Posted: 12 Feb 2012 03:56 PM PST   Google has just announced a new update to come to YouTube for Google TV, in the coming days. We already know that some “big announcements” about Google TV are to come tomorrow, and this might very well be one of them. Let’s hope the coming announcements are much more exciting, though. The new YouTube app will be available straight from the Android Market. New features include improved performance, with faster and smoother navigation. But they have also added a new feature called “Discover,” allowing you to browse YouTube channels by category. Other extra features include the ability to see related/more videos from users and the addition of an info screen (from which you can execute a thumbs up, add it to your playlists or leave a comment). We sure hope that this is not the only “big announcement” we have all been expecting. As it would not live up to all of this hype. For more details, check out Google TV’s blog, and let’s stay tuned to see when this update starts rolling out.    [Source: Google TV Blog] |
Posted: 12 Feb 2012 03:25 PM PST   Music enthusiasts have probably heard of Poweramp before. If not, it is about time you check it out. It is arguably one of the best music players in the Android Market, offering features like full EQ settings, lyrics support and stereo "eXpansion.” But today, this app has just gotten a bit better, with its latest update to version 4.0.5. This update is quite significant, and should get many of you music lovers quite excited. Here are the newest features to Poweramp:
Go ahead and hit the Android Market to get your update. And if you haven’t tried this music player yet, you should definitely consider it. [Source: Poweramp] |
Posted: 12 Feb 2012 02:47 PM PST   When the Acer Iconia Tab A200 was released, last month, the manufacturer promised that an update to Ice Cream Sandwich would follow up, coming February. And just as we expected, without previous notice, the delicious update has just started to hit A200 tablets. This update brings you up to Android 4.0.3, and the version number is Acer_AV041_A200_1.037.00_PA_CUS1. So if you have not yet been prompted to update your tablet, it might be a good idea to start tapping away in the settings. Just go to Settings > About tablet > System update > Check now and you should be set.  Go ahead and let us know how everything goes, and enjoy your new update! [Via: Android Police] |
Posted: 12 Feb 2012 02:22 PM PST   We know many of you have grown to be in love with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Many users are not lucky enough to own a Samsung Galaxy Nexus just yet, though. One of the best features in Google’s newest OS version happens to be time lapse video recording. And if you have been dying to make your time lapse videos, the new app, Lapse It, will be able to give you your fix. The application is simple to use, and offers some great functionality for all the time lapse shooters out there. Not only can the user take time lapse shots, but the app includes some basic editing capabilities. One can trim the video and add music, as well as some cool effects. There are both a free and pro version. The former lacking certain capabilities; like HD shooting (up to 720p), the ability to use the front-facing camera and access to soundtracks. So if you aren’t happy with 240p resolution, the best option is to purchase the Pro version, which goes for $1.99 on the Android Market. Check out the Android Market for more details, or hit up the source link to go directly to the official website. Lapse away! [Source: Lapse It Via: XDA Developers] |
Posted: 12 Feb 2012 01:42 PM PST   Earlier, we reported on the leaked HTC Endeavor RUU. Our main concern was the creating of Android 4.0 ROMs for HTC, but that is not the only fun stuff hidden behind all those zeros and ones. After taking it all apart we can find a plethora of Sense 4.0 previews, giving us an idea of waht HTC’s latest UI overlay will look like. As usual with HTC, the interface is quite good looking. Images mostly include screenshots of the unlock screen, as well as the different options that come along with it. We can not wait until we get to play around with a physical device. But for now, let’s check out the images and drool over them.                      [Via: Android Central] |
Posted: 12 Feb 2012 01:07 PM PST   One of the beauties of Android is that you can customize your device to your liking. The most popular ways of doing this is installing a custom ROM or a launcher. And while custom ROMs provide a fuller experience, not everybody likes rooting and messing with their devices’ guts. If you prefer going the launcher route, there is a new app that you may want to try out – FTL Launcher. FTL stands for “Faster Than Light.” As assumed, this launcher’s main focus is speed and performance. It has been tweaked and built upon that factor, making it a very simple launcher. It lacks much of the options that we are used to seeing from other launchers, but the simplicity and performance may be something that you are into. It is based on Gingerbread’s Launcher2 and only offers the following options:
If you are down to try out a new launcher, this one is surely worth the time. It is available for Android 2.3-3.0 and currently only supports HDPI WVGA(480×800) devices. You can go ahead and download the free version, which has all the settings configured for top speed, and they can not be altered. For those that wish to have the full experience, the paid version costs $2.64 (1.99 Euros). Go ahead and check it out. And don’t forget to come back and let us know how you like it. Will you be dumping your current launcher/UI for this one? If not, which one do you prefer to use? [Via: PocketNow] |
Posted: 12 Feb 2012 12:18 PM PST   Many of us love Plants vs. Zombies, but you can only play it for so long. If you have achieved everything, a similar (almost identical) game with a bit of a twist might be what you need. If that is the case, today’s Amazon free app of the day is Humans vs Aliens. It is the same idea, except this time you are dealing with military personnel and equipment, as well as aliens, meteors and orbs. And if you like social gaming, this is also an Open Feint game, so you can go against the world with all your achievements. Check out the game for free, straight from the Amazon App Store. If you happen to read this another day, though, the app is $0.99 both in the Amazon App Store and the Android Market. [Via: Reddit] |
Posted: 12 Feb 2012 11:57 AM PST   Sony might not be playing the Android game that much longer. Sony has a good place in the Android ecosystem, but there is no doubt that they could be doing better. A company of the likes of Sony is surely not happy to see a €247 million loss in 2011, despite the fact that sales increased by 65% year-on-year. Sony’s upcoming President and CEO Kazuo Hirai is hinting at plans to expand Vita OS, with possibilities of porting it to smartphones and tablets. Undoubtedly, this company is a gaming monster, and Vita OS could become a great operating system for hard-core gamers. This is why Sony is considering the idea – building their own platform might could completely change the game, and its bank accounts. The recent acquisition of Ericsson’s mobile department will definitely bring some changes. And as sad as it would be to see them stepping out of our world, competition is a great thing. After testing out the PS Vita, at CES, I found that the device is incredibly smooth and responsive. And while the OS is nowhere close to being as functional as Android, it has potential. Sony would need to work very hard on releasing a plethora of applications and services, though. “If you’re asking if we’ve made it in a way that’s expandable, so that it’s possible to apply to smartphones and tablets on top of achieving the high responsiveness we need for gaming devices -- it is possible. That doesn’t mean that we’re applying it to smartphones and tablets at this point in time, but it’s been designed with expandability in mind.”As Matsumoto mentions, this might not be happening anytime soon. Sony is not discarding the possibility, though. Whether this would be a change for the good, or for the bad, we do not know. The PS Vita is not getting the success we were expecting. But improvements can always turn the tables around. What do you guys say? Would this be a smart move from Sony? [Source: AV Watch Via: The Verge] |
Posted: 12 Feb 2012 11:22 AM PST  AT&T and Verizon are the first carriers to consider shared family data plans. And while we have already seen evidence of Verizon getting things ready for the big changes, we hadn’t seen anything from AT&T, until now. Engadget has just gotten a hold of a leaked document screenshot, which displays AT&T’s systems being prepared for shared data plans.  Not much is known yet, and the document states that such feature is yet to be determined. The presence of shared data plans in Telegance could simply mean that Ma Bell is simply testing things out. Regardless, this is exciting to see, and we should hope that these shared data plans will be available sooner than later. Shared family data plans will allow customers to use their data in multiple devices. This would make it much easier for users to acquire not only more smartphones, but WiFi hotspot devices, data connected computers and tablets. The main concern when picking a new 3G/4G device is the addition of a whole data plan fee to the monthly bill. Let’s see who gets these plans ready faster. Stay tuned for more details, and give us your intake. Would you be more willing to purchase other internet connected devices if you could share your data among them. [Via: Engadget] |
Posted: 12 Feb 2012 10:59 AM PST  Some of us can consider ourselves technology nerds. And after watching one of the many Verizon commercials, we usually say: “Oh, I already knew all of this.” But such is not the case for the vast majority of the consumer pool. In fact, these advertisements can be quite confusing to the general consumer, and that is what this recent NBC’s Saturday Night Live parody is emphasizing. Part of the reason why Apple’s products are so successful is their marketing strategy. Apple’s commercial are simple and to the point, demonstrating some of the cool things that its devices can do. These ads usually display how you can keep in touch with your loved ones, or have fun playing, making the experience much more personal. Many carriers and manufacturers miss the idea that this is what people want – simplicity and closure. In Verizon’s commercials, topics like 4Gs and geebees are covered. Along with slaying robots and confusing numbers. Sure, SNL takes it a bit far, but they are just demonstrating a point. Check out the video for your weekend dose of humor, and let us know what you think. Do you believe carriers and manufacturers could do better making simpler commercials, much like Apple? [Via: The Verge] |
Posted: 12 Feb 2012 10:37 AM PST   The Verge has spotted an update on Google TV’s Facebook page, stating “Get ready for Monday, we have some big announcements!”. So far, I can’t find the official Google TV page, so we’ll just have to take their word for it. It’s quite possible the page was temporarily taken down, following the update. As for what could be announced, that’s anybody’s guess. It might have to do with the mystery entertainment device I wrote about last weekend, but that seems quite some time off. A new Google TV partnership with LG (as The Verge has mentioned) seems more likely. Or it could have something to do with new content deals. [Via: The Verge] |
Posted: 12 Feb 2012 10:33 AM PST   PocketNow reported earlier today that Sprint might be preparing an "Upgrade Now" program. This would allow current users to buy out the rest of their contract and upgrade to a new device for a fee (on a new 2-year agreement). The program is said to last for two months starting today, but we haven’t received any official news so far. The fee depends on when your last upgrade took place. $165 if you have upgraded 9-11 months agoThere are quite a few people who might not be eligible, though. If you upgraded less than 8 months ago, have a corporate account, an airave account for a tablet, or an iDEN device, you’re out of luck. The reason behind the upgrade? I’ll put my money on the impending launch of the Sprint Galaxy Nexus. [via PocketNow] |
Posted: 12 Feb 2012 10:29 AM PST   At a time when truly unlimited data plans seem like a thing of the past, T-Mobile UK’s announcement to offer it as part of their Full Monty option had people looking for possible loopholes. The most common suggestion was that the speed would be limited to 1 Mbps. But fear not, our British readers, for I come bearing good news. T-Mobile UK has quite categorically stated that they will not throttle down the speeds of any user. “We can confirm that we do not have a 1Mb/S maximum data download speed in place for The Full Monty plan – nor for any of our other pay monthly or pay as you go price plans – and we are confident that our average data speeds are as good, if not better, than anyone else in the industry.”[via Android Central] |
Posted: 12 Feb 2012 10:19 AM PST   Oh Canada! The Galaxy Note launch is tantalizingly close across the border (technically, across half a dozen or so, for me) and the phablet has started arriving at retail locations earlier this morning. Personally, I had the opportunity to play with it at a mall nearby, and though I was impressed with the digitizer, the "Phone? Tablet?" question was a no-brainer to me: it’s way too big to be a phone. But hey, my myTouch 4G is tiny at 3.8", so the adjustment is quite obviously a bit too much for me. How many of you are really looking forward to picking it up on Valentine’s Day? |
Posted: 12 Feb 2012 10:14 AM PST   Edgar reported last night that T-Mobile’s Valentine’s sale might be extended for another day. System glitches caused several buyers to not be able to make their purchases. TmoNews has confirmed it this morning, with a screenshot of an E-Mail detailing the cause of the problem and the procedure to be undertaken by store employees. What is important to note, though, is that the E-Mail quite explicitly states that the extension is not to be advertised. The mail also confirms that the sheer demand for the devices caused the systems to go down in the first place. Keeping that in mind I’d suggest if you want to avail the offer yourself, it’s about time you stop reading and go to a store as early as possible, before the inventory sells out. |
Monday, February 13, 2012
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