CyanogenMod” the LG Optimus 3D has just received the first alpha build for CM7. Available right now for users to flash and enjoy all the treats that the developers of CyanogenMod bring to our devices. The Optimus 3D is also known as the AT&T LG Thrill 4G and this should work across both device models.

The developers from CyanogenMod have been keeping up with most of the popular devices as of late, as long as the bootloaders aren’t completely locked down. As usual with any alpha build this is not yet complete, there may be issues or things not fully working, but it should be completely stable enough for daily use.
According to RootzWiki the CM7 build for the O3D seems stable but HDMI is broken, capturing images in 3D still has a few quirks that need worked out, and wireless tethering has a few problems too. These are expected to be fixed shortly as most things do in the world of CyanogenMod.

Teaser video of CM7 on the Optimus 3D



If you’d like continued news and updates, or would like to thank the developer working hard on the Optimus 3D feel free to head over to Google+ and say hello and give thanks to Ricardo Cerqueira (aka CM_arcee). For those like me that love all things CM7, Give this alpha build of CM7 for the Optimus 3D a try and leave any thoughts or suggestions in the comment section below. More details are available at RootzWiki.

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