Friday, June 29, 2012

Google Android News Android Forums

Google Android News Android Forums

[Rumor] Galaxy Note 2 Will Sport a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED Screen

Posted: 28 Jun 2012 04:04 PM PDT

We’ve previously reported about the various rumors of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 floating around. Today, an exclusive tip that was given to GSM Arena has the Note 2 confirmed to have a 5.5″ Super AMOLED screen with the phones design taking a kin to the Samsung Galaxy S III. Interestingly enough, even though the screen is slightly larger than the predecessor, the width and the form factor of the Note 2 will actually be slimmer than the first one. That’s definitely good news to hear and I’m eager to see the first pictures of it in the wild sometime in the near future.

According to the source, Samsung has also decided to move the release date of the Note 2 to September, rather than the original rumor of October. The main reason I can see them doing this is to get this bad boy out before the release of the iPhone 5. Samsung hopes to take away some thunder of Apple’s next juggernaut. The rest of the phones specifications are still rumored to be an 8MP camera with an improved sensor, as well as 2 GB of RAM, along with a new Exynos 5250 chipset, featuring a dual-core ARM-15 processor.

Any readers out there even more excited about the Note’s successor?

source: GSM Arena

[Root] HTC One X Joins the Jelly Bean Port Club [Video]

Posted: 28 Jun 2012 03:51 PM PDT

The HTC One X has gotten itself an SDK port of Google’s Jelly Bean firmware thanks to the XDA developer by the name of tgascoigne. At this point it’s nothing you can use as a daily driver, but serves as a great way to get yourself a nibble of Jelly Bean if you’re a One X user. Many things don’t work such as the camera, WiFi, audio, and much more. The developer has stated that he’s already working with the actual Galaxy Nexus OTA of Jelly Bean ported to the One X. If he’s able to get that working that build should be far more superior than the current SDK build. If you don’t mind your phone pretty much unusable but still want to give Jelly Bean a shot, then head on over to the XDA thread and flash away. Of course, needless to say, your One X will have to be rooted and the boot-loader unlocked in order to flash the ROM. You can also watch the video at the bottom to see this port in action.

Click here to view the embedded video.

source: XDA

Google Drive updated, brings a plethora of new goodies

Posted: 28 Jun 2012 03:43 PM PDT

You may have noticed that our good friends at Google have been busy this week. In the space of 24 hours they’ve launched a new tablet, launched a media streamer, unveiled Android 4.1 and base-jumped into the Google I/O conference. As if that wasn’t enough we’ve also seen updates to Maps, Google Earth, Chrome… I think you’re probably getting the idea by now.

Today it’s the turn of Google Drive to receive an update. Google lists the change log as follows:

1. Quickly find files that have been recently opened, edited or shared with you
2. Upload/Download all file types to/from your Google Drive
3. Selecting contacts to share with is easier
4. Faster navigation of folders when syncing in the background
5. Choose text alignment in the documents editor

The service may barely be a month old and already it’s shaping up to be a quality product. Do cloud storage pioneers Dropbox have something to worry about? Grab the update below and be sure to pop back and let us know your thoughts.

Google Play Store

Possible Lenovo LePhone K860 shows up in China?

Posted: 28 Jun 2012 03:43 PM PDT

Japanese blog Blog of Mobile has discovered some information and photos of a new Lenovo phone working its way through the Chinese regulatory process. The phone is identified as a "K860" and appears to be on the way to being deployed as the Lenovo LePhone.

Specifications for the Lenovo unit suggest it will be based on a quad-core Samsung Exynos 4412 cpu running at 1.4 GHz. The device appears to possess a 5.0-inch HD screen running at a 1280 x 720 resolution, an 8 MP rear-facing camera, a 2 MP front-facing camera, and 1 GB of RAM. The device will run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

According to Blog of Mobile, the device should be available in Chinese markets in August 2012.

source: Blog of Mobile
via: Engadget

Several Google TV platform updates announced at Google I/O

Posted: 28 Jun 2012 03:12 PM PDT

As expected, one of the Google products to get some attention at Google I/O is the Google TV platform. Google continues to increase consistency across product lines and Google TV is no exception. The UI has been updated to provide access to the Google Play store that is similar to that found on other Android devices. Consumers can purchase movies, music, and TV shows through the store. Because Google Play works across devices, one will be able to start a show on one device and continue watching it across other devices.

Beyond the interface with the Google Play store that most consumers will see, Google is making improvements to the APIs, libraries and code that is available to developers. This should improve the availability of apps on the platform, such as the recently announced Sirius XM app.

On the hardware front, Google announced new devices from Sony, Vizio and LG. Interestingly, Google indicates developers will be able to "integrate devices" directly into Google TV in the future. I'm wondering if this means I'll be able to control a Google TV via an app on my tablet or smartphone? Or some gesture based, virtual keyboards/controllers?

Are these improvements enough to get you to give Google TV a try? Already have Google TV and excited by the new features and capabilities? Let us know.

source: Google TV blog

Hands on with Sony’s new Google TV units

Posted: 28 Jun 2012 02:28 PM PDT

Sony showed off their brand new Google TV set-top boxes today, which include the NSZ-GS7 for $199 and the NSZ-GP9 for $299. The difference between the two is the Blu-Ray player that’s included with the NSZ-GP9. That model won’t be available till later this year, while the NSZ-GS7 will be available next month. The main differences between this year’s models and last year’s is they are now made with an ARM processor and the remote control has been totally redesigned. The new remote features a full QWERTY keyboard, a touch pad for easy navigation, and a three-axis motion sensor for gaming. Also Sony is the first manufacturer to bring Google TV outside the U.S., which I’m sure everyone abroad is excited about.  Hit the break to check out all the cool stuff.

Click here to view the embedded video.

T-Mobile USA and Assurant Solutions Introduce Handset Protection Program for Prepaid Customers

Posted: 28 Jun 2012 12:36 PM PDT

T-Mobile

Today, T-Mobile USA  and Assurant Solutions announced the availability of a new mobile device protection program for T-Mobile customers in the United States. The program, called Monthly4G Handset Protection (MHP), includes coverage for accidental damage, water damage, loss, theft, and mechanical or electrical malfunction after the manufacturer’s warranty has expired. According to T-Mobile’s VP of marketing Mike Katz:

“There has been increased consumer demand for no-annual contract wireless plans and our Monthly4G plans are being adopted in record numbers -– with our prepaid business doubling over the past year. We want to provide these customers with security and protection options like we do our postpaid customers and are happy to launch MHP with Assurant Solutions. They have tremendous expertise in developing mobile protection solutions for global carriers, and we are confident that this program will add significant value to the T-Mobile customer experience.”

Any of our T-Mobile users out there interested in this new handset protection? You can learn more about Assurant Solutions in the press release after the break.

New Survey Reveals 2 in 5 Americans Had Devices Lost, Stolen or Damaged; Affordable Solution Provides Peace of Mind

ATLANTA and BELLEVUE, Wash., June 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – Today, T-Mobile USA, Inc. and specialty insurer Assurant Solutions announced the availability of a new mobile device protection program for T-Mobile® Monthly4G™ customers in the United States. The program, called Monthly4G Handset Protection (MHP), includes coverage for accidental damage, water damage, loss, theft, and mechanical or electrical malfunction after the manufacturer’s warranty has expired.

“There has been increased consumer demand for no-annual contract wireless plans and our Monthly4G plans are being adopted in record numbers -– with our prepaid business doubling over the past year,” said Mike Katz, vice president of marketing and head of prepaid, T-Mobile USA.  “We want to provide these customers with security and protection options like we do our postpaid customers and are happy to launch MHP with Assurant Solutions. They have tremendous expertise in developing mobile protection solutions for global carriers, and we are confident that this program will add significant value to the T-Mobile customer experience.”

A recent smartphone protection survey* by Kelton Research showed two in five Americans have had their smartphone lost, stolen or damaged, but only 35 percent insure their devices.

“T-Mobile is a global telecommunications leader, with America’s largest 4G network. They have a reputation for bringing innovative solutions to their customers,” said Manny Becerra, president of Assurant Solutions Mobile Services. “Keeping their customers connected to the people and interests that matter to them most is a top priority. We are pleased to support T-Mobile in this effort by providing comprehensive protection and peace of mind to their Monthly4G customers.”

T-Mobile customers can enroll in the program for $7 per month when they purchase a new T-Mobile phone with an accompanying Monthly4G rate plan, like the T‑Mobile Monthly4G No Annual Contract $50/mo. unlimited plan which offers unlimited talk, text and Web with no overage charges, and the first 100 MB of data at up to 4G speeds all on America’s Largest 4G Network®. To learn more about MHP, see http://t-mo.co/MowJt2.

*Source: Kelton Research Smartphone Protection Survey, April/May 2012

Source: PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1gdk1)

About Assurant Solutions 
Assurant Solutions’ businesses develop, underwrite, market and administer specialty insurance, extended service contracts and other risk management solutions through collaborative relationships with leading financial institutions, retailers, wireless carriers, manufacturers and other entities. With operations in 25 locations, including executive offices in Atlanta, Ga., Assurant Solutions serves clients and their customers in countries throughout North America, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and Asia.  www.assurantsolutions.com

Assurant Solutions is part of Assurant, a premier provider of specialized insurance products and related services in North America and select worldwide markets. Assurant, a Fortune 500 company and a member of the S&P 500, is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AIZ. Assurant has approximately $27 billion in assets and $8 billion in annual revenue. www.assurant.com

About T-Mobile USA:

Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA, Inc. is the U.S. wireless operation of Deutsche Telekom AG (OTCQX: DTEGY).  By the end of the first quarter of 2012, approximately 129 million mobile customers were served by the mobile communication segments of the Deutsche Telekom group — 33.4 million by T-Mobile USA — all via a common technology platform based on GSM and UMTS and additionally HSPA+ 21/HSPA+ 42.  T-Mobile USA’s innovative wireless products and services help empower people to connect to those who matter most.  Multiple independent research studies continue to rank T-Mobile USA among the highest in numerous regions throughout the U.S. in wireless customer care and call quality.  For more information, please visit http://www.T-Mobile.com.  T-Mobile is a federally registered trademark of Deutsche Telekom AG.  For further information on Deutsche Telekom, please visit www.telekom.de/investor-relations.

 

HTC One V Now Available on Virgin Mobile

Posted: 28 Jun 2012 12:19 PM PDT

The sleek looking HTC One V is now available on Virgin Mobile in the US. It may be an entry level phone, but it’s packing the beautiful Ice Cream Sandwich firmware with HTC’s Sense UI. The build quality looks superb and has that wonderful design that reminds me of the HTC Legend. The One V is available for a contract-free price of $199 which is not too bad at all for the quality of a phone you’re getting. Any Virgin Mobile users out there thinking of picking this up? You can also check hands on video of the One V at CTIA to help you make your decision.

source: Virgin Mobile

A quick look at ‘Google Now’ [Video]

Posted: 28 Jun 2012 12:11 PM PDT

During yesterdays Google IO keynote, Google introduced Google Now. Google Now is more of an expansion of Google’s Voice Search assistant. It learns from the user as you use your phone each day and can be helpful is many ways in your every day life. It learns what favorite sports team you follow, places that you usually like to eat, and even helps you better route your itinerary for the day. Google Now brings all of this information in a card style UI and is simple and fast to navigate through.

The UI alone is probably my favorite part, it looks very pleasing and all of the information that you need is right in front of you. This is something that no other smartphone has and I feel Google has an opportunity to really make this a home run with consumers. Take a quick look at the video after the break that Google has provided to see what Google Now looks like and what it’s capable of. Let us know if this is something that you can see yourself really using on a daily basis!

Click here to view the embedded video.

For even more information click here

Google Shows off Project Butter [Video]

Posted: 28 Jun 2012 12:00 PM PDT

During yesterday’s presentation Google showed off Project Butter, one of the most important improvements of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. There’s many technical terms that Google explained on what it really is and what changes it makes within the kernel. For the general public and to put it into layman’s terms, it basically makes every UI transition on Android much smoother and buffers everything much faster. The speed improvement is throughout the whole OS and even works in conjunction with every app you use. This was a breath of fresh air and something that Android, even on ICS, needed.

Here is a quick video comparison of two Samsung Galaxy Nexus’. On the left is a Nexus running Ice Cream Sandwich, and on the right it’s running Google’s new Jelly Bean software touting “Project Butter.” Project Butter has already made a huge splash and receiving rave reviews from many users who were able to play with a Jelly Bean device such as our own Stacy Bruce. Check out the video below and let us know what you think!

Click here to view the embedded video.
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