gingerbread

Back in February during MWC 2012, we first caught a glimpse of LG's line of midrange Android handsets. The L7 boasted the best specs of the L-style family (it has a 1GHz processor, 4.3-inch display, and 5-megapixel camera), while the L5 followed close behind.

Recently, CNET UK reviewed the most entry-level member of the series, the LG Optimus L3. It has a 3.2-inch screen with 240x320-pixel resolution, and unlike its bigger brothers, runs on the outdated Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS. In addition, it has a 800MHz CPU and a disappointing 3-megapixel camera.

Though it isn't … Read more

Just when you thought that T-Mobile couldn't possibly confuse us more with its myTouch family of smartphones, here come reboots of the myTouch and myTouch Q, this time made by Huawei rather than by LG.

The two new Android 2.3 Gingerbread handsets feature 4G, a 4.0 WVGA touch screen, a 1.4GHz processor, a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash, and a front-facing camera.

You'll also find Swype's virtual keyboard on baord and T-Mobile's signature Genius button. Add a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, and you have yourself a myTouch Q rather than the myTouch.

This time … Read more

Customizing your smartphone, or any device for that matter, is a rite of passage for all of us. By customizing, you turn a standard looking device that millions of users may be carrying around, into something that is truly ours. It goes from a slab of plastic and rare metals, to something that is very personal.

Android users and abusers know very well how customizable their beloved devices are. We rounded up 12 ways for you to customize your Android device; whether you're a seasoned Android vet or an Android noob, you'll want to take a look.

The … Read more

Cricket Wireless is expected to soon carry another Android-powered Huawei handset, or says a source close to PhoneArena. Featuring a portrait QWERTY keyboard below a 3.2-inch display, the smartphone will run on Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

The full details remain unclear, but an official user manual found online advises there is a rear camera and microSD expansion. Called the Ascend Q, the handset has already been spotted in the real world and may be announced in the short term.

Cricket currently offers a couple of Huawei models (Ascend II, Mercury) in select markets but it's still difficult to … Read more

Android 4.x "Ice Cream Sandwich" is making gains, though Gingerbread still takes the lion's share, according to a snapshot of data provided to Android developers.

Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) had about a 2.9 percent share and Honeycomb had more than a 3 percent share, according to Android Developers, which describes the data as "the relative number of active devices running a given version of the Android platform."

ICS started appearing in devices only toward the end of last year.

The Web site says the data can help developers "understand the landscape of … Read more

Sprint and HTC are gearing up for a big announcement. Linux and Android's not-so-secret affair goes public, and the Galaxy S II plus one equals Galaxy S III. We will check out the latest rumors surrounding what could be the next big phone on this week's episode of Android Atlas Weekly.

NEWS:

-Samsung Galaxy S III image could be the real thing

-Samsung-Galaxy-SIII-to-allow-for-wireless-charging-up-to-2-meters-away/

-Sprint and HTC hosting big event April 4

-Linux and Android together at last… Read more

Pin It

At this point, you might be tired of waiting for an ICS update for your Android. Or worse, your device might not be on the list of phones receiving the update. In either case, you can now snag some of that ICS awesomeness by using Phoenix Launcher on your phone. This app will add the ICS launcher to your Gingerbread device, giving you the look and (possibly) feel of using Android's newest flavor.

Note: Launchers on Android will allow you to change the way you interact with the Home screens of your device. The arrangement of docked … Read more

When U.S. Cellular picked up the Samsung Galaxy S II, it gave me a chance to lay some fresh eyes on a familiar device long after it ceased being the de facto best Android Gingerbread phone around.

I'm happy to report that it's still a terrific phone, and one with components that can stand against most of the next wave of more advanced phones, with one major and one minor sticking point. The major caveat: it won't support LTE. The minor one: it's U.S. Cellular's priciest offering, at $230 after a $100 mail-in rebate (so you're out over $300 up front).

However, if you can afford the cost, and if 4G data speeds aren't your primary concern, then you're looking at the carrier's newest flagship phone.

Check out the video, the photos, and all the pros and cons in this full review of the Samsung Galaxy S II for U.S. Cellular.… Read more

LG Electronics, a second-tier smartphone maker hoping Google's Android operating system will lift its fortunes, today unveiled its new Optimus 3D Max.

The phone, like its 2011 Optimus 3D predecessor, includes glasses-free 3D display technology on a 4.3-inch display and an ability to shoot 3D videos and photos with dual cameras. This year's model is thinner, has faster 21Mbps HSPA+ networking, and supports near-field communications for tap-to-pay systems and other NFC uses such as switching the phone quickly among car, home, and work modes.

One thing that did not change is the version of Google's latest … Read more