The FCC just cleared the T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide (aka HTC Doubleshot) and rumors have the device being released on July 6th.
The myTouch 4G Slide features a QWERTY keypad, 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, 3.7-inch LCD display, 8.0 inch megapixel camera, and vga front facing camera. Some rumors claim it may ship with 1080p 3D recording capabilities, but I wouldn't get my hopes up until it's officially confirmed.
Earlier today, several different websites received anonymous tips which included scans of Sprint memos that revealed the soon-to-arrive Android Gingerbread update for the HTC EVO 4G. Starting on Friday, June 3rd, Evo 4G owners will be able to force a manual update to Gingerbread. If you're not into the manual update thing, then you can wait patiently till June 6th when Sprint will begin to roll out OTA updates to Android 2.3.
If you're of the 'why wait?' mindset (and why wouldn't you be), then forcing the manual update is mind numbingly simple. Come 6/3, simply navigate to Menu -> Settings -> System Updates -> HTC -> Software Updates -> Check Now, to force the check. Say "OK" when it asks you to install. Done.
Release dates for T-Mobile's HTC Sensation and Sprint's HTC EVO 3D have been announced. Phandroid published a RadioShack flyer promising a June launch for the EVO 3D. The circular concedes that The Shack is taking pre-orders for the 3D device and that it will be "available" on the 24th.
The HTC EVO 3D ships with Android 2.3 and the Blockbuster On Demand app. It features a 4.3 inch display with qHD resolution, 4GB of internal memory and a 5-megapixel color camera for 3D photos.
The update to Android Gingerbread for the Motorola Droid X has officially become available for all handsets today, after the successful completion of Verizon's "soak test" on the device.
Previously the update was only available for selected users who chose to root their phones, but now all Droid X owners can upgrade to Android 2.3. The new OS features a speedier navigation, customizable dock, an overhauled camera app and a newer version of Motoblur.
The update is available through OTA, or you can find it by navigating your settings and system updates (Menu -> Settings -> About phone -> System updates).
This isn't the first time we've told you about alternatives to paying an arm and a leg to insure your Android phone through your wireless provider. Verizon and AT&T both work with the same third party insurance provider, and both expect you to pay high monthly premiums and even higher deductibles in the event you do need to file a claim. The alternative insurance and/or warranty plans we've told you about in the past offer equivalent or better protection, at a lower cost, both in terms of per month price and claim deductibles. One of those alternatives, Worth Ave Group, is currently offering a seemingly too good to be true deal on their smartphone insurance. For the time being at least, through Worth Ave Group's website, you can insure a typical Android smartphone for around $3 a month and with a $0 deductible (the normal deductible is $50).
After a series of leaks and teases, today Asus officially unveiled the not-too-secret Asus Padfone at Computex 2011. The device is, as expected, a combination of an Android smartphone and an Android tablet. In reality, the tablet portion of the Padfone is little more than a large screen the smartphone portion docks into, although it does offer extra I/O ports and an extended battery. That said, the "brains" of the Padfone are in the smartphone, better-half of the operation.
The 200 million users of Google Maps on Android devices worldwide can now look forward to an update to version 5.5. The latest Google Maps brings new check in and check out functionality as well as a redesign of the transit station pages, among other tweaks. The update comes less than a month after the previous update 5.4 was released on May 4.
Users can check in directly from Place pages when using Google Latitude, and the home and work locations in the Latitude location history can now be changed. For those who like to track their own movements, statistics on time spent at home and work can be viewed. The Places page also gets a rating button that allows users to submit a review and rating for a business or location.
Sounds like Android smartphone maker HTC will join Motorola in offering unlocked bootloaders on its future Android devices. The change is a welcome one in the Android developer community, as it allows hardware owners to modify their devices. Many users complained to HTC about their practice of locking and encrypting bootloaders.
Amid the chorus of comments HTC offered to review its new policy, and made an official announcement regarding the policy review only a day later. HTC plans to stop the practice of locking bootloaders to allow users to install custom ROMs and perform other customizations.
Ever wish you could pop over to your Windows desktop computer and run the same apps you have on your Android smartphone? BlueStacks is working on making this a reality, and plans to release free beta software in June or July. So far the focus has been on tablets, notebooks and netbooks, however BlueStacks intends to bring Android apps to any x86-based Windows computer.
BlueStacks has been around since 2008 and recently received $7.6 million in financing from a group of investors. Once the software is installed, running Android apps is just like running any other program for the Windows user.
Motorola has confirmed those who own a recent Motorola Droid running Android 2.2 Froyo will receive an update to 2.3 Gingerbread in the coming months. Droid X, Droid 2 and Droid Pro owners are the lucky ones, assuming that Verizon Wireless approves the over-the-air updates for rollout this summer. The Droid X is first in line to receive the update and should receive the software by the end of June. The others are slated to get Gingerbread before the end of September.
