Sure it isn’t the only dual-core packing smartphone on the market right now, but the Motorola ATRIX 4G is still considered one of the current titans in the Android world – especially thanks to innovative qualities.

Naturally, $199.99 is the standard price you’d expect to find most top shelf devices sporting, but taking into account that it’s been out for a little bit now, it’s only fitting to find some kind of price drop associated with it. And of course, it appears that Best Buy is here to the rescue as they’ve  seemingly reduced its price tremendously to only $29.99 for new customers. Unfortunately, existing customers with eligible upgrades will need to shell out more at $99.99 with a 2-year agreement, but it’s still nonetheless tolerable either way.

In the face of another recently launched dual-core handset, the T-Mobile G2x, the $30 on-contract price that new customers are required to pay for the smartphone with AT&T’s service isn’t bad at all – so don’t let this one pass you by!

source: Best Buy

Owners of the recently launched T-Mobile G2x who were worried about when their device would be upgraded to Gingerbread can now rest a little easier. No, Android 2.3 won’t be sent out to G2x owners at the same glacier-like speed that Samsung Fascinate owners had to endure to receive their Froyo upgrade. In fact, the news sounds good.

A tweet sent out by T-Mobile says that, “Gingerbread is coming to the G2x. You won’t have to wait long.” While this is good news indeed for those who have purchased the recently launched dual-core powered handset, most have the mindset that they won’t believe it until they see it.

source: AndroidCentral

This tweet says that users of the T-Mobile G2x should expect their upgrade to Android 2.3 fairly soon

With the Android operating system, taking a screenshot off a phone is not simple. This is something that is not the same with every operating system because those using an Apple iPhone with iOS 2.x can easily snap one. But Google’s open source OS forced those wanting one to root their phone, which many won’t do just for the sake of being able to snap a screenshot.

Now things might have changed for the Android operating system. The T-Mobile G2x and its overseas cousin, the LG Optimus 2x, both were designed by the Korean manufacturer to take screenshots very simply. All you do is press the power and home buttons simultaneously and that’s all there is to it!

Kudos to LG for designing something so simple, so easy that a G2x totin’ caveman could do it. And it’s possible that we could see Google implement this in future builds of the Android OS.

source: IntoMobile

A Texas jury has found in favor of Bedrock Computer Technologies in a patent infringement case against Google. The plaintiffs claimed that Google had improperly used the Linux kernel in its servers and Android smartphones and the Mountain View based company was instructed to pay a $5 million fine.

There are uncertainties about what happens from here. Intellectual property activist Florian Mueller said, “The implication here is really that there is a huge number of Linux users who will be required to pay royalties if this patent holder knocks on their doors in the US. This is definitely a major impediment to the growth of Linux and makes companies, including Google, that rely on open source code particularly vulnerable to patent threats.” Mueller adds that Android has become a target of those wishing to slow down the growth of the rapidly growing OS. He said, “Android is clearly being targeted by some of the largest tech companies as its market share grows and it becomes more of a threat to others. Apple is going for the jugular by going after several Android device makers. In a way it has to do this to survive. No matter how good its financials are now, in a year or two they could see their iPhone business erode because of the Android threat.”

In a statement, Google defended itself and said, “The recent explosion in patent litigation is turning the world’s information highway into a toll road, forcing companies to spend millions and millions of dollars defending old, questionable patent claims and wasting resources that would be much better spent investing in new technologies for users and creating jobs.”

Besides Google, Bedrock has also sued Yahoo, MySpace, Amazon, PayPal, Match.com and AOL, claiming patent infringement.

source: BBC via MobileBurn

The Viper SmartStart app has been improved. Besides starting, tracking and controlling your car from your smartphone, the app now adds control of your home alarm. This is accomplished by adding a toggle switch that allows you to go back and forth between car and home control. When switched to the home setting, the user can turn on or off their home alarm with one quick touch of a smartphone.

The Viper SmartStart app is available for free from the App Store, Android Market and BlackBerry App World. Those who have already installed the app need to update to version 2.2 to get the home alarm features. And there is one last thing. You must have an Alarm.com enabled home security system for the app to work.

The company behind the application has also just launched Viper SmartStart GPS which not only lets you control, track and locate a car using your smartphone, it also adds social networking and other safety functions.

source: IntoMobile

During the latter part of last week, a software update for the Motorola DROID Pro was released. If you haven’t received it yet, there is no reason to be alarmed as the release is being done on a staggered basis.

Among the changes that the update (to Version 3.8.7.XT610.Verizon.en.) brings is encryption of data that is stored on a microSDcard. Other changes will be found on the calendar and in the email application. And while not the most earth shattering piece of news, the update will allow the VCast app store to become pre-loaded on the device.

Additionally, the new software upgrade will be like a can of Raid-it will kill bugs dead. The on-screen clock will now keep the correct time (always important for a business device), text messages will no longer display the incorrect recipient and the calendar will no longer delete events if updated.

All in all, while not an upgrade to Android 2.3, your Motorola DROID Pro should run a little better with the removal of  those bugs and some others, and you might sleep a little better at night knowing that the contents of your microSD card are encrypted.

source: Motorola via AndroidCentral

If you’re an iOS or Android gamer, then you’re already familiar with OpenFeint. It is the social gaming network through which you publicly humiliate your friends, and test your skills against the 75 million OpenFeint users. But GREE, the social gaming giant of Japan, has acquired OpenFeint for US$104 million.

GREE has about 25 million users in Japan, bringing their new global total to 100 million users. The first concern, especially considering the looming AT&T/T-Mobile monopoly, is that such a service would stifle competition. At the risk of sounding unpatriotic, we don’t mind a monopoly on social gaming, so long as it simplifies our bragging-rights experience.

The avid OpenFeint customer might be concerned about a change in ownership. But GREE says that OpenFeint’s leadership will remain, including their founder/CEO Jason Citron. And “long-term incentives” should keep their A-team aboard.

The combined force of GREE and OpenFeint will make a global social gaming network. They are already working on opening offices in Beijing, Singapore, and London. So soon, we will be able to compete on a truly global scale.

source: GREE via Android and Me

Since December, the U.S. Army has been officially developing a standard-issue smartphone for their soldiers. But there has been much debate about what operating system it would use, and whether it was really a practical tool to implement. The smartphone, as it does for consumers, would facilitate communication, navigation, translation, and more in the field. And it seems the Army has settled on Android for their OS of choice.

The ‘Joint Battle Command-Platform’, developed by MITRE, is the current device of choice. When the development kit is released in July, we expect it to become a very profitable new frontier for app development. Did you developers know that you might end up as DoD contractors?

But many are concerned about the security risks associated with using a popular smartphone operating system. They cite the risks which third party apps would pose, and the potential for even Army-purposed apps to embed malware throughout the Army’s network of devices. While we normally look at rooting and jailbreaking as harmless circumventions, they could be life-threatening within the Army’s network.

On a more practical note, they’re still ironing out how to keep the device functional in low-signal environments. We’re going to label this a work-in-progress, and assume it won’t reach full implementation for quite some time.

source: Wired via Yahoo! News

According to a sponsored link, the HTC Sensation 4G will launch on June 8th. The high-end device is expected to be offered by T-Mobile, as we reported. With a 1.2GHz dual-core, third generation Snapdragon processor powering the show, the Sensation promises to be, well, a sensation. The screen is 4.3 inches with qHD resolution and around back is an 8MP camera with dual LED flash and the new Sense 3.0 allows apps to be opened even while the screen is locked. The phone can capture video at HD 1080p at 30fps. Also on board is the new HTC Watch which lets you view movies and television shows from your handset. Don’t forget to throw in the HSPA+ connectivity and it all adds up to a device worthy of its name.

While this all sounds great, the news today is that some of those who typed in the HTC Sensation name into Google’s search engine received a sponsored link that read, “HTC Sensation 4G-On 6/8-Complete with HTC Watch and HTC Sense”. Right off the bat, one could imagine that the 6/8 date represents when the phone will be launched by T-Mobile. On the other hand, it could be a complete mistake, a placeholder or even a typo. If the HTC Sensation is pegged to be your next phone, you’re certainly hoping that 6/8 means June 8th and nothing else.

Unable to find the sponsored link by continually searching for HTC Sensation on Google? Just understand that these sponsored links rotate and who knows, by now it might have even been removed by HTC. As you see from the image below, the 6/8 date did indeed come up in connection with the HTC Sensation 4G which means if it is correct, you had better start saving those pennies now.

source: AndroidCentral

This sponsored link suggests a June 8th launch for the HTC Sensation 4G

Now that pictures of accessories and promotional material for the Samsung Droid Charge have been revealed, it shouldn’t be too long before Verizon launches its next LTE enabled handset. The phone offers a 4.3 inch Super AMOLED Plus screen, an 8MP camera on back, a front-facing 1.3MP shooter and a 1GHz processor along with LTE connectivity. As we reported, the mobile hotspot on the Droid Charge will support up to 10 devices.

We previously told you that Verizon had put a Minimum Advertised Price of $299.99 on the handset. And that is for a phone with a single-core 1GHz chip under the hood. But there could be a rebate placed on the phone, or perhaps the carrier has decided to come in with a lower price point for the device. No sense getting worked up until we get the official pricing and launch information from Verizon. And seeing that the accessories are starting to get shipped into the stores, it shouldn’t be too long before Verizon customers get a second choice besides the HTC ThunderBolt for a 4G enabled phone.

source: AndroidCentral

Now that some promotional material and accessories for the Samsung Droid Charge have been received at Verizon stores, a launch of the carrier's next LTE handset should not be too far away