Android Central |
- Bluetooth quality, SGS III shipping [From the Forums]
- Contest: Win 1 of 10 iBolt Car Docks for the EVO 4G LTE and HTC One X this week!
- LG Optimus 4X HD hands-on and initial review
- Spotify receives mystery update, landscape view still not on the horizon
- Official version of VLC for Android almost ready for launch?
- Vais Technology bringing major Android integration to car Toyota, Lexus stereos
- Griffin stylus review
- Samsung 2100mAh Extended NFC Battery for Verizon Galaxy Nexus [accessory review]
- CrackBerry Kevin World Tour: What's the best Twitter app?
- HTC: Wifi glitch so far only seen in Tegra 3 One X
- Seidio Active case for HTC EVO 4G LTE review
- Contest Winners: ShopAndroid Daily giveaways, Lookout party tickets, BlackBerry Premium Charger!
- Samsung Galaxy S III getting SAFE in the U.S.
- Samsung CEO plans to improve software, user experience and design
- Start your week with the Greatest Android Podcast in the World!
- Deal of the Day: Seidio CONVERT Combo for HTC EVO 4G LTE
- T-Mobile UK announces new European data roaming plans
- HTC acknowledges Wifi hardware issues some have on the One X
- Monday Brief: WWDC Coverage, BB10 images, and more!
- First CyanogenMod 9 nightly build available for international Samsung Galaxy S III
- EXIF data possibly outs 'Nexus 7' tablet
- LG Optimus L5 launches in Europe this month
| Bluetooth quality, SGS III shipping [From the Forums] Posted: 18 Jun 2012 04:34 PM PDT
Just in case you missed out on some of the Android news today, now is the time to go ahead and get yourself fully caught up. Here on the blogs and in the Android Central Forums there is plenty to talk about. Have some questions? Need some help or just looking to chat Android? You know where to go, check out some of the threads below to get started.
If you're not already a member of the Android Central forums, you can register your account today. 
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| Contest: Win 1 of 10 iBolt Car Docks for the EVO 4G LTE and HTC One X this week! Posted: 18 Jun 2012 03:49 PM PDT
Got a shiny new HTC EVO 4G LTE or HTC One X and looking for a car dock to make travel more fun and efficient this summer? Look no further than the iBOLT Car Dock. (Like the one above with the HTC One X.) When driving, the Car Dock keeps your phone charged and in a secure and easy to view position. Signal for both cell phone reception and GPS are optimized when phone is placed inside the windshield area. Use with your preferred Bluetooth hands-free solution for a complete hands-free driving experience. The phone will will automatically switch to the Car Panel view when inserted, allowing quick access to Contacts, GPS Navigation, stored Music or any App. The Dock is designed to be compatible with most cases, simply remove the top insert. With an open back video can be recorded while driving. Features include:
The iBOLT Car Dock is available from ShopAndroid for $39.95, but this week we have a special treat. Ten lucky Android Central readers will get to speed away with a free car dock from iBOLT and ShopAndroid! All you have to do to enter is head over to the contest thread at the link below and leave a comment. We're going to pick 2 winners from each day's entries so you can enter up to 5 times (once per week day this week). Please don't enter more than once per day. We'll announce the winners next Monday with the rest of the week's contest winners. Good luck! 
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| LG Optimus 4X HD hands-on and initial review Posted: 18 Jun 2012 02:45 PM PDT
When I first opened the box for the LG Optimus 4X HD, the words "wow" came out of my mouth. It's 4.7-inches of sexy, iconic LG style, in white, and that's a good way to get me hooked. We had an earlier look at the 4X HD at CES in 'Nawlins, and walked away impressed with what LG was showing us with both the new hardware and software. The 4X HD is a beauty, and built like a tank. The specs are at the top of the heap, with it's 4.7-inch IPS HD display at 720p (and it's stunning), a Tegra 3 and 1GB of RAM under the hood, NFC, Gorilla Glass, removable 2140 mAh battery, and micro SD card slot. It rivals the HTC One X in the screen quality department, and at this early stage I'm not sure which is better -- they are both that good. The software's no slouch either, with Android 4.0.3 and LG's newest iteration of the Optimus UI, which is a vast improvement from what we've seen with older models. What really got me excited was in the settings. We see many really cool phones from players like LG, that are destined never to come to the United States. While we can't say for sure that we'll see this one on our side of the pond, we can say LG has built US English into the firmware. That means it is ready to go with a dictionary, display language, date, time, currency, everything is set up for use inside the US. That's something we don't usually see in phones solely for Europe or Asia, and I think it's a good sign. I'm going to give the 4X HD a run for a bit and let you know what I think after it's all said and done. In the meantime, hit the break for some video and pictures. 
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| Spotify receives mystery update, landscape view still not on the horizon Posted: 18 Jun 2012 02:19 PM PDT
The newly revamped Spotify app got itself a mystery update today, but one thing that isn't included, is the missing landscape view. When changelogs don't get updated, we can usually take it as being a bug and or security fix update, both of which are welcomed. One thing we know that a lot of you don't like about the vastly improved application though, is the strange lack of a landscape view. The old version had it, and while alarm bells rang when the preview version dropped, as that was only a preview we had to give Spotify the benefit of the doubt. Knowing that it's a big deal for a lot of folks -- tablet users especially -- we approached Spotify to see if we could get anything from them on the matter. And, we did. It probably isn't going to please those of you who are already frustrated with it though;
So, that doesn't absolutely rule it out, but for some reason it doesn't seem to be much of an issue to them. Why it is missing in the first place, remains a mystery. To grab the latest version of the app, head on over to the Google Play Store now. Download: Spotify for Android 
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| Official version of VLC for Android almost ready for launch? Posted: 18 Jun 2012 01:50 PM PDT
We've known that a version of VLC has been in active development for some time -- read a long time -- now. There are plenty of unofficial alpha builds out and about, but until now word on the official version is that it is "in development." A post today on the developers Twitter account however, might suggest that said development time is almost over. Posting in the small hours on the official VideoLAN twitter account, it simply reads "Android, here we come!" Nothing more, but it would suggest that an official build of the hugely popular, play anything, media player might finally be not be too far away. via Ausdroid 
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| Vais Technology bringing major Android integration to car Toyota, Lexus stereos Posted: 18 Jun 2012 01:35 PM PDT Vais Technology is a name synonymous with OEM car stereo integration. And coming this fall, it'll be bringing some major Android integration to the factory nav screen for Toyota and Lexus vehicles. As you see in the video above, you get a relatively traditional Android experience on what looks to be a pretty crisp display. Vais' unit is about 5 by 4 by 1 inches and connects to the back of the radio of Lexus models from 2006-12, and 2006-09 Toyotas. (Those year models are the ones with the compatible with the high-res screens, Vias tells us.) The whole deal will run about $600. Any takers out there for what looks to be a pretty sweet Android ride? More: Vais Technology; Thanks to everyone who sent this in! 
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| Posted: 18 Jun 2012 12:24 PM PDT
The Grifin stylus is a no-nonsense approach to a capacitive stylus.The Griffin stylus is a no-nonsense, sort of bare bones stylus. It does nothing in a spectacular fashion, yet is does everything “good enough” for most users. It feels like a short ballpoint pen, it has a nice pen clip and a spongy silicon tip. Apps like Sketchbook Mobile, Note Everything and Handwrite will be used to judge the overall qualities of the stylus. Read on for our full Griffin stylus review! 
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| Samsung 2100mAh Extended NFC Battery for Verizon Galaxy Nexus [accessory review] Posted: 18 Jun 2012 11:35 AM PDT
Sometimes your power-hungry Verizon Galaxy Nexus just needs a little bit of extra juice. With all that 4G LTE'ing you'll be doing, streaming videos and opening webpages in a snap, things can get drained pretty fast. What is a media consuming, data using, Nexus owner supposed to do? Slap an official, Samsung 2100mAh Extended NFC Battery for Verizon Galaxy Nexus in their phone and get back to it! This extended battery gives you an extra 250mAh of charge, and while that might not seem like much, it made a noticeable difference in my real-world use. If you're a heavy user (like I normally am), you're still going to have to go searching for the charging cable at some point in the day. If you're a light-to-moderate user (and you have a solid data connection), you can expect to get through the better part of the day without needing to charge. (Think leaving in the morning and arriving home after work.) The one caveat to using this extended battery is the slight (very slight) bump it'll give the back of your phone. The entire package is actually the battery and a replacement door, and while you can certainly discern a difference in thickness the first time you swap the bigger battery in, you'll quickly become accustomed to it. The bigger battery and door slightly round out the back a bit, so instead of there being a slight flare at the bottom of the phone, it's all one thickness. Fortunately, the thickness isn't so thick that it'll ruin using your favorite cases (probably). All of the TPU cases I tried with the extended battery went on without issue and fit comfortably snug, wrapping up my Galaxy Nexus in a nice, plastic hug. To give you a better idea of the difference in thickness, we've included a couple of pictures after the break. 
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| CrackBerry Kevin World Tour: What's the best Twitter app? Posted: 18 Jun 2012 09:40 AM PDT
The Mobile Nations World Tour is in full force and my crash course month on Android continues. One thing I've quickly come to realize is that Android = Options. In some cases, too many options. There's just not enough time in the day to try *everything* out. I have put a lot of time in to using every Android keyboard I can get a hold of to figure out which one is best for a traditional two-thumb BlackBerry typist like myself (more on that later), but when it comes to Twitter apps, I'm going to take the shortcut and ask for Android Central's advice. The other week I posed the question what accessories I should buy for my Android phone? and I got an awesome response from the community. I'm sure the same will be true in regards to apps for the twitter. I've installed a couple of Android twitter clients so far -- I've noticed each has some pros and cons -- but there are a ton of options in the Google Play Store. So I want to know... what's your favorite twitter app? Post your thoughts in the comments, and be sure to say why it's your favorite. You'll be helping not only me here, but other Android users too. Sound off! Oh, and if you want to see which twitter app I end up going with, be sure to follow me on twitter at @crackberrykevin. Hmm.. maybe for this month I should change my handle to @candroidkevin. That sort of has a nice ring to it. 
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| HTC: Wifi glitch so far only seen in Tegra 3 One X Posted: 18 Jun 2012 09:05 AM PDT
We've just gotten some more information regarding the Wifi issues some HTC One X owners have been experiencing, and which the manufacturer acknowledged this morning. An HTC spokesman tells us that so far only the quad-core Tegra 3 version of the One X appears to be affected; there have been no reports of the issue in the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4. That means if you have the AT&T One X (or any other LTE version), you're likely safe and sound. But it's also worth noting that not we've got a couple Tegra 3 versions that are working just fine. So, again, it's still not known exactly how many phones are affected. We've also got a little more in the way of instructions for those of you who are experiencing issues. HTC tells us that if you're seeing this hardware glitch (or even think you are), you should call HTC customer support (you can find your regional phone number here), and they'll help walk you through things to confirm the issue and move on from there. It's also possible you might be able to exchange the phone at the point of purchase, but that can change by country, so we'd start with the customer service call. More: HTC One X forums 
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| Seidio Active case for HTC EVO 4G LTE review Posted: 18 Jun 2012 08:46 AM PDT
The HTC EVO 4G LTE just set you back anywhere from $199 to $549; spending a fraction of that to protect it is a must.The HTC EVO 4G LTE is a beautiful device to hold in your hand. While it certainly seems sturdier than say that “other” device from Cupertino, I would not be very happy if I dropped this – either on the face of the device or on the back with the protruding camera lens. A good case makes me feel better about the investment in the phone and it is good insurance against the unforeseen. 
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| Contest Winners: ShopAndroid Daily giveaways, Lookout party tickets, BlackBerry Premium Charger! Posted: 18 Jun 2012 08:05 AM PDT
If you're a registered member here at Android Central then you know our forums always have a contest happening. And if you're not registered, well -- now is as good a time as any. This week's winners are as posted after the break, and if you were chosen watch your email as we'll be following up during the week. Stay tuned for more upcoming contests folks. Congrats to the winners! 
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| Samsung Galaxy S III getting SAFE in the U.S. Posted: 18 Jun 2012 07:05 AM PDT
It looks like Samsung are treading on RIM's toes a little with this latest announcement. From July 2012, Sammy will be offering the Galaxy S III SAFE (Samsung Approved For Enterprise). Available to AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and US Cellular customers the SAFE-branded Galaxy S III supports a full suite of enterprise-ready features and capabilities with support for 338 IT Policies. This includes on-device AES-256 bit encryption, enhanced support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and support for industry-leading Virtual Private Network (VPN) and Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions. There will even be a SAFE2SWITCH trade-up program to encourage both consumers and enterprise users to swap qualifying smartphones for their SAFE equivalents. If you're big on enterprise security, you can check out the full press release after the break. Source: Samsung 
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| Samsung CEO plans to improve software, user experience and design Posted: 18 Jun 2012 06:58 AM PDT
Anyone who's used a Samsung smartphone over the past few years will be aware that the company's approach to software design can be a little scattershot at times. And it seems there's an awareness of this issue at the highest levels of the company, as new Samsung CEO Kwon Oh-hyun delivered his inaugural speech. According to reports from The Wall Street Journal, Kwon told Samsung employees --
As we pointed out in our review of the company's latest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S III, software design is one area in which Samsung lags behind competitors like HTC. Where HTC's Sense 4 has a clear and consistent design language, TouchWiz is more a disparate set of apps with few common design cues. With the manufacturer putting increasing emphasis on the importance of improving software, users will be hoping for prettier, more intuitive software in future Samsung smartphones. However, given that the latest version of TouchWiz, dubbed the "TouchWiz Nature UX", has just debuted on the Galaxy S III, smartphone buyers will likely have to wait for next year's Samsung flagship before they see any tangible changes. Source: The Wall Street Journal 
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| Start your week with the Greatest Android Podcast in the World! Posted: 18 Jun 2012 06:46 AM PDT
Wake up worried about Verizon's new data plans? Wondering what all the fuss is about? We gotcha covered on Episode 99 of the Greatest Android Podcast in the World. Plus, the latest Android news, and more of your e-mails and voicemails. The Android Central Podcast is your weekly peek into the world of Android, where we break down the news that really matters, and explain what's just a bunch of hype. Plus, we answer your e-mails and voicemails. You don't want to miss it. Check out the Android Central Podcast. 
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| Deal of the Day: Seidio CONVERT Combo for HTC EVO 4G LTE Posted: 18 Jun 2012 06:26 AM PDT
The Seidio CONVERT Combo is available for just $29.95, 40% off today only. Grab yours today! 
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| T-Mobile UK announces new European data roaming plans Posted: 18 Jun 2012 06:06 AM PDT
Following similar statements from O2, Vodafone and Three over the past few weeks, T-Mobile UK is the latest British network to announce new European roaming rates. The announcement comes in the wake of a EU ruling that imposes a new cap on European roaming charges. From tomorrow, T-Mo UK customers will be able to purchase one of three "Euro Internet boosters," allowing them to use 3MB per day for £1, 20MB per week for £5 or 50MB per month for £10. Customers can buy boosters online or via text, and once the allowance or time period expires, another booster can be purchased. It's a slightly different setup to what's being offered by the likes of Vodafone and Three, and it might not represent the best value for heavy data users. However, it's a significant improvement on earlier rates of multiple pounds per megabyte. For the full breakdown of charges and terms, check the source link. Source: T-Mobile UK Support 
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| HTC acknowledges Wifi hardware issues some have on the One X Posted: 18 Jun 2012 06:00 AM PDT
One of the games folks like to play when a new phone comes out is "spot the defect." And in the case of the HTC One X, a small but vocal number of HOX owners have run into a particularly annoying problem with Wifi. We've known that HTC was still tweaking things on the software side, but this one seemed to involve some internal antennae connections. Squeeze a part of the phone, and your Wifi connection improves. We alerted HTC to the XDA thread in question a couple weeks ago, and now we've finally got an officially acknowledgement from HTC Europe that something indeed is awry. Here's the statement in full.
That doesn't quite answer all our questions, though. It's still unclear how widespread the issue is, whether we're talking about European phones only, and exactly what the remedial process entails. (We all love shipping phones internationally for repairs. Oy.) That said, good on HTC for doing its due diligence on this one. Let's hope for everyone's sake that the Wifi fault doesn't affect too many devices. More: HTC One X forums 
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| Monday Brief: WWDC Coverage, BB10 images, and more! Posted: 18 Jun 2012 05:25 AM PDT | ||
| First CyanogenMod 9 nightly build available for international Samsung Galaxy S III Posted: 18 Jun 2012 05:02 AM PDT
The first nightly build of popular custom ROM CyanogenMod 9 for the Samsung Galaxy S III is now available for download. Following the release of several unofficial builds since the S III's international launch in late May, the first official nightly is available at the CyanogenMod download site. CyanogenMod 9, which is based on the Android Open Source Project, offers an experience closer to stock Android 4.0, as opposed to Samsung's TouchWiz UX. Initial feedback from early adopters has been positive, and the list of known issues point out only a couple of minor issues with FM radio and camera flash. But as with any unofficial custom ROM, you'll need a rooted phone with a custom recovery to flash this, and you'll void your warranty in the process, so proceed at your own risk. Check the source link below for download links and more information. We should also note that this ROM is for the international Galaxy S III only -- that's the one that's on sale in Europe and Asia right now, with the product code GT-i9300. The North American LTE version, due for release in the next few days, uses a different chipset and is not compatible. If you've already bitten the bullet and installed CM9 on your Galaxy S III, be sure to let us know how you're getting on down in the comments! Source: CyanogenMod, XDA 
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| EXIF data possibly outs 'Nexus 7' tablet Posted: 18 Jun 2012 04:55 AM PDT
Normally we couldn't care less about stories born from lurking on photo-sharing sites, spying new devices from EXIF data embedded in images. But in this case we'll make an exception. An ASUS "Nexus 7" has popped up on Picasa, lending credence to the generally accepted rumor that we'll be seeing a 7-inch tablet from ASUS in just a couple short weeks at Google's annual developer conference. The picture, which we've buried after the break, isn't anything special -- just some ceiling tiles and a couple florescent lights. It's shot at 1280x960 resolution, meaning it's probably from a front-facing camera. Really, it's the existence of the tablet that's of any interest here, but neither is it all that much of a surprise. And the question remains: What will separate it from all the other tablets out there today? Anyhoo. Be sure to bookmark our Google IO page, and we'll be bringing the whole thing from June 27-29 in San Francisco. 
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| LG Optimus L5 launches in Europe this month Posted: 17 Jun 2012 07:27 PM PDT
Earlier this month we saw the LG Optimus L7, the pinnacle of the Korean manufacturer's 2012 line, make its debut in Canada. And now LG's announced that the Optimus L5, the middle brother, will be available in a number of European nations in the coming weeks. ("This month," actually, is what was announced.) The initial launches will be in the UK, Germany and France, LG says, followed by the CIS, Middle East and Asia. Central and South America will follow thereafter. The Optimus L5, as you no doubt remember from our hands-on at Mobile World Congress in February, is a 4-inch HVGA Ice Cream Sandwich device. It's rocking a Qualcomm A5 processor at 800 MHz, has 4GB of internal storage with a microSD card to supplant it, along with a 5-megapixel rear camera with flash. Powering it is a 1,500 mAh battery. Top of the line? Nope. But the L5's still likely to turn a few heads. We've got the full presser and our MWC hands-on after the break. 
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