Android Authority |
- Best racing apps for Android
- LG’s Google TV looks impressive, but is it enough for Google TV to take off?
- The rise of the Phablet
- Clearwire to roll out a 168Mbps LTE-A network in 2014
- LG shows off new Optimus UI 3.0 overlay
- With Galaxy S3 rumors over, let the next Nexus rumor party begin
- CyanogenMod 7.2 RC2 builds for several devices released, others to follow soon
- Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II is out on Google Play and TegraZone
- Samsung Galaxy S3 via NTT Docomo has amazing new specs
- Samsung unveils unlocked Taiwanese Galaxy S3 starting at $700
| Posted: 16 May 2012 09:00 PM PDT
Need for Speed Shift
When it comes to making high quality games, no one does the job better than Electronic Arts. The Need For Speed series is arguably one of the most famous gaming series which has spanned across multiple platforms, including Android. Need for Speed Shift brings all the goodness of E.A. Sports magic and 18 astounding racing tracks from locations such as London, Tokyo, Chicago and others. Need For Speed Shift provides a complete package for your racing car, with the option to fine tune and customize the selected car model. The customization options are so detailed that you can modify your car right down to the Nitrous upgrades, body kits and rims. Need For Speed offers the option to start a one off race or to go far an all-out "Career Mode". It has three difficulty levels, namely Rookie, Pro and Veteran. The only downside of NFS is that just like most things in life, it is not free. It costs $2.99 and is recommended for Android devices with good hardware specifications. Drag Racing
In case you aren't interested in spending money on Need for Speed, then Drag Racing is perhaps the next best thing. Just like NFS, Drag Racing provides you with many options to customize and tune up your car. Each car has its own unique sound and features that make you think hard before selecting a model. Each race is compensated with cash for both the winner and the loser, along with reputation points for beating certain competitors. Earned cash and RP (Reputation Points) can be used for purchasing new cars, as well as to tune up or customize your existing vehicle. You can even sell your car to collect money for buying a more expensive and efficient model. Furthermore, cars can also be taken for a test drive before they are purchased. One of the best features of Drag Racing is the ability to play with real time users via online competitions. These competitions also earn RP and cash for each race. Furthermore, the offline mode allows users to gain ample practice by racing with a beginner, amateur, pro racer or with "The Boss". Drag Racing: Bike Edition
If you thought that we had forgotten about our biker friends, think again. Drag Racing: Bike Edition is the bike version of the Drag Racing game. Like the car edition, the bike edition is free, with the exception of buying driving credits. Drivers are provided with 17 different bike models to choose from, along with the option to compete against thousands of online users in four gaming modes. Users can also share their scores on Facebook and Twitter. Like most racing games, you can tune up and customize your vehicle for better performance and more speed. In both the biker and car editions, the user has to not only focus on the vehicle and its tune up but also the combination of gears that are used during each race. It takes a while for one to realize that going for the biggest gear immediately will not yield any fruitful results and that the combination of gears has to be sorted out according to the opponent's skill level and vehicle. F1 2012 Timing App
While racing games are no doubt a lot of fun, nothing beats the real deal. The F1 2012 Timing App is your one way ticket to the latest updates for Formula One this year. The extent of details that F1 fans can acquire from this app seems to be infinite. For example, you can check out the DRS activation zones, which are marked on the track maps, along with the detection point. Similarly, you can get marshal news about warnings, investigations, flags, and track statuses. The app has both a free and paid version. The basic version provides information about the racing schedule, short demos, driver positions, F1 news and notifications, event counter, and tire information. The paid version provides 130 hours of live F1 coverage, interactive 3D maps for F1 sessions, and more. It is worth mentioning here that the premium version of the F1 2012 Timing App costs an astounding US$32.13. Livesports24 F1 Racing
Livesports24 F1 Racing is another fine app for racing enthusiasts. The Livesports24 F1 Racing app has been designed to provide users with comprehensive information about the Grand Prix. The application offers not just precise details about the event but also brings live commentary, live session by session coverage, race positions, leaderboards, latest event news, and more. A good aspect of this app is that the news is updated regularly to keep users updated with the latest action from the racing tracks. Livesports24 also features precise details about every participating driver and venue, along with a simplified menu that lists news, race detail, and a results section at the bottom of the apps interface. Furthermore, you can also indulge yourself in live comments and forums to discuss F1. The only downside of the app is, perhaps, that it does not have an ads-free version. In other words, although the app is free, a paid version which may offer a reprieve from distracting ads is not available at the moment. 2012 DAKAR Rally
If your idea of a racing track are harsh terrains and uncharted territory from around the world, then the 2012 Dakar Rally app for Android is just what you need. It is similar to the F1 2012 Timing app, in the sense that it offers a comprehensive set of information for the Dakar Rally. In fact, this application is the official app for the rally. The 2012 DAKAR Rally app provides everything — race updates for each stage, rankings, daily videos, pictures, and breaking news. The homescreen of the application displays the latest news headlines, start date details for the race, and a video related to the race. You can watch the latest pictures from the event via the Photos section and you can also head over to the News section to read the latest Dakkar developments in a convenient reading interface. Despite the fact that 2012 Dakar rally is the official Android app for the event, it has a low rating of 2.1 at the Google Play store. This can perhaps be attributed to complaints by certain users that the app wasn't functioning properly before a few recent bug fixes, as well as lack of features of the app. MotoGP Live Experience
World Motorsport News & Videos
Motorsport Update
Motorsport Calendar Free
Armed with both racing games and apps that help you stay connected with the racing world, you’ll never feel like you’re going at a snail’s pace. If your favorite racing app didn’t make it on our list, let us know what it is in the comments section. This article, Best racing apps for Android , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| LG’s Google TV looks impressive, but is it enough for Google TV to take off? Posted: 16 May 2012 08:38 AM PDT
Remember when Eric Schmidt said that “By the summer of 2012, the majority of the televisions you see in stores will have Google TV embedded in it.”? It doesn’t look like that’s the case so far, and probably won’t be for a while. But LG has just demoed a very impressive TV that runs the Google TV OS, with the help of a dual core processor, that handles 3D as well. Is Google TV finally ready to take over the market then? I doubt it, and I blame Google for that. While I think Google has learned a lot over the past few years about the consumer market, and they are still learning fast, that doesn’t change the fact that they are still “not there yet”, at least in some regards. Take Google TV for example. When every set top box on the market was priced from $70 (Roku) to $200 at most (Boxee Box), Google comes out with no experience in this market, almost no content deals, and with software that didn’t look very polished, and wants to sell its first set top box, the Logitech Revue, for $300. Even Apple was selling theirs for $99 (although more limited software wise). First off, you can’t try selling consumers a product that costs a few hundred dollars with software that isn’t fully ready or doesn’t have enough access to content to justify its price. It’s one thing to pay $300 for something and get access to everything you want, and it’s quite another to pay $300 to get access to Youtube on that device (and granted, a few more channels and Amazon’s video service). The point remains that the value just wasn’t there. But why did this product cost so much? I still ultimately blame Google for the cost, because they were the ones launching the initial product, and they most definitely had a say in how it works and what specs it has. But other than that, the two biggest factors were Logitech and Intel. Logitech was at fault because I believe they tried the same old “early adopter pricing” tactic, so, in a way, they tried to rip-off the early adopters with high prices, by being the first one in the market with Google TV. The second one was Intel with its Atom CE CPU, that definitely took the biggest chunk out of the pricing of the components, which of course influenced the final retail price in a major way.
LG’s Google TV might change the gameI think Google has finally put some pieces of the puzzle together though. For instance, the new Google TV from LG has a much better remote, with a keyboard on the back. The new gizmo provides a much better experience than the clunky full keyboard from Logitech, or the weird keyboard from Sony that looked like something from the 80′s. It’s still not perfect, though, and I don’t understand why there has to be a “mouse pointer” on a TV. That doesn’t make sense to me – it’s a waste of effort to move the pointer around, when there’s already a much simpler way to interact with the UI. But other than the user experience (which I think has been greatly improved), and the fact that the new TVs and set top boxes might finally use ARM chips, the Google TV doesn’t do anything so great that it feels like a revolution. I’ve been hoping that Google will start promoting Google TV as a gaming platform, so that it revolutionizes the console market, through cheap $100 ARM-powered consoles/set top boxes. Or they could just come built-in with all new TVs (although that means that you’d be stuck with the same chip for 5-10 years). But I still see no hint from Google that it’s going to actively promote it’s TV business like that. It’s more of an afterthought for them right now. Video-chatting is also something they’ve never really tried to promote with Google TV, and I’m sure Apple will promote it heavily with their upcoming TVs. Expect the emotional ads with family members that interact with each other from the couch, and so on. I’ll be very disappointed if Apple’s TV will become a lot more popular than the Google TV, even though Google TV will have had a 2 year head-start over Apple. But maybe that’s what both Google and its partners need in order to wake up and do it right, and, hopefully, before the Apple TV becomes too popular.
This article, LG’s Google TV looks impressive, but is it enough for Google TV to take off? , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Posted: 16 May 2012 08:35 AM PDT
Starting from the brick-style cell phone of the late Eighties, the design of the mobile has progressed towards being smaller and more feature-rich. We saw the introduction of flip-phones, slider phones, and smaller candybar style devices. That is, until the smartphone burst onto the scene like a crazy man in a theater, which switched and reversed the trend rapidly: faster processors, larger batteries, more storage and high-res displays have changed the way we use our phones. This allows for easier internet browsing, e-mail, video calls, and HD music and videos. While ultra-thin has become the new craze, we’ve seen a continuous increase in the screen size of mobile phone displays, giving rise to the famed “phablet.” Herein, we present a review of said devices and what purpose they serve in the rapidly growing Android market. What is a Phablet?A phablet, as the name suggests, is a device that combines the voice-calling capabilities of a smartphone with the larger display sizes of a tablet. Bigger than a smartphone, but not large enough to be a tablet, the screen size of a phablet falls in the 5″ to 7″ region. Another feature that defines a phablet is the presence and use of a stylus pen. The larger size and the light and thin quality of such devices eliminate the need to carry around the comparatively bulkier tablet. Just to clear things up, the 5.3″ Samsung Galaxy Note is considered a phablet, whereas the ASUS Padfone, with a phone that docks into a tablet casing to then be used as a tablet, is not a phablet. The idea of a phablet is to be able to enjoy the best of both worlds, without needing additional devices (or device casings in the case of the Padfone). Let’s take a look at a few such devices available in the market now, as well as some future releases that will likely keep up the phablet trend. Available/Coming Soon
Samsung Galaxy NoteWith the 5″ Dell Streak releasing in 2010 (but failing miserably), the Samsung Galaxy Note isn’t the first phablet, but is certainly the device that led to the coining of the term “phablet” and is the first such device to enjoy massive commercial success. The 5.3″ device sold over 5 million units in just 5 months, even before the eventual US release. The specifications of the Note include:
Although the Note currently features the Android 2.3 OS, the ICS update rollout for the device is picking up steam, and is slowly being available to Galaxy Note owners worldwide. The inclusion of a premium suite of apps optimized for use with the S-Pen stylus makes Galaxy Note one of the most sought after devices available. Even with the recent release of the HTC One X and the Samsung Galaxy S3, the Galaxy Note appears unstoppable on Samsung’s quest for quick dominance in this new market niche. LG Optimus Vu
LG hasn’t exactly been a major player in an Android smartphone world dominated by Motorola, Samsung, and HTC, but it has stepped up its game this year with impressive high-end releases like the Optimus 4X HD. LG is also attempting to become a contender in the phablet market, and provide some competition to the hugely popular Samsung Galaxy Note, with the 5″ LG Optimus Vu. The specifications of the device include:
The LG Optimus Vu will release with Android 2.3 out of the box, but LG promises an eventual upgrade to ICS. Another odd feature of the LG phablet is the 4:3 display aspect ratio, which is likely to not be well-received. Strong competition for the Samsung Galaxy Note? The public will surely decide. Panasonic Eluga Power
Panasonic has decided to throw its hat in the phablet ring with the 5″ Eluga Power. The Eluga Power, even with its much larger size, has been designed and streamlined beautifully by Panasonic, allowing it to still fit quite comfortably in the hand, and even allowing for easy one-handed typing. The specifications of this device include:
Additional features including NFC support, water and dust resistance, and super-fast charging to make this phablet stand out. It might provide some serious competition to the Galaxy Note and the Optimus Vu, once it is released. Future Devices: Rumor RoundupSo far we’ve seen some of the devices that are already available or soon to be released in the market. It is now time to jump into the world of rumors and speculation, some confirmed, while some are too good to be true, and therefore, probably aren’t.  Photo Credits: PhoneDog ZTE PhabletsChinese companies like ZTE and Huawei have been known for their low to mid-range Android devices, and are far more popular in their own regional market than on the world stage. Both companies are looking to grab a chunk of the world smartphone marketshare as well, with plans to ship a combined 100 million devices this year. Huawei has been creating waves with the claims of its two high-end Android devices being “the world’s thinnest smartphone” and “the world’s fastest smartest phone”, respectively. It’s obviously hoping to stand strong in competing against the HTC One X and the Samsung Galaxy S3. In an effort to stand out from the crowd, ZTE, on the other hand, has announced its intention to release not one, but two, Samsung Galaxy Note-like phablets by the end of 2012. The Galaxy Note is a tough act to follow, and ZTE is certainly aware of that. It will be quite interesting to see what devices the company will release to compete against the Note, in its fight to be relevant on the world stage. Google PhabletA largely forgotten fact about Android 4.0 is its innate support for stylus input including recognizing multi-button pens, taps, tilts, distance, and pressure. This type of usage is perfect for any handwriting or art input device, which is what most phablets aim to be. Is there a better way to showcase the stylus abilities of Android 4.0 than on a Google Nexus device itself? With the Google I/O event a little more than a month away, the speculation wave surrounding what Google might have in store for us is rising to epic proportions. There have already been suggestions that the Android 5.0 Jellybean OS may be introduced. Further speculation states that Google might launch up to 5 different Nexus devices at this event or by the end of the year. If this is indeed true, it is not unreasonable to imagine that a Nexus Phablet would be a part of this lineup. HTC PhabletThis is a rumor that should be thrown into the “Not true” bin. But if there is even a minor chance of this being true, I already know what my next device is going to be (and I just now bought the One X). Verizon is adding one amazing device after another to its 2012 line-up, in an attempt to cement its place as the No. 1 network carrier in the US. Apart from multiple RAZR Models(including the RAZR HD) and the Samsung Galaxy S3, the Verizon lineup might feature a Galaxy Note competitor from HTC, at least according to Jonathan Gellar, founder of bgr.com. The HTC phablet is said to feature:
Wow! 1080p display? quad-core Krait CPU? HTC SENSE 5?  Photo Credits: PhoneRpt ConclusionNew releases such as the HTC One X and the Samsung Galaxy S3 are pushing the lower limit of the “phablet,” but in my experience (with the One X), while big, they still handle exactly like a phone. This was not entirely the case when I was using a Galaxy Note, which had a distinct tablet-like feel. So designating a “phablet” has more to do with just size, and it looks like this type of device might be the answer for a lot of consumers on-the-go. There have been some complaints about how the Galaxy Note is quite difficult to hold, and awkward to hold up to your ear when making a call, but we’ve already seen its huge success, and with a slate of such devices set to arrive in the market, the phablet is most likely here to stay. The phablet is on the rise, and if this does eventually become the mainstay device, I have just one simple request to make: Can someone please coin a new term to replace “phablet?” What are your thoughts? Are phablets here to stay or just a passing phase? How good does the HTC phablet sound? Do you want to take a shot at renaming “phablet?” Let us know in the comments section below! No related posts. This article, The rise of the Phablet , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Clearwire to roll out a 168Mbps LTE-A network in 2014 Posted: 16 May 2012 08:09 AM PDT It has become sort of a tradition lately for the biggest four carriers in the US to take jabs at each other, via different ads and statements. All of them argue on who delivers the fastest data speeds of them all. Given that Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint are the largest carriers in the US by subscribers number, you would expect them to be on top of the game when it comes to data speeds, right? Wrong, as Clearwire's CTO John Shaw has announced that the Bellevue, Washington based carrier will be rolling out its own 4G (LTE Advanced) network in 2014, one that will allow for peak rates of 168Mbps. Clearwire, a carrier controlled by Sprint Nextel (owning 51% of the shares), plans to reach these peak rates through the use of a technology called carrier aggregation. What carrier aggregation does is fairly simple: it basically welds two 20MHz carriers (LTE pipes) together to create a 40MHz carrier, twice the size of AT&T's and Verizon's largest carrier. T-Mobile's 42Mbps HSPA+ network already uses carrier aggregation technology, but hardware that can perform carrier aggregation on LTE networks has yet to become commercially available. One reason for that is because Verizon and T-Mobile will be unable to use this technology until some point in the future. Their licensed frequency spectrum is not continuous, but rather scattered across the electromagnetic spectrum. This setback will surely be ironed out in the more distant future, as LTE Advanced technology is already pegged to evolve to a point where it can aggregate carriers that do not sit next to each other in the frequency spectrum. This kind of long-term planning is why they call it Long Term Evolution technology, got it? As it turns out, carrier aggregation is not limited to a couple of LTE pipes. In fact, you can continue to add carriers for as long as you want, granted you have enough spectrum to play with. But according to John Saw, using an aggregated carrier wider than 80MHz would be "overkill". Unfortunately for Clearwire's future customers, the frequency spectrum that they have managed to license is also not without faults, as it is situated north of 2.5GHz, not the best place in the electromagnetic spectrum if you want to cover a lot of land. In simple terms, coverage will most likely be limited to a few big cities. Not exactly a massive threat to Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint if you think about it. What are your thoughts on this? Is LTE carrier aggregation a technology with the potential to solve our thirst for data? Isn't coverage a lot more important? Let us know in the comment section below! No related posts. This article, Clearwire to roll out a 168Mbps LTE-A network in 2014 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| LG shows off new Optimus UI 3.0 overlay Posted: 16 May 2012 07:53 AM PDT
After the unveiling of the Optimus LTE2 and the launch of the Optimus 4X HD, it’s obvious that LG is trying to make a push in the high-end smartphone market niche, where it’s currently no match for the likes of Apple, Samsung, or even HTC. However, that was just part one of LG's offensive, with part two coming now in the form of a newly unveiled user interface set to enrich the Android ICS experience on LG’s future phones. The LG Optimus UI 3.0 (not a very original name, I know) will come pre-installed on both the Optimus LTE2 and the 4X HD. The revamped overlay will compete for the customer’s attention with Sense 4.0 and TouchWiz Nature, the similar UIs from HTC and Samsung. We haven't had the chance to play around with the Optimus UI 3.0, but from the first couple of official pics, we can tell that it actually looks pretty nice. There are also a few improvements, as well as added features and functions, in addition to what you’d get from stock ICS, with the most important ones involving the camera. With Optimus UI 3.0, you can therefore choose the best photo among multiple images very quickly and conveniently, while a new function, called "Voice Shutter", will allow you to capture photos using only voice commands. It's not Siri, but at least it's something to make LG's phones the least bit special.
The new UI also supports new unlocking gestures, so you can unlock your phone by dragging pretty much anywhere on the screen. The new "Pattern Lock" function allows you to preset the phone to feature the most frequently used function. So, for example, if you like to take many photos, you can set your device to directly access the camera after you unlock it. There's also a Quick Memo function, allowing you to scribble short notes on the screen using only one finger, as you can see in the image above. The Icon Customizer feature will help you make your device reflect your personality, allowing you to set user photos as icons or shortcut images. All in all, the Optimus UI 3.0 doesn't look like anything revolutionary or very innovative, but it has a pretty elegant feel and it does come with a couple of useful new functions. Whether it will make Ice Cream Sandwich smoother and more user-friendly, though, it's still hard to say. Many Android users are not big fans of HTC's Sense or Samsung's TouchWiz, both seen as spoiling the pure Google experience that some of us love so much. It remains to be seen how heavy handed were LG’s designers when creating this latest Optimus UI. Check out LG's press release announcing the launch of the Optimus UI 3.0 below and please tell us your views on this new custom user interface. Will it in fact enrich the ICS experience or will it cripple it? LG'S NEW OPTIMUS UI 3.0 ADDS NEW FEATURES AND FUNCTIONS WHILE BEING UNOBTRUSIVE AND SIMPLE New User Interface Makes the LG Smartphone Experience Faster, Simpler, More Convenient SEOUL, May 16, 2012 – LG Electronics (LG) is introducing a new User Interface (UI) for its newest Android Ice Cream Sandwich devices, aptly named Optimus UI 3.0. Optimus UI 3.0 brings with it an array of enhanced key features, including Quick Memo™ and unique unlock functions, among other new features and functions aimed at improving LG smartphone experience. "With smartphone hardware becoming more and more similar, it's important for manufacturers to differentiate their products from the competition through the user interface," said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. "Both carriers and customers tell us that they want LG phones to look and feel unique and the UI plays a big part in that. LG is really going to push the boundaries of what is possible in user interfaces starting with Optimus UI 3.0." Optimus UI 3.0 is designed with convenience and speed in mind. A powerful memo function called Quick Memo™ enables users to jot notes on the screen using a finger. Quick Memo™ in Optimus UI 3.0 allows users to share their thoughts through social networks, text messages and e-mails more conveniently than ever before. Other new features include: – the ability to unlock the phone by dragging anywhere on the screen; Optimus UI 3.0 will debut on the LG Optimus LTE II launching this week in Korea, followed by LG Optimus 4X HD in June. This article, LG shows off new Optimus UI 3.0 overlay , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| With Galaxy S3 rumors over, let the next Nexus rumor party begin Posted: 16 May 2012 07:32 AM PDT
For more than half a year, we’ve had more than enough Galaxy S3 rumors. Some of them were pretty crazy, like the 1080p screen, while others were predictable (the quad core Exynos 4412 chip). Samsung delivered some of the more predictable ones, while it failed to hit the target on others (Pentile screen), and also disappointed some people with the design and build quality. These have been some of the major flaws of all Galaxy S devices, and yet Sammy didn’t do much to address them. So with that in mind, you should always be at least a bit skeptical about all rumors, especially the ones appearing months ahead of the supposed launch of a device. But as the Galaxy S3 launch proved, it’s well possible that the following early information on the upcoming Nexus devices will be spot on. The first cluesSome developers found hints about a certain device that will have an Exynos 5 processor, a 5 MP camera, and a 1280×800 resolution. This is a very strange combination of specs, which is why it’s hard to tell if it refers to the Google tablet we kept hearing about (supposed to come out at Google I/O next month), or about a Nexus phone this fall. The reason it’s strange is because Asus is supposed to make the tablet, and Samsung the smartphone (for the 3rd time in a row). So then, if it’s Samsung, then it makes sense for the Exynos 5 Dual processor to be in there. It’s actually something I’ve been hoping for, because I might be interested in buying the next Nexus phone, but only if it has a chip with a dual core Cortex A15 CPU. The fact that Exynos 5 Dual will contain the new Mali T-604 GPU is just an amazing bonus, considering the overclocked Mali 400 in Galaxy S3 is already the most powerful GPU in a phone right now. Unlikely combination?But here’s where it doesn’t make much sense. Why a 5 MP camera? Is Google really that short-sighted to let a 5 MP camera in their flagship phone, again? By fall, I’ll be expecting at least a 12 MP camera with better quality pictures, or, at the very least, an 8 MP one with some amazing new technology that takes much higher quality pictures. The 5 MP camera in the Galaxy Nexus was a mistake the last time around, and a lot of people called Google out on that one. In a way, I understand why they did it. They really wanted to show off that “zero shutter lag” feature – which is great, and I’ve been hoping for a while that phones get much faster cameras. But the quality of the pictures was pretty disappointing, and it didn’t have much to do with the number of pixels, but with the fact that the zero shutter lag was not optimized properly to take pictures without making them a little blurry in many cases. But even so, 5 MP just seems too low for a flagship phone these days. Another thing that seems strange is the 1280×800 resolution. Google really likes the resolutions to be as close to 16:9 as possible, because of Youtube. This one is 16:10, and they only use such resolutions for tablets because they want them to be used in landscape mode, and in that mode, the bottom bar occupies a bit of that space. So far the only phone that uses the 1280×800 has been the Galaxy Note. All the other new flagship phones have been using the 16:9, 960×540 or 1280×720 resolutions. Maybe notBoth the resolution and the camera lead me to believe that this really is about an upcoming Google tablet. The only thing that makes less sense in this case is the Exynos 5250 processor. This processor should be ready for shipping this summer (has been in production this quarter), when Google might sell this tablet, but it’s made by Samsung. Will Samsung give Google and Asus the opportunity to be one of the first to use their most powerful chip? It seems unlikely, but I wouldn’t really bet against it either. We know Google took out the Tegra 3 processor in its rumored tablet, but at the time we thought it was about price. Maybe it wasn’t about price, and Google just wanted a better chip. It was Eric Schmidt who said a few months ago that we will see a tablet “of the highest quality” in the next 6 months, so that could be the explanation. Samsung has also started selling their Super AMOLED displays to other manufacturers last year. We also know that the Meizu MX Quad-core uses the same Exynos 4 Quad chip found in the Galaxy S3, and will launch at the same time with Sammy’s hero device. Biggest bang for the buckThat means that the Google tablet, supposed to cost somewhere around $150-$200, might actually have this very powerful dual core 2 Ghz Cortex A15 CPU with the Mali T-604 GPU. It would be an amazing value proposition for the price, especially if it uses an 1280×800 resolution for the 7″ display, like this rumor implies. The rest of the specs are pretty much irrelevant, especially if it has a microSD slot, so you can expand the storage if you want. All this tablet would need is a great worldwide marketing campaign, and to be sold through the Play Store, and millions will get it. [Update] Since Lucian wrote this post, we learned that Google will work with several manufacturers for its future Nexus devices coming this fall. It may well be that Samsung and Asus will get to make a “Nexus tablet”, which complicates the problem. We’ll keep you posted. No related posts. This article, With Galaxy S3 rumors over, let the next Nexus rumor party begin , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| CyanogenMod 7.2 RC2 builds for several devices released, others to follow soon Posted: 16 May 2012 06:50 AM PDT
Just days after detailing the future of CyanogenMod 7 and ensuring us that they will continue work on the Android 2.3 software builds beyond CM 7.3, our favorite independent dev team has already released a number of custom 7.2 RC2 ROMs for several Samsung, LG, and Sony devices. CyanogenMod 7.2, based on Android Gingerbread, is not yet final and needs additional work, but if you're eager to get a taste of the software package and you have one of the supported devices, you can go ahead and download the builds from this link. The LG Optimus Black P970 is one of the most recognizable names on the list of devices that already have custom CM 7.2 builds released, but you will find a number of Galaxy S variants, as well as the LG 2X and 3D on the list. You might have some trouble recognizing all the devices on the CM 7.2 support list, as the hacking team hasn't taken the time to write the full name of any phone, but I'm pretty sure that you know your gadget's codenames well enough to distinguish them for similarly named products. If however you're not 100% sure that your Optimus One is the same device with the “p500″ listed on the CM website or you have any other uncertainties, hit us with a comment and we will surely be glad to help you out.
The CM 7.2 software package comes with a lot of "goodies" that are nowhere to be found in the official 2.3 Gingerbread builds. So, if you want to take your phone to the next level and you're sure that you won't receive an ICS update anytime soon, you should seriously consider flashing this ROM. It won't be as cool, functional, and user-friendly as Ice Cream Sandwich, but it's surely the next best thing to Android 4.0. The entire CM 7.2.0 changelog is available at this link here, so if you're not quite sold by the idea of flashing a custom ROM, you should check out the full list of improvements and added features and I promise you that you'll start seeing things in a different light. On the other hand, you should still watch out for bugs and unexpected glitches, which is normal, considering that the CM 7.2 project is not yet final. When we will see a final version of the 7.2 build is still unknown, but I personally expect the guys at CyanogenMod to wrap up their work in a matter of weeks or a couple of months, at the latest. After all, the project has been in the works since January. In addition, the 7.3 build has been confirmed and should enter development soon. Will you be trying out CM 7.2? Have you already tried it? Are these guys the absolute heroes of the Android development world or what? This article, CyanogenMod 7.2 RC2 builds for several devices released, others to follow soon , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II is out on Google Play and TegraZone Posted: 16 May 2012 06:01 AM PDT
Nintendo may have the plumbing power of Mario on its side, but Sega has the cooler and faster Sonic the Hedgehog, one of the world's most celebrated game icons. Making the jump from console to the Android platform seemed to take forever, but when Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I finally made it to Android, the game was well worth the wait. It’s no wonder why the sequel of the game is so eagerly anticipated by Android gamers worldwide. Now, blue hedgehog fans, you’re just in luck, as Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II was launched today exclusively for Tegra-3 powered Android devices. The Tegra 3 version of Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II provides a gaming experience that is incredibly similar to that of the PS3 and Xbox versions. With blazing fast frame rates, Episode II is a dramatic improvement over the predecessor, and the game is, hands down, one of the most technically advanced mobile games ever made. The Tegra 3 version has better quality textures, improved lighting and glow effects, and has on-screen objects that aren't available on other mobile versions of the game. Check the difference for yourself:
Probably the best device to enjoy the antics of Sonic and his friends is a sleek tablet like the Asus Transformer Pad 300. Couple it with a controller and some snazzy speakers and you got yourself a slice of gaming heaven. Luckily, you can win your own rad setup in our TegraZone Player's Choice Awards giveaway. Check it out, it’s easy! As always, Sonic won't be alone in his latest adventure, as his trusted sidekick, Tails, will also be available to play on this multiplayer co-op action game. Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II can be downloaded starting today on Google Play and Nvidia's TegraZone for $6.99. Will you be showing some gaming love for the world’s most favorite blue hedgehog? This article, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II is out on Google Play and TegraZone , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Samsung Galaxy S3 via NTT Docomo has amazing new specs Posted: 16 May 2012 05:47 AM PDT
First of all, the Japanese version of the S3, codenamed SC-06D, will be powered by a dual-core 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8960 S4 processor. The "Krait" chipset will replace Samsung’s Exynos 4 Quad, set to power the S3's international model. The main reason behind the substitution is the fact that NTT Docomo will offer Samsung's new flagship with 4G LTE speeds and, as you may already know, quad core chipsets haven’t played nice with LTE. We suspected that the LTE-versions of the S3 would come with the MSM8960 chipset under their hood and, while it isn’t officially confirmed, we can now be almost certain that the US or Canadian models with 4G speeds will feature the same proc. The second technical detail that will set the Japanese S3 version apart from the international model is the featuring of 2 GB of RAM. That's right, ladies and gentlemen, LG's Optimus LTE2 is no longer the only smartphone to come with 2 GB of RAM and Samsung's SC-06D could steal the spotlight from the recently unveiled LG phone in Korea. On the other hand, we have to say that we're a bit surprised to see Samsung pull a stunt like this and we're pretty disappointed that the Japanese will be the only ones to enjoy the additional feature of the 2GB of RAM. Or will they? Because, after all, Samsung hasn't mentioned anything about the LTE S3 models due for a release in the US or Canada, so they might come with 2 GB of RAM as well, right?
In terms of software, the Samsung SC-06D will run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with TouchWiz 4.0 UI on top, as well as with the "Docomo Palette UI". Due for a release in June or July, the Japanese S3 doesn't yet have a price tag attached to its name. Before wrapping up this post, we should also mention that NTT Docomo has unveiled 18 other new devices, aside from the Galaxy S3. LG's Optimus Vu, Sony's Xperia GX and the Tegra 3-running Arrows X are the other stars of the carrier's new line-up of phones and, if you want to find out more about these, you should check out this link on Docomo's official website. How does an LTE-enabled S3 with a Snapdragon S4 chipset and 2 GB of RAM sound? Do you think that a similarly equipped version will hit the US soon enough? Or does Samsung have other surprises in store for American tech enthusiasts? This article, Samsung Galaxy S3 via NTT Docomo has amazing new specs , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Samsung unveils unlocked Taiwanese Galaxy S3 starting at $700 Posted: 16 May 2012 04:49 AM PDT
According to official Samsung claims, the S3 will start selling in Taiwan on June 1, which is 1-2 days later than the phone's official release in Europe. As far as pricing is concerned, Taiwanese technology enthusiasts will be quite spoiled by Samsung, as they will be able to get the Galaxy S3 for less than what British retailers and carriers are asking. The unlocked, SIM-free versions of the S3 will go for 20,900 TWD, or around $708 (the 16 GB model), and for 22,900 TWD ($775), for the 32 GB variant. For comparison sake, British retailers have announced the 16 GB S3 is going for £500 (about $800). We can also notice that the 32 GB model in Taiwan will only be $67 more expensive than the 16 GB version, which is pretty unusual, but surely a pleasant surprise (gadgets with 16 GB added internal memory typically go for $90-100 more than their "siblings").
All major Taiwanese mobile carriers are expected to put the Galaxy S3 up for sale as soon as June 1 and, like in the UK, they will all offer the device free with a two-year contract, with one noteworthy exception. T-Mobile's place in Great Britain has been taken by Vibo Telecom in Taiwan, a carrier that will start selling the S3 at 4,990 TWD (around $168). On the other hand, Vibo's plans are significantly more affordable than the ones offered by Taiwan Mobile, Far EasTone or Chunghwa Telecom. In the end, you will end up paying about the same no matter regardless of network choice. Samsung's Galaxy S3 is expected to hit the rest of Asia in June as well, but no exact dates have been announced yet in Japan, Korea, Singapore or Malaysia. India will get Sammy's flagship on June 10, according to a report from a while back, while the Philippines might actually get the S3 by the end of May (still unconfirmed). As for all you US tech enthusiasts out there, I can only tell you one thing: the Galaxy S3 will come your way "sometime in June" and will probably be picked up by all major carriers, including Verizon, AT&T and Sprint. Stay locked into AndroidAuthority for more news about the Galaxy S3 set to be unraveled soon enough In the meantime, tell us if you have your budgets set and if you are ready to get your hands on what could be the best Android handheld yet. This article, Samsung unveils unlocked Taiwanese Galaxy S3 starting at $700 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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Before we could even catch our breaths after the Galaxy S3's pricing and availability announcement in Taiwan, Samsung has already announced the new flagship's release on the most important mobile carrier in Japan, NTT Docomo. While it has failed to reveal the exact date when the S3 will hit NTT Docomo's shelves and the device's pricing in Japan, Samsung has mentioned a couple of very interesting technical details about the new phone.
Aside from the processor and RAM, the SC-06D is set to be identical hardware with the international S3. That means that it will come with a 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED display with a 1280 x 720 pixels resolution, 8 MP/1.9 MP dual cameras, NFC, a 2100 mAh battery, Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n, 16/32 GB of on-board memory, as well as a microSD card slot.
The Galaxy S3, Samsung's new flagship smartphone, has been made official for almost two weeks now, but pricing and availability details were scarce until a couple of days back. Fortunately, 
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