Another week gone in the Android world, but not quietly, at least if you live in the United States. Here your options for high-end Android devices have been severely curtailed, thanks (presumably) to Apple’s ITC complaint against HTC, concerning one of their software patents. The HTC One X and HTC EVO 4G LTE are both in customs limbo, though HTC has already worked around Apple’s software patent. In related news, a Delaware court ordered the sparring companies to enter mediation in August.
The news doesn’t get any better if you’re a Verizon unlimited data customer: buy a subsidized phone after the summer is over, and you can kiss your unlimited plan goodbye. At least you may be able to use your current Verizon 4G LTE phone internationally soon. Google did some backtracking after enabling a four-device deactivation limit to its Google Play Music service: you can deactivate as many as you like, at least for now. Good news for Nexus fans – Google may be using multiple partners for the next Nexus smartphone. One may be Motorola, since China has finally approved Google’s acquisition on the condition that Android remain open source for another five years.
Speaking of China and Motorola, they’re showing off three new RAZR designs in the territory, at least one of which will probably become Motorola’s DROID RAZR HD at some point. HTC was busy this week with the official announcement of the Desire C and leaks of the “Ville” C. And of course, hardware news wouldn’t be complete without the Samsung Galaxy S III. This week we saw photo samples of all four US carrier models, along with an FCC listing for T-Mobile, and leaks of the user manual and the S-Voice APK. Oh, and there are over 9 million pre-orders for the phone worldwide – can you blame them?
On the software side of things, the Galaxy S III got rooted even before it’s release, and was joined by its stablemate the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1. Ice Cream Sandwich for the DROID 4 was leaked, and an official update was sent out for T-Mobile’s Sensation 4G and teased for the Amaze 4G. The venerable HTC HD2 gets a Sense 4.0 port in progress, and the latest project to light up Kickstarter is the Chameleon tablet launcher.
Here at Android Community, you’ve got a few days left to enter our NVIDIA TegraZone Anniversary Tegra Pack Giveaway, and what better way to wait out the results than playing with Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II? Be sure to read our hands-on look at Sega’s latest. We’ve also got a hands-on look at the LG Optimus LTE2, and an editorial on the creativity (or lack thereof) among the latest crop of high-profile Android games. Until next week, stay in school, don’t do drugs, and always make a Nandroid backup.
