Saturday, July 7, 2012

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans

Samsung Galaxy Nexus ban temporarily suspended pending Apple’s response

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 02:27 PM PDT

Unlike with the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, the US Court of Appeals has temporarily lifted a ban on Galaxy Nexus sales issued late last week. The key word here is “temporarily,” as the ban is only suspended pending a response from Apple that would help the court decide whether or not to allow sales of the device until a final decision is reached in the patent infringement case against Samsung.

The stay on the ban was the result Samsung had hoped to achieve when appealing the temporary injunction on their Galaxy Tab 10.1, but the Court of Appeals did not see eye to eye with the Korean tech maker when it came to that device. Google and Samsung are already hard at work to restore sales of the Galaxy Nexus by way of a software patch that would remove infringing elements. The plan was to have the device back on sale next week regardless of the result of the appeals process.

[via The Verge]

Federal Court of Appeals denies Samsung’s stay request on Galaxy Tab ban

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 01:30 PM PDT

After Samsung was denied a temporary lift of a ban on their Galaxy Tab 10.1 earlier in the week, the news isn’t getting much better. The US Court of Appeals has denied the Korean mobile manufacturers request for a stay on the ban issued by US District Judge Lucy Koh. With the ruling, Samsung’s only hope to get the tablet back on the US market is to reach some sort of licensing deal or settlement with Apple, an avenue that is reportedly being explored jointly with Google.

Similarly, a request to temporarily lift a sales ban on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus was also denied earlier in the week. A ruling on an appeal to the Federal Court concerning that case has not been reached.

[via Reuters]

Samsung Galaxy S III available now from AT&T

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 12:13 PM PDT

Check another North American carrier off the list as AT&T has launched the Samsung Galaxy S3 today. The phone is available online and in stores starting at $199 for the 16GB model. The Galaxy S III is the latest flagship device from Samsung and features Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, a dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, and LTE support. We had nothing but the nicest things to say in our full review of the handset, and we’re sure those heading out to pick it up won’t be disappointed. Be sure to sound off with your thoughts below.

[AT&T]

Factory software image leaks for Verizon’s Galaxy S III

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 10:34 AM PDT

Verizon’s Samsung Galaxy S3 is making its way into the hands of those individuals who pre-ordered the device as we speak and will be available to all on July 10th, so we can expect the more adventurous set of owners to begin toying with the phone’s software. A good thing to have when attempting to modify a handset’s stock operating system is a factory backup image, and thanks to Samsung Updates we now have one. The stock software image for Verizon’s Galaxy S3 is available for installation right now and could be a lifesaver for anyone staring at a potentially bricked phone.

The release is not officially endorsed by Samsung, but it looks to be the official final build of the phone’s software. Samsung typically gets around to releasing these images on their own, but having one available at launch could go a long way in jumpstarting software development for the handset.

[via SamsungUpdates | Thanks, It'sASamsung!]

Let’s Talk offering DROID Incredible 4G LTE for $40

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 09:18 AM PDT

The HTC Droid Incredible 4G LTE has only been available at Verizon for a day and it’s already gotten heavily discounted. Retailer Let’s Talk has priced the device at $40, a very nice price for what you’re getting. The Incredible 4G is not considered a One phone, but it has several qualities of being one.

It’s a very solid device, and if you thought $150 was worth it then you’re going to love this offer. If you were planning on waiting for a price drop or a sale there’s no better time to get the device than now. Hit the deal up here. [Thanks Alexis!]

Verizon Galaxy Nexus may soon get software update

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 09:01 AM PDT

Images are floating around the internet showing an IMM76Q build is being installed on a Galaxy Nexus. We haven’t heard anything official from Verizon, and from the looks of things this might be running on a test unit.

There’s no way to tell what this upgrade brings outside of “enhancements,” but there is reason to believe it will be the update that strips out the unified search functionality so as to not step on Apple’s toes. Until we get official word from Verizon we won’t be able to believe that for sure. [via Droid-Life]

New YouTube API allows developers to embed videos in native apps

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 08:22 AM PDT

Google’s released a new YouTube API that developers will want to get a hold of. The new API will allow developers to embed YouTube videos in native apps in a way that is easier on both developers and users.

Because you can now do this inline users won’t need to be jumped out of the application and taken to a video player or the YouTube app. This also eliminates the need for flash for developers who prefer going that route.

Not only can developers embed their videos, they can also enable monetization for easily serving up ads. Watch the video above if you want to see what will soon be possible once Google releases the APIs.

Staples Canada pegs July 23rd as Nexus 7 landing date in Canada

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 07:39 AM PDT

Folks in Canada were told they’d have to wait until late July to get their hands on a Nexus 7, and new information from Staples seems to bring us a solid date. Customers who pre-order the device from there can expect shipments to arrive July 23rd. Remember that any date is subject to change (especially considering the launch of the Galaxy S3 and some of HTC’s phones as of late) so don’t round up the troops if things don’t come to pass. Will any of our Canadian readers be picking this one up? [Staples Canada via MobileSyrup]

Sony LT30 pops up at Bluetooth SIG

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 06:20 AM PDT

It seems Sony will soon come to market with another heavyweight device. The Sony LT30 has popped up at the Bluetooth SIG. There’s no marketable name yet, but we know it’ll have an S4 processor and a 4.6 inch HD display.

It will also have 4G LTE, and adding all those things up gives cause to believe that a lot more exciting things will pop up under the hood. If you thought Sony’s last wave of phones were nothing to write home about you might want to keep this one in your radar. [Bluetooth SIG via Engadget]

HTC falls short of Q2 forecasts, but still does alright

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 05:24 AM PDT

It looks like HTC might have had a rough Q2’12, if the latest unaudited financial report is to be believed. The company only amassed $247.7 million in profits that quarter which is down from $582.5 million in the same quarter in 2011.

From a more relative standpoint, profits were up from their Q1’12 efforts as they came up from $150 million. Revenue was up this quarter as the company gained $3 billion, and you can imagine the slim profits were due to a lot of R&D for the company’s 2012 smartphone lineup.

The HTC One series introduced a revamped portfolio which would look to help HTC long term. Their strategy is less, but better devices. With a smaller amount of devices on the market they can focus on quality of both manufacturing and marketing.

While we’re not sure it’ll be enough to spring them ahead of Samsung (or even Apple), it should help them maintain steady performance in a rapidly changing industry. Q3’12 will be an important one for HTC.

The Samsung Galaxy S3 will be launched in the United States this quarter and it will be tough competition for HTC. They’ll need to bring out some big guns to take it down. We’ll see soon enough if they’ve got what it takes to bring Samsung down a notch. Hit the source link for the full numbers.

Samsung Galaxy S3 receives OTA update

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 05:02 AM PDT

The international Samsung Galaxy S3 seems to have received another OTA upgrade. This one makes substantial changes to the user experience.

More specifically, we now have slider controls for device brightness, better options for audio, more toggles in the power menu, fixes for AccuWeather, and a lot more that users are noticing over at AndroidForums.com.

Keep in mind that this is only confirmed to be going out to the unbranded international versions of the device. Carrier specific devices will have to wait until adaptation and testing is done.

There is one report of T-Mobile UK devices getting the upgrade but don’t take my word for it. You’re looking for a 72MB build with build number I9300XXLFB. Go ahead and check for the upgrade in your phone’s settings menu. [Thanks Shaz!]

Android Overload: Security Researchers Backtrack On Android Malware Claim, Google Employees Receive RC Android Blowup Toy, and More

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 02:21 AM PDT

This image has no alt text

Greetings, friends. I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July and for those that joined our Google+ Event, it was a blast. Today, might have been a little skimpy on the news, but for all the articles that almost slipped through the cracks, we’ve place them here, so that you wouldn’t miss a thing. Have to admit, I’m a little jelly when it comes to all the goodies Google employees get to own (see article below), but that’s what I get for not becoming a software engineer. Thanks, mom. Oh, and that Android botnot security alert thing that got made it all over the internet today? Yeah, turns out the report wasn’t as accurate as everyone first thought. Have a great night, everyone!

  • Huawei Ascend D1 3G launches in China for 2499 yuan. [PocketDroid]
  • LifeWatch V is an Android smartphone with health capabilities. [AndroidMixer]
  • Google employees get cool RC controlled Android blowup toy. [Pocket-Lint]
  • CM9 for the Motorola DROID X2 now with functioning camera. [XDA]
  • Apple patents Google Glass? Almost. [Wired]
  • Panasonic P-08D Eluga Live tablet gains FCC approval. [Engadget]
  • Security researchers backtrack on Android’s “malware” claim. [WSJ]

More Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Rumors: Note Sequel To Be Unveiled In August At IFA 2012?

Posted: 06 Jul 2012 02:12 AM PDT

This image has no alt text

Before I head off to bed in my parent’s basement, I thought I’d pass along one more round of juicy Android gossip, this time centered around the highly anticipated Samsung Galaxy Note 2. According to MK News and their source “familiar with the matter,” the Note 2 is right on schedule for launch in October but will be unveiled in late August, at this year’s IFA in Berlin.

Contrary to previous reports, the device will forgo Samsung’s unbreakable pan (UBP) display technology, with that feature coming equipped on later devices in Samsung’s lineup. As for that rumored 5.5-inch display? It’s looking like that will be making the cut, with Samsung still debating whether or not to bump up the camera’s megapixels to 12 or 13. You can also expect a quad-core processor running with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Sounds like an Android fanboy’s liquid dreams, right? Sleep tight.

BriefMobile |MK News (Translated)

 

Google’s Nexus 7 Tablet Could Begin Shipping As Early As Next Week

Posted: 05 Jul 2012 11:26 PM PDT

This image has no alt text

Google was mum on an actual release date when they unveiled the Nexus 7, their flagship 7-inch tablet last week at Google I/O. We’ve all been left guessing when the tab would actually arrive (and if it would arrive before impending legal action), but some clues from around the net are hinting that it could be arriving as soon as next week. This coming from an email a customer received direct from Google saying they would be unable to cancel the order, as the ordered has already been processed, and shipment/delivery preparations have already gone into effect.

What’s more, the listing for the Nexus 7 on Staples’ site notifies customers and would-be buyers that, although there is a limited quantity of the tablets available (we expect these to sell out fast), the Nexus tablet is expected to ship between July 12th and July 17th (no earlier than July 13th). Shouldn’t be too much longer. Anyone pre-order one? Two?

[Android Forums | Staples | XDA]

FlashPunk Game Engine Ported To Android – More Old-School Platformers Headed Our Way?

Posted: 05 Jul 2012 10:17 PM PDT

This image has no alt text

Ask any of my friends (who am I kidding, I don’t have any) and they would have told you that I have a long had a love affair with old-school side-scrollers. Call it nostalgia, but jumping, shooting, dodging, dying (lots and lots of dying) — it’s all my cup of tea. Needless to say, I was pretty jazzed when cruising through Reddit to find a whole lot more platformers and side-scrollers could be soon headed our way thanks to the FlashPunk — game Flash-based game engine that was just ported over to Android.

FlashPunk is free, open-sourced software that developers can use to make good old fashioned, fun lovin’ 2D Flash games. The Android port, still in its infancy, has a few more optimizations that still need to be implemented to get everything running “more awesome,” but even in this early stage, it’s more than functional. To prove his work, the developer even put together a very quick/rough platforming game (link below) to show off how easy it will be to port and create new games for Android. You can find all the resources below.

I’ve included a throwback video (below) to give you guys an idea of the kind of content I’m talking about here. No, the games wont look like Call of Duty. Yes, they will still blow your mind. I’m pretty darn hyped, Phandroids. More about FlashPunk here.
Posted by at 8:08 AM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)