Android

Four major carriers are getting set to launch the Galaxy S 4 from Samsung in a few days. The device will be available to T-Mobile customers on April 24th, followed by Sprint on April 27th, and AT&T and US Cellular subscribers can expect their handsets to arrive around April 30th. There has been mention that AT&T has bumped up its release date, but its official GS4 page reads April 30 at the time of this post.

No matter who your carrier is, you're going to want a new case for when your handset arrives. Here is a quick look at some available cases for the GS4. All five accessory makers mentioned in this article are well-known and trusted smartphone manufacturers.

A blurry picture of Samsung's new 8-inch tablet has been published on several Android blogs. Earlier this month, Samsung Mobile vice president JK Shin confirmed that the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 would be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February. The new tablet was also spotted in a leaked 2013 Samsung rodmap, along with the Galaxy Xcover 2, Galaxy Pocket Plus and the new entry-level Galaxy Young,

The Galaxy Note 8.0 is rumored to feature an 8-inch display with 1280×800 resolution, a 1.6GHz quad-core processor. Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, 2GB RAM, 16GB/32GB of internal storage, microSD card slot, 4,600 mAh battery, S Pen, 5MP rear-facing camera, 1.3MP front-facing camera, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS.

Square Enix has announced today it will port the Nintendo 3DS version of Final Fantasy IV to iOS on December 20, and Android sometime in 2013. Unlike the original 1991 SNES verison which featured 2D visuals, the iOS and Android version will feature 3D graphics. The 3DS version also offered mini-games and brought new abilities plus a tweaked storyline. Pricing has not been announced, but expect to pay around $20 for the iOS version. The controls and framework are also expected to be similar to other mobile Final Fantasy releases.

Verizon announced today it will begin removing Verizon Apps applications from all compatible Android and Research in Motion devices in January 2013. Verizon did not give a specific reason for the decision, but did mention "a whole new tech landscape in which both consumers and developers can interact like never before." The rise in popularity of app stores like Google PLAY is the most likely reason for the closure.

Verizon hopes to complete the process by March 27, 2013. The wireless carrier also noted that most Verizon Apps are already available on multiple app storefronts, such as Google PLAY, Amazon and BlackBerry App World.

Google has officially announced a 32GB version of the Nexus 7. The new unlocked 32GB model with HSPA+ mobile data will be available in the Google Play store in the U.S., U.K., Australia, France, Germany, Spain and Canada on November 13th. Both GameStop and Office Depot have already begun reducing the 16GB tablet to $199 to make room for the new model.

The Google Nexus 7 with Android 4.1, Jelly Bean was announced in two versions, an 8GB model and 16GB model, on June 27, 2012. It became available for pre-order through Google Play on the same day. The 7-inch slate features a quad-core Tegra 3 processor, 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera, NFC capabilities and 1280 x 800 resolution.

According to a recent report released by Distimo, a Utrecht, Netherlands based app store analytics firm, the Android Market will overtake Apple's App Store in number of apps available by this July. Android Market's growth rate is clearly outpacing the App Store's and has been doing so since January. In fact, the Android Market surpassed the App Store in number of free apps in March (134,342 free apps vs. 121,845). According to the report, the "Google Android Market is predicted to have only 40,000 applications less than the Apple App Store for iPhone by the end of June 2011, and will close the remaining gap before the end of July 2011."

Not only will the Android Market surpass the App Store in terms of smartphone apps, but Distimo projects that "if all application stores maintain their current growth pace, approximately five months from now Google Android Market will be the largest store in terms of number of applications followed by the

Amongst reports that the Nexus One has had dismal sales figures, with than 150k units sold thus far, Operation Android is reporting the welcome news that the Google Nexus One is now available for use on AT&T and Rogers Canada's 3G wireless networks. Google (GOOG) and its shareholders are no doubt hoping that this new incarnation of the Nexus One will provide a boost to disappointing sales figures.

It was widely rumored last week that the Verizon Droid (Motorola Droid) would be receiving an OTA (over-the-air) update from Verizon on January 22nd. The update was supposedly being issued to update Motorola Droid phones sold by Verizon which currently run Android 2.0 or Android 2.0.1 (depending on when the phone was purchased). Unfortunately, as noted by Android blog Operation Android, to the dismay of many Droid owners, the update failed to arrive.

The article on Operation Android details how, despite the fact that the 2.1 update brings little in the way of features, many Droid owners are eager to receive the update due to

T-Mobile today announced the availability of the myTouch 3G, the next generation of its popular Android powered G1 phone. myTouch 3G has a sleeker (and lighter) design than the G1 and comes with a host of new features.

Although it comes in only three colors, black, white and red, one of the selling points of myTouch is plethora of options the user has to personalize his or her experience. According to Denny Marie Post, chief marketing officer, T-Mobile USA, "T-Mobile myTouch 3G puts you first, so you can create a mobile experience that is truly your own... There’s no cookie-cutter approach to myTouch. Inside and out, there

Despite rumors that Samsung's Android device production would be delayed until late 2009, the South Korean company yesterday introduced its first Android powered device, the I7500, which according to JK Shin, Executive Vice President and Head of Mobile Communication Division in Samsung Electronics," is "most innovative Android mobile phone." It will be the third Android powered device on the market, after the HTC Magic and the T-Mobile G1.

The I7500 is a candy bar style phone with a 3.2 inch HVGA (320 X 480) AMOLED touch screen. It measures about 4.5" X 2.2" X .4" and does not have a physical keyboard. It has 8 GB internal memory