Verizon Gets Samsung Nexus Prime on November 3?

Although there have been rumors suggesting when Samsung might re-schedule its Nexus Prime announcement, originally supposed to go down tomorrow, we've yet to see confirmation. The longer we have to wait to get a look at the phone, will we end up seeing its release date pushed-back as well? A source with ties to the phone's release doesn't seem to think so, and says Verizon will get the phone on November 3.

Though Phandroid isn't able to reveal too many details about the source, it says it's verified that its tipster is who he claims to be, and are satisfied that he's someone in the know about upcomingVerizon smartphone releases. Besides setting the November 3 date for the Prime, the source talks about the RAZR (suggesting confirmation for the name), as well as the Bionic. The RAZR is apparently holding its own against the Prime in testing, with its only real weaknesses noted as its display and the lack of Ice Cream Sandwich. The Bionic, on the other hand, seems ready to be forgotten. If we're to believe this story, after all the lengthy delays, Verizon released the Bionic more out of obligation than any real desire to sell the phone. With the RAZR and this Prime on the way, we kinda don't blame thecarrier for losing interest. 

Our Thoughts on Apple's October 4th iPhone 4S Event - iReview

Watch today's special edition of the Pocketnow iReview where we go through all that's cool and not so cool about Apple's new iPhone 4S. In today's show we go through Apple's release of the iPhone 4S and things that were cool about it, which sadly are only limited to specs under the same hood of the past generation iPhone 4. We also round up all the different models that will be part of the new iPhone line-up and how much they'll all cost. We later go through the release dates for iOS 5, and the fact that developers have already received their first Gold Master Candidate release. Probably the only interesting aspect of the iPhone 4S is the integration that it'll have with Siri. Apple plans to bring you a true glimpse of what it's like to have true Artificial Intelligence through Siri as your assistant. We later end the Cool section with two new apps that were announced in the keynote and that you should check out.

In the Not So Cool section we go through our disappointment in Apple not releasing the iPhone 5. There truly is nothing wrong with the iPhone 4S, but many of us wanted more. We also go through the features that were missed in the iPhone 4S and that are necessary by current market tendencies.

All this and more after the break.

Steve Jobs Has Died

We are greatly saddened by the news this evening that Apple co-founder Steve Jobs has passed away. The news was made official by Apple:

We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today. Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve. His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.

Steve Jobs' contribution to technology is immeasurable: he's changed the way we live and the way that we think about technology. He was a visionary, the likes of which have never been seen. He will be deeply missed.

ASUS TOUGH 7-inch Honeycomb tablet lands in Japan ready for some corporate abuse

Not content with offering up merely modular Android tablets, ASUS has revealed a new seven-inch tablet that's water and dust resistant -- perfect for a spot of bath-time browsing or... desert rallying. The ASUS TOUGH-ETBW11AA has a rubberized bezel and strips across the back, contributing to the substantial 22.2mm profile, but that hefty frame can survive drops from the heady height of 76cm. Aside from its tough-guy credentials, there's a 1280 x 800 screen, five megapixel camera, Tegra 2 dual-core 1GHz processor, WiMAX connection and the staple WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS medley. It comes with 16GB of well-protected storage, but there's room for more via microSD. For those seeking a slate that'll survive the bumps and scrapes of the business world -- and not look ridiculous -- it'll be available to enterprise customers of Japanese carrier KDDI this November. No news yet on whether it'll canoe its way across from the Land of the Rising Sun, but we can give you a few more photos of the rough and tumble tablet after the break.
[Image credit: Keitai Watch]

Motorola Xoom 4G LTE upgrade process begins tomorrow, new tablets on sale October 13th

Verizon's dangled a 4G LTE upgrade carrot in the noses of the Xoom-adopting hordes from the start. Now, it appears the carrier's ready to make good on that promise. Starting tomorrow, current owners of Motorola's Honeycomb tab can visit a dedicated VZW site for a step-by-step guide through the upgrade process. If you were amongst the eager few who signed up for alerts, the company's going to prioritize you and send out a notification via email. The entire swap-out should take up to six business days, returning a freshly enhanced LTE-enabled slate free-of-charge. As for the rest of you Xoom-less onlookers, Big Red's going to be offering up the updated tablets this October 13th for $499 on a new two-year service contract. Jump past the break to parse through the official presser.
MOTOROLA XOOM 4G LTE UPGRADE AVAILABLE TOMORROW


Upgrade to Add the Speed of the Largest 4G LTE Network in America

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless and Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE: MMI), today announced the Motorola XOOM 4G LTE upgrade will be available for existing Motorola XOOM customers beginning tomorrow. The Motorola XOOM 4G LTE will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com beginning Oct. 13 for $499.99 with a new two-year contract.

Starting tomorrow, Motorola XOOM customers can visit www.verizonwireless.com/Xoom4GLTEupgrade for complete instructions and to begin the 4G LTE upgrade process. Customers who signed up for email alerts will receive an email notification with instructions tomorrow. Customers should expect to get their updated Motorola XOOM with 4G LTE back in approximately six business days. The 4G LTE upgrade is free of charge and customers do not have to change their current data plan when upgrading to 4G LTE. Customers are encouraged to back up any personal information prior to shipping.



Faster speeds and connections enhance the Motorola XOOM experience, allowing customers to download songs in seconds and movies in minutes. Customers should expect average download speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G LTE mobile broadband coverage areas. When customers travel outside of a 4G LTE coverage area, the Motorola XOOM automatically connects to the Verizon Wireless 3G network, enabling customers to stay connected from coast to coast.



Key features:

· 10.1-inch widescreen HD display

· 32 GB built-in storage (actual formatted capacity is less), with microSD card slot supporting additional 32 GB

· Android™ 3.2 Honeycomb – supports Google™ Mobile Services including Gmail™, YouTube™, Google Talk™, Google Search™, Google Maps™, Google Movies™, Google Books™ and Android Market™

· Dual-core 1 GHz processor

· Adobe® Flash® 10- enabling the delivery of rich Flash based web content including videos, casual games and applications

· 2-megapixel front-facing camera for video chats over 4G LTE, 3G and WiFi

· 5-megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash

· Wi-Fi networks are generally short ranged and provide wireless Internet access to localized public areas (often called hotspots) such as airports, hotels, and coffee shops.



Data plans:

· Motorola XOOM customers will have the option to choose one of the following mobile broadband data plans:

o $30 monthly access for 2GB monthly allowance

o $50 monthly access for 5GB monthly allowance

o $80 monthly access for 10GB monthly allowance