Posted: 05 Mar 2012 05:48 PM PST   There’s no question that Android applications are getting bigger and better. Whether it’s with games or full featured Twitter applications, it’s rare you’ll find anything under a few megabytes. For those that get into gigabyte territory, Google has upgraded the previous 50MB limit for Android apps to a whopping 4GB in extra resources, to better accommodate developers. This means you’ll start to find a lot less apps that, after installation, ask to download GB’s of system resources to your SD before you can play a game. Also, users will now be able to see the real size of the applications they’re looking to install. Soon, gone will be the days of downloading a 1MB game only to find it needs 3GB of SD storage and by that time, the 15 minute return window is over. Now, the 15 min wont start until the whole app — including resources — are completely downloaded and ready for play. There’s also a certain amount of safety that can be found when downloading extra resource files from Google servers vs. the app developer’s. Never know what you can catch these days. App developers can find more helpful resources via the source link below. [AndroidDevelopers] |
Posted: 05 Mar 2012 05:27 PM PST   We’ve been following Android’s next great MMORPG , Dark Legends, for awhile now. The teaser trailer — which was really well done, I might add — showed us what could be a more serious side from developer Spacetime Studios who has so far kept their MMO’s lighthearted, with cutesy style visuals. Up until this point, we haven’t seen any actual gameplay for Dark Legends, so we really had no idea what to expect. Will Spacetime Studios and company go for an entirely different art direction with Dark Legends? Have a look for yourself in the gameplay trailer. Thankfully, gone are the super deformed character models from sister titles like Pocket Legends and Star Legends before it, although there’s still a World of Warcraft feel to the graphics. But, as you can see, Dark Legends wont find itself lacking in the gore department. Heads and limbs fly off of enemies with reckless abandon and pools of blood soak various levels. This will definitely be aimed at the more mature crowed. What do you guys think? Visuals still a little too cartoony for you? Or is Spacetime Studios heading in the right direction with Dark Legends? Still no word yet on a release date, but we’ll keep you posted. |
Posted: 05 Mar 2012 02:32 PM PST   LG was fast at work to get their devices launched following their Mobile World Congress announcements. One of those devices is the LG Optimus Vu and it’s now available in South Korea carriers SK Telecom and LG U+. The 5 inch 4:3 aspect ratio device was unveiled last week with a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, digitized pen support, an 8MP camera, 8GB of internal storage, 1GB of RAM and more. Samsung has long had a stronghold on the Korean market and we won’t be surprised if LG has a tough time knocking them down. LG has struggled in the smartphone game for quite some time and it remains to be seen whether or not their latest round of devices will inspire people to buy them. [LG via Android Central] |
Posted: 05 Mar 2012 01:47 PM PST  AT&T have announced that they are now offering Dr. Dre Beatbox for $400. It’s an accessory which is definitely aimed to challenge Jawbone’s JAMBOX. Compared to that, though, it seems grossly overpriced. You’re getting Bluetooth functionality and likely exceptional sound, but if it’s anything like their line of headphones you should definitely be able to find better quality for better value elsewhere.  We can’t pass judgment just yet, though, so don’t count it out. Tucked away in the press release was a note that the HTC Vivid would be receiving Beats by Dre functionality and profiles as well as a new Sense experience through a forthcoming upgrade to Android 4.0. Furthermore, they mentioned that this upgrade would be on its way “in the coming weeks.” The coming weeks could even be a couple of months from now – I’ve heard many “in the coming weeks” time frames transgress a period of months – so don’t get your hopes up too soon. Read on for full press details. Music The Way The Artist Intended, Beats By Dr. Dre Beatbox Available Exclusively From AT&T March 11 |
Posted: 05 Mar 2012 01:17 PM PST   Google’s just introduced a simple, yet useful feature for their Google Search product today. When searching for and looking at a local place on, say, your desktop, that result will be saved in your history and can be viewed if you switch to mobile. I’ve always had the problem of forgetting an address en route to a place I’m not familiar with. While I never had much of a problem with just searching for it on Google Maps, it’s there if you need it. Again, nothing exciting or revolutionary, but it’s there if you need it. Be sure to sign into your account and have web history enabled to be able to use it. [Google] |
Posted: 05 Mar 2012 01:05 PM PST   Faced with reports and evidence that some pretty nasty vulnerabilities have plagued the Google Wallet experience, Google naturally set out to make things right. While they work to implement a more proper fix for some of these things, Google will opt to simply warn rooted users that they are not supported. Despite this fact, everything works just as it always has on Google Wallet. As the most serious vulnerabilities only affect root users it’s natural for Google to allow those knowledgeable enough to have rooted devices to continue on. We would prefer it if they got a move on getting those proper fixes in place, though, so we’re not totally satisfied yet. Continue to use it at your own risk. [The Verge] |
Posted: 05 Mar 2012 11:36 AM PST   While some of us living in the old ages are still relying on our weather radios for severe weather updates, AccuWeather is steadily aiming to help modernize severe weather alerts. They’ve upgraded their Android application to add push alerts for severe weather updates. With the recent wave of tornadoes sweeping the country, it would be an understatement to say that this is one highly desirable update. Above that biggie, there’s now a lifestyle section “to help you make better decisions (tells you which activities are feasible for the day), an option to exit, the ability to upgrade to the premium version of the app using in-app purchases, and some design changes to make it look more like other Android applications. I urge you to grab this update ASAP if AccuWeather is your weather app of choice. [Android Market] |
Posted: 05 Mar 2012 11:20 AM PST  Another one of my favorite Xbox Live Arcade games (also on PC and the Playstation Network) may be coming to Android, according to recent rumors. The folks at Destructoid found a job listing from Playdead on Gamasutra looking for game developers with iOS, Android and Windows Phone 7 experience. Playdead makes the hit puzzle game “Limbo,” a beautiful side-scrolling mind exerciser which, at least for me, never gets old. The job description states that they’re looking to port existing titles to mobile platforms, so that rules out any suspicion of a new IP (although Playdead is working on something new). We’ll be first in line if that is, indeed, what Playdead is bringing to Android. Check out a gameplay video of the console and PC versions above. |
Posted: 05 Mar 2012 10:44 AM PST   There were a ton of exciting announcements from the very beginning of Mobile World Congress 2012. Even through now, we’ve learned of new developments and advancements from tons of companies and a lot of it has been great. What are the absolute best announcements and product showings, though? We’ve come up with our list of the 10 best Mobile World Congress happenings. Without further ado…
Honorable MentionsGoogle Android Booth — Even though it’s largely the same as last year’s, it’s still awesome. The slide and shakes return, and now there are literal ice cream sandwiches and a crane game. It was hard to say goodbye to this green-filled paradise.The future of NFC, as told by NXP — The NFC demos NXP showed off weren’t cool just because of the technology that goes into it, but because this is stuff that I could see myself wanting and using in every day life. Remember, it’s all about making life easier. Ubuntu for Android – A full desktop operating system on your mobile handset running side-by-side with Android? This is Motorola’s WebTop on steroids. Full-featured Ubuntu brings even more power to Android smartphones. Let us know what you thought were the best devices or announcements at Mobile World Congress in the comments section below! |
Posted: 05 Mar 2012 10:18 AM PST  Motorola launched the first Android Honeycomb tablet – the XOOM – without 4G despite the promise that it’d have those nice data-guzzling LTE radios from Verizon. Motorola promised to bring an upgrade program to enable cellular-connected XOOM units with 4G, and they came through. Users have been able to send their units in and receive them with 4G LTE goodness without fail.  A year’s time has passed since the device’s launch, though, and we imagine that anyone who has 4G either already sent their device in or bought the device with 4G LTE pre-installed. If there happens to be anyone who hasn’t gotten their device upgraded, though, they’ll want to do it soon – end of the month soon. Motorola’s ending the upgrade program on March 31st. Some users who have recently gotten their upgrades done have boasted of 4 day turnaround times, a far cry from the two weeks Motorola initially promised. That’s due to a much shorter load of devices needing to be upgraded, of course, and we can’t imagine things will change sometime between now and the end of the quarter. If you haven’t gotten yours upgraded yet, visit Verizon’s site to get started. [via Droid-Life] |
Posted: 05 Mar 2012 08:36 AM PST   Though HTC’s lineup didn’t show off anything that looked the like successor to the second edition of the Incredible released last year, there is still a device fitting the description floating around out there. The handset, which was originally uncovered under the name HTC Fireball, has received its first speculative release date thanks to DroidLife. Their sources have leaked a short list of upcoming Verizon releases that shows the HTC Droid Incredible 3 4G as launching April 26th. Little is known about the upcoming device but it is said to be one of Verizon’s 4G LTE world phones. Also up for an April release according to the leak is the 16GB version of the Galaxy Nexus LTE, which is slated for the 5th of that month. Rumors have suggested it will be available in both a white and dark color scheme. [via DroidLife] |
Posted: 05 Mar 2012 06:59 AM PST   Though the doors have been shuttered on Google Labs, one project near and dear to Android lovers lives on. Google open-sourced the code to App Inventor, a software tool that allows even those without much coding experience to create Android applications and games, and the brainiacs at MIT ran with it, releasing the first beta of MIT App Inventor. MIT’s version picks up where Google left off, and unlike the initial closed release the program saw when it first hit the scene the new edition is open to all with a Google account. This of course means MIT’s servers have been hit pretty hard this morning with download requests, making access to the beta a bit difficult. It’s a shame that App Inventor lost official Google support, but it’s now in more than capable hands. Let’s see what apps you guys can come up with. [MIT via SuperTechBlog] |
Posted: 05 Mar 2012 05:53 AM PST   The LG Optimus L3 will be sashaying its way to Europe later this month with releases in Russia and Asia to follow. The entry-level device with an 800MHz processor and 3.2-inch display is part of LG’s larger L series unveiled at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona last week. The new line puts an emphasis on good looks over top-of-the-line hardware and manages to do a pretty good job of it. You can check out our first look, which also gives an overview of the slightly more powerful L5 and L7 handsets. Release info on those devices has yet to be revealed. The Gingerbread-laden Optimus L3 should sell for south of the 200 euro border when it hits shelves. [via IntoMobile] |
Posted: 05 Mar 2012 04:56 AM PST   Tired of waiting for manufacturers to release their Ice Cream Sandwich updates but want to get a little taste to hold you over? You might not get access to everything Android 4.0 has to offer but, but thanks to one developer you can now get the ICS camera experience on nearly any Android device. Camera ICS is described as an “improved version of the official camera app included on Ice Cream Sandwich” and brings along panorama and time-lapse modes along with a handful of added features you won’y find in stock Android 4.0. Camera ICS gives better control over picture and video quality, adds silent mode, and allows users to toggle video stabilization (on Android 4.0 only). More features are in the works. An ad supported version is available in the Android Market, while $0.99 gives you the ad-free experience. Android Market Link: Camera ICS [via Lifehacker] |
Posted: 05 Mar 2012 04:43 AM PST   If insider reports that rumors of an April launch for the Galaxy S III are false aren’t quite convincing enough, the denial is now coming straight from the horse’s mouth. Samsung took to Twitter to clarify that the Galaxy S III’s release date is not yet set in stone, calling into question whether or not we will see the phone next month. The manufacturer’s statement doesn’t entirely rule out April as the month we will see the new flagship phone, but it is a reminder to not mark it down on your calendar just yet. As always, Samsung is promising the device will be announced during the first half of the year and close to the handset’s launch rather than months in advance. When that time comes Sammy is saying keep an eye on Twitter for the official details. [via The Verge] |
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Update - 143
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment