LG Optimus series Android 2.3 updates rolling out now

If you are a user of the LG Optimus series of smartphones the Android Gingerbread 2.3 update is ready to head your way right now in Europe. There are several models in the Optimus range and the models will get the update in a staggered launch. According to the LG Facebook page, the first to get the update will be the Optimus 2X.

The 2X should be getting the update as of November 1, which is today. The Optimus 3D will get the update starting on November 21. After that update, the Optimus Black will get the nod starting on November 28. After the rollouts are made in Europe, Android 2.3 will come to the device globally according to LG. LG notes that the exact timing of the launch globally will vary with each market.
There are some commenting on the Facebook post saying that the update for the 2X isn’t available OTA or via the updater right now. I can only image the riot that Optimus owners will start if the 2.3 update turns out to be flawed and slow after waiting this long to get Gingerbread. LG recently announced that the 2X would not get an upgrade to Android 4.0 so this Gingerbread update may be the last some LG owners see.
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Google+ app gets an official update with ICS user interface enhancements

It looks like the leaked Google+ app has finally become official, Ice Cream sandwich interface and all. The app is available on the Android Market now. According to the change log, it features battery improvements, navigation changes, improved notifications, support for Google Apps users (we know you’re out there) and general bug fixes.

Take a look at those screenshots: notice anything different? It looks like someone in Mountain View has got their hands on a Galaxy Nexus, not that it’s any sort of surprise – you can see the software navigation buttons at the bottom. If you visit the Android Market listing on your computer, you’ll see that the app previews are now 1280 x 720, the screen resolution of Google’s latest developer phone. According to the latest user reviews, even persistent bugs have been ironed out after the major release.
Other official Google apps should start updating soon. The Android Market has already got its major overhaul, and we’d guess that Google Music 4 will drop just as soon as the company is ready to add MP3 music to the Market as it’s already done with movies and books. You can download the leaked Google Music APK here. Expect apps like Gmail and Google Reader to be updated in the near future for all Android versions and devices. Sadly, poor Google Listen seems to have been completely abandoned. How’s about a little love, big G?

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Samsung Galaxy S gets a taste of Ice Cream Sandwich via SDK port

I always love seeing what dedicated Android modders can do with new software and old hardware. the latest phone to get the Ice Cream Sandwich SDK port treatment is none other than the original Samsung Galaxy S – no II, no HD, no LTE, no X, just the S. It shouldn’t be that much of a surprise, since the Nexus S shares a lot of the same hardware, and it saw Ice Cream Sandwich almost immediately after the SDK was released.

This time the legwork comes from a pair of XDA-Developers, uh, developers, galnet and lttldvl, both members of the MIUI team. The hardware in their photo looks like the original international version, but it shouldn’t be too difficult for community members to begin pumping out variations for the Captivate, Vibrant, Fascinate, et cetera. The ROM is in the extreme alpha stage – not even the touchscreen works, and proper resolution scaling has yet to be implemented. Brave souls can download and flash the ROM now, but for goodness sake, keep a Nandroid backup handy.
Naturally the Nexus S and Nexus One were two of the first devices to get an SDK port for Ice Cream Sandwich, with more esoteric hardware like the ThunderBolt following. More stable and useful ports should begin appearing once Google releases the open source code, currently expected a week or two after the November launch of the Galaxy Nexus. HTC, Motorola, Samsung, Sony and others have already committed to bringing Ice Cream Sandwich to such devices as can handle it.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 drops by the FCC with AT&T LTE bands

It looks like the uber-expensive HTC Jetstream won’t have long to sit on its throne as AT&T’s only LTE tablet device. Either the Galaxy Tab 10.1 or 8.9 was recently spotted roaming the digital halls of the FCC, with AT&T’s unmistakable 4G LTE branding adorning its backside. The spec drawing looks pretty interchangeable with the Galaxy Tab 10.1, but after overlaying the press shots of the 8.9 on the PDF, I’m leaning towards the 8.9.

Those who would rather have some Honeycomb goodness in a Wifi-only package can already purchase the Galaxy Tab 8.9, starting at $449.99 for the 16GB version. A wireless variant isn’t exactly a surprise, since its big brother the 10.1 can already be found on other carriers, and Verizon already has a 4G LTE model for sale. AT&T still hasn’t got a 3G version of the latest Galaxy Tab hardware, though they are still offering the 7-inch original – maybe they want to offer some differentiation from the 10-inch Jetstream.
The Galaxy Tab 8.9 shares almost all the components and specifications of the 10.1: the same 1GHz processor, the same full gigabyte of RAM, and even the same 1280 x 800 screen resolution – though obviously, it uses a smaller panel. The 10.1 Verizon LTE model received a positive review a few months ago, and there’s no reason to believe that the 8.9 on AT&T’s LTE network will do any less, assuming that you’re in one of AT&T’s sparse LTE coverage areas. Considering that the carrier’s LTE push is now in full swing with the Galaxy S II Skyrocket and HTC Vivid, expect the Galaxy Tab 8.9 before the end of the year.

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Republic Wireless tries to change the game with VOIP and Android

Raise your hand if you love your wireless carrier. Anyone? Consumers fed up with spotty service and limited terms have been complaining for years about lack of transparency and competition, and on November 8th, they might just have a next-generation alternative to the likes of Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. Republic Wireless is a new Mobile Virtual Network Operator that uses a combination of conventional cellular lines and Voice Over IP via Wifi.

So what’s the difference between Republic and simply using Skype on your current phone? The magic comes via “Hybrid Calling,” which keeps a constant connection to a Wifi hotspot and the cellular network. Calls will default to Wifi, then switch over to cellular only when necessary. This will require some new hardware and software so unfortunately, you’ll have to get a new Android phone along with the service. On the plus side, it’ll use a single mobile number no matter what system the phone is currently using.
This isn’t the be-all, end-all future of wireless, for a few reasons. One, only The Now Network will be supported at launch, and as its current customers know, that’s a lot of roaming territory. Republic Wireless will try to get agreements with other carriers as well. The current carriers don’t really have a reason to help Republic succeed, so you almost certainly won’t see the MVNO get agreements for LTE and unlimited data. But for a very specific subset of people – those who are nearly always in a range of Wifi and don’t require consistent mobile data – it will significantly lower the barrier to entry in the form of monthly payments about half as expensive as current carriers.
Details are still sparse. The company is getting its Beta launch on November the 8th – we’ll be watching with interest.
[via TechCrunch]

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Motorola DROID RAZR confirmed for November 10th retail release

We know that those of you who pre-ordered the Motorola DROID RAZR will have it shipped out to you “no later than” November 10th, but the company has been mum on when Verizon customers would be able to but the phone at retail. Until now, anyway: Verizon has confirmed that the DROID RAZR will be available in retail stores on Thursday, November 10th. The phone should be available nationwide.

Nothing has changed since pre-orders began rolling out. The RAZR will still cost a full $299 (no mail-in-rebates to be found) on a two-year contract, or a whopping $649 free and clear. We haven’t heard anything to suggest that the initial stock is running low, so if you declined a pre-order and want to get your instant gratification on, feel free to mozy on into your Local Verizon Wireless store next week. But keep in mind, both the Galaxy Nexus and the HTC Rezound are coming soon at the same price, and the former at least won’t have the DROID RAZR’s locked bootloader and non-removable battery.
Strangely, our neighbors to the north will get the Motorola RAZR (the DROID RAZR’s de-branded cousin) almost a week earlier, on November the 4th. If you live in Canada and are at the end of your Rogers contract, you can sign up for a new 3-year deal and get the RAZR for a mere $150. If you opt for non-contract pricing, it’ll be the same $649 price tag.

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Department of Defense approves Dell Streak 5 for high-security networks

Better late than never, I suppose. The United States Department of Defense had added its first Android device to its list of officially supported handsets and tablets: the 5-inch Dell Streak. The phone/tablet made it through an extensive gauntlet of testing for security and comparability, performed by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). This means that DOD employee and contractors will be able to use the Dell Streak, now almost 18 months out from its initial release, to conduct their business around the world.

To be fair, the Streak 5′s outdated hardware wasn’t what was being tested. Dell’s corporate software suite, Mobile Security for Android, is what was getting the real shake-down. I suppose that since the testing procedures take so long, older hardware is the only thing that’s available. Dell mentioned that the security suite will be available on “the next wave of Dell Android devices” set for a 2012 release. The company is eager to serve the government and military market, especially since it’s currently the only Android manufacturer to do so.
So what does this mean for government workers? More choice, for one – if you work for the Department of Defense or one of the branches of the U.S. Military, you no longer have to use a Blackberry to access sensitive networks and data. Dell’s security suite, developed with help from Good Technologies, allows for remote access to desktop PCs and servers, as well as command and control programs. Maybe you might even be able to use it on some current hardware, sometime next year.
[via InformationWeek]
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Pantech Vega LTE commercial shows off hands-free gesture controls [Video]

Who needs touchscreens and slide to unlock features says Pantech. This latest commercial shows just how 2010 touchscreens and slide to answer features really are because they have introduced hands-free gesture based controls for swiping through pictures and even answering phone calls. Apple may have recently received their patents for slide to unlock, but lets see how they take this newest video from Pantech. They are showing off their new 4.5″ 4G LTE Android smartphone, enjoy the video after the break.

Earlier this month Pantech officially announced the Vega LTE. It sports a 4.5″ 1280 x 720p HD display, a dual-core 1.5 GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, 4G LTE speeds and a sizable 1860 mAh battery too. Currently only available in South Korea I’d love to get my hands on this phone, but doubt that will be happening any time soon.
Pantech Vega LTE gesture controls commercial




Currently the Vega LTE isn’t slated for a release anywhere outside of South Korea but hopefully they smarten up and give it a go here in the US as I’m sure plenty would love to enjoy this phone. With the great specs above and 16GB of internal storage all packed into a svelte 9.35mm thin body this phone puts up a good fight with current Android 2.3 Gingerbread offerings at the moment. Pantech recently launched the Breakout with 4G LTE on Verizon, so hopefully we’ll start seeing more devices from Pantech in the near future.
What do you guys think. Love the idea of gesture controls for answering calls or would you accidentally answer it too often? I myself want to at least give it a try.
[via Phandroid]

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HTC Rezound gets unboxed and handled on camera

The unreleased and still not fully confirmed HTC Rezound for Verizon Wireless has just been unboxed — sort of. While we have a plain white box and what is surely not anything official and merely a pre-production unit. We do have all the wrapping paper, cables, chargers and what looks to be what will come with the device once shipped although I didn’t see any Beats headphones. Thanks to WorldofJohnBoy we have a video for you after the break.

While nothing in the video is particularly new, it’s nice to actually see it handled in the open so we have a better idea what to expect. We were all thinking it would be plastered with the Beats Audio logo on the rear but it appears Verizon and the 4G LTE symbols stole the spotlight. The HTC Rezound recently cleared the FCC again last week and today advertisements for the device were seen in stores already. For now enjoy the video preview below:
HTC Rezound video




HTC has announced a media event for November 3rd in NYC and will most likely be announcing and showing off the HTC Rezound with its 4.3″ 1280 x 720p HD resolution, 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM and that nice 8MP camera around back. It looks like a DROID Incredible if you ask me, but that isn’t really a bad thing and I can’t wait to get my hands on this awesome dual-core 4G LTE smartphone.
Stay tuned as we’ll have all the details from the November 3rd media event by HTC linked to above.
[via Droidforums] — Thanks wicked!

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