Droid Bionic soak test coming; probably won’t be Ice Cream Sandwich Posted: 05 Feb 2012 03:51 PM PST Word around the inter webs says that Motorola is prepping a soak test for an upcoming update to the Droid Bionic. But don’t go jumping around just yet, as we do not yet know if this is a minor update or not. While we surely hope that this update is somehow related to Android 4.0, it just somehow seems unlikely. As our friends from Droid-Life mentioned, it is very likely that the Droid RAZR will see an Ice Cream Sandwich update before any other Motorola device. This is not something that we are sure of, though. This soak test could also be related to an update that was being tested last month, which includes very minor fixes. For now, let’s just sit tight and wait for more details to show up. [Via Droid-Life]

Google hires Apple Senior Director for “secret project” Posted: 05 Feb 2012 03:29 PM PST While Eric Schmidt and Steve Jobs may have had a “no poaching” agreement before, it seems like it is no longer in place. According to Venture Beat, Google has just hired Simon Prakash, Apple Senior Director of product integrity. Prakash worked with Apple for eight years, and most recently was in charge of quality control for all Apple products. We do not yet know what Simon will be bringing to the table, though, or if it will be related to Android. Google has hired him to work in a “secret project.” It is said that this “secret project” is ran by Google co-founder Sergey Brin. Sergey has worked with Google on multiple secret projects. With Android being one of the main products for Google, though, we hope this man can work on something related to our favorite mobile OS. Apple is very well known for product quality, probably making Simon a great asset to the company. Who knows, he might be getting involved in the Nexus program. Either way, the Department of Justice is investigating both companies, since it seems they might have agreed on not “poaching” each other’s employees (along with other companies). We will have to wait and see how things work out, and what this “secret project” is all about. We love speculation, though. So hit the comments! What do you guys think this project is all about? [Source: Venture Beat Via: The Verge]

Aviary gives you yet another photo-editing option Posted: 05 Feb 2012 02:58 PM PST There are dozens of photo-editing options available in the Android Market (I probably have 7-8 installed in my phone). So when I learnt of Aviary releasing an Android version of their app, I wasn’t too interested in checking it out. I’ve only used it to edit one picture so far, and I’ll come back to share a proper opinion about it after some serious usage. But I felt it deserved some attention over the weekend. So here are my earlier impressions. The first thing to note is that it isn’t really an app – it’s a plugin. This is the reason why you won’t find it in your app tray. So, how do you use it? As you browse your photos in your gallery app, choose the image you want to edit, click share and choose Aviary from the options available.The image is now open in the app, from where you can edit using an interface that isn’t very different from competing applications. The approach is interesting. And I believe it’s the right way to go about it, considering it allows you to quickly jump to the image editor as you browse your photos. The UI is a beauty, too. There are quite a few filters available in the free version. However, the lack of options to share the image (once fully edited) from the app itself is disappointing. Once you finish, you’re taken back to the gallery with your edited image in focus. All it needs is another tap on “share” to pass it on from there, but the option should be available in the app, itself. Maybe I’m nitpicking, but I’m hoping they have it planned in their update. To click share once, edit the app, and require another click on share doesn’t seem right to me.

Find those pesky Ad-pushing apps with Lookout Posted: 05 Feb 2012 02:44 PM PST I never use ad-blocks. Not on my phone, or my computer. I completely understand that a developer has put in a ton of effort to create something that I’m using for free, and the least I can do is let them try to make money through advertisements. But I have one golden rule: Keep those ads out of my notifications. I don’t care how good the app is, if you do that, I am going to uninstall you and give you a 1-star rating. Only problem is, it can at times get extremely difficult to realize which app, in particular, is sending those notifications. Especially after downloading a substantial amount of them. Luckily enough, Lookout has us covered with their new Push Ad Detector. The process is quite simple – just install the Detector and run a scan. It’ll give you a list of which apps use push-ad networks. the service also lists the networks used and helps you opt-out of these networks. However, I don’t opt-out of them. I simply uninstall them. I’m not going to give a service private information, such as my IMEI, to stop them from spamming me.

Could Google’s new Privacy Policy have something to do with Majel? Posted: 05 Feb 2012 02:38 PM PST DISCLAIMER: This bit of news is based from a post on the forums over at The Verge. It is based entirely on rumors. But it just seems worth sharing. December of 2011 was a very exciting month for Android – No, not because of the availability of the Galaxy Nexus, or the roll-out of Ice Cream Sandwich. Rather, the rumors of a secret project inside of the secret Google X lab, called Majel: a voice-action technology said to be far more advanced than anything we’ve seen so far. If a post on Reddit by an alleged former Google employee is to be believed, the artificial intelligence behind Majel is so powerful, that it passes the Turing Test (which rates a machine’s capability to exhibit intelligent behavior) 93% of the time. But to make it work accurately at a personal level, it needs a great degree of data. Where is this data available? Why, with Google of course! Only issue was, Google’s individual services kept their data about a user independent from other services. As is suggested in the forum post on The Verge, this posed as a hindrance for Majel. It would require the provision of permission to Majel explicitly by the user for each and every service. Now, I’m not going to say this is the only reason behind the new policy. I was honestly surprised that Google hadn’t brought the personal data together earlier, itself. For a company that makes its revenues by an understanding of our nature and our needs, it seemed foolish to have the data separate for so long. Yet, despite spending quite some time thinking, I couldn’t come up with any current Google service that would benefit from the new policy to the degree Majel would. Maybe Google has something else up its sleeve. I might help them improve their search algorithm or ads. But I’d like to dream that it’s about Majel. I personally can’t wait to have such technology available soon.

Yahoo adds “App Search” feature Posted: 05 Feb 2012 02:30 PM PST Yahoo may be losing a lot of ground in terms of search engine marketshare, but it isn’t going to go down quietly. They’ve just added a tab to their search engine allowing users to search for Android Market and the Apple App Store applications. After performing a search, you can filter results by category, as well as a free or paid option. Once you select an app, you can install it by having a text sent to your phone with a link, via a QR code or by going to the Market/App Store. Yahoo is also pulling in the reviews from the Market/App Store, while at the same time offering Yahoo users an opportunity to give their own feedback in Yahoo. Honestly, I can’t imagine why anyone would ever use it. It’s not an alternative store, meaning you would have to download from the Android Market, itself. All I can make out, though, is that the "trending" section on the right hand side seems a bit flawed. Only 3 of the 10 apps listed there have a Yahoo user’s review, with Angry Birds (it’s still trending?) accounting for 9 of the 11 reviews I counted. How Yahoo is judging if an app is trending isn’t clear at this point. It probably has to do with search terms. But personally, I have a sneaky feeling those spots might have been bought or are curated.

Reports emerging of ICS 4.0.4 update for Verizon Galaxy Nexus users Posted: 05 Feb 2012 02:25 PM PST A number of sites have reported a partial rollout of an OTA for the Verizon Galaxy Nexus users, this morning. Android Central seems to be the first one. They have also included a file, along with some instructions for manually flashing this update. Adventurous souls can go ahead and give it a try. It seems like Google is carrying out an A/B testing before sending it out to everyone. Some have said the update has fixed a few bugs and improved the speed.Just remember that this update is not being pushed out at full throttle, though, and it might not be perfect. If you’ve gotten this OTA, or flashed it yourself, please share your reviews with us. What all has changed? Are the said speed-boosts noticeable?

Drugs are addictive? Try social networks Posted: 05 Feb 2012 02:06 PM PST A recent Chicago University study is proving that people are more likely to resist their desire to consume alcohol, coffee and tobacco, than to resist their desire to check social media. Not only that, but according to the study, people are more likely to give in to social media urges than to sexual and sleeping urges, as well as spending and sports. Basically, the only one that was harder to resist was the urge to work. The results to this study have a good explanation, though. Social networks/media are not expensive, are very accessible and available, and do not harm your health (most of the time). As Wilhelm Hofmann (study leader) mentions, there is no direct downside to social media use. Smokers and drinkers has reasons to want to stop – both health-wise and financial. But most of the time, there is no direct downside to checking Twitter, Facebook or your e-mail. And it only takes a minute. I have to say, though, the fact that some of the other urges can be more controlled than social networks is surprising. Urges like sleeping and sex are part of our biology. Not only a habit, but inscribed into our very core and DNA. The study states that while these urges were much stronger, people were much more able to control them. If you want to learn more about the study, you should wait for the full research paper to be published soon. It will be featured in Psychological Science.  Let us know what you think. Are you ready for Social Networkers Anonymous? [Source: The Guardian Via: The Verge]

Video: The future in the eyes of Corning (Part 2) Posted: 05 Feb 2012 01:46 PM PST Corning has gained immense popularity among Android users. Their fortified glass keeps many of our devices’ screen scratch-less. Surely, you have seen those beat up devices with perfect screens. Well, Corning is not stopping there. In fact, they see great things for the future of glass use in technology. It is always fun to see how companies envision the future of technology. You may recall the video “A Day Made of Glass,” which was released last year. This video is its continuation, and is named “A Day Made of Glass 2: Same Day.” The video displays how technology will improve our lives. From entertainment to the classroom or office, companies envision us doing things that we currently only see in sci-fi movies. But we guess the day is not too far, right? We did see the Samsung Smart Window at CES, which was quite unbelievable, as well. We will go ahead and post both videos below. So check the first one, as well, if you haven’t yet. Enjoy! [Via Engadget]

A few fun facts from Staples’ new tablet infographic Posted: 05 Feb 2012 01:38 PM PST Staples has just released a brand new infographic on tablets, filling our weekend with a bit of fun facts. Many of us have tablets, and many of us love our tablets, but how do we interact with our tablets on a daily basis? According to Staples, the average tablet user uses these devices for about 90 minutes a day, and that most users own 10″ devices. And whether you are in the road (88.3%) or sitting in the throne (35%), tablets seem to be improving our experience greatly. 80% of tablet users mentioned that tablets have improved their work life. Also, it seems like many of us are switching to electronic books, since about 25% of the surveyed users are reading less printed material, as compared to before. And that makes sense, purchasing a tablet might be more convenient than purchasing an e-book reader. Tablets have much more functionality, so you hit two birds with one stone. It is also mentioned that there will be about 82.1 million tablet users by 2015, which makes for a rather impressive number. As we know, tablets are currently taking over, even threatening the PC market (depending on your personal needs). And with the average user purchasing about $34 in apps (per year?), the Android market should be getting that much better. Check out the infographic and let us know how you relate to these statistics. Are most of these statements true, in your experience?  [Source: Staples Via:Droid-Life]

Fujitsu announces ‘Sylistic’ Android tablet for all the businessmen out there Posted: 05 Feb 2012 01:32 PM PST Now, that has to be about the weirdest name we have seen for a tablet. Fujitsu has just announced their new addition to the tablet market, named the Sylistic M350/CA2. This one is aimed at all the users in a suit, with an enterprise-focused approach. Among the uses for this tablet, Fujitsu is boasting its ability to be used as a mobile sales terminal, as a digital catalog handset and as an e-reader. Aside from being able to use the on-screen keyboard, users will also be able to use handwriting as an input. The details are a bit of a lackluster. We will have to wait until we see more to know if Fujitsu has anything up its sleeve to differentiate this tablet from the competition. As for the specs, we do not know much, either. Except for the fact that it has a 7″ WSVGA “high-resolution” display (1024x600p), which is not bad for its size. The device also weighs 420 grams, and the expected battery life is 6.1 hours, which is not that exciting, either. Fujitsu is not specifying any more details, so we will have to wait to learn more about the specs and features. The Fujitsu Stylistic will be available in mid-February for the Japanese market, so let’s see when/if it hits the rest of the world. Fujitsu Releases Android Tablet for Enterprise Market The STYLISTIC M350/CA2 features a compact form factor(1), equipped with a 7-inch display and a body weighing approximately 420g for easy mobility. The tablet achieves both superior portability and usability, with features such as rapid booting and the ability to select between different character input modes-a numeric keypad, QWERTY, and hand-writing-to gives users the choice that best meets their individual needs. Moreover, the new tablet can be employed in a wide range of scenarios, including as a mobile sales terminal, as a handset for displaying digital catalogs at a retail store, and as an e-book reader in a classroom setting. In addition to offering excellent cost-performance, the STYLISTIC M350/CA2 supports customers in transforming work styles within their companies. Product Features 1. Compact body for superior mobility With its high-resolution 7-inch WSVGA (1024 x 600 pixel) display, the compact and lightweight body of approximately 420g makes it easy to hold and operate with just one hand. This and its lengthy running time of approximately 6.1 hours make it ideal for applications that require mobility. 2. Enhanced usability through Android OS and Fujitsu’s unique character input tools “NX! input powered by ATOK” QWERTY input The tablet runs on Android OS, which enables rapid booting and smooth, intuitive usability through multi-touch operations. Furthermore, it offers Fujitsu’s unique “NX! Input powered by ATOK” character input technology, which boasts especially high speed and high accuracy in recognizing kanji characters. This means users can select between numeric keypad input, QWERTY input, and hand-written input to choose the character input mode that best meets their individual needs. [Via Engadget]

MotoACTV update makes it a bit better, but is it worth your bucks? Posted: 05 Feb 2012 01:28 PM PST The smartwatch market is a bit tricky. Despite the fact that it has great potential, manufacturers have not quite hit the target with such devices. Motorola is one of the most notable players in the smartwatch market, with its MOTOACTV. And Motorola has just updated this bad boy, making it a bit more efficient. After connecting the MOTOACTV, users will be prompted to an update. New features include longer battery life, a battery status bar, the ability to lock the screen, enhanced auto-pause and auto-run and the ability to repeat a planned workout (even if previously started). It seems like Motorola will have to do much more to make this product more desirable, though. Even though it is one of the most popular smart watches out there, it lacks much functionality. Developers have even resorted to hacking it and installing a Honeycomb launcher on it. Granted, Honeycomb does not work or look great on a 1.6-inch screen. But this just displays how badly users want a better experience with it. With competitors like the Sony Smart Watch and the WIMM One, among others, it is time Motorola gets to work. Especially if they plan to keep their price, which is not necessarily the most affordable, starting at $250 (Price has recently gone down to about $206 on Amazon). Check out the press release for more details and let us know what you think. Are you a MOTOACTV user? Let us know how the update is treating you! Also, what do you guys think would make this device more enticing? Full Press Release [Via Droid-Life]

Huawei Honor passes through FCC again, this time with AT&T bands Posted: 05 Feb 2012 01:23 PM PST We know Huawei has its bad reputation, but they have been improving their game lately. The Huawei Honor is one of their latest devices, and it has just passed through the FCC with AT&T bands. This device is currently available for Cricket (CDMA), but we have not seen another version of it hit the US. Specs include a 1.4GHz single-core CPU, 4-inch 854�--480 display, 512MB of RAM, an 8MP rear-facing camera and a 2MP front-facing camera. You might also want to know that this was one of the first devices to get an Android 4.0 update, even beating the Nexus S to the game. This should be a good affordable option for AT&T users. And it should either come with Ice Cream Sandwich, or the update should be ready soon. What do you guys say? Would you sign up for this one? [Source: FCC Via: Unwired View]

Computers stay behind as smartphone shipments take over 2011 Posted: 05 Feb 2012 01:17 PM PST There is no doubt that 2011 was a fundamental year for the smartphone market. We saw a boom of Android devices at CES 2011, with a plethora of smartphones to take over the tech world. According to a study held by Canalys, smartphones went as far as to surpass Computer shipments last year, making it the year of the smartphone. In the study, Client PCs include desktops, laptops, and even tablets. Yes, this means that even Android tablets count against smartphones, in this study. Canalys’ study states that there were about 158.5 million smartphone shipments in 2011, with computer shipments staying in the dust at 120.2 million. Smartphone shipments experienced a 56.6% increase from 2010. Computer shipments increased, as well, but only by 16.3% We saw a major adoption of smartphones last year. Mainly due to the fact that they became so accessible. There is an Android device for everyone, regardless of income or lifestyle. The future looks bright for the smartphone market, with better specs coming out constantly. Mobile World Congress is expected to be filled with Quad-Core devices, which is something that existed only in our dreams a couple of years ago. In a future where smartphones are getting closer to matching PC power and functionality, it is hard to tell what 2012 studies will look like. Companies like HTC are mentioning a higher focus on high-quality products this year, and CES 2012 didn’t even get close to being as huge for the Android ecosystem as 2011. Whether we have reached a peak or not, it is still to be seen. Do you guys think smartphone shipments will grow as much for 2012? Or will the market focus on fewer, but better smartphones? [Source: Canalys Via: Engadget]

Rumor: T-Mobile to have all handsets free after mail-in rebate this February 11th Posted: 05 Feb 2012 01:12 PM PST T-Mobile subscribers looking to purchase a new phone might want to wait just a bit more. According to TmoNews‘ secret tipster, Magenta is getting ready for an “All Hands Day” sale, in which all devices will be completely free, after a mail-in rebate. According to this Ninja, this offer will run only for a day – February 11. It will be applicable to both Classic and Value Plan subscribers, but that Galaxy S II and Amaze 4G devices will need a 5 GB data plan subscription. With those being the only exceptions, this deal seems rather enticing, and should be a great opportunity to upgrade. Or get that phone for a special someone during Valentine’s day. So if you are thinking of getting that brand new hot smartphone, it might be worth it to sit tight until we hear (or don’t) about this.