4.0

LG and T-Mobile team up on Optimus L9 with Android 4.0

The day before MobileCon kicks off in San Diego, T-Mobile and LG prime the mobile pump by unveiling the LG Optimus L9.

Running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the midrange handset also features a 4.5-inch qHD display made with Corning Gorilla Glass 2, a 1GHz dual-core processor, and a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash and 1080p HD video recording.

There's also a large 2,150mAh battery onboard, and LG's Quick Memo app. There's no pricing or availability information yet, but we're hoping to learn more when we (hopefully) see the phone tomorrow at MobileCon.… Read more

Pantech Burst, Element for AT&T get Android 4.0 update

Pantech's Burst and Element will be getting the Ice Cream Sandwich treatment starting today.

Both phones can be upgraded to Android 4.0, AT&T said in a blog post published today. The update brings the phones to the second latest version of Android, behind Jelly Bean, or Android 4.1.

To download the update for the Burst, go here. To download the update to the Element, go here.

The two Pantech phones are mass market smartphones and part of AT&T's strategy to widen its smartphone base with more attractive pricing.

Clean and optimize your PC with Cloud-based resources with SlimCleaner

SlimCleaner is a free utility that cleans, optimizes, repairs, and updates your PC based on the latest threats and issues. Antivirus programs have been doing that for years. But SlimCleaner pioneered the use of Cloud-based reporting and actual user feedback in designing its system cleaning and optimizing tools. SlimCleaner's unique color-coded Community Ratings system can help you decide which settings, programs, and processes are the best choice for your system by showing you at a glance what's safe, what's suspicious, and what's gotta go. It includes some useful disk tools as well as easy access to … Read more

Motorola won't update three 4G phones to Ice Cream Sandwich

Bad news for owners of some Motorola Mobility smartphones released in 2011: the company will not upgrade them to the 2011 version of Android.

According to a post in the Google-owned company's forums, three smartphones from last year will not be upgraded to Ice Cream Sandwich:

Motorola Mobility continues to review how each device can deliver the very best experience possible, and at times, this can mean making tough choices - especially as it relates to Android software upgrades. Today, we need to let you know about some tough choices related to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich upgrades. … Read more

It's official: AT&T will offer the LG Escape on Sept. 16

Amid brief speculation this morning, AT&T announced that it will indeed carry the entry-level Android 4.0 smartphone known as the LG Escape.

The Escape houses a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU, a 4.3-inch qHD IPS touch-screen display, and NFC capabilities. It will also include QuickMemo, LG's note-taking and drawing feature seen in devices like the LG Optimus Vu and the Optimus 4X HD.

On the back of the handset you'll find a 5-megapixel camera, which offers goodies like continuous and panoramic shooting. It can also record 1080p HD video.

Other specs include a 2,150mAh … Read more

Good video editing options

ZC Video Converter is a program for converting your favorite videos into formats supported by a number of devices, including the iPod and other mobile devices. If you need to convert your digital video files, this software can get the job done.

The features of this video converter are quite basic and the interface proved very easy to navigate. All that you need to do is add an Input File to the list, select it, set the Output Format and Output Folder and then start converting. The conversion time depends on the file size, but you help decrease the time … Read more

Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G to hit T-Mobile in coming weeks

The Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G smartphone now has an official U.S. launch date, or rather a launch timeframe.

The Korean handset maker said today that the phone will appear on T-Mobile's network sometime in the coming weeks. T-Mobile subscribers will be able to order the phone through the carrier's retail outlets, certain third-party stores, and online through T-Mobile's site.

Initially known as the Galaxy S Blaze Q, the phone was rechristened with its current moniker last month. The Relay 4G was also allegedly supposed to reach consumers in August.

Sporting Android 4.0 Ice Cream … Read more

The ginormous 5-inch LG Intuition arrives on Verizon

Looks like the rumors were true.

Verizon's version of the unlocked LG Optimus Vu, renamed the LG Intuition, will be available online to U.S. customers starting September 6. It will be offered in Verizon retail stores starting September 10 for $199.99 with a two-year contract.

The Intuition sports a gigantic 5-inch display with a 4:3 aspect ratio and 650 nits of brightness.

When I reviewed the Vu a few months back, the phone/tablet hybrid impressed me with its bright screen and slim build. CNET's own Brian Bennett got a chance to get his hands … Read more

AT&T's dual-mode Pantech Flex drops with Android 4.0 for $50

Well, this is a new one for AT&T and Pantech. The two have teamed up to offer the Pantech Flex, a budget Android phone designed to ease first-time smartphone users into the Android experience.

The Flex has an "easy experience" mode that limits Android 4.0 to a single home screen imbued with large text and buttons, and a simplified menu to ease up on the navigation and scrolling needed to operate the full-fledged Android experience. Think of it as Ice Cream Sandwich with training wheels.

Just because the Flex comes with a starter mode doesn'… Read more