Even more announcements have made their way to our inbox. Samsung and US Cellular are announcing that the Samsung Galaxy S II will be headed to the regional carrier sometime soon. It’ll feature a 4.5 inch Super AMOLED Plus display, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, Android 2.3 with TouchWiz, an 8 megapixel HD camera, 16GB of internal storage and more.

Without any 4G LTE radios, it’s possible that this could be an Exynos-equipped version of the handset, though the press release doesn’t say either way. US Cellular’s version might be very similar to Sprint’s in terms of style and features.

It wouldn’t be the first time that the carrier got phones that were exactly the same as other carriers’, save for the name and logo. It’ll be available for $ 230 after a $ 100 mail-in rebate. No exact window to look forward to yet but we imagine it will be here sometime within the first half of the year. Read on for full press details.

Mobile Technology News

What we’re looking at here is a device that’s been out in Japan for some weeks now and is set to be Sony’s biggest bet on mobile gaming yet. Inside you’ve got a massive quadcore SGX543MP4+ GPU, this powering a fantastically giant 5-inch OLED touchscreen at 960 x 544 pixel resolution surrounded by your favorite PlayStation controls and additional physical buttons that will allow this machine to be not only a portable monster for physical cartridges, downloaded games, and acting as a PlayStation 3 controller – perhaps the most interesting feature of the device in and of itself. This device can be used as a wireless PlayStation 3 controller and connects to your PlayStation 3 to complete the structure that is the mighty 2012 Sony Four-Screen Strategy – which Sony is very much banking on this season.

This device at first appears to be so massive that it’ll never work as a so-called “mobile” device, portable only if you’d be willing to toss it into your backpack. Instead the only thing impeding your carrying around this device in your pocket is the twin analog sticks and the entire device’s abnormal length. The PS Vita is also extremely light – and not in a way that makes it feel cheap – the combination of tough plastic, solid buttons, and a fully creak-free construction across the entire device makes this a hero to be sure.

In addition to the idea that this device can connect to many odd devices with its many connectivity abilities, we’re looking forward to testing the back panel off for its touch sensitivity. Look at that fantastic pattern – how could it be bad in any way at all?!

The thing at this point you’re going to want to pay attention to is the difference between how I’m interpreting this device and its build, software, and overall experience from Chris Davies and his UK unit. They’re essentially the same, and certainly there’s no big difference between the software and hardware, so it’s up to you to get what you need out of our dueling reviews!

That said, feel free to ask any and all questions of either of us so we can do as full a set of reviews as you want and need to decide whether you’re going to purchase not only this device but the games that you’ll certainly be thinking about should you do so.

Sony PS Vita 3G Hands-on is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

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The first patent being used here is one described as “unlocking a device by performing gestures on an unlock image.” In iOS this means the “Slide to Unlock” feature with an arrow at the bottom of the display. For those of you unfamiliar with Android, the unlock sequence in Gingerbread (the system Motorola uses most often now in their Android devices) has a very similar method for unlocking its initial startup screen. There are three patents Apple is claiming for in Germany at the moment:

• EP1964022 for Slide to Unlock against Motorola in Munich
• The same patent against Samsung in Mannheim
• DE212006000081 for a German utility model against Samsung, also in Mannheim

The Samsung cases are against the Samsung Galaxy Nexus specifically and it’s newer method for unlocking the device in Android version 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. According to Foss Patents it appears that the Utility Model patent was used against Motorola as well but only in a small mention in the case. There is also another case with Apple vs Motorola coming down for patent EP1040406 for a “soft input panel system and method” – this will also affect Motorola’s Android devices.

How these cases will affects how Motorola devices (and eventually either Samsung or Apple devices) are able to be sold in Germany is not yet known. Furthermore it will be interesting to see how this ruling affects the rest of the court cases around the world involving Motorola and Apple, not to mention the rest of the Android-based companies doing legal battle with Apple at the moment. Watch out, Google!

[via Foss Patents]

Apple wins Slide to Unlock patent dispute with Motorola is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Mobile Technology News

Chinese authorities have seized the school had stock in retail stores around the country already. Proview is now asking Chinese customs to stop the import and export of the Apple iPad. China is a huge market for Apple and one the technology giant isn’t going to walk away from. Apple spokeswoman Carolyn Wu has said that Apple has the right to use the trademark name in China as part of the original deal. She also notes that Apple’s legal case against Proview is pending in mainland China.

The big kicker in this case, is the call from Proview to halt exports. If Proview wins the export blockage it would mean iPad sales globally will be stopped because the iPad is manufactured in China. Undoubtedly, Proview knows the massive blow to Apple’s income this would be. Apple and Proview have previously been in court over the iPad trademark, and Apple lost. The case was then appealed to a higher court with that case still pending.

[via Business Week]

Proview calls on Chinese customs to end iPad import and export is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Mobile Technology News

Getting a free 4G smartphone seems like an awesome idea. But it seems like so many of you are getting them, that T-Mobile’s system is having issues. And according to a plethora of consumer reports, T-Mobile has found the need to extend the Valentine’s Day offer until tomorrow.

Like many others, our friend BigMerf has reached out to T-Mobile via multiple social networks, and he received this message straight from Magenta’s Facebook account.

Just like this message, many other users are confirming that T-Mobile staff has told them to come back the next day, as the systems are being overloaded with awesome purchases of free 4G devices! We hope that T-Mobile can make an official announcement soon, as we would love to know if this is really happening.

But more than anything, this post is meant to reach out to our readers to see what they have heard. Many of you have been told that this deal is being extended, straight from representatives’ mouths. So let us know what information you have acquired, and where from.

[Via: T-Mobile (Facebook)]

Thanks, Bigmerf and Andres!

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If you’re tired of tower defense games, I don’t blame you. Feel free to skip this post, but let me say this before you go: I wouldn’t spotlight yet another tower defense game if it wasn’t special. That’s why Spice Invaders has made the cut.

The standard tower defense tropes are in place. Build and upgrade towers with spells and abilities to repel invaders while carrying on a map-wide campaign. But Spice Invaders by On5 Games (published by Chillingo) goes a step further.

First of all, the game is super polished. It runs great and looks terrific, and everything from the characters to the UI shines with color and fun. There’s a huge upgrade system with lots of ways to develop your towers and abilities, and there’s even (gasp) multiplayer support. You can play co-operatively or even competitively in a tower defense game! Each stage has multiple modes and can be played through multiple times, so there’s lots and lots of content here, all of it quite fun.

Spice Invaders is also a freemium title, which has both a pro and a con. The pro, of course, is that the game is free. Tower defense fans should waste no time in downloading it. Those of you who’ve soured on tower defense should also consider it. Bewarned, however, that Chillingo isn’t gentle with the prodding. You’ll get reminders in the middle of your game (and elsewhere) that you can buy spice and upgrades via in-app purchases. They can be removed with an in-app purchase, of course, but they’re still annoying to see.

That issue hits right at the core of the freemium argument, however. Yes it’s annoying to be “pitched” in the middle of chaotic game play, but the game’s a free download, so that’s your tradeoff. At any rate, Spice Invaders is an amazing title, and even though I feel like I’ve said a few times now that tower defense has been worn out on iOS, Spice Invaders goes ahead and resets the bar all over again.

Daily iPhone App: Spice Invaders originally appeared on TUAW – The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A few weeks back, we told you guys about how Samsung was attempting to gain an “Apple like” following with their products and yesterday’s Super Bowl ad was the climax of that, giving us a magnificently showy conclusion to the “The Next Big Thing” ad campaign.

The video showcased Apple fanboys/girls who — after taking a look at Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Note — finally had enough of their prison that was the iPhone X line, waiting around for the next best thing when it was already here. These brand new Samsung converts skipped and danced their way out of Apple’s line/jail and into the bright wonderful streets of Samsung’s smartphone lineup with, none other than The Darkness, providing vocals for what even “the barrista” called an over the top ad spot.

While I don’t have any issue with the ad (it was the Super Bowl after all) and even though I did feel like it was bordering on the edge of “cheesy,” I can’t lie, I did crack a smile, especially when I saw Phandroid’s Kevin Krause look-alike being shot from a 2-story canon. But here’s my problem (if you can even call it that).

Aside from our Android readers who have most likely seen their entire ad campaign thanks to Phandroid’s razor sharp reporting, many people watching the ad had absolutely no context on which to base the commercial upon. For many of them, this was the very first Samsung ad they’ve seen in their living rooms. And while I’m sure most got the basic picture of “iPhone isn’t that great, Galaxy Note has a stylus,” things were still a little unclear for people. I was actually asked if it was a T-Mobile ad thanks to Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins wearing magenta stripped tights.

Now, I’m nothing more than a lonely blogger, but I think if Samsung wants to gain a strong “Apple-like” following, they’re going to need to do a few things first:

1. Start offering fewer, high-end devices: This could be a new Galaxy device that launches every year with top of the line specs and leave it at that. No, Galaxy S II, GSII Skyrocket, GSII Skyrocket HD. It muddies up the line and confuses consumers.
2. Support current devices: Now this is easier said than done when Samsung makes everything from low-end budget, to high-end devices. But it needs to become more of a priority. Make your current customers proud they own a Samsung smartphone and they’re sure to tell their friends. Updated software should never be used as a marketing gimmick to force users to upgrade, especially if current gen hardware could realistically support it.
3. Make the US a priority: The GSII launched in Korea first — I get that. But we, in the US, waited for almost a year before we were able to get the device through our carrier. Now, I’m not saying we should get a device first (from what I hear, there are other countries in world besides the US) but if possible, global releases should be as close to each other as possible, providing Samsung factories can support the demand.
4. Sell better: Make ads that show off features and functions people will use. Your phone is 5-inches and comes with a stylus. Show off hypothetical situation that could arise from having this functionality in a phone.

I understand that a lot of these suggestions rely largely on carrier cooperation and not I’m saying saying Samsung is at all to blame for this. Also, I don’t want this to be seen as a Samsung bashing post — I recently switched to the Galaxy S II on Sprint and without a doubt, it’s the best device I’ve ever own in smartphone life — I just wanted to create some dialog with our readers and give my humble point of view in the process.

Now it’s your turn. What did you think of the Samsung’s Galaxy S II ad during the Super Bowl? Hit or miss? More importantly, what do you think Samsung needs to do from here on out if they really want this coveted religious following?

Mobile Technology News

Google has filed an application with the FCC for a 6-month permission to test a home entertainment system involving WiFi and Bluetooth enabled devices. While I don’t quite understand all the legal-speak, it seems quite clear that the system has to do with Android@Home, which was announced at Google I/O 2011. You can find the application here.

Please explain in the area below why an STA is necessary: 

Google is developing an entertainment device that requires testing outside the laboratory environment. The device is in the prototyping phase and will be modified prior to final compliance testing.

Please explain the purpose of operation: 

Testing throughput and stability of home WiFi networks using an entertainment device. Testing will include functional testing of all subsystems, including WiFi and Bluetooth radio. Users will connect their device to home WiFi networks and use Bluetooth to connect to other home electronics equipment. This line of testing will reveal real world engineering issues and reliability of networks.

What do you think said “entertainment device(s)” will include? With Android@Home, Android Open Accessory, and Google TV yet to make a huge splash, it could be Google I/O 2012 where physical products, accessories, and readily available apps and games make their first appearances. What do you think Google is dreaming up?

Mobile Technology News

Hello again, everyone. You’ve managed to wander into what we like to call, the Android Overload. Being that it’s impossible for us to write up every article that passes by our desks, we’ve got the ‘ol AO to take car of that problem. It’s here we gather all these stories into a hodge podge of Android/mobile news for you to dig through and find something of interest. I personally found the Facebook article a particularly good read. How about you?

• Facebook cites Android and iOS as “big risks.” Can’t make money off of mobile. [VentureBeat]
• German court denies Apple’s request to ban Galaxy Tab 10.1n. [BriefMobile]
• French court fines Google $ 660,000 for making Google Maps free. [SearchEngineLand]
• Verizon Wireless/Comcast deal faces opposition as 3rd test market emerges. [WSJ]
• Budget tablet maker Yarvik to introduce Ice Cream Sandwich device in late February/early March. [EuroDroid]
• The WiFi-only Motorola Xyboard 8.2 has passed through the FCC. [Engadget]
• T-Mobile is now selling the Square mobile payments system in their stores. [BGR]
• FCC to modernize and reform Lifeline program for low-income families. [BGR]
• NTT Docomo launching 2 new Disney phones from Panasonic and Fujitsu. [TheVerge]

Mobile Technology News

Looks like the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet will be joining the elite club of Android devices set to receive their Ice Cream Sandwich updates this year. More specifically, Lenovo mentioned today that Android 4.0 will arrive for the tablet Q2 of this year. The tablet is currently running on Android 3.1 which isn’t so bad seeing how I’ve always felt 4.0 is only a slightly better version of Honeycomb. Anyone with a ThinkPad out there happy about this news?

[PCWorld]

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