Android Central |
- Mobi Products Desktop Cradle for HTC One X [Accessory Review]
- Box app updated with OneCloud features and 50 launch partners
- From the Android Forums: What is Kies?
- Hulu Plus updated to include improved support for 7-inch tablets and high resolution displays
- Double din car radio's can run Android too
- July 5 weighs in as potential Droid Incredible 4G LTE release date
- Monday Brief: Windows Phone 8 Unveiled, BB10 with a Physical Keyboard, and more!
- Google I/O 2012 is this week - here's what we expect to see
- Case-Mate Barely There Case for HTC One X/XL
- Samsung expects Galaxy S III sales to exceed 10 million next month
- Official Wimbledon app hits Google Play
- Start your week with the Greatest Android Podcast in the World!
- T-Mobile buying AWS spectrum off Verizon in mondo deal
- Deal of the Day: OtterBox Defender Series Case for Galaxy Nexus
- Virgin Media enter the mobile 'value wars'
- Markers: An awesome drawing app, and more confirmation of the Nexus tablet?
- ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity expected in mid-July, starting at $499
- ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity Review (TF700)
- ASUS Transformer Prime Infinity Gallery
- ASUS Transformer Prime Infinity Specs
- Google Nexus tablet details leak, expected down under in July
- Sony's new Google TV set-top box coming July 22, and they are going global
- From the Editor's Desk: Gearing up for Google IO
| Mobi Products Desktop Cradle for HTC One X [Accessory Review] Posted: 25 Jun 2012 03:56 PM PDT
Every good smartphone nowadays deserves to have a good docking solution available. It shouldn't be too hard to create either. As a functional item, they're pretty basic, but also incredibly useful at work, and at home. The Mobi Products Desktop Cradle, is a third party charging dock for the HTC One X. As such, the charging contacts on the back aren't utilised, instead opting for a microUSB based charging solution. If you're the type of person that is forever docking and un-docking your One X throughout the day, this may not be for you. If, however, you go to work, and sit your phone besides your PC all day, then this could be for you. As far as docks go, this one is pretty minimal in styling. The USB charging cable is fixed to the rear of the dock, and aside from the microUSB charger there is a simple blue LED on the top that indicates the dock is powered. This sits behind the phone too, so it isn't constantly catching your eye. The One X sits really nicely in it too. It has the slightest of angles to it, so the phone isn't quite bolt upright, but isn't at an un-natural viewing angle either. All that is visible of the dock is the black front portion, everything else is hidden behind the phone. It works really nicely combined with a full screen clock application on the nightstand at home too. It sits at just the right angle for those blurry-eyed mornings when you roll over and just need to see the time. Construction is solid, although bear in mind that as the phone is sat on a microUSB charger, if you knock the phone it is going to move about. The microUSB itself though is solidly fixed to the base of the charger. So what about the not so good points? Well, if your One X is in a case, theres a higher than likely chance you're going to need to take that case off before docking your phone. And thats about that. If you're in the market for a reasonably priced, basic charging dock for your HTC One X, then definitely take a look at the Mobi Products Desktop Cradle. 
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| Box app updated with OneCloud features and 50 launch partners Posted: 25 Jun 2012 02:42 PM PDT
Box has updated their Android app, and while that's always worth knowing, this time the reason why they did it is the news. Box has announced that their OneCloud service is now ready for public consumption, and available to Android users. The premise is simple -- OneCloud is an easy way to use integrated applications to download, edit, and upload documents and files to your Box storage. There's fifty of those integrated applications, including popular apps like Dolphin and FetchNotes. As with any new service, we'll have to try it before we give out final impressions, but on the surface this looks to be great. To help keep it great and make it even better, Box has introduced a OneCloud SDK for Android app developers, and will be on-hand at Google I/O to answer questions and get everyone on the same page, This looks to be an interesting take on cloud storage, and we're going to have a close look at it. Source: Box Download Box from Google Play. Thanks Eli, for the tip!
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| From the Android Forums: What is Kies? Posted: 25 Jun 2012 01:47 PM PDT
delldude405 asks in the Samsung Galaxy S III forums,
Kies is a lot of things. It's a way to sync and backup your contacts and device data, it's a front end for transferring media like music and video between your computer and your phone, and as you've noticed, it's a method to update the device firmware on Samsung phones. Using it is pretty easy. Install it on your computer (Windows or Mac), then plug your phone in with the provided USB data cable. Kies will find it, and present you with a fairly simple user interface full of things you can do with it. On Windows computers, Kies includes a set of universal device drivers so you don't have to fool with that, and it will automatically recognize your phone in case you have more than one. Most power users only use Kies for firmware updates, and even then only when it's required. Because all the features are available without Samsung's fancy front end, there's no real reason to install yet another software suite to your computer if you don't mind doing things the manual way. We're just glad users have a choice to use it or not to use it. For an in-depth look at Kies, hit the break for a video from Samsung. Have a question you need answered? (Preferably about Android, but we're flexible.) Hit up our Contact Page to get in touch! 
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| Hulu Plus updated to include improved support for 7-inch tablets and high resolution displays Posted: 25 Jun 2012 12:16 PM PDT
Hulu Plus for Android has received an update, which now includes improved support for 7-inch tablets and high resolution displays. A couple of months ago, there was an update which expanded the app to more tablets, and this is continuing that trend. It's great to see the folks over at Hulu committed to bringing their service to as many devices as possible. Here's the full changelog:
To get the update or the app if you haven't checked it out yet, please follow the links after the break. 
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| Double din car radio's can run Android too Posted: 25 Jun 2012 11:44 AM PDT
One of the best things about software being open-sourced is that it can be used in a variety of ways, and that is something we have definitely seen with Android. From appearing on devices, to smart style watches, kitchen appliances and now car radios, the possibilities are pretty endless. Double din car radios have become increasingly popular, and as of late we have seen them begin to run various applications like Pandora and others, but never really seen a whole operating system running on one. Well, meet the Adayo AN6B01, a double din car radio that runs Android 2.2 as well. Featuring a 6.2-inch 800x480 resolution display, this unit packs a Cortex A8 1GHz processor as well to power the software, and also has access to Google Applications, so you will be able to access the market. Coming in at $650, justifying this purchase may take a little doing. This price is smack in the middle of most double dins, and while you may sacrifice a name brand you gain the Android portion. Pretty sweet unit for you Android and car fanatics, will you be picking one up? Source: FlightInstrument 
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| July 5 weighs in as potential Droid Incredible 4G LTE release date Posted: 25 Jun 2012 10:49 AM PDT
Here we go again, right? A leaked shot shows a date, we all get our hopes up and then they are crushed when it changes. Well, according to an internal Verizon document the Droid Incredible 4G LTE is gearing up to be in our hands on July 5. The device was officially announced back in May, and perhaps you'll recall our hands-on with it at CTIA, and Verizon initially stated that it would be available "in the coming weeks," and, well, more than a few weeks have passed since then. Keeping it mind that the all new Verizon plans kick in starting on June 28, having the device launch shortly after is a good way to get those customers back in to renew their contracts. The pricing currently shows at the $199 price point, a bit higher than we had hoped, but hopefully Verizon will add a rebate or something to bring that price down to the $99 - $150 range. Now we sit and wait, hoping that July 5 is the day. Source: Droid-Life 
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| Monday Brief: Windows Phone 8 Unveiled, BB10 with a Physical Keyboard, and more! Posted: 25 Jun 2012 10:32 AM PDT | ||
| Google I/O 2012 is this week - here's what we expect to see Posted: 25 Jun 2012 09:42 AM PDT
Google I/O kicks off Wednesday morning at Moscone West in San Francisco, and we're all looking forward to a giant bucket of awesome getting dumped on our heads from the good folks from Mountain View. It's the biggest show of the year for Android lovers, one where we see what may be coming up, what is under development, and how it all works together. Because Android and Chrome have grown so popular, and other platforms like Google TV are seeing growth as well, I/O has been bumped to three days instead of the two day events we've seen in the past. We still get our two big keynotes (some of the best in the industry) but we get another full day to meet with developers and designers, as well as dive into the developer sessions. We think it's going to be a great conference, and we'll be there to keep you abreast on everything Google and Android. Hit the break and let's talk about what we expect to see at Moscone West. 
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| Case-Mate Barely There Case for HTC One X/XL Posted: 25 Jun 2012 08:34 AM PDT
The HTC ONE X is a beautifully designed phone. The polycarbonate body feels like it is tough – but I do worry about scratches and how it would weather a drop. While it certainly seems well built and sturdy, I would not be very happy if I dropped the HTC ONE X– either on the face of the device or on the back with the protruding camera. A good case makes me feel better about the investment in the phone and it is good insurance against the unforeseen. However, these new HTC devices are pretty big and I don’t want to add to the size. The HTC One X is also incredibly thin and I wouldn’t want to compromise that feel either. 
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| Samsung expects Galaxy S III sales to exceed 10 million next month Posted: 25 Jun 2012 08:17 AM PDT
We all know that the Samsung Galaxy S III is flying off the shelves like hot cakes and for many retailers is already the biggest selling Android device of all time. However, today JK Shin, head of Samsung's telecommunications business has quoted that the South Korean company "expects cumulative sales of its latest smartphone Galaxy S III to top 10 million units during July". Considering the flagship device is only a month old is incredible news for Samsung and for Android in general. With Google I/O starting this week in the U.S. I suspect we may be rather busy here at Android Central. Stay tuned for all the coverage here. Source: Yahoo 
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| Official Wimbledon app hits Google Play Posted: 25 Jun 2012 08:02 AM PDT
Attention tennis fans. I'm sure you haven't failed to remember that today sees the start of the Wimbledon tennis championship in London. If you fancy keeping up with all the news and gossip from the tournament you will be pleased to know that the official Wimbledon app is now available to download for free. The tournament runs from today through July 8, and the eyes of the world will be on Southwest London. Why not keep your eyes on it too, all from your Android smartphone? Key features of the app include:
More information and download Wimbledon here 
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| Start your week with the Greatest Android Podcast in the World! Posted: 25 Jun 2012 07:31 AM PDT
Hey, you. Yeah, you. The one who skipped Thursday night's podcast. Nothing special or anything, just our 100th episode. A little milestone. There will be others. But just for you, just this once, you can listen to it in recorded form (with a bonus intro, actually), and relive all the talk about the U.S. versions of the Galaxy S III, what we expect this week at Google IO, and a new record for 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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| T-Mobile buying AWS spectrum off Verizon in mondo deal Posted: 25 Jun 2012 06:38 AM PDT
Spectrum talk isn't sexy, but it's damned important. And this morning T-Mobile and Verizon announced a deal that's going to benefit both carriers. T-Mobile's snagging more AWS spectrum (that's the 1700 MHz stuff they need for their 3G/4G data, and next year's LTE rollout) from Verizon, and it's all part of (and contingent on) a bigger (and controversial deal) that nets Big Red additional spectrum from the likes of SpectrumCo, Cox Cable and Leap. Once that deal goes through, Verizon will flip some of that bandwidth back over to T-Mobile, and everybody not named AT&T and Sprint benefits. The deal also boosts T-Mobile's position in 15 of the top 25 markets, it says, including Philadelphia; Washington, D.C.; Detroit; Minneapolis; Seattle; Cleveland; Columbus, Ohio; Milwaukee; Charlotte, N.C.; Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; Greensboro, N.C.; Memphis; and Rochester, N.Y. 
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| Deal of the Day: OtterBox Defender Series Case for Galaxy Nexus Posted: 25 Jun 2012 06:32 AM PDT
The OtterBox Defender Series Case is available for just $33.95, 32% off today only. Supplies are limited so grab yours today! 
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| Virgin Media enter the mobile 'value wars' Posted: 25 Jun 2012 05:01 AM PDT
When it comes to value, most of the UK's phone networks are after the top spot. Three have traditionally been number one in terms of what the customer gets for his/her money. You can check out the full press release from Virgin Media below. 
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| Markers: An awesome drawing app, and more confirmation of the Nexus tablet? Posted: 25 Jun 2012 04:44 AM PDT
There's a new pressure sensitive and finger friendly drawing app in the Google Play store called Markers, and since it's written by Android software engineer Daniel Sandler (wonderfully written I might add), it's getting its fair share of attention. The app itself is free in Google Play, will run on any Android device with Eclair or higher, and it's open source. It's already given me more than a few hours of fun, and I have to recommend it to everyone. Especially everyone with a tablet. Speaking of tablets, Google's Dan Morrill has been showing off some artwork (that's his up top) and pics have a pretty interesting resolution to them -- 800x1172. Add in a few extra pixels for a series of on-screen buttons that you don't see here, and you have the 800x1200 resolution of the We'll know all there is to know about any Googlicious Nexus tablets in just a handful of days. In the meantime, grab the Markers app and have some fun while you wait. And by the way: That pic from Morrill you see above would make a great Jelly Bean easter egg. Just sayin'. Download Markers from Google Play; grab the source code; check out Dan Morrill's artwork on Google+ 
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| ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity expected in mid-July, starting at $499 Posted: 25 Jun 2012 12:02 AM PDT
So you've read our complete ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity review and can't wait to get your hands on one, eh? Can't say we blame you. It's quite the tablet-keyboard combo. So when can you get one? ASUS tells us we should expect the Infinity to go on sale no earlier than the week of July 16. There's no hard and fast date, though, and like with the Transformer Prime, availability may very depending on when stock arrives. A quick reminder on pricing:
Those prices are subject to change, ASUS says, and it wouldn't surprise us in the least if they're sold for less at some online retailers. I'll come in two colors -- amethyst gray and champagne gold. Another thing to remember is that if you've got the Transformer Prime keyboard dock, it'll work with the Infinity, so long as the firmware is up to date. So that can save you some cash. 
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| ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity Review (TF700) Posted: 25 Jun 2012 12:02 AM PDT
The ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity takes an already-excellent design and ups the ante yet again.In the world of Android tablets, which -- and let's be perfectly honest here -- has been less than inspiring of late, there consistently has been one bright spot. That would be Taiwanese manufacturer ASUS, best known as a motherboard supplier, which burst onto the scene in the spring of 2011 with a crazy tablet-keyboard laptop-esque hybrid that, surprisingly enough, got a good many things right on the first try. ASUS followed up the EeePad Transformer in late 2011 with the Transformer Prime, mostly improving on the original design (so long as GPS wasn't too important to you). And that brings us to the new ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity. (Also known as the TF700.) Announced in January 2012 -- only a month or so after the Transformer Prime hit the streets -- the Infinity, as we're wont to call it, should look familiar. It's cut from the same cloth with a 10.1-inch display and optional keyboard dock. We got our first look at it at Mobile World Congress in late February in Barcelona. So how's this one stand up? read on for our full ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity review. 
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| ASUS Transformer Prime Infinity Gallery Posted: 25 Jun 2012 12:01 AM PDT | ||
| ASUS Transformer Prime Infinity Specs Posted: 24 Jun 2012 11:59 PM PDT
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| Google Nexus tablet details leak, expected down under in July Posted: 24 Jun 2012 11:33 PM PDT
The folks at Gizmodo Australia have got their hands on what they're saying is training material for the soon-to-be-released (we hope) Nexus tablet. They're saying the tablet will be a 7-incher built by ASUS and be debuted at Google I/O this week just as expected. The specs are also pretty close to everyone's guess:
The materials suggest the tablet will go up for sale in Australia sometime in July, so we expect it in the very near future in other places on the globe. That leaves a few things left to wonder -- will it come in white? And what's the reason to buy it over any of the other Android tablets out there. We're half kidding about the first bit (although it would look very nice in white), but for the second there is one thing we know of to make it worthwhile -- updates direct from Google, with no carrier or OEM bullshit involved. If you want an Android tablet, that's the one to get. If you need a reason to buy an Android tablet in the first place, we're hoping to see one this week at Google I/O. Source: Gizmodo Au; via Ausdroid 
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| Sony's new Google TV set-top box coming July 22, and they are going global Posted: 24 Jun 2012 10:28 PM PDT
Two great pieces of news here in one press release -- Sony's new set-top Google TV box, the NSZ-GS7, will go on sale July 22 and the $199 price tag has been confirmed. Pre-orders are live now at Sony. Maybe even bigger news is that Sony will follow the US release with units for the UK also in July, and Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Netherlands, Brazil, and Mexico will follow after. To round things out Sony also says they will be releasing the Blu-ray version this fall for United States, followed later by Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Netherlands. As one of the first units of Google TV's promised 2012 summer refresh, we're excited to see how the dual-core Marvell SoC performs compared to the last generation ATOM-powered devices. We're think it will be a good bit better, as hardware performance was one of the weak spots with previous Google TV units. And that remote, with it's rear mini-qwerty and trackpad on the front, well, it just needs to be tried. The full press release and a handful of official photos are after the break. 
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| From the Editor's Desk: Gearing up for Google IO Posted: 24 Jun 2012 06:12 PM PDT
We're two days away from heading out to the Google IO developer conference in San Francisco. But no rest for the wicked. It's a working weekend. And that means one thing: A notes column!
See y'all from San Francisco this week! 
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