After teasing the handset last week, LG has just revealed its next flagship smartphone: the LG Optimus G. Set to ship in Korea and Japan next month, the Optimus G is packing some serious specs. To start, the Optimus G features a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, 4.7-inch (1280×768 pixels) WXGA True HD IPS+ display with LG’s in-cell technology, 32GB of internal memory, 2GB of RAM, 13-megapixel rear-camera, 1.3-megapixel front-camera, 2,100 mAh battery, NFC, 4G LTE, and Ice Cream Sandwich. LG also brags the device as having only a 3mm bezel and being only 8mm think, all while rocking a battery that it brags as being 60-percent more efficient.
The Optimus G will hit Japan’s Docomo LTE network in October, with a launch on Korea’s three carriers next week. Furthermore, we should be hearing more about the international rollout of the handset at this week’s IFA conference kicking-off in Berlin. We’ll be sure to give it a try. Full PR below:
Google likes to experiment with upcoming features of its products and a reader seems to have spotted a new one. Thanks to a new feature that Google has deployed into its Google Search page, users are now notified when it is the birthday of one of the people in their Google+ circles. A 9to5Google tipster showed us the new feature this evening, where Google displayed in the Google Search notification window that it was his friend’s birthday. Google also provided a “Say happy birthday” button that allowed our tipster to write a witty message on his friend’s profile for the world to see. How Facebook like! Check out a screenshot of the pop-up below:
During a Q&A session hosted on YouTube this afternoon, Robin Dua, head of project management for Google Wallet, rattled off some new features that the platform may soon feature, as MobileBurn first noted. Going beyond just paying for an item, Dua said he hopes Google Wallet gains the ability to store gift cards, travel itinerary, receipts, tickets and more—replacing the need for a physical wallet. Google Wallet currently allows you to pay for items, with the help of all major credit cards and store loyalty cards. The features Dua rattled off this afternoon certainly remind me of something in particular.
At its World Wide Developers Conference in June, Apple unveiled its card management app called “Passbook“. Passbook allows customers to store boarding passes, movie tickets, store cards, and other passes containing QR codes, barcodes or visual, scannable codes. Apple went further by adding Passbook integration into iOS 6. For example, when you walk into a movie theater, a card or ticket could automatically be displayed. Google also displayed a similar interest in the geo-features. While the Passbook app is present in the iOS 6 beta available to developers, it is not full-fledged. It is missing the ability to actually pay for an item. We are sure to hear more in the coming when NFC debuts on the sixth-generation iPhone.
Google Wallet has been the only mobile payment solution to take off thus far. A slew of carriers are said to be working on their own mobile payment solution called “ISIS“, which could add some competition to Google’s dominance. However, even with Google’s stronghold, the adoption of the payment service looks to be slow. With Apple’s upcoming entrance into the mobile payment market, Google may be looking to step up its game. Apple’s solution is said to be a “game changer.”
According to a report earlier this summer, Google is looking to give Google Wallet a revamp. The features named today could be what the revamp is all about. You can check out Dua’s full talk below for some more perspective: [MobileBurn]
Engadgetposted the alleged specs for the upcoming Motorola Razr M 4G LTE. According to the publication, the handset will feature a 4.3-inch 960-by-540 qHD Super AMOLED advanced display, dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 1GB of RAM, 8-megapixel rear-facing camera with 1080p video, 3-megapixel front-facing camera, LTE, NFC, and 8GB of internal storage. Furthermore, the device will allegedly rock the same Kevlar backing as the original Razr and Razr Maxx. A press shot was also shared, as seen above.
The Razr M 4G LTE is expected to be announced at Motorola’s Sept. 5 press event, where the company is also expected to announce the Razr HD. We will cover the event live and bring you the latest as we hear it. Spec sheet is below:
Google’s Android-focused Punit Soni just received a promotion! According to his LinkedIn page, Soni was appointed Motorola Mobility’s new vice president of product, where he will be “responsible for all things software at Motorola Mobility.” Since the acquisition closed earlier this summer, several executives changes have taken place at Motorola. The biggest change is Dennis Woodside, who took over as CEO, replacing Sanjay Jha. Soni’s hiring could indicate further changes for the better.
Motorola is moving to position itself as a leader in manufacturing smartphones. Earlier this month, Motorola revealed that it is cutting 4,000 jobs and closing 30 of its 90 facilities worldwide. With Soni on board and new hires in the pipeline, Motorola could crank out some serious Android devices soon. [LinkedIn via The Verge]
Samsung is expected to announce the all-new Galaxy Note 2 at its Samsung Unpacked event at IFA on Aug. 29. Ahead of the expected announcement, Seoul Newspaper claims to have its hands on the official specs for the phablet. According to the publication, the Galaxy Note 2 will feature a 5.5-inch 1,280-by-720 display, as previously rumored, as well as a 1.4 GHz quadcore Exynos processor, 8-megapixel shooter, 3G/4G connectivity, 16GB/32GB variants and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. …Pretty much on tap with what we heard. Check out the leaked spec sheet:
Apple won a preliminary injunction on Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 in late June after claiming Samsung’s hot-selling tablet infringed on its iPad D’889 design patent. During the Apple vs. Samsung case that ended on Friday, it was ruled the Galaxy Tab 10.1 did not infringe on any of the iPad’s patents—specifically the one questioned in June. Consequently, Samsung now wants the injunction tossed out and damages placed on Apple.
The Verge reported that Samsung filed a motion last evening to have the injunction thrown out, and the company wants it done quickly. Since the jurors did not find the Galaxy Tab 10.1 infringing on the patent called up in the preliminary injunction hearing in June, Samsung wants to be let off the hook:
Google’s Nexus 7 is now available in more countries worldwide. The ASUS-made pure Android experience launched in France, Germany, and Spain this weekend. Pricing is theoretically the same as in the United States, but it makes for a higher cost with the Euro-premium. The 8GB model is priced at €199 and the 16GB model at €249, as The Vergefirst noted.
Google updated its availability page with the change. The chart is formatted weird, for some unknown reason, but it does display the added regions:
The Nexus 7 originally launched in June in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. It saw a huge amount of pre-orders and initial sales, causing availability issues due to demand. The situation has since improved.
Ahead of IFA beginning later this week, South Korean-based Samsung announced a new personal media player for its line of 3.6-inch, 4-inch, 4.2-inch, and 5.0-inchers. In a press release this morning, Samsung unveiled the new Galaxy Player 5.8 that rocks a humongous 5.8-inch display with a resolution of 960-by-540 LCD. The company has not given any details on launch or pricing, but it told us the device also packs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, Samsung’s infamous TouchWiz UI, a 16GB or 32GB storage option, microSD slot, front VGA camera for video conferencing, and modest 2,500mAh battery.
LG released a teaser for its latest flagship smartphone that is said to be complete with a quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor. The Verge translated the teaser website and found that the Snapdragon S4 Pro is being referred to as a “second generation quad-core processor” because of increased speeds thanks to a new architecture.
The new LG device has been rumored since July and will reportedly feature a 4.7-inch 720p display, a whopping 13-megapixel camera, and a speedy 2GB of RAM.
According to LG’s teaser site, up-to five more teasers will be revealed. Perhaps we will learn more at IFA next week, which we will be covering live! At any rate, this will blow any current smartphone out of the water.
We all know the Galaxy S III is “designed for humans and inspired by nature,” but were you ever curious to look at the actual design process of Samsung’s latest hit? Samsung posted the video above that highlights what went into building the Galaxy S III that was announced to the world last May. Samsung shared in the video how elements of nature played a roll in the device—including how pebbles in a stream were inspiration for the overall design of the device. A Samsung sound designer also shared how a “stroll in the forest” played into the “overall sound of the device.” That nature inspiration has led to some serious sales. [Samsung Tomorrow] Expand Expanding Close
Google unveiled a new feature within its iOS search app in August that reminds us a lot of Siri. Taking features from its Siri competitor Google Now, Google announced the search app would now allow folks to use natural voice commands to make searches. For example, a user can “ask for the weather in a natural way and it will provide results,” Google explained. Google noted during its announcement that the updated app would be available in a few days. But, two weeks later…nothing.
After the announcement, Google told reporters the app was submitted a week before the event. So, Google’s updated app has been going through Apple’s App Store approval for three weeks. We have to wonder: What is the hold up?
Here is some good news for those who like to get their music dose from Google Play: Google Music has been updated this evening with expandable notifications in Jelly Bean to allow playback control and viewing of album art. Furthermore, the update includes improved Google TV support to get rid of issues with TVs and set-top boxes caused by Jelly Bean. It would not be a Google update without a few bug fixes too. We have the full release notes embedded below. Download: [Play Store via Droid Life]
Sony will be the first to offer a Google TV device in Germany, with sales beginning in September. Spiegel.de reported that Sony would make the announcement at IFA at the end of this month. Sony will then sell the set-top box, confusingly named “NSZ-GS7,” mid-September for € 199.
The launch of the Google TV platform could be a major stepping-stone for Google’s European TV expansion. At CES this year, Google highlighted its European plans with hopes that it would boost sales.
We will be live at IFA to cover the device when it is announced. Wer aufgeregt?
Updated: …and it’s real! Press release below the fold.
Offering a fix to its $70 not reallyunlimited data plan that is often capped, TmoNews reported big news this evening that T-Mobile will introduce a truly unlimited data plan for only $30 a month ($20 a month for value customers). That is insanely cheap. I mean seriously.
So, what is truly unlimited data mean exactly? The plan will reportedly do away with “speed limits, caps, or overages” for smartphone and tablet owners. Sadly, the plan does not apply to T-Mobile’s hotspots, but rather customers will be forced to choose from the 5GB and 10GB plan offerings.
Sprint is the only other carrier in the United States to offer an unlimited data plan. Sprint charges $80 a month, and it did away with the speed limits and caps that are set by other carriers. Nevertheless, T-Mobile certainly has Sprint beat at a $50 difference. We will let you know when the plan goes official. Who is excited?
We are only about two weeks out from IFA, and Samsung added to the excitement by releasing a teaser this morning for its upcoming Galaxy Note II. In the teaser, Samsung promised the device is “a small and light thing.” Aside from the stylus, the teaser does not show much more. The company is expected to announce the “Galaxy Note successor” at an Aug. 29 press event, and it would not be Samsung if it did not ramp up the handset all the way up to the event. We will be covering IFA live. Is anyone excited?
Well lookie there. YouTube user revowii posted four videos of the upcoming Droid Razr HD, shown off in what looks to be official tutorials from Motorola. The tutorials show some basic functionality of the Razr HD, like email and texting, but they more importantly give us a clearer look at the new device that has already been leaked in blurry images from tipsters. Droid Life speculated these tutorials came from a setup app in a leaked ROM.
The Droid Razr HD is expected to be announced at a Sept. 5 media event held by Verizon and Motorola. We will be covering the event live.
You can check out the Droid Razr HD and its Ice Cream Sandwich/Blur goodness below: [Droid Life]
Historically, unlocked bootloaders have not exactly been Motorola’s thing. However, the company took a big step this weekend when it launched its new Unlock My Device page that allows owners of the Photon Q, RAZR dev edition, Verizon XOOM, and XOOM Wi-Fi to finally give their bootloader the freedom it deserves. You will need to download the Android SDK and latest Motorola USB drivers on your computer to get going. From there, you follow the instructions on Motorola’s website. There is a bunch of warnings, of course, and even a waiver that has to be signed. Once you are done, you will be on your way to installing third-party software. Try it! [Motorola via Droid Life]
Google’s 20th employee, Marissa Mayer, joined Yahoo as its CEO and president in July. It seemed almost inevitable that she would begin poaching employees from her former employer to start building the new Yahoo. Over the past few weeks, Mayer has already poached employees and this weekend marks yet another. Announced on Twitter, former Google Product Marketing Manager Andrew Schulte has joined Yahoo as its chief of staff—certainly a nice promotion. Schulte joined Google in 2007 in the ad sales sector.
In early August, Mayer recruited her first Google employee. Google’s Anne Espiritu left to work in the PR department of Yahoo.
Mayer is left with the tough task of pulling Yahoo out of the dire situation it has been in for years. The Wall Street Journal had a great piece last week profiling the changes Mayer has already made, including a focus on products (much like Google). [Twitter via Business Insider]
Samsung already noted the release of Jelly Bean on the all-new Galaxy S III might start Aug. 29 thanks to already sent press invites. According to a video, the release looks to be coming along quite nicely. YouTube user Triforce2k8 claims to have the official, leaked build of Jelly Bean 4.1.1 loaded on his Galaxy S III. As you can see in the video above, things actually run quite smoothly as the user launched Google Now with no issues. Furthermore, Samsung also looks to have added a few adjustments to the notification bar including the ability to share content and adjust the brightness. The video looks legit.
Samsung promised Jelly Bean will be available by the end of August, and it is not clear if that is meant for the United States as well. At any rate, if the video above is to be believed, the release of Jelly Bean on the Galaxy S III may not be that far away. [Android Police]
Verizon Wireless announced on its blog this evening that the Motorola Droid 4 would receive Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich starting Aug. 13. Along with the new features that Ice Cream Sandwich includes, the update will add global capabilities to the device. This allows customers to use voice and data while abroad with an international plan. Now begins the wait for Jelly Bean. [Verizon]
Google is set to acquire travel brand Frommer’s, which is behind an array of travel guides across the globe, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. The acquisition is said to close shortly.
With its acquisition of Frommer’s, which was founded in 1957, Google could add the service’s guidebooks to a number of its current offering to boost business and landmark descriptions. Frommer’s currently has over 350 printed guidebooks and over 3,500 destinations on its website. It is not clear if Google will continue the printing side of Frommer’s.
Google acquired Zagat in 2011 for a similar purpose. Zagat’s user reviews and descriptions were added to Google+ Local in May for more contextual information when users look at local businesses. Frommer’s treasure trove of information may have a similar fate.
Perhaps the biggest integration of Frommer’s will be in Google Now. It was recently introduced as a part of Jelly Bean and serves users with almost instant information activated by voice. With information from Frommer’s, Google could serve up global travel reviews a little better.
AOL-owned news network Huffington Post debuted its new HuffPost live streaming network this morning with cofounder Arianna Huffington introducing it as the stream fired up at 10 a.m. EST. The network will stream live from New York for eight hours a day and live from Los Angeles for four hours a day on weekdays. Highlights will air on the weekend. With a total of 10 hosts and help from Huffington Post bloggers and editors, the network has a focus on audience participation with user’s being able to call-in via webcam.
AOL is using its own technology for audience participation. However, I noticed while watching the stream this morning that Huffington Post is opting to use Google+ Hangouts for roundtables with its bloggers, editors, and guests. We already saw how many times Google+ Hangouts has been adopted by politicians, public figures, and more to communicate with fans. The NFL even uses it for its fantasy football league.
Google+ Hangouts ease of use and reliability may be why the folks at HuffPost opted to use it rather than another solution like Skype. Hangouts offers great features. For instance, it automatically highlights the person that is talking, which is something that a talk show could certainly benefit from. It is also very easy to get guests on Hangouts through quick invites via email.
Are you ready for Sprint’s next 4G LTE device? Sprint announced this morning the availability of the Motorola Photon Q 4G on its network beginning Aug. 19. It is priced at $199 with a two-year contract. The Photon Q rocks a full QWERTY keyboard with a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, HDMI port, NFC, 4.3-inch display, 4G LTE technology, and Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich. Sprint’s 4G LTE network just made its official debut, and it is now available in Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Kansas City, San Francisco, San Antonio, and Waco. I was a big fan of the original Photon, so I will definitely try to get up a review of this device. [Sprint]
