Posted: 17 Feb 2012 04:26 PM PST  A few hours ago we brought you news about an update in the works for the Motorola Droid X, and now Verizon has posted the change log to tell us just what the update entails. It's not a version bump, but nobody really expected Ice Cream Sandwich (officially) for this one. On the plus side, the Droid X should be at the top of it's game with all the tweaks included in build 4.5.621.MB810
See? We weren't kidding! Instructions and help with the update are available as well, but everything is still marked as "Coming Soon" for now. When it goes live, we'll tell ya. Source: Verizon 
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Posted: 17 Feb 2012 04:01 PM PST  A bit of news about Android applications on the BlackBerry PlayBook, that looks good for users but certainly won't make any developers happy -- RIM has confirmed that Android apps ported to the PlayBook won't be able to support mobile ads. RIM is giving PlayBooks away to Android application developers who want to port their work to BlackBerry App World (the official RIM BlackBerry marketplace), so we're pretty sure they want developers to make their way over, but blocking the biggest source of revenue for them is a bit of a mistake if you ask me. To be fair, it could be a technical limitation. According to Jeff Gadway, RIM Senior Brand and Market Communication specialist, the ability may be added in a later release. RIM certainly needs all the help it can muster to pump up their brand in the eyes of consumers, and a quick influx of thousands of apps to use with the Android Player is an easy method to do just that. I'm certain their long-term strategy will revolve around native applications designed for the BlackBerry platform, and hopefully some of the Android developers they attract will stick along for the ride. Source: Gigaom; via Crackberry 
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Posted: 17 Feb 2012 03:32 PM PST 
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Posted: 17 Feb 2012 03:19 PM PST  I noticed something after checking in via Latitude that I haven't seen posted about. Even after some very intense Googling (3 minutes tops). So I posted it about it in a Google+ post and received confirmation about it from a Latitude dev stating it just went live yesterday.Checking out the Google+ post, the Latitude developer, Joe LaPenna stated there was nothing further to announce when questioned why it was happening but, there seems to be a little bit more to the story here then he cared to mention. Source: Google+, Thanks, Joey! 
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Posted: 17 Feb 2012 02:17 PM PST  You didn't really think Google would have just any old countdown page for Mobile World Congress, did you? And instead of saying Google's counting down to MWC, it looks more like el Goog is building up to MWC. What you see above is where we stand as of Feb. 17, and just below is a little slider that goes from a blank canvas to what should be a fully formed Android extravaganza. Google's not going to half-ass its MWC presence, that's for sure. Last year there were smoothies of every major version flavor (well, most of them anyway), a two-story slide, and more developers than we could shake a stick at. It was magical. Source: Google at Mobile World Congress read more
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Posted: 17 Feb 2012 01:58 PM PST  Remember that controversial Motorola Droid 4 root method we talked about last week? You might have skimmed over the part where the method was presumed to work on just about any Motorola device, but it seems to be true -- the Motorola Droid XYBOARD (both versions) have been rooted using the method. There's not a lot to actually do with your XYBOARD that needs root just yet, but we're sure all that will change soon now that an easy method is available. It looks simple enough -- install some drivers then run a batch file to root the tablet. You can find all the particulars and the needed files at the source link, and of course join the discussion in the forums if you hit a snag. Source: Vulnfactory.org 
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Posted: 17 Feb 2012 01:53 PM PST  Hi,Ah, ol' Moto Matt's got a partner in crime now, eh? Sing out if you hear something. More: Motorola Droid X forums 
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Posted: 17 Feb 2012 01:20 PM PST  This is a little bit of inside baseball for most people, but our trip to Mobile World Congress next week in Barcelona could get a little interesting. The main public transportation union there is threatening to strike on all us mobile nerds, meaning we conceivably could have to hoof it through the city for a week. (Or take cabs. But have you seen the Dollar lately?) Here's the latest from the GSMA, which puts on Mobile World Congress: Try not to worry about us too much. We'll make do. 
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Posted: 17 Feb 2012 12:46 PM PST  Sadly there is no chang log of sorts to go along with this release so we must assume that it's just a minor update. But updates are good, especially if they squash some bugs. Some folks in the Android Central Forums are going through the update now, so if you spot anything new -- let us know. 
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Posted: 17 Feb 2012 12:42 PM PST  Welcome to the next iteration of Android Central. We'd give you a version number but, frankly, we have no idea what version we're on.. Just like Android, we keep on doing our thing. (Though we're able to get updates to all of you at one time, which is awesome.) So what's new? We just rolled out a new version of our homepage filter, with much more filtering power behind it. You now have three main options for content on the Android Central home page. read more
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Posted: 17 Feb 2012 11:52 AM PST  Opera says it's going to bring new verisons of its mobile browsers -- Opera Mini and Opera Mobile -- to Mobile World Congress in a little more than a week. In an e-mail to press today, Opera says the new browsers will have features that "focus a lot on the social aspect of browsing."
Mobile World Congress is Feb. 27 - March 1 in Barcelona, Spain. You can follow all of our MWC coverage here. 
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Posted: 17 Feb 2012 11:38 AM PST Happy Friday everyone, and welcome back to another ShopAndroid.com Daily Giveaway. Today we've got some great new accessories that we're featuring such as the OtterBox Defender Case for Samsung/Verizon Galaxy Nexus, Seidio SURFACE Case for Samsung Skyrocket, Case-Mate Barely There Case for HTC EVO 3D, and the Seidio SURFACE Holster for AT&T Galaxy S II. As always, leave a comment below letting us know which featured item you'd like to win. We'll randomly select one of you from today's giveaway and announce who the lucky winner was on Monday. OtterBox Defender Series Case for Samsung/Verizon Galaxy NexusRated as one of the most protective cases available for the Galaxy Nexus, the OtterBox Defender Series Case features three layers of solid protection for your Android device. A Thermal formed clear membrane protects the Galaxy Nexus display against scratching and dust, a hi-impact polycarbonate shell guards against drops and absorbs shock, and a high quality silicon skin wraps around the entire device to ensure complete protection. read more 
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Posted: 17 Feb 2012 11:22 AM PST  What we have here folks is a good old spoonful of rumor. Simon Hardy, a reader over at Coolsmartphone found himself presented with this image for completing a market research survey for Orange UK. The story goes that today said reader was asked to complete a survey on a phone the network will be introducing in the future known as the Orange London. Following on from such devices as the Tahiti, San Francisco and Monte Carlo, the name certainly fits the bill. What sets this apart from previous Orange efforts are the specs. Fast Intel processor, 16GB internal storage, 8MP camera with HD capabilities and the "best ever" phone camera stabilizer. Gorilla Glass over a 4-inch screen and what appears to be a front facing camera completes the spec list. One thing that is missing though is any mention of an OS, something which Hardy made a point of noting in his survey responses. Looking at this render, it looks pretty much like we're not expecting any surprises -- any none Android surprises that is. The four traditional Android capacitive buttons are all present, but that's about all we have to go on. It isn't a bad looking device though, somewhat reminiscent of the LG Optimus 2X. There are some bold claims being made in the descriptions too, notably the "highest browsing speeds vs any other phone in the world." After the Intel keynote as CES though even this isn't too far fetched. Remember the comparision with the competitor product? Another question that springs to mind is just who would be making such a device on their behalf? Previous smartphone efforts have been produced by ZTE, and the Tahiti is a re-badged Huawei Mediapad. Could it be possible that a new alliance has been formed with Lenovo? With MWC around the corner though it's just as possible that more Intel partners will start to emerge. Of course this could all just be a giant hoax. As with every render we see leaked across the web, until we actually get our hands on something real, it might not be real. If it is though, Orange might just be about to raise their game. Source: Coolsmartphone 
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Posted: 17 Feb 2012 10:17 AM PST  Maybe Rovio's running out of holidays, because it's sending the Angry Birds into Space next month, as part of a deal with brings in NASA and National Geographic as launch partners. Details from Yahoo Games suggests that the new version of Angry Birds will introduce new gravity-based gameplay as well as slow-motion puzzles and "lightspeed" destruction. Rovio plans a simultaneous launch across all mobile platforms, including Android, from Mar. 22. We've got the full teaser trailer after the jump. Source: Yahoo Games, Rovio read more
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Posted: 17 Feb 2012 09:54 AM PST  So great news for owners of those phones, especially the long-suffering Thunderbolt, which took long enough to get bumped from Froyo to Gingerbread. HTC expects to begin updating international handsets to ICS in the next month, starting with the Sensation and Sensation XE. Source: HTC USA Facebook 
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Posted: 17 Feb 2012 09:01 AM PST  We're sitting here smiling because the Samsung Continuum is in the midst of receiving not one, but two updates that end with the phone being upgraded to Android 2.2. Yes. We're excited about a Froyo update. The Continuum, as you may recall, was a crazy little phone that came out in late 2010 (we actually got our hands on it a few months before it was announced) that was running Android 2.1 and featured a crazy little secondary display just below the capacitive buttons. It was an interesting idea, but it never really took off and the Continuum was left to wither and die. (Read our full Samsung Continuum review.) Now here we are in February 2012 -- some three major versions of Android later -- and the Continuum is being updated to Android 2.2 Froyo. It's actually coming in the form of two updates. The first is the Froyo update itself (software version EB01). The second update (software version EC09) brings a bunch of improvements, including the ability to run Adobe Flash Player 10.1, among others. We've got them listed after the break. So to all you Samsung Continuum owners out there, today we raise our glasses to you. Enjoy. Source: Verizon Samsung Continuum update (pdf); More: Continuum forums read moreThanks, Trailblazer101, for the tip! 
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Posted: 17 Feb 2012 08:40 AM PST  Go back through every review we've ever written here, and one underlying theme you'll find is that we're tired of the same old microSD card and, boy howdy, do we wish someone would sex things up a little bit. Wait. Scratch that. Haven't once thought that. But Samsung apparently is solving the problem nobody has with the way memory cards by introducing a "stylish design" in its line of SD and microSD cards. More important, we suppose, is that these new cards are supposed to be waterproof, shockproof and magnetproof, and have 24MB-per-second read speeds. As in, survive up to 24 hours in water (longer than you would last, we might add), handle being run over by a 1.6-ton vehicle (again, you wouldn't make it) and resist up to 10,000 gaus, which Samsung says is a little less than the power of a medical imaging magnet. (Which we play with on weekends, just for fun.) In all seriousness, SD card performance is important (provided your phone can still take one), as is survivability. There's important stuff on there, and performance and price are sexy enough. Though we would recommend some sort of instant-uploading of images, just in case. Source: Press release 
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Posted: 17 Feb 2012 08:20 AM PST  Member ShadowCatcher has uploaded a nice shot of some boats moored in San Fransciso.This is a picture taken with my HTC Droid Incredible on Nov 12, 2010 next to Tarantino’s Restaurant on Jefferson Street, facing Fisherman’s Grotto and The Embarcadero in San Francisco, California. It was a beautiful day – the fog had cleared, no clouds in the sky, and almost no wind.As you can only get in SF. Or maybe Maine. Either way, hit up the download links below. 
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Posted: 17 Feb 2012 07:45 AM PST  If you've got a Sprint Nexus S 4G and have been waiting on pins and needles for your Android 4.X Ice Cream Sandwich update that supposedly was dropping Feb. 16, it's time to get some sleep. It didn't happen. And we're really not that surprised. We've said it before, and we'll say it again: Updates happen when they happen, and they don't happen until they happen -- regardless of what some internal web page might say. And for everyone asking why tablets like the Acer Icona Tab A200 are already getting while the Nexus S 4G -- a friggin' Nexus phone! -- doesn't yet have it? It's simple: The Nexus S 4G is not the Acer Icona Tab A200. It's a smartphone. It has cell radio stuff to content with (and CDMA at that). That's just the way it is, folks The update is coming. Of that, we're (pretty) sure. Do you want it now? Or do you want it right? Anyhoo. If you're one of the many anxious Nexus S 4G owners waiting on ICS, you're not alone. In fact, we're having jackets made. 
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Posted: 17 Feb 2012 06:57 AM PST  However, questions remain as to whether a smartphone OS belongs on such a device. Smartphones are personal, portable gadgets, neither of which applies to the typical home phone. And we have some concerns about the hardware too, particularly the nasty resistive touchscreen that’s been used. Read on to find out our full thoughts, as we dive further into the Archos 35 Smart Home Phone.
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Posted: 17 Feb 2012 06:11 AM PST  SwiftKey, the Android keyboard replacement that can just about read minds, has passed a pretty significant milestone -- 5,000,000 downloads. Just as impressive, over 1,000,000 users have personalized their install using SwiftKey's service to scan your mail and social media posts to learn how you type. The folks at TouchType aren't just awesome developers though, they like to share the good fortune. To celebrate, they have updated the core language data to help make "informal language" easier to type on our phones, and are offering a 25 percent discount on the apps normal $3.99 / £2.49 asking price! The sale is only good through the weekend. Here at AC more than a couple of us use SwiftKey, and we're looking forward to the update. The weekend sale is a great way for anyone who's not using SwiftKey to find out what all the fuss is about. The press release and a download link are after the break. read more
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Posted: 17 Feb 2012 05:54 AM PST  This offer is not valid with any other coupon and expires at Midnight PST Monday 2/20/2012. Don't forget about our Fast Free Shipping on US orders of $50 and higher! 
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Posted: 17 Feb 2012 05:23 AM PST Podcast MP3 URL: http://traffic.libsyn.com/androidcentral/androidcentral88.mp3 Thing 1- Samsung Galaxy Note cometh!
Thing 2 - Motorola Droid 4, and Ice Cream Sandwich updatesThing 3 - More Mobile World Congress pre-release madness
Thing 4 - Other odds and ends
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Posted: 17 Feb 2012 05:01 AM PST  The new Optimus logo is designed to accentuate the metallic edges and slim shape of the 2012 smartphone line-up unveiled at this year’s Mobile World Congress (MWC). It embodies modern and seamless simplicity, which is the core for LG’s design philosophy for mobile devices.Sounds good. And we'll be in Barcelona starting Feb. 26 to bring you everything there is to bring from Mobile World Congress. Stay tuned! read more 
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Posted: 17 Feb 2012 04:40 AM PST 
We've got Acer's full presser after the break. read more 
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Saturday, February 18, 2012
Update - 3
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