Verizon takes back convenience fee

Yesterday there was news about Verizon planning to charge its customers a $2 convenience fee if they didn't pay their bills over the counter or through auto-billing. Today it looks like those charges won't ever come into play. According to reports online - Verizon has announced that it will not be charging its customers the $2 fee. This comes after the countless complaints from its customers that can be seen on blogs and in the comments section all over the internet, and also after the FCC mentioned that it would be looking into the situation.

Ubergizmo, Verizon takes back convenience fee

iPad 3 replacement parts spotted?

Apple's products generate a whole lot of attention, and in the process, rumors as well. What you see above could very well be iPad 3 replacement parts, which you can check out in greater detail after the jump via the embedded video. TVC-Mall.com is the party who attempted to look up parts that were being sold purely for iPad 3 use, including the dock connector part, additional segments for a noise-canceling microphone cable, as well as the volume control buttons cable/power part. All of these are very preliminary, of course, so you might want to wait further until something more concrete leaks out from Apple themselves.



Ubergizmo, iPad 3 replacement parts spotted?

ITG xpPhone 2 running on Windows 7 released in China

Sometime back in October, we reported on ITG's xpPhone 2, a device manufactured by a company that seems to believe that mobile chipsets and mobile platforms are not the way to go, as evidenced by their choice of hardware and software. Well if you're willing to give them a chance, it seems that the company has managed to surpass their goal of a release in 2012 and has since launched the device in China. For those who might have forgotten, the xpPhone 2 is an Intel Atom Z530 powered smartphone that is clocked at 1.6GHz. It features 2GB of RAM, 112GB of storage packed into an SSD, a 4.3" display with Microsoft's Windows 7 running the show.

Ubergizmo, ITG xpPhone 2 running on Windows 7 released in China

Leather Six-Pack Holder For Artisanal Frat Parties

Tote your suds in style with this leather six-pack holder. Photo Geoffrey Franklin/Flickr. This weekend, we'll all be heading out to parties, getting drunk and spending Sunday afternoon nursing our inevitable hangovers with bacon sandwiches and energy drinks. But why turn up at your friend's house with your booze in cheap and ugly carrier bag when you can carry your six-pack in style?

This is the Leather 6-Pack Carton, an elegant beer-carrier fashioned from leather strips riveted together into a tough, reusable net. The carrier holds six twelve-ounce bottles, and the straps are spaced so you can see the labels on the sides.

Gadget Lab, Leather Six-Pack Holder For Artisanal Frat Parties

Sony Ericsson trademark filing reveals Xperia Ion name

. In the coming year, Sony Ericsson plans to have more of an Android presence in the United States. Earlier rumors suggested that Sony is planning a high-end smartphone that will land on AT&T, code-named “LT28at.” Additionally, another high-end device code-named “Nozomi” is currently being tested by carriers in Hong Kong and could possibly make its way stateside. According to a recently filed trademark with the U.S.

Boy Genius Report, Sony Ericsson trademark filing reveals Xperia Ion name

GTA 3 Dual-Analog Gameplay Enabled With DroidMote – Accelerometer Support Also Featured [Video]

In a previous post we featured an app called Tablet Remote that allows for a user to control one Android device from another using Bluetooth. While that was all good and dandy for playing media, it wasn't exactly ideal for Android gaming. So what happens when you want to play a little GTA3 on your big screen but want to do it from your couch and not tethered 2 feet away. DroidMote is here to save the day.



Android Phone, GTA 3 Dual-Analog Gameplay Enabled With DroidMote â€" Accelerometer Support Also Featured [Video]

Sprint Discounting Samsung Conquer 4G To $50 In January – Offers You Another One FREE With Purchase

Sprint is trying to kick off 2012 into high gear with a new winter promotion starting next month. From January 8th through March 10th, new or existing Sprint customers (with an upgrade) can get a Samsung Conquer 4G at the discounted price of $50 but that’s not all — it also comes with a matching Conquer for free. Deals always sound more fun with you throw BOGO into the mix and you could do a lot worse than the Conquer 4G.

Android Phone, Sprint Discounting Samsung Conquer 4G To $50 In January â€" Offers You Another One FREE With Purchase

Galpin widebody Mustang ready for its charity auction at Barrett-Jackson

The annual Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, AZ is less than a month away, and car aficionados from around the country are already gearing up for the six-day collector car sell-a-thon. One of the vehicles up for grabs will be this custom widebody Mustang that we first told you about in August. At the time, this ponycar was a mere rendering, but since then Galpin has completed the Mustang and readied it for the auction in January. Like several of the cars that cross the block, the proceeds from the sale of the widebody Mustang will be donated to charity, specifically the St.

Autoblog

See also:
digitalhouse, Galpin widebody Mustang ready for its charity auction at Barrett-Jackson

Zephyr gives your jailbroken iPhone MeeGo multitasking

Remember the Nokia N9 - the first and last MeeGo phone from Nokia. While the phone was brilliant in its own right, it won't be officially making its way over to our shores but that doesn't mean we can't experience the goodness that MeeGo brings. Renowned iPhone hacker chpwn has released a new tweak for jailbroken iPhone devices that brings the multi-tasking aspect of MeeGo over to iOS. If you like swiping your apps left and right, and launching the multi-tasking tray by swiping upwards on your phone, this tweak is for you. No, it's not going to replace your iPhone with the MeeGo OS, but you get one cool feature from it.



Ubergizmo, Zephyr gives your jailbroken iPhone MeeGo multitasking

Prada 3.0 Smartphone Is As Impressive As It Is Fashionable

Liked the Prada II smartphone released in 2008. The iconic fashion house has once again teamed up with LG and released the Prada 3.0 handset. While it has been said that fashion-branded smartphones are not exactly at par with the likes of iPhone, this newest Prada phone is not being outclassed. Looking quite similar to Nokia Lumia 800, the new Android-powered Prada smartphone comes with a 4.3-inch WVGA NOVA screen, 1GHz dual-core processor, and an 8-megapixel camera.

Gadget.com, Prada 3.0 Smartphone Is As Impressive As It Is Fashionable

Ed Hardy releases their own series of headphones

Say what you will about the Ed Hardy brand, love it or hate it, but either way it looks like the company famous for its tattoo-inspired clothing line and designs has decided to dip their toes in the headphones business by launching two pairs of over-ear headphones, and three pairs of in-ear headphones. The over-ear headphones features 40mm speakers, a frequency range of 20hz-20kHz and an impedance of 32ohms. It will be available in two designs – Tiger or Skull and Bones, and will retail for $66 each. The in-ear headphones features 8mm speakers, a frequency range of 20Hz-18kHz with an impedance of 32ohms.

Ubergizmo

See also:
itnews, Ed Hardy releases their own series of headphones

1 million Galaxy Notes shipped worldwide, US fans throw money at their screens

The Galaxy Note, Samsung's unconventional powerhouse, has managed to ship 1 million units in under two months. While eager US customers still wait for the 5.3-inch tabletphone hybrid to arrive on their shores, the Galaxy Note has apparently struck a chord in Europe and Asia. The number of units shipped is always more substantial than the number devices out there in end-users' (preferably large) hands, but it bodes well for the device's eventual reception in the US.

Engadget, 1 million Galaxy Notes shipped worldwide, US fans throw money at their screens

White Samsung Epic 4G Touch (Galaxy S II) Coming To Sprint In January

If you were on the fence about getting a Samsung Epic 4G Touch Galaxy S II (that was a mouthful) on Sprint, maybe the prospect of a new all white version will help entice you further. T-Mobile has been flaunting their white Galaxy S II for a couple of weeks now and it looks like Sprint will be able to do the same come January 8th, when the device will become available. We’ve seen a few “retailer” exclusive white versions for other devices in the past but it looks like the white Epic 4G Touch will be available at all Sprint retail locations and not just Best Buy or RadioShack.

Android Phone, White Samsung Epic 4G Touch (Galaxy S II) Coming To Sprint In January

Best Buy Advertises Motorola Droid 4 on Rewards Zone Site

Verizon put the Motorola Droid 4 on ice, but remnants of the advertising campaign that would have been continue to pop up. The latest is the inclusion of a rather final looking press image of the handset at the front of a recent Best Buy Reward Zone flyer.

Android Phone, Best Buy Advertises Motorola Droid 4 on Rewards Zone Site

Windows Phone Marketplace hits 50,000 app-submission milestone

Just over one month after crossing the 40,000 app-submission threshold, Microsoft's Windows Phone Marketplace has hit another milestone: 50,000. According to analyses done by All About Windows Phone, the Taj Mahal of tiles has seen developers submit just over 50,000 applications for review - 42,655 of which are currently available in the United States. What may be more telling is the rate at which developers are submitting their wares. Over 17,000 apps have been submitted to the Marketplace in the last 90-days from over 13,000 different publishers (an average of 265 per day).

Engadget

See also:
gadgeter, Windows Phone Marketplace hits 50,000 app-submission milestone

Nokia 801T specifications revealed

The Nokia Developers page does have some juicy parts for your eyeballs, and one of them would be the technical specifications of the recently announced Nokia 801T, being a touchscreen device that is headed for China – making it a kindred spirit as with the X7. Just what kind of hardware can you expect to carry.

Ubergizmo, Nokia 801T specifications revealed

Deal of the Day – 30% Coupon for HP ENVY 15 Intel 2nd Gen Core i5 2.4GHz Laptop

Today's LogicBUY Deal is the new 15.6" HP ENVY 15 laptop for $944.99 after a 30% discount coupon.  Features: all-new aluminum design, Beats Audio, six built-in speakers and a subwoofer, audio-grade mesh, Beats volume control, optional 1080p LCD screen, 8-cell 72WHr battery, HDMI, DisplayPort, USB 3.0 ports, 2-in-1 card reader, Bluetooth, 802.11n WiFi, HD webcam, Radiance backlit keyboard, EPEAT Gold Registered, and 2 year warranty, and more. Intel Core i5: $1049.99 – 30% coupon code = $734.99 with free shipping. Core i7 available for $1014.

This deal expires December 31, 2011 or sooner.

The Gadgeteer, Deal of the Day â€" 30% Coupon for HP ENVY 15 Intel 2nd Gen Core i5 2.4GHz Laptop

Samsung Galaxy S may receive Value Pack update instead of Android 4.0

Just yesterday we reported that due to overwhelming negative responses from their customers, Samsung announced that they would rethink their decision about not including the Galaxy Tab and Galaxy S in their Android 4.0 upgrade plans. As it turns out, it looks like Samsung may be firm in their resolve to not bring Android 4.0 to said devices, but will instead offer a "Value Pack" to the Galaxy S (it is possible that the Galaxy Tab could receive the same treatment). This is not confirmed yet but it is a move Samsung is reportedly thinking about.

Ubergizmo, Samsung Galaxy S may receive Value Pack update instead of Android 4.0

NTT DoCoMo, Samsung and four others create joint venture for LTE development

. NTT DoCoMo, Samsung, Fujitsu, Fujitsu Semiconductor, NEC and Panasonic announced plans on Tuesday to establish a joint venture in which the firms hope to work together to create LTE and LTE Advanced products. The fabless JV will specifically focus on the development of “feature-rich, small-size, low-power-consumption semiconductor products equipped with modem functionality” for LTE and LTE Advanced networks. Products developed by the companies will be sold globally.

Boy Genius Report, NTT DoCoMo, Samsung and four others create joint venture for LTE development

Samsung, Sharp and others to pay $553 million fine for LCD price-fixing scheme

. Samsung, Sharp, Innolux Corp, Hitachi, HannStar Display Corp, Chungwha Picture Tubes and Epson Imaging Devices Corp will pay a total of $553 million to settle accusations that the firms participated in an LCD price-fixing scheme. The price fixing resulted in inflation of display prices at the benefit of all companies involved, but at the cost of consumers. “This price-fixing scheme manipulated the playing field for businesses that abide by the rules, and left consumers to pay artificially higher costs for televisions, computers and other electronics,” New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said.

Boy Genius Report, Samsung, Sharp and others to pay $553 million fine for LCD price-fixing scheme

Samsung to push Bada 2.0 updates to its Wave range in Q1 2012

Back in September, Samsung announced that all of its older Wave smartphones would be updated to Bada 2.0 starting Q4 2011. Not long after that, the company has excluded the Wave 525 and Wave 533 models, citing hardware limitations. And now it looks like the Bada 2.0 update for the remaining handsets is delayed.
According to Samsung Spain, older Wave phones will only get to taste the new version of the OS starting the first quarter of 2012.

Unwired View, Samsung to push Bada 2.0 updates to its Wave range in Q1 2012

Lotus Exige R-GT rally car gets first shakedown test

Lotus has been busily preparing its new Exige R-GT rally car, and the automaker just put the racer through its first shakedown tests in Turin, Italy. So far, the Lotus team is happy with the vehicle's progress, but testing will continue in 2012 as the company prepares to take on the 2012 FIA World Championship. Don't expect the Exige R-GT to take on too many gravel stages, however. Lotus says the rally car will lock horns with competitors in the FIA GT Class on the asphalt events in Monte Carlo, Tour de Corse and San Remo.

Autoblog

See also:
bigcrunch, Lotus Exige R-GT rally car gets first shakedown test

Deal of the Day - Dell Vostro 260 2.7GHz Dual-core Mini Tower w/20-inch Dell LED-backlit LCD Monitor for $379

Today's LogicBUY Deal is the Dell Vostro 260 2.7GHz dual-core mini tower with a 20" Dell LED-backlit monitor for $379.  Features:  2GB RAM, 250GB 7200rpm hard drive, DVD burner, Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit), more. $478.00 – $99 off = $379.00 with $8 shipping. This deal expires December 29, 2011 or sooner.

The Gadgeteer, Deal of the Day - Dell Vostro 260 2.7GHz Dual-core Mini Tower w/20-inch Dell LED-backlit LCD Monitor for $379

Looking back at 2011: AT&T's bid to acquire T-Mobile is defeated

. AT&T made headlines in March of this year when it announced plans to acquire T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom for $39 billion. Here we are nine months later and the deal is dead in the water, but there was a huge game of tug-of-war going on all year between AT&T, policy makers, the government and AT&T's competitors. There were points when it seemed that the merger was bound for approval, and others where it seemed fairly certain that the government would reject AT&T's application. The only thing we knew for sure is that this deal, if approved, would change the wireless landscape in the U.S. forever.

Boy Genius Report, Looking back at 2011: AT&T's bid to acquire T-Mobile is defeated

Huawei is working on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update for the MediaPad (T-Mobile Springboard)

Since Google announced Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich a couple of months ago, one of the main questions that each Android device owner is facing is when the manufacturer of each gadget is going to issue an update to the latest version of the operating system. Or if. And while it's undoubtedly been a bumpy ride for some (Samsung Galaxy S owners, for example), things are much simpler for others, apparently. Including those who own a Huawei MediaPad (or T-Mobile Springboard, for it's basically the same device).

That's because the Chinese company is hard at work in bringing Android 4.0 to its latest tablet, as you can see from the image above.

Unwired View, Huawei is working on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update for the MediaPad (T-Mobile Springboard)

30-year-old corn ethanol subsidy nixed by Washington

Corn-based ethanol is a controversial fuel in its own right, and a longstanding federal subsidy for blending the biofuel with gasoline has been an additional source of consternation over the last 30 years. According to The Detroit News, Congress has wrapped up its work for 2011 without extending the incentive, a move that's drawn praise from environmental groups and taxpayer advocates.

Autoblog, 30-year-old corn ethanol subsidy nixed by Washington

China begins trial operations of home grown Beidou GPS system

The Russians have GLONASS, and the EU will eventually have Galileo, so China's probably been feeling left out of the GPS party so far. Not for much longer though, as the switch for its home grown Beidou system has just been flicked on, providing location and timing data to its home turf. There are ten satellites already in place and six more to follow next year, by which time, most of the Asia Pacific will be covered. The rest of the globe will be taken care of by 2020, once all of the planned 35 satellites are sent up.

Engadget, China begins trial operations of home grown Beidou GPS system

China launches high-speed test train capable of 310 mph, shaped like an ancient sword

According to an old "Simpsons" quote, there's nary a thing that can outrun a greased Scotsman. That's no longer the case, as Chinese train manufacturer CSR Corp Ltd. unveiled a 500 km/h (310 mph) high-speed test train over the weekend. The train, which consists of six cars, is shaped to look like an ancient sword, reinforced with carbon fiber, and has a maximum tractive power of 22,800 kilowatts.

Engadget, China launches high-speed test train capable of 310 mph, shaped like an ancient sword

Amazon Kindle Fire gets unofficial Android 4.0 update [video]

. Amazon's popular Kindle Fire tablet now has access to an unofficial Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update. Members of the xda-developers forum recently managed to get a “pre-alpha” version of Android 4.0 running on Amazon's new slate. The installation is based on the popular CyanogenMod 9 and while the ROM is working well in this early stage, there are still a number of bugs that need to be ironed out. It should also be clarified that this custom Ice Cream Sandwich ROM will remove all of Amazon's customization features from the tablet, such as its user interface and deep integration with Amazon services.



Boy Genius Report

See also:
gadgeter, Amazon Kindle Fire gets unofficial Android 4.0 update [video]

Square Enix files for “Hitman: Profession” trademark in Europe

Fans of the Hitman franchise will be pleased, and possibly excited, to hear that Square Enix Europe has recently filed a trademark for the name "Hitman: Profession". However the bad news is that apart from this new name, there really isn't much to go on but pure speculation, at least for now.

Ubergizmo, Square Enix files for “Hitman: Profession” trademark in Europe

Sly Cube lets you play the GameCube on the go

If you're a fan of the Nintendo GameCube and wish you could game on the go, you could get the Sly Cube. Built by a modder named Slipstream, the Sly Cube is a Nintendo GameCube that lets you game on the go. It comes with a custom 7″ LCD flip screen, a built-in 7.2v 600mAh lithium-ion battery (3-4 hours of game time), a built in controller and ports for extra controls, built-in rumble, memory card slots, charge jack and more. Judging by photographs of the device, the Sly Cube is one sweet-looking machine.



Ubergizmo, Sly Cube lets you play the GameCube on the go

Razer Blade delayed to mid-January for all the right reasons

Remember the hotly anticipated Razer Blade gaming laptop that didn't make it into your hands for Christmas. I've got good news and bad news. Bad news first of course; the laptop is getting delayed further all the way until middle to late January before you will actually be able to see it in your grubby little paws. Good news. The reason behind the delay is that Razer is swapping the 320GB HDD for a 256SSD without having to increase the US$2,799 list price. On top of that, for every Razer Blade order, Razer will be throwing in a Razer Orochi Blade Edition absolutely free. Details for that can be found on Razer's Facebook page here.

2DayBlog.com

See also:
wareground, Razer Blade delayed to mid-January for all the right reasons

Archos Smart Home Phone arrives at the FCC

The folks over at the FCC have recently gotten hold of the Archos Smart Home Phone, where the FCC Test Report describes it as "a handset of Internet Tablet with DECT," which means the Smart Home Phone might eventually end up forging a rather strange alliance between a DECT cordless phone and a tablet device. So far, FCC label photos have revealed the back portion of the Smart Home Phone (that frankly, hardly offers us any other kind of information), while the Test Setup Photos do point towards a blurry image of the device's front and bottom segment.

Ubergizmo, Archos Smart Home Phone arrives at the FCC

Boxee 1.5 nears release, will be final desktop version

We have some good news and bad news. The good news is: Boxee 1.5 will be entering public beta soon, with a proper release scheduled for January alongside Live TV. The update will finally bring the desktop software up-to-date and deliver the more streamlined UI found on the Boxee Box to your Windows, Mac or Linux computer. The bad news is: this will be the final version of the HTPCsoftware. Going forward Boxee plans to focus all of its efforts on streaming appliances, like its namesake Box and connected Blu-ray players and TVs.

Engadget, Boxee 1.5 nears release, will be final desktop version

Apple's '12 Days of Christmas' app brings 12 days of iTunes freebies

. Apple on Monday released the 2012 edition of its “12 Days of Christmas” application for iOS devices. From December 26th through January 6th, Apple is giving away free iTunes content including songs, music videos, apps and books to iOS device owners. New content is accessible through the app each day and free downloads will expire after 24 hours. Monday kicks things off with several Coldplay songs and videos, which can be downloaded for free until new downloads are made available on Tuesday.

Boy Genius Report, Apple's '12 Days of Christmas' app brings 12 days of iTunes freebies

LG Announces Ice Cream Sandwich Updates to Begin Q2 2012

LG has provided an update on their Android 4.0 upgrade timeline via their Facebook page. For a selection of their 2011 smartphone lineup, an Ice Cream Sandwich treat will arrive starting in Q2 of next year. The first phones to receive the new version of Android will be the LG Optimus LTE, LG Prada 3.0, LG Optimus 2X, LG Optimus Sol, LG myTouch Q, and the LG Eclipse. In Q3, updates will start rolling out to the LG Optimus 3D, LG Optimus Black, LG Optimus Big, LG Optimus Q2, and LG Optimus EX. As can be discerned from the selection of handsets, the rollout will be global, though exact dates will vary by region and carrier.

Android Phone, LG Announces Ice Cream Sandwich Updates to Begin Q2 2012

HTC Super Tool Makes Easy Work of Unlocking a Range of Devices

In recent months HTC has made a push to play nice with the developer community that has grown up around the Android ecosystem. They have made available an official tool for unlocking the bootloaders of several of their devices, but for some the pace at which new handsets are added to the list is too slow for the turnover rate of modders and hackers. As could be expected, the problem was met with a solution in the form of HTC Super Tool, a user-developed piece of software out of the xda-developer forums.

Android Phone, HTC Super Tool Makes Easy Work of Unlocking a Range of Devices

MOTOACTV Rooted, Becomes Watch-sized Android Tablet

Ever wondered what Honeycomb might look like on a 1.6-inch display. Thanks to one hacked MOTOACTV we now have the answer. The wristwatch-sized device is one of the more interesting items we have seen emerge from the Android ecosystem, though out of the box it is rather limited in functionality. Factor in the 600MHz TI OMAP 3630 and 256MB of RAM and there isn't much to work with. Chris Wade saw the small size and smaller feature set as a challenge and went about hacking the stock Honeycomb launcher onto the MOTOACTV's Gingerbread base and even managed to shoehorn in Android Market access.



Android Phone, MOTOACTV Rooted, Becomes Watch-sized Android Tablet

NEC outs pair of displays that tell you their carbon footprint, how economically awesome they are

So, what's so special about NEC's new 24-inch MultiSync LED backlit displays. Well, these nifty NECs have two ECO modes to help keep power consumption to a minimum, plus a feature that lets users to track the amount of carbon dioxide created by the electricity they use. It also lets you input how much you pay for all those electrons to track just how much the monitors contribute to your monthly utility bill. Otherwise, these are fairly unremarkable 250-nit, 1920 x 1200 panels with DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI-D, and USB 2.0 connections. The eco-friendly displays are available from NEC Japan, but the company's not saying how much they cost.

Engadget

See also:
hitech, NEC outs pair of displays that tell you their carbon footprint, how economically awesome they are

Dropbox 2.0 for Android plays nice with Ice Cream Sandwich

Ever heard of Dropbox before. In the words of the Dropbox team, they offer “a free service that lets you bring your photos, docs, and videos anywhere and share them easily. Never email yourself a file again!” Sounds like a dream, and it is nice to see this particular service being made available to smartphones such as Android-powered devices. In fact, Dropbox has updated their software to hit version 2.0, which will incidentally work with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich as well, and we are glad to say that Dropbox 2.0 is now available in the Android Market.

Ubergizmo, Dropbox 2.0 for Android plays nice with Ice Cream Sandwich

HTC and their retailers win relief from IPCom

It looks like HTC's streak of bad luck might only be a short term thing. Just yesterday we reported that patent firm IPCom sued about 100 retailers for continuing to sell HTC's products even after the deadline, and in an effort to protect their products and their retailers went back to the courts to seek some form of relief. According to the TaiwanEconomicNews, it seems that HTC was successful in seeking relief and the German courts have since issued an injunction against IPCom, basically telling them to stop harassing HTC's retailers with lawsuits.

Ubergizmo, HTC and their retailers win relief from IPCom

Insider claims Microsoft was kicked out of future CES Shows

Microsoft insiders claim that the company was kicked out of the keynote for 2013 and beyond, so the Redmond company decided to pull out of the CES tradeshow altogether. As previously reported, both Microsoft and the organization behind the CES trade show, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), stated that the Redmond-based company will no longer make the keynote presentation starting 2013. The 2012 show that takes place in Las Vegas in the next few weeks will be the last time Microsoft not only makes the opening presentation, but the last time the company will even reserve space for a booth to show its upcoming products.

2DayBlog.com

See also:
newgadgets, Insider claims Microsoft was kicked out of future CES Shows

Samsung GT-N8010 Gains WiFi Certification – Could It Be A Successor To The Galaxy Note?

Many an Android aficionado has been patiently waiting for Samsung to launch their 5.3-inch Galaxy Note “phoneblet” stateside. We've already received a few leaks suggesting it could be making its way to AT&T in the coming weeks but in a new turn of events, a new device — sharing a similar model number to the Note's GT-N7000 — has gained WiFi certification. The device in question is the mysterious GT-N8010. The higher model number suggests that it will be either a successor to the G-Note or at the very least, a similar device with upgraded hardware.

Android Phone, Samsung GT-N8010 Gains WiFi Certification â€" Could It Be A Successor To The Galaxy Note?

Apple's Anobit acquisition confirmed by Israeli Prime Minister

Last week, we heard reports that Apple was thinking of buying itself a nice little flash storage company for Christmas. This week, the news of Apple's acquisition of Anobit, an Israeli fabless semiconductor company that specializes in streamlining flash memory, was reported by Calcalist financial daily and then seemingly confirmed by the Office of the Prime Minister of Israel. Engadget reports that the news first appeared in the Calcalist, which valued the deal at $500 million, a figure that matches last week's rumors.

2DayBlog.com, Apple's Anobit acquisition confirmed by Israeli Prime Minister

Asus gets sued by Hasbro over the Transformer Prime's name

Wishing for another lawsuit to pop up in the mobile world. It's your lucky day. This time, Asus has been sued. Thankfully though, not by Apple, and not for patent infringement.
The company suing is Hasbro, which you may have heard of because it makes toys (and licenses truckloads of well known game brands to companies such as EA, but also apparently is into digital entertainment). Hasbro, of course, is the parent of the famous Transformers series (and movie franchise).

Unwired View, Asus gets sued by Hasbro over the Transformer Prime's name

FCC approves first white space device and database for Wilmington, NC

The FCC has approved the first device to use the much buzzed about "white spaces" between television broadcast frequencies to transmit data. The recipient of the honor is a receiver from Koos Technical Services that's designed to be a last-mile connection for surveillance cameras and telemetry systems. The radio will tap into database run by Spectrum Bridge to ensure it doesn't interfere with other broadcasts. Chairman Julius Genachowski said in a statement that, "we are taking an important step towards enabling a new wave of wireless innovation.

Engadget, FCC approves first white space device and database for Wilmington, NC

Huawei Ascend II for US Cellular Available Online Next Week

The Huawei Ascend II will apparently be available online next week for US Cellular. The device is a mid-range follow-up to the original that doesn’t take many risks compared to the original. We’ve got a 3.5 inch display, a 5 megapixel camera and Android 2.3. This sequel might not be worth it to Ascend 1 users but if you’re looking to break into Android then you’ve got no reason not to consider the Ascend II. Unfortunately you may not be able to make your purchase decision after checking it out in person as this one won’t be in stores until January.

Android Phone, Huawei Ascend II for US Cellular Available Online Next Week

New Droid 4 Renders Give an All-angles View

With nearly every detail revealed we will likely run out of speculation long before its February release, but here is one more look at the Motorola Droid 4 from nearly any angle you could want. Will that QWERTY keyboard be worth the wait until February in light of Verizon’s current lineup of great 4G LTE Android handsets.


Android Phone, New Droid 4 Renders Give an All-angles View

Happy Holidroid Contest: Christmas Caption Challenge

If you’re unsure what this whole “Holidroid Contest” thing is all about, be prepared to get excited. From November 24th through December 25th, Phandroid is giving away a Kindle Fire every single day along with other great prizes like the Galaxy Nexus Galaxy Tabs, JAMBOX, SmarTouch Gloves, Android Phones, Android T-Shirts, Seidio Vouchers and more. Read our announcement post for details. Yesterday’s Winner.
There are only a few more days in our Holidroid giveaway. We're still sorting through yesterday's entries but there are more prizes to be had.






Android Phone, Happy Holidroid Contest: Christmas Caption Challenge