Day in Android 3/28/11: Nexus tablet, Atrix/Inspire, new LG handset

If we’re to believe a post on the site Mobile Review (not in English), Google is introduce a Nexus tablet to the market. This makes sense in a way, as it could serve the same function as the Nexus One did in the fledgling Android handset market back in December 2009. It would apparently by produced by LG, which seems an unlikely partner at first glance. But as we’ve seen from Google, they’re not afraid to hop around manufacturers: the Nexus one was HTC, while the Nexus S is Samsung. We’re looking at mid-summer to early fall, so don’t get your hopes up quite yet. There’s still aways to go with this, if we’re even going to see it at all. [BGR] So remember the issue with the Motorola Atrix and HTC Inspire not realizing HSPA speeds for uploads? That’s apparently going to change, at least for the Inspire. Unsurprisingly, it’s not AT&T that initiated the maneuver, even though they said that some existing models will “eventually” get HSUPA turned on. The FCC gave the OK to HTC to flip the switch and enable high-speed uploading. AT&T probably isn’t happy with this, but those are the breaks. In a time when we’re seeing carriers get more restrictive with their regulations, it’s nice to see someone step in and tell them that it’s not cool. [Engadget]

Why there’s an iPhone in the above picture I have no idea. The big honking device sitting next to it, though, is the LG Optimus Big, a creatively titled handset that checks in with a 4.3 inch screen. It’s not too-too impressive in terms of speed, just a single-core 1GHz processor, but it does have the NOVA display technology that we’ll see in the Optimus Black. As of right now this is only slated for Korea, but since LG doesn’t have one of those oversized devices in North America, we could very well see it at some point this year. [Phone Arena] What you see there is taken from AMazon’s virtual machine. We’ve seen these for various platforms, but Amazon has purposed it well. Basically, you can preview some games in the Amazon Appstore for Android right on your desktop. This is somewhat essential, since you don’t want to pay for a crappy game. With an overwhelming proportion of paid apps and games, this is going to help Amazon a ton. Check it out at the Amazon Appstore. [Talk Android] Quickies

• Ready to root? Here’s a guide for Thunderbolt on a Mac and the Xoom WiFi. [Android Central] (Thunderbolt} [Droid Life] (Xoom)
• Already rooted? Cyanogenmod 7 Release Candidate 3 is up and running. I’ve already installed it. Will you? [Android Police
• Looks like we're getting a bit closer to NFC payments on Android. [Wall Street Journal
• Want Gingerbread on the Droid X and Droid 2? You got it. [Droid Life]