Posted: 01 Mar 2012 04:36 PM PST  
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Posted: 01 Mar 2012 04:20 PM PST  Kids love to play with our tablets. They're colorful, active, and entertaining -- exactly what a kid likes (no matter what age). But many of us don't feel comfortable letting our kids handle a seemingly delicate, very expensive, piece of glass and plastic. Archos gets this, and they have announced the 7-inch ChildPad. Even better, they understand that we're reluctant to spend upwards of $500 on something that youngsters may very break, and have priced it at $129. Ill let that sink in for a second -- $129. For the cost of dinner and a movie for two, you can have a full featured tablet, running Android 4.0, complete with a child-friendly app market. While not a spec powerhouse, the ChildPad has a 1GHz CPU and a full 1GB of RAM, and comes pre-loaded with a slew of things kids would want, like puzzles, games, even Angry Birds. The ChildPad was designed to fulfill COPPA and CIPA regulations, and has a full suite of parental controls built into the browser. You'll see it on store shelves sometime in March. And your kids will have ICS on their Android device before you do. See the press release after the break. read more
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Posted: 01 Mar 2012 02:34 PM PST  Let's file this under "anything for a story about Android". The New York Times has decided that Android is also "vulnerable" to apps being able to see your pictures, just like it was designed to do. It all stems from some press recently where iOS had a loophole that allowed apps without permissions to access photos stored on a user's mobile device. There is a big difference here though, and it's in the design. iOS was designed so that nothing but the gallery on your device, or iTunes had access to your pictures. Developers that had to access GPS data could get in the Camera Roll, because a lot of pictures have and use GPS data. Rene does a really good job at explaining this over at iMore, and you should read it. Personally, I didn't think it was a severe security hole on iOS, but it was a loophole that Apple decided to fix. That's good -- if you're going to have a permissions policy on a certain part of the file system, you should enforce it. Even a silly permissions policy. Android, on the other hand, was not designed this way. It's like a Windows computer. Or a Mac computer. Or a Linux computer. Or a digital camera. Even the computer used to write the story at the NYT allows complete access to photos -- they all do. It's standard file input/output, and just because Apple decided not to use it makes no difference. It doesn't stop there, either. Documents, videos, music, all media is able to be shared in a modern operating system. I can use Microsoft Office and see the pictures folder on every computer here at my house, because it was designed that way. It makes things easy to use and share, because we like to use and share digital media. Unfortunately, all the fuss over "private" data lately has even Google second guessing themselves: This could just be PR spin, or Google really may have to make things harder for us all because of silliness. I don't want this, I'm assuming that most of you guys don't want this either. Do yourself a favor, and don't fall into this trap. Source: New York Times 
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Posted: 01 Mar 2012 12:43 PM PST  If you've got a grandfathered unlimited data plan through AT&T, you're about to be throttled once you hit a 3GB ceiling per AT&T's new official policy. Users who consume 3GB of data with a 3G device, or 5GB of data with a LTE device will be throttled back to Edge speeds until the new billing cycle begins. Because of recent consumer complaints AT&T was forced to draft an official policy here, and now we know exactly what will happen if we're part of the 5-percent of users who use more than AT&T feels is a fair share. It's good to have a policy across the board. We have the right to know what can, and will, happen if we use "too much" data. 3GB seems like a fair place to start, this way unlimited users aren't stuck being able to use less data than tiered plan subscribers. And Edge speeds are often faster than 3G speeds on that "true unlimited" network. And throttling is certainly better than thousands of dollars in overages. On it's face, this seems like a fair compromise. But 3 does not equal unlimited. AT&T never promised anyone unlimited "high speed" data, so we're pretty much at their mercy. But just like it did when T-Mobile introduced it, throttling seems wrong. Sell me a phone that eats data like candy, then don't give me the data plan to use it all? See AT&T's full press release after the break. read more
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Posted: 01 Mar 2012 12:11 PM PST  Other than the addition of the search button, the update brings a few fixes, including the lock-screen playback issue on some devices and the unexpected streaming network errors on some Sprint devices. To get the latest update or if you're interested in the free app from the Android Market, please find links after the break. read more 
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Posted: 01 Mar 2012 11:49 AM PST  The world of consumer electronics is not for the faint of heart. A company comes up with a brilliant new product that suddenly gets enormously popular but then before you know it, the next big thing arrives and the previous market demand evaporates. Exhibit A - just a few years ago, netbook computers were all the rage right up until the moment Apple launched the iPad in early 2010. Closer to the garage, Apple also triggered disruption in how we find our way to our driving destinations. Earlier in the last decade a new generation of smaller, cheaper GPS receiver chips made low cost personal navigation devices (PND) a very popular replacement for old school paper maps. When the first iPhone came to market in mid-2007, it ushered in an era of new smartphones with built in GPS. One of the first apps on those iPhones was Google Maps. At first Google Maps was limited to showing your current location on the map helping users to find their way around in unfamiliar places. It wasn’t until November 2009 when Google launched version of 2.0 of its own Android mobile operating system on the Motorola Droid that the end-times arrived for the makers of PNDs. For the first time, the new version of Maps included full turn-by-turn directions capability just like a PND and it was free of charge. Since then, a wide array of free and low cost navigation apps have appeared for both the Android and Apple iOS platforms with Waze being one of the more interesting examples. Google creates its own map database from a variety of sources including its fleet of Street View cars that are driving around the world recording and photographing the world’s roads.Waze on the other hand relies primarily on its community of users to produce maps and provide real-time traffic data that is shared with the entire community. Warning: Tin-foil hat types that worry about being tracked everywhere they go probably should not use Waze. Actually, if you are that concerned about being followed, you shouldn’t even be carrying a mobile phone but that’s a whole different story. Follow the break to see more about Waze, and to get a download link for the application. read more 
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Posted: 01 Mar 2012 11:18 AM PST  Besides the LG Viper 4G, Sprint will be getting at least nine other devices that run Google Wallet by years end, says Google's VP of Wallet and Payments Osama Bedier. During the Mobile Money: Delivering Innovative Mobile Payment Services panel in Barcelona during Mobile World Congress 2012, Bedier said Sprint will introduce "at least 10 additional phones" with support for Google Wallet this year. He also added that Google is still negotiating with other operators, manufacturers, and potential financial partners to broaden the reach of Wallet in the US. With 22 of the largest retail chains in the US supporting Wallet purchases at over 300,000 MasterCard PayPass terminals, Google has a big head start. But that's no guarantee that the service will become the standard, as competitor Isis sets up to begin trials later this year. Isis already has the partners -- HTC, LG, Motorola Mobility, Research In Motion, Samsung and Sony have committed to building devices that support Isis, and Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express, Chase, CapitolOne and Barclaycard have partnered with them as well. That is going to be tough to compete against. With recent security issues plaguing Google Wallet, a partnership with Sprint alone may not be enough to keep the project afloat. We'll have to wait and see who can deliver a product that consumers want, and more importantly, a new technology that consumers will adopt. Source: Fierce Wireless 
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Posted: 01 Mar 2012 09:53 AM PST  Google's controversial new privacy policy goes into effect today, and depending on which part of the Internet you're in, it's either a blessing or an act of war against our personal information. There's a lot of confusion out there, and chances are anyone who says they understand it all are probably not being very truthful. We're going to try and go over what's changed, and discuss what it might mean. Something to remember before we get started, is that it doesn't really matter what any of us think -- all of us. Legislators all over the world are up in arms, and they're going to do what legislators do best, which is debate issues until one side caves and one side wins. We don't know which side will be which, or if Google will be censured in any way. Time will tell. read more
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Posted: 01 Mar 2012 09:24 AM PST 
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Posted: 01 Mar 2012 08:34 AM PST  If you're a fan of the pre-order, you can do so now at the source link. We'll keep our ears to the ground for an official release date, and we'll be sure to get you a full review once the Eluga Power hits stores stateside. Source: Clove Technology 
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Posted: 01 Mar 2012 08:30 AM PST We're back for another ShopAndroid.com Daily Giveaway! Today we'll be checking out the Body Glove Snap-On Case for HTC ThunderBolt, Seidio ACTIVE Case for Motorola Droid X/X2, HTC Silicone Smerge Case for HTC EVO 3D, and the Seidio SURFACE Case for Motorola Droid Bionic. Leave a comment below letting us know which featured Android accessory you'd like to have, and you'll be eligible to win! Winners from today's daily giveaway will be announced next Monday. Body Glove Snap-On Case for HTC ThunderBoltThe Body Glove Snap-On Case offers your HTC ThunderBolt revolutionary protection in the ultimate custom fit phone case. The case features a durable hard shell with a textured glove material on the back that's easy to grip and protects your device from scratches. The Snap-On Case is extremely slim in design, and there's access to the ThunderBolt's screen, controls, and charging port. read more 
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Posted: 01 Mar 2012 08:02 AM PST  LG says that by using magnetically-produced electric currents, the WCD-800 is as effective and efficient as typical wired chargers. It'll be compatable with all of LG's recently released devices as well as any device compliant with the Wireless Power Consortium's Qi standard. You'll be able to get your hands on one here in the States sometime in the first half of the year. LG's full presser can be found after the break. read more 
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Posted: 01 Mar 2012 07:06 AM PST
The Mobi Crystal Case is made from a sturdy, hard plastic that is completely transparent so your Motorola Droid Bionic keeps it's original look while it's protected against drops and scratches. Featured on the case are cut outs for all ports, buttons, and screen. The Mobi Crystal Case is extremely easy to install and remove. Take advantage of this limited time deal while supplies last! |
Grab the 
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Posted: 01 Mar 2012 06:43 AM PST
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Posted: 01 Mar 2012 06:37 AM PST
- Dimensions: 4.4 x 2.1 x 0.5 inches
- Weight: 3.9 oz
- 3.5-inch TFT capacitive display (854 x 480)
- 1320mAh Li-Ion battery
- Android 2.3 Gingerbread
- 1GHz dual-core processor
- 512MB RAM
- 8GB built-in storage (4GB user-accessible)
- 5MP (rear) camera w/ AF and LED flash
- Front facing VGA camera
- Radio: FM, Stereo, RDS
- MicroUSB
- 3.5mm audio output
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Posted: 29 Feb 2012 06:29 PM PST
The month may be over, but the Mobile Nations quest to use our phones and tablets, apps and accessories to get stronger, faster, and healthier continues!
February was fitness month at Mobile Nations, the month we sought to keep our new year's hopes and dreams of thinner waistlines and fitter bodies alive. Week after week we picked reasonable, attainable goals and strove to keep them -- eating less and better, moving farther and more frequently, lifting more than ever before.read more
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Posted: 29 Feb 2012 06:25 PM PST
Things are winding down in Barcelona, the fellows are enjoying some of the local delicacies and getting ready for the trip home. But just because Mobile World Congress is finishing up doesn't mean they didn't work their collective tails off today, making the final sweep of the show to make sure no stone was left unturned, no device left un-handled, and no hors d'oeuvre was left uneaten. We're thorough like that. While Phil and the gang pack up their belongings, hit the break with me and see what they found today.
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Posted: 29 Feb 2012 05:33 PM PST
Google Wallet has been updated with a pretty extensive (and detailed) change log. You can now use a PO box in the address and be able to top up your prepaid card, and that address can be longer (good news for those living in Winchester-on-the-Severn, Maryland), reward card syncing has been fixed, "improvements" have been made to support more handsets, and fixes to the core wallet system have been applied.
One thing that hasn't been fixed is the prepaid cards. You can't add a new one, you can't retrieve your data for an existing one, and you'll get an error about system upgrades if you try. I know, because i tried both. I'm getting the feeling my $11.40 is gone forever.
All kidding aside, I'm sure some of you guys did drop a decent amount of cash in the prepaid card, have wiped your phone since, and can't get it back. I understand the need to change and fix a few things on the security side (Google Wallet is still very beta after all), but it would be nice to be able to access my fortune next time I wanna buy a cup of coffee. We can only hope Google gets it all figured out shortly.
There's a link after the break to the Market, but be warned -- it only will work if you've got a Sprint Nexus S 4G or an unlocked Galaxy Nexus with an AT&T SIM card in it. The rest of us will have to resort to hackery to get it installed. I'm sure the apk will be posted somewhere soon enough.
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Posted: 29 Feb 2012 04:55 PM PST
- Maps in Skitch - Skitch is great for eliminating ambiguity: draw attention to a person in a photo or point out where that new sofa should go. And now, you can even take the ambiguity out of giving directions. With the new map feature, drop a pin with an address, then use arrows, shapes and lines to show exactly where you mean.
- Save to the SD card - This is one of our most requested features. Now, anything you have in Skitch can be saved to your SD card. Do this by tapping on the Save icon. You can also find your saved images by tapping on that same icon.
- Move your text - We also made it easier to add and move text. When you start typing, your text appears in place over the image. Tap and drag the text to move it to a different location, pinch the text to change its size. You can do all of this without changing to the finger tool. Easy.
Source: Evernote Blog
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