Sony Ericsson has unveiled the latest addition to its 2011 Xperia line -- the Xperia Arc S, which builds on its previous flagship device by bumping its CPU speed from 1.0 to 1.4 GHz, a change SE says will deliver "up to 25% faster" entertainment experiences. The Arc S includes the same 8.1-megapixel Exmor R camera sensor found in the original Arc, and thanks to a software upgrade, the new model will also support 3D sweep panorama recording out of the box.

Design-wise, it's the same slim Xperia Arc chassis we all know and love, available in a variety of colors, including "Pure White, Midnight Blue, Misty Silver, Gloss Black and Sakura Pink". Like its predecessor, the Arc S also runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread on top of which sits Sony Ericsson's custom UX.

The Xperia Arc's sleek design and high-performance camera made it one of our favorite phones of the year so far, and we look forward to getting our hands on the re-vamped model when it's available this October. Join us after the jump for the full specs, along with today's press release in.

Now this is interesting. The Droid Bionic has finally gone up on Verizon's Droid Does page, and there's some hidden material waiting to be unlocked. And who has the codes? A few of your favorite blogs. Along with Boing Boing, BGR and Joystiq, we've been tasked with helping unlocked whatever VZW's got cooped up behind there.

Looks like we've at least got some video waiting for us all. And don't worry, we'll get to work on this soon enough.

More: Droid Bionic forums

Just as Motorola Droid 2 owners in the US are eagerly awaiting their Gingerbread update, users of its international equivilent, the Milestone 2, received some welcome news from Motorola Europe today. Moto Europe reports on its Facebook page that the Milestone 2 will receive an official bump up to Android 2.3 Gingerbread during 'early Q4'. So, sometime in the next couple of months, with any luck.

It's a definite improvement over the situation with the original Milestone, which languished on Eclair until mid-March. Our fingers are crossed for you, Milestone 2 owners!

Source: Motorola Europe on Facebook

The LG Thrill 4G, AT&T's version of the Optimus 3D, should be arriving this week in Radio Shack stores across the country according to the flyer you see above.  The good news is that once they arrive, the Shack is able to start selling them right away.  We've seen a few delays with this one, so we'll take a "this week" release date and be thankful for it.  The Thrill will cost you $80 with new contract or a qualifying upgrade, or $550 for those that prefer to stay contract-free and use cash.  If you pick one of these up, be sure to tell us about it in the forums!

Thanks, Anon!

After this morning's jump-the-gun leak revealed everything there is to know about the Sprint Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch, you probably have a pretty good idea of what the device has in store. Pictures speak louder than words, though, and until you see the Epic 4G Touch in the flesh, you only know half the story. It is an absolutely beautiful device that truly lives up to its name.

To refresh your memory, the Epic 4G Touch has got some major goodies under the hood:

• 4.52-inch Super AMOLED Plus display
• Ultra-thin (9.59mm) design
• Samsung Exynos 1.2GHz dual-core processor
• Wimax 4G radio
• Media Hub
• 8MP rear camera and 2MP front camera
• Social Hub
• HD video recording
• Samsung Kies Air
• Wifi calling
• NOVA 2 HD pre-loaded
• Swype pre-loaded
• AES-256 internal/external hardware encryption
• Bluetooth 3.0
• Sprint ID
• Polaris Office
• Hotspot controls up to eight devices
• Android 2.3
• Optional USB Host kit for connection keyboards, cameras, printers and thumb drives
• Optional HDMI adapter
• Multimedia and Car docks will be available

Performance on the Epic 4G Touch, from what we can tell, is top of the line. Hiccups are absent and switching between homescreens, opening apps, and multitasking is smooth as can be. And that 4.52-inch Super AMOLED Plus is worth the price of admission ($199 on contract) alone. Colors are crisp, blacks are deep, and viewing angles are superb. There isn't much to say until you see it with your own eyes. Wow. Oh, and one more cherry on top-- The Epic 4G bucks the trend with an LED notification light. A welcome addition to this new crop from Samsung.

Like the rest of the Galaxy S II line, the Epic 4G Touch is thin and incredibly light. It's got the patented Samsung plastic feel, but that has grown on us. Take a gander at the rest of the shots from this evening's event, which should hold you over until the device hits the market on September 16.

Hit the break for the video and more photos.

There's always one kid who comes to class unprepared, and tonight it's T-Mobile. While AT&T and Sprint let us get our grubby hands all over their merchandise, T-Mobile kept their variant of the Samsung Galaxy S II under wraps (a glass cube, to be specific). Why, you ask? Well we did ask, and it appears that big T hasn't officially released full specs, a release date, or even a name for the device. No knock against T-Mobile, really, as we're firm believers in better late than never, especially when it means putting some final touches on an already stunning device.

And you can put money on it being in the same vein as all the other Galaxy S II devices -- with a 4.5-inch Super AMOLED display, dual-core 1.2GHz processor, TouchWiz, and all that jazz. One more pic to whet your appetite is after the break.

Here we have AT&T's Galaxy S II. But seeing as how AT&T's already done a 4.5-inch phone in the Samsung Infuse, it's chosen to scale things down just a smidge with its Galaxy S II. The display is a mere 4.3 inches. But it's made up for losing those two-tenths of an inch with the Super AMOLED Plus display. Side by side with the Samsung Infuse -- which we've come to love and cherish the past few months -- it's a noticeable difference. Blacks are blacker. Colors are more colorful. And where there were once only eight subpixels, there are now 12.

Otherwise, you're pretty much looking at the same ol' Galaxy S II, which is to say you're looking at the thinnest (8.89 mm), lightest smartphone you can find. And it's got AT&T's brand of 4G to boot. More specs? Let's switch to handy bullet point form.

• 4G – HSPA+
• Android (2.3 Gingerbread)
• GSM Quad-band (850/900/1800/1900MHz)
• UMTS Tri-band( 850/1900/2100MHz)
• Screen: 4.3” Super AMOLED Plus
• Processor: 1.2Ghz x 2 (dual core)
• Camera: 8MP AF with LED flash + 2MP front
• Video Record: 1080p Full HD
• HDMI Out: HDMI via HDTV Smart Adapter with HDCP
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0
• Battery: 1650mAh
• Sensor: Motion UX, 6-axis gyroscope, proximity, light, noise (Audience A2220)

In a word: Sexy. More pics and a video are after the break.

In case you weren't paying attention, Samsung and partners Sprint, T-Mobile and AT&T announced the arrival of the Galaxy S II line to the US this evening in New York.  We're on site grabbing footage and asking as many questions as we can get answers for, but in the meantime let's have a look at Samsung's official announcement -- including accessories! 

Samsung really stepped things up a notch and will be offering some awesome accessories for the US Galaxy S II devices, including:

• Vehicle dock: The dock charges the phone while docked to ensure uninterrupted GPS usage on long car rides. The dock is windshield or dashboard mountable and includes the sophisticated Vlingo Voice Talk, allowing users to enjoy hands-free control of their Galaxy S II.
• Battery charging stand with spare battery: This charging solution ensures a backup battery is always on hand, while providing a convenient kick stand for the Galaxy S II.
•  HDTV Adapter: The HDMI adapter supports HD video up to 1080p from the phone to an HDTV, projector, or monitor. Use on the go to connect the Galaxy S II to a TV, monitor, or projector to view purchased Media Hub content, videos, presentations, games, or internet on a big HD screen, or listen to downloaded music from the phone on a home entertainment system.

They look great, and you can see for yourself after the break where we've got the pics and the full Samsung press release.

Sprint has the pleasure of being the first carrier to debut the Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch. The Sprint version features a 4.52-inch Super AMOLED Plus, 1.2GHz dual-core processors and will be available for $199.99 with a new 2-year contract beginning Sept. 16 in all Sprint Sales channels, including Sprint stores, Web sales and Telesales.

“Sprint is proud to build on the success of the first Galaxy S product, Samsung Epic 4G, with the first U.S. device in the next generation of Samsung’s award-winning Galaxy S lineup, Epic 4G Touch,” said Fared Adib, vice president–Product Development, Sprint. “Epic 4G Touch is a powerful smartphone that delivers vibrant and exciting content at lightning fast speeds. This device is ultra-thin yet ultra-powerful with a screen that rivals anything else in the industry.”

You can also get ahead of the game by pre-ordering the device today at any participating Sprint store with the purchase of a $50 Sprint gift card. That ensures you to be placed on the device waiting list. You check out the full press release from Sprint past the break.

As expected, T-Mobile has also announced their Galaxy S II tonight as well.  We don't yet have all the details and specs, but we do have a statement from T-Mobile:

T-Mobile USA, Inc. is pleased to announce the upcoming availability of the Samsung Galaxy S™ II at T-Mobile this fall. Featuring a brilliant 4.52-inch Super AMOLED Plus touch screen – one of the largest screens available on a Galaxy S II device – T-Mobile’s Galaxy S II promises to keep customers entertained and connected while on the go. We look forward to sharing more information in the coming weeks.

Of course we're at the Samsung event in New York, covering it live.  If any details come out, you can find them here!