If you’ve read any of my product reviews here at AndroidSPIN, you already know how much I enjoy getting new gadgets to run through the mud and review. Today, I was greeted by the UPS man with a package I’ve waited on since seeing this particular device on the showroom floor at CES 2012 last month. Say hello to the Biscotti TV Phone — a device that turns any HDTV into a giant videophone and connects you with anyone using Google Talk with video chatting capabilities. There are no monthly fees for the Biscotti. All you need is a WiFi connection and an HDTV with an HDMI input and you’re good to go.

We’ll be doing a full review of the device in the coming days and will be communicating closely with Biscotti during the testing process. We’re even hoping to do an interview with some of the great minds behind the device, but we wanted to give you a quick look at what’s inside the box before we start digging in. Take a look at the video below:

Well every year millions of people look forward to Super Bowl Sunday not only for their grid iron hero’s but for the commercials that cost several arms and legs. This year tech lovers, Android lovers to be more precise, have something to look forward to — The Samsung Galaxy Note Super Bowl commercial, and they have just released the teaser. Check out the clip below:

Owners of the Samsung Epic 4G will be excited to learn that an alpha version of CyanogenMOD 9 was made available yesterday, thanks to the hard work and efforts from the EpicCM team. Granted, there’s still a long list of bugs and issues that need to be dealt with — this is far from a stable release — but, none of the problems are what we consider to be deal breakers if you’re just itching to get a taste of Ice Cream Sandwich. To get your paws on the instructions and files you’ll need to make the deal happen, head over to the download page on the EpicCM site. Check out this video review, uploaded to YouTube by qbking77.

Verizon Wireless uploaded a new commercial to its YouTube account earlier this afternoon, giving the world a minute-and-a-half look at the LG Spectrum. As per the commercial, the Spectrum is rocking a 1.5GHz Dual-Core processor and is compatible with Big Red’s 4G LTE network. The device has a 720p true HD 4.5-inch display and an 8-megapixel capable of recording 1080p video and comes with an HD video editing software, which allows users to create their own content, complete with Dolby Digital Plus.

The Spectrum features mobile hotspot connectivity capable of providing a network connection for up to ten different devices simultaneously, WiFi  Direct — a software that drives media content wirelessly from the phone to another device, such as a TV, and ESPN ScoreCenter HD, and exclusive version of the app made specifically for the Spectrum.

Source: YouTube

Verizon just uploaded a new video to its YouTube account, touting the nation’s fastest 4G LTE network. In Big Red’s latest installment, we get a glimpse at one mean mo’fo dueling to the death with a giant alligator, deep in the swamps of Destrehan, Louisiana. In all the action, and even in the middle of nowhere, the wannabe Crocodile Dundee still manages to make the winning bid on an auction for an airbrushed lunchbox with a thermos — because, let’s face it everybody — we all need a thermos, and I’m sure winning one would be the first thing on everyone’s mind when they’re rasslin’ a 14-foot croc.

Anyhoo, the video is cute. If you have 30 seconds, check it out below:

We’ve seen some pretty inventive ways to test the durability of an electronic device before, but this takes the cake. Leave it to a group of zany Europeans with an abundance of idle time and a Sony Ericsson Xperia Active in-hand to take endurance tests to the next level. In this trio of videos below, you’ll see the Active get skipped across a rain puddle like a rock, brutally attacked with nearly every tool in the garage, and ran over by a freakin’ Jeep Wrangler — and come out with next to nothing for war wounds. At the end of the day, it took about  20 whacks with a wrench just to leave a mark on the screen.

We warn you, what you are about to see is very graphic. Do not view these videos if the sight of cell phone abuse disturbs you:

Water Test:

YouTube link for mobile viewing

Tool Test:

YouTube link for mobile viewing

Jeep Wrangler Test:

YouTube link for mobile viewing

How’s that for toughness? Talk about take a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’!

Source: crimi8787 on YouTube; via: SE-nse, Android Central

Hey, all you Verizon Galaxy Nexus owners. If you’re even remotely interested in the CyanogenMOD 9 project for your phone, which I’m sure more than a few of you are, you might want to direct your attention to the video clip that’s making rounds across the Internet today. In this quick, 1-minute clip from gsarrica, you can clearly see the toggle in action, switching the device between 4G LTE mode and 3G mode, using a notification bar-integrated toggle. Gsarrica states in the description of the video that the toggle is “hopefully coming soon to a build near you”.

With the Android source code being picked apart by the CyanogenMOD team, it’s starting to look like nightly builds will be popping up for a handful of devices, hopefully within the next month or so. Of course, we all know the first rule of CyanogenMOD — do not ask about ETA’s, so it looks like we’ll be waiting in anticipation with the rest of the free world. If you’ve got a minute to spare (55-seconds, to be exact), check out the video below. Just one more reason why CyanogenMOD is the best thing to happen to Android since Android itself.

Source: Engadget Mobile

The long-awaited Samsung Galaxy Nexus is upon us finally, and I was lucky enough to get up close and personal with the device. The phone is pure awesomeness. It’s so fast and fluid, and fluid being the best thing about it. No lag between transitions or apps, which of course is to do with Android’s latest creation,Ice Cream Sandwich.

Now in my review, I am running the Nova Launcher, which is an ICS launcher with a little more features. It runs like a champ on the Galaxy Nexus. No lag, and having the added features just makes the phone even better if that is possible. Only thing that I do not like about the stock ICS launcher which I have written about, is the way you have to put a widget on one of your home screens. It is not a big complaint, just one of the features did not tickle me. This device is running the Android 4.0.2 update, as well as its got the extended 2100 mah battery inside it. Hardly a noticeable difference in thickness to the stock battery.

Gameplay is great, I show the opening animation sequence to Asphalt 6 HD, and play a little Flick Golf which is super addicting by the way. Video play is sharp. One thing I do mention is that the screen is 720×1280 but when you are in your browser or certain apps, the screen is 720×1184. This is just do to the virtual buttons that are actually part of the screen which I thought was cool feature.

Camera is lightning fast. As soon as you hit the button it takes a picture. Definitely the WOW factor right there, and there is also the panoramic feature to the camera as well. Camera takes 1080p video which looks sharp, and I did not try out the time-lapse feature because I thought it would take to long.

So there is really nothing bad to say about the camera or the phone in general. So check out my video review of the Galaxy Nexus. I try not to sound to boring in it and add a little bit of the entertainment factor to it, so please enjoy.

Lets face it, the Galaxy Nexus with all that magnificent hardware, rocking the great Ice Cream Sandwich OS, and bringing you the data from sky at 4G LTE speeds; it is going to suck the life out of the battery. Even though it will be sporting a 1850mah battery, getting a little more juice will go a long way. Well thankfully there is an extended battery that will not make the Galaxy Nexus have much of a hump back. This extended battery extends the power to a whopping  2100mah! Yeah that is not much more power, but every little bit helps. At least there is not a noticeable difference in the size of the Galaxy Nexus with the new battery, to without the extended battery. Check out Mr. Blurrycam’s video and judge for yourself. If you are getting a Galaxy Nexus, will you get this extended battery?

We have all been there. We rock our pure awesome Android phones, and we got those friends that cannot seem to cut the umbilical cord from iPhone. No matter what knowledge you throw in their face, they will still back up the iPhone with its very basic setup. All we can do is say “whatever” and continue playing with our phones that are leaving iPhones its tracks.

Now if only we could battle it out with those “iPhonys” like the video below.  Two friends battling out, in classic video game fashion, comparing the iPhone 4s’ camera to HTC Amaze’s camera. Let’s face it, the iPhone 4s’ camera cannot hold up with the Amaze’s camera. With features like BurstShot, SmartShot panorama and SweepShot, it is easy to say who will win this battle. Check out the video below for the action and victory of the HTC Amaze.