We’ve always had our listings set up in handy categories, so you can search by carrier, manufacturer or even the processor manufacturer. And our Device Finder, which allows you to find specific phones or tablets with multiple variables, is unchanged. The big new feature is the Compare Devices function. It shows you our complete listing of information and specifications for up to six phones and six tablets at one time. So if you’re torn between, say, the HTC Rezound, HTC DROID Incredible 4G LTE and the Galaxy Nexus for your next Verizon phone, just click the little green “+” mark under each phone, then click “compare devices” on the right-hand side.

Check out the short instructional video (go full-screen and set it to 720p to see all the details):

We strive to keep a comprehensive and accurate database of Android phones available, so we don’t add new devices until we can verify the essential specifications. We also keep separate entries for models of the same phone and tablet that have important differences, like the international, AT&T and T-Mobile versions of the Galaxy S II. We hope you enjoy the updates and find them useful. You can reach Device.ac at any time by clicking the “DEVICES” link on the main navigation bar.

In other hardware news, AT&T’s version of the HTC One X launched today, though some lucky customers got their phones early. Bell Canada is getting the little brother HTC One S, and everyone can get a sweet kickstand case for it soon. LG and Pantech both introduced new models to compete with Samsung’s new flagship: the Optimus LTE 2 and Racer Vega 2, respectively. The 13-inch Toshiba Excite 13 was spotted at the FCC, and T-Mobile customers can get the budget-priced Prism 3G by Huawei starting today. Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 went up for pre-order at a reasonable $399.

On the software side of things, Samsung scheduled updates for all of its high-end Galaxy smartphones and tablets in Canada. Ice Cream Sandwich updates leaked for the HTC EVO 3D and Rezound (again), and T-Mobile promised an update for the Sensation 4G – without giving a date. Motorola’s Cliq 2 got an official update… to Gingerbread. Whoopie. The Galaxy Note version of CyanogenMod 9 got a boost from S-Pen support, and the Android Open Kang Project reached milestone 5. Swiftkey, Adobe Flash and AirDroid all received major updates. EA tried to shut down the paid mobile version of Rock Band, then quickly rescinded.

In more general news, Google added carrier billing to the Google Play Store for all US providers… except Verizon. Samsung’s on top of the world after beating Apple in smartphone sales, and Motorola, well, isn’t. LG has planned a competitor to Google Drive and similar services, and Runkeeper announced it would be the first app on the Pebble Smart Watch. Android’s distribution numbers for April came out, revealing a still-disappointing 4.9% Ice Cream Sandwich penetration.

Here on Android Community, you’ll want to check out our review of the phone that’s now going head to head with the Samsung Galaxy S III for top dog of the US Android field: AT&T’s HTC One X. We’ve also got an in-depth look at Google’s return to retail with the unlocked Galaxy Nexus on the Google Play Store. Until tomorrow, stay in school, don’t do drugs and always make a Nandroid backup.

One of the most interesting bits of hardware news came right away on Monday, when Toshiba announced brand new 7.7, 10 and 13-inch (!) tablets in their Excite line. All three Tegra 3 ICS machines should be out by the summer. HTC had some rather humdrum announcements for new Desire phones in China, and leaks are beginning to show off the low-end HTC Golf and Verizon’s HTC Incredible 4G. Those waiting for the One S on T-Mobile won’t have to wait too much longer: a launch party and dummy units make the rumored April 25th date seem likely.

As usual there’s a lot of movement in the Samsung camp: the Galaxy Tab 2 10-inch gets an official price of just $399 for the 8GB version, and rumors indicate that even more 7-inch and 10-inch tablets are coming under the “Espresso” label. Finally, the Galaxy Note 10.1 may not be in its final form just yet. Both Lenovo and Barnes & Noble are showing off new devices, the former with a new IdeaPad 10-inch tablet and the latter with a lighted version of the Nook Simple Touch. LG’s new Optimus L7 is coming  to France this month, with its little brother the Optimus L5 following in May. A pair of smartwatches made splashes, Sony’s Xperia SmartWatch for coming to the US, and the brand-new Pebble e-ink smart watch for getting an incredibly successful Kickstarter campagin. Finally, ASUS’ toned down Transformer Pad 300 will be here in the US by the end of the month.

The biggest industry news was Facebook buying the photography app Instagram for an incredible one billion dollars. There were rumors of Google trying to sell Motorola’s hardware division to Chinese handset manufacturer Huawei, not to mention some interesting statements on low-cost tablets during their quarterly earnings call. Nearsighted folks like yours truly will be glad to know that Google’s Project Glass will work with prescription eyeglasses, and we finally found some concrete evidence of the Samsung Galaxy S III’s screen buried in an OLED Association report.

In update news, Motorola’s showing off some Ice Cream Sandwich training videos for the DROID RAZR… but still won’t say when the update is actually coming. At least there’s some progress on a community-created workaround for that pesky locked bootloader. If you’ve got an international HTC One X, you’ll want to check out this easy battery-saving mod. At least one Samsung Galaxy S III has been spotted in the wild, but it’s in disguise. Sony’s started updating their Xperia phones to ICS, as promised, but only in northern Europe so far. Finally, if you’re a Dolphin Browser HD user, you’ll want to check out their latest update to Version 8.0.

Here at Android Community we’ve got lots of fresh content for you. You’ll want to check out our in-depth look at the HTC One V, and a second-hand review of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7-inch version. We’ve also got a review of the latest Samsung PMP, the Galaxy Player 3.6. Galaxy Nexus owners wishing for a little more longevity will definitely want to read our review of Mugen Power’s 3900mAh extended battery. On the software side we’ve got an in-depth review of the new Next Issue magazine subscription service, and a look at the incredibly useful social widget BlingBoard. Finally, we’ve tracked down the five best alternatives to Instagram, for those who aren’t into the hipster scene. As always, stay in school, don’t do drugs and always make a Nandroid backup.

For hardware news, it seems that no, we can’t go a single week without a rumor or leaks for the Galaxy S III. The latest is an “official” Samsung invite for a London event on May 22nd. While this is one of the dates that’s been bandied about, the pictured device is so vague that it’s almost certainly fake. In other Samsung news, AT&T may be getting its own version of the Galaxy Nexus, The Galaxy Note 10.1 has been pushed back to June to get a quad-core Exynos processor, and the Galaxy Tab 2 series will release later this month with Ice Cream Sandwich. Rumors of the ASUS-made Nexus Tablet persist, though the unicorn of Android tablets has been pushed back to July, and the Padfone will get its Taiwanese release on April 20th.

The most exciting news is certainly Google’s official unveiling of Project Glass, the augmented reality project that has been leaking out of Google for months. In addition to a concept video and Google co-founder Sergey Brin modelling Project Glass himself, there’s at least one parody video that you need to check out. Elsewhere in the Android world, Sony says that Google TV will finally come to Europe in September, and the Motorola RAZR MAXX (the international version of the DROID RAZR MAXX) is coming to both Europe and the Middle East. HTC’s CDMA version of the One X will be known as the EVO 4G LTE, and we finally got a peek at the AT&T version of the same phone. Those of you on US Cellular finally have an LTE smartphone option: the Samsung Galaxy S Aviator.

There’s lots of Android update news to report. On AT&T both the Pantech Crossover and the Samsung Infuse 4G (FINALLY) get 2.3 Gingerbread. The CDMA version of the Samsung Nexus S 4G finally gets its update to Android 4.0.4, but the same update for the Galaxy Nexus is causing some reception issues. The leaked update for the DROID RAZR and DROID RAZR MAXX has a surprise in the form of a brand-new version of WebTop. Bluestacks’ major update got a major hack, including support for root access and the Google Play Store. News broke of a free GPS dongle for ASUS Transformer Prime owners, which was later confirmed by ASUS itself.

Instagram for Android was finally released, with over a million downloads in a single night. Not everyone was happy with the Android version, least of all iPhone hipsters who now believe that Instagram has lost its cool factor. If you see one of these people, you have my permission to laugh derisively at them. Modders had some fun this week, with a multi-touch update to the Nook Touch, a leaked version of the Google Play Store, and the long-awaited Build 30 of the Android Open Kang Project, including custom apps in the virtual navigation bar. If you’re a fan of Neon Genesis Evangelion, you must check out Sharp’s customized Evangelion phone, which is sadly only for the Japanese market.

It’s been a big week in the labs at Android Community. If you’ve been considering a new smartphone lately, you’ve got to check out our reviews of the HTC One X and HTC One S. You won’t be disappointed. We’ve also got reviews of Archos’ upgraded 101 G9 Turbo, and Mugen Power’s insane 3900mAh extended battery for the Galaxy Nexus LTE. Ther’es also hands-on looks at the new Ice Cream Sandwich leak for the Galaxy Note and SwiftKey’s new Version 3, as well as a review for Instagram. Until tomorrow: stay in school ,don’t do drugs, and always make a Nandroid backup.

The Ice Cream Sandwich updates continue this week, with releases and/or leaks from several major manufacturers. Google gets the spotlight with the brand new 4.0.4 release of Android, finally hitting the GSM Galaxy Nexus, GSM Nexus S, and XOOM WiFi. The source code was updated as well, so all the custom ROMs that aren’t already updated should get it within the next week or two. On AT&T Samsung’s Galaxy S II phones got some ICS action, with the GSII seeing a leak of the official software and the Galaxy S II Skyrocket (the LTE upgrade) getting the same treatment. If only the Galaxy S could get some love – all Samsung’s committed to is a “Value Pack” of backported features, which is now available in Korea.

Verizon customers were surely glad to hear that the Motorola DROID RAZR, DROID RAZR MAXX and the HTC Rezound would all be updated to Ice Cream Sandwich next week, at least according to a Best Buy leak. That news was confirmed when Moto called for a soak test and later the RAZR software was leaked. Sony made some waves of its own with a beta release for the Xperia Play, followed by a few delays and the news that all Sony ICS updates would come via its desktop client. T-Mobile confirmed, then delayed updates for the HTC Amaze 4G and Sensation 4G, and ASUS updated the Transformer Prime with a minor software tweak that didn’t include face unlock.

As far as new hardware goes, LG finally confirmed the mid-range Lucid for Verizon, and is rumored to release the Optimus 4X HD and others in May. Which, incidentally, is when HTC’s One X may be coming for AT&T, with the HTC One S possibly hitting T-Mobile later this month and the DROID Incredible 4G coming to Verizon… sometime. HTC may also be preparing an iPod competitor with stereo speakers and (YES) a kickstand. Samsung’s Galaxy Beam got a pre-order in the UK, and the mid-range GT-i9300 (which is not, repeat not the Galaxy S III) got a few more details. We saw the first evidence of the DROID Bionic 2 for some reason, Huawei’s MyTouch for T-Mobile got a preview, and Epson’s see-through 3D Android-powered Moverio headset is shipping for way too much money.

On the business side of things, the Wall Street Journal is getting into the Nexus Tablet rumor game and an NVIDIA CEO made some interesting predictions about $200 Tegra 3 tablets. Google Drive got rumored, then leaked.  Samsung celebrated 5 million Galaxy Note sales with the help of a pachyderm named Peter. And ASUS is (mostly) off the hook with that Transformer Prime lawsuit from Hasbro, because no one will confuse and Android tablet with a giant robot.

The modding community got a few boosts this week, with a $110 kit full of OEM parts to turn your DROID RAZR into a DROID RAZR MAXX. the popular MIUI ROM is finally available for the Galaxy Nexus in an official capacity, and CyanogenMod is now supporting the AT&T Galaxy S II with Ice Cream Sandwich nightly releases. Desktop junkies can try the new and improved BlueStacks Android player on Windows PCs. Google’s I/O event registration opened, then immediately sold out, but don’t panic: you can watch it all live.

That’s a fair bit of news, but we all know that only one thing important happened all week: Temple Run. It came out on Tuesday and we got an official hands-on video. A lot of devices weren’t supported right off the bat, but got some community-sponsored ports (don’t worry, it’s a free game). The first three days saw an incredible one million downloads, and the very first update fixed running issues on the DROID RAZR and DROID BIONIC.

Here at Android Community we gave you an extensive review of Tenqa’s affordable over-the-ear REMXD Bluetooth headphones, which come highly recommended at just 40 bones. There’s also a hands-on look at Archos’ new 101 G9 Turbo tablet sporting Ice Cram Sandwich and faster specs, as well as one of the very first looks at the new LG Lucid on Verizon. Reviews for both devices will be coming up next week. Sleep tight, kiddos – stay in school, don’t do drugs, and always make a Nandroid backup.

First, hardware news. Sony’s flagship smartphone the Xperia S is now available “worldwide”, and it’s coming to Canada soon as well. The Xperia S is lacking an Ice Cream Sandwich update, but the Xperia neo L isn’t, and will be Sony’s first ICS phone when it launches in China. Huawei’s quad-core Ascend D Quad will be available in July, though we’re not sure where, and the company’s take on T-Mobile’s MyTouch is coming to America, but we’re not sure when. Acer finally made its Iconia Tab A510 official in the US with ICS and a Tegra 3 processor, and it’s up for pre-sale for just $450. Toshiba showed off a massive 13.3-inch prototype tablet christened the AT330, likewise running ICS and using a Tegra 3 processor. A pair of upcoming Verizon LTE phones showed their faces: the Motorola DROID Fighter (which looks like a bigger, meaner version of the DROID RAZR MAXX) and the LG Lucid, a mid-range phone with no price or date just yet.

The oh-so-elusive Samsung Galaxy Tab 11.6 may have been unintentionally leaked on Sammy’s own website. Non-leaks out of Samsung include the pico-projector-packing Galaxy Beam, due for release in April in international markets, and the Galaxy Tab 10.1, which is now the first LTE device for regional carrier US Cellular. Of course you can’t talk Samsung without mentioning the Galaxy S III. This week the rumor mill churned out a Samsung executive who claimed the GSIII will have a quad-core Exynos processor, another (Chinese) exec who claimed it’d be released in April, a spy shot of a phone identified as the “GT-i9300” (which may or may not be the GSIII) and yet another probably fake render.

On the software side of things, we’ve got the much-anticipated release of Angry Birds Space, the even more anticipated (but sadly protracted) Instagram, now in a pre-release sign-up stage, and the an expansion to Cut The Rope labelled “Experiments”. Check out our hands-on here. More gaming-related news includes the release of classic beat-em-up The King of Fighters, and Gameloft’s intention to make all of its upcoming games both social and infuriating with in-app purchases. If you want to show off your pigs slain, fighter fought or any Android app, try SeeMeGaming – it’s a gaming-oriented screen video capture app. For something a little more useful, you can try Flash Blink to enable alerts via your phone’s LED flash, or the newest version of Google Voice, which integrates voicemail with the stock ICS dialer.

Business marches on, and Google marches fast: its lawyer monkeys have been hard at work securing a creepy eavesdropping/advertising patent. Google Wallet isn’t moving so fast, which is probably why the Big G is thinking about sharing revenue with wireless carriers. In less official news, sources talking to DigiTimes claim that Android 5.0 “Jelly Bean” will be ready in the third quarter. HTC and partner/acquisition Beats Audio have snatched up subscription music service MOG Music. And Samsung showed off the latest features of its Exynos 5 family of processors, with support for USB 3.0 and resolutions up to 2560×1600.

A bevy of Android updates have been issued or planned, most notably AT&T’s HTC Vivid, which is now rocking Ice Cream Sandwich officially. The carrier promptly announced plans to update ten more phones… then LG crashed the party with a Gingerbread update for the Thrill 4G. Samsung was keen to show off the S-Pen in its Galaxy Note ICS update… which has been delayed to the second quarter. Nuts. Those using the Galaxy Nexus can expect an update to Android 4.0.5 soon, and Motorola XOOM owners (WiFi version, at least) may be getting the same. Custom ROM enthusiasts will be happy to know that CyanogenMod 7 (Gingerbread) is now available in a 7.2 release candidate, and some industrious hackers have gotten Ice Cream Sandwich running on Nokia’s MeeGo-powered N9.

Here at Android Community we had the privilege of reviewing new hardware and software. There’s the Good, the Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G on T-Mobile, the Bad, the Sony Tablet P on AT&T, and the Angry… guess which one that is. Those of you looking for a great deal on one of our favorite tablets should head on over to Best Buy, where the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 WiFi is on sale for just $349.99 with a free keyboard dock. Here’s hoping you have a great week ahead of you – stay in school, don’t do drugs, and always make a Nandroid backup.

Here at Android Community, and thanks to NVIDIA we have not one but two of these ultimate bundles to giveaway to a few lucky readers. This is the ASUS Transformer Prime quad-core Tegra 3 tablet, the additional keyboard dock ($149 value) and a Powerbag Messenger tablet carry case with a built-in 6,000 mAh battery — all up for grabs in our giveaway this week. Two lucky readers will get all three of the items mentioned above in our Transformer Prime bundle giveaway.

The rules are simple and once followed you’ll have two chances to win. Once over on Google+, and another on our Facebook page. Plus two more chances from our sister site SlashGear. For all the details, instructions, and full giveaway rules head to the original post for all the info. As a reminder here are the ways to win:

1. “Like” us on Facebook: /AndroidCommunity
- Leave a comment in [this Facebook thread] telling us one or more ways you plan to use the Transformer Prime quad-core tablet, or what Tegra 3 optimized games you can’t wait to play.

2. Circle us on Google+ at: +Android Community
- Leave a comment in [this G+ thread] also telling us one or more ways you plan to use the Transformer Prime and that quad-core Tegra 3 processor. As well as any games you’re dying to play.

- We’ll pick a set of our favorites and select two random winners from that group on March 23rd!

That’s it! That simple and you’ll be entered in our giveaway. Remember to only comment and enter ONCE in either of the threads, and entries left in the comments section of this or any other post other than those specified above will not be recognized.

Get on those thinking caps, say something smart or catchy and hopefully you’ll be one of our lucky winners. Good luck!

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : Transformer Prime

Manufactuer : Asus

Carrier : NA

Announced Date : November 09, 2011

Release Date : December 19, 2011

Also Known As : Transformer 2

Display

• Screen Size : 10.10 Inch
• Resolution : 1280x800
• Screen Type : IPS+

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 10.35 Inch
• Width : 7.12 Inch
• Depth : .33 Inch
• Weight : 586 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Polymer

• Battery Capacity : 6579 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : NA

Software

Android OS:
• 4.0.x

Audio Playback:
• AAC
• AAC+
• MP3
• WMA

Video Playback:
• h.263
• h.264 / AVC
• MPEG-4 (MP4)

Hardware

CPU : Tegra 3

CPU Clock Speed : 1400 Mhz

Core : 4

Ram : 1024 MB

Internal Storage : 64 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution : 8 MP

External Storage:
• MicroSD
• MicroSDHC

Camera Features:
• Auto focus
• Flash
• 1080p Video Recording

Sensors:
• Accelerometer
• Ambient light

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

Device Connectivity

Wi-Fi:
• 802.11b
• 802.11g
• 802.11n

Bluetooth:
• Bluetooth 3.0

Location Features:
• Compass
• GPS
• Wi-Fi location

FM Radio :

NFC :

On Monday the long-awaited Ice Cream Sandwich update for the Galaxy S II began rolling out in South Korea and certain European countries. More territories will be added in the coming days and weeks, though no US carriers have announced a timeframe for their unique models. If you use an international model, you can manually update your phone here. Updates for the Galaxy Tab 10.1, Galaxy Tab 8.9 and the Galaxy Note should follow soon.  HTC’s Vivid (AKA Raider, Velocity Holiday) got a briefly leaked ICS update of its own on AT&T. While the early software was pulled almost immediately, we managed to track it down and get a video hands-on. Fifteen other HTC phones, including the Thunderbolt, Sensation 4G, EVO 3D, EVO Design 4G, Amaze 4G and Rezound, will also be update3d eventually.

As far as new devices go, Archos made an impression by teasing its 10th-generation tablets with a Transformer-style surprise. Check out the G10 teaser video here. If you’re looking for something a little cheaper that’s available now, the G9 tablets are coming to market with ICs pre-installed. Sony showed off its low-end Xperia sola phone with NFC capability, and Samsung is bringing its latest PMP the Galaxy S WiFi 3.6 to the United States. We said goodbye to the Android version of T-Mobile’s long-standing Sidekick series, but it won’t be gone forever.

For pure Google news, the Big G began selling tickets to its highly anticipated Google I/O event, a developer-friendly annual get-together that shows off the latest and greatest in Android software. They also updated the Google Play Store and Google Earth apps with some new features. In less official news, the much-delayed (and maligned) release of Ice Cream Sandwich for the Nexus S is expected soon. Finally, the “Nexus Tablet” or “Google Tablet” may be replacing ASUS’ quad-core MeMO 370T, and is rumored to be a “done deal”.

Big news for users of the popular CyanogenMod family of ROMs: the final version of CyanogenMod 9 (Ice Cream Sandwich) will introduce a more secure and flexible root system that isn’t enabled by default. The CyanogenMod team also released a handy flow chart showing which phones they intend to officially support. Long story short: if your phone has 512MB or less of RAM and isn’t getting an official software update, odds are you won’t be getting the official version of CM9. Sports fans had a busy week on the app scene, as EA released NBA Jam and FIFA ’12 in the Google Play Store and the NCAA posted its own official March Madness app. You can find it, and other useful apps, in our wrap-up post.

Finally, the Galaxy S III rumor mill continues to churn. First we’ve got what appears to be genuine camera samples, followed by a trio of supposed leaks. The first shows a phone very (very, very) similar to the Galaxy S II, with some questionable font and window work in the render. Next comes what looks like a presentation slide, claiming that the phone is due for a May 22 unveiling. This one has the familiar home button we’ve seen on previous Galaxy models. Finally there’s a reported spy shot which shows a stock Ice Cream Sandwich launcher. None of these leaks look anything alike, naturally.

That’s all for the week of the Ides of March, folks. Stay in school, don’t do drugs, and always make a Nandroid backup.

UPDATE: We now have our winners! Tara Berry and Christian Bradley please contact us at giveaway[AT]slashgear.com with your preferred mailing address and phone number – we’ll also be contacting you via Facebook/Google+ to confirm your identities! For those of you not listed here and did enter on [SlashGear] – head over there to see if you’re a lucky winner!

Like mentioned above, this is more than just a tablet giveaway. This is the NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core powered Transformer Prime with the 4-Plus-1 processor for ultimate performance, enhanced gaming, and superior battery life. NVIDIA has been kind enough to partner with us and have included the Transformer Prime Keyboard Dock that also extends battery life an additional 9 hours with its built-in battery, and the PowerBag Tablet Messenger case mentioned above, which features a 6,000 mAh built-in battery giving you another 8-9 hours and will even charge your phone. Once combined you have the ultimate powerhouse tablet that will last for days. With the keyboard you wont have to hunt and peck on-screen either, instead you’ll have that full keyboard for all your productivity needs.

With all the performance from the quad-core processor, and TONS of battery life you’ll be able to enjoy countless hours of NVIDIA Tegra 3 optimized THD games from their own TegraZone.com site that features 20 console quality games for Android Tegra-powered tablets. Enough of that! How can you win your own?

The rules are incredibly simple. Just follow the few guidelines outlined, and check out the full instructions below for the two ways you can win, and you could be the lucky winner of this complete tablet “pack” for the ultimate Android tablet experience. Pretty good deal right? Here’s how to win:

1. “Like” us on Facebook: /AndroidCommunity
- Leave a comment in [this Facebook thread] telling us one or more ways you plan to use the Transformer Prime quad-core tablet, or what Tegra 3 optimized games you can’t wait to play.

2. Circle us on Google+ at: +Android Community
- Leave a comment in [this G+ thread] also telling us one or more ways you plan to use the Transformer Prime and that quad-core Tegra 3 processor. As well as any games you’re dying to play.

- We’ll pick a set of our favorites and select two random winners from that group on March 23rd!

It’s just that simple guys! You may only submit ONCE at each place, and only ONE comment of yours will be eligible to be our random winner out of the best comments. Then we’ll choose the lucky winners and he/she will be enjoying that Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, HD screen, blazing fast graphics and gaming performance with the Tegra 3, and all the battery power you’ll ever need. For two more chances to win check out the the similar giveaway on our sister site SlashGear right here.

Here are the full rules:

Rules

Giveaway begins March 16th, 12:01AM PST, and ends Friday March 23rd, 12:01AM PST barring any complications finding the winners. Both winner will be announced here in the main news feed and at our official Facebook/Google+ pages.

Competition is open to residents of the US only, over the age of 18. One entry per person. Family members of NVIDIA and SlashGear/Android Community are not permitted to enter. Competition entries are only accepted via the specified Android Community Facebook and G+ page; entries left in the comments section of this or any other post will not be recognized.

The winner will be contacted by an AndroidCommunity/SlashGear staff member upon being selected and will be expected to respond to that staff member; they will be expected to respond within 24 hours else their prize may be forfeit and another winner selected. Editors decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Winners agree that their name and details of their entry may be used for promotional purposes by, but not limited to Android Community, SlashGear, and NVIDIA.

Prize consists of a bundle including one ASUS Transformer Prime Amethyst Grey 32GB tablet, one Transformer Prime mobile keyboard dock, and one Powerbag Messenger bag. There is no other alternative for prize winner unless this prize should become unavailable, in which case Android Community reserves the right to substitute another prize of equal or greater value. Any questions can be directed to giveaway[AT]slashgear.com.

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : Transformer Prime

Manufactuer : Asus

Carrier : NA

Announced Date : November 09, 2011

Release Date : December 19, 2011

Also Known As : Transformer 2

Display

• Screen Size : 10.10 Inch
• Resolution : 1280x800
• Screen Type : IPS+

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 10.35 Inch
• Width : 7.12 Inch
• Depth : .33 Inch
• Weight : 586 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Polymer

• Battery Capacity : 6579 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : NA

Software

Android OS:
• 4.0.x

Audio Playback:
• AAC
• AAC+
• MP3
• WMA

Video Playback:
• h.263
• h.264 / AVC
• MPEG-4 (MP4)

Hardware

CPU : Tegra 3

CPU Clock Speed : 1400 Mhz

Core : 4

Ram : 1024 MB

Internal Storage : 64 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution : 8 MP

External Storage:
• MicroSD
• MicroSDHC

Camera Features:
• Auto focus
• Flash
• 1080p Video Recording

Sensors:
• Accelerometer
• Ambient light

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

Device Connectivity

Wi-Fi:
• 802.11b
• 802.11g
• 802.11n

Bluetooth:
• Bluetooth 3.0

Location Features:
• Compass
• GPS
• Wi-Fi location

FM Radio :

NFC :

HTC will make a splash…

HTC didn’t have a good second half of 2011. They’ve admitted as much themselves, and have committed to a new direction in 2012 to win back both customers and shareholders. Their strategy centers around releasing fewer devices in a “hero” configuration, and that’ll start at their pre-MWC press conference on February 26th. The HTC One X (AKA Edge/Endeavor) will be their flagship for the first half of the year, with the One V (Ville) being a workhorse model similar to the Sensation.

…and Samsung won’t

As much as HTC is betting on MWC, their biggest competitor doesn’t seem to think it’s worth their time. Oh, Samsung will be in attendance, but they’ve stated flat out that the Galaxy S III won’t (the Galaxy S II was unveiled at the conference last year) and they won’t even be putting on the obligatory press conference. Instead, they’re saving the big iron for their own events sometime later in the year, starting with a French event in March – which still isn’t going to have the GSIII. Expect a small showing from Samsung: if any new phones or tablets are shown, they’ll be small and mostly unimportant updates to existing models. OF course, there’s always that rumored Galaxy Note 10.1…

Motorola continues to stagnate 

With the exception of the Motorola DROID RAZR (and in some respects the DROID RAZR MAXX) Motorola hasn’t shown much game-changing hardware since the original XOOM. And with a continuing policy of locked bootloaders on some carriers, not to mention software upgrades that seem to be falling further and further behind, they’re not making any friends in the Android enthusiast community. All this from a company that will shortly be wholly owned by Google itself. We haven’t heard of any big MWC Moto announcements, so you can expect this sad trend to continue into the second quarter.

7-inch tablets are all the rage

A certain American company is expected to reverse its thinking on the 7-inch form factor in the next few months, and that’s leading to increased excitement from manufacturers elsewhere in the market. 7-inch tablets are big anyway, thanks to the Nook and Kindle lines, but with models like Asus’ MeMO 370T, manufacturers are starting to cram top-tier components into the “reader” space. Samsung already has the Galaxy Tab 7.7, so expect Acer, Motorola, Lenovo and/or Sony to announce more powerful models in the traditionally budget space.

Nvidia comes into its own

Best known for high-powered desktop graphics cards, Nvidia has doubled down on the mobile market, and it’s worked out well for them so far. They’ve become a solid SoC provider partnering with some of the biggest names in the industry. But with the release of the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime packing the Tegra 3, they partnered for promotion as well as hardware, and you can expect that trend to continue. They’ve got their own press conference at MWC, and may even be introducing brand new hardware at their own conference/booth.

Ice Cream Sandwich finally hits its stride…

ICS was released as open-source code back in November, and a surprising number of companies have already begun to update their products, or at least have started development. The combination of next-gen features and a combined development platform for tablets and smartphones is hard to resist. Asus quickly bumped the Transformer Prime up, followed by Huawei’s Honor and some of Acer’s Iconia tablets. Pretty much every major Android device announced at MWC will be running Android 4.0, and those that aren’t will be getting an upgrade commitment.

…but can’t shake manufacturer UI skins

Manufacturer skins (along with carrier additions and delays) are the bane of the Android world, and they aren’t going anywhere fast. Despite Google’s attempts to consolidate the Android user interface and subtly force manufacturers to take it easy, we’ve seen Android 4.0 updates to both HTC’s SenseUI and Samsung’s TouchWiz even before the devices are officially announced. It’s a cryin’ shame that manufacturers can’t seem to differentiate enough on hardware, and still feel the need to modify Android’s software with (mostly) useless layers, but it’s unlikely to change this year, if ever.

Everyone’s terrified of iPad 3

Let’s not beat around the bush here: the iPad rules the tablet market, even as the iPhone is falling to Android’s advances on the smartphone side of the market. Android tablets are making inroads: 40% of sales in Q4 2011, for example. But it’s an unfortunate truth that the patent litigation machine known as Apple (they make hardware sometimes, too) is everyone’s target for the time being. The iPad 3 is expected to be announced in early March, and it’ll be first and foremost in the minds of manufacturers, investors, and press… with the notable exception of the humble site you’re reading at the moment.

Mobile World Congress begins on February 27th and runs through March 1st, with pre-show events beginning on Sunday, February 26th. For our North American readers, remember that Barcelona is six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time and ten hours ahead of Pacific – there’s going to be lots of hardware unveiled in the wee hours of the morning, by your clocks. Check out our Mobile World Congress 2012 portal for all the latest updates.

Android King Kong doodle above comes from Dion Biggs.

Over the next week or so, we’ll be offering a few of these units (10) to our readers and in return ask that you submit your thoughts or micro app ideas to one of our social network sites. For the first round we’ll be using Google+ so hopefully you’ve joined. If not then you probably should, then follow and circle +Android Community. Don’t worry Facebook fans, because our sister site SlashGear is joining us for the fun. You can enter their contest on Facebook here. Don’t forget to check out the WIMM full review. If you’ve been eying the WIMM One platform, or would like to give it a try we are your direct source.

For this first week’s round, we simply ask that you do the following:

1. Follow and circle our Google+ page at: +Android Community
2. Leave a comment in [this thread] on G+ with your idea for a Micro App that would work great with WIMM in the future.
3. We’ll pick a set of our favorites and select a random winner every 24 hours starting on the 15th of February!

It’s just that simple ladies and gentleman! You can submit only ONCE per giveaway so make sure to put your best ONE idea out there. It will then be adding to the random drawing along with the other top ideas or applications we’ve chosen as a team. Put on those thinking caps and give us some ideas!

In addition, the WIMM One App Store will be going live the week of February 20th with a selection of new Micro Applications from their developer community. Development tools (SDK) are available to registered WIMM developers. Sign up here.

Here’s the full rules as well, if you’re wondering about all the legalities and what not:

Giveaway begins February 14th, 12:01AM PST, and ends February 24th, 12:01AM PST barring any complications finding winners. A winner will be announced every 24 hours here in the main news feed and at our official Google+ and Facebook pages.

WINNERS will be given the opportunity to submit a review of their WIMM One unit and have it posted on the front page of SlashGear or AndroidCommunity.com! *Reviews may be edited or modified before publication and are considered works for hire under the 1976 Copyright Act. Submissions will be ineligible for payment or remuneration.

The giveaway is open to residents of the US over the age of 18. One entry per giveaway per person. Family members of Google and SlashGear/Android Community are not permitted to enter. Competition entries are only accepted via the specified Android Community Google+ page; entries left in the comments section of this or any other post will not be recognized.

The winners will be contacted by a SlashGear or Android Community staff member upon being selected and will be expected to respond to that staff member; they will be expected to respond within 24 hours else their prize may be forfeit and another winner selected. Editors decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Winner agrees that their name and details of their entry may be used for promotional purposes by, but not limited to, WIMM, SlashGear, and Android Community.

Prize consists of one WIMM One developer unit to be announced at the start of each 24 hour giveaway period. One prize per winner. 10 total winners. There is no cash alternative or any other alternative for prize winners unless this prize should become unavailable, in which case SlashGear and WIMM reserve the right to substitute another prize of equal or greater value.

Giveaway provided by SlashGear/Android Community. Prizes provided by WIMM. Any questions regarding this giveaway should be directed to Giveaway[at]SlashGear.com

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : One

Manufactuer : WIMM

Carrier : NA

Announced Date : August 02, 2011

Release Date : TBA

Also Known As :

Display

• Screen Size : 1.4 Inch
• Resolution :
• Screen Type : NA

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 1.42 Inch
• Width : 1.25 Inch
• Depth : .49 Inch
• Weight : 22 Grams

Battery & Power

• Battery Capacity : mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : NA

Software

Hardware

CPU :

CPU Clock Speed : 667MHz Mhz

Core : 1

Ram : NA

Internal Storage : 2 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution : NA

Sensors:
• Accelerometer

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

Device Connectivity

Wi-Fi:
• 802.11b
• 802.11g
• 802.11n

Bluetooth:
• Bluetooth 3.0

Location Features:
• GPS

FM Radio :

NFC :

WINNERS LIST:

1. Allistair Lee

“As I am a frequent traveler, I have been using Google Maps on my Android phone to navigate around all the time. Taking my 4.5″ phone out and putting it back into my pocket all the time can sometimes be a hassle, especially when I am carrying my luggage. With this, I see many possibilities. Instead of having to check my phone regularly, I can now pair the WIMM One with my phone and navigate around with only WIMM One. I can even expand it even more, with a touch of a menu, I can have all the nearest POI shown on my WIMM One.”

2. Tommy Thompson

“Since a lot of the Smart watches have the ability to get text notifications I think it would be cool if you could setup quick responses, choose one on the watch and have it send it from the phone. Instead of having to pull out your phone for every single reply. Also have the app be a part of the phone so you can edit the quick responses to say what you want them to say.”

3. Micah Madru

“An emergency information app. Incase you ever get into to trouble, like you’re knocked unconscious and bleeding, this app will have all the most vital information that would be accessible. Who to call if it’s an emergency, your blood type, what health procedures you’ve had and so on.”

4. Chad Peiper

A micro app I have been developing on the emulator for the last month is an app called MindfulWatch.
This app is for persons with ADHD and other behavioral-related issues. MindfulWatch has two modes of interaction:
Training Mode and Reminder Mode.

In training mode a user selects one self help message and is alerted at a fixed interval throughout the
day to, for example, the message Relax might be scheduled every 15 minutes within a time span (e.g. 9:00am – 4:00pm)

1) The user selects a a relevant phrase {list of 15 items} and the ability to create a custom phrase
2) The user selects a fixed interval in minutes/hour for the message alert (1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60 minutes)
3) The user selects a start and end time (e.g. 6:00am to 5:00pm)

A training alert (vibration) will last 10 seconds and will automatically repeat again in 20 seconds.

In Reminder Mode a user can create up to 10 reminders a day. These alerts remind you to do specific tasks
throughout the day at pre-specified times. These alerts occur daily.

5. Matthew Gasbarre

How about some clocks? I mean the ones that are already on there are nice, but I’m thinking that they could be more. Using a client on a computer a user could customize their clock with an UI, picking from a variety of watch faces, hands, numbers and the like they could make a watch to their liking. This could also be done for a Digital face, allowing for color change, position, and sizing. Same for a binary style, and possibly even some watch faces inspired by the famous TokyoFlash line. Things like weather and Inbox micro-widgets could be placed on the face allowing for even more customization. And once the user is done using the UI to build it they can sync it over Wi-fi like the rest of the settings. I think it’d be really awesome if users could also use custom background images, I’m sure this device needs more cats on it.

6. Edward Ferguson

I would love to see a kid tracker GPS feature with a call mom and dad panic button.

7. Michael Olson

This would work well as a wrist-born multimedia controller. You could use it to control your favorite music app when your phone is docked or in your pocket/purse, manipulate a movie when your tablet is propped up for watching or docked to a TV, or as a wireless control for Google TV.

8. Harry Levene

The ability to use the wimm as a viewfinder for the camera on your phone for when your holding out the phone catch an angle you can’t see or when you are taking photos of yourself..

9. Jens Neubauer

A museum guide. A multi-language, location-aware app that can tell you in-depth information on the the exhibit you are currently viewing. Audio can be added via a bluetooth headset.

Ideally, this should work without the need for a phone, so the WIMM devices can be rented out to visitors for the duration of their stay. Since GPS will not be available in this setup and would probably not work indoors anyway, I’m thinking something like Bluetooth beacons for determining location.

10. Sarvesvara Dasa

Find my car: We can store the GPS co-ordinate when the car is parked (of course on a outdoor environment). The,the device can show the car’s position in direction wise – where is my car? This can show distance from car, time of parking, direction,elevation etc. If GPS in WIMM doesn’t work, can use GPS of the device.

NOTE winners should contact Giveaway[at]SlashGear.com with their contact information including preferred shipping address, phone number, and email so that we can send you your WIMM One developer preview kit! We’ve had lots of great ideas submitted already – don’t think that just because our first few winners have been selected that you’re not still in the running if you’ve already submitted!

Thank you to everyone that has submitted so far, we’ll have more winners listed soon so stay tuned!

As far as hardware goes, an encouraging number of new devices were spotted this week. The biggest (metaphorically speaking, of course) is probably LG’s X3, the likely codename for their new flagship. The rumored phone runs Ice Cream Sandwich on a 4.3-inch 720p screen. It’s very likely that we’ll be seeing more of that phone next month at Mobile World Congress. Tablet dreamers Notion Ink unveiled the second iteration of their Adam tablet, this time with upgrades in hardware and more developer tools. WiFi versions of the Motorola DROID XYBOARD are up for pre-order, and those who fancy more variety in their LTE smartphones will be happy to know that the LG Connect 4G has passed through the FCC with Verizon radio bands. While we’re certain that the much-anticipated Samsung Galaxy Note is coming to AT&T in the near future, industry rumor indicates that it will be coming to at least two more US carriers, and that the Verizon version will likely be renamed the “Galaxy Journal.” Finally, you won’t want to miss our review of ThinkSound’s ms01 Monitor Series earbuds, a pair of high-quality headphones with unique wood construction and environmentally-friendly materials.

On the software side of Android, the biggest release this week was probably Wikipedia’s official Android app, which can now be downloaded for free in the Market. Shooter favorite Counter-Strike is now available in beta form, and high-profile games Temple Run and Reckless Racing 2 will soon be headed to the Android Market as well. In more wide-reaching news, popular Android modder/developer Koush has begun work on a CyanogenMod App Store, which he says will welcome all the legitimate apps that have been given the boot from the Market by Google, including tethering, emulator and root apps. We can’t wait to see what comes of this one, especially since it will be open to non-CyanogenMod users as well.

In more general Android news, the original Motorola XOOM got an official Ice Cream Sandwich update, while the HP TouchPad got an extremely unofficial one, courtesy of the CyanogenMod team. Speaking of older hardware, an early version of Samsung’s update for the original Galaxy S was leaked, showing their “Value Pack” of ICS-style features that are intended to mollify users upset that they won’t be getting the real McCoy. Meanwhile, HTC is updating its CDMA phones to get rid of Carrier IQ’s software, which caused both hardware makers and carriers a PR nightmare late last year. The EVO 4G, Epic 4G, EVO 3D and EVO Design 4G are among the first phones to be corrected. In the ongoing patent wars, Apple slapped Samsung with a request for a ban on 10 devices in Germany and another US lawsuit over the slide-to-unlock feature on the Galaxy Nexus. I guess no one told them that Google made that particular feature.

We hope you’ve had a good weekend, and we’ll return you to your regularly scheduled Android coverage tomorrow morning. Enjoy the NFL playoffs!

I’ll start with our link to our sister site SlashGear — as we’ve got all of our coverage plastered on their front page. For any and all things CES click here. ASUS and NVIDIA had a strong day of announcements and more will be coming shortly. They just announced a new Android 4.0 7″ tablet rocking the Tegra 3 quad-core for only $249. AT&T will be getting a pair of 4G LTE devices from Pantech in the 8″ waterproof Pantech Element and the equally waterproof Pantech Burst Android 2.3 smartphone.

Like we said above Android 4.0 is available via an update for the Prime starting today. The popular shooter Shadowgun that we love here at Androi Community is getting full multi-player support and looks incredible.

Again all of our coverage can be seen at our CES 2012 Portal, and more is available over on SlashGear.

Quad core is the new dual core

The Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime got the ball rolling, but it’s far from the only Tegra 3 device we’ve gotten wind of. Expect both high-end smartphones and tablets to get a dual-core makeover on the floor of CES, with HTC leading the way. Its Edge and Ville smartphones are rumored to come out in March or April, so there’s a good chance we’ll be seeing them or some other variant at the show. Acer and Lenovo are both expected to reveal Tegra 3 tablets, and Samsung is preparing the latest generation of its home-built Exynos processor. This good news isn’t just for the high end: dual-core processors should start trickling down into the mid range for products released this summer and afterwards.

High end tablets…

As stated above, Lenovo, Acer and Samsung are all chomping at the bit to update their high-end tablet products. Acer’s Iconia Tab A700 and Lenovo’s IdeaPad K2 tablets both seem to have 1920×1200 resolutions prepared, and Samsung’s successor to the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is rumored to have an astounding 2560×1600 resolution – as much as most 30-inch monitors. Combine all this with thinner frames, more RAM and in many cases LTE wireless connections, and the current generation of tablets looks like a Model T by comparison. Asus isn’t resting on its laurels: the long overdue Padfone device may show up in its booth.

…and low-end tablets

Basically, just lots and lots of tablets. Android tablet use is finally growing in leaps and bounds, but the biggest market is small, low-cost tablets like the Kindle Fire and Nook Color/Tablet, both of which have sold millions of units.  Android’s strength versus the iPad is in its ability to scale down, not up, and the new magic price for 7-inch tablets is $199. With Ice Cream Sandwich’s source code available, even manufacturers without Google’s blessing can produce a cheap machine with a true tablet interfce. Expect to see a lot of early hardware at CES running ICS, with a release date aiming for summer or fall. Google might even be working on its own low-cost tablet, but don’t expect to see that before Google IO in June.

LTE is here to stay

Three out of four of the major US carriers now have true 4G LTE rollout plans, with Verizon and AT&T leading the way. Now that the infrastructure is present and growing, manufacturers are eager to meet the needs of carriers, who are eager to get customers hooked on data that leaves the old 3G and HSPA+ standards in the dust. With the Motorola DROID RAZR, Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket and Verizon’s Galaxy Nexus, LTE no longer means a phone with the ergonomics of a brick and 4 hours of battery life. With more worldwide markets introducing LTE connections, expect every major phone manufacturer to strut out Android LTE units for just about everybody.

Google TV is back, baby 

We actually just learned this a few hours ago, but Google has signed up a bevvy of new hardware partners for Google TV, including Samsung, Vizio and LG.  LG will definitely be showing of new televisions with the Android-based system built in, and Vizio will be displaying units behind closed doors. The others may have surprises in store, but nothing’s set in stone. With a new ARM-based architecture, there’s a high probability of Google introducing some new partner systems itself. Google TV has had a rocky start, but it looks like Google isn’t ready to give up the fight any time soon.

Accessories galore

Fortune 100 gadget makers and service companies aren’t the only ones at CES. Makers of cases, cables, docks, dongles, extenders and everything else populate their own booths or tables, and with Android dominating the worldwide smartphone market, everyone wants a piece of the action. We’re already seeing increased interest in iPhone-style docks and cases for specific popular models like the Nook and Galaxy Tabs, so expect more model-specific accessories than have ever been available for Android devices before. Mobile startups a la Square should finally begin releasing their products for Android and iOS simultaneously. The Kindle Fire should feature heavily in this area.

Android everywhere

Android runs on phones. It runs on tablets and televisions. Increasingly, it runs on watches, goggles and maybe even glasses. The open-source nature of Android makes it a downright perfect starting point for almost any piece of consumer electronics, increasingly widening its scope with every passing product cycle. A free, complete OS with no restrictions and hundreds of thousands of skilled developers is hard to turn down, so why try? Expect to see anything and everything that needs web, apps, connectivity and expandability to run Android, even if it isn’t obvious. Client computers, TiVo-style set-top boxes, car stereos and navigation systems, even Internet-connected appliances – you name it, and it’s likely that somebody will be powering it with Android. We honestly can’t predict what kind of crazy stuff will appear, and we can’t wait to find out what it is.

Android Community’s CES 2012 coverage starts on Sunday, January 8th, and runs all through next week. Check the CES portal to see all the latest information.

Once I really sat down and starting to think about a few new year resolutions for Android I quickly started getting all sorts of ideas. From saying to leave nicer, more useful comments in the Android Market comment/reviews section, to be friendly in forums and developer sites and help your fellow Android enthusiasts. Although I do agree people need to search, investigate, and read how-to guides before asking silly questions when it comes to modding and hacking Android. Either way — be nicer to our friends and foes in the Android Community.

Battery Life

Battery life: we need bigger, better, with shorter charging times. Obviously the technology has only came so far and there is only so much room in these increasingly thinner phones and tablets. Batteries like the one above plastering 2,430 mAh (wow) in a big noticeable sticker isn’t what I have in mind either. That cheap battery probably is 1000 mAh under that wrapper. I’m talking about real battery improvements — whether that be in general power management with OS, displays, and apps — to bigger and better batteries that wont make our devices larger.

If people can drive 100 miles with a Prius with nothing but battery power then why can’t my Android smartphone last 3 days like my old Nokia candy-bar phone did? Just a thought. That is my first resolution for 2012.

Google Nexus Tablet

Now I wont spend too much time on this Nexus Tablet thing — mainly because we heard it from the big man himself. Google CEO Eric Schmidt said back in December that a Google Nexus Tablet could be here within the next six months. Now this is a very real possibility and something I’ve wanted forever (well, since the Xoom let me down). My only concern is making the design impressive enough for it to blow up, without getting Apple’s slew of lawyers in crazed dash for the courtroom. That is also my next resolution — chill out on the lawsuits everyone! Back to the tablet though, I have a feeling Google is planning a quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 Android 4.1 Ice Cream Sandwich tablet that will hopefully set the tone once again for Android. Who’s with me?

Lawsuits and Carrier IQ

This entire lawsuit and Carrier IQ disaster than has erupted throughout 2011 is actually very irritating. I seriously almost didn’t even want to mention it but I feel it is quite necessary. Between the Apple/Micro$oft vs Google thing to the train wreck many are calling Carrier IQ. These types of things in general need to stop — although I’m almost positive the never will. The countless countless lawsuits thrown around by Apple are starting to get a bit ridiculous, not to mention all their “innovative” patents. And don’t even get me started on Carrier IQ.

Micro$oft needs to focus on Windows Phone 7.whatever and leave Android to do its thing. Attacking every manufacturer in their grasp isn’t going to do any good for anyone or the technology market as a whole — other than make Bill Gates richer.

Now I might have ended that on an angry note so sorry about that. I’m going to keep this sort of short and sweet and leave you guys with those few resolutions although here at Android Community we could think of plenty more. I do love innovation and the increasingly better and faster technology and devices, but could a few manufacturers (I’m looking at you Motorola) slow down on the releases. I know many Bionic owners were angry to see the RAZR appear so soon, and the DROID 3 getting replaced by something awesome isn’t sitting well with D3 buyers either. The rate of speed smartphones are being released and produced is awesome in every way that is for sure. Getting locked into 2-year contracts is almost a crime and something I just don’t see myself doing again. I’ll buy outright and enjoy the best whenever possible — but that is just me.

I’m sure many of our readers have resolutions of their own, plenty probably of which are Android related. Feel free to share any and all resolutions you may have in the comment section below.

Happy New Year!

Give me the bad news first, doctor:

5.  Kyocera Echo

Ambition and risk go hand in hand. Kyocera learned that lesson when they released the Echo, the first Android phone with a dual-screen design. As much as we’d love to double our pleasure and our fun with an extra screen (most of us are dedicated multi-monitor users on the desktop side) the reality turned out to be awkward and at times downright frustrating. The multi-tasking possibilities and custom apps were overshadowed by hardware that simply wasn’t up to the task. There’s no reason that the idea couldn’t work, and we’d love to see another try. By someone else. Anyone else. Preferably a long time from now.

4. T-Mobile Springboard

The Springboard, T-Mobile’s rebranded version of the Huawei MediaPad, is a study in how bad software can ruin great hardware . And it is great – a dual-core processor, 720p screen and HSPA+ connection running Honeycomb on an aluminum-clad 7-inch body makes for one of the most solid tablets in its class. But meddling with the software (we suspect T-Mobile) makes it sluggish, crash-prone, and just plain frustrating to use. The decision to block the video section of the Android Market seems to have had multiple detrimental effects. On more than one occasion, we found Honeycomb apps that just wouldn’t show up, despite the fact that the SpringBoard is running Android 3.2.

3. Motorola DROID BIONIC

Oh, BIONIC, we had such hopes for you. As Motorola’s first Verizon 4G LTE phone, and the first to carry the storied DROID name with LTE, the BIONIC had a lot riding on its shoulders. But a redesign that did nothing for its chunky body, a long-delayed release and multiple recurring bugs soured what was supposed to be a star-studded release. The BIONIC was announced at CES 2011 (almost an entire year ago!) but was delayed until September. Add to that the almost instant buyers remorse that new owners felt after the svelte DROID RAZR was released just a month or so later, and you get what’s easily the worst superphone release of the year.

2. LG G2X

The “T-Mobile G2X by LG”, a rebranded version of the Optimus 2X, looked pretty good when it was first released. A dual-core phone (a big deal early this year) with a big screen and vanilla Android? What’s not to love? A lot, as it turned out – the more we used the G2X, the more we came to loathe it. The problems with extended use went way beyond the minor bugs and foibles you’d expect from a new device. Massive screen bleeding, unexplained reboots accompanied by a maddening BEEP (not a great experience at three in the morning) and a confusing, protracted Gingerbread update makes the G2X one of the most frustrating high-end phones out there.

1. Samsung Dart

We hate the Samsung Dart. If you didn’t get that the first time around, let us reiterate it: we hate the Samsung Dart. The low-power, low-expectation “smart” phone hardware is decent enough, but the one thing we really can’t stand is the tiny 3.14-inch, 320×240 display. It’s so dark and low-resolution that using the phone for more than a few moments at a time is headache-inducing. The build quality is actually okay, but bare-bones software that’s still encumbered by TouchWiz makes for a achingly slow user experience. Appropriately, we’d be completely comfortable hurling the Samsung Dart at the nearest wall.

Now that a year’s worth of ranting is over with and the healing can begin, let’s get it off to a good start. Without further ado, Android Community’s pics for the best phones and tablets of 2011:

5. HTC Sensation 4G

The first of HTC’s dual-core phones is also one of its best, and a great pic for T-Mobile’s network. HTC’s typically awesome build quality is highlighted by some remarkable performance, and though we always prefer clean Android, HTC Sense doesn’t drag down the user experience thanks to high-end internals. Gingerbread was thankfully included at launch, which was far from a sure thing in June. A new 8 megapixel camera beats out the other HTC phone cameras on the market, at least until the Amaze 4G came along. One of the first 4.3-inch QHD screens rounds out an excellent package that should please just about anybody.

4. Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9

The Galaxy Tab series of tablets is solid through and through, but one model stands out: the 8.9-inch version. It keeps all the charm of the original Galaxy Tab 10.1, including a razor thin profile and a 1280×800 screen, but manages to find a size that (to us at least) is the perfect middle ground between size and portability. A Tegra 2 processor and 1GB of RAM make for a snappy Honeycomb experience, even with TouchWiz running on top of it. Sure, it’s not as expandable as other tablets, but the overall performance is excellent. If you want a mobile connection, AT&T’s got an LTE-flavored version… for some extra cash and a 2-year contract.

3. Samsung Galaxy Nexus

You knew this one was coming. The first Ice Cream Sandwich device has earned a spot on this list, because Android 4.0 really is that good. A gigantic Super AMOLED screen and solid aesthetics make the Galaxy Nexus one of the best choices for any user, and pretty much the only one for dedicated Android modders who are eligible for a new phone. So, why isn’t the Gnex higher on this list? Aside from some software-related bugs, the phone that’s supposed to be the standard for Android is only available on Verizon in the US at the moment. That’s a major bummer for anyone who’s happy with their current carrier… or stuck with them for the next two years.

2. Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime

The original Transformer was a great Honeycomb tablet, but the Transformer Prime is nothing short of amazing. Stellar build quality, a fantastic screen and blazing performance thanks to NVIDIA’s quad-core Tegra 3 processor make it the best tablet on the market by far. At $500 it’s a better deal than most of its competitors while beating every one of them in hardware, fit and finish and software performance, and that’s only likely to continue when Asus delivers its promised Ice Cream Sandwich update. And if you’re in the mood to get some work done, you can always attach the external keyboard for some good old-fashioned QWERTY input. Tegra 3 will be popping up in a lot of hardware next year, but for 2011, the Transformer Prime just can’t be beat.

1. Samsung Galaxy S II

The Galaxy S II, in all its variants, isn’t the fastest phone around. It isn’t the thinnest or the biggest, and it doesn’t run the latest software. The international version is almost six months old. But it still stands out as the best all-around Android device available today. Reliable performance, stellar build quality, an amazing Super AMOLED 4.3-inch screen (or 4.52-inch despite its relatively low resolution) and great battery life make it an excellent choice for almost any new buyer, and 16GB of storage and a great 8MP camera round out the package. The GSII is available on three out of the four major US carriers, plus an unlocked version, and AT&T has the excellent Skyrocket 4G LTE variant. No matter which flavor you choose, the Galaxy S II is a worthy phone for any Android user, or just about anyone else.

If you’ve got some extra time while you’re recuperating from your hangover on Sunday, be sure to check out our Yearly Wrap Up. Feel free to leave angry responses in the comments section, and Happy New Year!

The writers and editors here are spending the day with our families, and since a holiday that falls on a weekend is one of the crueler tricks a calendar can play on you, we’re taking Monday off as well. But don’t worry: we’ve got a few features waiting in the wings especially for today, with an eye towards some of the goodies you may be unwrapping at the moment. Once you’ve finished off the figgy pudding and successfully circumnavigated the fruitcake, check back for some guides and app picks later this evening.

We’ve got a lot to look forward to in the next couple of months here at Android Community. Just week or so after New Year’s Day we’ll be packing up our various gizmos for the Consumer Electronics Show, and in February we’ll be hopping the Atlantic for Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Naturally, we’ll be keeping you in the loop for all the latest Android smartphones, tablets and other electronic bric-a-brac, so keep it right here for the latest news. And stay tuned for some very special rewards for being a loyal reader, headed down a chimney near you soon.

So far I must admit, Google Currents is pretty darn awesome. I’ve been viewing so much content and our awesome reviews like the one on the Transformer Prime that I’ve hardly been working. If you’ve been looking for a better and easier way to view your favorite sites (Android Community and SlashGear) then this is your solution. This isn’t your average reader or app like Flipboard, this is a full on all in one solution and Google’s done a fantastic job. It is simply, easy to understand, has a beautiful UI, and is highly customizable for both readers and publishers alike. Not only that but it works for Android phones, tablets and even iOS.

One awesome feature is publishers can create custom pages, change the layout, and even pull from multiple sources all at once. Take our sister site SlashGear for example. We have everything from our webpage to Twitter, Google+, and even our YouTube channel for all of our hands-on videos and reviews neatly in one place. Check out the screenshot below of SlashGear YouTube in Google Currents.

The user interface is fluid and brilliant and makes the entire browsing experience quite pleasurable. Being able to swipe left and right through all the content is very fast and easy. Click on an image in any of our many reviews and you can swipe through the entire photo gallery with pinch to zoom and more. Then hit the YouTube source to view the hands-on and walkthrough coverage for said product. Enjoy my hands-on video below for a better idea of Google Currents, then head to the market and give it a try today. Don’t forget to add Android Community and SlashGear to your front page!

Google Currents Market Link

Just to refresh everyone here was the original Week 3 Tabletpalooza Post so be sure to check that out as well as the Week 1 & 2 Winners round-up story. We had thousands of entries over at Google+ and you can see plenty of those comments over at the Google+ Giveaway Thread, we even cleared Google’s comment limit and had to open new threads a few times. We loved reading all the comments and appreciate each and every entry, but the time has come to announce the winner and that person is:

Josh Oman Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

Congrats Josh, you are the winner of the Android Community Tabletpalooza Giveaway Week 3 of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Wi-Fi. I think the fact that you were willing to bow to my greatness might have influenced our decision making so congrats for being our winner!

In case you readers didn’t know this same Giveaway was also going on at the same time with our sister site Slashgear.com and here is the Week 3 giveaway details for SlashGear. While we are here I figured I’d be nice and announce the SlashGear winner at the same time so here she is:

Kirsty Lawer Congratulations!

Kirsty is the lucky winner of the SlashGear TabletPalooza Acer Iconia Tab A500 Android Tablet, everyone be sure to say congrats over on Google+ to both of our lucky winners.

Now remember one thing loyal readers, this is just ONE of MANY giveaways and we have big plans coming up very very soon so you better stay tuned right here at Androidcommunity and don’t go anywhere or you might miss the next big thing. This was a great way to end our first annual Tabletpalooza Giveaway and plan to have many more to follow. More details are coming soon for the next giveaway so stay tuned!

Again we would like to thank everyone for entering on both Android Community and SlashGear for this giveaway. We also can’t forget the amazing team at NVIDIA for not only providing amazing Tegra 2 dual-core tablets for the world, but also for sending us a few to give away to our readers and for that we want to take this moment and say, Thank You NVIDIA!

We love having these quick little giveaways and this time we were able to offer up the Archos 70 Android tablet. To see all the engagement and original thread on G+ you can head here. And if you didn’t win we still have the Archos 101 Giveaway on SlashGear so hurry and enter to win the 70′s bigger brother.

Now for the winner…. +Anthony Banks Congrats! We hope you love your new toy.

Here is the announcement over on Google+

For those that entered either giveaway make sure to say thanks to Archos for giving us this opportunity and don’t forget to thank +Vincent Nguyen either as he is the man behind these awesome giveaways. Now if the Archos isn’t your thing we still have our final Tabletpalooza Giveaway ending this next week and we are handing out the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 so make sure and enter that for your chance to win.

Again we’d like to thank everyone that entered, and Archos for making this possible. If you didn’t win stay tuned for the next giveaway in a week or so. See ya next time!