An upgrade to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich was promised by Meizu’s CEO Jack Wong back almost 6 months ago in November. It looks like he has finally released a date for the Ice Cream Sandwich update for the MX and M9 smartphones of June. The Meizu MX and Meizu M9 will not be getting the Ice Cream Sandwich update that most other phones get as it will be skinned with Meizu’s own Flyme OS version 1.0. Their Flyme OS is supposed to improve Google’s default Android 4.0 features with a more refined logical interface, backup and sync data functions, and cloud storage.

Official Press Release About Flyme OS 1.0 for the Meizu MX and M9:

HONG KONG – April 24, 2012 – MEIZU today officially announces that the MEIZU MX and M9 smartphones will be upgraded to Flyme OS 1.0 (based on Android 4.0) in June 2012. This announcement indicates that MEIZU’s entire current range of smartphones will be brought into the Android 4.0 era, reflecting MEIZU’s unyielding commitment towards its old users.

MEIZU’s Flyme OS offers a powerful range of features and user-friendliness together with a simple and elegant design, receiving praise from users both at home and abroad. It is the result of MEIZU’s focus on user experience since the start. Combining all the best elements from past products and iterations, Flyme OS 1.0 provides a superior user experience.
Flyme OS 1.0 will offer a slew of advantages over the native Android 4.0 system. The user experience will be more logical; interactions more streamlined and pre-installed apps more comprehensive. Under the hood, Flyme OS 1.0 offers backup and sync, lost phone locating, as well as a new cloud services such as personal file storage. In Mainland China, MEIZU’s Music Online music streaming app will have its entire library upgraded to lossless audio formats.

Customers with the MEIZU MX and M9 will be able to upgrade to Flyme 1.0 via an OTA (over the air) push directly on their phones, or by downloading the firmware upgrade from the official MEIZU website in June this year.

MEIZU MX comes with an Exynos dual-core A9 processor and a high resolution 4-inch 292 PPI display with the world’s most naturally beautiful ASV display technology, giving users the ultimate visual experience. It also comes with an 8 megapixel backside illuminated (BSI) camera with a lens aperture of f/2.2, capable of taking great photos even in low light conditions.

As China’s first flagship smartphone, the MEIZU M9 was released in early 2011 with a 1 GHz CPU, 3.5-inch 960×640 resolution ASV display and a 5 megapixel camera to much fanfare in China and beyond.

The MEIZU MX 16GB retails for ¥2399 CNY in Mainland China and $2599 HKD in Hong Kong, while the MEIZU M9 sells for 1699 yuan in Mainland China.

Sprint has put out an ad for their mobile controls that curiously shows what looks like a Samsung Galaxy Note in the ad. While we don’t have definitive information on a release of the Phone tablet hybrid on the “Now Network” you have to take this ad as a sign that they will be getting the popular device at some point soon.

This could be a marketing mishap or even a graphic designer that just happened to find an unbranded image of a Galaxy Note and figured it fit but those on the Sprint network can at least have the hope that it may hit the carrier in the coming months.

The Galaxy Ace 2 sounds like the sort of nineties space-flight sim in which you pilot a lone starfighter against waves of alien spaceships that are intent on eradicating humanity from the universe. It isn’t, as you may have guessed, but that’s no reason for disappointment. Instead, it’s the latest incarnation of Samsung’s budget smartphone, and like those nineties games, it promises hours of entertainment from a simple no-frills set-up.

The original Galaxy Ace looked a lot like the iPhone 4 and was hailed as a bold attempt to cut into Apple’s market, a gaffe that put anti-Apple consumers off the product – but this year’s incarnation bears little resemblance. The design loses the silver bezel surround – going with all-black plastic instead – and features more rounded corners. It’s not as slim as the Galaxy S2, but it’s lighter than the iPhone 4S by nearly 20g, so is still very much pocket-sized.

The Galaxy Ace 2 rocks a 3.8 inch WVGA touchscreen with improved display resolution (480×800) and a decent resolution of 246 ppi. There’s a rear-facing 5MP camera with small flash, capable of recording 720p video, which on paper is no improvement on the previous Ace model. However, it remains to be seen whether camera features, image quality and shutter speed have been improved. There’s also a front-facing VGA camera. As for memory, it features 4GB of internal memory, which is expandable by microSD card, and 768Mb of RAM.

The Ace 2 runs on Gingerbread 2.3 skinned with Samsung’s TouchWiz interface, so it’s not cutting edge, but it still provides a wealth of Android apps that can turn your phone into a social media hub. Like most phones running on Android’s Gingerbread, an upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0 is pending. One operational issue may be the 800Mhz dual core processor: time will tell if this provides a suitably fast performance, but those who are really concerned with flawless high-speed functionality should probably be opting for a higher-end model.

That’s the essence of the Galaxy Ace 2: it’s unlikely to blow your mind, but it won’t break the bank either. The specs look very decent on paper, so we await price comparison with the other entry-level handsets on the market. With the MWC 2012 underway as we go to press, we shall soon see how the Galaxy Ace 2 shapes up against the likes of the HTC One V and the Sony Xperia U.

As Samsung have confirmed that they won’t be unveiling the Galaxy S III in Barcelona, their hopes of impressing are looking more and more likely to be based on their latest budget phones and tablets. Indeed, their choice to release the details of their entry-level phones the week before the MWC (for the second year running) suggests that they are hoping to use these devices to fight off waves of powerful rival aggressors, much like that lone Galaxy Ace starfighter from those computer games of yore.

This was a guest post by Simon from Best Mobile Contracts, a UK mobile phone comparison website.

The rumors have been flying around that the LG Optimus 2X will not get Ice Cream Sandwich. LG has confirmed officially on Facebook that the Optimus 2X will be receiving the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update and that the rumors are false.

There is no estimated release date of the update and we don’t forsee it this year although we now know it will come. LG has promised that they will release more detailed information shortly about the Android 4.0 update. As we get more information from LG we will let you all know.

A recent update to Verizon’s Privacy Policy shows that they are using data collected by your data usage etc. and giving it to 3rd parties. They are collecting information like the websites you are visiting and device location information. They say this is being used strictly for marketing and your name and phone number will not be shared.

We personally feel its none of Verizon’s business what we do and where we are with our devices. We surely don’t think that third parties should get their hands on any of this information. The worst part is that they are opting you into this automatically. By default your account is set to collect data and send it to Verizon per the terms you signed when you started a contract with them.

One redeeming factor is that you can opt out of the data collection (so they say) from your account online. You can login to your account and opt-out, just look for “Don’t use my information”. Se below for more information on the Notice:

Why am I getting this notice? Your privacy is an important priority at Verizon Wireless. Our Privacy Policy (available at www.vzw.com/myprivacy) informs you about information we collect and how we use it. Today we want to tell you about some important updates relating to two new uses of information. Verizon Wireless will begin using the information described below for (1) certain business and marketing reports and (2) making mobile ads you see more relevant. If you do not want us to use this information for these purposes, you can let us know by using one of the options described in the “Your Choices” section of this notice. This supplements our Privacy Policy. What information are we talking about? Under these programs, we willnot share any information that identifies you personally. Verizon Wireless will use the following categories of information: Mobile Usage Information: • Addresses of websites you visit when using our wireless service. These data strings (or URLs) may include search terms you have used • Location of your device (“Location Information”) • App and device feature usage Consumer Information: • Information about your use of Verizon products and services (such as data and calling features, device type, and amount of use) • Demographic and interest categories provided to us by other companies, such as gender, age range, sports fan, frequent diner, or pet owner (“Demographics”) Is my information shared? Under these new programs, we will not share outside of Verizon any information that identifies you personally. HOW INFORMATION WILL BE USED DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE To create business and marketing reports. We will combine Mobile Usage Information and Consumer Information in a way that doesnot personally identify you. We will use this information to prepare business and marketing reports that we may use ourselves or share with others. A report might state that 10,000 mobile users visited a sports website in a month and 60% were men. For other companies to create business and marketing reports. We may also share Location Information with other companies in a way that doesnot personally identify you. We will allow these companies to produce limited business and marketing reports. The data we provide could be combined with data provided by other wireless carriers to create a report on the number of mobile users who take a particular highway during rush hour. To make mobile ads you see more relevant. When you use your wireless device, you often see ads on websites and apps. Using certain Consumer Information (such as your Demographics, device type, and language preference) and the postal address we have for you, we will determine whether you fit within an audience an advertiser is trying to reach. This means ads you see may be more relevant to you. We will not share any information that identifies you personally. A local restaurant may want to advertise only to people who live within 10 miles, and we might help deliver that ad on a website without sharing information that identifies you personally. Your choices. If you do not want us to use your information for any of the purposes described above, please let us know at any time by: • Visiting www.vzw.com/myprivacy  Or • Calling 1-866-211-0874 You will receive mobile ads whether you participate or not, but under the advertising program, ads may be more relevant to you. If you have a Family SharePlan® or multi-line account, you must indicate your choice for each line. If you add a line or change a telephone number, you will need to update your privacy choices.

Cricket announced the newest phone in their Android lineup called the Samsung Transfix. Its a QWERTY slider with a 3.2 inch display running Android 2.3 Gingerbread available for $179 right now. The Transfix has an 800 MHz processor and 3.2 MP rear facing camera. For more information read the official press release below.

Cricket and Samsung Introduce New Android Messaging Smartphone

Running Android™ Gingerbread the Samsung Transfix features full slide out QWERTY keyboard

San Diego and Dallas – October 11, 2011 – Cricket Communications, Inc., a leading provider of innovative and value-driven wireless services and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Leap Wireless International, Inc. (NASDAQ: LEAP) and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the United States1 today announced the launch of the Samsung Transfix™ (SCH-R730). The Transfix is the latest in Cricket’s line up of Android smartphones and is packed with many great features in a sleek design.

With a full slide out QWERTY keyboard, the Samsung Transfix is an easy-to-navigate messaging device for Cricket customers who are texting and surfing the web on the go. The Transfix is powered by Android 2.3 Gingerbread and features an 800MHz processor with a 3.2-inch touchscreen. The smartphone also features a 3.2-megapixel camera with camcorder and microSD slot with up to 32-gigabyte expandable memory. The Transfix includes all of the popular Android apps like Gmail, YouTube and Google Search, plus the Android market that now features more than 200,000 applications and games.

“We are very pleased to bring the Samsung Transfix to Cricket customers,” said Matt Stoiber, vice president and general manager, devices for Cricket.  “The Transfix features an easy-to-use slide out keyboard that makes messaging a breeze.  Combined with its affordable price we believe the Transfix will be attractive to our customers looking for an Android device.”

“We are excited to offer another Android Gingerbread smartphone, the Samsung Transfix, to Cricket’s network,” said Todd Pendleton, chief marketing officer of Samsung Mobile. “We continue to work with Cricket to provide customers devices to fit their needs, and the Transfix is an outstanding messaging device.”

 

Every one of us with an Android device know how fast the battery can drain when taking a lot of pictures, tethering or using the GPS features. NTT Docomo, one of the largest carriers in Japan has developed a prototype battery that can be completely charged in ten minutes.

There isn’t much on the technology since the NTT Docomo reps wont divulge anything about it. What we do know is that it has an external lithium Ion batter sleeve and currently only supports NEC’s Medias Android device. Also the charger for this super battery outputs up to 6.0 amps which is insane in comparison to a normal battery. Side by side the normal battery pulls about 0.55 amps while the super battery pulls 5.86.

Everything seems to still be in prototype testing phases and the carrier has stated no idea on a release date. Could this be a game changer in the battery technologies of all future devices or is it just a project like many others that will get shelved before consumers ever see it?

Sprint has been falling behind AT&T and Verizon and hopes to get back into the game as a leader by purchasing $20 billion in the next generation of iPhones. With the release of the iPhone 5 tomorrow Sprint hopes to close the gap between itself and the two major competitors.

Sprint is actually purchasing $30 billion worth of devices with a $500 subsidy of each device. This is Sprint’s last hurrah if they don’t get some of their 52 million subscribers who are majority pre-paid accounts to convert to contracts. We have seen Sprint’s stock taking a hit over the last few months but this could be a game changer for them.

We hope sincerely being stock holders ourselves that this turns things around for sprint. Being the last major carrier with unlimited plans still in tact we see no reason that this will not be a sound decision by the powers that be at Sprint.

“If Sprint has bet right, the iPhone will be the device that finally breaks the company’s half-decade long slide and keeps much larger rivals Verizon Wireless and AT&T Inc. from running off with the bulk of the wireless industry’s subscribers and profits. If it’s wrong, the iPhone deal will saddle the company with a costly albatross at a time when it is already stretching to manage an expensive network upgrade and cover debt payments.”
via http://online.wsj.com

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