We gave the Transformer Pad TF300 a pretty glowing review, and why not: it combines all the charms of the Tegra 3-powered Transformer Prime with a lower price, while simultaneously doing away with the latter’s reception issues. Speaking of the Tegra 3, we’re not sure what processor the unit at the FCC is running. A week ago we’d have assumed it was using a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4, but with Nvidia’s new Icera 410 radio, AT&T’s LTE network no longer presents a technical barrier for the Tegra 3.

ASUS has announced its intention to release 3G and LTE tablets in Asia and Europe (not the least of which is the drool-inducing Padfone) but has so far remained mum on the Americas. Even without an official statement, the FCC filing gets us excited, and more so than the usual fare – including AT&T’s LTE bands indicates that this device is more targeted than the generally unlocked phones and tablets that go through the commission. Here’s hoping we see some quad-core, LTE, Ice Cream Sandwich tablet action in the States soon.

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : Transformer Pad 300

Manufactuer : Asus

Carrier : NA

Announced Date : February 27, 2012

Release Date : April 22, 2012

Also Known As :

Display

• Screen Size : 10.1 Inch
• Resolution : 1280x800
• Screen Type : IPS LCD

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 10.35 Inch
• Width : 7.12 Inch
• Depth : 0.39 Inch
• Weight : 635 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Polymer

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

Software

Android OS:
• 4.0.x

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

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

Messaging:
• SMS
• MMS

Hardware

CPU : Tegra 3

CPU Clock Speed : 1400 Mhz

Core : 4

Ram : 1024 MB

Internal Storage : 16 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution : 8 MP

External Storage:
• MicroSD
• MicroSDHC

Camera Features:
• Auto focus
• 1080p Video Recording

Sensors:
• Accelerometer
• Ambient light

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

Network Technology:
• GSM

GSM Band:
• 850
• 900
• 1800
• 1900

Device Connectivity

Wi-Fi:
• 802.11b
• 802.11g
• 802.11n

Bluetooth:
• Bluetooth 3.0

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

FM Radio :

NFC :

[via Talk Android]

Just like all of HTC’s recent phones you can go to HTCDev and unlock it with a few simple steps. Sadly AT&T chose not to allow that process on their version of the One X (International version is fine.) I’m sure you’re all well aware of this. It looks like all you need is a little command line skills and you can easily change it so HTC’s unlock tool identifies it as a Rogers model, and you’ll be unlocked in no time. Well played AT&T, well played.

Here’s how:
– Root device
– Dump MISC partition
– Edit CID in dump to change from AT&T to Rogers
– Flash patched MISC partition
– Use official HTCdev unlock tool

The instructions are actually a bit harder than that, our friends from MoDaCo simplified them with the outline above. The actual process is a bit more difficult and involved than those simple instructions look, but if you’ve done any command line tweaking or developing in the past it should be fairly straightforward.

For more detailed instructions as well as all the support you might need if you’re worried about taking on this task head to the XDA via link at the bottom of the page. As a friendly reminder you’ll need to be rooted for this to work. If you flashed the leak this morning that as of now can’t be rooted, you’re out of luck.

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : One X [AT&T]

Manufactuer : HTC

Carrier : AT&T

Announced Date : February 26, 2012

Release Date : TBA

Also Known As :

Display

• Screen Size : 4.7 Inch
• Resolution : 720x1280
• Screen Type : S-LCD

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 5.31 Inch
• Width : 2.75 Inch
• Depth : 0.36 Inch
• Weight : 131 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 1800 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : NA

Software

Android OS:
• 4.0.x

Audio Playback:
• AAC
• AAC+
• AMR
• MID
• MP3
• WAV
• WMA

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

Messaging:
• SMS
• MMS

Hardware

CPU : S4

CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1000 MB

Internal Storage : 16 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution : 8 MP

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

Sensors:
• Accelerometer
• Ambient light
• Proximity

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

Network Technology:
• GSM

GSM Band:
• 850
• 900
• 1800
• 1900

CDMA Band:
• 850
• 1900
• 2100

Device Connectivity

Wi-Fi:
• 802.11b
• 802.11g
• 802.11n

Bluetooth:
• Bluetooth 3.0

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

FM Radio :

NFC :

[via XDA]

For a quick refresher, NVIDIA acquired the small Icera company with the specific intention of creating radios for its Tegra line of chipsets. The first device to use both an NVIDIA processor and an Icera radio is the ZTE Mimosa X (below), shown off at MWC in February but still not launched. That particular device uses the older dual-core Tegra 2 and the HSPA+ wireless standard, but NVIDIA assures us that today’s announcement covers both the newer Tegra 3 and AT&T’s LTE network.

The news means that devices packing the Tegra 3 can finally be paired with LTE, so long as they’re using NVIDIA’s Icera 410 radio and baseband software. There’s a bit of a snag in the announcement, though: “The NVIDIA Icera 410 LTE modem delivers lightning-fast web browsing, video streaming and multiplayer gaming to tablets and clamshell devices.” Conventional slate smartphones are notably absent in the language, and we haven’t heard of any “clamshell” devices that use the Tegra 3 (though Sony’s Tablet P uses the Tegra 2). The Icera 410 is capable of working with LTE-GSM networks around the world, with a maximum download speed of 50mbps.

Device makers aren’t limited to NVIDIA for processors; it’s possible that they could combine an Icera radio module with another SoC, the same way that current Tegra phones and tablets use Qualcomm radios. Currently there’s no indication of when the first “tablet or clamshell” with the Icera 410 will hit AT&T, but the timing will depend upon which manufacturers are already using NVIDIA’s samples.

The Appeal is a rather low-end budget-friendly smartphone running on Android 2.3 Gingerbread and might be just what you’re looking for. It only comes with a 3.2-inch HVGA display, an 800 MHz single-core processor with 512MB of RAM and a decent 3 megapixel camera, but should be great for kids and plenty for those Angry Bird fans.

The phone is rather small but we wouldn’t call it sleek because it does offer a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, so it should be a big hit with the heavy text message users. The all new Samsung Galaxy Appeal prepaid offering will hit Walmart first come June 5th and then be available from other retailers and AT&T on June 15th for around $149 outright, with no contracts required.

[via AT&T]

According to the guys from XDA the build is actually quite stable and appears to be running great on the 4.5-inch 720p rocking smartphone. It was actually the first 720p Android phone on AT&T if you remember. The leak appears to also be working for users of the Nitro on AT&T, Bell, and even Fido for those up in those parts.

Some flashers have reported problems with losing their IMEI numbers for their phones so you might want to use caution. Then again this is a leaked build so you should always use caution when flashing something of this type. Good news is battery seems to have actually been improved with the ICS leak so that might push a few into upgrading early. Hopefully this will be officially released soon but for now head to the via below to get started.

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : Nitro HD

Manufactuer : LG

Carrier : AT&T

Announced Date : May 31, 2011

Release Date : December 04, 2011

Also Known As :

Display

• Screen Size : 4.5 Inch
• Resolution : 720x1280
• Screen Type : LCD

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 5.27 Inch
• Width : 2.67 Inch
• Depth : 0.41 Inch
• Weight : 127 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 1830 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : NA

Software

Android OS:
• 2.3.x

Audio Playback:
• AAC
• AAC+
• AMR
• MID
• MP3
• WAV
• WMA

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

Messaging:
• SMS
• MMS

Hardware

CPU : Scorpion

CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1024 MB

Internal Storage : 4 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution : 8 MP

External Storage:
• MicroSD
• MicroSDHC

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

Sensors:
• Accelerometer
• Ambient light
• Proximity

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

Network Technology:
• GSM

GSM Band:
• 850
• 900
• 1800
• 1900

Device Connectivity

FM Radio :

NFC :

[via PhoneArena]

We’d already heard about Verizon’s local variant, the SCH-I535, thanks to a leaked user agent profile. And a version for AT&T (SGH-I747) seemed inevitable after they reportedly cancelled the Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD. But phones for T-Mobile (SGH-T999) and the Now Network (SPK-L710) are welcome, even if they are unsubstantiated. Remember that all for networks had a version of the original Galaxy S, and all but Verizon went for the Galaxy S II as well (Verizon passed for the Galaxy Nexus).

The photos appear to be of some Samsung offices, probably in South Korea. None of the camera shots are particularly good, and we can’t even confirm if they’re the right 8MP resolution. But given Samsung’s history and relationships, we’d say it’s as likely as not that the GSIII will hit all four carriers. If that’s the case, every one of them except T-Mobile’s should be packing an LTE connection and a dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor.

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : Galaxy S III

Manufactuer : Samsung

Carrier : NA

Announced Date : May 03, 2012

Release Date : May 29, 2012

Also Known As : The Next Galaxy, SGSIII

Display

• Screen Size : 4.8 Inch
• Resolution : 720x1280
• Screen Type : Super AMOLED HD

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 5.37 Inch
• Width : 2.77 Inch
• Depth : 0.33 Inch
• Weight : 133 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 2100 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : NA

Software

Android OS:
• 4.0.x

Audio Playback:
• AAC
• AAC+
• AMR
• MID
• MP3
• WAV
• WMA

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

Messaging:
• SMS
• MMS

Hardware

CPU : Exynos 4 Quad

CPU Clock Speed : 1400 Mhz

Core : 4

Ram : 1024 MB

Internal Storage : 32 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution : 8 MP

External Storage:
• MicroSD
• MicroSDHC

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

Sensors:
• Accelerometer
• Ambient light
• Proximity

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

Network Technology:
• GSM

GSM Band:
• 850
• 900
• 1800
• 1900

Device Connectivity

Wi-Fi:
• 802.11b
• 802.11g
• 802.11n

Bluetooth:
• A2DP
• Bluetooth 4.0

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

FM Radio :

NFC :

As far as hardware goes, there’s a ton of stuff to sift through in the CTIA sections above, but the biggest for US consumers is probably the official announcement of the HTC DROID Incredible 4G LTE for Verizon. Check out our hands-on here. And those of you who were waiting for a One series Verizon phone (like the new One X on AT&T) had best stop waiting. Kyocera showed off a couple of new ICS phones, the Rise and the Hydro. LG’s latest flagship, the LS970 “Eclipse 4G LTE” was leaked, and Sony announced the Xperia GX and SX models for Japan. Toshiba’s Tegra 3-powered Excite 10 tablet is now on sale, and AT&T’s Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD won’t be, ever.

On the software side, the international Galaxy Note was officially updated to Ice Cream Sandwich and AT&T’s version got a second leak. Like its other tablets, ASUS updated the Eee Pad Slider to Android 4.0. Popular iOS app Flipboard was supposed to be a Galaxy S III exclusive, but the APK leaked and you can download it now. Facebook laid out plans for its App Center app showcase, on both the web and mobile platforms.

Here on Android Community you’ll definitely want to check out our review of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 edition, on sale now. We’ve also got an early review of the HTC EVO 4G LTE, along with a photo tour of New Orleans using its awesome camera. You’ll also want to see our hands-on looks at the Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note, along with the Lava XOLO, the first smartphone powered by Intel’s Medfield platform. Finally, check out the new features of our Device.AC database with a video tour. Until next week, stay in school, don’t do drugs and always make a Nandroid backup.

Superficial stains can be cleaned with Windex or a similar solution. But since many users (I would assume a majority of them, in fact) keep their phones in the pocket of blue jeans on a regular basis, the dye tends to accrue on the case, especially around the corners and on the edges. There’s no way to confirm this, but I’d guess it’s a function of the One family’s Micro Arc Oxidation finish, since we haven’t seen significant dye buildup on other phones.

The black version of the One X and the other phones in the line don’t seem to have this problem, or at least it isn’t noticeable on them. So if you wear your 501s every day, be sure and pick up the black model. AT&T customers can choose between both models at the moment, though there’s no way of telling which retailers have which version in stock. If you’ve already got a white One X, you could always throw on a case. Or carry around a bottle of Windex.

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : One X [AT&T]

Manufactuer : HTC

Carrier : AT&T

Announced Date : February 26, 2012

Release Date : TBA

Also Known As :

Display

• Screen Size : 4.7 Inch
• Resolution : 720x1280
• Screen Type : S-LCD

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 5.31 Inch
• Width : 2.75 Inch
• Depth : 0.36 Inch
• Weight : 131 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 1800 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : NA

Software

Android OS:
• 4.0.x

Audio Playback:
• AAC
• AAC+
• AMR
• MID
• MP3
• WAV
• WMA

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

Messaging:
• SMS
• MMS

Hardware

CPU : S4

CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1000 MB

Internal Storage : 16 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution : 8 MP

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

Sensors:
• Accelerometer
• Ambient light
• Proximity

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

Network Technology:
• GSM

GSM Band:
• 850
• 900
• 1800
• 1900

CDMA Band:
• 850
• 1900
• 2100

Device Connectivity

Wi-Fi:
• 802.11b
• 802.11g
• 802.11n

Bluetooth:
• Bluetooth 3.0

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

FM Radio :

NFC :

[via AndroidPit]

The leaked AT&T ROM from April was build UCLD3, while this build is UCLC5. There’s no additional features and it’s still Android 4.0.3, but the performance and stability of the newer software is testified by plenty of users already. The annoyingly constant force closes of the previous build seem to be fixed. Apparently it still needs a little more time in the oven, because for some reason Instagram doesn’t work. Flashing it will require a Windows PC, and unfortunately you’ll lose all the data stored on the phone so far (not to mention root privileges if you’ve obtained them).

Naturally, the upgrade is offered with no guarantees and plenty of caution – flash at your own risk. Those of you who are custom ROM junkies may want to skip the official updates entirely and try out some of the latest CyanogenMod 9 nightlies. On the Galaxy Note in particular they’ve added support for the S-Pen stylus and generally tidied things up. As always, remember to make a Nandroid backup.

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : GALAXY Note LTE

Manufactuer : Samsung

Carrier : AT&T

Announced Date : January 09, 2012

Release Date : February 19, 2012

Also Known As :

Display

• Screen Size : 5.3 Inch
• Resolution : 1280x800
• Screen Type : Super AMOLED

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 5.78 Inch
• Width : 3.27 Inch
• Depth : 0.38 Inch
• Weight : 183 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 2500 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : 250 hours

Software

Android OS:
• 2.3.x

Audio Playback:
• AAC
• AAC+
• AMR
• MID
• MP3
• WAV
• WMA

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

Messaging:
• SMS
• MMS

Hardware

CPU : MSM8660

CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1024 MB

Internal Storage : 16 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution : 8 MP

External Storage:
• MicroSD
• MicroSDHC

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

Sensors:
• Accelerometer
• Ambient light
• Proximity

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

Network Technology:
• GSM

GSM Band:
• 850
• 900
• 1800
• 1900

Device Connectivity

Wi-Fi:
• 802.11b
• 802.11g
• 802.11n

Bluetooth:
• Bluetooth 3.0

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

FM Radio :

NFC :

The Galaxy Note’s standard battery is no slouch: that huge 5.3-inch screen allows the battery bay to extend for an impressive 2500mAh battery, giving the phone a good bit of longevity despite a lot of power draw. The Mugen battery is somewhat less restrained, bumping up the size and the life by a factor of about 2.1. Mugen isn’t saying exactly how much the extended battery cover bulges the phone’s dimensions, but it looks like it’s just under double the thickness of the original.

Since the battery doesn’t actually take up all of the space of the flush cover, they decided to add an extra feature: a kickstand. As I’ve said often and loudly, I love kickstands. It almost makes the $98.95 price tag worth it (almost). THe battery on the site is market for AT&T’s LTE version of the Galaxy Note (SGH-i717), but given our experience with Samsung’s batteries it might work on the international model as well – no promises. Any takers, Galaxy Note owners?

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : GALAXY Note LTE

Manufactuer : Samsung

Carrier : AT&T

Announced Date : January 09, 2012

Release Date : February 19, 2012

Also Known As :

Display

• Screen Size : 5.3 Inch
• Resolution : 1280x800
• Screen Type : Super AMOLED

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 5.78 Inch
• Width : 3.27 Inch
• Depth : 0.38 Inch
• Weight : 183 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 2500 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : 250 hours

Software

Android OS:
• 2.3.x

Audio Playback:
• AAC
• AAC+
• AMR
• MID
• MP3
• WAV
• WMA

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

Messaging:
• SMS
• MMS

Hardware

CPU : MSM8660

CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1024 MB

Internal Storage : 16 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution : 8 MP

External Storage:
• MicroSD
• MicroSDHC

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

Sensors:
• Accelerometer
• Ambient light
• Proximity

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

Network Technology:
• GSM

GSM Band:
• 850
• 900
• 1800
• 1900

Device Connectivity

Wi-Fi:
• 802.11b
• 802.11g
• 802.11n

Bluetooth:
• Bluetooth 3.0

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

FM Radio :

NFC :

[via AndroidSpin]

Samsung marketing director Ryan Bidan told reporters at CTIA yesterday that the device had been cancelled, because the upcoming Galaxy S III beat it in every aspect of specification. When asked if that meant that the Galaxy S III was coming to AT&T, Bidan couldn’t comment further. But the implication is certainly that the Galaxy S III is headed for the carrier, and around the same time or shortly after the Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD was planned to be released this summer.

The Skyrocket HD was to be an American version of Samsung’s Galaxy S II LTE HD, packing all the specs of the original Skyrocket plus a 4.65-inch Super AMOLED display with a 720p resolution. The Galaxy S III has it beat in screen size (4.8 inches) processor (either a quad-core Exynos or a Snapdragon S4) and software (Android 4.0) among many other things. The Galaxy S III hits Europe and the UK at the end of this month, and is expected to arrive on American carriers later this summer.

[via SlashGear]

 This shouldn’t be taken as gospel, since a leaked textual ad does not a confirmation make. But considering that the last time we saw the Xperia Ion was next to its international brother at CES way back in January, the phone’s bordering on fashionably late as it is. With heavy hitters like the Samsung Galaxy Note and the HTC One X already filling spots on AT&T’s lineup, and the Galaxy S III likely to follow, a June release would be more than prudent for Sony.

The Xperia Ion roughly follows the design and specifications of the Xperia S, though the styling is a little more conservative and lacks a transparent navigation bar. It runs on a 1.5Ghz dual-core processor with an LTE connection and has a massive 12 megapixel rear camera. A 4.55-inch 720p display with better-than-average fidelity doesn’t hurt, either. The last time we saw it the Ion was running Gingerbread, but we can hope and dream that it’ll be upgraded to Ice Cream Sandwich before its release.

The difference between gaining root and getting an unlocked bootloader is an important one: while root access gives you control of the software, an unlocked bootloader will give you control over the entire phone. (That’s not a strictly accurate summary, but as Terry Pratchett says, it’s a useful lie.) Rooted phones enjoy the capability of running advanced applications and removing unwanted software permanently via access to the files on the phone’s protected storage.

Not that custom ROMs are impossible without bootloader access. Now that root has been achieved, someone is no doubt working feverishly at getting a custom recovery prepared and starting on a slightly cleaner version of HTC’s Sense skin. But to make major modifications (notably for newer versions of Android) a modified kernel is necessary, and that’s not currently possible. Efforts continue, but community attempts at unlocking bootloaders have met with mixed results in the past.

[via Mobiputing]

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : One X [AT&T]

Manufactuer : HTC

Carrier : AT&T

Announced Date : February 26, 2012

Release Date : TBA

Also Known As :

Display

• Screen Size : 4.7 Inch
• Resolution : 720x1280
• Screen Type : S-LCD

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 5.31 Inch
• Width : 2.75 Inch
• Depth : 0.36 Inch
• Weight : 131 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 1800 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : NA

Software

Android OS:
• 4.0.x

Audio Playback:
• AAC
• AAC+
• AMR
• MID
• MP3
• WAV
• WMA

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

Messaging:
• SMS
• MMS

Hardware

CPU : S4

CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1000 MB

Internal Storage : 16 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution : 8 MP

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

Sensors:
• Accelerometer
• Ambient light
• Proximity

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

Network Technology:
• GSM

GSM Band:
• 850
• 900
• 1800
• 1900

CDMA Band:
• 850
• 1900
• 2100

Device Connectivity

Wi-Fi:
• 802.11b
• 802.11g
• 802.11n

Bluetooth:
• Bluetooth 3.0

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

FM Radio :

NFC :

By extension, this also means that AT&T phones will be good to go on T-Mobile, assuming that you can get them unlocked. In fact this is probably T-Mobile’s aim, since the network has about a million iPhone users (all hilariously stuck with 2G data speeds) despite not offering the phone themselves. But for normal, sane people, it means that you’ll be able to buy an international phone (say, the Tegra 3 version of the HTC One X) pop in a T-Mobile SIM and get going.

There’s no mention of what this means for T-Mobile’s own phones. Obviously current T-Mobile phones can’t be moved to other GSM networks without suffering the same 2G speeds. But what will T-Mobile do to its own phone radios when its network uses the same 3G and HSPA+ bands as everyone else? Will T-Mobile phones be capable of worldwide roaming, or switching to another network entirely? we can only hope.

[via AllThingsD]

Here are Stephenson’s words from the Milken Institute’s 2012 Global Conference:

Google determines what platform gets the newest releases and when. A lot of times, that’s a negotiated arrangement and that’s something we work at hard. We know that’s important to our customers. That’s kind of an ambiguous answer because I can’t give you a direct answer in this setting.

The executive seems to be a little confused about how Android updates work: Google posts the open source code for new version of the OS on their developer website, then manufacturers update their phones (or all too often, don’t) then the carriers push out the updates (or don’t). The delicate relationship between device manufacturers and carriers in the US, where cellular providers often insist on custom apps, software, locks, blocks, and visual elements, can make the update process a maddeningly slow experience.

Stephenson’s comments betray a lack of knowledge in the fundamental way that the Android ecosystem functions – or, on AT&T, fails to function. It makes us wonder who made the call to arbitrarily lock the bootloader on AT&T’s HTC One X. Google responded to the comments, saying that they offer Android freely as it becomes available, and do not engage in negotiations for individual smartphones.

[via 9to5Google]

By now you probably know the details but in case you don’t. the LTE One X (or One XL as it’s known elsewhere) has a 1.5 ghz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, an excellent 8MP camera and Beats audio. On the software side of things it gets Android 4.0 and HTC’s Sense 4.0. You can read our review of the phone here, but in summary it’s easily one of the best smartphones in the country, bar none.

But modders and other Android enthusiasts should take note: this may not be the phone for you. Unlike the international version of the One X, the AT&T One X has a locked bootloader that HTC won’t unlock. While they haven’t implicated the carrier directly, the understanding is that AT&T has insisted on the restriction. Custom ROMs are possible with a bootloader, but custom kernels are nearly impossible, putting major damper on modders’ spirits.

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : One X [AT&T]

Manufactuer : HTC

Carrier : AT&T

Announced Date : February 26, 2012

Release Date : TBA

Also Known As :

Display

• Screen Size : 4.7 Inch
• Resolution : 720x1280
• Screen Type : S-LCD

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 5.31 Inch
• Width : 2.75 Inch
• Depth : 0.36 Inch
• Weight : 131 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 1800 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : NA

Software

Android OS:
• 4.0.x

Audio Playback:
• AAC
• AAC+
• AMR
• MID
• MP3
• WAV
• WMA

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

Messaging:
• SMS
• MMS

Hardware

CPU : S4

CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1000 MB

Internal Storage : 16 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution : 8 MP

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

Sensors:
• Accelerometer
• Ambient light
• Proximity

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

Network Technology:
• GSM

GSM Band:
• 850
• 900
• 1800
• 1900

CDMA Band:
• 850
• 1900
• 2100

Device Connectivity

Wi-Fi:
• 802.11b
• 802.11g
• 802.11n

Bluetooth:
• Bluetooth 3.0

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

FM Radio :

NFC :

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.

The lack of an unlockable bootloader is a definite problem for advanced Android users. Along with the Galaxy S III, the One X is the top dog of Android 4.0 devices at the moment, and having it off-limits to custom ROM enthusiasts is a major disappointment. Motorola continues to keep their bootloaders locked on Verizon at the carrier’s insistence, and it’s more than enough reason for many Android enthusiasts to avoid otherwise great phones like the DROID RAZR and DROID RAZR MAXX.

Noted modder Paul “Modaco” O’Brien was the first to spot the inconsistency. There’s been a lot of hue and cry since Paul’s post – most of it not actually coming from him. I’d like so sound a note of caution here: the AT&T version of the One X (known as the “One XL” when it debuts on other LTE markets) won’t be officially released for another two days. In the words of the great Ford Prefect, Don’t Panic.

HTC has consistently unlocked all its phones for the better part of a year, including Verizon phones like the Rezound and even the original HTC Dream. Other AT&T phones have been unlocked as well. It may take them up to a few weeks to add AT&T’s One X to the list, but at this point we see no reason why they wouldn’t.

UPDATE: According to HTC, AT&T may be to blame for this one, which doesn’t bode well for the odds of seeing an unlocked bootloader on the One X. The real question is why the carrier decided to put its foot down here, when previous HTC hardware has already been unlocked.  Naturally, Android power users aren’t happy. AT&T has not made an official statement on the matter.

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : One X [AT&T]

Manufactuer : HTC

Carrier : AT&T

Announced Date : February 26, 2012

Release Date : TBA

Also Known As :

Display

• Screen Size : 4.7 Inch
• Resolution : 720x1280
• Screen Type : S-LCD

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 5.31 Inch
• Width : 2.75 Inch
• Depth : 0.36 Inch
• Weight : 131 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 1800 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : NA

Software

Android OS:
• 4.0.x

Audio Playback:
• AAC
• AAC+
• AMR
• MID
• MP3
• WAV
• WMA

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

Messaging:
• SMS
• MMS

Hardware

CPU : S4

CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1000 MB

Internal Storage : 16 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution : 8 MP

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

Sensors:
• Accelerometer
• Ambient light
• Proximity

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

Network Technology:
• GSM

GSM Band:
• 850
• 900
• 1800
• 1900

CDMA Band:
• 850
• 1900
• 2100

Device Connectivity

Wi-Fi:
• 802.11b
• 802.11g
• 802.11n

Bluetooth:
• Bluetooth 3.0

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

FM Radio :

NFC :

The rest of us can pick up an AT&T One X in retail stores on Sunday, May 6th, or (if you’re not into this newfangled pre-order” business) order it straight off the AT&T website. The One X costs $199 for those who are willing to sign or renew a two-year contract, or $549 if you’d rather buy it outright. If you aren’t convinced by our quite positive review, some AT&T retail stores have demo units on display right now.

AT&T’s One X gets a couple of changes from the international version, most notably its LTE connection in addition to HSPA+. It also swaps out NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 quad-core processor for a Snapdragon S4 dual-core, and lowers the integrated storage to 16GB (still no MicroSD card). For all that it’s still one of the best phones available in the United States, so if you’ve got the money, the time and the inclination and you haven’t done so already, go pick one up on Sunday.

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : One X [AT&T]

Manufactuer : HTC

Carrier : AT&T

Announced Date : February 26, 2012

Release Date : TBA

Also Known As :

Display

• Screen Size : 4.7 Inch
• Resolution : 720x1280
• Screen Type : S-LCD

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 5.31 Inch
• Width : 2.75 Inch
• Depth : 0.36 Inch
• Weight : 131 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 1800 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : NA

Software

Android OS:
• 4.0.x

Audio Playback:
• AAC
• AAC+
• AMR
• MID
• MP3
• WAV
• WMA

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

Messaging:
• SMS
• MMS

Hardware

CPU : S4

CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1000 MB

Internal Storage : 16 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution : 8 MP

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

Sensors:
• Accelerometer
• Ambient light
• Proximity

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

Network Technology:
• GSM

GSM Band:
• 850
• 900
• 1800
• 1900

CDMA Band:
• 850
• 1900
• 2100

Device Connectivity

Wi-Fi:
• 802.11b
• 802.11g
• 802.11n

Bluetooth:
• Bluetooth 3.0

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

FM Radio :

NFC :

Here’s the word, straight from the horse’s mouth:

Samsung Mobile is planning a U.S. version of Galaxy S III, optimized for the fastest LTE and HSPA+ networks in the U.S., which will be available in the summer of 2012. Exact timing and retail channel availability is not being announced at this time. We believe the Galaxy S III is the most anticipated product in the 20-year history of Samsung Mobile; therefore, we will continue to share information as it becomes available.

We’re fairly confident that at least one of those LTE Galaxy S III models is heading for Verizon, since it was spotted in a user agent string earlier this week. Other carriers are spotty, but it’s hard to believe that AT&T isn’t planning a Galaxy S III release as well. North American versions of the phone, specifically Verizon’s, may be using Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 processor instead of the Exynos 4 Quad. Remember that three out of the four largest carriers got the Galaxy S II, and all four got the original Galaxy S in modified forms.

The Galaxy S III was revealed moments ago at Samsung’s London event. The international model has a 4.8-inch Super AMOLED display, a quad-core Exynos processor and Android 4.0 with Samsung’s TouchWiz interface. For more information, check out our hands-on video from the Unpacked event.

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : Galaxy S III

Manufactuer : Samsung

Carrier : NA

Announced Date : May 03, 2012

Release Date : May 29, 2012

Also Known As : The Next Galaxy, SGSIII

Display

• Screen Size : 4.8 Inch
• Resolution : 720x1280
• Screen Type : Super AMOLED HD

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 5.37 Inch
• Width : 2.77 Inch
• Depth : 0.33 Inch
• Weight : 133 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 2100 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : NA

Software

Android OS:
• 4.0.x

Audio Playback:
• AAC
• AAC+
• AMR
• MID
• MP3
• WAV
• WMA

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

Messaging:
• SMS
• MMS

Hardware

CPU : Exynos 4 Quad

CPU Clock Speed : 1400 Mhz

Core : 4

Ram : 1024 MB

Internal Storage : 32 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution : 8 MP

External Storage:
• MicroSD
• MicroSDHC

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

Sensors:
• Accelerometer
• Ambient light
• Proximity

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

Network Technology:
• GSM

GSM Band:
• 850
• 900
• 1800
• 1900

Device Connectivity

Wi-Fi:
• 802.11b
• 802.11g
• 802.11n

Bluetooth:
• A2DP
• Bluetooth 4.0

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

FM Radio :

NFC :