Sunday, April 15, 2012

Update - 231



Posted: 16 Mar 2012 02:29 PM PDT
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Verizon and Motorola have a new updated prepped for the Droid Pro that will bring its software build number to 4.7.3. We’re not talking a major overhaul here or anything close to an upgrade to Android 4.0, but several bugs are addressed. Keyboard backlighting is also improved and V CAST Apps and VZ Navigator get updates as well.
We’ll keep our ear to the ground for reports of the new software actually hitting handsets. We can likely expect that to happen over the next week or two. Head over to Verizon’s support site for all the info.
[Verizon via DroidLife]

Posted: 16 Mar 2012 01:43 PM PDT
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HTC tipped us off to the phones we can expect to receive a tasty Ice Cream Sandwich treat in the coming months and among the list was Verizon’s Rezound. For owners of the Bears Audio handset brimming with excitement, a newly leaked build of Android 4.0 has come online. As with all HTC handsets that aren’t part of the One series, the OS build is topped off with Sense 3.6.
The leak is not the final version but should offer a pretty good idea of what to expect to those interested in installing the new build. You’ll need to be running a stock OS built with a locked bootloader to get things up and running. More info and the necessary files can be found at the source link below.
[via AndroidPolice]

Posted: 16 Mar 2012 01:20 PM PDT
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If the headline had you doing a double take, you’re not the only one. One of the best and most popular alternative Android builds, CyanogenMod is deeply rooted (pun most definitely intended) in the world of underground Android development and has long been associated with unlocked devices featuring superuser access. In the newest edition, CyanogenMod 9, the team behind the ROM is taking a step back in the interest of security. By default, root access will be disabled in CM9. Users will have the option of enabling root in three different modes. One for ADB, one for applications, and one for both.
The change in policy signals the emergence of CyanogenMod as a legitimate alternative to OEM-installed versions of Android. With each new release the ROM picks up polish and grows its userbase. What was once a small horde of Android enthusiasts looking for operating system customizations has grown into a slightly more mainstream audience. As Uncle Ben always said, “with great power comes great responsibility.” With more and more users coming to Cyanogen — and some on the less technically savvy side — it’s only responsible to provide the most secure OS possible as a default.
[via AndroidCentral]

Posted: 16 Mar 2012 01:04 PM PDT
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A new update is rolling out to the Google Play Store for Android devices bringing the digital marketplace’s version number to 3.5.15. Though it won’t be immediately noticeable, enough has changed to warrant a quick video rundown of what you can expect in the store’s latest iteration.
Reviews now list the associated device (just like in the online counterpart) and sorting options can parse down ratings based on app version. You can also choose to view only reviews associated with your current device and arrange views by date or their level of helpfulness.  In the My Apps pane we now find two swipe-able tabs that divide your currently installed apps and apps that you have downloaded or purchased but have yet to install on your device. A drop down allows for users with multiple associated accounts to quickly jump between their app libraries.
Otherwise, Google has kept things pretty similar to the previous release. You won’t need to completely readjust as was the case with some updates to the phased-out Android Market. If you haven’t received version 3.5.15 and don’t want to wait, a quick google search should find you the APK you need to manually install the update.


Posted: 16 Mar 2012 11:35 AM PDT
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A new report says the Google Nexus tablet is a “done deal” and will enter into production beginning in April. The rumored slate is said to be designed by ASUS  and was originally thought to be a repackaged version of the $249 Tegra 3 tablet shown off at CES. It is now being said the the two companies aim to sell the slate for as low as $149, undercutting competitors such as the Kindle Fire, though the reduced price will come with reduced hardware.
Android and Me reports that an industry insider privy to Google and ASUS’ plans can confirm the existence of the device and further reveals that the so-called Nexus tablet’s specs have been tweaked to do away with the quad-core processor. In its place we can expect a dual-core chip. The downside to the rumor is that ASUS has apparently scrapped plans for the Tegra 3 version in order to focus on the new Google design. We can guess quite a few folks will be disappointed to hear that news.
With the way things are lining up, we wouldn’t be surprised to see the device unveiled at Google I/O.
[via BGR]


Posted: 16 Mar 2012 09:45 AM PDT
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A ton of great new SoC developments have been introduced as of late. Qualcomm’s S4 is an exciting chipset yet to be publicly available in a product, NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 with its 4+1 quad-core chipset and 12 core GPU has been established and is set to make a big splash this year, and Apple claims their A5X inside the new iPad is way better than that (yet to be proven). But Huawei could have something even more powerful than all of those.
Sweden-based website Nordic Hardware uncovered a bit more information about the chipset inside the Huawei Ascend D Quad XL. It’s an in-house processor called the Huawei K3V2 and is a quad core processor which comes in either 1.2GHz or 1.5GHz (depending on configuration) and has a 16 core GPU, 4 more than what NVIDIA’s GeForce has inside Tegra 3. They figured they’d put the device to the test to see if it really was that much faster than all the rest.
One benchmark they used was from Powerboard.com and it tested megapixels per second in each device’s native resolution. The D Quad outscored Samsung’s Exynos, NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 and Qualcomm’s MSM8260 overclocked to 2GHz. The device houses an HD display so the results aren’t as skewered as it would on, say, a WVGA or qHD device. We’re not sure if screen size differences are a factor in determining results.

They moved on to the ever familiar Nenamark 2 benchmark. This benchmark tests OpenGL ES 2.0 framerate. The Ascend D Quad XL beat out everyone with a frame rate of 62.75. The next closest was Qualcomm’s S4 with Adreno 225, NVIDIA’s GeForce with ULP2 and all the other dual-core options you’d expect it to be. (The S4 is the only dual-core chipset that could hang with it.) Four of the five top results are devices with at least 720p displays, with the Tegra 3-powered ASUS Transformer Prime having a slightly higher resolution (which could skewer results, but not by much).

Benchmarks are never an end-all, be-all method of determining which chipsets are faster and better than one another. Some benchmarks may put more emphasis on certain features of a chipset than others, and some may just be bad benchmarks period.
Another thing to consider is that benchmarks aim to push devices to their limit to see how much they’re capable of, but users often won’t notice differences in the real world. Games are still being developed for older 1GHz single-core processors so you won’t see a huge difference from platform to platform unless games are optimized like they are for Tegra 3. Also, single-core processors utilize Android quite well, so OS speed gains are usually only marginal at best. What do you guys think? [Thanks Anton!]

Posted: 16 Mar 2012 08:02 AM PDT
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The NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament has just gotten underway- excited? Just like picking your next gadget, there are a lot of choices to make when filling out your bracket. What sets apart the decent teams from the perennial powerhouses? What teams will make it deep into the big dance?
To help answer that question, we’ve enlisted the help of NVIDIA who are providing us 2 ASUS Transformer Prime’s to giveaway along with 2 docks. Color? Amethyst grey. Size? 32GB. in this contest.

And if you think about it, elite teams and elite processors are a lot alike.
Speed & Hustle
Great teams are fast. They think fast. They move fast. They react fast.  So fast that it appears to be natural; a matter of instinct. The same goes for gadgets: fast gadgets that operate quickly, smoothly, and instantaneously are always the better bet. In both cases (teams/gadgets), talent and power can make the job seem effortless, but we’re smart enough to know how much work it takes to achieve this level of play. NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 processors offer a level of speed and power that many would say is unmatched in the mobile world.
Endurance, Depth, & Teamwork.
Being fast is great, but if a 30-second sprint leaves your best player out of commission, your team is in a world of trouble.  Successful basketball teams have players conditioned to play hard for a lot of minutes, and the best teams have great players coming off the bench to fill in. In terms of processors, NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 Quad-Core devices have an unmatched level of endurance and depth.

Tegra 3 powered devices like the ASUS Transformer Prime have 4 cores. Like any good team, the cores work together to help balance the workload, accomplishing much more as a team than they could alone. The four cores use a lot of energy, but both endurance and depth are drastically increased by NVIDIA’s “player off the bench”. Tegra 3 devices have a 5th core designed to claim the entire workload for tasks that require low power, allowing their star players to rest. When the big boys aren’t needed, the 5th core kicks in. That means longer battery life and a better user experience. Endurance, depth, and teamwork.
Passion (Love for the Game)
Talent is often wasted when people don’t seem to care enough. When they don’t have that fire, that spark; the desire and need to win. Some would call it the love for the game. If there is one thing NVIDIA has, it’s a love for gaming. NVIDIA works directly with game developers to build games that exploit the power and opportunity of Tegra 3 devices. The result? Over 20 games that are of console quality, running smooth as ever.

The video doesn’t do the games justice. Pick up a Tegra 3 device, play a powered by Tegra game, and be wowed. It’s truly amazing stuff. Beautiful, crisp, clear, fast. Gamers will truly love Tegra 3 powered devices like the Transformer Prime and this love for gaming makes NVIDIA, their products, and their customers all winners.
The Four Core Teams Contest
To celebrate the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, we’re running a contest where TWO lucky readers will win a Tegra 3 powered ASUS Transformer Prime. Narrowing down from 64 teams to 4 teams takes it down to the core. With NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 processor you’ve got 4 cores, plus one core coming off the bench in the clutch. If College Basketball teams were powered by processors, I’m betting the final rounds would have a lot of four core Tegra 3 in them.
So that’s your goal: select which Men’s College Basketball teams will make it the semi-finals of the NCAA tournament. Or as we call the teams, the Four Cores.
Here are the rules:
  • Leave a comment on this article that includes (1) The 4 teams you believe will make it to the semi-finals, and (2) Include a few sentences why YOU should win the Transformer Prime and why the teams you selected have Tegra 3 Four-Core power (for the tiebreaker).
  • One entry per person, additional entries will be disqualified
  • Must be 18 years old with United States postal address to claim prize
  • Deadline to submit entry is 11:59PM Eastern Time on March 16th, 2012
  • Two winners will be selected once the semi-finalists of the College Basketball Tournament have been announced
  • Each winner will receive a 32GB Amethyst Grey ASUS Transformer Prime and a dock
  • Winner will be identified as the person who correctly identifies the most teams that actually make the semi-finals. In case of a tie, winner will be selected from these finalists by the Phandroid staff and at the sole discretion of the staff.
  • Winners will have one week to respond to the contact E-Mail and if no response is received a replacement winner will be selected.
  • Phandroid staff reserves the right to update, edit, or change the rules as they see fit and disqualify any contestants they deem ineligible for any reason.
Good luck and let the four core picking begin!

Posted: 16 Mar 2012 06:53 AM PDT
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Game developer Nordic has announced that Cheezia: Gears of Fur will be coming to the Google Play Store on March 21st. The game is a platformer where you take Manu the Mouse through unique and challenging levels to chase the ultimate goal. “What’s that goal,” you ask? Cheese recipes. That’s right, ancient and secret cheese recipes which have been stolen by a bird named Evil Kiwinel. Sounds a bit like — well, nevermind. The first six levels will be available free of charge, which also leads us to believe that there will be more levels (albeit for a price) to come over time. Check out some gameplay footage from the iOS version above. [Thanks Jyri!]

Posted: 16 Mar 2012 06:18 AM PDT
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A photo has hit Picasa with some interesting EXIF data. It claims that photo was taken with a Samsung GT-I9300, the model number believed to be reserved for the yet-to-be-announced Samsung Galaxy S3. The camera is 8.1 megapixels. It’s hard to put a ton of faith into EXIF data so I’m having a hard time getting excited. And if this photo is anything to go by (that’s if it’s real, of course), that is one sorry camera on the Galaxy S III. My original Galaxy S took better indoor photos and I have a hard time imagining that Samsung would regress in this area. Take it for what you will. [Picasa via AllAboutSamsung, cheers Lars!]
[Update]: We’re told this is a test with HDR, so the photographer having shaky hands may explain the blurriness.

Posted: 16 Mar 2012 04:51 AM PDT
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It looks like Sprint will be doing a little something for their loyal customers starting March 23rd. They’ll begin notifying select users (we’re not sure of their exact criteria) to offer $50 or $75 off of the price of a phone after signing a new two-year contract. The deal will end on April 27th so you’d better hope your upgrade is due sometime between that time period in order to get in on it. Oh, and you’d better hope the phone you want is available. [via SprintFeed]

Posted: 16 Mar 2012 04:41 AM PDT
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We’re not sure what Motorola’s up to lately, but they’ve registered a collection of domain names for one “Motorola Turn.” We’ve got “MotoTurn.com,” “Moto-Turn.com,” “MotorolaTurn.com,” and “Motorola-Turn.com,” but it’s not clear what exactly this is. It could be a new tablet, or a new smartphone. Hell, it could even be a new feature phone. Yep, Motorola still dabbles in that field these days. A quick search at the USPTO website turned up nothing so we’re pretty much clueless as to what this could be. Anyone have any guesses of their own? [via Fusible ]

Posted: 15 Mar 2012 11:36 PM PDT
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Greetings, my fine Phandroid friends. It’s almost the end of the week! Today, we brought you a ton of Android news but in case you needed a little bit more… we’ve stock piled the ones that we didn’t feature on our front page, here — in the Android Overload. Enjoy.
  • Ex-Google employee says Google+ focus ruined the company. [MyFox8]
  • Sprint is about to end their deal with LightSquared and take back $65 million. [WSJ]
  • T-Mobile myTouch 4G and Mytouch 4G Slide to receive maintenance update. [TMoNews]
  • Go Launcher HD is now available for tablets. [Google Play Link]
  • Scramble with Friends now available for Android. [Google Play Link]
  • ASUS provides instructions for installing Android 4.0 on your netbook. [ASUS Campus Life]
  • Google being investigated by the FTC over privacy concerns. [WSJ]

Posted: 15 Mar 2012 11:04 PM PDT
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A new updated Google Play store should be hitting your devices in the coming hours. Droid-Life got word that version 3.5.15 is hitting some user’s devices which, aside from the usual bug fixes (some of my apps have remained in a perpetual state of “update” status), brings new features like tabs to show every app you’ve ever downloaded called “All” and a list of apps currently up to date. Not much else is known, so we’ll just have to wait from the official word from Google before we know what else is new.

Oh — and don’t try forcing the update by “uninstalling updates” from the Google Play app on your unrooted device. A derp friend of mine did just that, and ended up uninstalling the entire Market app from his phone. Guess that’s what he gets for making fun of those n00bs the other day who mistakenly thought they did the same.
Download: Google Play 3.5.15 Thanks, Vachea/Artem!

Posted: 15 Mar 2012 09:46 PM PDT
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It appears Engadget has unofficially confirmed that the Nexus S and Nexus S 4G will finally be receiving their belated Android 4.0 update “in the next few weeks.” But just how many weeks, exactly? Well, I guess that’s the million dollar question now, isn’t it?
Yes, we know. Just about anyone could make this same claim and chances are, they’d be right. We all know Google is hard at work on an update, and haven’t forgotten about Nexus S users, no matter how they may feel at this moment. But, we just wanted to let you know what we heard around the tech grapevine — before you storm Google HQ for your helping of Ice Cream Sandwich.
[Engadget]

Posted: 15 Mar 2012 08:44 PM PDT
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Oh, that Google. They’re always thinking of new ways to lower their carbon footprint on the planet earth. And to prove it, they’ve uploaded a new video to YouTube showing off exactly what they can do with all your doo-doo water, once they put their mind to it. To help cut massive energy costs, Google is using colorful pipes of waste, too cool down servers at their Douglas County data center in Georgia. Once their heat sinks are down to a reasonable temperature, the water is sent to a Google made treatment plant where the water is further cleaned up before it exits into the Chattahoochee (sounds like a name I used to call my ex-gf) river.
Do your thang, Google… Do your thang. Video below.

[Wired | Via Gizmodo]

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