Get A Custom Laser Etched Battery Door for Your Galaxy Nexus!

Looking for the ultimate way to customize your new CDMA or GSM Galaxy Nexus? How about a new factory replacement battery door with a design of your choosing laser etched on the back of it!? Well, right now over at IndieGoGo (similar to kickstarter), you can do just that. For a mere $45 or $55 pledge (depending on whether you have the standard battery or extended), Omar Trujillo will send you a brand new factory battery door with custom laser etching of your favorite design. Now tell me that wont make your friends envious! There are even pledge options that include a new standard or extended battery as well. One thing to keep in mind though, when thinking of a custom image it must be able to be shrunk down to a 2″ x 2″ square in order for it to fit on the door properly, you’re gonna need to put some thought into this one.

If for some reason you’re not feeling very creative today, you can save 15 bucks and just go with one of Omar’s preselected images instead. The options that are currently available are pretty sweet and any of them would most definitely make your GNex stand out in a crowd. You could chose to go with CyanogenMod’s skateboarding Android, the Talk Android logo, or even a cool plaid-esque pattern of Androids that somewhat resemble Google’s custom Louis Vuitton style battery door.

Omar’s IndieGoGo campaign ends Saturday, March 10th, and he needs $1,250 in order to get his project funded. At the time of this writing he already raised $840 and still has 27 days left before time runs out. If for some odd reason Omar’s IndieGoGo doesn’t reach its goal (very unlikely), all those who pledged will receive a refund and of course will not get the product either. Once he does successfully reach his goal, he will go in to production and will look into doing the same thing for other Android devices. So if you’re feeling left out right now, you never know, your chance could be next!

If you or somebody you know would want to get a custom laser etched Galaxy Nexus battery door, be sure to hit up the source link below. I know I am getting one!

Samsung Intros Follow-Up To Original Galaxy Tab, The Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) With Ice Cream Sandwich

Samsung is at it again and this time they’re offering a follow up to their very first Android tablet which debuted almost two years ago now, The original Galaxy Tab.  Samsung today introduced their very first Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich device, the Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0).  The 7-inch follow-up or as I like to call it, a “step up” device comes jam packed with more multimedia features than you’ll ever know what to do with.  And did I say it was going to have Ice Cream Sandwich? Ok, just making sure you caught that.  As for me, there has always been a sweet spot for the 7-inch platform and it’s always been difficult for me to upgrade to anything bigger.  I still use the original Galaxy Tab and can’t get away from the fact that at this size, it’s easy to hold with one hand and still completely mobile, fitting in any jacket’s inside pocket.

“Two years ago, Samsung GALAXY Tab began to offer customers more possibilities on the go. Since then, Samsung has actively enhanced our tablet line-up with several tablets in different sizes,” said JK Shin, President of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics. “The new GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0) will provide people with delighted multimedia experience and allow efficient communication.”

In addition to ICS, the device will offer all of your typical Samsung Hub products for watching movies, reading books and newspapers as well as a dual-core 1 GHz CPU for fast processing on the go (why not 1.5 GHz dual-core?). The tab will offer a 7-inch display with a 1024 x 600 (WSVGA) resolution, HSPA+ speeds up to 21 Mbps and a 3 meg rear facing camera & VGA front shooter for those video chat sessions.  Hit the break for the rest of the details via the press release and don’t forget to let us know what you think of the device in the comments below.

Update: We just found a video of the unveiling that was posted on YouTube by Přemysl Vaculík. You can see his video after the break as well.

Press Release

Samsung expands the GALAXY Tab range with GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0) powered by the AndroidTM 4.0 and a 1GHz dual core processor

Prague, February 13, 2012 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, today introduced its first line-up of tablets for 2012 with the launch of the GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0), expanding the choice of tablets to customers. Light and portable, the GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0) is the ideal personal on-the-go device, available in 3G and WiFi versions. Starting from UK, the GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0) will be launched in global market from March.
“Two years ago, Samsung GALAXY Tab began to offer customers more possibilities on the go. Since then, Samsung has actively enhanced our tablet line-up with several tablets in different sizes,” said JK Shin, President of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics. “The new GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0) will provide people with delighted multimedia experience and allow efficient communication.”
Samsung’s first Android 4.0 Tablet
Samsung’s first Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)-powered tablet offers a variety of new and improved Android OS features. An upgraded Android Market enables access to more than 400,000 applications which can be enjoyed across phones or tablets. Furthermore, a more intuitive user interface includes the ability to swipe-control applications as well as a wholly redesigned app gallery for easier sharing of content. The new OS’s vastly faster performance and response times across multiple applications is further enhanced by HSPA+ 21Mbps or WiFi connectivity.
Additionally, Android 4.0 includes a selection of embedded Google applications that enables users to quickly launch sites and applications that they use frequently; meanwhile, the innovative Face Unlock feature unlocks the tablet through unique facial recognition software.
A complete experience with enriched multimedia content
The GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0) offers users easy multimedia access, playback and sharing experiences with Samsung Hub services. Samsung’s Music Hub provides a full music store solution with access to over 17 million tracks. Additionally, the Readers Hub provides the user with access to over 2.3 million e-books, 3,500 magazines and over 2,000 newspapers in 51 languages, while the Game Hub instantly connects users to the latest game titles. Samsung is also introducing the Video Hub, which offers over 1,000 film titles for purchase or rent, and provides reviews, trailers and recommendations for easier content selection using the GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0).
Complementing the GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0)’s multimedia offering is Samsung’s upgraded Touchwiz user interface that features Hub widgets for one-step access to users’ content in Hubs; the device also presents S Suggest, a new service offering recommendations of apps suited to users’ tastes directly on a home screen.
The GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0)’s superb multimedia experience is further boosted by Samsung’s AllShare Play, a new content-sharing service available for the first time on any Samsung mobile device. AllShare Play allows users to play or live-stream their multimedia content on their GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0) from PCs, other Samsung smart devices as well as third-party web storages. Users can also easily transfer content to other devices or directly to web services.
Better Communication Capabilities
Connecting socially has never been easier with GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0)’s built-in powerful communication capabilities.With the voice call capability, the GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0) can be used just as easily as a phone, affording users the handy convenience of a second device in case they misplace their primary phone. It also lets users to spontaneously arrange multi-party video calls via Google＋ hangouts, as well as engage in group chats or micro-communities to collectively chat or share content. In addition, ChatON, Samsung’s cross-platform communication service, connects all phone users of any platform into a single community. ChatON uses phone numbers instead of ID and passwords, and provides easy instant messaging and group chatting in various formats—images, video, voice, contacts—to make messaging simple and intuitive.
Note to Editors:

Samsung GALAXY Tab 2 (7.0) Product Specifications

Network	HSPA+ 21Mbps 850/900/1900/2100
Processor	1 GHz Dual-Core Processor
Display	7” WSVGA(1024×600) PLS TFT
OS	Android 4.0(Ice Cream Sandwich)
Camera	Main(Rear): 3 Megapixel Fixed Focus CameraSub(Front): VGA for Video Call
Video	Codec: MPEG4, H.263, H.264, VC-1, DivX, WMV7, WMV8, VP8Format: 3GP, ASF, AVI, MP4, WMV, FLV, MKV, WebMPlayback/ Recording: Full HD@30fps, HD@30fps
Audio	Codec: MP3, AAC, AC-3, AMR, FLAC, MID, WMA, WAV, VorbisMusic Player with SoundAlive3.5mm Ear Jack
Value-added Features	Samsung TouchWiz/ Samsung L!ve Panel UX
	Samsung Apps
	Samsung Kies / Samsung Kies air
	Samsung Hub＊ - Readers Hub/ Music Hub/ Game Hub/ Video Hub
	Samsung Hub Widget＊ - Music Hub/ Game Hub/ Video Hub
	Samsung S Suggest＊ (App recommendation service)
	Samsung ChatON mobile communication service
	AllShare Play＊
	GoogleTM Mobile Services- Android Market™, Gmail™, Google Earth™, YouTube™, Google Maps™, Syncing with Google Calendar™
	Polaris
	A-GPS, Glonass (＊ Available on 3G version only)
Connectivity	Bluetooth® technology v 3.0USB 2.0 HostWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct
Sensor	Accelerometer, Digital compass, Light Proximity(＊ Available on 3G version only)
Memory	8/16/32GB User memory ＋ 1GB (RAM) microSD (up to 32GB)
Dimension	193.7 x 122.4 x 10.5 mm, 344g
Battery	Standard battery, Li-ion 4,000mAh

＊ Availability and launching time of the services may differ by region.
＊ All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2011 consolidated sales of US$143.1 billion. Employing approximately 222,000 people in 205 offices across 71 countries, the company operates two separate organizations to coordinate its nine independent business units: Digital Media & Communications, comprising Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, and Digital Imaging; and Device Solutions, consisting of Memory, System LSI and LCD. Recognized for its industry-leading performance across a range of economic, environmental and social criteria, Samsung Electronics was named the world’s most sustainable technology company in the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Index. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.
Android, Google, Android Market, Google Maps, YouTube, Gmail, Google Talk, and Google Search are trademarks of Google Inc.

Anonymous Person Shares White Galaxy Nexus Unboxing Video

The wait is over for the White Galaxy Nexus everyone. Since we first spotted our eyes on the white-colored beast and found out it was being distributed to some lucky folks already, it’s been challenging to say the least to catch a glimpse of the white version in action, until now. A lucky individual was able to get get his hands on the device and was kind enough to show off share his initial unboxing of the device with us. Along with the gorgeous device itself, the anonymous individual shows us the usuals inside the box including the USB cable, headphones and actual battery itself.
Now that you’ve seen the video, what do you all think? Is the phone worth the extra money? Does the white cover tickle your fancy? Check out the video for yourself and then sound off in the Comments section to let us know what you think.

LTE Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 gains European approval

4G might not be commonplace across Europe just yet, but that isn’t stopping Samsung from deploying their latest devices that are ready for the revolution. The GT-P7320, otherwise known as the Galaxy Tab 8.9, has passed through the Global Certification Forum and had its passport stamped, ready for Europe. The mysterious new model supports quadband GSM/GPRS/EDGE, as well as dualband UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA at 900/2100 MHz and dualband LTE at 800 MHz/2.6 GHz.
Not much else is known about the European Galaxy Tab 8.9 at this time, and we can only speculate as to whether or not it will share similar specifications to it’s U.S. counterpart. One thing we do know is that we’ll be keeping an eye on this years Mobile World Congress to see if Samsung has any surprises up their sleeve.

White Galaxy Nexus begins shipping in the UK today

As we learned last week, the white version of Samsung's Galaxy Nexus is due to go on sale today across multiple retailers. The white Nexus, which first emerged around a month ago, retains the black bezel around the screen, instead opting to change the color of the side trim and back cover.
Besides that, it's still a Galaxy Nexus -- same 1.2 GHz dual-core CPU, 1GB of RAM and gorgeous 720p HD SuperAMOLED display. You'll also get to be one of the cool kids with the current Google Experience phone, giving you Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich along with timely updates straight from Mountain View. And if you're buying in the UK, you can expect the same £500 SIM-free price point. As far as we're aware, no British or European carriers are offering the white Nexus at subsidized prices right out of the door.
And we still haven't heard anything about a US launch for the white Galaxy Nexus, though you should be able to import the GSM version form the usual places, just like the original "titanium silver" version. We're hoping Sprint may surprise us with a white Galaxy Nexus model when it launches its LTE version later in the year.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7-inch) specs

Complete specs for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7-inch)

• Network: HSPA＋ 21Mbps 850/900/1900/2100
• Processor: 1 GHz Dual-Core Processor
• Display: 7” WSVGA(1024x600) PLS TFT
• OS: Android 4.0(Ice Cream Sandwich)
• Camera: Main(Rear): 3 Megapixel Fixed Focus Camera; sub(Front): VGA for Video Call
• Video: Codec: MPEG4, H.263, H.264, VC-1, DivX, WMV7, WMV8, VP8 Format: 3GP, ASF, AVI, MP4, WMV, FLV, MKV, WebM Playback/ Recording: Full HD@30fps, HD@30fps
• Audio Codec: MP3, AAC, AC-3, AMR, FLAC, MID, WMA, WAV, Vorbis Music Player with SoundAlive, 3.5mm Ear Jack

Value-added Features:

• Samsung TouchWiz/ Samsung L!ve Panel UX
• Samsung Apps
• Samsung Kies / Samsung Kies air
• Samsung Hub＊: Readers Hub/ Music Hub/ Game Hub/ Video Hub
• Samsung Hub Widget＊: Music Hub/ Game Hub/ Video Hub
• Samsung S Suggest＊ (App recommendation service)
• Samsung ChatON mobile communication service
• AllShare Play＊
• GoogleTM Mobile Services: Android Market™, Gmail™, Google Earth™, YouTube™, Google Maps™, Syncing with Google Calendar™
• Polaris
• A-GPS, Glonass (Available on 3G version only)
   
• Connectivity: Bluetooth® technology v 3.0, USB 2.0 Host, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Digital compass, Light Proximity (Available on 3G version only)
• Memory: 8/16/32GB User memory ＋ 1GB (RAM); microSD (up to 32GB)

• Dimensions: 193.7 x 122.4 x 10.5 mm, 344g
• Battery: Standard battery, Li-ion 4,000mAh

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 unveiled, runs ICS on a 7-inch display

Samsung has taken the wraps off yet another tablet, this time running the latest version of Android -- Ice Cream Sandwich. The Galaxy Tab 2 has a 7-inch form factor similar to the Galaxy Tab 7 Plus, and the spec sheet shows similar internals, too.
The Tab 2 is powered by a 1GHz dual-core CPU, along with 1GB of RAM, and packs a 7-inch, 1024x600 display. As we said, the main attraction is Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, which makes the Tab 2 the first Samsung tablet to run the latest version of the OS. Other specs include a 3MP camera on the back and a VGA front-facer, optional 3G/HSPA connectivity, 8/16/32GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot. Like the original 7-inch Galaxy Tab, the Tab 2 offers voice calling capability, too.
So this appears to be a budget tablet offering from Samsung, and we'd expect to see it priced as such. What's a little strage, however, is that Samsung already has a 7-inch tablet that's almost identical to the Tab 2 -- the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus. Design aside, the only differences lie in CPU speed and OS -- the Tab 7 Plus runs Honeycomb on an Exynos chip. So we have to wonder where this product fits in Samsung's increasingly crowded tablet line-up.
In any case, if the price is right, it looks like this could be a decent 7-inch tab for mid-range buyers. We've got the the full press release after the jump.

Samsung Galaxy Nexus (GSM) extended battery now available in the UK

Take a look at our hands on with the GSM Galaxy Nexus extended battery

There is still a distinct lack of official accessories for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. While we're still eagerly awaiting the arrival of such tasty treats as the vehicle and HDMI docks, there is at least one which has made it over to UK shores.

Available now from MobiCity, the 2000mAh extended battery and replacement battery door will set you back £49.95. We really like this battery, and the replacement door adds a slight thickness to the phone which actually makes it nicer to hold in the hand. Hit the source link below to head over to the product page.

ShopAndroid Daily Giveaway #06: Galaxy Nexus SURFACE Case, Rezound 2750mAh Battery & more!

Welcome back for another week of awesome daily giveaway's from ShopAndroid.com!  Today we'll be checking out the Seidio SURFACE Case for the Verizon/Samsung Galaxy Nexus, HTC 2750mAh Extended Battery for HTC Rezound, Motorola Folio Case for Motorola Xoom, and the Motorola Droid RAZR Qmadix Snap-On Cover w/ Holster.
Leave a comment letting us know which of these featured accessories you'd like to get your hands on, and we'll announce a winner next Monday.

Seidio SURFACE Case for Samsung/Verizon Galaxy Nexus

The Seidio SURFACE Case is perfect for keeping the slim look of your Galaxy Nexus.  The case consists of interlocking top and bottom pieces that fit your device snugly, with a felt lining on the interior to keep your Galaxy Nexus safe from scratches on the inside and out.  There's access to all ports and buttons of your Galaxy Nexus, with the exception of the three-pin connector.

HTC 2750mAh Extended Battery w/ Door for Rezound

Talk longer, text more, play longer, and take more pictures with the HTC 2750mAh Extended Battery that's nearly double the capacity of the stock OEM Rezound battery. This extended battery for the Rezound allows you to take full advantage of Verizon's 4G LTE network by making sure your Rezound has the power to keep on going when you need it the most.  The battery comes with a replacement door which accommodates the larger cell.

Motorola Folio Case for Xoom

The Motorola Folio Case is manufactured from durable material to assist in protecting your Motorola Xoom tablet.  Enclosing majority of the Motorola Xoom, this case is extremely soft to the touch and you can be assured that there is access to the main ports and buttons while still protecting the most vulnerable parts of your Android tablet.  The Folio Case also doubles as a multimedia stand for your Xoom, allowing multiple viewing angles depending on what's most comfortable for you.

Qmadix Snap-On Cover w/ Holster for Motorola Droid RAZR

The Qmadix Snap-On Cover is form-fitted to your Motorola Droid RAZR and features a textured rubberized exterior to allow a firm grip on your device.  The case is lightweight, and fairly thin-- keeping your Droid RAZR's slim profile as close as possible.  The Snap-on cover features cutouts for all of the RAZR features, and leaves the screen exposed for full functionality.

Wrap up

After getting a closer look at the featured accessories for today's daily giveaway, leave us a comment below stating which item you'd like to have for your Android smartphone and you'll be eligible to win said item.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 keyboard dock review

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 keyboard dock is a great accessory for a great tablet.  I'm not fully convinced that you can get any real work with a tablet just yet, but this has me thinking hard.  It's simple to use, looks good and brings one big think that touchscreen tablets are lacking -- a physical keyboard for fast and accurate typing.

Setup is a breeze.  Pull the keyboard dock out of the box, and plug your Galaxy Tab 10.1 into it.  If you're using a third party keyboard, you'll get a notice that you need to switch to the stock one for best functionality, and a handy button to press to do just that.  Then you start using it.

Samsung Keyboard Dock (Full-Size) Buy Now $69.95

The keyboard itself is responsive, and the keys are easy to reach and after a few minutes you'll get the flow and feel like you're working with an Android powered netbook.  There's special function keys for home, back, menu and all the other special Android functions, as well as volume and brightness controls.  It's pretty much like the keyboard you're using on your computer, minus a dedicated set of number keys (some PC and laptop keyboards don't have those either).

It's weighty and the rubber feet and back panel keep it from moving while banging out e-mails or Tweeting, and there's a 3.5mm audio output to connect a pair of speakers of headphones.  The pass through port allows for charging and a connection to your computer or other Samsung accessories, so it makes for a nice all around desktop dock if you've got the space.

A tablet of any sort isn't going to replace my computer or laptop any time soon, but when i need to get work done on my Tab, I can do it much easier and faster now.  I wrote this blog post with it!  Hit the break for a couple more images of this one in action.

Quadrant updated to work with Ice Cream Sandwich, doesn't become any more relevant

It's been a while since we saw any mention of Quadrant benchmark scores in phone reviews. We hoped that it was for the obvious reason, but in a world where the Galaxy Nexus is king we couldn't run a Quadrant score even if we wanted to -- it didn't work properly with Ice Cream Sandwich. Version 2.0 lands today with support for ICS and multicore CPU's. Oh, and it now supports Polish as well. 

What perhaps makes this version more irrelevant than the previous version is down to the changes that have been made to get it working on these new devices. This updated version scores differently to all the previous 1.x releases of the app, so at the moment there is a grand total of 4 results in the results browser. This will be restored in future updates but so far I can compare my Galaxy Nexus to the Galaxy Nexus, Galaxy Tab and Nexus S. Useful. 

Otherwise everything is the same as it has always been. In 2012 it is definitely not how we should be judging our smartphone performance. Only using a smartphone can judge that. We already know that benchmark results can be cheated, so while it looks good to be at the top of the pile, it isn't necessarily where you belong. And if you don't set out to cheat, it still isn't all that accurate. My Galaxy Nexus scored significantly higher than the Galaxy Nexus in the results browser at first run of the app. 

We'll never tell you guys how to use your phones, and with the right results running a Quadrant benchmark can still make you look better than your friends. Just don't read too much into it. Please? You will find the handy download links after the break.

If I don't suck at Skyfall, you can win a Galaxy S II

Hey guys! The fine folks at ngmoco have approached a slew of Android sites to participate in a Skyfall Proving Grounds challenge. The prize? Well, I don't get anything but bragging rights if I take first place, but you guys will get a chance to win one of five (5) Skyfall-branded Galaxy S IIs, which means you should root for me quietly while you sit at your desk, likely pretending to work while you surf Android Central. It's okay, your secret is safe with us.
I received my Skyfall-branded phone just now, and I'm already on the hunt to become the Proving Grounds champ! If you're wondering why ngmoco chose to create this little competition, it's in celebration of the Skyfall open beta, which I checked out back in November at their headquarters in San Fransisco, CA. If you're interested in getting to know what Skyfall is all about, you can head over to the official site and check it out.
Wish me luck, Android Nation!

P.S. - I took this picture with the super cool branded Skyfall phone they sent me just for your enjoyment, even though Mondays is my "lay at home on the couch/watch TV/play SWTOR" day.  You're welcome, nerds.

ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day: Qmadix Snap-On Cover with Holster for Samsung Galaxy Nexus

The ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day for Feb. 13 is the Qmadix Snap-On Cover with Holster for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Verizon Galaxy Nexus. The durable Snap-On Cover protects your device while allowing full access to all functions and protects from dirt and scratches and has a textured rubber exterior for a good grip. It's available today only for just $14.95 -- that's 50 percent off! Get yours while supplies last.