Google adds Redbox Instant by Verizon app to Google TV

Jordan Kahn

We haven’t been getting a lot of updates on the Google TV front lately, but today Google made an announcement on its blog that the Redbox Instant by Verizon movie streaming subscription service is coming to Google TV.

The app delivers the full Redbox Instant by Verizon experience right to your living room. This includes access to your subscription disc and streaming package, and ability to purchase and rent the latest new releases from the Redbox Instant store.

On top of streaming, purchases and rentals, the Redbox app for Google TV will also allow users to reserve a disc for local pickup.

The service will initially be rolling out to select devices including: the 47G2 and 55G2 Google TV-enabled Smart TVs from LG, NETGEAR’s NeoTV Prime with Google TV, the Sony Internet Player NSZ-GS7, and the Vizio Co-Star.

The Redbox Instant by Verizon app for Google TV is available on Google Play now. Google TV users can sign up for the service now through the app on their device or on the web here.  Read more

Here comes the white Nexus 4 on T-Mobile and Google Play

Jordan Kahn

Google-Play-White-Nexus-4

We already knew a new white version of the Nexus 4 would begin rolling out after LG confirmed as much earlier this week. It first launched in Hong Kong on Wednesday, and today the device has finally hit both Google Play and T-Mobile’s online store for customers in the US.

You can grab the device now in both 16GB ($349) and 8GB ($299) variants from Google Play. Google is also offering a free white bumper with your purchase.

T-Mobile also began offering the device on its online store store today with a list price of $427. According to the often reliable TmoNews.com, the pricing and note of the device not being eligible for a monthly payment plan is a mistake:

Barring the error in pricing on the website, the Nexus 4 will set you back a $19.99 down payment and 24 monthly payments of $17.

The device is expected to roll out to other retails across Asia, the US, and Europe in the coming weeks.

AT&T confirms May 10 launch for LG Optimus G Pro, preorders begin May 3 for $199

Jordan Kahn

Today AT&T made things official for the upcoming US release of the LG Optimus G Pro, confirming that preorders for the device will begin this Friday on May 3rd. The device will officially become available on May 10 and, as expected, will sell for $199.99 on the usual two year contract. The device will also be available through AT&T just launched Trade-in promo that will offer up to an additional $100 off the device.

As for specs, there aren’t too many surprises following earlier leaks of the device with AT&T confirming the 5.5″ 1080p Full HD IPS display with 400 ppi, 1.7 GHz Quad-Core Snapdragon CPU with 2 GB RAM, a 13 MP Full HD Camera, and a 3,140 mAh battery. The device will also run Android 4.1.2 out of the box and including a 2.1 megapixel front facing cam, and 32 GB on board storage expandable to 64GB of memory via microSD.

We’ll be covering LG Optimus G Pro making its official US debut today at an event schedule for 8pm in New York City. Full specs from AT&T below: Read more

Verizon recycling the original Lucid as the LG Optimus Exceed for prepaid

9to5 Staff

LG_Optimus_Exceed

There’s a good reason I mistakenly referred to the upcoming LG Optimus Exceed as the Lucid Exceed in a recent tweet: the handset really is little more than a prepaid version of the original LG Lucid, whose sequel is now going for free on contract as part of a Mother’s Day promotion at Verizon. Along with the Optimus Zone (a.k.a. last year’s Optimus L3), Optimus Exceed will hit Big Red as a prepaid-only option, even carrying nearly the same model number (VS840PP) as its forebear. Even though the Lucid is currently retired, it still holds some value as an off-contract device, so expect to shell out not more than $100 for the aging handset.

Verizon bringing Optimus L3 to prepaid as Optimus Zone

evleaks

LG_Optimus_Zone

Verizon Wireless is reaching back into cellphone history for its next foray into prepaid, dusting off last year’s LG Optimus L3 and renaming it the Optimus Zone (model number: LGVS410PP). A new name alone won’t improve the specs on this strictly-entry-level device, however, with the Gingerbread-powered (you read that right) slate offering up a 3.2-inch QVGA display, 800MHz processor, 3.15-megapixel camera, and not much else. Look for the revived Zone to sell for just north of free by the end of the month.

Feature

LG Optimus F7 coming to Boost Mobile’s LTE lineup

evleaks

LG_OF7

At an otherwise ho-hum Mobile World Congress 2013, LG tried to shake up the mid-range market a bit with the modestly-priced, but 4G-enabled, Optimus F Series. Composed of the F5 and F7 at first, with the F3 added later on (and tipped for its own launch on Sprint), the F-series basically pairs the style and affordability of the L-series (now in its second generation), with an LTE-enabled chipset, and calls it a day.

We’ve learned that Boost Mobile will be adding the highest-end model, the F7, to its LTE lineup in short order. It will be the carrier’s third LTE-capable device, following the HTC One SV and Boost/ZTE Force. Featuring a 4.7-inch, 720p display, 1.5GHz dual core processor, and eight-megapixel camera, the F7 (Boost codename: LG FX1) should prove a popular addition to the prepaid carrier’s handset portfolio.