HTC’s One V is invading Canada en masse, having just slipped into Bell and Koodo stores in the past few days. Internal documents slipped out to MobileSyrup would have Telus completing an unintentional troika: it’s expected to ship the reborn Legend on June 8th. Pricing looks to be right in the middle of the pack, at $30 in Canuck bucks on a lengthy three-year contract but a still-manageable $290 contract-free. It’s not as frugal as the $225 price Koodo asks, but if you’re not eager to jump carriers just to get entry-level Android 4.0, there’s now an abundance of choices.

HTC One V reaching Telus on June 8th, completes Canadian trifecta originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 22:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’d heard earlier that Google had “nothing to announce” in regard to Android compatibility with the newly-announced offline Maps support and 3D modeling, but look — things change. We reached out to the company and urged ‘em to dig a little deeper, only to have the following confirmed: “For offline Google Maps for Android, all devices with Android 2.2 (Froyo) and above will be supported.” As for the 3D portion? “We’ll have more details about device compatibility for 3D imagery on Google Earth for mobile at launch.” After the event, we spotted a Googler using the 3D build on a Galaxy Nexus, so it’s obvious that Android 4.0+ will be supported, but we have to assume that some of these older Froyo devices may simply lack the proper oomph needed to fly around the downtowns of [insert major metropolitan area here].

Offline Google Maps to work on ‘all devices with Android 2.2 or higher,’ 3D compatibility less clear originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 17:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Mini 2 to migrate you (okay, your Mum) from dumb to smart? That’s just what Samsung intends to do as it makes the 3.27-inch Galaxy phone available across the UK this week. The wee Gingerbread handset, sporting a colorful sunny yellow plastic backing, is dressed to impress, but that’s because this low-ender doesn’t fuss with the specs. Under that cheerful casing lies a single-core 800MHz CPU, 512MB RAM, 4GB of storage and a 1,300mAh battery that should prove adequate for this pocket-sized affair. The company’s certainly wary of how this slight fella might be perceived, so it’s gone above and beyond the call of PR duty (see below) to make sure the world knows this is a phone for first-timers. We gave it a go back at MWC earlier this year and, despite its compact look and budget bearings, were please to note it packs just enough of a surprising performance punch. Hit up the break to peruse the self-conscious presser for yourself.

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 available now in the UK for tiny hands and the people that have them

Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 available now in the UK for tiny hands and the people that have them originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 17:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When Sammy said it was taking the Galaxy S III around the world, it really, really meant it. Having already launched in the UK, and with the US soon to follow, Samsung’s newest flagship is now ready to debut across China. As expected, all three major carriers will be involved in the June 9th launch, which, of course, includes China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom. There’s no word on pricing yet, but for the sake of your sanity, we hope the telcos won’t ask for one too many yuans in exchange for that “human-centric” experience.

Samsung Galaxy S III coming to China on June 9th, all ‘big three’ carriers get in on the fun originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 17:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you own one of Sony’s Google TV devices, it’s now considerably easier to curl up with a flick or two. Google has just pushed out a 2.1.1 update that allows watching movies rented through Google Play as well as in the browser, with YouTube. The update rollout should grace both Internet TVs and Internet Blu-ray Disc Player owners within the next two days. Logitech Revue viewers aren’t quite so well off: Google is only asking them to “stay tuned,” which to us is a sign we shouldn’t give up Netflix just yet.

Google TV update touts Google Play and YouTube movie rentals, distinct lack of popcorn originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 16:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung might have been right when it said lawyers didn’t design the Galaxy S III, because it’s in legal hot water again. Apple has moved to add the new Android 4.0 flagship to the same request for a preliminary US ban that would stop the Galaxy Nexus. Cupertino believes the Galaxy S III violates at least two patents, one the data tapping patent that’s also being leveled against HTC and the other a unified search patent that covers Siri; not surprisingly, Apple isn’t keen on that strangely recognizable S Voice interface. A hearing was already scheduled for June 7th and is now taking on a new sense of urgency, at least in Apple’s mind: it’s arguing that the rumored nine million pre-orders (still unconfirmed) are evidence of the potential damage if the US court lets the dispute slide. Samsung has already said that the injunction call won’t affect its rapidly approaching US launches. The company had better hope it’s right, or it risks disappointing a lot of early pre-order customers.

Apple calls for an early ban on Samsung Galaxy S III, isn’t amused by S Voice originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 16:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While Gigabyte was grabbing headlines at Computex with its world’s lightest Ultrabook, the Taiwanese firm was also sneaking out a gaggle of new phones. Four new models, in fact, all of them Android 4.0, all of them dual-SIM. The rest of the specifications are a mixed bag, with the Gigabyte GSmart M1420 winning the camera wars, with an 8-megapixel shooter, backed up with a 4.3-inch 800 x 480 display and 1GHz MT6575 MediaTek processor. A lower specification M1320 was also announced which is more of the same, but with a smaller, 3.5-inch, display and weaker 3-megapixel snapper. The GSmart G1362 might be more interesting if 4.3 inches is a must, and Snapdragon’s your thing (1GHz), but you’ll lose 3 megapixels on the camera compared to the GSmart M1420 as a trade. Finally the GSmart G1342 which only packs in 800MHz (Qualcomm) and 3.5-inches of display. There’s scant detail on price and availability at the moment, but have a sift through the source link if you want the blow-by-blow breakdown, and head to our Chinese site to get a hands-on with the G1342 and G1362.

Gigabyte outs four dual-SIM Ice Cream Sandwich phones at Computex originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 15:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There’s an oft-used idiom about small packages, which frequently doesn’t apply to the world of technology. That’s to say that a diminished form factor often doesn’t bring the “best things” with it. For example, Sony’s NXT family members, revealed between CES and MWC, gifted consumers with the choice of three new handsets: the Xperia P, S and U. The last one in that list is by far the smallest, and in congruence with the general trend of mobile technology, the most lightly armored.

However, we’re not ones to make assumptions, and heaven forbid we pre-judge something based on size alone. We’re as willing to be surprised as anyone, and the new baby of the Sony bunch is as likely a candidate as any to throw us a curveball. Our initial impressions in Barcelona were largely positive, so this review — as the firm says on its marketing material for the phone — is all about (the Xperia) U.

Continue reading Sony Xperia U review: a little slice of Android that punches above its weight

Sony Xperia U review: a little slice of Android that punches above its weight originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 14:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung’s business virtually revolves around open-source code and Linux, both through obvious software like Android and Tizen as well as behind-the-scenes code for TVs and even home appliances. It almost shouldn’t be a surprise, then, that the company just became a Platinum-level member of the Linux Foundation, giving it much more control over how the platform advances. The favor is being returned in kind, both through a $500,000 cash injection as well as a Samsung pledge to become a better open-source neighbor. Any long-term plans of Samsung’s are being kept under wraps, but going to the Platinum tier puts it at a rare level enjoyed only by the likes of core Linux supporters like IBM, Intel and Oracle — it’s even higher than Google.

Continue reading Samsung becomes a Platinum-level Linux Foundation member, open-source gets a Korean accent

Samsung becomes a Platinum-level Linux Foundation member, open-source gets a Korean accent originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 14:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The idea of creating a full-fledged laptop companion to a smartphone isn’t new — just ask the former Palm team — but rarely has it come across as so pretty. Clamcase’s upcoming Clambook, while it has more than a slight hint of MacBook Air about it, is really meant as a large canvas of sight and sound for an Android phone or iPhone. Although the Clambook can at least be used as a big, 16:9 ratio display for an iPhone, the emphasis is clearly on more Google-inclined users that can use an MHL port: the one cable provides audio, video, power, an Android 4.0-native keyboard and a multi-touch trackpad. More recent Motorola phone owners might get the most out of it, since Webtop’s full-size Firefox browser and windowed interface will kick in without needing one of Motorola’s proprietary docks. We’re still waiting on many basic details, like exact device support and the all-important matter of pricing, but the Clamcase should be ready for supersized Real Racing sessions by the holidays.

Clamcase’s Clambook gives Android phones and iPhones a laptop shell, feels decidedly Airy originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 13:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google is keeping the string of Maps launches going — it’s just rolling out very, very detailed 3D maps for technology like Google Earth, using a “new process” to get extra depth. In some areas, such as San Francisco, it models every building and delves down into the trees. The new fully textured, fully modeled imagery is coming both to Android and iOS in the “coming weeks,” and Google even made a point of showing the update running on an iPad. Just how deep this rabbit hole goes is an unknown right now, but it certainly ups the ante for Apple’s rumored giant iOS 6 Maps revamp and the 3D mapping it might be using from C3 Technologies.

Update: We just followed up with Peter Birch following the keynote regarding version compatibility for offline and 3D Maps, and were told that Google “has nothing to announce at this time,” but will do so in the coming weeks. We prodded a bit to see if 2.x devices would be in the mix, and all we got was a non-confirming reply about an “assumption” that if Google Maps Navigation is supported, offline and 3D would be as well.

Relive the memories in our liveblog… right here!

Continue reading Google Maps, Earth take on full 3D imagery

Google Maps, Earth take on full 3D imagery originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 13:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google’s Maps event has just given us a much-requested feature: true offline map support. Android users can soon opt to download full maps for given areas (instead of just caching routes) without needing a cellular or WiFi connection. It’s a big boon for those of us who have to travel abroad to unfamiliar cities, or just to areas where underground tunnels might cut off Internet access before GPS. Unfortunately, that’s all that Google was willing to share: Android phones and tablets will only be getting the upgrade sometime “soon.” Still, that’s one less advantage for Nokia Drive, and one more hurdle to jump for Apple at WWDC next week.

Update: We just followed up with Peter Birch following the keynote regarding version compatibility for offline and 3D Maps, and were told that Google “has nothing to announce at this time,” but will do so in the coming weeks. We prodded a bit to see if 2.x devices would be in the mix, and all we got was a non-confirming reply about an “assumption” that if Google Maps Navigation is supported, offline and 3D would be as well.

Relive the memories in our liveblog… right here!

Google Maps for Android gets offline support, ‘nothing to announce’ regarding version compatibility originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 13:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The HBO Go streaming app has been available on Android since it launched last year, however despite a steady flow of updates and even Android 4.0 support, until now it hasn’t supported Android tablets. That changes today, however for now at least the only one on the list is Amazon’s Kindle Fire, while other tablet owners will have to fall back to their browser and Flash streaming workarounds for access. There’s a press release and quick video trailer promoting the launch after the break, while Fire owners who are also HBO subscribers (and satellite / cable TV subscribers, of course) can grab it for free on Amazon’s Appstore now.

Continue reading HBO Go launches for Kindle Fire but continues to avoid other Android tablets

HBO Go launches for Kindle Fire but continues to avoid other Android tablets originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 12:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony has decided to join the web-based shopping party, launching an online reader store for its e-inked devices and companion apps. Any e-Books purchased will arrive ready-to-read on the Reader app or other suitably wireless device, with titles also working on any Adobe DRM-supported apps and devices. Sony’s Reader app has benefited from a UI redesign, the addition of a landscape view and improved stability. Hit up the source to grab the update — before your phone tells you to.

Continue reading Sony launches web store for e-Books, Android app also gets refresh

Sony launches web store for e-Books, Android app also gets refresh originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 10:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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To date, the term smartphone’s mostly been a misnomer for larger screen, albeit still dumb, handsets imbued with rich web browsing experiences. With the exception of the Galaxy S III’s SmartStay feature and the Droid RAZR, not many other high-end devices can lay claim to “intelligent,” user-adaptive behavior. Which is why our eyes are trained on this recently awarded Google patent that stands poised to turn future Android (we presume) devices into location-aware assistants. Originally submitted back in September of 2011, the USPTO filings describe a software-based profile alarm that seems eerily reminiscent of Motorola’s own Smart Actions — a fitting appropriation given the just wrapped acquisition. Using a combination of GPS and network address data, as well as prior travel habits, the system outlined in the docs would ping a user with tailored mobile profiles configured with contextually relevant settings, information and apps. Effectively, your phone would become the ultimate personal assistant, pandering to your on-the-go needs without the irritating need for praise and positive feedback. That’s if this software ever makes it out of Google’s IP stronghold and into the light of day.

Google patents location-based mobile alerts that know where you’re going to originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 08:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Surprise, surprise, CloudOn has just opened a fresh can of tablet-friendly Office and is getting ready to deliver it outside of the US, UK and Canada for the first time in its relatively short history. The cloud-based service announced it’s now launching its iOS and Android applications in 16 more countries, making it a total of 19 with the addition of the aforementioned trio. Some of the lucky nations include: Spain, Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, Israel as well as the Netherlands — and, in case you had any concerns, the app is keeping its free-of-charge status, so no need to worry. In addition to the beefy global expansion, CloudOn also released a few productivity-focused tidbits, giving users the ability to open links straight from the browser, copy and paste between the different built-in apps, plus a drag-and-drop feature to move around files and folders within the application — unfortunately, this last one’s only available to those with a Cupertino device (at least for the time being). All that’s left to do now is grab yourself a copy from one of the links below, and be sure to check the presser after the break to see if your country made the cut.

Continue reading CloudOn launching its iOS, Android tablet apps in 16 more countries, Office hounds rejoice

CloudOn launching its iOS, Android tablet apps in 16 more countries, Office hounds rejoice originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 07:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some phone makers carve their own path, others ride on their coattails. Konka, however, somehow carves its own coattails, and we admire the ingenuity. The Shenzhen-based mobile maker, known for its familiar designs and logo font, has just announced that, going forward, its smartphones will be using the 3D Kanzi UI from Rightware — as formally seen on ZTE handsets. So does this complete the trifecta of design flattery? The Kanzi interface can be seen in action in the video after the break, but if you weren’t sure how 3D it was, then there’s a PR after that too, which might mention it. Just a few times.

Continue reading Konka tries to differentiate with familiar-looking Kanzi 3D UI

Konka tries to differentiate with familiar-looking Kanzi 3D UI originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 06:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Well what do we have here? Yes, it’s the Orange San Diego we first saw at Mobile World Congress and it’s going on sale in the UK today for £200. This isn’t just yet another Android smartphone, but one of the first Medfield-based handsets on the market. We caught this pre-production unit chilling out at the Intel booth here at Computex 2012 and decided to go up close and personal. First impressions? It’s thin, light and feels great in the hand thanks to a pleasant soft-touch back. The Gigabyte-made device packs a 4-inch glass-capacitive 1024×600-pixel LCD (that’s 300dpi), an 8-megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash, a 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z2460 CPU, 1GB of RAM and 16GB of built-in storage.

While the screen looks decent enough, it falls somewhere in the middle of the pack in terms of viewing angles. The phone features Android 2.3.7 (Gingerbread) and runs most apps from the Google Play store directly via an emulation layer. Performance matched prior benchmarks and was on-par with current mid-range ARM-based Android handsets — the experience was mostly smooth, but we noticed some lag when scrolling and zooming pages in the web browser. Battery life remains the major outstanding question when it comes to Medfield handsets, so expect more details once we have our very own review unit. In the meantime, check out the gallery below and hit the break for our hands-on video.

Continue reading Orange San Diego Medfield phone: a closer look at Computex 2012 (update: video)

Orange San Diego Medfield phone: a closer look at Computex 2012 (update: video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 03:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No press release, no media alert, not even a splashy press conference with Adele blasting in the background. The only reason we know these two tablets exist is because we happened to catch them on display here at Computex. What we have here are the Acer Iconia Tab A210 and A110, presumably the successors to the 10-inch A200 and the 7-inch A100. Apart from a wholesale redesign, which we’ll walk you through after the break, both tablets have been upgraded to quad-core Tegra 3 processors and will ship with Ice Cream Sandwich. An Acer rep staffing the event said both are scheduled to go on sale sometime in Q3. No word on pricing or regional availability just yet, but if you accompany us past the break we’ve got impressions, two hands-on videos and a run-down of tentative specs.

Continue reading Acer shows off next-gen Iconia Tab A210 and A110 at Computex, we go hands-on (video)

Acer shows off next-gen Iconia Tab A210 and A110 at Computex, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 23:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Now that the ITC conundrum is partially over, it’s time for the HTC One X to get back on track and make its way onto AT&T shelves yet again. For starters, the Rethink Possible outfit has the Sense 4-loaded handset up for grabs now via its online store, while brick and mortar shops are said to be expecting it as soon as June 10th. Other than that, pricing remains the same, which means you’ll still have to shell out those $200 (with a two-year deal, naturally), or $550 without a commitment — and, if you’re feeling like spending some additional cash, you could grab that Media Link HD wireless dongle on your way out for an extra $90. Sound good? The source links below will take you there.

AT&T’s HTC One X available once again: now up for sale online, coming to retail on June 10th originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 20:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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