Acer Iconia Tab A500 deal at Best Buy

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Best Buy is featuring the Acer Iconia Tab A500 in their weekly sales circular and at a pretty good price, too. The Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet is on sale for just under $450, cheaper than Motorola’s XOOM, which is selling for around $600, WiFi only. It’s also available now at that price, while the slightly cheaper EeePad Transformer (at $400) won’t be out for another few weeks. And with our earlier report that users can root the Iconia (with a step by step guide included), the time is ripe to ask the question … why wait?

Specs on the Iconia A500 include a 10.1 inch screen with 1280×800 resolution. It’s powered by a dual core 1Ghz processor running Android 3.0 Honeycomb. Storage wise, the A500 sports 1 GB of RAM and 16GB of external storage via the microSD slot. And the A500 has dual cameras – a front facing 2MP model for video chat, as well as a rear facing 5MP. And of course, it has all the usual WiFi and Bluetooth capability.
Now of course, it doesn’t have the nifty the keyboard dock with extra battery like the Transformer. But you can’t have everything. The Iconia, however, is shipping now, and Best Buy looks to move them at that price. And you know the old saying … he who hesitates is lost.

 

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Samsung Galaxy Pro (GT-B7510) Hands-On in the Netherlands

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Sometimes you’ve got to go all the way to the Netherlands just to get a peek at an Android devices. That’s what’s going on right here with the Samsung Galaxy Pro, a Samsung device running Android that I’m sure you’ll find quite unique. It’s certainly not going to win any speed races, and the camera on the back is a whopping 3 megapixels, but look at those big fat keys! A bigger flatter more fat Android has never been seen!

This phone is running a bit of the ol’ TouchWiz 3.0, has a full QUERTY keyboard, and by the looks of it, has the same textured Samsung battery cover as on the soon-to-be-released Galaxy S II. Fashionable! The fellow over in the Netherlands checking this phone out noted that it feels “good in the hand” and that it’s “light and thin.” The touchscreen display is longer than it is tall, and the four Android-centric buttons sit right between the keyboard and the display.
The keys are all raised and balloon-like so typing is “a joy.” This device has 320 x 240 pixel resolution on a 2.8 inch screen. That means it’s pretty low. Furthermore, the screen only supports single-touch. And it comes with a 2GB microSD card! Convinced you want it? Yeah me either. I love the chassis, but have basically no faith in the innards – these feelings might be evidence enough to show why you’re not seeing it saturate the USA.
 

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Angry Birds RIO gets an update next week

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Rovio has reported on their Facebook page that Angry Birds is getting an update this week. The update, whatever comes after “Jungle Escape,” will unlock some sweet new features including “marmoset mauling action” and it’ll have many “juicy secrets” to discover. The update is being released a little later than expected, much to the chagrin of gamers who have been chomping at the bit and complaining about it’s slipped release date. But they can rejoice that it will be followed by three more chapters of the Angry Birds Rio game to be released on or about July, October, and November of 2011.

Squawk! Hold on to your hats, people: the first update for Angry Birds Rio lands next week!,” said it’s Facebook Page. “Get ready for more marmoset-mauling action and more juicy secrets to discover. Did you already find all the Golden Pineapples and Bananas?

The first chapter, released back in March, was called Smuggler’s Den and introduced gamers to the bird characters Blu and Jewel from the 20th Century Fox film RIO. Blu is a rare Macaw who lives in a bookstore in Minnesota. When scientists learn there’s another Macaw spotted in South America that’s female, Blu gets sent down south to meet her and let nature take it’s course. But both are kidnapped by poachers seeking to make a fortune on the rare birds.

The game is a natural spin off of Angry Birds, as our poultry are kidnapped along with Blu and Jewel and not only escape, but they will seek vengeance in classic Angry Birds fashion on poachers who have captured their rare brethren! Chapter Two, Jungle Escape will take the next step as gamers will get exposed to new environments and set pieces from the film, and there may also be a dreaded Black Bird, ready to wreck any smuggler’s day. There’s also another new Boomerang Bird who will loop back around just when you think you’ve missed the mark. And as with Chapter one, Gamers can also collect golden fruit, area trophies, and three star bonuses hidden like juicy little Easter eggs all over the game.

Angry Birds Rio Jungle Attack will be available at the Amazon App Store for Android starting next week – with your everyday average Android Marketplace release surely soon to follow.

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HTC EVO 3D Available Today on Pre-Order, but it is a SECRET!

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Don’t tell anybody! There’s a note being passed around that we just happen to have text from, one that’s telling all the employees at Best Buy Mobile – aka the most fun part of the whole store, that they’re able to speak of this pre-order only to people who ask about it specifically. If you say you might want to check out a different phone, you’re out of luck! Have a look below at how you can reserve your HTC EVO 3D at a Best Buy today, and keep it a secret!

Have a peek here at the text from this infamous note supposedly sent out to Best Buy employees. In it, you’ll find that not only are they not allowed to speak of the pre-order unless someone asks about the EVO 3D and ONLY the EVO 3D, they mention that staff is not allowed to speak about blogs. No blogs because they are unreliable and should be shot on the spot! You evil blogs, how dare you interfere with Best Buy’s business!

Are Customers Asking for the Sprint EVO 3D?
Although dates and details are very limited on this device, there are some customers willing to wait. As always, we encourage customers to choose from Best Buy Mobile’s phenomenal phone selection and pair it with the Buy Back program. However, we realize some customers either aren’t ready to upgrade or are willing to wait until the unconfirmed launch date. Therefore…we are “quietly” opening the Sprint EVO 3D pre-sale (SKU 2612225), starting this Monday, May 2.
What CAN we say: The HTC EVO 3D, the first glasses-free 3D 4G device, is coming “this summer” to Best Buy.
What CAN’T we say: Anything from the blogs or unofficial sources. Much of this is unreliable and could mislead customers. Inevitably, customers will find this information and it is acceptable to be aware of it, but do not share said information with customers as factual.
What CAN we do: Starting May 2, Best Buy Mobile will begin reserving product through the pre-sale process. Click here for the generic flyer.
What CAN’T we do: Do NOT actively promote this pre-sale until it’s formally announced. Do NOT create signage and drive customers towards this pre-sale. This is meant to capture only those customers coming into our stores inquiring about the EVO 3D who otherwise are not purchasing another phone today. In other words, if a customer asks, you can tell him or her about the pre-sale. Otherwise, mum’s the word.

 

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Coupons coming to Android handsets via NFC

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French company Ingencio is working with Google to develop a sales coupon service which would deliver special offers to smartphone users via near field communications. The service, would send coupons to a user’s phone as they shop and automatically deduct the coupon from a related purchase upon checkout. Initially, Payments would still be made the old fashioned way, by either cash, check or charge.

“Google wants a system where, when you enter a shop or supermarket, for example, you receive a special offer on your phone,” said CEO Philippe Lazare.

According to Lazare, Google doesn’t seem to have plans to process payments via NFC, however. But that could change as the technology evolves. Already, we’ve reported that Google is at work on mobile phone payment registers. But that technology is only in it’s infancy, so Google is looking to diversify in NFC and focus on product offers and advertising in the interim.
Near Field Communications is a recent addition to the Android platform, which provides not only for advertising and coupons, but also payments to NFC supported registers. Google is already testing their system in New York and San Francisco, and is working with CitiGroup and Mastercard for an NFC payment system for later in 2011. Meantime, there are several NFC Apps available in the Android Marketplace. And with competitors like AT&T, Verizon, and others looking for their share of the NFC pie, it’s only a matter of time before a cashless society is truly a reality.

 

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 Hands-On in Germany

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It appears that our Android pals in Deutschland have gotten their hands on the yet to be release Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9, one of two new tablets announced back at CTIA 2011 (we where there!) but without working units (we got to see the dummies!) We also got to see a working version of the Android 3.0 Honeycomb with TouchWiz overlay on a different test-unit tablet that same faithful day – what NewGadgetsDE has for the world now is no less than those two elements combined – and in a white-backed unit!

Have a look at the images of this ultra-sleek 9.09 x 6.21 x 0.34-inch (230.9 x 157.8 x 8.6-mm) tablet, noting that it’s hella light at 16.58 oz (470 g) and holds in its guts a dual-core 1GHz chipset and an 8.9-inch 1280 x 800 pixel display. It’s completely lovely, and even though I’ve not personally seen this fully working unit, I can tell you that the UI is tight and the physical device is utterly excellent to behold and be held. Take a look here at a video of the unit working in DE:

 

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AT&T/Samsung “Special Annoucement” May 5

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We just got an invite to the AT&T/Samsung event being held on May 5th from 4-6pm. They will be making a “special announcement”, and will be featuring product demos and executive remarks. Hmmm. Could it be the Samsung Infuse which was announced at CTIA 2011? Not sure what the news will be, but we will be reporting on it live right here.


Back when the Infuse was first announced, we didn’t know much about the Super AMOLED screen. But now that we’ve seen it on the Galaxy S II, we know how stunning it is. So seeing it on another device is pretty exciting. Keep an eye out right here on Android Community on Thursday, we’ll be reporting live with pictures and video on all the action at this event. If you have any speculation you’d like to share, please do so in the comments. 

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DROID3 and DROIDX2 Pop Up in Best Buy System, Model Numbers Confirmed

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Best Buy cellebrite systems have updated and now include the DROID3 (XT862) and DROIDX2 (MB870), leading us to believe that we’re a matter of weeks away from a release of at least one of these phones.  The current rumor-wire has the DX2 launching some time in May, but the D3 has always been thought of as a summer release.  Maybe with the DROID Bionic now delayed until the summer, Motorola has moved up the D3 launch to fill a void?
 I’m doubting that the D3 will be LTE, but the new screensize and re-styling sure has people around these parts talking.  And with that front-facing camera included, something the DROIDX2 is lacking, could this be the next big DROID until we see the new Bionic?

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Samsung Galaxy S WiFi 4.0 and 5.0 launching, but what about the U.S.?

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We have heard the Galaxy S WiFi 4.0 and 5.0 are coming to the U.S., but still not word on when. For now the 4.0 is launching in Russia and gradually in other countries, and the 5.0 is heading to Switzerland.
They are shipping with Android 2.2 Froyo, with the possibility to be upgraded to 2.3 Gingerbread.
Key specs include:

• 4.0-inch (800 x 480) display
• 1GHz processor
• 3.2 mega pixel rear facing camera, VGA front facing
• Video supported formats: MPEG4 /H.264 / DivX/ XviD/ WMV
• Audio supported formats: MP3, WMA9, Ogg, Flac, AAC

Samsung Launches Galaxy S WiFi 4.0 and 5.0: Smart Mobile Entertainment

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., a provider of Smart Mobile Devices, today launched GALAXY S WiFi 4.0 and a fresh addition to its smart player portfolio, the GALAXY S WiFi 5.0.
Each featuring 4″ and 5″ screen-sizes and delivering the powerful application experiences as the original GALAXY S, the two versions give users an unrivalled entertainment experience through a clear display, a swift 1GHz processor and the Android^TM 2.2 “Froyo” platform. The GALAXY S WiFi 4.0 will be first available in Russia and will be gradually rolled out in other countries. The GALAXY S WiFi 5.0 will be first available in Switzerland.
“With the GALAXY S WiFi 4.0 and 5.0 we’re delivering a rich, immersive experience for multimedia enthusiasts.” said JK Shin, President and Head of Samsung’s Mobile Communications Business. “A large, high-quality screen, a world of fun and useful applications and great communications services make this a powerhouse device at an affordable price.
The GALAXY S WiFi 4.0 and 5.0 will deliver all the rich smartphone experiences of the GALAXY S smartphone. With video communications via VoIP services and rich video and music entertainment with multi-codec support, the Samsung GALAXY S WiFi 4.0 and 5.0 will keep you constantly entertained.
Stunning Performance, Powerful Features
Key Features of the GALAXY S WiFi 4.0 and 5.0 include:

• Display: The clear display makes web surfing and multimedia viewing a joy. Keep your lifestyle mobile – enjoy movies, your favourite TV shows, photos and web-browsing anywhere. Samsung’s latest mDNIe image engine technology ensures that video and images look stunning.
• Android^TM 2.2 “Froyo”: The GALAXY S WiFi 4.0 and 5.0 feature the Froyo operating system, with a possibility to upgrade to 2.3 Gingerbread.
• Application Customization: With access to over 150,000 apps available on Android Market^TM, the Samsung GALAXY S WiFi 4.0 and 5.0 are fully customizable smart devices. Integrated GPS support further expands the capabilities of the device, letting you benefit from Google’s map services and directory applications.
• Google Mobile Services: Enjoy premium Google^TM services such as Gmail^TM, Google Talk^TM and YouTube^TM. Utilize voice recognition technology to search with Google faster than ever on the Internet. Stay plugged into the world with premier Google applications.
• Samsung Social Hub: Your entire social life in your hand. Simultaneously post messages and pictures on Flickr, Facebook, and Twitter using Samsung’s Social Hub. The integrated address book provides the ultimate command & control station for the most popular SNS services. Synchronize your personal calendar with friends, family, and the latest events.
• VoIP Voice & Video Calls: The GALAXY S WiFi 4.0 and 5.0 utilize cost-effective video and voice communications services. The Qik application allows video chat which can be shared over social network services.
• HD Video & Images: A camera lets you shoot and share your life, capturing high-quality video or still images. The Samsung GALAXY S WiFi 4.0 and 5.0 support DivX HD, allowing high-definition video playback; Support for various codec standards including MPEG4, H264, DivX, XviD, WMV codecs ensures you can enjoy huge catalogues of content from all over the web.
• Audio excellence: The Samsung GALAXY S WiFi 4.0 and 5.0 “Smart Player” put entertainment at its core, designed to deliver the best possible audio and video experience. Samsung SoundAlive^TM technology provides unrivalled sound quality, with deeper bass and greater tone articulation.
• Enhanced Memory Capability: Packed with generous 8/16 GB memory, plus mircoSD slot and powered by a powerful 1GHz for an industry leading performance, the GALAXY S WiFi 4.0 and 5.0 are equipped to handle any user demand. 

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