Sunday, April 15, 2012

Update - 267



Posted: 21 Mar 2012 03:27 PM PDT
DDMS
We first looked at the new SDK tools and various resources coming with version 17 at the beginning of the month, and today they have become available for installation through the SDK manager program. The new download is chock full of goodies for developers, with things like more Lint rules, support for custom views and custom attributes in libraries, and much needed improvements to the emulator. And of course, hackers and coders alike will love the new DDMS views, including the detailed network traffic meter.
It's also worth mentioning that there's an x86 image you can download for the emulator, but for now it's stuck at Android version 2.3.3. We expect that to change soon enough, as Intel has shown they're serious about Android.
Getting the update is easy enough -- just fire up the SDK manager and install. Now get to work making some killer apps, and be sure to let us know about them so we can share them with the world.



Posted: 21 Mar 2012 02:58 PM PDT
Android Central
Motorola's new Motoluxe sure does get around. Fresh from recent launch announcements for Scandinavia and Greece, the latest sees the device go on sale in France from today. 
In such a style aware country as France, Motorola will be hoping to make a splash with the Motoluxe. What it lacks in specs, Motorola are hoping it makes up for in style. The Motoluxe is available now on Orange France and selected retailers, for a price of €299 off contract.
Source: Motorola 



Posted: 21 Mar 2012 02:23 PM PDT
Google Wallet
Google is said to be considering a few changes in their Google Wallet strategy because of poor adoption rates. According to Bloomberg, Google is contemplating sharing revenue with the carriers to make the service more appealing and get them to embrace G Wallet like they have done with the ISIS competitor. Of course we have to take all this with that big grain of salt, as Bloomberg is unable to name their sources because of the sensitive nature of the discussions. But this seems completely plausible. 
Google is facing the same sort of opposition on all sides that they had when they tried to introduce the original Nexus phone -- what Google thinks is good for consumers isn't good for carriers and manufacturers. NFC payment systems in our phones depend on three things -- hardware, adoption, and participation. OEM's have to build phones with the correct NFC hardware, which they have been slow to do. Even upcoming phones like the HTC One S don't include the necessary hardware, and the fabled NFC-enabled battery and/or stickers have yet to show their face. Without the hardware, nobody has access and the interest is low. With low consumer interest, OEM's have no incentive to make the hardware. That's a tough nut to crack.
There are many of us who are interested, and would use Google Wallet if it became widely available. But many is subjective. It's readily apparent there isn't a high enough consumer interest in adoption to tackle the problem Google is having with carrier and financial participation. If we cry for it enough, the carriers, banks, and retailers will jump to give it to us, and we're not crying for it enough. Security issues, and a lack of a solid advertising campaign aren't helping much on this front. When the only press you get about your product is bad press, nobody will be lining up to use your services.
Finally, the participation of carriers, OEM's, banks, and retailers is what will really drive Google Wallet forward. We're not seeing that, and odds are it's because not enough dollars are being spread around. I'm no financial analyst, but I'm pretty sure the folks at ISIS aren't afraid to throw money at U.S. carriers to get them on-board. Once you have names like AT&T and Verizon behind your mobile service, getting banks and stores to jump on the bandwagon is much easier. 
We love the idea of having Google Wallet for everyone who may want to use it. We also realize that Google is going to have to grease many a palm to make that happen, and if these reports are right Google finally does, too.
Source: Bloomberg



Posted: 21 Mar 2012 01:21 PM PDT
Android Central
Here's the T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G, which you can find in select stores today for $149 on contract. Dunno which stores those are, chances are they'll be the ones with smug looks on their faces. For everybody else, you'll be able to get this awkwardly named (but surprisingly decent, if not necessarily cutting-edge) Android 2.3.6 smartphone on March 28.
We're knee deep into writing our full review (spoiler: It ain't new, but it ain't bad, either), but for now check out our hands-on from Mobile World Congress if you haven't already.



Posted: 21 Mar 2012 01:16 PM PDT
Sony Android Internet box
Sony has shown off a new Television set-top box at the Bravia event in Singapore, and it runs Android -- Google TV version two specifically. Beyond that, we don't know much more about the unit, but that won't stop us from looking at the pictures for clues about features. 
We see some really interesting things on the remote. The first is that it appears to be a track pad, probably the same one that was demonstrated at CES. If so, that's twice we've seen it from Sony, and we imagine it will become the standard. We're loving that idea. We also can see record and DVR buttons, which may mean internal storage on the unit itself for video recording. Then there's the 3D button, that may mean 3D is on-board the box itself. Flip the remote over and you have a 61-button keypad that looks pretty functional (and busy). 
What we can't guess about is an availability date or a price. All the features in the world won't help it if consumers buy the $100 solutions from Boxee or Roku. As soon as Sony says something official, we may have those answers. We're ready for a successor to the Logitech Revue, and this one has our interest piqued. Hit the break for two more pictures
Source: CNet Asia
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Posted: 21 Mar 2012 12:33 PM PDT
CTIA
We've already mentioned that the CEOs of the Big 4 carriers will do a Day 1 afternoon roundtable at CTIA in May, and that former president Bill Clinton will speak on Day 3. And that means we'd better share the Day 2 lineup, which was just announced and includes Spotify CEO and founder Daniel Elk, Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello, Mozilla CEO Gary Kovacs, and Visa president John Partridge. 
Gonna be a busy time in New Orleans, indeed. We'll see ya there.
Source: CTIA



Posted: 21 Mar 2012 11:39 AM PDT
HTC One event
We've heard reports of an April 5 launch for the HTC One X over the past couple of weeks, and now it seems we have confirmation of the date, as HTC France prepares for a One series launch party. The manufacturer's French Facebook page invites fans to a "SoireƩ HTC One" in Paris on the evening of April 5. It looks like the event's open to the public too, not just press and HTC partners, so if you're in Paris in early April, you might want to drop in -- HTC certainly knows how to throw a party.
The Paris event takes place just a day after HTC and Sprint are getting together in New York City. Everyone's expecting a Sprint LTE-powered HTC One phone to be unveiled, and we'll be there to cover whatever's announced.



Posted: 21 Mar 2012 10:35 AM PDT
TELUS
Canadian carrier TELUS announced today that effective immediately, customers will be able to visit any of its nearly 700 retail stores and trade in up to three devices for up to $200 in credit. The trade-in policy applies to smartphones, wifi hotspots, and mobile internet keys, and the credit awarded can be applied to new devices or accessories. The trade-in devices must be new enough for the carrier to refurbish; if they are too old, you'll receive a $3 donation to Tree Canada in your name. The trade-in program is open to both new and existing TELUS customers.
The new policy is in direct response to a survey commissioned by the carrier in collaboration with eRecyclingCorps, which found that 54 percent of Canadians want to trade in their phones but do not know how. Conducted on a sample of 1,011 Canadian adults, the survey also showed that 61 percent of those approached have up to five old devices in their homes, and would gladly trade them in for something in return. Environmentally safe recycling was a concern for 82 percent of those surveyed. TELUS' announcement, along with more information about the survey, can be found after the break.
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Posted: 21 Mar 2012 10:35 AM PDT
L.A. Noire, Touch Edition
For anyone who had doubts about OnLive's support for Android and touch-enabled gaming, you finally have a reason to shelve those fears for good. In an effort to being top-notch, high-quality games to the mobile masses, OnLive has unveiled a fully touch capable version of L.A. Noire, ready to play, right now.
What does this mean for you, the Android-loving, mobile-gaming faithful? It means that more AAA titles are coming down the pipeline at some point, and the future of gaming is about to get much, much sweeter (as long as you have a fast internet connection).
We've got download links to OnLive's app and the press release after the break.
read more



Posted: 21 Mar 2012 09:24 AM PDT
Xperia S
It's been available in some parts of the world since late February, but today Sony Mobile has officially announced global availability of the Xperia S, its current international flagship device. Sony hasn't revealed pricing or carrier availability in specific markets, but in the UK, O2, Three, Orange and T-Mobile offer the black Xperia S, while Phones4U has exclusivity over the white version. SIM-free prices range from £370-400 in the UK, and around €450 in the eurozone.
Unfortunately this "global" release doesn't apply to the U.S., where Sony has no plans to release the Xperia S, or its mid-range siblings the Xperis P and Xperia U. The manufacturer will launch the 4.7-inch, LTE-toting Xperia Ion on AT&T during the second quarter, though.
We recently reviewed the Xperia S, and found it to be a capable handset with some outstanding features, including a great camera and sharp 720p screen. It's running Gingerbread out of the box though, and there's no specific timeframe for that ICS update beyond Q2 2012.
If you're thinking of picking up an Xperia S, or you've already dropped some cash on Sony's latest handset, be sure to let us know what you think in the comments.
Source: Sony



Posted: 21 Mar 2012 08:45 AM PDT
Android Central
Back at Mobile World Congress we went hands-on with the Huawei Ascend D Quad and at that time, it was mentioned the device could potentially start shipping in June. Recent reports, however, indicate that may have been a little premature, as the device won't even go into mass production until June with shipments now expected to be rolling out in July.
As Huawei's 2012 flagship, the Ascend D Quad isn't short on specs. It comes loaded with Ice Cream Sandwich, with a 4.5 inch IPS HD (1280 x 720) display and an 8MP camera. It's powered by Huawei's own 1.2GHz quad-core processor, which looks every bit as impressive as the more widely-used NVIDIA Tegra 3. However, if the shipment dates are accurate then Huawei will be competing for sales against the like of the HTC One X, as well a rumored high-end device from Samsung.
Source: CNMO; via: Unwired View



Posted: 21 Mar 2012 08:11 AM PDT
Xperia S
If you're an OEM like Sony Mobile, looking to expand your reach, what can you do for Android custom ROM developers to appeal to them? Show them your source and offer them up the same tools you use, of course.
And that's exactly what Sony has done. In an announcement on its blog, the artist formerly known as Sony Ericsson has offered up access to the open source archive for the Xperia S, where folks who know what they are doing can build custom ROMs and kernels for the device.
Over the past year or so, Sony has openly courted the Android the developer community. Whether that stance will help them improve their market share is open to debate, but it's certainly something we'd love to see from more Android manufacturers.



Posted: 21 Mar 2012 08:03 AM PDT
For today's ShopAndroid.com Daily Giveaway we'll be featuring a lineup of Seidio Android accessories such as the Seidio Innocell 3300mAh Extended Battery for Samsung Captivate, Seidio ACTIVE Case for Samsung Epic 4G Touch, Seidio SURFACE Holster for Motorola Atrix 4G, and Seidio Innocase Active for HTC Droid Incredible.
To be eligible to win one of today's giveaway items, just leave a comment below stating which accessory you'd like for your Android device.  We'll randomly select one lucky winner and announce them next Monday. Good luck!

Seidio Innocell 3300mAh Extended Battery for Samsung Captivate


If you're looking to get the most life out of your Samsung Captivate, then this Seidio Innocell 3300mAh Extended Battery is exactly what you'll need to make it through a busy work day.  It has over double the capacity than the standard OEM battery, and comes with a replacement door featuring a soft-touch coating.
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Posted: 21 Mar 2012 07:52 AM PDT
LG Optimus M+
The LG Optimus M was the first Android device to arrive on MetroPCS way back in 2010, and now it looks like MetroPCS and LG are looking to follow it up with LG Optimus M+. Leaked details suggest a minor spec bump from the original Optimus M -- there's an 3.5 Inch screen, a 800MHz processor and an updated 5MP camera with flash. Bluetooth 3.0 support is included too, for what that's worth. A decent mid-ranger, but nothing to write home about. Leaked renders obtained by PocketNow also indicate a slightly re-vamped chassis.
As might be expected for a budget handset, there's no Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich love had here -- this one will be Gingerbread. There's no set date for release, but we'll keep you posted if any further details emerge.
Source: PocketNow



Posted: 21 Mar 2012 07:45 AM PDT
Xperia Neo L
Sony has announced the Xperia Neo L MT25i today -- a 4-inch, single-core device that will ship with Ice Cream Sandwich to China. The successor to last year's Xperia Neo and Xperia Neo V, it will be the first phone from Sony to ship with Android 4.0 out of the box. A quick look at the disclosed specifications and we can see that this one isn't a huge boost on the hardware front:
  • 4-inch 854x480 display
  • 5MP rear camera (with 720p recording)
  • VGA front facing camera
  • 512MB RAM
  • 1GB on-board storage
  • 1GHz single-core Qualcomm MSM8255 CPU
  • MicroSD card slot
  • 1500mAh battery
It's also not the thinnest and lightest phone in the world, checking in at 131.5 grams and 12.2 mm thick. The real draw to the Neo L will be ICS out of the box.
It's no powerhouse by today's standards. It's fairly thick and heavy. And it may not ever show up anywhere except China. I'm fine with the first two, but Sony, you're killing me with the last. This phone, like every Android phone you've ever made, comes in a version that will work just dandy with AT&T's network in the U.S., and most of the GSM networks in Europe. Why is it so hard to sell the phone unlocked from your website for worldwide delivery? Sony's various business ventures have to have a distribution network that can handle this. They're freaking Sony.
You've kept your best devices away from anyone in the U.S. who doesn't want to spend the time and money to get them imported by not selling them this way. Don't follow the trend other OEM's have set and release specific devices for different parts of the world. Please. I jump back and forth between what may arguably be the best Android devices available -- a Galaxy Nexus and a Galaxy S II. But I would be using a oh-so-sexy Xperia Arc S in "Pure White" if I could have entered my card info at your website and bought one without extra fees and the headache of buying it with no warranty through an importer. I'm shallow like that when it comes to electronics. I'm not the only one. 
The world wants to buy your phones. They are beautifully designed and usually extremely well built. Don't keep them from us.



Posted: 21 Mar 2012 07:19 AM PDT
Weather Flow
See that there? That's the Weather Flow app. And that's pretty much all there is to it. Simple, easy-to-read data like date and time, temperature and forecast (daily or hourly).  Don't overthink it. The backgrounds (which pan ever so slowly) are gorgeous. 
There's a typographic theme (available in black or white) that you can switch to in the settings, and there are a couple 4x1 widgets available (we've got screen shots of both after the break), but really what you see above is where the money's at. It's extremely well done, and it's currently going for $1.99. We've got download links after the break.
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Posted: 21 Mar 2012 06:57 AM PDT
Seidio SURFACE Case for HTC Rezound The March 21 ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day is the Seidio SURFACE Case for HTC Rezound. Crafted from a hard yet flexible material, the SURFACE Case provides an amazingly thin layer of protection without adding the excessive bulk of other cases and features a soft-touch coating for a better grip on your Rezound.
The Seidio SURFACE Case is available today for just $16.95, 43% off the list price.  Get yours today while supplies last!



Posted: 21 Mar 2012 05:42 AM PDT
Android Central
With unlocked European Samsung Galaxy S II models now being updated to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, owners of network-locked Galaxy S II in the UK are wondering when they'll be able to get the new software. As ever, this depends on which network your phone is locked to, and how long their internal testing processes take.
Initial bragging rights go to Three customers, as the network says Three-branded Galaxy S II's can now be updated to ICS through Samsung's Kies software. O2 customers have a little longer to wait, as the carrier's official Twitter account says that the update is due to roll out from "the start of April".
Things are a little murkier on the other three main networks, though. Vodafone UK says it's in the process of testing the ICS update, adding that it'll push out the software "as quickly as possible." However no release date is offered. Similarly, T-Mobile UK and Orange both say they have no information to offer on timings for the ICS update.
Of course, if you're willing to root your phone, then you needn't wait for your network to push out the update directly -- that's not for everyone, though. So it looks like it could be a frustrating few weeks for some network-locked Galaxy S II owners in the UK.



Posted: 21 Mar 2012 05:26 AM PDT
Galaxy Nexus
If you've been holding off on buying a GSM Samsung Galaxy Nexus, you're starting to run out of excuses. The unlocked 16GB version is going for just $459 today on Daily Steals. That's still a chunk of change, to be sure, but it's much better than $700 or so some of us paid to import it back in the day.
And if you're worried about using the Daily Steals site, we've ordered from 'em before. Ask Jerry how his GNex is doing. Hit the link below to check out the whole thing.



Posted: 21 Mar 2012 05:16 AM PDT
Motorola (Droid) RAZR
A new software update is available for the Motorola RAZR (that's the international GSM version of the Droid RAZR), according to Moto Europe's Facebook page. The new firmware is currently available in the UK, Italy, France and Spain. It's still based on Android 2.3 Gingerbread rather than ICS (although a leaked ICS build is available for the international model), RAZR users do have a handful of new features to look forward to.
New sample rules for Moto's Smart Actions feature have been added, including Auto Text and VIP Caller Mode. And the manufacturer also claims improved camera performance and increased battery life in this latest software update.
If you're rocking a GSM Motorola RAZR, head to Settings > About Phone > System Updates to grab the latest firmware update.



Posted: 21 Mar 2012 04:39 AM PDT
Android Central
Here's another Samsung render which has sparked off some online speculation, and this time it's come directly from the manufacturer itself. The Samsung Mobile USA Facebook page currently displays the image you see above to promote its "Spin & Win" promotion, which offers fans and their friends the chance to bag a shiny new Galaxy Note. The interesting thing is that the Note in the picture displays an odd combination of Gingerbread and ICS elements. You've got the ICS launcher and icon set, but with Gingerbread-style labels, the old Android 2.x search widget and the TouchWiz notification bar.
We're not sure exactly what, if anything, we should make of this. It's certainly too early to jump to the conclusion, as some have done, that Samsung's ditching TouchWiz in its ICS update for the Note. After all, the current crop of Android 4.0 leaks for the international Note have been TouchWiz'd, just like the recent Galaxy S II update. So we don't know what deal is with this particular mock-up, but we're willing to bet that when ICS eventually hits the Galaxy Note, it'll look more like TouchWiz than what you see above.
Any more ideas or speculation? Let us know what you think in the comments!



Posted: 21 Mar 2012 04:34 AM PDT
Android Central
The Motorola Motoluxe release continues to spread throughout Europe, with this mornings announcement that Greece will become the latest country to receive the device. 
Motorola's style focused, Gingerbread device will be available in the country from the end of March. No word yet though on which carriers may be picking up the device. 
Source: Motorola



Posted: 21 Mar 2012 04:15 AM PDT
Android Central
Massively popular casual game Cut the Rope now has itself a sequel. The newest release from Zeptolab is titled Cut the Rope: Experiments, and has been available on iOS for a while.Now is our turn and it is available in the Google Play Store right now. 
The loveable Om-Nom returns from the first game, and this time is discovered by a mad scientist. Said scientist is determined to study Om-Nom's love of candy by conducting a series of experiments. 
Essentially what we get here though is more of the same -- cut rope, collect stars, deliver candy. But that's no bad thing. The original is so incredibly addictive that there would be little reason to change it up too much. There are new ways to interact and deliver the candy to our little green friend, which all fit within the experiments moniker the game carries. These include rope guns, suction cups, water and even rockets. After all what's a scientist without rockets? 
We're not short on gameplay either, with 125 new levels to play spread across 5 different categories. Experiments also comes with an element of social integration, with "hidden evidence" to be found for the Professor's photo album to share on Facebook
Cut the Rope: Experiments is available to download now from the Google Play Store and will set you back a very reasonable $0.99/£0.62. We've got the download links and the official trailer for you after the break.
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Posted: 21 Mar 2012 04:11 AM PDT
Samsung Galaxy Note
This week we have yet another surprise for people looking to get their hands on what Phil sees as "Style and power worthy of its oversized stature" - none other than the grand Samsung Galaxy Note running on AT&T Wireless.
For today Wednesday and tomorrow Thursday only, ShopAndroid.com in conjunction with Best Buy Mobile are bringing you a deal that is much too low to show as it is the very lowest price that you'll find anywhere for this amazing smartphone.
How much of a deal?  You'll need to follow the link below to find out but we can tell you that if you're looking to start a new AT&T account with a 2 year contract or upgrade your existing one you'll get the  Samsung Galaxy Note at up to $70 less than most options online.  
So if you've been lusting to get your hands on the HUGE display and power of the Samsung Galaxy Note, there probably hasn't been a better time to do so than right now via the links below.
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Posted: 21 Mar 2012 04:09 AM PDT
This is not the Galaxy s III
Hey look, it's the Samsung Galaxy S III! Oh wait, no it isn't -- it's yet another obvious fabrication.
Yes, another alleged Galaxy S III render is doing the rounds this morning, claiming to show Samsung's upcoming 2012 flagship. The problem? A little research will reveal that someone's just 'shopped a Galaxy S II press shot onto the Galaxy S Wifi 4.2. Observe --
Galaxy S IIAndroid Central
So no, that's not the Galaxy S III, and we're willing to bet this, this, this and this are equally bogus. Hold tight, folks, we're sure we'll look back on all this and laugh when we finally have the real deal.


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