Saturday, July 28, 2012

Google Android News Android Forums

Google Android News Android Forums

Samsung SCH-R940 Galaxy S Lightray 4G headed to MetroPCS

Posted: 27 Jul 2012 02:56 PM PDT

According to the FCC, the Samsung SCH-R940 Galaxy S Lightray 4G (yet another mouthful of a name) will be heading to MetroPCS. According to the FCC filings the device will offer a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, an 8-megapixel camera with LED flash on its back, a 1.3MP FFC, a 16GB microSD expandable memory slot, 4G LTE connectivity and will likely include a single-core 1.3 GHz processor (likely the first-gen Hummingbird).

This device looks eerily similar to the Verizon Samsung Droid Charge that came out over a year ago. It’s easy to assume that it’s the same device with a re-brand considering the specs are identical and looks almost exactly the same.

Sadly, this will ship with Android 2.3 Gingerbread and not Ice Cream Sandwich or Jelly Bean. This device is slated for a release sometime in the middle of August.

source: The FCC
via: PhoneArena

Radio Shack and AT&T offering HTC One X for $99 on July 29th

Posted: 27 Jul 2012 02:50 PM PDT

Radio Shack has officially confirmed our previous report that the AT&T HTC Once X‘s price will be slashed in half to $99 starting July 29th. This move is likely due to the Samsung Galaxy S III‘s monstrous sales numbers and this could be HTC’s way of attempting to keep up. AT&T is also going to drop the price as well and it’s been reported that they already have, but we just checked online and at the time of this post, it still shows $199.

While the One X is a couple of months older than the S III, it’s still an Android powerhouse and at this price it would be hard to pass up. Any one out there planning on taking advantage of this price?

source: CNET

OnLive to be available on OUYA at launch

Posted: 27 Jul 2012 02:41 PM PDT

OnLive has officially announced that their service will be available on the OUYA console at launch next year. If you’re not familiar with either products, you can check out our coverage on both the OUYA and OnLive. OnLive on the OUYA console should be a wonderful pairing as it allows future users a broad library of games to enjoy. Are you a current backer of the OUYA project? According to OnLive, here’s what this will do for you:

  • OnLive will deliver a full console-class experience, bringing hundreds of top-tier games from more than 80 publishers to the OUYA console for play on demand.
  • OUYA owners will be able to jump in and play any of these games both at home on their OUYA console, and on the go on PCs, Macs, tablets and phones, never leaving a game behind.
  • Instant demos will be available for nearly every game in our ever-growing library—from eagerly anticipated indie titles like Ravaged, to hot blockbusters like the upcoming Darksiders® II. Players can experience up to 30 minutes of each game for free before deciding what to buy. If they like it, they can continue playing where the demo left off.

While there may be plenty of doubters and naysayers on whether the OUYA project will rise or fall, it’s definitely great to see other companies such as OnLive having faith in it and providing their services. Does this make you guys more excited of OUYA’s impending launch that’s expected sometime next year?

source: OnLive

Samsung makes predicting Olympic results fun and sociable with their London 2012 Predictor app

Posted: 27 Jul 2012 02:38 PM PDT

With the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Olympic London games just minutes away, Samsung has been working hard in aiding their Android users to follow and enjoy the event. Samsung has launched the “London 2012 Predictor” app that makes predicting events and medal winners fun by being able to go up against your Facebook friends. Aside from challenging your friends, the app also allows you to follow every event live with the Olympic scheduler that’s included.

I love the idea of Samsung making the Olympic games more fun and sociable for people as it helps make you feel like you’re part of the event. This app is available for most devices that are running Android 2.2 and up. Oddly enough, my Samsung Galaxy Nexus is listed as “incompatible” when I try to install the app myself.

If this app is right up your alley, then you should also check out our coverage of the official London Olympics app! Hit the break for the download links.

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Play Store Download Link

Samsung’s ChatON app updated, includes Olympic Buddy and other new features

Posted: 27 Jul 2012 12:12 PM PDT

 

Samsung’s instant messaging client, ChatON, has been updated with several new features. If you’re not familiar with ChatON, it’s similar to other messaging clients like Kik and GroupMe that are also quite popular on Android.

ChatON’s most notable new feature would have to be the addition of Olympic Buddy that will keep you updated in this year’s 2012 London Olympics. You will be kept up to date with daily schedules, medal tables and breaking news. If you’d like another option to keep up with this years Olympics, you can also check our coverage on the official Olympics app.

Here’s the official changelog of ChatON version 1.9.5 after the break:

  • Olympic buddy (Daily Schedules, Medal Tables, Breaking News)
  • Walkie-talkie
  • Skin/Bubble download
  • Typing status
  • Edit buddy’s name
  • New ChatON logo
  • Image zoom-in/out
  • Minor bugs fixed
  • ChatON Tablet v1.7.3 update includes :
  • Animation Emoticons
  • Olympic Buddy
  • Buddy Suggestion
  • Send documents
  • App Lock
  • New ChatON Logo

To be honest, this is the first time I’ve heard about this app. I’m more familiar with GroupMe and Kik as I’ve used both in the past. These new additions to ChatON should definitely bring some new users to the platform. What group messaging application do you guys tend to use?

QR Code generator

Google Play Download Link

Pantech Star Q Coming to Verizon 4G LTE Soon

Posted: 27 Jul 2012 10:38 AM PDT

The successor to last years Pantech Breakout, the Pantech Star Q, will be coming to Verizon’s 4G LTE network soon for a low price of $99 on contract.

The device will have Android 4.0.4, a 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, a 4″ WVGA (800 x 480) display, a 3MP rear camera, a front-facing camera, a 5-row QWERTY keyboard and Bluetooth 4.0. It’s cool too see that the device will have Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and the Snapdragon S4 processor, but the display and camera resolution is pretty disappointing. Obviously this isn’t a high end device like the Galaxy S III, but I at least expected a decent camera since 8MP has been the standard for most devices lately.

It hasn’t been said when the device will hit stores but with Verizon’s current low-end slider phones, the LG Enlighten and Samsung Stratosphere, the Pantech Star Q will make a nice addition to the lineup and should show up soon. The device definitely won’t attract hardcore fans, but it should attract a decent amount of people with it’s low $99 price point.

Does the Pantech Star Q interest you at all? For $99 I would personally rather go with the HTC One X or Atrix HD. Let us know in the comments below!

source: Android and Me

HTC One X Possibly Dropping to $99 on AT&T with Contract

Posted: 27 Jul 2012 09:14 AM PDT

An AT&T staff leak on XDA says that the carrier will be cutting the contract price of the HTC One X to $99 on July 29th. That’s half the price of it’s original listing. This might be due to the Galaxy S III‘s extraordinary sales, so HTC may just be trying to get it’s One X back into the spotlight. Nothing has officially been confirmed unless AT&T does pull the trigger on the price drop on July 29th.

Is anyone actually interested in the One X with the Galaxy S III already out and the Galaxy Note 2 possibly on it’s way? Let us know in the comments below!

source: XDA
via: Engadget

Runtastic teams up with Google Earth to add cool new 3D video playback called Earth View

Posted: 27 Jul 2012 08:36 AM PDT

Runtastic just got pretty cool with it’s latest update. First of all if you aren’t familiar with Runtastic, it uses GPS to map your fitness activities like running, biking, and walking. It tracks your progress with things like distance, speed, calories, and more. It’s a lot like Google’s My Tracks. Now My Tracks recently updated with the ability to play back your activities through Google Earth and now Runtastic added something similar called Earth View. In addition, the Pro version has a new Auto Pause feature, which automatically detects when you pause. Hit the break for the demo video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

There’s both a free version and a Pro version, which costs $1.99. Just hit one of the links below to get started.

Runtastic Runtastic_02 Runtastic_03 Runtastic_04 Runtastic_05 Runtastic_06 Runtastic_07 Runtastic_08 Runtastic_09

 

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Play Store Download Link – Free

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Play Store Download Link – Pro

LG Nitro HD to get Ice Cream Sandwich on July 31st

Posted: 27 Jul 2012 07:20 AM PDT


Not sure how many of you own the LG Nitro HD, but AT&T just reported that it will get the Ice Cream Sandwich update on July 31st. In addition users will also have access to LG’s new Optimus 3.0 UI, which allows users to unlock the phone by swiping anywhere on the screen, using your own photos as icons or shortcut images, and the addition of a “Download” category in the menu for easier organization.

Hit the break for the changelog.

  • New lock screen actions let you conveniently jump directly to a specific application without unlocking the homescreen.
  • The redesigned Gallery App & Photo Editor makes it easier to manage, show, and share photos and videos than ever before.
  • An updated home screen folder and favorites tray that lets you group your apps and shortcuts logically by simply dragging one onto another.
  • Enhanced multitasking capabilities let you instantly navigate from one task to another by leveraging a list in the System Bar that includes thumbnail images of all recently used apps.  Just tap the thumbnail to resume using that app.
  • Improved text input with an updated keyboard that supports faster text input and more accurate entries with better error correction and word suggestions.
  • An app that helps you easily monitor your data usage.
  • Face Unlock, a new screen-lock option that intelligently unlocks your device using facial recognition software.

You can download the update by going to www.lg.com/us/NitroHD-Upgrade from your personal computer and following the instructions on the site.

They also mentioned that updates would be coming to the HTC One X and HTC Inspire that will enhance performance for both phones. Additionally, the Inspire will get the AT&T Address Book, HTC Sense 3.0, and Task Manager. We can only hope that One X update is Jelly Bean, but I wouldn’t hold your breath.

source: AT&T

Samsung thinks it’s irrelevant on if they copied Apple because Apple copied Sony

Posted: 27 Jul 2012 07:04 AM PDT

Lets face it, all this legal news has gotten way out of control and I was over it months ago, but I have to admit, it’s starting to get interesting again. With Samsung and Apple set to battle it out next week, we’ve seen trial briefs from both Samsung and Apple, but as part of Samsung’s trial brief there was a mention about Sony and this quote:

For good measure, Apple seeks to exclude Samsung from the market, based on its complaints that Samsung has used the very same public domain design concepts that Apple borrowed from other competitors, including Sony, to develop the iPhone. Apple's own internal documents show this. In February 2006, before the claimed iPhone design was conceived of, Apple executive Tony Fadell circulated a news article that contained an interview of a Sony designer to Steve Jobs, Jonathan Ive and others. In the article, the Sony designer discussed Sony portable electronic device designs that lacked "excessive ornamentation" such as buttons, fit in the hand, were "square with a screen" and had "corners [which] have been rounded out."

In 2006 two Sony product designers, Takashi Ashida and Yujin Morisawa, were interviewed by BusinessWeek. They were asked about design philosophies and how or if the iPod influenced their own designs for their new Walkman player. This very article was circulated internally to Apple executives and of course Steve Jobs saw it. Supposedly he ordered Apple designer Shin Nishibori to come up with a similar looking device.

Here’s what Sony had to say about it:

Right after this article [BusinessWeek's interview of Sony designers] was circulated internally, Apple industrial designer Shin Nishibori was directed to prepare a "Sony-like" design for an Apple phone and then had CAD drawings and a three-dimensional model prepared. Confirming the origin of the design, these internal Apple CAD drawings prepared at Mr. Nishibori's direction even had the "Sony" name prominently emblazoned on the phone design, as the below images from Apple's internal documents show:

Soon afterward, on March 8, 2006, Apple designer Richard Howarth reported that, in contrast to another internal design that was then under consideration, Mr. Nishibori's "Sony-style" design enabled "a much smaller-looking product with a much nicer shape to have next to your ear and in your pocket" and had greater "size and shape/comfort benefits." As Mr. Nishibori has confirmed in deposition testimony, this "Sony-style" design he prepared changed the course of the project that yielded the final iPhone design.

By convincing the court that Apple copied Sony, Samsung’s hope is that any evidence that they copied Apple would be null and void. Lastly, Samsung said this:

“Samsung has used the very same public domain design concepts that Apple borrowed from other competitors, including Sony, to develop the iPhone.”

It’s a chess game at this point and I agree, nobody should have to be spending time and money in the courts over this stuff. Unfortunately our legal and patent system is set up to work like this. The attorneys win and innovation suffers. I will say though that I’m a little more intrigued with this case now as things are really heating up.

source: dottech
Posted by at 5:46 AM

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