Android Central |
- Gmail updated with improved 7-inch tablet support, new labels API
- From the mail bag: Getting new fonts on the Galaxy Tab
- Motorola RAZR HD appears in some new images sporting Vodafone software
- Ematic hopes you will spend your $79 on their Ice Cream Sandwich tablet, the eGlide
- Samsung Galaxy S2 now available from Bluegrass Cellular
- Qmadix Q-i-sound Stereo Bluetooth speakers review
- Nexus Q preorders shipping
- Google Mobile Blog closing down, say hello to the Official Android Blog
- More official Nexus 7 accessories appear online, including folio case and keyboard case
- Google Wallet update takes things to the cloud, lets you add any credit card
- Leaked renders purport to show Sony Xperia SL's fresh coat of paint
- US Cellular gets the Motorola Defy XT and Electrify 2
- Archos teases Gen 10 tablet ahead of announcement
- Comscore: Modest growth for Android and iOS in June, Samsung still top manufacturer
- MIPS announces $125 Jelly Bean tablet
- How to turn your non-magnetic Nexus 7 case into a marvel of modern industry
- Tablified Market HD revamps dedicated tablet app store
- Deal of the Day: Seidio CONVERT Combo for Samsung Galaxy S3
- Samsung Galaxy Pocket headed to Three UK in September
- ZTE Q2 2012 shipment numbers make it fifth-largest smartphone manufacturer
- Nexus 7 travel covers to be available outside the U.S. within 2 weeks?
- Google Play developer policies have been updated, we like where this is heading
- Gears & Guts brings together zombies and reckless driving
- AOKP nightly ROM's, Nexus Q orders [From the Forums]
- Poll: Did you preorder a Nexus Q?
| Gmail updated with improved 7-inch tablet support, new labels API Posted: 01 Aug 2012 04:08 PM PDT
For the first time since the launch of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, the official Gmail app for Android has been updated. The new version is available right now through the Google Play Store, so head to the "My Apps" tab to get yourself up-to-date. There's not too much in the way of radical changes in this latest Gmail app update -- the changelog reveals that Google's rolling our improved 7-inch tablet support on Android 4.0 and above, and a new "labels" API for third-party apps on Android 2.2 and above. The former obviously refers to the Nexus 7, which is now starting to make its way out to consumers around the world. Despite the news of 7-inch tablet improvements, we haven't been able to track down exactly what Google's changed on our Nexus 7. The UI is much the same as it was before, so we're likely looking at subtle alterations for 7-inch tablet owners. The new labels API is also a bit of a mystery. It's possible this is a replacement for functionality removed around a year ago which disabled third-party Gmail widgets, though this too is mere speculation. Users on all versions of Android also get a healthy helping of bug fixes and performance improvements, so that's reason enough to upgrade even if you're not a Nexus 7 owner or an application developer. If you've noticed any dramatic changes in this new version of Gmail, hit the comments and let us know what you've found. Download: Gmail on Google Play 
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| From the mail bag: Getting new fonts on the Galaxy Tab Posted: 01 Aug 2012 03:52 PM PDT
George writes,
Hey there George, thanks for writing in! And don't worry, we take no offense to the fact you think the Roboto font on ICS is "fugly". Some of us like it, some don't, but what's most important is that you're given a choice to use what you like -- and Samsung has you covered there. Hit Settings > Screen > Screen display > Font Style and you'll see the image above, with a limited selection of built-in fonts. If none of those tickle your fancy, tap the "Get fonts online" button and have a look in Google Play. As you noticed, many of the fonts in Google Play are not English (Latin) fonts. Makes sense, Samsung is a huge Korean company. Luckily, third party developers have you covered. Fire up Google Play and search for Fontomizer SP. Or just click right here to see it on the web. Get it installed, look in Settings > Security and check the box that says "Allow installation of non-Market apps", then run the app. It has a huge database of free fonts to choose from, and will download and install them, making them available in your font selection setting. No need for root, or any hackery of any kind, you just have to allow the app to install the downloaded fonts. Fontomizer has been around for about a year now, and we think the developer is pretty trustworthy. If we didn't we wouldn't have recommended it. Hope this helps, and good luck! Have a question you need answered? (Preferably about Android, but we're flexible.) Hit up our Contact Page to get in touch! 
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| Motorola RAZR HD appears in some new images sporting Vodafone software Posted: 01 Aug 2012 02:27 PM PDT
Better known as the Droid RAZR HD from previous images, some new photos of the Motorola RAZR HD have now turned up sporting some Vodafone software. Looking at them it's kind of hard to tell where in the RAZR HD timeline this particular device is. It could be an earlier engineering unit that was made available before the Verizon branded versions were handed out or it could be a later revision but either way, we may never know, as the person who posted the photos doesn't have the device. We know the FCC has this one already, awaiting approval so it's only a matter of time before this one fully lands. Some more images can be found below for your viewing pleasure. Source: XDA 
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| Ematic hopes you will spend your $79 on their Ice Cream Sandwich tablet, the eGlide Posted: 01 Aug 2012 02:11 PM PDT
A cheap tablet you say? Yeah. Here's is another. Ematic has just announced their release of the eGlide, their all new 7 inch Ice Cream Sandwich tablet that is destined for Walmart. Powering this tablet is a 1Ghz processor with 512MB of RAM, which isn't terrible, but also far from the best we have seen. Internally you will have access to 4GB of storage for your favorite applications, games and more, and they are also offering 5GB free in the cloud for other stuff to be stored as well. That not enough for you? Well, the device is additionally equipped with a micro-SD card slot, so expand up to 32GB if that is what your heart desires. The eGlide comes pre-loaded with a voice recorder, Office Suite application for your document needs, and Kobo ebook reader as well. Coming in at the $79 price point, it does seem like you get a decent amount for your money here, and if you are in the market for a cheap Android tablet, maybe for the kids or just to travel with, this may be an excellent choice for you. Buy: Walmart 
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| Samsung Galaxy S2 now available from Bluegrass Cellular Posted: 01 Aug 2012 01:56 PM PDT
Despite the fact Samsung has rolled out the Samsung Galaxy S3, the Samsung Galaxy S2 is still making its way into new markets. Rural carrier Bluegrass Cellular has now added the device to their lineup for $110 with a new two-year contract. No doubt, it's a little on the higher end of pricing for the carrier but it's also one of the better devices offered. One stand out item though is that they list the device as coming with Android 2.3 Gingerbread and no mention of Android 4.0. As we know it, Galaxy S2 variations have been getting updated to ICS for a while now but there's no telling if the update will be waiting for you as soon as you open the box or if you'll be waiting for Bluegrass Cellular to push it out. Source: Bluegrass Cellular, Thanks Thoth19! 
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| Qmadix Q-i-sound Stereo Bluetooth speakers review Posted: 01 Aug 2012 01:46 PM PDT
The Qmadix Q-i-sound Stereo Bluetooth speakers let you stream your tunes to quality stereo speakers.Sometimes, you need a Bluetooth headset that also handles music. Other times, you want to listen to your music via Bluetooth and occasionally need to field a phone call. 
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| Posted: 01 Aug 2012 01:09 PM PDT
This will affect, oh, maybe five or six of us, if our un-scientific poll is any indication, but it appears that preorders of Google's Nexus Q are now shipping. The flip side to that, of course, is that Google has delayed the retail release of the Nexus Q to add some more functionality. But if you did slap down $299 -- which Google's not even going to charge you now -- look for your Nexus Q to be headed your way directly. 
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| Google Mobile Blog closing down, say hello to the Official Android Blog Posted: 01 Aug 2012 12:26 PM PDT
When the Google Mobile Blog asked what its readers wanted to see more of, there was a pretty clear message. Lots more Android. As such, today sees the last ever post from the Google Mobile Blog, and the launch of its replacement. Say hello to the Official Android Blog. The back catalog of Android related goodness has been transferred over for fans to read back through at their leisure. It's all Android now though, just pure, honest-to-goodness Android. The devoted fans out there will definitely want to keep this one in their RSS feeds. Source: Google Mobile Blog, Android Blog 
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| More official Nexus 7 accessories appear online, including folio case and keyboard case Posted: 01 Aug 2012 11:54 AM PDT
The previously-leaked Nexus 7 POGO dock and premium case are set to be joined by a few more official accessories before long. UK retailer MobileFun has revealed five new accessories for ASUS and Google's Nexus 7 tablet in a blog post today, including a host of cases that also double up as stands for the device. The line-up of Google-sanctioned, ASUS-manufactured accessories includes --
There's no word on when these accessories will become available for purchase, but at least we have confirmation now that they are indeed on the way. Any of these jump out at you? Hit the comments and let us know which you like best. We've got more pics after the break. Source: MobileFun 
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| Google Wallet update takes things to the cloud, lets you add any credit card Posted: 01 Aug 2012 11:00 AM PDT
After that, alls you need is a Google Wallet-compatible device (here's the list of 'em), and you're off and running. No more exclusives. No more errors. So head to the Play Store and smash that update button, and be sure to let us know in the comments how it goes adding cards to the app. Source: Google Commerce Blog 
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| Leaked renders purport to show Sony Xperia SL's fresh coat of paint Posted: 01 Aug 2012 10:33 AM PDT
Sony's IFA 2012 line-up has been subject to some major leakage over the past couple of weeks. We've already seen leaked photos and spec sheets for the international Xperia GX (LT29i Hayabusa), the Xperia J and the Xperia Tablet, and now it's the turn of the "Xperia SL." As previously rumored, the SL seems to be an Xperia S with a fresh coat of paint and a shiny new CPU. In addition to the black and white exteriors used by the Xperia S, the SL brings silver and pink to the table. And the 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S3 powering the S is clocked up to 1.7GHz in the SL. Essentially, it's a spec bump similar to the move from the Xperia Arc to Xperia Arc S in late 2011. There's also a fairly important software change, too -- the SL runs Andorid 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box. The images above (and the couple more after the break) have appeared over on Chinese site ePrice, along with specs for the rumored device. They're unconfirmed at this point, but ePrice has proved fairly accurate at sniffing out unreleased Sony phones in the past. Anyone tempted by this re-vamped Xperia S? Let us know in the comments. Source: ePrice; via: XperiaBlog 
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| US Cellular gets the Motorola Defy XT and Electrify 2 Posted: 01 Aug 2012 10:01 AM PDT
US Cellular today announced it's picking up a pair of new Motorola devices. Of the utmost concern is the Electrify 2, with a 4.3-inch display and a 1.2 GHz processor pushing Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. It's got a rear-facing 8-megapixel camera and has the same Smart Actions we've come to know and love on the likes of the RAZR line on Verizon. The Electrify 2 will cost $179 on contract and after a $100 rebate. The Defy XT (that's the one on the right) is a 3.7-inch ruggedized Android smartphone with a 5-megapixel camera. It'll run $99 on contract after a $100 rebate. We've got a couple promo videos after the break. More: Electrify 2 at US Cellular; Motorola press release 
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| Archos teases Gen 10 tablet ahead of announcement Posted: 01 Aug 2012 09:37 AM PDT
Archos took to its official Facebook and Twitter accounts today to give us our first glimpse of its upcoming Gen 10 tablet, ahead of the official announcement later this month. The manufacturer said it'd be officially unveiling the Gen 10 slate "in three weeks," which lines up with a possible event in the run up to IFA. For now, the device itself remains a mystery, though we can discern a few things from the off-angle render posted on Archos' Facebook page. It looks like the Gen 10 is set to come to market as a premium offering from the French manufacturer, as the slim, white chassis is a significant departure from other Archos designs. And judging by the on-screen UI, it's running Android 4.x -- either ICS or Jelly Bean. Any wild theories about what we might see from a possible next-gen Archos tablet? Let your imagination run wild in the comments. Source: Archos on Facebook 
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| Comscore: Modest growth for Android and iOS in June, Samsung still top manufacturer Posted: 01 Aug 2012 08:17 AM PDT
Analytics firm Comscore has just released its latest stats covering the U.S. smartphone market for the quarter ending in June 2012. Overall, the picture hasn't changed much since they released their last set of numbers. Samsung is still the largest smartphone manufacturer by market share, and Android still lays claim to a bigger chunk of the market than any other OS. Apple's share of mobile subscribers grew 1.4 percent at the expense of all Android OEMs but HTC, which grew by 0.4 percent compared to the previous stats. In terms of OS share, Android continues to advance beyond half of the U.S. smartphone market, with a 51.6 percent share compared to 51 percent last time. Apple's growth was a little more aggressive, going from 30.7 percent to 32.4 percent. Lower down the table, RIM, Microsoft and Nokia's Symbian OS continue to slowly bleed market share to the big players. We'll be interested to see how the numbers pan out for July, as we'd expect a fairly sizeable bump for Samsung and Android on account of the U.S. Galaxy S3 launch. Source: Comscore 
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| MIPS announces $125 Jelly Bean tablet Posted: 01 Aug 2012 08:15 AM PDT
Low-cost chip designer MIPS has announced today that they're releasing the "World’s Lowest-Cost Android 4.1 ‘Jelly Bean’ Tablet" at the surprisingly low price of $125. If the MIPS name rings a bell, you may remember we reviewed the MIPS Novos 7 back in December of last year. Similarly to the Novos 7, MIPS has teamed up with Chinese chip maker Ingenic to produce this tablet, currently being marketed as the Karbonn Smart Tab 1, for sale immediately in India, and assumedly through other channels to the rest of the world soon. As far as specs, the Karbonn Smart Tab 1 isn't exactly a barn burner, but you get what you pay for:
Be sure to read through the full press release after the break if you want to learn a bit more about MIPS, Ingenic and Karbonn. Source: MIPS Newsroom, Karbonn Mobiles 
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| How to turn your non-magnetic Nexus 7 case into a marvel of modern industry Posted: 01 Aug 2012 07:42 AM PDT
Oh, that Jerry Hildenbrand. He's not just another pretty face. (Another pretty neckbeard, maybe. But another pretty face?) It seems our resident tinkerer has taken the official Nexus 7 case (read our full review), which for some reason lacks the magnet that will automatically turn on the Nexus 7 when the cover's open, and has, shall we say, fixed it. Tools required: One Nexus 7 case. One multitool. One magnet. Homer Simpson and Spider Pig preferred, but not required. Jerry's got the full deets in this forum thread. 
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| Tablified Market HD revamps dedicated tablet app store Posted: 01 Aug 2012 07:08 AM PDT
It can be a pain to find quality Android apps that aren't just blown-up smartphone versions, so it's great to Tablified Mark HD around and staying up-to-date. If you're thinking of going pro, we're giving away 20 copies of the pro version in our forums. You can always make do with the free version at the download link below. What are your favorite Android tablet apps? How do you usually find new ones? 
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| Deal of the Day: Seidio CONVERT Combo for Samsung Galaxy S3 Posted: 01 Aug 2012 06:20 AM PDT
The Seidio CONVERT Combo for Galaxy S3 is available for just $39.95, 20% off today only. Backed by our 60-day return policy and fast shipping! Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts! 
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| Samsung Galaxy Pocket headed to Three UK in September Posted: 01 Aug 2012 05:04 AM PDT
With Android 2.3 Gingerbread on a QVGA (240x320) display, a 832MHz CPU and a 2.3MP rear camera the Galaxy Pocket is squarely aimed at budget-conscious phone buyers (this ain't no Galaxy S3). We'd expect it to sell for well under £100 on Pay As You Go, and to be given away for free on all of Three's contracts. The Galaxy Pocket will go up against the likes of Sony's Xperia Tipo, due to launch next week, and HTC's Desire C, which is currently available on a wide range of UK networks. Source: Three UK 
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| ZTE Q2 2012 shipment numbers make it fifth-largest smartphone manufacturer Posted: 01 Aug 2012 03:18 AM PDT
Chinese manufacturer ZTE has hailed its arrival into the ranks of the top five smartphone manufacturers, following the news that it shipped 8 million smartphones in the second quarter of 2012. This, the ZTE says, makes it the fifth-largest smartphone manufacturer in terms of units shipped. In terms of overall (smartphone and dumbphone) shipments, the company maintained its place as the fourth-largest mobile phone vendor. ZTE says its worldwide market share was 0.5 percent behind HTC and 1.4 percent behind Nokia, which would place it at a 5.2 percent overall. Though still relatively unknown in the West, ZTE is a big deal in its native China, where its sales are strongest. Recently the company has renewed its efforts to break into the European and North American market with devices like the ZTE Grand X, which was recently released in the UK. However, it's been dogged in recent months by a fall in its stock price, and an FBI investigation into its dealings with Iran. Do you own a ZTE Android phone, or are you thinking of picking up something like the Grand X? Let us know what you think in the comments. 
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| Nexus 7 travel covers to be available outside the U.S. within 2 weeks? Posted: 01 Aug 2012 02:08 AM PDT
The whole Nexus 7 purchasing process has been a mixed bag for many people, but outside of the U.S. one thing in particular is still lacking. The official OEM cover isn't yet even an option to pre-order in countries such as the UK and Australia. And, that's discounting any potential forthcoming colorful ones. It's frustrating to say the least, there are third party options out there, but for many OEM accessories are the only way. The guys down under at Ausdroid are as frustrated as everyone else, and they've been badgering Asus Australia for some information. The response -- via Twitter, it should be noted -- was such:
We should remember that messages via local social media accounts are far from the most reliable source of information. Needless to say, it doesn't sound unreasonable either. That sort of time period puts it about a month after the initial launch of the tablet, and that's got to be long enough to get some cases up for sale, right? If you've got a hankering for one of these, so far elusive, Nexus 7 covers then don't forget to check out our review. Source: Ausdroid 
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| Google Play developer policies have been updated, we like where this is heading Posted: 31 Jul 2012 10:38 PM PDT
Google has sent out an e-mail about updates to their Google Play developer policies, and it's clear that they are trying to reign in some questionable behavior that goes on in our beloved app store. There's some standard stuff to go along with new features, like guidelines and cancelation policies for the new subscription billing service, but the bulk of the new changes are user facing and designed to make our experience better all around. Here's a quick bullet point of the major changes:
The first couple of points are easy enough to understand, and Google is stepping in to keep folks from being tricked by unscrupulous developers. With over 600,000 applications in Google Play, there are bound to be a few who just want your eyeballs on ads and will do anything to make that happen. A lot of these apps also will try to work around the rules and just want your address book or web history. It stinks, but just like the rest of the world some folks take the low road to make a buck. With these new policies in place, Google can show them the door if they get crafty and don't play fair. The third point is downright awesome. Have a look at the complete policy here, and see how Google makes it plain about what is and isn't allowed in their store, and just what they consider as spam. This is how we like to see things explained -- in clear, concise language with no weaseling around. In their house, you play by their rules, and now you know them. Finally, they are getting a grip on ad SDKs and networks that practice in shady behavior. With words like deceiving consumers and disruptive behavior, Google has lain the smack down and let these companies -- and the developers who use them -- know that the days of the wild west are numbered. A clear set of rules on how ads can behave has been a long time coming. Google is still wide open. With the tick of a checkbox users are free to install any application they please, and we wouldn't want it any other way. We also want a consistent, and dare we say better, experience from Google's own store. We're tired of fake Temple Run games and apps that seem to exist only to harvest marketing data. As savvy users we tend to quickly ferret out these kind of apps and give them the boot, but now it looks like Google is prepared to step in and help those who may not be Android enthusiasts. With the apparent push of the Google Play brand, we say the timing is perfect. Check out the full text of the e-mail after the break. 
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| Gears & Guts brings together zombies and reckless driving Posted: 31 Jul 2012 06:55 PM PDT
Gears & Guts cruised into Android today, bristling with all manner of unlikely weaponry. This free top-down action game puts players up against a horde of zombies that they have to clear out with car-mounted chainsaws, flamethrowers, and machine guns. Here's what you can expect.
Glu recently churned out Mutant Roadkill with an obscene reliance on in-app purchases and ads, and was also oddly about running over mindless shamblers. I've played around with Gears & Guts for a little bit, IAPs and ads aren't quite as obnoxious, though they're still a big part of the picture. If you're into gore, give Gears & Guts a shot. 
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| AOKP nightly ROM's, Nexus Q orders [From the Forums] Posted: 31 Jul 2012 05:57 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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| Poll: Did you preorder a Nexus Q? Posted: 31 Jul 2012 05:10 PM PDT
You might have heard that Google is postponing the retail launch of the Nexus Q, and as compensation they are giving one to everyone who preordered for the low price of free. It's a shocker, and more than anyone expected to hear when we found out that the Q would be held back to add some more functionality. I'll leave the comparison to Oprah for the comments. We're all busy discussing what sort of awesomesauce Google could bake into the Q, and words like mirroring and Wifi Direct are getting thrown all over my Gtalk. We're just speculating of course, but we're genuinely excited to see what G has in store for the cannonball. All we know for now is that it's been delayed for a it, and that Google is handing them out for free if you preordered. Which of course means we have to ask, just how many folks did preorder the $300 Nexus Q? Everyone who doesn't have one seems to hate it, and those that do have one (Google handed out about 6,000 of them at Google I/O 2012) seem to be divided about how useful the device is in its current state. We don't imagine very many folks jumped at the chance to get one, and that now everyone wishes they had, but rather than guess, we'll just ask. Let us know in the poll! 
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