According to a recent article over at nexus404.com by Robert Nelson, both the Optimus Pro and Optimus Net handsets will be heading to 30 different markets beginning with Europe and although we don’t know specific release dates at this stage, we do know that both phones should be available to purchase as from sometime this summer.

Both handsets are powered by an 800MHz processor, run on Google’s Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system and feature a 1500mAh battery. The LG Optimus Pro, which is being described as a ‘simple social networking’ handset,’ comes with a 2.8-inch touch screen display and a 4-row physical QWERTY keyboard, and will be available in white, black and titan.

The LG Optimus Net – dubbed as ‘the next generation of social communication’ – on the other hand comes with a 3.2-inch HVGA touch screen display with a resolution of 320 x 480. The ‘social communication’ part comes in the form of LG Social + integration, which enables users to read their friends’ social media feeds and update their Facebook / Twitter statuses on the same screen.

The specs for the Optimus Net handset are said to vary from market to market. In Europe for example, some of the carrier branded devices will come with Near Field Communication (NFC). In Asia, China, Brazil and the CIS region, the LG Optimus Net will ship as a dual-SIM handset. The Optimus Net will be available in both black and white.

As noted over on the smartphone.biz-news.com website, the LG Optimus Pro – which is priced up at around €170 – also comes with 512MB of RAM, a 3-megapixel camera, GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and 3G HSDPA connectivity and 150MB of storage. If however you find that 150MB just isn’t enough, then the storage can be expanded via a micsoSDHC memory card.

The Optimus Net also features a 3-megapixel camera, a microUSB port for connecting it to a PC and a 3.5mm jack connector. The Optimus Net comes with a 2GB microSD card and a price tag of around €200. Do you like the sound of either of these LG handsets?

As noted over on the prnewswire.com website, FunChat combines multiplayer HTML5 gaming, chat, pranking, rewards and achievements and the FunGold virtual currency into one simple app, which enables iPhone, iPod Touch and Android users to chat and play together in real-time.

The FunChat app comes with the ‘Chattitude’ feature, which enables users to personalize their chat experience with distinctive chat bubbles, neo-anime avatars and a variety of virtual goods to suit every mood, occasion and personality. Users can either chat with friends in private, or in a public party room.

FunChat features a wide variety of multiplayer arcade games such as carnival duck shooting, match-3, racing, concentration and many more. It also comes with the world’s first mobile pranking engine, with pranks ranging from rubber ducks and angry pigs to Bronx cheers and wolf whistles.

The FunChat application is available to download for free now from both the Apple App Store and the Android Market. Do you like the idea of the FunChat app?

However, according to a recent article over at wirelessgoodness.com, the Vizio VTab Android tablet – also known by the model number VTAB1008 – has recently hit the FCC and won approval for its Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities, which of course means that the US release date is imminent.

The VTab is said to feature an 8-inch LCD display, which as we previously mentioned supports a resolution of 1024 x 768, a 1GHz Plus processor and 4GB of internal storage. The FCC’s test reports also confirm that the upcoming tablet will come with a microSD card slot, HDMI out and USB ports.

Although we haven’t had any confirmation on a price for the Vizio VTAB1008 tablet as of yet, Engadget did spot the device in Walmart’s inventory system earlier this week for $349. We don’t know what Android version it will be running either. Would you pay $349 for the Vizio VTab Android tablet?

According to a recent article by Vlad Bobleanta over at unwiredview.com, the Rogers handset has been given the long winded name of the Samsung Galaxy S Infuse 4G. It looks as though it’s the same handset that AT&T sells in the US, meaning that it comes with a 1.2GHz processor under its hood.

For those that may need reminding, the Infuse 4G’s specs include a 4.5-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touch screen display with Gorilla Glass and a resolution of 480 x 800, 16GB of internal memory, a microSD card slot, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, GPS and a 1750mAh battery.

The handset comes with a 1.3-meapixel front-facing camera for video calls and an 8-megapixel camera with LED flash and 720 video capture round the back. The AT&T Samsung Infuse 4G smartphone runs the Android 2.2 Froyo OS, so we’re not sure whether the Canadian version will run the same.

Are you thinking about buying the Samsung Infuse 4G?

As you can probably guess by the title, the ‘Mine and Dine’ update will see the Angry Birds take the war against the pigs underground. According to Thomas Sharp over at gadgetsandgizmos.org, just like with other themed Angry Birds levels, the new update will feature new props and costumes.

Not only will some of the pigs come equipped with pickaxes and miners’ helmets, but the level will also feature wooden beams, loose boulders and the usual obstacles that players have to bash their way through. The teaser trailer (which can be seen below this post) also shows new objects such as jewels.

One scene shows a red jewel hanging in a box, which could well mean that players might get extra points for smashing the jewels. The upcoming update will be free to existing Angry Birds owners; while new players will be required to pay 59p for the ‘Mine and Dine’ update on iOS devices.

Rovio’s Twitter post said that the update has already been submitted to the Apple App Store for approval, so it should be arriving very soon. What do you think of the new update judging by the teaser trailer?

As Lance Whitney over on the cnet.com website recently noted, the ViewSonic ViewBook 730 tablet comes with a 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor under its hood, runs Google’s Android 2.2 Froyo OS and features a 7-inch LCD, LED-backlit touch-screen display with a resolution of 800 x 480.

Although the ViewBook 730 only comes with 8GB of memory, it can be expanded by another 32GB via the microSD card slot. The upcoming tablet also includes a mini HDMI port, support for Flash 10.1, a mini-USB port, Bluetooth 2.1 and Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g) connectivity and an integrated VGA webcam.

The ViewBook 730 tablet also features ViewSonic’s AirSync technology, which enables the device to automatically receive over-the-air software updates and improvements as they become available, and a battery life of around eight to ten hours on a single charge.

ViewSonic has also installed certain applications from the word go, including Amazon’s MP3 music downloader, MediaFly, YouTube, Twitter and Amazon’s Kindle e-reader. As for the tablet’s price and launch date, the ViewBook 730 will be available sometime in late June for $250.

Are you interested in the ViewSonic ViewBook 730 Android tablet?

As noted by Phil Nickinson over on the androidcentral.com website, the Motorola XPRT – which runs on Android 2.2 Froyo operating system and comes with 3G Mobile Hotspot capability that supports up to 5 Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously – is available for $129 on contract.

The Motorola XPRT smartphone not only provides users with access to more than 150,000 applications, games and widgets via the Android Market, but it also gives them access to a number of Google mobile services such as Google Talk, YouTube, Gmail and Google Maps with Navigation.

Other features include an 1860 mAh Lithium-ion battery, which according to the specs page over at gsmarena.com provides up to 9 hours of talk time and up to 380 hours of standby time, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n), a 5-megapixel camera with dual LED flash and a microSD card slot with a 2GB card included.

Are you thinking about buying a new smartphone? If so, would you buy the Motorola XPRT?

According to a recent tcmagazine.com article by Cristian, the 10.1-inch Thrive is expected to be launched on July 10th, although the tablet will be available for pre-order as soon as June 13th. The Toshiba Thrive tablet will be available in 8GB, 16GB and 32GB models, priced up at $429, $479 and $579 respectively.

The Toshiba Thrive is powered by an NIVIDA Tegra 2 processor, runs the Android 3.1 Honeycomb operating system, and comes with a 10.1-inch, 1280 x 800 resolution multi-touch screen that’s enhanced with Resolution Plus technology and a user replaceable battery, which is able to be charged in 1.5 hours.

It also comes with a non-slip Easy Grip interchangeable backplate, a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera that enables 720p video capture, a 2MP front-facing camera, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, an SD card slot, mini USB, full size USB 2.0 ports, an HDMI output, an ambient light sensor and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

Will you be pre-ordering the Toshiba Thrive tablet?

As Kate Solomon over at techradar.com recently noted, T-Mobile UK will be offering the Motorola Atrix smartphone for free, but only if you sign up to a £35.75 a month two-year contract. This will provide you with a 500MB date allowance, 500 text messages and 900 minutes.

If you don’t mind upping your monthly payment to £40.85 (or above) per month for a period of 24 months, you can pick up the ‘Work and Play’ kit. This will provide you with the Motorola HD media dock with an HDMI port and 3 USB ports, plus a mouse, a keyboard and a remote control.

The ‘Work and Play’ kit costs £129 when purchased separately. The higher priced contract will give you a 500MB data allowance, 1200 minutes and 500 texts per month. T-Mobile will also be stocking the Lapdock for £299. The lapdock comes with an 11.6-inch screen and around eight hours battery life.

Are you thinking of buying the Motorola Atrix smartphone?

What we couldn’t provide you with at the time was details on a launch date for the United States. That’s all about to change however as according to a recent article by Nick T over at phonearena.com, the US release date has now been confirmed and you don’t have to wait very long either.

The good news is that the Wi-Fi-only version of the Android-based Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet is scheduled to launch in the US on June 8th. However, the bad news is that the tablet’s availability will be limited, and the device will only be available to purchase from Best Buy Union Square in NYC.

Those of you that want to buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet but don’t live near the aforementioned Best Buy store will unfortunately have to wait until June 17th to get their hands on the device. This is when the tablet will become available nationwide both in store and online.

As for pricing of the tablet, the 16GB variant will set you back $499, while the 32GB model will cost you $599. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 has a 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor under its hood, runs the Android 3.1 Honeycomb OS (not 3.0 as previously mentioned), a 3MP rear camera and a 2MP front-facing camera.

Will you be buying the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet PC?