acr456 asks in the Android Central forums ,  Hello, I am going to factory reset my phone. However, my question is, since this is a complete reset will it also rollback to the version of Android that the EVO was launched with? For example, I know have version 2.3.5. Will it roll it all the way back to 2.1? I just want my data erased, I want to keep all my system updates including whatever updates Sprint sent. Do I have anything to worry about?   Also, the EVO I'm resetting is deactivated. Once the reset is complete will I be able to fully use my [...]

Regulators in China have approved the multi-billion dollar purchase of Motorola Mobility by Google. The particulars have already been approved in the US and elsewhere, and China has been the lone holdout. With that bit of dirty business behind them, the deal can now go forward. In statements released to Bloomberg Motorola and Google both confirm the news, and are looking forward to getting the loose ends tied up in short order. We expect things to stay unchanged between Google and Motorola, as we've heard numerous times that Motorola will remain an independent entity. Only time will let us know how that turns out. [...]

Ready to check out some more of our favorite apps? Each week we bring to you some of our favorites in hopes that they may become your favorites, and we want you to do the same. Drop a line in the comments and let us know some of the awesome applications you have installed on your device, so the rest of the Android Central community can check them out as well! read more

Motorola yesterday updated its device update schedule , with the crux being that we'll finally start to see some phones get Ice Cream Sandwich in the next month or so. Specifically, that's the Droid RAZR/MAXX, with the Atrix, Atrix 2, Droid 4 and Xyboards getting it in Q3. Have a Droid 3 or Droid X2? Sorry, you're out of luck. And today Motorola expanded on why, saying: "… obviously we want the new release to improve our devices. If we determine that can’t be done—well then, we’re not able to upgrade that particular device." Interesting choice of words. What it probably means is that Moto determined that [...]

Compared to all the drama stateside surrounding the customs woes of HTC's new handsets, it was a fairly quiet week for international Android news. But even a quiet week here in the Android world has its share of phone launches, update news, release announcements and the like, so let's dive right in. We got our first peek at the HTC Desire C this week, as HTC prepares to launch its successor to the Wildfire S. With NFC, ICS and Beats Audio on-board, the Desire C looks like a surprisingly feature-packed little device, and we're looking forward to getting our hands on it in [...]

We've blown through a bunch of content for you all this week so be sure to get yourself caught up if, for whatever reason you missed out on anything. In addition to the news and editorials, we also managed to do up a Android Central podcast for you all and if that isn't enough — be sure to check out the Android Central Forums: HTC One X Forums – Anyone having signal drop issues? HTC EVO 4G LTE – Should HTC/Sprint give good will gesture? Samsung Galaxy S III Forums – No Android Experience, Tempted by the S3 Samsung Galaxy Nexus Forums – Straight Talk MMS problems Droid RAZR Maxx [...]

With all the recent news about forcing customers to use shared data plans we saw this week, T-Mobile wanted to let everyone know their stance on the situation. Posting on the company's Issues and Insights blog,  Andrew Sherrard , senior vice president of marketing, says  "T-Mobile believes that consumers today do not want a ‘one size fits all’ approach to shared family data plans, nor would they benefit from that model".  ​Reading through the sentiment in the comments on the recent Verizon news , and one would have to assume he is right. Reading and watching David poke at Goliath is fun (in some twisted kind of blogger way) [...]

Update: More of the story is coming out, and we learn that Motorola was found not to infringe on eight other patents in the case. This verdict is currently under Presidential review, and will be subject to appeal. In a statement to ArsTechnica Motorola has said the following:  Although we are disappointed by the Commission’s ruling that certain Motorola Mobility products violated one patent, we look forward to reading the full opinion to understand its reasoning. Motorola Mobility will not experience any impact in the near term, as the Commission's ruling is subject to a $0.33/per unit bond during the 60 day Presidential review period. [...]

Motorola device owners have been pretty vocal about their want for Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich on their devices. Motorola in response to that, has kept an ICS rollout schedule updated and recently they made some changes to it that will either excite you or upset you, depending on which device you own. Droid RAZR , Droid RAZR MAXX and XOOM 3G/4G owners have the most to be excited about as ICS updates for those devices should be rolling out at just about any moment right now. Atrix, Atrix 2, Droid Bionic , Droid 4 and XYBOARD owners will be waiting until the next quarter for their updates. Own a Droid 3 or Droid [...]

Samsung's teasing it on its Facebook page today, but the full advert's already leaked out on Twitter — David Beckham's doing his thing for Samsung and the Galaxy Note . Some folks in the forums have opined that we're looking at a "new" Galaxy Note (and indeed the "new Galaxy Note with "Premium Suite" upgrade" is mentioned, but it  more to us like Samsung's just promoting that "Premium Suite" upgrade that includes Ice Cream Sandwich and started pushing recently. The description on the teaser points to something going down May 22, so stay tuned. (Our guess: More with the Olympic torch, which Becks helped welcome [...]

We've seen some pretty interesting Android promotions in our time , but Chili's latest takes the cake for sure. They have a new app out and they really want you to try it out. In fact, they want you to try it out so bad that they'll give you a free Android smartphone to do so. The process is fairly simple of course, visit the Chili's website and order up $25 worth of food and you'll get be able to collect a free Android device and then download their app onto it. The fine print is where you may get caught up though, it [...]

The Sprint EVO 4G LTE missed today's in-store launch, and pre-orders aren't shipping, thanks to a pesky International Trade Commission review. Bollocks.  While you're waiting, here are some more EVO 4G LTE forum threads you should be sure to check out: Lack of Information I'm so bored that … What case are you going to wrap around your Evo 4gLTE? Does multitasking work correctly? Questioning getting the LTEVO Should HTC/Sprint give good will gesture?

If you're in the UK and have a high-end HTC phone or tablet, you'll want to check the bundled HTC Watch application this weekend. HTC has 200 movies available to rent for just 5p this weekend, as part of its HTC Watch 5p Weekend Special. HTC Watch has grown considerably since it first appeared on the Sensation last year, which means there's a surprisingly good selection of flicks on offer as part of the 5p deal (we've got the full list after the break.) Unfortunately we're not seeing any sign of any similar deals on our US-bound HTC devices, but if the promotion proves a success [...]

Before we wrap another week of giveaway's here at ShopAndroid.com, we've got the final four items for this week which include the Case-Mate Tough Case for HTC One X, Arkon Sport Armband, Motorola Dual Port Universal Charger 750mA, and the Blueant Q2 Smart Bluetooth Headset. Pick one of these featured accessories for your Android and leave it in the comments below.  We'll select one person as the winner and announce them next week.  Good luck! Case-Mate Tough Case for HTC One X Designed to offer two layers of protection for the HTC One X, the Case-Mate Tough Case is completely flexible and impact resistant.  The [...]

After three short days on the shelf , Virgin Mobile's LG Optimus Elite is already up for a promotion: Google will credit your Google Wallet account with $25 when you activate the NFC-service within 7 days of activating your Elite. LG's Gingerbread-powered Optimus Elite is the prepaid carrier's first NFC-capable device, and Virgin isn't wasting any time putting the service to good use. The offer is good on any of Virgin's Beyond Talk plans, and will run from now through July 18, though there is a bit of fine print: your account will be credited with $10 within the first three days, with the remaining $15 eventually added [...]

The May 18 ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day is the Qmadix Metalix Snap-On Cover for Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX. The durable but lightweight, textured polycarbonate border on the case helps to keep a firm grip on your device and aluminum alloy accents enhance the look for the RAZR MAXX without adding bulk or unwanted weight. Comes in black, blue, red, and purple. The Qmadix Metalix Snap-On Cover is available for just $14.95 today only, 50% off the standard price. Pick yours up today while supplies last!

When the "berry pink" Galaxy Note first launched in Korea in early April , we doubted whether Samsung would look to release the device outside of its home territory. What fools we were. Today the Carphone Warehouse reveals that it's planning to launch the pink Galaxy Note in the UK starting next month. There's even a pre-registration page open for would-be buyers to sign up for additional info on the mauve monstrosity.  We're not sure what more information can be offered, though — as far as we're concerned it's the same old Galaxy Note , only with a hideous new coat of paint. In any case, if the existing [...]

Podcast MP3 URL:  http://traffic.libsyn.com/androidcentral/acpc96.mp3 Thing 1: EVO 4G LTE delayed HTC One X and EVO 4G LTE imports stalled by U.S. customs Sprint finally acknowledges EVO 4G LTE delay on its community forums Sprint EVO 4G LTE reportedly will miss Friday's launch date Best Buy sending e-mails saying EVO 4G LTE preorders ship May 23 Thing 2: Sense 4 and multitasking Multitasking on the HTC One X isn't broken, it's customized HTC: Sense 4 multitasking and memory management working as designed Thing 3: Google Music drama Google Music limits device de-authorizations to 4 a year Google addressing Music device de-authorization issues, back to 'normal' for now It might be your [...]

Can't say we're overly surprised to see this one, but it doesn't make it any less disappointing. Best Buy early today sent  ​another​ e-mail to customers who preordered the HTC EVO 4G LTE , saying that, whoopsie, it doesn't actually know when the Customs hold will lift and the EVO will be allowed to ship. This comes less than a day after Best Buy got hopes up by saying May 23 was the new target date , which was quickly followed by HTC telling us it had nothing new to announce. So, yeah. And yes, there are plenty of "insider" sources feeding possible dates, too. But this thing's [...]

  Yes you read that correctly, according to a report from  ​Korea Economic Daily​ a Samsung executive let it slip that 9 million units have been pre-ordered.  Let that sink in for a minute.  It wasn't that long ago that the Galaxy S II hit the 20 million mark , and now we have its successor reaching half that lofty goal  ​before it's been released .  Impressive to be sure, especially since the US, a large smartphone market, won't see it released until June at the earliest . With Samsung taking the lions share of phone sales worldwide is there anything that can be done to stop their dominance in the market? [...]