Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans

Samsung Canada Surprises Random Samsung Fan With Custom Made Galaxy S3 [RAWR]

Posted: 28 Aug 2012 06:50 PM PDT

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Ask and you shall receive. Maybe that’s what was going through Shane’s mind — a Canada resident and verified Samsung fan — when he commented on Samsung Canada’s Facebook looking for a free phone accompanied by a picture of an MS Paint-style fire breathing dragon. We’ve seen these guys before on various social networks. Heck, our inbox is full of people requesting free devices on the blind hope that maybe, just maybe us, or someone else will actually agree. Couldn’t hurt, right?

Well, a few months have past since Shane’s absurd (but totally awesome) request was posted on Samsung’s Canadian Facebook page, and although initially he was turned down for a free Galaxy S3 (to be fair, he was offered a pretty nifty picture of a kangaroo riding a unicycle as a parting gift) it seems Samsung’s America Jr. branch may have had a change of heart. Fast forward to today where Shane found a package on his doorstep. Inside was a custom made Samsung Galaxy S3, emblazoned with his “artwork,” not only the outside of the device, but a custom launcher background matching up with the artwork also adorning the bezel. Pardon my French but: Holy sh*t balls.

That’s right, Samsung clearly went out of their way on this one. PR stunt? Of course. Totally silly and completely unnecessary? Most definitely. And that’s what makes it so damn awesome. Now, I can’t help but wonder, would any of you guys — for an extra fee — pay to get yourselves a custom made Galaxy Nexus similar to Shane’s “RAWR” dragon? What would you put on it?

[TechCrunch]

Grooveshark Swims Back Into The Play Store – Offers Free Unlimited Music Streaming or Paid On-Demand Options

Posted: 28 Aug 2012 05:56 PM PDT

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Grooveshark is making a triumphant return into the Google Play Store after being expelled more than a year ago for copyright claims. So, its return definitely isn’t without controversy. The streaming music service has come under fire from music labels looking to shut the site down for not having the necessary licensing agreements needed offer a good portion of music streamed from their site. Grooveshark was nothing but optimistic, releasing a statement saying:

“After working closely with Google to get rogue apps removed, we're delighted that the official Grooveshark app has been reinstated in the Android market. Grooveshark is dedicated to helping music fans search, discover and share music while pioneering new artist promotion, distribution and monetization techniques. We look forward to continuing to build a relationship with Android and leverage this fantastic platform for our partners.”

While Grooveshark’s future is still a bit uncertain, those that would like to try out a new Pandora-like music streaming service can do so free of charge. For those that are looking for on-demand music streaming (ala Rdio), there’s also a $9 a month option available. Anyone excited Grooveshark’s back?

[Play Store]

Invites Being Sent Out For Another Motorola XOOM WiFi Update – Expect Bug Fixes

Posted: 28 Aug 2012 05:00 PM PDT

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I’ve said it before, the Motorola Xoom WiFi is pretty much Google’s unofficial 10-inch Nexus device. The Motorola Xoom WiFi is still very much alive and kicking, and with a recent update to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, it’s pretty much Google’s 10-inch Nexus tablet. Well that Xoom is about to get some more love, this time from in an update from Motorola, and those that are apart of the Motorola Feedback Network will be some of the first to test out what’s in store. Invites have been sent out to MFN members saying,

Hi,

Thanks for joining the Motorola Feedback Network. We are inviting owners of the Motorola Wi-Fi Xoom (U.S. only) to participate in an early preview of a new software release, and provide feedback.  If you are not currently using a Motorola Wi-Fi Xoom, please excuse and ignore this email.

Click this link to take the enrollment survey if you wish to take part. Note that you must be a member in good standing of the Motorola Owners' Forums to be included. The registration window could close without notice so please respond as quickly as possible.

This is a confidential test under the terms of the Motorola Feedback Network. Do not post any details or information about this on any public sites.

Thanks — please understand that start times are always fluid. We ask for your patience if you register but don't hear from us right away.

We’ll have to wait a littler longer before an official changelog turns up but until then, just know that some of the bugs that tablet may have experienced after being updated to Jelly Bean will be addressed.

Thanks, Tito!

ISIS Mobile Payments Tipped for September Launch – First Round Of Approved Devices Revealed [Update]

Posted: 28 Aug 2012 03:12 PM PDT

A new report claims that the ISIS mobile wallet service backed by the likes of AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile will debut in September following a series of delays that have left many wondering just when the alternative to Google Wallet would go live. The groups behind the project changed gears when it was decided last year that credit card providers would handle payment processing as opposed to the original plan for mobile carriers to handle the exchange of money.

The news comes hours after we learned of a curious update for T-Mobile’s Samsung Galaxy S2 that appeared to enable ISIS support for NFC-based transactions. It will be interesting to see just how the various partners behind ISIS handle the launch of the platform, especially after blocking Google Wallet support on branded devices.

Update: A list of currently NFC equipped devices already approved to support ISIS can be found here and include: Samsung Galaxy S3 (all carriers), HTC Amaze 4G, HTC One X, and HTC Droid Incredible 4G LTE.

[via Bloomberg | Mastercard]

Don’t want to wait for the new iPhone? How about this Android clone

Posted: 28 Aug 2012 01:02 PM PDT

While Apple fans anxiously await the next iPhone, us folks on the Android side of the fence can get ahold of the new design a bit early thanks to the crafty knockoff skills of China’s black market electronics hounds. Sure, the final design isn’t actually known, and this so-called Goophone I5 uses a 3.5-inch display as opposed to the rumored 4-inch screen of the real fifth-gen iPhone, but how can you resist that cute little Honeycomb logo? The two-toned iPhone design that has appeared in multiple leaks is in tact, but other specs are absent. We understand the money isn’t there, but its surprising Apple has made no attempt to go over the numerous Chinese knockoffs floating around there as part of their patent tirade.

[via TechCrunch]

Samsung working to update phones facing US injunctions

Posted: 28 Aug 2012 11:40 AM PDT

In the wake of the monumental decision that found Samsung guilty of infringing on several Apple smartphone patents, the Korean maker of Android devices is currently working with carriers to update handsets facing sales bans. The hope is that changes to remove infringing software elements will circumvent the ruling of Judge Lucky Koh’s court and keep devices on the market.

Samsung has software workarounds ready to go awaiting the deployment of updates by US carrier partners. But the efforts could be all for naught, as a software fix will do little to skirt rulings on hardware design, of which most of the devices in question were found guilty. Samsung still looks to fight this one in court through the appeals process, which could take some time, but for the short term they will do everything they can to keep their hardware on the market.

[via WSJ]

Google wants to add greater third party support to Wallet, create a total replacement for your real billfold

Posted: 28 Aug 2012 11:22 AM PDT

Though any immediate plans are unknown at this time, at a recent developer talk Google Wallet development manager Robin Dua revealed a desire to build greater support for third party credentials into the mobile payment service. This would include everything from transit passes to reward cards, with the ultimate goal being to provide a total replacement for the physical billfold in your back pocket.

The move echos recent pushes by Microsoft and Apple to provide similar all-in-one services to store payment credentials, but wants to take things a step further through the use of geo-location to automatically pull up the appropriate ticket when near an event and peer-to-peer payments. Exact details on when such features might become available were not made known.

[via TheVerge]

 

T-Mobile’s Galaxy S2 receiving minor software update via Samsung Kies

Posted: 28 Aug 2012 10:59 AM PDT

A new software update is available for the aging Samsung Galaxy S2 on T-Mobile’s network. There isn’t much of note in the latest software, which mainly is meant as a bug fixer. It leaves the device at Android version 4.0.3 and software version T989UVLH1. The most interesting element of the update is a note about ISIS/NFC support. ISIS is the mobile payment coalition that T-Mobile finds itself a member of, but the service has yet to be implemented on a wide scale. It’s unclear how this software affects that.

The software update is only available via Samsung Kies with no plans to launch it over the air. As such, it seems T-Mobile is viewing this one as a non-essential update to the device, and perhaps one of the last the Galaxy S2 will see on their network.

[via AndroidCentral]

Mozilla updates Firefox for tablets with speed and power enhancements

Posted: 28 Aug 2012 10:49 AM PDT

Firefox has updated the tablet version of their popular browser with the same enhancements that recently graced the smartphone version. This includes improvements in speed and performance and features such as find in page and the ability to view the desktop version of a site. The latest version of Firefox for tablets supports both Flash and rich HTML5 content, which makes it a pretty great all around browser. When Firefox first hit mobile devices it was less than stellar, but has been slowly improving. The latest tablet edition is definitely worth checking out. Read on below for more details.

Google Play Download Link: Firefox for Android (Tablet)

Firefox for Android Gets Speedy and Powerful Upgrade for Tablets

We're proud to announce a redesigned Firefox for Android for tablet devices is now available for download in the Google Play store. The same dramatic improvements that made Firefox for your Android phone super fast are now available for tablets. You'll notice everything is quicker, from startup and page load times to panning and zooming and Web app performance.

Firefox for Android makes it easy to get to your favorite sites with one touch with a personalized start page and a fresh, streamlined look. This release includes a new Awesome Screen that delivers all of your browsing history, bookmarks, passwords and form data. You can also import your personalized Firefox experience with Firefox Sync.

Firefox for Android supports Flash for Honeycomb tablet devices so you can interact with more Web video and games on the go.

To make browsing on your mobile phone or tablet even easier, Firefox for Android lets you switch between the desktop and mobile version of a website by selecting "Request Desktop Site" from the browser Menu.

Firefox for Android helps you easily navigate the mobile Web with a number of feature updates and stability improvements like Find in Page and Text Selection.

Based on the same open technology platform as the desktop version of Firefox, Firefox for Android ships with the highest level of privacy and security features in mobile browsing. Firefox respects your privacy and protects your security with features like Do Not Track, Master Password, HTTP Strict Transport Security and more.

New HTML5 capabilities in Firefox for Android enable developers to create rich Web apps and websites based on HTML5, JavaScript, CSS and other open Web standards. As the advocate for the Web, Mozilla exposes new Web APIs and submits them to standards groups to move the Web forward as a platform. Among the standards that Mozilla helped build are Camera API, Vibration API, Mobile Connection API, Battery Status API, Screen Orientation API and Geolocation API.

Play Mozilla's HTML5 BrowserQuest multi-player role playing game across desktop and mobile Web experiences to see just how powerful, fast and fun the Web can be.

Microsoft releases SkyDrive app for Android

Posted: 28 Aug 2012 09:47 AM PDT

If you’ve elected to go with Microsoft’s cloud file management service opposed to the likes of Dropbox, Google Drive, and Box.net, today is your lucky day. Microsoft has finally released their official SkyDrive application for Android.

The fully featured app gives you the ability to access all of your SkyDrive files for easy viewing, share files with friends and coworkers, delete files and create new folders, and upload pictures and video right from your phone.

Best of all? Microsoft hasn’t tried to force its Metro look on us like it has some other apps (coughXBOXcough). If this one’s been on your wishlist since you’ve made your SkyDrive account be sure to hit up the Google Play Store. [thanks psionix!]

ASTRO version 4 due later today, includes new user interface and remote access to Google Drive, Dropbox, and more

Posted: 28 Aug 2012 09:36 AM PDT

Our friends over at Metago have announced forthcoming availability of a brand new version of ASTRO file manager. Today’s update will be a huge one, and not only because it’ll be jumping a full version number (4.0).

First of all, we’re being met with a brand new user interface designed with the modern version of Android in mind. I’m not alone in saying that the old user interface was an eyesore. Despite that, I and many others still use it due to its powerful features. There’s no reason it can’t have the beauty to go along with the brawn, though, so we’re glad they’ve given it a new coat of paint.

But more than just aesthetics, a new feature has been introduced that’ll allow you to remotely control several cloud-based storage services. Google Drive, Dropbox and your networked PC can all be browsed within the same unified view, and Metago will be adding Skydrive, Box.net and more over time. A one-stop shop for all my cloud file management needs? Yes, please.

Metago’s 35 million users (an increase over 11 millions at this same time last year) is not enough for them. In fact, their goal of 50 million organic additions (meaning downloads by word of mouth, ads general interest, Play Store rankings, etc) by the beginning of 2013 isn’t enough. They want to reach 100 million users by 2014 and this single feature will be tasked with getting them there.

Those are some big numbers to reach for, but I imagine having one of the very few original file-sharing applications since the G1 was the only Android smartphone available goes a long way. In any case, you can contribute to that number later today once the app hits the Google Play Store later today. Read on for full press details.

Metago aims for 100 million users with a unified file system spanning Google, Dropbox and other major cloud storage systems

Marietta, GA (PRWEB) August 28, 2012

Metago, the leading provider of file and content management applications for Android devices, today announced the release of ASTRO version 4.0. Growing from 11 million users this time last year to over 35 million ASTRO users today, this all new version is faster, easier to use, includes a brand new User Interface and integration with Cloud providers such as Google Drive and Dropbox.

 

 

The new User Interface is faster and easier for all users, yet still provides all of the power that current ASTRO users are accustomed to. New users will appreciate the speed with which they can access and manage pictures, documents, music, videos and other files by type or location. Power users will appreciate the new search functionality among many other new features.

 

The most groundbreaking feature of ASTRO version 4.0 is a single interface that provides remote control across multiple file systems including Cloud providers such as Google Drive, Dropbox, PCs and the local Android device and in the coming months Microsoft SkyDrive, Box and others. By creating this unified view, ASTRO allows users to easily find, view, play, move from one location to another, and otherwise organize all of their files regardless of location and type. This extends the power of ASTRO to a whole new category of users which will contribute to Metago's 100M user growth plan.

 

"By serving power users, ASTRO is already set to organically grow past 50 million users by the beginning of 2013," said Kevin Payne, chief executive officer of Metago. "A single app to manage files scattered across devices and clouds serves new users which helps us achieve our goal of 100 million users by 2014."

 

"ASTRO has been blessed with a wonderfully loyal and growing base of users which is larger than the population of Canada and equal to Instagram had when Facebook acquired them," said Kent Krueger, vice president of Metago. "We’ve garnered a lot of attention from some of the best-known companies in this space and you’ll be hearing some big announcements from Metago in the coming months."

 

To find out more information regarding Metago, or to download ASTRO File Manager, you can visit us online at http://www.metago.net or follow us at http://www.twitter.com/metagoinc orhttp://www.facebook.com/ASTROfilemanager.

 

About Metago

Metago is a leading mobile device application firm headquartered in the Atlanta, Georgia metro area. The Company sells Mobile Lifestyle Management™ applications and for organizing, managing and sharing files and content on the go directly from their smartphone, regardless of where users files are stored. For more information on Metago, visit us online at http://www.metago.net.

Nexus 7 ad hits the Google homepage

Posted: 28 Aug 2012 08:48 AM PDT

There are a ton of different ways to market a product online, but there is some very precious ad space that has rarely been used. It’s only the bottom of the most visited website on all of the internet — Google.com. And guess what’s sitting there?

A nice, simple ad for the Nexus 7. Without a traditional retail launch here in America they have to find a way to get more eyes on the Google Play Store without running traditional TV ads.

I’d say this is a pretty damned good way to go about doing that. Head over to Google.com to see for yourself, and let’s hope this helps launch the Nexus 7 into a stratosphere unimaginable by us to date.

Samsung’s “ATIV” line could be the equivalent of the Galaxy line for Windows; are you interested? [Poll]

Posted: 28 Aug 2012 08:08 AM PDT

At some point we’re going to have to come to grips with the fact that Samsung isn’t going to put all its eggs in the Android basket forever. We’ve enjoyed and will continue to enjoy the Galaxy line of tablets and smartphones, but it looks like they will be going full speed ahead with branding and marketing for their Windows portfolio.

Our sister site WinSource reported on new trademark filings that revealed Samsung would be marketing a new upcoming line of tablets and phones with the name “ATIV.” With the Galaxy name being an Android mainstay, we can only guess that names will be designated for a line of high-end Windows smartphones and tablets.

Specifically, the Samsung ATIV Tab and Samsung ATIV S were outed, leading us to believe they’ll be coming out with a high-end Windows phone as well as a Windows 8 tablet to go along with it.

But with all the amazing things Samsung’s done on Android what could they possibly be ready to offer to those who prefer Windows? TouchWiz as we know it can’t be run on any Windows phone, and that’s one of the main reasons to buy their products in the first place. We can’t say for sure if the same thing goes for Windows 8, but we’d guess “yes.”

Without any current knowledge of what their plans might be it’s a bit too early to determine whether or not this new line will be enough to get people to defect from the Galaxy regime, but we’re still curious: do you think the ATIV line will have the opportunity to overtake the throne that the Galaxy line has defended so long?

It’s hard to imagine the highly marketable and long-running Galaxy line will be supplanted any time soon, if at all. It’d take a lot of killer features because if Samsung can’t emulate what they were able to do with the Galaxy Note 10.1 then it’s going to be difficult to get anyone to go with anything but.

It’ll be a very intriguing situation to observe for sure, but with no idea of when they’re looking to launch this line and what they’re looking to do with it all we can do is sit back and wait. In the meantime, let us know how you feel about the ATIV line and its potential to compete with the Galaxy line in the poll below, and be sure to leave a comment for further discussion!

PS: if you’re interested in what might become some of the hottest Windows devices around don’t forget to check out the ATIV Tab and ATIV S forums at WinSource.com. [via WinSource]

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 WiFi now getting Ice Cream Sandwich

Posted: 28 Aug 2012 07:40 AM PDT

While the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 has already gotten its Ice Cream Sandwich update, owners of the Tab 8.9 were still waiting for theirs. The wait appears to be over, however, as we’re receiving reports that it’s now being pushed out to users over-the-air. It’s a 313MB update, and it comes with an improved Touchwiz experience and it will bring all the goods that came with Ice Cream Sandwich. The “About Tablet” menu under settings should get you started, but if you’re not down with doing this over-the-air then you can also do it through Samsung Kies. Let us know if it finds you OK. [Thanks Michael!]

Magisto, a “magical” video editing app, now available for Android

Posted: 28 Aug 2012 06:52 AM PDT

This past January we were told of a new video editing tool that was headed to iOS. Its name was Magisto, and it promised to be one of the most easy and “magical” editing suites we’ve seen.

The idea was to take a series of clips from users and automatically make a video out of them. It would determine the style, order of the clips, and sound based on an algorithm that they are understandably unwilling to share. It actually works pretty well.

Unfortunately the Android version wasn’t quite ready then, but 8 hard months later it’s finally arrived in the Google Play Store. If you have a collection of clips that seem awkward alone, be sure to give Magisto a try (it’s free) and see if it doesn’t help put them to good use. Get it from the Google Play Store here.
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