Android Authority |
- LG Display employees charged with theft of OLED technology from Samsung
- Vodafone Nexus S Jelly Bean rollout delayed, we act surprised
- Samsung Galaxy S3 soft case review roundup [video]
- Steve Jobs’s “thermonuclear war” comments stricken from Apple-Samsung lawsuit
- Samsung Galaxy S3 hard case review roundup [video]
- Full Android 4.1 Jelly Bean SDK available for developers
- Nexus 7 screen separation issue and fix discovered
- Best Android widgets for the Samsung Galaxy Note
- Electrofly Odyssey: Hurtling charged flies into warp holes in space
- Samsung Galaxy S smartphone displays go head to head, S3 panel unsurprisingly comes out on top
| LG Display employees charged with theft of OLED technology from Samsung Posted: 19 Jul 2012 02:55 AM PDT
Samsung and LG are both from South Korea, and both being 2 of the biggest consumer electronics companies there, it would be hard not to get “inspired” by each other’s products. But then I started noticing how some of LG’s products, that came out almost in the same time with the Samsung product appeared the same, and even had much of the same software UI. That seemed strange to me, because there’s no way they could’ve done it like that by accident. I was thinking they must’ve had some sort of early access to Samsung’s prototypes, and the only way they could’ve done that is if they had some spies inside Samsung, willing to steal the products plans for them.
Again, I tend to believe Samsung here, because from what I’ve noticed LG has been doing this to Samsung systematically for at least a decade, since the flip-phones showed up on the market, which is when I started noticing it myself. But of course, we should let the Korean Court decide if LG is guilty as charged in this OLED case. My main complaint about LG doing this is not that they keep copying Samsung or even that they literally “steal” technology from them (although that doesn’t sound right at all to me), but that LG always ends with second rate products when they do this. Even when they are using different designs and software, they’re still trying to follow Samsung’s strategy in the market ( LG Optimus VU anyone?) Why are they trying to be in Samsung’s shadow so much, when they could follow their own path, and do their own unique things, and in the same time increase their popularity and reputation.
This article, LG Display employees charged with theft of OLED technology from Samsung , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
|
| Vodafone Nexus S Jelly Bean rollout delayed, we act surprised Posted: 19 Jul 2012 02:55 AM PDT
Yesterday we told you that Vodafone Australia announced Nexus S owners that the highly anticipated Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update for the second-generation Nexus smartphone will be rolled out today. Well, it turns out that Vodafone is not ready to release the update, not that we're surprised to see an Android upgrade postponed by a carrier. At the same time, we'll point out the obvious fact about the handset: we're looking at a Nexus device that should have no problem running the new OS, and should receive new updates a lot faster than other devices. However, that doesn't seem to be the case, at least with the Australian Nexus S version. Apparently the Nexus S Jelly Bean update does not meet regulatory requirements regarding emergency calls. Here's what Vodafone posted on its blog, without providing a detailed explanation:
Naturally, we don't have a different release date for you at this time, so you're back to waiting. Hopefully, it won't be long now. No related posts. This article, Vodafone Nexus S Jelly Bean rollout delayed, we act surprised , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
|
| Samsung Galaxy S3 soft case review roundup [video] Posted: 19 Jul 2012 02:25 AM PDT
Today, we bring to you a Samsung Galaxy S3 soft case extravaganza. Making the shortlist are 7 beautifully crafted cases including KaysCase Slim Soft Skin Cover Case, Fosmon X-Shape Flexible TPU Gel Case, Amzer AMZ93951 Silicone Jelly Skin Fit Case, Cimo S-Line Back Flexible Cover TPU Case, BoxWave Samsung Galaxy S3 UniColor Case, BoxWave Samsung Galaxy S3 DuoSuit, and Samsung Galaxy S3 Cool Vent Case. Let’s take a look. KaysCase Slim Soft Skin Cover
The KaysCase Slim Soft Skin Cover case is a high quality, stylish designer case for the Samsung Galaxy S3. Features of this case include:
What stands out straightaway when you slip on the KaysCase cover on your device is its low profile design. The white version is ideally suited for the white Galaxy S3 and its ultra slim design makes it seem like there is no case covering the phone at all. The raised protection for the volume rocker and power button makes it slightly difficult to press. Overall, this is a very stylish and elegant case which perfectly complements the design of the Galaxy S3. You can buy the KaysCase Slim Soft Cover case from Amazon here. Fosmon X-shape TPU Flexible Gel case
The Fosmon Flexible Gel case is similar to the KaysCase cover, but features a cool X-shaped design on the back, which is an attractive option for many. Features of this case include:
The X-shaped design at the back makes this case stand out. Unfortunately, the volume rocker is almost unresponsive and the power button requires multiple attempts, because of the raised button protection. Not everyone using this case has faced this problem so it could be be production flaw for our particular case, but it’s something to watch out for if you’re considering buying this case. The case is very flexible and durable, and will protect from scratches, scuffs, and minor impact. You can get the Fosmon X-shaped TPU Gel case from Amazon here. Amzer AMZ93951 Silicone Jelly Skin Fit Case |
| Steve Jobs’s “thermonuclear war” comments stricken from Apple-Samsung lawsuit Posted: 19 Jul 2012 02:08 AM PDT
One of the most interesting patent-based lawsuits in the mobile world is set to kick off on July 30 between Apple and Samsung – the U.S. engagement. The two giants are suing and countersuing each other in various such cases that are spread over four continents, in 10 countries. Apple has already scored a garden-variety of pre-trial victories against Samsung both in the U.S. and in other markets, with the most recent ones being obtained in the States: two ban sales on the Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet and Galaxy Nexus smartphone, each found to be infringing Apple tech. Samsung lost the almost immediate appeals, although it managed to stay the Galaxy Nexus injunction in a second appeal. Now Reuters reports that the judge presiding over the case – the same judge that awarded the injunctions – has decided not to allow Steve Jobs's famous comments about Android to be used in court, as Samsung would have wanted. In case you're not aware of what Apple's late leader said about Android, here's a quick reminder:
These remarks were made by Jobs to Walter Isaacson, his official biographer, and can be found in the “Steve Jobs” biography. Samsung wanted to be able to use these quotes as arguments that speak "to Apple's bias, improper motives and its lack of belief in its own claims in that they are a means to an end, namely the destruction of Android." Whether Samsung is right or wrong to want to include these statements in the trial, at the end of the day the fact still remains that Apple is accusing the South Korean company of also copying the design of its iPhone and iPad, which aren't really Android features. U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh decided not to allow the comments, as she thought this isn't a trial about Jobs. Her ruling is contrary to judge Richard Posner’s decision on the same matter, who allowed the same remarks in the Apple vs Google-Motorola trial – eventually the trial was dismissed with prejudice a few weeks ago. On a totally different but related note, I will say that, no matter what you think of the comments above or Apple's whole attitude towards patent litigation, without Steve Jobs and his intuition regarding the future of the mobile business, Android would have probably not been what it is today. Care to disagree? This article, Steve Jobs's "thermonuclear war" comments stricken from Apple-Samsung lawsuit , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
|
| Samsung Galaxy S3 hard case review roundup [video] Posted: 19 Jul 2012 02:04 AM PDT
Scratches, dents, and in extreme cases, cracked screens, on a handheld device is never a good thing, regardless of how expensive the device is. But, when you shell out over $700 for the latest high-end smartphone, you’ll do anything to make sure it stays in pristine condition. Unfortunately, accidents do occur, sometimes more often than you’d like. It’s because of this scenario that protective cases and covers came into the picture. Following a report that mentioned a device insurer might not have replacement devices for the Samsung Galaxy S3, there is even more reason to take extra care of Samsung’s latest flagship device. Today, we do a review roundup of some hard cases for the Samsung Galaxy S3. Making the shortlist is the Vipose Vogue Case, CaseCrown Flip Case, SPIGEN SGP Crumena Leather Pouch, Luxmo Horizontal Leather Cover, and Arkon XXL Sports Armband. All the cases are available from Amazon, and you can find the purchase links in the case descriptions below. Let’s take a look. Vipose Vogue Case
This Vipose Vogue Case is specifically for the Samsung Galaxy S3. Features of this case include:
As you will see in the video, the phone fits perfectly into the case. Unfortunately, there is no protection for the top and bottom of the phone. There’s a little raised protection for the screen, but that might not be enough to protect the phone completely from a face down fall. Overall, it’s a very classy-looking and stylish case which you should definitely consider to protect your Galaxy S3. The Vipose Vogue case is available from Amazon here. CaseCrown Flip Case
The CaseCrown Flip Case for the Samsung Galaxy S3 is another stylish and elegant leather case. Features of this protective case include:
This leather case includes a front flip cover for complete device protection. There is no protection on the sides, which highlights the chrome accents of the Galaxy S3. A minor issue is the fact that the flip cover doesn’t bend all the way back, so the cover will be left hanging when you’re using the device. Overall, this is a beautifully designed case and if flip cases are your thing, the CaseCrown Flip case should definitely be in your consideration. You can find the CaseCrown Flip case on Amazon here. Spigen SGP Crumena Leather Pouch
The Spigen SGP Crumena Leather Pouch for the Samsung Galaxy S3 is genuine leather case that will protect the device from damage, dirt, and dust. Features of this case include:
The Spigen SGP Crumena is a pouch, so you will have to take the phone out of the cover everytime you want to use it. There is only a cut-out for the speaker so you can hear the phone ring, but you cannot access the power button, volume rocker, or charging port. If you’re looking for a genuine leather case, the Spigen SGP Crumena for the Galaxy S3 is the one for you. You can buy the Spigen SGP Crumena Leather Pouch from Amazon here. Luxmo Horizontal Leather cover
The Luxmo Horizontal leather cover is a high quality leather carrying pouch for the Samsung Galaxy S3. Features of this cover include:
The Luxmo Horizontal Leather Cover is also a carrying pouch, so you’ll have to take the phone out of the case to use it. Even though this case is made specifically for the Galaxy S3, the device does seem to rock around a little bit inside the case, but not enough to be a problem. This carrying case is a good option for anyone looking for a classy leather case with holster and belt clip functionality. You can find the Luxmo Horizontal Leather cover on Amazon here. Arkon XXL Sports Armband
The Arkon XXL Sports Armband isn’t specific to the Samsung Galaxy S3 but is compatible with any device with an extra large screen, such as the HTC One X, Droid Razr, and EVO 4G. Features of this case include:
Even though the Akron XXL Sports Armband is a generic armband, the Galaxy S3 fits perfectly, and the case provides complete protection. A minor gripe is the fact that the front plastic cover may stick to the screen, making it a little difficult to get the phone out of the case. This case is ideally suited for workouts, although you could use it otherwise as well. You can buy the Arkon XXL Sports Armband from Amazon here. VideoYou can check out Clayton’s video review roundup of some hard cases for the Samsung Galaxy S3 here: Wrap-UpAs you can see, there are multiple options available to protect your Samsung Galaxy S3. You can choose between a hard plastic case, a flip leather case, two leather pouches, and the exercise-friendly armband, all depending on your individual requirements and preference. If you’re looking for a more form-fitting and flexible case, you should check out our Samsung Galaxy S3 soft case review roundup. What are your thoughts? Which hard case for the Galaxy S3 do you think is suited for you? If you use any of these cases, let us know your experience in the comments section below.
This article, Samsung Galaxy S3 hard case review roundup [video] , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
|
| Full Android 4.1 Jelly Bean SDK available for developers Posted: 19 Jul 2012 01:27 AM PDT
Good news, Android developers, the full Android 4.1 Jelly Bean SDK can be downloaded now from your SDK Manager – a preview Jelly Bean SDK version has been available since Google I/O. The company made the announcement a few hours ago on its Google+ page and now you can take advantage of the full SDK to create Jelly Bean apps, update your existing apps to support Google's latest mobile operating system and optimize them for Nexus 7 use:
Nick Butcher, "an Android engineer who notices small imperfections, and they annoy him," posted a few tips and tricks that should help you tweak your apps to support Google's 7-inch tablet, so if you plan to bring your apps to the Nexus 7 you should definitely check out the Android Developers blog – also, if you have new apps in the pipe-line, feel free to give us a shout. At the same time, we can't disregard the fact that Google is somewhat starting to encourage developers to update their apps for the Nexus 7, but also bigger tablets, even though the company has generally stated that any Android app will work on any Android device, no matter how big its screen really is. Does this mean that henceforward Google will be more interested in having developers create tablet-optimized versions of their apps? This article, Full Android 4.1 Jelly Bean SDK available for developers , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
|
| Nexus 7 screen separation issue and fix discovered Posted: 19 Jul 2012 12:57 AM PDT
The Nexus 7 may be the most popular Android tablet in town these days, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's flaw free. In addition to the screen ghosting issues affecting certain users that we talked about a few days ago, we now have a new screen-related problem for you. This time around it appears that some Nexus 7 units have faulty displays that seem to slightly come out of the plastic bezel. In case you noticed your display creaking when touching it in certain areas that's because it's not perfectly held in place by the screws behind it. The most obvious thing to do is to contact Google customer support and have this issue resolved by them. However, you can also try to fix the issue manually, not that we're encouraging you to go down this path. What you need to do is remove the back plate and tighten the screws that are supposed to hold it into place and prevent any screen movement. These screws are apparently not tighten all the way, so you should make sure that they're all perfectly tight:
The screen separation fix didn't work for everyone, but so far it's the best do-it-yourself alternative out there. At the same time, we'll remember that this is a budget-friendly device sold at cost by Google, so we're not really surprised that build quality is not on par with what you'd expect from such gadgets.  Nexus 7 with back removed | Image credit: xda-developers Forum Google and/or Asus are yet to comment on the matter, so we'll keep you updated. In the mean time, you can check out the xda-developers Forum to see how others have dealt with this problem. This article, Nexus 7 screen separation issue and fix discovered , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
|
| Best Android widgets for the Samsung Galaxy Note Posted: 18 Jul 2012 09:00 PM PDT
Being an owner of a Samsung Galaxy Note, you may have encountered some little inconveniences when it comes to accessing a certain app when you need to use it right away. Because of the Galaxy Note’s rather wide screen, you’ll find it a bit taxing to tap and flip through screens just to launch an app. This is exactly why widgets were made. If you are not really a fan of widgets, you should try considering using some to make your life easier and more comfortable. With just a tap, you can launch an app right from your homescreen. We’ve listed some of the best widgets that will best go with the Samsung Galaxy Note in terms of performance and aesthetics. Read on and maybe you’ll be convinced to make use of these little helpers. Multicon Widget Like putting all your frequently used apps on your home screen? Multicon Widget is the widget that does exactly that. It lets you experience convenience at its finest by placing the apps that are very important to you on your home screen, saving you from more tapping and flipping just to access a certain app. This widget gives you the option of putting apps by ones, twos, fours, eights, twelves, and sixteens. You get to set the number of columns and rows the widget should have, giving you much control on how you want your apps to be arranged. If you don’t really like the look and feel of the regular app sizes, this widget will definitely give you a lot of variation, you might even consider placing almost all of your installed apps on your homescreen. Multicon Widget looks and functions great on the Galaxy Note. Wider screens would mean wider spaces, enough for this widget to maximize its full capability. Data Enabler Widget It really is a great luxury to have an awesome phone like the Samsung Galaxy Note. We get to do a lot of things with this phone and tablet hybrid; one of them is browsing the Internet. Social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr have become staples to most people, so accessing them more than thrice in a week is a fair average. With the Galaxy Note, a data connection, and a widget that makes toggling data easier, accessing these sites can be done even daily. Data Enabler Widget, as the name suggests, toggles your data connection in a faster and more convenient way. With this widget on your homescreen, tapping to the settings of the phone is no longer needed. You also don’t need to long press the power button to enable your data connection, because with just one tap on this widget, your mobile data connection will then be enabled. The widget doesn’t take much space on your home screen. It’s not too small and not too large, just the right size for tapping. This will save you time from navigating through your phone just to enable your data connection. And of course, this widget can be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store. Evernote Widget We all know how great of an app Evernote is. It is one of the most useful apps the Google Play Store has to offer and arguably one of the best of its kind. If you are a fan of this app, why not consider getting its widget, too? Evernote Widget on your homescreen is one thing you should and must have. Seriously. The developers, Evernote Corp., made this widget in the hope of providing users the best experience in using Evernote. Do take note, you must have the Evernote app installed on your Galaxy Note for you to be able to use this widget. You can choose between a small widget or a large widget for your homescreen. The small widget allows you to create new text, snapshot, or audio notes, and directs you to the search screen. The large widget has the same options as the small widget, plus snippets of the notes you’ve recently viewed. Customization of the widget is also possible. You can set the note styles, bar buttons, and a lot more. Evernote Widget together with the Evernote app are indispensable must-haves for Android users, especially Galaxy Note owners. BeautifulBattery Disc The Galaxy Note is a beautiful device with an equally beautiful display. Having said this, placing beautiful widgets on it is just the most rational thing to do. Turning your phone into eye-candy can be easily done especially when you have the most stunning wallpapers and, of course, widgets. Beautiful Battery Disc widget is not just all talk. It is indeed one of the most beautiful battery widgets an Android user can have. Amid its gorgeous and simple design, this widget doesn’t come short when it comes to its function. It does what it’s supposed to do: display the remaining battery your phone has. This widget does not only show that but also tells you the temperature of your battery in both degrees Celsius and degrees Fahrenheit and the battery’s voltage and health as well. You can also customize how large you want your widget to be, either 1×1 or 2×2. This widget also comes in another color, the Beautiful Battery Disc White widget. Both these widgets are absolutely free. Getting something as beautiful as this widget for not a single penny is one thing you shouldn’t miss. Days Left Widget Counting down the days to a very important event is now made easier and livelier with Days Left Widget. Why livelier? Is it because of the colors? Yes, it is indeed the colors. You have all the freedom in the world to assign a color to an upcoming event, making the wait less boring and dragging. Whether you are counting down the days to your trip, graduation, or wedding, Days Left Widget does the job pretty well. Having it placed on your home screen will keep you reminded of the days left for a particular event so that every time you use your Galaxy Note, this little widget will never fail to catch your attention. You can place more than one reminder on the home screen, perfect for those of you who have a number of things to be reminded of. The customization of the widget is pretty much extensive, allowing you to have icon overlays on one reminder that will also make it great to look at and help you sort out important events if you got a ton of them on your homescreen. Days Left Widget comes in 1×1, 2×1, and 3×1 sizes, so if you’ve got a lot of due dates to remember, these sizes will help you prioritize the most important ones. Days Left Widget is, of course, downloadable for free. Beautiful Widgets There are a lot of beautiful and attractive widgets you can place on your Galaxy Note’s screen. In fact, there are too many that you’ll have a hard time on choosing which one to pick. That’s one reason why this list was made, to help to you when you are choosing which widgets to get. Beautiful Widgets, developed by LevelUp Studio, is one widget that should not be overlooked. This widget has the essentials all in one: date, clock., weather, battery, and toggle switches. What makes this widget live up to its name is the numerous skins and themes you can use for your icons. You can have one skin or theme today and another tomorrow. The customization is almost endless, making sure to suit your preferences. This widget allows you to set what application to launch whenever you tap on the hours, date, or weather forecast details on the widget. It’s just like having a widget that does not only show you important information but also keeps your most-used apps in one place. This widget’s Super Clock comes in HD together with the weather and battery which you can have in 5×1, 4×3, 4×2, 4×1, and 2×1 sizes. Beautiful Widgets will definitely look beautiful on your Galaxy Note’s home screen. ClockQ – Digital Clock Widget ClockQ – Digital Clock Widget is the widget a person that loves variety should have. Although it’s limited to only being a clock widget, the number of customizable features greatly compensates. If you are fed up with how plain your clock looks, you’ll have the chance to look at it in a different style everyday through this widget. This widget gives you the freedom to set the clock’s font, color, opacity, shadow, and a lot more. With only just setting the clock’s font, you can already have a stylish clock sitting on your homescreen but when you throw in the other customizable options, you’ll never look at it the same way again. Mixing and matching the customizations will make it seem that you have different clock widgets when in fact, you have only one. ClockQ – Digital Clock has 25 great fonts to choose from and if you upgrade to the paid version, you get to have 38 fonts. The widget also comes in two sizes, 4×2 and 2×1. Make your homescreen’s clock look different each day with this awesome widget. PlayerPro Widget Pack Music enthusiasts won’t need to scramble for the Galaxy Note’s inbuilt music player just to satiate their need to hear tunes. What they need is a widget that will readily supply them with their needed music fix and PlayerPro Widget Pack is just what they have been lacking in their lives. For this widget to work you should have PlayerPro Music Player installed on your device, otherwise, you won’t be able to enjoy this widget’s features. The developers made this widget to address the issue of Android’s incapability to support home screen widgets for applications that are not installed on the SD card. With widgets like PlayerPro Widget Pack, you can still use it despite moving the app to the SD card, making your life easier. This widget has five different homescreen widgets that come in 4×1, 2×2, 3×3, 4×4, and 4×2 sizes. Each widget’s skin can also be customized from 6 other available skins and you have the option to set what to display on your widget. You can set the widget to display the artist’s picture instead of an album artwork or you can also choose to display the star ratings of a particular track, as well as the shuffle and repeat controls. Quick Search Widget, free Ever experienced being asked something but couldn’t think of an answer to give? Or, have you been in a situation that you really want to know a certain thing’s history really quick, say, for an exam starting five minutes from now? Bid these situations goodbye, for a widget can help you avoid being stuck in such a predicament. Quick Search Widget, free takes searching a step faster and makes it more efficient. Place this widget on your home screen and it will aid you tremendously when you are in a hurry to search for a particular item from the Internet, may it be from Google, Yahoo, YouTube, Wikipedia, or other websites. You can add multiple widgets on your home screen and you can switch from one search engine to another with just one tap on the widget. The search results will directly be opened using your browser. You won’t need to actually navigate to your browser and tap a few times more before getting what you need. With this widget, searching is made lightning-fast and won’t require you to tap more than twice just to answer your queries. It supports many different languages which you can later set when you customize your widget’s search engine. Brightness Level Disc From Thalion, the same developer who brought us the Beautiful Battery Disc, comes another widget that exudes the same elegance and beauty. If you’ve got the Beautiful Battery Disc widget, get this one too, have them placed side and by side and you’ll have two of the most attractive circular widgets ever. Brightness Level Disc shows you your screen’s current brightness level and lets you set the brightness settings just by tapping the widget. The widget is very easy to use despite looking Tron-ish and it doesn’t need somebody who knows rocket science to understand how this widget works. The widget comes in two sizes, 1×1 and 2×2. Get this widget to put a stop to the times when your phone gets a tad too bright for comfort. With just a simple tap on it, you can either lower or put the brightness level higher, whatever you prefer. Brightness Level Disc is downloadable for free from the Google Play Store. Together with Beautiful Battery Disc, turn you Galaxy Note’s home screen more attractive with these widgets that has both the looks and the functionality. GO SMS Widget Most people with Android devices love to play with every customizable part of their phone or tablet. Starting from custom ROMs, customizing an Android device is more fun compared to non-Android devices. One thing you can expect to change according to your liking is your SMS/MMS user interface. And, we all know one app that does well in that aspect: GO SMS. If you have GO SMS Pro, try getting its widget, too. GO SMS Widget enables you to view your messages on your homescreen. That’s not all, you can also reply to your messages straight from your home screen using this widget. Having the GO SMS app and this widget will take your messaging experience to greater heights, something a stock SMS UI is short of. Apart from viewing and replying to messages, you can also compose a new message, delete a message, or mark a message as read. The widget comes in both an icon size and a 4×2 size and you can change the widget’s settings and style. GO SMS Widget is completely for free but do keep in mind that you need to have the GO SMS Pro app installed on your Galaxy Note to be able to make use of this widget. Fancy Widgets When we talk about widgets, most often than not, clock and weather widgets come to mind. These are two of the most used by both phone and tablet owners. You’ll even notice tons of clock and weather widgets on the Google Play Store, varying from style to style, color to color. You have to have a lot of time if you want to choose one of each for the number of these widgets grow larger as time passes. Having both the clock and weather widgets in one package is now possible with Fancy Widgets. Downloading separate ones is quite inconvenient so the developers, Android Does, packed both the clock and weather widgets in one to save you time. This widget is highly customizable, giving you more options in setting the widget according to your preferences. You can configure the clock’s date and time formats and you can also choose to have either Google or AccuWeather for your weather forecasts. You are also given the freedom to configure the refresh interval of your weather forecast, making it up-to-date. You also have access to the Fancy Widgets Market where you can download more skins for your widget. If you get to love this widget, you’ll love it even more if you acquire the paid version that has more features and options like backing up and restoring widget settings, more skin choices, fancy weather animations and a whole lot more. Poweramp Standard Widget Pack Here’s another widget that will surely make you love listening to music. Poweramp Standard Widget Pack lets you listen to your favorite tracks with great ease and comfort. With this widget on your Galaxy Note’s home screen, tapping and flipping to the inbuilt music player will be a thing of the past. Accessing your tunes using this app will free you of the time-consuming navigation to the music player most especially when you want your music right then and there. Just like the other music player widget on this list, this widget also requires the Poweramp Music Player app installed on your device. You can have the widget as big or as small as you want. The buttons for this widget are easy to tap on and are very responsive. Customizing the widget is also possible, allowing you to choose from different styles in showing the album art, as well as its opacity. Shuffle and repeat buttons are also present in the widget. This widget pack can be downloaded for free. Have this widget on your homescreen and instantly groove to your favorite tunes in less than a second. Countdown Widget Busy people need to be reminded of important engagements and events because if they are not reminded, they easily forget. If you are as busy as a bee and you have been in numerous embarrassing situations like when you come in really late because you’ve forgotten about that certain meeting, then having this widget is a necessity. Countdown Widget is a very useful widget for people who juggle a lot of things with their limited time. Having so much to think about will usually leave no room for you to remember important events and will usually result in demerits on your part. Whether it is for personal or business use, Countdown Widget will surely do the trick for you. This widget is easy to use and has no confusing settings and options. You only need to key in the name of the event, the event date, and assign a color that best suits your preference. The widget will show you the remaining days before the event, keeping you on track. You can have the small or the larger widget placed on your screen. Icons found on the left side will help you sort out the past events from the upcoming ones. Android Pro Widgets Android Pro Widgets packs all the useful homescreen widgets one will ever need. It has widgets for calendar, agenda, contacts, bookmarks, messaging, Twitter, and Facebook. Aside from showcasing useful widgets, you won’t be disappointed with its sleek and polished look. This will greatly add to your homescreen’s attractiveness factor on top of all the functions this widget can offer you. Imagine accessing most of your needed apps without having to leave the homescreen. Android Pro Widgets lets you use your apps comfortably and easily, with full freedom to customize the widgets’ skins. Aside from the mentioned widgets above, you an also have a widget for Google Reader, but you have to download it separately. The Facebook, Twitter, and Timeline widgets are scrollable. You are not just given two or three updates from these sites but you can scroll the widgets to view other statuses or tweets. Scrollable widgets would also depend on your launcher so keep in mind that if your widgets cannot be scrolled, it’ll mean that your launcher does not support it. On the Google Play Store page of this widget, you’ll find the launchers that support scrolling and the browsers that support the bookmark widget. GO Switch Widget Widgets are mainly designed to provide comfort and convenience for users. Having a rather large phone like the Galaxy Note will most likely have you using both hands to be able to support and navigate through the phone. One hand can be used, though, but it is more comfortable to use both hands. Using widgets can lessen the burden of tapping a few more times just to turn off a certain setting. GO Switch Widget has all the needed functions that need quick toggling. This widget makes toggling a lot easier and faster. Commonly used functions like Wi-Fi, GPS, Ringer, Airplane Mode, and Data Connection can be easily accessed using this widget. You can customize and set what functions you want on the widget and change the widget’s skin for a fresher look. You can also re-order the functions on a widget, according to how often you make use of a certain function. GO Switch Widget can house almost up to 12 toggles and 2 controls. The widgets can be placed on the home screen either by 4×1 or 1×1 sizes. Be reminded that this widget works with GO Launcher EX installed on your device, so you’ll need the launcher first before you can enjoy the widget. Glass Widgets Most Android users enjoy live wallpapers on their devices. The fact that these wallpapers are very pleasing to the eye, placing icons on the homescreen, is sometimes avoided as not to spoil the beauty of the live wallpaper. But with Glass Widgets, you can now place you frequently used apps in the form of widgets on your home screen without compromising your live wallpaper. Glass Widgets also houses most of the basic home screen widgets like the clock and the calendar. The one thing that makes this widget stand out from the rest is the fact that you still can enjoy looking at your wallpaper without anything obstructing it. Glass Widgets are indeed “glass,” allowing you to see through your wallpaper even with the presence of a widget. You can opt to have separate widgets for the clock, calendar, and news, or you can have them combined in a 4×3-sized widget. If you get this widget’s paid version, you can change the tint and transparency of the widget’s background to best suit whatever your wallpaper may be. Retro Clock Widget Go back to the days when the clocks make use of flipping mechanisms to change the time — with Retro Clock Widget. You won’t need to purchase an actual mechanical flipping clock just to get a glimpse of how awesome it looks. You can have it on your Galaxy Note. Retro Clock Widget functions as a clock and a calendar at the same time. When you select this widget from your home screen, you have the option to either place both of the clock and calendar widgets on your home screen or you can choose to place any of the two. This widget looks really clean and simple, but what makes this widget worth the download is the fact that it really does flip. It’s honestly one of the main reasons why some users would take time to download this widget apart from its usability. Retro Clock Widget is absolutely free on the Google Play Store. Download this widget today, place it on your Galaxy Note’s home screen, and see why the so-called flipping mechanism is worth a look. HD Widgets Want eye-catching and stunning widgets on your Galaxy Note’s home screen? If you find your home screen a bit monotonous and dull, HD Widgets will certainly liven it up. Similar to Fancy Widgets and Beautiful Widgets, HD Widgets also has commonly used widgets like the clock, calendar, weather, and function switches. Although it has almost the same features with the others mentioned in this list, its edge lies in the vivid and vibrant HD quality of its widgets. This widget is extensively configurable to match your preferences, providing you with tons of styles and designs. Fonts, backgrounds, and clock colors are just some of the things you can tweak to make your widgets more attractive and elegant. You can also put more than one widget on the same homescreen, if you prefer showing off your style in numerous ways. HD Widgets is written natively for Ice Cream Sandwich and is now optimized and readied for Jelly Bean. So, don’t worry if you have plans of upgrading your Galaxy Note’s firmware, this widget will still work well and look great. Get HD Widgets from the Google Play Store today. You get to have heavily-detailed and polished widgets on your home screen with only less to take out from your pocket. Sense Analog Clock Widget Dark And, to wrap our list up is another great-looking widget that you will love seeing on your Galaxy Note’s home screen. Sense Analog Clock Widget Dark is designed to look clean, sleek, and elegant, a perfect fit for an equally sleek and elegant device. This widget may look minimal, but its options are far from being restricted. You have a lot of things to customize in this app, including weather icons, weather and forecast layouts, 170 widget skins, color choices for all that is displayed on the widget, and a lot more. Temperature, moon phases, humidity, wind speed, and precipitation percentage are also some of the information you can choose to be shown on the widget. Tapping on the hours and minutes of the clock will also launch an application of your choice. You’ll love how lively and stylish your homescreen will look with this widget. Apart from that, useful information about the temperature will come in handy, especially if you did not bring any rain gear. You can download Sense Analog Clock Widget Dark for free from the Google Play Store. Spruce up your homescreen with best widgets for the Samsung Galaxy Note that we have listed and break off the monotony of using just the same old widgets over and over again. Do remember that the Galaxy Note is one mighty phone-slash-tablet, so it is justifiable to equip it with powerful but attractive widgets. What widgets brighten up or reside on your Samsung Galaxy Note’s homescreen? This article, Best Android widgets for the Samsung Galaxy Note , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
|
| Electrofly Odyssey: Hurtling charged flies into warp holes in space Posted: 18 Jul 2012 06:00 PM PDT
Since Angry Birds was released, physics game puzzlers have become a common theme on the Google Play Store and these games just keep on coming. Electrofly Odyssey Free is a mixture of Angry Birds Space and point-and-shoot games. The game will have players hurling electrically charged balls as they try to hit a dimensional hole. The game takes players to space where they have to shoot electrically charged particles to a warp hole and finish a level. If you have played Angry Birds Space before, then you have a clear picture of the entire game. Instead of loading up birds in a catapult and hurling them across space, Electrofly Odyssey Free lets you point-and-shoot your Electroflies. Unlike Angry Birds Space where you can control the force that you need to exert on the catapult, Electrofly Odyssey Free lets you fire those Electroflies just like any ordinary gun. It may sound easy, but getting your Electrofly to the designated target does require skill, as gravity will be your worst enemy. Each level has a corresponding puzzle that you need to decipher, and involves creating a flight path for your Electrofly to travel. To make the game even more interesting, there are red and blue electric charges scattered around the levels. Players can use these to their advantage. The red electrical charges are known to suck the Electrofly out of its orbit while the blue electrical charge does the opposite and repels any object that moves near it. By using these charges, players can either speed up their Electrofly in orbit or use them to get past those asteroids blocking their path. Some levels are harder and require not just a single charge but multiple charges to fly past the obstacles. Players can combine red and blue charges to create a chain reaction. The only problem I found was that the controls were a bit sluggish. Every time I fired a shot, I had to be careful not to change my aim as both firing and targeting are all made inside the circle. In terms of graphics, there is nothing fancy worth mentioning, as the game is just your typical 2D game. Overall, Electrofly Odyssey Free is brilliant game that derived from the old favorite physics games. If only the developer could just polish up the graphics and user-interface, and tweak the controls, this game could totally sweep many gamers (including me) off their feet. But, as of now Electrofly Odyssey Free still has room for change. You can download Electrofly Odyssey Free from the Google Play Store. This article, Electrofly Odyssey: Hurtling charged flies into warp holes in space , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
|
| Samsung Galaxy S smartphone displays go head to head, S3 panel unsurprisingly comes out on top Posted: 18 Jul 2012 03:33 PM PDT
There has been much debate around exactly what improvements Samsung has brought to the table with the Galaxy S3 over the S2 and a big part of that discussion has concentrated on the two smartphones' displays. While many users have agreed that the S3's screen is a natural evolution from the S2's panel, there have been more than a fistful of critics disagreeing with that opinion, which has led to Samsung officials issuing statements defending the new display. Naturally, that hasn't completely calmed the criticism "storm", but maybe DisplayMate's most recent in-depth analysis will manage to do just that. According to what looks like a very objective report and comparison based simply on raw numbers, as well as extensive lab tests and measurements, the S3's display is indeed an evolution from the S2's panel, which itself is much better than the original Galaxy S screen in most areas. The report is truly an in-depth one and might be a bit boring and overly "nerdy" for some of you, which is why we will try to very quickly summarize it and put it in a more mundane wording. Galaxy S vs S2 vs S3 screensBy far the juiciest part of DisplayMate's analysis is the comparison between the S, S2 and S3 displays. As expected, the Galaxy S3 comes on top quite clearly, but surprisingly (for many) the differences between Samsung's latest flagship and the S2's screen are not exactly "critical". It was a widely known fact that the S3 HD Super AMOLED screen comes with more pixels and sub-pixels per inch than the S2 Super AMOLED Plus panel, but when talking about brightness the new "beast" is actually not as competitive as the old one. In fact, the S3 comes with a poorer measured maximum brightness than even the original Galaxy S, so that's not very good for Samsung. Then again, the screen reflectance helps make the S3's brightness downsides not as visible in real use as you would think by looking at the raw numbers.
On the other hand, what makes the S3's panel noticeably better and more competitive than its predecessors is the improved power efficiency, as well as the very smooth intensity scale and image contrast. In terms of power management especially, the new display performs significantly better, having a 5.6 hour running time at maximum display power (the S2 has only 4.4 hours). As for the duel between the S2 and the S screens, this is pretty easily won by the former, mostly due to the higher brightness levels, color depth, reflection and contrast ratio. OLED evolution in Samsung Galaxy S smartphonesWhile I'm sure that most of you will be interested primarily in the head-to-head battle between the S Series' screens, DisplayMate's report actually insists more on Samsung's OLED evolution and in suggesting ways to drive the technology forward in the future. If you'll take a look at the report in full, you'll notice that its author, Dr. Raymond Soneira, is mentioning more than just a couple of times that the technology "needs work". Samsung's "marketing policy" is especially criticized for crippling the OLED evolution, as most of S3's issues come from the company’s desire to make the most competitive, brightest and power efficient display while keeping its thickness obscenely low.
Be that as it may, the report clearly states that Samsung has greatly evolved over the past years, having the potential to make OLED the future standard for smartphone screens. S3's panel is better than the original Galaxy S display in practically every area, but there are a few of these areas that Dr. Soneira feels they haven't been really pushed to their full potential. There are many mentions of the OLED vs LCD battle in the report too, but as you might imagine there unfortunately isn't a definitive conclusion to be drawn just yet. Hoping that our little sum up (who didn't turn out to be so little after all) didn't bore you to tears already, we recommend all you "closeted" geeks out there to head over to DisplayMate and at least try to read the report in its fullness. There are truly very many interesting things to find out about Samsung’s OLED screens, the technology in general, and the comparison between OLED and LCD.
No related posts. This article, Samsung Galaxy S smartphone displays go head to head, S3 panel unsurprisingly comes out on top , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
|
What started purely as a way to protect your smartphone from scratches and dents, has developed into a whole other entity by itself. You can now get numerous protective case options for most devices, each suited for different individual needs. With OEMs spending a lot of time and effort into creating beautifully designed devices, covering them up is not ideal. As such, there’s a huge demand for not only protective, but also aesthetically-pleasing smartphone cases that complement the device design.
| You are subscribed to email updates from Android Authority To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment