Friday, February 17, 2012



Posted: 14 Feb 2012 02:00 PM PST
Jason Tyler, author of Google App Inventor for Android, has a new book on its way and you can pre-order it today. It’s titled, XDA’s Android Hacker’s Toolkit: The Complete Guide to Rooting, ROMs and Theming. For those of you ready to start hacking, but aren’t sure where to start, the XDA developer’s forum has long been a great resource. Tyler’s book presents it in a more easily approached manner, beginning with the basics. 
“Providing a solid understanding of the internal workings of the Android operating system, this book walks you through the terminology and functions of the android operating system from the major nodes of the file system to basic OS operations.”
Expect to learn a wealth of information, including some of these hot topics:
  • Teaches theory, preparation and practice, and understanding of the OS
  • Explains the distinction between ROMing and theming
  • Provides step-by-step instructions for Droid, Xoom, Galaxy Tab, LG Optimus, and more
  • Identifies the right tools for various jobs
  • Contains new models enabling you to root and customize your phone
  • Offers incomparable information that has been tried and tested by the amazing XDA community of hackers, gadgeteers, and technicians
The book is available for pre-order from Barnes & Noble as well as Amazon for $22.39. Even for the experienced Android owners, this one will be a good addition to your library, when your friends come asking for help. Expect a formal release around May 1st, 2012.
Posted: 14 Feb 2012 01:55 PM PST
How is it the old saying goes? Hell hath no fury like a… newsreader scorned?! Well that certainly seemed to be the case when Fox News’ Shep Smith received a text message from AT&T informing him that his data is to be throttled. We helped you understand AT&T’s data restrictions earlier this month, the highlight of which explains that the top 5% of users are throttled for the duration of their billing period.
So it seems poor Shep managed to reach that top 5%, here’s hoping he didn’t upload the youtube video whilst on his data plan!
Check out the video for the full rant in all it’s glory.



source: androidpolice
Posted: 14 Feb 2012 01:24 PM PST
Well it was only a few short hours after the Droid 4 was released that we saw that it could be rooted. Well it’s only been a few short days and we now have some more awesomeness for you speed freaks out there. Thanks in part to some awesome developers over at the OPPtimizer Projekt we can now get the 1.2GHz OMAP dual-core processor in the Droid 4 overclocked to 1.4GHz. Now this may not be a significant increase in speed but it shows that the development community is kicking off support for this device with a bang.
If you are an early adopter and feel the need for speed you can hit the link below to find the correct speed mod. While this device is already snappy out-of-the-box it’s nice to push it a bit further. As always we must warn you to be careful with software that mods your phone but if that doesn’t scare you then scroll on further. You can check out our initial hands-on of the 4th generation Droid and look for our full review in the coming weeks. Enjoy!
OPPtimizer Projekt Downloads – Link
source: BriefMobile
via:  androinica
Posted: 14 Feb 2012 01:01 PM PST

The lucky ducks who work for Verizon will have the opportunity to buy a limited edition Motorola Droid RAZR or RAZR MAXX. An employee at Verizon disclosed the details on this limited edition run in an email, including a free dock and a unique black and red pattern. They will also have “Limited Edition” engraved on the front, and a unique number engraved on the back. The employees can score this deal for $99 for a 16GB RAZR or $199 for a 32GB RAZR MAXX. They should be available sometime in April.
razr-limited-2-630x347 razr-limited-3-568x1024 razr-limited-5-630x412
Source: Android and Me
Posted: 14 Feb 2012 12:05 PM PST
Looking for a way to have some 8-Bit fun on your Android device?  Yeah, most people have and it seems to be a bit of a difficult thing in these neck of the woods.  However, the boys over at ThinkGeek want to introduce their latest and greatest, the iCade 8-Bitty controller.  Oh it’s on ya’ll.  It’s about time we’re seeing things like this make it to the Android platform, because after all, who the heck wants to play an 8-bit game on a 3.5-inch screen? Yeah, I went there.  The retro styled iCade 8-Bitty allows you to sync up via Bluetooth to any Android device and is open source. So, let the dev’s eat I say.  The controller will be launching at the very decent price of $24.99 and we’re sure they’ll be going like hot cakes.  Stay tuned for a release date on the hot item and don’t forget to let us know what you think in the comments below.
Posted: 14 Feb 2012 11:11 AM PST
In Verizon’s new attempt to “go green” they’re promoting a new in-store trade-in deal that will allow Vz customers to trade in their old phones for some cheddar towards a new phone, a tablet, your phone bill or any in-store accessories.  All you have to do is bring your old device in and a Vz rep will quickly assess the device’s value.  The value for the trade-in largely depends on the make, model and condition in which you bring it in.  If it’s in tip-top shape, Vz says it’s possible one could see up to $300 bucks for a device.  Overall, I’ve got to say this is a great attempt on Vz’s part to do the right thing and encourage individuals to trade in their old used devices so they can be recycled.  If this doesn’t encourage you to come in and upgrade, I’m not sure what will.  Feel free to let us know what you think in the comments below.
source: Verizon
via: Phonescoop 
Posted: 14 Feb 2012 10:58 AM PST
I have some good and bad news for you owners of the US Wifi Galaxy Tab 10.1. Good news is you should be seeing an OTA update from Samsung but the bad news is it’s not Ice Cream Sandwich. It’s Android 3.2 and it pushes the build up to HTJ85B.UEKMP P7510UEKMP. While it’s not being pushed out in full effect there are enough folk out there receiving it that suggests that everyone will be seeing it sooner rather than later. The bug fixes include:
- Fixes for email attachment issues,
- Rotation issues,
- Wifi Reconnect issues,
- System file Force close fixes,
- Improved Power Consumption,
- Android Market updated to 3.4.4.
While it may not be ICS just yet, it will certainly add some milage and stability to your 10.1 inch Galaxy Tab. You can check for the update by going to Settings> About device> Software update. Otherwise you can head to this XDA forum to download it now. Let us know in the comments section if you’ve received this yet. Enjoy!
source: Android Central
Posted: 14 Feb 2012 10:56 AM PST
If you are anything like me, and rely on instant messaging services like Google Talk, Facebook Messenger, Jabber and even Skype, you may want to check out the imo app. Aside from releasing a new update today with an improved UI and the ability to make voice calls, imo can easily handle all of your instant messaging needs, in one easy to find place.
I downloaded imo for the first time today to see what all the hype was about and I am pleased to say that it works extremely well. Not only can you access all of your IM accounts from one sleek application, you can even access the new voice chat features found on Skype and Google Talk with today’s update. The update also brings a few bug fixes and reduced battery drain, something us LTE users can really appreciate. If you have yet to try out imo or just want to get today’s update, check out the market link below. There you can read up on the app and see how many accolades they have received recently. It’s worth giving it a go.

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Posted: 14 Feb 2012 10:39 AM PST
Last November we told you that Acer was working on a pair of Tegra 3 powered Android tablets, codenamed the A510 and A511. Today, Acer released a few new details to whet our Android appetites.
The A510 will run Android 4.0 ICS straight out of the box, the screen measures in at 10.1-inches with a resolution of 1280 x 800.  The processor is a Tegra 3 backed with 1GB of RAM. There will be 16GB, 32GB and 64GB storage options available at launch. The combination of ICS, Tegra 3, a new power management and whopping 9800 mAh battery promises up to 18 hours of use on a single charge, impressive!
The A510 is expected to land in Europe in March with an extremely competitive pricing range, the 16GB is expected to start from as little as €399 ($522). Keep tuned in to TalkAndroid as we keep you up-to-date with the latest news on the A510 as it breaks.

source : slashgear
Posted: 14 Feb 2012 10:25 AM PST
Fresh off the recent approvals by both the US and European Commission for the Motorola acquisition, Google could very well face increased scrutiny over possible patent misuse. There are concerns that Google could use its upcoming received patents to possibly penalize rival companies. Google’s view on patent licensing is what has regulators worried. The Department of Justice antitrust division had this to say in a statement in comparison to both Apple and Microsoft, "Google's commitments were more ambiguous and do not provide the same direct confirmation of its SEP [standard essential patent] licensing policies" 
The European Commission was satisfied with Google’s best interests in not limiting Android strictly to Motorola, but they did voice some general concerns. Joaquin Almunia wrote in a statement as a part of a press release:
"Upon careful examination, this transaction does not itself raise competition issues. Of course, the Commission will continue to keep a close eye on the behavior of all market players in the sector, particularly the increasingly strategic use of patents."
The DOJ Antitrust Division also had this to say:
"In light of the importance of this industry to consumers and the complex issues raised by the intersection of the intellectual property rights and antitrust law at issue here, as well as uncertainty as to the exercise of the acquired rights, the division continues to monitor the use of SEPs in the wireless device industry, particularly in the smartphone and computer tablet markets. The division will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action to stop any anticompetitive use of SEP rights" 
The EC takes patent misuse and antitrust behavior seriously as they announced the would be investigating Samsung over claims of such behavior. These claims regard the use of its 3G/UMTS patents and licensing use. They are attempting to use said patents in their never ending legal bouts with Apple. Apple of course is saying that these were unfair terms for the use of technology.
It’s been questioned on how this acquisition will impact the Nexus program as well as software and unlocked bootloader potential on Motorola devices in the coming future. While Eric Schmidt has made attempts at letting everyone know that Motorola wouldn’t be favored for its Android software and Andy Rubin’s announcement not guaranteeing a Motorola Nexus; it’s still in the air about how the folks that build Android will internally support the hardware company. As always, only time will tell.
source: Slashgear

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