While we still don’t know where the HTC Thunderbolt is, the Motorola XOOM is ready to go for its February 24th release. See it here already arriving at Best Buy stores, itching to hop out on those shelves.

[via Engadget]

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The Motorola Xoom is almost out, and how excited are we getting?! I’d have to say pretty darn excited! With the price of $800, the Xoom began showing up at Verizon stores, among others with promo materials and goodies to assist in the retail launch. The units to hit Verizon thus far look to be dummy devices, but still, that makes it that much more real.

Pricing for the tablet should still be around the $800 range we saw at Best Buy, and had heard about Motorola’s CEO justifications of that pricing, but we’ll really just have to wait and see what it gets listed as the day of sale. That sale should be Feb. 24th.

If you’re going to grab one on the 24th, or there after right away, why not get familiar with how to use it before hand. You can now because the Xoom user guide made its way online already, just before launch. You can grab a copy of it here if you want to get a head start.

Motorola Xoom starts showing up in stores, at Verizon, and User Guide leaked

View full post on Android News, Rumours, and Updates

Michael Gartenberg points out that Apple’s using the honor system on the Mac App Store. And explains why it’s a very, very good thing for users.

View full post on Macworld

We’ve seen plenty of HTC Thunderbolt cases showing up over the past week, despite the fact that a rumored February 14th release date seems to be giving way to an a second rumored February 24th release date. While the first group of cases we saw landed at Best Buy, if I’m not mistaken this is the first group to be found at a Verizon retail store.

The bunch features three different cases: a “high gloss” silicone cover, a snap-on hard cover, and a combo hard case with gel cover all with kickstand cutouts. Interestingly, the hard cover alone and the hard cover/gel combo both cost $24.99, while the gel cover by itself goes for $19.99. We would love to sprinkle in some “well the cases are at Verizon, maybe it will show up sooner than the 24th” speculation, but with the way this release date keeps fluctuating we don’t want to add to the fire. At least we know that when it does show up casing options will be ample.

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Nokia issued a press release today stating that the Nokia E7 was finally arriving in select markets. The Nokia USA site doesn’t have it up for pre-order yet and the only one I could find on Amazon shows a price of $849 with a due in stock date of 31 March. I personally am very happy with my N8 and can’t justify these high prices for a phone with overall less capability than the N8.

The E7 is definitely an attractive device with the large 4 inch ClearBlack display and full QWERTY keyboard. I am not a big fan of the non-expandable 16GB memory and 8 megapixel camera when I have the N8 with 16GB and a microSD card slot with 12 megapixel camera and Xenon flash. The E7 does have the USB on-the-go feature and HDMI out capability though.

The E7 is designed as a business-focused device with some of the Eseries features such as a full version of an Office application and VPN support. I do hope to get one for an evaluation period because I did enjoy using it at Nokia World last year. Any readers looking to pick up the Nokia E7?

View full post on Nokia Experts

Who can deny that HTC has produced some of the hottest phones to ever hit the industry?  The Taiwanese company is single-handedly responsible for delivering some intense innovation when it comes to sleek and streamlined mobile products.  So, is it any wonder that the company is considering opening shop?  Due to the company’s success, it looks like HTC is interested in opening at least three flagship stores to push their products.  The company is also working with various channels and vendors to open up over a hundred retail shops.  This could be huge for the popular handset maker, if they do it right.  I wonder if HTC is going to mirror another company who has been successful in opening up their own retail stores, Apple.  I have to admit, it would be a sweet deal if, when you’re at the mall, you could just pop in for technical support, view, demo and purchase new devices, and even maybe pick up an accessory or two for your HTC phone (or tablet).

It’s no surprise that starting a retail chain can be challenging, not to mention difficult to make successful, but if anyone can do it, HTC can.  Here’s to hoping they take a few pointers from Apple by allowing people to demo live handsets.  People want to try it before they buy it! Cough, Cough… Nexus One.  What do you think?  Would you like to see an HTC store in your area?  Let us know what you think in the comments below.

HTC Considers Opening Up Retail Stores

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Neon Play’s Paper Glider soared into history as the 10 billionth download the App Store. We talk to Oli Christie, founder and managing director of Neon Play, about what the milestone has meant for his company.

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Verizon has store shelves stocked with the Droid Pro (otherwise known as the “Droidberry”), and you can get your tomorrow! The Droid Pro will be available for $179 with a 2-year contract, after a $100 mail-in rebate or $479 without a contract.

The Droid Pro has 1GHz CPU, 512MB RAM, 2GB |ROM, 8GB internal storage, Wi-Fi b/g/n, and auto-focus camera with dual LED flash. These specs will pu the Droidberry in a good position to be the Blackberry killer.

Droid Pro in Verizon Stores and Available Thursday November 18th.

View full post on Android News, Rumours, and Updates

We reported to you earlier today that the Samsung Galaxy Tab is ready to launch at Rogers Wireless in Canada. The site to view the tab was unavailable at the time of the article, but the page is now live! Which means the Samsung Galaxy Tab is confirmed and available for in-store purchase at most Rogers locations nation-wide beginning tomorrow, November 16th 2010. Best thing to do would be to call ahead and make sure the location you wish to hit up actually has them in stock.

RedBoard has confirmed and loaded up a video for the launch for your viewing pleasure here.

Rogers Samsung Galaxy Tab Available In Stores Nov 16

View full post on Android News, Rumours, and Updates

Now that the BlackBerry Style is all official, Research In Motion and Sprint have been taking the device on the road and showing it to folks even before it gets into stores. Probably something that should have been done at DevCon but, hey we’re not judging here. The fine folks over at Engadget had a NYC meetup and had the chance to get a little close with the BlackBerry Style. Of course, we’ll be giving the device a full run through shortly here on CrackBerry but the lighting in the above picture does show off the device rather nicely. Be sure to check out the full spec sheet, image gallery and press release we previously posted if the 9670 is your Style.

Source: Engadget

CrackBerry.com‘s feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Research In Motion now showing off the BlackBerry Style before it hits stores

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Alternative app stores and markets for Android are nothing new. GetJar’s long been a provider of downloads, SlideMe is a classic offering that everyone from the original G1 days should remember, and countless more are out and about. No one’s really made noise about this sect of the ecosystem, however, until folks like Verizon, Amazon, and Best Buy have been rumored to launch their own stores. Their names obviously add a lot of attention to their ventures, but we all know what it’s really about: policy.

At  least for Verizon and Amazon, a lot of what they want to do with their own separate app stores resemble what we all hate about Apple’s walled garden.  None of their plans are confirmed yet, but going based on the leaked distribution agreement for Amazon and details from emails sent to developers, the amount of control they are looking to have over anyone doing business with them is enough to leave a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths. I don’t think we should be angry at these companies for wanting to carry out their own strategies using Android as the peddler.

For Amazon’s case, their app store looks to accompany a supposed tablet that could be headed our way (or at least announced) as early as the end of this month. We all want a bulging tablet market to take off, but up until now Google hasn’t made it easygoing for any manufacturers to get into. Archos led the way earlier on and Samsung’s taken the challenge on quite well, but whatever’s working for them doesn’t seem to work for everyone else. Amazon likely wants to maintain a level of quality and control over their tablet experience to make it more valuable in the eyes of users and developers alike.

Who are we to say that they can’t provide (and excuse me for this line that sounds like it came straight from the mouth of a public relations representative) the best possible hardware and software experience for the end user? Why should they be forced to comply with Google’s terms to include the Android market when that’s not the sort of thing they want to do with their tablet? And even if they did comply, they probably wouldn’t be OK with something like this:

No offense to Samsung, of course. But the point is they don’t feel that the Android market fits with what they want to do, and they want to take a different approach. Are we really ready to throw them to the wolves because of that? As consumers, voting with our wallets is the only thing we can do to express our distaste with something a company’s doing. I don’t mean to echo sentiments that have been echoed since the beginning of time, but if you don’t like it then don’t buy it. It’s not hurting you to know that other app markets out there might exist.

And as long as Google doesn’t mind and as long as they keep the Android market going just as comfortably as it has been, then what’s the issue? It’s not like these third party vendors are bidding on replacing the Android market – there is no replacement for the Android market. At least for the smartphone sector, there’s nothing to be sour about. For tablets, it’s something Google has to work on and it’s something they’ve acknowledged they’re working on. Until then, let the carriers and the manufacturers do what they need to do and just go on about your business.

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Virgin Mobile officially announced the availability and pricing of the Samsung Intercept today.  The Intercept will retail at Target Stores for a $249.99 price tag and should make it out to other retailers by mid-October. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Virgin Mobile Energizes Mobile Marketplace by Introducing Android Handset on a Nationwide, No-Contract Plan

Samsung Intercept Delivers Smartphone Luxuries

with Monthly Unlimited Plans

WARREN, N.J. – Oct. 4, 2010 – The line between prepaid and postpaid mobile offerings has become even more blurred as Virgin Mobile USA enters the Android™ smartphone market. Beginning today at Target stores nationwide, Virgin Mobile adds the Samsung Intercept™, running on the Android mobile operating system, to its affordable, no-contract lineup of handset and service offerings. The Intercept will roll out to other major retailers throughout the month and will be available for purchase at virginmobileusa.com by mid-October for $249.99.

“As smartphone users come up for contract renewal and examine their monthly costs, they will start to wonder why they are paying more each month when they can get similar services from Virgin Mobile at a fraction of the price,” said Bob Stohrer, vice president-Marketing, Virgin Mobile USA. “With the Samsung Intercept on Android, Virgin Mobile is leading its customers into new, eagerly awaited territory while expanding our potential customer base.”

The Android device gives Virgin Mobile customers full integration of social networking apps, Microsoft Outlook Exchange e-mail and advanced messaging capabilities. Users of the Samsung Intercept also have access to more than 80,000 applications currently available on the Android Market™, and can sign up for one of Virgin Mobile’s Beyond Talk™ plans which include e-mail, data and Web along with 300, 1200 or unlimited voices minutes per month and are perfect for the person always on the go.

In addition to a 3.2-inch touch-screen display, a full slide-out QWERTY keyboard and a 3.2 MP camera and video, the Samsung Intercept also comes preloaded with multiple applications, including such favorite social apps such as You Tube®, Facebook® and Google Talk™ as well as the Virgin Mobile Live app used to access Virgin Mobile’s branded music stream.  Additional features include:

• Contact and calendar sync via ActiveSync
• Android Web browser
• Access to the Amazon® MP3 store
• Full integration of Google Apps™, such as Google Maps™, Google Talk, Gmail™ and Google Navigation™
• Document file viewer
• Portrait and landscape screen orientation
• Dedicated keys for quick access to social networking
• Numerous video and music file types supported
• Built-in music player

The Samsung Intercept, paired with Virgin Mobile’s no contract Beyond Talk service options at $25, $40 and $60 a month, offers one of the best smartphone values in the industry.

About Virgin Mobile USA
Virgin Mobile USA, one of Sprint’s prepaid brands, offers millions of customers control, flexibility and connectivity through Virgin Mobile’s Beyond Talk™ plans for mobile phone service and prepaid Broadband2Go high-speed Web access. Virgin Mobile branded handsets are available at more than 40,000 retail stores, including Best Buy, Radio Shack, Target and Walmart. Top-Up cards are available at approximately 150,000 locations nationwide and can be used for Broadband2Go services. Purchase and experience Virgin Mobile on the Web and at Facebook, Twitter, You Tube and www.virginmobileusa.com.

Virgin Mobile Launches Samsung Intercept at Target Stores Nationwide originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

View full post on AndroidGuys

As we just reported images of the T-Mobile G2 provided by TMOnews as it has started making its way into T-Mobile locations, our own images of the G2 have hit our inbox offering a few more images giving you a better look at the device some of you are getting ready to own.

As you can see above the box is shaped like the HTC HD2 packaging and comes with a nice teal and purple design.

If you look closely, the device our tipster is holding shows the available space on the device at 1.63 which is a little different than the 4GB it is supposed to come on it, unless T-Mobile has packed this beauty with a lot of bloatware.

There you have it folks! The T-Mobile G2 landing in multiple locations as October 6th just can’t get here fast enough. The G2 is available for pre-order from the AndroidSPIN Cell Phone Store for just $149, which we encourage you to take advantage of.

Thanks D!

View full post on AndroidSPIN | Your No.1 source for Everything Android.

Is the Motorola FlipOut coming to AT&T? At first we thought it was scrapped at the last minute, but then we heard otherwise. Now we at least have a an answer to the question of whether or not the phones actually ever existed as a full-on double rainbow AT&T branded version of the device has made its way to eBay for the meager price of $388.88. If you are dying to get your hands on the quirky square handset that might actually score you one for less than what AT&T might eventually sell the FlipOut for off-contract.

No word on how the handset came to be on eBay, but methinks a few units may have escaped into the wild. I even have my own in-the-wild sighting of the handset on American soil, though that is more akin to Bigfoot as I can’t confirm whether it exists or not. Any body out there willing to take the plunge? Be sure to let us know if you snag this up.

[via Engadget]

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Just like Han Solo making the Kessel Run, someone has smuggled out a few pictures of the Motorola Droid R2-D2 in stock at Verizon. Well, the dummy units anyway. The release of the Star Wars-themed device shouldn’t be too far away, and with a World Edition refresh of the Droid 2 not far away either, it looks like those in the market for the handset will have quite a few options to consider. The phone is still looking pretty good in terms of pure geek awesomeness. I especially like the nice white and blue lettering of the slide-out keyboard. So who can’t wait to have this thing bleep-bloop-boppin’ in their pocket?

[via BGR]

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If you thought Verizon wasn’t going to do anything special for their launch of the R2D2 special edition of the Motorola Droid 2, then guess again. One store in Hialeah, Florida has already detailed their midnight launch event for this device where they’ll be having a Star Wars costume party in the parking lot starting a half hour after the store’s normal closing time (9:00PM). The festivities will go on until midnight when Verizon swings open their glass doors to let the horde in on some good R2D2 loving.

The series of events may be different from store to store, but for the Hialeah location they’ll be giving out an R2Droid2 to whoever shows up with the best costume and will also be raffling one off so anyone who is too embarrassed to show their cosplay love will have a chance. For those who don’t win, you’ll be able to snap up at most two of these phones, but no more as this will be a limited launch with Verizon only offering 50,000 in stores and online. It’s said that each Verizon store will be getting 150 devices, though they didn’t say whether or not they would be exclusive to the midnight locations (though a quick trip to the calculator shows me that they’d only have about 15,000 devices to sell if that were the case so I’m sure you’ll be able to find these at any Verizon store.)

The Miami Herald has other details regarding activations and such for those who don’t want to take the device out of the box (for collectors and eBayers) so head on over there now to read their full report and be sure to call up your local Verizon locations to see which closest to you will be offering it midnight September 30th.

[via Droid-Life]

Samsung’s Fascinate, the last of the Galaxy S line to be released, will be available online starting September 8th, and in stores the following day, according to Verizon.  The phone, which boasts a 1 GHz Hummingbird processor and runs Android 2.1, will cost $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate, and a new 2-year contract.  The phone also features the beautiful Super AMOLED display, powered by Corning’s Gorilla glass technology.

Continue after the break for the full presser: Read More…

September 9th still sounding fishy to you? One of Engadget’s sources – an employee of one of Verizon’s corporate locations – has confirmed to them the arrival of the long-awaited Samsung Fascinate. Verizon’s not made any noise themselves leading up to the launch of this thing, but Samsung’s been putting out ads and Best Buy’s been taking pre-orders. It feels like a launch is looming, but at the same time it feels like Verizon couldn’t care less to generate any hype. Perhaps I’m jumping the gun – their marketing strategies are unpredictable as we’ve seen with the rather quick and dirty Droid 2 launch – but I’m still content just knowing that the last Galaxy S device in America is finally set to make its rounds.

View full post on Android Phone Fans

According to an insider source at Boy Genius Report, reports are coming in that the Samsung Epic 4G will be heading to the public on August 11th. Other reports from their insider source are stating that this information is in Sprint’s playbook, and that some Sprint stores will be opening at 8 AM on that date to accommodate. This puts the possible launch date just one day before the Motorola Droid 2 on Verizon.

For more information on Android and the current Android mobile phones, check out our Android Guides

Rumor: Samsung Epic 4G coming August 11th, Sprint stores will open early

View full post on Google Android News Android Forums

Since the word "monolith" has been making vast amounts of headlines today, we figured we’d toss in our thoughts on the mysterious pillars that have shown up in some AT&T stores recently. AT&T employees have been silent on the matter, some folks are even saying they have been sternly warned to not even joke, nor talk about the possibility of what may be underneath.

Many conclusions have been drawn up as to what it may be. It could be the Android packing Dell Streak, it may also have something to do with the upcoming Windows Phone 7. Some have even gone so far as to say it may be iPhone 4 related but that seems a little off base, since the iPhone 4 has already launched. Of course, this being CrackBerry and all; we’d like to think it’s related to BlackBerry 6 and the upcoming BlackBerry 9800 aka Torch release. How frack’n cool would it be too see a huge Torch underneath there! Either way, time will tell what it is. I just hope it’s something really cool for all the hype it’s received thus far.

Source: Gizmodo

CrackBerry.com‘s feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. Mysterious monoliths appear in AT&T stores but what's inside?!?

View full post on CrackBerry.com blogs

I love playing the wording game when it comes to public relations: press releases, official statements, and internal corporate communication are so carefully worded that the smallest detail could make the biggest difference. In this story, TmoNews got a shot of an internal screen stating “The Nexus One was sold and marketed by Google. T-Mobile is not offering the Nexus One through our retail stores.”

At first glance, it sounds like they simply won’t be offering the device ever. Reading between the lines, though, tells us that the statement could just be fluff. “T-Mobile is not offering” is a lot different than “T-Mobile will not be offering”. One is present tense and one is future tense, but I’m sure most of you knew that. Furthermore, T-Mobile directs their agents to inform inquiring customers that the Nexus One is no longer available via the Google store. Why not tell them to include the fact that T-Mobile won’t be selling it either?

Maybe I’m picking at straws, but there could still be room for the Nexus One on T-Mobile’s bright, pink (I’m tired of saying magenta) shelves. We’ll wait for an official statement (which we’ll pick apart just as much) to back this rumor up before we run wild in every direction with it.

View full post on Android Phone Fans

While Google has officially reported that it is done selling Nexus Ones, there was some (dwindling) hope that perhaps some carriers would still offer the phone in-store. Well, folks, put your hopes in a bag and pack it up, because it doesn’t look that way.

T-Mobile’s internals have confirmed that they will not be selling the Nexus One in-store. The good news? The same document passing around T-Mobile is saying that Nexus One users will still be receiving support on the device. We hope that you weren’t still on the fence about buying one, as it seems the choices on where to get one are almost out the door.

[via TmoNews]

For more information on Android and the current Android mobile phones, check out our Android Guides

T-Mobile not selling Nexus Ones in stores

View full post on Google Android News Android Forums

As of today the first iDEN push-to-talk Android phone to come onto the market is now available at Boost Mobile retails stores. For the price of $299.99 you’ll get a pay as you go smartphone featuring a 3.1-inch touchscreen military grade hardware to combat the roughest elements and keep our little green robot safe. The i1 isn’t currently available online, so if you are looking to pick one up you’ll have to head to your local Boost Mobile retailer.

[via MobileBurn]

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