Android Central |
- Samsung Galaxy S III launch dates, Hiding your gallery [From the Forums]
- Sprint rumored to be launching their own NFC mobile wallet
- Android A to Z: Jellybean!
- How to restore the functionality the Apple v HTC war has taken away [root]
- Adobe Flash Player 11 update pushed to Google Play
- Sony Xperia Neo L pictured - sleek entry-level ICS phone for China
- Leaked Droid RAZR HD pic shows a big, wide phone
- AT&T Motorola 'Dinara' revealed - upcoming buttonless phone with 13MP camera
- US Cellular announces pricing for its Galaxy S III, will be available in July
- MetroPCS introduces the Activa 4G, Huawei's first U.S. LTE smartphone
- US Cellular Galaxy S III Specs
- US Cellular Galaxy S III Gallery
- T-Mobile Galaxy S III Specs
- SK Telecom leak suggests quad-core, 2GB Galaxy S III may be Korea-bound
- T-Mobile Galaxy S III Gallery
- Orange San Diego video walkthrough
- Deal of the Day: Body Glove Snap-On Case for HTC ThunderBolt
- Evernote launches Evernote Food on Android, helps you remember all your good eats
- Pro tip: Avoid unsightly contextless crotch shots on the Google+ app with better descriptions
- Pro tip: Avoid unsightly contextless crotch shots on the Google+ app with better descriptions
- Android Central 98: Coming to America (the Galaxy S III is), Google buys some stuff, CrackBerry Kevin visits
- Facebook for Android updated with fixes for crashes and login issues
- Late-night poll: Do you run a live wallpaper?
- Splashtop brings Win8 Metro Testbed to Android tablets
- GPS on the Galaxy S III, Device Wallpapers [From the Forums]
| Samsung Galaxy S III launch dates, Hiding your gallery [From the Forums] Posted: 08 Jun 2012 04:55 PM PDT
Missed out on some of the best Android news today? You can easily go ahead and get yourself caught up here on the Android Central blogs or in the Android Central forums. Have some questions? Need some help or just looking to chat Android? You know where to go, check out some of the threads below.
If you're not already a member of the Android Central forums, you can register your account today. 
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| Sprint rumored to be launching their own NFC mobile wallet Posted: 08 Jun 2012 03:54 PM PDT
NFC Times is reporting that Sprint is currently working on their own NFC-based mobile payment system, which would put them at odds with the rest of the US telcos and Google. Until the Samsung Galaxy Nexus appeared at Google Play, Sprint was the only carrier to ship phones with Google Wallet, though it was relatively easy to install on other devices with the proper hardware. If the news we're hearing today is true, Google may be left with no carrier phones supporting their payment services, as it's US only (for now) and the US carriers have opted for alternative systems -- which would require exclusive control of the secure element inside our phones. Sprint, having hired systems provider Sequent Software looks to be developing their "Touch" wallet system and retain complete control over partners, development, and security. The rest of the US carriers have opted to use the Isis payment system. This is turning into a mess. The lure of transaction fees and lucrative partnerships has become so important that everyone is forgetting that we need to use it for them to make money on it. Instead of fighting tooth-and-nail with each other over every penny, they could take one of the existing standards, garner more support from new financial partners, and have a system that works at most every point-of-sale, for most bank cards. Instead, there are a huge group of folks who want to use an NFC-based mobile wallet system, but can't. That's money not being made and not lining the pockets of investors. Everyone needs to get on the same page, pick a system, and put their support behind it so we can use it instead of bitching about it on the Internet. I understand the driving force behind innovation in the mobile space is the almighty dollar. I don't like it, but I get it. How about getting it all together and making some, instead of adding another "standard" to the mix? Source: NFC Times 
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| Posted: 08 Jun 2012 02:11 PM PDT
Jellybean is the name of a delicious hard-shelled confectionery with a soft, even more delicious inside. Made mostly of sugar and Unicorn sweat, they are a favorite of Android bloggers and ex-presidents, and probably are really good for you. Especially the black ones. Or the green ones. Sometimes the white ones, too. It's also the rumored nickname of the next version of Android. Since version 1.5, Android has had code names based on sweets and treats. We've seen Cupcake (v. 1.5), Donut (v. 1.6), Eclair (v. 2.0.1 and 2.1), Froyo (v. 2.2), Gingerbread (v. 2.3), Honeycomb (v. 3.0, 3.1, and 3.2), and Ice Cream Sandwich (v. 4.0) so far. We're pretty sure that the next version will have a similar delicious name. What we're not sure of is exactly what version it will be, or exactly what name it will carry. The general speculation is that we'll see Android 4.1 with the code name Jellybean sometime this year. But until we hear it from Google, that's all just a series of educated guesses. What's not just a guess is that it will get everyone excited, bring new features (and bugs) to the table, and we'll be all over it as soon as it appears. That's what we do -- eat jelly beans and talk Android 24/7. Life is good. Check out the complete Android Dictionary 
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| How to restore the functionality the Apple v HTC war has taken away [root] Posted: 08 Jun 2012 01:37 PM PDT
So you have a modern (read one that has or is going to get ICS) HTC Android phone, and want to restore the hyperlinked data option menu that Apple spent millions of dollars to take away from you? Hell, yeah, you do. We don't blame you one bit -- these phones were made for hackin' so hack them! You'll need to be rooted, and so far this is confirmed to be working on the EVO 3D, the EVO 4G LTE, and the One X, but it's easy to try on other devices as well. Big thanks to steal25 over at XDA for figuring out an easy method. Back up your current system/build.prop, because we're going to edit it a little bit. You can either do this on the phone -- remember to mount /system as read/write -- or pull the file with adb and do it on your computer. If you choose the latter, be sure to use a text editor that has Unix line breaks and not Windows. Notepad++ will do the job just fine. What you'll need to edit:
When your phone restarts, those links for phone numbers and Youtube videos and everything else in mail and messages should work like we're used to seeing them work, and all will be well with the world. The app associations in settings will also be gone, because you don't need them any longer. It's an easy way to make your phone work as designed, and a big stick in the eye of the goons in Cupertino. If you're not sure what we're talking about here, or have any other questions, jump into the forums and ask a few questions. The fellas are there that know what you need to know and love talking about it. Source: XDA; via Android Central forums 
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| Adobe Flash Player 11 update pushed to Google Play Posted: 08 Jun 2012 12:10 PM PDT
If you have Adobe Flash Player 11 installed on your Android device, then you're going to want to head on over to the Google Play Store where there will be an update ready and waiting. The official changelog on the Adobe website hasn't been updated at the time of writing. But, considering active development has been discontinued, there's a high chance it brings a handful of security and bug fixes. In any case, if there's an update there, it's usually a good idea to download it, so head over to the Play Store now and snag yourself a copy. Download: Adobe Flash Player 11 
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| Sony Xperia Neo L pictured - sleek entry-level ICS phone for China Posted: 08 Jun 2012 12:07 PM PDT
We haven't seen much of the Sony Xperia Neo L since it was first announced for the Chinese market back in March. But now the tiny ICS-powered handset has emerged in the flesh on Taiwanese site ePrice, where it's been snapped from various angles and compared to a contemporary Sony handset, the Xperia P. The Xperia Neo L is by modern standards a budget device -- there's a 1GHz Snapdragon S2 chip inside, 512MB of RAM and a 4-inch FWVGA LCD display. Sony hasn't cut any corners on the design, though, a the Neo L looks like a sleek device, furnished as it is in curvy white plastic with a metallic trim. Other premium features include the latest version of Android, Ice Cream Sandwich. More pics at the source link. The Sony Xperia Neo L is expected to land in China before the end of the month. Source: ePrice; via: XperiaBlog 
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| Leaked Droid RAZR HD pic shows a big, wide phone Posted: 08 Jun 2012 11:42 AM PDT
Where do you go from the Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX? How's about the Droid RAZR HD? This leaked pic seems to suggest a wide (but thin) phone with the same Kevlar back we've come to know over the past six months or so, along with mciroUSB and and HDMI port, plus what looks be to a door for the 4G LTE SIM card, and presumably some microSD storage on the side (like the Droid X days). Camera, speaker, flash. Eh, it's a phone. The bigger question for this phone is when we're going to see it, what's on the inside -- both hardware and software -- and whether it's got a snowball's chance in hell against the Samsung Galaxy S III on Verizon. Put it this way: Moto's gonna have to bring something seriously new to catch our attention at this point in the year, and it's still too early for Google to swoop in and rescue what otherwise might be an iterative phone. (And really, there's no promising that Google would even do that.) So, yeah. You've got a leaked picture of the back (and, after the break, the side) or another Motorola phone. We're not getting all that excited just yet. Source: Droid-Life 
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| AT&T Motorola 'Dinara' revealed - upcoming buttonless phone with 13MP camera Posted: 08 Jun 2012 10:53 AM PDT
With Android flagships from HTC and Samsung already on store shelves around the world, there's been a lot of interest in what Motorola's up to. Today we have some early hints of what may be next from the new Google-owned manufacturer. The Verge has obtained images of what seems to be an AT&T-branded version of the Motorola XT928 "Dinara," a phone which launched in China in late 2011. As you might've guessed from the on-screen buttons, this is an Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich device. Other reported specs include LTE connectivity, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, a 4.5-inch 720p display, 13MP camera with 1080p video recording, and a 1.3MP front-facer. No word on final branding, but "Atrix 3" is certainly a leading contender. There's also no information on any possible launch date, but the source speculates that the July 26 date on-screen may be a possibility. Source: The Verge 
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| US Cellular announces pricing for its Galaxy S III, will be available in July Posted: 08 Jun 2012 10:10 AM PDT
When US Cellular announced its intention to sell the Samsung Galaxy S III, it kinda forgot to mention how much it was going to cost us. That's been rectified today, and the prices are in line with the four major U.S. carriers. USCC will sell the Galaxy S III for $199 for the 16-gigabyte version, and $249 for the 32-gigabyte version. That all comes after a $100 mail-in rebate, though, so you'll be paying a little extra up front. (Ed. note: Boooooooooooooooooo.) Preorders start June 12, and USCC says the phone "will be available in stores and online in July." So it looks like in addition to paying more up front, you'll have to wait a couple weeks longer than AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint. More: GSII at US Cellular; Galaxy S III forums 
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| MetroPCS introduces the Activa 4G, Huawei's first U.S. LTE smartphone Posted: 08 Jun 2012 09:52 AM PDT
MetroPCS today introduced its latest Android smartphone, the LTE-capable Huawei Activa 4G. This is Huawei's first LTE device here in the United States, and for $149 without a contract (after a $50 instant rebate and a $50 mail-in), we'll happily welcome it to our shores. The Activa isn't going to blow anyone away spec wise: underneath the 3.5-inch HVGA display, the Activa is sporting an 800 MHz single-core processor and up to 32GB of external memory, with a 5MP shooter around back. The Activa ships with a 4GB microSD card preloaded with the movie Kung Foo Panda 2, which may or may not sweeten the deal. The Activa ships with Gingerbread, and everything considered, we wouldn't hold our breath for Ice Cream Sandwich to arrive anytime soon. Regardless, if you're within MetroPCS's LTE coverage, the Activa offers access to blazing speeds on a decent Android smartphone starting at an oh-so-tempting $50/month. Source: MetroPCS 
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| US Cellular Galaxy S III Specs Posted: 08 Jun 2012 09:21 AM PDT
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| US Cellular Galaxy S III Gallery Posted: 08 Jun 2012 09:12 AM PDT | ||
| Posted: 08 Jun 2012 08:41 AM PDT
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| SK Telecom leak suggests quad-core, 2GB Galaxy S III may be Korea-bound Posted: 08 Jun 2012 08:40 AM PDT
Rumors of a special Korea-only version of the Galaxy S III stem back to a report from The Korea Times just over a month ago. Since then, things have been pretty quiet -- international markets have gotten the quad-core HSPA+ version, while LTE territories have received the dual-core Snapdragon S4 model. Now a leaked internal image from Korean carrier SK Telecom suggests the reports may be true, and that Samsung's home territory may end up with an S III variant sporting a quad-core CPU, 2GB of RAM. The image obtained by PhoneArena lists the following specs for the rumored device --
Eagle-eyed readers will note that's a little thicker and a little heaver than the international HSPA+ version, so it could well be the case that we're dealing with a whole new device here, rather than a typo or error on the carrier's part. No word on LTE connectivity yet, though Exynos 4's lack of built-in LTE would make this unlikely. In any case, we'll be watching with interest (and maybe a little bit of envy) to see whether Korea does eventually get the best of both worlds with its version of the Galaxy S III. Source: PhoneArena 
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| Posted: 08 Jun 2012 08:26 AM PDT | ||
| Orange San Diego video walkthrough Posted: 08 Jun 2012 07:42 AM PDT
So, we finally have an Intel powered Android smartphone in our hands. Having gone on sale earlier in the week, we went and got hold of one so we can take a proper look at just what's what. We got a quick hands on at the launch event in London, at which the San Diego impressed upon its first public outing. Yes, it runs Gingerbread, yes it's 'only' a 4.03-inch display, and yes it's "only" a single-core 1.6GHz processor. But Intel is making big shouts over what they can do, so naturally it falls to us to put those claims to the test. The full review will be coming over the course of the next week or so, but in the meantime we've put together a slightly more in depth hands-on with the device. First impressions are good, there might just be something to this Intel thing. 
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| Deal of the Day: Body Glove Snap-On Case for HTC ThunderBolt Posted: 08 Jun 2012 06:56 AM PDT
The Body Glove Snap-On Case is available for just $9.95, 67% off the regular price today only. Pick yours up while supplies last! 
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| Evernote launches Evernote Food on Android, helps you remember all your good eats Posted: 08 Jun 2012 06:20 AM PDT
Evernote has been on a roll as of late rolling out updates to already existing apps and adding new ones to the mix. The latest to land on Android is Evernote Food. If you're a food lover, it's something you might want to take a look at. It's based on the same concept as Evernote itself but as the name implies it revolves around food that you've enjoyed. Out at a great restaurant and want to share it with others? Snap a pic and have it uploaded to Evernote food and share the details with others with the included function of adding titles, tags and even location as it has Foursquare integration built right in. The app itself looks great especially after you start adding your own items to the mix. Evernote Food is available on the Google Play Store right now but if you're looking to get a better look at the app in action or see how it can fit into your daily use, there is video below of the app in action for you all to check out. Source: Evernote Blog 
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| Pro tip: Avoid unsightly contextless crotch shots on the Google+ app with better descriptions Posted: 08 Jun 2012 05:46 AM PDT
No, Google+ app. Not "this." Because "this," being a comic-drawn crotch shot, is not what I wanted folks to focus their attention on when I linked to Peter Ha's TechCrunch piece debunking the Bloomberg story that Microsoft had "shut out" HTC from manufacturing Windows 8 devices. My only comment -- "This." (BTW, Bloomberg's is a fairly ridiculous story, led by the all-too-familiar "people with knowledge of the matter." If you didn't bite on it, kudos.) But if you'd seen my post from the Google+ app, all you'd know is that apparently I like cartoon pr0n. (Not that there's anything wrong with that, I suppose.) This all stems, of course, from Google's recent redesign of the Google+ app. And for the most part, it's a beautiful redesign. Images are large. Posts are easy to follow -- so long as you don't actually link to anything. It's something I noted at the outset but apparently forgot because I'm using G+ on the desktop side most of the time. It's also a step backward. The app used to have this problem, then it got fixed in April. Now? It's gone again, at least in the stream view. (Tap into the post and things look better, with headlines and summaries.) I've learned my lesson. This'll put an end to the one-liners. I'll use 20 words when only one is needed. Or Google could just add back a little beta of metadata. Regardless, learn from my mistake. Only you can prevent inadvertent contextless Google+ crotch shots. 
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| Pro tip: Avoid unsightly contextless crotch shots on the Google+ app with better descriptions Posted: 08 Jun 2012 05:46 AM PDT
No, Google+ app. Not "this." Because "this," being a comic-drawn crotch shot, is not what I wanted folks to focus their attention on when I linked to Peter Ha's TechCrunch piece debunking the Bloomberg story that Microsoft had "shut out" HTC from manufacturing Windows 8 devices. My only comment -- "This." (BTW, Bloomberg's is a fairly ridiculous story, led by the all-too-familiar "people with knowledge of the matter." If you didn't bite on it, kudos.) But if you'd seen my post from the Google+ app, all you'd know is that apparently I like cartoon pr0n. (Not that there's anything wrong with that, I suppose.) This all stems, of course, from Google's recent redesign of the Google+ app. And for the most part, it's a beautiful redesign. Images are large. Posts are easy to follow -- so long as you don't actually link to anything. It's something I noted at the outset but apparently forgot because I'm using G+ on the desktop side most of the time. It's also a step backward. The app used to have this problem, then it got fixed in April. Now? It's gone again, at least in the stream view. I've learned my lesson. This'll put an end to the one-liners. I'll use 20 words when only one is needed. Or Google could just add back a little beta of metadata. Regardless, learn from my mistake. Only you can prevent inadvertent contextless Google+ crotch shots. 
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| Posted: 08 Jun 2012 04:16 AM PDT Podcast MP3 URL: http://traffic.libsyn.com/androidcentral/acpc98.mp3
Thing 1: Galaxy S III headed to the U.S.
Thing 2: CrackBerry Kevin's World TourThing 3: Google making moves
Thing 4: Other odds and ends
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| Facebook for Android updated with fixes for crashes and login issues Posted: 08 Jun 2012 04:15 AM PDT
Been having issues with Facebook for Android logging you out or just outright crashing seemingly for no reason? If so, time to grab the latest version that is now appearing in the Google Play Store. As noted in the change log, this one should solve those issues, though we're not going to make any promises. You'll find the update in your apps list or you can just grab it from here. 
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| Late-night poll: Do you run a live wallpaper? Posted: 07 Jun 2012 11:55 PM PDT
JD, a member of the weekly after-podcast hangout club, asks this one. We all were excited about live wallpapers when they came with along with 2.1, and have become pretty synonymous with Android. There's thousands to choose from, more than a few good ones come pre-installed on most phones, and it's always one of the first things hackers try to rip from leaked ROMs and new phones. On the other hand, they can be rough on performance and battery, so a good many folks don't bother. Which are you? Let us know in tonight's poll! 
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| Splashtop brings Win8 Metro Testbed to Android tablets Posted: 07 Jun 2012 07:44 PM PDT
I'm not entirely sure the level of interest among Android users out there wishing to run Windows 8 on their tablets but according to Splashtop developer interest is high. As such, they've gone ahead and released Win8 Metro Testbed, which will allow you to simulate a Windows 8 environment on compatible Android tablets.
There is a few constraints with the app you'll need to be aware of though. First, you'll need a copy of Windows 8 installed on a PC or Mac to make use of but you can get that from Microsoft for free right now. Then, you'll need the Win8 streamer app installed available from Splashtop. Finally, you'll need to hand over $25 for the Win8 Metro Testbed app available on the Google Play Store. Sounds all rather complicated but it's really not if you're already checking out Windows 8. Splashtop did do up a great video showing how to use the app so go ahead, have a look at Win8 Metro Testbed in action below. 
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| GPS on the Galaxy S III, Device Wallpapers [From the Forums] Posted: 07 Jun 2012 06:03 PM PDT
Missed out on some of the best Android news today? You can easily go ahead and get yourself caught up here on the Android Central blogs or in the Android Central forums. Have some questions? Need some help or just looking to chat Android? You know where to go, check out some of the threads below.
If you're not already a member of the Android Central forums, you can register your account today.
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