Thursday, August 16, 2012

Android Central

Android Central


What the 'death' of Flash means for Android and the web

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 04:08 PM PDT

Adobe Air

Now that Adobe has dropped Flash for Android, it's worth a look to see how this will change things and what direction we may be headed. Of course, you can still sideload an older version, but that's far from an end-game solution. We're all thinking that Adobe has something in mind, but let's focus on the current state of Flash -- both on the web and in applications.

Contrary to what you might have read today, Flash is far from dead. Only the ability to see it in our stock browser on Android. Adobe still supports Flash on Windows and Mac OS X, and Google's Chrome is pushing it forward for Linux. Flash is alive and well on the desktop, and will probably remain that way for a long while. You might be asking why -- that's a reasonable question. Adobe made it really easy to create Flash content, that's why. The tools to build Flash files were fairly expensive, but as easy to use as a standard video editor. Professionals could tweak it and do wonderful things, but more importantly anyone could dump a few things together and create Flash content. When something is that easy, people will use it. And the cost was easily mitigated by about a million torrents of the software.

We don't know how long Adobe plans to support Flash on the desktop, but the content won't be going away any time soon. HTML 5 does a great job at some things, but it needs a company like Adobe to step in and build tools to allow the average Joe (or Jane) to do anything with it. You can bet Adobe has some ideas here -- making the tools used to create content is what they do best. As more developers use HTML 5, and companies start making it easier for non-techies to use, it will grow in popularity. That's a good thing. A thing we want to happen, and it will. 

Right now, there are plenty of games and other interactive media on the web that uses Flash. Slowly, that will transmute into HTML 5 content, but what about the immediate future? Eventually sideloading an old version of Flash will stop working, and we will still want to see and play with the content that's already published. That's where Adobe Air comes in. There's a good chance you're already using Adobe Air on both the desktop and on your Android device, and don't realize it. Air is a way to build Flash-style content into an application and run it independently of the browser or any install of the Flash player app. Programs on your computer like TweetDeck use Adobe Air (or the Flash enabled Chrome version). On Android, apps like Photoshop Touch integrate Adobe Air. It's fairly simple for developers to use Air to build an Android app around Flash content, and as we've seen, easy is what drives development. Developers can take their Flash content, and using Air and the right tools, create a stand alone app for Android. We expect them to do just that.

Sideload Flash, and install Adobe Air from Google Play. Enjoy the current content as long as you can, and trust that things will work themselves out. They usually do.



Samsung: 10 million Galaxy Notes sold worldwide

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 04:04 PM PDT

Android Central

We were on the ground at Samsung's Galaxy Note 10.1 launch event earlier today, where the company briefly announced that it's sold more than 10 million Galaxy Note smartphones worldwide. The original Note, which made its debut in late October 2011 in Europe before coming to the U.S. in February, was the first 5-plus-inch phone to be met with mainstream success, taking many in the mobile world by surprise.

Samsung surpasses 10 million units sold a little over four months after it hit the 5 million milestone. We imagine the U.S. launches of the Note, combined with continued promotion throughout the recent Olympic Games, were instrumental in pushing the Note over the 10 million mark.

The company is expected to launch a successor to the original Galaxy Note at its pre-IFA press conference on Aug. 29 in Berlin, Germany, with rumors pointing to a larger screen still, and a bump up to a quad-core CPU. We'll be live from Berlin on the 29th, so keep it locked to AC for future Galaxy Note announcements.



Humble Bundle for Android 3 now up for purchase

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 03:45 PM PDT

Android Central

The Humble Bundle for Android 3 has just gone live, bringing five great games to the platform. A donation of your choice gets you Fieldrunners, BIT.TRIP Beat, SpaceChem and Uplink. Donate above the average, which is at $6.06 at the time of writing, and you also unlock a fifth game called Spirits. This really is a tremendous value, especially when taking into account that you receive Windows, Mac and Linux versions of the games for no additional cost.

If you're not familiar with how the Humble Bundle system works, it's a basic "pay what you want" structure. This means that you offer to pay what you feel the games are worth, and on top of that you get to choose what percentage of your donation goes to each of the sources. The great part about the Humble Bundle is the charity aspect, which this time around offers you a choice of donating to Child's Play Charity and the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Interested in getting some great games and donating to charity? Of course you are. Check the video after the break, and head to the source link below to make your donation.

Source: Humble Bundle

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Google+ updated with hangout improvements

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 01:24 PM PDT

Android Central

The newly redesigned Google+ app for Android just keeps getting better. This most recent update brings improvements to hangouts, allowing younger users to initiate them and all users to watch hangouts on air. Most notable when you first open the newly update app, you will see a grey bar at the top of the window with sharing options. This is a welcome addition that saves you that one extra tap when you want to share a post.

In addition, the new version has floating timestamps in photo view. For those of you getting frustrated with spam in the new "events" feature, the ability to report abuse straight from the app has been added as well. We've got a couple screenshots of the new UI after the break, and you can follow the Play Store link above to grab the update for yourself.

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Verizon enabling 34 new markets with 4G LTE tomorrow, expanding 38 others

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 12:11 PM PDT

Verizon 4G LTE

In what has become typical fashion, Verizon announced today that they will be flipping the 4G LTE switch tomorrow, August 16th, in 34 new markets while expanding coverage across 38 others. To give Verizon their due credit, their 4G LTE rollout now covers more than 75 percent of the U.S. population making their grand total of areas covered beyond 370 markets.  Looking for the full list to see if you'll be getting covered with that glorious 4G LTE goodness? Full list is below.

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Samsung Galaxy S3 spotted running official Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 10:59 AM PDT

Rumors have been circulating over the past couple of weeks suggesting Samsung’s hard at work on a Jelly Bean update for the (international) Galaxy S3, and that release is slated for late August or early September. Today we have the first indication of what this new software version might actually look like, as video footage of Android 4.1 on the S3 has leaked out from Mexican site AndroidMX.

The video shows exactly what we’d expect Jelly Bean on the Galaxy S3 to look like -- you’ve still got all your TouchWiz customizations there, and that’s still 90 percent of what you’ll see in normal operation. However, fancy new Jelly Bean features like Google Now and the redesigned notification area are present and accounted for.

As for speed, the S3 looks fast on Android 4.1, but then it’s pretty speedy on ICS, too, so that’s nothing new.

Regardless of how much new stuff there ends up being in this update, international Galaxy S3 owners will be hoping that the rumors of a release in the next month or so turn out to be true. We’ll certainly be crossing our fingers.

Source: YouTube, via: SamMobile



London 2012 Paralympics official UK app available now

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 10:54 AM PDT

Android Central

The British public is still on a high following the resounding success of the London 2012 Olympic Games. The action isn't over though, as after a 2 week break we have the 2012 London Paralympic Games to look forward too. Tickets have been going like hotcakes, and many will be left disappointed at being unable to attend the events. Fear not though, as with the main games, an official app is here to keep you in the know. 

The Paralympics are not being broadcast in the UK by BBC as the main games were, so their Olympic app won't be of much use. Instead, Channel 4 is the official Paralympic Broadcaster, and as such has released their own official Paralympics application. All the expected is contained within, a live text stream, medals table, results, news etc. Apart from the news and photos, the app is pretty redundant at the moment. But, come Aug 29 when the games begin, the various sections will start lighting up. 

Oh, and unlike the BBC Olympics app, this has no troubles with tablets. We've tried it out with a Nexus 7 and it works just fine. 



How to manually install Adobe Flash Player on your Android device

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 10:35 AM PDT

Android Central

​New devices will soon be unable to get Adobe Flash from Google Play. Here's how to install it manually.

From today, for some new devices, Adobe Flash Player will no longer be available from Google Play, marking the end of Flash’s brief flirtation with Android. That means if you want to get hold of Flash on an Android device that doesn't ship with it, you’ll need to resort to a little bit of trickery. Fortunately, though, it’s pretty easy to get Flash up and running manually, assuming you understand the risks.

Join us after the break to find out how to manually install a legacy version of Adobe Flash Player on your Android phone or tablet.

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HTC CEO tells staff 'kill bureaucracy,' improve communication, be more decisive

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 10:20 AM PDT

Android Central

It’s no secret that 2012 hasn’t been kind to HTC. Despite releasing strong products as part of its HTC One line earlier in the year, the improvement in the HTC’s smartphones hasn’t been reflected in the company’s financial results. The Taiwanese manufacturer recently reported 45 percent year-on-year fall in revenues for July, and the second quarter picture was similarly grim.

As such, CEO Peter Chou recently emailed employees, HTC Chairwoman Cher Wang and the company’s board of directors calling for a change in HTC’s inner workings. The internal email, leaked to Bloomberg and confirmed as authentic by an HTC spokesperson, calls for staffers to kill the “bureaucracy” that “crept in without clear ownership.” Chou said, “We agreed to do something but we either didn’t do it or executed it loosely.”

In the Aug. 9 email, the HTC boss also bemoaned the fact that HTC’s sales were sliding, while the overall smartphone market was going. And in possible reference to Samsung and Apple, he added “our competitors can leverage their scale, brand awareness and big marketing budget to do things which HTC could not do. The fast growth from the last two years has slowed us down.”

Chou noted that HTC needed to “build on its culture, ‘committed’ employees and customer relationships,” according to Bloomberg. On products, he praised the HTC One X, saying it had “the industry’s best rating,” and revealing, without going into specifics, that more strong products were in the pipeline for late 2012 and early 2013.

The company will be likely hoping that its rumored refresh of the One X, in addition to its Windows Phone efforts and possibly an upcoming 5-inch phone will help to reverse its fortunes later this year.

Source: Bloomberg



Kyocera Rise will be available in Sprint stores starting August 19 for only $19

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 09:30 AM PDT

Kyocera Rise

The Kyocera Rise will be available on Sprint starting August 19 for only $19, and on August 31 on Virgin Mobile for $99, it has been announced.

The Rise was first announced at CTIA -- a 3.5-inch Android phone that was clearly designed as an entry-level device. Featuring a 3.5-inch HVGA display, a 3.2 MP camera, 1GHz processor and powered by a 1500mAh battery, the specs are reasonable though nothing outstanding. One key feature on the Kyocera Rise is the inclusion of Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box, making for an improved user experience over the Gingerbread-based ROMs on man entry-level phones.

For more on the phone, be sure to check out our full hands-on preview.

Source:  Sprint



Photoshop Touch to come preloaded on the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 09:24 AM PDT

Android Central

If you hadn't already noticed, we're live at the launch event for the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1. With the new tablet being very much an ideal candidate for photo editing, it makes sense that Samsung have teamed up with Adobe Systems and have included Photoshop Touch preloaded on the device.

For those of us that either cannot afford the PC/Mac version, or those just looking for an app to play around with the Note 10.1's bundled S Pen, this is the perfect opportunity to do so without having to spend hard earned cash on the app.

The full feature list boasts some impressive capabilities -- 

  • Use Photoshop features designed for the tablet such as layers, selection tools, adjustments, and filters to create mind-blowing images.
  • Use your tablet camera to fill an area on a layer with the unique camera fill feature.
  • Select part of an image to extract by scribbling with the Scribble Selection tool. With Refine Edge, use your fingertip to capture even hard-to-select image elements, like hair, with ease.
  • Search and acquire images with the integrated Google Image Search.
  • Share images on Facebook and view comments right within the app.
  • Browse an inspirational gallery for the styles and results you'd like to achieve. Then follow step-by-step tutorials to easily learn techniques the pros use for great-looking results.
  • Sync projects with Adobe Creative Cloud* and open layered files from Adobe Photoshop Touch in Photoshop CS5 or higher.
  • Free membership to Creative Cloud gives you 2GB of cloud storage plus the ability to sync between tablet and desktop, access files from the web, and easily share with others. Learn more at http://www.adobe.com/products/creativecloud

We're sure this is one of the first apps new Note 10.1 owners will look to try out, so kudos to Samsung and Adobe for making it happen.



Swiftkey update brings new summer themes, voice typing and bug fixes

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 09:09 AM PDT

Swiftkey

Swiftkey, one of the most popular Android keyboard replacements available, has released yet another great update for us to all enjoy. One of the most notable changes is the inclusion of two new visual styles, Sky (blue) and Fuchsia (pink), which the SwiftKey team is calling summer themes.

In addition to these visual changes, they have also added the ability to long press the comma key in order to launch dictation, for those who like to tap and talk. This update will also include support for Malay and Urdu, bringing the language count up to 44, which is pretty huge. Beyond these changes they have fixed a slew of bugs, made the experience better while using SwiftKey in Chrome, Google Talk, and many other applications.

If you're a current SwiftKey user be sure to grab the update today, and if you are not currently using it hop into Google Play and download it today!

Source: Swiftkey



Samsung Galaxy Note on sale today at noon at Union Square Best Buy

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 09:00 AM PDT

Android Central

We're live at Samsung's U.S. Galaxy Note 10.1 launch event, where it's just been announced that the stylus-toting tablet will be released early at New York City's Union Square Best Buy store! This means folks in NYC will be the first to get their hands on the Note 10.1, ahead of tomorrow's general availability across the world.

Stay tuned to AC this week, as we'll be giving you the chance to win one of two Galaxy Note 10.1s in the days ahead!

More: Galaxy Note 10.1 preview



The all-new Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 - first look (updated with hands-on video)

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 08:01 AM PDT

Galaxy Note 10.1

Reworked since its announcement six months ago​, we take the new Galaxy Note 10.1 for a spin.

Hey, look at that. Some six months after we first got our hands on the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, it's finally time for this touchable tablet to hit the streets. We're live at Samsung's launch event this morning in New York City, but we've already gotten a second -- and much more fresh -- look at the tablet.

When I reviewed Acer’s latest Iconia Tab last month, one of the things that left a bad taste in my mouth was the A700’s lack of innovation-- with a seemingly endless onslaught of tablets flooding the market, nothing seems to differentiate one from the other. Sure, Tegra 2 and Tegra 3 and RAM and ROM look impressive on paper, but in hand, the latest beefed-up tablet has almost no difference from the older models. With the Galaxy Note 10.1, however, the tides have turned, and dare I say Samsung has finally released a tablet that stands out among its competitors.

Read on for our latest look at the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1.

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Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 availability

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 08:01 AM PDT

Android Central

Update: Folks in New York City will be able to pick the Note 10.1 up at the Union Square Best Buy a day early!

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 has arrived, and it'll be launching tomorrow, Aug. 16, around the world. Available in white and blue flavors, the S-Pen-enabled Android 4.0 tablet will sell in the U.S. for $499 for the 16GB model and $549 for the 32GB version at Best Buy, HH Gregg, Office Depot, Amazon, and Tiger Direct.

Elsewhere, the Galaxy Note 10.1 will make its international debut at Samsung's flagship brand store at the Westfield shopping center in Stratford, London on the same day. UK pricing is expected to come in at around £450 for the Wifi and 3G/HSPA model, though there's been no specific announcement for international pricing.

For more info on the Samsing Galaxy Note 10.1, check out our extensive hands-on preview



Live from Samsung's U.S. launch of the Galaxy Note 10.1

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 07:51 AM PDT

Samsung

Well, folks. Looks like it's official. We're live at the U.S. launch of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1. It's an all-new GNote, revamped from what we saw in February at Mobile World Congress.

Want all the deets? Hit the break for the liveblog! Show gets going about 11 a.m. EDT.

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Sony Xperia Acro S heading to the U.S, bringing Xperia Advance and Tipo Dual along too

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 07:20 AM PDT

Android Central

Losing track of all these Sony Mobile devices? We wouldn't say that we blame you. U.S. customers will soon have another three to choose from, as Sony has posted coming soon links to their U.S. website for the Xperia Acro S, Tipo Dual and Advance. 

If you're not so familiar with any of these, here's a quick rundown of each device:

  • Xperia Acro S - 4.3-inch HD display with Mobile Bravia Engine and wet finger tracking at 1280x720, 1.5GHz Qualcomm dual-core processor, 16GB internal storage, 1GB RAM, Android 4.0, 12.1MP rear camera with LED flash, NFC, microSD card slot, Playstation certified and available in white and black.
  • Xperia Tipo Dual - Dual SIM, 3.2-inch TFT display at 320x480, 800MHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 2.5GB internal storage, 512MB RAM, microSD card slot, 3.2MP rear camera, Android 4.0 and available in white and black.
  • Xperia Advance - U.S. version of the Xperia Go, 3.5-inch HVGA display, Android 2.3 Gingerbread, 1GHz dual-core processor, 8GB internal storage, 512MB RAM, ruggedized. 

Of the three, the Xperia Acro S is clearly the standout model. While not particularly groundbreaking, it stacks up pretty well spec wise against the current higher end offerings from competitor OEM's. We are though expecting a whole new crop of Sony Xperia devices to be unveiled in 2 weeks time at IFA 2012 in Berlin -- where we'll be to bring you every last morsel -- so even the Acro S could soon find itself outdated. 

No pricing or release date is given at this time, and as this is the official Sony site, expect unsubsidized prices when they do arrive. 

Source: Sony



Huawei Ascend P1 goes on sale in the UK SIM-free

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 06:48 AM PDT

Android Central

If you've been looking forward to picking up the Huawei Ascend P1 SIM-free, today is your lucky day. The device is now in stock at UK retailer Clove and will set you back a respectable £309 + VAT. The Ascend P1 may not have been getting the same attention as the likes of the HTC One X and Samsung Galaxy S3 but specs wise it is a pretty decent piece of hardware.

Running Android 4.0 and powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 CPU the Huawei Ascend P1 isn't to be sniffed at. With a 4.3 Super AMOLED screen, an 8MP BSI camera and Dolby Sound System new P1 owners should have plenty to get excited about. It may not be the biggest and the best in todays fast-paced smartphone market, but we gave it a great review and sales should be pretty good.

More info from Clove at the source link below.

Source: Clove



Verizon announces Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 06:36 AM PDT

Android Central

Verizon Wireless is to launch the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, the carrier has announced. The Tab 2 7.0 is the 7-inch version of Samsung's second-generation Galaxy Tab, running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and TouchWiz on a 1024x600 display. Unlike other versions of the Tab 2, Verizon's model will run on its 4G LTE network. Its specs are relatively unremarkable, with a 1GHz dual-core CPU inside and 1GB of RAM, however if you're after a decent, small tablet with LTE connectivity, you could certainly do worse.

Verizon will offer the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 from this Friday, Aug. 17, for $349.99. The carrier's usual "Share Everything" data plan is available for the device, starting at $40 for 4GB of 4G LTE data.

We're seeing more and more competitively-priced 7-inch tablets as the year progresses. With this latest release, Verizon and Samsung will be hoping that the additional bonus of 4G LTE data will tempt consumers over to the Tab 2, rather than Google's Nexus 7 or Apple's upcoming 7-inch iPad.

For fans of press releases, there's more info on the Verizon Tab 2 7.0 to be found in the official presser after the break.

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Deal of the Day: Seidio ACTIVE Case (with kickstand) for Galaxy Nexus

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 06:25 AM PDT

Deal of the Day The August 15 ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day is the Seidio ACTIVE Case (with kickstand) for Galaxy Nexus. This two-layer case features a compact and lightweight rubber polymer with a precisely positioned hard skeleton for added protection. The arachnid design of the skeleton extends out to protect vulnerable parts of your device. Features a built-in kickstand and comes in black, blue, red, purple and white.

The Seidio ACTIVE Case (with kickstand) is available for just $18.00, 48% off today only. Backed by our 60-day return policy and fast shipping.

Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts!

 



Purported Samsung Galaxy Note 2 front panel photo leaks

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 06:01 AM PDT

Android Central

Today brings more Galaxy Note 2 leakage, though we'd put more stock in this latest photo than the questionable render that showed up 24 hours ago. The latest leaked photo comes from French site Nowhereelse, and claims to show the front panel and screen of the upcoming large form factor phone. From the setting and the way the two figures in the background are dressed, it looks like this sample may have just rolled off the production line. What's more, the ruler indicates that this screen is approximately 14cm -- or 5.5 inches -- diagonally, tying in with earlier rumors that a bump up to a 5.5-inch panel was on the cards.

More interesting is the fact that if you measure the aspect ratio of the screen, it's 16:9, not 16:10, indicating a transition to a full widescreen resolution. That, combined with the minimal amount of bezel on show, suggests that this device should be easier to hold than the original Note, or competitors like LG's squarish Optimus Vu. It also looks like Samsung's opted for a similar button setup to the Galaxy S3 and international Galaxy Note, with a large central home button and capacitive keys at either side.

However, we should mention that Samsung is now well-versed in the art of foiling online leakers and rumor-mongers. The company even designed and manufactured several alternate designs for the Galaxy S3, one of which leaked out multiple times, and bore no resemblance to the device we now know as the Samsung Galaxy S3. So while we expect the basic dimensions and aspect ratio of the Note 2 to resemble what we see here, this might not exactly match what we see in Berlin in a couple of weeks.

Stay tuned to AC for full coverage of the Galaxy Note 2 as we approach the Aug. 29 announcement event.

Source Nowhereelse, via: Engadget



Black Galaxy S3 appears on T-Mobile USA site, still no word on official release

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 05:12 AM PDT

Android Central

For a device that hasn't yet been officially announced, the black Samsung Galaxy S III (Galaxy S3) is certainly getting its share of exposure. It first appeared on Samsung's Facebook page, then at various retailers in the UK, and now it seems it may be heading stateside on T-Mobile.

Eagle-eyed Tmo fans have spotted the black Galaxy S3 on the carrier's comparison site, which showcases its range of smartphones while telling viewers how awesome its network is. And the first device to appear on the carrier's virtual podium is none other than the Galaxy S3 in black. Unlike earlier promotional images, there's no room for confusion here -- this is definitely a black Galaxy S3, rather than the pebble blue variant that we first saw back in May.

There's no indication of when the black S3 might arrive on T-Mobile, but the some UK retailers are expecting stock of the international S3 in black in the next 4-6 weeks, so we wouldn't be too surprised to see T-Mobile's version launch around the same time.

Tmo subscribers, would you be tempted by a Galaxy S3 in black on your network? Hit the comments and let us know!

Source: T-Mobile



LG hails 5 million LTE smartphones sold worldwide

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 02:05 AM PDT

Android Central

Optimus Vu also reaches half a million units sold

LG has announced that it’s reached a total of five million 4G LTE smartphones sold worldwide, up from four million a month ago. Announcing the milestone today, LG notes that it now has more than ten LTE smartphones on the market in South Korea, Japan, the U.S. and certain European countries. A traditional area of strength for LG, its LTE sales are lead by its flagship Optimus LTE, which contributed more than two million to the overall total.

The manufacturer also says it’s shifted more than 500,000 units of the Optimus Vu, its 5-inch slab that aims to compete with Samsung’s Galaxy Note (check out our review for more on the Vu). That number’s sure to increase when the Vu arrives in the U.S. later this quarter. In addition, LG is expected to launch the Optimus LTE II on Verizon in the U.S. around the same time, under the name “LG Spectrum II.”

For more numbers and back-patting, check LG’s full press release after the break.

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EISA announces mobile device awards, HTC and Samsung among winners

Posted: 15 Aug 2012 01:45 AM PDT

Android Central

The EISA (European Imaging Sound Association) has revealed its mobile device award winners for 2012-13, and two leading Android manufacturers have found themselves among the winners.  Samsung’s Galaxy S III (Galaxy S3) won best mobile device, an unsurprising win given the hype surrounding that device, and the quality Samsung’s been able to bring across the board. Elsewhere, HTC has been honored by the  EISA for the second year running, with the HTC One S winning the “Social Media Phone of 2012-13” award, the company has announced. The accolade was awarded to HTC’s keyboard-toting Facebook phone, the ChaCha, in 2011.

The EISA is group made up of representatives of multimedia magazines from 19 European countries. Each year they honor the best products in certain categories with their annual awards. Another of this year’s notable mobile winner was Nokia, with its PureView Pro imaging technology (Best Mobile Photo Achievement).

HTC was the first Android manufacturer to integrate direct social media functionality in its HTC Sense software, something it’s continued in phones like the HTC One S, powered by the latest Sense 4.x. We also imagine the One S’s sleek design and exemplary build quality played some part in the phone’s victory in this category. As we noted in our full review back in April, the One S’s thin aluminum chassis means it looks great and fits easily in the hand.

Samsung, on the other hand, has already convinced millions of consumers that its Galaxy S3is the best phone on the market, as it’s sold more than 10 million of the devices worldwide. As we said in our review of the device back in May, the S3 represents a near-ideal balance of hardware, build quality, aesthetics and battery life.

For more on the HTC One S and Samsung Galaxy S3, check out our full reviews.

More: EISA.eu



Latest Dropbox beta reveals new features, UI improvements for Nexus 7

Posted: 14 Aug 2012 11:47 PM PDT

Android Central

The folks at Dropbox are always letting users in on the latest app betas, and they've just dropped a new one on us with a few basic but welcome features.

  • Thumbnails for video files
  • Better video playback for both ICS and Jelly Bean
  • UI improvements on the Nexus 7
  • Ability to open Dropbox files directly in other apps
  • Various bug fixes

Probably the most important item of the list is updated Nexus 7 support, which shows that the developers over at Dropbox see the importance in properly supporting the latest Google platform release. Take a look after the break for a few screenshots of the latest beta update, and be sure to follow the source link below if you're interested in getting in on the pre-release action.

Source: Dropbox Forums

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