Android Authority |
- Renaissance Blood THD out on Google Play, exclusive FPS for Tegra 3 devices
- Best Android apps for getting things done
- Google Glass slated for next year! [Video]
- Video review: Samsung Galaxy S3 vs Galaxy Note side by side comparison
- How secure is Android?
- Best Antivirus Apps for Android
- Alcatel unveils the affordable OT986 smartphone with HD screen, ICS and dual-core CPU
- Corning confirms Gorilla Glass 2 in Samsung Galaxy S III
- Best HDR camera apps for Android
- Leak: Samsung Galaxy S3 will come to US Cellular
| Renaissance Blood THD out on Google Play, exclusive FPS for Tegra 3 devices Posted: 31 May 2012 03:35 AM PDT
Those of you craving to play a Renaissance-themed FPS shooter on your Tegra 3 mobile device are in for a great day. Renaissance Blood THD (previously known as Da Vinci THD) is no available on Google Play and the TegraZone, waiting for you to grab it, if you don’t mind spending the $4 it goes for. Before rushing to download the game, you should know this first-person-shooter is optimized for Tegra 3 devices only. The game won’t even run on Tegra 2 devices, although the developers claim that it might grace devices running on the older chip sometime in the future. The premise of the game is pretty simple and, in my opinion, a refreshing departure from the sci-fi themes that seem to be norm in mobile games these days. According to the app’s description on Google Play, the great Leonardo Da Vinci died and your task is to find the blueprints he left behind. What’s in the blueprints? Well, you’ll have to play the game to find out.
Gameplay-wise, Renaissance Blood HD seems like a mixture of old and new – particularly the classic House of the Dead and the most recent Infinity Blade for iOS devices. So be prepared to hack and slash your way to the different levels of the game until you’ve achieved your main goal of finding Da Vinci’s lost blueprints. Key features of the game include:
Ready for another epic adventure on your Tegra 3 device? Go ahead, splurge a little on your app budget and grab Renaissance Blood THD. I would if I could. But unfortunately my Galaxy Note is not supported by the game. As for you, feel free to share your comments about the game, we’d really love to know them. This article, Renaissance Blood THD out on Google Play, exclusive FPS for Tegra 3 devices , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Best Android apps for getting things done Posted: 30 May 2012 09:00 PM PDT
Android users use their smartphones and tablets in a lot of different ways. Android devices can be used for entertainment and fun. You can use your device for playing games, watching movies, reading books, and much more. Android devices can also be used for productivity. There is a plethora of apps from the Google Play Store can help you do things easily. More and more users are bringing their Android devices as they go out and face daily challenges. That’s why we compiled some of the best Android apps that will help you get things done, fast and easy. Dropbox We have a lot of devices that can help us do our tasks. We have our computers at home, smartphones in our pockets, and the PC in the office. Because of hectic and busy schedules, we tend to carry our work around. Many of us even bring portable USB drives so we can bring our documents from work to home and vice-versa. But, how would you like saving your files on your office PC and making them instantly accessible on your home computer? Introducing the Dropbox app for your computer and Android device. Dropbox is like a magic box that lets you save your files and automatically makes them available on other PCs and Internet-connected devices. Every file you save to the Dropbox folder on one device will automatically sync your files to all your Dropbox folders on other devices. You can also use Dropbox to share your files with your friends. This is a great way to easily share files and easily finish team tasks. This app is perfect for sharing documents and making group projects. Evernote Make your Android device an extension of your brain with the Evernote app. If you don’t have good memory, you can use this app’s huge memory so you will never forget things. This app allows you to take notes, record an audio file, take pictures, and make your own to-do list. You can snap a picture of a gift idea in the shopping mall, save an audio file of your best friend’s speech, make a note for your class lecture, and a lot more. What’s more is that you can access your saved file on your computer via Evernote’s desktop counterpart. Evernote also allows you to share your files with your friends. You can easily send your class notes, share a picture, and easily perform collaborative tasks with this app. You can download Evernote for free. But, you will need to buy the paid version to enjoy extended features such as taking notes offline for later viewing, allowing your friends to edit your notes, and add a pin to your Evernote app. Let your Android device become an extension of your brain through the Evernote app. Business Calendar In a hectic and busy environment, one must able to keep track of time and one’s schedule. If you’re a person who has a lot of agendas in a day, you should use the Business Calendar Free app on your Android device. This app will help you do things and track your day. This app displays your agenda in a graphical and textual presentation. Add some color to your agenda and keep your calendar neat and attractive. The app also allows you to put a widget on your homescreen. You can select a widget for monthly, weekly, and daily agenda. Your saved agenda are also synced to your Google Calendar and can be accessed on your PC. Other features include a search function, an overview of your daily agenda, intuitive handling options, letting you add recurrent events, and many more. The Business Calendar app comes free from the Google Play Store. Download the premium version and enjoy the extended features such as configuring the app and widget’s font size, dragging and dropping events onto the calendar, adding your contacts on your calendar, 11 different themes for the widget, and much more. Do things at the right time with Business Calendar on your Android device. GTasks: To Do List | Task List Everyday we have a set of tasks to complete and we feel fulfilled when we’ve completed them. But, because of multiple tasks that need to be done, we sometimes forget some things. That is why you need GTasks: To Do List | Task List to help you complete your tasks and end your day in satisfaction. GTasks is a simple task list app on your Android device. You only need to add some task lists and fill them up with tasks. For instance, you can add a task list for Groceries and add each item as your task. Beside each item, you can find a check box; once you’ve finished that task, mark it as done. The app also syncs your tasks with your Google Account so you can check and update your tasks via Google Calendar or your Gmail account. The GTasks: To Do List | Task List app can be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store. You can also try the paid version and enjoy premium features such as adding tasks in batches, pattern lock, background sync, and choosing themes. Assistant Everyday, we need to accomplish a lot of tasks that make us wish we had a personal assistant to make our life easier. Worry no more, for we have an app that makes your Android device a personal and portable talking assistant. Let me introduce you to the Assistant app. All you have to do is speak and the app will do its thing. With this app, you can search for the nearest coffee shop, update your Facebook status, ask if you need an umbrella before going to work, send emails and text messages, tell it you’re bored, open an application, and a lot more. No need to utter special commands. Just speak naturally and the app will recognize your commands. What’s more is that you can customize your personal assistant. You can make your assistant a beautiful female assistant or a handsome man. Your assistant can also express facial expressions and gestures, making the app more human-like. No need to settle for a robotic lady voice-only assistant when you can have your own more human pocket-sized companion. Download the Assistant app for free from the Google Play Store and make your Android device your pocket-sized companion. Executive Assistant (adware) We can do a variety of things on our Android smartphones. It is like bringing the features of a desktop computer right inside your pocket. With the things you can do on your phone, you will need the help of Executive Assistant (adware) to assist you and keep you updated on your Android device. The app is designed to primarily assist users in knowing what’s new on their mobile phones. The app lets you know about received messages, emails, and received calls. The app also updates you on your social network by displaying your Twitter timeline and the latest Facebook news. You can also get the latest reads with your Google Reader account. Your To-do list and Calendar events can also be seen through this app. You will never miss any appointments and you can complete your daily tasks with Executive Assistant. Use any of the app’s three modes: as a lockscreen, as a welcome note after unlocking the phone, and as a widget on your Home screen. Get your pocket-sized assistant for free from the Google Play Store. Astrid Task If you are looking for an app that lets you accomplish any collaborative task, then you might want to try Astrid Task on your Android device. Just like any ordinary to-do list app, this app contains a list of things that need to be done. Under a list, you can find individual tasks. You can also find a check box beside each task; tap the box to mark it as complete. Your lists and tasks are automatically synced to Astrid.com so you can edit and view your lists and tasks on your desktop. The best part of Astrid is assigning your task to your friends and collaboratively completing the tasks under a list. For instance, you can create a list called “Android Project.” Under that list, you will create a set of tasks that need to be done. You can also assign individual tasks to your groupmates. The app also updates you if the assigned task has been completed. Finish your group project at ease with Astrid Task on your Android device. Mindjet for Android Transform your ideas into a visual idea map with the Mindjet for Android app. This app lets you create a visual representation of your ideas. You can use this app during meetings, discussion, and creating tasks. To create a new idea map, just simply create a new map and type in the topic’s name. The title will be the center or main topic of your idea map. To add subtopics, you just have to simply double tap on the main topic. Do the same until your idea map branches out and expands. You can also add symbols to determine which tasks are under schedule or are priority tasks. Leave your jot-down notebook at home and use Mindjet on your Android device. wikiHow Do you know how to make french toast? How do you stay fit and fabulous? Do you know ways to stop aging? If you have been troubled with these questions, worry no more for we have an app that is perfect for you. Featuring the wikiHow app, your all-in-one how-to-do things guide for your Android device. The app’s main interface consists of three tabs, namely the Featured, Categories, Search, and Bookmarks tab. You can find the featured how to articles under the Featured tab. Scroll down from the list of how to guides and tap the one you need. On the next page, you will see step-by-step instructions for your chosen topic. If the articles you are looking for is not on the featured list, just simply tap the Categories tab and choose the appropriate category for your topic. Categories included are Arts and Entertainment, Cars, Computers, Family Life, Finance, Food, Health, Hobbies, Home and Garden, Pets, Relationships, Sports, Travel, Youth, and many more. For faster searching, try searching for your desired guide in the Search tab. You can also bookmark how to guides and easily access them on the Bookmarks tab. Make your Android device a how-to wiz with the wikiHow app. Google Drive If you need help with your word documents, or you want to easily share files with your contacts, you can do all that through Google Drive. Google Drive lets you save all your files and makes them accessible on any Android device. Your pictures at home, your files for work, your vacation pictures, and all your important documents can be accessed in one place. If you’re working on an important group project, you can use Google Drive to collaboratively edit your work. Just drag and drop the file to Google Drive and share it with your team members. You can now simultaneously work on your project online. What’s more is that your files can be accessed on any device. Just load up your files on Google Drive and you’re good to go. You can do your work on your PC at home, polish your work on your tablet, and make a final review on your Android smartphone. Download Google Drive and access your files any time and anywhere you want to be. With the rapid improvements of technology and the accessibility of these apps, you can surely do things easily and fast. What other Android apps are you using for getting things done? Add them in the comments below. This article, Best Android apps for getting things done , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Google Glass slated for next year! [Video] Posted: 30 May 2012 01:00 PM PDT
When Brin recently appeared on The Gavin Newsom Show, he was controlling the glasses on Newsom from a track pad on the side. Wired reports:
Now that we have seen so much of the glasses, how do you think the project will turn out? Are you excited for the release next year? No related posts. This article, Google Glass slated for next year! [Video] , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Video review: Samsung Galaxy S3 vs Galaxy Note side by side comparison Posted: 30 May 2012 12:57 PM PDT After I reviewed the Samsung Galaxy S3, I got a lot of questions that go like this – “Should I buy the S3 or the Note?” Most people who ask this question just want to get the best device. But honestly, I don’t think it’s a matter of device, but a matter of how you are going to use it. You see, both the S3 and the Note are equally good. Both are multicores. Both come with 1GB RAM and an 8MP camera. Both are now available with Android 4.0. Hence, it can’t be a matter of which device is better, but rather which device would WORK better for you. Without a doubt, the S3 will beat the Note in every performance benchmark you throw at it. And from the video I made, you can see that browsing on the S3 is smoother than on the tablet. On the other hand, using ICS on the bigger screen of the Note is clearly more exciting.
And then, there is the S Memo. Both devices have this app, but only the Note will give you the kind of accuracy you would get from a samurai sword with the S Pen. Having a bigger screen also means that it’s easier typing with both hands. The size of the Note however means that, although you will see a bigger image with games, it also means that the GPU has more work to do. As a result, games will look less appealing on the Note. Heck, even the one year old S2 is better than the Note in term of gaming. To wrap it up, if you want a device to give you a cinematic viewing experience, the Note is the way to go. It’s also great to work on, considering you’ll have more space for your hands. But if you’re a casual user who wants the cream of the crop, the S3 carries an irresistible allure. Check out my video review below and feel free to voice your opinion in the comment section below. This article, Video review: Samsung Galaxy S3 vs Galaxy Note side by side comparison , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Posted: 30 May 2012 12:43 PM PDT
Mobile device usage continues to climb and companies like Google and Facebook are working hard to cash in on the potential revenues available from mobile users. But they aren’t the only ones trying to make money from mobiles. Cyber criminals, organized crime gangs and malware authors are also trying to get a slice of the pie. As an Android user, it is important to step back a moment and look at the security implications of using a mobile device, and more specifically of using an Android based mobile device. Physical accessBefore looking at all the sophisticated ways hackers can try and steal data off your mobile phone, it is worth remembering that the easiest way for someone to profit from your mobile device is to steal it, either to resell it or to make use of the data on the phone. To stop prying eyes, Android has a couple of features that can help. The first is the unlock screen when the device is woken from sleep. The standard unlock screen is just the slider which basically stops the screen from being activated in your pocket. But Android also allows you to set an unlock pattern, PIN or password. Unless the intruder knows the pattern, PIN or password they can’t get access to your device. This is especially useful to keep little kids out of your phone or stop mischievous friends from sending emails or posting onto Facebook when you aren’t looking! However, there is another problem. If a thief gets hold of your phone and somehow manages to access the internal flash memory, then all your data is still there and ready for the taking. The good news, is that in Android 3.0 you have the option to encrypt all the data on the internal memory of the phone. This is especially important for business and government users! TIP #1 – Keep your mobile device physically safe: Don’t leave it lying around on a restaurant table while you go to the restroom. Don’t leave it in your car in clear view of every would-be thief. App permissionsEvery app that you install on your device needs to specifically ask you for permission to perform certain tasks. This is done when you install the app. What this means in practical terms is that apps have limited abilities. Unless an app has asked for permission to send an SMS, for example, it can’t. Many apps which contain malware ask for permission to send SMS messages. The app is asking as it wants to send a text message to a premium rate number. Android has these permissions built-in but it is up to the user to notice what permissions an app wants and grant them if the app can be trusted. TIP #2 – Actually read what permissions an app wants. As well as limiting the abilities of apps, Android also controls how an app accesses the device’s hardware. There is no direct hardware access allowed in Android; all access is through the different software layers which make up the Android OS. This means that rogue apps can’t go around re-programming the microphone on your phone or bypassing the app permissions by talking directly to the video camera, etc.
The Application SandboxAndroid has another layer of protection in that it doesn’t give one app access to the resource of another app. This is known as the ‘sandbox’ where every app gets to play in its own sandbox and can’t use another app’s toys! Android does this by giving each app a unique user id (a UID) and by running that app as a separate process with that UID. Only processes with the same UIDs can share resources which, as each ID is uniquely assigned, means that no other apps have permission. This means that if an app tries to do something it shouldn’t, like read the data from another app, or dial the phone (which is a separate application) then Android protects against this because the app doesn’t have the right privileges. But… these are Google’s own words on this, “like all security features, the Application Sandbox is not unbreakable. However, to break out of the Application Sandbox in a properly configured device, one must compromise the security of the the Linux kernel.” This conveniently brings us to rooting.
RootingIn the world of Linux (and UNIX) ‘root’ is the supreme user level which has the rights to perform any task. It is similar to the Administrator user on a Windows PC. By default, only the Linux kernel and a small number of core utilities run as this superuser. But by ‘rooting’ your device (which means the root user level is available to all apps) then many of the security mechanisms described above are made null and void. This is because an app with root permission can modify any other part of the Android OS including the operating system itself, the kernel, and other apps. TIP #3 – Rooting your device increases the security exposure to malicious applications and potential application flaws. Even the popular CyanogenMod custom firmware project, which thrives on devices being rooted, recently said that using an Android device in a default root access mode is unwarranted and a security risk. CyanogenMod 9 will ship with root access restricted by default. MalwareIt is an unfortunate reality, but reality none the less, that Android has a malware problem. But, if all the security mechanisms mentioned above exist in the OS, how can Android have a malware problem? The answer is three fold: First, for an app to be malicious it doesn’t need to have access to the deeper levels of the OS. If an unsuspecting user installs a malicious app which sends premium rate SMS messages and the user granted those privileges to the app when it’s installed, then the malware has successfully been installed without breaking any of the security. The reason for this is because Android allows users to install apps from anywhere on the Internet and not just the Google Play store. These other third party sources don’t guarantee that the apps aren’t malicious. In fact, Google doesn’t even guarantee that with their app store and from time to time bad apps sneak in unawares. Secondly, some malware actually comes with root exploits built-in. This means that when the app is installed it actually roots the device (without the user knowing) and by-passes all the system security. Thirdly, there is malware that just loves rooted phones. If the malware gets installed on a non-rooted phone it does nothing, but when installed on a rooted phone it unleashes all of its nastiness. TIP #4 – Don’t install apps from untrusted third party apps stores. TIP #5 – Use an anti-virus app for an extra layer of protection.  Android Malware ConclusionAt the OS level Android is robust and fairly secure. But the app distribution model and the number of root exploits that exist means that nothing is guaranteed. However with common sense you have a good chance of staying safe. No related posts. This article, How secure is Android? , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Best Antivirus Apps for Android Posted: 30 May 2012 11:02 AM PDT
With startling headlines like “Number of malicious Android apps grows by 2200% year over year” and “86% of all malware delivered via repackaging of legitimate apps” it is worth looking at what measures you can take to protect yourself from malware. Besides common sense items like not downloading apps from an untrusted app store or not installing apps which ask for odd permissions (like a game wanting SMS permissions), there is the option of installing an anti-virus app for your device. There are quite a few big name apps available, often for free, with optional upgrades for added functionality. AVG
AVG is a popular free antivirus solution for Windows and is also available for Android as AVG Antivirus for Smartphones & Tablets. The basic version is free and doesn’t require any registration. Once installed AVG automatically scans your installed apps to see if you have malware on your device. Then it switches to real time protection mode which means that any new apps are scanned straight after installation to make sure that your device is clean. Starting AVG once in real time mode gives you the option to scan your data files (not apps) for malicious content. AVG is really a suite of tools which includes an antivirus scanner. It also includes a find/locate service for a lost or stolen devices (as long as it has GPS) and the ability to lock and wipe your device to protect your privacy. There are also options to scan text messages and to switch on a safe web surfing mode which offers real time protection from suspicious websites. For a one time fee ($9.99) you can also upgrade AVG to include the app locker – which protects apps with a password, the tuneup service – to optimize your device performance, and an app backup tool which allows apps to be backed-up to the SD card. In a recent test by the Department of Computer Science at the North Carolina State University, AVG was able to recognize 54.7% of all the malware samples used in the tests. Lookout Security & Antivirus
According to the Lookout page on Google Play, 15+ million users use Lookout on their phones and tablets. Ignoring any technical details, that seems to be a big vote of confidence from the Android user base. Like AVG, Lookout offers real time protection which scans all newly installed apps and also makes an initial scan post-installation, to make sure that there are no nasty apps installed. Along with the antivirus protection, Lookout also offers a free “Find My Phone” service which helps locate a lost or stolen phone on a Google map (if the device has GPS). It can remotely tell the device to sound a loud alarm, even if your phone or tablet is on silent. By using the mylookout.com website you are able to locate your phone from any web browser. There are also premium features (for $29.99/year or $2.99/month) such as safe browsing, remote lock & wipe, a privacy advisor and advanced backups. In the North Carolina State University test, Lookout was able to detect 79.6% of the malware thrown at it. Dr. Web Anti-virus Light
From the famous Russian anti-virus vendor Doctor Web, Dr. Web Anti-virus Light is a free antivirus app with less features than AVG and Lookout, but according to Android antivirus tests carried out by av-test.org, Dr. Web Anti-virus Light ranked as the second best antivirus app for Android! Unlike AVG and Lookout, when Dr. Web is installed it will not initially perform an automatic scan of previously installed apps, nor does it automatically switch on real time protection. However, once you manually update the virus database and enable the SpIDer Guard, Dr. Web behaves much like AVG and Lookout. Unfortunately the free version of Dr. Web doesn’t include any anti-theft functionality or any secure wipe tools – but you can get these by buying the full version for $4.99. However the light version does include a couple of widgets which allow the antivirus to be enabled/disabled quickly. avast! Mobile Security
avast! Mobile Security is free from Google Play and offers a wide range of security tools including antivirus, a privacy advisor, a web shield –that scans each URL and warns you if it’s a known malware-infected URL– an app manager, and a large number of anti-theft options. These include the ability to control your phone via SMS and perform actions like a history wipe, phone lock, and siren activation. Like AVG and Lookout, when you first run avast! it will automatically scan the existing apps for any malware and then switch to real-time protection mode. Some of the more advanced features of avast! require the device to be rooted. For example, the firewall can’t be used with root access and to install the hard-reset proof version of the anti-theft tool likewise requires root access. According to the Android antivirus tests carried out by av-test.org, avast! Mobile Security is the best antivirus software available today for Android. There is also the interesting point that avast! is completely free. All the functions like privacy advisor and web shield are all included in the free version and I can’t find any references to upgrading to a premium version anywhere! Zoner AntiVirus
Zoner AntiVirus was also a good performer in the tests carried out by av-test.org and like the other anti-virus apps mentioned here, it is free. Like AVG, Lookout and avast! it automatically scans your device for viruses when it first runs and then moves into a real time protection mode. It is also a security suite and contains theft protection that allows you to remotely control and locate your device via SMS messages. It can also sound an alarm and will even notify you if the device has been stolen and the SIM switched. There are options to scan the data files on your SD card and a method by which to filter calls and messages from a user-created blacklist . One unique feature of Zoner AntiVirus is that it allows you to send encrypted messages to your friends (if they have Zoner AntiVirus) installed. It does this by encrypting the message using a password. On the receiving end, the same password must be entered to decrypt the message. Like avast!, Zoner AntiVirus is completely free. Although it doesn’t offer a privacy advisor or secure wipe, the other features like the task manager and permission checker may be useful. ConclusionChoosing an outright winner is difficult. These programs all generally offer more than just anti-virus protection with the majority also giving anti-theft functionality. In terms of which is best at catching malware on your device, I would suggest you try avast! and then Lookout. If you are looking for more than just antivirus, then avast! offers the most features for free, while AVG offers the best functionality without breaking the bank. AVG is also a good choice for those wanting advanced anti-theft features unlike avast! and Lookout. With AVG, a phone can be contacted via the web which means it doesn’t need to have a SIM card in it to receive SMS messages. This is especially useful for non 3G tablets. Last but not least, if you have a rooted device, then avast! is a must as it can take advantage of the root access and add additional functionality which isn’t available on non-rooted devices. This article, Best Antivirus Apps for Android , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Alcatel unveils the affordable OT986 smartphone with HD screen, ICS and dual-core CPU Posted: 30 May 2012 10:14 AM PDT
Hey guys, do you remember that Alcatel Android-based high-end smartphone released last year that made so many waves? You don't? Well, that's probably because Alcatel hasn't ever come up with an attractive high-end phone or with a decent mid-ranger for that matter. Things are about to flip 180 degrees, though, because the telecommunications provider based in Paris, France has just announced the launch of the OT986, a phone that, at least on paper, looks dreamy. Sporting a 4.5-inch HD IPS touchscreen with 1280 x 720 pixels resolution, the OT986 (also known as the TCL S900) will be powered by a 1.5 GHz dual-core TI OMAP 4460 processor and will feature 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB of on-board memory, a 5 MP rear-facing shooter with LED flash and a 2 MP front-facing camera. Okay, those might not be the greatest tech specs out there, as there are currently several phones coming with dual-core S4 chipsets or with quad-core procs, with 8 MP cameras and 2 GB of RAM. Then again, the Alcatel OT986 is set to be significantly more affordable than any of its direct competitors, so you might want to take this new guy into consideration if you want to buy a phone and you're budget-conscious.
The phone's pricing has been announced at 1,999 yuan in China, which would translate into around $315 based on today's exchange rates. However, we're not sure if that very affordable price tag is for the OT986 detailed above or for a more modestly equipped version with 4 GB of internal memory and 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, also announced today. The OT986 will run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and what seems worth mentioning is that the 4.5-incher doesn't feature any physical capacitive buttons below the display. In fact, we very much dig the phone's design as well, which feels original and elegant, at least at a first glance. And at a 9.75 mm (0.38 inches) thickness, this is clearly a gadget to show off your fashionable side. Set to hit the Chinese market very soon (no official release date has been announced just yet), the Alcatel OT986 could come to Europe and the United States as well. While it does come from a pretty obscure manufacturer (at least for people in the US), that incredible quality-price ratio might actually sell Alcatel a few of these, in our opinion. How about it, folks? Do you think that this OT986 has what it takes to become popular? Could Alcatel and Huawei represent the new wave of competitive Android device manufacturers? Tell us what you think below! No related posts. This article, Alcatel unveils the affordable OT986 smartphone with HD screen, ICS and dual-core CPU , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Corning confirms Gorilla Glass 2 in Samsung Galaxy S III Posted: 30 May 2012 10:08 AM PDT
Not only is the Samsung Galaxy S III sporting some of the most advanced features that you’ll look for in a smartphone, but perhaps more important to know is that the phone’s display is using the next generation Gorilla Glass. This was confirmed by Corning itself by way of an official announcement. According to Corning:
Gorilla Glass 2 which was launched earlier during CES 2012 is said to have maintained the same endurance standard as the original Corning Glass with reduction in thickness by almost 20%. So, you can be sure that the display of the Samsung Galaxy S III is safe from scratches and bumps. This article, Corning confirms Gorilla Glass 2 in Samsung Galaxy S III , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Best HDR camera apps for Android Posted: 30 May 2012 09:00 AM PDT
Most Android smartphones these days feature a 5- to 12-megapixel camera, bundled into one neat package with advanced camera features. Compared to Apple's iPhone, Android is opensource and allows users to tweak the basic camera settings to satisfy any user. When it comes to HDR-quality photos, the secret lies in the software itself because it is the one responsible for making your shots crystal clear with HD characteristics. As we explore the Google Play Store, we've managed to stumble upon loads of apps that cater primarily to enhancing images. Here are some of the best apps that will turn your shots into HDR quality photos. HDR Camera HDR Camera by Almalence is one of the best HDR cameras on the Google Play Store. HDR Camera features a wide range of options that allows users to capture dynamic photos between the lightest and darkest area in an image. Daylight photos will have deep dark shadows and crisp details in more lighted areas. HDR Camera can look cartoonish if you are not familiar with tweaking the app's settings. Luckily for us, the app uses "fusion algorithms" that automatically adjust to shaky and wobbly hands. The software can also detect moving objects on the scene, so if you tend to shoot fast moving cars or people doing outdoor activities, then this is the application for you. Not only that, it can also minimize blurring or ghosting effects. HDR Camera is custom-made to transform any Android phone into the ultimate camera. Camera360 Make photography a work of art with Camera360 for Android. Camera360 has earned worldwide recognition for being the popular camera app for any mobile phone. It is even listed as one of the Top 100 Technology Products by PC World. Camera360 is a heavy-duty camera app that requires a bit of learning before you can take epic shots. Once you get the hang of Camera360, everything will be a walk in the park. Users can add frames and extra scenery to photos, as well as apply filters with Lomo, Retro or HDR. You can also find some neat features such as tapping to focus on an object, as well as setting the color to let you adjust the depth field and color of a picture. The only downside of the app is that it eats your phone's battery fast. Make sure you are fully charged when you are planning on a shooting fest. Retro Camera Also hailed as one of the kings of photography apps in the Google Play Store is the Retro Camera app from developer Urbian. Transform your Android phone into one vintage, high-definition camera that takes you back to the 70's. Take delicious retro camera snapshots with Retro Camera's advance camera techniques. Choose from 5 cameras with 5 sets of vintage effects from film scratch, black and white, and cross processing just to name a few. The app took its inspiration from Polaroid, Diana, and Toy Cameras in the past and has adjusted to suit any Android phone. Post all of your best shots on your favorite social networking site like Facebook for your friends to see. Instant nostalgia is now free of charge and you will never have to find another application ever again. Photaf Panorama Pro If you are fond of creating panoramic shots then Photaf Panorama Pro is definitely the app suited for you. Create amazing HD panoramas just by using your phone's camera. Photaf Panorama Pro will greatly help users create seamless 360-degree panoramic photos with amazing clarity. The secret behind the app's success lies in the orientation sensor that manages to know the exact angle each shot was taken, making your shots professional-looking with amazing quality and details. Shoot panoramas like a pro and add special effects to each shot you take. The app's easy-to-use interface will greatly appeal to users as navigation is a breeze. All you need to do is point to the object you want to take a panorama of and let the app guide you with all the details. Other features include HD mode, setting your shots as a live wallpaper, and using the camera in portrait mode. Pro HDR Camera Here's another HDR camera that will turn your Android phone into a real DSLR camera. Introducing the Pro HDR Camera, one of the world's first real HDR camera apps for Android users. Create stunning full-resolution HDR images with just a quick tap on your Android phone. Say goodbye to traditional bulky DSLR cameras as Pro HDR Camera will automatically create HD shots for you. Pro HDR Camera features an image quality software that will bring high dynamic range photography. Pro HDR works by capturing exposed images for the highlights and another set for the exposed shadows. To get that HDR look, the app will automatically merge the images, giving you the impression of a true-to-life HDR image. The app supports up to 8 megapixels of true clarity photos that you have never seen before. AfterFocus
AfterFocus combines the best of having a point-and-shoot camera and a DSLR camera bundled into one fantastic application. Bring a DSLR-like camera wherever you go as AfterFocus will use everything in its arsenal to transform your Android smartphone into a DSLR camera. With AfterFocus, users can create DSLR-style high resolution backgrounds by simply selecting the area you wish to be edited. You can also apply various filter effects to create a more natural, realistic-looking photo. AfterFocus relies heavily on the user’s selection, in which the app automatically recognizes the shaded part and applies the corresponding effect with the corresponding complex shades and colors. The app also allows a Double Photo feature that takes a picture of one object and slightly takes another shot of the same picture, after which it will analyze the images and recognize the nearest object. You can also share your photos via email or social networking sites easily, straight from the app itself. Cymera Cymera from SK Communications is a fabulous way to take portraits or photos of yourself as the application is solely dedicated to this purpose. Cymera is one of the best camera applications that shoots portraits, most especially HD quality photos. Cymera is a free application for download that helps users take a photo and be a professional photographer in just a matter of seconds. Users can choose any of the 7 kinds of lenses that Cymera offers. Aside from that, there are 4 types of shooting modes to choose from. In these modes, users can take full advantage of Cymera's advanced camera shooting techniques. Various shooting modes like timer, image stabilization, and touch shot are great for taking portrait shots. Users can also mix and match the different lenses and shooting modes the app offers. Other features include the ability to add beauty effects and fun decorations just by using face recognition. Camera ZOOM FX Still retaining its top spot among photography apps is Camera ZOOM FX. Featuring a wide range of control and image enhancement tools, Camera ZOOM FX is considered to be a fan favorite by many professional and casual photographers alike. With a professional-looking user-interface, first-time users will be impressed by how the app certainly means business. Camera ZOOM FX is a powerful camera that features various shooting modes that include Stable Shot, Timer, Voice-Activated Mode, Burst Mode, Collage, or even Time Lapse. The post-processing features together with various shooting modes make Camera ZOOM FX a feature-rich camera experience, worthy for the casual photographer. If you love taking pictures on the field then don't leave home without Camera ZOOm FX, as it is one of the best applications available on the market today. Vignette If you love taking photos and converting them into vignette style shots, then why don't you try Vignette. With over 76 customizable photo effects and 57 frames in the app's arsenal, users can create retro feel vintage shots with just a simple touch of a button. Vignette is a fully featured camera app that takes advantage of your phone's camera. Vignette packs a lot of features that includes digital zoom up to 10x, a self timer, remote shutter used for Sony Ericsson's LiveView, rule of thirds golden ratio guide, and the ability to take pictures in full resolution. Pudding Camera The secret in getting HDR quality photos lies in your phone's camera and the software that gives the photos hues. Pudding Camera developed by KTH is considered by many as the ultimate camera application that enhances all of your shots and turns them into one gorgeous memorable photo. While Pudding Camera lacks the extensive features found in paid camera apps, it does however make up for its shortcomings. The app is sleek and simple to use, featuring a lot of filters and camera styles to spice up your shots. If you are sick and tired of photo enhancing applications, then this could likely turn out to become your favorite application. Pudding Camera has 8 filters and effects to choose that range from Basic to Triplex set ups. Users can also apply beautiful effects like Vintage, Noir, or Vivid. Pudding Camera also lets users change exposure levels, making shots more realistic with the vibrant colors and crisp hues. Say goodbye to your bulky cameras and head outside with just your Android device. Enjoy taking all your gorgeous HDR shots with these HDR Android apps. This article, Best HDR camera apps for Android , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Leak: Samsung Galaxy S3 will come to US Cellular Posted: 30 May 2012 08:08 AM PDT
Although there have been several rumors and bits of information about which US carriers are going to release the Samsung Galaxy S3, there’s still no official announcement issued by any of these US carriers. So far, we told you that T-Mobile is likely to release the phone on June 20. And now, just to add some more spice to the rumor salad, we learned that regional carrier US Cellular might also offer the Samsung Galaxy S3. The information was revealed by a leaked screenshot of an internal system, which shows that the Samsung Galaxy S3 model to be released by US Cellular will have the model number R530. Also, both the Pebble Blue and Ceramic White models will be available, both in the 16GB storage variant.
While all of this is still unofficial, it’s still comforting to know, especially for those of you who are US Cellular customers, that the Samsung Galaxy S3 will come to smaller carriers. What remains to be seen now is whether the unit released by US Cellular will keep the features in the international version intact. This article, Leak: Samsung Galaxy S3 will come to US Cellular , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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