Thursday, June 21, 2012

Android Authority

Android Authority


Best Android apps for learning Spanish

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 09:00 PM PDT

If you know that paella is a rice dish, flamenco is a dance, and that Don Quixote is ingenious, then you are either Spanish by blood or you just happened to learn these terms when you channel-surfed and got glued to a Spanish show. Spanish is one of the most spoken and used languages in the world. It currently has over 350 million speakers and it is also one of the most distributed, being an official language in over 20 countries.

You will find in this article some of the best apps that can aid you tremendously in learning Spanish. Why tremendously? Because you won’t be shelling out much money to learn. Plus, you can do it from the comfort of your home and your Android device.

Learn Spanish with babbel.com

One of the largest language learning platforms on the web, babbel.com, has come up with a mobile vocabulary trainer to help learners make use of their time out of work or school.

Learn Spanish with babbel.com was made to supplement the user with the needed vocabulary and lessons even when he or she is on the go. Both basic and advanced vocabulary are available in this app as well as on babbel’s official website. This app houses 3,000 vocabulary words complete with images, pronunciations, and sentence examples.

Working offline is also possible with this app, as well as practicing your pronunciation with the app’s integrated speech recognition. All the words and phrases you have studied are gathered through the app’s review manager and presented again to you for review. Additional exercises and content are downloadable from the developer’s website; you just have to make an account for free.


Talking Spanish Translator

What better way is there to learn a language than to actually hear how the words are said? Talking Spanish Translator does not only translate English words to Spanish and vice-versa but also helps you in getting the Spanish accent right. You can choose to write a word or say it out loud and results will be shown to you in written form. You can also opt to listen to how these words are said.

Another feature that is very useful is this app’s Word of the Day. By the name itself, this feature gives you a Spanish word a day together with its meaning and a sample sentence. Learning different Spanish words everyday will surely enrich your mental word bank even more, but do take note: this feature gives out only the first 50 words for free in the trial version of this app.

Upgrading to its pro version allows you unlimited words for the Word of the Day feature and can also have your incoming SMS translated to Spanish automatically. With that, you can test yourself as to how well you’ve learned Spanish so far. Learning and testing, all in one app.

Learn Spanish with busuu.com!

Spanish is one of the world’s most phonetic languages. Knowing how a Spanish word is spelled can almost always help you with how the word is pronounced. Most of you may have also noticed the use of the inverted question mark and exclamation point in Spanish sentences (¿ and ¡) and you’ve probably wondered what those are for. Although these are unique to the Spanish language, their function is similar to that of their English counterparts.

With Learn Spanish with busuu.com, you’ll see plenty of those punctuation marks. Similar to the first app mentioned on this list, Learn Spanish with busuu.com also coordinates with the official website in reinforcing you with the much-needed lessons in Spanish.

This app covers more than 100 various topics that involve day-to-day situations like common dialogues and everyday phrases. Audio recordings by native speakers are also available to help you get the feel of how the Spanish accent goes. Making an account for free on the website also keeps track of your learning progress while you are using this app. And of course, you can learn Spanish with this app offline.

Learn Spanish Phrasebook

Spain has a lot of beautiful tourist spots and tons of unique beautiful traditions. Touring around the country is one effective way of getting acquainted with Spain’s people, its culture, and of course, its native language.

Learn Spanish Phrasebook will definitely be of great use when you are planning to travel to and around places that have great numbers of Spanish speakers. This app contains high-quality audio recordings done by native speakers — another plus to practicing your accent well.

The developers of this app, codegent, made sure the pronunciations are authentic and easy to comprehend. Over 800 common words and phrases are included in this app, together with useful tips for travelers. Frequently used words and phrases can be stored in the app’s Favourites and to top all these, Learn Spanish Phrasebook is ad-free for both the free or the paid version.

Save yourself from the hassle of bringing clunky travel books and dictionaries. You’ll only need your Android device with Learn Spanish Phrasebook installed on it.

iTranslate – free translator

iTranslate – free translator does not just translate English words to Spanish and the other way around. It is a universal translator that supports translations from over 50 other languages. You don’t only get to translate a single word but also a whole sentence, much to your convenience.

This app is perfect for those who travel a lot or for those who have dreams of becoming polyglots. Spanish is just one of the many languages this app supports and despite the number of languages it can cater to, this app does not fail to deliver.

iTranslate – free translator has a text-to-speech feature that will more or less aid you in pronouncing the translated words. This will be of great use when you are trying to converse with a native speaker and you are just not that confident of your pronunciation and accent. Key in your sentences, have them translated, and press the speaker icon to let the other person hear what you have to say.

LangLearner Spanish Lessons

“¿Dónde está Santa Claus?” Sounds familiar? That is just one of the many famous Spanish sentences most of us have learned through songs. Knowing this one sentence is certainly not enough for us to get by, especially when we are trying to learn Spanish. This is why LangLearner Spanish Lessons did not limit its lessons to just the basics. You get plenty more with this app.

LangLearner Spanish Lessons sports a very simple interface that takes you directly to the lessons. Each lesson covers common sentences in conversing using the Spanish language. When you tap on a particular lesson, a list of words and sentences in English is then shown. Tap on a sentence and you’ll see the Spanish translation together with the option of hearing how the translation is said. To avoid dullness on the screen, relevant pictures are shown together with the translation, giving you the feeling of having fun while learning.

LangLearner Spanish Lessons is a product of LangLearner, a global language solution provider. Aside from this app for learning Spanish, other apps for learning 9 other languages are also available for free.

Spanish English Dictionary

Don’t get misled by this app’s name because it’s more than just a dictionary. Spanish English Dictionary from Ascendo, Inc. is one vital app a learner of the Spanish tongue should and must have. Beginners will find this app very useful because of the number of functions it offers.

Spanish English Dictionary can translate English words and phrases to Spanish, can conjugate verbs, can present Spanish words from its dictionary, and can test you if you have remembered what you have learned so far. On top of these functions, you can add notes and images to dictionary words, helping you increase your mind’s retention power. You’ll love how quick this app’s fast lookup is, not requiring you to switch from one language to another since both English and Spanish words are in a single index.

This app also has the text-to-speech feature and a phrasebook containing 200 essential travel phrases. All these features can be used offline, except for the translator which requires a connection to the Internet to work. Upgrading to the paid version will give you over 263,000 more translations, making your learning experience worth every penny.

Spanish Dictionary RAE

Let’s face it. When we first try to learn a different language, we resort to buying dictionaries. We start from learning various words before we delve into learning phrases and eventually, sentences. Spanish Dictionary RAE is probably one of those apps that can be considered a necessity in learning Spanish. Why? Because it is not just any dictionary.

This app takes its dictionary words from the Real Academia Española or the Royal Spanish Academy, the official royal institution responsible for regulating the Spanish language. Spanish Dictionary RAE can be downloaded for free and is also free from any ad support.

You can check any word in this app, conjugate all verbs, and get the most updated definitions for every word you search. All the words you’ve searched are reflected in the app’s history to make referencing quicker and easier. This dictionary app contains definitions and expressions used in other countries where Spanish is also used like Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, and many others. With Spanish Dictionary RAE, it’s like you’re learning Spanish straight from RAE itself.

Spanish Translator

Spanish Translator basically does what its name says. It is a translator app that is very easy to use and has a very simple interface, perfect for people who don’t like seeing a lot of buttons and whatnot on their screens.

Despite the simplicity of its UI, Spanish Translator sometimes gives out many translations for one word. This won’t be much of a problem if you can discern well which one is the most fitting and reasonable for you. But, then again, if you are still a beginner in learning Spanish, you’ll get a bit confused with which word to pick out. On a lighter note though, this app actually works well. It does not only translate words but sentences, too.

Just like some of the other apps mentioned on this list, Spanish Translator also has voice recognition and can read translations out loud. Translations can also be shared with friends through SMS, e-mail, Facebook, and other social means. Sharing translations may not be that of a big deal to you but maybe one of your friends may find them useful. Simple but extremely useful, this app should have a space on your Android device’s home screen.

Spanish Class Demo

Now you can learn Spanish without even signing up for classes! Spanish Class Demo is an app that helps you learn Spanish similar to how you could have learned it in a class. You won’t have classmates but the lessons and features this app has are almost tantamount to what Spanish classes offer.

Spanish Class Demo offers both written and audio content to supplement your learning of the Spanish language. In this demo version, 300 basic words, basic grammar and tenses with gerunds and participles, and 30 useful phrases are available to you. When you upgrade to the paid version, tons of content will then be available as well as more in-depth lessons about Spanish.

You will be more motivated to learn Spanish through the app’s Awards system where you are given awards every time you complete a challenge. Most of the exercises are highly customizable, giving you the freedom to set the number of exercises you want to take and which lesson you would want to have an exercise of (vocabulary, verbs, grammar). You can also keep track of your progress by saving the statistics of all the exercises you have gone through.

Who would’ve thought that learning a language could be fun, less expensive, and rewarding all at the same time? With the apps we’ve listed for you, learning Spanish will be a cinch. Go on and master this language, and maybe later on, you’ll want to conquer another one (like, French, perhaps, or maybe English if you’re a non-native speaker).


This article, Best Android apps for learning Spanish , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


HTC posts Rezound Android 4.0 update availability, later removes it

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 06:19 PM PDT

Earlier today, HTC officially announced via their website that the Rezound’s Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich OTA update was available for installation. Oddly, Verizon Wireless was completely silent from their end. Normally, Verizon updates their support pages prior to an official update being pushed onto their devices.

For those that have been following the HTC Rezound leaks over the past 4 months (yes, the ICS leaks started that long ago), this update, Software Number: 3.14.605.10 710RD; Baseband Version:1.22.10.0421r, 1.22.10.0424r, is the exact same build from last weeks latest leak. If you’re already running that release, at this point, you’re as official as it gets.

Shortly after the installation instructions made their way onto the web, for whatever the reason, HTC removed the update information from their website. Thankfully, we were able to snag the entire contents of HTC’s installation instructions before they were removed. Remember folks, once something has been posted online, it’s pretty hard to completely, if ever, remove it.

HTC Rezound™ Software Upgrade Instructions | 06.20.2012

This software update (Software Number: 3.14.605.10 710RD; Baseband Version:1.22.10.0421r, 1.22.10.0424r) is now available for your HTC Rezound. It will update your device to the Ice Cream Sandwich Operating System (OS) and provide several enhancements, fixes and features, including:

Applications & Widgets

V CAST Media Manager has been updated to Backup Assistant Plus with an enhanced user experience.
Caller Name ID application has been updated and added to All Apps.
Time zone issues have been resolved within the Clock widget.

Device Features

Device is enabled with the Wireless Alerting System.
Cisco AnyConnect support has been added to improve VPN functionality.
Improved data connectivity for a better user experience.
Improve device stability minimizes the number of resets.
Improvements to Mobile Hotspot connectivity.

Email, Messaging & Web

Improvements to default mail application now displays all Yahoo! mail contents properly

Before you proceed, please confirm that this software upgrade to 3.14.605.10 710RD is a newer version than what is currently loaded on your device.  If it is the same version, there is no need to reload the software.  Navigate to the Home screen then tap Menu > Settings > About phone > Software Information and locate the Software number.

WARNING: During the upgrade process the device will reboot multiple times and show software upgrade screens.  Do not remove the battery as this will stop the update and your device may be rendered inoperable!

Getting Started

Before you proceed with the update, make sure you have done the following:
Your device is currently running Software number 2.01.605.11.
Set aside approximately 70 minutes to allow the device to update.
Connect the device to a charger.
Ensure the battery is charged to at least 30%.

Installation instructions

From the home screen, tap Menu

Tap Settings

Tap Software update

Tap Check new.

You will be notified that new software is available. Tap OK to start download.

Once the update is completed, tap OK to proceed with the software installation.

Installation will begin and device will reboot several times during the installation process.

Once the installation completes, device will start up on its own. When you unlock your device for the first time, you will see a similar screen to the one below.

Once the upgrading process has completed, you will be greeted with a pop up box. Tap OK to dismiss the notification.

You will be able to use your device. Congratulations, your device has now been updated to 3.14.605.10 710RD.

Important Information

If you choose the Install later option, you will have to set a date and time to  start the process. You can also manually install by going to Settings > About phone > System update

If the system update fails to install, you will get an error screen. However, this only means the software did not install properly. Remove and re-insert the battery and power the device back on. The device will power back on with original software and will prompt you once again to install the system update.

If your battery level is too low, the installation will not proceed. You will need to charge your device until it has enough battery power to continue.

If the device is in roaming condition, it will not able to initiate any software update connection including network initiated or user initiated session. The Check new option in Software update will be grayed out.

To identify your software information, you can go to Settings > About phone > Software information. After performing the update, it should show 3.14.605.5 710RD.

For more information on what's new and different with this upgrade, click on this download link:  HTC Rezound to 3.14.605.5 710RD (Uploaded official PDF to MediaFire Mirror).

And there you have it. Once the official update from HTC is approved by both HTC and Verizon Wireless, follow the above steps to get Ice Cream Sandwich on your Rezound. We’re not saying wear out the check for updates button just yet, but after all is said and done, the official update has to be coming any day now. Keep your fingers crossed.


This article, HTC posts Rezound Android 4.0 update availability, later removes it , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


File Expert: Easy Android file management with Dropbox and Box.net support

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 06:00 PM PDT

Android smartphones and tablets these days are sold with huge chunks of memory, and with all that memory to spare, it doesn’t take long before users try to fill it up with as many things as possible. When you’ve fully settled into your Android device, keeping your files organized can be a daunting task. One solution to keep your files organized is by using a decent file manager to keep your documents, music, videos and other important data in order. The latest smartphones already carry a stock file manager when they come out of the box, and while the stock file manager does a pretty good job in keeping your files in order, it lacks some advanced features.

If you’ve always wanted to have an advanced file manager, then File Expert is the right application for you. With over a million downloads on the Google Play Store, File Expert is one of the trusted applications used by many consumers.

File Expert is the ultimate application for managing your personal files and other resources stashed away in your Android phone's internal and external compartments. The app is so advanced that it is more than just a simple file manager; in fact, it offers Wi-Fi, Web, and FTP server management bundled into one complete package. If you're not familiar with applications such as these, then you'll be surprised that even though it has advanced features, File Expert is still user friendly and even newbies to the Android platform will fall in love with the application.

File Expert boasts tons of options at your disposal. Use File Expert to share your files with your friends over a Wi-Fi network and even use it as a web browser to manage FTP clients to access your files in the cloud. Given the current trend these days, cloud storage is booming and luckily for us, File Expert packs cloud compatibility. Use File Expert to access your DropBox or Box.net account. It is so convenient to use that you will never have to open another application again.

File Expert features all the basic operations (copy, paste, move, create, and rename) for your files and folders. If you’ve rooted your Android phone, then you can unlock another set of features made available only for rooted users. Those with rooted phones can remount their /system directory with read and write permissions; you can even gain access to restricted folders and files.

The features that make File Expert one of the best file managing application have to be its connectivity, the ability to manage cloud storage, Bluetooth transfers, Wi-Fi Send, app manager, and an archive manager to create ZIP files or view other compression formats.

File Expert comes in two flavors, the free and paid version. Surprisingly, the free version doesn't contain pesky ads, but if you want more features, then you could go pro with the paid version. Download File Expert at the Google Play Store absolutely for free, or support the developer by purchasing the File Expert Pro Key Plugin.


This article, File Expert: Easy Android file management with Dropbox and Box.net support , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Instapaper: Android app for saving online content for offline reading

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 03:00 PM PDT

After a few rough patches, the official Instapaper client has finally arrived on the Google Play Store. The popular iOS application that became an instant hit for being easy to use has once again triumphed on the Android scene for being a reliable application that allows you to bookmark your favorite online articles, blog posts, journals and webpages so you can read them later in offline mode.

Offline reading is not the only thing that makes Instapaper popular. It’s also a universal application that has been fine-tuned to run efficiently on smartphones and tablets.

Instapaper features several tools that enhance the user's experience, such as being able to customize font size, font types, line spacing, indentation, custom folders, day or night reading modes, and custom folders, just to name a few. With so many customization options, Instapaper is not just any ordinary application but a personal digest that users can configure to suit their preferences.

To fully experience Instapaper, you need to have an account. You can get your login credentials by visiting the developer’s site. Registration is free and the site is kind enough to guide you around the application. As soon as you have logged in, you have the option to sync your favorite articles and folders to your device for easy access.

Instapaper's layout is more like that of a newspaper or a digital printed paper and is based more on its iOS counterpart with a major difference in the Holo-themed menu buttons found all throughout the options.

On the app's main homescreen, you can find your Instapaper folders, and you can create additional folders by tapping the + button or edit by selecting the pencil button.

Inside your folder, you can enable editing mode to manage your files. Editing mode allows you to archive, move, or delete the selected articles inside that folder. Navigation is a breeze and can be done by swiping sideways to view other items on your bookmarked list.

Adding articles or addresses to Instapaper can be done through your phone's mobile browser by tapping Menu > Share Page > Instapaper. The app is generous enough to download the complete webpage, including photos and other media–all ready for offline reading.

In Reading Mode, you’ll find an action bar found at the bottom of the page. The action bar contains several options such as that for sharing and deleting an article. Tapping the AA button brings you to a menu that carries features for adjusting the brightness color, Dark Mode toggle, font resizing, and a lot more options that makes reading a bliss.

Instapaper's main settings will let you sort out your Instapaper profile and tinker with various settings. Other options include rotation lock, dark mode for power consumption saving, and managing your bookmarked articles and update-time.

Instapaper for Android is priced lower than its iOS counterpart and will cost you US$2.99. Download Instapaper now from the Google Play Store.


This article, Instapaper: Android app for saving online content for offline reading , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


VLC for Android is almost ready for release

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 01:32 PM PDT

Open source OS and open source media player. Good match, no? One would think so, especially since VLC has long been a favorite of not just of Windows and Mac users, but also of Linux users, being one of the best media players of all three environments. But more than one year ago, the VLC team took a very strange decision, one that they paid dearly for – they decided to make the iOS version first.

Why did they pay dearly for it? Because, evidently, Apple rejected it from the app store, on the grounds that its open source license is incompatible with their app store’s policies. So they took all this time to develop the app, in a pretty foreign language for most developers, Objective C, and it appears it was all for naught.

Since then, there have been a lot of good media players on Android, with everyone’s favorite being the MX Player. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for VLC anymore. It’s just that now they have to work a lot harder to beat everyone else, if they want to be the people’s new favorite.

VLC has never been a “pretty” media player by default, unless you installed some skin for it, so it remains to be seen how it will look. My guess is it will share a similar look as the one it has in version 2.0 for desktop. Personally, I would prefer if they went with some Holo style design, and I’m sure many others would like it, too.

When will this VLC app for Android launch? They haven’t said yet, but it may be coming very soon.

 


This article, VLC for Android is almost ready for release , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Rainy Days for Android: Is it going to rain today?

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 12:00 PM PDT

Checking weather conditions has become a habit for many of us, since the weather usually affects our day-to-day activities. We rely so much on applications that forecast the weather so that we can prepare ourselves accordingly for any abrupt changes in our environment. Most of us have already downloaded weather applications that sport fancy widgets that mimic realistic weather effects, depending on the current location.

If you have downloaded weather applications in the past, then there's a huge chance you have been using it for a quite a while in plotting your busy schedule. Some of us even tailor our schedules to the week’s weather forecast. Rainy days can be a bummer, not just because you might get drenched but also because it's quite a hassle to be in the middle of a downpour while you are waltzing around in the metropolis.

If you’re one of the many people who hate rain and love sunshine, here’s an application that forecasts the weather accurately and may just save you from getting caught in the rain.

Rainy Days is a free Android application that offers a surprisingly new twist on forecasting the weather. The app features an animated rain radar for American and European countries.

The app acts like your personal weather station, displaying a more accurate representation of the current weather condition. The technology behind Rainy Days’ accurate predictions lies in the meteorological services that it gets data from.

According to the developers, Rainy Days gets its data from Buienradar, Meteox, and Eumetsat using Google Maps.

If you’ve always wanted to get accurate weather predictions and not just a general forecast for your location, then Rainy Days might just be the application that you need. Rainy Days provides accurate predictions by using satellite imagery.

The app is simple to use. You just need to open it once, go to Settings and choose My Location to display the current radar forecast for your area.

Navigation is a breeze, as the standard touchscreen controls work perfectly, such as pinching to zoom in on the map and swiping sideways to pan across the map. On the other hand, the slide bar found at the bottom is used for radar opacity controls and is perfect when you want to see certain locations under a storm.

The app cycles through the last hour’s radar footage and you can easily pause this by touching the screen. Other application settings and options include controlling the animation speed and location use.

In a nutshell, Rainy Days is a perfect candidate to replace your weather applications. If you want accurate weather forecasts that you can actually see, get Rainy Days for your Android device. Download Rainy Days from the Google Play Store, absolutely free of charge.

No related posts.


This article, Rainy Days for Android: Is it going to rain today? , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Sony admits that Gingerbread is a disadvantage for them in the retail stores

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 11:17 AM PDT

I still don’t feel Sony is where it should be in the mobile world. Sony Ericsson used to be one of the very best, up there with Nokia, but I guess both of them fell behind badly once the touchscreen smartphone revolution appeared. They were also slow to recognize that a touchscreen smartphone is as much about the hardware (especially its processor) as it is about the software.

I do think they are catching up in many ways in both hardware, and also software, having recognized that upgrades are important for users. But even though they may not be the most important for the majority of their customers, it’s important for the loudest ones, and the ones that could give the phones a vote of confidence when recommending it to their friends.

At the launch of the Xperia U and Xperia P, Sony admitted that having the latest version of Android matters a great deal for the store representatives when it comes to recommending phones to people. Because they obviously want to recommend the best, why would they recommend a phone with Gingerbread, instead of one from a competitor with ICS that has similar hardware and price?

“The main disadvantage [of running Gingerbread software] is the perception from retail staff, said Sean Coulson, Marketing Manager, Sony Mobile. “When they are recommending phones they always recommend you the latest and greatest.”

“From a consumer perspective I don’t think it’s a huge disadvantage. It’s something that we are working really hard to address as quickly as possible,” he explained.

“We would never deliberately launch not on the latest version of Android but it comes down to a choice between delaying the launch or going to market with an older version. We’ve made a really public commitment to ensure it is upgradeable.”

The last point is a good one, because I think every single manufacturer should, at the very least, announce when their phones are going to be upgraded, and commit to doing it. If they can’t even say that, then why would you trust them with your purchase?

The problem is most likely one about allocating resources and developers to change to ICS. But that is their problem, if they want to be competitive in the market. As long as Sony doesn’t put the very best hardware on the market (and for that specific price range), coupled with the latest version of Android, they will not be considered a good Android manufacturer.


This article, Sony admits that Gingerbread is a disadvantage for them in the retail stores , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Next-gen Swype introduced, a 4-in-1 keyboard with touch and voice support

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 11:02 AM PDT

Sliding from letter to letter to complete words on mobile devices has become somewhat synonymous with Swype. After being bought by Nuance late last year for a cool $100 million, it seems the new owner is ready to boost Swype's standing to new heights. The new version of the keyboard app gains more text input choices — allowing users to swipe, tap, speak or write.

Aside from swiping, you can peck one letter at a time as you would on other virtual keyboards. But of course, it has been optimized with Nuance's own XT9 predictive text technology. Coupled with the personalized dictionary feature, the keyboard will be able to guess your words better and become more accurate with each use. Interestingly, the vocab isn’t limited only to what you write using the keyboard; you can have the texting app learn words that you use the most from your emails, texts and other posts.

The third option is to say what you want to write, as Swype comes with an integrated Dragon button that lets you use a speech input. Seeing that dragon symbol is an assurance that you can speak your text naturally. Lastly, you can write letters, words and symbols using your fingertips. If you're not impressed yet, Swype has also included 55 languages support, making multi-lingual communication simpler.

Nuance Mobile executive vice president and general manager Michael Thompson said that "the new Swype living, learning keyboard ushers in a new era of input, where the keyboard adapts to the users' unique way of communicating". If you can't wait to join that new era, head to beta.swype.com to download the Swype Beta for Android.


This article, Next-gen Swype introduced, a 4-in-1 keyboard with touch and voice support , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Don’t hold your breath for LG’s D1L, it turns out to be the LG Optimus LTE 2

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 10:57 AM PDT

Back when specs of the Samsung Galaxy S3 were still as mythical as unicorns, we reported a couple times how LG was preparing a super phone of its own to compete with the Galaxy S3 – complete with its own wireless charging solution. Dubbed as the LG D1L, the phone was to come with a 4.7-inch display of 1280 x 720 resolution, a dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 4G LTE connectivity, and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Where's the LG D1L now?

Scouring the web to look for more information on the LG D1L will only lead you nowhere, because The Verge has received confirmation from the Korean company that the LG D1L is none other than the recently launched –in Korea, at least – LG Optimus LTE 2. There's your mystery solved right there.

Aside from the name change, LG hasn't changed the specs of the phone at all – even down to the dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 processor. It's a nice surprise to see the inclusion of a 2GB of RAM and 2,150mAh battery though.

For those who have yet to check out the LG Optimus LTE 2, we have to say it does look like an enlarged Samsung Galaxy S2. It's a good thing the Galaxy S3 comes with that curvaceous body. Speaking of which, if LG's intention was to create competition for the Galaxy S3, the company has certainly succeeded in the specs department. It's now only a matter of getting the beast out of South Korea and introducing it to the rest of the world. Failing that, there's always the LG Optimus 4X HD and the upcoming LG Eclipse with its quad-core Snapdragon S4 processor.


This article, Don't hold your breath for LG's D1L, it turns out to be the LG Optimus LTE 2 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


GSM Samsung Galaxy Ace Duos released in India, get it now for as little as $230!

Posted: 20 Jun 2012 10:45 AM PDT

Dual-SIM phones might not be incredibly popular in the United States, but in Europe and Asia there is a growing trend favoring such devices lately. That being said, Samsung did not want to miss the opportunity of pushing into this market niche, which is why the Koreans have unveiled the Galaxy Ace Duos less than a month ago and have already put the new phone up for sale.

Released in India for the time being, but also expected to hit Russia and Southeast Asia over the next few weeks, the Ace Duos is not exactly a looker, but it does come with a “more than fair” quality-price ratio.

Powered by an 832 MHz Qualcomm processor, the Indian Ace Duos only supports GSM networks and comes with 512 MB of RAM, a 5 MP rear-facing camera, 3 GB of on-board memory, a 3.5-inch touchscreen with 480 x 320 pixels resolution, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, a microSD card slot and a 1,300 mAh battery.

The Galaxy Ace Duos runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread with no Ice Cream Sandwich update scheduled for now, so in all, the 3.5-incher doesn't come with anything special, but it features the basics and can be therefore called a standard low-end smartphone.

The best news regarding the Galaxy Ace Duos is that it features Smart Dual SIM functionality. In other words, you'll be able to have two SIM cards active at the same time, switch between them in a matter of seconds and transfer calls from one card to another.

Ace Duos' recommended retail price in India is Rs. 15,090 (around $270), but, if you decide to buy the phone real quick and act on that decision, you can get it from EBay India for just Rs. 12,900 ($230). That's a more than decent price, if you ask me, considering what this fellow can do, so I'm sure that tech users across Europe and Asia will be welcoming it in their homes with much kindness.

Do you guys agree? Is the new Ace Duos worth its money? Are you thinking of buying it yourselves?


This article, GSM Samsung Galaxy Ace Duos released in India, get it now for as little as $230! , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


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