Update - 142

Google unifies search experience with ‘Recent’ button for mobile site Posted: 05 Mar 2012 05:41 PM PST We know Google is all about searching, and the company has just made the process a bit better for Android devices. With the release of the “Recent” button on Google’s mobile site, local searching is now more integrated and multi-platform friendly. The new feature allows users to access recent searches straight from the Google mobile site. For example, one can search for a restaurant or venue on a computer and then access the same information by looking under the “Recent” category on any Android or iPhone device. The same applies for searches initiated by other tablets or phones. It functions a bit like Chrome to Phone, but only works with Google searches. Instead of using Chrome to Phone to get all the details about that local restaurant, one can just walk out and get the details via your browser later (available for about a day). Not a huge feature, or something we can’t do using other methods, but it will definitely make things much simpler. Users will have to have Google Web History enabled in order to use this service, and of course being logged in to your Google Account is a must. Other than that, things are ready and you should be able to enjoy this new feature. Go ahead and check it out, and be sure to stop by and let us know what you think. Do you think you will be using this feature more than Chrome to Phone?

Isis set to beat Google Wallet ahead of its release Posted: 05 Mar 2012 01:45 PM PST NFC mobile payments are convenient and easy and more secure than traditional credit cards and cash. One of the biggest players in this market is Google Wallet, which was unveiled back in May 2011. But Google’s service is not the most successful, and it is about to face a competitor with a much more prepared and widespread infrastructure – Isis. Isis is an NFC mobile payment service made in collaboration by Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. Sprint is out of the equation, as it is fighting the battle alongside Google Wallet (only recently has Google Wallet become available for non-Sprint devices). This means that we have three of the largest carriers in the US going against a single one (and one of the smallest), making it look like a rough future for Sprint. Not only is Isis backed up by three major US carriers, but there are also agreements in place with Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express. Google Wallet is only working with Mastercard at the moment. And if that weren’t enough to make Isis far superior, the company has just announced that it has partnered with a variety of point-of-sale terminal providers. The list includes VeriFone, Ingenico, VIVOtech and Equinox, among others. Google Wallet is not much behind on this one, though. The Search Giant has deals with VeriFone, Ingenico, VIVOtech and Hypercom. But we have mostly just seen VIVOtech POS devices, which means that things should probably start moving faster with the rest. Isis is set to take off around mid-2012, and it is not going to sit around and wait for Google Wallet to catch up. Don’t get us wrong, we are Google fans here at Android and Me, but the situation is not looking great for the search giant. Isis has more partners and is set for a country-wide release as soon as it hits the market. Google Wallet has been available since last September, and it is already staying behind. Upon release, Isis will be available in a wide variety of devices from different carriers and probably supported by a greater number vendors. We do not yet know how things will turn out, though we do know that Google has to start making some quick improvements if it wants to stay strong in this field, lest it get run over by the runaway Isis train. Show Press Release VeriFone, Ingenico, ViVOtech and Equinox Announce Integration of Isis™ Mobile Commerce Application Leading Payment System Suppliers License Isis Mobile Commerce Application; Consumers to Pay, Present Loyalty Cards and Redeem Offers All With a Tap of Their Phone NEW YORK – March 5, 2012 – Isis™, the joint venture created by AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless, announced today that VeriFone, Ingenico, ViVOtech and Equinox Payments will integrate and support the Isis Mobile Commerce Application in current and future product lines. The agreements with leading payment systems providers will help accelerate the wide scale introduction and adoption of mobile commerce. "Payment systems suppliers provide critical infrastructure for the development of mobile commerce," said Scott Mulloy, chief technology officer, Isis. "Today's announcement is an important step in enabling NFC technology adoption throughout the mobile commerce industry. It also validates the open platform approach being offered by Isis across multiple business sectors." "VeriFone retail customers are already embracing the convergence of online shopping and the physical point of sale with new mobile payment options, digital couponing, loyalty, location-based social media and value-added services," said Jennifer Miles, VeriFone executive vice president, North America. "NFC-enabled payments allow merchants to engage their shoppers in new and powerful conversations, and Isis' open platform and scale are helping make mobile commerce a reality." Payment device suppliers will enable Isis mobile commerce across several of their product lines, offering merchants flexibility in how they upgrade to Isis-enabled payment terminals. Merchants will become Isis-enabled through a combination of new payment acceptance systems and NFC add-on devices, as well as remote software upgrades of certain devices already in the field. "As a global payment terminal manufacturer, we welcome Isis' open approach of mobile commerce to engage with as many stakeholders of the payments ecosystem as possible. It is the most effective way to bring consumers and merchants the best in engineering innovation, convenience and security of payments," said Thierry Denis, president of Ingenico, North America. "For 30 years, merchants relied on our terminals as enablers of traditional and innovative payment methods. Today, together with Isis, we are ready to support the acceptance of NFC-enabled payments which are fully integrated in our new generation Telium series devices and, in turn, be the agents of mobile commerce." "We're approaching a tipping point in the mass adoption of mobile commerce, as new smartphones arrive NFC-enabled," said Mick Mullagh, chief executive officer, ViVOtech. "Bringing the industry together behind a common set of technology standards and platforms is a crucial step toward igniting the mobile economy and we look forward to bringing ViVOtech's 10 year history of leadership in contactless NFC applications to bear on behalf of the Isis customer base." "The importance of mobile payments cannot be overstated and Equinox is pleased to join Isis at the forefront of the development of these very important technologies," said Clint Jones, Equinox Payments president. "The Isis Mobile Commerce Application is an excellent complement to our next-generation NFC-enabled L5000 series of payment terminals. Collaborations such as this provide Equinox with even more opportunities to provide our customers with new ways to leverage the tremendous benefits that mobile commerce has to offer." About Isis The joint venture is between AT&T Mobility LLC, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless and is based in New York City. The venture is chartered with building Isis™, a national mobile commerce venture that will fundamentally transform how people shop, pay and save. The Isis™ mobile commerce network will be available to all merchants, banks, payment networks and mobile carriers. ISIS is a trademark of JVL Ventures, LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other logos, product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. www.paywithisis.com Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements Information set forth in this press release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially. The words "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "may," "plan," "should" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, those set forth in the discussions of factors that may affect future results contained in Securities and Exchange Commission filings of AT&T, Deutsche Telekom AG (T-Mobile USA is the U.S. wireless arm of Deutsche Telekom AG), and Verizon Communications (of which Verizon Wireless is a subsidiary). AT&T, T-Mobile USA, and Verizon disclaim any obligation to update and revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.

Come party with Android and Me at gdgt Live during SXSW Posted: 05 Mar 2012 01:43 PM PST With SXSW fast approaching, we know that your schedules are surely starting to fill up. Well, if you haven’t made plans to attend gdgt Live on March 12 at the Austin City Music Hall, your plans aren’t quite complete just yet. gdgt Live is free, open to the public, and filled with awesome. We’ve attended as fans in years past, but this year Android and Me will be joining the fray as an official media partner, bringing you a closer look at all the latest tech (as well as some shenanigans). If you’ve never attended a gdgt Live event, you can check out the Flickr sets or YouTube channel to get an idea what you’re in for. Basically it’s dozens of tech companies presenting their latest and greatest mixed with a healthy dose of free drinks and swag. Sound good? Grab a ticket below: When I said ‘dozens’ of companies, I really meant it. Check out the full list of sponsors: Platinum: BlackBerry, Dish Network, Nokia, Speck, Twonky Gold: Logitech, Peel TV, SanDisk, Samsung, Slingbox, SugarSync, TiVo Silver: Application Developers Alliance, Belkin, Boxee, Cobra Electronics, G-Technology, Gogo Air, Kingston, Locotext, Marvell, NETGEAR, netTALK, Olympus, Phiaton, Roku, Seagate, Simple.TV, Sonos, Sphero, SRS Labs, Rackspace, T-Mobile, Texas Instruments DLP, Western Digital The event starts at 7PM but the first few hundred to arrive are said to be in store for some special freebies, so make sure to be on time. While you’re there, don’t forget to use the official hashtag of the event, #gdgtAustin. See you guys there!

Angry Birds Space to launch first on Samsung Galaxy Note? Posted: 05 Mar 2012 01:14 PM PST Could Angry Birds Space see an exclusive launch on the Samsung Galaxy Note? According to the latest teaser video posted on Samsung’s Facebook and YouTube pages, it looks possible. A short 30 second clip appears with the message, “Launching with Samsung Galaxy Note.” Rovio gave GetJar an exclusive launch window on the original Angry Birds when it first came to Android back in 2010, so this wouldn’t be new ground for them. We have also seen Rovio representatives working at Samsung’s booths during previous trade shows like CTIA, so we know the two companies have an existing relationship. Angry Birds Space is expected to launch on March 22nd, and Rovio will be broadcasting an announcement globally online on March 8th at 10 AM EST. Stay tuned for more details and check out the last two teaser videos below. Is anyone excited for Rovio’s latest release or have you become bored with the cartoon birds?

Galaxy S II getting Android 4.0 update on March 15th in Israel, rest of world to follow? Posted: 05 Mar 2012 09:58 AM PST According to a Facebook posting by Samsung Mobile Israel’s page, Galaxy S II devices in that country will be seeing the Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) update hit their devices on March 15th. As expected, the posting has since been removed from Facebook, as Samsung is none too keen on things being announced outside of their official channels. No official announcements have been made regarding the full rollout schedule for Android 4.0 on the various Galaxy S II models out there. The Verge speculates that if Android 4 does indeed come to Israel on the 15th, it will also likely launch in Europe on the same day. As tends to be the case with Android phones in the U.S., our update will likely come a bit later than the 15th as the carriers continue to ensure the update works well with their networks. Regardless, we hope to see Android 4 hitting 2011′s most popular Android headset later this month, even if it does still feature the Touchwiz custom UI overlay. We’ll bring you the goods of a U.S. release once we know more.

Rumor: Key Lime Pie to be next major Android update to follow Jelly Bean Posted: 05 Mar 2012 09:44 AM PST We know Google’s already hard at work on the next big update to Android (aka Jelly Bean), but what’s the next Android treat going to be called? According to The Verge, a trusted source has revealed to them that the Android team has settled on Key Lime Pie. Obviously, there are not a lot of dessert or tasty treat options when it comes to the letter K unless you’re a fan of Kiwi Cheese Cake (or any other Kiwi flavored desserts). Talking about Android’s Key Lime Pie update feels like we’re getting too far ahead of ourselves since manufacturers are just now rolling out phones that are running on Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) and it’ll be at least another 12 months before Jelly Bean (rumored to be Android 5.0) powered phones hit store shelves. At this pace, we’ll have to wait until spring of 2014 before Key Lime Pie is baked into new handsets by OEMs. What do you think of the Key Lime Pie name? Is there another dessert or treat that starts with a letter K which may be better suited for the next version of Android?

AT&T Android buyer’s guide: March 2012 Posted: 05 Mar 2012 09:27 AM PST Welcome to a new weekly column where we break down each carrier to let you know the best devices and current promotions. We have already posted our Verizon Buyer's Guide, T-Mobile Buyer's Guide, and Sprint Buyer’s Guide, so now it's time for AT&T. Each week we will rotate between the big four US carriers, so that each buyer's guide gets refreshed every month. Read on for AT&T's best devices and deals. Current Promotions and News Unlimited Data Plans throttled at 3 GB: AT&T finally cleared up their stance on customers who still have unlimited data plans. Subscribers will receive a text message after they consume 3 GB of data, their speeds will be reduced until the next billing cycle, and they are encouraged to switch to a tiered data plan. Facebook Fans Save: For a limited time, AT&T is offering up to $50 off to new and add a line customers. The promotion is only available to online customers. New Devices: The Samsung Rugby Smart and Sony Tablet P are now available to AT&T customers. Galaxy S II Skyrocket 4G Best Android Phone: Galaxy S II series Just like the other big three carriers, Samsung currently offers the best Android smartphone on AT&T. The latest Samsung device is actually available in three models: Galaxy S II, Galaxy S II Skyrocket 4G, and Galaxy Note. Each one has their own advantages which we will describe below. For most users I would recommend the original Galaxy S II. AT&T currently sells it for $99 and Amazon has it as low as $49for new customers ($89 for upgrades, $149 add a line). This is the only version on AT&T that sports the dual-core 1.2 GHz Samsung Exynos processor, which is faster in graphics performance versus the Snapdragon processor found in the two other Galaxy models. The original Galaxy S II does not have LTE, but it still supports AT&T’s 4G HSPA+ network for enhanced download speeds (up to approximately 6 Mbps download). Next we have the Galaxy S II Skyrocket 4G, which adds LTE support and offers a larger 4.5 inch Super AMOLED Plus display over the original Galaxy S II. In order to support AT&T’s 4G LTE network, this device uses a dual-core 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S3 processor. It offers comparable processing performance to the Exynos processor, but it has slightly slower graphics performance. AT&T currently sells the Skyrocket 4G for $199 and Amazon has it as low as $99 for new customers ($99 for upgrades, $219 for add a line). Finally we have the Galaxy Note which offers a huge 5.3 inch HD Super AMOLED display and unique S Pen stylus. Some have criticized the large size of this device, but I have several friends who have fallen in love with it. Internally, the Note is very similar to the Skyrocket 4G and includes the same dual-core 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S3 processor. Most people have said it takes a couple of days to get used to the size of this device, so you might want to take advantage of AT&T’s 30 day return policy to fully test it out. AT&T sells the Note for $299 and Amazon has it for as low as $249 for new customers ($249 for upgrades, $259 for add a line). Samsung has already said the Galaxy S II and Galaxy Note will receive Android 4.0 in the coming months, so these devices will continue to improve with new software updates. I've already recommended the Galaxy S II to several close friends and they have all been very pleased with their purchase. If you want to know more about the device, just check out our full review of the Sprint version. Alternative pick: AT&T does not sell the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, but if money is no object you can buy one online and use it on their HSPA+ network. The Galaxy Nexus is the best Android phone available thanks to it shipping with Android 4.0. Amazon currently has the GSM Galaxy Nexus listed for $593. Check out Anthony's review of the Galaxy Nexus for more info. Captivate Glide Best Android Phone with Keyboard: Captivate Glide There isn’t a very large selection of high-end keyboard phones on AT&T, so it was easy picking the Samsung Captivate Glide as the best. AT&T currently sells the Captivate Glide for $149 and Amazon has it as low as $0.01 for new customers ($79 for upgrades, $169 add a line). Highlights of the Captivate Glide include a 4-inch Super AMOLED display, dual-core 1 GHz Tegra 2 processor, 8 MP rear camera, 1.3 MP front camera, 8 GB internal storage, and support for AT&T’s 4G HSPA+ network. Even though the Tegra 2 is an older processor, it still has access to a big library of premium games from NVIDIA’s Tegra Zone showcase application. The Captivate currently ships with Android 2.3, and there is no word if it will receive an update to the latest Android 4.0. Keep this in mind when thinking about purchasing this device. Pantech Element Best Android Tablet: Pantech Element Let me repeat what I said in our previous buyer's guide. Because of the current data plans, I'm not a huge fan of carrier branded Android tablets. However, if you need an Android tablet with wireless connectivity, then the Pantech Element should be your pick. None of AT&T’s tablets really stand out above the rest, so the Element wins our pick for its low $299 price point with 2-year commitment. Highlights of the Pantech Element include an 8-inch HD display, dual-core 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S3 processor, 4G LTE speeds, and a waterproof design. The Element currently ships with Android 3.2, and there is no word yet if this device will receive an update to Android 4.0. Galaxy S II Best Android Phone on a Budget: Samsung Galaxy S II Now that online stores offer high-end devices for $99 with a new 2-year agreement, it is becoming harder and harder to suggest a budget phone. The lower priced devices generally don't receive major software updates to newer versions of Android and they are outdated as soon as you buy them. However, the Galaxy S II is still a great buy and a device that we fully expect to receive Android 4.0. As we said above, AT&T currently sells it for $99 and Amazon has it as low as $49. You really can’t go wrong with this phone. About the only negative thing compared to the latest high-end phones is the lack of 4G LTE support, but AT&T still doesn’t offer LTE coverage in a lot of their markets. One X What's Coming Next If you are willing to hold out for a few months, then you should have your eye on the HTC One X. This flagship device will ship with Android 4.0, include the latest Snapdragon S4 processor, and feature an amazing camera experience thanks to HTC’s ImageSense chip. AT&T already announced they would carry the device, but no pricing or release date has been revealed. We expect it will go for around $299 with contract like other high-end LTE smartphones and hopefully it will be in stores by the first-half of 2012. During CES, AT&T also announced the Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD, which offers a HD Super AMOLED display. No release date has been shared, but we think the HTC One X is a more compelling device. The Sony Xperia Ion is also coming to AT&T sometime in Q2. This device features the same dual-core 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S3 already available in the Galaxy S II Skyrocket and Galaxy Note, but it does have Sony’s Bravia display and 12MP Exmor-R camera sensor going for it. Finally, all of us are still waiting on the official announcement of the Samsung Galaxy S III, which should happen by summer. Feedback We have long wanted to maintain buyer's guides for every carrier, but it's just something we have failed to produce. As one of the most influential sources of Android information on the web, we realize that our opinions are valuable and the average consumer just wants to know what phone they should buy without having to do all the research. Our hardcore audience lives and breaths Android, so most of them already know what device they want to buy next. However, I realize that for most of the public, reading our blog is like trying to read Swahili or some other foreign language. The purpose of these guides is to try and help the average consumer. Having said all that, consider this first guide as a rough draft that will continually be updated and improved over time. We would love to hear your feedback on what other sections or information should be added to the next version. Our lead developer Clark has some amazing site features that are coming down the pipe (like the new profiles), and we are committed to this community. I ask for your help by sharing this guide with your friends on AT&T and leaving suggestions in the comments below.

Samsung takes to Twitter and denies recent Galaxy S III April launch date rumors Posted: 05 Mar 2012 09:10 AM PST We have some bad news for those waiting patiently for the Samsung Galaxy S III. Samsung has just sent out a tweet denying the recent rumors that the Galaxy S III would be unveiled this month and could show up in stores as early as April. According to Samsung, the launch details of the Galaxy S III have not yet been finalized, but once they are, details will be made available via Twitter. Samsung also provided an official statement to The Verge which claims the phone will be unveiled in the first half of the year. The launguage Samsung uses is vague, leaving open the possibility that the phone could still be unveiled in March. The successor to the GALAXY S II smartphone will be unveiled in the first half of the year, closer to commercial availability of the product. We cannot confirm the detailed information at the moment.Samsung Rumors about the delayed Samsung Galaxy S III indicated that Samsung wanted to purposefully push back the launch date to shorten up the time delay between the global and US launch of the device. If that is the case, we could see Samsung push back the launch of the Galaxy S III to June so that the U.S. service providers have enough time to test the handsets on their 3G and 4G networks. We know that Samsung has something really special planned for the S III, but we’re not sure how much longer the general public will be willing to wait once they see the new HTC One series hit store shelves in early April. How long are you willing to wait for the Samsung Galaxy S III?

MIT launches Android App Inventor to all with a Google account Posted: 05 Mar 2012 07:36 AM PST Google’s App Inventor took the world by storm when it launched back in July of 2010. The WYSIWYG app inventor allowed users with no programming knowledge to create applications using drag-and-drop blocks that specified your application’s behavior. Our own Clark Wimberly took App Inventor for a ride back in August 2010, creating a basic Twitter client to demonstrate what app inventor can do. Sadly, App Inventor was killed off by Google only a year later, but open-sourced the platform so someone else could roll with it and support it in a way Google no longer wanted to do. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) stepped up to the plate with significant monetary support from Google, created the MIT Center for Mobile Learning, and began readying App Inventor  to release to the public. Today, MIT made App Inventor publicly available to anyone with a Google account. Budding developers who want to create the next great Android application can head over to the MIT site, enter your Google account information, and begin putting the puzzle pieces together to your heart’s content. Never used App Inventor before? MIT has a slew of tutorials available for you to read through before you get started. Anyone out there planning to check out App Inventor with hopes of creating the next great Android app? Let us know in the comments. Happy coding!