Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY Not Getting Android 4.0 ICS - MobilEgypt

Bad news for Xperia PLAY owners as Sony Mobile changed its mind and will not deploy an Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade, as previously promised. Although the Japanese company confirmed earlier this year that most of 2011 Xperia smartphones would be upgraded to Android 4.0, it appears that Xperia PLAY has been pulled from the list of ICS-upgradable devices. As KnowYourMobile points out, Sony Mobile published a list of 2011 Xperia phones that will receive the hotly anticipated Android 4.0 ICS update by the end of the year. Unfortunately, Xperia PLAY is not on that list, which includes the following models: Xperia arc, Xperia arc S, Xperia neo and neo V, Xperia mini and mini pro, Xperia pro, Xperia active, Xperia ray and Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman. Sony has yet to offer an explanation for not taking into consideration Xperia PLAY’s upgrade to Android 4.0. Also, we think it’s unlikely that the company may have made a mistake and inadvertently skipped the Xperia PLAY from the list. We don’t have any other details that could shed some light on the reasons that made Sony Mobile change its mind. Even though Xperia PLAY already got a beta Android 4.0 ICS ROM , so owners can experiment with the new features and provide the much- needed feedback, it looks like Sony has suddenly pulled the plug on the whole project. This may have something to do with the latest reports of games crashing on Xperia PLAY while running Ice Cream Sandwich. Unlike other 2011 Xperia smartphone, Xperia PLAY comes with a PSP-like gamepad controller, which seems to be a hard to overcome obstacle in implementing Google’s latest Ice Cream Sandwich platform. On a side note, Sony Mobile already rolled out Android 4.0 ICS updates for Xperia arc S, Xperia neo V and Xperia ray, but owners are complaining of slow performance and various bugs, which is prove to Sony’s poor execution in bringing the ICS to these handsets.

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Bell Canada Rolls Out Android 4.0.3 ICS for HTC Sensation and HTC Raider - MobilEgypt

Although an earlier Bell Canada internal document leaked online mentioned HTC Sensation and HTC Raider were slated for an Ice Cream Sandwich update in June, the carrier has just released the hotly anticipated upgrade. The carrier announced via Twitter that Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich was at the time available for download for HTC Sensation 4G and HTC Raider 4G: “More Ice Cream Sandwich goodness! Android 4.0 is now ready for the HTC Sensation 4G and Raider 4G LTE superphones.” However, a screenshot published by the folks over at MobileSyrup reveals that this is in fact Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich. The update is about 310MB in size and can be installed OTA (over the air). Those who have yet to be notified on the update can manually check for it by going to Settings / About phone / System software update / Check now. Aside from bringing the phone's software to version Android 4.0.3, the update also upgrades HTC Sense user interface to version 3.6. It also comes with Face Unlock feature, which integrates face recognition device unlock capability. In addition, it adds Android Beam ability, allowing for fast and easy sharing of content. Data control management has been included as well, along with enhanced cloud-based connectivity, improved usability and voice tools enhancements. Good news for Virgin Mobile Canada customers as the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update is now available for HTC Sensation owners as well. On a side note, Bell Canada also plans to release the Ice Cream Sandwich update for a few more Android devices. For example, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is scheduled to receive the upgrade by the end of this month. On the other hand, Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 LTE is slated for an Android 4.0 ICS update in June. Last but not least, LG Optimus LTE owners should receive their promised Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade sometime in July.

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Best Android ICS smartphones (roundup) - MobilEgypt

In my view, smartphones are all about the future and the best handsets are usually the ones with the wildest, slickest mobile technology. Sure, cutting-edge wireless computing rarely comes cheap especially phones running Google's latest and greatest version of Android software, Ice Cream Sandwich. Still it's good to have a dream, and right now I'm fantasizing big time about the best phones money can buy. As ICS handsets actually begin to hit the market, my once wistful wishing is slowly becoming reality. Here's a group of my favorite top-notch devices so you can live the ICS dream too. HTC Evo 4G LTE (Sprint), May 9, 2012 Many said that no phone on earth could outdo the legendary Evo 4G, let alone a sequel. The new HTC Evo 4G LTE proves that the doubters were wrong, at least mostly. With killer good looks, a massive 4.7-inch screen, fast dual-core power, and Android ICS paired to HTC's revamped Sense 4 UI this Evo has almost everything. If and when Sprint's 4G LTE service shows up, we may have a real winner on our hands.Read the full review of the HTC Evo 4G LTE. Samsung Galaxy S III (Unlocked), May 3, 2012 Ok I know, the Samsung Galaxy S III isn't officially out yet but I couldn't make a short list of ultra-hot ICS handsets without including sammy's flagship Android for 2012. Rumors are that the advanced device may arrive on American shores en mass as early as June, certainly by sometime this summer. The phone boasts an even bigger screen (4.8-inches) than the Evo 4G LTE and it's an AMOLED display as well (1,280x720 pixels). Also, not only does the Galaxy S III have Android ICS, the smartphone's software is driven by the latest Samsung quad-core Exynos processor. Read our hands on with the Samsung Galaxy S III. HTC One X , May 1, 2012 Want to know what the best Android phone on is? You're looking at it. The HTC One X for Ma Bell is essentially the inspiration for Sprint's new Evo 4G LTE and a dual-core clone of the international HTC One X (quad-core Tegra 3). But don't let its lower core-count fool you, the U.S. One X is plenty fast, also comes with a lovely 4.7-inch screen, Read our full review of the HTC One X. HTC One S (T-Mobile), April 18, 2012 Super slim and carved from a single block of anodized aluminum, the HTC One S for T- Mobile is a true smartphone vision. Also easy on the eyes is its gorgeous 4.3-inch Super AMOLED screen (960x540 pixels) that paints movies and pictures in stunningly vibrant colors and dark blacks. Of course Android ICS is on board along with HTC's Sense 4 interface plus a connection to T-Mobile's quick 4G HSPA + data network. Also, like all the other phones in HTC's One line the One V has a fast and feature-packed 8MP camera. Read our full review of the HTC One S. Samsung Galaxy Nexus (Verizon), December 14, 2011 It's hard to talk Ice Cream Sandwich without mentioning the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. This phone is by no means new but it was the flagship Android ICS device and offers a mostly pure taste of Google's fresh OS. Plus, until the Motorola Droid Razr Maxx gets an ICS upgrade, it's the sweetest Verizon Android option around. Also, while the Sprint version supports the Google Wallet mobile payment system, the Verizon model is 4G LTE capable now which personally matters more to me. Sprint's GNex sadly is still waiting for the carrier's promise of LTE in the future. Samsung Galaxy Nexus (Verizon).

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LG Optimus LTE II Goes on Sale in South Korea - MobilEgypt

World's first Android phone to feature 2GB of RAM, the LG Optimus LTE II has just gone live in South Korea. The smartphone is now available for purchase through all three main carriers. Although the handset has been made available only in South Korea, LG confirmed the Optimus LTE II will be launched worldwide, but more details on that will be unveiled in the following weeks. With 2GB of RAM, LG Optimus LTE II offers an optimal multitasking at running large applications. In addition, the smartphone boasts an incredible 4.7-inch True HD IPS capacitive touchscreen display that supports HD (1280 x 720 pixels) resolution and is capable of emitting 550 nits. The device is powered by a dual core Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon processor clocked at 1.5 GHz, which is complemented by an Adreno 225 graphics processing unit and 2GB of RAM. Furthermore, the Optimus LTE II embeds 16GB of internal memory, which can be expanded up to 32GB via microSD card. Another strong point of the smartphone is the high-capacity 2,150 mAh Li-Ion battery, which is rated by the manufacturer for up to 250 hours of standby time or up to 10 hours of talk time. LG also confirmed the Optimus LTE II runs Google's Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system with the new Optimus UI 3.0 on top. The latter offers users a slew of convenient features such as face recognition unlocking, widget size control and easy-to-organize folder management. It is also worth mentioning the smartphone comes with support for wireless charging, which means it can be recharged by placing it on a wireless battery charging pad. “The Optimus LTE II is the most powerful smartphone technology currently available in Korea. With a faster LTE network, the barrier for downloading and running very large applications is no longer a significant one for many customers, which is why LG saw a need for more RAM on high- end smartphones,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company.

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Android 4.0 ICS for Motorola XOOM Wi-Fi Now Available in Canada - MobilEgypt

Canadian owners of XOOM Wi-Fi rejoice as Motorola has just announced the long awaited Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update is now available for download. Ice Cream Sandwich for Motorola XOOM with Wi-Fi has been available for quite a while but only in the United States. Today, Motorola did the unthinkable and released the update in Canada as well. However, the US-based handset maker still has lots of devices to update in the following months, and the only one that received its promised upgrade is the XOOM Wi-Fi. According to Motorola, the major update is pushed OTA (over the air), in waves, so XOOM Wi-Fi owners should wait to be notified on the update. Obviously, it’s recommended to back up all personal data stored on the tablet prior to upgrading to Ice Cream Sandwich. Also, make sure the slate’s battery is at least 50% charged and the Wi-Fi connection is stable. Once the update process is completes successfully, users will notice the updated browser with faster rendering, zoom and pan. In addition, user will now be able to save pages for offline reading and request desktop versions of websites. The application drawer has been redesigned In All Apps launcher, so users can now simply drag an app to get information about it, or immediately uninstall it. It is also possible to disable a pre-installed app. There’s also a new system font for improved readability and a new typeface, dubbed Roboto, which is specially optimized for high resolution screens. The Gallery application has been completely redesigned too, and now features a photo editor, allowing users to crop and rotate pictures, set levels, remove red eyes, or add effects. Motorola has just announced the availability of the update, so we’re still waiting for users’ feedback. Hopefully, it will not be plagued by issues. More details on the benefits of the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich for Motorola XOOM Wi-Fi can be found here.

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Motorola ATRIX 2 Goes on Sale in Saudi Arabia - MobilEgypt

The mid-range Motorola ATRIX 2 Android smartphone has finally reached Saudi Arabia. The device can now be purchased via selected leading mobile phone retailers across the country. No word on the price tag, though given the fact that no carrier picked the ATRIX 2, we can safely assume it won’t be subsidized. As expected, the ATRIX 2 will be delivered with Android 2.3 Gingerbread platform on board. The bad news is that Motorola has yet to officially confirm whether or not the ATRIX 2 will receive an Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade in the future. Anyway, Motorola is sweetening the deal by including several free EA games with the ATRIX 2 smartphone. No less than ten EA titles will be available for the ATRIX 2, including Need for Speed Hot Pursuit, Need for Speed Shift, Dead Space, EA SPORTS FIFA 10, THE GAME OF LIFE, MONOPOLY, The Sims 3, Tetris, Worms and Bejeweled 2. Aside from that, the ATRIX 2 can be considered a mid–range Android phone, even if it comes equipped with a dual-core processor clocked at 1 GHz. Moreover, the smartphone packs 1 GB of RAM and 4GB of internal memory, which can be further expanded up to 32GB via microSD card. Keep in mind that the smartphone will be shipped with an 8GB free memory card in the sales package. In addition, the ATRIX 2 sports a vibrant 4.3 inch qHD capacitive touchscreen display that supports 540 x 960 pixels resolution, and features Corning Gorilla Glass coating. “Smartphone users in Saudi Arabia crave power, versatility and style. Motorola ATRIX 2 is ready to emphatically deliver on all fronts - a world-class device for work and play with incredible, entertaining content from EA Games that puts your down- time to the test ,” said Raed Hafez, managing director for Motorola Mobility, Middle East & Africa.

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Huawei Ascend D1 Spotted at FCC with Dual- Core CPU and (HSPA+) - MobilEgypt

Unveiled a few days ahead of Mobile World Congress 2012 trade fair, Huawei Ascend D1 has yet to make its entrance on the market. While most handset manufacturers already launched their device announced back in February, Huawei is still struggling to debut its Diamond family of smartphones. According to the latest hearsay, the Chinese company plans to release all three Diamond smartphones this summer, though we don’t have any official launch dates yet. However, at least one of them will soon hit shelves in the United States, the Huawei Ascend D1. The guys over at Engadget have just spotted the handset at FCC (Federal Communication Commission) with pentaband HSPA+. Unfortunately, we’re not sure which carrier will offer the Ascend D1 , but the filed documents indicate that the unlocked models will work on T- Mobile and AT&T’s airwaves. Even though we don’t have a release date for the Ascend D1, Huawei mentioned a few weeks ago that it would launch the smartphone in Q2, so we can safely assume the device will hit shelves by the end of June. Huawei Ascend D1 will be shipped with the latest version of Ice Cream Sandwich operating system on board and will be packed with a dual-core 1.5 GHz TI OMAP 4460 processor. In addition, the device sports an impressive 4.5-inch IPS+ LCD capacitive touchscreen display that supports HD (720 x 1280 pixels) resolution and 16 million colors. On the back, Ascend D1 boasts an 8- megapixel photo snapper with autofocus, dual-LED flash and full HD (1080p) video recording, while in the front there’s a 1.3-megapixel secondary camera for video calls. Aside from HSPA+ support, the smartphone offers users Wi-Fi and DLNA, as well as Bluetooth 3.0 and microUSB 2.0 (MHL). It also come packed with Dolby Mobile 3.0 Plus sound enhancement and active noise cancellation with dedicated mic.

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LG Optimus 4X HD Lands in Five European Countries Next Month - MobilEgypt

LG Optimus 4X HD, the first quad- core smartphone from the South Korean mobile phone maker, is expected to make an official appearance on shelves in some European countries as soon as next month. The handset vendor has just announced that it planned on making the smartphone available in Germany, Sweden, the UK, Italy and Poland in June, but it did not offer a specific release date for it. Soon after, however, the new mobile phone will be pushed to other countries around the world, in regions such as Asia, CIS, and South America, LG announced. LG’s Optimus 4X HD went official in February this year at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, along with a handful of other LG smartphones. Powered by Google’s Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system, the smartphone also comes with a variety of apps and services from LG, such as "Media Flex," with features that include fingertip search, live zoom, Video Speed Control, and thumbnail play list. With a Tegra 3 1.5GHz quad-core application processor inside, the LG Optimus 4X HD promises a great mobile experience to all fans. Moreover, the handset features a 4.7- inch 720p HD IPS LCD touchscreen display (1280 x 720 pixels resolution), packs 1GB LP DDR2 memory and 16GB of internal storage. On the back, the smartphone features an 8-megapixel photo snapper, capable of recording videos in full HD resolution, complemented by a 1.3- megapixel front camera, great for making video calls. LG Optimus 4X HD packs a 2,150 mAh battery inside (which can deliver extended usage times due to an included Eco-Mode), and sports connectivity capabilities such as MHL, DLNA, WiFi, Bluetooth, support for 3G, and the like. Overall, LG promises twice the performance levels of dual-core devices with its new LG Optimus 4X HD, as well as a much better entertainment experience and great internet browsing capabilities.

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HTC Desire C to Land at Vodafone Soon - MobilEgypt

Taiwanese mobile phone maker HTC Corporation is gearing up for the release of a new handset in its Desire lineup, namely the HTC Desire C, which made an appearance online only recently. Apparently, the smartphone is bound to arrive on shelves at Vodafone in the near future; at least this is what newly leaked documents unveiled. Vodafone Portugal has almost confirmed the phone’s near arrival by including it in its May catalog before an official announcement was made. A leaked press shot is also available for HTC enthusiasts out there to make a better idea of what the upcoming smartphone would look like when released. HTC Desire C will bring to the market a load of low-end hardware specifications, which will most probably deliver a similar level of performance. According to the leaked specs on this smartphone, HTC has packed it with a 3.5-inch touchscreen display that can deliver a 320 x 480-pixel resolution. Moreover, the device is powered by a 600MHz application processor, though it is still capable of offering support for 3.5G (which could mean HSDPA, in fact). HTC Desire C will hit shelves with 4GB of internal memory, most probably complemented by a microSD memory card slot with support for additional storage space. It is also said to feature a 5-megapixel photo snapper on the back, with video recording and all, but no mention of a front camera is made. However, we should expect the low- end smartphone to run under the latest version of Google’s mobile operating system, namely Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The HTC Desire C should offer extended usage time, courtesy of its 1230 mAh battery. According to GSMArena , which brought all these details to light, the smartphone is expected to feature a price tag of under €200 when released (less than $260). The phone might become official soon, so stay tuned to learn more on it.

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HTC Thunderbolt Gets New Non Ice Cream Sandwich Update - MobilEgypt

Since HTC announced it will upgrade Verizon's Thunderbolt to Ice Cream Sandwich at some point, every update that is not the hotly anticipated Android 4.0 matters less and less for those who are anxiously waiting for the important update. Dubbed software version 2.11.605.19 710RD , the update is pushed OTA (over the air) as of right now, though the official changelog still appears as “Coming Soon” at Verizon. Keep in mind that this update leaked last month in the form of a RUU file, so those who already flashed it won't need to do it again. Hopefully, this will be the last maintenance update before Verizon and HTC decided to start pushing the long awaited Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update for HTC Thunderbolt. Although HTC Thunderbolt was initially launched last year with Android 2.2 Froyo out of the box, the smartphone already received a Gingerbread upgrade and is now expected to get another major update that will bring its firmware to Ice Cream Sandwich. All in all, the latest software update is around 61MB in size and it will take around 15-20 minutes to download it. An additional 10-20 minutes will be required for the update to install. Once the update is installed, it will be enabled with the Wireless Alerting System and it will support Cisco Any, which improves the VPN functionality of the smartphone. According to HTC, the latest update will also improve data connectivity, as well as device stability, which will translate into fewer device resets. More improvements have been added to the default mail application, which will allow Yahoo! Mail accounts to receive messages properly. It is also worth mentioning Thunderbolt devices won't be plagued by some bugs that previously affected users' overall experience, as HTC provided some fixes for these issues. For example, the update resolves all issues with Mobile Hotspot connectivity. In addition, all incoming calls now display the correct state, when applicable.

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Samsung GALAXY S III Headed to Mobilicity - MobilEgypt

Samsung has confirmed Mobilicity is among the Canadian carriers that will offer the Galaxy S III this summer. Although the South Korean company has yet to announce the complete schedule for the Galaxy S III launch in Canada, rumor has it that the device might arrive as early as June. Europeans will be able to purchase the Galaxy S III beginning May 30, but the North American variant will be released a bit later and most likely with a different specs sheet. Given the fact that the Exynos 4212 Quad chipset that powers the recently announced Galaxy S III does not feature LTE support, which is mandatory for the US smartphone market, Samsung is forced to replace it with another chipset that offers this feature. According to the latest hearsay, the Galaxy S III will arrive in the US with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 chipset that features LTE technology. However, it appears that at least one Canadian carrier won’t be coming with the said chipset manufactured by Qualcomm. As we reported yesterday, Rogers Galaxy S III will pack LTE support and Samsung’s “new Exynos processor,” a Google ad claims. There’s no telling whether this is a mistake or Samsung is indeed on its own all-in-one solution for the Galaxy S III. While Mobilicity confirmed it would add the Samsung Galaxy S III to its portfolio of Android devices, the carrier did not disclose any details regarding the phone’s availability or pricing. No other information on the model specifications has been announced for the moment, but more details might leak in the following weeks. Stay tuned for more updates on the matter. “Mobilicity is excited to be working with Samsung on the Canadian launch of the Galaxy S III smartphone. It’s a state-of-art device that’s sure to take user performance to smart new heights, made affordable on our unlimited talk, text and data network ,” said Stewart Lyons, president and chief operating officer.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1) Now Up for Pre-Order for $400 USD (305 EUR) - MobilEgypt

Shortly after Samsung introduced the Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) onto the market, the South Korean company decided to come forward with a much larger tablet, the Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1). Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1) is currently available for pre-order online for $399.99 USD (305 EUR) at Office Depot. According to the retailer, the slate will be available for immediate purchase online and at its retail locations across the country beginning May 13. It is also worth mentioning all pre-sale orders placed online will ship on May 11, via free next business day delivery in most locations. “On the heels of the GALAXY Tab 2 7” launch, we are pleased to now offer two choices of one of the most sought-after tablets on the market ,” said Randy Wick, Chief Technology Buyer for Office Depot. Although the tablet is powered by Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system, there way to few things that differentiate it from its Galaxy Tab 10.1 predecessor, which was launched on the market back in June. Unfortunately, previous rumors didn't pan out and Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1) comes equipped with a dual-core processor clocked at 1GHz, instead of a much better quad-core CPU. However, the new Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1) embeds a TI OMAP 4430 processor and a PowerVR SGX540 GPU, while the older Galaxy Tab 10.1 packs an Nvidia Tegra 2 T20, which is complemented by an ULP GeForce graphics processing unit. The rest of the features are almost similar, including the large 10.1-inch PLS TFT capacitive touchscreen display that supports 800 x 1280 pixels resolution, and features Corning Gorilla Glass coating. The slate comes with 16GB of internal memory, 1GB of RAM and microSD card slot for memory expansion (up to32GB). There's also a 3-megapixel rear camera with autofocus and LED flash, as well as a secondary VGA camera in the front.

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