Calling all Droid X users, your safety net is here. We now have a .602 SBF for the most current Gingerbread version to save us if we get stuck in our rooting adventures. Since we can root this device very easily, you should absolutely add this file to your toolbox of rooting goodies just in case. There is also a new RSD Lite to aid you in your troubles. Hit us up in the comments if you need any help.
Download them both right here: 4.5.602 SBF / RSDLite 5.4.4
[via mydroidworld]
We are definitely moving closer to the launch of the DROID Prime or whatever the first Ice Cream Sandwich phone will be called. The only thing we know for sure is the model number, which is SCH-I515, and it has received WiFi certification. Last week it went though Bluetooth SIG, and speaking of Bluetooth, the real Nexus Prime (GT-I9250) received Bluetooth certification as well.
Many have speculated that these phones are the same, and the Verizon version will be called the DROID Prime. It is unlikely that both devices will have the “Prime” name, and it is more unlikely that Verizon will get a true Nexus device. Both phones are rumored to be out in October, so it shouldn’t take long to put all the puzzle pieces together.
Despite price drops, some would say the Xperia Play wasn’t the hit it should have been. In spite of this, Sony Ericsson said that their gaming phone is “meeting expectations”. We’ve also seen the Play showing up in different color flavors recently as well. Sony Ericsson is hoping for a big sales bang for the device this holiday season.
How can it compete with all the dual-core power goodness coming this year you ask? Well, Sony Erricsson has this to say:
“When you go into things like dual core versus single core, what a lot of people don’t understand or appreciate is the actual benchmarking and the ability of a device to do what they do, dual core doesn’t mean it’s faster. This is PlayStation Certified, and it’s been proven by all of the discussions of a very technical nature we’re having with publishers”
Well Ericsson you’re right, the masses don’t understand you can make software run faster on a slower processor. It makes me think of the PlayStation consoles (or any game console for that matter) where they games get better graphically while the hardware stays the same. Or how about PCs getting faster and faster, but Windows just became more of a resource hog? I’d like to see Sony do well in the Android market, so hopefully as they continue to pump out games things will work out. I think there is a place in the market for this device, don’t you?
[via eurodroid]
Samsung introduced the Galaxy W as part of their new naming scheme last month. The “W’ stands for Wonder which represents high quality, and is perfect for those seeking a balance between style and performance. We already know it will be available on the Three network in the UK, and it looks like O2 will be carrying it was well.
O2 has the Galaxy W listed as “Coming Soon: September.” on their website. The Galaxy W will have a 1.4GHz single-core CPU, 3.7-inch SLCD display, 5MP rear camera, Android 2.3, and TouchWiz 4.0.
We expect availability to be towards the end of the month.
[via O2]
Well, the soak test must be over.
The Android 2.3 upgrade is now rolling out in phases to DROID 2 users. Some of the enhancements include a new download manager app, multi-touch key-chording, a new interface, and more!
You can also access the update by going to Menu > Settings > About phone > System updates.
Let us know in the comments what you think about the new update!
[via motorolaforum]
Chinese search engine Baidu has formally entered the mobile device arena by announcing its own mobile OS, as well as entering into an alliance with Dell to produce tablets and smartphones.
Baidu, whose name was inspired from a poem written during the Song Dynasty, has launched its long-anticipated mobile OS named Biadu Yi.
Biadu Yi appears to be a heavily modified Android fork that utilizes cloud storage, backup and sharing capabilities, and comes with its own app store. Baidu had been rumored to be planning the OS – and to be using a modified version of Android – for some time, but had refused to provide confirmation.
In addition to Biadu Yi, it is being reported that Baidu will supply its own maps, reader, music apps, and provide its Shen Bian service to stand in for Google Places. The music app will likely integrate with Baidu’s Ting licensed music download service.
With its alliance with Dell in place, and a new OS ready for distribution, Baidu appears to have a solid footing with both software and hardware for mobile devices. While Dell has struggled to find the success in the mobile device market that it enjoyed in the PC market, entering into an alliance makes sense as Baidu is one of the strongest domestic brand names in China and also dominates China’s search market.
China has an estimated 906+ million mobile phones in operation, making it nearly 3 times as big a market as the United States. While Baidu has thus far sat on the sidelines in the mobile device war, it now looks like it is preparing to strike. The combination of their Biadu Yi OS, along with a steady supply of mobile devices from Dell, gives them a fighting chance to make inroads into the mobile-device rich Chinese market.
It’s unknown if Baidu’s sights are just on the Chinese market but one thing is certain, before you have a chance to make your mark in the mobile device wars, you first have to be good enough to make your competitors aware that you even joined the fight.
What do you think? Will Biadu YI make a dent in the Chinese market? Will it one day be a viable competitor to Android? Let us know in the comments!
[via telecomasia and dailytech]
Remember the Pierre Cardin 7-inch tablet (PC-7006) we told you about last month? We weren’t too impressed with it especially since it came with Android 2.2 Froyo. It looks like they are moving up in the world as they have updated it to Gingerbread, and added a G to the model number which is now PC-7006G.
Unfortunately it is still unimpressive, but if you are into designer names, this is the one for you. They even dropped the price from £274.99 ($438) to £224.99 ($358). It still comes with a leather case and black gift box, but it’s still 14mm thick.
The rest of the specs are okay for the money:
Is anyone looking forward to the PC-7006I?
[via pierre cardin]
If you own a Samsung Galaxy S II, you’re in luck because Gameloft’s Asphalt 6: Adrenaline is available for free in the Samsung Apps Store. We have no idea if this is for a limited time so don’t fall asleep on this one.
Asphalt 6: Adrenaline is the latest version of the Asphalt series, and this is the WCG (World Cyber Games) version. You will even have the WCG car to drive. The game is compatible with the international (I9100) as well as Korean versions of Galaxy S II.
Update: Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY owners can also download it for free.
[via sammyhub]
What do you do if you are an artist employed by Samsung and your job is to demonstrate the features of the new Galaxy Note? That’s easy – you draw caricatures of IFA attendees of course!
Using nothing but the Galaxy Note, what appears to be a native drawing app, and the Note’s S Pen, the artist creates an impressive caricature of the willing attendee:
The ability to sketch and do artwork was specifically mentioned when the Note was announced last week. By having an artist display the device at IFA 2011, Samsung has done a good job at demonstrating the creative potential their newest smartphone brings to the Android table.
[via softpedia]
We have seen pictures of the upcoming HTC Holiday already, but have not seen proof of its rumored AT&T LTE capability. BGR has obtained photos of it being used in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area using 4G LTE. You will see in the photo below the download speeds hit 29Mbps which is super fast, but lets face it, this might be the only phone on the network.
The Holiday hasn’t been officially announced, and we have heard it could be marketed as the Raider. It will have Android 2.3.4, a 4.5-inch (960 x 540) display, 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 8-megapixel camera, and the HTC Sense 3.0 UI. It will be one of the first 4G LTE phones to hit AT&T, and we expect to see it by the end of the year. Stay tuned.
[via bgr]