Friday, June 15, 2012

Google Android News Android Forums

Google Android News Android Forums

Will the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 sport a flexible display? Most likely not

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 12:12 PM PDT

 

A couple of days ago we told you about the rumored specs for the upcoming Galaxy Note 2, which will probably release in the Fall. Now a newspaper in Korea is reporting that it will sport a 5.3-inch flexible display. We’ve heard a lot about flexible displays by Samsung, but they aren’t expected to be in production till next year. This seems like someone just spreading rumors. Like that hasn’t ever happened before!!

Anyways, if you really want to spread a rumor, it seems more likely that the Galaxy S IV will sport a flexible display in May of 2013. I’m not making any predictions nor is that from any information. I’m just trying to be realistic. What do you guys think? It would be cool to see the next Note in a flexible display, but I’m just not buying it.

source: sammobile

 

DROID Bionic Update 5.9.905 Passes With Flying Colors, On Its Way To The Masses

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 11:40 AM PDT

For those of you literally scouring the web for any and every bit of DROID Bionic news you can find, here’s a big tidbit for you.  With the previous soak tests now complete, update 5.9.905 is well underway to a DROID Bionic near you.  You should be receiving the update via OTA shortly so keep checking.  Compared to other updates, it’s a rather small one however, it will address a number of bugs such as the LTE data issues most have been experiencing.  Remember, to check for an update go to Settings–>About phone–>System updates.  Don’t forget to let us know what you think of the update in the comments below.

source: Droid Life

 

 

 

Google TV to get another push at Google I/O

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 11:19 AM PDT

Google TV’s growth might be slow, but it’s definitely not dead, especially since newer partners like LG and Vizio jumped onboard earlier in the year. Google I/O is all about development, and from looking at the lineup of sessions, Google really wants to show developers the benefits of Google TV apps.

I’m still a believer in Google TV so I’m hoping sessions like “Bring Your App To The Big Screen”, “Get Your Content On Google TV” and “Command and Control in Your Living Room: Building Second Screen App for Google TV” will spur developers into implementing some really special stuff.

I still think they need more standalone set top boxes. We know Vizio has one on the horizon, but they still haven’t announced a date. Maybe we will find out more at I/O, and hopefully it will at least have DLNA capabilities, which was lacking with the Logitech Revue.

source: engadget

 

Samsung denies the existence of a Samsung Facebook project, Is anyone surprised?

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 11:00 AM PDT

I have to be straight forward with you guys. We should have never posted anything about the supposed Samsung Facebook rumor. It sounded absolutely ridiculous at the time, but we are a news site, and yes news is news. Plus you never know if something just might be true even if it seems completely impossible.

Today Samsung said that its “not true and the the rumor is groundless.” They also provided a little insight as to where this ridiculous notion might have come from. They already have a service called “Family Story” that was launched back in February 2012 on Samsung Smart TVs, Smartphones, Tablets, and the web. It’s family-oriented and does focus on storing and sharing those special family moments. They do plan on upgrading it and making it better as any company would do with services such as these, but they went on to say it’s far from a “Samsung Facebook” as sites were claiming it to be. Let’s move on to some actual news shall we.

source: samsung
via: theverge 

 

 

Samsung engineers lived a ‘double life’ in order to keep the Galaxy S III a secret

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 10:40 AM PDT

Remember all the hype surrounding the Samsung Galaxy S III before the actual May 3rd announcement? Everybody was guessing and guessing, but except for some obvious expected things (like an Exynos quad-core), nothing ever really leaked.

Samsung just posted about how they went about keeping things on the down low. Like agents from TV shows and movies, many Samsung engineers found they were living a “double life.”

"I got so many questions about the GALAXY S III from friends and family", said Senior Engineer YoungDoo Jin (S/W R&D).  "But I'd say 'don't ask me or you'll get me fired.' I told them to check it out after it was officially made public."

Principal Engineer ByungJoon Lee (Mechanical R&D) talked about his eldest son in 6th grade; "He knew that I had worked on the GALAXY S and S II.So I guess he assumed that I'd do S III also. Every time he saw an article on the internet about the GALAXY S III he'd ask 'Dad! You're making the S III, right?' But all I could say was 'I don't really know.' It was really awkward."

It wasn’t just about not spilling the beans. They had a separate lab with their own security cards and fingerprint readers. Only a few engineers actually had access. When prototypes needed to be moved, they were put into security boxes even if it was just across the hallway. This would insure that no one outside of the project could get a glimpse of the device.

When prototypes needed to be sent to 3rd parties (like accessory manufacturers), outside freight companies are generally used. That wasn’t the case with this project as they were hand delivered by only those that were part of the team, even if it meant traveling to other countries. Of course pictures were never permitted for obvious reasons.

We had heard that there were different prototypes so no one would ever know what the final product would look like. It looks like there were three different prototyopes and all had to be made like they were final products. You can imagine how much work this was because engineers had to repeat the same process for all three versions.

So in early 2013 when we see supposed leaks for the Galaxy S IV, I think it will be safe to assume that its bogus for sure. I’m sure it will get even harder to find leaks because even though things went well for the GSIII, I’m sure Samsung learned a little along the way. That means they will make improvements to their process. Do you think this will stop all the news and rumors? Hell no!!!

source: samsung
via: engadget

 

 

 

Sony Xperia Ion Arrives In AT&T Stores On June 24th For $100 On-Contract

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 08:27 AM PDT

It’s official gang– AT&T’s Sony Xperia Ion on June 24th. While we already saw a hint or two indicating the device would be here by June, there was no official statement from either until now. It is now confirmed the Gingerbread-powered 4G LTE device will arrive for a mere $99.99 on-contract and will be available both in stores as well as the AT&T website. In case you might have forgotten, the smartphone will feature a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 16GB of onboard memory, a whopping 12MP camera and of course that sexy 4.6-inch 720p HD Reality Display screen. For those of you that loathe the fact the device will ship with Gingerbread— fear not for Sony already confirmed the smartphone will have the Ice Cream Sandwich update in the future… though no one know when the future is exactly.

You’ll find the full details of the announcement once you hit past the break.

 

EXPERIENCE HD ENTERTAINMENT EVERYWHERE WITH XPERIA™ ION FROM SONY, AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT AT&T JUNE 24

Sony’s First 4G LTE Smartphone Ideal for Creating and Showcasing Premium
Entertainment with Video, Photo, Gaming and Music

DALLAS, June 14, 2012 – Entertainment fans longing for a better mobile HD experience will soon have an all-new 4G LTE Android smartphone to covet as the Xperia ion from Sony arrives exclusively in all AT&T* channels June 24. The new Xperia ion builds on Sony’s reputation as an innovator and leader in imaging and entertainment and costs just $99.99 with a two-year agreement.

AT&T customers have access to the nation’s largest 4G network, covering more than 260 million people. As 4G LTE expands, AT&T customers are able to enjoy a widespread, ultra-fast and consistent 4G experience on their compatible device as they move in and out of LTE areas. AT&T has two 4G networks that work together for customers, LTE and HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul. With other carriers, when you travel outside of their LTE coverage area, you’re on a much slower 3G network.

Sony’s first 4G LTE smartphone comes with a 4.6-inch HD Reality display (1280 x 720), as well as the ability to view HD content on the big screen via HDMI. The HDMI connection also opens the Xperia ion’s TV launcher, a customizable home screen carousel of application shortcuts. You can navigate the TV launcher and the rest of the Xperia ion’s menus at your convenience using your TV’s remote control.***

Shutterbugs will love the Xperia ion’s 12-megapixel Fast Capture camera and quick launch feature to seize life’s unexpected moments. With its dedicated camera button, the Xperia ion swiftly goes from standby to first camera shot in just 1.5 seconds and then from shot-to-shot in less than a second, ensuring you don’t miss a moment. Xperia ion boasts all-around HD video recording, so whether capturing memories or video chatting, you can be sure to have high-quality video on the go using either your rear or front-facing cameras.
Xperia ion is complemented by SmartTags****, which let you do things you normally do on your phone, but more quickly and easily, with just one tap. Using near field communication technology, SmartTags let you store device preferences for a variety of locations and situations – like opening and controlling volume on the music player if you head out for a run, turning on GPS and Bluetooth in the car or turning on your alarm and silencing your ringer at night.

Sony Entertainment on the Go
Taking your music and videos with you everywhere just got easier than ever thanks to the Sony Entertainment Network (SEN). Sony Music Unlimited puts a global catalog of more than12 million songs at your fingertips, and Sony Video Unlimited makes sure there is never a dull moment with the latest Hollywood blockbusters and TV shows from all major studios available for you to rent or buy.

For the Xperia ion, both Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited are available for download from the Google Play store. AT&T customers who buy the Xperia ion will get to try the premium service level of Music Unlimited free for thirty days. The Xperia ion is also ready for advanced gaming as it is PlayStation® Certified. The hardware is optimized to deliver an exceptional gaming experience and users will have future access to PlayStation titles as the catalog is developed. With so much entertainment to be enjoyed, the Xperia ion comes with plenty of internal memory, with the option to add up to 32GB external (microSD™) memory.

For more information, customers can visit http://www.att.com/aboutus.

Key Specs:

  • 4.6″ (measured diagonally) 720p HD Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine for unbeatable HD viewing
  • HD imaging excellence from Sony: 12MP camera with Exmor R™ for Mobile camera sensor, 1080p HD video recording, 1 MP 720p HD front-facing camera
  • Easy multi-screen connectivity with HDMI and DLNA®
  • 1.5Ghz dual core processor
  • 16GB internal memory with microSD™ expansion slot supports up to 32GB
  • PlayStation Certified for high quality mobile gaming

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not
by AT&T Inc.
**Data rates apply.
***Compatible with Bravia Sync enabled devices. Limited functionality supported on most HDMI enabled TV’s.
****SmartTags sold separately.

Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. 4G speeds delivered by LTE, or HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul, where
available. Deployment ongoing. Compatible device and data plan required. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Learn more at
att.com/network.

Limited-time offer. Sony Xperia ion requires a new 2-yr wireless agreement with voice (min $39.99/mo) and min monthly data plan ($20/mo). Subject to Wireless Customer Agrmt. Credit approval req’d. Activ fee $36/line. Geographic, usage and other terms, conditions and restrictions apply, and may result in svc termination. Coverage and svcs not avail everywhere. Taxes and other charges apply. Data (att.com/dataplans): If usage exceeds your monthly data allowance, you will automatically be charged overage for additional data provided. Early Termination Fee (att.com/equipmentETF): After 30 days, ETF up to
$325. Restocking fee up to $35. Other Monthly Charges/line may include a Regulatory Cost Recovery Charge (up to $1.25), a gross receipts surcharge, federal and state universal svc charges, fees and charges for other gov’t assessments. These are not taxes or gov’t req’d charges. Visit a store or att.com/wireless to learn more about wireless devices and services
from AT&T. Downloadable content may be subject to additional charges.

The Dark Knight Rises mobile game for Android teaser trailer

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 08:20 AM PDT

Android gaming big shot Gameloft has just released a teaser trailer on IGN of their upcoming summer treat, The Dark Knight Rises for Android and iOS. Graphics look good but we’ll still have to wait and see about controls and gameplay. Gameloft looks to unleash Batman upon us sometime during the summer, and I wouldn’t doubt if the release coincides with the film’s mid-July due date. Hit the source link below to check it out.

source: ign

HTC Withdraws ITC Decision Appeal but Battle With Apple Continues

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 08:07 AM PDT

After losing its ITC complaint against Apple a few months ago HTC immediately appealed the decision to a higher court.  HTC has now decided the case isn’t worth pursuing further, and has filed a motion to dismiss the case. This doesn’t mean that the war between HTC and Apple is anywhere near a resolution though. As both companies have complaints filed against each other all over the world, you can be sure the war will continue on for the foreseeable future.

source: FOSS Patents

Aviary Announces Official Android App

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 06:48 AM PDT

Aviary has announced the latest photo editing tool for Android, and it looks good.  What started as a plugin on Android has now become a standalone app that looks to be a strong competitor to Adobe’s Photoshop Express. As phones replace point-and-shoots as the camera of choice for most people, having apps that allow editing photos on the device becomes more important.  Aviary Photo Editor features one-touch enhancements, instagram-like filter effects, color balancing, crop and rotate, red-eye removal and a lot more.  The free app is available now on the Play Store, stay tuned for a full review but for now, hit the break to head on over and try it out yourself.  

Introducing The Official Aviary Mobile App

Aviary provides a mobile SDK (software development kit) for developers to easily inject a photo editor within their app, all without the fuss of developing it on their own. Aviary’s SDK offers a customizable pre-built user interface which is designed to blend seamlessly in any app, on iOS, Android, and WP7. Developers can now focus on the core of their app, while letting Aviary provide the photo editing tools.

Since we released our mobile SDKs (currently available for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone 7), we’ve received overwhelmingly positive feedback from partners and users alike: everyone loves the convenience of being able to use Aviary within their favorite mobile apps! That said, we still heard from a lot of people who wished they could occasionally use it as a standalone photo editing app on their phone.
Aviary’s focus is on supporting developers, and the photo editor we’re releasing today is intended to be a quick and easy way for developers to evaluate our product before integrating it into their own app, while giving us a way to quickly test new tools and features before releasing them in our SDK. As it turns out, it’s also a great photo editor that we think consumers will really enjoy.
So, today we’re happy to announce that the official Aviary mobile app is now available as a free download for both iPhone and Android! (Windows Phone 7 app coming soon.)

Beyond the editor features you probably already know and love (lightning fast editing, one-tap auto enhance, beautiful effects, all the tools you need in the palm of your hand), we’ve thrown in a couple extras to show off what Aviary can do:

- Scroll through your recent photos in a cover photo-like view from the home screen. (It’s way faster and more satisfying than your phone’s default gallery view.)

- Adjust settings to customize and rearrange the order of the tools in the editor. If you’re a developer, this will help you get a sense for how easy it is to customize our tool list in your app. Or if you just love Aviary’s text tool and use it all the time, you can move it to the first page of the editor so you can get to it with just one tap.

You can install the app from the App Store or from Google Play. Have fun, and don’t forget to let us know what you think! You can submit feature requests here, or reach out to us directly at contact@aviary.com.

QRCode

Play Store Download Link

Rebtel VoIP App Brings Free And Cheap Calls To Both Android Smartphones And Tablets

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 06:43 AM PDT

As VoIP services grow, so does the number of apps that appear on Android devices. Rebtel is an example of this: it was first available on smartphones only, but thanks to its latest software update, the app has now expanded its availability to tablets as well. In case you’re not familiar with the app and it’s features, here’s a quick rundown of what it has to offer:

  • Optimized Tablet Experience - Inspired by Rebtel 2.0 for Android smartphones, the new Android tablet app features optimized high-resolution graphics and takes full advantage of the larger tablet screen real estate to give the user an immersive Rebtel experience.
  • Free Rebtel to Rebtel Calls - Rebtel 2.0 for Android tablets incorporates free calling between users running any one of Rebtel's apps for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android smartphones, PC, or starting today, Android tablets. Calls are seamlessly connected using Wi-Fi or 3G (applicable to 3G-enabled Android tablets only).
  • Low-Cost Calls to Any Phone - Users of the Rebtel Android tablet app are not limited to our free Rebtel to Rebtel calls. Browse through your native tablet address book, select any contact with a number and get talking at rates up to 98 percent lower than an average carrier, and up to 60 percent lower than current Skype Out rates.
  • Native Address Book Integration - No more syncing issues that mess up your address book. Rebtel for Android tablets seamlessly integrates with the regular native Android address book, providing a clear view of which contacts are available to call for free, and which contacts can be reached at very affordable rates.
  • Low-Cost SMS - Prefer texting over talking? Send low-cost international text messages to friends in more than 196 countries with an average cost savings of up to 60 percent when compared to your regular carrier. If you want to ensure your friend can reply without being charged, tick the Collect Reply box and include a link in your message that lets your friend reply via a mobile web page while you pick up the tab.

Yes friends, you have yet another reason to throw away those outdated phone cards if you happen to make a ton of international calls or just want to make cheap calls. We know this strikes your interest and fancy, so make sure you hit the break to get both the Play Store and QR code links.

 

Play Store link

 

source: Android Central
Posted by at 5:57 AM

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