Has an anonymous 4chan user gotten hands-on time with the unannounced Samsung Nexus Prime?

Jake Smith

An anonymous 4chan user has posted their apparent, and detailed, account with the Samsung Nexus Prime. AndroidandMe has condensed the 4chan post down (seen after the break) to just the interesting key points.

The user says that Verizon apparently passed on the Galaxy S II to sign with Samsung to exclusively offering this next phone, which we expect to be called the Prime. Rumored specs for the device: Samsung’s Exynos dual core CPU clocked at 1.5GHz, 1gb RAM, Super AMOLED Plus 4.65 inch 1280×720 HD display, 16gb internal memory (with sd card slot) is 8.8mm thick, metal body and a 2000mAh battery (the same as the new one that’s being released for the Galaxy S II).

The user also says that the device did feature Ice Cream Sandwich, which he calls nice, but that it is version 2.4.1 and not 4.0. Perhaps they’re holding out on Jellybean?

Check out the other juicy details after the break:

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More details on Propeller, Google’s Flipboard-killer for Android and iOS devices

9to5 Staff

The first mention of a social news app from Google came in a Google+ post yesterday by tech watcher Robert Scoble. He wrote:

I heard from someone working with Google that Google is working on a Flipboard competitor for both Android and iPad. My source says that the versions he’s seen so far are mind-blowing good. 

The news prompted AllThingsD’s Kara Swisher to dig for more clues. The service is code-named Propeller, Swisher learned:

Google is indeed working on rolling out the new product, which is currently called Propeller. Sources said Propeller is apparently one of a number of new socially focused announcements Google is prepping, including new apps.

The app should launch in the near future because Facebook is also unveiling a social publishing platform of its own next week. It was not immediately clear at the time of this writing how Propeller ties with Google+, if at all. Given the company’s strong social focus and the fact that Propeller is being described as a social news app, it would seem logical to incorporate at least Google+ sharing features.

9to5Google learned from people familiar with the project that Propeller will boast a prettified interface, as is a norm with its high-end rivals Flipboard and Pulse. Publishers will be able to package their content for distribution right within their web browser, using a dedicated web app. Layout options are said to include multiple layouts to target various tablet and phone brands, including iPhone and iPad. Navigation capabilities will include individual articles, table of contents, as well as browsing custom-made sections that curate multiple articles. Images, video and other rich media types are also at disposal.

Publishers will also be able to…

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Archos confirms pricing and release dates for Honeycomb G9 tablets

Jordan Kahn

We hadn’t heard much from Archos in the past few months regarding their upcoming Honeycomb-powered slates, until today. Archos just put out a press release confirming release dates and official pricing for their Android G9 tablet lineup, originally unveiled back in June.

The 1024 x 768 resolution, 8-inch Archos 80 will start at $299 with 8GB of storage and a 1GHZ dual-core processor and be available for pre-order starting September 20 from ARCHOS.com. Sometime in October, you’ll be able to bump that up to a 1.5GHz OMAP 4 dual-core and 16GB of storage for $329, or 250GB of hard drive-based storage for $369.

Also coming in October is the 1280 x 800 resolution, 10.1-inch Archos 101 G9 that packs in the same 1.5Ghz processor as the higher-end Archos 80, starting at $399 for 16GB, up to $469 for 250GB of hard drive-based storage. Both models are capable of spitting out 1080p via the built-in HDMI port and support for a $50 standard PC 3G stick provides 3G network connectivity.

From the press release:
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Android Voice Actions go overseas

9to5 Staff

In addition to mapping and navigation, the ability to control your handset with voice commands is another treat that sets Android apart from the crowd, even if other phones had voice commands before Google’s software. Pity than that Android Voice Actions were introduced last year to the U.S. audience only.

Well, Android fans overseas can breathe a collective sigh of relieve because Google announced that Voice Actions are now available to users in the UK, France, Italy, Germany and Spain. Even better, non-English speakers are able to issue Voice Actions in British English, French, Italian, German and Spanish. There are three ways to invoking Voice Commands on your Android 2.2+ smartphone or tablet:

  • tap the microphone button on the Google search box on your home screen,
  • open the Voice Search app,
  • or press down for a few seconds on the physical search button on your phone to activate the “Speak Now” screen

Some of the supported Voice Actions: send text to [contact] [message]; call [business]; call [contact]; go to [website]; navigate to [location/business name]; directions to [location/business name]; map of [location].

You can get a better idea about the usefulness of Voice Actions by spending less than two minutes of your time sitting through Google’s video tour embedded right above.

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Leaked: Droid Incredible HD lands on October 13th, with 720p HD screen

Jake Smith

The Droid Incredible HD (known as the Vigor) by HTC is set to land on Verizon October 13th, according to a leaked document published by PhanDroid.  Besides the launch date, the leak outlines some very impressive specs for the Incredible HD: 4G LTE,  720p HD screen, 1.5GHz dual-core processor with 1GB of RAM, Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread, 8-megapixel back-facing camera, 2-megapixel front-facing camera, and Beats by Dr. Dre earbuds. Sleek!

Check out the back of the device after the break:

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Android achieves Windows-type monopoly in Taiwan as HTC overtakes Nokia in sales volume and value

9to5 Staff

Android is the dominant smartphone platform pretty much everywhere, but nowhere is Google’s lead more evident than in Taiwan, the country traditionally on the bleeding edge of technology. According to the Asian trade publication DigiTimes which cited the latest data from IDC, the 990,00 smartphones accounted for half the 1.97 million cell phones shipped in Taiwan during the second quarter of this year.

Taiwan will probably become the first country where all phones will eventually become smartphones as shipments of feature phones dropped 17 percent sequentially and 32 percent annually: As for Android:

Android-based smartphones accounted for over 70% of all smartphones sold in Taiwan in the second quarter, followed by iOS and Symbian models, the data showed.

Mind you, this isn’t the Android-iOS monopoly any more, this is a Windows-type monopoly and it’s unfolding in Taiwan before our very eyes. Makes you wonder if that’s a sign of things to come elsewhere in the world. The gap between Android and iOS in Taiwan is unheard-of. And with just 30 percent of smartphones divided between iOS and Symbian, Apple’s platform is likely far behind Android in Taiwan. Of course…

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