Android Central |
- Must have Nexus 7 apps, Jelly Bean camera improvements [From the Forums]
- ZTE Flash for Sprint leaked with 4.5-inch screen and LTE
- Hey Samsung, where the hell is that Verizon Galaxy S 3 developer phone?
- Casio G’zOne Commando getting a software update
- Square Enix showing off Final Fantasy Dimensions and other titles for Android at Gamescom
- Archos 97 Carbon now available, on sale to boot
- Samsung India starts offering the 32GB Galaxy S3
- Too much Tweeting apparently causing issues with Olympic TV coverage
- Verizon Galaxy Nexus now free on contract at Best Buy Mobile
- T-Mobile 'retires' the Sidekick, don't confuse it with a discontinuation though
- Gmail video chat being upgraded to Google+ Hangouts
- Fake Infinity Blade II Android port weasels into Google Play
- Skobbler brings ForeverMap 2 mapping solution to the Nook Tablet, Color
- T-Mobile Galaxy Note review
- T-Mobile Galaxy Note price and availability: $249 on Aug. 8
- T-Mobile Galaxy Note specs
- Samsung EHS60 Stereo headset review
- 16GB Google Nexus 7 now listed as 'in stock' on Google Play
- Forever Drive brings unending user-generated racing tracks to Android
- How to change your wallpaper on the Galaxy Nexus
- LG Canada Twitter account says no Android 4.0 ICS for the Optimus 2X
- Samsung/Apple trial by jury begins today, don't expect a clear outcome anytime soon
- Deal of the Day: OtterBox Defender Series Case for HTC One X
- Monday Brief: NFC hacking on Android, Guide to Siri, Windows 8 SDK preview and more!
- Sony's tiny Xperia Tipo headed to O2 and Orange in the UK
| Must have Nexus 7 apps, Jelly Bean camera improvements [From the Forums] Posted: 30 Jul 2012 05:01 PM PDT
Just in case you missed out on some of the Android news today, now is the time to go ahead and get yourself fully caught up. Here on the blogs and in the Android Central Forums there is plenty to talk about. Have some questions? Need some help or just looking to chat Android? You know where to go, check out some of the threads below to get started.
We've got nearly 1 million members helping members and nearly 2 million posts in our Android Forums. Are you one of them? Join today! 
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| ZTE Flash for Sprint leaked with 4.5-inch screen and LTE Posted: 30 Jul 2012 04:16 PM PDT
Hot on the heels of the recently released Grand X, it looks like ZTE is pairing up with Sprint to launch a new LTE handset, the Flash. As far as specs, it seems to tick all the boxes: a 4.5" 720x1280 display, dual-core 1.5 Ghz processor, 1GB of RAM and a 12.6MP camera. There are just a couple shortcomings at first glance though, mainly the rather small 8GB of storage and 1780 mAh battery, which don't compare favorably to recent top tier handsets like the Evo 4G LTE and Galaxy SIII. We'll only know for sure when Sprint drops the official release date and pricing on this one. It could be a real contender, and more high-end device competition can only be a good thing. Source: Talk Android 
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| Hey Samsung, where the hell is that Verizon Galaxy S 3 developer phone? Posted: 30 Jul 2012 03:20 PM PDT
With the Galaxy S 3, Samsung has built a phone that everyone and their brother seems to want. It's big, it's beautiful, it's fast, and it's hacker-friendly everywhere except Verizon Wireless. We all remember the outrage when it was discovered that the bootloader on the Verizon model was protected, and Samsung was quick to tell us they would be releasing a "developer" edition with an unlocked bootloader "soon". That's more sets of quote marks than I care to see or use when talking about unfettered hardware. A couple weeks back the dev model showed up on Samsung's website with the same "coming soon" tag (look, more of those pesky quote marks), but since then nobody has said a word. This is pretty important to hardcore Android fans, so I would hope it's equally important to someone at Samsung HQ. For us, Android on our phones is like Linux on our desktop -- something we can tweak to our liking and break any old way we want to break it. That's probably why Verizon wanted a locked model (make no mistake, I'm sure Verizon was behind it) to begin with. That plan has pretty much backfired, as even with the locked and encrypted bootloader folks have managed to hack the living crap out of the Verizon Galaxy S 3. You can't defeat a determined Android nerd, let alone hundreds of them. But that doesn't matter. We want freedom to tinker as promised. We never forget a promise. Let's hope Samsung hasn't forgotten either. Of course, it's possible that Big Red has changed their mind about allowing a wild and free Galaxy S 3 all over their LTE network. We're poking around to see if that's the case. But it's more likely that the "coming soon" tag has a different meaning to the folks in suits than it does to the rest of us. Samsung, don't wait to do the right thing until it's so late nobody cares about it any longer. As mentioned, we never forget. We want to love you. We want to praise the way you remember the development community that you 
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| Casio G’zOne Commando getting a software update Posted: 30 Jul 2012 02:10 PM PDT
The Casio G’zOne Commando hasn't been forgotten by Verizon, and should be seeing a software update shortly to address some bugs and patch up a bit on the security side. There's no mention of a version update, so we're pretty sure it will still be on Gingerbread, but bug fixes and the like are always welcome. The change log reads as such --
The new security patch is a great thing, and the removal of the Mobile IM app probably is, too. When nobody uses your "value-added" apps, it's time to strip them out. No word on when to expect this one, but if you're rocking the Mil-Spec G’zOne ( I love typing that name) be on the lookout. Hey Verizon -- Rezound next, please? Source: Verizon (pdf) 
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| Square Enix showing off Final Fantasy Dimensions and other titles for Android at Gamescom Posted: 30 Jul 2012 01:38 PM PDT
Square Enix is bringing the big guns of late when it comes to Android. In recent weeks we've seen the release of the mighty Final Fantasy III, and the original Final Fantasy that sneaked out just last week. It doesn't stop there though, as the prominent game developer is headed to Gamescom, in Germany, to show off their next Final Fantasy title for Android, Final Fantasy Dimensions. While Dimensions will undoubtedly be the main attraction, Square Enix will also show off a number of future Android titles. There will be a couple of matching, strategy based games called Qwirkle and Motley Blocks, KooZac which is described as a mix of Tetris and Sudoku, and their own brain training game known as Mensa Academy will be out for testing. It's fantastic news for Android as a gaming platform, to see big name developers such as Square Enix getting on board. via DroidGamers 
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| Archos 97 Carbon now available, on sale to boot Posted: 30 Jul 2012 12:41 PM PDT
It's kind of a tough time to be any Android tablet not named Nexus 7, but try telling that to the Archos 97 Carbon, which is now available online. At $229 (with a $20 discount) it doesn't match the price of the Nexus 7, nor does it under the hood, where you'll find Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and a 1GHz processor. On the other hand, you get a larger display, so there's that. Hit the link below if you want to give this guy a go, and use code MAC45Z to save $20 at checkout. Buy: Archos 97 Carbon 
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| Samsung India starts offering the 32GB Galaxy S3 Posted: 30 Jul 2012 11:25 AM PDT
We know how much you kids crave storage, and so for prospective Galaxy S3 buyers in India we bring good news. Until now, only the 16GB variant of the latest Samsung flagship have been available in the country. But, Samsung India is changing all that with the release of the 32GB version. In stock now over on Samsung India's website, the 32GB Galaxy S3 is available in both the Metallic Blue and Ceramic White colors. Pricing is set at Rs.41500 (£476/$747) which is on the hefty side, but then we are talking a premium device and more available storage, and isn't a massive amount more than the 16GB S3. Source: Samsung India via Sammyhub 
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| Too much Tweeting apparently causing issues with Olympic TV coverage Posted: 30 Jul 2012 11:09 AM PDT
So, the 2012 Olympic Games are well underway in London. One of the first events the British public had been looking forward to, was the Mens Cycling Road Race. There was massive hopes for Gold for the home team, and fans turned out in their droves along with the millions watching on TV. Anyone who did watch the race on the TV though may have been cursing the apparent lack of information about the race. The problem, apparently, was Twitter. OK, not just Twitter, but overloading of the data networks apparently restricted information being received from the riders GPS units. Hundreds of thousands of people all in a relatively small area using mobile data to tweet at and about their heroes. And, many no doubt will have been using the BBC Olympics application to watch the live TV coverage while waiting for the riders to hit their part of the route. Sounds crazy, but it prompted a statement from an IOC spokesperson, urging fans to restrict their mobile use around the Olympic events.
The 2012 games are the first in history to be surrounded by modern social media and smartphones. More and more we rely upon mobile devices to communicate with the world, without any real knowledge of potential consequences such as this. At previous Olympics, fans haven't had the access to the stars through services such as Twitter and Facebook, or the countless number of apps that keep them in touch with the action 24/7. Though on the other hand, the billions of pounds that have been spent on the Olympics should really have been able to avoid such an issue before it arose. The mobile operators and infrastructure companies claimed before hand to be able to cope, so what went wrong? Vodafone and O2 claim not to have seen any network disruptions around the Olympic venues, yet the issue apparently stems to over-subscriptions on one particular network. We think, that whatever the issue is, another solution will need to be found. Can fans really be expected to keep their phones in their pockets? Source: Reuters 
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| Verizon Galaxy Nexus now free on contract at Best Buy Mobile Posted: 30 Jul 2012 10:58 AM PDT
One of the hardest parts about buying a new phone is generally justifying the price, especially when the hardware is not brand-spanking new. The Samsung Galaxy Nexus on Verizon has been out for a while, and isn't the newest of news, but that doesn't mean that many of you out there don't want it still. What better way to get that Galaxy Nexus in your pocket than the cost of just a few minutes in the store, and a signature for another two years with Verizon? That's right, no cost to you, the device is simply going to be free on contract. While it doesn't say just how long it will last, most Best Buy sales run until the next Sunday, so be sure to act quick. Now we sit back and wait for the Jelly Bean update to hit the Verizon units as well! Source: Best Buy 
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| T-Mobile 'retires' the Sidekick, don't confuse it with a discontinuation though Posted: 30 Jul 2012 10:41 AM PDT
For years, T-Mobile had great success with the Sidekick line of devices. That is before the smartphone market really blew up. Their most recent effort with the line can't be called a success, despite the fact they teamed up with Samsung to create the Android 2.2 powered Sidekick 4G with all sorts of (at the time) updated customizations. Perhaps that's the reason T-Mobile is sending the brand into retirement as confirmed to Phonescoop. Yep, it'll be a while before we see another Sidekick branded device come onto the market. However; T-Mobile was quick to point out they're not discontinuing the line. Instead, just giving it a little rest and relaxation. Go on; pretend to be surprised in the comments. Source: Phonescoop 
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| Gmail video chat being upgraded to Google+ Hangouts Posted: 30 Jul 2012 10:27 AM PDT If we were ever in doubt that Google+ is becoming more of a focus for Google, today's Gmail announcement just reinforces it a little bit more. The video chat feature in Gmail is being replaced as of this morning. Taking its place, Google+ Hangouts. It isn't that surprising to see this integration eventually come around, but it is still a welcome upgrade. Google+ Hangouts is already a pretty powerful video conferencing tool, and without having to be in Google+ to use it just makes it that bit more useful day-to-day. It also means that you're able to reach your contacts for video chatting on their mobile devices too. The beauty is, every Gmail user will benefit from this upgrade, they don't have to be using Google+. But, if you're a user of both, then you can enjoy the full Hangouts experience such as watching YouTube videos together, collaborating on documents, or perhaps more importantly, dressing as a pirate. Source: Gmail Blog 
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| Fake Infinity Blade II Android port weasels into Google Play Posted: 30 Jul 2012 09:51 AM PDT
Some wily con artist thought it would be a good idea to snag the branding and assets of Infinity Blade II and post it as their own on Google Play. Except instead of actually including the game in the download, they try to get hopeful players to collect a bunch of points through ad clicks on the TapJoy network before delivering an asset pack that amounts to about 1 GB of nothing. The Google Play listing is convincing enough to the casual observer: description verbiage pulled right from the iOS App Store, "2011 Chair Entertainment Group LLC" as the developer name, the familiar icon, and even a few fake positive reviews to round things out. The fact that TapJoy partners with such shady outfits is one thing, but scams like this should never get into Google Play. Not only does it cause a ton of disappointment in Android users, but do you think Chair and EA are remotely interested in making an official port after stuff like this? Smaller apps getting duped in schemes like this is unfortunate, but expected; how can a big developer and recognizable title like Infinity Blade II make it this far? Does Google Play need to be better curated? Source: Pocket Gamer 
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| Skobbler brings ForeverMap 2 mapping solution to the Nook Tablet, Color Posted: 30 Jul 2012 09:46 AM PDT
The Barnes and Noble line consisting of the Nook Tablet and Nook Color aren't exactly known for their available mapping solutions. That's because they lack the GPS hardware needed in order to function correctly but that doesn't mean there isn't any way around that. Skobbler knows that and as such, they've gone ahead and launched ForeverMap 2 for the devices. Using WiFi positioning, ForeverMap 2 will bring access to global and local digital maps, that will assist with local search, address search and category search. You'll find no turn-by-turn here but the app is free to try out, should you decide you like it, a premium version is available for $5 that opens it up for unlimited access to downloadable maps for offline use. Need to know more? The press release is below along with the download link. Download: B&N 
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| Posted: 30 Jul 2012 09:00 AM PDT
The timing for the Samsung Galaxy Note on T-Mobile may seem a little odd, but that doesn't necessarily detract from the oversized Android smartphone.Reviewing a phone like the Samsung Galaxy Note for the third time is a difficult task. All the good points have been pointed out, and the not-so-good points have been argued to death, and no matter what you think, you know something bigger, stronger, and faster is coming shortly. OK, maybe not bigger in this case, but the fact remains that no matter what we think of it, the next new shiny is right around the corner. Welcome to the world of Android, and an AC editor's nightmare. The Galaxy Note is a little easier though. It's simply not the average Android smartphone. The size (what a big, gorgeous display), seems to polarize users, with some thinking it's ridiculous, and others ready to throw money until one is in their hands. This not only gives bloggers something to talk about, but a unique experience that's refreshing to review -- even almost a year after it was first introduced. What do I, an admitted fan of smaller phones, think of the T-Mobile Galaxy Note? Read on. 
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| T-Mobile Galaxy Note price and availability: $249 on Aug. 8 Posted: 30 Jul 2012 09:00 AM PDT
Yeah, we know that T-Mobile's take on the Samsung Galaxy Note is already officially official, but now its really super-duper official, and we've got all the gritty details. The magenta network is launching the Note on Aug. 8 for $249.99 after a $50 mail-in-rebate (c'mon, stop it with those) and an industry-standard two-year contract. If you elect to go with one of T-Mobile's Value Plans, it'll cost you $199.99 up-front, and $20 installments thereafter until the handset is paid off. As far as specs, it's pretty much the same Note we've seen before, with a gigantic 5.3-inch 800x1280 screen, dual-core 1.5 GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage and the addition of a 42mbps HSPA+ radio for T-Mobile's "4G" network. Interested in knowing every bit of information possible about the Note? Of course you are. Be sure to read our full review, and check the official press release after the break. Source: T-Mobile Newsroom 
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| Samsung EHS60 Stereo headset review Posted: 30 Jul 2012 08:17 AM PDT
Sometimes, you don’t need anything “fancy” you just need a headset that gives you a bump in quality from the crappy ones that tend to get bundled with phones these days.Your New HTC One X or Evo 4G or Galaxy S III is capable of producing very nice music – you should have a “decent” set of headphones to bring that out. See if the Samsung EHS60 fits the bill. 
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| 16GB Google Nexus 7 now listed as 'in stock' on Google Play Posted: 30 Jul 2012 07:58 AM PDT
When it comes to the Google Nexus 7, availability on the Google Play Store has been flipped off and on more than a light switch. Google has been working on that though and now, residents in the U.S., Canada and the UK are seeing the 16GB version as in stock. There's no telling how long it will stay like that so, if you're looking to get one in the next 3-5 days you'll want to hit the link below and place your order. Still on the fence about it all? Check out our full review to help you decide. Source: Google Play Store 
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| Forever Drive brings unending user-generated racing tracks to Android Posted: 30 Jul 2012 07:54 AM PDT
Forever Drive, one of my favorite racing games on iOS, made the jump to Android this weekend. From a top-down perspective, players tilt or tap their way through an endless series of user-created courses for as long as they can before time runs out. Players earn experience points, level up, and get access to new cars and license plates. The real selling point are the smooth, stark, pseudo-Tron graphics that set a truly unique atmosphere. Here's a quick feature run-down.
The game is free with optional in-app purchases, which I found were generally done in a classy way. Give it a shot and lets us know about any device compatibility issues. Download: Forever Drive (Free, IAPs) 
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| How to change your wallpaper on the Galaxy Nexus Posted: 30 Jul 2012 07:50 AM PDT
Once you get the basics down on your Galaxy Nexus, you will want to start personalizing it to your own tastes. One of the easiest ways to personalize your phone is to change the wallpaper.Your Galaxy Nexus supports several different types of wallpaper; you can choose from pre-installed wallpaper images, use a picture from your Gallery app or even use a Live wallpaper for your background. Wallpaper can be changed in one of two ways. 
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| LG Canada Twitter account says no Android 4.0 ICS for the Optimus 2X Posted: 30 Jul 2012 07:33 AM PDT
The ongoing saga of "Will my Optimus 2X get Android 4.0?" takes another twist courtesy of LG Canada. Previously, LG Singapore had said via their Facebook page the update was coming in Q3 but now, LG Canada has taken to Twitter to say that's not the case at all and that it was a mistake based on a general statement from HQ. We're not entirely too sure what that means unless it's code for stuff we just say to calm people down and can then later retract. In any case, we've reached out to LG to hopefully get a better response on the matter because social media accounts aren't always the final word. Source: LG Canada via: IntoMobile 
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| Samsung/Apple trial by jury begins today, don't expect a clear outcome anytime soon Posted: 30 Jul 2012 06:40 AM PDT
Following months of legal wrangling, injunctions and appeals, Samsung and Apple will face off in a federal court in San Jose today. The two companies accuse each other of patent and design infringement, with Apple seeking more than $2.5bn in damages, and Samsung looking to claim royalties for five of its own patents. The narrative is all too familiar -- Apple accuses Samsung of being a "copycat" and imitating its products and inventions rather than coming up with its own stuff. Samsung counters that Apple's claims are overly broad, and that its actions are anti-competitive and monopolistic. Apple will argue that Samsung has copied its patented designs, and that Samsung's products, in both hardware and software, are "confusingly similar" to the iPhone and iPad. It's a tactic which has been met with some success, notably in the German courts, over the past year. However, it's backfired in the UK, where a High Court judge recently ruled that Samsung did not copy Apple's iPad designs, and ordered Apple to take out ads to this effect. So we're in for yet more claims and counterclaims, with the certainty of appeals to follow whatever verdicts the court reaches. So strap yourself in, and prepare for endless back and forth lawyerin' over the coming weeks. As our own Jerry Hildenbrand noted in his recent editorial, this is just the way things have to be in the mobile tech world in 2012. Let's just hope that whatever the decision, it doesn't impact consumers' freedom to choose the phone they want. via: BBC News 
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| Deal of the Day: OtterBox Defender Series Case for HTC One X Posted: 30 Jul 2012 06:18 AM PDT
The OtterBox Defender Series Case is available for just $29.95, 40% off today only. Backed by our 60-day return policy and fast shipping. Get yours while supplies last! Deal also available in the Canada store
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| Monday Brief: NFC hacking on Android, Guide to Siri, Windows 8 SDK preview and more! Posted: 30 Jul 2012 05:58 AM PDT  A little change this week for the Monday Brief as our normal host, the adventurous Ashley Esqueda, is off in London right now taking in the London 2012 Olympic Games. No, you'll not see her on any diving boards or dressaging any horses herself, but you can check her adventures on the her Samsung Global Blogger page. The show as they say though, must go on, so go ahead and check out what's been happening around Mobile Nations below.
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| Sony's tiny Xperia Tipo headed to O2 and Orange in the UK Posted: 30 Jul 2012 05:18 AM PDT
Hardware-wise, the Xperia Tipo provides enough horsepower for a basic Android smartphone experience -- a 3.2-inch screen, an 800MHz CPU, a 3.2MP rear camera and 1500mAh battery, which Sony says can deliver more than 24 hours of usage. Internal storage is split between 768MB for apps and 2.5GB for media, and that's expandable via a microSD card slot. That's all wrapped up in a neatly-designed package reminiscent of last year's Xperia Active. An O2 "coming soon" page indicates that the Xperia Tipo will be arriving sometime in August. There's no word on pricing yet, but we'd expect the phone to sell for around £100 on Pay As You Go, or to be given away for free with 24 month contracts. 
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