Wednesday, June 13, 2012

AndroidGuys

AndroidGuys

Win a Biscotti TV Phone from AndroidGuys!

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 03:15 PM PDT

Video chat on an Android phone is pretty cool, right?  On a tablet, it's even better.  But what about Google Talk on a television?  Awesome!  The Biscotti TV Phone is exactly the type of gadget that allows for this service.

Hooked up to your TV via HDMI, the Wi-Fi Biscotti features a 5-megapixel camera and comes with a 6-button remote control.  The size of the device is nearly identical to the food that bears its name and sits on top of your TV set.

Able to work in a TV-TV capacity, Biscotti is also a great way to video chat with your fellow Android users. Perhaps the best feature in the Biscotti is that you can sit far enough away from the device as to not look silly to your caller.  What's more, you don't have to worry about that unflattering double-chin that accompanies video chat from your phone.  On second thought, maybe the feature we dig the most is that you don't have to switch inputs to work - it pops up over top Law & Order!

Features of the  Biscotti TV Phone:

  • Real-Life Picture and Sound – High-definition camera and microphone captures the entire room, allowing large groups of family and friends to move about freely and naturally.
  • Easy to Use – Biscotti is a single device that sits nicely atop your TV and sets up in minutes. You can control it from the couch with a simple 6-button remote.
  • Free calls to Anyone, Anywhere – Visit family and friends in their living room, dorm room or anywhere in between, worldwide.
  • Ready When You Are – Like your home phone, Biscotti is always on. No more scheduling video calls or waiting for the computer to start. Just tap the remote.
  • You're In Control – Receive calls while watching TV. You can even set Biscotti to turn on the TV and auto answer certain calls.
  • Everything is Included – No computer or phone line is required. If you have Wi-Fi and an HDTV, you're ready to go!

WE'RE GIVING A BISCOTTI TV PHONE AWAY!

Pretty nifty stuff, right?  So how would you like to win one?  We've got a brand new Biscotti that we're itching to unload on one of you guys and here's how you can win!

  • Leave a comment in the comments below, using a legitimate email address.  What kind of comment?  Whatever.
  • Contest is open to all residents of the United States and Canada.  We know we'll upset a number of you but this one is out of our hands.
  • The winners will be chosen randomly and notified via email.  The winners must respond within two days (48 hours) of being contacted. Don't reply to us?  We'll move on to someone else.
  • This device is just a promotional giveaway from AndroidGuys; we'll not be your tech support or customer service line.
  • Entries (comments) will be accepted through Friday, June 15 11:59PM

Win a Biscotti TV Phone from AndroidGuys! originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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HTC not allowed to use patents it does not own, says ITC

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 12:44 PM PDT

The International Trade Commission has refused to let HTC use the patents it has on loan from Google in its current battle with Apple for patent infringement. Google loaned 5 patents to the Taiwanese manufacturer in September of last year with the specific purpose of fighting off Apple's claims.

Apple argued that HTC lacked standing (the right to sue) and the Administrative Law Judge Thomas Pender concluded that they didn't have all substantial rights in the relevant patents. This leaves only 3 of the 8 patents HTC were using in it's counter ITC complaint against Apple.

HTC can appeal the decision, but it's unlikely that they will. Another solution would be for Google to join the investigation as another complainant. This would escalate the on-going feud between the two giants even further, however.

What do you guys make of this? Can't we all just get along?

Source: FOSS Patents Via: Arstechnica 

HTC not allowed to use patents it does not own, says ITC originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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HTC One S with S3 processor being sold in select Asian and European markets

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 11:57 AM PDT

 

After it was discovered that HTC was selling the One S in Taiwan with Qualcomm's previous generation processor, the S3 Snapdragon as opposed to the S4, HTC has confirmed that they're selling the S3 version in Asia-Pacific regions, as well as some European markets. It's not certain which European markets this specifically applies to, but HTC is telling the public where the change has been made so consumers won't be kept in the dark. If the phone is clocked at 1.7GHz instead of 1.5, then it'll probably be using the S3.

The change in some markets is likely due to Qualcomm struggling to meet demand for the S4, thanks to the popularity of LTE devices this year - which mostly run on Qualcomm chips. My guess is this: these select markets are still working towards LTE, so the S4 wasn't needed in these devices to provide the same customer experience.

HTC has said that they're working towards meeting the demand for phones with faster and more power efficient chips. In the meantime, however, if you're after a One S and live in one of the select markets... then it's best to check which processor it's using, if it bothers you.

What do you guys think? Obviously there's not much HTC can do about this, they want to meet the demand of their customers, even if Qualcomm can't. Do you think that maybe the device's price point should reflect the change in processor? Let us know below!

Source: The Verge

 

HTC One S with S3 processor being sold in select Asian and European markets originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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Songkick brings concert calendar, band alerts, and more to Android

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 09:30 AM PDT

Startup music service Songkick has released its Android application today, bringing a host of live music features to your smartphone.   Thanks to integration with a user's Google Music account, Last.fm, Pandora, and music library, Songkick provides live music information, local concert details, and other relevant goodies.

Looking for some tickets to an upcoming tour?  Songkick has you covered with in-app purchasing and custom alerts. The Android app is built with 4.0 aesthetics is feature-rich and offers a home screen widget with real-time updates.

Download Songkick from Google Play today!

Say Hello To Songkick Concerts On Android

100,000 Concerts In Your Pocket

London, England - 12 June 2012 – Songkick is announcing today its Songkick Concerts app for Android, available now on Google Play. Fans can discover first the latest live music information for their favorite artists with a personalized, local concert calendar. Songkick, the world's largest single source of concert information, makes the concert discovery experience more fun, easy and social.

Built to the latest Ice Cream Sandwich user experience standards, the app features a useful home screen widget that provides real-time updates when your favorite bands announce tour dates near you. Track your favorite artists from your Android music library, Google Music account, Pandora, or Last.fm app, taking advantage of the Android 4.0 content provider framework. With stunning gesture-based navigation, you can easily swipe between your plans, new concerts, and all concerts in your location. Interactive notifications ensure you find out about new concerts before tickets go on sale.

"Following on from our explosive growth on iPhone and Spotify, the Songkick for Android app has been the loudest request from our users, and we've spent time understanding how to really take advantage of the awesome functionality in Ice Cream Sandwich," said Ian Hogarth, Songkick CEO and co-founder.

He added, "Research shows that fans go to twice as many concerts once they have Songkick, and a huge number of music fans now listen to music on the go on their mobile devices. We can't wait to get Android users out to see more shows with their friends."

Features include: 

  • Instantly scan your music library, your Google Music account, and your Last.fm app to track your favorite artists.
  • Import your favorite artists from your Facebook, Pandora or Last.fm accounts.
  • Get a personalized, local concert calendar for your bands.
  • Receive alerts when new concerts by your artists are announced.
  • For every concert, you can view the full line-up, venue, map, and compare the best ticket offers.
  • Jump-to-letter alphabet scrolling makes it quick to move through your tracked bands.
  • Browse all events in your calendar or any city worldwide. Add more locations for cities you are interested in or plan to visit.
  • Invite friends to concerts, and add them to your Google Calendar.
  • Embedded Google Maps make navigation quick and easy.
  • Customize your tracked bands, so you never miss your favorite artists playing live.
  • Browse the full tour schedule for the bands you like.
  • Keep track of your concert plans all in one convenient place.

Songkick on Android is fully integrated with your Songkick.com account, so you can stay in sync anytime. All of your live music information on-the-go, in one convenient place.

Download Songkick Concerts on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.songkick

Songkick brings concert calendar, band alerts, and more to Android originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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Watch Samsung’s commercial for the Galaxy S III [VIDEO]

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 07:30 AM PDT

Samsung's 30-second commercial for the Galaxy S III has landed on YouTube and should presumably hit TV in short order.  Heck, given that we don't watch much live television, we might have missed it already.  Nevertheless, here's the message that Samsung is pushing with their new flagship device.  You'll notice that it doesn't say one word about the hardware or cutting edge specifications.  No, this is about the experience.  For that, we applaud Samsung.

Watch Samsung’s commercial for the Galaxy S III [VIDEO] originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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C Spire Wireless announces Galaxy S III as first 4G LTE handset

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 07:06 AM PDT

Regional carrier C Spire Wireless (formerly Cellular South) today announced that the Samsung Galaxy S III will be their first 4G LTE smartphone.  Without providing a launch date or pricing details, we assume it will debut in late June or July with the same $200-$250 price tag. C Spire Wireless becomes the sixth carrier in the United States expected to offer Samsung's new flagship handset, following last week's big reveal.

"We're excited that the Galaxy S III will be among the first 4G LTE devices launched on the nation's only personalized network optimized for the next generation of high-speed data services," said Kevin Hankins, chief operating officer for C Spire Wireless.

Come September, C Spire Wireless expects to deploy its 4G LTE network across 20 markets in Mississippi, covering 2,700 square miles and more than 1.2 million consumers.  What's more, they plan to be the first provider to offer 4G LTE speeds in Mississippi, beating out the bigger players.

C Spire Wireless announces Galaxy S III as first 4G LTE handset originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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Spotify debuts redesigned Android app

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 07:00 AM PDT

After weeks of offering an early look preview of their next Android application, Spotify has released a completely redesigned streaming music client.  Featuring a brand new design with Android 4.0 support, Spotify not only looks better but it sounds better as well.  Additional details include a new slide-out navigation, high resolution artist images, related artist view, and added social features.

If you've been playing with the early look version of the app and think you're already getting everything out of Spotify, you'll find that there's even more awaiting you.  Since the preview release of the app, Spotify has added another few options.

Plus, since the preview release we've added:

  • Play queue
  • Last.fm scrobbling
  • Crossfade/gapless playback settings
  • Widget – control Spotify from the home screen
  • Folder support

Download Spotify for Android for free from Google Play.  While a Premium account runs $9.99 per month, Spotify offers a 30-day free trial.

Spotify

Spotify debuts redesigned Android app originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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Verizon outlines Share Everything data plans

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 06:13 AM PDT

Verizon Wireless has officially pulled back the curtain for its "Share Everything" family plans which let user pool data across as many as 10 devices.  Expected to launch on June 28, the plans include unlimited phone calls and text messages and run anywhere between $50 and $100 per month.  There are six different options for consumers to choose from, each with its own bucket of data allotment.

  • $50/month allows for 1GB shared data
  • $60/month allows for 2GB shared data
  • $70/month allows for 4GB shared data
  • $80/month allows for 6GB shared data
  • $90/month allows for 8GB shared data
  • $100/month allows for 10GB shared data

Verizon will also tap each individual device with its own separate monthly fees, on top of the charges you see above.

  • Smartphones will cost $40/month per line
  • Feature phones will cost $30/month per line
  • Hotspots, USB modems, netbooks, and notebooks will cost $20/month each
  • Tablets will cost $10/month each

Conceivably, one might end up paying more for having multiple devices on the Share Everything plans, and Verizon concedes the point.  To that point, the carrier expresses that these plans are not required and that families and multiple device users can stay the course with current offerings.

Should you come close to your allotted data, Verizon will issue an alert and give you an option of paying $10 for 2GB of extra data.  Forgo the option and put things in your own hand, your overage charges will come in the form of $15 per 1GB data.

June 28 is also the same date that Verizon stops offering grandfathered unlimited data plans to subscribers.  More specifically, if a customer takes a subsidy from the carrier, they will lose the unlimited rate plan. On the other hand you can still buy your devices outright or through other channels and keep things the way they are.

CNET

Verizon outlines Share Everything data plans originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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AT&T may get Samsung Galaxy S III ‘on or before’ June 21

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 06:03 AM PDT

The Galaxy S III, as we all know, is one of the hottest things in the mobile world right now. Everybody's talking about it, almost everyone wants it, and yet... the options for us here in the states to get it is limited.

If you're on AT&T, your wait may soon be over. When you pre-order the device as an AT&T Premier customer, the carrier indicates that your device should arrive "on or before" June 21st. This claim makes sense, as T-Mobile and Sprint are both slated to get the phone on the same date.

via bgr | droid matters

AT&T may get Samsung Galaxy S III ‘on or before’ June 21 originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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VirusTotal app hits Android, checks your apps against over 40 antivirus sources

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 05:55 AM PDT

Mobile security is becoming more and more important every day. With the number of fake apps, viruses, malware, and general information stealing apps there are in the wild, we users have to be more and more careful with what we do.

As an I.T. professional, I'm constantly on the lookout (pun only partially intended) for good security apps, and it looks like we may have found one: VirusTotal. The app has actually been around for awhile, but only in a desktop environment. Until now, VT was a simple web interface where you could upload files to be scanned against different AntiVirus engines. Now, however, it has come to Android. According to Android Police:

As mobile devices are often data-limited, VirusTotal for Android instead checks an identifying hash of each application installed on your mobile device against the website's database. If your applications have already been uploaded to VirusTotal by someone else, you will get results based on that. If an app crops up that has not been scanned before, you then have the option to upload it for an on-demand scan.

This is truly an innovative way to keep your mobile device safe. While it may not be the prettiest app out there, the functionality certainly seems great.

If you want to pick this app up from the Play Store for free, just hit up this link, and let us know what you think of it in the comments below.

via android police

VirusTotal app hits Android, checks your apps against over 40 antivirus sources originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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Samsung Galaxy S III receives first official firmware update

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 05:37 AM PDT

The Galaxy S III has gotten its first firmware update. This brings the phone up to firmware version LF2. So far, it seems to be coming to the unlocked UK version, and is being pushed out through Kies and over the air. The update brings with it a slew of stability improvements, although the specifics of these improvements is yet unknown. It does come with a new radio and kernel, and is still based on Android 4.0.4.

If you're in the UK, be sure to check your Galaxy S III, and let us know how the updates go in the comments.

Samsung Galaxy S III receives first official firmware update originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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Max Payne for Android set to drop June 14

Posted: 11 Jun 2012 06:17 PM PDT

Grab your semi-automatics and make sure your magazines are full, everyone, because Max Payne is set to hit Android on June 14th. It's coming full with HD graphics and a full MP experience. the game will be dropping at $2.99 in the Google Play Store - for the following phones:

Supported Android Phones: Motorola Razr,  Razr Maxx, Motorola Atrix, Motorola Photon, Motorola Droid Bionic, HTC Rezound, HTC One X,  HTC One S,  HTC Evo 3D, HTC Sensation, HTC Droid Incredible 2,  Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Samsung Nexus S, Samsung Galaxy Note, Samsung S2, Samsung Galaxy R, Sony Xperia Play, Sony Xperia S, Sony Walkman Z Series Media Player

Supported Android Tablets: Acer Iconia, Asus Eee Pad Transformer, Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime, Dell Streak 7, LG Optimus Pad, Medion Lifetab, Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 / 10.1, Sony Tablet S, Sony Tablet P, Toshiba Thrive, HTC Flyer, HTC Jetstream

Who here's gonna drop the three bucks for this? Let us know in the comments!

via rockstar

Max Payne for Android set to drop June 14 originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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Apple drops Google maps, opts for an in-house alternative

Posted: 11 Jun 2012 05:44 PM PDT

 

It was only a matter of time, folks. Apple has officially announced that they're dropping Google Maps on their iDevices and going for something cooked up within their own walled garden walls. Big loss? That stands for debate, as Google Maps has never really run terrifically on iOS. However, this won't mean much for Android users; if anything, it will give developers more time to add to the Maps experience on Android.

Tell us what you think in the comments!

via androidcentral

Apple drops Google maps, opts for an in-house alternative originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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Sony set to launch a new Xperia device soon

Posted: 11 Jun 2012 05:08 PM PDT

Andy Rubin just confirmed that more than 900,000 Android devices are activated every day, telling us that Android OS is improving everyday, thanks to all the manufacturers out there. Sony is one of them, and this year Sony brought a lot of good devices, and now they are planning to come up with a new device, but the launch of this device is in the hands of Sony fans.

According to the image above, June 20 seems to be the day when Sony will officially unveil it, but by visiting Sony's application on Facebook and clicking the fast forward button, you bring the launch a little closer. First, the launch was set for June 22, but thanks to Sony fans, it's getting closer, so keep in mind that the date is subject to change.

I will add a little spice here by saying that the device that will probably be announced is the Sony Xperia Tipo, which was leaked a month ago, and a yet another affordable entry level device from Sony. If you are Sony fan then hit this link and do your part. Tell us what you think about this upcoming device from Sony in the comment box below.

Via: UV

Sony set to launch a new Xperia device soon originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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