Google Maps For Android Adds More Cities With 3D Buildings

Google introduced the new version of Maps for Android phones last December and, besides vector graphics and offline navigation, 3D buildings were one of the main attractions of the application. The offering is being continuously improved as Google adds more and more features to the table. 

Regardless if you navigate, discover or just play with Google Maps, you can now enjoy 3D buildings in new cities added like London, Paris, Barcelona, Stockholm, Singapore, Lisbon, Boulder, and 11 major cities in South Africa. Good thing is that you don't have to install anything, just fire up Google Maps on your Android phone and navigate to one of the cities to see some 3D glamour. 

Android fans reply to the latest iPhone commercial

A fan made commercial shows the potentialities of Android smartphones compared to those of an iPhone.

Apple has recently released an “If you don’t have an iPhone” video ad showing what people without an iPhone would not be able to do. Android fanboys disagreed, and made a video showing that their favorite OS could do all that, and more! Watch it after the break.

Samsung releases a Smart Case for the Galaxy Tab 10.1. Looks familiar?

The new cover for the latest Korean slate looks exactly like the one for iPad 2.

We all know that Samsung is currently having legal issues with Apple, which accuses the Koreans to keep copying their hardware and software design, and now Sammy releases a new accessory for its latest tablet. Made by Anymode, official supplier of Samsung’s accessorie, the Smart Case looks exactly like the Smart Cover that Apple introduced a few months ago for its iPad 2. Even the name is practically the same!

What’s going to be Apple’s response to such insolence? More legal actions in arrive?

After the Optimus Black, LG launches in The Netherlands the Optimus White

An alternative color and an alternative name for one of the best LG Android phones, for now only in Holland.

LG announced the Optimus Black last January and released it in May, advertising it as the thinnest smartphone (Samsung Galaxy S II was announced a month later being slightly thinner) and with the brightest screen thanks to the 700nit NOVA display. Now the Dutch operator Sizz announced the very same device for the Dutch market, excepted for its color and the new name: LG Optimus White.

With a 1GHz TI OMAP 3630 chipset, 512MB RAM, 2GB storage, a 5Mpx camera capable to capture 720p@30fps videos and a secondary 2Mpx front-facing camera, a 4-inch Gorilla Glass touchscreen NOVA display, the LG Optimus White may not be the most powerful device around but it’s definitely a good choice and a great performances/price combination. Android version is still Froyo, but an update to Gingerbread is expected in the Fall.

We don’t know if future releases will include the Optimus Pink, Silver or Blue, but for sure they would be good addition to the line-up of LG Android smartphones.

Samsung Galaxy Z Hitting The U.K. As the Galaxy R This Month

The Samsung Galaxy Z was revealed by a Swedish cellular provider as a lower-end Galaxy S II with its 4.2-inch screen and a slower but still dual-core processor. It appears that the Galaxy Z will be landing in The U.K. this month as the Galaxy R. 

The main difference between the Galaxy S II and the Galaxy R is the screen, which on the Galaxy R is .1 inches smaller (4.2 version 4.3 on the Galaxy S II) and is allegedly Super LCD instead of Super AMOLED Plus. Additionally, the powerful dual-core Exynos CPU on the SGS2 has been reportedly replaced by an nVidia Tegra 2 dual-core processor. The camera is also smaller: five-megapixels with 720p HD video recording capability. On-board you will also find WiFi, GPS, FM Radio, 8GB internal memory and microSD card slot supporting up to 32GB. 

As far as pricing is concerned there are no details as of yet but, given the lower than SGS2 specs, expect it to be cheaper than Samsung's flagship phone.