Android news and rumor roundup for the week ending Aug. 24

23.08.2012

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Rather than rolling out completely new designs, Samsung's apparently planning to release modified versions of existing Android phones -- a smaller, cheaper Galaxy S III and a bigger, badder Galaxy S II. The ever-industrious earlier this week that the GS III mini will "try to fight the iPhone 4S with a 5-megapixel camera, dual-core processor and 4.0" Super AMOLED screen with WVGA resolution," and cost a relatively reasonable $300, presumably unlocked. The hypothetical overhauled edition of the Galaxy S II was not detailed by SamMobile, but both are apparently slated for release at the end of 2012.

Personally, I'm having trouble seeing the point of an upgraded Galaxy S II -- couldn't you just get an S III? -- but the mini GS III sounds like it could be a winner, particularly if the price is right.

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LG, for its part, isn't even bothering to tinker with its re-releases -- the Optimus Vu ... sigh ... phablet is rumored to be coming to America as the LG Intuition, according to a . The 5-inch not-quite-a-phone-not-quite-a-tablet will cost $199 with a two-year deal on Verizon.