ZTE confirms Blade III Android 4.0 smartphone, makes Nordic debut with two color options

It might have over-keenly popped up online just a few weeks ago, but now ZTE's given the Blade III the official nod. As suspected, it bears a 4-inch 800 x 480 display, runs on a 1GHz Qualcomm chip, and offers Android 4.0 with 512MB of RAM to play with. The internal memory is confirmed as 4GB, with the OS taking up some of that, but there is (thankfully) the option to expand up to 32GB via SD, and that 5-megapixel shooter to use for filling it up. The HSPA phone will be getting a Nordic debut (much the same as its Nordic leak) with the black version landing in Sweden for 1,499 SEK (about $228) in October, but is available in white this month in Finland. Other "key markets" in Europe can look forward to seeing the Blade III sometime later this year.

[Source: Engadget]

Android 4.0 now available for LG Optimus 2X in South Korea

Once upon a time, the LG Optimus 2X was a big deal. After all, it introduced the masses to the NVIDIA Tegra 2. Following nearly a year of neglect, this handset -- supposedly built for enthusiasts -- is now eligible for an update to Android 4.0. Unfortunately, the software isn't yet available globally, and only those in South Korea can get in on the action. If that weren't discouraging enough, LG Canada remains insistent that it won't ever distribute Ice Cream Sandwich for the Optimus 2X. Whoever still owns this handset, ever get the feeling that you deserve better?

[Source: Engadget]

Sony: Xperia P Android 4.0 update coming August 19-25

It looks like the Xperia P will be the next Sony handset in line for an upgrade to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Sony Mobile India has taken to its official Facebook page to announce that ICS will start hitting Xperia P handsets from the week of Aug. 19-25. It's unclear whether this release window applies to India alone, but even if it does, other territories shouldn't expect too much of a delay given Sony's track record.  As we mentioned in our review of the Xperia P, it's a decent handset that was held back by the inclusion of Android 2.3 Gingerbread out of the box. With the much-needed bump up to ICS, the Xperia P will represent better value for money in an increasingly competitive mid-range smartphone market.  The news also bodes well for owners of the Xperia U and Xperia Sola, as these handsets are powered by the same internal hardware and run an almost identical ROM.

[Source: Android Central]

LG Canada's Twitter says no Android 4.0 ICS for the Optimus 2X

The ongoing saga of "Will my Optimus 2X get Android 4.0?" takes another twist courtesy of LG Canada. Previously, LG Singapore had said via their Facebook page the update was coming in Q3 but now, LG Canada has taken to Twitter to say that's not the case at all and that it was a mistake based on a general statement from HQ. We're not entirely too sure what that means unless it's code for stuff we just say to calm people down and can then later retract. In any case, we've reached out to LG to hopefully get a better response on the matter because social media accounts aren't always the final word.

[Source: Android Central]

ZTE Grand X review

With an Nvidia Tegra 2 processor and an almost entirely stock Android 4.0 ROM, the Grand X is ZTE’s new flagship device. It’s something of a milestone for the Chinese manufacturer, previously known for producing bottom-dollar semi-smartphones and white-label, carrier-branded devices such as Orange’s San Francisco, and was unveiled with appropriate fanfare at two separate London events earlier this month.  Flying ZTE’s three-letter flag proudly, it’s the company’s first real attempt to make its name as a viable, mid-range Android OEM in its own right, capable of going toe-to-toe with devices from Asian competitors such as Samsung and HTC as well as major domestic rival Huawei...

Does the Grand X provide anything more interesting than what’s already available, and can it help ZTE make a small but significant dent in the UK market?

[Source: To read the full review visit The Verge]