LG Optimus To Debut As “LG Thrill”. Bring Glasses-Less 3D To The Masses.

While we haven’t been all that wowed by current glasses-less (or even 3D tech overall) technology here at GS, there’s no doubt that a cult is growing. For now, it appears to be made up of various corporate marketing/PR departments. Though slowly but surely, consumers are jumping on board. Looking to cash in on the 3D craze that is currently sweeping through the TV industry, AT&T and LG have teamed up to release the LG Thrill. Previously named the LG Optimus, the Thrill’s claim to fame is the 4.3″ WVGA display being capable providing 3D imagery sans glasses — a first for a smartphone (in the U.S.). Besides the fancy looking glass, the Thrill will also pack a 5-megapixel stereoscopic camera and a dual-core processor humming along at 1GHz. Android 2.2 is the OS of choice. Given the “4G” nomenclature, HSPA+ support is also included. What remains to be seen, however, is if AT&T will cripple the LG Thrill “4G” phone like they did with the Atrix 4G’s ridiculously low 300Kbps upload speeds. Release is listed as “in the next few months”. Will update with official PR shots and launch date when available.

Galaxy S2 Mini Outed. Coming This April.

In the market for a Samsung Galaxy device but with it was a tad more pocket friendly? You’re not alone. While we all swoon over 4″+ superphones here at GS, we can certainly understand and appreciate the need for a more mobile, mobile device. With that said, if a smaller smartphone is in fact on your horizon, perhaps the freshly leaked (Thanks Three UK) Samsung Galaxy S2 Mini will suit your needs. Said phone features a 1.4GHz processor (likely single-core), 21Mbps HSPA+, 3.7″ WVGA display, and 5MP rear/VGA front-facing cameras. According to the leaked slide, we can expect to see this phone drop sometime in April. Any UK readers feelin’ the Galaxy S2 Mini?

Sprint: AT&T/T-Mobile Merger Is Bad, Bad News.

Still recovering from the bombshell news that dropped yesterday concerning AT&T purchasing T-Mobile USA? You’re not alone. Sprint is still pretty shocked themselves for reasons fairly similar to ours — they realize such a merger could destroy consumer choice and bring wireless innovation to a halt. Sprint has gone on the record saying that the AT&T/T-Mobile merger will “dramatically alter” the wireless landscape in the U.S. while also demanding that the U.S. Department of Justice and FCC thoroughly scour over every stone in the AT&T/T-Mobile merger deal. We’ve already stated that nothing good (for consumers) can come from this merger. Hopefully the powers that be can withstand the countless lobbying dollars being thrown at them and actually put the people first for a change.

Nexus S 4G Coming To Sprint.

News of a Nexus S 4G coming to Sprint isn’t exactly “breaking” these days with numerous leaks floating around online. Nevertheless, “confirmed” evidence on Sprint’s own website seems as good as any to us. While the above verbiage has since been taken down, the sound of a Nexus S with WiMAX support and a “full Google Voice” (one number for everything + web calling + voicemail transcription) is highly enticing.

The official announcement should come at the company’s CTIA event in the coming hours, so the wait won’t be too much longer. Untouched, clean, stock Android with WiMAX is en route.

[Update] Review: HTC Thunderbolt

The HTC Thunderbolt is one of the most important phones to launch in recent memory. With a second generation Snapdragon processor clocked at 1GHz, a 4.3″ 400 x 800 display, and LTE support, the Thunderbolt is meant to turn heads. And turn heads it did when it arrived at Gadgetsteria HQ. The HTC Thunderbolt is an amazing piece of gadgetry, despite the lack of a dual-core processor. But take our word, the lack of a dual-core processor is not a reason to pass on the Thunderbolt. Take Android, toss in LTE, and add in a nice big screen and you’ve got the start of something awesome. Hop inside for the full review…

DROID X/2/Milestone Bootloaders Cracked. Motorola Sends C&D To Prevent Public Release.

The DROID X/2/Milestone devices have been rooted for some time now, but only in a “gimped” state thanks to Motorola’s insistence on using signed bootloaders. And long after other devs have moved on to greener pastures, a few devs have stuck it out — namely @nenolod in particular. Along with the help of a few other devs, @nenolod has apparently succeeded in cracking the keys needed for the signed bootloader. While this isn’t 100% confirmed, @nenolod’s Twitter page claims that Motorola sent a C&D within minutes of the keys being released. That sounds like a legitimate concern of actual real keys being released to us. Of course, this “concern” shouldn’t be legally pursued by Motorola. They’ve long been flamed for locking down their Android devices to third party devs, many times pushing people towards HTC’s more open devices (though that’s changing as of late as well).

For now, @nanolod has handed over the keys and information regarding the cracking process to @FreeMyMoto whom is going to handle the whole shebang moving forward. The new owners’ first task: confirming these keys are in fact real and discerning whether this is a global Motorola device key crack or for a specific device. We for one would like to see Motorola actually embrace the Android developer community, but we’re not holding our breath. Their track record is looks grim to say the least. Stay tuned…

Blindsided: AT&T Agrees To Purchase T-Mobile USA For $39 Billion.

Wow! Talk about a surprise (and depending on where you live, a not so happy one). Today via press release, AT&T announced that they have reached a deal with Deutsche Telekom to purchase T-Mobile USA for $39 billion — $25 billion in cash and $14 billion in stock giving Deutsche Telekom an 8% stake in AT&T. According to AT&T’s press release, they look to expand their LTE footprint with T-Mobile’s AWS 1700MHz band along with their own 700MHz band.

Now don’t go crying just yet T-Mobile fans. Just because AT&T gobbled up Centennial and regurgitated their own sub-par offerings doesn’t mean come Monday morning your own network and customer service is going to go from A+ to bouncing off Hell’s gates. The buyout that AT&T is pursuing will effectively create a GSM monopoly in the U.S. (far from the “competition” AT&T boasts in their lengthy press release). As such, expect heavy government scrutiny over the next 12 months (the estimated time it will take to cut through all of the red tape) along with plenty of questions from concerned consumers and politicians alike.

It’s kind of ironic. Several years back, AT&T was forcefully broken up by the government because they were too big and stifling competition. Over the last few years, AT&T has been picking up a ton of small companies here and there, slowly but surely growing back into the giant they once were. Could we be approaching another instance in which government intervention is needed?

T-Mobile fans: What do you think? Is a mass exodus now on the calendar?

Gadgetsteria’s opinion: If the government approves the merger, consumer choice will be severely affected, leaving AT&T to continue their recurring practice of charging more for less while also ensuring the U.S. cellular industry falls further behind international markets.

Press release after the jump…