HTC's monstrous 4.7 inch, Beats filled Sensation XL has made it's debut today in the UK, in both subsidised and sim free fashion. 

Available on contract from Three, the phone will be available for free with a new two-year, £40 per month contract which includes all you can eat data. For those of you who fancy some Beats action but not the contract, Clove are also offering the device from today sim free and unlocked for £486. 

The XL comes out of the box running Android 2.3.5, Sense 3.5 and packs a 1.5Ghz CPU. But don't forget about the Beats though, and those Beats headphones. Check out our hands on with the device at its launch in London at the link below. 

Source: Three UK, Clove

More: Hands on with the HTC Sensation XL

Now that all of us HTC ThunderBolt users have a few days of official (and theoretically unborked) Gingerbreads under our belts, it's time to check in on the state of the union. How're things going? Everything fixed that was supposed to be fixed? Are rainbows shooting out of your headphone jack?

Let us know in the commentes, and be sure to hit up the forums, where we're talking life post-GB.

More in the ThunderBolt forums

If you use Google Reader to make all your RSS feeds a little more sane organized, be ready for a pleasant surprise.  Google has begun the rollout of the new look and feel for the reader website, and everyone should expect it by this evening.  Go on and hit F5 for a while, we'll wait (have to admit, I did just that).  The new look lines up with the rest of the updated Google service websites, including the black omnimagicbar across the top and your Google+ notifications baked right in to the upper left corner.

Speaking of Google+ and integration, the new Reader allows you to +1 and share stories right from the stream.  This is an easy way to share with friends, and should work much better than the previous friending, following, sharing, and comments methods, which have been removed in favor of the new integration.

It works the same as the +1 button does anywhere -- click it, and you're given the option to share it on Google+.  Type in your message, and the magic happens.

We're big users of both Google Reader and Google+ around these parts, and we're excited about the new look and the new + integration, but the last little tidbit Alan Green (Google software engineer) threw out on the official announcement is the best of them all -- expect a new Android app shortly.  Sweet.

Source: Google Reader blog

Samsung recently gave more details on the availability of the Galaxy Note across Europe. The device launched over the weekend in Germany, and will roll out across the UK and mainland Europe between now and Nov. 25 on a variety of carriers.

Here's your country-by-country breakdown:

• Germany (out now) - Vodafone, DT, O2
• Netherlands (Nov. 1) - KPN, Vodafone
• Belgium (Nov. 1) - KPN, Vodafone
• United Kingdom (Nov. 2) - Carphone Warehouse, Phones4U, O2
• France (Nov. 2) - SFR, TPH
• Poland (Nov. 4) - Plus, Mediamarkt
• Hungary (Nov. 4) - Panon
• Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia (Nov. 5) - Swisscom, MOT, Three, Mobitel, SIM-free
• Spain (Nov. 7) - Telefonica, Vodafone, Orange
• Italy (Nov. 10) - Vodafone, Three, TIM
• Portugal (Nov. 10) - Fnac, Worten, TPH, TMN
• Greece (Nov. 11) - Cosmote, Vodafone, Wind, SIM-free
• Romania, Bulgaria (Nov. 14) - Vodafone, M-Tel, Globul, Vivacom, SIM-free
• Lithuania (Nov. 14) - Omnitel, LMT, EMT
• Finland, Denmark, Sweden (Nov. 22) - Telia, Telenor, TPH, Elkjop, DNA
• Croatia, Serbia (Nov. 23) - Telenor, VIP, TOP
• Czec Republic (Nov. 25) - XSK, VDF, XEZ, ORS

Check out our hands-on feature for more Galaxy Note-based goodness.

Having been previously announced as arriving 'in time for the holidays', T-Mobile has now given more firm dates for the T-Mobile myTouch and myTouch Q availablity. Planned roll-out will start happening on the T-Mobile website come Nov. 2, with Nationwide availability happening on November 9th,  No matter which device you pick, each will cost $79.99 after a $50 mail-in-rebate, with a two-year service agreement and qualifying classic voice and data plan. Shared specs include Android 2.3, a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 5MP camera with 720p video.

Source: T-Mobile Facebook

British network Three has announced that it's now stocking the Samsung Galaxy W, Sammy's latest mid-range offering, with a 1.4 GHz chip and a 3.7-inch Super LCD display. On the software side of things, you've got Android 2.3 Gingerbread, along with Samsung's TouchWiz 4.0 UX.

Three customers can pick up the Galaxy W for free on 24-month contracts of £22 or more per month, or on Pay As You Go for £249.99 (~£400) up-front.

Source: Three UK

Youtube link for mobile viewing

So here's our first look the HTC Rezound -- aka the HTC Vigor -- on Verizon, which we're fully expecting to see officially unveiled Thursday in New York. (We'll be there, by the way.) JohnBoy shows us what we pretty much expected -- it's an HTC device with a fairly cool looking battery cover, Android 2.3.4, Sense 3.5, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 8MP rear camera, 2MP front-facing camera, 1GB of RAM, Wifi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 3.0.

The differentiator here, of course, is that it's a Beats Audio device, so you'll be able to rock out on that sweet ELO or whatever it is the kids are listening to these days.

Source: Droid Forums; via HTC Rezound forums

The long wait is finally, almost, at an end for users of LG's Optimus line as they have today released details of the European rollout of their much awaited Gingerbread update for the "three premium smartphones" in the lineup.

It's important to remember that the dates provided by LG, refer specifically to unlocked, unbranded versions of the devices. Those bought from carriers may have to wait a little while longer. The good news though, is that for the Optimus 2X, the update starts from November 1. The Optimus 3D, and the Optimus Black will follow shortly after, followed by a global rollout. No specific dates have been provided though for outside of Europe. 

The dates are:

• LG Optimus 2X - From Nov. 1 for open models in Europe
• LG Optimus 3D - From week commencing21st Nov. 21 for open models in Europe
• LG Optimus Black - From week commencing Nov. 28 for open models in Europe

Thanks powerbart!

More: LG Facebook page

Yet another chapter in the Ice Cream Sandwich update saga seems to be causing some outcry in the community, this time surrounding LG. As it stands, LG are keeping their cards close to their chest regarding updating their phones to Android 4.0, but a recent comment on their Indian Facebook page sent owners into a frenzy. 

It all surrounds a question posted by an Optimus 2X owner, enquiring as to whether or not his beloved phone would be receiving an official update to Ice Cream Sandwich. LG's response wasn't exactly what he was hoping to hear...

So a couple of weeks ago, a part of LG was saying that their dual-core, Tegra 2 flagship device launched less than 12 months ago would not be updating to Ice Cream Sandwich. For those not familiar with the Optimus 2X, the phone is currently, officially at least, languishing way back on Froyo. 

As we learn though, we shouldn't immediately all jump onto a bandwagon. All smartphone manufacturers have a dose of 'foot in mouth' from time to time, and LG is no exception. Since this got out, the company has responded.

They're now claiming that both the Optimus 2X and the G2X are being tested for an Ice Cream Sandwich update and that as yet no decision has been made. The decision they say will ultimately rest on the devices capability to handle 4.0, and whether the user experience will be a good one or not. 

Owners of both devices have every right to be sceptical, I own an Optimus 2X and I'm in the same position. For there to have been no official Gingerbread update leaves a sour taste, and rightly doubts over whether or not we will be treated to Ice Cream Sandwich. But until announced otherwise, we just need to ride it out and hope LG is going to be good to us. 

Source: Android and Me