Android and Me |
- HTC EVO Design 4G gets updated to Android 4.0
- Google postpones Nexus Q launch, provides free units to the few people that pre-ordered
- Measure your melt with Fitbit Aria Smart Scale
- HTC EVO 3D Android 4.0 update now available from Sprint
- Spotify launches free streaming radio for Android
| HTC EVO Design 4G gets updated to Android 4.0 Posted: 31 Jul 2012 05:31 PM PDT  The Android 4.0 update for the HTC EVO 3D was a nice surprise (even though HTC did promise to deliver it before the end of the month), so you can imagine how shocked we were when we got the word that Sprint has also started pushing out the Android 4.0 update for the HTC EVO Design 4G. By now, you should know the drill. Android 4.0 on the HTC EVO Design 4G features HTC’s Sense 3.6 UI, Face Unlock, new notifications features, a new camera UI with updated features, improved browser and access to Android 4.0 apps like Google new Chrome browser. You can try to trigger the download by pressing Menu > Settings > About Phone > HTC Software Updates > Check or you can wait until Sprint pushed the OTA update to your device. Android 4.0 enhancements and fixes
So what are you waiting for? Download the Android 4.0 update for the EVO Design 4G and be sure to let us know how the process goes and what you think of all the new features.
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| Google postpones Nexus Q launch, provides free units to the few people that pre-ordered Posted: 31 Jul 2012 04:07 PM PDT  When Google placed the Nexus Q on sale last week, we joked that there would be no shortages because no one was going to order it. Several tech blogs reported that Google had sold out of the first batch of when the expected ship date was changed, but Google never released any details on how many units were sold. Now we find out that the launch of the streaming media player has been postponed indefinitely as Google works on “making it even better.” The Nexus Q currently streams media from Google Play and YouTube (and that’s all), so Google won’t have much trouble improving the user experience. For starters, Google could enable the full Android desktop experience on the device and add access to the Google Play store. I’d also love to see them support the Miracast wireless display standard, so users could beam their Android devices to their TV. On top of all that, the $299 price needs to be slashed in half. Those customers who did pre-order the Nexus Q will receive the device for free. Google is now referring to the product as the “Nexus Q preview” since it is basically a half-baked beta experience. No details were provided on when the Nexus Q might return in a new form, but users can give Google their email on the product page to receive future updates. If I was in charge of the project, I’d just cancel the Nexus Q and focus all my resources on improving the Google TV experience (aka the product people are buying).
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| Measure your melt with Fitbit Aria Smart Scale Posted: 31 Jul 2012 03:25 PM PDT  Can a high tech scale help you lose weight? I recently started a journey to slim back down, which started the day I stepped on my digital scale and noticed I was approaching 200 lbs. Over the last month I have made good progress, but I wanted to see if an expensive Wi-Fi scale could add any benefit to my training. After doing some online research, I decided to go with the Fitbit Aria Wi-Fi Smart Scale. I’ve now been using the device for several weeks and I’m comfortable enough with it to share my experiences. Read on to see if it fits your needs and if I would recommend it to a friend. The GoodFast setup: I experienced a minor hiccup with my initial setup (see below), but I still had the Aria up and running in 10 minutes. There is a native desktop app for Windows users, and Mac users can get started with a web based setup. The web based setup requires you to connect directly to the Aria over Wi-Fi and then enter your local Wi-Fi network settings to establish a connection. Track weight, body fat %, and BMI: Just step on the Aria and it quickly measures your body stats. Results are then automatically synced. Wi-Fi Uploads: This is the main reason anyone would buy this scale. Aria automatically uploads all your stats to Fitbit.com where you can view them in graphs and tables. Multi-user support: The Aria scale recognizes up to 8 different users. Each user must be setup on the Fitbit site, and then they are automatically recognized when they step on the scale. Guest users are also supported, but the Aria can only measure their body weight. Accurate: When using the Aria I saw consistent results that were accurate when compared with other scales and body fat monitors.
Stylish design: The Aria is easily one of the nicest looking digital scales I have ever owned. It is available in black or white. User replaceable batteries: Aria uses four AA batteries. Fitbit doesn’t say how long they will last, but at least you can swap them out at any time. Fitbit ecosystem: Combine the Aria scale with the Fitbit Tracker to see the relation between daily activity and weight loss. Syncs with other apps: Some of the features in the Fitbit service are limited (like their calorie counter), but thankfully they support syncing up with multiple fitness apps including Lose It!, Endomondo, MyFitnessPal, and others. Fitbit also provides an API that other developers can use to integrate Fitbit data with their app. Better deal than the competition: The Fitbit Aria retails for $129 The Not-so-good Android app lets you scroll between body stats for different days, but it does not graph your history. Android app displays limited weight data: The Fitbit app displays current weight, body fat, and BMI, but it does not show history. All of the cool graphs and tables that are available on the website are not currently found in the native app. It appears that some of the history graphs are available on the iPhone app, so hopefully they are coming soon to Android. Ran into problems during setup: When I tried to setup my Aria the first time, I found the desktop application was unavailable for download. I was able to get setup using their alternative direct setup in the browser, but it took a little longer. Now the desktop app appears back online, so others shouldn’t see my problem. Price: Even though the Fitbit Aria is $30 cheaper than other Wi-Fi scales, it is still $100 more than a regular digital scale that measures weight, body fat, and BMI. Final Words
If you got the money to spend, the Fitbit Aria is a reliable scale that can visualize your body stats and help motivate you to reach your fitness goals. You could always buy a cheaper scale and manually track your body stats in an online spreadsheet, but the Aria is so fast and convenient to use. Just step on the scale and then your body stats are synced to your online account and smartphone in seconds. I was disappointed by the amount of visual weight data that is available in the Android app, but I have faith that it will get better. Fitbit has proved they will continue to update their Android app, and I believe the experience will improve over time. The Fitbit Aria is slick looking scale that is super convenient, but it doesn’t do anything that a regular digital scale could do. It’s a quality product so I would recommend it to others that could afford it, but the average user will likely pass on the device until the price comes down or future updates allow it to do more.
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| HTC EVO 3D Android 4.0 update now available from Sprint Posted: 31 Jul 2012 09:46 AM PDT  The Android 4.0 update for the HTC EVO 3D has finally arrived! We’ve heard multiple confirmations from users that the Ice Cream Sandwich build of Sprint’s 3D-enabled Android handset is being pushed out, delivering a slew of new features – including improvements to multi-tasking, face unlock, new browser capabilities, and access to Android 4.0 applications like Google's Chrome browser. We’re not sure if you can manually download the Android 4.0 update for the HTC EVO 3D or if you’ll have to wait for Sprint to push it out to your device, but you can always check by pressing Menu > Settings > About Phone > HTC Software Updates > Check and follow the instructions to download and install the new build. HTC EVO 3D Android 4.0 enhancements and fixes
If you've already received your Android 4.0 update for your HTC EVO 3D (or have played with the numerous leaks over the past month or two), leave us a comment below and let us know what you like about it. Some will be disappointed that they will not be treated to HTC Sense 4.0, but we're sure people will enjoy Android 4.0 so much that they they won't even notice – at least for a few weeks.
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| Spotify launches free streaming radio for Android Posted: 31 Jul 2012 06:42 AM PDT  Spotify has long been heralded as one of the best online music platforms out there. It’s adoption among mobile users, however, has been limited due to the fact that the service cost $10 per month for mobile access to Spotify’s library of songs. The new Spotify for Android application changes all this, allowing users in the US to create free streaming stations based on a song, artist, or playlist of your choosing similar to Pandora or Slacker radio. Users can create an unlimited number of stations and playlists, and can favorite songs for easy access to them later on. Of course, as with other free services you will be served with adverts on a regular basis, but that’s a small price to pay for streaming audio that you don’t have to pay for. Of course, you can still upgrade to a premium account, which will give you the ability to sync all your playlists and songs for offline listening, unlimited skips, as well as immediate access to any song of your choosing, both of which could be well worth the $10 per month for those of you who live in areas without a reliable and quick data connection. The new Spotify for Android app can be found for free on the Google Play Store. Will you be checking it out now that Spotify has gone free, or will you stick to the likes of Pandora, Slacker, or iHeartRadio?
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, which is cheaper than the 
that normally retails for $159. Fitbit has updated their Android app as recent as last month, while the WiThings app hasn’t been updated in a year.
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