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Google Wallet now works with all credit and debit cards, adds remote wipe feature
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, Software,
In our opinion, the one big factor that limited the appeal of Google Wallet was the fact that it has only been compatible with CitiBank MasterCard. Not exactly something that the masses have in their wallets. Today, that changes, as Google has announced that Wallet is now compatible with all Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover debit and credit cards. That's progress!
Also added is a remote wipe feature that allows users to disable Google Wallet remotely, blocking usage of the app with that device and clearing off card and transaction data as well.
You can now use Google Wallet to pay at over 200,000 locations across the US. You can download the new update today from Google Play.
Read More 
| Google Play
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Google’s Android Update Alliance not living up to expectations
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, Software,
At the Google I/O conference in May, many Android phone vendors and U.S. wireless carriers made a long-awaited promise: From then on, any new Android phone would receive timely OS updates for at least 18 months following launch, as part of the then newly christened Google Update Alliance.
The back story: If you own an Android phone, you may have watched with frustration as a new version of the OS hit the market. It's almost never clear if your phone will ever get that upgrade—unlike with iOS or Windows Phones, which always get all upgrades (providing they meet the right hardware requirements). With Android, it seems to depend on the phone vendor, the specific model, the wireless carrier, the Android version itself, and whether Google sent the carrier an inflatable plastic food product as a token of its appreciation that week. Worse—and much to our chagrin—sometimes vendors make promises to customers before the sale that they don't keep once you own the phone.
Many factors contribute to this. But custom versions of Android are the key culprit, either thanks to vendor-specific enhancements (like HTC Sense, Motorola MotoBlur, and Samsung's TouchWiz, though LG, Pantech, Casio, and other vendors do it too), or carrier-specific enhancements of a more dubious nature (such as unnecessary preloaded bloatware and changes to default apps). These changes require many programming hours not just to make in the first place, but to also support and upgrade down the road—resources the carrier would rather throw at making new phones to sell you.
So the Google Update Alliance was a breath of fresh air. It sounded like everyone would finally come together, streamline their OS update timelines, and stop jerking around their customers. The thing is, while the Google Update Alliance ended up being one of the biggest stories to come out of Google I/O, we've heard almost nothing about it since then. You can bet we weren't just going to forget about it and pretend it never happened—especially after the release of Google Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), which is a huge leap in UI design and overall performance.
Click to continue reading Google’s Android Update Alliance not living up to expectations
Sprint releases update for HTC Android smartphones
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Handhelds, Software,
Sprint on Tuesday started rolling out an update for Android-based HTC devices that fixes a privacy-related bug.
Users with the EVO 4G, EVO 3D, EVO Shift 4G, EVO Design 4G, EVO View 4G, and HTC Wildfire S will receive an over-the-air update starting today; users can manually install the update right away.
"Sprint worked closely with HTC after reports emerged of a potential issue that could allow malicious third-party apps to compromise data on Android devices made by HTC," the carrier said in a statement. "We urge all users to install the update promptly."
Click to continue reading Sprint releases update for HTC Android smartphones
White HTC EVO 4G moves into Sprint stores
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Smartphones, Design, Handhelds,
If you wanted to get your hands on an aesthetically pleasing HTC EVO 4G, but for some reason were against Best Buy, then you'll be pleased to know that the elusive white HTC EVO 4G that was once exclusive to Best Buy is now making its way into Sprint retail locations everywhere, as well as other third party stores. The price will remain the same $199 contract after $100 mail-in rebate. While the front of the phone remains black, the white back will give you that exclusive look that you crave.
Epic 4G review
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Google, Handhelds, Product Reviews,
The Samsung Epic 4G is the second phone from Sprint to take advantage of their speedier 4G service, the original being the EVO 4G. The Epic 4G is part of Samsung’s Galaxy S line of Android smartphones, although visually it’s a departure from others like the Samsung Captivate, Fascinate, and Vibrant from other carriers. You do still get the TouchWiz 3.0 interface, 1GHz Hummingbird processor, and the 4-inch Super AMOLED display. So what’s different, aside from the phone being able to access Sprint’s 4G network? Well, it’s a Galaxy S phone with a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard. So, is it worth your time—and more importantly—your money? We’ve got our full review for you, so click on through.
Click to continue reading Epic 4G review
White HTC EVO 4G already in stock at Best Buy
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds,
If you’ve pre-ordered a white HTC EVO 4G, don’t be surprised if you get a call from Best Buy today letting you know that your smartphone is ready for pick up. Apparently, despite having an availability date of July 11th, the white HTC EVO 4G made it to stores early, and Best Buy is cool with selling them as they come in. If you need some of that white smartphone goodness, you may wanna give your local store a call. In the meantime, where the heck is that white iPhone 4?
First HTC EVO 4G OTA software update being pushed to devices
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Software,
If you’ve got an HTC EVO 4G, you may wanna check for updates, as Sprint has started pushing out the first OTA (over the air) update to their 4G-enabled smartphone. System update 1.47.651.1 is 21.43MB in size, so we are guessing that it’s mostly meant to kill some bugs and optimize some things—but who knows, it may also unlock and enable the 802.11n antenna in the EVO 4G as well. If you get the upgrade, let us know what you find!
Motorola Droid X hits Verizon on June 23 [UPDATED]
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Rumors,
One day before the iPhone 4 arrives to take over the world, Verizon is set to reveal the Motorola Droid X in an official capacity. As you can see from the image above, they aren’t exactly keeping it under wraps—hey, you gotta take all the buzz you can get when you launch one day before the iPhone 4, which has sold over 600,000 units already. So, we will get the full meal deal on June 23 as far as the Droid X goes, but in the meantime we do know that the display on this thing is 4.3-inches in screen size. Definitely very EVO 4G-ish with a display that size. Verizon is also touting the Droid X as having a 720p high definition display, which we are wondering if that’s a mistake. Don’t get us wrong, we’d love to see it, but earlier prototypes had 854x480 screens, and the EVO 4G itself has an 800x480 display. If we find out that the Droid X has a 1080x720 on June 23, we’ll have to bow down to Motorola. This Droid X also has a built-in HDMI port, allowing you to display content on a big screen with the appropriate cable.
We will be keeping an eye out for more Droid X tidbits from now through the 23rd, when everything gets revealed.
UPDATE: Verizon just updated their Droid X teaser, and it now shows “702p Capture.” In other words, it can record 720p HD video, but the screen isn’t HD. So, that’s that!
Read More | Verizon
Sprint details HTC EVO 4G mobile phone
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Handhelds, Wireless / WiFi,
Over at CTIA, Sprint just dropped the big announcement that we knew was coming, they will be launching the first 4G smartphone - the HTC EVO 4G - and they will be doing it “this summer.” The EVO 4G runs Android 2.1, and has a gorgeous 480x800 4.3-inch TFT LCD display and is powered by a 1GHz Snapdragon QSD8650 processor and 512MB of RAM. Onboard memory isn’t much to write home about at 1GB, but seriously, that is the only “flaw” we can find with the initial look at this device, if you want to even call it that. I mean, it ships with an 8GB microSD card, and is upgradeable to 32GB. Still, built-in is always nice.
Wanna talk about some of the more exciting stuff? Well, we’ve got an 8 megapixel camera on the back, which can shoot 720p HD video, as well as a 1.3 megapixel front facing camera. You know, the one we’ve been waiting for on the iPhone? Expect to be able to do video chatting on the EVO 4G. Also, expect to be able to view the content stored on it on a larger display, since this thing rocks HDMI out. 802.11b/g Wi-Fi support and an 8GB microSD card round things out, so as you can see, this thing is packed. Oh, and let’s not forget that whole 4G thing.
The HTC EVO 4G will be the first device outside of AT&T that will allow for both voice and data to be used at the same time, thanks to the phone running both EV-DO Rev. A and WiMAX alongside a CDMA antenna. Even cooler, in our opinion, is that this device acts similar to a MiFi or Overdrive device, where it becomes a mobile hotspot that allows you to share your 4G connection with your other devices wirelessly. However, rather than being limited to five connections, the EVO 4G can give that good 4G Internet lovin’ to 8 devices at once.
Sprint knows that those picking up a 4G device are going to expect a lot more from their connection their phones that are stuck on 3G, and they demo’d a few scenarios to show that they are serious. You can stream high definition content to and from the device, take pictures and stream them anywhere, get instant and live search results with Google Goggles, and much more.
Despite the torrent of info that Sprint provided as it pertained to the HTC EVO 4G, they did neglect to provide a solid release date, as well as the price of both the EVO 4G itself, or the associated 4G data plan.
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