http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MMJVWNYqLRk
T-Mobile posted a new teaser this evening on its YouTube account, presumably for a new Android handset. The company also plans to kick-off its new marketing campaign tomorrow, according to TmoNews.
Ninety percent of the handsets on T-Mobile are currently running Android—and hey, this may be for the upcoming HTC One S.
Amazon notified its developers a part of the Amazon Appstore this evening that they can now charge over $20 for in-app purchases, according to TechCrunch.
“With our parental controls functionality now updated, in-app items over $20 may now be submitted via the developer portal.
That’s a lot.
The HTC One X announced at MWC this year and struck reviewers as one of the best handsets out there. According to a new report this afternoon, the HTC One X is launching on AT&T within a week, with official details of the launch announced as early as tomorrow. BGR’s John Geller, who has had reliable sources in the past, said the dual-core smartphone out of Taiwan could launch less than a week after its announcement. The European version of the One X features a quad-core processor; however, the AT&T version features a dual-core processor to accommodate the LTE bands. This device looks seriously awesome: Ice Cream Sandwich, Beats audio, and HTC Sense 4.0. Yes, please.
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Google Offers was given a pretty substantial update this afternoon by adding a new “refreshed” design, faster experience, offers from over 40 new cities, and better notification management. The release notes:
Google Offers is still only currently available in the United States. You can grab the update over at the Google Play Store.
If your ASUS Transformer Prime has been suffering from GPS issues, you are going to want to sign-up for the free GPS dongle that ASUS is giving out to customers. The dongle attaches to the Prime and provides better GPS services. You can register here.
Last night, Land of Droid posted a picture of what the dongle looks like. I have to say… that is no dongle.
TechCrunch’s gadget-guru John Biggs posted a screenshot of the app that will run the long-awaited Google Drive file storage service. The app apparently works fine, but it would not connect to the Drive server. Biggs reported:
The version we were given is 1.0.2891 and seems to run without issue. I was able to log in using my Gmail account and I suppose I’ll have to wait to play with it further.
Do you need any more proof that Google Drive is launching soon?
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<em>Google Drive appearing in Google Docs during testing.</em>
Are you ready to ditch Dropbox? According to a new report, Google’s long-rumored file storage service Google Drive is set to launch next week. The Next Web said the service is likely to launch next Tuesday, and it will provide users with 5GB of free storage. Much like Dropbox, which currently trumps the industry, users will be able to store any file on the service’s servers for access anywhere. Being Google, however, Drive will most likely also integrate throughout Android and other services—as Apple does with iCloud, though it is a bit more limited. Drive will also launch with integration into other third-party services, according to a leak from last week. We will also look out for the announcement, because we hope this not another source wrong about the launch date.
TechnoBuffalo reported that Sprint’s LTE network might be underway in more cities than the Now Network has revealed—so far. According to the leak, Akron, Chicago, Fort Worth, Nashville, New York, Rialto, and Stockton have been in development since late last year. This will come in handy when the Galaxy Nexus launches on Sprint soon.
The Google+ team pushed a small update for their Android app this evening. The app now features support for hashtags in the stream, improved sharing support for third-party apps, and other bug fixes and performance improvements. Hit up the Play link after the break to download.
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If you are an Android user, but are missing some of the features of the BlackBerry handsets, weep no longer. According to TechnoBuffalo, RIM’s popular BlackBerry Messenger service is set to launch for Android and iOS sometime later this year. Buffalo’s sources were able to provide a shot of the app running in an Android code debugger. Looks cool, huh? Check out another shot of BBM running after the jump.
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Sony’s SmartWatch unveiled at this year’s CES and has been available in the United Kingdom for a few weeks, but Sony launched it in the United States today. Available at the Sony store, the SmartWatch costs $149 and ships for free May 4. As for the features of the SmartWatch, it is powered by Android and can pair to any handset packing Bluetooth. It features a small 1.3-inch OLED display that can showcase email, text messages, calls, and more. We played with the watch at Sony’s offices in New York, and while we were pretty impressed, the OLED screen is pretty lacking. You can check out the teaser video and full gallery below.
During Google’s conference call with investors that took place this afternoon, Chief Executive Officer Larry Page asked about the success of Android tablets during a Q&A session.
Page, perhaps hinting at a 7-inch tablet branded by Google, said: “I think there’s also, obviously, there’s been a lot of success on some lower-priced tablets that run Android — maybe not the full Google version of Android. But we definitely believe that there’s going to be a lot of success at the lower end of the market, as well, with lower-priced products that will be very significant. It’s definitely an area we think is quite important and that we’re quite focused on.”
The most popular 7-inch tablets to date are Amazon’s Kindle Fire, which looks to be the hottest selling Android tablet, and the Barnes and Noble’s Nook. Both tablets are priced very competitively around $200.
Google is rumored to launch its own branded tablet, manufactured by Korea-based ASUS, this June. The tablet is reportedly priced at roughly $200 and features Android 4.0. Both the Fire and Nook feature a custom version of Android—almost to where you cannot even tell it is Android. NVIDIA also talked about its plans to launch a similar tablet. While there is not a lot of Android tablets out there, it is interesting that most of them are lower priced.
Source: Android Central
Many of us are excited for the first real LTE device set to launch on the Now Network. According to recent leaks, the launch date looks to be coming soon. There have been a good amount of leaks already pointing to an April 22 launch date, and now we have two more leaks from two different publications. BGR posted a leaked memo from a store that indicates April 22 for the launch date. Android Police also posted a leaked memo from a Best Buy store that suggests an April 22 launch date. The LG Viper 4G is set to launch on Sprint April 22, so it makes sense for the network to launch two LTE devices on the same day. I’d bank on it coming this month. Check out both leaks below.
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Google is up almost three points after beating Wall Street expectations—and after the announcement of a new stock split. We will be live-blogging the call in a few minutes where Google execs will explain all of this further. So, follow along.
Along with financial earnings, Google announced today its plan to offer the company’s first-ever stock split.
The news comes from cofounders Larry Page and Sergey Brin (after the break). In the details, Google explained its plans to create “a new class of non-voting capital stock,” which is a stock split:
“These shares will be distributed via a stock dividend to all existing stockholders: the owner of each existing share will receive one new share of the non-voting stock, giving investors twice the number of shares they had before. It’s effectively a two-for-one stock split—something many of our investors have long asked us for. These non-voting shares will be available for corporate uses, like equity-based employee compensation, that might otherwise dilute our governance structure.”
A more technical explanation:
“As Larry and Sergey note above, the stock dividend we are announcing today will have the basic effect of a two-for-one stock split. Each holder of a share of Class A or Class B common stock will receive one share of the new non-voting Class C capital stock. So after the dividend, a stockholder who currently owns one Class A share with a single vote will continue to own that share plus one Class C share without a vote.”
A letter from the cofounders is after the break:
Google just announced its Q1 2012 earnings before the live call set to start at 4:30 p.m. EST.
The Mountain View-based Company is reporting revenues are up 24 percent year-over-year. Revenue is at $10.65 billion, and net income is at $2.9 billion for the quarter. Sites owned by Google generated $7.31 billion in revenue, which accounts for 69 percent of total revenues. International revenues for the company totaled $5.77 billion (or 54 percent) of total revenue.
As of today, Google has $49.3 billion in cash or cash equivalents. The company also had 32,467 full-time employees at the end of 2011.
You can read the full press release after the break:
Beginning at 4:30PM EST, Google will be holding its quarterly earnings call where Larry Page and co. will be talking numbers. Google will announce the numbers a few minutes early, via press release, so make sure you follow along. You can also listen in on the call here.
Update: finished. Check out the call below.
Just a little reminder this morning: Google’s Q1 earnings call will take place at 4:30 p.m. EST, where Larry Page and company will talk numbers for the last quarter. We are sure to hear plenty about how Android and Google+ did over the last quarter. Of course, the press release will go up a little earlier than the call, so stick to 9to5google for full coverage this afternoon!
Sprint announced this morning in a press release that its first LTE device, the LG Viper 4G LTE, will officially launch April 22 for $99. If you are looking to get your hands on the first LTE device, pre-orders for the handset begin today. If you pre-order, you may receive the device two days earlier on April 20.
The Viper features a 4-inch display, Android 2.3 Gingerbread, 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 5-megapixel rear-camera, and a 4GB microSD card. I have to say, this device is not all the great for being the first LTE device. However, it may be worth the wait for the Galaxy Nexus LTE, which is rumored to launch on the Now Network April 22.
However, if you do plan to purchase, make sure you know that Sprint’s LTE network is not yet deployed. Sprint plans to open its first markets by mid-year, and you can see the full list along with the press release after the break.
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Are you feeling chatty with friends while using your Android device? Yeah, we have been there too. Luckily, IM+ is available on the Google Play Store. If you are like us, it is your go-to instant messaging client. The folks over at Shape Services, who the makers of IM+, released a new public beta of the app, version 6.1.8. The beta brings all sorts of goodies like a newly redesigned user-interface, new notifications, and a favorites section for contacts. If you are a user of AIM, Skype, Yahoo, Google Talk, or more, you might want to try this app. Check out the full change log, and how to install the beta, after the jump.
When LG introduced its latest offering to the Google TV lineup at CES in January, the Korea-based company did not give details on the launch. However, the launch time could be this week, according to the Korea Herald. The publication claimed that LG’s 3D Google TV, the first set that is part of Google TV 2.0, will be priced at $1,600 for the 47-inch version and $2,100 for the 55-inch version.
Samsung just announced two new devices to its PMP lineup: the 3.6-inch and 4.2-inch Galaxy Player. Both have a WVGA screen, along with Android 2.3 Gingerbread, USB port, Bluetooth, and a microSD card to easily load music. The 3.6-inch Galaxy Player is already available for $149 at Best Buy exclusively, while the 4.2-inch will launch soon for $199.
The press release is after the break:
Samsung has just announced that the 7-inch and 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab 2 will be making their way to the US shores soon, priced at $399.99 and $249.99 respectively. Both feature Android 4.0 and a dual-core processor, so at $249, the 7-inch version is definitely a great buy. Announced at this year’s MWC, there’s not much changed compared to the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Galaxy Tab 7.0. You can pre-order the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 today, for when it ships on April 22nd. You can pre-order the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 0n May 4 and for purchase on May 13. We’ll have a review soon. Press release after the break:
The launch of Sprint’s first LTE handset may not be that far off. Engadget obtained an internal memo at Sprint that details the launch of the LG Viper 4G. According to the leak, the Viper 4G will land over on the Now Network April 22 for less than $100. Of course, Sprint’s LTE network is not live, and there is no word on when the carrier plans to make it available. If you purchase the Viper 4G, you may be without 4G for a few weeks months. However, remember that pre-orders for the device begin tomorrow on Sprint’s website. You can check out the leaked memo after the break.