Thursday, June 14, 2012

Google Android News Android Forums

Google Android News Android Forums

Official Xbox Live for Android application launches. How does it compare the competition?

Posted: 13 Jun 2012 05:13 PM PDT

If you’re both an Android lover and an avid gamer, chances are you will been waiting for Microsoft to release it’s new My Xbox Live application on the Google Play Store. With the application hitting Apple’s App Store last month it was only a matter of time before we’d see it arrive on Android and the good news is that today is that day!

I’ve personally been a fan of both Android and Xbox for a few years now and have been searching for the ideal application to suit my needs. For me, one of the biggest attractions that keeps me coming back to the Xbox is the social aspect of online gaming. The majority of my close friends are on Xbox Live and from time to time one of my favourite means of winding down after a long week at work is spending a couple of hours playing capture-the-flag whilst chatting with my friends. I was always interested in the concept of being able to glance at your phone to see who’s online and what they’re playing before deciding whether to fire up the Xbox or watch a film. With a number of popular, third party applications on the Play Store, the biggest challenge was always finding an application that you could rely on.

Over the past couple of years I’ve switched between Spark 360, XBOX Live Statistics and the unfortunately titled 1337pwn.com each of which offered various pros and cons with none of them truly delivering a perfect solution. To begin with, none of them are particularly quick. Each time you sign in, the process of checking your credentials is laboured and worse yet any time Microsoft updates its servers it would send the applications haywire, often for weeks whilst we wait for the developer to push out a fix. Despite claiming to offer real-time updates more often than not I found that my friends list needed to be manually refreshed frequently in order to get an accurate picture, again manual refreshing is a slow process. You can also throw in clunky performance, untidy user interfaces and useless widgets and you will begin to understand the problem. Did I mention that most of the applications will cost you a few pennies for the privilege of downloading?

Cue Microsoft, will the official application finally provide the solution we’ve all been waiting for? For the most part yes. The sign in process whilst not being instant is definitely the quickest I’ve experienced to date. I have encountered one or two issues with spotlight screen where it fails to load any data however it seems to correct itself fairly promptly. The ability to check your friends list, read and respond to messages and view your activity beacon is accurate and quick. The other usual features you would expect to see such as comparing gamer scores and updating your bio screen are present and in a nice addition you can also fully customize your avatar straight from the app. It also has to be noted that Microsoft has done a great job with the UI. The menus are clean and intuitive, navigation is crisp and animations are as smooth as butter. Windows Phone Metro UI is present throughout the app and whilst for many it’s a bit of an acquired taste as the basis for an entire OS, it works great for the application. Naturally there are one or two improvements I’d hope to see in future updates. There are no widgets available at this point, a true at-a-glance overview of online friends would be great. Remote functionality is also notable in its absence although it’s possible that Microsoft is focussing on Xbox SmartGlass for Android which is due out any time now.

In conclusion, the official app will definitely be replacing the combination of third party applications I’ve been using up until now. There are one or two area for improvements which I believe Microsoft will eventually address however the functionality it does have is superior to the alternatives. In case you were wondering, the application is completely free. Click the link below to grab the download and be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments.

XBL XBLQR 2012-06-14 01.01.35 2012-06-14 01.01.39 2012-06-14 01.01.51 2012-06-14 01.02.03 2012-06-14 01.02.26

 


Google Play 

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Pre-Orders Go Live On Amazon

Posted: 13 Jun 2012 04:41 PM PDT

Ever since Samsung announced the Galaxy Note 10.1, I’ve been very excited about it and thought that it might actually be the first tablet I’d buy. With the Galaxy Note being so popular and successful, I have no doubts that the Note 10.1 will be just as great especially with the S-pen functionality. Well, if you’d like to be one of the first consumers to get your hands on it then Amazon has you covered…. Kind of. The Note 10.1 was up for pre-orders on Amazon and said shipping would be about 3-5 weeks, but due to a high volume of pre-orders the page has been temporarily taken down until Amazon replenishes their inventory. I’ll post the link via the source so just keep your eye on it from time to time. Hopefully Amazon put it back on shortly.

If you’re not familiar with the Note 10.1, it will feature Androids latest firmware, Ice Cream Sandwich, and will feature Samsung’s innovative S-pen technology. It will be a WiFi-only 10.1″ tablet with 32GB of on-board storage. The tablet will don the 1.4 quad-core Exynos processor, similar to the one inside the international Galaxy SIII. This is definitely the tablet to keep an eye on if you’re a Samsung fan.

source: Amazon

Qualcomm’s 28nm Snapdragon S4 Chips Will Fail To Meet Demands Until 2013

Posted: 13 Jun 2012 04:22 PM PDT

A statement released by the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the contract chip maker that’s in charge for the production of the SoC’s for Qualcomm, stated that they will fail to meet demands for the Snapdragon S4 processors until next year in 2013. The 28nm Snapdragon S4 processors are arguably the most used and wanted mobile processor on the market. They’re huge in the American market as it’s the processor that will be used in all of the US’s versions of the Samsung Galaxy SIII, and it is already used in the widely successful AT&T One X and T-Mobile One S. The reason it’s so popular within the American carriers is due to its LTE integration, considering every US market is or will be pushing their own LTE service.

The TSMC has said that production quantity of the chip should start improving near the end of the year in Q4 and the “market demand is likely to be satisfied in 2013″. While we’ve already reported before of the shortages of the Snapdragon S4, even causing the ASUS Padfone a slight delay in its release, I don’t think this generally jeopardizes any current upcoming device releases that will use this processor (i.e. the Galaxy SIII), but this is definitely something that we should keep our eyes on.

source: Reuters

Asus Transformer Pad Infinity gives the new iPad a beat-down in benchmark tests

Posted: 13 Jun 2012 02:20 PM PDT

Ritchies Room has taken a video of the two current hottest tablets on the market and uploaded the results to YouTube for our viewing pleasure. The results will likely surprise very few and upset very many. Apple and Asus top dogs were put through four sets of benchmarks in order to measure general performance, browser speeds, java scripting and graphics.

When it comes to processor and memory speed the Transformer wiped the floor with the iPad delivering a score that more than doubled that of Apple’s finest. In the battle of the browsers, Chrome on the Transformer is up to 50% faster than Safari on the iPad, another comprehensive win for the Asus. Javascripting performance is a closer run thing with the Transformer edging out the iPad and it was similarly close in Graphics performance with the iPad’s quad-core graphics chip ensuring the only win for the iPad.

For the full facts and figures you can check out the video below, just try not to look so smug when you show it to your iPad toting friends.

 

Click here to view the embedded video.

New Kindle app update provides improved tablet support

Posted: 13 Jun 2012 10:53 AM PDT

 

Popular e-reader app, Kindle for Android just put out a new update that looks to improve its functions for tablet users. The changelog for version 3.6.0 is as follows:

  • Tablet users: customize your reading experience with new margin and line spacing controls.
  • Tablet users: see two pages side-by-side in landscape mode.
  • Fixed a bug that required some users to re-register when returning to the app.
  • Several bug fixes.

So if you’re looking to get your read on today, be sure to hit the link below to grab the update.

  QRCode

Play Store Download Link

Acer Announces the Tegra 3, 1080p Iconia Tab A700: Pre-Order Now for $450

Posted: 13 Jun 2012 10:49 AM PDT

Acer has just unveiled its Iconia Tab A700 and will be available for pre-order starting today at “national electronics retailers” throughout the U.S. The A700 sports a 10-inch screen but will be Acer’s first tablet with a 1920 x 1200 resolution display. That’s 1080p on a tablet folks! Just like the A510, this new slate features the NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor, 1GB of RAM and runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, but also packs in Dolby Mobile 3+ technology coupled with 5.1 channel surround sound. To enjoy this awesome sound feature, just use the devices HDMI output to transfer media to your television. Available with 32GB of onboard storage, the A700 is capable of supporting up to a whopping 64GB’s of SD card space, one of the largest (official) storage options for a tablet we’ve seen to date.

The device will be available in black or silver and should arrive for pre-order at your favorite electronics retailer soon. You can also place an order right now through the Acer Store for $449.99. Join us after the break to see a gallery of images and the official press release. Anyone interested?

acer_a70001 acer_a70002 acer_a70003 acer_a70004 acer_a70006 acer_a70010

ACER DEBUTS ICONIA TAB A700 TABLET WITH FULL HD 1080P DISPLAY

 

SAN JOSE, Calif., June 13, 2012 – Acer America today debuts the Acer Iconia Tab A700 tablet with a premium 10.1-inch full HD 1080p display.

The Acer Iconia Tab A700 presents high-quality images in a new level of clarity and realism with a remarkable 1920 x 1200 resolution that delivers 55 percent higher pixel density compared to 1280 x 800 displays. This results in sharper images and greater details in everything from websites and text to photos and video. The bright and detailed visuals are further enhanced by Dolby® Mobile 3 with 5.1-channel home theater surround sound capabilities.

Powered by an NVIDIA® Tegra™ 3 quad-core processor and running Android 4.0, the Acer Iconia Tab A700 delivers industry-leading performance and responsiveness for running multiple apps, smooth HD video, fast web browsing and console-like gaming. The tablet can be used as a central part of a digital life, as it can be expanded to other displays and devices via its micro-USB and HDMI ports. Plus, consumers can enjoy additional content with the convenient SD card slot.

"Consumers have embraced their tablets as a mobile hub for their daily lives, and the full HD display on the Acer A700 will give customers a fresh new perspective on the apps, games and digital media they enjoy," said Paul Tayar, director of product marketing for connected devices, Acer America. "Customers looking for a no-compromise tablet will get the features and performance they want in the new Acer A700."

Visually Stunning Display Paired with Incredibly Rich Sound

The Acer Iconia Tab A700's full HD 1080p LED backlit display allows customers to enjoy a visually rich experience: 1080p videos and photos look more vibrant and realistic, and social media networks and online shopping will be enjoyed with more clarity and precision. Many of the most popular Android apps – such as 3D games, reading and digital media – already support 1080p, so they can be enjoyed in greater detail on the new Acer A700 tablet.

Ensuring an optimal viewing experience, the Acer A700's display has a 16:10 aspect ratio, 800:1 contrast ratio and a wide 178 degree viewing angle. Plus, the display is a 10-point touch capacitive screen, so it delivers a remarkable degree of accuracy and responsiveness.

In addition, customers can share video stored on the Acer Iconia Tab A700 with other devices via the tablet's built-in micro HDMI port. The new tablet also supports dual-displays, so customers can share videos and photos on an external display. Plus, the tablet can be used as a console to play the latest games on a TV.

The A700's display is complemented by the tablet's impressive sound capabilities. It comes with Dolby Mobile 3 and is 5.1-channel surround sound ready, so it can be connected via HDMI to an external sound system for a high-fidelity audio experience. The excellent audio can also be enjoyed through the stereo speaker.

The sound recorder captures audio in a variety of environments. Students can record lectures and panels discussions, since the Acer Iconia Tab A700 will record multiple voices while suppressing background noises. While in concert mode, the tablet can record sound from further away such as a children's school performance. Sound capture is also improved for video conferencing, so friends and families feel like they're nearly face-to-face.

NVIDIA Tegra™ 3 Quad Core Processor, Features for Performance, Power

The Acer Iconia Tab A700 features the industry-leading NVIDIA Tegra™ 3 Mobile Processor that provides a unique Super 4-PLUS-1™ Quad Core CPU design with a fifth Battery Saver Core.

The processor dedicates up to all four cores to demanding tasks such as watching video and playing next-generation graphics-intense mobile games. Plus, the high-performance 12-Core GeForce NVIDIA GPU delivers incredibly detailed graphics and imagery, while the tablet's full 1GB of RAM(2)contributes to its fast mobile performance. As a result, the Acer A700 is incredibly responsive, delivering smooth video playback, fast navigation and console-quality gaming on-the-go, with performance rates that are 2.6 times faster and graphics that are three times faster compared to previous generation processors.

The fifth Battery Saver Core handles less demanding activities, ultimately using less power and improving battery life.  Plus, the 9800 mAh battery extends the tablet’s battery life for all-day usability of up to 10.5 hours of video playback, or nearly 8 hours of web-surfing(1). Customers can use the integrated GPS and e-compass to enjoy location-based services and maps. The tablet easily connects to Wi-Fi networks with reliable Acer 802.11 b/g/n wireless technology.

Connections Make it Expandable, Feature-Rich

The Acer A700 comes with 32GB of flash storage integrated into the tablet, so customers have extra room to store games, photos, music and videos.(2)  Plus, additional content can be accessed from the Micro-SD card reader that supports up to 32GB Micro-SD cards.(2)  The micro USB 2.0 port can be used to transfer data and files on and off the tablet, and can also be used to charge it.

The Acer A700 has two integrated cameras: the 5MP rear-facing camera is auto-focusing, and provides the ability to take snapshots while recording HD video, while the 1MP fixed-focused front-facing camera is great for video conferencing, as it features an improved zoom. Customers can capture video and photos, enhance them on the go, and then conveniently store them in Google+ and upload to other social networks.

Suite of Extras Boost Productivity

The Acer A700 tablet comes with the apps that make it a productivity booster. Polaris™ Office 3.5 allows customers to read and edit documents on the go. The tablet also comes with Evernote, a personal assistant that lets customers easily capture and save web pages, photos, ideas and documents and then store them to the cloud for access from other devices. Printing from the tablet is seamless with Acer Print, which is compatible with 87 percent of brand name printers in the market and supports a wide range of printing formats (doc, pic and browsers). In addition, the tablet features integrated Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (enhanced data rate), so it can connect to a variety of other devices, such as headsets and printers.

Intuitive Experience with Android™ 4.0, Acer Ring and clear.fi

Running on Android™ 4.0 OS, the Acer Iconia Tab A700 delivers many benefits, such as intuitive navigation, fast browsing, as well as enhanced app and folder management options. The unique interactive Acer Ring interface is a welcome addition to Android 4.0, as it can be customized by users to launch favorite apps, programs and websites through a single one-touch button. Additionally, the Acer Ring's screenshot feature can be used to capture images of an app, web site and even photos from a video conference.

The chassis' soft-touch finish has a patterned texture that makes it comfortable to hold. It easily fits in a purse, briefcase or book bag, as it weighs just over 1.47 pounds and measures 10.23 (L) x 6.89 (W) x 0.43 (H) inches.

Available in U.S. Starting at $449.99

The new Acer Iconia Tab A700 is available for pre-sale starting today in two models – the Acer A700-10s32u (silver) and Acer A700-10k32u (black). The tablets are available at http://us-store.acer.com/  and at national electronics retailers in the United States at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $449.99 USD.

Customers can purchase the portfolio case to protect the Acer A700 tablet. The sleek design prevents slipping on surfaces and also allows convenient access to the connectors and ports. It is available through Acer at a price of $39.99.

About Acer

Since its founding in 1976, Acer has broken barriers between people and technology, enabling users to explore, create and grow. Acer ranks No. 2 for notebook PCs globally.(3) The Acer Group employs 8,000 people across the globe, and revenues for 2011 reached US$15.7 billion. Acer’s channel business model is instrumental to the company’s success, while its multi-brand approach integrates Acer, Gateway, and Packard Bell brands in worldwide markets. Acer designs environmentally friendly products and, with its vendors, has established a green supply chain. Acer is proud to be a Worldwide Partner of the Olympic Movement. That includes supporting the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games and London 2012 Olympic Games. More information is at www.acer-group.com.


 

 

Samsung Plans to Launch It’s Own Social Networking Service

Posted: 13 Jun 2012 10:46 AM PDT

 

Based on a report from The Korea Times, Samsung is going to debut a social network that a Samsung official says will compete with Facebook. They noted that the project is called in no subtle terms, "Samsung Facebook". They don't seem to be hiding the fact that the project is definitely geared toward a Facebook-like feel. Well there is no hard evidence on what this all entails, but it has been confirmed that it should go live in the Q1 of next year. Samsung's idea is to have this social network span across their many internet ready devices for consumers.

It's quite hard to say that this project, 'Samsung Facebook' could ever be real competition for the social giant Facebook in my opinion, but what's another social network? Go ahead and toss it right in there with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+?  Whatever your feelings are on this move, Samsung is going to give it a shot.

source: theverge

 

Latest ICS leak for the HTC Rezound looks to be near official

Posted: 13 Jun 2012 10:13 AM PDT

It looks like the folks over at XDA have leaked another version of ICS for the HTC Rezound, this time version 3.14.605.10. The first thing listed is “no new radios” which is always a good sign pointing to an official release. The changelog in this version simply addresses some minor bugs with sms, the data widget and removes the caller ID app. Still no word on the official release, so flash instructions and the file can be found below for the brave and bold.

download

source: xda

ASUS Pushes Out Firmware Update to the Transformer Prime, Brings Face Unlock and GPS Dongle Icon

Posted: 13 Jun 2012 10:00 AM PDT

If you own a Transformer Prime and haven’t fired it up yet to day, you may be pleased to know that ASUS has pushed out the .28 firmware update bringing a few goodies with it. Not only do you get the usual bug fixes and general improvements, you will also get the fancy ICS Face Unlock feature and an added icon that shows when you have the GPS dongle attached.

The changelog reads as follows:

  • GPS dongle fix & local notification
  • Ethernet UI support to set Ethernet connect policy when screen off
  • Add system bar lock settings for showing/hiding system info
  • Enable Face Unlock feature
  • Support Bluetooth HDP
  • Third party app upgrade
  • Other bug fixes

ASUS is pretty good with their updates so this is something you should definitely apply if you are running the stock ROM on your Prime. To manually apply the update, head into Settings > About Tablet > System Firmware Update > Check Update. For those in the custom ROM world, Androwookie has implemented the update already and you can expect the others to follow suit.

source: Facebook

 

Songkick Android app for those who never want to miss a beat

Posted: 13 Jun 2012 09:49 AM PDT

 

Music enthusiasts all over have discovered the greatness of Songkick.com which has now just recently released their app for Android music lovers everywhere. Songkick Concerts delivers a personalized concert calendar of your favorite artists and performers by scanning your music library on your phone, Google Music account as well as your Last.fm account. It uses your current location to offer info about upcoming shows near you and even gives you the ability to purchase tickets, see a map of the venue and even invite friends to accompany you.

This will sure beat the heck out of performing separate Google searches for all of these things. If Songkick Concerts sounds harmonious to you, then hit the link below to get the goods.

  QRCode

Play Store Download Link
Posted by at 5:56 AM

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