Rugged Casio G’zOne Commando breaks onto Verizon April 28

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Verizon has officially announced the Casio G’zOne Commando, the carrier’s latest ruggedized smartphone. Running Android 2.2 Froyo, the G’zOne Commando meets Military Standards 810G for Immersion, Rain, Shock and Dust Resistant, Vibration, Salt Fog, Humidity, Solar Radiation, Altitude, Low and High Temperature Storage.

There’s also a 5-megapixel camera, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth, GPS and 3G mobile hotspot functionality. More interesting, perhaps, are the eight different modes that cater to various outdoor pursuits, mixing together direction, acceleration and temperature sensors; full details in the press release below.
The Verizon Casio G’zOne Commando will go on sale April 28. It will be priced at $199.99 with a new, two year agreement.
Press Release:

Verizon Wireless And Casio Introduce The CASIO G’zOne Commando
First Ruggedized Android Smartphone for Verizon Wireless
BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Verizon Wireless and Casio today announced a new addition to the rugged wireless category and a new Android-powered smartphone in the marketplace, the CASIO G’zOne Commando™. Deployment ready, the Commando is a mobile office with high security features for secure corporate email; Wi-Fi for high-speed Web access; XT9 and T9 trace input for efficient typing; and snap-out menu for customized access to high-use applications.
Designed to withstand the most extreme conditions, the CASIO G’zOne Commando easily transitions from work to play with advanced G’zGEAR software. As the ultimate outdoor tool in a mobile device, G’zGEAR operates in eight modes to enhance the active, adventure-driven lifestyle. With the help of its Triple Sensor technology utilizing direction, acceleration and temperature, G’zGEAR enables adventurers to perform at their peak.
The Casio Commando is ideal for the business environment, especially for fields such as construction, transportation, manufacturing, utilities and healthcare. Workers in hazardous environments, such as construction sites, warehouses and factory floors, need a smartphone that has the capability to download blueprints, files and pictures; update project plans; access field force management, inventory access and corporate applications; and capture signatures.
Key features:
Android™ 2.2
Meets Military Standards 810G for Immersion, Rain, Shock and Dust Resistant, Vibration, Salt Fog, Humidity, Solar Radiation, Altitude, Low and High Temperature Storage
5-megapixel camera with auto-focus, still photo, video capture, LED light
High-security encryption for corporate email
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n connectivity
Stereo Bluetooth™
VZ Navigator® for GPS and audible turn-by-turn directions
Mobile Hotspot capable-share 3G connection with up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices
Lifestyle features:
G’zGear operates in eight modes
Earth Compass – Functions as a standard compass, the GPS shows the distance and direction to several domestic and international landmarks, including Yosemite National Park and Mt. Everest.
Walking Counter – Measures steps, distance and energy consumption, and total steps for the day, week or month. It also provides virtual treks for famous North American trails and roads including Mt. Kilimanjaro, Annapurna Circuit, Torres Del Paine Circuit, John Muir Trail and Transcontinental.
Adventure Training – Takes training to a new level by allowing users to run with virtual opponents, like world-record holders, wild animals, or their own best personal performance stored in the training history.
Trip Memory – Plots and records outdoor activities along with location information to share with friends and family on Twitter™ and Facebook®.
Tides – Showcases the tidal graph for the day; time of tide ebb and flow; and current, past and future sea tide levels. GPS displays the nearest location map.
Thermometer – Displays current temperature in both Celsius and Fahrenheit with numeric and graphic thermometer readings and compares the current temperature across multiple locations.
Sun / Moon – Checks the time of the next sunrise, sunset, moonrise and moonset, and tracks the moon phases for your current location.
Star Gazer – Utilizes GPS to display the stars and constellation names based on the current season and time.
Pricing and availability:
The CASIO G’zOne Commando will be available online at www.verizonwireless.com on April 28 for $199.99 with a new two-year customer agreement. CASIO G’zOne Commando customers will need to subscribe to a data plan. Unlimited data plans are available to customers starting at $29.99 monthly access.
Business customers who want to purchase the device can contact their Business Sales Representatives at 1-800-VZW-4BIZ.
For more information on the CASIO G’zOne Commando or for other Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com. Customers can visit www.CasioGzOne.com to experience the CASIO G’zOne Commando.

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Nexus S 4G launch on Sprint now official: May 8th for $200

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You've been able to pre-order the Sprint-ified version of the Nexus S for a good while now, but it's always good to add a concrete date for the end of the anticipation and the beginning of the Android 2.3 fun. That date has now been officially marked as May 8th. That's when your Pure Google device will be ready for use and abuse, though you'll have to accept the usual two-year commitment with Sprint and pay up the typical $200 entry fee. Intriguingly, the Nexus S 4G's release date matches up with a roadmap leak we saw recently, which also featured the Motorola Xoom launching on Sprint in "early May." Can't be long before that goes official as well now. Jump past the break for Sprint's PR regarding today's news.

 

Nexus S 4G from Google and Samsung with Android 2.3 for a Pure Google Experience Available to Sprint Customers in the U.S. on May 8 for $199.99

The highly anticipated Nexus S™ 4G1 from Google™ goes on sale in all Sprint channels, including www.sprint.com, on Sunday, May 8, for $199.99 (plus tax) with a new line or eligible upgrade and two-year service agreement. Extending the company's 4G device leadership yet again, it is the fourth 4G phone available and 20th 4G device announced from Sprint.

Manufactured by Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), a leading global mobile phone provider and the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the United States2, Nexus S 4G is the only Nexus S phone with 4G and provides a pure Google experience with Android™ 2.3, Gingerbread, the fastest version of Android available for smartphones. With its pure Google experience, Sprint Nexus S 4G customers will be among the first to receive Android software upgrades and new Google mobile apps, and in many cases, the device will get the updates and new apps as soon as they are available.

Critics praise Nexus S 4G:

"Whether you're an Android fanboy (or girl) or not, it's tough to avoid drooling over the Nexus S 4G. The device has similar specs to its T-Mobile counterpart – the Nexus S – but it will take advantage of Sprint's super fast 4G data network." – MSNBC Technology
"It's probably our pick of Android phones now on Sprint – the Evo is nearly a year old, and the major advantage of the Nexus S is that it'll be on the bleeding edge of Android updates." – Gizmodo
"So, what makes the (Nexus S) 4G different? WiMAX 4G. – IntoMobile

It is powered by a 1GHz Samsung application processor that produces rich 3D-like graphics, faster upload and download times and supports HD-like multimedia content along with a dedicated Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) to make playing mobile games, browsing the Web and watching videos a fast, fluid and smooth experience.

Designed with Samsung's brilliant Super AMOLED™ touchscreen technology, Nexus S 4G's 4-inch Contour Display features a curved design for a more comfortable look and feel in the user's hand or along the side of the face. Its higher color contrast means colors are incredibly vibrant and text is crisp at any size and produces less glare than on other smartphone displays when outdoors, so videos, pictures and games look their best and the sun won't wash them out.

Nexus S 4G features a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera and camcorder and front-facing VGA camera. In addition, Nexus S 4G features a gyroscope sensor to provide a smooth, fluid gaming experience when the user tilts the device up or down or pans the phone to the left or right.

Additional key features include:

3G/4G Mobile Hotspot capability, supporting up to six Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously
Android Market™ for access to more than 150,000 applications, widgets and games available for download to customize the experience
Google mobile services such as Google Search™, Gmail™, Google Maps™ with Navigation, syncing with Google Calendar™, Voice Actions and YouTube™
Corporate email (Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync®), personal (POP & IMAP) email and instant messaging
Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, which allows the device to read information from everyday objects, like stickers and posters embedded with NFC chips
16GB Internal Memory (ROM)/512MB (RAM)
Wi-Fi® – 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth® 2.1 + EDR
Integrated GPS
1500 mAh Lithium-ion battery

Nexus S 4G from Google will be available from Sprint for $199.99 with a new line or eligible upgrade and two-year service agreement (taxes not included) in all Sprint retail channels, including the Web (www.sprint.com), Telesales (1-800-SPRINT1) and Best Buy.

Nexus S 4G requires activation on one of Sprint's Everything Data plans, plus a required $10 Premium Data add-on charge for smartphones. Sprint's Everything Data plan with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM includes unlimited Web, texting and calling to and from any mobile in America while on the Sprint Network, starting at just $69.99 per month plus required $10 Premium Data add-on charge – a savings of $39.99 per month versus Verizon's comparable plan with unlimited talk, text and Web (excluding Verizon's Southern California plan; pricing excludes surcharges and taxes).

 

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Gingerbread-Based Sense ROM Coming for Rooted HTC Wildfire

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 This coming month marks the one year birthday of the HTC Wildfire, a sign by many people’s standards of being outdated in the tech industry. In fact, usually a manufacturer will stop providing software updates and support around that time. The HTC Hero, for instance, didn’t even officially get Froyo, nor did the Samsung Moment. That said, we at TalkAndroid know that just because a phone is a bit dated certainly doesn’t make it obsolete, particularly when the rooting community gets involved. Bringing that back to the Wildfire, an intrepid group of ROM-chefs over at xda developers have been hard at work to bring Wildfire users the latest and greatest in the form of a Gingerbread-based Sense ROM. Now the ROM is currently in its alpha stages and probably wouldn’t work very well for any but the most experienced of flash-addicts, however the team is definitely making headway and we’re sure that the sweet taste of Gingerbread-flavored success isn’t too far away. This will definitely be worth keeping an eye on for any curious Wildfire users. Speaking of, are there any said users that are interested in checking this ROM out? Let us know in the comments and be sure to stop by xda to show these guys some love.

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Eee Pad Transformer has a new firmware coming this week

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I mentioned this morning that after a long wait the Eee Pad Transformer from Asus was finally available in North America. I also mentioned that supplies were short and that many locations were already out of stock on the device. If you want one you need to go look right now or you will miss out until Asus can make more stock. Asus had noted that the UK would be its focus at launch in the past so low stock in the US isn’t really a surprise.

Despite the fact that the Transformer is just now selling in the US and other countries, there is already a new update coming soon. And by soon, I mean really soon as in April 28. That is this Thursday for those of you not by a calendar. What exactly the update will bring with it is unknown. I would assume with the tablet just now launching the update would have to bring minor changes. I can’t see them launching the tablet with significant issues, but stranger things have happened.
The Transformer will be one of the more popular Android 3.0 tablets on the market by my estimation. The things have had good reviews around the web and the keyboard dock makes it perfect for the tablet user that might need to actually work from the thing every now and then. If you find them in stock somewhere let us know in the comments below.

 

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Has Developer Interest in Android Leveled Off?

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Has the golden era of Android ended? It has for developers, at least one survey is reporting. Interest in developing for Android phones and tablets has dropped, according to the latest survey conducted by Appcelerator and IDC. It had been seeing a steady increase up until this point. Interest in Android phone development was down two points, settling at 85 percent. Tablets saw an larger drop of three points for a 71 percent interest level. In the meantime, interest in Apple’s iOS remains strong.
So why are developers starting to feel cold towards Android? The two major factors in the shift are renewed concerns about platform fragmentation and what is being perceived as a rather lackluster initial run of Honeycomb tablets. The emergence of new third-party app stores also concerns some developers.
The good news is that Android and iOS still maintain the strongest hold on developers, and third-place options such as Windows Phone 7 still aren’t garnering too much attention. We still have to wonder if this is simply a minor hiccup or a trend that will continue into the next quarter. Provided Google woos us at their I/O developer conference, momentum could once again shift towards the positive for Android app development.
 

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Download TurboFly 3D For Android, Get That F-Zero Feeling All Over Again

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Remember rocking F-Zero on your Super NES?  Man, I remember burning holes in the screen playing the game until the sun went down. Now, thanks to Osaris Games, the makers of TurboFly 3D, you can have the closest thing available to it today for your Android smartphone.  I have to say, not sure if this is just because I’m running the demo on the T-Mobile G2X with its dual-core goodness or not, but the play was smooth as a baby’s backside.  However, I have seen the demo run pretty well on other single core devices as well and it looked just as great.  Overall, I love the graphics and game play integration with the accelerometer.  During my time with the game I experienced no hiccups whatsoever.  The only thing left to be slightly desired was a little more of an intense fight or battle with other vehicles.  Now, to be fair, I did just try out the demo, so this will need to be tested and judged for yourself.

The game comes in at a cheap price of just over $2 bucks with an available demo for you to test first.  This is especially great since you only get 15 min to try it out and make a decision.  I have no doubts that with the full version of the app, the game intensity will be taken to a whole new level.  There are several different vehicles for you to choose from and a number of weapons for you to fend off other racers.  Got an Android tablet?  Definitely give this game a go on it!  Ready to bring the F-Zero days back?  Head on over to our popular apps database for more info and to grab the download.  Hit the break to check out the game in action by our good friends over at Appolicious and to view the video of the classic F-Zero game itself for comparison.  As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.  

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Quick Look At Today’s Free Amazon App: Collapse!

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The latest free application from the Amazon App Store is Collapse! This is a fun addictive block clearing game with quick games, or quests available. You can change wardrobes, and unlock hidden locations. Remove blocks by clearing three or more blocks at a time, and also may find the occasional bomb you can use to cause more damage. Choices for game modes are: Classic, Panic Attack, Relapse, Strategy, Continuous, Countdown or Puzzle.
I took the time to play this for a short while, and really enjoyed it. If you love a game similar to tetris, but with a story to it, then you certainly dig this game. Brought to us by the developer RealNetworks, it regularly sells for $2.99 in the Amazon App Store. So since its free all day today, you’ll want to hit your app store app and get Collapse!

 

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Verizon DROID Incredible 2 by HTC priced and dated

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Verizon has announced that the DROID Incredible 2 by HTC will go on sale from April 28, with the Android 2.2 smartphone priced at $199.99 with a new, two-year agreement. The smartphone has an 8-megapixel camera on the back and a 1.3-megapixel camera on the front, along with HTC Sense and 3G mobile hotspot functionality.


Up front is a 4-inch WVGA display, while inside it’s Qualcomm’s 1GHz Snapdragon keeping things chugging along. The DROID Incredible 2 can record 720p HD video, has DLNA streaming support and SRS WOWHD audio.
So, not quite a flagship, but likely to be a solid phone all the same; check out our Incredible S review – pictured above – for more details, since this is basically the same device. Who’s interested?
Press Release:

DROID Incredible 2 by HTC Available Beginning April 28
BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless and HTC today announced that DROID Incredible 2 by HTC, exclusively from Verizon Wireless, will be available beginning April 28 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com for $199.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.
DROID Incredible 2 by HTC follows in the footsteps of the popular DROID Incredible by HTC and features the Android™ 2.2 platform, a crisp 4-inch super LCD display, next-generation 1 GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon® processor and 3G Mobile Hotspot that can connect up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices. Equipped with the hallmark HTC Sense™ experience, DROID Incredible 2 by HTC offers advanced personalization options, consolidated email capability and unique camera effects and filters. With its sleek, all-black design, DROID Incredible 2 by HTC combines functionality and speed into one stylish package. DROID Incredible 2 by HTC is a global-ready Android smartphone, allowing customers to enjoy wireless voice and data service in more than 200 countries, with more than 125 with 3G speeds.
Additional features include:
· 8.0-megapixel main camera with dual LED flash
· 1.3-megapixel front facing camera
· 720p HD video capture plus DLNA® to share multimedia content with a compatible TV
· Adobe® Flash® Player
· SRS WOWHD™ surround sound
· Automatic face detection for more accurate pictures
· Integrated noise-cancellation technology
Verizon Wireless customers that purchase DROID Incredible 2 by HTC will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan and a smartphone data package. Nationwide Talk plans begin at $39.99 for monthly access and an unlimited smartphone data plan is $29.99 for monthly access. Verizon Wireless customers traveling outside of the United States should contact Verizon Wireless’ global customer support team at 1-800-922-0204 before embarking on their trip to ensure their phones have the right features for global usage.
For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

 

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Asus Eee Pad Transformer launches and sells out just about everywhere

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I would bet that you have heard talk about the cool Asus Eee Pad Transformer. This is the little Android tablet that has a slate section that can be docked with a keyboard dock that makes the tablet into a little netbook style device. We already knew that the Transformer was going to be hitting stores around North America on April 26. Today is the day for this thing to launch and Asus has a site up that list all the places you can buy the tablet.

The big catch right now is that with Asus warning that stocks would be low at launch most of the places listed to buy the Transformer from are already out of stock on the tablet. Asus lists 24 different retail outlets including online and brick and mortar firms that are selling the Transformer. The big names from the list include Amazon, BestBuy.com, BJ’s, Buy.com, Fry’s, Newegg, OfficeMax, Office Depot, Target, Sears, and TigerDirect. There are a number of other stores as well and you can hit the source link at the bottom of the page and then the Buy Now link to see all of the locations.
If you somehow missed this tablet before with the coverage we have already offered, the Transformer is a 10.1-inch tablet. It runs Android 3.0 and the screen is an IPS capacitive touch unit with WSVGA resolution. It has the NVIDIA Tegra 2 Mobile processor inside and has a full QWERTY keyboard docking station that is optional. The battery is good for up to 9.5 hours alone or 16 hours with the docking station.
 

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