What we have the pleasure of sharing with you all today is the Motorola Droid Bionic, the HD Station Dock, Standard Dock, Car Navigation Dock, and the Motorola Droid Bionic Lapdock — yup we have it all and you can see everything in the videos below as well as a full in-depth review that is coming soon. We’ll start with our hands-on and unboxing videos and then just to be nice we have a few preliminary benchmark and speedtest results for those that want to see it right now.

Motorola DROID Bionic, HD Dock, Car Dock and more hands-on and unboxing video

I’m going to pretend for a minute that you are all new and don’t know anything about the Bionic (although we all know everything already). The Droid Bionic is the new flagship Android smartphone coming from Verizon Wireless. This is their very first 4G LTE phone that also is powered by a dual-core processor — Both speed AND power!

We have a TI OMAP 1.0 Ghz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, a brilliant, bright, and crisp 4.3″ qHD 540 x 960 high resolution display, Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread, an 8 MP camera on the rear with dual LED flash, and a 2 MP lens on the front for quality video chat. The Bionic also comes out of the box with 32GB of storage, that is 16GB of internal storage as well as an included 16GB class 4 micro SD card. Along with micro HDMI-out for just about everything you’d ever need from mirror mode to game on your HDTV, to using the webdock accessories and more.

Enough of that, we already knew this phone was basically amazing, lets see the next video shall we.

Motorola DROID Bionic Lapdock hands-on and unboxing video

I must mention that so far this phone is truly stellar. I know I use that word occasionally in my reviews but so far I’m actually really really impressed with the Droid Bionic. Using the latest Moto Blur UI on phones like the Droid X2 and others I was a bit worried but they’ve really stepped up their game. From extremely fast and stable performance with the dual-core, blazing quick network speeds with 4G LTE, and a much improved overall user interface this is Motorola’s best phone yet, it truly is pretty epic.

I don’t want to get into specifics too much as you’ll all need to wait for my full out in-depth review of the Bionic and all the accessories that is coming very soon but I do have some benchmarks and awesome speedtest results to show you all really fast.

DROID Bionic Speedtest and Benchmarks

First up we have 4G LTE speedtest results and lets just say Verizon is well ahead of the pack. My 4G LTE results were amazing inside, outside, and even while driving home (yes I couldn’t wait and opened it asap). I’m getting an average of around 9 Mbps download and 2 Mbps upload speeds consistently, with performance peaking over 11 Mbps down and 3.5 Mbps up. Basically that compares to and beats many peoples home internet connection. Say hello to true 4G LTE guys.

I’ve ran multiple tests and I’m achieving these types of quick and impressive speeds consistently as you can clearly see in the image below.

Next up I also took a quick run or two of Quadrant Pro since that is still everyone’s favorite benchmark application. It might be hard to see in the image but the Droid Bionic scores well over 2600 out of the box, completely stock. My HTC Sensation 4G with a faster 1.2 Ghz dual-core only scores around 2100-2200 stock. That makes the Droid Bionic only second to the Samsung Galaxy S II with out of the box performance.

While you can expect more benchmarks in my full review coming soon I’ve also snapped a few photos running CF Bench too. Again coming in second only to the SGSII.

I don’t want to give away all the details and everything on the first date, we still have plenty more benchmarks, videos, photos and more coming soon. For now this was just a quick rundown for all you readers that have been patiently waiting for this phone to finally arrive. I’ve added a few more photos in the full size gallery below so be sure to check all of those out for a better view.

I’d like to take this moment to mention that if anyone would like us to try anything specific, or you have a request of something you’d like to see in the full review please share your questions, thoughts and more in the comment section below and I’ll be sure to do what I can. Feel free to check back all week long as we review everything shown in the videos above. Who is getting a DROID Bionic?

Enjoy!

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : DROID Bionic

Manufactuer : Motorola

Carrier : Verizon

Announced Date : August 24, 2011

Release Date : September 08, 2011

Also Known As : Targa

Display

• Screen Size : 4.3 Inch
• Resolution : 540x960
• Screen Type : qHD

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 5.00 Inch
• Width : 2.60 Inch
• Depth : 0.40 Inch
• Weight : 159 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 1735 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : NA

Software

Android OS:
• 2.3.x

Audio Playback:
• MP3

Video Playback:
• MPEG-4 (MP4)

Messaging:
• SMS
• MMS

Hardware

CPU :

CPU Clock Speed : 1000 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1024 MB

Internal Storage : 16.384 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution : 8 MP

External Storage:
• MicroSD
• MicroSDHC

Camera Features:
• Auto focus
• Flash
• 1080p Video Recording
• 720p Video Recording

Sensors:
• Accelerometer
• Ambient light
• Proximity

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

Network Technology:
• GSM
• CDMA

GSM Band:
• 850
• 900
• 1800
• 1900

CDMA Band:
• 800
• 1900

Device Connectivity

Wi-Fi:
• 802.11a
• 802.11b
• 802.11g
• 802.11n

Bluetooth:
• Bluetooth 2.0

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

FM Radio :

NFC :

The developers over at SDX have been hard at work, we can now use a modded version of the app where they have removed the root check so all devices will be able to enjoy movie playback. This version should also work with all supported devices running Android 2.2 and above so those on older Android are also in luck.

As always make sure to backup or save the previous version just to be safe, otherwise uninstall and install the new modded APK and you are good to go. For the few not wanting to use the modded APK and have rooted devices and rented movies didn’t play, you can also go to the YouTube app and watch them through “rentals” in YouTube as Google has yet to implement the root check into it — just a tip! Head on to the source for more details.

Modded Video App Download

[via Droid-Life]

Basically what ASUS has done is started responding to all their users FAQ’s with how-to videos and plastering them to YouTube. It’s actually a really great idea as they neatly and quickly show you all sorts of amazing things their tablet can do. From playing games on your HDTV, stream video wirelessly to said HDTV, to using Google Maps and more. These videos are short and sweet and vary from 1-2 minutes on average.

This is no particular order (but I’ll try) and I’ll be tossing them below as I see them. This will be a great post you can direct anyone with an Android tablet for help, not just Transformer users as plenty of this is universal to Android or tablets.

Google Maps on the Transformer

Downloading Android Apps from the Market

Using the keyboard dock, and what makes it different

Expandability and Storage

Screen size and durability

Playing games on your device and HDTV

Using Flash on the Transformer and Android

Taking pictures and video

Streaming wireless video

Access computer and Windows on the Transformer

Like I said this is actually a really great idea and a nice round-up of some of the top questions users may have for all Android tablets and for that– Asus, We thank you! I went ahead and watched almost all of these completely through and learned a few things even I didn’t know. For how much I toy around with Android I was surprised with what some of these videos had to offer. For average or novice users this will be a great help but for users like myself we might already know and use most of these features and tips.

Feel free to enjoy all of these videos and ask any questions you may have in the comment section below, as well as to Asus over on Twitter and YouTube.

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : Eee Pad Transformer

Manufactuer : Asus

Carrier : AT&T T-Mobile

Announced Date : January 20, 2011

Release Date : April 13, 2011

Also Known As :

Display

• Screen Size : 10.10 Inch
• Resolution : 1280x800
• Screen Type : LCD

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 10.67 Inch
• Width : 6.73 Inch
• Depth : 0.51 Inch
• Weight : 680 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 6547 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : NA

Software

Android OS:
• 3.0.x

Audio Playback:
• MP3

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

Messaging:
• SMS

Hardware

CPU : Tegra 2

CPU Clock Speed : 1000 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1024 MB

Internal Storage : 32.768 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution : 5 MP

Camera Features:
• Auto focus
• Flash

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 :

That inserts deeper Facebook integration through the various preloaded apps, including the ability to “Like” the track you’re currently listening to in the media player, share updates more quickly, and pull Facebook events down into the phone’s calendar.

There’s also various other bugfixes and the like, along with Google’s own minor improvements in 2.3.3. It’s rolling out progressively across markets – no word on which is first at this stage – so don’t be surprised if the update doesn’t show up on your phone quite yet. Sony Ericsson has also confirmed that the Gingerbread update for the XPERIA X10 will include Facebook Inside XPERIA too.

• Battery performance
• General software stability
• Wi-Fi stability
• HD Video recording performance (Xperia arc)
• Touch responsiveness

Each app will run in its own virtual machine, loading from the standard file rather than any sort of recompiled binary. To the user, it will be completely seamless: they will simply have Android app shortcuts mixed in with native BlackBerry app shortcuts.

As for distribution, rather than putting the Android Market onto the PlayBook, RIM will be distributing titles through its existing App World. Developers will have to submit their titles to RIM for approval, independent from Google’s approval process.

Video via Ewan MacLeod

Update: CrackBerry has another demo video:

Beta versions of the AR Platform were released last year, with Qualcomm demonstrating an interesting augmented reality photo frame concept which used the camera on Android handsets to identify different displays and then easily change what was being shown on them. This v1.0 release of the SDK now means developers can release apps commercially using the technology; Qualcomm says they’ll work on any Android 2.1+ device, though suggests that performance will be stronger on those using Snapdragon chipsets.

Qualcomm’s AR Platform is available to download at developer.qualcomm.com/ar now. There’s a demo of the AR photo frame concept below.

Press Release:

Qualcomm Announces Commercial Release of its Augmented Reality Platform

Platform Enables Android Developers to Create and Distribute Vision-based AR Applications

SAN DIEGO — April 27, 2011 — Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) today announced the immediate commercial availability of its Augmented Reality (AR) Platform for Android smartphones. Offered through Qualcomm’s online developer network, this 1.0 release marks the successful completion of the Company’s beta program. Developers can now build, market and commercially distribute applications based on the Qualcomm AR platform.

Qualcomm’s award-winning AR platform will enable a broad range of experiences that entertain, engage and inform consumers with a new form of interactive media. The platform’s rich feature set enables developers to build high-performance, interactive 3D experiences on real world images, such as those used in print media (books, magazines, brochures, tickets, signs) and on product packaging.

The platform supports multiple development environments. The Qualcomm AR Android SDK supports native Android development with the Android tool chain, including the Android SDK and NDK. The Qualcomm AR Unity Extension supports rapid development with the Unity 3 game development tool. A web application is also included for creating and managing image resources that can be used with either development environment.

Industry-leading performance is achieved through Qualcomm’s innovations in advanced computer vision algorithms and close integration of hardware and software. The effect of this performance is a higher fidelity user experience in which graphics content appears more real against the real world background. While applications built on the platform will run on all Android smartphones using Android 2.1 or greater, optimal performance will be exhibited on phones using Qualcomm’s Snapdragon™ chipset.

“Qualcomm has a long history of providing advanced technologies that drive innovation and opportunity for the mobile ecosystem,” said Jay Wright, senior director of business development, Qualcomm. “We continue the tradition by making leading AR technology widely available to developers for commercial use. With more than 6,000 registered developers, we look forward to a new generation of AR applications available in the Android Market and other application stores.”

Qualcomm and BigPlayAR recently collaborated with the Dallas Mavericks to introduce the first commercial application using Qualcomm’s platform. Mavs AR, a game developed by Big PlayAR, has enabled fans attending the Mavs playoff games at American Airlines Center to point their smartphone running the Mavs AR application at their ticket to play a virtual basketball game in the palm of their hands.

“We are thrilled with Mavs AR – it has really added a new layer of fun and interaction to the Mavs fan experience,” said Mavs owner Mark Cuban. “Based on the game’s success, we expect to use AR for future fan promotions, and Qualcomm’s AR platform has demonstrated itself as a powerful platform for creating these types of 3D experiences.”

The Qualcomm AR Platform is available immediately at developer.qualcomm.com/ar

So, last week I ended up at the Phil Price Rally School in mid-Wales, strapped into a four-point harness and clutching a boxed-up Galaxy S II. “Speak loud” they warned me, “else we won’t hear you over the engine” – I’m going to pretend that that’s the only reason I look so frantic in the final clip, desperately trying to make myself heard while covering a two or three miles of rally track in under two minutes.

In the end, I lost all the accessories – and most of the packaging – over my shoulder during the very first turn, but managed to just about keep a grip on the Galaxy S II itself. Whether anything I actually managed to scream at the camera is intelligible is, well, open to debate.

If you’re interested in picking up the Samsung Galaxy S II, it’ll go on sale from April 27. If you’d like to see a somewhat less dramatic hands-on with the smartphone, check out our coverage from last month!

Our initial positive impressions of the Wildfire S remain. The handset feels far more high-quality than its plasticky predecessor, with the chassis and design more like that of the Desire S. The UI may not be Sense 3.0 as on the HTC Sensation but v2.1 is at least smooth-running and as consistent as we’re used to.

The 600MHz processor feels equally capable, and the HVGA display is bright and crisp. We can see the Wildfire S being a particular success among those looking for a super-compact device that can easily drop into a pocket or purse when it arrives on the market this coming summer.

Update: It’s worth remembering that this is non-final software, and we can probably expect an even slicker experience when the ROM is polished.

Coming in the form of an app that will be preloaded on both 8.9 and 10.1 Galaxy Tab models, the app is essentially the remote control software on steroids. It’s added a “watch TV option” and users can not only watch from their devices, but also use it as a kind of PIP and watch one thing on your TV and flip to another on your Tablet. It’ll also work on Android smartphones as well. Users will, however, notice there’s a little bit of a lag, considering the TV has to transcode the signal and stream it to your device.

But will users want to replace their Slingbox or Streaming Media Clients when their out and about? No word if it works over 3G, but if you’re working in the garage during the big game, it could prove useful. Samsung says that the updated app will be made available at the Samsung App Store within a few weeks to a month. And in addition to being preloaded onto new Tablet models, it will also be available for the 7-inch Galaxy Tab through the App Store.

[via SlashGear]

The SN10T1 (can’t they come up with a cool name like XOOM?) does have NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 processor though, and it has a 10.1 inch screen with a 1024×600 inch touchscreen. Just falling short of the resolution required for Honeycomb. But it also has a lower price tag, too, of around $500 (€349). Not bad for a Tegra 2 tablet.

It’s design is thick and robust, but it’s also mostly plastic with no metal case, meaning it could be easily cracked, if dropped. It’s WiFi only, has Flash player support, Bluetooth, HDMI, microSD cards, and a “split layout” virtual keyboard. Sadly, no cameras, so no video chat. And while it doesn’t come with Honeycomb, Hanspree has placed a custom UI known as TapTap that overlays Froyo and provides a usable interface. Hanspree has it earmarked for US release in Q3 of 2011, and should be able to take advantage of a budget minded tablet niche.

[via SlashGear]

HTC’s metal stylings have grown increasingly refined over the past few years, and the Sensation is no different. Smooth edges nestling neatly into the hand, the slightly concave touchscreen is easy to use and responsive, and indeed the whole Gingerbread OS whips along nicely. There are no shortage of bells & whistles to the UI, either, with various new 3D effects as you slide between homescreen panes, an updated weather app with richer animations, and menus that generally open and transition with zero lag. The core apps have had a sprinkle of magic dust too, so you get the option of body-text previews in the HTC Mail app (either 2, 3 or 5 lines along with the sender and subject) and a Video Trimming function to pare down 1080p HD stereo clips recorded with the 8-megapixel camera.

The display is bright and vivid, with the S-LCD screen technology being color-saturated and crisp. That – along with the 16:9 aspect ratio – makes it ideal for watching movies, and of course there’s HTC Watch to satisfy that. The new rental/purchase store will offer either carrier billing or credit card payments, depending on your choice of operator, and supports 3G/WiFi trailer previews, optimized downloads of full content (over WiFi only) that start playing within 10s thanks to some smart buffering, and the ability to access content rented or purchased on up to five HTC devices.

Unfortunately, you can’t watch the same content on your PC or Mac, thanks to DRM limitations, which leaves you reliant on the HDMI connectivity for putting clips on a bigger display. HTC won’t be bundling the HDMI dongle in the box with the Sensation, at least initially, but it will be offering two versions: one powered by the Sensation itself, and another with a separate USB port for powering it and recharging the phone. A dock is also in the works, and the HDMI offers not only video playback but general screen mirroring, useful for browsing on your HDTV or even using a remote log-in app and taking charge of your PC desktop from afar.

Unfortunately there’s no OnLive gaming, nor the HTC Video Chat app shown on the Flyer at MWC 2011. The former may eventually make an appearance, when HTC has ironed out licensing issues in all territories, but the latter is still being held up by cautious carriers and HTC has no timescale for its release. Still, Skype and other generic video calling apps will be able to use the Sensation’s front-facing camera.

While the HTC Sensation will break with tradition and see a global launch – in the US with T-Mobile as the HSPA+ toting HTC Sensation 4G, in Europe with, initially, exclusivity to Vodafone, and on unspecified Asian carriers – there won’t be a single SKU with 3G/4G bands for all territories. Instead, somewhat annoyingly, there will be different models for each. HTC tells us it’s a compromise to help keep the Sensation slim, as is the combination microUSB/HDMI port and absence of a physical camera shortcut.

Nonetheless, we can’t help but come away impressed by the HTC Sensation. As a device to take on the Motorola ATRIX 4G or Samsung Galaxy S II it’s everything we hoped it would be from the pre-announce rumors, and the combination of slick design, optimized software and HTC’s useful online suite of services (including remote access, sync and tracking) add up to a compelling package at the top end of Android devices.

For instance, there’s the Retroid, a smart alarm clock which can be told to make different ringing patterns and show various LEDs depending on incoming calls, messages and other events on the handset. Or the Visual Charger, a huge multi-segment LED power indicator which gives an at-a-glance idea of what percentage the smartphone’s battery is at.

We prefer the Wall Printer, though, which uses seven Sharpie-style market pens hooked up to servos for an old-school printer effect controlled by an Android phone. Definitely worth considering if you’re into Android and electronics; you can pre-order the IOIO for Android here, for $49.95.

[via Twitter]

The videos can be accessed using your Sony-Ericsson Xperia phone. Users just look in the application tray or click on the support widget on the right side of the desktop pane. Then select “experience more.” The videos can also be viewed on their YouTube Channel.

There are videos on just about every feature and every phone and Sony is adding to their content almost every day. So whether you’re new to the market for an Android phone or need an answer to how to connect it to your TV to watch videos, and everything in between, these videos are a great tool to get the answers needed. And if there isn’t an answer, Sony also has their support forum at talk.sonyericsson.com.

[via Sony-Ericsson Blog]

“We know you’re anxiously awaiting the Sonos Controller for Android. Unfortunately, testing the app is taking a bit longer than we anticipated” Andrew Schulert, Vice President of quality at Sonos says. “The latest addition to our free controller line-up won’t arrive until April, but when it does, it is going to rock.”

More info on the app here.

Alternatively, T-Mobile will be offering the slider smartphone for $149.99 with a qualifying plan including data (such as the Web – 200MB plan) on a two-year agreement. Handy for those who don’t expect to use so much data during the lifetime of the device, but a little more expensive up-front.

We’ll be checking out the Sidekick 4G at CTIA 2011 this week, to see how well it follows in the footsteps of its popular predecessors. No word on exact release dates at this stage.

Sprint Android device owners will be able to use the Google Voice app on their handsets, but everybody will be able to log onto the website and choose where their calls are diverted. Calls from Gmail and text messages sent from google.com/voice will display the Sprint number, or Google Voice users can choose to replace their Sprint number with their Google Voice number when placing calls or sending text messages from their Sprint handset.

Google Voice replaces Sprint voicemail, with voicemail transcription online and sent via email and/or text message. The new functionality will be available “soon” in a staggered roll-out; you can sign up to be alerted when it’s available here.

Press Release:

Sprint and Google to Launch Integrated Google Voice Experience on All Sprint Phones, Including Upcoming Nexus S 4G

Sprint is first carrier to allow customers to use their existing mobile number as their Google Voice number without porting

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), March 21, 2011 – Sprint (NYSE: S) and Google announced today a new integrated Google Voice™ experience that will allow Sprint customers to set their existing Sprint wireless phone number as their Google Voice number. Sprint customers will be able to take advantage of all the features and benefits of Google Voice without the hassle and fees associated with porting their number. Sprint is the first and only carrier to offer this capability, which will be available soon on all Sprint CDMA phones.

In addition, Nexus S 4G1, announced today by Sprint, Google and Samsung, will allow Sprint customers to enable the integrated Google Voice experience and will come preloaded with the Google Voice Android app.

“As part of our partnership with Google, our customers will appreciate having the easiest set-up experience of any wireless carrier for Google Voice across all of our CDMA phones, using their existing Sprint phone number,” said Kevin McGinnis, vice president-Product and Technology Development, Sprint. “It’s now easier than ever to truly live a mobile lifestyle with the ability to manage multiple devices through intelligent call routing and online controls using just one phone number – your existing Sprint number.”

“With this integration, we have made Google Voice simple to use with a Sprint phone,” said Dave Girouard, president at Google. “Sprint subscribers now have access to all the benefits of Google Voice behind their existing mobile number without the need for porting or, if they already have a Google Voice number, they can display that number from their Sprint phone without the need for a separate application.”

Manage multiple devices with Google Voice

Google Voice makes it easy for people to manage and access most of their voice-based communication. It lets users manage up to six different devices through one phone number with intelligent call routing and advanced features like call screening, blocking and recording using the phone’s dial pad. Sprint subscribers will be able to use their Sprint number across their office, home and wireless phones, and personalize settings so calls from friends ring their wireless device and home phone, while calls from the boss only ring at the office. Google Voice users can receive transcribed voicemails and read or listen to them online. They can also read, send and search text messages and call logs online at www.google.com/voice.

Sprint is the only carrier that allows the user to assign their existing mobile phone number as their Google Voice number without having to port their number, avoiding porting charges, potential service disruptions and the hassle of calling their carrier to terminate and port their number to Google Voice and then re-subscribe with another number. Sprint’s integration with Google simplifies and shortens the process of moving a phone number to Google Voice to mere minutes.

Integrated Google Voice Experience from Sprint

One number for all your devices Work, home, mobile; no need to change numbers after a move or new job
Route phone calls and text messages Send work calls to the office, personal to home or mobile
Conditional call presentation Hear caller info before answering or send straight to voicemail
In-call options Record calls, switch phones during a call, conference calling
Manage it all online Manage call history, texts and voicemail; listen to voicemail and read transcribed messages; view threaded text messaging history and continue the conversation online
Keep your existing wireless phone number without porting Only with Sprint

Customers can sign up to be notified when the integrated Google Voice experience for Sprint phones is available at www.google.com/voice/sprint.

With a few simple steps, any Sprint CDMA phone will be able to use Google Voice to simplify the customer’s wireless experience:

1.
Customers can simply go to www.google.com/voice/sprint and sign-up for the integrated service from Sprint.
2. Google will then confirm the customer would like to use their existing Sprint number as their Google Voice number.
3. Customers do not need to notify Sprint that they plan to use Google Voice. A notification is automatically sent to Sprint to provision the necessary services on the network required for the Google Voice integrated experience.
4. Within minutes, all of the customer’s phone calls, text messages and voicemail run through Google Voice, and all inbound and outbound calls show up with the customer’s existing Sprint number with all of the benefits of Google Voice.

For more information on Sprint’s Google Voice integration, watch the video and visit www.sprint.com/googlevoice.2

Use of Google Voice is available at no additional charge with Sprint plans including Sprint’s Everything Data plans. Sprint’s Everything Data plans with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM include unlimited Web, texting and calling to and from any mobile in America while on the Sprint network, starting at just $69.99 per month plus required $10 Premium Data add-on charge for smartphones – a savings of $39.99 per month versus Verizon’s comparable plan with unlimited talk, text and Web (excluding Verizon’s Southern California plan; pricing excludes surcharges and taxes).

Sprint Everything Data plans qualify customers for automatic enrollment in the Sprint PremierSM loyalty program.3 Existing Sprint customers can switch to an Everything Data plan without extending their service agreement. New lines of service require a two-year service agreement.

As for talk that it would be slimmer than the iPad 2, that’s tricky to ascertain. The slate certainly looks relatively bulky in the screenshot above, and the headphone jack looks a little different (you can see it in the gallery below) to what we saw on the last teaser.

Still, we won’t know for sure until CTIA 2011 later in the month, where the slate is expected to make its official debut. Check out a third image in the gallery below (with a little level tweaking), showing the vague glimpse of what could be a custom UI.

[via Geekword]

As before – and to the frustration of many interested users – SPB doesn’t plan to offer end-users either UI, only OEMs. They’ll be able to customize the layout and the widgets, adding in their own content and carrier-specific tweaks to differentiate the interface as they see fit.

Four different default layouts are demonstrated, including a basic three-pane UI of app shortcuts, widgets and a task manager, a 3D side-scrolling panorama similar to Honeycomb’s native interface, and a pinch-zoom navigated “underwater” theme. In a similar vein, a “universe” theme which moves through a 3D stack of apps and widgets might be more suited to a single-point touchscreen.

SPB couldn’t tell us the names of the OEMs and customers it’s working with, but we’re told interest has been very strong since the company began showing off the UI concepts late last year. That could mean we’ll see more customized Android slates in the very near future.

The Galaxy S II is accused of being a little too wide, but then there’s a 4.27-inch WVGA Super AMOLED Plus display to fit in. That’s said to be a significant improvement over the Super AMOLED on the Nexus S, helped by the new DNIe+ image processing tech (which is similar to Sony’s BRAVIA Engine on the XPERIA Arc).

Unfortunately, our questions about the processor – some handsets will use Samsung’s own Exynos, some will get NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 – go unanswered, though the Galaxy S II is said to be speedy. This is only part one of the preview, so we’ll have to wait a little longer to find out exactly what mobile-review think about the smartphone overall.

Around the back there’s a 3-megapixel camera, while inside there’s confirmed WiFi (but presumably Bluetooth and GPS as well). Samsung has installed what looks to be a tweaked version of TouchWiz, and the Galaxy Pro will apparently also have the Social Hub Premium pre-loaded.

No word on pricing or specific availability, though we already know at least one carrier readying to offer the Galaxy Pro. UK network Three says the smartphone is “coming soon” and offers the following video to tide you over.

[youtube 0sJ3eO63v40]

[via SlashGear]