Today’s mobile roundup features Google’s plan on selling their own tablet, Apple’s $15 refund for the iPhone 4 antennagate, and more.

The Google Tablet

There are a lot of OEMs running on Google’s Android platform.  Google doesn’t really get paid for this, but they get their revenue through ads.  So instead of always being a platform for OEM devices forever, Google plans to sell their very own tablet.  Well, not entirely their own–it will be branded as Google but the hardware will likely come from Samsung and Asus.

According to some sources, Google will sell their tablets in stores much like Apple’s and Amazon have done.  Google wants to boost the sales of Android-powered tablets, and they think that by creating their own, it would shake things up a bit.  But if they don’t fix the fragmented release of Android updates, no matter how many devices they come up with, they will never be able to dominate the mobile market.

T-Mobile explains Android 4.0 delay

Speaking of fragmented rollouts, T-Mobile addressed their impatient HTC consumers as to why it’s taken so long for Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich hit their devices.  The HTC Sensation 4G is supposed to get the update today.  From T-Mobile:

“HTC has delivered a ROM to us however it is still having issues the reason that other sensation types have the update without issue and ours did not come out that way is because every ROM must be adapted to the hardware of the device because we use a different radio than other providers and also have applications such as wifi calling it also has to be compatible with those. What the HTC rep told you is most likely correct because once a ROM is delivered we have 2 weeks to test it and then approve it or send it back they then have 4 weeks to fix the bugs and return it back to us, where we are exactly in that process I do not know but that is how a ROM is delivered to the customer.

The original ROM was not delivered to us in November, we started testing it just recently but I think it has been longer than 2 weeks so at this point HTC most likely has the ball.

You bought a phone and it has been announced that you are getting ICS you have every right to know what’s going on with it and when you can see these awesome features. I did go into a lot of detail about how a ROM gets to the end user (you guys) but that wasn’t to point fingers only so you would have a better understanding of why you don’t have it yet, the bottom line is the Sensation has T-Mobile’s and HTC’s name all over it and both companies want to make you proud to be a Sensation owner so we are working as fast as we can to deliver it but also want to make sure that it stands up to your expectations.”

There’s another thing that’s starting to irritate T-Mobile customers: mobile ads.  T-Mobile began pushing advertisements to customers through the Android notification bar on their phones.  They’re the first carrier to deploy such obtrusive ads to consumers and it’s doubtful that people see this as something positive for the company.  But not all T-Mobile subscribers will be plagued by these ads.  Only branded services such as the T-Mobile VIP Zone have been invaded.  And if you’ve recently updated your T-Mobile app, you’ve probably seen the ads already.

$15 settlement for the iPhone 4 antennagate

In February, Apple finally settled the iPhone 4 antennagate class action lawsuit filed against them in 2010.  And now, the settlement site is up–those who bought an iPhone 4 before February 17th of this year can get the $15 settlement fee.  But consumers can still choose the bumper case instead, which claims to fix the antennagate issue.

In order to be eligible for the cash payment, “you must have: (a) experienced antenna or reception issues; (b) been unable to return your iPhone 4 without incurring any costs; (c) been unwilling to use a case or free bumper for your iPhone 4; and (d) completed certain troubleshooting steps or are unable to complete the troubleshooting steps because you no longer own your iPhone,” as stated in the Apple settlement site.

Eligible consumers should fill out an online form before August 30 of this year.
Before you go bragging to the entire world about the refund, getting the $15 isn’t that easy as it could still take months or even up to a year to receive payment.  This coming July, Apple might appeal the case.  So don’t get too ahead of yourselves.