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Report: Project Glass won’t be as robust as promo video shows

All of the cool things Google showed in its initial Project Glass promo video may not be what we get in final product form. The “terminator style overlay,” as CNet puts it, won’t be present in the first batches of the product. They report that bits of information will only be displayed just above your level field of view on the right side. That would solve the “walking into a deathtrap” scenario that people initially feared, but it makes it sound as if Google Goggles will be a lot less cool than initially imagined.

Of course, the project is still in prototype stages so we can’t be for sure that this will end up being the case once it hits store shelves. We saw that gestures worked at a basic level, however, as engineer Sebastion Thrun demonstrated an ability to take a picture and upload it to Google+ with nothing but head movement.

It’s not appropriate to pass anything off with 100% certainty at this point, but CNet indicated that whatever they saw would appear to be whatever we’ll get once it’s all said and done. We won’t know until it’s out, though, so don’t fret too much if you grew attached to that initial vision. Watch that initial vision in the YouTube embed above.

New T-Mobile devices added to Samsung’s Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade list

Samsung’s finally added the initial list of devices that will receive the upgrade to Android 4.0 on T-Mobile. The Samsung Galaxy S II was an obvious shoe-in, and the Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G makes a surprise appearance on this list. We’ve also got a couple of tablets in the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. Of course, neither parties are ready to disclose a rollout date but knowing that it’s coming is half the battle. Unless something drastic changes, users of these devices can rest easy. [Samsung, thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

LG Optimus Elite now available on Virgin Mobile $150

Virgin Mobile has today released the LG Optimus Elite. A phone originally launched for Sprint, it was only natural that a variant of it made its way to its pre-paid underling carrier. The $150 off-contract device will provide you with a 3.5 inch display, NFC and Google Wallet, Android 2.3, an 800MHz processor and a 5 megapixel rear camera with flash. Plans for the device start at just $35 for 300 minutes of voice and unlimited data + text messaging. Head to your local mobile retail store today or go online to order one. Read on for full press details.

WARREN, N.J. & SAN DIEGO (BUSINESS WIRE), May 15, 2012 – Virgin Mobile USA answers to A Higher Calling™ once again, announcing with LG Mobile the availability today of LG Optimus Elite™ in Titan Silver for $149.99. The device operates on Virgin Mobile’s industry-leading, no-contract Beyond Talk plans with unlimited data and messaging starting at $35 a month. Stylish and slim, LG Optimus Elite comes with Google Wallet™ and is now available at virginmobileusa.com and major retailers nationwide.

LG Optimus EliteTM Makes its Way to Virgin Mobile USA on May 15. http://www.virginmobileusa.com (Photo: Business Wire)

A successor to the popular LG Optimus V™, this highly customizable full-featured smartphone keeps customers organized with Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and other key features, including a 3.5-inch HVGA screen, 800MHz processor, 5MP autofocus rear-facing camera and camcorder with flash, and a virtual QWERTY keyboard.

A first for Virgin Mobile USA devices, LG Optimus Elite comes with Near Field Communications (NFC), allowing customers to access true value features, such as Google Wallet^TM, an app that allows payment using a mobile device from participating retailers at select Macy’s, RadioShack, Walgreens, Gap and more.

"Our customers fell in love with the LG Optimus V™, so bringing another great device to our lineup of Android™-powered devices from the Optimus family goes right along with our promise of A Higher Calling™," said Jeff Auman, vice president for Virgin Mobile USA. "LG Optimus Elite offers full integration of social networking apps, Microsoft Outlook Exchange email, and advanced messaging capabilities. Combined with our awesome Beyond Talk monthly unlimited data plans, customers can realize true savings with no contract and no surprises."

Operating on the Sprint Nationwide Network¹, Virgin Mobile USA offers tremendous value for those customers who text, IM, post, email, friend, like and tweet more than they talk. Virgin Mobile Beyond Talk plans start at just $35 a month for 300 minutes of voice and include unlimited messaging and data. For those looking for a bit more talk time, the $45 plan offers 1,200 minutes of voice, and the $55 plan offers unlimited voice minutes each month. All plans include unlimited messaging and data (plans include 2.5GB of full-speed data).

"LG Mobile strives to provide the best technologies and services that are not only extremely useful, but also accessible to everyone," said Tim O’Brien, vice president of marketing for LG Mobile. "The LG Optimus Elite not only has amazing features, but with add-ons such as Google Wallet, Box and Virgin Mobile’s affordable monthly plan, consumers will be getting a great smartphone with incredible value."

Customers can also download Box on LG Optimus Elite and receive 50GB of free cloud storage and sharing² directly from LG, an estimated value of $240 per year, so they don’t have to stress about storing all of their favorite music, files, photos and other memories.

About Virgin Mobile USA

Virgin Mobile USA, one of Sprint’s prepaid brands, offers millions of customers control, flexibility and connectivity through Virgin Mobile Beyond Talk™ no-contract plans with unlimited data for mobile phone service, including Android-powered smartphones and prepaid Broadband2Go high-speed Web access on the Nationwide Sprint Network. Virgin Mobile-branded devices are available at more than 40,000 retail stores, including Target, Walmart, Best Buy and RadioShack. Top-Up cards are available at approximately 150,000 locations nationwide and can be used for Broadband2Go services. Experience Virgin Mobile on the Web atFacebook, Twitter, You Tube and purchase Virgin Mobile USA products at www.virginmobileusa.com.

About LG Electronics, Inc.

LG Electronics, Inc. (KSE: 066570.KS) is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, mobile communications and home appliances. With 117 operations around the world, LG achieved global sales of USD 49 billion (KRW 54.26 trillion) in 2011. LG is comprised of four business units - Home Entertainment, Mobile Communications, Home Appliance, and Air Conditioning & Energy Solutions - and is one of the world’s leading producers of flat panel TVs, mobile devices, air conditioners, washing machines and refrigerators. For more news and information on LG Electronics, please visit www.LGnewsroom.com.

About LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company

The LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company is a global leader and innovator in mobile communications. With its breakthrough technologies and innovative designs, LG continues to establish a number of benchmarks in the smartphone market, while also helping create a better lifestyle for consumers by delivering a wholly enhanced smartphone experience. As a leader in 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology, LG continues its commitment to developing groundbreaking LTE technologies and fulfilling consumer demands with differentiated LTE devices of the highest quality, all of which are based on the company’s wealth of LTE patents and technical knowledge. For more information, please visit www.lg.com.

Google, Android, and Google Play are trademarks of Google, Inc.

¹ Virgin Mobile customers have access to the Nationwide Sprint Network which reaches more than 280 million people for voice services and 276 million people for 3G data services.

Baton Rouge, LA seeing AT&T 4G LTE?

AT&T confirmed this past weekend that Baton Rouge would be getting 4G LTE, but didn’t bother to offer a time frame other than “soon.” We’ve gotten a couple of independent reports that the network is live today, though we haven’t been able to find much more than that. It’s strange that AT&T would launch the network in that market without an announcement so we assume they’re just testing the network and allowing anyone who notices to hop on.

It’s not unlike what usually happens with Verizon’s rollouts as users sometimes report coverage up to a week in advance of Verizon’s official launch date. There are quite a few of you with AT&T LTE phones now so if you’re in the Baton Rouge area and you have a phone that can take advantage of LTE, be sure to check to see if you can connect. Let us know in the comments section below if you can or can’t. [Thanks Spoosh!]

Twitter for Android updated to address key bugs

Those who haven’t completely abandoned the official Twitter client for greener pastures will be happy to know a new bug-fixing update has hit the Google Play Store. Alongside the usual round of bug fixes and under-the-hood enhancements that seem to be obligatory in every update, we know that they have fixed a bug causing profile images not to load on Eclair devices, a fix for top tweets appearing out of order in the Search and Discovery views,  and a fix for sync settings. Grab the small (but relatively big) update in the Google Play Store.