Quad-core HTC Endeavor to be announced at MWC?

Jake Smith

A new device called the “HTC Edge” leaked. It was the world’s first rumored quad-core handset. Fast forward to last month, and PocketNow reported that HTC renamed the HTC Edge to the “HTC Endeavor.”

A new report from MoDaCo, said HTC is announcing the HTC Endeavor at Mobile World Conference in Barcelona in less than three weeks. If you are not familiar, MWC is the CES for phones and tablets.

MoDaCo’s sources confirmed that the HTC Endeavor will ship with a 1.5GHz Tegra 3 based Quad-Core processor, 4.7-inch 720P HD screen, 8-megapixel camera, 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, 1GB of RAM, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4.0. The handset will also feature Beats audio experience onboard, as well as Sense 4.0…

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Ice Cream Sandwich rumored to be released for the Galaxy S II March 1

Jake Smith

With no information regarding sources, Eldar Murtazin took to Twitter to claim Ice Cream Sandwich will roll out to Samsung’s Galaxy S II on March 1. While he has made many predictions lately, it is not clear exactly how accurate he is. Time will only tell. At any rate, ICS should hit the Galaxy S II relatively soon. He also said ICS will roll out for the Galaxy Note and other Samsung devices from March to May, depending on model and carrier. We shall see!

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Amazon reportedly to launch 9-inch Kindle Fire, to ship by midyear

Jake Smith

We heard about this before: AllThingsD’s John Paczkowski reported (via Pacific Crest analyst Chad Bartley) that Amazon will launch a 9-inch version of the Kindle Fire by mid year. Amazon will play off the wide success of its 7-inch version. With the introduction of a 9-inch Kindle Fire by mid year, analyst Bartley is raising his sales estimate f0r the Kindle Fire from 12.7 million to 14.9 million units shipped in 2012. Bartley reported:

We are raising our 2012 sales forecasts to 14.9 million from 12.7 million,” he wrote. “But we believe there is an upward bias, particularly from the new 7- and 9-inch models, which we expect to launch in mid-2012.”

We heard rumors in late 2011 that Amazon was to launch a 10.1-inch version to compete with the iPad. At any rate, we expect Amazon to announce a larger version at some point.

 

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Consumer Reports dubs Droid Razr Maxx No.1 VW smartphone due to ‘exceptionally capacious battery’

E. Betters

Consumer Reports is a nifty website that provides product tests and update availability while serving as a general buying guide for consumer electronics and gadgets, and it just announced the Motorola Droid Razr Maxx as its highest-scoring Verizon Wireless smartphone.

The Razr Maxx is $299.99 on Verizon Wireless with a standard two-year contract. Consumer Reports named it the top-rated phone due to its “exceptionally capacious battery” that surpassed 13 hours during talk-test sessions…

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Amazon slashes $100 off Motorola Droid 4 4G Verizon Wireless smartphone for limited time (Galaxy Nexus Too!)

E. Betters

From 9to5Toys.com:

Online retailer Amazon is offering the Motorola Droid 4 4G Android smartphone for $100 less than Verizon Wireless’  price during a limited-time only sale.

The discounted $99 smartphone demonstrates top-notch Android power, fast Verizon LTE, and a premium QWERTY keyboard. The device is hefty at 5-by 2.7- by 0.5- inches and 6.3 ounces, coupled with a large battery and slide-out keyboard. However, its rear and front facing HD cameras, 4-inch 960-by-540 LCD panel and Super Amoled Advanced screen make this Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread-powered smartphone worth the buy.

Amazon allows customers to check their upgrade eligibility before getting too excited over the temporary deal.

Note: The Galaxy Nexus is also selling for this price.

Screenshots are available below.

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Foursquare Android app updates with Android Beam and ICS support, VP teases multiplatform NFC expansion

E. Betters

Social check-in network Foursquare updated its Android app to encompass Android Beam and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich support.

NFC support on Android products, dubbed the “Android Beam” P2P service, allows devices to exchange data through a small tap/wave gesture over short distances. Foursquare’s upgrade subsequently gives users with Android 4 smartphones the ability to share social discovery information by tapping any two NFC-enabled devices together, and the app embraces NFC tag-reading capabilities for check in’s. NFC is available on Foursquare’s Venue, Lists and Me pages.

“The user experience is great. You just hold your phone against the tap [point]. The check-in screen automatically pops up with the right venue. You’re basically shaving very valuable seconds off the check-in process,” said Foursquare’s Vice President of Mobile International Holger Luedorf during a recent Untether.tv audio interview…

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