Jake Smith

ReadWriteWeb is reporting Verizon has blocked hotspot tethering on rooted Android devices without a data plan. Verizon is forwarding users to a page to buy 3G mobile hotspot, which currently is $20 a month for 2GB, with a $20 per GB overage.This only makes sense..

A ReadWriteWeb employee using a jailbroken tethered Verizon Motorola X without a data plan was sent to this page outlining Verizon’s hotspot data plans today when trying to access a hotspot. This is a new development, since the employee used her jailbroken device as a hotspot two days ago.

This follows our report yesterday that AT&T is removing unlimited plans for users who jailbreak iPhones to tether or hotspot off of AT&T’s unlimited data plans.

While it hasn’t officially been announced, Google Operating System has discovered how to enable the new design for Google Docs. The new design matches the Google+ design we’ve seen Google enabling across all products over the last month — adding more whitespace and new colors. To enable, all you have to do is select “enable new look” below the settings icon in the Google+ bar (shown after the break).

Along with the new design are five new keyboard shortcuts: up and down arrows will highlight documents to open, shift + T creates a new text document, shift + S creates a new spreadsheet, shift + C creates a new collection, and “?” opens the shortcut guide. If the new design isn’t for you, you can enable the old theme back, but we don’t think you’ll want to change. Check out a few more screenshots after the break.

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We’ve been playing with Sony’s Xperia PLAY, from Verizon for the better part of a month now. The PLAY is available on Verizon for $99 (and free on Amazon), after seeing a price slashed from $199 just a few weeks ago.

The PLAY is running Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) with a pretty thick overlay, a 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 4-inch multi-touch display, 5-megapixel rear-facing camera, VGA front-facing camera, and preloaded PLAY software.  Also included are controls to play games. Is this the gaming phone the world needs? Read on after the break for our full review.

[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvNchySxIkw”]

Google has announced an update to their Gmail for mobile website. The updates are pretty minor, but we’re grateful for them nonetheless. First off, you can now pull down the message list to refresh your inbox (iOS and Blackberry PlayBook).

Google also included two minor updates: high-res icons and transitions. The high-res icons are pretty, as seen after the break. Lastly, transitions will take place when you tap on a conversation, tap back to the inbox, go to the menu or go back, the view will slide left or right. Check out a few press shots after the break.

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IGN has discovered a leaked Verizon document going over the release date for many upcoming devices this fall. The Droid BIONIC, which we’ve been waiting forever for, is set to launch September 8th according to the doc. Also, it appears the Motorola Xoom LTE is launching the 8th.

Something we haven’t quite heard of is the Samsung Galaxy Tab P8, which is set for November according to the doc. This in fact could be the 8.9-inch Galaxy Tab we’ve seen floating around. Android Central outlines:

• Samsung Stratosphere on Sep 8
• Motorola Droid Bionic on Sep 8
• Motorola Xoom LTE on Sep 8 (3G to 4G upgrade could be one week earlier)
• HTC Bliss with Android 2.3 on Sep 29
• HTC Vigor is slated to replace the Thunderbolt on Oct 5
• LG Revolution 2 to replace the LG Revolution on Oct 20
• Samsung Galaxy Tab P8 with LTE in November
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Along with announcing the new Touchwiz software today at their media event, Samsung has announced a handful of new accessories for the Galaxy Tab 10.1. This is a long list, so bear with us..The $50 Multimedia Dock props the Tab in landscape mode for charging and HDMI-out. The $80 Ultra Productivity Tool features a full-sized keyboard with Android shortcuts and charging capabilities. The $150 Premium Protective case turns the Tab into a notebook with a Bluetooth keyboard and a hinge.

The $40 HDTV adapter offers 1080p out. The $40 SD/USB adapter for accessory input. The $60 Premium Book Cover allows you to prop up the device for web browsing or viewing movies. And finally, the $20 pen tip is a stylus with a silicon tip. (More coverage at Engadget)

Qualcomm, the company who makes the Snapdragon processor seen in many Android devices, has overhauled their naming scheme. Qualcomm’s naming scheme used to be MSM8260, MSM855T, MSM8930, and so on. Today, Qualcomm is moving their naming scheme into a four tier system: S1, S2, S3, S4.

S1 processors will be 1GHz and below and will be for mass market. S2 is for high performance devices, like the Droid Incredible,  with speeds up to 1.4 GHz. Devices like the EVO 3 will fall under S3, with up to 1.5 GHz. And finally, S4 will be for everything between 1.6 GHz and 2.5 GHz — which doesn’t actually include anything, yet.

When better processors come around S1 won’t become S2, rather, a S5 tier will be created. Check out the S3 below: (via TechCrunch)

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In January of 2010, Kodak sued  Apple and RIM for infringing on their patent to preview photographs. The lawsuit is still going on, but today Wall Street Journal is reporting that Kodak is currently looking to sell 10% of their patent portfolio, which includes the patent Apple and RIM are bring sued for.

The 1,100 patents include patents covering  capturing, storing, organizing and sharing digital image. WSJ credits the sale to Kodak’s loss in profit over the last two quarters.

Chief Executive Antonio Perez has been using Kodak’s intellectual property as a means of funding the company’s long and expensive transformation. In 2008, Mr. Perez put forth a goal to generate between $250 million and $350 million a year from Kodak’s patent portfolio.

Google is fresh off acquiring 1,000 patents from IBM and is likely still in a buying mood as it battles everyone from Oracle to Microsoft to Apple-by-proxy in the courts.  Apple, who outbid Google for the Nortel patent portfolio is obviously on the offensive.

Corss-posted from 9to5Mac.

Nvidia’s quad-core test tablet code named “Kal-El” is set to launch in s tablet this coming fall. Kal-El’s speed, named after Superman, is said to be 5x the speed of the Tegra 2, Nvidia’s current dual-core CPU on the market. Nvidia tells AndroidCentral:

“Project Kal-El-powered tablets are coming this Fall, and phones around the CES 2012 timeframe.”

That translates to phones in Spring or summer. Originally, Nvidia said at CES 2011 we were going to see the tablet in August, but we’ve learned to never go off a company’s timeframe. Will the Kal-El be dubbed Tegra 3?

Check out AndroidCentral’s video of the Kal-El below:

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A new extension called Start Google Plus brings functionality of Twitter and Facebook to Google+. The extension not only allows you to post to all three social networks, but puts Twitter and Facebook into your Google+ stream too.

Another cool feature Start Google Plus offers is the ability to import your Facebook photos. SGP is available on Chrome and Firefox. Check out a few photos of the extension after the break. (via Lifehacker)

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This is my next has unveiled an Android device heading to Sprint, which is said to be a beefed up Motorola XPRT with a dual-core processor. The device is code named the Motorola Pax, and is looking very Blackberry esque with its portrait keyboard. Besides the dual-core processor, the Pax is also believed to include Sprint’s new CDMA 1X Advanced push-to-talk system. There is no word on pricing or availability. Check out another shot after the break.

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BGR is reporting the Samsung Galaxy S II will finally hit U.S. shores in September, but under the branding ‘Samsung Epic Touch 4G’. The international version of the Galaxy S II is seeing much success in Europe, and many Americans have been anxiously awaiting it to hit. As of now, we only know the device is no longer going to have a QWERTY keyboard, which seems odd seeing how bulky it looks, but the device will include 4G WiMAX on Sprint.

BGR also says there is chance this Touch 4G could be available across all four carriers, like the original Galaxy S.
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Amazon has halted accepting new Android app submissions in their German Appstore. Apple has been pressuring the U.S. courts to demand Amazon to shut down their Appstore, because Apple says it infringes on their trademark “App Store”. The U.S. case continues, but Apple has now filed lawsuits in Europe, forcing Amazon to halt accepting new apps in Germany — for now. Amazon told developers:

 “For the time being, we are not accepting new app submissions from developers located in Germany. We have been forced to impose this restriction due to a legal action filed by Apple in Germany seeking to prevent us from using the term ‘appstore’. We believe Apple’s claim is without merit and are actively contesting it.”

Amazon also says they expect even more countries in Europe to halt accepting new apps. (via The Telegraph)

The Guardian is reporting Chrome has overtaken Firefox as the #2 browser in the UK. Chrome now has 22% of the market and Internet Explorer, which is currently first, holds 45%. In fourth, Safari has 9% of the market. (via web metrics firm Statcounter) Chrome’s success is due in part to TV advertising. Chrome is Google’s first product advertised in the UK.

Also today, Net Applications is saying Safari now has 8% market share worldwide. (via MacDailyNews) Check out the graph below:

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Googler Matt Cutts has posted to Google+ while running the San Francisco marathon. The post of his time, as seen in the image above, has already received over a 160 reactions. Keep on truckin’ Matt!

To add a new social experience, Youtube Live has been integrated into Google+ Hangouts reports GigaOm. In the past, Hangouts users could watch Youtube videos together, but today, they can now watch Live events Youtube hosts on occasion. Past events include concrets and speeches from the Whitehouse. Want to give it a try? Follow the directions below.

• Start a Hangouts session in Google+ and invite your contacts to join you.
• In a separate browser tab, head over toYouTube.com/Live and select a live stream of your choice
• Copy the YouTube video I.D. of the selected live stream. Not sure how to find it? Just click on theshare link below the video. You’ll get to see a link like http://youtu.be/XXXXXXXX – the cryptic code after the slash is the video I.D.
• Switch back to hangouts, open the video tab and search for the I.D.
• Click play, and you’re all set.

Wow, isn’t she pretty? A picture of the white Galaxy S II has leaked, and it’s looking pretty legit to us. A UK retailer announced yesterday that the white version will be available August 15th, after seeing much success of the Galaxy S II we currently know and love. Live in the U.S. and interested in the Galaxy S II? Go sign up on Samsung’s official page, and pray to the smartphone gods that the white will land on U.S. shores.

via Engadget

While we’re not quite sure how they did it, the boys from GTVhacker have ported Honeycomb to their Google TV. Photographed above is Honeycomb running on a $99 Logitech Revue, where you can see the Market is now available. In their forum post, user zenofex says they’ll have more information in the next few days. Also discovered — Google TVs are now showing up in device listings on the Market website (photo after the break). We’ll let you know when there is more information.

As you may know from our twitter, we now have a way to run Honeycomb (Android 3.1) on ANY Logitech Revue. Heres a screenshot of the market/dashboard, we’ll have more info in the next few days.

New update includes:
Adbd
Android Market
Improved Media Player

via Phandroid

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Google has pushed out its latest update for Gmail for Android. In the update you’ll see key features like the ability to only sync your priority inbox, custom alerts for different labels, and remember to show pictures for specific users. This seems like a great update, so make sure you grab it from the Market. Check out the full list:

• Save bandwidth and battery by only syncing priority mail
• Use label notifications to mash up filters, labels, and ringtones
• Remember ‘Show Pictures’ for senders
• Turn off sticky message actions in landscape or all orientations
• Better TalkBalk support for accessibility
• Performance improvements

via Engadget

[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrkAuwaoFGg”]

ZDNet has posted a video of an internal Microsoft ad, reportedly shown at the Microsoft Exchange Conference, comparing Office 365 to Gmail. As you could imagine, Microsoft bashes Gmail pretty bad with the concept of Google reading people’s mail to serve up better ads.

Except Google Apps for Enterprise doesn’t do ads.

This video is obviously trying to sell Office 365 over Google Apps. Microsoft told ZDNet the video isn’t theirs, but we wonder who else can make such awesomely bad videos.

For those of you waiting for the rumored August 4th release date of the Droid Bionic, will have to wait just a wee-bit longer. During their earnings call today, Motorola’s CEO Sanjay Jha announced the Droid Bionic will launch in September. Jha didn’t comment the AT&T Droid Bionic we’re hearing about.

The Bionic was announced at CES in January. Motorola has held off the release for sometime due to issues with the device. Check out a hands-on of the Bionic after the break.

via Droid Life

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