Thursday, August 2, 2012

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich Now On 15.9% of Devices, 4.1 Jelly Bean Debuts At .8%

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 06:41 PM PDT

This image has no alt text

It’s official. Google has just updated their Android Distribution chart and it looks like Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich has been making some headway these past few months, and can now be found on close to 15% of Android devices. We’ve started seeing the last of 2011′s Android heavy hitters receiving their update to Ice Cream Sandwich, with the HTC EVO 3D, and other Galaxy S2 variants all finding themselves updated in the last few weeks. Last month, ICS was on 10.9% of devices and as new hardware is launching, we should continue seeing that number spike rather quickly.

Creeping in for the first time in the Android Distribution chart is Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and although only official Nexus devices (and the Xoom, an “unofficial” Nexus tablet) are enjoying the Google’s latest treat, it’s currently accounting for .8% of Android devices in the world. Not bad at all. Can’t wait to see how quickly that number rises once Google puts more Nexus 7′s in customers’ hands. Go run and tell all your friends, Jelly Bean is the bee’s knees and the easiest way to get it is in the Nexus 7.

[Android Developers]

GameKlip Is The Ultimate Android Gaming Accessory – Transforms Your Phone Into A Mini-Console

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 05:55 PM PDT

This image has no alt text

As a longtime console gamer, I have to admit, I’ve had a difficult time adjusting to gaming on my Android device. Sure Angry Birds plays well with it’s one handed touch-screen controls, but that’s only fun for a quick gaming session. Lately, we’re starting to see more powerful hardware and along with that, a move from simple touch-based games like Angry Birds, to full on console-quality titles like Shadowgun. And if you’re really going to sink your teeth into Android gaming, you’re gonna need a bigger gun. And by gun, I mean physical controls.

Developers have helped address this issue by introducing applications that allows users to take their PS3 controllers and connect it to their phones/tablets/etc. But there’s still the problem of properly positioning your device. While kickstands are beneficial, gaming can still be chore if you’re hunched over with your phone on your lap when laying in bed.

Thanks to a friend on Twitter, my journey for the ultimate gaming accessory lead me to the GameKlip. This is a simple device that attaches your phone to your PS3 controller creating a sort of mini-console, allowing you to quickly and easily fire off hadoukens and perform cross counters with ease.

The design is so simple, yet so genius, most of you are no doubt kicking yourselves for not coming up with it first. Keep in mind, there are a few caveats. One — you’re going to need a rooted phone if you hope to use your PS3 controller wirelessly. Two — there is a non-root version of the GameKlip that includes a USB cable but only some devices will work with it out of the box (the Samsung Galaxy S3 being one of them). If you phone isn’t on GameKlip’s list, there’s no guaranteeing your device will be compatible.

To better show you guys how the GameKlip works, here’s a quick video from the inventor giving a little more detail.

No, you don’t have to wait weeks for this to be funded on Kickstarter and then months for it to go into production. The GameKlip is available right now and sells for $15 wireless, and $23 for the wired version (around $4 for shipping). If this looks like the accessory of your dreams, you can jump onto TheGameKlip.com and order your own. Who’s buying?

Thanks, Chris!

Gmail Updated With Better 7-Inch Tablet Support, Performance Improvements, and Labels API for Devs

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 04:32 PM PDT

This image has no alt text

If you have a Nexus 7, now might be a good time to jump into your Play Store app and update Gmail. Google just updated “the application that time forgot,” and aside from the usual performance improvements and bug fixes, there is now better support for those of you with 7-inch tablets — as long as you’re running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and above. Also mentioned was the new Labels API for developers to take advantage of in 3rd-party applications. But seriously, what’s a girl gotta do to finally get some pinch-to-zoom in my emails?

[Play Store Link]

Lenovo unboxes the Lenovo IdeaTab S2110 [VIDEO]

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 03:19 PM PDT

The Lenovo IdeaTab S2110 recently went on sale, and Lenovo posted a very nice unboxing video to show users what they’ll get in this value-conscious bundle.

The tablet itself presents a 10.1 inch 1280×800 IPS display, a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm processor, 1GB of RAM, 5 megapixel rear and 1.3 megapixel front cameras, and more.

What’s more? The optional keyboard dock only costs about $100 more than the tablet itself which ($400 for the 16GB standalone version and $430 for the 32GB standalone version). It’s quite the option to consider, I’d say. Take a look at the unboxing above.

Woot.com has the Motorola XOOM stereo speaker dock for $20

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 03:04 PM PDT

While the Motorola XOOM isn’t quite attractive in the tablet space there are still some people out there bound to have one. With that, there are still some people bound to be missing some of its accessories.

Woot.com is selling one of those accessories, the stereo speaker dock, for a mere $20. This is a great price for the dock. It features the aforementioned stereo speakers (1.2″ five watt variety), a microHDMI port to mirror the tablet’s image onto a television or a monitor, and more.

This item’s going to be available for another 16 hours (as of the time of this posting) or until it sells out, whichever comes first. Get on over to the daily deals site to order one now.

Google+ Hangouts come to NFL.com Fantasy Football

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 01:56 PM PDT

I love fantasy football. I play it every year. Unfortunately, I tend to play with people all across the country and don’t often get the satisfaction of having those face-to-face trash talking sessions while I set my roster for the week or monitor my games on Sunday.

NFL.com has changed all that as they’re now integrating Google+ Hangouts with their Fantasy Football service. The service will allow you and your rival owners to convene in a video chat while your teams’ scores are updated live.

Fantasy football hangouts don’t stop at the draft, however. Throughout the season you’ll be able to:

  • Hang out with your friends to conduct trades, review league business or just chat while watching the game on TV
  • Enjoy fantasy hangouts on the go or on the couch using the new Google+ app for phones and tablets (Android, iOS)
  • Get advice from top NFL Fantasy commentators as they hang out with fans and discuss the week’s results

As the text above mentions, all of this will be available on the go so us Android users can get in on the fun without having to be tethered to a laptop or desktop computer.

All of this is available right now. Be quick about getting your league off the ground, though: the 2012 NFL pre-season is set to kick off in just under a week starting with the Hall of Fame game matchup between the Arizona Cardinals and the New Orleans Saints!

From there, you’ll have a month to get your teams in order and dominate the fantasy world before the first week of the 2012 NFL season kicks off (though it should be noted that fantasy leagues can be started throughout the season). [via Google Blog]

Motorola RAZR HD pictures surface

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 01:45 PM PDT

The Motorola RAZR HD has long eluded our eyes, but it appears someone has gotten their hands on an early prototype of the device. They graciously posted images of the device to the internet for all to see.

Aside from a funky-looking backplate we can see that the device will feature on-screen capacitive buttons. The name suggests we’ll be seeing an HD display, of course, and the only other specs that the poster was able to confirm is that it’ll have an 8 megapixel camera instead of the previously rumored 13 megapixel camera.

While this is a model not intended for the United States we certainly expect Verizon to carry something nearly identical branded as the Motorola DROID RAZR HD.

That version will notably have LTE radios, but we still don’t know what to expect under the hood. Take a look at the images above and get more from XDA user “siloner.”

Amazon for Android update adds “shop by department” feature

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 12:55 PM PDT

Amazon for Android has gotten a very nice upgrade in the Google Play Store. The mot notable feature it’s added is the ability to shop for products by department. This is a very important feature for many folks, myself included.

This will help you drill your searches down even further by eliminating products which don’t fit into your query. (I hated seeing that crappy Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth RTS when I’m looking for the box set on Blu-Ray.)

Other changes include the ability to search corrections and support for Amazon’s Shop and Save. The usual crop of bug fixes and enhancements are also included, and as per usual Amazon opted not to include details about. [Google Play Store]

OUYA races past $6 million in funds on Kickstarter, announces VEVO partnership and special edition console

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 12:22 PM PDT

OUYA is celebrating their last week on Kickstarter wit some rather exciting news and offers. First thing’s first: they’ve raced past $6 million, an impressive feat considering their initial goal was only $950,000.

With that, and with the last week of their Kickstarter campaign, comes even more good news. First of all, VEVO and OUYA (two companies whose name are four letters long and completely capitalized) are partnering up to provide music videos on the console.

VEVO is perhaps the biggest online music video service on the internet, and this partnership brings even more entertainment value to this grassroots effort. Check out there statement:

At VEVO, our mission is to bring high quality music experiences to users wherever and whenever. We have always strived to embrace new platforms that developers, creative communities and consumers are excited about. OUYA is just that--it’s one of the most exciting new entertainment platforms we’ve seen and we think it’s a natural fit for VEVO’s premium music videos and original music programming.

This is why I am thrilled to tell you today that VEVO is committed to launch with OUYA when it comes to market in March 2013. Through this partnership, we will bring our rich catalogue of over 50,000 high definition music videos and new, original programming from more than 11,000 artists to OUYA’s groundbreaking new gaming console. We support and share OUYA’s vision that the future lies in being open and accessible for users looking for high quality entertainment experiences.

Our partnership with OUYA is grounded in our tireless effort to bring VEVO to every connected living room and home and we will continue to deliver our premium music video programming to the rest of our platform consisting of VEVO.com, mobile & tablet apps (including Android, iOS, Windows Phone), connected TVs like Xbox and partner sites such as AOL, CBS, Facebook, Viacom Media Networks, Yahoo! Music and YouTube.

All of that is great, but there’s even more: those who order the limited edition backer console this week will receive the console in a brushed metal brown aesthetic.

OUYA states you’ll get the earlier rewards in addition, but wasn’t clear on whether or not they meant you’d be getting two additional OUYA consoles (since the two previous rewards include the console).

We imagine that wouldn’t be the case as the limited edition reward is only $140, but we’ll be trying to figure that out regardless. In short, this is the very last week to get any of the rewards left before production goes into full swing. Expect a delivery estimate of December 2012. [OUYA Kickstarter]

Google finally launches official dedicated Android blog

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 11:50 AM PDT

The folks at Google have announced that they’ve launched a new blog dedicated to nothing but Android. News about Android and Android apps from Google were scattered throughout their many different corporate blogs, and would be given to us in the form of press releases and conference calls.

But with an official Android blog we now have a one-stop shop for all things Android when it comes to Google’s own offerings and news. It’ll also be a great place to go if you’re feeling a little lonely and want a little wave from the Bugdroid.

You’ll definitely want to add this one to your feed reader or bookmarks. It has a backlog of posts you can check out but it’s nothing we haven’t already covered here on Phandroid. We expect to see this thing updated much more frequently as time goes on. Head to the source link if you want in. [Official Android Blog]

Hands-On Preview: “Granny Smith” from The Creators of Sprinkle [Video]

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 11:10 AM PDT

This image has no alt text

Here at Phandroid, we’ve been long time fans of the developer tour de force at Mediocre Games. Our love affair began last year when Mediocre introduced Sprinkle to the world at E3 2011 — in which we gave you guys an exclusive preview — and it was all downhill from there. Recently, we sat down with Mediocre in an interview where they took the wraps off their upcoming title, Granny Smith, scheduled to hit the Google Play Store in August. Before it does… (you knew this was coming) we’re here to give you guys another exclusive preview with our hands-on of an early, pre-release copy of Granny Smith, direct from the fine folks at Mediocre.

The premise of Granny Smith is simple: a young thief stole Mrs. Smith’s apples, and it’s up to granny to dust off the old skates, and get ‘em back. The player guide’s granny in a high-speed chase across levels filled with slopes, jumps, and obstacles, across varying landscapes. The challenge lays not just in the game’s level design, but more in mastering the controls as well. I guess one could call Granny Smith a stunt-platform-racer, where the biggest challenge the player will face is keeping ‘ol granny landing safely on her feet.

Players take control of granny using only 2 buttons: one for jumpin’ and the other for canin’ (extending her cane). The cane part is simple enough. Extend the cane and granny attaches to clothes and power lines to perform totally wicked extreme grinds while soaring over obstacles. It’s the jumping part that involves a little more skill. The length of the button press gauges not only how high granny jumps (she’s been taking her glucosamine pills), but also the amount of somersaults performed in the air. Land on your head too many times, and the thief will make off with your apples. Stick a landing well enough, and you’ll receive bonus points.

At the end of each level you’re graded based on the amount of stars and points you’ve accumulated throughout the level. Apple’s are a little harder to come by (they’re sometimes hidden throughout the level, and you’ll have to beat the thief to ‘em) but granny has a few tricks up her sleeve to keep the fat little thief from gaining the lead. Players can exchange coins for bonus items like a helmet (good for getting granny back on her feet after a bad landing), banana peels (useful for keeping a lead on the thief), and baseballs for when you wanna go on the offensive.

Mediocre promises 36 levels across 3 different landscapes when the game finally launches sometime this month. But enough with my jibber jabberin’ — let’s jump right into the game with our full hands-on preview of Granny Smith, coming soon to Android devices everywhere. After you watch, be sure to let us know what you think.

Google Wallet update adds support for all credit cards

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 10:52 AM PDT

Google Wallet has just gotten the most important update it will probably ever get (except for support for more retailers, of course). The app now allows you to add any credit or debit card from the four major vendors of the world: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express.

Whereas before you could only use a Citi Mastercard or use the prepaid debit card option inside Google Wallet, you can now use whoever you want. This is great for those who’d rather not go through the hassle of adding cash to their virtual prepaid debit card just to use Google Wallet.

It was a major area of resistance for me, especially, because my bank treats a transfer to a prepaid debit card as a standard wire transfer, and those cost me a LOT of money if I get to doing too many of them.

Now, whatever’s in my account is accessible from Google Wallet without the added cumbersome of having to transfer funds (which defeated the purpose of having a simplified, streamlined service).

The update also adds cloud support so you can disable a card or the entire service remotely. This is great for situations where you happen to lose your phone and you want to make sure no one can purchase items with your account whatsoever. Go ahead and grab the upgrade from the Google Play Store.

[Update]: several Verizon users are able to download the app from the web version of the Google Play Store without fail. We’re not sure if this is intentional or if Verizon is finally officially supported, but get over to the Play Store and try to download it either way. And if that doesn’t work, you can always side-load the app using this APK.

USA Cellular adds Motorola Electrify 2, Defy XT to lineup this week

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 09:45 AM PDT

US Cellular has just dropped a couple of handset announcements into our lap, both for Motorola phones and both launching this week. The Motorola Electrify 2, in fact, is available as of today. A followup to last year’s model, the Electrify 2 features many of the hallmarks of recent Moto release, including a 4.3-inch ColorBoost display, Kevlar construction, and an 8.4mm thin profile. It runs Android 4.0 on a 1.2GHz dual-core processor and features an 8MP camera.

The Motorola DEFY XT is the same rugged handset we have recently seen pop up in other areas around the globe. IP67 rated, the Defy XT carries a 3.7-inch display, 1GHz CPU, and 5MP camera. The Android 2.3 handset will be available later in the week on August 3rd. Pricing hasn’t been announced for the Defy, but Electrify 2 sells for $180 after contract agreement and mail-in rebate.

MOTOROLA ELECTRIFY™ 2 AND DEFY™ XT LAUNCH ON U.S. CELLULAR

Incredibly thin, made Kevlar®strong ELECTRIFY 2 available online today; tough and durable DEFY XT available August 3

CHICAGO (August 1, 2012) - U.S. Cellular (NYSE: USM) and Motorola Mobility today announced two new Android™-powered smartphones to the carrier’s lineup. Motorola ELECTRIFY™ 2, the next generation of the popular ELECTRIFY that runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, will be available online on August 1 and in stores on August 2. Additionally, Motorola DEFY XT will be available online and in stores on August 3. Visit uscellular.com for detailed pricing and visit motorola.com for additional product details.

The Motorola ELECTRIFY 2 and DEFY XT through U.S. Cellular come with the carrier’s unique user benefits, including faster phone upgrades without re-signing contracts and the only points-based rewards program in the industry. Both smartphones will run on U.S. Cellular’s high-speed nationwide network, which has the highest call quality and network satisfaction of any national carrier.

“Customers who purchase Motorola ELECTRIFY 2 or DEFY XT will not only enjoy a new cutting-edge Android-powered smartphone, but will also get the best customer experience,” said Edward Perez, vice president of sales and marketing operations for U.S. Cellular. “A mobile phone should make life simpler and easier to get things done and U.S. Cellular believes the customer relationship with their wireless carrier should be the same.”

With a slim 8.4 millimeter design, Motorola ELECTRIFY 2 is ultra sleek, made Kevlar® strong and features an invisible splash-guard coating to protect from spills. The 1.2GHz dual-core processor and 4.3-inch ColorBoost™ display make ELECTRIFY 2 a multimedia powerhouse, perfect for gaming, movie watching, and web surfing. Great for capturing photos and videos, the ELECTRIFY 2 features a rear-facing 8 megapixel camera with LED flash and a 1080p HD camcorder. It’s also the first U.S. Cellular device to include SMARTACTIONS™, the free Motorola app that can help extend battery life as well as intelligently automate routine, everyday tasks and suggest ways to personalize your phone to make your life easier.

Motorola DEFY XT is perfect for customers looking for the features and functionality of an Android-powered smartphone with a durable design. Water-resistant, dustproof and with a scratch-resistant 3.7-inch touchscreen, DEFY XT is ready to take on everyday scrapes and spills. Not only strong and sturdy, it’s also a great device for keeping connected with friends and family with a 5 megapixel camera and a front facing webcam for video chats. Stay entertained with access to more than 600,000 apps and games on Google Play™, as well as millions of books and songs and thousands of movies and TV shows. Also, the customizable activity dashboards offer additional functionality with access to an integrated compass, pedometer, music player, and weather.

“Motorola is excited to bring the next evolution of ELECTRIFY to U.S. Cellular customers and Motorola ELECTRIFY 2 is ideal for those who crave premium features,” said Jeff Miller, corporate vice president, North America Go-to-Market, Motorola Mobility. “Motorola DEFY XT packs innovative specs into a resilient design that can withstand whatever life throws your way. These two products provide unique experiences and give consumers choice.”

For more information about all of U.S. Cellular’s devices and plans, visit any U.S. Cellular store, go to uscellular.com or check out U.S. Cellular on Facebook.

Purchase of a data plan is required, and a new two-year agreement and activation fee may apply for new customers. Additional terms, conditions and/or charges may apply.

AT&T wants customers to buy anything but the iPhone

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 08:48 AM PDT

You could make the argument that AT&T might not hold nearly as much of the US mobile market if it weren’t for striking a deal with Apple that made them the exclusive launch partner of the iPhone. That exclusivity remained for years, causing other carriers to kick themselves for missing out on a golden opportunity. The iPhone has become such a hot ticket item that Sprint reportedly paid an exorbitant amount of cash to Apple simply for the right to stock the latest iteration of the handset. So why, then, is word trickling down from AT&T’s corporate offices to the retail level to steer customers away from purchasing an iPhone, even if they enter the store with their mind already set on the device?

That’s the word coming from BGR, where a report cites multiple sources working in AT&T’s retail stores as saying they have received direct orders to push customers towards Android (and even Windows Phone) devices. The reasoning behind the directive isn’t clear, as the iPhone has made up the bulk of AT&T’s phone sales over the past several years. It could be the impending launch of the iPhone 5 (or whatever it may end up being called). It could be in an effort to show a lack of favoritism towards Apple’s product.

AT&T has yet to comment, and we doubt they will provide any straight answers on the matter. Maybe it has everything to do with the fact that AT&T does offer several of the top Android devices currently on the market, and insisting that a customer pick up an HTC One X or Samsung Galaxy S3 instead of an iPhone could actually be seen as doing them a service.

[BGR via WinSource]

Samsung Galaxy Pocket coming to Three UK in September

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 07:40 AM PDT

Three UK will be getting Samsung’s latest entry-level Galaxy phone this September, one featuring a 2.8-inch display and compact form factor. The Samsung Galaxy Pocket does its name justice in those respects, and sports an 823MHz processor and 2MP camera in the process. Full release details have no been revealed, but I am willing to bet this one will be plenty affordable and likely free when coupled with a service plan. Three UK is taking registrations from interested parties, so if this is the tiny phone you’ve been looking for head over to their landing page and sign on up.

[via Three UK]
Posted by at 7:44 AM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)