Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Android Authority

Android Authority


NotifierPro: Customizing your phone’s notifications and alerts like a pro

Posted: 06 Jun 2012 12:00 AM PDT

Many apps in the Google Play Store cater to just about everything, from games to productivity apps. As mobile phones are getting smarter, notifications can't even cope with the latest trends as end users constantly seek better software.

Android's notification alert system isn't that bad and it even outperforms Apple's iOS. Certainly, there is still some room for improvement but, unfortunately, there are not many applications in the Google Play Store that cater to notification alerts. Luckily for Android users, NotifierPro by Productigeeky tries to bring the stock notification alert up to the next level.

NotifierPro gets right to the point by enhancing your phone's alert notification. The app was recently updated to easily integrate with the Ice Cream Sandwich update. The revamped UI is pretty slick and has a modern feel that brings large buttons for users to easily access the application.

Aside from being an alert notification enhancer, NotifierPro can also integrate notifications from any pre-installed app on your phone via the accessibility service. Users can also configure a preset gesture to remove any notification that pops up on your phone. If you wish to dismiss all notifications, you can easily do it in one swipe by setting a different gesture for that purpose.

On the other hand, selecting a specific notification will let you control how that notification will behave. You can either swipe to the right to dismiss that notification or swipe in the opposite direction to remove all notifications from that application or contact.

In order for NotifierPro to work properly, users need to activate the accessibility service, as this is the only way to process notifications for the Android OS.

NotifierPro easily integrates with other lockscreen apps like MagicLocker or WidgetLocker, making it great to compliment your already cool-looking main screen. Banners will automatically show above your lockscreen even if you are running a stock Ice Cream Sandwich lockscreen.

Depending on the alert, notifications are shown on a white background. Beside the alert, a small icon will be shown, depending on the application. Instant messages, on the other hand, will be displayed on a black background with the corresponding message and image of the contact who is calling or messaging you. NotifierPro will even notify you even if you are playing games or using any application in full screen.

NotifierPro is available in two variants, the lite and the plus version. Paying for the plus version will give you additional features, such as the ability to configure individual apps’ settings, choose from over 5 different themes, and other miscellaneous settings that users can tweak and control. 

Before you purchase the paid version, be sure to check out the free version. Although the plus version is ideally tempting to purchase, it is best that you check out the free version first. Enhance your notification bubble by downloading NotifierPro.


This article, NotifierPro: Customizing your phone’s notifications and alerts like a pro , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Best Android apps for runners

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 09:00 PM PDT

Staying healthy and fit couldn't be easier, thanks to our mobile phones. They’ve evolved from being simple communication devices into state-of-the art physical workout companions. There is nothing better than reaping the benefits of staying healthy, and that is why the Google Play Store is literally spilling over with health and physical fitness applications.  There is no dearth of Android apps for runners, too.

Here are some of the best Android apps that will surely help you with your running activities.

Runkeeper

Practicing for a marathon? Then Runkeeper is the application that will prepare you for the ultimate marathon in no time. Runkeeper's popularity has exploded since it was released way back in 2009 and it continues to help runners keep track of their workout’s detailed information.

Runkeeper provides users the chance to create real-time GPS route maps and audio cues to determine distance and time. Users can also input categories for non-running outdoor activities like biking, swimming or climbing.

Runkeeper primarily uses your phone as the main source for data entry. It can also show you a very comprehensive activity history that you can track each day. All saved user data can be accessed anytime. These data include monthly mileage, calories burned, average pace, average run length, and the number of calories burned. Runkeeper also provides a handy website to let users update and synchronize their results with the Internet.

Fast Food Calorie Counter

As a runner, it is always important to keep track not only of your workout records on the field but also to keep a keen eye on your weight. Sometimes it is hard to resist the temptation of fast food products that are appealing as well as deadly on your diet. If you can't stop the urge of eating, then here's an app that will certainly help you with your eating habits. Fast Food Calorie Counter, from the name itself, helps users track down calories of certain foods.

The app can track almost any type of food and serves as a quick reference guide for about 9,000 food items from over 72 famous fast food restaurants. Users who want to know a certain calorie count for a particular food will just need to input the food and the app will show you important data such as calories, fat grams, fiber, carbs, and protein.  The app is pretty useful, most especially when you just happen to be in a fast food chain, eating your daily mix of fries and milkshakes.

Endomondo Sports Tracker

Endomondo Sports Tracker by Endomondo is one of the best health and fitness apps on the Google Play Store to date. The app is a great companion for runners, joggers, cyclists, or anyone who simply wants to take her/his time running or walking. Endomondo Sports Tracker helps you keep track of your time, distance, speed, and altitude, as well as keeping a record of your previous workouts.

The app works by integrating itself with Google Maps and your personal collection of audio tracks. Get real time updates on your current workout through the use of GPS. Sync your data across multiple platforms such as the cloud or import your file to another application. You can also communicate with other devices, such as a heart monitoring system or Sony Ericsson's Smart Watch.

Cardio Trainer

Cardio Trainer by Noom, Inc. is a versatile app, not just for joggers but also for other outdoor sports such as cycling, swimming, or skateboarding. The app features great mapping that utilizes your phone's GPS system to accurately display both distance and speed when you start your workout.

Cardio Trainer has a sleek, clean and easy interface from start to finish. Cardio Trainer also provides a map route that can be viewed later on when you are not anymore on the streets. What makes Cardio Trainer a great application is its accuracy in determining your path. The app can even track the slightest movement you make, like crossing the street.

Runstar

Runstar is one of the first few running apps to debut on the Google Play Store and, until now, continues to be a fan favorite due to its easy-to-use interface and its robust design features. Similar to apps like Runkeeper, Runstar uses your phone's GPS to keep track of your workouts. In addition to that, users are provided with course maps and pace calculation timing during the workout.

What makes Runstar different from traditional running apps is the ability to set training goals. This feature is very useful for those who are planning on losing weight after a particular period. Additionally, Runstar has a built-in MP3 player that allows users to create and customize their workout playlists.

Softrace

Softrace is a unique application that focuses not only on tracking your workouts but also focuses on the thrill of fast-paced competition. Softrace is not your ordinary health and fitness application but rather separates itself by adding a challenge. By allowing the app to track your progress in running, biking, or other outdoor activities, Softrace also lets you race with other users, as well.

There are different modes to choose from: Challenger, Practice, and Racing. In Practice Mode, users can practice their skills and maintain digital exercise runs, complete with distances and average paces. In Challenger Mode, users can create custom tracks or use Google Maps to find existing tracks on the field that can be later used to challenge friends. Racing Mode, on the other hand, finds existing opponents that can be challenged. You can also use this mode to begin a race with an opponent. Compared to other apps, Softrace changes the way you workout by challenging you to a social match-up with other users in the vicinity.

Runtastic

Feel the need for speed with Runtastic, a personal tracking app for running, biking, and other sports-related activities. Just like those traditional fitness running applications, Runtastic uses the built-in GPS system on your phone to chart your activities and track down your progress. This includes tracking your distance, time, speed, calories, altitude, and pace.

Runtastic also features numerous workout settings that you can use to enhance your outdoor workout. Users can also keep track of their progress through Runtastic's numerous features like a personal workout diary and metrics, dashboard configuration, monitor logs, or even set your own goals to be accomplished during a specific period.  Additionally, users can also choose a training plan to help keep track of their body statistics and upload the data to Runtastic's website.

Ultimate Weight Watcher Diary

As a sports athlete, it is always important to know that keeping track of your weight is a crucial factor. Your body should be fit and healthy to do rigorous exercise. If you happen to eat any dish in your path, then you already know the dangers of becoming overweight. Nevertheless, there is an application that will definitely help you trim down fast and lose that unwanted fat.

Ultimate Weight Watcher Diary features the most comprehensive tool in monitoring food values based upon criteria such as protein, carbohydrates, fat, and fiber. Users can simply check the details of a particular food just by swiping the item. Not only that, the application will also help you in managing your meal, thanks to the Meal Maker feature. The app also lets you track your food intake. You also have access to widgets for easy access and tracking of the foods that you have eaten.

Workout Trainer

Before you head out for a workout, be sure to start your day with a warm-up. If you are unfamiliar with any warm-up exercises, then all you need to do is download Workout Trainer and let the app teach you all the basic workouts led by professional coaches.

Get that perfect body you have always wanted in no time with free workouts and premium workout programs that will help you achieve your goals. Workout Trainer is the perfect training companion for anyone who loves to spend time doing rigorous outdoor activities. Workout Trainer features detailed information on workout exercises, shown in detail with accompanying pictures and information. The app also lets you schedule your workout via the built-in calendar.

Calorie Counter Pro

Problems with losing weight? Then worry no more as Calorie Counter Pro is here to save your day. Calorie Counter Pro is a comprehensive diet application that will surely help sport athletes trim down fat fast. Calorie Counter is simple and easy to use. Featuring over 416,000 foods, users will never get lost in finding information fast on a particular food ever again.

The app supports a search mode, easily scanning the whole database as you type a particular food that you want to know more about. Calorie Counter Pro features Food Tracking, Exercise, and Planning modes that will not only feed users with important food information but will also teach users how to stay healthy through exercise, time management, and goal accomplishment. The app also features beautifully rendered charts for easy reference.

Pack some of these apps with you the next time you go on a run and shed all that unhealthy jiggle. If your favorite running app didn’t make it to our list, share it with us in a comment below and help out your fellow runners.


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


AT&T’s eco-friendly Samsung Galaxy Exhilarate will be released on June 10 for just $49.99

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 02:37 PM PDT

Unveiled way back at the CES in January, AT&T's Samsung Galaxy Exhilarate didn't make much of an impression with its tech specs and features, but was announced as an affordable eco-friendly phone made out of 80% recycled materials.

Fast forward almost six months in time and the Exhilarate is still nowhere to be found by tech-savvy users concerned about preserving Mother Nature. However, the waiting period seems to have finally come to an end, and the earth-loving 4-incher is expected to start selling in five short days.

You'll be able to get the new Galaxy Exhilarate (if we can still call it new…) starting on Sunday June 10 for just $49.99 with a new two-year AT&T carrier agreement. That's certainly not what you would call expensive, but I guess that Samsung and AT&T could have made this little guy available for free, considering what it will be packing.

Powered by a pretty decent (by mid-range standards, at least) dual-core 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Scorpion processor, the Exhilarate will only be running Android 2.3 Gingerbread upon its release, which is disappointing, to say the least.

Samsung's new phone isn't even scheduled for an Ice Cream Sandwich update, as far as we know, so the software will clearly not be this guy's strongest point. The rest of the features include a 4-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen with a yet to be specified resolution (we're guessing 800 x 480 pixels), 5 MP/1.3 MP dual cameras, 4G LTE connectivity and a microSD card slot.

The RAM, on-board memory and battery capacity are for some reason still kept under wraps, so it's still difficult to say if the Exhilarate will be a decent entry-level phone or a mediocre mid-ranger. Then again, the phone's piece of resistance is the environmentally-friendly UL Platinum rating, which is the highest rating achieved by any LTE smartphone worldwide, according to AT&T claims, so the tech specs might not be that important after all.

In terms of design, you can't say the Exhilarate looks special or original, but its profile is decently slim. Measuring less than 0.5″ thick, the 4-incher weighs in at 5.2 ounces (147 grams), which makes this an easy to carry device.

Before drawing a conclusion on the Exhilarate's attractiveness, check out this following video clip which sums up its (known) tech specs and features. Who knows, you might fall in love with it and its eco-friendly capabilities and decide to buy it despite not being a "power tool".


This article, AT&T’s eco-friendly Samsung Galaxy Exhilarate will be released on June 10 for just $49.99 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Linaro Android is up to twice as fast as stock Android

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 02:28 PM PDT

As Android becomes a larger and larger project, that needs to work on hundreds, if not thousands, of hardware configurations, Google is focusing more and more on compatibility, and a little less on raw performance. Android 4.0 came with some significant performance improvements thanks to enabling the GPU to do the graphical hard work, instead of leaving it to the CPU as before, but I’ve always thought that the ICS version was more about looks rather than raw performance.

ICS brought a pretty big overhaul in the looks department, made everything prettier and more polished, but this also requires a bit higher resources to make it all work properly, especially in the RAM department. Google is now recommending that smartphones with ICS should have at least 384 MB of RAM, and the CyanogenMod team has said before that they will only port CM9 to phones with at least 512 MB of RAM.

This was also Google’s “first” version since the overhauled looks, which means that everything might not be as optimized as possible, since again, they were more focused on the design part for this version, just like 2.0/2.1 was about improved looks, and 2.2 was about raw performance (Gingerbread was more of a transitional version). I expect JellyBean to have some significant performance improvements, with only a few changes in the looks department (although we may see some different UI or maybe more interesting widgets for the tablet version).

The Linaro team, who’s constantly working on optimizing software for the ARM architecture, has worked on optimizing the latest version of Android as well, and they claim up to 2x improvement in performance compared to stock Android 4.0.4, running on the same TI OMAP 4430 hardware. The improvements are mostly CPU-related, even though they are showing a graphical object to test the performance. They’ve managed to double the FPS for this particular test, but they’ve also managed to increase the Sunspider performance by 30%, which is also quite a big deal.

Linaro is going to submit the changes to AOSP, and CyanogenMod can also use them if they want, even before Google does it. You can watch the guy who put it all together talk about it in the video below, and I also recommending visiting the source link for his comment (Bero) and further explanations on this:

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This article, Linaro Android is up to twice as fast as stock Android , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Verizon may sell the Samsung Galaxy S3 for a full retail price of $599 and $649

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 01:57 PM PDT

You've already got the lowdown on Verizon's Samsung Galaxy S3 yesterday. As reported, the carrier will be selling the 16GB model of the flagship phone for $199, while the 32GB one will go for $249 — both on a 2-year contract. The launch date isn't the only thing that’s missing for now, as customers of the Big red may also be wondering what the full retail price of the Samsung Galaxy S3 is going to be.

Knowing the retail price of the phone is important for them, because it might be the only way to maintain their unlimited data plan with Verizon. In case you missed the announcement, here's what Verizon said a month ago, and the reasons why customers are also waiting anxiously to see when the carrier will announce the end of grandfathered unlimited share data plan.

  • Customers will not be automatically moved to new shared data plans. If a 3G or 4G smartphone customer is on an unlimited plan now and they do not want to change their plan, they will not have to do so.
  • When we introduce our new shared data plans, Unlimited Data will no longer be available to customers when purchasing handsets at discounted pricing.
  • Customers who purchase phones at full retail price and are on an unlimited smartphone data plan will be able to keep that plan.

While there's still hope that the Samsung Galaxy S3 will land before the unlimited data party ends, it'd be handy to know how much the phones will cost without a contract. According to sources quoted by Droid-Life, the non-contract price of the 16GB Samsung Galaxy S3 will be set at $599, while the 32GB model can be had for $649. They may look steep, but just remember that in some parts of the world the 16GB model is going for $750.

The full retail price of the phone above hasn't been confirmed by Verizon, so we'll let you know once we hear more.

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This article, Verizon may sell the Samsung Galaxy S3 for a full retail price of $599 and $649 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Hot Deal: $0.01 Galaxy Nexus coming soon from Amazon Wireless

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 01:47 PM PDT

So what if the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the HTC One X are the hottest Android handsets in town? Some potential Android handset buyers may not be interested in paying even the subsidized sticker price for any of these two devices, but they'd still love to purchase a new, discounted, high-end smartphone. In case you are one of them, then you should definitely check out Amazon Wireless' upcoming Galaxy Nexus deal, which should be available at some point later today or in the very near future.

The phone, currently priced at $49.99 for buyers who get a new individual or family contract or who add a new line to their family account, is going to cost just 1 penny soon, according to PhoneDog.

The Galaxy Nexus is Google's third Nexus-branded smartphone and it was launched in the U.S. in mid-December 2011 as a Verizon (temporary) exclusive. Since then, the first Ice Cream Sandwich handset in the world has been also announced by Sprint, although it appears that Amazon's 1 cent offer will only apply to the Verizon version of the handset.

The Galaxy Nexus may seem like a yesterday's phone, which happens often in the Android ecosystem as device makers are constantly launching better and better devices, but it still packs quite a punch. The Galaxy Nexus sports a 4.65-inch HD Super AMOLED display with 1280 x 720 resolution, 1.2GHz dual-core TI OMAP 4450 processor, 1GB of RAM, 16/32GB of storage, 5-megapixel camera with zero shutter lag and 1080p HD video recording, 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera with 720p HD video recording, 4G LTE support, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Are you buying the Galaxy Nexus for 1 penny or will you get a newer Android handset instead? Click Here to Purchase the Galaxy Nexus for $0.01


This article, Hot Deal: $0.01 Galaxy Nexus coming soon from Amazon Wireless , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Sony SmartWatch 1.2.33 update causes several problems for owners

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 01:28 PM PDT

Sony has recently released a firmware update to its SmartWatch, which was expected to correct certain issues with the device including the device's inability of showing the time in standby mode, but it looks like the update brought other unexpected problems.

The Verge notes that after installing update 1.2.33, several SmartWatch owners complained right on the Google Play page of the product that the update has crippled their devices. Apparently the SmartWatches on software version 1.2.33 can't maintain a proper connection, and therefore can't be synced with the smartphone.

It appears that Sony has issued a secondary update, version 1.2.34, which corrects the issues in 1.2.33, but some SmartWatch owners can't get it as their devices that run 1.2.33 can't hold up a decent connection long enough to install the new firmware. One user writes:

My watch was working PERFECTLY. Following the latest update, its completely useless. If you try to wake it up, it reboots. Droid4 running stock Android 2.3.6 (rooted). UPDATE. Subsequent update fixed watch after about 30 attempts to flash it before it rebooted each time. Sony customer service was HORRIBLE. They are so disorganized, I couldn’t believe it was such a well known brand acting that way.

Sony has not officially commented on any of these reported issues yet, but let's hear more from SmartWatch owners out there! Have you experienced any similar issues following the 1.2.33 SmartWatch update? Did update 1.2.34 fixed them for you?


This article, Sony SmartWatch 1.2.33 update causes several problems for owners , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Gameloft announces new Amazing Spider-Man Android game, to be released on July 3

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 01:16 PM PDT

Hollywood hasn't exactly been a flowing river of original ideas these past few years, so it came as no surprise that, just five years after Spider-Man 3, the super-hero movie series was rebooted. A new "Amazing Spider-Man" is due to be released this summer, with a fresh new cast, director, screenplay and a slightly tweaked storyline.

Andrew Garfield will take over the title character of the movie from Tobey Maguire and, while it's obvious we're not dealing with the exact same plot as in the 2002, 2004 and 2007 films, we don't expect many touches of originality either.

However, longstanding fans of the Spider-Man comics and franchise will surely take 3D and IMAX theatres by storm on June 3 and they are also expected to enjoy a new mobile game from Gameloft. The French developer has officially announced the release of the official Amazing Spider-Man game, due to happen at the same time with the movie premiere.

We don't know much about the future Android game, but we should expect some spectacular visuals and outstanding special effects. Gameloft will be working with Marvel to come up with a game to follow the comics' storyline and, according to the producers:

The Amazing Spider-Man will be a full 3D action game that incorporates familiar characters and environments, and provides players with plenty of missions, rich gameplay and comprehensive battle systems.

Gameloft and Marvel have released another Spider-Man mobile game a couple of years back, "Spider-Man: Total Mayhem", and, while it wasn't exactly the smartest and most original app around, it did provide a lot of action, some smooth controls and enough missions and levels to not get bored of quickly.

The new game's storyline hasn't been detailed just yet, but considering it will hit the market at the same time as the movie, it's safe to assume that your in-game mortal nemesis will be The Lizard. Hopefully, Emma Stone's Gwen Stacy will be as hot on our Android devices as it is on film, so as to have someone nice to raise our spirits if we happen to get beaten by Dr.Curt Connors (aka The Lizard).

Naturally, we don't know anything about the future game's pricing either, but we expect it to be at least as costly as "Spider-Man: Total Mayhem", which is currently available at $6.99. Check out Gameloft and Marvel's full press release below announcing the Android game's coming, feast your eyes with the movie's latest trailer and don’t forget to hit us with a comment and let us know how excited you are about “The Amazing Spider-Man”!

Show full PR text

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN OFFICIAL MOBILE GAME TO RELEASE ALONGSIDE UPCOMING FILM
Gameloft and Marvel announce an exclusive agreement to bring Spider-Man's latest web-slinging adventure to mobile devices and tablets this Summer
PARIS – June 4th , 2012 – After the huge success of Spider-Man: Total Mayhem, Gameloft and Marvel are teaming up once again to develop and launch the official game for one of the most anticipated movies of the year, Sony Pictures' The Amazing Spider-Man. Staying true to the original storyline, Gameloft is working hand in hand with both Marvel and the movie teams to develop an immersive universe that stays true to the upcoming film.
One of Gameloft's most promising games, The Amazing Spider-Man will be a full 3D action game that incorporates familiar characters and environments, and provides players with plenty of missions, rich gameplay and comprehensive battle systems. Players will explore the city, protect the citizens, develop their skills and discover amazing powers.
“After having previously made Spider-Man: Total Mayhem – which was a huge success for both us and Marvel – we have even bigger ambitions for this new installment, The Amazing Spider-Man,” said Gameloft's Gonzague de Vallois, SVP of Marketing. “In addition to being an opportunity for Gameloft to showcase our skills in adapting movies into games, when combined with the fact that this is one of the most popular and commercially successful Super Heroes of all time, after having boasted one of the highest grossing movie franchises in history, we expect this title to be a great success.”
“We are happy to continue our successful relationship with Gameloft to bring quality games to both Marvel and mobile game fans alike,” said Andreea Enache-Thune, Marvel's SVP of Games and Digital Distribution. “The Amazing Spider-Man provides a thrilling and immersive mobile gameplay experience that will continue to raise the bar for both Marvel and Gameloft.”
Set to launch summer in conjunction with the movie release on July 3, 2012, The Amazing Spider-Man will be available on feature phones, iPhones, iPads and Android devices.
For more information about The Amazing Spider-Man mobile game please visit the official website at www.gameloft.com.
About Gameloft
A leading global publisher of digital and social games, Gameloft® has established itself as one of the top innovators in its field since 2000. Gameloft creates games for all digital platforms, including mobile phones, smartphones and tablets (including Apple® iOS and Android® devices), set top boxes, connected TVs and consoles. Gameloft partners with leading international brands such as UNO®, Spider-Man®, James Cameron's Avatar™, Ferrari® and Sonic Unleashed®. Gameloft also operates its own established franchises, such as Real Football, Asphalt™, Modern Combat 2: Black Pegasus and N.O.V.A Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance®. Gameloft is present in all continents, distributes its games in 100 countries and employs over 4,500 developers.
Gameloft is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN: FR0000079600, Bloomberg: GFT FP, Reuters: GLFT.PA).
About THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN™
One of the world's most popular characters is back on the big screen as a new chapter in the Spider-Man legacy is revealed in The Amazing Spider-Man™. Focusing on an untold story that tells a different side of the Peter Parker story, the new film stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan, with Martin Sheen and Sally Field. The film is directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay written by James Vanderbilt, based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Laura Ziskin, Avi Arad, and Matt Tolmach are producing the film. Along with Executive Producers Stan Lee, Kevin Feige and Michael Grillo, in association with Marvel Entertainment for Columbia Pictures, which will open in theaters everywhere in 3D on July 3, 2012.
The Amazing Spider-Man is the story of Peter Parker (Garfield), an outcast high schooler who was abandoned by his parents as a boy, leaving him to be raised by his Uncle Ben (Sheen) and Aunt May (Field). Like most teenagers, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today. Peter is also finding his way with his first high school crush, Gwen Stacy (Stone), and together, they struggle with love, commitment, and secrets. As Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, he begins a quest to understand his parents' disappearance – leading him directly to Oscorp and the lab of Dr. Curt Connors (Ifans), his father's former partner. As Spider-Man is set on a collision course with Connors' alter-ego, The Lizard, Peter will make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero.

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This article, Gameloft announces new Amazing Spider-Man Android game, to be released on July 3 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Smart Vibration: Auto alert silencing and vibration mode when phone is in your pocket

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 12:00 PM PDT

Most of the time when we are at work, we tend to put our smartphones in silent mode as not to disturb other co-workers with our notifications and alarms echoing throughout the room. The vibration motors found on our handsets make our day convenient and still keep us informed of upcoming events by silently vibrating inside our pockets.

The discreet act of putting our phones into silent mode is a habitual process that we do each day and there are times we often forget to do it.  HTC has already taken the first step on automatically turning on silent mode and vibrations, thanks to the built-in "Pocket Mode" feature. Pocket Mode lets HTC phone users switch their phones to silent mode as soon as they place the phones inside their pockets, removing the chances of awkward moments, waking everyone up at a boring meeting.

Have you ever wanted to automatically put your phone into silent mode when you slip it inside your pocket? If the answer is yes, then all you need is an app that will manage all of your discreet notifications. You don't need an HTC phone just to have that feature, as there’s the Smart Vibration app.

Smart Vibration, a free downloadable app from the Google Play Store, replicates the same feature of Pocket Mode found on many HTC devices, but also works well with other Android devices. Smart Vibration is a cool innovative idea that takes advantage of your phone's sensors to know whether or not it is in a tight environment–like inside your pockets.

Smart Vibration doesn't include any fancy user-interface. Instead, uses are treated with a simple black screen with a single button on the main screen. To enable the service, users just need to hit the "Start Service" button and you are good to go. The app runs in the background listening for any changes in motion and operates 24/7 putting your phone into silent mode when the time arrives.

One clever feature of Smart Vibration is the ability to customize the amount of vibration that starts during alerts. Vibration patterns can be configured to set the amount of time on how the motors spin when an alert is triggered.

The vibrations will trigger in subsequent pauses before it makes another loop, so you can always be alerted the second time if you missed your chance during the first try. This is pretty useful when the default vibration doesn't catch your attention during the first time.

Be sure to check out Smart Vibration which is absolutely free to download from the Google Play Store.

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This article, Smart Vibration: Auto alert silencing and vibration mode when phone is in your pocket , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Samsung Galaxy S3 topples iPhone 4S on Mobile Tracker Charts

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 10:55 AM PDT

After using the Samsung Galaxy S3 as my primary mobile device for a couple of days now, I’m quite confident to say that Apple has all the reason to be wary of Sammy’s latest flagship device. The Galaxy S3 definitely has what it takes to pull the iPhone 4S down any given mobile tracking charts. In both design and performance the Galaxy S3  can easily match up what the iPhone 4S has been offering. And we all better accept that, regardless of whether we are sitting on the Android or iOS bench.

As an example of how hot of a mobile device the Samsung Galaxy S3 is right now, mobile site uSwitch.com has announced that the device has dislodged the iPhone 4S from the top of its Tech Mobile Tracker. The white edition of the iPhone 4S has been sitting on top of the charts for quite some time now, only to be toppled by the growing anticipation, excitement and exhiliration over the Samsung Galaxy S3. Interestingly, before the iPhone 4S reached the top spot, the Galaxy S2 used to be on its position.

Although, this is just a minor statistic and does not really tell the big picture, it does give us a preview of what’s to arrive in the coming days. Five US mobile carriers have already made their announcement regarding the availability of the Galaxy S3 this month. Pre-orders for the device have been surging on a daily basis, online seaches for the whereabouts of the device and initial sales in May – have all contributed to the Galaxy S3′s ascend into uSwitch’s mobile tracking list.

We have yet to see whether mobile users will embrace what the mobile carriers have to offer. One thing is for sure: if the Samsung Galaxy S3 manages to beat the iPhone 4S in terms of sales figures, Apple better come up with something better in the iPhone 5. Otherwise, it can kiss its stronghold in the smartphone market goodbye.

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This article, Samsung Galaxy S3 topples iPhone 4S on Mobile Tracker Charts , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


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