Android.next: Honeycomb 3.1 now, Ice Cream Sandwich later

SAN FRANCISCO--Google today is releasing Android 3.1, an upgrade to its Honeycomb tablet OS, and will bring its features to mobile phones with the Ice Cream Sandwich version of the OS set for the fourth quarter.

Honeycomb is geared for Android tablets, which thus far haven't yet attained the popularity of Apple's iPad. Upgrading from 3.0 to 3.1 should offers user interface refinements, a new movie rental service, and the ability to plug in USB devices such as keyboards and game controllers.

The Motorola Xoom tablet on Verizon's 3G service--the inaugural Honeycomb device with … Read more

Digital City 127: Tablets vs. laptops, digital magazine subscriptions, and PSN problems

This week: We bemoan the unending PlayStation Network downtime, see who's winning the tablet vs. laptop fight, and debate business plans for digital magazine subscriptions. Guest @davidcarnoy joins in to win some prizes for the live chat room audience by answering e-book trivia questions.

Bonus: Download the show's jaunty theme song as a free MP3 here.

… Read more

What to expect at Google I/O 2011

With Google I/O 2011 less than two weeks away, I wanted to take this opportunity to round up a few potential Android-related announcements. The annual Google developer event has grown to include more Android news each year, and this event will follow suit. Indeed, Android is listed in at least 21 of the sessions scheduled for May 10-11, with topics ranging from Honeycomb and 3D gaming to NFC and Android Market tools. Two keynotes will be covered live by CNET; expect tomorrow's session to focus on Android with Wednesday's session switching to Chrome. And on that note, … Read more

Sprint releases its Nexus S 4G smartphone

Smartphone buyers who've been waiting for the 4G version of the Nexus S can now pick up the new model.

Making its actual debut yesterday, the Samsung Nexus S 4G is available directly from Sprint for $199 with a two-year contract or for $549 without a contract. But Best Buy is offering an even better buy, selling the phone for $150 with the two-year committment.

The new Android phone builds upon the same specs found in the Nexus S offered by T-Mobile but with the faster speed kicked in by Sprint's WiMax network. However, that 4G and other cool new features will take a bite out of your wallet.

Buyers will have to sign up for Sprint's Everything Data plan, which starts at $69 per month. It's an extra $10 a month for the Premium Data Plan add-on. And if you want the mobile hot-spot feature that lets you connect up to six wireless devices, you'll have to throw in another $29 per month.… Read more

The 404 816: Where we only buy American (podcast)

The 404 is finally back together again after Wilson's departure last week for San Francisco. Now that he's back, we get to hear all the reasons why the CNET office in San Francisco is better than ours.

There are lots of stories to talk about today, like banned arcade machines, iPad 2 riots in Beijing, and custom Abbottabad levels in Counter-Strike, but we're also launching a Twitter contest today for a chance to win one carbon fiber BodyGuardz skin for the iPad 2 or two codes worth $30 at the site.

To win, just follow @The404 and @BodyGuardz and mention both of us in a Tweet, and that's it! There's one prize winner, but the two runners-up will each get a $30 credit for anything on the site.

The 404 Digest for Episode 816

Massachusetts town continues 1982 ban on coin-operated arcade machines. iPad 2 Beijing release causes riot. New Counter-Strike map of Osama bin Laden's hideout. Real magazine issues coming to the iPad from Hearst, Conde Nast. Steven B.'s 404 sticker in a U.K. telephone box!

Episode 816 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

The 404 815: Where we don't owe you any cheese (podcast)

It's Wilson's last day Skyping in from the CNET office in San Francisco and he'll be in the office on Monday. Unfortunately, there's not much we can do about that, so we just get into the stories of the day, like Jon Stewart's quote about the Osama Bin Laden photos, which rappers are suing our parent company, and how much it would cost to buy the house from "Home Alone."

The 404 Digest for Episode 815

Jon Stewart voices opinions about the Osama photos. Rappers are suing CNET. "Home Alone" house in Winnetka, Ill., on sale for $2.4M. 23-year-old makes $120,000 off Osama's death in 48 hours. Google Maps will soon give you the powers of Superman. Third attack planned on Sony.

Episode 815 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

HTC Flyer stylus sold separately, $80 at Best Buy

One of the coolest features about the upcoming HTC Flyer is the Scribe and digital ink technology that lets you take notes, draw pictures, and more, right on the tablet with a stylus. However, it looks like you'll have to pay extra for that privilege.

As first reported by DroidLife, Best Buy currently has the HTC Digital Pen for the Flyer listed at $79.99, on top of the $499.99 for the tablet itself. Though this may be Best Buy's price, HTC told CNET that it has not announced pricing for the stylus but did confirm that … Read more

AT&T to allow third-party apps

The Samsung Infuse 4G is a remarkable smartphone, but not for the reasons you might be thinking. Yes, the massive 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus touch screen, thin 8.9mm design, and 1.2GHz processor are impressive, but none of these features has Android fanboys buzzing with excitement. Rather, the hot topic today is that the Infuse 4G is the first Android phone from AT&T to allow app installation from outside of the Android Market.

Long a thorn in the side of Android enthusiasts, AT&T has restricted the ability to load apps from any source outside … Read more

Samsung Infuse 4G finally gets release date, pricing

NEW YORK--We haven't heard a peep about the Samsung Infuse 4G since it was first introduced at CES 2011, and frankly, we were beginning to wonder if the Android smartphone would ever see the light of day, but it looks like its day has finally come.

At a special event in New York today, AT&T and Samsung announced that the Infuse 4G would be available starting May 15 for $199.99 with a two-year contract (no mail-in rebates).

Unlike the petite HP Veer 4G, which is also launching on that day, the Infuse sits on the opposite … Read more