Android Central |
- HTC: US Customs review is finished, One X and EVO 4G LTE shipments coming
- Verizon Galaxy Nexus 4.0.4 update support page goes live
- How to get the HTC Flashlight on the EVO 4G LTE [From the forums]
- LG Optimus Elite Specs
- LG Optimus Elite Gallery
- Google unveils the new app-driven ChromeOS (and its new hardware)
- US Cellular appears prepped for the Galaxy S III
- Gyro a fun way to kill a few minutes
- Sprint set to shut down its iDEN network as early as next summer
- Digital Flux Live Wallpaper [Live Wallpaper Review]
- Blueant Supertooth 3 Bluetooth Speakerphone [accessory review]
- Vodafone Australia to live stream Samsung Galaxy S III event on Thursday
- Deal of the Day: Incipio Feather Ultralight Hard Shell Case for HTC Inspire 4G
- Samsung speaks out on Galaxy S III 'pebble blue' delays
- Samsung announces Music Hub, exclusive to the Galaxy S III for now
- Samsung Galaxy S III launches in Europe today, sorta
- Xperia Arc, Neo ICS updates now rolling out
| HTC: US Customs review is finished, One X and EVO 4G LTE shipments coming Posted: 29 May 2012 04:11 PM PDT
HTC has spoken out about the recent US Customs debacle, and provided the following statement.
Still no official word on how everything went down, and we don't imagine we'll ever be privy to that (or need to be). But the good news, and the important bits are that the review process is over, HTC's One X and EVO 4G LTE have been found to be compliant and are making their way to fill the shelves. It's a good thing, as anyone who has already picked one up will tell you that they are awesome phones. We're glad to see this mess behind us, and look forward to seeing the phones people want in the hands that want them.
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| Verizon Galaxy Nexus 4.0.4 update support page goes live Posted: 29 May 2012 03:30 PM PDT
Hey, look at that. The long-awaited Android 4.0.4 update for the Verizon Galaxy Nexus now has an official support page at Big Red's site. That's just one more step closer to an actual OTA update, and it can't come soon enough. Here's the full changelog for IMM76K: Email, Messaging & Data
Applications
Device Features
Now all we need is, ya know, the update to actually push. Keep your eyes peeled, folks. Source: Verizon (PDF); more: Verizon Galaxy Nexus forums
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| How to get the HTC Flashlight on the EVO 4G LTE [From the forums] Posted: 29 May 2012 02:39 PM PDT
The Sprint HTC EVO 4G LTE is nearly devoid of bloatware. It's got the Sprint Zone and HTC Hub apps, but it's missing all of the usual carrier-loaded crap we're used to finding littered in our app drawers. It's also missing a few staples, though, including the Flashlight application. Getting it back is pretty simple, as SuicydeStealth points out in our forums. Just fire up the HTC Hub app, go to HTC Essentials in the categories, and there you'll find the flashlight app. And while you're there, might as well poke around and see if anything else is missing. Interesting is that this isn't even an option on the AT&T HTC One X. Flashlight just doesn't show up. More: HTC EVO 4G LTE forums
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| Posted: 29 May 2012 02:08 PM PDT
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| Posted: 29 May 2012 02:01 PM PDT
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| Google unveils the new app-driven ChromeOS (and its new hardware) Posted: 29 May 2012 01:16 PM PDT
Google is showing off a shiny new Samsung Chromebook and the new Chromebox today, which come to the table not only with beefier specs but with an all-new user interface. For those who aren't familiar, ChromeOS is a new computer operating system from Google, one where everything runs inside a Chrome browser and from the cloud. It's a concept well-received by many, hated by just as many, but leaves most folks wondering why. The first consumer Chromebooks came out last year, and their anemic hardware and high price tag overshadowed their main selling points -- a Chromebook is the ultimate multi-user system, as all your data is stored in the cloud and accessible when you log in with your Google account. When you shut it down, nothing is saved locally and the devices is ready for the next user. As long as you have a constant connection to the Internet (and use Google's services) they are a perfect web-machine. A couple of us here at AC use them, and they come in handy when you don't want (or need) to log in to a "real" computer for a few minutes work. Today's news makes them a bit more attractive. The hardware has been revamped and now the system runs on an Intel dual-core Sandy Bridge Celeron processor with 4GB of RAM. This should offer up quite the performance boost, but we're curious how it affects the battery life. They look like something we want to try. Most importantly (and the reason why we're as curious as we are) is the new software. ChromeOS version 19 is now live and stable for the new gear, and with it comes an entirely new UI. Instead of just the single browser window ChromeOS offered in the past, you now have a home screen, a system tray and notification area, and shortcuts to commonly used apps in place. Yes, apps -- Google is placing a new focus on the Chrome appstore, and the wonders of webapps (hello there, Enyo team!). We've been using the beta version of v19 for a while now, and to us, things look and feel a lot like an Android tablet. I even find myself touching the screen to try and launch things like the GMail app. Could this be the first step to a true convergence of ChromeOS and Android? At one time Google told us that the two will never meet, but we've already seen Chrome Browser for Android, and many think a Chromium, open-sourced version will become the default browser. We expect to hear more about ChromeOS, and any potential future with Android at Google I/O in just a month. Source: Google 
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| US Cellular appears prepped for the Galaxy S III Posted: 29 May 2012 11:59 AM PDT
We've yet to hear any announcements from U.S. carriers regarding the Samsung Galaxy S III, but it looks like we can add regional carrier US Cellular to the list of probables. The Samsung Galaxy S III has itself a couple of listings in USCC's internal system. Looks like we'll see 16 gigabytes of storage, and the phone will come in white and Pebble Blue, which hopefully won't be too delayed. And as always, none of this is official until it's official, so stay tuned for that. 
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| Gyro a fun way to kill a few minutes Posted: 29 May 2012 10:58 AM PDT Let's not overthink this one. Gyro's a deceptively simple game in which you rotate a three-color circle, match colors and earn points. It's simple. It requires very little thinking. And it's an easy way to kill a few minutes. The game does get a little tougher as more and more balls come flying at you. But you've also got power-ups like shields and energy refills to help you on your way. Hit up the free download below. Download: Gyro 
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| Sprint set to shut down its iDEN network as early as next summer Posted: 29 May 2012 09:12 AM PDT
Sprint announced today that service on its iDEN network will cease as early as June 30, 2013, and that it will begin transitioning customers to its Direct Connect service in the coming months. The transition is part of the carrier's "Network Vision" and will allow Sprint to reassign its 2G spectrum, which currently supports the iDEN network, for its upcoming LTE rollout. Sprint will begin contacting government and business customers shorty urging them to make the move, and will discontinue selling iDEN products over the next few months. If your heart is set on beep-beeping your way into 2013, Sprint's Motorola Admiral is a fine Android-powered choice. Sprint's full presser can be found after the break. 
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| Digital Flux Live Wallpaper [Live Wallpaper Review] Posted: 29 May 2012 08:28 AM PDT
Continuing our live wallpaper reviewing extravaganza is another from masterful wallpaper developer, D'Keesto. This entry in the "digital" series is called Digital Flux Live Wallpaper, and while it's definitely cool, I have no idea where the "flux" comes into play. (That's okay, though.) Instead of embers or honeycombs or anything of that sort, you've got rectangular prisms that move up and down, seemingly at random. Touch the screen and they'll either be pushed down or pulled up (depending on what you pick in the settings). It's all very mechanical, and reminds me of that crazy complicated choreographic dance that happened at the Olympics in Beijing. (You know, the one with the people underneath the boxes!) The settings menu is a bit simpler than some of D'Keesto's other offerings, limiting you to a mere two colors (and utter dominance by your color in slot one), but you can still pick from all sorts of different single colors or have the colors go off of the battery level. There's also some performance options, like adjusting the camera zoom, turning anti-aliasing on or off, or enabling accurate shadows. Depending on your device, you might change these settings around, but with close camera zoom, anti-aliasing off, and accurate shadows on, I didn't see any performance issues as I slid and swiped from screen-to-screen. Of course, your mileage may vary. If bouncing boxes are you thing, Digital Flux Live Wallpaper is the wallpaper for you. It's inexpensive, runs well, and has just enough customization to keep things interesting. I'm not quite sure where the digital aspect comes into play (especially compared to Digital Hive and Digital Embers), but maybe it's just a name continuity thing. Regardless, as far as live wallpapers go, this one certainly doesn't disappoint. Digital Flux Live Wallpaper is a mere 99 cents in the Google Play Store. We've got download links, screenshots, and video after the break. 
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| Blueant Supertooth 3 Bluetooth Speakerphone [accessory review] Posted: 29 May 2012 07:46 AM PDT
Being safe while driving is pretty darn important. Distracted drivers are such an issue that the NTSB wants all cell phone use to be banned while driving, and even y'all, our faithful readers, admit to texting while driving. While a Bluetooth speakerphone certainly doesn't mitigate all of these issues, it can certainly help to alleviate some of them. Today, we're taking a look at the Blueant Supertooth 3 Bluetooth Speakerphone. Small and discreet, the Blueant Supertooth 3 Bluetooth Speakerphone aims to bring a big sound in a small package, all while offering a stated 15 hours of talk time and 800 hours of standby time. Blueant uses some "Digital Signal Processing" to give incredibly clear call quality and microphone, but in my experience, the quality isn't anything to phone home about. It's not bad, but it's not mind-blowing. The microphone has a little niggle in that it cuts off the very beginning and end of your phrases. This makes total sense to me (since those are typically the softest parts), but even with the windows rolled up and the stereo off, the issue persisted. The promise of eliminating noise, even while the car is traveling, has loud engine noise, or while the windows are down seems unfulfilled. Touching the green button while you're all paired up gives you the option to choose your favorite voice dialer on your phone, and surprisingly enough, the stock voice dialer worked better than both Vlingo and Vlingo InCar. This is mostly because voice dialer goes straight to listening for your command, whereas Vlingo and its InCar variant both open the full app, then want you to touch a button onscreen, before they'll listen for a command. With the stock voice dialer, I had no misdials, so I can say the microphone picked up names quite well. The Supertooth 3 attaches to your visor using a metal clip and magnets attached to the actual speakerphone. I'll admit, this is pretty brilliant. The metal clip is small and unobtrusive, giving you enough flexibility with placement. The magnets on the back of the speakerphone are strong (it won't come unlatched, even if you're driving over bumps), and when you've parked, you can easily remove it from the clip to hide (if that's your thing). Overall, the Blueant Supertooth 3 Bluetooth Speakerphone is good. It's not bad, but it isn't great, either. If you're looking for a solid Bluetooth microphone, this one won't steer you wrong, but for the price, there's probably some higher quality devices you could pick up. We've got a picture gallery after the break. 
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| Vodafone Australia to live stream Samsung Galaxy S III event on Thursday Posted: 29 May 2012 06:57 AM PDT
While some of the UK despairs, our cousins down-under are building up in excitement. This coming Thursday, May 31, is the country's Samsung Galaxy S III launch event. Better still, those who can't be in Sydney to join in the fun, can watch it streamed online courtesy of Vodafone Australia. The stream will begin at 09:50 Sydney time, and will be available from the Vodafone Australia website. For anyone else around the world that's interested in watching, we've done a quick reckoner on what time you'll need to be watching in the UK and the US:
Let's hope that those delays on old Pebble Blue get worked out before the launch in Oz. via Ausdroid 
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| Deal of the Day: Incipio Feather Ultralight Hard Shell Case for HTC Inspire 4G Posted: 29 May 2012 06:50 AM PDT
The Incipio Feather Ultralight Case is available for just $9.95 today only, 60% off the regular price. Pick yours up while supplies last! 
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| Samsung speaks out on Galaxy S III 'pebble blue' delays Posted: 29 May 2012 05:30 AM PDT Blue version delayed in 'some regions' for next 2-3 weeks
Following yesterday's widespread reports that the "pebble blue" version of the Samsung Galaxy S III would miss the May 29/30 launch window, Samsung has released a statement offering an official explanation. Without going into specifics, the manufacturer seemed to pin the delay on quality concerns, possibly confirming recent rumors that it recently had to destroy several thousand defective pebble blue back covers. Here's the statement in full -- “Samsung’s GALAXY S III Pebble Blue version comes with a newly invented blue colour and special hyperglaze material. We're not sure exactly how you go about "inventing" a color, but it seems that the combination of the blue shade and glossy finish presented some problems in the final few weeks of production. Hopefully the manufacturer's claims will prove accurate, and those who have their hearts set on a pebble blue will be able to get one soon enough. In the meantime, if you're after a Galaxy S III over the next few weeks, it looks like you'll be getting a marble white. 
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| Samsung announces Music Hub, exclusive to the Galaxy S III for now Posted: 29 May 2012 05:15 AM PDT
Samsung today announced "Music Hub," the "first completely integrated, all-in-one mobile music service," it's calling it. Samsung's based its service off mSpot and with this UK release has teamed up with 7digital to give access to more than 19 million songs for purchase. You get 30-second previews free of charge, and everything has been optimized for the Galaxy S III, Sammy says. (It'll eventually be made available on other devices, and, we presume, outside the UK.) There are two versions of Music Hub. The free iteration, which stores any purchased music in the cloud for easy playback, and a £9.99-per-month job in which you can upload your own songs and enjoy unlimited streaming. In addition, there's also a web interface at MusicHub.com, from which you can purchase and play back music. It all sounds a bit familiar, doesn't it? Check out the full presser after the break, and be sure to check out the eerily Wonka-esque promo video. 
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| Samsung Galaxy S III launches in Europe today, sorta Posted: 29 May 2012 04:42 AM PDT
After what seems like an eternity of hype and pre-release buzz, today's the day you can actually (kinda) get your hands on a Samsung Galaxy S III in Europe. A triumphant Samsung media release announces that the phone launches in 28 countries today, though a few caveats apply. Here in the UK, the phone will launch first at the Samsung brand store at the Westfield Stratford City shopping center this evening for pre-order customers only. A general launch is still expected for tomorrow, and according to the Twitters, English singer-songwriter Pixie Lott will be dropping by to pick up hers from noon on the 30th (hope she's not after one of those delayed pebble blues). Wider availability is expected over the next few days -- the Carphone Warehouse will begin stocking the S III from May 31 (with a special pre-order event scheduled for the evening of the 30th at its leading London store). Meanwhile, independent retailers like Clove Technology are expecting to ship units starting June 1. If you're picking up a Galaxy S III today, or if you've somehow already bagged one, be sure to hit the comments and let us know how you go on. Source: Samsung Korea, Pixie Lott 
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| Xperia Arc, Neo ICS updates now rolling out Posted: 29 May 2012 04:12 AM PDT
As promised, Sony The update won't be sent out over the air, so you'll need to plug your Arc or Neo into the Sony PC Companion app to grab this optional, one-way update. In other news, an update from Android 4.0.3 to 4.0.4 is reportedly hitting the 2011 Xperias that had already been updated to ICS, namely the Arc S, Neo V and Ray. If you're updating your Xperia phone to ICS for the first time today, let us know how you're getting on down in the comments! Source: XperiaBlog 
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