T-Mobile's HTC Sensation 4G

Looks like the 3D iteration of HTC’s new flagship Android phone – the EVO 3D – will stay exclusive to Sprint. What T-Mobile will get, is the 4G version of the HTC Sensation that just got announced across the pond, at HTC’s London event.

Dubbed the HTC Sensation 4G, it shares all the high-end specs of its namesake – 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon chipset of the third generation, 4.3″ qHD resolution screen (540×960 pixels), 8MP camera with dual LED flash, and the new HTC Sense UI, that allows you to launch apps straight from the lock screen, among many other improvements. This chipset will allow you to record Full HD 1080p video with the smooth 30fps, just like the other dual-core phones out there.

T-Mobile’s handset, however, adds that sweet HSPA+ connectivity, named 4G, which will allow you to download stuff at up to 14.4Mbps theoretical speeds. Furthermore, the HTC Sensation 4G will feature HTC Watch, the company’s own entertainment hub that will allow you to watch movies and TV shows on your handset.

All this goodness is stuffed into sleek aluminum chassis, which you can grab this summer for a price that will be disclosed when we get closer to the launch time.

source: T-Mobile

The HTC Sensation is the flagship many of us have been waiting for and finally it’s as official as it gets. The Sensation was announced at the company’s press event in London and it iterates on the familiar HTC Sense, but with a touch of refinement and functionality straight from the lock screen. You can choose between a number of lockscreen options such as weather updates, quick access to apps and a handful of clock widgets. A 1.2GHz Qualcomm MSM8260 dual-core chipset will support the gorgeous 3D-like transitions in the menu, all carrying resemblance to the ones on the HTC Flyer tablet.

The phone is also the first with a contoured glass 4.3-inch display meaning that your Super LCD screen is set back slightly to avoid scratches and up the game in terms of typing ergonomics. The screen is further enhanced by Gorilla Glass technology. Nicely done! The resolution is qHD (540 x 960) with an aspect ratio of 16:9, perfect for watching movies. Overall, the handset has a premium feel mainly due to its solid aluminum back and substantial weight of 5.22 ounces (148 grams) and thickness of 0.44 inches (11.3mm). It also carries the typical industrial design notes which identify it as an HTC product from the first look.

On the back you have an 8MP camera with dual-LED flash with “instant capture,” meaning little to no lag between pictures. The camera is also capable of recording video at 30fps in full HD (1080p) resolution, which matches the Samsung Galaxy S II, one of the most capable phones we’ve seen so far. It also has a separate video trimming application for basic editing on the go. One welcome addition is a microUSB port with mobile high-def video link (MHL), which basically means that you can connect an USB or HDMI on the same port and your device will be charging even via HDMI. The “superphone” also comes with DLNA and support for Wi-Fi printing.

On the software side of things, the Sensation comes with a fresh serving of Android 2.3 Gingerbread, but it’s all about the HTC Sense UI version 3.0, and we’ll have a detailed look at it later. The phone has also borrowed the HTC Watch feature from the Flyer tablet allowing for on-demand viewing of Hollywood blockbusters (with more than 600 in-store). Streaming won’t be a problem as the handset supports up to 14Mbps on the downlink with HSPA+, which classifies loosely as 4G.

Finally, it’s great to see that the company demonstrates synergy in HTC-developed products as many features from the tablets are carried to phones. Stateside, it’s coming to T-Mobile in the very near future and without a shadow of doubt it will be the most powerful phone in the carrier’s lineup. We’re off to get some quality time with the device, but full hands-on treatment is coming soon, so stay tuned.

source: HTC

We stacked up (literally) a preview Samsung Galaxy S II unit to demonstrate how the Galaxy S sequel takes the “thinnest smartphone” crown from the iPhone 4. We also compare it with the 0.39″ (9.9mm) thick Galaxy S and showcase how remarkably thin the Galaxy S II is, even next to the 0.37″ (9.3mm) iPhone 4.

The Samsung Galaxy S II is 0.33″ (8.49mm), which is less than even the Sony Ericsson Xperia arc, which is 0.34″ (8.7mm) in its thinnest part. A big part of it, besides the proven engineering prowess of Samsung Electronics, is no doubt the Super AMOLED Plus screen. It needs much less layers than an LCD-based display, thus leaving room for the rest of the components in a thinner chassis.

The phone is actually slimmer than its tiny mobile camera sensor, and the 8MP shooter slightly protrudes from the back. Samsung’s trademark “hump” at the back bottom is the only place where the Galaxy S II equals in thickness with the iPhone 4, but, of course, we shouldn’t forget Apple’s creation is made of glass, not plastic. Have a look at the quick comparison video below.

Intel commands the desktop PC market, but it has had a tough time trying to establish its positions in the mobile segment – the ARM chipset is practically found in every smartphone out there and with Microsoft’s announcement of support for ARM in the next Windows, chip-maker Intel has resorted to China and ZTE. Intel has designed a phone for the Chinese market, according to sources close to the matter quoted by Blomberg, but it’s yet unknown whether a device for the Western countries will follow.

The Chinese phone maker might not be the most popular brand outside China, but with the staggering growth of Asian markets, it managed to finish the year fourth among all handset manufacturers with 51.8 million shipped phones. Actually, while the States remain the biggest cell phone market, China is a close second and it certainly has bright prospects. It could be a match made in heaven for Intel and some analysts like Doug Freedman from Gleacher&Co agree:

“The market eagerly awaits Intel’s first product. After two years of nothing, it’s past due.”

Neither Intel, nor ZTE confirmed the rumor, but in an interview ZTE spokesperson Margrete Ma mentioned that the two companies have indeed held talks. The rumor comes as Intel pushes its mobile market presence with the launch of its Atom processors for tablets.

The only other unsolved mystery is the operating system of the upcoming phone. ZTE focuses on affordable Android handsets, while Intel has become the biggest supporter of MeeGo after Nokia virtually quit the MeeGo effort. Whatever the phone is, it should up the game in energy efficiency as Intel takes pride in the battery life. What are your expectations? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below!

source: Bloomber Businessweek via IntoMobile

You gotta love Qualcomm. When these guys are not busy manufacturing blazing fast processors, they are consumer-friendly chaps who love nothing more than to spill the beans… or at least this is the impression most people are left with, as the company officially announced via its German Twitter account that the HTC Sensation (nee Pyramid) is to feature a dual-core Snapdragon processor clocked at 1.2GHz.

As can be expected this post was removed a few minutes after it was published (and no doubt someone in Germany is feeling the heat as we write this), but nevertheless it confirms what we have been hearing all along about the HTC Sensation’s processor.

Now that one rumor is down, it’s time to remind you what else the rumor mill has to say about this handset – it’s anticipated that it will feature a 4.3-inch qHD screen, two cameras, 768MB of RAM, Gingerbread and the upcoming version of HTC Sense.

It’s widely presumed that we will see the official announcement of this device during HTC’s event, which starts a few hours from now, and this is yet another reason to stay tuned to PhoneArena – it goes without saying that we will give you all the details about the HTC Sensation as they become available.

UPDATE: Vodafone UK decided to join the party started by Qualcomm, and posted a page on its site where you can see the HTC Sensation in all its glory, along with a list of specs we love to see – folks, it’s now official that the handset has a 4.3-inch qHD SLCD display, two cameras – a rear 8MP one with dual-LED flash capable of recording HD videos plus a 1.2MP front-facer, and you also get 12GB memory out of the box – along with the 4GB you have built-in in your phone you receive an 8GB memory card.

UPDATE 2: Surprise, surprise, Vodafone’s page is down.

source: Qualcomm & Vodafone via Engadget

The HTC ThunderBolt was to be the first with support for video chat via Skype, but the feature was cancelled in the last minute. Now, however, your trust for the HTC ThunderBolt has finally been rewarded as Skype with video calling has arrived in its full 4G glory.

Verizon’s LTE network is the perfect tool for video conferencing with its whopping average of 6Mbps for downlink speeds and initial reports claim that video calls are as smooth as what you see on a Wi-Fi network. Combine this with the 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera on the ThunderBolt and you have a great solution for on-the-go video chat. The feature will even work on 3G networks, but choppy framerates in that case are inevitable.

For the time being, you can enjoy video calls only on the ThunderBolt, but we see no reason why it shouldn’t be available for other handsets in the near future. With that said, we’ll leave to you testing of the free video feature – download links are below.

source: Droid-life

Download from: com.skypevideo.apk [mirror #1] [mirror #2] [zipped version]

We imagine that RIM is cringing after last week’s release of enhanced enterprise capability for the Android OS. Google has added new features for both Google Apps for Business and Google Apps for Education customers, which should make Android an even more competitive enterprise option.

First of all, the enterprise upgrade will add lost device location. The administrator can then change the device’s PIN and password remotely. Secondly, the admin will be able to remotely encrypt the device, should there be a sudden impending security concern.

And thirdly, users will be able to search the Google Apps administrator’s directory, and use those contacts just like they were saved on their own device.

source: Google Enterprise Blog via MobileBurn

The cat has been long out of the bag for some time, especially when the majority of Sprint’s upcoming devices were unveiled during CTIA 2011, but now they’re all being corralled together on Sprint’s special landing page.

Placed together on their “All. Together. Now” page, the HTC EVO 3D, EVO View 4G, Kyocera Echo, and Google Nexus S 4G are now being showcased for anyone to see. Specifically, you can read up on all of their specs and special features, and even more, they’ve got 360 degree models to give you a meticulous look at the devices from all angles. From the looks of it all, these four devices are going to be the ones to drive Sprint’s business for the good majority of the year.

So if you really want to get up close and personal with any of these device, you’d better point your web browser to the web site to experience them for yourself. In any event, which device are you looking forward to the most?

source: Sprint via Android Central

It was approximately close to a month ago when we first feasted our eyes on a Motorola XOOM with Sprint’s branding on it, but yet, we’re still at a lost as to when this device will launch. Even more, Sprint has kept a relatively low profile surrounding this device that’s expected to run off Sprint’s 4G WiMAX network.

Today though, it seems that some Sprint stores nationwide are beginning to receive shipments on cases for the Motorola XOOM. In fact, one individual managed to snap a photo of the would be case that’s expected to protect the premium tablet. Additionally, a screen shot of Sprint’s inventory reveals a SKU number given to a protective case for the XOOM and is priced at $44.99 – which is a good indicator that the tablet is definitely coming at this point.

Even though the arrival of these cases pretty much confirm the tablet’s existence, we’re still in the dark regarding an official launch date for this one – still, it shouldn’t be long at this point.

source: BGR

Taking the slightly more low key approach versus some of its brothers and sisters, the Samsung GALAXY Pro is now available for purchase with Three UK.

The portrait style QWERTY smartphone sporting Android 2.2 Froyo can now be picked up for free on-contract with plans starting at £20 per month. Moreover, you can forgo signing any agreements seeing that you can still snatch one for a reasonable £149.99 (245) on a pay-as-you-go plan. Still, it’s definitely refreshing to see a portrait QWERTY handset from another manufacturer aside from the few out of Motorola’s camp.

Not the most impressive device out of Samsung’s stable, the Samsung GALAXY Pro features a 2.8” QVGA touchscreen, 3.2-megapixel camera, 800MHz processor, 3G, Wi-Fi, and a 3.5mm headset jack. So if you tire of all those landscape QWERTY sliders out there, you can change things up by picking up the Samsung GALAXY Pro.

source: Three UK via Eurodroid