VZW Confirms March 17th As HTC Thunderbolt Launch Date

Looks like we finally have a launch date for the HTC Thunderbolt, branded by Verizon. So St Patricks day we can wear our green shirts, and pinch ourselves to make sure we’re not dreaming when we see the long awaitied Thunderbolt on display at the nearest Verizon Wireless retailer.

This phone has been highly anticipated since announced at CES 2011. This is Verizon’s first LTE device, and will be powered by Android-2.2, with 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 8GB onboard memory, 4.3” WVGA display, 8-megapixel rear facing camera.

Take note of the past few tweets this morning from @VerizonWireless.

So get out there, get your hands on the new Thunderbolt! Press Release after the break:

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Verizon Wireless and HTC today announced that the ThunderBolt by HTC, exclusively from Verizon Wireless, is available on March 17 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com for $249.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.
Powered by Android™ 2.2, the ThunderBolt by HTC is the first smartphone to take advantage of Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network. The ThunderBolt by HTC features the latest version of the HTC Sense™ experience, which offers enhancements including new personalization options, a consolidated e-mail inbox, and unique camera effects and filters. The ThunderBolt by HTC is equipped with support for Google Mobile Services, including Gmail™, YouTube™ and Android Market™ with thousands of free apps. Additionally, the ThunderBolt by HTC will feature 4G LTE optimized apps such as EA’s Rock Band, Gameloft’s Let’s Golf, Tunewiki and Bitbop.
Additional features:

• 4G LTE – customers can expect download speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G Mobile Broadband coverage area
• 4.3” WVGA display
• 8-megapixel rear facing camera and HD (720p) video recording
• 1.3-megapixel front facing camera with video chatting capabilities
• Newest generation of the 1GHz Snapdragon processor
• Mobile Hotspot capability – share 4G connection with up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices
• 8 GB of onboard memory and a pre-installed 32 GB microSD card (Actual formatted capacity will be less)
• Built-in kickstand for easy media viewing

With the ThunderBolt by HTC, customers will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan and a 4G LTE data package. Nationwide Talk plans begin at $39.99 monthly access and an unlimited 4G LTE data plan start is $29.99 monthly access. Mobile Hotspot allows users to connect up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices to the nation’s fastest wireless network via an application available on the ThunderBolt by HTC.
Mobile Hotspot will be included through May 15 for no additional charge. After May 15, customers may choose to activate Mobile Hotspot for $20 for 2 GB of data per month. Customers can track their data usage by downloading the My Verizon app available in Android Market or by logging on to their My Verizon accounts online at www.verizonwireless.com/myverizon

HTC, DELL, ACER AND TOSHIBA ANDROID 3.0 HONEYCOMB TABLETS IN JUNE

Dates and prices for a bevy of new Android tablets have been leaked from an unnamed US retailer. PreCentral is only really interested in the HP Touchpad and a new 7-inch webOS tablet, the HP Opal, but also in the line-up are 10-inch slates from HTC, Dell, Acer and Toshiba, all due in June 2011.

There’s also a 7-inch Acer running Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and expected to launch in April for $399. The remainder get Android 3.0 Honeycomb, with the HTC unpriced but Dell’s 10-inch model expected to be $499, Acer’s to be $449 and Toshiba’s to be $499.

The two Acer models are likely to be the Iconia Tab A100 and Iconia Tab A500, which we played with back at MWC 2011 in February. HTC has been tipped to be readying a 10-inch model for some time now, launching with Honeycomb out of the gate rather than Gingerbread like the HTC Flyer.

First look at the HTC Thunderbolt

We've seen a number of leaks of the HTC Thunderbolt leading up to CES 2011. But to hold the Verizon 4G LTE phone in your hand certainly is electric. <Ducks!> Seriously, though. HTC knows how to make smartphones. Verizon knows how to serve up the high-speed data. And combine them in this 4.3-inch, 1GHz Sense device (and the new Sense, too!), and we've got one powerful beast.

You get Wireless hotspot. You get the Skype video chat. You get games. You get Android 2.2 with a promise to upgrade to Android 2.3.

HTC Thunderbolt Video:

HTC says Thunderbolt will be announced 'soon'

HTC threw out a piece of HTC Thunderbolt news, to let us all know another piece of HTC Thunderbolt news is coming "soon".  On their Facebook page, they have this to say:

There is a lot of excitement about the first Verizon LTE device, the HTC ThunderBolt. HTC and Verizon will officially and publicly announce the Thunderbolt launch dates soon. Please stay tuned for the debut of this great new device.

So yeah, it is just a nice way of letting us know there's more waiting to be done. Stay updated for more Thunderbolt news!

HTC Evo Shift 4G now supported by ClockworkMod recovery and Rom Manager

If you've rooted your HTC Evo Shift 4G, you now have the option of using ClockworkMod recovery, as well as it's simple front-end Rom Manager.  With the release of version 3.0.1.4, ClockworkMod recovery now fully supports all the Shift 4G's partitions, and even backs up your WiMax keys. 

Getting it all set up is pretty easy -- first you'll need to root your Shift 4G, then hit the Android Market and install Rom Manager.  When you open the Rom Manager app, you will be prompted to update/install the latest ClockworkMod recovery for your device.  That's it, you're now set up and ready to run a backup and flash custom ROMs and hacks to your Shift 4G, and have an easy restore path using the backup you've made.  All without tethering your phone to a computer.