Wednesday, February 1, 2012



Posted: 31 Jan 2012 03:42 PM PST
It would seem as though Samsung has no plans whatsoever to slow down when it comes to being successful and launching the right combination of awesome software and hardware.  They continue their incredible streak with the introduction of a few tipped devices hitting the Interwebs.  With yet again more rumors and tips of the Galaxy S III being released sometime this Spring (MWC?), we’ll just have to be patient.  And then there’s the Galaxy S II Plus, expected to be a nice bump up from the original Galaxy S II touting a 1.4 GHz Exynos SoC dual-core CPU and 1 GB of RAM.  Not a bad upgrade at all.  And lets not forget about the recently leaked Galaxy S Advance as well.  The Galaxy S Advance is to the original Galaxy S as the Galaxy S II Plus is to the original GSII, a nice bump in specs.  Samsung continues to breed smartphones like rabbits and the masses are flocking to stores by the boatloads to get their hands on them.  We can’t blame them given Sammy’s track record for innovation.
These step-up devices, in addition to a nice bump in the CPU, could also see a nice upgrade to Samsung’s popular TouchWiz interface.  It’s possible it could be their “Ice Cream Sandwich-esque” UI accompanying the hardware.  We’ll take what we can get and what we can’t get, the dev community can fill in the gaps.  And last but not least, the Galaxy Note S, possibly the device we could see leaked during the Super Bowl.  Among much speculation, could this be a version of the Note running Ice Cream Sandwich?  Damn, lets hope so.  Anything in the ICS or quad-core category will certainly be welcomed.  Stay tuned to Talk Android as we continue to dig a little deeper.







Posted: 31 Jan 2012 02:46 PM PST
Photos Courtesy of TmoNews
You know how T-Mobile was quietly throwing around the idea of promotional sales starting January 25th? You know, the news that TmoNews brought to our attentions and we relayed to you on the 19th? Well it appears that T-Mobile changed their minds and are now listing the Mobile Hotspot compatible rate plans on their site for a limited time only. There is no say as to how long these promotions will be around though.
Found under Value, Classic, Individual and Family plans you can now get a 5GB or 10GB bundled plan for a steal. It’s a surprise that T-Mobile would keep something that distinguishes them from their competition under wraps. Seriously, they should be promoting the heck out of these deals!
So if you are on T-Mobile and are wanting a heck of a deal for these Unlimited-Premium/Ultra plans I would hit the source below and do it soon. Seriously, I have no idea how long these deals are going to be around and the images below will help you get an idea of what you’re looking for. Enjoy!
source: T-Mobile
via: TmoNews 




Posted: 31 Jan 2012 01:31 PM PST
 
Installing a recovery on your device is among the most popular projects for Android users. Of course achieving a recovery such as ClockworkMod involves the “simple” process of installing it on your phone, flashing a kernel or pushing the recovery to the right partition using the ADB in the Android terminal. Whichever method you choose, it can possibly be a difficult one– and that’s why we have the fine team at XDA helping to make our lives’ just a smidge easier. Senior member pvyParts and his associates recently posted an application that will install a recovery straight from the app itself. That means there’s no need for computers, a debug mode or any of the other potential problems. In other words, this is as straightforward as it gets. Here’s pvyParts himself as he shares his thoughts of the landmark app:
“This App will work with the 2011 Xperia porfolio. it will install CWM into the system partition so you can use recovery even with a locked bootloader!
The Recovery has been ported by nobodyAtall @xda for the Xperia phones!
All Credits to him!
all i did was bundle it into a nice easy installer. ( i also made some changes to the chargemon file to turn the LED on to signal when to pres your keys )”
This app is currently available for the 2011 Sony Ericsson Xperia Line of devices at this time. You can find more details for the app including additional details, change logs, a full compatibility list, screen shots and discussion in the original thread found at the link below. If you are bold enough to install the auto installer— do make sure you back everything… in case you commit an oopsie.
source: XDA
via: XDA Forums




Posted: 31 Jan 2012 01:23 PM PST
SlingPlayer is now available for the Amazon Kindle Fire
Those of you with an Amazon Kindle Fire can now grab the SlingPlayer app made just for you. Assuming you have a Slingbox Solo or Pro-HD at home, you will be able to watch anything from your home TV and DVR from anywhere on your Kindle Fire as long as it’s WiFi connected. You will also be able to change channels, control your DVR, and watch any live or recorded show. It costs $29.99, which isn’t cheap, but if you’re on the road a lot, it’s probably well worth it. Hit the source link to purchase and download.
source: amazon






Posted: 31 Jan 2012 12:53 PM PST
For Samsung Mobile, CES seemed to be about the AT&T Galaxy Note, and not much else. The speculation is rampant for what they will show us at Mobile World Congress. We were expecting a heavy dose of Galaxy S III, but that was squashed last week. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is starting to show its age, so it’s a safe bet that we will see an updated slate or two. With the iPad 3 on the horizon, and the likes of the ASUS Transformer Prime, Samsung needs to step up its game.
We recently reported that they have a 2GHz Exynos-powered tab in the works, and now two tabs just received WiFi certification – The GT-P3100 and GT-P5100. We don’t know anything more than these model numbers, but what we can interpolate from them is that it looks like they’re either 10-inch and 7 to 8-inch versions of the same thing or maybe one higher-end and one lower-end model. With the Amazon Kindle Fire tearing it up as of late, Samsung might consider a lower priced offering.
Could we see these tabs next month at Mobile World Congress? It’s likely, but only time will tell. I’m sure more details will surface soon, and we will let you know as soon as we find out.
One more image after the break






Posted: 31 Jan 2012 11:26 AM PST
Remember the awesome ClockworkMod Touch recovery beta we have been watching? Well not only is it available for download, but it is now also flashable within the CWM ROM Manager app. For a mere $1.99 you can make an in app purchase and have the Touch recovery flashed in about 20 seconds, no computer necessary. Just make sure you have the most recent ROM manager update from the Android Market and you should be good to go! Hit the link below to grab the update, your gonna dig this… I know I am! :-D
Android Market





Posted: 31 Jan 2012 11:06 AM PST
GetGlue, the popular media check-in app, just got a makeover bringing it up to par with the iPhone app. New features include a new visual stream, the ability to participate in multiple conversations, and personalized guides.
The stream has a new look that will inspire you to discover new shows, movies, and music through your friends. You can easily vote and reply on any check-in and/or get more details.
The new conversation screen displays comments from friends and other fans who checked-in to the same show.
The new Guides section will help you find things to watch, read, or listen to. It’s created based on personal tastes, friend’s activity, trends, and popular genres.





Posted: 31 Jan 2012 11:04 AM PST
And the Apple and Samsung news just continues to flow like water.  In recent news the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court (an appeals court) is sticking to a preliminary injunction against the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and also states that the Galaxy Tab 8.9 may be in jeopardy of violating similar patents.  However, unlike the original file claim, the appeals court is basing this conclusion on a violation of a German unfair competition law, Gesetz gegen den unlauteren Wettbewerb, UWG (you’re going to have rely on Google Translate for that one folks).  And the lower court’s ruling was based on a “Community Design” which is equivocation to a U.S. design patent.  We initially saw the injunction issued in early August of last year where in the following September it was upheld and quickly appealed by Samsung to the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court.  
Florian Mueller of FOSS Patents summarises todays decision by the court and offers his unique perspective:
  1. Apple can’t replicate the German decision in other countries since German unfair competition law is pretty unique. A win based on an EU-wide design right would have been strategically more valuable to Apple. Even though Samsung formally lost its appeal because the preliminary injunction remains in force, it succeeded in defeating Apple’s design right.
  2. A couple of months ago, Samsung launched a modified version of the Galaxy Tab 10.1, named 10.1N, in Germany. In late November 2011, Apple requested a preliminary injunction against the 10.1N. For now, the 10.1N is still on sale. The Düsseldorf Regional Court held a hearing the week before Christmas and will announce a decision on February 9, 2012. The fact that Apple won today doesn’t necessarily mean that it will succeed against the 10.1N. If Samsung is allowed to continue to sell the 10.1N, the commercial relevance of today’s appellate decision is next to nil.
  3. While today’s decision was made by an appeals court, we are still talking about fast-track proceedings triggered by a request for a preliminary injunction (and an appeal against one). All those decisions are preliminary, and what matters most is the full-blown main proceeding in which Apple’s design-related claims against a total of 15 Samsung products are at issue. It’s too early to tell what the outcome of that case will be.
  4. In my opinion, the strategic value of those design-related lawsuits is relatively low. Preliminary injunctions based on such claims can have a temporary disruptive effect, but the world-spanning dispute between Apple and Samsung primarily hinges on the outcome of the parties’ technical patent infringement claims against each other. The first two patent infringement lawsuits Samsung brought against Apple in Germany have been dismissed. Decisions on Apple’s related claims will come down in the coming months.
I don’t know about you but I’m getting a little annoyed with these proceedings.  It’s getting more and more difficult on a daily basis for manufacturers to stay out of Apple’s cross-hairs. Feel free to leave your thoughts or rants in the comments below.
If you’ve missed any of our previous coverage regarding Samsung and Apple’s battles as well as Apple vs everyone else, check out our coverage below.
Dutch Court Denies Apple's Appeal and Allows Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Sales To Flourish
Galaxy Nexus Infringes on Apple Patents, Or So Apple Says
Samsung suffers a setback in German court, Legal costs now at $60 million
Apple Files Another Lawsuit Against Samsung, This Time Targets Galaxy S II and Nine Handsets In German Court
Apple Patent Dispute Ruled in Motorola's Favor
Apple Applies For Facial Recognition Patent, Sticks Tongue Out At Google's Attempt Of Facial Unlock Feature
ITC Rules In Favor Of Apple; Bans Some HTC Devices, But HTC Feels "Gratified" In New Statement
Another blow for Apple, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 sales ban in Australia is no more
Patent Wars: Even With Victories, Samsung Prepares For More Battles By Setting Aside $200 Million
Apple suffers defeat in attempt to block Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablets in the U.S.
Patent Wars: Australian Court Overturns Samsung Tablet Ban, Apple Wants to Ban Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1N in Germany

via: FOSS Patents




Posted: 31 Jan 2012 09:29 AM PST
Last week we told you about the believed Galaxy S III appearing on Samsung’s official UAE site as model number GT-i9300. The device has since been pulled from the sites listings but the model number has recently appeared elsewhere on the interweb in the form of a Wi-Fi certification. Unfortunately there is no additional information to be had from the certification document but I imagine we should start to see more details the closer we get to its announcement. Speaking of announcement, we are still unsure when we will get official word surrounding the GSIII, lets just hope Samsung’s launch “review” yields a MWC unveiling.
source: pocketnow





Posted: 31 Jan 2012 08:42 AM PST
Well I thought most folks would be excited about the fact that Motorola is releasing an unlockable edition of the Droid RAZR, however that move is leaving a bad taste in their mouthes. While it does lend to the saying “give an inch, take a mile,” I can honestly see why. Those that recently bought the locked RAZR feel slighted, bamboozled or hoodwinked in the release of this device; so much in fact that disgruntled Motorola users are joining forces and starting online petitions. These petitions are in an effort to raise awareness to Motorola’s lack of follow through in regards to promises of unlocking bootloaders.
Operation: MOSH (Make Ourselves Heard) is out to raise awareness much like they did last year when they applied pressure to Motorola to unlock their bootloaders in the first place. Motorola promised to comply back in January of 2011, and again in April and also stated that we would see bootloaders unlocked on all their devices by the end of 2011. Given that we are almost through the first month of 2012 and we have yet to see an unlocked bootloader until now; people are frustrated that their devices are still locked up tighter than Fort Knox. The demands of this movement are quite basic. They are:
"To let Moto know that this 'Developer Edition' had better be available either as a trade for our devices, paying the difference, or not at all, since we all bought our devices in hopes that they would keep their word in the first place."
If you are one of these folks that want to get on board you can sign the online petition by hitting the source link below for starters. If that isn’t far enough for you, you can email Moto executives, file FCC complaints and so on. All those details and links can be found on the XDA thread here. Here’s hoping that Motorola understands and is sympathetic to your frustrations, but like all movements of change you must first make yourself heard. Good luck.

source: MOSH Online Petition
via:  Phandroid

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