Android Central |
- Oscura review - spooky, simple, and challenging
- Nexus 7 bootloader unlocking and rooting -- the definitive video tutorial
- IM+ updated for Android with a host of new features
- Weekly photo contest winners: Markers
- ZTE shares fall 17% following bleak profit warnings
- Take control of your Galaxy Nexus' destiny by flashing it to the takju build
- Sprint HTC EVO 3D and EVO Design 4G to get ICS by 'early August'
- Ask AC: What is 'unlocked'?
- Instagram updated with Nexus 7 support, Flickr sharing
- Chromemote offers another solution for controlling your Google TV
- Metal Slug 3 review - classic cartoon carnage
- T-Mobile, on Twitter, apparently confirms Samsung Galaxy Note coming, offers no other details
- Battle of the shell cases: Mobi Products Hard Shell vs. the Seidio Surface for the Galaxy Nexus [accessory review]
- London Drugs now selling the Nexus 7 in Canada
- Eric Schmidt: 'We always wanted to be in the hardware business'
- How to set up your new Samsung Galaxy S3
- Motorola Defy Mini lands in Peru
- Sprint triples its LTE cities in 24 hours
- Sony launches Xperia NXT series in the U.S., still running Gingerbread for now
- Deal of the Day: Seidio ACTIVE Case (with metal kickstand) for HTC One X
- Sky's Now TV launches on Android and other platforms tomorrow
- Monday Brief: Editors-In-Chief Best-Of
- HTC One V software update brings with it compatibility with the Media Link HD
- Pick up the Sony Xperia P from Three UK today
- Jelly Bean ported to the HTC HD2
| Oscura review - spooky, simple, and challenging Posted: 16 Jul 2012 05:21 PM PDT
Earlier this month, an abstract Android title by MTV called Oscura slashed its price in half, and continues to rank highly among the top paid games in Google Play. Oscura has a minimal, silhouetted style that bears a striking similarity to an indie PC game Limbo, not that that's a bad thing - it suits mobile wonderfully. The premise is a little on the fairy tale side, yet doesn't stop the game from being tense or downright scary at times. There's a lighthouse that keeps dark creatures at bay. One day it explodes and the impish keeper, Oscura, has to run out, collect the scattered light shards and restore protection to the lands. Of course, with the lighthouse out of commission, it leaves the doors wide open for red-eyed monsters to roam freely, making Oscura's repair mission a fair bit more challenging. 
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| Nexus 7 bootloader unlocking and rooting -- the definitive video tutorial Posted: 16 Jul 2012 04:36 PM PDT
We're big fans of folks learning just what they are doing when it comes to hacking at their devices. One click root applications are fine and dandy, but when (not if) something goes wrong one day and you're forced to manually connect and attempt to fix your phone or tablet you would be glad you installed the right tools and learned a little bit beforehand. This all goes double for a Nexus device -- they are built for unlocking and hacking. AC Super Moderator ragnarokx, who is also one of those folks who isn't afraid to dive in and see how things work, feels the same way. He's put together what we think is the ultimate manual unlocking and rooting tutorial for the Nexus 7 you'll find on the Internet. He gives you every file you need (without forcing you to download a bunch you don't), and walks through each and every step with an excellent video. It looks like a lot of folks will be getting their Nexus 7 tomorrow, so it's awesome that Casey has things ready for ya. You can check out the video after the break, and visit the Nexus 7 forums to read through. Be sure to thank ragnarokx while you're there! [VIDEO] Unlock, Root, & Clockwork for the Nexus 7 Tablet
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| IM+ updated for Android with a host of new features Posted: 16 Jul 2012 04:08 PM PDT
The popular cross platform instant messaging app IM+ from Shape Services has received a nice update today bringing some welcomed new features. I'm a big fan of the app, having used it on iOS, BlackBerry and Android over the last couple of years. With a host of integrated services, such as Skype, Gtalk and Facebook just to name a few, SMS may well be a thing of the past. IM+ also includes Beep, a free mobile to mobile in-app messenger. If you want to manage all your instant messaging clients in once place then IM+ gets my vote. If you haven't tried IM+ before now may be a good time to do so. New to version 6.3 are the following features:
Download: IM+ 
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| Weekly photo contest winners: Markers Posted: 16 Jul 2012 03:43 PM PDT
Another photo contest is in the can, and we get a handful of really cool artwork to show off from it. Last week's contest is proof that Android fans can draw just as well (maybe even better) than they can photograph, and that the Markers app kicks as much butt as I always thought it did. Ask anyone who entered, and I bet they'll tell you it's an addictive little application. We picked five winners this go around, and each will be getting a stylus from ShopAndroid so they can make even more and even better drawings on their phones and tablets. If you see your drawing below, be sure to check the e-mail you used to register with AC for instructions on how to claim your prize. Click through the break to see the winners, and keep an eye out for the next contest from AC! 
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| ZTE shares fall 17% following bleak profit warnings Posted: 16 Jul 2012 03:07 PM PDT
Following a warning that their half year profits could drop by up to 80%, shares in Chinese manufacturer, ZTE, dropped by 17% to a 3-year low. The news continues a run of bad press for ZTE in recent weeks, with reports emerging that allege an FBI investigation also hangs over them amid investigations around the sale of banned equipment to Iran. ZTE, like fellow Chinese OEM Huawei, is trying to break into the western market with their latest range of Android devices. Indeed, this week we're promised the unveiling of an 'advanced gaming smartphone' at an event being held in London. Given the bleak financial outlook, an game-centric device may not be the way to turn things around, but on that front we'll just have to wait and see. Source: BBC News 
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| Take control of your Galaxy Nexus' destiny by flashing it to the takju build Posted: 16 Jul 2012 02:35 PM PDT
Google selling unlocked Galaxy Nexus phones through Google Play is pretty cool, especially at the price they're asking. But not too long ago, that wasn't an option if you wanted a GSM Galaxy Nexus here in the states. Because of some cryptic exclusitivity deal between Google, Beelzebub, and Verizon you had to import an unlocked handset from Europe, the far east, or Canada. It was a bit more expensive, and there were some warranty concerns, but a lot of people still did it -- and most of them are still sitting on an old version of Android while Jelly Bean is available. We're not ones to advise people to wantonly hack at their phones for no reason. That's irresponsible, and we get that most Android users love things just the way they are and don't obsess over every little thing like the more hardcore crowd does. But this is a special case. If you're in Canada or Europe, or have a phone from either place, there's a good chance you're not running the "takju" version of the OS. There's nothing wrong with what you're running, but you'll be waiting for Samsung to get around to pushing out any updates to you. Takju is the designation Google has given the build that ships on the Play Store Nexus phones, and is the one they update themselves (and first). Other variants, like yakjuxw, are more dependent on Samsung fulfilling the OTA. We want everyone with an unlocked GNex to enjoy Jelly Bean. The simplified instructions look pretty, well, simple. Unlock your bootloader, flash the takju factory image from Google, then force the OTA to Jelly Bean. In reality, they aren't much harder. You'll need the USB cable that came with the phone, a few files, and some knowledge that you can find in the Galaxy Nexus forums about bootloader unlocking and manually flashing images. Since you're using a Nexus, it's pretty hard to break things -- but you're still going to have to follow directions. When it's all said and done, and you're running Jelly Bean on your Galaxy Nexus, you'll be glad you did it. We're sure of it. You can even relock your bootloader when you're finished, and still enjoy OTA updates straight from Google on your stock Nexus. This is something worth taking the time to do if you're an Android fan. Visit the Galaxy Nexus forums
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| Sprint HTC EVO 3D and EVO Design 4G to get ICS by 'early August' Posted: 16 Jul 2012 01:36 PM PDT
Good news, Sprint HTC EVO 3D and EVO Design 4G owners, your long-awaited Android 4.0 update will soon be arriving. The carrier posted an update on its community site today, announcing that Ice Cream Sandwich will be on both phones by "early August." In the meantime, Sprint has published a changelog detailing some of the improvements EVO owners can look forward to with the upgrade to Android 4.0. It's mostly the standard ICS stuff we're already familiar with on other devices --
Though not explicitly stated, we'd expect this update to bump the EVOs up to HTC Sense 3.6 at the same time, since that's what's happened with similar devices like the Sensation. The announcement follows the availability of ICS for the EVO 3D and HTC Raider, the Canadian equivalent of the EVO Design, a couple of weeks ago on Rogers. Sprint says to stay tuned for full dates, and we'll have more details on these updates just as soon as they're announced. Source: Sprint Community 
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| Posted: 16 Jul 2012 01:21 PM PDT
Is your Android phone's bootloader unlocked? Is it SIM unlocked? What's the difference?There's been a bit of confusion in the blogs the past few days over unlocking phones. Maybe you're wondering about an unlocked bootloader. Or maybe you need something that's SIM unlocked. Or maybe you want to unlock your phone's bootloader, but you can't, because it's encrypted. It's confusing, we know. Even bloggers have a hard time keeping it all straight. But you've come to the right place. We don't have that problem here. So let's have a little refresher course on what we mean when we talk about unlocking things, shall we? 
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| Instagram updated with Nexus 7 support, Flickr sharing Posted: 16 Jul 2012 12:32 PM PDT
If you're among the lucky few to already be in possession of a Google Nexus 7, then you'll be pleased to see hear that the Instagram app for Android has been updated to support your new tablet. The latest version 1.1.7 of Instagram for Android is now fully functional on the Jelly Bean tablet, whereas before N7 owners were turned away with a compatibility message. Though the focus of Instagram on a tablet is on viewing, not creating content, you can also use the Nexus 7's 1.2MP front-facing camera to take your own mugshots and filter them to your heart's content. In addition, the latest update includes the ability to share Instagram'd photos directly to Flickr as part of the sharing menu once you've saved your image. (Unfortunately there's still no native Google+ support right now, though our fingers remain crossed.) Check the link below to download Instagram for Android from Google Play. Download: Instagram for Android 
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| Chromemote offers another solution for controlling your Google TV Posted: 16 Jul 2012 12:31 PM PDT
Although there is quite a few options for controlling your Google TV out there already, such as the included remote or any one of the numerous apps in the Google Play Store not all of them work they way some folks want or how they wish to use their Google TV. For me personally, I like to have my Google TV fired up and on when I'm writing up posts as I sit in front of my laptop. The included remote isn't all that great for this and an app would mean picking up my smartphone every now and then and messing around with it. Granted, I'm likely doing that anyhow but that's kind of the point. I have other things on my phone to be doing than controlling my Google TV with it. Luckily, a new project is under way by a fellow named Robert Smith. His project is called Chromemote and the premise behind is that it allows you to control your Google TV right from within as you may have guessed already, Google Chrome. Chromemote is an extension available for Google Chrome in the Chrome Web Store and in Robert's own words, he is what you can expect from Chromemote:
Sure enough, after installing the extension from the Chrome Web Store and entering my secure PIN, I was up and running with Chromemote and able to control my aging Logitech Revue all from my MacBook Pro with ease. Other functions such as turning my TV off and on also worked rather flawlessly as well, so I'm starting to think I may have found a pretty decent solution to my remote control problem. If you have a Google TV and are looking for a better way to control it, then I'd say Chromemote is certainly worth a look. Source: Chromemote, via: GigaOm 
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| Metal Slug 3 review - classic cartoon carnage Posted: 16 Jul 2012 11:21 AM PDT
Metal Slug 3 blasted into Google Play last week, complete with a tankload of nostalgia and old-school graphics. Don't let the pixel art style fool you, though - Metal Slug's animation is buttery smooth, explosive, and full of character. In a nutshell, Metal Slug 3 is Contra with a goofy cartoon twist. The side-scrolling shoot-em-up action is pretty much exactly the same - use the joystick to aim a weapon and move, and buttons to jump, shoot, and use special abilities. Enemies can kill your character in one shot, which quickly turns the game into a test of survival; three lives and three continues will only get you so far. Everyday bad guys drop quickly to a hail of bullets, but prolonged boss fights can be particularly harrowing. Power-ups pepper levels and provide access to limited-use bombs and bigger guns to clear a path to the end. 
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| T-Mobile, on Twitter, apparently confirms Samsung Galaxy Note coming, offers no other details Posted: 16 Jul 2012 11:07 AM PDT
For a while now, details about the Samsung Galaxy Note coming to T-Mobile have been floating around. Support documentation, contests showing off the device and countless other small pieces of information have been unveiled over time but T-Mobile themselves have never really come out and said they'll have the device definitively. That is, until earlier Monday morning when they were pressed a little bit for information on Twitter by @EpicRivas:
That's it. That's all the info you get for now. It's coming and T-Mobile will tell us later some more details but for now, you'll have to live with what you got. For T-Mobile's sake though, I hope they plan on rolling it out with Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich onboard considering many other carriers have already released the update. Maybe that's what they're waiting on? At this point though, with rumors of the Galaxy Note 2 aplenty is anyone waiting to pick this up on T-Mobile? Source: Twitter, via: Engadget 
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| Posted: 16 Jul 2012 10:52 AM PDT
Hard-shell cases have become arguably the most popular solutions for protecting your smartphone. They offer decent protection from dents, dings and scratches while adding negligible heft and girth to your device. As the go-to choice, the market has become flooded with offerings from countless manufacturers, ranging from colorful and fashion-centric to the conservative and refined. Two great options for the Galaxy Nexus are from Mobi Products and Seidio. Both have great reputations for building quality products, but which of their basic hard-shell cases is the best solution to protect your Nexus? 
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| London Drugs now selling the Nexus 7 in Canada Posted: 16 Jul 2012 09:58 AM PDT
It's certainly full steam ahead now, as aside from Google various other retailers across North America are starting to dish out the Nexus 7. The latest addition to the list in Canada, is London Drugs. They're selling the 16GB version at the same price as the Google Play Store, although stocks seem to be limited, at least to start with. It's fantastic news that so many different retailers are to offer up the Nexus 7, and it definitely isn't going to hurt those sales figures. Now all we need is for the European retailers -- and Google -- to start officially shipping theirs. via MobileSyrup 
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| Eric Schmidt: 'We always wanted to be in the hardware business' Posted: 16 Jul 2012 09:43 AM PDT
Eric Schmidt has been out on tour doing his best door-to-door salesman act. The Google Chairman appeared at the Allen & Company conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, armed with a new Nexus 7 and a Nexus Q, and proceeded to demonstrate the both of them. He even went so far as to describe the Q as "cute." Well, it sort of is. Perhaps more interestingly, Schmidt spoke out about Google's long standing intentions to be in the hardware business, but without describing them as a hardware company. Saying during his presentation, of the acquisition of Motorola Mobility last year; “We always wanted to be in the hardware business. Larry and Sergey have always wanted to do hardware in one form or another. This was a way to get into it quickly.” He was otherwise pretty quiet on the Motorola front, although he did promise that a new batch of products were almost ready to go. And Sergey Brin got a mention too. He wasn't at the conference, as Schmidt would declare he was on his way to the airport to tend to important Google Glass business. Either that, or he's got some more skydiving in store. Apparently too, Brin isn't seen without his prototype Google Glasses anymore around Mountain View. Something that we find incredibly easy to believe. Source: New York Times 
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| How to set up your new Samsung Galaxy S3 Posted: 16 Jul 2012 09:20 AM PDT
Getting started on your brand-new Galaxy S3 won’t take too long. Soon you will be on the Android cutting edge!The UPS person just dropped off my Samsung Galaxy SIII (S3) today and I was very excited to crack open the box and get started. It occurs to me that for many, this is your first smartphone. Others might be coming over from a previous (non Ice Cream Sandwich) device and other still might be coming to Android from the dark side … iOS or BlackBerry or Windows Phone. Let’s jump in to get you up and running quickly! 
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| Motorola Defy Mini lands in Peru Posted: 16 Jul 2012 09:18 AM PDT
Motorola Mobility has announced that the Motorola Defy Mini (see our hands-on) is now available in Peru. The Defy Mini is the little brother to the Defy and presents a more affordable option in the smartphone market. The Defy Mini boasts a 600MHz single-core processor, 512MB RAM, 3MP rear-camera, VGA front-facing camera and a 3.2-inch display that is coated with Gorilla Glass to avoid scratching. For everyone in the Peruvian market looking for a more affordable smartphone, the Defy Mini is now available from Claro Customer Service Centers and other authorized distributors. Pricing starts at S/. 329 with an 18-month contract but there are other plans for 6 and 12 month contracts. Full press release after the break. Source: Motorola Mobility 
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| Sprint triples its LTE cities in 24 hours Posted: 16 Jul 2012 08:20 AM PDT
Why launch your LTE network in five cities when you can launch it in 15? We've always known that Sprint intends to have a fairly aggressive rollout for its second 4G network, and true to its word, more cities have come online just a day after the official launch. So, if you're counting at home, that means Sprint LTE is available in:
Don't forget that 3G speeds should be improved as well, as part of Sprint's Network Vision plan. Now we just have to see how well Sprint can keep up that rollout pace. Source: Sprint 
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| Sony launches Xperia NXT series in the U.S., still running Gingerbread for now Posted: 16 Jul 2012 07:20 AM PDT
As we suspected last week, when phones started to appear in retailer listings, Sony's Xperia NXT series has launched in the United States. The manufacturer sends word today that its Xperia S, P and U handsets, available in Europe for a few months now, are now available stateside, unlocked and SIM-free. But before you reach for your wallet, a couple of caveats -- first, although these phones are unlocked, they'll only work on AT&T 3G/4G within the U.S., and they're all running Android 2.3 Gingerbread out of the box. Sony's quick to add that all three are upgradable to ICS, but we're already well into the age of Jelly Bean, and if you're shelling out the full retail price for a phone, you'd rightly be disappointed to find an 18-month-old OS loaded on there. The Xperia S is Sony's flagship for the first half of the year, with a 1.5GHz Snapdragon S3 CPU, 1GB RAM, a 720p "Realiy Display" screen, a 12MP rear camera and 32GB of internal storage. The Xperia P is the mid-range offering, with a 1GHz ST-Ericsson dual-core chip, a qHD display, an 8MP shooter and an aluminum shell. And the Xperia U is the tiny entry-level model, sporting a WVGA screen, a 5MP shooter and interchangeable plastic bottoms. To Sony's credit, all three are well-built devices with some decent hardware inside, and in our reviews of the Xperia S, P and U, we praised Sony's build quality and hardware. But in a market accustomed to buying phones directly from carriers at subsidized prices, we think they're going to struggle to sell many of these. And the price point certainly won't help. Here's what you can expect to pay for the NXT series phones in the U.S. --
In a world where the Galaxy Nexus sells for $350, and the AT&T One X is yours for $549 off-contract, it's difficult to recommend Sony's Gingerbread-based offerings at these price points. We'd much rather see the faster, more attractive, ICS-toting Xperia GX land on Western shores, instead. In any case, you can find Sony's presser after the break. 
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| Deal of the Day: Seidio ACTIVE Case (with metal kickstand) for HTC One X Posted: 16 Jul 2012 06:10 AM PDT
The Seidio ACTIVE Case is available for just $18.95, 46% off today only. Grab yours while supplies last! 
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| Sky's Now TV launches on Android and other platforms tomorrow Posted: 16 Jul 2012 05:51 AM PDT
British broadcaster Sky has announced that its new Internet-based, on-demand TV service Now TV will be launching on Android and other platforms tomorrow. Competing with the UK's LoveFilm and the recently-launched Netflix, Now TV promises customers an "easy and commitment-free way to enjoy amazing movies, instantly." The first round of content will be taken from Sky's library of movies, with Sports and other TV content due to be added over the next few months. Movies will be available to view for a one-off fee of between £0.99 and £3.49, or view unlimited movies with a Sky Movies Pass for £15 per month. To sweeten the deal, Sky's giving users a free 30-day trial of the Movies Pass, similar to what Netflix currently offers. The service launches on PC, Mac and "selected Android smartphones" tomorrow, with other platforms including Xbox and iOS begin added later in the year. The "selected" part may set alarm bells ringing, as Sky operates a similar policy for its Sky Go streaming service, which so far has the Android app for that service limited to just a few handsets, with no support for Android 4.0 and above. Given Sky's comprehensive library of content, though, it certainly has the potential to become a major player in the on-demand TV world. Check past the break for today's press release in full. Source: Sky 
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| Monday Brief: Editors-In-Chief Best-Of Posted: 16 Jul 2012 05:24 AM PDT | ||
| HTC One V software update brings with it compatibility with the Media Link HD Posted: 16 Jul 2012 04:36 AM PDT
Owners of the HTC One V may well soon receive a notification to update their devices software. The update to version 2.08.401.2 weighs in at 46.77MB, and brings with it in particular one rather tasty new feature. Support is included within for the HTC Media Link HD, HTC's wireless media streaming device. Not too shabby, and an excellent feature for the entry-level, yet handsome and feature packed One V. The usual caveats apply, in that if you bought a carrier unlocked version, you're most likely going to see this one first. Anyone with a carrier locked One V may have to wait a little while longer. To check if it's ready for you, head into your settings menu, then hit About>Software Updates>Check Now. And, if this now whets your appetite for the Media Link HD, be sure to check out our review. via Clove Technology 
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| Pick up the Sony Xperia P from Three UK today Posted: 16 Jul 2012 04:34 AM PDT
If you have been holding out to pick up the Sony Xperia P in the UK then today is your lucky day. The device is now available to order online with Three and will in in stores tomorrow. You can pick up the Xperia P for free with a £27 per month, two-year contract and also on pay-as-you-go for just £289.99 which is reasonable enough considering the hardware. We recently reviewed the handset and it performed very well. The only real downside was the fact it is shipping running Gingerbread. But fear not, as the Xperia P will get an update to Android 4.0, most likely to be next month. If you're after a decent, mid sized, well specced Android device then you could do a lot worse than the Xperia P. You can catch the full press release from Three after the break. 
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| Jelly Bean ported to the HTC HD2 Posted: 15 Jul 2012 11:02 PM PDT
The HTC HD2, the Swiss Army Knife of smartphones, now has a Jelly Bean port to play with. There's a list of things like the camera and video playback not working, so it's no daily driver just yet but the core functions -- data, Wifi, Bluetooth, and calls do work. Given the huge global developer support the HD2 has, we wouldn't be surprised if everything gets working in short order. Who needs Tango when you can have Jelly Bean? Source: XDA-Developers. Thanks, Chris G.! 
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