Android and Me |
- Hands-on with Sprint’s HTC EVO 4G LTE
- Sprint’s Dan Hesse unveils the HTC EVO 4G LTE
- Gmail for Honeycomb tablets updated to more closely resemble Android 4.0
- Review: Verizon DROID 4 by Motorola
- Android Gaming Weekly: Phantasy Star Online 2, Dance Legend, Deer Hunter Reloaded
- Google’s augmented reality glasses get real, enter testing
- HTC EVO One pictures reveal handset’s kickstand
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 release delayed to end of April, Android 4 is the culprit
- This Galaxy Note video was the most effective TV ad of Q1
| Hands-on with Sprint’s HTC EVO 4G LTE Posted: 04 Apr 2012 04:36 PM PDT  The HTC EVO 4G LTE (we’re still getting used to the name) is finally here. If you have seen the software on the HTC EVO One X or One S, the EVO 4G LTE isn’t going to offer anything new for you. The handset features Android 4.0.3 with HTC Sense 4.0, ImageSense camera technology and Beat Audio. What makes the EVO 4G LTE stand out from the HTC One series is that it has a larger 2,000 mAh battery, a kickstand and HD Voice capabilities. We got some hands-on time with the HTC EVO 4G LTE at the unveiling event in New York tonight, and we thought we’d share some of the pictures we got and a quick video overview. The design of the phone is quite different than the other HTC One series, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. HTC is still using its uni-body aluminum design which wraps around the front and back of the handset. Gallery
HTC has chosen to blast the aluminum case with micro particles to give it a soft-touch feel and then shaved off the top lower of metal around the edge of the device to reveal it’s true color. The upper section on the back side of the phone is a glossy black plastic cover which protects the EVO 4G LTE’s microSD card slot, radios and NFC chip. As you might expect, the glossy finish is a fingerprint magnet. Though the HTC EVO 4G LTE features a large 2,000 mAh battery, HTC has managed to cram all the handset components into a body which is 8.98mm thick and weights 134 grams. The handset may not look as elegant as other HTC One devices, but it’s certainly not hard on the eyes. So what do you think of the HTC EVO 4G LTE? Do you like the name? Do you like the design? With the HTC EVO 4G LTe do your next phone?
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| Sprint’s Dan Hesse unveils the HTC EVO 4G LTE Posted: 04 Apr 2012 03:02 PM PDT  The HTC EVO 4G LTE, Sprint’s variant of the HTC One X, was unveiled today at Sprint’s press event in New York city. Sprint’s CEO, Dan Hesse, took the stage during the press event, showing off what will be Sprint’s flagship smartphone for the summer. The HTC EVO 4G LTE features a 4.7-inch 720p HD display, a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor, 8 megapixel rear camera with an f2.0 lens BSI sensor, dedicated imaging chip and HTC’s new Image Sense technology. Other specifications include a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera, 1 GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, NFC, LTE and a 2000 mAh battery which will keep the EVO 4G LTE up and running for over 24 hours. One of the new unique features found of the HTC EVO 4G LTE is HD Voice. The feature uses voice over LTE in combination with noise cancelling technology on the handset to deliver extremely clear audio calls. From a design standpoint, the HTC EVO 4G LTE features a uni-body annodized aluminum shell similar to other HTC devices. HTC has brought back the kickstand (painted red) which is featured prominently as a design feature on the back side of the handset. The placement of the kickstand would make most people think that they would be able to use in only in landscape mode, but HTC’s engineering magicians have created a dual-directional kickstand which works in landscape and portrait more – giving user the flexability allowed by the thicker kickstand featured on the HTC Thunderbolt. Gallery
The HTC EVO 4G LTE willbe available for pre-order of May 7 for $199.99, with a launch date scheduled for later in Q2. Is the HTC EVO 4G LTE from Sprint the One you’ve been waiting for?
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| Gmail for Honeycomb tablets updated to more closely resemble Android 4.0 Posted: 04 Apr 2012 12:59 PM PDT  If you happen to own one of the many Android 3.2 Honeycomb tablets, you’re likely (not-so) patiently awaiting the Android 4.0 upgrade to hit your device. Some tablets have already been given the upgrade, but many more are left with Honeycomb, with nary an update in sight. To hold you over until the upgrade finally comes, Google has pushed out an update to the Gmail application for Android 3.2 tablets. The update brings ICS-like functionality to Gmail, including:
While not mind-blowing by any stretch of the imagination, it’s good to see Google bringing ICS-like functionality to older tablets running Honeycomb. Still, it’s somewhat embarrassing that these tablets aren’t yet running Android 4, especially considering the limited skinning of Android tablets face, especially compared to Android smartphones. Then again, Dustin reminds me that maybe tablets running different versions of Android isn’t such a big deal. There are a few minor updates to the Gmail application for Android 2.2 and 2.3 users as well, so you’ll want to go ahead and navigate to the Play Store to update your Gmail application.
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| Review: Verizon DROID 4 by Motorola Posted: 04 Apr 2012 11:11 AM PDT  Like many Android users, the original DROID was my introduction to Android and while I’ve bounced through a half dozen other devices since then I’ll always have a soft spot for the DROID line. With that said the DROID 4 has launched into a very different landscape with devices literally half its thickness available and others offering twice its battery life. Despite all that, should the latest installment in this venerable line still warrant consideration as your next Android device? 1. Battery Life My last review was for the DROID RAZR MAXX with its 3,300 mAh battery so the next competitor didn’t really stand a chance. The DROID 4 comes back down to earth with a 1,785 mAh battery and a more pedestrian 12-14 hours with regular use to go with it. I’m sure with liberal use of Smart Actions you could boost that a bit more, but basically don’t expect any miracles from the DROID 4 battery. It’s also definitely worth noting that while the DROID 4 battery compartment is accessible the battery is not meant to be user replaceable so just tossing a second battery in your bag won’t be an option. 2. PerformanceThe DROID 4 is packing the same 1.2 GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM as the DROID RAZR MAXX. This is enough to run basically anything in the Play Store and keeps the OS flowing pretty smoothly. Sure there are quad-core devices powered by Tegra 3 and Exynos on the horizon, but for the time being the DROID 4 is offering plenty of muscle to get the job done. If you are heavily into gaming on your Android device I doubt the DROID 4 would be on your shortlist anyway, but I’ll go ahead and confirm your suspicions that this isn’t the device for you. If on the other hand you are looking to sling some fowl around the stratosphere or just draw something this will get you where you’re going.I’m going to slip this in under ‘performance’ as it doesn’t really fit anywhere else, but the Droid 4 has 8GB of internal memory, which is a bit more of a tight squeeze than we are accustomed to lately. You do have a microSd slot should you need it, but be aware of this if you take a lot of photos or video with your phone. 3. Call QualityI’m a bit of a broken record at this point, but I’m consistently pleased with the sound quality and signal strength offered by Motorola’s smartphones and the DROID 4 is another fine example. While I don’t question that there is room for improvement generically in cell phone call quality[1], Motorola is definitely doing all that it can with existing standards.4. DisplayThe DROID 4 offers a similar qHD PenTile LCD to that found in the DROID RAZR and DROID RAZR MAXX, albeit shrunken down to just 4-inches rather than the now more customary 4.3. As with the DROID RAZR MAXX I didn’t feel that the screen on the DROID 4 warranted quite the level of dislike that it seemed to garner from many reviewers, but it is clearly not a top-end screen. When viewed at a normal distance text and images look crisp, but the colors aren’t as vibrant as what I’ve seen on any of the recent Samsung or HTC devices.5. Build QualityThe DROIDs may not be the thinnest or the lightest of devices, but they are remarkably well constructed. Ignoring the ludicrous offerings from Casio if I had to lay money down on a device holding up to a substantial drop it would be the DROID 4.While I was impressed with the slide mechanism found on the DROID 3 I think that the DROID 4 easily eclipses it. The keyboard slides with an ease and fluidity that I didn’t quite feel in the previous renditions and it solidly locks into place. Obviously I can’t attest to how this will perform over time, but it certainly feels like it will hold up for the long haul. 6. Aesthetics I gave the DROID RAZR MAXX a little bit of static for its world-devouring bezel and unfortunately the DROID 4 is cut from almost exactly the same cloth. I’ll again warn that this may well be something that doesn’t bother you in the least, but I’m unable to get past it when looking at either device. The DROID 4 has finally banished the lip or chin that should be familiar to any owner or fan of the previous DROIDs and I’m actually sad to see it go. For one thing it was the one part of the DROID that you could usually depend on being pretty thin, but it also was part of the distinctive look of the DROID line. After this bit of cosmetic surgery the DROID 4 with it’s keyboard closed is just left looking like a particularly portly version of the DROID RAZR or even the DROID RAZR MAXX. While it isn’t grossly out of line with it’s predecessors the DROID 4 is slightly thicker than the DROID 3 and in a time when the Verizon Galaxy Nexus is being cat called for it’s 9.3mm thick frame the 13mm DROID 4 begins to seem like a throwback device. 7. SoftwareThe DROID 4 ships with Android 2.3.5 (aka Gingerbread) and ‘The Overlay Formerly Known as Blur.’ Motorola has only indicated that the DROID 4 is under evaluation for an Android 4.0 update and there is no timeline at present. I’d be more hopeful for the DROID 4 than others as it shares quite a few traits with the DROID RAZR and DROID RAZR MAXX which are both slated to receive the update, but if you are dead set on having Android 4.0 it may be a good idea to wait for further word from Motorola or to look elsewhere.My feelings regarding the Blur overlay remain the same as they did with the DROID RAZR MAXX. I don’t see any way in which it is improving the basic Gingerbread experience and I’m reasonably certain that it is slowing some pieces down, but the places that I noticed the slow downs the most were in tweaking settings in the menus and that isn’t really an area that the average user finds themselves mucking about in that often. Day to day I don’t see it as detracting from the users experience significantly. 8. CamerasAgain I found the DROID 4 to be quite similar to the DROID MAXX in this area. In daylight the DROID 4 was more than capable of taking a nice snapshot, but under even moderately difficult lighting the photos become noisy quickly. Shot to shot time was quick, but as with almost any smartphone you probably aren’t going to be capturing any quick moving targets such as squirrels or children. Another complaint that I reiterate from the RAZR MAXX is that I think the standard setting for Motorola’s cameras is way too dull. The average smartphone user will take the more colorful picture over the “real” capture any day.
9. KeyboardThe keyboard on the DROID 4 is an absolute pleasure to use. I think Motorola has finally dealt with all of the complaints the have been levied against the various incarnations of the DROID keyboard and are left with a polished gem. The backlighting is an incredibly welcome addition as without it the keyboard was rendered fairly useless in the dark which was a significant blow against it in the battle against onscreen keyboards. The separation between the keys, while a bit of an illusion, does seem greatly improved this time around as I experienced a very limited number of accidental key presses, which considering I only use a smartphone keyboard about once a year when a new DROID is released is fairly impressive. I also think Motorola has found the right responsiveness for the keys after at least the first two DROIDs suffered from extremely mushy keyboards.10. 4G LTE4G LTE is fast…mmmkay. Yeah I don’t really know what else to say about it at this point. The lack of 4G LTE in the DROID 3 was one of the big complaints when that phone launched back in July and perhaps correcting that lapse is one of the reasons that we saw such a rapid turnaround on the DROID 4 release. I had no problems with 4G on the DROID 4 and was consistently receiving speeds in line with the rest of my 4G LTE devices.Final ThoughtsDROID 47 / 10  Each new release of the DROID line seems to be greeted with less excitement than the last despite the fact that the device does seem to at least subtly improve with each release. This is definitely the best version of the DROID yet, but I haven’t exactly heard anyone clamoring for it. Now in part that could be because it was released only about 7 months after its predecessor, however Android users are somewhat accustomed to turnabouts like that by now so I doubt that is a significant factor. Most of us have just grown accustomed to Sywpe or some other onscreen keyboard and if that’s the case then there is no reason to opt for the DROID 4 over the DROID RAZR MAXX or Galaxy Nexus. Now if you just can’t get by without a hardware keyboard, and I know there are some of you, then by all means the DROID 4 is probably the best Android device available for you today.
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| Android Gaming Weekly: Phantasy Star Online 2, Dance Legend, Deer Hunter Reloaded Posted: 04 Apr 2012 10:01 AM PDT  Welcome back to our regular column Android Gaming Weekly, where we recap all the new releases and highlights every Wednesday. We post small bits throughout the week related to Android games, but readers have requested a condensed summary that makes it easier to keep up with all the latest news. Read on for this week's best in Android gaming. Dance Legend lets you dance with your fingersDo your fingers want to learn to Dougie, do the wave, bounce their booty, and more? This week TuneWiki released Dance Legend for free to the Google Play Store. They claim it’s “The only true Dance game” and offers songs from some of the worlds best artists including Lady Gaga, LMFAO and Nelly. While the app is free and includes several songs, additional song packages are $0.99. The King of Fighters available in Japan
Last week we mentioned that The King of Fighters briefly appeared in the Google Play Store and then disappeared. Now we learn that it has returned, but it’s only available for devices in Japan at the moment. This game has become one of the most wanted releases, so hopefully the developer adds additional device support soon. Old-school platform action goes west with Gunman CliveI haven’t played Gunman Clive yet, but it made the cut this week thanks to its quirky trailer that makes fun of itself. This developer also released a game that lets you pull down people’s pants with your finger, so we know he has an odd sense of humor. Gunman Clive sells for $1.99, so you might want to wait for a couple more reviews to appear before purchasing the game. Update: I purchased Gunman Clive and played it on my Transformer Prime. This game is well worth the $1.99 if you enjoy classic platform action. See through animals in Deer Hunter ReloadedGlu Mobile’s Deer Hunter series of games are some of my favorite on Android, so I was glad to read this week that the next release is already in the works. Deer Hunter Reloaded will feature an X-Ray mode where players can target specific organs such as the brain, heart, or lungs inside the animals to get the ultimate bragging shot. The game will be free to play and should be available in the Google Play Store soon. Check out this report from PocketGamer for more details. Relive arcade games of the 90's with Shogun: Bullet Hell ShootoutAre you a fan of old-school manic shooters? This week Shogun: Bullet Hell saw an update that fixed some bugs and added new devices. This game comes recommended from kwills88, who says he loves the retro shooter feel. He warns the game is extremely difficult, so try out the demo version below before purchasing the full paid version. Dark Meadow: The Pact coming this month for freeThe Dark Meadow is game we have been looking forward to since last year that is finally almost here. Last week the developer announced the Android version would be available in April, and it’s going to be free. It was also revealed there will an enhanced version for Tegra 3 devices that features even more enhanced visuals and physics. For more details, check out this hands-on video we posted last month. Become a detective in MysteryvilleWe don’t see many mystery games on Android, so we wanted to share this free title that just debuted this week. Sinister things are happening in Mysteryville. All cats have disappeared from this little town and it’s your job to solve the case. Be warned that the free version requires Facebook or Twitter to advance in the game, but there is also a paid version if you enjoy the game. Obtain enlightenment with MicroHeroes 8 BallMicroheroes 8 Ball is a take on the classic magic 8 ball toy that features advice from Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Confucius, Shakespeare or Gandhi. The app is free and we like big headed cartoons, so check it out. Phantasy Star Online 2 coming to Android this winterIf you are a fan of Japanese RPGs, keep an eye on SEGA’s Phantasy Star Online 2. The sequel to the hit game is coming to PC this summer, but it will also be available on Android and iOS later this winter. That’s still a long way away, so download Zenonia 4 for free to kill some time. Games I'm currently playingGangStar Rio: City of Saints: It’s clearly a rip off of Grand Theft Auto and the vehicle controls are pretty bad, but I’ve been playing a lot of Gameloft’s GangStar Rio this week. I’m not sure if the game is worth the $6.99 asking price yet, so you might want to wait for Gameloft’s next big $0.99 sale. What Android games are you playing?Find any great new Android games this week? Share your favorites in the comments below so we can check them out.
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| Google’s augmented reality glasses get real, enter testing Posted: 04 Apr 2012 09:31 AM PDT  Google’s Project Glass is the team quietly working on Google’s augmented-reality glasses project, which will provide users with smartphone functionality without the smartphone. On it’s Google+ brand page, the Project Glass team has announced that the glasses are real, and have begun testing at Google HQ. While it’ll still be months (or years) before the glasses are officially up for public consumption, Google has released a nifty video to show us what the future of augmented reality could be. We recently conducted a poll as to whether people were actually interested in Google glasses, and a whopping 66% of you responded with a resounding YES! Obviously, people who read Android and Me are the early adopters, and we have to wonder how Android-powered glasses would perform in the general public. The glasses are rumored to go on sale sometime next year, and will likely cost about as much as today’s smartphones, so we won’t have to wait too long to see our dreams for a Star Trek future come to life. Who out there is as stoked as we are for Google’s glasses vision to come to reality? Sound off in the comments.
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| HTC EVO One pictures reveal handset’s kickstand Posted: 04 Apr 2012 07:18 AM PDT  Sprint and HTC are currently setting up for the HTC EVO One unveiling press event in New York city right now, but we thought we’d share a few pictures of the new One series handset to give you a quick peek at what we will be playing with this afternoon. DROID Life has managed to get some early hands-on time with the HTC EVO One, confirming the handset’s 4.7-inch 720p display, 8 megapixel camera, 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera and Android 4.0.3 build with HTC Sense 4.0. The images they captured focus mainly on the back side of the device and prominently show off the HTC EVO One’s red kickstand, which is located on the upper portion of the phone. The design of the HTC EVO One looks a bit odd when compared to the sleek HTC One X and One S. While we’re excited to see HTC is bringing back the kickstand with this device, the two-tone back panel (glossy and matte) looks like it would make the phone stand out in a crowd, and not in a good way. What are your thoughts on the HTC EVO One’s design? Do you like what Sprint and HTC have come up with, or should they have simply kept the look of the HTC One X?
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| Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 release delayed to end of April, Android 4 is the culprit Posted: 04 Apr 2012 06:32 AM PDT  Samsung had originally targeted the end of March for the European release of the Galaxy Tab 2 family of devices. Both the 7.0″ and 10.1″ Galaxy Tab 2 variants will now go on sale in the U.K. at the end of April, with Samsung claiming both it and Google need more time to get Android 4.0 fully working on the upcoming tablets. This is not the first time Samsung has faced delays in its Android 4.0 implementation. Sammy missed the upgrade window it had set for the Galaxy Note upgrade, pushing that back into Q2, and has struggled to bring Android 4.0 to all Galaxy S II variants, especially in the United States. U.S. variants of the Galaxy S II have to meet increased carrier scrutiny, which generally delays the process by several weeks. If you have your heart set on either of the Galaxy Tab 2 variants, at least you don’t have to wait too long for Samsung to release the device, assuming Samsung and Google are able to meet the end of April deadline. Who out there is planning on picking up a Galaxy Tab 2? Are you upset that Samsung missed the release window, or happy they decided to wait for a finished product before releasing?
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| This Galaxy Note video was the most effective TV ad of Q1 Posted: 03 Apr 2012 08:18 PM PDT  What was the most effective ad broadcast on national TV this year? According to Ace Metrix, Samsung took home the gold with their Galaxy Note ad called The Best Of A Phone And Tablet. TV ads were scored on a scale of 0-950, which represents scoring on creative attributes such as relevance, persuasion, watchability, information, attention, and more. Samsung earned an Ace Score of 686, which topped two of the Super Bowl’s most popular ads from Doritos and M&M’s. It was also well ahead of Apple’s best ad, which scored a 618. “Q1 is arguably the most important quarter for advertising, as the Super Bowl, Oscars, and awards season in general drives the advertising agenda,” said Peter Daboll, CEO of Ace Metrix. “It will be very interesting to watch how Samsung's continually impressive ads affect the company's marketshare vis-Ã -vis competitors like Apple, which, this quarter, did not come close to measuring up to Samsung's advertising prowess. Samsung's top-ranked ad was particularly brilliant because it conveyed innovation and information without a narrator.” Samsung has already shipped 5 million units, with plans to hit 10 million by the end of the year, so this device is easily the best selling “phablet” to hit the market. The Galaxy Note is currently exclusive to AT&T in the United States, but rumors have suggested it could launch on Verizon and Sprint as the Galaxy Journal. In case you haven’t been watching TV or paying attention ads, check out Samsung’s winning video below and let us know what you think. Do you like the style of the video and the attention given to the product, without a narrator?
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