Thursday, April 19, 2012

Android Central

Android Central


Battery stats, Weird text messages [ From the Forums]

Posted: 18 Apr 2012 04:47 PM PDT

Android Central

Halfway through the week and we've had plenty of news to go through already. If you happened to miss out on anything, make sure you get yourself caught up here on the blogs and in the Android Central forums:

If you're not already a member of the Android Central forums, you can register your account today.



HTC One S review (T-Mobile U.S.)

Posted: 18 Apr 2012 02:56 PM PDT

HTC One S (T-Mobile)

HTC's not making it easy for us. The Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer is doing its best to convince us that the HTC One S, despite being the "middle" phone in the HTC One line — between the One X and the One V — in fact is the best phone in the bunch. And, truth be told, we're wavering.

You've read our complete HTC One X review. We've done the HTC One V. And we've already reviewed the Euro version of the HTC One S. (And I've had that one for a number of weeks, too.)

Point is, we're not unfamiliar with these phones. And neither are you after the thousands of words and (what feels like) hours of video we've brought you.

What follows is our T-Mobile HTC One S review. It has a lot in common with its European counterpart, and we'll highlight what those of us in the states have to look forward to.


The Good

This phone is a little slice of sexy. Never thought we'd call a 4.3-inch smartphone little, but the HTC One S is a mere 7.8 mm thick, and it makes it feel smaller than it really is. Has a powerful processor and great design, and an excellent camera. It's running the most recent version of Android with some nice customizations from HTC.

The Bad

The non-removable battery and lack of a microSD card will be a nonstarter for some. The display, while not bad, isn't as good as its big brother in the HTC One X. Can get pretty hot under a heavy load.

Conclusion

If you're in the market for a new smartphone on T-Mobile, you need to check out the HTC One S. It's got a great design, it's got great hardware, and the software is top of the line. And it can nearly replace your point-and-shoot camera.

Inside this review

More info

read more



T-Mobile HTC One S hands-on

Posted: 18 Apr 2012 02:27 PM PDT

You can never get enough of a phone this nice. Have a peek at Phil's hands-on with the T-Mobile edition of the HTC One S, and start counting your pennies in preparation for the April 25 release date. Like the all the phones in the HTC One line, this looks to be one of the year's best from HTC.

It would look even better in Jerry's pocket!

Visit the HTC One S forums



Samsung 'GT-i9300' sighted in Brazil, probably not the Galaxy S III

Posted: 18 Apr 2012 02:26 PM PDT

GT-i9300

Update: Sources for The Verge have denied that this model is the Galaxy S III, saying it's "not even close to the final design," and adding "no leaks of the final design have been accurate."

Original story: If you've been following the stories of rumored devices within Samsung's 2012 line-up, you may be familiar with a phone with the product number GT-i9300. When we first caught a glimpse of this device in late March, it was rocking a buttonless setup, with software-based on-screen keys in the style of the Galaxy Nexus. But if the latest set of leaked images from ​Gizmodo Brazil​ are to be believed, then the phone may have grown a set of physical buttons over the past month. Photos have leaked today claiming to show the front and back of the device, and aside from the different button setup, they match last month's leaked pics pretty closely. Note the front-facing camera position and the trim around the device's corners.

The images are reportedly from a manufacturing source, which claims the GT-i9300 is a high-end product, with a 12MP rear camera (with dual-LED flash) and a high-quality display. It's also reportedly thinner than the Galaxy S II, but slightly heavier, with a larger screen. Whether it's Samsung's next flagship phone -- under the Galaxy S III name or some other branding -- remains to be seen.

As we discussed yesterday, we still know almost nothing about Samsung's next-gen plans. But all will be revealed at the launch event in London on May 3, and we'll be there to bring you full coverage of whatever's unveiled.

Source: Gizmodo Brazil; The Verge



HTC One S for T-Mobile gets more official, coming April 25

Posted: 18 Apr 2012 02:21 PM PDT

T-Mobile One S

If you've been waiting for news about T-Mobile's HTC One S, you're in the right place -- they have just announced availability and pricing of the sleek new phone, and the good news is that it's not months away. The One S will be available at T-Mobile stores nationwide starting April 25, and it checks in at $199 with a new agreement. 

The One S looks to be one of the sexiest phones HTC has ever put out, being super thin, with great specs and Sense 4.0. HTC knows that the road to the top of the Android food chain isn't easy, but with devices like this and the rest of the HTC One line they are on the right track. The review is coming shortly, but in the meantime have a gander at the press release, after the break.

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ZumoDrive going the way of the Dodo; get all your files before June 1

Posted: 18 Apr 2012 01:46 PM PDT

ZumoDrive

Motorola has announced that they will be shutting down ZumoDrive, effective June 1, 2012. We're not too surprised here, as when Motorola bought out Zecter (ZumoDrive's parent company) they weren't shy about wanting the tech to integrate the streaming abilities with their own software. They've accomplished this, and also invite everyone (well, everyone with a Motorola phone or tablet) to move on over to MotoCast

You'll want to be sure to get all your data out of ZumoDrive before June 1, and they are making it fairly easy with the "ZumoDrive downloader tool", which you can run and suck everything out of the cloud and onto your computer hard drive. Data not downloaded by June 1 will be "securely erased" and gone forever, so this is something you'll want to take care of. 

If you are a ZumoDrive user, and have a Motorola device, you'll probably be best served jumping into MotoCast. For those who aren't using Motorola hardware, this may be a great opportunity to see what Google Drive is all about. See the official announcement after the break.

read more



HTC One S appears on the T-Mobile website, shares off contract price with all

Posted: 18 Apr 2012 01:24 PM PDT

HTC One S

For those of you looking to get your hands on the HTC One S as soon as it hits T-Mobile, you can now plan ahead for the pricing if nothing else. The HTC One S has now turned up on the T-Mobile site and has shared its off contract pricing with everyone. $600 and you can call the HTC One S yours, what do you guys think? Picking it up with no contract or grabbing something else? If you're still on the fence, give our HTC One S preview a look.

Source: T-Mobile; via: Android Central Forums



TV and Movies app for Google TV gets a major refresh

Posted: 18 Apr 2012 12:53 PM PDT

TV and Movies

The TV and Movies app for your Google TV has a major update in process, making the app more personalized to your choices for content, better favorites management, and a star ratings system to help sort it all. 

TV and Movies isn't a player -- it's Google's ultimate entertainment search application, sorting content from your cable or satellite provider, apps like Netflix and HBO Go, and even Amazon and providing you with information about programming. With today's additions, things got a little more personal and shows and channels you like will be easier to find. And the star ratings system helps you discover new content based on your previous ratings. Popular services like Netflix already do something similar, but with Google's special sauce on search, we imagine that this will be a great way to discover new content and programs that you really want to see. Last but not least, the Trending this Week shelf gives a list of what's trending on all of Google search from the web, so you have an idea of what other folks are watching and talking about. While we're waiting for the next generation of Google TV hardware, it's great to see the team working some magic on the software side.

Source: Google TV blog



Droid RAZR and Droid RAZR MAXX software updates finally ready to roll out

Posted: 18 Apr 2012 12:40 PM PDT

DROID RAZR

Being a Droid RAZR or Droid RAZR MAXX owner has certainly had its ups and downs for the past little while. A bunch of false starts for software updates have occurred, but now it looks like Motorola and Verizon have managed to get things squared away for the better.

If you check out the Verizon support pages you'll find information for the 6.12.181 software update readily available for viewing, which means the actual updates could roll out pretty much anytime now.

No, it's not Ice Cream Sandwich, but we're sure you'll agree some updates are better than no updates at all. The change log is the same for both devices, so jump on past the break to get a detailed list

Source: Verizon

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Mobile Nations interview: Pocket developers

Posted: 18 Apr 2012 10:34 AM PDT

The transformation of Read It Later to Pocket is complete, but a change of that size never comes easy. Behind the marketing team, the publicists, and the folks who count the beans you have the developers. Sure, their job isn't as glamorous as some, but in the end none of it could happen without their hard work, great ideas, and incredible luck -- writing great code is not easy.

Rene took a moment and spent some time with Nate and Max from Pocket's development team, who were gracious enough to tell us a bit about the ideas and execution behind Pocket. How a beautiful app (and make no mistake, Pocket is top-notch) transforms from ideas into pixels is interesting, and this one is a must-watch. Have a look, and if you haven't already tried Pocket the download links are after the break.

Thanks Nate and Max!



AT&T introduces new data plans for GoPhone customers

Posted: 18 Apr 2012 09:25 AM PDT

AT&T

Want to get into the world of smartphones without getting tied down to a monthly contract? AT&T GoPhone is one of many prepaid options out there, and now AT&T has announced some new data plans set to arrive on the prepaid service from April 22nd --

  • 1 GB - $25
  • 200 MB - $15
  • 50 MB - $5

GoPhone customers who subscribe to either the $50 Unlimited Talk & Text nationwide plan or the $25 Unlimited Text with 250 minutes nationwide plan are eligible to add the services, which are priced to offer twice as much data as earlier rates.

Source: AT&T



T-Mobile G2X gets another Gingerbread update

Posted: 18 Apr 2012 09:03 AM PDT

G2X

There's an update waiting for you in the LG Mobile Support tool if you have a T-Mobile G2X, but relax -- it's not Ice Cream Sandwich. V21Y brings the G2X to Android version 2.3.4, swaps out the baseband for a newer version, and adds Google+ to the ROM.  Early reports say that battery life has been improved, but that great LG camera app is still nowhere to be found. 

Other than that, it looks to be a small version bump from 2.3.3 to 2.3.4, and was "released" with no fanfare. We still don't know when (or if) the G2X will ever see an official Ice Cream Sandwich update, and that makes us sad. Anyone who has one will tell you it's an amazing piece of hardware, simply held back by buggy radios and software. 

If you're feeling brave, and have a stock G2X (or can take the time to roll back to stock), plug in and check for updates and give it a try. 

Source: XDA Developers; via Android Central forums



Bell to be the exclusive carrier of the Samsung Galaxy S II HD LTE

Posted: 18 Apr 2012 08:58 AM PDT

Samsung Galaxy S II HD LTE

If you'll all remember it was quite a while ago now that Samsung announced the Galaxy S II HD LTE. It appeared on some retailer websites and then it ultimately ended up in the hands of AT&T as the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD. Now it is making its way to Canada where it will be a Bell exclusive. Here's what Canadian buyers can expect --

  • Fast network access: 4G LTE, HSPA+ 42 Mbps, EDGE/GPRS quad band
  • Best in class display: 4.65" (118mm) HD Super AMOLED screen, optimized HD interface, and HD content support
  • Powerful performance: 1.5 GHz dual core processor and 4G LTE download speeds, 1850mAH Li-ion battery, Android 2.3 OS, WiFi and Bluetooth capable (ICS will be available)
  • Form factor: 9.27mm thin
  • Memory: 1GB RAM; 16GB (eMMC); micro SD slot (up to 32 GB)
  • Camera: 8 MP AF rear camera; full HD 1080p video recording;  2 MP front camera
  • Browser: Android Browser: HTML 5.0

Bell hasn't laid out any pricing for the device as of yet, but those interested in picking one up can sign up for updates on Bell's website. They'll have more info in the "coming weeks" for customers but until then though, you can check out their full press release beyond the break.

Source: Bell

read more



Geek out in the hardware forums

Posted: 18 Apr 2012 08:54 AM PDT

Android Central

Curious about the above image?  Obviously it's a comparison between two displays, but which ones? Visit our new hardware forum to find out.  SoCs, LCDs, OLEDs and everything else hardware related will be discussed here.  Not sure what all those abbreviations mean?  That's OK, we have you covered.  There's already a great discussion going on about display technology, too.  Things can get kind of technical here, but that's ok, because we all have an inner geek that wants to know these things, right?  

I consider myself somewhat of a hardware junkie, and I'll be spending a good amount of time in this particular section.  I'm doing my best to make sure the information provided is as accurate as possible, easy to understand, and helpful for all of you.  My goal is to help you be more informed when deciding which phone might be best for you from a hardware perspective.

Have some technical or hardware-related questions you'd like answered?  Go ahead and start a thread in the hardware section and we'll do our best to get it answered.  We're by no means the smartest people around, but between us and the awesome members in the forums you're sure to get the explanation you're looking for.  And yes, I'm already dreaming about new stuff I'd like to see in our devices.

Source: Android Central Forums



HTC One X launches May 6 on AT&T, priced $199.99

Posted: 18 Apr 2012 08:34 AM PDT

Pre-orders for the LTE-powered One X begin April 22

One X

AT&T has announced that its version of the HTC One X will launch just under three weeks from now, on May 6, with pre-orders for the device starting this Sunday, April 22. The phone will sell for $199.99 with a two-year service agreement, which is in line with other leading AT&T phones.

AT&T's One X packs a dual-core Snapdragon S4 chip, compared to the quad-core Tegra 3 powering the international version. The change is due to Tegra 3's lack of built-in LTE support, however the dual-core Snapdragon S4 is nothing to sniff at, and we've been impressed with the performance it's delivered in other phones like the HTC One S. Aside form the change in processor, AT&T customers can expect the same One X experience we described in our full review -- same gorgeous 720p SuperLCD2 display, same 8MP ImageSense camera and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, backed up by HTC Sense 4.

For more on the One X, take a glance over our definitive review. And if you're on AT&T, hit the comments and let us know whether you'll be picking one of these up on May 6.

Source: PRNewswire



Deal of the Day: Mobi Products Hard Shell Case for Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX

Posted: 18 Apr 2012 07:28 AM PDT

Deal of the Day The April 18 ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day is the Mobi Products Hard Shell Case for Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX. This Hard Case from Mobi Products offers solid protection against drops, and has cut outs for all of the devices features while leaving the screen exposed for full functionality. Available in black, blue, red, purple, and pink.

The Mobi Products Hard Shell Case is available for just $4.95 today only, 75% off the regular price.  Grab yours while supplies last!



JCB's ruggedized Android smartphone launches in the UK

Posted: 18 Apr 2012 07:21 AM PDT

JCB phone

British construction equipment manufacturer JCB is no stranger to the smartphone game, having worked with Motorola to launch the DEFY+ JCB Edition just a few months ago. And today sees the launch of JCB's own-brand Android handset, the JCB Toughphone Pro-Smart. It's not going to win any beauty contests, but JCB's going for ruggedness over looks with this device, which boasts IP67-rated water and dust-resistence, along with a basic Gingerbread-based software experience.

A glance down the spec sheet reveals some pretty basic internals -- you've got an 800MHz CPU, a 3.2-inch HVGA screen and a microSD card port. Interestingly there's a whopping 2000mAh battery packed inside this phone, which combined with its entry-level hardware, should deliver some impressive battery life.

British retailer Clove Technology is now stocking the JCB Toughphone Pro-Smart with a SIM-free price of £310.80 including VAT.

Source: Clove Technology



ShopAndroid Daily Giveaway #53: Galaxy Nexus Hard Case/Holster Combo, ACTIVE Holster for Galaxy Note & more!

Posted: 18 Apr 2012 07:17 AM PDT

For today's ShopAndroid.com Daily Giveaway we'll be featuring the Mobi Products Hard Shell Case & Holster Combo for Galaxy Nexus, Seidio ACTIVE Case for Galaxy Note, Ecolife Element Side Case, and the Body Glove Flex/Chrome Snap-On Case for Samsung Vibrant.

Leave a comment below stating which item you'd like to win for your Android device, and we'll announce the lucky winner that was selected next week. Good luck!

Mobi Products Hard Shell Case & Holster Combo for Galaxy Nexus

The Mobi Hard Shell Case & Holster Combo allows your Galaxy Nexus to be worn on a waistband or belt, and can be taken off of the belt clip without removing it. The holster features a locking swivel belt clip which allows you to carry your Galaxy Nexus at any angle that is most comfortable for you.

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Huawei announces global availability for the Ascend P1

Posted: 18 Apr 2012 07:00 AM PDT

Huawei Ascend P1

While the Huawei Ascend P1 was subject to much speculation surrounding its actual release dates, Huawei has now announced the global availability for their flagship dual-core smartphone.

“The global availability of the Ascend P1, which combines smart features and a sexy design, represents a significant milestone for Huawei Device.  We are sending strong signals of our intention to transform into a consumer-facing brand and extend our market leadership globally by strengthening our range of flagship products. We are also expanding our sales and distribution channels to move beyond a focus on operators,” said Richard Yu, Chairman of Huawei Device.

The Ascend P1 packs a dual-core 1.5GHz TI OMAP 4460 Cortext-A9 processor and measures 7.69mm thin making it incredibly thin in the hand. For visuals, you get a 4.3-inch super AMOLED 960 x 540 display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass along with an 8MP shooter and running the whole package is a healthy dose of Ice Cream Sandwich

The Huawei Ascend P1 will be available in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Australia through operators and retailers by May 2012, in Latin America from June 2012 and in Europe from summer, with availability in other markets soon after. The full press release from Huawei can be found after the break however; if you're looking for pricing you'll not find it.

Check out our hands on with the Huawei Ascend P1

read more



First software update now rolling out for European HTC One X

Posted: 18 Apr 2012 04:43 AM PDT

One X OTA

The first official new software update is now rolling out for unbranded HTC One X retail units in Europe, bringing HTC's new flagship phone up to version 1.28.401.9. The 30MB update is being delivered over-the-air, so head to 'Settings > About > Software Updates' to grab the new version. Note that if your One X is network-branded, you'll likely have to wait a little longer for your carrier to approve this update before it's pushed out. And for what it's worth, the new software version is still based on Android 4.0.3 rather than the slightly newer 4.0.4 that's running on some Nexus devices.

So far we're only seeing a few minor changes on our One X -- the phone no longer incorrectly displays the on-screen menu key in certain Google apps, like YouTube, and automatic brightness levels seem to have been pared back somewhat, too. This version is also supposed to fix the battery life issues many One X owners have been reporting in the two weeks since the phone's launch. In addition, we're hearing that the bug which occasionally resulted in garbled text and icons in the notification bar has also been squished.

One X owners, be sure to shout out in the comments if you've noticed any other changes or fixes.



HTC One V kernel source released

Posted: 17 Apr 2012 09:40 PM PDT

One V

HTC has released the kernel source for the Asian and European version of the One V, (see Alex's great review here) meeting their obligations under the GPL and teasing potential Android hackers all with one stroke. As it is every time we see source code get released, this won't mean much for the average Joe or Jane, but the good things that come from it certainly may. The kernel is the window to the hardware, and lots of cool things can happen when the right people tinker with it. 

We can't wait for these phones, and this code, to get in the right hands. You can grab the code here.

via @HTCdev



Acer Iconia Tab ICS update times made known and official by Acer

Posted: 17 Apr 2012 08:58 PM PDT

A100

Acer has unveiled their tablet Ice Cream Sandwich update plans, and the 7-inch A100 and the 10.1-inch A500 Tabs should start getting updates over-the-air on or about April 25 in Latin America, with the U.S. and Canada (A500 models) following quickly behind on April 27. Mexico and Brazil have to wait a bit longer, as does the Canadian A100, but it looks like all the Ice Cream Sandwich updates will be finished by the first week in May.

It's been six months since ICS debuted, and even longer since it was announced, so we shouldn't be too surprised. I still can't help but say nice job Acer. If you're using an Iconia Tab, and itching for some ICS, your wait in almost over.

Source: Acer. Thanks everyone who sent this in!



Acer Iconia Tab A510 now available from Acer; 32GB, ICS, and Tegra 3 for $450

Posted: 17 Apr 2012 06:49 PM PDT

A510

Acer has quietly made the Iconia Tab A510 available for immediate sale and shipping from their website this evening, ending what felt like the world's longest pre-order phase. $450 will get you 10.1-inches of Tegra 3-powered, Ice Cream Sandwich packing, 32GB storage toting Android tablet, and that's something to make any of us look long and hard. 

The current model is the special Olympic edition, available in black or white with the official 2012 Olympic logo on the rear, but under the hood it's the same beastly hardware we saw at CES earlier this year. If you've been waiting for this one to go on sale, now is your chance. Hit the link below for the full details and ordering information.

Source: Acer; via Engadget



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