Monday, August 27, 2012

Android Central

Android Central

Weather HD now available on Android

Posted: 26 Aug 2012 04:55 PM PDT

Android Central

One of the more popular weather apps on iOS, Weather HD, has finally come to Android. It provides all of the usual weather data you'd want -- current temperature / humidity / precipitation / wind, 7-day forecasts and a few other customizable odds and ends. What's nice about Weather HD is the interface. It's the simplicity of gray and white text on a nicely animated background image, which changes with the current weather conditions, that really helps set this apart from some of the cluttered and busy weather apps. Unfortunately, Weather HD doesn't include a widget, though we'd expect it to soon if they want to stay competitive with the other popular weather apps out there.

Weather HD is available in the Google Play Store at the link above. It'll set you back 99 cents, or is free with advertisements.

Latest Dropbox beta adds 2-step verification

Posted: 26 Aug 2012 02:33 PM PDT

Android Central

Many of us use Dropbox in varying capacities (see what I did there?), and when we do, we often use it as crucial backup storage for data that's important to us. If it wasn't important, we probably wouldn't bother backing it up now would we? If you take your security seriously, and by now we hope you all do, you should be jumping for joy that Dropbox has added 2-step verification sign in to its latest betas.

The latest Dropbox beta follows the same principle that Google's 2-step verification does. In order to access your account you need two things: 1) something you know -- your password and 2) something you have -- your phone. And there's really no reason not to take security into your own hands and add that second level in order to help prevent the worst from happening. If you haven't already, go pick up the Dropbox app from the Google Play Store at the link above, and if you're interested in setting up 2-step verification for your account, see us after the break for a better in-depth explanation

Source: Dropbox forums; via The Verge

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From the Editor's Desk: Verdict fatigue; Motorola sends pigs into the air; how to really hate a device

Posted: 26 Aug 2012 11:47 AM PDT

Phil Nickinson

I'm supposed to take this more personally, I've been told. I'm supposed to hate Apple and what it's litigious self with every fiber of my being. I'm supposed to cry in my beer for Samsung, for HTC, for anyone who's ever had an injunction handed down. I'm suppose to hate the player, as well as the game.

That's just not me. I don't set my hair on fire, especially about things over which I have no control.

Here's what I do hate, in no particular order:

  • I hate that patent litigation has become the focus of the past several months. (It almost makes me long for the bad old, sky-is-falling days of Carrier IQ.)
  • I hate that instead of writing and talking about phones and tablets, we have to concentrate on lawsuits about phones and tablets.
  • I hate that it takes the focus away from the developers, without whom none of this would matter anyway.
  • Most of all, I hate that it's come this far.

That patents should be granted for software certainly should be debated. That patents are granted far too easily hardly is up for debate. Let's hope by this time next year we'll be talking about new and innovative products, and not this mess. I'm sick and tired of patents.

If you've yet to do so, check out the podcast I did with Rene Ritchie from iMore.com on Saturday.

And now, for some more good (and bad) from the past week in Android.

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Hisense preparing sub-$100 Google TV box, promises to show it at IFA

Posted: 26 Aug 2012 08:35 AM PDT

Android Central

The success of the Vizio Co-Star has proved that Google TV still has life in it, especially when the price is right. Jumping on the sub-$100 bandwagon now is Hisense, a Chinese OEM that has partnered with Google to produce a new budget Google TV set-top box. 

In a statement, Mickey Kim, Google TV parner manager said of the collaboration: 

Hisense adds even more innovation to the growing list of Google TV-powered devices available around the world. We're working closely with partners like Hisense to bring services from Google and multiple other providers to your TV with an experience tailored for the living room.

Better yet, the box is ready to be shown off to the world and is promised to be on display during next weeks IFA show in Berlin. Hopefully that means that unlike the Vizio offering, the Hisense box will ship in Europe. Android Central will be on the ground from the show all week, so keep it locked to the site and our IFA portal for all the best. 

Source: PC World

LG confirms display specs of upcoming device, as well as claiming 'longer battery life'

Posted: 26 Aug 2012 08:01 AM PDT

Android Central

The tale of the forthcoming LG 'Optimus G' superphone continues, only this time, it's the Korean OEM that is telling it. Following up from the recent leaked prototype of the device, LG has released a statement today confirming certain details that had previously been leaked, and new details of the gapless display it shall house. 

As it happens, the Snapdragon S4 Pro powered device will definitely have a 1280x768 True HD IPS+ display, coming in at 320ppi. Theres some science that goes along with it, but the rub of it is -- it's better than AMOLED and consumes less power.

The gapless display is an in-house technology developed with LG Innotek. Its G2 Touch Hybrid display will be bound for the device, and is "a unibody unit that eliminates the gap between the glass and the LCD panel as found in traditional touchscreens." Sounds a little like the display on the HTC One X, which is by no means a bad thing.

LG is also promising greater battery capacity, without compromising on size or weight and the powerplant has been designed by LG Chem. It promises to run 60% more efficiently than similarly sized batteries, meaning more power for longer. 

The 'Optimus G' is  certainly shaping up to be a full in-house affair, with several different arms of LG getting involved to create a device that they say will be a "game-changer" for them. They're sure trying to create some pre-launch buzz, whether it lives up to it though, only time will tell. 

Source: LG Newsroom

Supcase slim-fit leather case for the Nexus 7

Posted: 26 Aug 2012 07:12 AM PDT

Supcase Slim-Fit Leather Case for the Nexus 7.

Next up in our quest for the perfect Nexus 7 case is the Supcase Slim Fit Leather Case, which has garnered a bit of an Amazon following for its affordable price. It's also available in nine colors -- pink, black, green, red, white, deep blue, deep pink, purple and sapphire blue. 

And after even just a few minutes, we can confidently say this one's worth taking a look at.

Read on for some more thoughts.

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Mobile Nations 18: Apple vs. Samsung special verdict edition

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 07:12 PM PDT

Phil Nickinson of Android Central and Rene Ritchie of iMore talk Apple vs. Samsung and the U.S. court verdict that saw Apple awarded over $1 billion in damages. This is a Mobile Nations special!

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Apps of the Week - Banana Republic, Bit.Trip Beat, Elixir 2 and more!

Posted: 25 Aug 2012 04:38 PM PDT

Android Central

We've got a roundup of fine app picks for this week. Some shopping, a little productivity, a few games and some reading are all on the agenda. So on this Saturday night, kick up your feet, have a nice beverage of your choice and download some new apps, will ya?

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