Android Central |
- DroidDoodle: The EVO 4G LTE cometh
- Took back the One X, Rooting the One S [From the Forums]
- Multitasking on the HTC One X isn't broken, it's customized
- Google bringing multiple manufacturers to the Nexus line, WSJ reports
- Chrome 19 desktop browser released, keeps tabs with your mobile devices
- Samsung cares, releases new support app to help prove it
- Verizon lighting up 28 new 4G LTE markets, expanding 11 more on May 17
- LG Optimus Elite now available from Virgin Mobile USA
- What's root got to do with it?
- Lightbox closing its doors as the team joins Facebook
- Firefox's new native Android version now available in beta from Google Play
- Sprint Galaxy Nexus review
- Samsung Galaxy S III user manual appears in all its 181-page glory
- ShopAndroid Daily Giveaway #72: Griffin Stylus, Krusell Gaia Pouch & more
- Deal of the Day: Krusell ColorCover Case for Samsung Galaxy Note
- China gets the music-friendly Motorola Motosmart Mix XT550
- O2 UK reportedly rolling out DC-HSPA in 'major cities'
- HTC Desire C gallery
- HTC Desire C is official - ICS, NFC and Beats on a 3.5-inch screen
- Instagram rolls out latest update to address some front facing camera issues and device compatibility
- Twitter for Android updated to correct issues with sync settings, avatars and various other bug fixes
- HTC One XL now available in Australia from Mobicity
- CyanogenMod 7.2 RC2 builds starting to appear for some devices
- LG Optimus 4X HD arrives in Europe in June
- Samsung updates ICS upgrade list to include T-Mobile devices
| DroidDoodle: The EVO 4G LTE cometh Posted: 15 May 2012 04:26 PM PDT | ||
| Took back the One X, Rooting the One S [From the Forums] Posted: 15 May 2012 04:08 PM PDT
We're rolling through this week pretty quick so if you happened to miss out on anything thus far, make sure you get yourself caught up. You can head on back a page or two and you'll be good to go. While you're at it, make sure you check out the Android Central Forums for plenty more discussion:
If you're not already a member of the Android Central forums, you can register your account today. 
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| Multitasking on the HTC One X isn't broken, it's customized Posted: 15 May 2012 03:30 PM PDT
There's been a bit of fuss over the way the HTC One X (and One XL) handles multitasking, with some folks saying the phone is broken when talking about the way it handles tasks in the background. While it certainly is different than what we see on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, or other devices running previous versions of Android, it's not broken at all -- HTC has just tweaked it. Like everything else in the Android source code, the way the kernel and system free memory from background tasks is wide open and subject to the whim of whoever does the software building. In this case, it's an area we're pretty familiar with, and something we've been hacking at since the days of the lowly HTC Hero -- the minfree settings and kernel low memory killer. What's happening is that the settings have been adjusted to keep more memory free for Sense 4 to gobble up, at the expense of applications running in the background. It's not a big edit, but with the One X's big screen and Sense 4's big footprint, it's a big enough edit to force things to close in the background more aggressively than we're used to seeing. Apps that have a bit of priority (ranging from the important things like the phone dialer to the less-important like the music player) seem to act just fine, but bigger applications, like Chrome beta for example, seem to suspend and need to re-open whenever they are returned to from the application switching menu. For the more nerdly among us, I've looked and found one set of changes in the One X's boot image. The Stock AOSP build of 4.0.4 writes these values to the minfree settings:
The AT&T HTC One X uses these settings (as we're using the system, anyway):
Our Tegra 3 version of the HTC One X is showing the following, again, as we're using the system:
It's very likely that there are other changes in the kernel source as well. The real issue here is that it's different than what we're used to seeing. Many seem not to like it, and would prefer the "old way". If you're riding the root train, that's a possibility -- our own Senior Developer Beezy is looking at things, and working on a few edits. If you're not into hacking your device, you're going to have to realize that HTC has built the One X their way. It's not wrong, it's just not stock Android. Source: Android Central forums 
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| Google bringing multiple manufacturers to the Nexus line, WSJ reports Posted: 15 May 2012 02:18 PM PDT
What would be better than a new Nexus phone each year? How about several Nexus devices, built by multiple manufacturers? According to the WSJ (and their confidential sources) that will become a reality in the near future. According to the Journal, Google will be working with as many as five device manufacturers to build Android lead devices, which they can then sell directly to consumers in the U.S., Europe, and Asia from their online device store. This is Google's way of exerting a modicum of control over Android, without stepping on the open-source toes at its roots. Right now you can walk into your carrier store and buy a great phone that runs an Android-based operating system like Sense 4, or the new TouchWiz, complete with full carrier support and customer service. With this news it sounds like those of us that aren't concerned with carrier subsidies or support may be able to shop at our own Android store. It's an answer that many of us have been looking for. The devices are expected to run Jellybean, be completely SIM unlocked, and available near Thanksgiving. Start saving your pennies. I think this is a long time coming. It sounds like what Google was trying to do in 2010 with the Nexus One, but back then they didn't have the foothold (or is it stranglehold?) on customer mind-share that they do now. Two years later, and I'll wager a good many of us would jump on this opportunity, including some that didn't when the Nexus One was released. If Google wants to pull this off, they will need to offer quality hardware at a reasonable price (I'm thinking under $500 per unit), and convince customers in the U.S. to switch away from Verizon and Sprint to GSM carriers. If they can manage this, they will have finally changed the mobile world, like they wanted to do all along. They certainly have my support. Source: WSJ 
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| Chrome 19 desktop browser released, keeps tabs with your mobile devices Posted: 15 May 2012 01:22 PM PDT
Todays release of the stable version of Google Chrome 19 brings with it a killer feature which really does beg the question -- why would you use any other browser? When signed in to Chrome 19 on the desktop, as well as Chrome Beta on your Android 4.0 device, all currently open tabs will be synchronized between every device you're signed in on. Put simply, you could be reading Jerry's awesome review of the Sprint Galaxy Nexus on your computer, but you have to leave for work before you're done. Open up Chrome Beta on your Android phone or tablet, and there it is, ready for you to open and get right back to reading. The tabs are displayed within the "other devices" section found within the main menu on Chrome Beta, and the new tab menu on Chrome desktop. There are some other new features included in the release of Chrome 19 that are desktop only, but the merging of Chrome on desktop and Android can only be a good thing for the future. Hit the break for Google's promo video. Source: Google Chrome Blog 
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| Samsung cares, releases new support app to help prove it Posted: 15 May 2012 12:40 PM PDT
Samsung as a company is massive and although I'm sure we all would prefer it if they concentrated only on mobile devices, that's not the case. They have a ton of products out there on the market ranging from mobile phones, fridges, washers and more. Supporting all of those products can be quite a hassle but Samsung wants you to know they do in fact care about each and every support question that may be out there, no matter which one of their products you may be using. In an effort to show that they've gone ahead and released a new mobile app called Samsung Cares. The Samsung Cares app covers a wide array of Samsung products and for each you can view online tutorial videos, review support documentation and even check your warranty status, repair status and more. Plus, if you're still not finding the information you need it provides support numbers for Samsung directly. Sure, some folks may not find it useful at all but the fact it even exists is a nice gesture from Samsung. Want to check the app out? The link is below for downloading it. 
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| Verizon lighting up 28 new 4G LTE markets, expanding 11 more on May 17 Posted: 15 May 2012 11:55 AM PDT
Another batch of 4G LTE areas have been announced by Verizon and this time, it's a pretty huge list. In total, 28 new markets will be enabled while 11 more will be getting expansions to further improve their already existing coverage. Have a look at the list below and see if your city is listed. If it is, then on May 17th you should be fully enabled for 4G LTE provided you have a compatible device: Additions:
Expansions:
The full press release is below should you need more info. Find your city on the list? Enjoy your new 4G LTE when it gos live on May 17th. Source: Verizon Wireless 
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| LG Optimus Elite now available from Virgin Mobile USA Posted: 15 May 2012 11:31 AM PDT
It was only a few days ago that pre-orders for the LG Optimus Elite were happening but now Virgin Mobile USA is ready to put their first device with NFC and Google Wallet into the hands of consumers. Yes, today is the day the LG Optimus Elite goes on sale today and you can pick yourself one up for only $150. A reminder of the specs let's us know it's not for everyone out there but it a reasonable device for those looking to possibly jump from a feature phone:
As a bonus, LG has also team up with the folks from Box so if you pick up an LG Optimus Elite, you can download the Box app from the Google Play Store and get yourself 50GB of cloud storage space for free. Keep in mind though, that offer only runs until July 22, 2012. Need more details? Check out the full press release below or have a look at our hands-on. 
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| What's root got to do with it? Posted: 15 May 2012 10:58 AM PDT
... got to do with it? What's root but a second hand emoticon? Who needs an I-phone It may seem to you If I tend to look dazed There's a name for it (do a search) But whatever the reason, Phil [Chorus] I've been thinking of a new direction - yea upgrade! [Chorus] What's root got to do, got to do with it? 
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| Lightbox closing its doors as the team joins Facebook Posted: 15 May 2012 10:13 AM PDT
Seems like the Facebook train just keeps on rolling, with todays news that the Lightbox team will be joining the social network. For Lightbox users, the end is sadly nigh as the service will be closing down completely from June 15. Existing users can continue to use the service until then, but no more new signups will be accepted. This isn't an acquisition, not like the $1 billion buyout submitted for Instagram. As such, none of the user data stored by Lightbox will become the property of Facebook. The staff is the only part transitioning, and as such closing the doors for good. Until June 15, all your photos can be exported, and the Android application has already been removed from Google Play. Additionally, parts of the code will be open-sourced in the coming weeks. Source: Lightbox Blog; thanks @FYeahRyanRocks for the tip! 
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| Firefox's new native Android version now available in beta from Google Play Posted: 15 May 2012 09:33 AM PDT
Late last year Mozilla announced that it'd be moving its Firefox browser to a native Android user interface, instead of using XUL, and it's been pushing nightly builds since November. Today, those builds have reached beta status and are available directly from Google Play. You'll get the same excellent Firefox browsing experience you've come to know and love, only with an even better UI, faster load times and better performance. And because it's now available in Google Play, updating will be easier than nightly builds. Hit the link below if you're ready to give it a shot. Download: Firefox beta
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| Posted: 15 May 2012 08:53 AM PDT
Welcome to Part 3 of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus story -- the one where the latest Google reference phone makes its way to Sprint, ready to put the upcoming LTE network to the test. Sprint was kind enough to loan us a review unit for a while, and I get to walk everyone through things this time. Luckily, we've got a couple excellent reviews of the Galaxy Nexus as it debuted for other networks in other places, so we can take this time to deviate from the standard path a bit, and focus on how the phone we all know and (mostly) love performs -- something that rarely gets covered in-depth in a "regular" review. Hit the break, and I'll walk you through how the Galaxy Nexus on Sprint worked out for me with a week's hard use. 
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| Samsung Galaxy S III user manual appears in all its 181-page glory Posted: 15 May 2012 08:29 AM PDT
If you've been struggling to pass the time awaiting the moment when you can buy a Samsung Galaxy S III for yourselves, Samsung's got you covered. The full user manual for the international version of the device is now out there on the interwebs for anyone interested in reading it. All 181 pages of it. Will it contain anything we haven't already covered? Most probably not, but it's there for those who want it. The only contentious point arising so far seems to surround the supported microSD card sizes. Page 20 of the manual states that the Galaxy S III will support sizes up to 32GB. We know from the keynote in London though, that the initial presentation of the S III's specs showed support for 64GB cards. Could be a mis-print. Or, there could be something more sinister behind it. For now though, we'll hedge our bets on the first one. In any case, hit the source link below if you're interested in taking a look. Source: SamMobile 
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| ShopAndroid Daily Giveaway #72: Griffin Stylus, Krusell Gaia Pouch & more Posted: 15 May 2012 07:47 AM PDT Today's ShopAndroid.com Daily Giveaway will feature the Griffin Stylus, Krusell Gaia Mobile Pouch, Mobi Crystal Case for LG Revolution, and the Case-Mate Barely There Case for Samsung Infuse 4G. Take a moment to check out our brief hands-on videos with each item and be sure to leave your comment stating which accessory you'd like for your Android device. One winner will be selected at random and announced next week! Griffin StylusGriffin's Stylus is a balanced pointer with a soft rubber tip custom designed to mimic your finger. The omni-directional tip adapts to any writing style and doesn't care whether you're left-handed or right-handed. The stylus keeps your touchscreen free of fingerprints and smudges as it gives increased control over any touchscreen operation. It's perfect for sketching, drawing, gaming and photography apps, or any use where you need a finer degree of control than your finger can offer. 
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| Deal of the Day: Krusell ColorCover Case for Samsung Galaxy Note Posted: 15 May 2012 07:02 AM PDT
The Krusell ColorCover Case is available for just $14.95 today only, 40% off the regular price. Get yours while supplies last! 
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| China gets the music-friendly Motorola Motosmart Mix XT550 Posted: 15 May 2012 05:05 AM PDT
Motorola today announced the Motosmart Mix XT550, a China-bound for for "people who really care about music." The 4-inch Android 2.3 smartphone comes loaded with Dolby Mobile software, SRS WOW HD enhancements and is an exclusivity on the Sina Micro Music app. The Motosmart Mix XT550 also sports a 3MP rear camrea and a front-facing VGA camera, all powered by a 1750 mAh battery. More: Motorola 
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| O2 UK reportedly rolling out DC-HSPA in 'major cities' Posted: 15 May 2012 03:59 AM PDT
British mobile operator O2 has begun rolling out a new, faster mobile network standard across major British cities, according to reports. Crave is reporting that O2 has started switching on DC-HSPA. The "DC" part stands for dual cell, and this new standard doubles the bandwidth available over traditional HSPA+, enabling maximum theoretical download speeds of up to 42Mbps. For the less technically minded, it just means faster 3G data, assuming your phone's hardware supports it. And that's the big sticking point at this stage. Right now there are only three leading devices that support DC-HSPA -- the HTC One X, the new iPad and the Nokia Lumia 900. In any case, if you're rocking a One X on O2 in a major British city (no word on which ones), then you'll likely be treated to faster data speeds from now on. Rival UK networks are looking to roll out DC-HSPA later this year, ahead of the expected UK LTE switch-on in 2013 and beyond. Three says it'll start upgrading its network with the new standard "this summer," while T-Mobile and Orange (under the "Everything Everywhere" banner) are reportedly aiming for the end of the year. Vodafone tells Crave it already uses DC-HSPA on its network, albeit at slower speeds of up to 28Mbps. Source: Crave 
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| Posted: 15 May 2012 03:27 AM PDT
Want a closer look at all three flavors of HTC Desire C? Look no further -- you'll find official renders of the red, white and black versions after the break. 
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| HTC Desire C is official - ICS, NFC and Beats on a 3.5-inch screen Posted: 15 May 2012 03:02 AM PDT New budget phone from HTC coming to Three, Orange and T-Mobile UKAfter a series of leaks, it looks like the HTC Desire C is finally official. The new entry-level device from HTC has been announced today, and in the UK it looks like it'll be heading to all five major networks, as well as Tesco Mobile, Virgin Mobile, Phones4U and Carphone Warehouse. The Desire C looks like an upgraded version of last year's Wildfire S -- it's got a 3.5-inch HVGA display, a 5MP camera, Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich, Beats Audio software enhancements and NFC capabilities. There's no official word on what's powering the Desire C, but pre-release reports point to a 600MHz Snapdragon processor. T-Mobile will offer the Desire C for free on 2-year contracts from £15.50 per month, and it'll also sell the phone on Pay As You Go for £169.99. Orange UK will offer the same PAYG price, but a slightly higher monthly fee of £20.50 if you're after a free Desire C on contract. Other networks have yet to announce pricing details. The release of the Desire C is slated for sometime in June, and in the UK it'll be available in black and white, while international markets will also get a red version. The official trailer from HTC is embedded above, and we've got Three's video preview after the break, along with today's press release. We'll keep you updated as further info emerges. via: Three UK, Clove, HTC, Orange 
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| Posted: 15 May 2012 02:22 AM PDT
The latest Instagram for Android update is now available for download in the Google Play Store. This update will be higher priority for those of you out there making use of devices with a front-facing camera. As noted in the change log, it corrects some issues when using the advanced camera option as well as some problems with the reliability of photo filters for certain Galaxy Y and Ace devices. If you fit into either of those sections, or just want to ensure you have the latest installed, you can grab the link below. 
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| Posted: 15 May 2012 01:43 AM PDT
Twitter for Android is getting some bug-squashing love right now. If you fire up the Google Play Store, you should find a new update waiting for you. The latest version corrects some issues with sync settings on various devices, as well as addressing some concerns for folks who may still be running an Android 2.0 / 2.1 Eclair device:
If you've been experiencing issues with the current build, then go ahead and get yourself updated. Those "various other bugs and crashers" could just be the fixes you've been waiting for. Down below is where you'll find the store link and QR code, as always. 
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| HTC One XL now available in Australia from Mobicity Posted: 15 May 2012 12:28 AM PDT
Aussie carrier Telstra, may have delayed its own launch of the HTC One XL, but that doesn't mean our Australian friends are completely out of luck. Enter third-party retailer Mobicity, which is now stocking the One XL regardless. The One XL of course is the non AT&T, Snapdragon S4 powered variant of HTC's flagship device. Available in black only, the One XL will work on all Australian 3G/HSPA networks, as well as the 1800MHz LTE network offered by Telstra. (And if anyone's thinking of importing, the One XL also supports European LTE networks on 2600MHz bands.) Pricing is set at AUS$850, and the phone is available right now. via Ausdroid 
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| CyanogenMod 7.2 RC2 builds starting to appear for some devices Posted: 15 May 2012 12:10 AM PDT
As the CM team mentioned in their status update last week, development of CM7 is scheduled to continue beyond version 7.3, even as many devices transition to the ICS-based CyanogenMod 9. New additions to the CM stable in version 7.2 RC2 include the HTC Status (aka ChaCha), HTC Wildfire S, LG Optimus Chic, Motorola Photon and Samsung Galaxy 5. Check the source link for download info. Source: CyanogenMod 
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| LG Optimus 4X HD arrives in Europe in June Posted: 14 May 2012 11:20 PM PDT
LG Korea has announced that the company's upcoming international flagship, the Optimus 4X HD, will arrive in select European counries starting next month. The 4X HD, which is powered by a quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 CPU and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, will launch in the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Italy and Poland in June. LG's new baby, which we first saw at MWC, before getting our hands on it again last week at CTIA, also sports a 720p IPS display, an 8MP BSI camera, 2150mAh battery and a re-vamped version of LG's UI skin. There's no word on U.S. availability just yet, but unconfirmed rumors have suggested this thing may arrive on T-Mobile as the "G4X" -- a successor to last year's G2X. You'll find more about the LG Optimus 4X HD in our hands-on report from CTIA. Source: LG Newsroom (Korean) 
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| Samsung updates ICS upgrade list to include T-Mobile devices Posted: 14 May 2012 07:55 PM PDT
Samsung has been rather forthcoming when it comes to telling folks what devices will be updated to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The list of eligible devices has been updated a couple times now but one carrier; namely, T-Mobile has remained missing off that list until recently. The newly updated list now features in total, four T-Mobile devices:
Not surprisingly, they don't differ all that much from the various other carriers out there but it is nice to see T-Mobile added and that leaves us with the impression Samsung and T-Mobile have at least a general idea of when things will get rolling out to the masses. Source: Samsung, via: TMo News 
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As promised last week, fresh release candidate for the 
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