Android Authority |
- New Samsung Galaxy S3 render pops up. Is May 22 the official release date?
- Painkiller: Purgatory HD now available for Android
- Spotify to release major update for Android; ICS support finally on its way?
- Android Speed Booster: One-tap memory, performance, privacy, and app optimizations
- Making your Android Tablet Homescreen look like the iPad
- Google Glasses are closer to reality than ever [Video!]
- HTC One X Impressions – All hail the new king of Android
- LG Viper, Sprint’s first LTE phone, to go on sale on April 15 for $99.99
- Quick review: Instagram for Android!
- Next Issue Media app launched, read 32 top magazines for 15 bucks a month
| New Samsung Galaxy S3 render pops up. Is May 22 the official release date? Posted: 05 Apr 2012 03:26 AM PDT
After I recently wrote about how easy it is to create a render for the Samsung Galaxy S3, it’s now time for me to write about exactly that, as a new supposed depiction of Samsung’s upcoming superphone has surfaced in Korea. I was set to approach this latest “rumor” about the Galaxy S3 with caution, but I actually believe that we might be looking at the real thing. Here’s why. The timing of this “leak”, which has popped up on a few Korean websites, couldn’t be better. With the recent announcement of the HTC EVO 4G LTE and the HTC One X already shipping to select countries in Europe and India, Samsung really needs to step up its game and announce the Galaxy S3. While a lot of people are eagerly waiting for this device, they might eventually get fed up with the wait and go ahead with an (supposedly) equally good, if not better, device. I, for one, am certainly vexed about the endless speculations about the device and I will be more than a little upset if the device isn’t announced soon. Other fake renders that we’ve seen in the past have mostly been design changes made on top of the Galaxy S2 or other existing devices, and as such, it has been possible to weed out the fakes easily. I’m no Photoshop expert and I know that the above render can be made up with some time and effort, but I feel like this could be authentic. The phone design is futuristic and impressive, and in line with what we expect Samsung to do with its next flagship device. The May 22 date and the London location are certainly in line with the strong possibility that Samsung will announce its hero device ahead of the Olympic Games, of which it is a main sponsor.
In a recent tweet, Russian blogger Eldar Murtazin, one of the few persons believed to have held the actual device, left us with a “No comment” which is generally corporate speak for “It’s true, but you’re not supposed to know about it yet.” While this is just further speculation on my part, could this tweet be an indication that we finally have a real image of the S3? My above reasoning can easily be turned upside down and used to show that this latest render is fake. As we’ve seen, it’s not that hard for an expert to put something like this together. The image of the phone is also similar to a lot of concept phone designs I’ve seen around the web. Along those lines, anyone could arrive at the potential date and location for the “actual” announcement of the device, especially since that date has been rumored before. With no official confirmation from Samsung about the S3, we can only process this newest information with the mandatory grain of salt. All we, the millions of Android fans impatiently waiting for this device, can do is send out a humble request (which will eventually turn into an angry demand, I’m sure) to Samsung: Please, do not drag this out any longer! What do you think? Do we finally have some real information? Or is it just another fake? This article, New Samsung Galaxy S3 render pops up. Is May 22 the official release date? , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Painkiller: Purgatory HD now available for Android Posted: 05 Apr 2012 01:22 AM PDT
High-end handsets and tablets increasingly mimic the capabilities of a personal computer. It’s only natural that one of the most popular aspects about a PC, gaming, is also finding its way to the “smaller” platforms. We’re not just talking about hugely popular made-for-mobile games, such as Angry Birds or Draw Something. We are now seeing a prevailing trend of adapting “classic” PC games for mobile play, as well. There is already a long list of PC games that have been successfully translated to mobile gaming, not to mention the even longer list of computer games that can be enjoyed on a mobile device via emulators. Joining this list is “Painkiller: Purgatory HD”, based on the classic 2004 horror first person shooter of the same name. Brought to you by MachineWorks Northwest LLC, the same software house that released a mobile version of Duke Nukem, Painkiller for Android features a lot of the elements found on the PC version, adapted, of course, to mobile platforms.
The plot of Painkiller: Purgatory HD is similar to the classic PC version. The story follows the life of Daniel Garner, who is killed, along with his wife, in a car accident. While his wife passes on to heaven, Daniel is stuck in purgatory. In order to receive redemption and purification, he has to kill Satan’s minions and avert a literal holy war. However, while the story-line is interesting, the game is basically about shooting any and all monsters that get in your way. The mobile version features (from the developer description):
While the game has received mostly positive reviews so far, there have been a a lot of complaints about the default double-joystick controls mode, although that can be changed from the settings. As with any new release, there are also some bugs and glitches, but the developer will hopefully take care of these minor, yet annoying issues with the next update. Here is a short video of the game, played on a Samsung Galaxy S2, courtesy of AndroidGamingNL “Painkiller: Purgatory HD” is now available for download from the Google Playstore here, or from the Amazon App Store here, for $1.00. No related posts. This article, Painkiller: Purgatory HD now available for Android , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Spotify to release major update for Android; ICS support finally on its way? Posted: 05 Apr 2012 01:06 AM PDT
Spotify is the premier online music streaming app available across all platforms, giving users access to all their favorite music, at home or on the go. But, it has not been without issues, especially for its Android users. The Android app was last updated in November 2011 and the app is still quite unstable. Spotify’s customer support forums are full of complaints about offline access, playlist syncing, and an outdated user interface. The current app also doesn’t officially support Android 4.0 and, as such, running the app on an ICS device requires users to put up with a wide range of bugs and glitches, with the app crashing more often than not. With the ICS update rollout slowly building up speed, and the slew of Android 4.0 phones and tablets set to enter the market, this is definitely going to be a big issue for Spotify.
Well, it seems a solution is soon going to be at hand if a report by The Verge is accurate. Apparently, Spotify is in the process of releasing a “major” update that will hopefully address all the complaints about the app, and will, more than likely, provide the long awaited Android 4.0 support. Unfortunately, we do not know exactly what this “major” update is going to fix or even when it will be released, but we can assume that it will target all major issues that users have been raising about the Spotify Android app. Spotify is still one of the best online music-streaming apps around, but with the slow rise of of apps like Rdio, Songza and MOG (rumored to be bought by HTC and Beats Audio), the developers behind Spotify will need to put in a lot of effort to ensure that the music app stays ahead of the fast-growing pack. Hopefully, this “major” update is a step in the right direction. This article, Spotify to release major update for Android; ICS support finally on its way? , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Android Speed Booster: One-tap memory, performance, privacy, and app optimizations Posted: 04 Apr 2012 08:21 PM PDT
Are you looking for an app to optimize the performance of your device? You can find a lot of applications dedicated to this very purpose. There are even comprehensive apps that include several other features aside from the system optimization feature itself. But, if you are looking for an application that is solely made for the purpose of optimizing the performance of your device, then take a look at Android Speed Booster, which can can give you fast, one-tap system optimization of your device’s memory, performance, privacy, and apps. Android Speed Booster promises to give you near-instantaneous and effective system optimization. What Android Speed Booster really does to your device is that it gets rid of all the unnecessary applications or tasks that are running on your device, therefore giving you more memory to work with. When you use Android Speed Booster, you have the option to end several tasks, clear the caches of apps that are rarely used, and clear the browsing history, call logs, text messages, etc. Unlike other system optimization apps, you get to have more options that are customizable, depending on the needs of your device. Using Android Speed BoosterUpon launch of the application, it automatically scans your device and informs you of the aspects which have some problems or the things that need to be cleaned up. After that, you are then introduced to the homescreen of the app where you can find buttons representing the four main features of the app as well as the big Instant Boost button on top that you can tap to perform quick, one-tap optimization.
If you tap the Performance button, it will reveal to you the total number of active apps that can be closed, as well as the total memory that can be freed to optimize the processing speed of your device. The Advanced button under it lets you select running apps that you wish to close (which can be done by tapping the Kill button).
The Memory button triggers one-tap optimization of phone memory. It will also show you the total number of apps which are using most of the memory space as well as the total memory consumed. You can free up some memory by choosing the Advanced option and selecting the individual applications that you want to clear.
There is also the Privacy button, which works by wiping the search history and the cache of your browser. When you go further to the Advanced option, you can choose the private data that you want to clean. Last, but not the least, is the Applications button where you can uninstall apps that you do not really use that much or do not use anymore. Android Speed Booster is worth trying especially if you need optimization that is both effective and fast. If you want to try the app, download Android Speed Booster free from the Google Play Store. How do you make sure that your Android phone or Android tablet runs at optimal performance? This article, Android Speed Booster: One-tap memory, performance, privacy, and app optimizations , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Making your Android Tablet Homescreen look like the iPad Posted: 04 Apr 2012 02:21 PM PDT
Are you in love with the Apple look but not with the iPad? You don’t need to be crazy over Apple to admit that iOS has one of the best looks on the market. It’s sleek, it’s catchy, and the way those icons shake when you move them definitely catches anyone’s attention. But, if you’re an Android user who’d just like to adopt the look without actually having to buy the iPad, your prayers have been answered. One of the reasons why people love Android, after all, is that it’s extremely customizable. Inject some iOS aesthetic into your Android tablet with Espier Launcher HD.
Espier Launcher HD is based on Android 2.2 and allows you to enjoy the iOS experience right on your Android tablet. After you’ve downloaded the launcher onto your tablet, Espier Launcher HD replaces your Android icons with iOS ones. From the Photos icon, to the Music icon, even including the Maps and Settings icons, the resemblance is uncanny and may fool some people who only take a moment to glance at your homescreen. With Espier Launcher HD, you’ll be able to easily create folders and edit them quickly.This launcher supports switching between landscape mode and portrait mode on any Android tablet with 800×400, 1024×600, or 1024×768 resolutions.
To make sure you enjoy the iOS look to the last detail, Espier Launcher HD supports the same animation you’ll find on the iPad when you enter and exit applications. The launcher supports dynamic icons, as well as widgets. Pinch out and you’ll be able to enter a hidden screen to view applications you don’t want anyone else to see or those that you’d want to unclutter your homescreen with. Slide the taskbar to the right and you can access the system function switch area. Espier Launcher also packs multiple scrollable home screens. If you were in love with the way iOS icons shake when you move them around, Espier Launcher HD gives you that same effect when you hold down on an icon. From there, easily rearrange your icons the way you like them and in the way that best accommodates your workflow.
The only thing that really affects your iOS immersion experience, however, is your statusbar at the bottom. At the time of this writing, Espier Launcher HD still retains a few glitches. Some users have complained that the widget sizes are messed up and squished and Espier Launcher HD unfortunately does not support resizing widgets. Others have complained that the icons are too small and spaced too far apart. Future releases of this launcher may have those issues fixed, so keep an eye out. Despite the launcher’s glitches, the Espier Launcher HD is still a treat for Android users who can’t deny their attraction to the iOS’s look but don’t want to give in to the Apple fever. If you want to bring that sleek aesthetic into your Android tablet today, Espier Launcher HD is available for download at the Google Play Store. This article, Making your Android Tablet Homescreen look like the iPad , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Google Glasses are closer to reality than ever [Video!] Posted: 04 Apr 2012 12:01 PM PDT
Google have released a fabulous video to get us pumped up and excited for Project Glass: Google’s augmented reality glasses. To be honest, it’s worked on me. I want a pair of these right now! Augmented reality is the concept of altering or overlaying what we see. If these glasses are one day released to the public, we could all be comfortably reading the news as we walk to work, or watching a video without having to tilt our heads down. It’s an amazing concept, and one that Google hope to formally demonstrate by the end of the year. As well as the video, I have included a list of the features portrayed within it, as well as my speculation on how some of the features will be implemented. How will they work?
Presumably there is a sensor/camera directed towards your eyeball to detect where you are looking, if the glasses respond to eye gestures. In the video, the wearer occasionally looks away from whatever is happening to use his glasses, so they may be motion triggered instead. Perhaps a combination of both. As for a camera which takes images of things in front of you, that can be seen clearly as the hole in the right-eye housing.
As for the audio, the images seen so far do not show any sort of earpiece attached to the glasses. Presumably there is a microphone on them somewhere, perhaps in the housing over the right-eye, but this means conversations would be difficult to keep private. Perhaps they will connect to a small Bluetooth headset? Thinking of Bluetooth headsets made me realise that these glasses are incredibly thin with very little room for technology, let alone a battery. So how will they be powered? The VideoIt certainly has me excited! You? Unfortunately you never see the glasses themselves, but you certainly get an exciting taste as to what we can hope for. Features shown in the videoChecking InThis is demonstrated by the wearer using head gestures and another form of control to check into the food truck he is standing by with his friend. Video CallingThis is an amazing feature and a technical marvel. As well as transmitting video from his position, the wearer can see his girlfriend as a small image at the bottom of the screen. Remember this is probably all mocked up in a video editor, and the real image quality on the glasses may be considerably lower. Calendar/AppointmentsPerhaps the most useful feature of them all. I am constantly looking at my calendar to see what is coming up and how I should prepare myself. This feature would make me a very happy man. Taking Photo/Sharing to CirclesThe wearer finds a piece of graffiti art on a wall and takes a photo. Though he asks the glasses to do this for him, it has been reported that the glasses will also have a button for taking photographs. He then shares the image to ‘all my circles’ with a voice command. Playing MusicThroughout the video music is played, and the viewer is led to think it is being played as background music for the video itself. Turns out that it was representing the ability to listen to music with these glasses, as the wearer gives the command ‘stop music’ before he answers a call from his girlfriend. What do you think?Do you want a pair of these glasses? Would you go to the trouble of wearing contact lenses with pixels in them? For that matter, would you be seen in public with them? They certainly have a very distinctive style which may not be for everyone. If these are released anytime soon, I will be fascinated to know the uptake rate. This article, Google Glasses are closer to reality than ever [Video!] , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| HTC One X Impressions – All hail the new king of Android Posted: 04 Apr 2012 11:50 AM PDT
First Impressions Do you remember 2010? Those were the days for HTC. The HTC Desire and HTC Legend were winners playing in their own league. Nothing could defeat them, nothing could touch them. In 2011, the consumer market changed hearts. The Samsung Galaxy S2 won the battle against the Sensation. It was dark skies across all HTC forecasts. Despite facing a mountain of obstacles, HTC pressed on. Unlike Samsung, which has its own Bada operating system, HTC is all-in Android and Windows Phone 7. In the face of vicious competition, investing in another OS made little sense for the Taiwanese. It was time for HTC to raise the pot and play its aces. And aces it played. Everything about the HTC One X is astounding. Every touch that lagged on the HTC Sensation, excels on the One X. It feels unstoppable. It's like all processor lag bumps were sliced up, Ninja Fruit combo style. It is almost unthinkable that HTC has created this phone. HTC One X specs:
Having handled both the Tegra 3 SoC and the Snapdragon S4 versions, I can safely say that both are lightning quick devices. Whether you end up getting either the Tegra 3 or S4 LTE variants, it really matters not. Both are incredibly fast and their speed is unmatched – for now.
However, this HTC flagship does feel strangely Nexus-like. It's like a statement to Google – "here it is Google, a Nexus Prime done right." Unfortunately, it wasn't ready to fight the Galaxy S2, the Note, or the Galaxy Nexus. I hope, however, that HTC is ready to take on the unreleased Galaxy S3. Like Google’s flagship Nexus, the One X has a slightly curved display and a blazing fast camera. Unlike the Galaxy Nexus, the display is a Super LCD2 and the camera is obviously far better. |
| LG Viper, Sprint’s first LTE phone, to go on sale on April 15 for $99.99 Posted: 04 Apr 2012 09:30 AM PDT
After giving up on that WiMax network that looked so promising a couple of years ago, but proved to be a very uninspired idea shortly after, Sprint is finally ready to kick off its own LTE network. And after finding out the carrier's plans for the next couple of years in terms of coverage, we today have confirmation on what will be their first ever smartphone to support 4G LTE. Like I said, we now have confirmation, because we pretty much suspected for some time now that the LG Viper will in fact be Sprint's first 4G LTE phone. We even had a leaked document a couple of days ago that mentioned the handheld's exact release date, which now seems almost set in stone. The guys at Sprint will start taking pre-orders for the LG Viper on April 12, which almost definitely means that the smartphone will ship from the 15th of this month. On the other hand, you should keep in mind that the information is not yet confirmed, so if you happen to pre-order the phone, and not get it after three days, please don't come back here and complain, torches and pitchforks in hands! Only $99.99? Hmm, Sprint might finally be onto something good!While the LG Viper's release date doesn't come as a big surprise for pretty much anybody in the mobile market, the smartphone's pricing could well be considered unexpected. The 4-incher will start selling at $99.99 on a two-year contract, which, no matter how you look at it, is pretty darn cheap. Okay, this might not be the strongest Android-based gadget on the block these days, but it still comes with a dual-core 1.2 GHz processor, 1 GB of RAM, dual cameras (5 MP on the rear and VGA on the front), as well as NFC technology, and, of course, 4G LTE speeds.
As far as I'm concerned, the most disappointing features of the LG Viper are the screen's low resolution (only 480 x 800 pixels) and the fact that it runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread. But then again, it's possible for the handheld to be updated to Ice Cream Sandwich soon enough, so at least one of these two problems may eventually go away. You also have to keep in mind that, soon after the LG Viper (on April 22, if we are to believe earlier rumors), Sprint should also launch its own Galaxy Nexus 4G LTE, so I think it's safe to say that the carrier is preparing to get back on the map and once again challenge Verizon and AT&T’s leading positions. How about you, guys? Would you go for a Sprint 4G LTE Android-based handheld anytime soon or are Verizon's and AT&T's offerings still more tempting these days? Before you answer my question, don't forget to check out Sprint's coverage map here, to see if the carrier is actually planning to roll out LTE in your area any time soon. This article, LG Viper, Sprint’s first LTE phone, to go on sale on April 15 for $99.99 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Quick review: Instagram for Android! Posted: 04 Apr 2012 09:09 AM PDT
After what seemed to be an endless wait, Instagram for Android is finally here! The app was officially announced last month at SXSW, but only became available in Google Play yesterday, starting off a download craze that propelled the app almost instantly to the top of the download charts. Those of you who have been envious on the vintage looking images found in countless Facebook and Twitter posts (all uploaded by iOS users) can now rejoice. According to the celebratory stats published today, Instagram has reached over 30 million registered users, which make it the largest mobile-based social network in the world. The same figures show that Instagram for Android has been downloaded over a million times in less than 24 hours, and that 430,000 people signed up to receive the announcement of its release. Without doubt, Instagram is going to be a big hit on Android. I’ve used it a few times now and I am thoroughly enjoying it! Check out my quick review to find out what the fuss is all about.
Once you’ve got an image captured, the first step is to crop it. Sadly, and I have no idea why this is, Instagram will only let you play around with 1:1 images. Once you’ve cropped it, you can add a visual filter from the app’s collection. Disappointingly, there are only 17 to choose from, however, in my opinion (I know that many disagree) they all make an image appear far more artistic and captivating to look at. After you apply your filter of choice, you can toggle a border, a brightness/glare effect, and rotate the image around at 0, 90, 180, or 270′.
Now, just choose a caption, whether you want to geotag your post, which social networks you would like to upload the image to, and, that’s it – you’ve uploaded your first Instagram image! I love how easy this is to accomplish, sharing an image to multiple social networks takes only moments. Overall, I am impressed; you can take an image, apply some effects, and upload to your social network profiles in under a minute.
The Android application also makes it easy to browse popular images across Instagram, uploaded by both Android and iOS devices. Definitely worth a look if you ever need to pass some time. It’s easy enough to get to, just tap the star icon at the bottom of your screen.
Oh, and the notification feature is well made too. I was delighted to get a discrete notification saying that my post has been liked! Altogether, I think Instagram is a lovely addition to Android, and will delight all the users who have been looking forward to it. It could do with a few more effects and the ability to work in landscape mode, but otherwise, well done Instagram! 9/10! You can go right ahead and download the application from Google Play. Share your Instagram images with us and other Android Authority readers by pasting links below. How much of an artistic image can you create using a smartphone? P.S. If you want a quick laugh, take a look at how outraged some iPhone users have become now that we have Instagram. Have you tried it out yet? Any thoughts? This article, Quick review: Instagram for Android! , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Next Issue Media app launched, read 32 top magazines for 15 bucks a month Posted: 04 Apr 2012 08:40 AM PDT
Condé Nast, Hearst, Meredith, News Corp., and Time Inc. are five of the most important US print publishers these days, so, when a while ago we heard they were joining forces into one mighty venture, we knew that we should expect something exciting. That something has finally materialized earlier today, in the form of an Android app for tablets that offers easy access to no less than 32 magazines. The mags should cover pretty much all tastes and preferences, targeting men and women of all ages, formations, and professions. Some of the most important titles available on the Next Issue Media app are Sports Illustrated, Time, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, People, Fortune, Esquire, and Entertainment Weekly, but you can also get access to Sports Illustrated for Kids, Popular Mechanics, or People en Español, to name only three of the more "eccentric" titles on the list. This is, of course, a premium app and, as you may suspect already, you'll have to pay a pretty "premium" price in order to get access to some of today's most popular magazines. Prices start at ten bucks for subscriptions to two magazines of your choice, but I would recommend you to get the unlimited plan, which will give you access to every magazine in Next Issue Media's catalog.
Sure, you might never end up reading "Better Homes and Gardens" or "Cooking Light" (no offense to home chefs reading us), but, for just $15, which is five dollars more than the regular subscription for two magazines, you get unlimited access to the entire portfolio. I am convinced that you’ll find at least five or six magazines in there to read on a regular basis. I mean, I myself am not an avid magazine reader, but I pretty much find myself browsing through SI, Time, Fortune, or the New Yorker every month, so I might as well do it in an orderly fashion, right? Okay, I admit it, I sometimes like to look through Entertaiment Weekly or Vanity Fair (call it a guilty pleasure!) for a few minutes, so this app might actually be saving me (and the likes of me) a boatload of money. Before you get to excited, I must tell you that the app only runs on Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablets. An iOS app is supposedly coming , if you’re into that. If you are the least bit intrigued about the Next Issue Media Android app, hit the source link below for all the info you could need, but also for details on the 30-day limited free trial offer that currently runs on NMI's official website. Enjoy and let us know what you think of the app in the comments section below! This article, Next Issue Media app launched, read 32 top magazines for 15 bucks a month , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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Babak Parviz (a member of the Project Glass team) has developed contact lenses with pixels in them. Presumably you wear one of these, and perhaps a Near Field Communication system built into the housing above your right eye (see images) sends the video signals wirelessly. If Project Glass does use a contact lense with pixels in it, it’ll make for an interesting start to each day!
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