ASUS TOUGH Android Honeycomb 7″ tab hits Japan

We’ve seen plenty of smartphones over the recent past released that are tough, water resistant, and can handle most situations but we haven’t seen many for Android Honeycomb tablets. Today ASUS has unveiled the ASUS TOUGH ETBW11AA Tablet. The ASUS TOUGH is both water, and dust resistant, and comes with 4G WiMAX as well an impressive 1280×800 resolution all on that 7″ frame.

Coming in with a pretty unique form factor it does have some usual specs. Such as the NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core 1 GHz processor, 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. We can expect Android 3.2 Honeycomb because of the 7″ 1280 x 800 resolution display. While this isn’t the thinnest tablet around (see photo below) it does look to be able to handle just about any situation given all that added “protection” if you ask me.

Along with a huge 7,400 mAh battery it also features Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, EVDO Rev.A and GPS, along with mini-USB, micro-SD and a 5-megapixel camera. It’s said to be able to survive 76cm drops onto straight concrete and live to tell about it, as well as remain fully in-tact. Instead of calling this Iron clad we’ll just say rubber clad, coming in around 215 x 132 x 20-22.2 mm and weighing 620g on the scales. All that protection comes with a price — and that is the size.
With a battery that will last all day, and a tablet handling all conditions this should be great for those out and about, especially those on-site construction type workers. The ASUS TOUGH ETBW11AA 7″ Honeycomb tablet should be available in Japan this November but we have no details yet on pricing.
[via SlashGear]

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HTC Amaze 4G officially announced for T-Mobile, Coming October 10th

Today at GigaOm Mobilize 2011, T-Mobile has just officially announced the new and much rumored HTC Amaze 4G. Coming in October both the Amaze 4G and Samsung Galaxy S II will take advantage of T-Mobiles new HSPA+ 42 network technology. The Amaze 4G features a 1.5 Ghz dual-core processor and should be one awesome phone, more details can be found below.

Original leaks suggested a 1.5 GHz Qualcomm snapdragon dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB internal storage, 4.3″ qHD diplsay, an 8 MP camera with dual LED flash (same great camera as the myTouch 4G Slide), as well as a front camera for video chat. Those have all been officially confirmed along with Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread and HTC Sense UI. We originally thought this would launch with Sense UI 3.5 but the press shot above clearly shows that is not the case.
The HTC Amaze 4G will support the new, faster HSPA+ 42 network on T-Mobile for enhanced data speeds, and will also come with full NFC capabilities. We should see Google Wallet for the Amaze 4G shortly.
Over on T-Mobile.com the HTC Amaze 4G will be available starting October 10th, and will hit retail stores on Wednesday, October 12th for $259.99 and will come with a $50 mail in rebate.
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Sony Ericsson Arc S arriving Friday 30th September

We are pleased to announce that the Sony Ericsson Arc S will be arriving into our warehouse this coming Friday. We are receiving both colours – Midnight Blue & the Pure White versions.
The natural upgrade to the original Arc running on Android 2.3 Gingerbread with an 8.1 auto focus camera – This really is value for money priced at £291.66 GBP you can’t really go wrong!
Features of the Sony Ericsson Arc S include:

• Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS
• 4.2” Reality Display
• 1.4GHz processor
• Unique Slim Arc Design
• Sony Mobile BRAVIA Engine
• 8.1 megapixel camera with Exmor R mobile
• 720p HD video recording
• DLNA technology

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Android adoption doubled iOS over past three months, Nielsen finds

Twice as many consumers in the U.S. purchased Android smartphones compared to Apple’s iPhone over the past three months, according to new data just released by The Nielsen Company. The market research firm found that of those consumers who purchased a new smartphone during the three-month period ending in August, 58% purchased an Android device while 28% purchased either the iPhone 4 or the iPhone 3GS. Only 9% purchased a new BlackBerry smartphone, though the time period covered by Nielsen’s survey ended prior to the release of RIM’s new BlackBerry 7 handsets. Read on for more.
In terms of smartphone platform market share as of the month of August, Nielsen shows that 43% of smartphone owners had an Android device, 28% had an iOS smartphone and 18% owned a BlackBerry. Looking forward to the fourth quarter, however, Nielsen sees a big swing coming for iOS as Apple readies its next-generation iPhone 5. “Every time Apple launches a new iPhone or makes it available on a new wireless carrier, there is an increase in their sales,” Don Kellogg, Director of Telecom Research & Insights at Nielsen, wrote on the Nielsen’s blog. Smartphone owners made up 43% of the U.S. cell phone market in August according to Nielsen. A second chart from Nielsen’s report follows below.
Read

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How Apple copied Android OS features and is getting away with it

Apple has been looking to attack Google and their Android OS for a long time but hasn’t actually found a way to do it directly. Instead, they went after Android licensees claiming that they infringed their beloved patents. The Cuppertino-based phone maker has sued the two biggest Android phone manufacturers, Samsung and HTC, in numerous occasions and locations. A hearing at the Hague District court in the Netherlands has just ended with Samsung finally pulling out the big guns, their 3G patents. We will soon have an article about the hearing.
The video above shows how Apple blatantly thinks that the world owes it to them even though they copied many of the features that Android OS has been offering to its users for a long time. Let us know what you think.
via Reddit

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HTC Vigor Instructional videos revealed

The HTC Vigor has been one of the most talked about Android devices for Verizon since the Galaxy S II was announced. Many leaks have been circulating showing pictures, specs and even releases dates. As you all know, mobile carriers have been including their own apps within handsets to show users how to use them. We have found a couple of ‘instructional’ videos teaching folks about where in the HTC Vigor the SIM card goes and also walking them through the new HTC Sense UI. Whether the this HTC device will keep the Vigor name or not, that is still unknown at this moment. Check out the videos and let us know what you think.

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HTC Radar vs. Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray

We compare HTC's upcoming Mango masterpiece, the Radar, with Sony Ericsson's next-gen Xperia Ray

As Microsoft readies its first major Windows Phone update, Mango, manufacturers prepare to unveil their new devices to the world, based upon the upgraded software. One of the first to be announced was HTC's Radar, a slim, good looking device that aims to capitalise on the virtues of Windows Phone 7.5.
To put the Radar through its paces we've picked out a corking contender in the shape of Sony Ercisson's Xperia Ray, an Android device that has plenty to offer.

Power
The HTC Radar is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset which consists of a 1GHz Scorpion CPU and Adreno 205 GPU, giving the device a nice, even power base from which to run. We'd have liked to see more than the 512MB RAM on offer though, as we can't see it ageing terribly well once the dual-core WP7.5 devices hit the shelves.
The Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray runs on an identical chipset to the Radar, with a 1GHz Scorpion processor sitting beside the self-same Adreno 205 GPU and, like the HTC, the Xperia Ray only offers 512MB RAM, making it Mr. Average in the Android field, as well as this contest.
Both device's do offer internal storage too, with the Radar boasting 8GB of memory, with no support for Micro SD cards, and the Xperia Ray offering 1GB internal and support for up to a 32GB card.
Winner - Draw

Form & Build
HTC Radar - 120.5 x 61.5 x 10.9 mm, 137 g
Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray - 111 x 53 x 9.4 mm, 100 g
The Radar looks every inch the modern HTC device, with minimalist lines, a neat black and grey chassis made of plastics and metal and no hardware keys apart from the power switch.
The device isn't ugly, but it certainly won't win any contests for outstanding beauty, in fact it's a device that's instantly forgettable and we can't decide whether that's a good thing or not, frankly.
The Xperia Ray is another of Sony Ericsson's plastic fantastic Xperia series and you'll be hard pushed to find anything specific to like about it.
From the emaciated, curved back to the clumsily designed key layout on the front, aesthetic appears to have been roundly forgotten on the Ray and the lack of any discernible metallic elements in the construction renders the device a bit of a lightweight overall.
Winner - HTC Radar

Display
The HTC Radar features a 3.8-inch S-LCD screen which operates at a resolution of 480 x 800 and offers up a pixel density of 246ppi, making it captain average once again.
The screen does benefit from a dose of Corning's Gorilla Glass though, so you can rest easy knowing it won't scratch or be otherwise damaged if you give it a bit of general abuse.
The Xperia Ray features a 3.3-inch LED-backlit LCD display which runs at a resolution of 480 x 854 and knocks-out a pixel density of 297ppi, giving a it a pleasing edge over the Radar.
Sony Ericsson hasn't opted to give the device any toughened glass or other perks though, so you'll want to treat it with kid gloves.
Winner - Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray


Software
The HTC Radar is one of the first devices that will run Microsoft's Windows Phone 7.5 aka Mango and the device is all the better for it.
The OS has some smart new features such as unified inbox, greatly upgraded social network integration, Silverlight 4 and Internet Explorer 9.
The platform is still as user friendly as it was in its first incarnation and we're pleased to see Microsoft has expanded the UI to offer more customisation features.
Good job, Microsoft.
The Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray runs on Google's Android platform which has plenty of its own to offer, such as solid security, tons of apps and games (the majority of which are free) and pleasing widgets to keep you up to speed with the information and apps that matter to you.
On the Xperia Ray version 2.3.4 (Gingerbread) is present, overlayed with SE's own TimeScape UI, which brings some much needed eye-candy to the fore, as well as some natty social networking nous in a neat timeline driven UI.
It's impossible to pick a clear winner in this category because it's generally a matter of personal taste. Both Google and Microsoft have created pleasing, productive mobile platforms - so unless you have already, get out there and test them both before making a decision based upon OS.
Winner - Draw

HTC's Radar has taken its first beating. The device is certainly decent quality and it's great to see the company launching a new smartphone to go hand-in-hand with the upgrade to the OS, but why the heck didn't it make the Radar just that little bit more 'updated'.
The only thing new and eye-catching is Mango, and other users will be able to install that to their own devices when it's rolled out.
The Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray is worthy winner today, but it isn't anything to top the charts either.
It's a solid, mid-range Android smartphone which brings together some of Sony Ericsson's key strengths (and some of its notable weaknesses) to give users a device which won't let them down, but don't expect it to excel either.

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Samsung Focus S Spotted in the Wild (Photo)

Thanks to Microsoft jumping the gun at this year's Worldwide Partner Conference, we've already gotten a pretty good look at the Samsung Focus S Windows Phone -- although since that unit lacked AT&T branding, it was technically the international model, and not the SGH-I937 variant that is one of two second-generation Focii.

Revealed earlier this month by AT&T -- in specs, but not imagery -- the Mango-powered (Windows Phone 7.5) Focus S will run a 1.4GHz processor and feature a 4.3-inch, WVGA Super AMOLED Plus display. The main camera is a 720p-capable eight-megapixel shooter, while the front-facing webcam clocks in at 1.3 megapixels.

With the Omnia W/Focus Flash having just been announced, we'd expect the Focus S (/Omnia S?) to launch any day now.

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Motorola DEFY+ update

We are pleased to announce that first stock of the DEFY + is due to arrive this Friday – depending on what time in the day we receive the physical stock will determine when we actually start shipping all orders. The likelihood would be that we would begin shipping on the following Monday (03/10/11)
The Motorola DEFY+ is the natural upgrade to the original DEFY – stock for the DEFY is now limited so we would strongly advise all customers to lean towards the upgraded version of the DEFY+
Features of the DEFY+

• Android 2.3 Gingerbread
• 1GHz Processor
• IP67 Protection rating, Water resistant, Dust Resistant
• Scratch proof 3.7” Corning Gorilla Glass Display
• 5MP Camera
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G
• 3.5mm Audio jack
• MicroSD expansion up to 32GB, 2GB internal storage

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