Operation Android | Information on Google Android

Toshiba Joins the Android Market This July (Toshiba Thrive Tegra 2)

Toshiba's first tablet the Toshiba Thrive is set for a July 10 release, shipping with a Tegra 2 1GHz Dual-Core Processor and Android 3.0 Honeycomb.

The 8GB model will retail for around $429, the 16GB model at $479 and the 32GB model at $579, slightly cheaper than its main competitors. All three versions are Wi-Fi and Bluetooth compatible.

The Thrive's most interesting features are the user replaceable battery and a variety of connectivity ports, including a built-in HDMI out port, USB, mini USB and an SD card slot. It weighs 25.6 ounces and has a 10.1-inch capacitive display with a 1280x800p resolution. Other goodies include a 2.0 front facing webcam, 5.0 rear camera with autofocus, Wi-Fi access with Flash, and customizable back panel colors (green, orange, violet, blue, pink silver or black).

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Tablet

Toshiba

Toshiba Thrive

Samsung Announces Galaxy Tab 10.1 Wi-Fi and 4G Launch

The Wi-Fi version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is coming exclusively to the Best Buy Union Square store in New York City on June 8. The rest of the country will have to wait until June 17 to get their hands on the Tab 10.1 when it arrives nationwide at Best Buy (online or in-store) Fry's Electronics, Amazon.com, Micro Center, Tiger Direct, and Newegg. The 16GB model will retail for $499 with the 32GB model selling for $599.

Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE-equipped Galaxy Tab will also come in two versions, both priced with two-year customer agreements. The 16GB LTE model will retail for $529.99 and the 32GB will sell for $629.99. Both will be available for pre-order starting on June 8 through Verizon's website, and will come in gray or white.

The Wi-Fi and 4G versions will feature Android 3.1 Honeycomb, an ultra-thin design with 10-inch touchscreen and Samsung entertainment software, including its Readers Hub, Music Hub, and Social Hub.

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4G LTE

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide Coming This July?

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.

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T-Mobile

T-Mobile myTouch 4G

HTC Doubleshot

HTC EVO 4G Gingerbread (2.3) Update Coming June 3

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.

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HTC Sensation 4G, HTC EVO 3D Release Dates Announced

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.

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HTC Evo 3D

HTC Sensation 4G

Motorola Droid X Gingerbread Update Available Today

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).

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Gingerbread

Motorola Droid X

No Deductible Android Smartphone Insurance for $3 Per Month [Deals]

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).

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Asus Padfone Unveiled, Tablet/Phone Combo [Photos, Video]

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.

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Google Maps Gets Updated Features on Android

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.

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HTC to Offer Unlocked Bootloaders on Android Devices

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.

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