Even though we recently reported about the September 8th launch date for the Motorola DROID Bionic, ever since Motorola sent the phone back to the plant to be re-designed, we never really had a firm idea of what the phone would look like. But DroidLife has obtained some pictures said to be that of the much awaited device and now we have a much clearer idea of what every Verizon customer with an upgrade in his pocket is waiting for.

The back consists of the soft touch material that you can find on the back of the Motorola DROID 3. The hump on the device that is near the top of the device on the DROID X and DROID X2 is more in the middle of the phone instead of being by the camera’s housing. This could be for the 4G chip. Compared to the Samsung DROID Charge, the Motorola DROID Bionic is bigger with a squared-off design as opposed to the former’s rounded corners. The difference in size could mean that the DROID Bionic will present with a 4.5 inch qHD display, and how glorious would that be?

Verizon’s first dual-core LTE enabled device is just a tad more than a month away, and for those who just can’t wait, just keep looking at the pictures. As we move closer to launch, we are sure that there will be some more photographs of the device that many thought would never get here.

source: DroidLife

Photographs of the Motorola DROID Bionic and the Samsung DROID Charge

Just yesterday, we reported that a software update was in the making for the LG Revolution that’s expected to provide a lot of bug fixes, but no Gingerbread just yet.

Well folks, it’s actually starting to roll out as we speak and brings the software version to VS910ZV6. Granted that people are still probably more concerned about a Gingerbread update, they should nonetheless take this one with open arms since it appears to pack quite a wallop with its offerings. For starters, it features a ton of new bug fixes that seriously irons out most of the handset’s loose ends. Furthermore, we see updates available with some of the handset’s preloaded apps.

Of course, the list of changes with the update are fairly extensive, but you can find all the juicy details on the LG Revolution’s support page. From the sound of it, the update should be immediate for most people, but if not, you can always check manually under the software update section in the Android settings menu.

source: Verizon via Android Central

The HTC ThunderBolt was the first 4G-enabled smartphone on Verizon’s speedy LTE network, but since its launch not much has changed with its software – the handset continues to run on the quickly aging Android 2.2 Froyo, even though back in March HTC spilled the beans about an upcoming Gingerbread update. Well, four months later, it’s still coming, but this time we have a particular time period for it – the third quarter of the year.

HTC representatives have been spreading the word about the update which will add Gingerbread tweaks and features, and fix some problems along the way:

“We are working hard to address the issues you have mentioned with future updates for the device. We are excited to announce that the HTC Thunderbolt will receive the Gingerbread (Android 2.3) update in Q3 2011. Stay tuned for details as we get closer to the update availability,” HTC replied to Droid-life.

We expect to see an improved Sense UI, but also Skype video and faster GPS lock after the update. Oh well, the third quarter of the year has already started so hopefully it’s sooner rather than later.

source: Droid-life

The Samsung Fascinate has apparently reached End of Life with Verizon, as it has a telling stamp “Retired” on the listing, and has disappeared from the online store.

Verizon’s Samsung Galaxy S version that was the Fascinate was one of the best Android handsets you can get on Big Red at the time it hit shelves last year. It had a good run, if we don’t count some bugs and the belated Froyo update, plus it is expected to receive Gingerbread as well, but now it has to move over and hail a new king.

Hopefully this Samsung Fascinate retirement only means that the Samsung Galaxy S II version for Verizon is nearing its announcement and launch. We’ve heard rumors about the handset being called both the Function or the Stratosphere.

Whatever the final title is, the Samsung Galaxy S II is poised to make a big splash when it lands in Verizon’s pool.

source: Droid-life

A person who claims to be a Verizon employee has leaked a roadmap for the carrier. The information covers 9 devices from September to January and let’s start with the smartphone on the tip of every Verizon customer’s tongue-the Motorola DROID Bionic. Thanks to comments from Motorola Mobility CEO Sanjay Jha, we have been looking for a September launch of the much anticipated phone, and according to the roadmap it will be September 8th when the beast is let loose. We reported yesterday on the specs of the device straight from Motorola, so now all that is left to surprise us with is the price.

On the same date, the roadmap tells us to expect the Samsung Stratosphere. This phone is expected to replace Verizon’s Samsung Galaxy S variant, the Fascinate. This is expected to be a LTE enabled phone, launching with Gingerbread aboard. September 8th also promises to bring the Motorola XOOM 4G LTE to Big Red. It’s the tablet you all know with 4G connectivity.

Leaked Verizon roadmap shows September 8th launch for Motorola DROID Bionic

The Samsung Illusion is penciled in for a September 29th launch. A low to mid-end device, this should launch with 3G connectivity and Android 2.3. Also on September 29th, the women get their phone as the HTC Bliss is expected to be launch. Designed for the fairer sex, the Bliss will be powered by Android 2.3.

Moving into October, the 6th of the month should see the release of the HTC Vigor. Rumored to have an impressive 720 x 1280 hi-res display, the Vigor is supposed to have a 1.5GHz processor under the hood. The roadmap says that October 20th will be the launch date for the LG Revolution 2 which is the sequel to the, well, you can figure it out. The original is LTE enabled so we wouldn’t expect less for the follow-up.
In November, we are told to expect the Samsung Galaxy Tab P8 which is probably the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9. Finally, in January will come the Samsung Plato. This was originally expected to launch before the beginning of the new year, so it is possible that this will have Ice Cream Sandwich running the show.

No Samsung Galaxy S II? That probably means that we will see the August launch of the phone that we have reported. Or perhaps the Samsung Stratosphere, due out the same date as the Motorola DROID Bionic, is the hottest smartphone on earth. What a decision Verizon customers would have to make on September 8th if that is the case!

source: IGN via DroidLife

Remember when we reported that more than 6 million units of the Samsung Galaxy S II could have been shipped over the past three months or so? Well, it turns out that the estimate was a bit exaggerated, yet that milestone is not that far from being reached. It was officially announced by Samsung just recently that sales of the Galaxy S II have already surpassed the 5 million mark.

Sales of the Samsung Galaxy S II compared to its predecessor - the Galaxy S

Bear in mind that this number reflects only the amount of Galaxy S II smartphones shipped to retailers and carriers, or in other words, units that have probably not all made their way to the pockets of end customers. Nevertheless, it is quite impressive that Samsung’s flagship is actually selling faster than its predecessor – the Galaxy S, which had sold “only” 3 million units over the same amount of time after its debut.

If the sales of the Samsung Galaxy S II keep on accelerating at today’s pace, and they most probably would as the smartphone is expected to launch in the US pretty soon, the ten millionth unit should fly off the shelf by the end of September. Should the latest rumors turn out to be correct, Verizon could be the first carrier to bring the smartphone to American soil, yet AT&T and Sprint will get their own versions soon after.

Thanks, Ron!

source: Samsung Tomorrow (translated) via OLED Info

The Motorola DROID X2 has received its Gingerbread update

Many an eyebrow was raised when Verizon launched the Motorola DROID X2 with Android 2.2. After all, considering that the first-generation of the phone had a nice run as Verizon’s flagship handset, you would expect the sequel to come out dressed in its Sunday best. But as it turned out, DROID X2 owners didn’t have to wait terribly long as on Tuesday, the Gingerbread update was rolled out to the handset.

Besides Android 2.3, the update brings some enhancements to the phone such as a Download Manager app, a new app that manages the downloads on your phone from web browsing, email attachments and from other apps. When inputting numerals from the keyboard, shortcuts can be used instead of having to change to the numeric function mode. Word selection and copy/paste are both improved. Press-hold on the screen will now help you select a word. Press twice and the word can be copied. Although the device is too new to be boring for its owners, the update brings a revised UI and a new color scheme as well as new widgets and icons.

Some new features are now available to the Motorola DROID X2 calendar. When traveling, you can view events in your home time zone. Other changes allow you to dial one number to set up a conference call, Google Books is now pre-installed and lastly, any images captured with your camera app can be geo-tagged. Check the sourcelink for a complete list of changes that the download brings. And DROID X2 owners, please let us know what you think of Gingerbread on your device by leaving some comments below.

source: Verizon via AndroidCentral

The ever elusive Motorola Droid Bionic. We first saw you in Etna form at CES earlier this year, but you were scrapped months later and replaced by the new Targa version.

Up until now, there has been little solid info regarding the release date, though there was some rumors and an earlier screen-shot pointing to August 4th. Now it appears that Verizon stores have received official notification informing them that they will receive the Droid Bionic later this month and to have it on public display starting July 29th, and will most likely be placed here. The email also points to August 4th as the release date. It does not give a price, though most believe it will be around $299 with contract.

Hopefully this will all happen, and the Droid Bionic will hit on August 4th, as the it will be the first dual-core smartphone to run on Verizon’s 4G LTE network.

source: Droid-Life and Android Forums

The saga may almost be over for Motorola XOOM users waiting to upgrade their tablets to LTE. Originally, word had the upgrade process starting in the summer, and last month there were even e-mails sent out accidentally telling users about the upgrade process starting. And, a couple weeks ago, we saw what appeared to be a XOOM with built-in LTE pass through the FCC, but still no word about the upgrade process. Now, it looks like the process will begin in September.

Droid Life has come across a leaked Verizon memo which states that starting today XOOM users should receive an e-mail regarding the upgrades, which will begin in September, although no specific date is given. As always, the upgrade process will be free, and will require that users send in their XOOMs for the upgrade. Unfortunately, the memo also doesn’t mention if Verizon & Motorola have figured out a way to shorten the reported 6 day turnover required to install the LTE radios.

We’ll let you know if any more info comes through. Sound off in the comments if you got the e-mail about the upgrade!

source: Droid Life

A leaked screenshot of an internal Sprint document was obtained by SprintFeed, and shows which devices the carrier has branded as “EOL” (end of life, although end of the line is more appropriate) and when the handsets will be phased out. Some of the phones being removed from Sprint’s lineup are household names such as the HTC EVO 4G, the nation’s first 4G enabled device. Also being phased out is the carrier’s second 4G handset, the Samsung Epic 4G. Both devices have been replaced with newer models like the HTC EVO 3D and the Samsung built Nexus S 4G, offering the latest high-end specs to Sprint customers with the former adding 3D functionality.

The white version of the HTC EVO 4G will be removed from Sprint’s lineup in September with the black model leaving the month after along with the Samsung Epic 4G. Other models that will no longer be available include the rough and rugged Motorola i1, a PTT Android handset with walkie talkie functions. That model leaves Sprint later this month or early next month, about the same time that the gray model of the BlackBerry Style 9670 says goodbye.

This week, the Samsung Seek in pink will be EOL as will be the Sanyo Innuendo in blue, starting next week. In September, the BlackBerry Bold 9650 with a rear camera will be gone, followed a month later by the Samsung Transform.

If you have an interest in picking up any of the models going EOL, your best bet is to check with your local Sprint store soon because the inventory of  many of these units won’t be replenished once they are sold out.

source: SprintFeed via AndroidCentral

Certain Sprint models have reached the end of their life