Android Tablet Update

Anyone planning on buying the newly launched Galaxy Nexus from Sprint may want to hold off for a week or two. A handful of new Galaxy Nexus owners are reporting issues connecting to Sprint’s 3G network. From what we can tell, affected users are able to send and receive phone calls and text messages, but the data connection to the phone simply remains in “connecting” status without ever making a complete connection.

Several affected users have been given replacement phones at local Sprint stores, but others have been turned away since a fix for the issue is apparently already in the works. No specifics about the software update have been revealed, but a Sprint Community moderator claims that Sprint is hoping to have the issue resolved by early next week.

Sprint/Samsung are aware of this problem and will be releasing a software update to resolve the issue. Can't commit to a date yet, but they are trying really hard to get it released early next week. Sorry for your troubles.ModeratorSprint Community

Have any of you experienced any data connectivity issues with the Sprint Galaxy Nexus? It seems a bit ironic that Sprint’s first 4G LTE phone can’t even get a 3G connection.

If you pay attention to the different ad campaigns that AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon keep in their everyday arsenal, chances are you’ve heard every single one claim they have the fastest network on the block. Whatever they use to calculate those claims, it doesn’t always translate into real world use for every individual on that network. So how could you possibly pinpoint who really does have the fastest network?

PC World has put eight different Android phones to the test, including a 3G device and a 4G device from each major carrier in the US. They selected 13 cities for their, “varying population densities, physical topography, and cellular environments.” Each network was tested at ten locations in each city, five times indoors, and five times outdoors.

When it comes to which carrier in the US posted the best 3G download speeds, T-Mobile took the crown. Thanks to HSPA+ 21, T-Mobile’s average 3G download speed was 3.84 Mbps.

T-Mobile’s HSPA+ 42 managed to keep a slim distance when it came to 4G, but AT&T and Verizon’s LTE networks couldn’t be held back. AT&T had the best download speeds, coming in at 9.12 Mbps. Verizon was a close second at 7.35.

The absolute worst carrier if you care about download speeds is Sprint. Their WiMax 4G test numbers were lower than T-Mobile’s 3G numbers. And their 3G numbers were enough to drive any sane man mad, at a pathetic 0.59 Mbps.

Of course these tests still don’t paint an entirely accurate picture of whose networks provides the fastest network speeds, but it does give you a good idea. What kind of speeds do you get with your service? Let us know in the comments.

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Freely roaming across the US is great, especially when data roaming is part of the deal. Until now, customers have been able to use data while roaming for free, but it’s not free for T-Mobile. They have to pay fees in order to keep you connected. According to the latest rumors this is all about to change, and T-Mobile will start putting a cap on data roaming usage.

This is an attempt to lower the costs for Magenta subscribers who roam where T-Mobile data coverage is not available. According to a poster at HowardForums, T-Mobile’s upcoming data roaming limits include a 100 MB cap for 5 GB monthly data subscribers and 200 MB for those enjoying 10 GB per month.

But don’t fret over unknown fees and charges; will not see any extra fees once you exceed your data roaming allowance. Instead, T-Mobile will simply not allow you to use the internet anymore, at least until you reach a T-Mobile tower or WiFi (of course).

Avoiding the extra fees may be a great thing for most of us, but some people rely on data while roaming. According to the source, this roaming policy will not be applicable to everyone. “Certain account types are excluded, such as employee accounts and some business accounts.”

For those who need data while roaming, let’s hope they provide some extra data roaming plans. But if extra fees are not your thing, T-Mobile seems to be estimating that about 10,000 users will be able to break the contract without an ETF (Early Termination Fee). So you just might be able to switch to another carrier.

According to newguy78, T-Mobile subscribers should be receiving a notification about these changes within the next few weeks. This might be in the form of an actual letter or a notification upon signing on to my.tmobile.com.

Surely many of you will be quite unhappy about this. But let’s take a small step back and wait to see what happens. This is not yet confirmed, and as always, we should take it with a grain of salt. For now, tell us what you think! Are you a heavy data roamer? Will you be switching carriers if you can?

If there’s something T-Mobile and Walmart are both known for, it’s their pocket-friendly philosophy. Both companies have just announced a new family plan for those who want to step into the smartphone world without hurting their bank accounts. Not only is this offer affordable, but it’s completely unlimited and commitment-free.

This plan offers unlimited talk, text and web at the low price of $45 (for the first line) and $35 for each additional line. This would translate to $80 for two lines, $115 for 3 lines and so on. There are no contracts involved, which may be a bit more costly the first month, but it all pays off in the long run.

Don’t run to your nearest Walmart location just yet, though. There are some important details you might want to know. First, the plan only offers 3G speeds. This means that data-hungry 4G users will not be able to keep their high speeds.

If you’re willing to live without 4G data speeds, you might want to hurry and get this plan soon. Those who sign up before March 16 will be able to enjoy 5 GB of 3G data per month, while those who sign up after said date will have to make due with 250 MB. After reaching the data limit, users will be throttled to lower speeds.

There’s also a one-time $25 starter kit per line required. All of this may add up to an inconvenient start (you would need to purchase phones at full price and pay for the bill, as well as the fees), but it will be much cheaper after months start adding up.

We would recommend this plan for those who do not mind lower speeds or the low data cap after March 16. It is very affordable compared to the other 3 major carriers, and having no contracts and limitations is always a plus. It would definitely be a great option for first-time smartphone users or for the kids.

What do you guys say? Signing up for this new family plan? Would you rather keep your 4G speeds?

ASUS has managed to make itself one of the most popular Android tablet manufacturers. Not only are its devices featuring the best specs, but their prices are almost unbeatable and those updates are coming quick. ASUS is not quite ready to give up on the OG Transformer, and the Ice Cream Sandwich update might be coming sooner than we expected.

Soon after the ASUS Transformer Prime got its Android 4.0 treatment, Android was informed that the update to the OG Transformer would start rolling out during early February^[1]. It looks like this update might be coming earlier than it seems, though. ASUS has mentioned via Facebook that the update is currently in the process of being approved by Google. As soon as Google gives it thumbs up, things are set and ASUS can start rolling out the update^[2].

In other news – it seems like the Transformer Prime will not be getting a 3G (or 4G) antenna. Despite recent reports that ASUS would release a 3G-capable Transformer Prime, ASUS has reported that it does not plan to add 3G data connection to the Prime, and that it is currently not in their plans (according to Focus Taiwan)^[3].

This device may lack that functionality, but there is definitely a market for all data-hungry users. ASUS also mentions that they do plan to add this feature to other high-end products in the “Transformer family.” That might take some time, though, so lets not hold our breath on this coming anytime soon. Instead, we will have to rely on WiFi and tethering for our data fix for now.

There is no doubt that the option to connect to the internet outside WiFi connectivity would be nice. ASUS makes it all up with its offerings, though, and they definitely know how to keep their costumers happy. Many of us would say that timely and consistent updates are better than 3G/4G connectivity, as is affordable price points, which is something ASUS is very well known for.

The simple fact that ASUS is updating its past-generation tablet tells a lot about the company. What do you guys think? Would you be willing to upgrade to a data-connected tablet?