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[kaching]

Wow at Go Launcher!!

http://lifehacker.com/5724233/go-la...-shortcuts-galore-to-your-android-home-screen

Allowing upto 30 home screens makes me wonder if it isn't going to have a memory issue or two.

 

[womp]

Allowing upto 30 home screens makes me wonder if it isn't going to have a memory issue or two.

I'm sticking with Zeam after having LauncherPro causing my X to start freezing up on me again. :::sigh:::

 

[SimleuqiR]

Allowing upto 30 home screens makes me wonder if it isn't going to have a memory issue or two.

The way I read that, I thought it meant you can have like "sets" of homes screens. Not all 30 at once.

Maybe when you hit the Home button you will get to select a "Set" of home screens.
I just don't see how else could you navigate 30 home screens.

 

[gcubed]

i just switched back to stock launched around a week or so ago, got tired of LP being slow. Will wait for rewrite and check it out again.

 

[Ephemeris]

Isn't the G2 the Desire Z ? Thought T-Mobile sells the Desire Z as G2 in the US.

this is correct. But the one over here is Stock Android (my current phone) compared to its Sense EU brother; I wonder if they chose to go stock since it was using the "G" name.

 

[zoku88]

this is correct. But the one over here is Stock Android (my current phone) compared to its Sense EU brother; I wonder if they chose to go stock since it was using the "G" name.

I'm pretty sure T-mobile chose for them. They also probably the one that named it "G2"

 

[Donos]

this is correct. But the one over here is Stock Android (my current phone) compared to its Sense EU brother; I wonder if they chose to go stock since it was using the "G" name.

Ah, i understand. But this means that the US G2 should get 2.3 sooner or is this in the hand of T-Mobile ?

Yeah, the US Page has the G2 as "T-Mobile G2 by htc" while the EU Sites have it as "HTC Desire Z". So strictly speaking it's not a HTC but a T-Mobile phone borrowing HTC tech (there isn't even a HTC logo on the G2) while the Desire Z is just a HTC phone. That makes it clearer for me. Thanks.

 

[DrFunk]

Have Verizon? Better make sure you're happy with your current phone:

Fan of the early upgrade? Hope you're not on Big Red, then. Android Central's obtained what's purported to be a slide from Verizon's training material, one that says customers on a two-year contract "will no longer be able to upgrade in months 13 - 20 of their 24 month contract as a standard policy" after January 16th. As for the the New Every Two deal, pared down once already in February 2009, new customers won't be enrolled if they activate or upgrade a line, also after the 16th. In other words, the program would be effectively dead in the water, but we don't know if this slide is gospel or a cruel forgery, and we may not know for about another two weeks... you know, after the deluge of exciting phones that'll be revealed at CES this week. Them's the breaks.

http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/04/verizon-wireless-nixing-early-upgrades-and-new-every-two-program/

 

[Piano]

Wait, I'm in the 13th month of my Droid Eris contract...am I able to upgrade already?

 

[giga]

Great stock photo use Verizon.

 

[SimleuqiR]

Great stock photo use Verizon.

I don't think the lady in the right is concentrating enough...needs at least one hand on the chin.

 

[zoku88]

Why do they even bother with that photo? Whatever happened with the good ole fashioned text-only document?

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

I am a bit confused, I have been under the impression that with a 2 year contract you cannot get a new phone until the contract is up, so 24 months. What is this about 13?

 

[AndyD]

I am a bit confused, I have been under the impression that with a 2 year contract you cannot get a new phone until the contract is up, so 24 months. What is this about 13?

I think all the companies let you upgrade at 20, but I have never heard of the 13 month upgrade.

 

[jersoc]

I've gotten a 13 month upgrade. Not gonna use it though. Unless VZW matches sprint I'm bailing out in november.

 

[Talon]

I am a bit confused, I have been under the impression that with a 2 year contract you cannot get a new phone until the contract is up, so 24 months. What is this about 13?

Some companies have different tiers of eligibility. Like you can pay full price and upgrade after 12 months, pay half after 18 months, pay nothing after 2 years.

 

[Jim]

I think all the companies let you upgrade at 20, but I have never heard of the 13 month upgrade.

I've been on VZW forever and have upgraded quite a few times for myself and others in my family, and I don't remember a 13 month upgrade being available normally. It's always been 20 months for a 2 year contract from what I've seen.

 

[Pein]

I think all the companies let you upgrade at 20, but I have never heard of the 13 month upgrade.

I upgrade yearly at att.

 

[AndyD]

I upgrade yearly at att.

Free? I know they will upgrade you at 20 months with any phone for free, I have done it 4 times so far. But at 1 year I think they ask you to pay the "upgrade" price which is often more than 0 although still a good deal.

 

[Parallax]

Ah, i understand. But this means that the US G2 should get 2.3 sooner or is this in the hand of T-Mobile ?

Yeah, the US Page has the G2 as "T-Mobile G2 by htc" while the EU Sites have it as "HTC Desire Z". So strictly speaking it's not a HTC but a T-Mobile phone borrowing HTC tech (there isn't even a HTC logo on the G2) while the Desire Z is just a HTC phone. That makes it clearer for me. Thanks.

the htc logo flashes when you boot the phone, and is etched on the backplate above the g2 logo

 

[Futureman]

I signed a contract with Verizon in October and it says on their site right now I'm eligible for upgrade in June 2012, so that's 20 months.

I don't understand what that slide is showing though. It says they are retiring "New Every 2," so what is it now? New every 24 months and they are doing away with the 20 month thing?

 

[Ephemeris]

Following along the Asus CES presser. First tab :

still not over yet.

 

[Ephemeris]

another one :

Tegra 2 + honeycomb, bitches.

price wars:

s the Eee Pad Slider (pictured on the left), which reminds us a lot of HTC's old school Shift with its slide out QWERTY keyboard. The device is planned to run Google's Honeycomb, sports a IPS, 1280 x 800-resolution display, and houses mini-HDMI and miniUSB ports as well as a microSD card slot. The 2.2-pound / .5-inch thick slab also has dual cameras -- a 1.2 megapixel front-facing one and a 5 megapixel one with an LED flash on the back. We have to say we love the idea of always having that keyboard around, but if you don't want to drag along a physical keyboard all the time, ASUS has something for you too. It's the Transformer, and like the Eee Pad we saw at Computex, it's a 10.1-inch tablet that will come with a laptop like dock with a full size keyboard and touchpad. The tablet part -- like the Slider -- will run Android 3.0 and packs a dual-core Tegra 2 processor, two cameras, and a 1280 x 800-resolution IPS display, however, the dock has an integrated battery that will keep the tablet running for 16 hours on a charge -- the tablet on its own should last eight.

 

[Muerte_X]

I've been on VZW forever and have upgraded quite a few times for myself and others in my family, and I don't remember a 13 month upgrade being available normally. It's always been 20 months for a 2 year contract from what I've seen.

I think you have to have a plan over a certain amount per month. ($70?) and you pay an early upgrade fee, which is somewhere around 20-30 bucks. Which makes sense because that's the same amount they wave if you only get a one year contract. You also have to renew your contract for 2 years from that point on.

I've done it twice now. I was planning on keeping my phone through the 2 years this time because I wanted to wait until there was a substantial upgrade to my incredible out, something dual-core maybe. And for the NE2 promo, which it looks like I won't have anymore. I've been with Verizon for 10 years, but I'm tempted to switch companies at the end of my contract.

 

[jobber]

I think all the companies let you upgrade at 20, but I have never heard of the 13 month upgrade.

You can get a full upgrade every year on Sprint if you pay the bill on time

 

[Ephemeris]

You can get a full upgrade every year on Sprint if you pay the bill on time

that's pretty good.

 

[ZZMitch]

Well I am on the 13th month of my droid contract (early November 09)... maybe I can upgrade early before it's too late?

I was under the impression I would have to wait until at least August to upgrade...

 

[Futureman]

Well I am on the 13th month of my droid contract (early November 09)... maybe I can upgrade early before it's too late?

I was under the impression I would have to wait until at least August to upgrade...

Log into My Verizon and it will tell you when you can upgrade. If this slide is even real, you are fine because you are already on a contract, this only affects people who sign up after mid-January.

 

[ZZMitch]

Log into My Verizon and it will tell you when you can upgrade. If this slide is even real, you are fine because you are already on a contract, this only affects people who sign up after mid-January.

Oh ok, and yeah I was refering to My Verizon, which says I am upgrade eligible on August 6th (day after my birthday ). That is why I was confused about the 13 month thing.

 

[Ephemeris]

 

[bathala]

So glad only signed up with one year contract to verizon when I got the droid x.

 

[Futureman]

With all these Honeycomb tablets, and especially the Moto tablet (did Moto say this is being shown at CES?), is Google supposed to unveil Honeycomb at some point during CES?

 

[artist]

price wars:

More like price wars = fail. At those prices .. good luck!

 

[Ephemeris]

More like price wars = fail. At those prices .. good luck!

The only real attractive one to me is the $399 Transformer (I really do hate the name).

Looking at the overall spec sheet, I think I can nail the $399 specs.

Honeycomb, Tegra 2, 512mbs of RAM, 16GB of storage with dual cameras, hdmi, usb and card reader. Pair that with the supposedly good 8 hour battery life and the dock that adds a keyboard + 8 more hours and for $399 it's pretty good IMO.

 

[SimleuqiR]

The only real attractive one to me is the $399 Transformer (I really do hate the name).

Looking at the overall spec sheet, I think I can nail the $399 specs.

Honeycomb, Tegra 2, 512mbs of RAM, 16GB of storage with dual cameras, hdmi, usb and card reader. Pair that with the supposedly good 8 hour battery life and the dock that adds a keyboard + 8 more hours and for $399 it's pretty good IMO.

My Nexus One cost me more than $399.00 :lol
I'm keeping an eye on the ASUS Optimus Prime.

I want to see if Google releases their own tablet.

 

[Lo-Volt]

The Intercept is a completely different phone with 2.2. Much better.

I am pleased to hear the update made you happy, and that Virgin Mobile Intercepts are getting them; I was under the impression Sprint phones were getting the update but not Virgin phones.

 

[wario]

Xperia Arc (also known as the Anzu/X12)

Rumored Specs:

Android 2.3
2nd gen 1ghz snapdragon processor (same as T-mobile G2)
4.2" X.LED screen (852 x 480 resolution)
8.1 megapixel camera with Exmor R technology
3.5 mm headphone jack
hdmi out
slim body - 8.7mm (thinnest point) - 10.9mm (thickest point)


This should be announced in a couple days along with the aforementioned xperia play.

semcblog.com

 

[peppermints]

HTC Thunderbolt (Verizon) and Inspire (AT&T) pop up in Rolling Stone ad:

Really hope that Inspire is more than just a Desire HD but AT&T branded.. Would like to see a dual core HTC phone on AT&T. Otherwise I'll be going with the Motorola Olympus.

Source: Android Central

 

[iamaustrian]

fuck you motorola
defy update to 2.2 in Q2 2011??
why the hell so late?

 

[DrFunk]

HTC Thunderbolt (Verizon) and Inspire (AT&T) pop up in Rolling Stone ad:

Really hope that Inspire is more than just a Desire HD but AT&T branded.. Would like to see a dual core HTC phone on AT&T. Otherwise I'll be going with the Motorola Olympus.

Source: Android Central

The Inspire is probably a Desire HD with HSPA+

which is awesome, admittedly

 

[gcubed]

HTC Thunderbolt (Verizon) and Inspire (AT&T) pop up in Rolling Stone ad:

Really hope that Inspire is more than just a Desire HD but AT&T branded.. Would like to see a dual core HTC phone on AT&T. Otherwise I'll be going with the Motorola Olympus.

Source: Android Central

considering HTC uses qualcomm and they aren't going to have any dual cores ready until mid to late this year you'll be waiting quite a while for that. There is a reason just about every phone manuf. jumped on the tegra 2... it was the only one available.

 

[Sarye]

I know that the motorola olympus is for AT&T but any word of a Verizon version?

so far I'm interested in 3 phones.
Motorola Olympus
LG Optimus 2x
HTC Thunderbolt

It looks like the Thunderbolt would be the closest one to be released, but lack of dual core makes me sad.

Both the Olympus and Optimus has the specs I want. Not too sure how LG is with software updates but the phone is definitely sexy. Motorola has a good track record of making a solid phone.

I honestly can't wait for tomorrow to see what's out there.

EDIT: answered my own question. Verizon variant is called etna and rumored for Feb/March

 

[Xater]

That Eee Pad Slider looks really cool. I could see something like that replacing my Laptop.

 

[Davidion]

Wow at Go Launcher!!

http://lifehacker.com/5724233/go-la...-shortcuts-galore-to-your-android-home-screen



I already own both LauncherPro and ADW EX. Might give this a try down the road, once it matures a little more.

You don't need to wait; I've had this installed since yesterday and I'm pretty sure it makes at least launcherpro completely obsolete. Haven't seen much in ADW that's a big draw over this either.

 

[gcubed]

I know that the motorola olympus is for AT&T but any word of a Verizon version?

so far I'm interested in 3 phones.
Motorola Olympus
LG Optimus 2x
HTC Thunderbolt

It looks like the Thunderbolt would be the closest one to be released, but lack of dual core makes me sad.

Both the Olympus and Optimus has the specs I want. Not too sure how LG is with software updates but the phone is definitely sexy. Motorola has a good track record of making a solid phone.

I honestly can't wait for tomorrow to see what's out there.

EDIT: answered my own question. Verizon variant is called etna and rumored for Feb/March

yeah i see you answered your own questions, definitely not going to be long, although i'd be amazed if it releases in Jan on ATT like the initial rumors. I THINK its going to be my next phone. I really want to get rid of my nexus 1, but its really hard to give up the carrier freedom.

 

[DrFunk]

Thunderbold specs leaked (kinda, sorta):

Here we are a mere day away from the ThunderBolt's probable announce at Verizon's CES press conference, which, by our rough count, gives us at least one more opportunity to see the LTE-capable monster leaked in the wild. That opportunity comes courtesy of AndroidSPIN, who claims that we can expect a 1GHz single-core processor, 8GB of internal storage with microSD expansion, 8 megapixel rear and 1.3 megapixel front cams, Android 2.2.1 with Sense, HTC-customized mapping and nav (probably HTC Locations with offline caching), and DLNA compatibility -- but no built-in HDMI. Every one of those specs was either already expected or believable enough, though the lack of HDMI -- if true -- would still give the EVO 4G some bragging rights more than six months after its release. Score one for longevity, eh?

edit: more info: http://androidspin.com/2011/01/05/exclusive-hands-on-with-the-htc-thunderbolt-4g/

ARM v7 processor, Single Core, 1 Ghz
8 GB internal memory, (32gb sd card included)
4.3 inch screen
NO HDMI port
8 MP rear camera, 1.3 MP front (We believe)
Runs the new HTC Sense UI on top of Android 2.1.2
HTC Maps and Navigation is included
DLNA support via an HTC preinstalled app

We managed to get our hands on one of the new HTC Thunderbolt 4G’s today and took a few pictures for your viewing pleasure. As well we also managed to run a Quadrant Benchmark and show the results (which are at the bottom of this post). Our source who shared the device with us, informed us that the battery life does not seem too good, however it was hard to quantify given their short time with the device. We can say that the device does feel very responsive and smooth. Over the next few days more should be revealed as the official release is due at CES 2011.

 

[Sarye]

Thunderbold specs leaked (kinda, sorta):


ARM v7 processor, Single Core, 1 Ghz
8 GB internal memory, (32gb sd card included)
4.3 inch screen
NO HDMI port
8 MP rear camera, 1.3 MP front (We believe)
Runs the new HTC Sense UI on top of Android 2.1.2
HTC Maps and Navigation is included
DLNA support via an HTC preinstalled app

welp.. I guess that means I'll be passing on this phone.

I thought HTC would have smarten up with battery life as well. IMO smartphones should last at least a day stock. I have a friend with the EVO and when I question the battery life, he told me, "well with the extended battery I get a little over a day!".

I shouldn't have to buy an extended battery.

 

[DrFunk]

A first-gen LTE device (or any 4G device, for that matter) will have shit battery life, guaranteed. What's suprising is the lack of an HDMI port

 

[gcubed]

A first-gen LTE device (or any 4G device, for that matter) will have shit battery life, guaranteed. What's suprising is the lack of an HDMI port

this... one of the advantages with HSPA+ is that its not a "new" radio per say. LTE devices are going to be pretty rough around the edges as far as battery life until 2nd gen radios.

 

[Sarye]

A first-gen LTE device (or any 4G device, for that matter) will have shit battery life, guaranteed. What's suprising is the lack of an HDMI port

True, and most likely I'll be disabling the 4G on my phone initially since I'm not in the coverage area anyway. The lack of HDMI port IS surprising though.

(About the battery comment, the Incredible also had bad battery life so I was basing it on those two phones.)