Back in March we heard about this guy going after Apple due to some issues he had with Siri, the company’s voice-activated assistant. The New York man, Frank M. Fazio, said the iPhone 4S’ virtual assistant just wasn’t all it was cracked up to be, and that Apple’s advertisements for Siri basically led him to believe he was getting something better. Fazio’s lawsuit alleged Apple was deceptive in its marketing and that the voice assistant is actually “far less responsive in real life.”

Seems a little crazy, yeah? Fazio wasn’t alone, though; there have actually been a number of lawsuits seeking class action status against Siri in Oakland, Calif., according to The Wall Street Journal. They all claim pretty much the same thing as Fazio’s complaint: that Apple’s iPhone 4S advertisements were false and misleading.

Fast forward a few months later and Apple is finally responding to the Siri conundrum. The Cupertino, CA-based company hired Gibson Dunn and Crutcher LLP, to duke it out with the unsatisfied customers in court. So far, the company has said it recognizes Siri may not be perfect, and notes that the app is still in beta, a fact that was made clear from the start. Apple also reportedly pointed out that these customers could have taken advantage of the company’s 30-day return policy, but clearly did not.

We’ll keep you posted on further developments with Apple’s Siri lawsuit. In the meantime, let us know what you think. Should these iPhone 4S users win this case? Should this even be a case? Does it matter that Siri is still in beta? Should Fazio really be this upset about Siri not calling him a “rock god?”

Via: WSJ

Samsung's Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet has been in the pipeline for a while, after its initial launch date was bumped back to make way for technical upgrades. Now it seems the wait may have been worthwhile, after reports have surfaced showing the device with Samsung's new Mali-604T GPU and a quad-core Exynos 4412 CPU. These inclusions are likely to make the top brass at Apple shift uncomfortably in their seats.

The information comes courtesy of the folks over at Nordic Hardware, who managed to get their hands on some special looking Taiji graphics benchmarks that show the Galaxy Note 10.1 to be rocking the new and highly-charged Mali-604T chip, which offers almost double the power of even the most advanced GPUs currently on the market. It's one that is capable of surpassing even that of Apple's new iPad.

The device is rumored to be dropping in June and will apparently also see an update to screen resolution too, another move that is likely to be motivated by Apple's latest tablet.

The combination of a 1280x800 res and the new graphics chip is likely to tempt serious fans of mobile gaming, especially when the device is likely to ship for a smaller price than the iPad. But only time will tell whether the device has what it takes to usurp the iPad's crown.

For most mobile geeks, there are very few things more exciting than picking up one of the hottest new handsets on the market. But if we had to choose one thing we enjoy almost as much as tinkering around with the latest mobile devices, we’d have to say it’s loading up on accessories for ‘em. So, we were pretty excited this morning when we heard about Seidio releasing a whole new batch of accessories specifically for Sprint’s new HTC 4G LTE.

Seidio’s signature cases will include the Surface, Active and Convert. To start, the Surface, crafted from durable plastic, will offer maximum protection in a minimal package. Colors include black, "glossed white," garnet red, amethyst and royal blue.

The Active case does exactly what you might expect by offering an ideal design for smartphone users who are always on the go. It’s lightweight and comes with a built-in metal kickstand for hands-free viewing. Additionally, the Active’s shock-absorbing protection, (which only adds 2.2mm to the phone), is great for those early morning jogs.

And lastly, the Convert Combo begins with the Surface case and then allows you to add more layers for extra protection—basically, the Convert is two cases in one. All of these will be up for pre-order beginning Wednesday, and will ship out as soon as Friday, May 18. The cases are $29.95, $34.95 and $49.95, respectively.

Check here for more information. 

One of the major features iPhone fans have been requesting since the launch of the iPhone 4S is a larger screen. Wednesday, a new report indicates that Apple just may be getting ready to respond and launch its next-generation iPhone with at least a 4-inch display.

While not confirmed, a 4-inch screen on the iPhone would be a major departure for Apple's smartphone, which has sported a 3.5-inch display since it launched in 2007. Production of the larger screen is reportedly set to begin soon, and it will measure at least 4 inches.

Apple has reportedly tapped a number of companies to work on the larger display, including LG Display, Sharp and Japan Display Inc. The report failed to mention whether Samsung would have a hand in the display production, but it seems likely considering it has been a major Apple partner for some time.

This new report falls in line with earlier rumors that have suggested Apple will likely launch an aluminum, next-generation iPhone with a 4-inch display this fall. The new Apple smartphone is expected to be 8mm longer than the current model and sport a faster, A5X processor.

T-Mobile announced this morning that the HTC Sensation and HTC Amaze 4G can now be upgraded to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. HTC Sensation customers can download the update today, while HTC Amaze 4G users will have to wait until Sunday, May 21.

The Sensation and Amaze 4G are both excellent HTC devices, and Android 4.0 ICS will give these older smartphones--older by today's standards--a fresh new feel and look.

For users who want to update their devices, the update can be accessed via the settings menu. 

HTC Sensation users can click on this link to get instructions on how to download the update. And HTC Amaze 4G users can find their instructions with this link.

Enjoy the updates and let us know how it works out for you via our Twitter account or our Facebook page!

Two of HTC's flagship handsets, the HTC EVO 4G LTE and One X have been delayed at customs thanks to an ITC exclusion order put in place at Apple's request. 

Specifically, the devices are being examined to determine whether or not they infringe on an Apple patent involving clickable links inside messaging and browser apps, All Things D reports. 

HTC has released a statement on the matter:

"The US availability of the HTC One X and HTC EVO 4G LTE has been delayed due to a standard U.S. Customs review of shipments that is required after an ITC exclusion order. We believe we are in compliance with the ruling and HTC is working closely with Customs to secure approval. The HTC One X and HTC EVO 4G LTE have been received enthusiastically by customers and we appreciate their patience as we work to get these products into their hands as soon as possible."

The EVO 4G LTE was expected to hit store shelves for Sprint this Friday, May 18th, but the customs delay is likely to push back the launch. Hopefully the situation will be ironed out soon - but we would expect Apple to use the exclusion order to hold up more HTC phones like this down the line. 

Google will launch multiple Android Nexus devices from more than one manufacturer this year, according to a new report. If true, the move will mark a major shift from Google's current Nexus program where the company only works with one OEM at a time.

Citing sources within Google's supply chain, the report claims Google will launch more Nexus devices to further control the Android experience. Google apparently feels the carriers have far too much control over Android and the Android experience overall. The strategy change is also likely a move to appease manufacturers who have yet to win a Nexus bid.

Google will reportedly sell these new devices through the Google Play web store directly to consumers. Google already offers the unlocked GSM version of the Google Samsung Galaxy Nexus online, so more devices popping up for sale does not seem like too much of a stretch.

While the Galaxy Nexus has done fairly well at Verizon, it really remains to seen whether ordinary phone shoppers will purchase their next phone online at an unsubsidized price. If done correctly, though, the devices could be a huge hit, especially at the right price. The success of Amazon Wireless proves this.

Anyway, Google will announce the full lineup of Nexus devices this fall with a Thanksgiving launch date pegged. The full stable of Nexus smartphones and tablets are expected to launch running Android 5.0 Jelly Bean.

Verizon Wireless today announced that it is expanding its 4G LTE network  footprint to 28 new cities starting May 17. The company revealed the news in an official corporate blog post early this morning.

Starting today, citizens of Abilene, Amarillo, Odessa, and Victoria, Texas; Bakersfield, Calif.; Eau Claire, Wisconsin.; and Joplin and St. Joseph, Mo. are the newest to experience Verizon's faster 4G LTE network. That brings the carrier's total to 258 markets covered by Verizon's calculations.

Additionally, Verizon reported that by the end of 2012, the carrier is looking to increase that number to a mind-blowing 400 markets across 49 states. Alaska will be the only state left out.

To read the full Verizon blog post, head here.

Mozilla on Tuesday finally updated Firefox for Android beta with a UI and code that have been in development since late last year. The new beta app adds an all-new, redesigned look that blends in better with the native Android UI.

Firefox, the highly popular third-party browser, has been available for some time on Android. The new UI in the beta is ICS-themed and  falls in line with Chrome for Android. It's a great looking app and very smooth. The previous version was slow, glitchy and quite ugly.

Overall, the new beta has all the features you've come to expect from Firefox, as well as full Adobe Flash support. The new browser also loads pages much faster, the landing screen is completely new and text zooming is buttery smoother. For a beta, it is very solid.

Fire for Android beta is free and available now. The app is compatible with Android smartphones and tablets running Android 2.2 and above.

Via: Mozilla

Samsung on Tuesday finally posted a list of T-Mobile USA Android smartphones and tablets that it plans to update to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The list was posted late Monday night on Samsung's support forums.

Google's new OS, which was first seen in the U.S. on Google's own Galaxy Nexus, is scheduled to be made available on the following Samsung smartphones and tablets: the T-Mobile Galaxy S II, the Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G, the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus and the Galaxy Tab 10.1.

Samsung says it has no plans to update the T-Mobile portion of the list, so if your Android device is not on this list currently, you might be out of luck. Several earlier T-Mobile Samsung devices were left off, so it doesn't look like any of them will receive updates.

So, just when will Android 4.0 arrive? It's anyone's guess at this point. Per usual, no release dates were given by T-Mobile or Samsung. Sadly, I honestly don't expect most of these updates to arrive until later this quarter at the earliest.

Will your T-Mobile Samsung device be getting the update to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich? Are you excited?

Taiwanese manufacturer HTC has unveiled the latest smartphone to grace its production lines: the Desire C, and rather than staying at the top of the company's smartphone hierarchy, the Desire brand has been tweaked to fill the budget slot.

The Desire C will offer users a 3.5-inch HVGA screen, 600MHz single-core processor and 4GB of internal storage, as well as a 5-megapixel primary camera.

The device will come equipped with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and will also feature HTC's superb Sense UI overlay (version 4.0) and Beats Audio technology. This gives the budget device a real leg up in the cutthroat market that is affordable smartphones.

Another key feature that the Desire C will potentially rock is NFC, with the manufacturer hinting at its inclusion without actually saying one way or the other. But the vagary of HTC's pitch suggests that the tech may be open to discussion, rather than nailed on, so don't get your hopes up.

Overall, the Desire C looks good and has every chance of doing well, owing to its great pedigree. But we'll be keeping our eyes on the middle kingdom, as that is where this device's main competitors are likely to hail from. We aren't sure whether it will have what it takes to keep them at bay.

We know you’re looking forward to hitting the beach and maybe even getting your road trip on this summer—but all that fun in the sun doesn’t have to totally melt your brain. Now that mobile is taking over, you have no excuses not to stay sharp all season long.

Academic-addicts: Khan Academy (iPad)

This non-profit has been around since 2006 when MIT and Harvard Business School graduate Salman Khan decided he wanted to provide a “high quality education to anyone, anywhere.” With over 3,200 micro lectures listed on its Web site, Khan Academy has been doing a pretty solid job of reaching that goal—and that “anywhere” part started making a lot more sense when the organization launched its mobile app on March 11, 2012. Once there, you can click through video tutorials on everything from history and finance to biology and computer science. Even better, the app allows you to sync videos between devices without needing an internet connection. So far it’s only available for Apple’s iPad, but if Khan remains to true to his mission statement, it’s just a matter of time before we see the mobile app roll out on other platforms. 

Lecture-lovers: TED (iOS and Android)

Anyone obsessed with the internet is most likely already well acquainted with TED’s Web site. But, in the event you’ve been lost at sea for some indefinite amount of time (June 2006, to be exact), let’s do a quick rundown of what you’ve missed. While TED might sound like the quirky, occasionally charming lead character from CBS’ “How I Met Your Mother,” it’s not. This TED has no intention of wooing you into a life of domesticity where your children never age and sit on the couch for eight seasons while it drones on about every woman it’s ever slept with. But, if TED were an actual man, he’d be the best kind; that is, one filled with wit.

TED, you see, actually stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design. It’s a global series of conferences held in the U.S., Europe and Asia, where every speaker goes on about a particular topic for roughly 18 minutes (which basically equates to a lot of knowledge gained during a good traffic jam). And now, thanks to TED’s mobile apps, you can access these brain-teasing lectures pretty much anywhere. You can listen to over 1,200 talks from a laundry list of notable names like Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Richard Dawkins, Malcolm Gladwell, Bill Gates and Larry Page, among others—spanning everything from tech and medicine to art and music. 

Aerospace-geeks: NASA (iPhone, iPad and Android)

You no longer have to be an astronaut to explore the inner-workings of our solar system, thanks to NASA’s mobile app. The space-inspired app features live streaming video from NASA TV, an interactive map to all of the agency’s field centers, links to stories (including one on women in space), launch schedules, and a scrolling “alerts banner.” You can also explore the solar system right on your handset and check back regularly for a new “Astronomy Picture of the Day.” 

Over-thinkers: WolframAlpha (iOS and Android)

Folks are keen on likening this one to that infamous Star Trek computer. Creator Stephen Wolfram has been working on his brainchild for 25 years now, and it shows. To put it simply, WolframAlpha is an answer engine—but saying that feels cheap, because it goes way beyond the basic crap you’re likely to find in your run-of-the-mill internet search box. Rather than relying on a bunch of unfounded third-party info and SEO, WolframAlpha answers your questions directly by computing the answer from structured data. When the smart engine first hit Apple’s App store, it came with an almost unrealistically steep price tag of $50. Buyers weren’t too thrilled with that, especially since the program can be accessed for free via a Web browser. Thankfully, the company listened to its fans by lowering the price and offering a refund to existing users. You can now snag the app for just $2.99 in Google Play and iTunes Store. 

Art enthusiasts: MoMA (iPhone and Android)

The Museum of Modern Art in New York might be a far-off destination for some, but thanks to the institute’s app, anyone toting a mobile device can gain instant access from anywhere. MoMA’s mobile app features details on current exhibitions, multimedia tours and information on planning a visit, along with a glossary of artists and art terminology. You can also browse and search a trailing list of works in the museum’s collection and take snapshots of your favorites to share with friends. We can’t help but think how much better this would all look on an HD iPad version (please, MoMA?). 

Word-nerds: Vocabology (iPhone) and PowerVocab (Android)

You can annoy your friends with well-crafted sentences by brushing up on a wide range of terms with the Vocabology app. The nerdy word app features quizzes and social media integration (with Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr) so you can put all that newfound knowledge to use right away, making you far less likely to forget it. Along with your average “word of the day,” you’ll also get a chance to learn new words in other languages, including French, Spanish, Italian, German and Portuguese. And to keep things interesting, Vocabology also throws in a slang term from Urban Dictionary. When you grow tired of all that, you can add brain-teasing extras through in-app purchases, including audio pronunciation and SAT word of the day, $4.99 and $2.99, respectively.

Android users: You guys can get your hands on PowerVocab, which may not have all the bells and whistles as Vocabology (you won’t find any Urban Dictionary slang here), but will sharpen your pen just the same. PowerVocab focuses on terms taken from the SAT, GRE and GMAT, and turns it into a game, which can even be played with other users. You can learn words, take challenge quizzes and use the search function in the same fashion as a regular old dictionary. 

All signs point to Apple prepping for its next-generation iPhone, expected to hit the market sometime this fall. Cnet reports on Sterne Agee's prediction that the Cupertino-based company is decreasing the production of its current handsets, possibly by as much as 25 percent from one quarter to the next.

And why would Apple make such a move unless it was making room for something bigger and better, right? Slowing production of its current iPhones would give Apple's suppliers more time to pave the way for the next model.

If any of this sounds familiar, it should; Apple made a similar move in reducing production of the iPhone 4 just before the release of the 4S version. At the same time, the tech giant is also purportedly looking at a slight increase in the production of its latest iPad, which continues to see rave reviews.

Via: Cnet

Google’s Chrome browser, in my opinion, is kind of amazing. Forget, for a moment, the fact that Google tracks my every move and keeps a log of every miniscule activity made when I’m logged in. When I’m not thinking about how unnervingly frustrating that is, I really like Chrome. So I was happy to stumble on this write-up from GigaOm this morning, which says that Chrome for Apple’s iPhone and iPad is coming soon.

According to a Tuesday release from Macquarie Equities Research, it’s likely we’ll see this rollout on iOS in the very near future (the report suggests that it could even be this quarter). Google Chrome for iOS would function much like that of its Android browser and would offer similar features. The analysis indicates that the browser could also reduce costs for Google, in the sense that it might end up paying less for search advertising through Safari’s mobile browser.

On the downside, while Google has seen plenty of success with its desktop browser, that may not translate to its mobile version—especially one running on iOS. The biggest issue here seems to be rooted in the fact that Apple doesn’t allow users to set their own default browsers. With Apple, what you get is what Apple says you get, and that’s pretty much final.

Sure, you can easily install a third-party browser from the App Store, but all of your external links are still going to open in Safari. So, while a Chrome browser may offer you the luxury of having all your bookmarks in one place, there may not be any other noticeable benefit—at least not until/unless Apple decides to give its users more freedom in this respect.

Nokia is irritated with its big smartphone rival, Apple. The Finnish phone maker is accusing America’s tech giant of overriding Siri’s software so that it responds to a particularly competitive question in favor of Apple’s iPhone 4S.

When prompted for its recommendation on the best smartphone last week, Siri reportedly chose Nokia’s Lumia 900. But now it appears Siri has changed its electronic mind about which manufacturer churns out the best device. When asked the same question on Monday, the voice assistant had some pretty cheeky responses including, “The one you’re holding,” and “You’re kidding, right?” or “Wait. There are other phones?”

Cute and clever responses, for certain—but not everyone agrees Apple’s snappy answers are as humorous as intended. After hearing Siri’s seemingly new replies to the “best smartphone” inquiry, Nokia went on to issue a statement to the Sydney Morning Herald in which it accused Apple of overriding Siri’s software.

In order to generate responses, Apple’s voice assistant uses third-party sites and outside services, including WolframAlpha. And currently, WolphramAlpha ranks Nokia’s Lumia 900 as the “best” smartphone on the market, according to the Herald’s report. The iPhone 4S, on the other hand, sits at a low 14 on that same list. Ouch. Given that, one could easily assume Apple did indeed tweak with Siri’s smartphone response. But even so, should it really matter?

Anyone using Siri (or any other voice assistant, for that matter) is going to want/expect the most accurate and unbiased answer possible. But we’re talking about iPhone owners, and most iPhone owners are Apple fans by default. And labeling any particular item/brand the “best” of anything is all a matter of preference, anyway.

So is it really offensive if Siri makes an obvious joke about its own platform being the best? On that same note, doesn’t it seem a little off when Siri pimps some other manufacturer’s device as being better? What do you think? Head over to our Facebook Page and join the conversation. 

Via: Cnet

A new MVNO carrier dubbed Voyager Mobile is set to launch in the very near future on the back of the Sprint 3G and 4G WiMAX network that offers contract-free unlimited voice and text for $19 a month and a unlimited package with data for $39. 

The carrier is also teasing a "frequent talker program" that rewards customers with points for talking on the phone. The points can be redeemed for pirks that include phone upgrades, free months of service, air mielage and gift cards. 

At this point, phone choices include some of Sprint's most popular Android and Windows smartphones like the LG Optimus S, Motorola XPRT, Motorola Phonton 4G, and Samsung's Conquer 4G and Epic 4G Touch. 

The launch was expected to occur today, but a statment on Voyager Mobile's website  has revealed that a malicious network attack has forced the carrier to postpone the launch to a date in "the very near future". 

When Voyager Mobile's service does launch, it is expected to do so in select states with a nationwide rollout following sometime thereafter. 

With the European Galaxy S III almost out the door, we knew it was only a matter of time until we got more details regarding the U.S. variants. Now, on Monday, thanks to our friends, we have some test images taken with variants of the Galaxy S III from all four major U.S. carriers.

While the photos don't indicate camera details, they do reveal model numbers. AT&T's Galaxy S III will reportedly be the SGH-I747, Verizon's is the SCH-I535, Sprint Nextel's is the SPH-L710 and T-Mobile USA’s is the SGH-T999. All model numbers fall in line with the carriers' previous Samsung models, so the numbers do seem legit.

The shots appear to show some offices, probably somewhere in Asia. The photos do confirm the device will launch on the top four U.S. carriers later this year, so that is a good thing for interested consumers.

Unfortunately, there aren't too many details here that tell us release dates or pricing, so we are still are left a bit in the dark. The summer starts in just a few weeks, though, so we should find out more soon.

Are you excited about the Galaxy S III possibly coming to your carrier?

LightSquared has finally filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after its dreams of a 4G wireless network were crushed by federal regulators earlier this year, a new report revealed on Monday.

LightSquared, a company designed as a wholesale provider of 4G LTE wireless services, would have covered millions of users across the U.S. Regulators blocked LightSquared’s 4G LTE network in February due to concerns surrounding interference with GPS hardware systems and spectrum.

LightSquare's model seemed like a great alternative to the carriers and something that would add much-needed competition into the wireless industry. Looking back now, though, it was a little surprising it was even awarded a license, especially considering the GPS concerns its spectrum faced.

Despite the filing, LightSquared still could be bought by Dish Network at a later point. As the NYP points out, Dish bought $350 million of LightSquared's debt just last week, so a deal could definitely be in the works.

LightSquared also still owns boatloads of spectrum that it could sell or auction, so I'm sure we'll see some more suitors emerge sooner, rather than later.

Seriously, when isn’t Facebook in the process of getting some kind of makeover? The site has switched things up so often that it’s really become more of an expectation (albeit, a minor annoyance) at this point.

And yes, this is another one of those wonderful Facebook changes where you don’t get to decide whether you want it; the company has already made the changes for its mobile users. But there’s no need to freak out about this one; it’s nothing drastic like that time everyone was losing their cool over Timeline (which I still don’t understand, because really, what a huge improvement).

This change, announced Monday, is strictly for Facebook’s mobile users and it’s focused on the News Feed section. It’s a much-needed improvement as it makes browsing the site via mobile far less irritating; photos will now appear up to three times larger and posts will appropriately fit perfectly in your phone’s screen. The new look is compatible with iOS, Android and m.facebook.com.

Check it out on your phone now, and while you’re there head over to Know Your Cell and let us know what you think.

It's not exactly breaking news (we've been hearing talk of the upcoming Google Nexus tablet for a while now), but further findings reveal that we may indeed see it soon. According to Slash Gear, a new Samsung tablet is slated for a potential summer 2012 release. The rumored tablet wouldn’t be the first of its kind, but it will be the first one to be branded as a Nexus. Before this, we were given the Motorola XOOM, which launched with Android 3.0 Honeycomb.

Information for the latest tablet was purportedly obtained from Google’s own source codes. Here are the specs that have been revealed so far:

• Samsung’s Exynos 5250 processor
• Mali T-604 graphics up to 533 mhz (code named vithar)
• Display model number S6E8AB0
• 1280 x 800 pixel resolution
• Super AMOLED panel for ultra-brightness
• Rear camera model S5K4E5 5MP BSI
• Wolfson Micro wm 8994 (also found in Samsung’s Galaxy S and Galaxy Tab)

We’ll keep you posted on further Google Nexus developments.

Via: Slash Gear

It's a Lumia showdown this time around, as we compare Nokia's Lumia 800 with its Lumia 900

>>Read More

The HTC One V is giving regional carriers a little love this year. As part of the One family, you can expect it to feature some pretty great hardware along with HTC's inspired new design. The One V isn't as spec-pumped as the HTC One X, but for those consider a relatively entry-level smartphone, the One V does the trick.

The One V's design reminds me of the old HTC Hero (international version). Its shape and color are probably what do it for me, but the lip at the bottom of the phone is really what makes the One V look Hero-esque.

U.S. Cellular has already said it will carry the One V this summer, so expect it to hit other regional carriers, too. In the meantime, enjoy the photos below!

With a 4.8-inch display, battery life has been one of the chief concerns regarding the upcoming Galaxy S III. However, thanks to some early sleuthing and testing by high-profile blogger Eldar Murtazin, we now know the smartphone’s 2,100 mAh battery is good for over 20 hours of uptime.

Overall, the numbers are extremely impressive for a quad-core smartphone with such a massive screen. Murtazin says his use includes around five hours of audio playback, several photos and a single video. That's fairly heavy usage for such a good battery.

So just what used up the most battery? The AMOLED display, it seems, which isn't surprising considering it is so big. The fact that Samsung is using a PenTile screen also probably has an effect on the battery life. A non-PenTile AMOLED Plus display would easily use less power.

While not much can be taken from such early tests, they still indicate a normal day of usage is possible and that is huge. Personally, I am going to wait until we see some tests with the cellular radio on before I make any decisions.

Samsung is expecting to launch the Galaxy S III in Europe and Asia on May 29. The device will likely launch in the U.S. this summer. To see a full hands on with the much-anticipated smartphone, head here.

Sprint announced last week that it will officially begin rolling out its flagship Android smartphone on May 18. The HTC EVO 4G LTE will be available for $199.99 on contract, and now select customers can get their hands on one a little earlier than planned.

We say “select” because Sprint announced Monday that it has picked a small number of its retail locations to open at 8 a.m. Friday, May 18, in celebration of the launch of its latest handset. These chosen stores will offer special demonstrations of the device, which should help potential buyers with their final decision. Locations have been announced one by one, and Sprint made no indication of whether more will be added to the list. So far, these include:

Plano, Texas: 1913 Preston Rd., Suite 100

Atlanta: 3400 Around Lenox Rd., Atlanta, Ga., 30326, in the Around Lenox shopping center

Miami: 12540 SW 120th St.

Boston: 422 Boylston St., at the corner of Boylston & Berkeley streets

Redmond, Wash.: Overlake Sprint Store, 148th Ave NE South

Denver: 9992 Commons St., STE 100, Lone Tree, CO, just off E. Lincoln Avenue

Washington, D.C.: 1101 South Joyce St., Suite B15, Arlington, VA 22202

Sprint’s HTC EVO 4G LTE runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and features a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, a 4.7-inch HD display and HD Voice capabilities. You can read more about it here.

Via: Android Central

Information posted to a popular benchmarking site suggests that Samsung is preparing a dual-core variant of its Galaxy S3 smartphone for the North American market, specifically, for Verizon.

The variant, which carries the model number SCH-I535, checked in with a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 chipset rather than the quad-core Exynos of the original. Aside from the chipset differences the device was identical to the original Galaxy S3, prompting speculation that the mystery smartphone is actually a 4G/LTE-friendly version of the device, aimed at serving Big Red.

Taiwanese manufacturer HTC made similar changes to its One X device when bringing it to the U.S. market, bumping the Tegra 3 chipset of the Euro version in favor of Qualcomm's 'Krait' S4. The S4 plays nice with U.S. networks and offers unparalleled support for 4G tech--something NVIDIA's Tegra 3 chipset can't match.

While many will see the change to dual core as a 'downgrade,' it's important to note that Qualcomm's S4 has actually been shown to be superior to the Tegra 3 in many ways, posting better benchmarks despite packing two fewer processor cores. So the version we see may turn out to be the better smartphone of the two, which will be nice if true!

Via Blog of Mobile, NenaMark