Apple just announced the new iPad will continue to be rolled-out in 11 more countries including South Korea on April 20. The new iPad with its Retina Display which everyone are raving together with the A5X chip and quad-core graphics and 5MP iSight camera will be available in Brunei, Croatia, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Malaysia, Panama, St Maarten, Uruguay and Venezuela. Then a week after that on Friday, April 27, the new iPad will also be available in Colombia, Estonia, India, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, South Africa and Thailand. Both the black and white models of the new iPad will shipped to the mentioned countries. The price tag is pretty much standard for all iterations of the new iPad. For those who are not planning to get the new iPad, you might be interested to know that the iPad 2 will also be available in those countries at a more affordable price starting at $399. Via [Apple]   The image you see here is one that T-Mobile placed across its respective Twitter, Facebook and Instagram pages on Monday along with the phrase,”It’s time to set the record straight.” It’s all a part of an upcoming brand refresh that T-Mobile hopes will earn it some much needed contract customers.
Although the first ad starring T-Mobile’s Ducati-riding spokeswoman Carly has yet to air, the impression we’re getting is that T-Mobile is taking off the kid gloves. The question is how T-Mobile will turn around the business before its LTE network begins rolling out in 2013. The HTC One S appears to be a nice phone, but it’s not nearly compelling enough to bring in a large number of customers. AllThingsD says T-Mobile is going to spend an additional $200 million on advertising and will launch a site that lets the public try out and compare its phones virtually. Whatever it’s planning, T-Mobile has got to bring out the big guns. Its “deals” involving mail-in rebates for Value Plan customers just isn’t going to cut it. Read [AllThingsD]  
Bell Mobility is launching the ruggedized Android smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Rugby. Availability of said device will be on April 19 with a price tag rumored to be somewhere around $299.99 minus the contract. Take note, this is just a rumored price and not official yet. The same device was priced $279.99 by Rogers Canada which might also launched the device on the same date. So, if you’re planning to get a smartphone which is IP67 certified, dust and water proof, you might want to check out the Samsung Galaxy Rugby either from Bell or Rogers. As for its other features, the device boasts of a 3MP camera with video capture, Wi-Fi, DNLA, and 800MHz processor. That’s all we know about this device for now but we will definitely bring you more information soon. Via [MobileSyrup]  
If you bought the Asus Transformer Prime previously, you’re probably a bit frustrated by the fact that some units have GPS that is not working properly. Hence, you can’t use the tablet as a car navigation device. And it seems that Asus couldn’t fix this issue via the usual software update. The solution is to bring out a GPS dongle. So, Asus has been sending out invitations to Transformer Prime owners to let them know of the dongle for free to owners only. The offer is set to expire on July 31. According to the invite sent to Transformer Prime owners, said dongle will help improve GPS signal reception of the Transformer Prime. In addition, using the dongle will not replace, alter or amend any existing warranties that owners have on their Transformer Prime. The deal seems like a good one, but unfortunately you may not like the look of the dongle when attached to your Transformer Prime. But if you don’t mind, this is better than having a crippled Transformer Prime. Via [Droid-Life], [Land of Droid]   Phiaton's PS 20 BT Headset As someone who is constantly fumbling through her handbag at the sound of a phone ringing, resulting in many a missed call, I was eager to try the Phiaton PS 20 BT Bluetooth Stereo Headset. Overall, the headset is easy to set up and configure and provides a high level of convenience for on-the-go users. After the headset has been fully charged, refer to its manual and your device’s manual, if necessary, to pair. (I used my Android HTC EVO smartphone.) The full inline musical controls allow the user to navigate a music library directly from the small master controller (my designation) that has a clip for attaching to your clothing or bag. From this controller, users can toggle through music libraries, pause, play or stop music, adjust volume and most importantly, answer calls. I primarily listen to streaming audio through Pandora on my smartphone and am happy to report that these functions all work well with that outlet. When the phone rings, the user presses the Answer/End button on the side of the controller, which will pause the music until the call is ended. Phiaton touts the “Echo-Off” noise-reduction feature of the headset. The feature does a good job of blocking background noise so the caller’s voice is very clear and pronounced. I actually used one earbud at times when I knew I needed to pay attention to my surroundings. (I personally do not recommend using this headset—or any headset—while driving). Users can call the last number dialed by pressing the Answer/End button for one second. If your phone has voice-dial features, even better, as it will accommodate. I found that to be one of the few drawbacks—that you need to actually use your phone to dial if it does not support voice dialing. Another possible drawback is that you do not have the luxury of caller ID if your phone is out of reach/sight. However, the master controller does allow the user to reject a call, if desired. Another drawback is the need to charge the headset. That said, charging the device out of the box did not take long. While I do not have precise timing, I know it was no more than a few hours. Phiaton officially says in the headset manual that the product has a max of six hours calling time; six hours music-playing time; 250 hours stand-by time; and 2 hours re-charge time after full discharge. I found the earbuds to fit quite well without a lot of adjusting for a comfortable fit. Phiaton provides four different sizes of ear tips. Phiaton reports that the PS 20 includes 14.3mm drivers and a “half in-ear” design to deliver a combination of bass response from in-ear buds to high-frequency response you’d find in open-ear style headphones. The headset also comes with “MaxBass” technology with a dual-chamber structure to eliminate vibration and echo, says the company. Considering this technology, I found the headset produces full, resonating sound while playing music. And, as previously mentioned, I thought the sound of callers’ voices’ was more than adequate, and that the headset blocked background noise sufficiently. And as a side note, the Bluetooth range (space between the headset and smartphone) was approximately 50 feet before the signal started to break up. The PS 20 BT headset is perfect for city-dwellers/frequent walkers who desire the added convenience of tucking away their phones while still controlling music and never missing a phone call. Fast Facts: MSRP: $149 In the box: wireless stereo headset; USB charging cable; neck strap; carrying case; 4 sizes of silicon ear tips; and owner’s guide  Review by Caitlin Sullivan 
What is being reviewed?Up for review is The Visual Land Prestige 7 Android Tablet, a sleek and affordable Android alternative to the various overpriced tablets available. This particular tablet is compact enough to take anywhere, easy to use, and optimal for web access. Read more and find out why this tablet surpassed our expectations and is one of the best tablet buys on the market. Critique:The Prestige 7 7" Internet Tablet utilizes 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the latest versatile Android operating system. At only .4 inches thick and 7' inches wide, this tablet is sleek, compact, and the ideal size for and on-the-go tablet. The Prestige 7 is also stylish, and is offered in 5 different colors. The tablet comes equipped with a battery charger, micro USB to allow you to transfer data, and headphones with a built in microphone. The Prestige 7 also offers a 1.2ghz processor and supports adobe flash player 11.1, so you can browse any website with ease. While testing the tablet, I had very little trouble downloading any app, but the tablet does not come with Play (formerly the Android Market). Some highlights of the Prestige 7, aside from the price, are the the micro SD card slot which supports up to 32 GB and the mini HDMI 1080p output, allowing you to easily stream HD movies. Other features include 8GB of flash memory and a built in front facing camera that allows you to make video calls. One of the most impressive features of the tablet is its battery life. With a fully charged battery, I used the tablet streaming movies, downloading apps and answering emails and was able to use the tablet for 8 1/2 hours without connecting it to a charger. The multi-touch screen and built in Wi-Fi make it easy to surf the web and do most anything on the tablet that one would use a PC for. My only complaint is the screen resolution. It is difficult to read documents for a long period of time. When tested, the zoom function would create a harsh pixilated look. The stylish tablet comes in 4 other colors, including blue, red, purple, black, or white. Final Thoughts:Great product for an even better price. Overall I give the Visual Land Prestige 7 Tablet 4 out of 5 stars. Buy the Visual Land Prestige 7 Internet Tablet.  
We had been expecting Pottermore to open in early-April, and well, that appears to be just what has happened. The news is coming by way of the Pottermore Insider blog where they note that Pottermore.com is “now opening to everyone.” “Over the coming days, we’ll be inviting new users onto Pottermore.com. We’re expecting to be really busy to start with and plan to activate new registrations in a steady stream. This means that you may not get access to Pottermore immediately after you sign up but we will get you exploring the site as quickly possible.”
From that point, once you sign up and get active you will be sorted into one of the four Hogwarts houses, be given your wand and the ability to discover the exclusive new writing from J.K. Rowling. And lastly, the posting also teased on “lots of exciting new features” in the coming weeks and months. Via [Pottermore Insider]  
The latest Motorola Droid 2 software update has been detailed by Verizon Wireless. The update is on the smaller side and looks to contain a handful of improvements. The update will arrive as software version 4.5.621.A955 and measure in at 14MB in size. Verizon notes that the update will need about 5 to 10 minutes to download with another 5 to 10 minutes to install. Otherwise, here is what the Droid 2 users can expect to see; Device Features - Device is enabled with the Wireless Alerting System.
- A Google Security Patch has been added to improve security level.
- Fixed issue where the device may power ON without user interaction.
- Adjusted camera settings will be saved, even after the device is powered down.
- Resolved possible device resets while playing music.
- Reduced Out of Memory errors.
Email, Messaging & Data - Improved ability to access and receive Gmail messages when the Mobile Hotspot is turned on.
- Addressed error that replicated thumbnails in message threads.
Applications & Widgets - WAV files can be played from Visual Voice Mail.
- Purchased ringtones are now able to be downloaded, saved and used where appropriate.
Via [Verizon Wireless]  
Sprint today has announced the availability of the Galaxy Nexus starting April 22. For those who’ve been wanting to own this Android 4.0 smartphone, be prepared with your $199.99 as that will be the price tag of the Sprint Galaxy Nexus. Of course, that price comes with a new line or eligible upgrade and two-year service agreement from Sprint. Now here’s the best part, to secure yourself a unit of the Galaxy Nexus, you can start placing your orders right now. In addition, if you activate a Google Wallet account within a week of activation of your Galaxy Nexus, Sprint will be giving you a $10 instant credit on your Google Wallet account. Within three weeks after activation, Sprint will be crediting your account with additional $40 credit. Sounds like a good deal, right? As a review and to give you an idea what you’ll be getting, the Galaxy Nexus boasts of 4G LTE connectivity, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 4.65-inch HD Super AMOLED contour display and dual cameras. Via [Sprint]  
Verizon Wireless has detailed and looks ready to begin rolling out the next software update for the Droid Bionic smartphone. The update will be arriving as software version 5.9.902.XT875 and will contain more than a handful of improvements dealing with everything from data connectivity to applications. According to details coming from Verizon, this update will measure in at 57.6MB and take about 10 to 30 minutes to download and then need another 5 to 10 minutes for installation. Those looking to get the update can navigate to Menu -> Settings -> About phone -> System Updates to check. Or you can sit back with some patience and simply wait for the update notification to arrive on your device. With that, here is how the changelog reads; Device Features - Added support for National Plus Code Dialing.
- Added support for Bluetooth Personal Area Networks (PAN).
- Receive text message alerts while on voice calls without voice call interruption.
- Improved audio while streaming video to a TV using the HDMI connection.
- Improved Bluetooth audio when paired and connected to the device.
- Improvements in device stability prevent the following: Black screen lockups, Camera multi-shot lockups, Idle resets, Multimedia dock lockups
- Device is enabled with the Wireless Alerting System.
- Improvements in battery life.
Data Connectivity - Data connectivity and stability improvements.
- Improvements in Wi-Fi Mobile Hotspot download performance.
Application Improvements - YouTube videos will resume play from their previous location after pausing to access the Notification Panel.
- Composing a Visual Voice Mail message no longer mutes the voice call.
- Messages saved with Visual Voice Mail will store to the SD card target shown on the user interface.
- Visual Voice Mail improvements for message storage and deletion.
- Play WAV audio files.
- The following apps are now preloaded: Amazon MP3, VCAST Apps Store.
Via [Verizon Wireless] and [Droid-Life]  | 
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