Saturday, May 12, 2012

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans

Angry Birds Developers Reveal Upcoming Title “Amazing Alex” – New Rube Goldberg-Style Puzzler

Posted: 11 May 2012 05:13 PM PDT

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A few days ago, Angry Birds creator, Rovio, uploaded a video onto their YouTube page celebrating over 1 billion downloads accumulated across their entire Angry Birds franchise. At the end of said video, the Finnish developers also teased their next title, showing a boy with complex contraptions along the wall of his room. If you were expecting more high-flying fowl, you may be disappointed. It turns out that Rovio is working on a completely new game, sans birds of any kind.

Dubbed “Amazing Alex,” the game closely resembles the Rub Goldberg-style gameplay of another game called “Casey’s Contraptions” — an intellectual property Rovio recently purchased. In that game, players build contraptions (ala Apparatus in the Play Store) and attempt to complete various tasks like getting a ball from point A, to point B. Sounds easy enough, right? Wrong. For a good idea of what to expect from Amazing Alex, check out the video from the now App Store-pulled, Casey’s Contraptions below.

In an interview with YLE, Rovio CEO Mikael Hed revealed Amazing Alex will maintain Rovio’s “high quality standard” that Rovio fans have come to expect from the 1 billion download and counting Angry Birds team. He also mentioned the word “educational,” but I’m sure that had more to do with the amount of creativity and brain power required to solve the puzzles in the game.

No word on a release date for Amazing Alex, but we imagine it wont be too long. Any of you burnt out on Angry Birds? Think Amazing Alex shows some promise?

Animoca Shows Off 400 Devices Used For App Testing (So This Is What Fragmentation Looks Like?)

Posted: 11 May 2012 02:57 PM PDT

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Developing for Android isn’t easy. I think we can all agree with that. With so many handsets, it’s an ever increasing challenge for developers to make sure their apps work properly across a wide range of devices, if they hope to reach a large audience. Android app developer, Animoca, has been faced with this battle, accumulating more than 400 devices to guarantee compatibility across multiple, very multiple devices.

Animoca’s apps have accumulated more than 70 million downloads in Asia — my little cousin goes nuts for their games — and apparently, for every single app they develop, they test them on the fleet of Android devices you see above. According to the CEO of Outblaze (Animoca’s parent company) they’ve discovered more than 600 unique Android devices on their network and would have liked to add those as well, only problem being, many of them are no longer available for purchase. But yet, when it comes to Android’s “F” word, Animoca keeps a good attitude about things saying, "We like fragmentation as users prefer choice. We are not big believers that one size fits all." Take that, Apple.

Of course, there’s aren’t too many developers out there that have the same corportate funding as Animoca, who’s backing by companies like Intel Capital and IDG-Accel allow them to make it rain Android devices onto their developers. It’s because of Animoca’s quality control testing, they feel they’re able to stand out from other developers and publishers. Still, even after all this time, Android’s fragmentation is still one of the platform’s biggest hurdles and doesn’t look like it will be “fixed” anytime soon.

[Tech Crunch | Animoca in the Play Store]

Turntable.FM Now Available for Android – Listen to Your Favorite Dub and Steps Anywhere and Everywhere

Posted: 11 May 2012 01:28 PM PDT

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The internet is abuzz with the latest app to hit the Google Play Store today. Turntable.FM is now finally available for Android users and ripe for the downloading in the Play Store. The app brings a more social aspect to listening to “teh dubstepz” online. Virtual DJ’s can play their music for rooms of users where their skills can even be voted on.

   

The app has been available to iOS users for sometime now, and because of that, you may notice a few UI designs from that other phone. Hate to sound nit-picky, but it would be nice to see developers take a little more time than merely porting over visuals from the iPhone. Is it too much to ask for Android tabs and icons? Oh yeah — and unfortunately, Turntable.FM is looking like US-only (for now).

[Google Play Store]

 

Deals: Sprint HTC EVO 4G LTE Only $150 at Amazon Wireless

Posted: 11 May 2012 12:13 PM PDT

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If you were looking to score a deal on the upcoming HTC EVO 4G LTE from Sprint, Amazon Wireless might have exactly what you’re looking for. Right now, they have the phone available for pre-order and it can be had for $50 cheaper than you’ll find in Sprint stores (or online). The best part? Whether you’re adding a line or have an available upgrade — the EVO LTE can be had for only $150.

Normally these deals are exclusive to new customers and add-a-lines, so that’s why I wanted to bring it to your guys’ attention. Oh yeah, and Amazon Wireless waives activation fees and carriers a 14-day “Best Price Guarantee.” Arguably, the best phone on the market once it drops on May 18th, what are you waiting for?

HTC EVO 4G LTE at Amazon Wireless

 

HTC EVO 4G LTE Bootloader Unlocked – Root Possible But Not Much Else

Posted: 11 May 2012 11:32 AM PDT

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After AT&T locked down bootloaders on their HTC One X, it seemed like a bad omen for potential HTC customers on other carriers that like to tinker around with their devices. Well, if you were worried that about the HTC EVO 4G LTE receiving similar treatment, it looks like Sprint isn’t imposing the same restrictions as AT&T has. According to AndroidCentral, The LTEvo is currently supported by HTCDev’s bootloader unlock tool, and users (if they so choose) can unlock their devices and get some root all up in’nit.

Only problem, when it comes to HTC’s unlock method, that’s about all you can get. To clarify, the bootloader unlock tool wont give a device “S-Off” functionality. HTC has actually gone through great lengths to ensure that all the “fun stuff” that comes with what I like to call, “full root” — flashing AOSP ROMs, kernels, deleting bloatware, custom recoveries, etc. — cannot be done by traditional methods (flashing zips from recovery for instance), but have to be done using the PC (thanks, Earl!). So, for those hoping to run custom AOSP ROMs like CyanogenMod and AOKP or MIUI, you will just have to wait until a full root method can be found and exploited. Considering how development for the HTC One X has been making ground, I’d say those chances are looking pretty good. It’s not much, but it’s a step. The cat and mouse game continues…

[HTCDev]

Week One TegraZone Anniversary Contest: What’s your favorite TegraZone game?

Posted: 11 May 2012 11:15 AM PDT

Are you guys ready for the first week’s TegraZone anniversary and Player’s Choice Awards contest courtesy of NVIDIA? We know we are. If you aren’t in the know, NVIDIA’s just hit their one-year anniversary with TegraZone and they’re holding a Player’s Choice Awards! You can also snap a photo of the QR code directly below.

You’ll get the chance to vote for your favorite games in three categories, including best graphical game, best gameplay, and best overall game. With your vote, you’re entered for a chance to win one of 7 Transformer Pad TF300 prize packs. More details on that specific contest are here.

But there will be three more chances to win a prize pack with the good folks of Phandroid! We’ll be holding a contest every week for the next three weeks, with three prize packs to be given away in all. The first contest starts today so you’ll want to read through the bottom for more details.

  • Up for grabs today (May 11th, 2012) is one ASUS Transformer Pad 300 prize pack. The prize pack includes the ASUS Transformer Pad 300, a special NVIDIA themed JAMBOX by Jawbone, a keyboard dock compatible with the Pad 300, and a wireless controller. Running the latest Android™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the ASUS Transformer Pad is a value packed tablet that with multi-color style, and productivity with expandability when connected to the mobile dock. With a 1.2MP front and 8MP rear auto-focus camera with large F/2.2 aperture and exclusive office software, staying connected and productive has never been easier.
  • To enter, simply submit a comment telling us your favorite TegraZone game, and why.
  • Only one entry per person allowed.
  • The entry period will expire at 12:00am Eastern on May 12th, 2012.
  • The winner will be chosen at random.
  • If we can not get in contact with you within a 24 hour time period, a new random winner will be selected. This will continue until a winner is determined.
  • If you don’t use real contact information, we can’t send you real cool stuff!

And that’s all there is to it! Why don’t I start off by giving you guys an idea of what my favorite TegraZone game is? It’s only the first game to set the 3D GTA craze. That would be Grand Theft Auto 3, and it’s  not just because there’s nostalgic value packed into such a cheap download.

If I tried to play GTA 3 on my old PS2, it would look downright insulting on an HDTV. The TegraZone version is high definition, has just as many, if not more, particle effects, great draw distance and I can’t take my PS2 on the go.

It’d be great if we could get all the PS2/Xbox versions of Grand Theft Auto on TegraZone, but the Liberty City whirlwind is more than enough for me at this point. Get started in the comments section below!

SaskTel launches HTC One V, free on three-year contract

Posted: 11 May 2012 08:00 AM PDT

With phones like the HTC One S and HTC One X already hitting the market, it is easy to overlook the baby of the One family. The HTC One V might not pack the same power but it does include all the same Sense 4 functionality and packages it in a design that harkens back to classic HTC offerings. The handset is now available from Canada’s SaskTel and residents of the Great White North can pick it up for free on a three-year contract. Those not looking for a commitment can snag the One V for $269.99 outright. The One V features a 3.7-inch display, 5MP camera and 1GHz single-core Snapdragon processor, making it a desirable option for anyone seeking a budget Android device.

[via MobileSyrup]

ASUS Padfone battery goes 14.1 hours in laptop mode during real world tests over 3G

Posted: 11 May 2012 06:37 AM PDT

After uncovering a YouTube video on ASUS’s channel claiming that the soon-to-be-released ASUS Padfone’s battery was capable of up to 102 hours of use when in laptop mode, the folks at Engadget decided the numbers were a bit too good to take at face value. They went straight to source and got the slightly more realistic answers they were seeking. Turns out the original figure was based on 2G talk time.

When it comes to 3G service and browsing the web, the hours add up to significantly less, but remain impressive. In laptop mode (which provides the device with additional battery support from both the tablet and laptop docks), the Padfone is getting 14.1 hours of continuos 3G browsing. The number was deduced from ASUS’ own in-house testing. In its other various mode? The with a WiFi connection, the Padfone got 2.6 hours of continuous browsing in phone mode, 10.7 hours in tablet mode, and 17 hours in laptop mode. For 3G ASUS measured 2.1 hours in phone mode, 8.9 hours in tablet mode, and the aforementioned 14.1 hours in laptop mode.

Still, these numbers represent an ideal lab situation. Will actual real world use amount to less (or more) longevity? We’re itching to find out.

[via Engadget]

NVIDIA puts the power in your hands with the first annual TegraZone Player’s Choice Awards, vote and win an ASUS Transformer Pad prize pack

Posted: 11 May 2012 06:08 AM PDT

If you’ve used a Tegra-based device in the past year you are likely no stranger to TegraZone, NVIDIA’s game and app showcase highlighting the best of the best for Android devices. Celebrating its first year as a source of high-quality software for some of the world’s most powerful smartphones and tablets, NVIDIA is turning to gamers to decide which games take top honors in the first annual TegraZone Player Choice Award’s. Not only will you be deciding the winners in thee categories covering gameplay, graphics, and overall fun, but you will have several opportunities to score some sweet gear.

Three weeks of voting culminates at a special E3 event taking place June 6th to unveil the winners. We’ll be live at the year’s biggest gaming show to share in the festivities. You have until May 31st to make your voice heard.

When voting via the QR code or link provided below you will automatically be entered to win one of seven ASUS Transformer Pad TF300 prize packs, which includes a dock, Logitech wireless controller, and Jambox speaker to go along with the Tegra 3 tablet. If you need a refresher on why you desperately want the Transformer Pad, here’s the word straight from the horse’s mouth:

Running the latest Android™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the ASUS Transformer Pad is a value packed tablet with multi-color style and productivity with expandability when connected to the mobile dock. With a 1.2MP front and 8MP rear auto-focus camera with large F/2.2 aperture and exclusive office software, staying connected and productive has never been easier.

But we’re giving you even more opportunities to win the tablet of your dreams. Along with the seven prize packs NVIDIA will be giving away, we are personally awarding three ourselves. That’s one a week until voting ends.

We’ll be back later with details of how you can win the first of three Tegra-infused ASUS Transformer Pad prize packs a bit later, but for now you can scan the QR code or head over to TegraZone to start casting your vote.

 

Samsung launches dual-core SHV-E170K in South Korea

Posted: 11 May 2012 05:01 AM PDT

The Samsung Galaxy S III isn’t the only new phone in town. But you would have missed the Samsung SVH-E170K if you weren’t looking for it. The phone was launched for the South Korean market and features specs that read more as a minor Galaxy S II upgrade than a GS3 counterpart. The SVH-E170K features a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display at qHD resolution, 5MP rear camera, and 1.3MP front-facing camera. Samsung didn’t reveal too many more details, but SammyHub was able to sleuth out benchmark tests that reveal slightly more. It looks like the phone will feature a dual-core Snapdragon S4 CPU clocked at 1.5GHz and run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The LTE-enabled phone is headed for KT Wireless, and there does not appear to be plans for a release outside of Korea at this time.

[via Engadget]

Google Play Store Updated To 3.5.19 [Download]

Posted: 11 May 2012 12:07 AM PDT

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Google has pushed out an update to the Play Store yesterday, bringing the version number up to 3.5.19. Although it’s not entirely clear what is new in this version, we’ve gotten a few reports that the ol’ Market is feeling a bit snappier. Typically, this is the result of the placebo effect, but I’ll let you decide for yourself. The Play Store has been extracted and upload for your downloading pleasure. Enjoy.

Google Play Store 3.5.19: Download | Download 2 | Download 3
Posted by at 8:22 AM

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