The goal of the hack above is simply to change your device’s unique identifier so that it identifies itself as a Rogers Canada One X instead of an AT&T U.S. version.

While having AT&T back down and simply provide a not-so-difficult solution for power users would of course be ideal, we guess we’ll have to settle for back alley trickery for now. So be it.

Source: XDA | Via: Engadget, Geeky-Gadgets

Google+ v2.6 for Android brings a brand new, photo-centric UI as well as redesigned +1 buttons in an effort to make the app easier to use/share content, and of course to simply look nicer. Under the hood, Google has brought several new features to the table including: improvements to video Hangouts, comment editing (without having to use a desktop browser or deleting entire comment), and a new, dedicated “Hangout Ribbon”.

All in all, the update is one of the (visually) biggest to date and goes a long way into making Google+ on mobiles feel a lot nicer and easier to use. The big question that remains, however, is just how many people are actually actively using Google+.

Download the new Google Plus update for Android: Download

A new report by the WSJ claims CEO Thorsten Heins has pretty much killed the project that would see RIM release iOS and Android compatible version of BlackBerry Messenger. The original goal to opening up BlackBerry Messenger was to have it compete with the flood of other device and non-device specific chat apps like iMessage, Kik, WhatsApp, etc.

On top of that, the WSJ report also says the same sources claim that previous talk of licensing the BlackBerry OS to 3rd parties has also been effectively quashed (or more accurately, “put on the backburner”).

RIM’s entire future rests on how well BlackBerry 10 does in the marketplace, and said OS isn’t slated to ship until late this year, after Apple ships iOS 6 and a new iPhone and very possibly after Google unveils their next major OS, too. Still, what we’ve seen so far from the small number of public showings and leaked images suggests RIM does have a potential winner on their hands. As always, however, the statement “too little too late keeps coming to mind”. All that said, we’re pulling for RIM and hope they can get all of their ducks in a row and release something truly unique.

Source: WSJ | Via: ElectricPig

Hopefully Roamz good looks and decent feature set drum up a worthwhile following. We’ve seen plenty of great looking social apps (Path, Cheers, etc.) that are ultimately pushed out of the spotlight and relegated to
small niche simply because of the vast minefield that is socially aware apps. Can Roamz pull away from the pack?

Go ahead and fire up the Google Play app and get the new Roamz Android app (free) – Roamz on Google Play Store

Need more convincing? Check out the video below.

Video

In an updates support document, PCMag stumbled onto new verbiage that states:

“HTC Sensation 4G will be required to add Wi-Fi Mobile Hotspot feature
in order to use the service after completing this update.”

The cost of the official tethering package is $14.99/month.

Thus far, tethering has technically required a tethering package but T-Mobile hasn’t been nearly as proactive in hunting down rampant, “illicit” tethering like competitor AT&T has. T-Mobile has maintained that doing so on pre-ICS builds of Android, monitoring and enforcing tethering plans was not possible due to “technical limitations”.

It’s worth noting that T-Mobile is the last major carrier to come down on tethering without paying for it. That said, T-Mobile still appears to be a tad more restrained on their crackdown. Customers who fire up a WiFi hotspot for a few minutes here and there will probably steer clear of T-Mobile’s radar. Those using it for heavier data sessions, such as downloading the new CS6 from Adobe, might find T-Mobile’s
response a bit more heavy handed, though.

The move is (sadly) expected. T-Mobile users, what do you think about the change?

Source: PC Mag
| Via: AndroidCommunity
Image Source: Phandroid

GSM Arena did
just that in their Galaxy S III benchmark review, finding that
Samsung’s latest and greatest is average to above average in most
areas. One example, 3G Talk-time saw the GS III posting a rather
respectable 10 :20 compared to the iPhone 4S’ 7:40. Web browsing sees
the GS III lasting 5:17 with Apple’s iPhone 4S jumping ahead, going a
full 6:56 of uninterrupted page loading. Meanwhile, the Motorola RAZR
MAXX (unsurprisingly) earned the top spot with 7:23. Video playback is
apparently a strong focus for Samsung, as the GS III lost video
playback runtime to only the RAZR MAXX — a device that features a
3,300 mAh battery compared to the GS III’s 2,100 mAh variant. The
iPhone 4S, for comparison’s sake, looped video for 9:24 before its
screen went dark and it’s innards cold.

All in all, the Galaxy S III appears to be a pretty decent offering
from Samsung as far as Android handsets (with battery life focus) are
concerned.

Via: GSM
Arena

• Holder and battery charger (£34.99)

• Flip Cover (£29.95)

• WiFi Display Hub (£79.95)

• S3 C-Pen (£19.99)

Anyone going to be stocking up on a few GS III accessories as you wait for the official launch date to roll around?

More: MobileFun.uk

Today, 9to5Mac has revealed that everything we’ve heard for months is true; Google Maps is getting kicked to the curb and replaced with “Apple Maps” — coming in iOS 6.

At its core, Apple’s in-house mapping data will now be entirely theirs instead of sourced from Google. The removal of Google will reportedly reflect in the new name which will simply be “Maps”. On top of the name change, 9to5 is also reporting that Apple has re-designed the Maps icon with a new color scheme and feature Apple’s 1 Infinite Loop HQ as on said icon.

Like Google Maps, Apple’s Maps alp will feature a “Street View” of aorts that will give users a birds eye view the the street in question and its immediate surroundings. But the coolest new feature, however, is the C3-based 3D mapping feature, no doubt similar in appearance to Google Maps’ Street View (but with more dimension).

By default, 3D view will be turned off, though, is easily activated by a simple button. According to 9to5′s sources, 3D mode displays “beautiful, realistic graphics based on de-classified middle target algorithms”.

The long road since the initial Google Map replacement rumors began back in 2009 with Apple’s first mapping based purchase is finally nearing an end. Look for more information and a full, in-depth preview to be showcased at WWDC in June where Apple will unveil their next-gen OS, iOS 6.

Via: 9to5Mac

The update weighs in at a stout 318 MB (be sure you have a WiFi network handy) and is only for the GT-N7000 international device at the moment. AT&T’s own SGH-i717 will almost certainly be delayed many more days to weeks as the carrier has to go through its own internal testing before it deems the Samsung sourced update “ok” for public consumption.

As far as updates go, there’s all of Android 4.0′s sweet succulent awesomeness as well as, love it or hate it, TouchWiz and a few updated S-Pen apps (Snote and S Memo). There of course could be more that Samsung didn’t tell us about. If you manage to get the upgrade and take the plunge, let us know anything new/different you find!

Oh, and for those of you on non-international Galaxy Notes, we have complete faith in the hacker community. We don’t think it’ll be too long at all before the new update is wrapped up in a handy .zip package for everyone to enjoy.

Source: @blue13x (Twitter)
Via: The Verge

Today, the company pushed out their new 2.0 (2.0.0.5888 exactly) update for Google+ for iOS. And wow, what a change it brings. Every ounce of the app’s has been at least mildly tweaked, creating in our opinion a much more inviting and visually pleasing app.

As you’ll see in the handful of screenshots above and below, dark is in, as is lots of big pictures. On top of that, Google is putting an even greater emphasis on +1′ing things with new floating “+1″ buttons. Overall, the app is much smoother and fluid (Google likens it to children yelling “wheeee” in a ball pit…) — dare we say a good app, both functionally and visual speaking is finally coming from Google for iOS users?

Go ahead and download the new Google+ 2.0.0.5888 from the App Store and let us know what you think.

• Google+ 2.0 for iOS: Download (iTunes App Store link)

More: Google Blog

Gallery

If you can’t remember to way back in January when the device was initially announced for a (now come and gone) Q2 release, let us refresh your memory:

• Xperia Ion – 4.6″ 1280 x 720p display, Qualcomm MSM8260 Snapdragon dual-core processor humming along @ 1.5 GHz, 1 GB of RAM, 12-megapixel camera (rear) _ 1.3-megapixel camera (front), PlayStation Certification and 16 GB of internal storage. OS version: Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

We’re all for a high-end Android device from Sony, save for one that ships with Android 2.3 Gingerbread in the summer of 2012. Even considering Sony has already promised ICS upgradeability, we find any “new” device launching with a 1.5+ year-old OS in the mobile world anything but “new”. Excited we are not. At least Xperia Ion owners now have a somewhat specific time
period to look forward to, that is of course if Samsung and HTC’s latest efforts haven’t already tugged on your heart strings.

Source: href="http://www.droidmatters.com/news/google-ad-says-sony-xperia-ion-coming-to-att-in-june/">DroidMatters
| Via: TalkAndroid,
Engadget

While the bootloader on AT&T’s HTC One X is still in an unlocked state, the new root hack available over at XDA in this thread will at least allow root level access. Removing things like AT&T’s stock crap apps and making use of backup apps is now possible. Now that the ice has been broken, expect the momentum to free the AT&T specific One X to come hard and heavy until full access/custom ROM compatibility has been reached.

Source: href="http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=25865190">XDA | Via: The
Verge

While wireless charging to mobile devices is not new, its availability is still incredibly rare. And sadly, we’ve learned that eager Galaxy S III early adopters will have to wait until September to get their hands on the official Galaxy S III wireless charger – (EAD-K10UBEGSTD).

No reason was given for the delay, so we’ll just have to let the internet’s speculative mind come up with the answer. Any bummed potential Galaxy S III owners out there? Hopefully 3rd party accessory manufactures can fill in the gap until September.

If you’ve been following the mobile world in the last ~6 months, you’ll know that so far, current quad-core and LTE chipsets don’t get along; you either have to choose LTE or quad-core but not both. It’s worth noting that the device has a release date listed as “4Q of 2012″ which just so happens to be around the same time frame that Texas Instruments will begin production on their upcoming quad-core supporting OMAP5. Perhaps TI’s new silicon will find its way into this LG super phone.

So where is it heading? Brief Mobile speculates it will be a Sprint-only device, at least initially, pointing to the device’s “LS” prefix — a prefix that Sprint and Sprint alone uses. If anything, it would certainly be a great device for Sprint to show off their new LTE network, albeit a bit late to the party.

If the above specs are true, is it enough to get you to hold off on any current phone purchases?

Via: BriefMobile