Monday, May 28, 2012

Android Central

Android Central

Redemption ROM for the Verizon Galaxy Nexus [ROM review]

Posted: 27 May 2012 03:15 PM PDT

Redemption ROM

Editor's note: This time around we've got a ROM review for the Verizon Galaxy Nexus from long time Android Central member JKK Photography. I know you'll enjoy it, and from the looks of things if you're the proud owner of a LTE GNex, you just might want to give it a try.  Settle in and have a read after the break. And be sure to tell JKK Photography thanks for the review!

If you're interested in writing a ROM review of your own (the best reviews come from the folks who use them daily!) give us a shout, we'd love to talk to you!

Discuss Redemption ROM in the Verizon Galaxy Nexus forums

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Jumpgate Live Wallpaper [Live Wallpaper Review]

Posted: 27 May 2012 12:36 PM PDT

Jumpgate Live Wallpaper

I sure love me some quality live wallpapers. I know, I know, they can sometimes slow down sliding between screens and if they're poorly done, they're a huge drain on the battery. That's why I'm keen to use wallpapers by Kittehface Software. They've brought us great wallpapers like the Thunderstorm Live Wallpaper, Galactic Core Live Wallpaper, and even an excellent Canabalt HD port.

Today I bring you another in a line of great live wallpapers, the Jumpgate Live Wallpaper. What could be better than watching our favorite android, Andy Bugdroid, careen through space with a jetpack strapped to his back? It's hilarious!

Still, as hilarious as it might be, it's also really well done. There's nary a screen stutter when I swipe from left to right, and if you purchase the full version of the wallpaper, you unlock the full settings menu, which really lets you customize your experience.

From the settings menu, you can mess around with everything from the camera speed to the flight speed, to even the amount of asteroids barreling down on our fair, green friend. You can also customize the "energy style" (which is the swirly lane of color Bugdroid is flying through) between three choices: monochrome, Google colors, and pixilated. Monochrome and pixilated are dangerously close to being similar, but if you check them back-to-back, you'll quickly notice how much smoother the non-pixilated option is.

If you eschew the Google colors option, you can also change the color of the energy lane using the energy color​ option. (Go figure!) It uses three sliders, which is certainly appreciated (and a welcome improvement over that circular color picker Android had going on for a while).

Rounding out the settings menu are options for star brightness and turning the helix on and off. Other than that, you're done. Well, except for the character option. Did I mention you can get rid of Bugdroid and have a spaceship flying on screen instead? Cause you totally can.

Honestly, Jumpgate Live Wallpaper is probably one of the coolest live wallpapers I've seen in a while. Obviously you've got to be an Android diehard to even consider using it, but if you're reading this article, you probably are.

Jumpgate Live Wallpaper can be had for a cool 99 cents. We've got video and a boatload of screenshots after the break.

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From the Editor's Desk: Thanks, Sprint fans, for bringing back the fun

Posted: 27 May 2012 07:51 AM PDT

EVO 4G LTE

We can be completely honest here, right? With all the phones that tend to come across our desks, things can, on occasion, become a bit of a grind, especially when you've reviewed the fifth or sixth version of a manufacturer's flagship model. Specs change a little, but it's largely the same experience. That's when this job can become work.

"Oh, shut up, Phil. I'd kill for your job." And I wouldn't blame you. Indeed, it's why I travel in unmarked sedans with no fewer than two Bulgarian bodyguards (and occasionally a chase car, depending on the neighborhood).

But those long days of writing about a phone for what seems the Nth time is also why it's been refreshing over the past month or so to see the excitement over Sprint's HTC EVO 4G LTE. I dare say the anticipation has been greater than even the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. (That can't be right, can it?) Sure, the phone itself is what's important, but it's the Sprint fans that make these high-profile releases so much fun. I'm not a Sprint guy. I like the company a lot. I love sitting in the same room as its execs. The PR folks we work with are top-notch. Unfortunately, it's never had a good enough network experience for me to have an account. Hopefully that will change with Network Vision in the next year or so.

But those of you who are on Sprint, boy, howdy, you're a breed unto your own. You don't see this sort of fanaticism on AT&T. It's there on T-Mobile, but to a lesser extent, not nearly as vocal. More of "Yeah, it's a really good network -- with a really cool spokesmodel -- and some really good phones. It's just not big enough." Verizon's the 800-pound gorilla in the room, but, again, it just doesn't have the same sort of excitement you get with a major Sprint launch.

What's taken me so long in getting our EVO review done? Life, for one. It happens. But I've also been spending more time in our forums lately (for better or for worse). That's where you really learn what people want to know about a phone. Hell, it's where I go to learn more about a phone. It's amazing the little features (or, yes, nuisances) that you might not notice on the first, fourth or even fifth go-around.

The point is, you Sprint fans out there -- you crazy, fanatic Sprint lovers -- you've added some serious fun to the past couple weeks with the launch of the EVO.

Here's to hoping we get to do it all over again in the coming months with the Galaxy S III.

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Motorola show off a host of videos detailing the RAZR ICS update

Posted: 27 May 2012 07:35 AM PDT

Android Central

Just over a week ago now, we saw Motorola's updated Ice Cream Sandwich update schedule. Of those devices, the RAZR was listed as receiving the update across the world beginning in Q2. Now we get a pretty detailed glimpse at what to expect, with a whole stack of promotional videos released by Moto on their Japanese site. 

First impressions are pretty good. Motorola have been criticized over the years for their overpowering Blur software, but this looks a lot different. While not stock ICS, it isn't too far away. Right from the lockscreen, through the homescreen and into the app drawer, on appearance alone this is definitely ICS. 

Also worth a mention is the Webtop 3.0 interface. It looks an awful lot like an ICS tablet interface. Which is a good thing.  You'll find some of the videos after the break, with more available at the source link below. Some of them are in Japanese (as is the source page), but some of them are in English.

Source: Motorola (translated) via Droid Life

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Memorial Day Sale: Save 15% on ALL Android accessories this weekend at ShopAndroid.com!

Posted: 27 May 2012 07:04 AM PDT

Android Central

In honor of the Memorial Day long weekend you can save a very special 15 percent off all your Android accessory purchases at ShopAndroid.com (yes Canadians, the coupon will work in our new ShopAndroid Canada store, too!).

Simply enter the Coupon Code mem12 at checkout, under billing info, to have the 15% discount applied to your entire cart of accessories.

This offer is not valid with any other coupon and expires at Midnight PST Monday 5/28/2012. Don't forget about our Fast Free Shipping on US orders of $50 and higher.

Be sure to share this great coupon code with your friends and family. Enjoy this special sale while it lasts! And have a Happy Holiday!

Start Shopping and Saving at ShopAndroid.com now!



Comcast releases Xfinity TV Player for Android

Posted: 26 May 2012 07:16 PM PDT

Xfinity Player for Android

We've been waiting on this one for a while now, but thankfully Comcast has finally decided to release an Xfinity streaming app for the most popular mobile OS on the planet. With Xfinity TV Player for Android you can stream thousands of on-demand movies and television shows from Comcast, right to your Android phone or tablet. The only catch (you knew there would be one) is you have to be a Comcast customer and have to be paying the monthly subscription for the premium channels you want to stream content from.

The biggest plus here is the tablet availability. Other on-demand streaming apps (hello HBOGo) are a little late with the tablet support, but Xfinity says it's compatible with any Android device running 2.3 or higher, and we've verified it works on the Transformer Prime and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. The app itself is free and available in the Google Play store, and will stream with any data connection. If you've been waiting, go grab it!

Download Xfinity TV Player from Google Play

Thanks everyone who sent this in!

 
Posted by at 5:42 AM

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