Bacon Reader — Free

My favorite Reddit reading app got even better this week, especially if you own a Galaxy Nexus. The app now includes a scrollable widget for Honeycomb and ICS, Beam support for NFC phones, and hardware acceleration. If you’re addicted to Reddit and want the same sharing, commenting, and discussion capabilities you get through the web interface, you want Bacon Reader. I follow several subreddits and find it much easier to keep track of them, especially with the new widgets.

K. T. Bradford

Chrome for Android Beta — Free [4.0+ only]

Earlier this week, Google finally released its Chrome for Android Beta browser for use with Android 4.0 devices. Of course, that means devices running lesser versions won’t be able to run it at the moment, but luckily I have a Samsung Galaxy Nexus.

On day one, I replaced the stock Android browser with Chrome and I haven’t looked back.

Many of you won’t like the fact that it doesn’t support Adobe Flash Player but it makes up for that with its other features. Features like the ability to sync bookmarks and tabs I have open on my desktop to my Galaxy Nexus and being able to send pages from my desktop browser to my phone. Seamlessly.

If you have an Android 4.0 device, get this browser. Now.

Adam Mills

doubleTwist — Free [Market, Amazon ]

Recently doubleTwist got a nice update that allows users to get their podcasts directly from within the app instead of having to sync them from a computer. For someone who listens to podcasts every day this is an awesome feature on top of an already awesome app. The only drawback is that this is a premium feature, so you have to pay about $7 to unlock it. However, if you just want to stream, not save podcasts, that’s free.

K. T. Bradford

World of Goo — $4.99

World of Goo isn’t a new game, but I just discovered this fun physics game that tasks you with building towers, bridges and more to solve puzzles in a variety of landscapes. You don’t have wood or nails, but rather balls of Goo that can stick to each other to form structures. Well worth the $5 price.

Josh Smith

Best Android Apps This Week [February 5 - 11] is a post by GBM Staff from Gotta Be Mobile.

Longform — $4.99 [iPad]

RSS aggregators and news apps like Zite and Flipboard and great for reading and discovering short form content, but what if you want to curl up with a longer piece that goes in-depth such as those found in Wired, The Atlantic, The Believer, and other great magazines? Then Longform is the app for you. The team behind it curates longer non-fiction content that’s updated every day and saved for offline reading. Users can also add a favorite source from a list of 25 sites. Longform will only pull in the feature-length stories, not the shorter news items and such.

I also like that it connects up with Readability, Instapaper, and Read It Later accounts and saves the items offline. This is yet another app that makes the iPad a great magazine reader.

K. T. Bradford

Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation — $6.99

My teenage boys love this first person shooter based on the popular Xbox and PC game. It takes good advantage of the touch capability of your iOS device. Call of Duty and Modern Warefare fans will enjoy the action. It has a bunch of rounds and maps to pick from and you can play with up to 12 other players. Since the app works on both devices, you don’t have to pay twice!

Kevin Purcell

My DJ — Free; $0.99 (no ads, in-app)

Two features I’ve been craving for the iPhone music app are the ability to play random clips of songs and crossfade. My DJ offers both with control over the lengths of the clips and the crossfade. It was recently updated to be compatible with iOS 5 but is still a bit buggy, freezing if played for long periods or with frequent toggles of play-pause. But that’s a small compromise for getting this simple but great functionality.

Sumocat

Scramble with Friends — Free; $0.99 (no ads)

I don’t know why, but a couple of weeks ago I listened to a friend’s advice and downloaded Scramble with Friends. And now, I’m not sure whether to love or hate him. Scramble with Friends might just be the most addicting game I’ve come across since Angry Birds.

Like any of the other “With Friends” games, Scramble with Friends allows you to play against any of your friends. But unlike the other games, this one is extremely fast paced. Before you know it, you’ll have learned a host of new words while at the same time destroyed anything that even remotely resembles productivity.

Adam Mills

TweetBot — $2.99 [iPhone, iPad]

TweetBot is the best Twitter app for the iPhone and iPad, hands down. I have been using the iPhone app for several months, and now you can enjoy the TweetBot experience on your iPad. The app is not universal, so you have to buy it twice.

TweetBot includes the ability to choose a list to display as your main timeline, excellent notifications and a beautiful interface.

Josh Smith

Best iOS Apps This Week [February 5 - 11] is a post by GBM Staff from Gotta Be Mobile.

The company has confirmed to Android Central its plans to double its fee from the current price of $18 to a whole $36.

Again, that change is set to go into effect on Sunday, February 12th.

So you might be wondering to yourself, why in the world is AT&T doing this?

Well, here’s what the company had to say:

Wireless devices today are more sophisticated than ever before. And because of that, the costs associated with upgrading to a new device have increased and is reflected in our new upgrade fee. This fee isn’t unique to AT&T and this is the first time we’re changing it in nearly 10 years.

So what this means is that if you’re at the end of your contract on Ma Bell and you’re looking to get a new phone, after Sunday, you’re going to have to fork over $36. Those of you with an iPhone 4 who are planning to upgrade to an iPhone 5 when it arrives sometime later this year are probably shaking your heads right now.

In AT&T’s defense, other carriers charge more than Ma Bell’s $18.

Sprint charges customers $36 to upgrade while T-Mobile and Verizon both charge $35. So it’s not like this is anything new. Still, it’s not going to be a welcomed change amongst the masses who already feel they’re getting nickel and dimed by service providers.

For those of you that are looking to get a new phone with AT&T, you’ll want to do so before Sunday lest you have to pay $18.

AT&T’s Upgrade Fee Doubles This Sunday is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

From the Nikon D800 to rumors about the iPad 3 release date and its features, we’ve got you covered.

Nikon D800

Whether you’re a professional photographer, videographer or just an amateur looking for a new DSLR camera, your eyes should be fixated on the upcoming Nikon D800 camera.

This is a camera that is in such high-demand, that pre-orders have already sold out at Amazon.

Wondering why?

You’ll want to check out these four posts which will give you a good idea about why there is so much hype behind the Nikon D800:

• Nikon D800: Amazing Sample Video
• Nikon D800 Pre-Orders Sold Out at Amazon
• Nikon D800 Sample Photos Are Mind Blowing
• Nikon D800 Samples Photos: Low Light, High ISO Tested

Motorola Droid 4 Launches

Another week, another 4G LTE Android phone launching on Verizon. This time though, it’s the Motorola Droid 4 which is Verizon’s fourth edition of the device that features a physical QWERTY keyboard.

We awarded it with our Best Smartphone of CES 2012 award and for good reason. It has one of the best physical keyboards ever to grace a smartphone.

First, you’ll want to check out our full length review of the Droid 4.

Then, for more background, have a look at these posts:

• Droid 4 Camera Review: Photo and Video Samples
• Droid 4 Review: Hardware Tour & Keyboard Performance (Video)
• Droid 4 in for Review: Photos and Impressions
• Motorola Droid 4 vs. Droid RAZR MAXX
• Motorola Droid 3 vs. Motorola Droid 4

iPad 3 Rumors Heat Up

This week has seen quite its fair share of iPad 3 rumors in regards to the upcoming tablet’s features and release date. And while we’re still in terms of concrete information, Apple hasn’t announced anything yet, we feel like we have a pretty good outlook on the next version of the iPad.

In order to get up to speed, you’ll want to check out these posts:

• What to Expect from the iPad 3
• Why the iPad 3 Will Have Siri
• iPad 3 to Feature Dual-Core Processor, Not Quad-Core?
• iPad 3 Predictions from an Apple Insider
• Apple Announcing iPad 3, Release Date Week of March 5th

My Little Pony and the iPhone

It’s not every day that you hear see the words “My Little Pony” and “iPhone” in the same sentence but here we are. Earlier this week, we told you about an episode of the popular kids show that seemed to have a bit of a hidden message. Or two. Or three.

Those messages?

That it’s perfectly alright to camp overnight for the latest in greatest in tech.

That Apple should continue its lawsuits against Samsung.

And a possible condemnation of people who complained that the iPhone 4S was so late in coming last year.

This, in a show for kids.

• My Little Pony Episode Teaches Kids To Appreciate The Long Wait For A New iPhone

Mobile World Congress News

Later on this month, Barcelona will play host to a year mobile trade show called the Mobile World Congress. Companies use it to launch products like smartphones and tablets and this year’s event will be no different.

Quad-core smartphones are likely going to be one of the many things that we focus on this year and we fully expect the first of them to get announced on stage at this year’s MWC.

Why?

Well, NVIDIA says they will that’s why:

• NVIDIA’s MWC Invite Hints at Tegra 3 Phones

In addition, LG is now rumored to be launching not one, not two, not three, but four smartphones at MWC:

• 4 LG Smartphones That Might Launch in February

We’ve also heard that Nokia might be heavily involved:

• Nokia 803 Rumored: 4-Inch Display, Huge Camera Sensor, Symbian
• Nokia Launching New High-End Smartphone at MWC 2012?

And lastly, Samsung announced that it won’t have a press conference at this year’s event. Be sure to read why we think that doesn’t matter at all.

• Why Samsung Doesn’t Need a Press Conference at MWC

This Week in Mobile Tech: Nikon D800, Droid 4, iPad 3 is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

If you own either device, take this date with a grain of salt as Murtazin’s information is often wrong. And seeing as how Samsung has yet to give the update an official release date, we wouldn’t put all of you eggs into one basket.

As Motorola said yesterday, these updates are tricky and while manufacturers would love to divulge release date specifics in regards to major Android updates, it’s not easy to do.

Translation: Dates can change.

So it might be that today, Samsung is planning on rolling Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out to certain Galaxy S II and Galaxy Note models on March 1st, but those plans could definitely change between then and now.

Now we do know that Samsung has promised Android 4.0 for both devices by the end of Q1. So, this date does make sense. We’ve heard that Norway might be the first place to see both updates.

As for those of you toting a Galaxy S II here in the United States, don’t count on March 1st. The international versions of the device will likely see it first. Why? You can blame the carriers.

They like to take their time.

As for the Galaxy Note, it’s not even out in the United States. It will arrive later on this month on AT&T’s 4G LTE network and we don’t expect AT&T to have the update ready to roll out that soon after launch. Either way, we know that Samsung is making progress as several ROMs have leaked out in recent days.

Be patient folks, the updates will come. And that’s much better than the predicament that HTC ThunderBolt owners are in right now.

In the meantime, you can check out our extensive Guide to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Via: SlashGear

Android 4.0 Coming to Galaxy Note, Galaxy S II on March 1st? is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

The update, according to Phandroid, is rolling out at this moment to Droid Bionic users so those of you with the device handy will want to take it out, head into your Settings and take a peek to see whether or not the software is waiting for you.

Chances are, it probably is.

So what’s included in the update?

Well, the key things include stability enhancements that should make the overall experience with the Droid Bionic a whole lot better, what Verizon is calling improved battery life and improvements to the mobile hotspot.

Here is the full rundown:

Device Features

+ Added support for National Plus Code Dialing.
+ Added support for Bluetooth® Personal Area Networks (PAN).
+ Receive text message alerts while on voice calls without voice call interruption.
+ Improved audio while streaming video to a TV using the HDMI connection.
+ Improved Bluetooth audio when paired and connected to the device.
+ Improvements in device stability prevent the following:

• Black screen lockups
• Camera multi-shot lockups
• Idle resets
• Multimedia dock lockups

+ Device is now capable of providing Verizon Emergency Alerts.
+ Improvements in battery life.

Data Connectivity

+ Data connectivity and stability improvements.
+ Improvements in Wi-Fi Mobile Hotspot download performance.

Application Improvements

+ YouTube videos will resume play from their previous location after
pausing to access the Notification Panel.
+ Composing a Visual Voice Mail message no longer mutes the voice call.
+ Messages saved with Visual Voice Mail will store to the SD card target shown
on the user interface.
+ Visual Voice Mail improvements for message storage and deletion.
+ Play WAV audio files.
+ The following apps are now preloaded:

• Amazon MP3
• VCAST Apps Store

Overall, this is a fantastic update besides the bloatware that Verizon decided to throw in there at the end. We think you’ll manage though.

The Motorola Droid Bionic came out in September of 2011 after a lengthy delay which saw the device undergo a design change. It was then overshadowed by the launch of the Motorola Droid RAZR a month later. However, we still thought highly of Verizon’s first dual-core 4G LTE device.

You can get a good feel for the device by watching the video below:

Or you can read our full-length review of the Motorola Droid Bionic here.

Motorola Droid Bionic Gets a Much Needed Update is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

As you may know, this year’s conference figures to be centered around quad-core smartphones. HTC is rumored to be announcing one and LG, not to be left out, is apparently going to be doing the same.

LG is also rumored to be announcing a new Windows Phone and two new Optimus branded smartphones.

The company has sent out invitations inviting the press to check out its “New Revolutionary Smartphones for 2012″ so we can assume that at least a couple of those will be announced in just a few weeks.

So let’s rundown each of those four smartphones and take a look what you should expect from LG’s press conference at MWC this year.

LG X3

First and foremost, we believe that LG may be launching a quad-core smartphone which is currently codenamed LG X3. That will likely not be the name that the phone has when it hits shelves.

Spec wise, the X3 is a beast.

Its rumored to have NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 quad-core chip on board along with a display that measures 4.7-inches and boasts 1280×720 resolution, 8MP rear camera, a 1.3MP front-facing camera, 16GB of internal storage space, and a massive 2,000 mAh battery.

The X3 is apparently going to be 9mm slim, boast NFC support for use with Google Wallet and other mobile payment platforms, and an HSPA+ radio. 4G LTE is also said to be in the mix as well.

As for software, it’s apparently going to run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, Google’s latest and greatest operating system.

Thing is, even if the phone is announced at MWC, it’s not rumored to be arriving until the third quarter of 2012.

Yikes.

LG Optimus 3D 2

Another Android phone that LG is rumored to be rolling out at MWC is the LG CX2 aka LG Optimus 3D 2. Those of you in the United States might be familiar with the first incarnation of the Optimus 3D which is known as the LG Thrill 4G for AT&T.

It’s a phone that we think highly of, especially for its price.

As for the Optimus 3D, it’s rumored to feature a 1.2GHz dual-core chip from Texas Instruments, a 4.3-inch NOVA display -  both of which are bumps over the original Optimus 3D, dual 5MP rear cameras for 3D photo and video, 8GB of internal storage space, and Bluetooth 3.0.

It’s also rumored to have a sub-10mm design, NFC and Android 2.3 Gingerbread on board and not Android 4.0.

A shame.

Still, it’s a fairly intriguing device, especially for those of you that are into 3D.

LG Optimus Vu

The last of the trio of rumored Android devices is the LG Optimus Vu which might be a competitor for the Samsung Galaxy Note. The device is rumored to have a 5-inch display which includes a 4:3 aspect ratio.

As we’ve pointed out, that aspect ratio makes it perfect for viewing PDF files, documents, and most of all, digital content.

Here is a quick video showing off the Optimus Vu:

The rest of the details are a bit murky at this point but it’s possible that we’ll hear more at MWC 2012.

LG Miracle

Last but not least, LG is rumored to be announcing a new Windows Phone called the LG Miracle which actually just leaked out in some new photos today. It’s not a mind-blowing device spec wise but it does have some intriguing features on board.

The LG Miracle is rumored to have a four-inch WVGA NOVA display, 8GB of on-board storage space, a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, a VGA front-facing camera, a 5MP rear camera, an HSPA radio, and Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7.5 Mango operating system.

No word on carriers or a release date but we should find out more when LG takes the stage in Barcelona.

4 LG Smartphones That Might Launch in February is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

I hate ear buds! When I’m around the house and want to listen to some music or a podcast online without bothering my family, I’ll put a pair of headphones on.

While there are many premium priced headphones on the market, I don’t listen to a lot of music, so I don’t need $100-200 headphones. Still, I want decent audio quality an an affordable price. This made using the iHome iB40 headphones as my new go to set of cans an easy choice.

Good Value for the Price

They’re your basic set of headphones. They come in black with a red line around them for accent or white with purple (see last photo below). They adjust to fit even big-headed people like me. I can plug them into my computer close by or my iPhone even if it’s sitting a few feet away because of the nice long cord. The volume dial sits close enough to the speaker that you can reach it and you don’t have to adjust the volume on our device. The included 3.5mm to quarter-inch adapter will let you use them with higher end audio equipement if you need to.

I tested the iB40 Headphones with some spoken work, classical music, pop, and some of my son’s hip hop with hard-driving bass and they sounded good in all genres. No, they can’t compete with a $100 or higher set of cans, but at $29.99 you get better than expected sound and pretty rich bass.

Slight Distortion and Sound Bleeding

The only distortion I heard came when I pumped the volume all the way up to the highest setting on the source and with the in-line audio dial. Turn the volume down just a bit and it goes away.

At that highest level you will entertain your neighbors. I asked my son to try them out and as he blasted his music I could hear well enough to understand the words to the song. We slowly turned up the volume and the music could be heard by the person not wearing the headphones starting at about 80% volume. You could hear things distinctly at about 90%.

I don’t feel comfortable with headphones set at above 80-90 percent most of the time anyway, so I didn’t notice a problem. My son, like most 17-year-olds, likes to blast his music. If you have a kid like mine, you’ll have to keep asking them to turn down the music, if you don’t want to hear it. If you like to listen loud on the airplane, these headphones won’t be the right choice for you.

Bottom Line

For only $29.99 you can’t expect too much of your headphones. Fortunately, the iHome iB40 delivers more than you would expect with decent sound, rich bass and comfort even for someone with a large head. I like the long cord freeing me from being too close to my computer and since I don’t pump up the volume to the max levels, the two drawbacks don’t affect me. The distortion and audio bleeding out to those around you will only show up at 80-90 percent or higher volumes

We’re recommending these cans as one of our Valentine’s Day Gift Guide selections and while you’re at it you can pick up a pair for yourself. You won’t likely find a better set at this price point. If you want great audio, then you’ll have to pay for it. If you just want an inexpensive set of headphones, I recommend the iHome iB40 headphones which you can find at Amazon for $19.99.

iHome has your pair and you can get them even cheaper at Amazon for $19.99.

iHome iB40 Headphones: Decent Sound at Budget Price is a post by Kevin Purcell from Gotta Be Mobile.

Let’s delve into those specs for a second, shall we?

The LG Miracle is expected to arrive with a four-inch WVGA NOVA display, 8GB of on-board storage space, a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, a VGA front-facing camera, a 5MP rear camera, an HSPA radio – No 4G LTE, folks, and it should arrive with Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7.5 Mango operating system on board.

Not bad.

What’s more is that it will have Near Field Communication (NFC) capabilities which means you should be able to use it with mobile payment services like Google Wallet.

So that’s the LG Miracle save for two big pieces of information. One, its announcement/release date. And two, the carrier or carriers that it will be headed to.

To answer question one, we fully expect LG to announce this phone alongside a number of other phones at this month’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. And to answer the second question, not a clue.

If we had to guess, we’d say that T-Mobile might be in the running considering the device’s HSPA+ radio, but then we’d have to throw AT&T in there as well. And hey, considering these photos leaked on a Romanian site and MWC is a European trade show, we may never see it land in the U.S. at all.

Luckily, if you’re interested, we’ll know more later on this month.

Via: GSMArena, PocketNow

LG Miracle Windows Phone Poses for the Camera is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

Instead of roses that wilt and chocolates that go bad, why not pick up a fun gadget gift this year, one that your special someone can enjoy all year long.

Whatever your budget for Valentine’s Day tech gifts, we have you covered with a collection of our favorites. You may notice that this list isn’t over run with red and pink gadgets or heart shaped USB drives. Skip the novelties this year and get your valentine something they’ll love all year.

iHome iB40 Over-the-Ear Headphones

Audiophiles will tell you that there’s no such thing as a good pair of cheap headphones. I disagree and so will most average users hooking up to a notebook or an iPhone. These over-the-ear headphones won’t cost too much but will deliver decent audio. You can give these to your kids and not worry about them ruining an expensive set of cans. If you take them on the road with you, you won’t worry as much about losing them. You get good sound and an in-line volume control. They feel comfortable too. In my review, I recommended them despite a little distortion and some audio bleed at the highest volume levels.

$19.99 @ Amazon

MiLi 10W Dual USB Car and Wall Charger

A charger isn’t a sexy gift, but if you’re at the state in your relationship where practical trumps exotic, then this charger will make a nice gift. The design makes it compact since the DC and AC connectors fold into the charger. Plug any USB device into the port and you have power in the car, hotel room, the office or home. The wall plug can be replaced with international plugs for the world traveller. I am able to charge my iPad as well as other USB powered devices. Keep it in the car or unplug it and take it inside when needed.

$34.95 @ Amazon

Capsule Case for iPhone 4/4S from Uncommon

Anyone who has an iPhone needs a case. Why not give your friends or family members a customized case that will let them show the world how much they love you or another family member like the kids or maybe the dog. Upload a photo and let Uncommon create a case you know they will love because you “made” it for them. If you don’t want to take the chance that your idea of a beautiful case isn’t their idea of a beautiful case, then get a gift card so they can customize their own.

$39.95 @ Uncommon

Razer Orochi Gaming Bluetooth Mouse

I reviewed the Razer Orochi almost a year ago but haven’t found a better Bluetooth mouse yet. If you’re a gamer it has a lot of useful features, like the ability to change the mouse sensitivity on the fly with thumb buttons. It connects quickly and feels great. Using ordinary AAA batteries you’ll get a lot of mousing. If your batteries die, you can plug in the included USB cable. I love this mouse and gamers and non-gamers alike will enjoy it too.

$79.99 @ Razer

Roku 2

Couch potatoes you love will love you for getting them a Roku 2, the second generation of the tiny set-top box that lets you stream Netflix, Amazon Instant videos, hulu Plus, and a lot more. You add channels, either for free or subscription. The box plugs into your TV and the Internet and streams the shows, movies or podcasts. It works well. If you have a speedy home Internet connection video looks great. You can also plug a USB drive or SD card into the box to watch your own video, stream music or view slide shows on the higher end models.

$49.99 – $89.99 @ Amazon

Nintendo 3DS

The Nintendo 3DS will entertain your younger children for hours. They have games for all ages, but I think the younger kids will be happier with the 3DS while older kids might want something like a smartphone for gaming plus other entertainment. With the Nintendo 3DS, they can play 3D games without the need of special glasses. The system runs older Nintendo DS games too.

$111.44 @ Amazon

iPod Touch

The iPod Touch fits older kids better than a Nintendo 3DS because they will want to not only play games, but enjoy music and video as well. Hook them up with one of the many free messaging apps so they can enjoy texting with their friends without having to sign up for a two-year phone contract and pay the ridiculous text messaging fees. In the future you can dangle the reward of new apps in their face if they do their homework or clean their rooms. By the way, big kids like your spouse or special friend will enjoy one too, especially if they’re tied to a phone contract on an old feature phone.

$188 @ Amazon

Amazon Kindle Touch

You have two options depending on your budget and the recipient. If you don’t have as much to spend or they only want to read books, the Amazon Kindle Touch will fit perfectly. The latest Kindle has the easy to read e-ink screen and the huge Amazon library of books. The design shrunk making it even more portable and comfortable to use without sacrificing screen size. The ads don’t bother me, but if you don’t like them you can pay a little extra to remove them. The touch display makes navigating so much easier than previous generation Kindles with the buttons.

$99 @ Amazon or $149 for 3G version

Amazon Kindle Fire

If you have a little more to spend or the recipient wants more than just books, then the Kindle Fire should work. You can read books, magazines and documents like a regular Kindle. Add to that games and apps from the Amazon App Store and the expanding video content via the Amazon Prime service. You get a free month to try Prime and if the recipient likes it he or she can add the service or better you can add buy a year for the person to make the gift even better. I love my Fire and it’s the best non-Apple tablet for the money.

$199 @ Amazon – $79/year for Prime Membership

Toshiba Portege Z835

If you have someone you really love, a high-end gift like a new notebook will make them really love you. On the Windows side, one of the new Ultrabooks like this one from Toshiba is a great choice. When our editor Josh Smith reviewed this machine he said:

This model has enough power for most consumers looking for an affordable light and thin notebook, but those looking to do video editing or processor intensive tasks will be best served by a different notebook with a more powerful processor.

It isn’t perfect. Josh dinged it because of consistent fan noise and a display that’s too flexible, but despite that he called it a “stellar choice” because of the backlit keys and plenty of ports in a “super thin package.” The average user will enjoy using it for surfing, office docs, casual gaming or streaming video.

$849.99 @ Best Buy

Great Valentines Day Gadget Gift Guide is a post by Kevin Purcell from Gotta Be Mobile.

My first thought was that this is why Facebook needs better privacy settings and needs to explain them better, too.

My second thought was that someone really needs to come take this man’s gun away because that’s an extreme and violent reaction to something so small and normal as a teenager complaining, in private, to her friends, that her parents are annoying her.

My third thought was that it’s no wonder poor Hannah is so spoiled since her father can apparently afford to completely ruin an expensive piece of electronics just because he’s cheesed off.

I’m inclined to agree with the person in this thread that sees the family dynamic here as very abusive and scary, but I also can’t ignore all the mommy bloggers on my Twitter feed roundly congratulating this dad for teaching his daughter a lesson. I just wonder what lesson is being taught?

I am not a parent, but I am an aunt. My two oldest nieces are old enough to use computers and tablets, surf the Internet, interact on social networks, and in general do a lot of things that are both awesome and scary as an adult who loves them. I am an advocate of keeping an eye on what kids and young adults do online and making them understand the dangers and consequences they expose themselves to.

I also understand that when you’re a teenager you’re going to vent about your parents to your friends. Quite frankly, if you do that in what you thought was a private space, that should be okay. If you, as a parent, are going to get bent out of shape every time your teen says something uncharitable about you behind your back, you’d best learn some Yoga to make that more comfortable.

So yes, I do feel the father’s actions were over the top and scary and incorrect. Team Hannah!

Parents, teens, unaffiliated adults, what say you to this?

Father Shoots Daughter’s Laptop With A Gun, Internet Parents Applaud Scary Violence is a post by K. T. Bradford from Gotta Be Mobile.

The first thing we thought of when we saw this was: Mobile World Congress. The conference is set to take place from February 27th until March 1st and we know that HTC is going to be announcing something. Or maybe a couple of somethings.

However, MWC is generally geared toward Europe and it would be strange to see the company announce a Verizon 4G LTE phone on that stage. So, more than likely, it’ll arrive at CTIA in March.

Now, you’re probably wondering about what you see here.

Rumor has it, the phone will feature a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, an 8MP rear camera, a VGA front-facing camera, an AMOLED screen of unknown size, 1GB of RAM, and a Droid Incredible-esque design.

In addition, it also has 4G LTE speeds which means data will arrive up to 10 times faster than normal 3G, and it will also have Android 4.0, Google’s latest operating system.

Thing is, the phone you see here is apparently a prototype which means any or all of that could change before it hits shelves in its official form. So far, so good though.

HTC has promised better 4G LTE phones - in design and battery life – for 2012, and this might just be the first to make good on that promise.

The company is also expected to debut at least one quad-core smartphone at the MWC in the HTC Edge and will likely be announcing an extremely thin phone in the HTC Ville as well.

Mystery HTC Android 4.0 Smartphone Leaks is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

The Droid 4 marks the first time Motorola has included Verizon’s super fast 4G LTE connectivity in this line, so there is a lot of interest from current Droid owners, many of whom can’t imagine swapping an on-screen keyboard for a physical one.

The keyboard makes the Droid 4 thicker than the Droid RAZR MAXX, but it shares similar design elements and the same great build quality of recent Motorola smartphones.

We gave the Droid 4 the Best Smartphone of CES 2012 award and have been looking forward to spending some quality time with Motorola’s latest 4G Android phone.

Droid 4 Review Summary

The Motorola Droid 4 has the best physical keyboard I’ve used on any phone, even better than the BlackBerry keyboards so many users are addicted to. The keyboard really is the defining feature of this phone, which makes it a no-brainer for any smartphone shopper that can’t live without an real keyboard.

Motorola made a bold choice to go with a non-removable battery on the Droid 4, one that could force heavy users to invest in an external battery pack or plug in for an afternoon top-up.

Even with limitations on battery life and camera performance, the Droid 4 is still a good fit for many users who demand a physical keyboard. It doesn’t hurt that the Droid 4 will see an Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) in the near future.

Droid 4 - 4G LTE slider with an amazing keyboard

Droid 4 Hands On Video

Check out our hands on video for a closer look at the Droid 4′s design and solid build. In the latter half of the video I give you a look at how the keyboard feels, and explain why I like the Droid 4 keyboard so much.

Droid 4 Design and Hardware

Motorola is known for great build quality and the Droid 4 is no exception. Motorola uses a mix of plastic and metal for the body of the Droid 4, giving it a very sturdy feel.

The Droid 4 uses metal and plastic in the design, avoiding a cheap feel.

The Droid 4 is 12.9mm thick and weighs 6.3 ounces, thanks to the physical keyboard. That’s still thinner than the only other 4G LTE slider, the Samsung Stratosphere but noticeably thicker than the Droid RAZR and RAZR MAXX. Thankfully you get an amazing keyboard, making the tradeoff more than acceptable.

As for looks, the Droid 4 borrows heavily from Motorola’s latest designs like the Droid RAZR and RAZR MAXX, as well as the Droid XYBOARD tablets. This is a good choice, as users will like the rounded edges and clean look of the phone’s lines.

While the iPhone 4S’ design is inspiring, the Droid 4 looks more like a phone you can take outdoors case free without worrying that it will slip out of your hand and crack on the ground.

The Droid 4 keyboard slides out from the lower half of the phone in a smooth and solid fashion. There is no spring assist like on some phones, which means you will need to push the phone all the way open or closed manually.

The Droid 4 has an excellent physical keyboard.

Once open, you are presented with one of the best designed keyboards we’ve seen on any smartphone. The keys are edge-lit for easy use in low-light situations and laid out perfectly for a superior typing experience. The keys feel very nice on your fingertips and offer good tactile feedback when pressed, as well as an audible click.

The dedicated number row makes entering strong passwords a breeze and offers fast access to common punctuation and symbols with the shift key. The only thing I would change is to switch out the caps lock key, which I routinely pressed instead of shift.

Some users will prefer the spacing on the Samsung Stratosphere’s keyboard, but the tactile feel and better layout make the Droid 4 a clear winner.

Droid 4 Display

The Droid 4 has a 4-inch qHD display that looks good indoors and out. The qHD display has a 960 x 540 resolution that puts more of a web page, or eBook page or website on your screen so you don’t need to scroll as much. It also means that HD video looks nicer and you get crisper text than on a low resolution display.

The Droid 4 has a 4 inch qHD display.

If this display is a Pentile display, it is not as noticeable as larger screens like the Droid Bionic. When you get very close to the screen you can notice a small cross hatch pattern on the battery indicator, but I didn’t observe the cross hatches that often make blue hyper links look fuzzy on Pentile displays.

Colors on the display looked good, on par with the RAZR and RAZR MAXX. Text is easy to read in the browser and the screen does a good job of displaying black blacks and white whites.

The viewing angles are fairly wide, though I wouldn’t plan on sharing the display with a friend for more than a few minutes of YouTube hilarity.

The Droid 4 has a display that is readable outdoors.

As you can see in the image above, the screen is readable outdoors, though there will be some glare depending on the viewing angle.

Droid 4 Performance

The Droid 4 has a dual-core 1.2Ghz processor and 1GB of RAM, which is standard for Motorola phones rolling out this year. This combo provides the power you need to not worry about the  specs of your new Droid 4.

While navigating around the homescreen, switching apps and unlocking straight to the camera the Droid 4 was snappy.

I played a few quarters of Madden 2012 without any lag in gameplay and graphics looked great.

New to the Droid line in the Droid 4 is Verizon’s 4G LTE, which provides speeds up to ten times faster than 3G. Expect speeds of 5 to 12 MBps down and 2 to 5 MBps up, which may be faster than your home connection.

The Droid 4 does a good job of holding a 4G LTE connection in a low coverage area; better than the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, which is $100 more expensive.

Droid 4 4G LTE speed test.

As you can see in the image above, even in this low coverage area, I was able to enjoy a speedy connection. When I took the phone to a better service area on the other side of town speeds doubled.

Users should see similar speeds on the Galaxy Nexus. In the video below Xavier Lanier shows faster 4G LTE speeds which are common in areas with good coverage.

The iPhone 4S does not have 4G LTE, which means you cannot download and upload as fast as on the Droid 4 or Galaxy Nexus. In this speedtest below, I show the difference between 4G LTE speeds on Verizon, a Verizon iPhone 4S and an AT&T iPhone 4S

Droid 4 Battery Life

It’s not clear why Motorola chose to make the battery on the Droid 4 non-removable, but that’s the battery you are stuck with. The battery is 1785 mAh, which is half of the Droid RAZR MAXX, but on par with many 4G LTE smartphones on Verizon.

The Droid 4's battery is non-removable, even though the back plate comes off

I’m still in the process of running a full battery test on the Droid 4. With 40% of the battery life remaining the Droid 4 has been up and running for 8 hours and 40 minutes. This includes a single email account syncing, 30 minutes of talk time, 30 minutes of streaming Pandora to a Bluetooth headset, 30 minutes of gaming and web browsing throughout the day.

I expect the battery to last around 12 hours, which is way less than most users need and a far cry from the Droid RAZR MAXX which is able to last a day and a half on a single charge.

I’m anticipating that heavy users, will need to invest in an external battery pack or charge up before heading out in the evening.

I’m testing the battery further, and will update our review with more battery stats as we have them.

Droid 4 Battery Life at 50%.

Droid 4 Call Quality and Audio

I absolutely love the call quality of Motorola devices and the Droid 4 doesn’t disappoint. Callers sound great, even on speakerphone.

While on several calls the recipients reported that I sounded very good while talking with the phone in my hand, and I even carried on a short conference call with the speakerphone without any complaints from other participants.

This small Droid 4 speaker delivers great volume.

Listening to movies and music on the Droid 4 is impressive. It’s much louder than with the volume that comes from the small speaker slot on the back of the phone. You won’t be blown away by the audio quality, but it is loud enough to be heard in a noisy restaurant or to pump Pandora through your hotel room.

Droid 4 Cameras

For all Motorola does right, the cameras in the Droid 4 are still disappointing. On the rear of the Droid 4 is an 8MP camera capable of recording 1080P video, but resulting photos and video are less than impressive.

The Droid 4 has an OK camera, but colors don't pop.

Colors don’t pop, especially when compared to the iPhone 4S, which is also $199. In the samples shown below, notice the poor colors, especially the ones shot indoors. The Droid 4 sample is on the left and to the right is the iPhone 4S.

When you go outdoors the quality of photos improves, but they still leave me wanting. Here are a few outdoor shots that show off the better side of the Droid 4′s camera.

Droid 4 sample photo outdoors.

The Droid 4 can record in 1080P, but it is set to record at 720P by default. In the video below you can see how it handles action as our two puppies decide to escape from their film session. I’m not impressed with the overall performance of the sensor, but it does keep up with fast moving subjects.

Software and Apps

The Droid 4 is running Android 2.3 Gingerbread, which most users will be familiar with. The newest version of Android, called Ice Cream Sandwich is, “coming soon” according to Motorola. Most users will be fine with Gingerbread, but keep in mind there is no specific date for the upgrade if Android 4.0 is a selling point for you.

The Droid 4 includes a number of pre-installed apps. Some of these apps add to the value of your phone, while others are annoying and cannot be uninstalled. Thankfully Motorola includes more good than bad.

The inclusion of QuickOffice Pairs up with the keyboard for an easy way to get some productivity done while you’re on the go. It can also be used to open up most office documents. I’m also a fan of the Motorola Applications like MotoCast and Smart Actions.

Motocast allows you to reach the files on your computer from your Droid 4 even when you are away from home.

Smart Actions is a cool tool that allows you to change settings and take action based on your location. Check out this guide to Smart Actions to see everything you can do with this free tool. The video below demonstrates some of the actions you can perform with Smart Actions.

Unfortunately there are also apps like BlockBuster, a link to SlingBox’s webpage and several other apps that most users won’t touch. Some of these apps can be uninstalled, but others you will need to ignore. You can hide applications from your app drawer by long pressing on them, but it would be nice if Verizon and Motorola didn’t load Android phones with all of these apps.

Is the Droid 4 Worth It?

The Droid 4 has an attractive $199 price when compared to most of the other 4G LTE smartphones that have started out closer to $299. If you are looking for a 4G LTE smartphone with a physical keyboard you have two choices: the Droid 4 and the Samsung Stratosphere.

While you may be tempted to purchase the Samsung Stratosphere thanks to the lower $99 price, I suggest thinking again. The Droid 4 has an amazing keyboard and the build quality blows the Stratosphere away. While it isn’t the perfect phone, the Droid 4 is still the top pick for an Android phone with a physical keyboard, and the only real option if you want 4G LTE onboard.

While you might be tempted to go with the cheapest smartphone on the shelf, I suggest you consider that the total cost of owning a phone doesn’t change. If you spend $99 on your phone or $199 on your phone, you are still looking at a total cost of $1,600 to $2,000.

Droid 4 Gallery

Droid 4 Review: Incredible Keyboard, Awesome Speeds is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

These days we’re all expected to keep our tunes to ourselves, though some youths rebel by playing the music from their smartphone speakers really loud, annoying all the people on public transportation with crappy, tinny music.

If you’re going to do all that, you need to go old school with it.

House of Marley is all about the old school charm mixed with new technology and Earth-friendly materials. The apex of this is the new Bag of Rhythm, a new take on the boombox idea. You can carry this one on your shoulder, too. The strap is way more comfortable than the boxy edges of old.

This isn’t just a good-looking showpiece. Oh heck no. I was party to several jam sessions at CES when this thing appeared and the audio quality is appropriately booming, bass-heavy, and bombastic.

The dock in the center connects to an iPhone or iPod touch like any other iSpeaker. There’s also a cable for connecting other handhelds and a pouch on the side for hiding the shameful non-iDevice away.

You get two sets of handles for easy carrying, but once you set the Bag of Rhythm down it can sit speakers facing forward without the iPhone falling out. It runs on a rechargeable battery that can be topped up at home or in the car.

The entire thing is made from recycled (or recyclable) materials. Yes, that’s real wood you see surrounding the speakers. The bag bits are made from cotton canvas.

The Bag of Rhythm costs $349. You can order it today from House of Marley’s website for delivery starting next week.

House of Marley’s Bag of Rhythm On Sale – Bringing Back The Boombox is a post by K. T. Bradford from Gotta Be Mobile.

Again, that price is for a 4G LTE device that launches today.

Those of you looking to upgrade, you’ll also be treated to a discount at Amazon. The retailer is currently offering the Droid 4 to upgraders for a mere $149. And while $50 isn’t as good as $100, it’s certainly a decent discount.

We’ve had a Droid 4 in our possession for a couple of days now and we’ve come away extremely impressed with Verizon’s latest addition to the Droid series.

Before you buy, you’re going to want to check out:

• Droid 4 Camera Review: Photo and Video Samples
• Droid 4 Review: Hardware Tour & Keyboard Performance (Video)
• Droid 4 in for Review: Photos and Impressions

We’ll also have a full review up later on today so be sure to check back in.

In addition, we’ve done some comparisons between the Droid 4 and other devices that Verizon is offering. They include:

• Motorola Droid 4 vs. Droid RAZR MAXX
• Motorola Droid 3 vs. Motorola Droid 4

The Droid 4 is Verizon’s third successor to the original Motorola Droid and it may just be the best one yet. From the laser cut keyboard which is likely the best keyboard you’ve ever used to its high-resolution display to its 4G LTE speeds, the Droid 4 is an extremely capable device.

And at that $100 price point, it’s certainly worth your attention.

Check out the Droid 4 in action in the video below:

If you find your eyes fixated on the Droid 4, you can find it for sale at Verizon here. Or, if you want to save some money, you can find it on Amazon here.

Motorola Droid 4 Available for $100 at Amazon is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

Staples put together an infographic about tablets, highlighting why users love their tablets. The inforgraphic offers a collection of stats, but the most interesting statistic is about an improved work life balance.

An incredible 80% of tablet owners report that they have a better work life balance, meaning they are better able to prioritize home and work tasks and activities, than they were with just a laptop and a phone.

A tablet won’t magically make you more productive or help you get your life in order, but the ability to work when you feel the need, with the same device you are using to schedule a family trip or check an actor’s name on IMDB while watching a movie is helpful.

Staples Tablet Infographic Highlights Tablet Usage Stats

A Staples survey found that 60% of respondents reported increased productivity on tablets. This may seem counterintuitive because we think of tablets as consumption devices, not creation tools, but this syncs up with the way I use my iPad 2 and how I use Android tablets I review.

Because tablets force you to focus on a single task productivity can greatly increase. from writing a report to checking email, tablets are often the best tool in your hands. I am awful about reading email on the computer because I’m easily distracted, but Gmail in the iPad web browser allows me to power through 100 emails in 20 minutes, an amazing amount of time.

Before a tablet, this task I would have read all these emails on my phone or laptop, both of which don’t fit my style or level of email. I’m not going to use the iPad as a laptop for work, but for many work tasks the tablet is a better fit during business hours and when I need to take care of some quick work while on the go.

Via Droid Guy

Tablet Users Report Better Work Life Balance and Higher Productivity is a post by Josh Smith from Gotta Be Mobile.

Whenever you sell your electronics to a reseller (or even return an item to the store after having used it), you should always be sure to erase the data from it completely. You can’t count on the reseller or the store employees to do it for you.

Erasing data from the iPad is easy, as is backing up that data to transfer to your new tablet.

First, back up the data, even if you’re not going to get a new iPad.

How To Back Up Your iPad

Step 1: Open iTunes, then connect the iPad to your computer with the USB cord. The device will appear in the sidebar on the left.

Step 2: Click on the iPad’s name to bring up the information window. Scroll down until you see the Backup section.

You can back up your iPad’s data to your computer or to iCloud. I do both just in case something goes wrong with one or the other.

If you back up to your computer you can protect that data with a password. Just don’t forget it!

Step 3: Once you choose where to backup, right-click on the iPad’s name in the sidebar and choose Back Up from the menu.

Step 4: iTunes will begin transferring data including images, videos, apps, purchases, etc.

When the backup is complete, unplug the tablet. You’re now ready to erase it.

How To Erase Data And Factory Reset The iPad

Step 1: Go to the Settings app. Scroll down to the bottom of the General settings area to find Reset.

Step 2: There are several options in this menu. The one you want is “Erase All Content And Settings.”

Step 3: The iPad will ask you to confirm that you want to do this. Tap Erase.

The iPad will delete all of the data on it, restart, and be just as it was out of the box. Be sure to turn it all the way off before shipping or returning it.

When you get your new iPad you can restore the data and apps from your old one by right-clicking and choosing “Restore From Backup.”

How To Erase All Data And Factory Reset The iPad is a post by K. T. Bradford from Gotta Be Mobile.

The benefits of their project include the following:

The Elevation Dock works with a case on your iPhone. Most iPhone docks have a special insert that forms the dock to fit your version of the iPhone without a case. To dock your iPhone you have to either take your case off or remove the form-fitting insert. Doing the latter makes the docks a bit unstable. I use a dual charging dock to top off the batteries on the two iPhones my wife and I use and I’m always afraid I’m going to break off the dock connector inside my iPhone because I use it without the inserts so I don’t have to remove our cases.

The dock also solves a second issue. When you lift your iPhone out of the dock, the dock will often come with it failing to disconnect from the 30-pin Apple Dock Connector. My dock is heavy enough and we don’t have this problem, but if you do, the Elevation Dock will be heavy enough (made of aluminum) to stay on your desk or nightstand when you take your phone off. It also uses a “low friction connection” making it easier to remove. The base has “tacky rubber feet” keeping it from skidding and making it stick the flat surface it sits on.

Finally, the project founder, Casey Hopkins, promises an “obsessive attention to quality” since most iPhone docks come with cheap plastic bases and flimsy dock connectors and/or USB connections. The will make the Elevation Dock out of aircraft grade aluminum that will “feel heavy, strong, durable and look gorgeous.”

The design looks like it will mimic typical aluminum Apple products like an iMac (see above), Mac Mini or MacBook. The phone will sit at an 8-degree angle, which sounds like a good fit for those using their phone for video chat.

You can fund the Elevation Dock at a price of $59 with a likely future retail price of $90. This version comes with a USB out port recessed inside the dock that you will have to insert into the dock (see below).

An advanced version called the Elevation Dock+ will cost $79 and will have a glass bead basted finish, a shielded line level audio out port and a USB adapter to plug into an AC outlet. They will retail for around $120.

At $85 you can fund the project and get the Dock+ in anodized Matte Black finish (see the first image above). You can order more than one at a higher level or get a colored Dock+ for $150 with a laser etched serial number showing that you were an uber-backer!

Other levels include $250 for multiple docks, $500 for even more docks and $2,000, $5,000 or $10,000 gets multiple docks with retail packaging if you want to go into business selling them yourself. All combined these three higher levels actually have 9 backers with 133 choosing to back the $500 level.

Check out the Kickstarter page yourself and join the large number of people funding the project.

Elevation Dock for iPhone Could Be the Best iPhone Dock Made is a post by Kevin Purcell from Gotta Be Mobile.

On a message on Twitter, Nokia US (@NokiaUS) responded to a user’s enquiry and stated that “unfortunately, the Nokia Astound on T-Mobile will not be updated to Nokia Belle.”

As the international variant of the Nokia Astound, known as the Nokia C7, is getting the Nokia Belle update pushed to it at this time, the decision to not offer Nokia Belle on the C7 probably originated with T-Mobile USA and not with Nokia. With carrier-branded devices, the update must be tested and pushed out by the carrier to ensure that it offers an optimum user experience on the network, T-Mobile USA probably does not want to spend the necessary resources to deploy the update given that Symbian has not gained much traction in the U.S. and Nokia is now transitioning to Windows Phone 7.

In fact, the device that succeeds the Nokia Astound on T-Mobile USA’s portfolio is the Windows Phone 7 Mango-powered Nokia Lumia 710 smartphone, which has been available since the beginning of the year.

Users of Nokia’s Symbian devices who have not updated to Nokia Belle and are curious as to what the update brings or enables can visit My Nokia Blog to see what the latest update brings and looks like on the Nokia N8.

Nokia Belle Symbian Upgrade Not Coming to U.S. T-Mobile Astound is a post by Chuong Nguyen from Gotta Be Mobile.

According to the tipsters, Apple is examining “graphics-oriented applications with high-definition assets.”

The iPad 3 is rumored to be carrying a higher resolution screen than the iPad 1 and iPad 2, with a 2048 X 1536-pixel resolution. An updated processor, dubbed the A6, would accompany the flagship iOS tablet as well. Unlike Android slates, which are vying for quad-core processing, Apple is rumored to be utilizing an improved dual-core chip with the A6 line and inject much improved graphics performance.

Some of these apps will be featured in Apple’s announcement on stage with the iPad 3 while others may be featured in future TV commercials and advertisements. The selection process is said to be “continuing at an increased rate as Apple looks to finalize the lineup for the iPad 3.”

Apple Screening Graphics-Intensive Games for iPad 3 Launch, TV Ads is a post by Chuong Nguyen from Gotta Be Mobile.