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June, 2011 Articles

Motorola XT883 (Milestone 3) Gets China Announcement Before Verizon

by Quentyn Kennemer on June 17th, 2011

We normally don’t write about phones being released in China, but this one is obviously a special case. China Telecom is now set to carry the Motorola Milestone 3 sometime in the third quarter. You know what the American version of this phone is? Of course you do! It’s the Motorola DROID 3. And Verizon [...]

Grooveshark for Android Gets Updated to 2.3.1

by Quentyn Kennemer on June 17th, 2011

Grooveshark fans, check your app – an update should be ready for you to pull down. It’s version 2.3.1 and includes some desirable changes and bug fixes. For starters, in-app purchases are now available for folks who want to effortlessly buy a subscription or upgrade their existing one. Another big one is the newfound ability [...]

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Available Nationwide at Best Buy Today

by Quentyn Kennemer on June 17th, 2011

We didn’t need a press release to let us know that the Tab 10.1 would be here today, but Samsung sent one anyway. Following a brief period of New York City exclusivity, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is now available for all in America to purchase. You’re getting a 10.1 inch Honeycomb tablet with Samsung’s [...]

Android Overload: Motorola XOOM Sees $500 Price Point at Costco, Samsung Replenish Solar Charging Busted?

by Quentyn Kennemer on June 16th, 2011

Here are some of the non-juicy bits from the newswire today. Just because they aren’t too interesting to us doesn’t mean you should miss it. In fact, that Infuse 4G with Gingerbread is sure to tick some AT&T users off. I’m sure AT&T will be delivering an update of their own sometime soon, though anything [...]

Oracle Wants “Billions of Dollars” From Google for Patent Infringements, Fails to Explain Why

by Quentyn Kennemer on June 16th, 2011

In the ongoing legal between Google and Sun Microsystems-owned Oracle, the latter has striked back. Their latest antics see them sticking to their guns on the eight or so patents infringed upon by Google, and even offering up a rough figure for Google to pay in a potential settlement or decision by the courts. That [...]

LG Optimus 3D Now Swarming Korean and European Streets, AT&T Version May Be Due Soon

by Quentyn Kennemer on June 16th, 2011

We’ve been waiting quite a while for this day, but it’s finally here: the LG Optimus 3D, the first autostereoscopic 3D handset from a major OEM, is now available. You may have to travel to South Korea if you want to buy one of your own right now, though, as carriers in other regions have [...]

WiFi Motorola XOOM Gets Google Videos App for Movie Streaming

by Kevin Krause on June 16th, 2011

When Google’s new movie rentals and accompanying app were announced at this year’s I/O developers conference, the Motorola XOOM was announced as one of the first Android devices to receive streaming of rentals from the Android Market. The Google Videos (formerly Movies) app came to carrier-branded XOOM tablets along with the Android 3.1 update, but the [...]

Vodafone Exclusive Red HTC Desire S Gets Pictured

by Kevin Krause on June 16th, 2011

If grey and black is just a little too expected for you, this red HTC Desire S headed exclusively to Vodafone might be right up your alley. Aside from the two-toned metal and plastic housing in alternate shades of red, nothing changed here between this handset and the Desire S you will find elsewhere. Pocket [...]

Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread Leaks for the Samsung Captivate

by Kevin Krause on June 16th, 2011

Though no official word has gone out on the status of the Gingerbread update for the US lineup of Galaxy S phones, a leak of not one, but two builds of the Android 2.3.3 firmware for the Samsung Captivate suggests it might not be far off. Build number UCKE3 and UCKF1 are dated May 26th [...]

Angry Birds Gets Mine and Dine Update, 15 New Levels

by Kevin Krause on June 16th, 2011

WIth so many versions of Angry Birds running around the Android Market, sometimes it’s hard to keep up. Rovio just updated their Rio version of the game with a slew of Carnival-themed levels, and now the original is getting its own slew of new bird-flinging action. This time the pigs have dragged the eggs underground, [...]

Google Maps Gets Minor Update to Version 5.6.0

by Kevin Krause on June 16th, 2011

Simply love that slice of pizza you picked up at that greasy shack downtown and need the world to know you think it’s the best you have ever had? Then you might actually find some use in the small update to Google Maps for Android, which sees the version number rise to 5.6.0. A new [...]

Android Powered iPhone 4 For Sale At Sears For $264

by Chris Chavez on June 16th, 2011

Have you ever noticed the plethora of accessories the iPhone 4 has at its disposal and maybe wish an Android phone had access to some of those goodies? Or maybe you’ve always dug the look of the iPhone 4 but didn’t want to sacrifice for an inferior OS? Well, the folks at Sears may have [...]

India’s $35 Tablet to See Light of Day, Units Ready to Ship

by Kevin Krause on June 16th, 2011

The story of the $35 Android tablet planned to be released under government subsidy has had its share of controversy and frustration. After problems arose with the vendor chosen to produce the tablets, hopes that the Sakshat tablet (yes, that’s its real name) would ever see a release dimmed. Still, the Indian government promised a [...]

Galaxy Tab 10.1 Available Nationwide Tomorrow

by Kevin Krause on June 16th, 2011

Samsung just hit the wires with a news release reminding all that the Galaxy Tab 10.1 will go on sale nationwide tomorrow, June 17th. This comes a week after the Tab 10.1 saw a limited release in New York City and after news that Tiger Direct is already shipping order for the Honeycomb slate. The [...]

Verizon Ad Flashes Mystery Honeycomb Tablet

by Kevin Krause on June 16th, 2011

A curious ad from Verizon hit YouTube earlier today featuring a mysterious Honeycomb tablet that we can’t seem to place. The ad has since been removed, but DroidLife managed to capture a screen shot of slate that doesn’t match up visually with any current Android 3.0 device we are familiar with. Speculation is running wild [...]

Android PSA: Stop Using Task Killer Apps

by Chris Chavez on June 16th, 2011

Hello, friends. This is an Android Public Service Announcement regarding the overuse of “task killer” apps in the Android community. Almost everyone has experimented or used one of these apps at one point in their Android life. I wont judge you. In some cases, these apps might have been installed even without your knowledge. I [...]

Burn the Rope for Android Now Available on Android Market

by Quentyn Kennemer on June 16th, 2011

I’ve heard quite a few of you asking for this one and it’s finally here. Burn the Rope is now available, for free, no less, in the Android market. It’s a popular game that’s made its way over from iOS, and from first glance, looks interesting. You have to burn rope, but flames only move [...]

VOTE: Which Epic Droid Dad Should Win?

by Rob Jackson on June 16th, 2011

The entries are in, the photos collected, and all the tweets tracked down. We randomly selected 5 finalists in our Epic Droid Dad Contest and now it’s YOUR job to determine which dad will walk away with $1,200+ in SONOS equipment this Father’s Day. I posted my full SONOS Review yesterday and TRUST ME… one [...]

Sony Ericsson Goes With NXP for NFC Technology

by Quentyn Kennemer on June 16th, 2011

It’s not an exciting device announcement, folks, but we just got a quick glimpse into the future of Sony Ericsson’s products. NXP has announced that Sony Ericsson has selected them for embedded NFC technology in the future. If you don’t remember, NXP produces the same chip found inside the Nexus S. It’s an intelligent chip [...]

EVO Shift 4G Gingerbread Update Available via Manual Check, Rolling Out to Everyone June 20th, Brings Swype

by Quentyn Kennemer on June 16th, 2011

We heard it might be on the way, and Sprint sure enough came through. The HTC EVO Shift 4G is definitely getting Gingerbread come June 20th, but if you’d rather not wait for Sprint to notify you of its availability, you can get it right now through a manual firmware update check. You know the [...]