Posted: 31 Jan 2012 06:24 PM PST   The official Google TV Twitter account tweeted just moments ago that a software update for Sony Blu-ray players has begun rolling out. The 260MB update will bring about the ability for the players to now playback Blu-rays in the 3rd dimension and much needed speed enhancements to the Chrome browser. Lord knows, my Revue browser could perform a hell-of-a-lot quicker. If you haven’t received the update just yet, you can pull it manually by jumping into your System Settings > About > System Updates. Leave a comment if you notice your browser performing snappier. [Twitter | Droid-Life] |
Posted: 31 Jan 2012 05:44 PM PST   The BlackBerry Playbook is said to be receiving its OS 2.0 update come next month and along with some much needed new improvements (like a native email app), the update will finally give the device the long promised ability to to play Android apps and games via the BlackBerry Runtime for Android app player. Developers have until February 6th to submit their Android apps into the BlackBerry App World store if they want their apps approved in time for the new Playbook OS 2.0′s launch. So what exactly does it take for an Android app to win approval by RIM? Well, for one — a developer must remove any and all words containing “Android” in them, as well as our beloved green mascot (I call him Andy). Makes sense. Also mandatory, a developer must remove anything that would otherwise take a user to the Android Market be it links or otherwise. RIM says porting Android apps should be a relatively painless process and we’ll have to wait and see how many developers jump on this opportunity. As a fan of technology in general, I’ve always had a soft spot for the Playbook and it will be interesting to see if this will help garner new sales of the almost failed tablet. [RIM Developer Blog | Via Slashgear] |
Posted: 31 Jan 2012 04:48 PM PST   Earlier today we filled you guys in on the status of LightSquared’s LTE network and the challenges they’ve been facing with FCC over alleged GPS interference. It ended with the FCC asking for public approval on the matter but now, Sprint — who plans to use LightSquared to help roll out their upcoming 4G LTE network — is giving LightSquared a new deadline before cutting off ties. In a statement to BGR, LightSquared said they have been given 6 weeks by Sprint to straighten things out with the FCC. "Sprint and LightSquared have agreed to extend our network agreement through mid March. Sprint continues to support our business plan to bring wireless broadband to more than 260 million Americans and our ongoing efforts to work with regulatory agencies to resolve interference concerns."Hopefully by March LightSquared will have this whole mess sorted out. God knows, I would love a speedy LTE rollout on Sprint, but not at the cost of reliable GPS. Samsung devices have it bad enough as it is. (Rim shot) [Dow Jones Newswires |Via Cnet] |
Posted: 31 Jan 2012 02:43 PM PST   Amazon has reported on their earnings for quarter four of 2011, and the results are nothing but positive for their growing Android Appstore. Customers were up triple from the previous quarter, the total equaling more than the rest of the year combined. The increased number of users can largely be attributed to the release of the Amazon Kindle Fire, an Android device that shirks Google’s Android Market in favor of the retailers own offerings. Even without the Kindle Fire, the Amazon Appstore has been growing steadily since launching early in 2011 thanks to inking several exclusive deals with big name developers and offering features such as their free app of the day. Still, the boost brought about by the launch of the $199 tablet is just what Amazon had hoped for. With such a low price, the company was betting on increased digital content sales to more than make up for the profit margin. [Amazon via IntoMobile] |
Posted: 31 Jan 2012 01:33 PM PST   It is expected that Samsung will unveil a new tablet or two at Mobile World Congress, an almost obvious assumption prodded along by rumors of a device running a 2GHz quad-core Exynos CPU. While the Korean manufacturer has done a pretty good job of keeping their exact plans under wrap (the even is less than a month away and we have seen very few leaks), a recent set of devices newly certified by the WiFi alliance suggests at least two tablets could be on tap. The Samsung GT-P3100 and GT-P5100 could come in any combination of specs and sizes, but it is safe to assume that Samsung will be aiming to take on competitors at all levels. A refresh to the Galaxy Tab 10.1 seems like a sure thing, while a smaller, cheaper device that could battle the Amazon Kindle Fire head-to-head also makes sense. Whatever we see, we expect Samsung to accompany the announcement with a few surprises, whether that be a high-res display unlike any we have seen on a tablet before or something a bit less obvious. [via Androinica] |
Posted: 31 Jan 2012 01:20 PM PST   Mozilla has been on quite the roll since releasing their Firefox browser to the Android Market. A little over a month after the version 9.0 update graced the Android Market, the new Firefox 10.0 is ready to roll with plenty of improvements in tow. Users can now more easily setup Firefox Sync to share bookmarks between a desktop and mobile device and should see an overall improvement in the rendering of sites using WebGL. Otherwise expect a number of smaller tweaks that will provide a refined experience as the folks behind Firefox continue to improve the mobile version of their highly popular desktop web browser. An exhaustive changelog can be found over at the Mozilla site. Firefox 10.0 can be found at the Android Market link below. Android Market Link: Firefox [via Mozilla] |
Posted: 31 Jan 2012 12:43 PM PST   GetGlue is ready for a new year of changing the way viewers interact around their favorite movies and shows with the release of an overhauled Android app chock full of new features. While the premise remains unchanged, a new visual stream combines comments and images from check-ins to create “user generated art.” The new stream aims not only to be more aesthetically pleasing but also to make discovering new content easier. A new conversation screen allows users checked-in to the same show to actively discuss and comment while viewing. Guides have been implemented to curate new show suggestions based on past choices and user preferences. The changes are all designed to make finding, viewing, and discussing shows a more dynamic process focused on community and discovery. All the new features are rolled into a gently massaged and updated interface that seems to hit all the right notes. If you are big media junky and haven’t checked in to checking out GetGlue, this new release may have something for you. Get it at the Android Market link below. Android Market Download: GetGlue [via GetGlue] |
Posted: 31 Jan 2012 11:15 AM PST  RIM recently took to Twitter to conduct an informal poll of BlackBerry users. On New Year’s Eve the smartphone maker asked #TeamBlackBerry how they planned to #BeBold in the new year. The result not only made for a rather useless infographic but also resulted in the creation of a team of masked avengers. GoGo Girl, Max Stone, Justin Steele, and Trudy Foreal were created to characterize certain BlackBerry users, but our friends over at WinSource had a different view.  I know, I know. It’s especially cruel to kick RIM while they are down, but we can’t help but get a laugh out of it all. When Windows Phone users can make a justifiable jab at the expense of a once-dominant smartphone maker, you know the tides are turning. Don’t even be fooled for a second that the rise of Android didn’t contribute largely to RIM’s demise, and with Google and crew looking into more and more ways to make the OS enterprise-friendly it’s more than safe to say that the BlackBerry is a dying breed. It would actually make for a really great comic book storyline in the vein of Frank Miller’s darkly toned Batman books of the late 80s. The once triumphant hero is forced out of retirement in an attempt to thwart their greatest foe yet only to die, of all things, from a heart attack. Sad, yes. But let’s not weep too much for the BlackBerry name. [via Winsource] |
Posted: 31 Jan 2012 10:59 AM PST   Last week we saw the Samsung GT-i9300 appear on Samsung’s support site only to be pulled later, a sure sign that Sammy wants to keep something secret about that specific model number. The designation is in line with Samsung’s flagship series of phones and is a likely candidate to match up with the upcoming Galaxy S III and has once again shown up in official documentation, this time earning its certification from the WiFi Alliance. No other details can be discerned from the entry. At this point the GT-i9300 could be just about anything — with little else to go off of we can only speculate. While most expect Samsung to unveil their latest Android masterpiece at Mobile World Congress, there is some uncertainty as to whether or not that will happen. In a recent earnings call Samsung said they have yet to finalize plans for the announcement of the device. [via PocketNow] |
Posted: 31 Jan 2012 10:15 AM PST   Humble Bundle has just launched its latest pack of indie games with a twist. For the first time ever, Android is among the supported operating systems (others include Windows, Max OS X, and Linux). Up for grabs are EDGE, Osmos, and Anomaly: War for Earth. If you are unfamiliar with the Humble Indie Bundle concept, every few weeks a new pack of games becomes available for a limited time. These games are available on a pay-as-you-will basis. You name the price, you own the games. You can download them as many times as you want on as many operating systems. Even more unique is the ability to choose how much of your money goes where. You can split the payment between Humble, the game developers, and charity. There is no punishment for paying too low, but paying over the average unlocks a bonus game, World of Goo. What started as an experiment in game distribution for small developers has become a platform for independent studios to showcase their finest works. You can head over to the Humble Bundle site and plop down what you can to own the selection of great games. While some games easily outshine others, as a purchaser of several bundles in the past I can assure you any money you fork over will be well spent. And remember, don’t wait too long to purchase because the pack of excellent games will only be available for the next 14 days. [via HumbleBundle] |
Posted: 31 Jan 2012 09:01 AM PST   When Steam for Android originally launched, many members were excluded. Such is often the case with betas, but Valve has opened it up to any and everyone who has a Steam account. It’s still a beta and things are still being ironed out but you’ll at least be able to use the features that are currently available. To see what all the fuss is about download the free application from the Android market here. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!] |
Posted: 31 Jan 2012 08:28 AM PST  While the original Epic 4G never saw a truly stable release of CyanogenMod 7, the Epic CM team are making a lot of great progress with CyanogenMod 9. The Android 4.0-based ROM brings a stock Android offering for those who’d rather not deal with TouchWiz. An “alpha 0″ build was posted yesterday and it looks pretty good for its stats. The list of bugs and things not working is quite long but none of them are experiencing-breaking features. Take a look at the full list here. If all of that looks fine to you and you want to give it a shot just to see what’s on the way, grab the download links here. Take a look at a video review of this alpha above. |
Posted: 31 Jan 2012 08:01 AM PST   The folks at NEC, in partnership with their main carrier partner NTT DoCoMo (Japan) have announced another good looking Android with another weird name. It’s the MEDIAS ES N-05D and it’s as thing as any phone will be – 6.7mm thin. The device also has a 4.3 inch 720pHD display, an 8 megapixel Exmor R C-MOS sensor, a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, Bluetooth 4.0 and more. The Bluetooth 4.0 radios inside make it compatible with Casio’s new G-SHOCK “smart” watch as both devices require Bluetooth LE, an exclusive feature to this version of the standard. Pretty cool stuff but don’t expect to be able to get your hands on it without importing it. [via TechCrunch] |
Posted: 31 Jan 2012 06:59 AM PST   Samsung has just issued a press release detailing what they’d be doing for their first ever Super Bowl ad. Their advertisement – which will be a 90 second spot – will air sometime throughout the fourth quarter, an expensive gesture for any company to make. Bobby Farrelly, creator of There’s Something About Mary and Dumb and Dumber, will direct the commercial. Their press release focuses a lot on the note so we imagine their ad will be focused on that, as well. The Super Bowl airs February 5th, the same day that the Galaxy Note goes up for presale on its first US carrier – AT&T. Read on for full press details.
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Posted: 31 Jan 2012 06:50 AM PST  The HTC Ville, a thin and sleek smartphone said to be announced at Mobile World Congress next month, looks to have gotten leaked a bit prematurely. The device has been put on video for the world to see. What we’re looking at is a 4.3 device that has Android 4.0 and HTC Sense 4.0. It’s rumored to have a qHD Super AMOLED display, a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor and an 8 megapixel camera that will likely shoot HD video. As for HTC Sense, it’s definitely quite the looker. As early reports stated, HTC has updated the user interface for a cleaner look and feel. It also looks like performance has greatly improved. Be sure to take it all in by watching the video above. [HTC-Hub via BGR] |
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Android Phone Fans
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