Posted: 15 Mar 2012 04:05 PM PDT  While those silly folks from iMore will all be standing in a line somewhere tonight, we'll all be enjoying some fresh air and getting some work done. If you're looking to get caught up on all the latest Android news, go ahead and jump back a few pages or -- drop into the Android Central Forums for much more discussion:
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Posted: 15 Mar 2012 04:04 PM PDT  EA Sports has released two long-awaited titles on Google Play in Europe and North America today -- FIFA (Soccer) 12 and NBA Jam. FIFA 12 is the latest in the long-running Likewise, NBA Jam is another classic franchise which has finally made its way across to Google's app store. EA promises arcade basketball action featuring all 30 NBA teams, including head-to-head multiplayer over Wifi or Bluetooth. NBA Jam is priced at $5 in North America, or £3 in Europe. We've got Google Play links for both titles after the break. 
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Posted: 15 Mar 2012 03:58 PM PDT  We love ya. We do. But frankly it's beautiful outside, and we've got some homework to do. So we'll catch ya' next week! 
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Posted: 15 Mar 2012 02:34 PM PDT  The Motorola XOOM 2 will be available in Brazil starting March 16. It's exactly the same tablet we've come to know and love over the past few months, only now it'll be in South America's largest nation. No specific word from Motorola on pricing or where, exactly you can buy one, and it's still launching with Android 3.2 Honeycomb. (Look for the ICS update in Q3.) But if you've got to get your 3G on, you'll be able to do so starting Friday. Source: Motorola 
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Posted: 15 Mar 2012 01:51 PM PDT  Sometimes having a cell phone as your main line can be more of an inconvenience than a convenience, especially when it comes to unwanted unsolicited phone calls. Google Voice has offered the ability to block unwanted calls for quite some time now, but not everyone wants to transfer their phone number to that service. Recently the folks at YouMail have updated both Visual Voicemail Plus and WhoAreYou on Android, and now they can both take advantage of the newest feature. Now, with just one click any unwanted numbers can be blocked. To help users understand which calls should be ditched, YouMail’s network of over two million registered users have identified numerous “spammers” and other unwanted callers. When these users call, they’re clearly identified, making it effortless for users to recognize unwanted calls.Both WhoAreYou and Visual Voicemail Plus are available in the Google Play Store as free downloads. If you want to easily block callers on the go, be sure to check them out today! Full press release after the break. read more 
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Posted: 15 Mar 2012 01:37 PM PDT  Zynga has made some extremely popular mobile applications such as Words With Friends and a few others, and today Scramble With Friends has landed in the Google Play Store. Scramble with friends has been available on iOS for some time now, and it is equally as addictive as Words With Friends. The concept of the game is simple, connect the tiles you have to create words, the more letter the more points. Tokens are also collected as the game is played, and these can be used to buy help during the game, for example hints or the ability to free time if you wish. The download is free, the game is addictive, so hit the break and download it today! read more
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Posted: 15 Mar 2012 01:15 PM PDT  So what do we learn from Sprint's Galaxy Nexus FCC listing? Not a damn thing of any real use. We still have no idea when it'll be released (first half of the year, in conjunction with Sprint's LTE rollout, is the best we've got), which really is the only question we have at this point. And, so, we keep on waiting, and hope to see Sprint's lineup of LTE-enabled cities expand beyond the half-dozen already named. 
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Posted: 15 Mar 2012 12:32 PM PDT 
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Posted: 15 Mar 2012 12:03 PM PDT  HTC told us that its new One series of phones would be available within 60 days of MWC, but we didn't expect to see them quite this soon. British network O2 has let slip that it's due to stock the HTC One X starting April 5, just three weeks from today. Responding to a Twitter question about tariffs for the One X, the network tweeted, "we're not due to get the HTC until 5th April so no decision on tariffs yet." Alongside the One X, O2 plans to stock the mid-range One S and the entry-level One V, though no information on launch dates for those phones was offered. In addition, the other major UK networks aren't offering any more specifics -- T-Mobile UK says it'll stock the One X sometime in April, while Three, Vodafone and Orange simply list it as "coming soon." The One X is HTC's flagship smartphone for 2012, with a 4.7-inch 720p screen, a quad-core Tegra 3 CPU, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and a brand new version of HTC Sense. For more info, check out our hands-on coverage from MWC, and our second look video from last week. 
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Posted: 15 Mar 2012 11:43 AM PDT  “Discovery Communications has always been a leader in creating entertaining and enlightening programming for the entire family,” said Brad Beale, director of video content acquisition for Amazon. “With the addition of this great content from Discovery Communications, Prime customers now have more than 17,000 titles to choose from when watching Prime Instant Video—that’s in addition to the more than 120,000 titles that are offered to all customers for purchase or rent on Amazon Instant Video.”With earlier content deals bringing ABC Disney, Viacom and 20th Century Fox to the mix, Amazon is really starting to add some additional value for the $79 a year you pay for Amazon Prime. Source: Amazon read more
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Posted: 15 Mar 2012 09:05 AM PDT Tank Riders, you had such promise. You look beautiful, you run incredibly well, and you involve tanks. Tanks, I say! Made in the same vein as many a game before you, you offered an unprecedented level of eye candy and polish that truly made me proud to say you were on Android. Then I tried to play you. Man, on a tablet, those controls are rough. For starters, let's notice that the virtual joystick remains completely hidden until you decide to move it. Once you know it's there, there's no problem. The first time I tried to play, though, I was wildly moving my fingers across the screen, trying to get some sort of response. Finally, I landed on the joystick. The virtual joystick is about as good (or bad) as any other one I've used. Move your finger, the tank moves. Because there's nothing physical, you run the risk of stretching your hand out too far, accidentally moving off of the joystick, and leaving yourself a sitting duck until you reorient your thumb. Pretty stock stuff. The aiming, however, is atrocious. With your left hand permanently locked on the left side of the screen (you know, to control your tank), all your aiming has to be done with the right hand. If you only had to shoot to the right, that'd be fine. Sometimes you have to shoot to the left, though. That involves an awkward crossover (not unlike when you start beginning piano), covers up your screen with your arms, and generally ruins any fun you were previously having. Maybe I'm inept. Perhaps I lack some sort of basic arm-crossing gene that renders me helpless in the wake of such a challenge, and that's why I was unsuccessful. Regardless, that one glaring issue was so large, it sullied the entire gameplay experience for me. If you think you've got what I don't, Tank Riders is $1.99 in the Google Play Store. We've got download links after the break. read more
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Posted: 15 Mar 2012 09:04 AM PDT  Buy: Beatbox by Dre 
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Posted: 15 Mar 2012 09:00 AM PDT For today's ShopAndroid.com Daily Giveaway we'll be featuring the Krusell Orbit Flex Multidapt Leather Case for Motorola Droid X/X2, OtterBox Commuter for Droid Incredible, Mobi TPU Skin Case for HTC ThunderBolt, and the Case-Mate Barely There Brushed Aluminum Case for Samsung Epic 4G Touch. To become eligible to win one of today's featured accessories, just leave your comment below stating which item you'd like to have for your Android device. The winner of today's giveaway will be announced next Monday. Krusell Orbit Flex Multidapt Leather Case for Motorola Droid X/X2Made from soft, high quality leather with elegant beige over-stitching, the Krusell Orbit Flex Multidapt Leather Case is a unique 2 in 1 Motorola Droid X/X2 specific case that gives your device maximum protection. With flexible features like the removable lid, this case runs your life in and outside the office. The included swivel belt clip can be rotates 360 degrees and is removable. read more 
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Posted: 15 Mar 2012 07:52 AM PDT   A quick heads up to all you folks with the HTC Vivid. Word in our HTC Vivid forums is that the Android 4.0.3 update is starting to push out. And even better is that you're able to force the push by dialing *#*#682#*#*. It looks like it's a slightly newer version that the update that leaked a week or so ago (that's as good a reminder as any that "leaked" doesn't mean "official"), so it's got that going for it. (Update: AT&T tells us that there's no update officially being pushed yet.) You'll also be updated to Sense 3.6. It's not quite as sexy as the new Sense 4 in the HTC One line, but it's a nice happy medium. So get your download on, and hit the link below for more from folks who have already updated. Source: HTC Vivid forum 
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Posted: 15 Mar 2012 07:42 AM PDT  What kind of birthday celebration would it be without some great presents, right? Well Amazon will begin with a single app today, two apps tomorrow, three the following, until the week is over. These applications will consist of extremely popular titles such as Fruit Ninja, Wolfram Alpha, Splashtop Remote Desktop, Dr. Seuss’s The Shape of Me and many more, all at 67 percent off. “Customers have used the Amazon Appstore to test drive and buy millions of apps and games for their Kindle Fire and other Android devices in the first year alone,” said Aaron Rubenson, director of Amazon Appstore for Android. “To thank customers for shopping with us, we worked closely with our developers to offer special discounts on some of the most popular apps all week long.”Be sure to keep your eyes on the Amazon Appstore, and celebrate with them by picking up some great apps for great price. Source: Amazon; more: Amazon Appstore 
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Posted: 15 Mar 2012 07:28 AM PDT  Thursday? Again, already? That means it's time for another edition of the Android Central Podcast! We're going to wrap up a week's worth of news, avoid talking about that nefangled tablet thingy that comes out tomorrow, and answer a bunch of your e-mails and voicemails. Have questions? Hit us up here! So join Phil and the gang -- and, of course, the chat room -- live tonight at 1 a.m. GMT / 9 p.m. EST / 6 p.m. PST for the live broadcast. You should be there. You will be there. You must be there. After all, you are what makes it the Greatest Android Podcast in the World.Not at a computer? Pick up the free UStream Viewer from the Android Market [link] and search for Android Central a little before the show (it won't appear until we go live). We'll see you there! AndroidCentral.com/live 
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Posted: 15 Mar 2012 06:59 AM PDT
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Grab the 
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Posted: 15 Mar 2012 06:17 AM PDT
Ever wondered just how far the power of the Angry Birds franchise would take it? Forget space, Angry Birds are now heading to the racetrack.
Finnish Formula 1 driver Heikki Kovalainen -- fellow countryman to developers Rovio -- has unveiled his new helmet design as part of the partnership with Rovio prior to this weekends Australian Grand Prix. The partnership between Kovalainen and Rovio also includes a range of co-branded merchandise and a forthcoming web game.
This one certainly stands out from the crowd. You can see Heikki's creation this weekend by tuning into the Australian Grand Prix when coverage starts from Friday.
The question truly remains. Where else can Angry Birds go to?
Source: Heikki Kovalainen
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Posted: 15 Mar 2012 04:10 AM PDT
Of all three new HTC devices, there's no question that we've seen the least of the One V. No-one's seen a working handset just yet, and the demo units we saw at MWC couldn't be powered on. However, we're big fans of the iconic design first introduced by the Legend back in 2010, and we're curious to see how this thing looks after it's been dunked in.... whatever you dunk a slab of aluminum in to make it look like that.
Source: Blog of Mobile; via: UnwiredView
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Posted: 15 Mar 2012 03:55 AM PDT
In addition to updating its current G9 tablet line-up to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, Archos has debuted two new "ICS" edition G9 Turbo tablets, with slightly different storage configurations, at slightly tweaked price points. As a result, Archos' first Google-certified Android tablet range is gaining three new SKUs.
First up is the Archos 80 G9 Turbo ICS, which comes with a 1.5GHz CPU, an 8-inch screen and Android 4.0. It's available for £200 (~$310) with 8GB of flash storage or £240 (~$380) for 16GB. There's also the equally clumsy-sounding Archos 101 G9 Turbo ICS, which offers similar specs on a 10-inch display -- that's yours for £270 (~$425) with 16GB of storage.
So, while all G9 tablets should upgrade to ICS out of the box, at least you won't have to do any downloading or waiting if you pick up either of Archos's new tabs. If you've dropped any cash on Archos' latest tablets, be sure to hit the comments and let us know how you're getting on.
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Posted: 14 Mar 2012 09:47 PM PDT
It's not very often that I'll use the word "deal" when something costs $579, but the Samsung Galaxy Note is an exception. If you've been looking for one, and prefer an unlocked world version over the AT&T version, now is you chance to save a bit of cash and pick it up in white.
Source: 1SaleADay. Thanks, Robert!
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Posted: 14 Mar 2012 09:14 PM PDT
As many an EVO 3D user will tell you, the 1.5 hboot that came with the latest update has been a bit of a thorn in the side of Android hackers. That may soon be coming to an end, and users at XDA -Developers have found a method to roll back to an earlier version that is a bit more development friendly. But everything isn't rosy just yet.
The current method is pretty tricky on paper. You need to use Linux, and there's lots of critical timing and other things to go wrong. There's also a question about the data connection afterwards to keep you from diving in feet-first. Give the folks working on this one a bit more time and they'll likely have a handle on things -- that's what they do. We just wanted to share the news for those who've been waiting. Hit the source link for all the gory details.
Source: XDA-Developers. Thanks, Cody!
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Posted: 14 Mar 2012 05:38 PM PDT
Here's a security and privacy tip that many of us forget about, yet is really easy to manage -- geo-location data in the pictures you take with your Android phone. Modern digital cameras that have a way to capture GPS data (that means your Android phone or tablet) can attach location data to pictures using the Exif (Exchangeable image file format) standard. The Exif standard attaches metadata tags to pictures, sounds, and video to keep track of things like song titles, video length, and camera model. It also has a slot for latitude and longitude coordinates from your GPS receiver.
Attaching GPS metadata to the pictures you take can be handy, and there are reasons people would want to do it. Having the date, time and location embedded in a picture means never forgetting where and when you took it, and you can use services like Panoramio to place your pictures on a map overlay. Having a location fixed to an image has many legitimate, and fun, uses.
But many times we don't want someone else to know the precise GPS location of a picture we've taken. "Little Timmy's first day at summer camp" would make a great picture to share on Facebook or Google+, but do we want some stranger to know where little Timmy is sleeping this week? It's a scary world out there, full of people with bad intentions. Nobody will blame you if you err on the side of caution.
It matters, because it's not just apps that can access this data. Download a picture from your (or a friends) online albums somewhere. After you have it saved, right click it (Windows) and look at all the properties. If the picture is geo-tagged, you'll get GPS coordinates within a few feet of where the camera was when it was taken. There are even programs and websites that spit out the location data of images, and not everyone who uses these can be trusted. Thankfully, turning location tagging on and off is really easy.
You'll find a spot in the settings of your camera app (stock or a custom app from the Google Play store) that will say location or geo-tag. Poke around a bit, it's in different places depending on your phone's firmware or the app you're using, but it's there. When that setting is on, your GPS will turn on and the coordinates will be saved with the image data. When it's off, neither will happen.
Take control of these sorts of settings, and keep yourself safer on the Internet.
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Posted: 14 Mar 2012 05:37 PM PDT
Another week, another Galaxy S III rumor. This time it's a new purported render of the still unannounced device, which has been sent to PhoneArena by way of an anonymous tipster. We've seen a couple of purported images of the mythical phone over the past few months, and both have turned out to be mock-ups or fabrications. On account of a few major inconsistencies in this latest image, we're gonna call foul here, too. If you take a closer look at the image, you'll see awkwardly large fonts, icons from an older version of TouchWiz and copy-pasted Galaxy Nexus notification bar and software buttons. That's before you even get to the reference to an event in Paris which Samsung has already denied has anything to do with the Galaxy S III.
Hold tight, folks -- we'll have a new flagship phone from Samsung before too long, but for the moment we're almost certain this isn't it. The official line from Sammy remains that the successor to the Galaxy S II will be revealed at an event during the first half of the year.
Source: PhoneArena
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Posted: 14 Mar 2012 05:17 PM PDT
The LG Optimus V has an update waiting for it, you might have received a text message from Virgin about it. The update offers a security fix "that will protect your handset from security vulnerabilities that may occur either through a remote attacker’s access attempt or through a 3rd party application’s ability to access code that could be used to exploit data on the handset". They even provide a link to the National Vulnerability Database on their FAQ page, making it look very official and serious.
You'll have to download the update and install it manually via your computer (see the source links for details), and you won't have a new version of Android to play with when you're done, unfortunately. But security patches are the types of updates that are truly important, so it's good to see them.
In all likelihood, these exploits being patched will kill the current root methods. Rumor has it that this is the only reason for the update, but rumors are rumors. In any case, if you're riding the root train on your Optimus V (and with the dev team we have in the forums, who could blame you?) you should probably skip this one until those same developers say differently. For everyone else, see the links for more details.
Source: Virgin Mobile USA; via Android Central forums
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