05/15, 1:02am
Opens door for another Apple copyright suit against Samsung
The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has reversed a previous judge's ruling that there was no merit to Apple's copyright complaint against Samsung. Prior judgements on iPhone versus the Galaxy Nexus phone were left untouched. The original ruling against the Galaxy Tab 10.1 was that Apple's patent was "obvious", meaning that the original patent should never have been granted.
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05/03, 3:15pm
Galaxy S III coming to the US in June with 4.8-inch touchscreen, more
After months of rumors, the Samsung Galaxy S III was officially unveiled at the currently ongoing Mobile Unpacked event in London. As expected, the Super AMOLED touchscreen is 4.8 inches in size and has 1280x720 resolution, while the processor is Samsung's own Exynos quad-core unit clocked at 1.4GHz and paired with 1GB of RAM. The phone weighs in at 4.7oz (133g) and its thinnest point measures in at 8.6mm.
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05/01, 5:45pm
Update for Sprint Galaxy Nexus through Wi-Fi soon
Galaxy Nexus owners on Sprint will receive an update
fixing the missing 3G support on the handset. Subscribers have been reporting network connection issues on the carrier's public forum for the last week.
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04/28, 10:45am
Steve Wozniak compliments WP7 and Lumia 900
Habitual smartphone experimenter Steve Wozniak in a podcast (embedded below) gave strong compliments to Windows Phone. Having picked up a Lumia 900 weeks earlier, the Apple co-founder still picked the iPhone as his favorite but argued to aNewDomain that Windows Phone was better than any Android phone. It had the "most beautiful" visual experience of any platform, Wozniak said, and its presentation made him feel like he was "with a friend, not a tool."
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04/27, 4:55pm
AOSP vet sees no issue with Android update delays
Google's Android Open Source Project (AOSP) engineer Jean-Baptiste Queru drew flak late Thursday after comments that many have interpreted as giving a pass on slow Android upgrade intervals. He saw Sony's Android 4.0 upgrades having rolled out in a "very reasonable time," five months after 4.0 was available, given the nature of the OS. Sony had even had a head start, since its AOSP code contributions gave it an idea of what to expect for its own upgrades, he said.
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04/27, 4:10pm
Sprint promises fix may come next week
Sprint subscribers are sounding off in the company's support forums, reporting that their 3G support for the Galaxy Nexus isn't working. The Wi-Fi radio continues to operate perfectly, however. One user, who provided the screenshot below, said the network state on his smartphone is 'Connecting,' while showing EVDO Revision A as available.
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04/27, 10:00am
LG Optimus True HD LTE expands reach
LG on Friday grew the reach of the Optimus True HD LTE to more countries than just Germany. The 4G phone is now launching in Portugal and Sweden in a slightly larger European release as well as the headlining Asian cities of Hong Kong and Singapore. The device is an international edition of the Optimus LTE already on sale in Canada as the Optimus 4G LTE at Bell and the US as the Nitro HD at AT&T.
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04/25, 7:45am
Sprint sees only slight iPhone demand drop
Sprint on Wednesday reported steep losses for its winter quarter but had relatively strong iPhone results. The company's losses nearly doubled, from $439 million a year earlier to $863 million, owing largely to a $543 million depreciation from the Nextel iDEN network ramp-down. At 1.5 million iPhone sales, however, it saw only a slight drop from the fall in what's widely believed to be its primary smartphone platform.
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04/24, 11:15am
Google sells unlocked HSPA Galaxy Nexus itself
Google on Tuesday opened up a Google Play Devices section for its web store with an emphasis on selling Android hardware directly. The first offering will answer a longstanding call for direct sales of the Galaxy Nexus in the US. Americans now buy the unlocked, HSPA+ version of the Android 4.0 flagship for $399, or far less than it normally costs at importers.
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04/23, 7:45pm
Move comes one day after Sprint release
Verizon has lowered their 2 year contract subsidized price on the Galaxy Nexus LTE by $100 from $299 to $199. This price reduction comes one day after the phone became available on Sprint. The off-contract price remains the same at $649.99.
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04/21, 4:35pm
Galaxy Nexus gets updated Android 4.0.4
Google and Samsung have quietly solved a problem with sudden signal drops on the Galaxy Nexus. A minor update to Android 4.0.4, IMM76I, gives the phone the consistent performance. Some owners have noted another fix for unresponsiveness on the lock screen when automatic brightness is on.
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04/20, 8:15pm
Verizon to cut Nexus price to match Sprint
Verizon is planning to quickly follow up on the Sprint Galaxy Nexus launch with a steep price drop. A leaked minimum advertised price guide at Droid-Life has Samsung's Android 4.0 phone dropping to the same $200 on April 23, a day after Sprint stores get their examples. While it could be a storage cut ike the 16GB RAZR, it's more likely to remain the 32GB edition.
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04/19, 7:00pm
Limited stock expected at retail on April 22
Pre-orders for Sprint's version of the Galaxy Nexus, begun on April 16, may have reflected very strong demand. Earlier Thursday, the pre-order page indicated that inventory had been sold out for those not willing to wait until the April 22 launch. The exact quantities Sprint will have aren't known and make it difficult to gauge actual interest.
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04/19, 10:35am
Spotify Android app remade
Spotify on Thursday addressed complaints over its Android app with a new preview version of its remake. The new version is completely remade and designed explicitly to support Android 4.0 phones like the Galaxy Nexus or One X. The UI change brings swipe-based navigation columns, extra-large artist artwork, and a Facebook-style slide-out menu.
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04/17, 2:50pm
Chrome for Android gets significant extras
Google gave the Chrome for Android beta a major update (Google Play) Tuesday that filled in key gaps in the otherwise advanced browser. Like the stock Android 4.0 browser, Chrome can now ask for the desktop version of a page if the mobile version is either undesirable or doesn't work. Address a feature that's been on iOS devices for years, Google now lets users add bookmarks as shortcuts on the Android home screen.
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04/16, 12:55pm
HTC One X may get quick turnaround
The AT&T version of the HTC One X may get its final release window very soon. Rumors emerging from BGR have an announcement due as soon as Tuesday, with shipping coming "within five to seven days" of that date. Pricing itself wasn't given out, but it's expected to come in at $250 to $300 given AT&T's past 4G phone pricing.
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04/16, 10:30am
Samsung Galaxy Nexus at last gets Sprint date
Sprint ended one of the longer waits for one of its phones in recent memory by taking pre-orders for its version of Samsung's Galaxy Nexus. The device will ship to its second American LTE carrier on April 22, with some advance order makers possibly getting theirs as soon as April 20. Pricing will be much more aggressive than at Verizon, at $200 on a contract with unlimited on-device data compared to Verizon's $300 and data caps.
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04/12, 2:10pm
Galaxy Nexus and Viper 4G LTE release on 22nd
Sprint will be releasing its version of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus on April 22nd, according to a company document. The leak, via BGR, shows that the LTE-enabled smartphone will be released on the same day as the already announced LG Viper 4G LTE.
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04/11, 4:35pm
Sprint store materials confirm April 15 launch
Sprint stores will soon begin stocking Galaxy Nexus LTE handsets, as indicated by some stores getting promotional materials plastered with the April 15 launch date. Shared by Phandroid, this lines up with earlier rumors that had the handset arriving at the carrier between April 15 and 22. Unfortunately, the Sprint store materials aren't making a reference to the LTE capabilities of the phone, supporting evidence that the handset won't have 4G enabled, at least at first.
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04/10, 1:40pm
Chrome 19 allows opening tabs from Android, more
Google has posted a Chrome 19 beta that answers a common call for fast access to tabs across devices. Signing in on the same Google account both on a desktop and an Android device running Chrome for Android will give either device access to whatever tabs happen to be open on that device at that moment. The approach makes it easy to continue reading an article from an Android phone or to check directions that were just on the desktop.
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04/08, 3:25pm
AOKP Build 30 customizes Android 4 nav bar
One of the more extensive custom Android ROMs has been given a unique new customization in an update. The Android Open Kang Project's 30th build links up with a new NovaLauncher beta to let those whose phones get Android 4.0's on-screen navigation bar, mostly the Galaxy Nexus, customize the bottom space with apps. It still packs in the existing controls, including the app launcher, but expands the control points to five to allow either for shortcuts or just to change the layout.
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04/06, 5:45pm
ATT Galaxy Nexus may be close based on SIM info
A rumor from an uncommon source has an AT&T version of the Galaxy Nexus close. A tipster leaked stock units to Andro Rev that pointed to full-size, likely LTE-capable SIM cards intended for the phone, implying that the phone itself might support the faster data. Most if not all of AT&T's LTE-capable devices to date, including the just-shipping Lumia 900 and the new iPad, are using micro-SIMs.
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04/05, 8:55pm
Samsung gives 1Q 2012 finance estimate
Samsung late Thursday gave upbeat early estimates of its first calendar quarter results that showed a possible breakthrough in smartphone sales. Its pure operating profit would be 5.8 trillion won (nearly $5.2 billion), or almost twice as much as from a year earlier. Pure revenue would sit at $39.8 billion.
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04/05, 7:35pm
Problem affecting GSM phones only
Samsung Galaxy Nexus owners are having problems with their phones after updating them to the latest Android 4.0 release. Users are complaining about signal strength problems or loss of signal since installing version 4.0.4, which Google began rolling out as an over-the-air upgrade last Wednesday. The problem appears to affect only phones with GSM radios.
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04/04, 3:15pm
HTC granted patent for biometric device unlock
What appears to be a US patent for a Face Unlock feature for smartphones has been granted to HTC. This is odd because we first experienced the feature on the Galaxy Nexus late last year, and it's one of the standard features found in Android 4.0. Since then, a number of other phones from various makers that sport a front-facing camera and were updated to Android 4.0 got this feature as well. How this new patent grant will affect the future of handsets not made by HTC but sporting Android 4.0 remains to be seen.
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04/03, 7:25pm
Sprint Galaxy Nexus keeps LTE off early
Training leaks have shown that Sprint is getting close to launching its version of the Galaxy Nexus. The Engadget tip had staff being told how to sell the features of Android 4.0 and the phone, including Google Wallet. In a surprise, the first wave of phones will ship with LTE turned off, suggesting the Nexus will ship before the LTE network is ready.
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04/02, 10:20pm
Android 4 still slow to get use among phone owners
Google's latest Platform Versions data has shown a relative spike in Android 4.0 use. The current OS now makes up 2.9 percent of Android's active user base, or nearly double the 1.6 percent from a month earlier. It was now near even with all Android 3 versions combined, helped in part by both tablet upgrades and phones like the Galaxy Nexus sharing Android 4 as a common platform.
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04/02, 6:20pm
$50 battery free with contract
Samsung is offering a free battery bundled with the Verizon edition of the Galaxy Nexus. The package deal is available through the Best Buy-run Samsung Mobile shop. The 2100 mAh battery normally retails for $50.
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04/01, 11:25pm
Galaxy Nexus on Sprint due within one April week
Leaks have put Sprint's version of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus coming within one week in mid-April. Electronista has heard from credible sources that the target date is April 15. While unconfirmed, it corroborates both different tips to S4GRU and fits in with Sprint's habit of launching phones on Sundays.
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03/29, 3:25pm
Samsung to bring unique features with Android 4.0
An interview with Samsung's global Product Planning Team has revealed that the Android 4.0 software update due for its Galaxy range of smartphones and tablets also contain some unique features. Chief among them is a twist on the Face Unlock feature that requires the user to blink before the screen will open. The regular Face Unlock feature found in stock Android 4.0 has no requirement, letting users trick it with photos.
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03/28, 3:15pm
Google Maps get higher-res screens, more in 6.5
Google has just released Google Maps 6.5 for Android (free, Google Play) and detailed the changes. The voice-guided GPS navigation software sports a newly redesigned home screen for Android 4.0 and newer devices. That screen lets users quickly enter new destination information or select from recent and favorite locations by swiping to the left or right.
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03/27, 10:50am
T-Mobile USA sued for selling NFC-ready phones
Chip-based smart card maker On Track Innovations has sued T-Mobile USA because it sells phones equipped with NFC chips. OTI claims such phones violate its patents, though why it doesn't sue the makers of the phones themselves or other carriers that sell the very same phones in some cases isn't known. The lawsuit was filed in a New York federal court, though details such as the amount of damages or a licensing agreement sought haven't been revealed.
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03/26, 10:40am
Microsoft reacts to Windows Phone showdown fiasco
Microsoft quickly reacted to claims of unfair Windows Phone contests by offering would-be winner Sahas Katta his compensation. Company evangelist Ben Rudolph said Monday morning that he would supply both the HP notebook intended for prize winners as well as a free Windows Phone. Rudolph was also personally apologizing to Katta for the apparently stacked test.
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03/26, 8:25am
Incidents show Windows Phone comparisons stacked
At least some shoppers have accused Microsoft of rigging its retail "Smoked by Windows Phone" tests to favor itself. One incident that happened to a SkatterTech writer saw him legitimately handle a test faster than a Windows Phone on his Galaxy Nexus. He did so by showing the weather for two different cities, for which he happened to already have two different widgets available. Despite this, and having already used an official feature of Android 4.0 that disables the lock screen (thus getting to the home screen more rapidly), retail staff insisted that the Windows Phone had won, despite taking longer.
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03/22, 4:10pm
Google Voice for Android updates for 4.0 link
Google has pushed out a small but significant update to Google Voice on Android (Google Play Store) built just for Android 4.0 users. Those on a Galaxy Nexus or another phone on the new OS now get Google Voice's visual voicemail integrated directly into the call log. Users can both tell whether or not there's a Google Voice message in recent calls and play it directly from the stock interface instead of resorting to the stand-alone app.
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03/21, 11:35pm
Claim has Apple breaking iPhone screen size mould
A contentious rumor late Wednesday had Apple leaping to a 4.6-inch screen for the next iPhone. The Maeil Business Newspaper had Apple making its first part orders ahead of spring plans, dropping the familiar 3.5-inch size for the first time in five years in favor of a size comparable to the Galaxy Nexus. Unlike Samsung, though, Apple would keep its shorter but wider ratio, and would keep using an LCD instead of AMOLED.
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03/21, 4:35pm
Google Wallet said struggling
Google may be looking to implement major changes to Google Wallet after getting little support, leaks might have disclosed on Wednesday. Having only ever earned support from Sprint, the search giant was said by Bloomberg to be looking at a revenue split to get AT&T or Verizon offering support. The proposal would give a cut of Google Offers coupons and other deals.
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03/21, 6:20am
Android 4.0.5 for Verizon Galaxy Nexus en route?
Android 4.0.5 may arrive in early April on Verizon for its Galaxy Nexus users. Well-known Verizon insider @Black_Man_X has revealed as much via his Twitter account indicating that new build is said to currently be undergoing testing. If released as planned, it will include media fixes for an audio reboot issue as well as data falling asleep.
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03/19, 10:00am
Galaxy S III may be first LTE-on-CPU phone
Samsung's long-in-development Galaxy S III may be the first smartphone with LTE-based 4G built into the processor. Apparent leaks from an executive to the Korea Times had a quad-core Exynos processor shipping with both LTE 4G and HSPA 3G inside. The move would supposedly be to reduce the "huge amounts" Samsung has to pay to Qualcomm to get 4G, the anonymous insider said.
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03/17, 1:30pm
Galaxy S III would steer away from Apple design
A posting in Reddit's Android section has shown what's purportedly the Galaxy S III. The render shows a thinner design, adding a dedicated camera button to the side, and with a 16:9 display. Its most conspicuous change may be trim: it has the same 'lips' as the Galaxy S Wi-Fi 4.2, designed to avoid the accusations of copying Apple that have led to lawsuits.
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03/16, 6:00am
Apple may see slide to unlock voided in Germany
Apple was handed a possibly major setback Friday as its second slide-to-unlock lawsuit in Germany was put on hold. The Mannheim court's Judge Andreas Voss was unconvinced that the design model Apple was wielding against Samsung was necessarily valid. He determined that Apple should wait until Germany's Patent and Trademark Office had decided in a simultaneous case whether or not the design model was valid before moving ahead.
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03/15, 6:35pm
Galaxy Nexus inches closer to Sprint arrival
An FCC filing from last week has shown that Sprint's Galaxy Nexus is getting close to release. Going under a very different codename of SPH-L700, instead of SGH-i9250 or similar for the original, the Android 4.0 phone's identity is given away by its combining 850MHz and 1,900MHz CDMA with the 1,900MHz LTE only Sprint will be using so far. The inclusion of NFC is the other giveaway that the device is a Nexus given how few Android phones have yet to carry the technology.
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03/09, 11:50am
Medfield phone places well in browser tests
Browser benchmark tests performed at CeBIT by Caschys Blog on a Medfield phone reveal strong performance. The handset, due out at carrier Orange in France this June as the Santa Clara, was tested using Rightware and Vellamo. In the former, which measures JavaScript and HTML rendering performance, it beat out the iPhone 4S' 87801 score, at 89180, while falling behind the Galaxy Nexus' top 98272 performance.
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03/05, 8:15pm
Apple still uncontested in mobile HTML5 benchmarks
Apple still has an unambiguous lead over Google in HTML5 performance on the mobile web, app development tool maker Spaceport.io found in a head-on benchmark test. iOS devices were typically about three times faster than their Android equivalents. Even Android 4.0's flagship, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, was still about 42 percent slower than the iPhone 4S despite newly optimized HTML5 code and a theoretically faster 1.2GHz clock speed.
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03/05, 1:55pm
Dates for upcoming Verizon handsets leaked
Release dates for a number of handsets meant for Verizon have been leaked, thanks to Droid-Life. A pared back version of the Galaxy Nexus with 16GB of built-in storage should begin shipping on April 5, according to a leaked memo. Halving the memory would drop the cost to $200 on contract.
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03/02, 7:55am
Germany denies Samsung 3G and Apple unlock suits
A Regional Court in Mannheim, Germany in a ruling has denied one lawsuit each from Apple and Samsung on Friday. Judge Andreas Voss dismissed one of Apple's two slide-to-unlock lawsuits over specific definitions in how the unlock path was constructed, according to Florian Mueller's account of the hearing. The Samsung lawsuit, the company's third attempt in a row to sue over 3G standards patents, was rejected as a math formula didn't cover the phone itself, just the result.
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03/01, 5:35pm
Expands tap-and-pay support to additional devices
Sprint will be adding to the number of its devices supporting Google Wallet. The wireless carrier used a panel discussion at the Mobile World Congress to reveal that it will offer support for the NFC-based mobile payment app on at least ten more smartphones or tablets during the course of 2012. Sprint currently has made the mobile payment system available on the Nexus S 4G and will support it on their soon to be released version of the Galaxy Nexus.
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02/28, 9:15pm
LG also said to be involved in talks
Just days after rumors suggested LG is involved in talks with Google to produce the next Nexus handset, a fresh report suggests HTC may be vying for the same position. HTC's Jeff Gordon told Tech Radar that Google "hasn't chosen its Nexus partner," however he also noted that "all the manufacturers are crossing their fingers."
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02/27, 10:05am
Google touts over 450K apps, 800 Android devices
Google's fun-filled booth at Mobile World Congress means to celebrate the more than tripling of the available apps in the Android Market since last year, currently at more than 450,000. In comparison, Apple's iOS mobile platform offers more than 500,000 applications. Google goes on to say there are more than one billion apps downloaded by Android users every month as well. More than 800 unique devices run on Android, and the software giant brought more than 100 to display at the show.
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02/25, 12:35pm
Galaxy Nexus landscape dock expands to States
Samsung answered a common request from Galaxy Nexus owners on the weekend by bringing its Pogo Desktop Dock to the US. The cradle lets the Android 4.0 phone's owners use their device in landscape mode, such as for watching a video, while keeping the phone charged. Its name comes from the three "pogo" pins on the side of the Nexus that deliver power without needing to be directly plugged in.
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