Friday, August 17, 2012

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans

EZ-Unlock App Will Unlock Your Verizon Galaxy S3 Bootloader In 1 Click

Posted: 16 Aug 2012 05:50 PM PDT

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Yesterday, we brought you the news of Verizon’s Samsung Galaxy S3 finally getting it’s bootloader unlocked thanks to the trickery of some devs on XDA. The process was fairly simple and required entering only a few command lines in terminal. Nothing too complicated.

Well, if using ADB isn’t your particular cup of tea — and really, I wouldn’t blame you — developers on RootzWiki posted a simple 1-click app — now available in the Play Store — that can solve that nasty locked bootloader problem you’ve been having (root required).

In fact, it’s almost too easy. There’s long been talk from Android modders and users that apps like this are more of a disservice to the community than a help, but I’m inclined to disagree. I, for one, judge future Android purchases by how easy they are to root and unlock and grow weary of staying up all night rooting, with near brick scares, as I try and get AOSP running on my device. It’s like I’ve always said, when it comes to the Android modding community, the more the merrier.

I think it goes without saying to tread carefully. Root, messing with your phones bootloader, and software hacks almost always result in a voiding of your warranty.

[Play Store Link]

Motorola XT907 Passes FCC Inspection – Coming Soon To Verizon’s 4G LTE Network

Posted: 16 Aug 2012 05:02 PM PDT

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The mid-range Motorola XT907 has just been approved by the FCC, making an appearance in their official documentation. Doesn’t come as much of a surprise either, we’ve known for some time that the device was headed to Verizon and the FCC doc further confirms that thanks to Verizon’s LTE radios making it onboard.

It’s interesting that this device is only expect to be a slight upgrade to the original RAZR thanks in part to an S4 processor and NFC. However, the XT907 will still come equipped with last year’s qHD display. Maybe it’s decisions like this that forced Google’s hand with job cuts, refocusing on fewer, high-end handsets to save Motorola from themselves.

[FCC | Via Engadget]

Training docs confirm Samsung Galaxy S Blaze Q is now the Relay 4G

Posted: 16 Aug 2012 03:40 PM PDT

Earlier today rumors emerged that the Samsung Galaxy S Blaze Q was undergoing a name change to Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G, though at the time the new moniker was merely rumor with no substantial evidence to back it up. Just a few hours later we now have as close to a confirmation as possible without an official announcement. In a newly leaked set of training documents the phone is referred to by the Relay 4G name while giving us a fresh rundown on the devices specs.

The device formerly known as the Blaze Q will feature a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 4.0-inch display, NFC capabilities, and of course a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. The phone was originally thought to be planned for release this week, but the device now appears delayed. Whether the name change is the reason or not we can’t say.

[via TMoNews]

Smart updates from Google Play now live

Posted: 16 Aug 2012 01:24 PM PDT

For those watching their mobile data consumption, the need to re-download an entire APK simply to update an app with incremental features and bug fixes can be a real drag, especially for larger-sized files. Back at Google I/O, a new smart updates feature was teased that would see Android handsets download only the portions of code that have changed between app versions. These incremental downloads to go along with incremental app updates went live yesterday when Google updated the Play Store to version 3.8.15.

Though the launch appears tied to the release of the latest version of the apps marketplace, users with older versions should still be able to take advantage of smart app updates, as it appears the changes occurred server-side and not on the actual device. 

[via AndroidPolice]

MoDaCo provides one last chance to get your hands on Adobe Flash for Android

Posted: 16 Aug 2012 12:46 PM PDT

If you haven’t heard, as of today Adobe has blocked any future installs of Flash for Android. They didn’t, however, remove the files from their servers. And, as the book goes, if you give a mouse a cookie, he’s going to ask for a glass of milk. And the folks at MoDaCo have gone for the glass of milk by releasing a tool that will pull the Flash install files from the official servers straight to your Android phone. Who said Flash was dead?

We get the feeling that once Adobe catches wind of this they may yank the files from their server altogether, but only time will tell. For now, if you still haven’t downloaded Flash you now have a second chance to grab it before it’s gone for good.

Google Play Download Link: MoDaCo Flash Downloader

Judge Koh in response to Apple court filing: ‘Are you smoking crack?’

Posted: 16 Aug 2012 12:25 PM PDT

More news today from the three-ring circus that is the Apple v. Samsung patent trial to end all patent trials (actually, it probably won’t be the end of patent trials by a long shot). After Apple filed a 75 page brief detailing the 22 witnesses they would call upon in rebuttal to Samsung’s portion of the trial, Judge Lucy Koh looked attorney William Lee dead in the eye, and, doing her best impersonation of Judge Judy, scolded, “unless you’re smoking crack you know these witnesses aren’t going to be called.”

OK, so we can’t confirm how Judge Judy-esque Koh’s delivery actually was, but nonetheless she continues to make a name for herself after making several controversial decisions to place preliminary injunctions on Samsung products including members of the Galaxy line of phones and tablets. Her antics have been the main attraction of the trial, and Koh continues to come across as generally irritable in having to sit through the petty squabble between the two parties. She has insisted that the pair save us all the trouble and attempt to settle things out of court.

Apple’s response to Koh’s suggestion that crack was being smoked during the compilation of the new document was equally entertaining. A straight-faced Lee responded, “I’m not smoking crack. I can promise you that.” Judge Koh’s troubles stemmed from the length of the document, insisting that reading it would be a waste of the court’s time. Apple has agreed to trim it down.

[via DroidDog]

Makers of BlindType bring us the amazing Fleksy keyboard, when will it come to Android?

Posted: 16 Aug 2012 11:33 AM PDT

If Fleksy looks familiar, it’s because it is. After the folks behind BlindType sold their initial concept to Google to be integrated into future versions of Android’s stock keyboard (starting with ICS), they have taken several elements of the keyboard created for the blind and repackaged it as Fleksy for iOS. Fleksy, as if by some sort of voodoo, can decipher a garbled word containing all the wrong letters and turn it into exactly the text you meant to type. Add in swipe gestures for deleting words, adding spaces, and changing punctuation, and you get one of the most intuitive typing experience ons a smartphone we have ever seen. So intuitive you can hide the keyboard completely and still tap out words with perfect autocorrection.


It’s obvious that the creators of Fleksy, Ioannis Verdelis and Kostas Eleftheriou of Syntellia, still wanted a chance to target the iOS market after selling their initial proof-of-concept software keyboard after removing BlindType from contention with its sale to Google, but there are still plans to launch the software keyboard on all mobile platforms. Hopefully this happens sooner than later, because Fleksy looks to improve the typing experience for everyone, not just the blind.

[via TechCrunch]

Discover now offering direct integration with Google Wallet

Posted: 16 Aug 2012 10:59 AM PDT

Discover Card users now have a quick and easy way to add their card to their Google Wallet account thanks to Google’s new initiative to more tightly integrate all major cards into their mobile payment service. Users can now visit the Discover site and directly and securely link their account info to Google Wallet. The process is as simple as visiting discover.com/googlewallet, clicking “Add Your Card,” and signing into your Google account. You don’t even need your card number.

After setting things up you can set your Discover Card as your primary means of payment or simply keep it among your reserves, using Discover-provided graphics to easily identify the card and select it when making a payment. Now if only more carriers could get behind Google Wallet, maybe the ball would really get rolling on this mobile payments thing.

[via Google Commerce Blog]

Big Instagram update adds photo map, faster photo scrolling

Posted: 16 Aug 2012 10:44 AM PDT

Instagram has updated its Android app (and other mobile apps) to version 3.0 today, bringing about a few major changes to the way we interact with our hipsterized photo stream. The biggest announcement is the debut of Instagram’s photo map, a new way of browsing the pictures you have taken. Photos are pinned to the location they were taken and grouped on a map to offer a unique perspective on the moment they were captured. You can set the photo map as your regular profile view or choose the classic grid or photo stream formats.

Additionally, the need to load more photos when nearing the end of your photo stream has been replaced with infinite scrolling. More photos now load automatically as you scroll through the photos uploaded by friends. The upload screen as also been updated with a cleaner look while retaining all the same functionality. You can grab the latest version of Instagram from Google Play now.

Instagram 3.0 – Photo Maps Walkthrough from Instagram on Vimeo.

Google Play Download Link: Instagram

TeamViewer QuickSupport lets you remotely control Android device, but there’s a catch

Posted: 16 Aug 2012 09:56 AM PDT

TeamViewer has released an exciting new application to go along with their already-impressive stable of remote control apps. It’s called TeamViewer QuickSupport, and this app is unique in that it allows you to do things the other way around.

Instead of the usual ability to remotely control a PC using your phone or tablet, QuickSupport allows you to remotely control your phone or tablet via a PC. This is obviously something that many would be interested in.

I know I would love to be able to see what’s going on with my phone without actually being able to see it. I mentioned a catch, though, didn’t I? Well, unfortunately you’ll have to have a Samsung device that has original firmware on it in order for it to work.

The Play Store won’t even let you download it for any other devices. But if you’re with club Sammy and you’ve been looking for a remote use application to control your Android device, this is as good as it’s going to get. Let’s hope they get a bit more diverse as time goes on. Head to the Play Store for the download.

SkyHook announces WiFi-enabled GPS for Barnes & Noble NOOK

Posted: 16 Aug 2012 09:40 AM PDT

SkyHook has announced a partnership with Barnes & Noble that will bring GPS capabilities to the NOOK series. SkyHook’s technology utilizes the information about the many WiFi hotspots in your area to give you a decent location-based experience without needing dedicated GPS hardware.

While SkyHook’s solution is no doubt playing second fiddle to a dedicated radio, you can’t help that Barnes & Noble wants to keep costs down. Users shouldn’t detest the move as they won’t be able to get a GPS radio into their devices themselves, so SkyHook’s providing a nice little bridge so that you’re not limited to the amount of stuff you can do with your NOOK.

ForeverMap 2 will be the first official application to take advantage of SkyHook, and we’ll be eager to see who else is lined up as time goes on. ForeverMap 2 is a maps application, and while it’s no Google Maps it definitely should be on your radar if you’ve been dying to get a maps experience on the NOOK. A free version of the app can be had, and a PRO version adds unlimited offline maps for the low cost of $5. Read on for full press details.

Google Maps update now live in the Google Play Store

Posted: 16 Aug 2012 08:32 AM PDT

Yesterday, Google outlaid plans to release an upgrade for Google Maps in the Google Play Store. With information on over 1 million transit stops around the globe and new transit-based features, we were eager to get our hands on the update.

They couldn’t provide it at that time, but it’s now available in the Google Play Store. You’ll be looking for version 6.1.0, and in case you forgot what changed here’s a quick recap:

  • Now, whenever you search for a city or postal code, the borders of that region are highlighted.
  • Under My Places you’ll notice we’ve added new tabs, which will help you access all your information from a single place; from your saved maps for use offline to your starred places and Custom Maps created on your desktop.
  • If you enable Location History, you’ll be able to browse the places you’ve been on a daily basis with an updated Location History dashboard.

And there’s a new icon, if you care. [Google Play Store]

Best Buy offering AT&T Xperia Ion for free on contract

Posted: 16 Aug 2012 07:57 AM PDT

If you were in the market to buy AT&T’s Sony Xperia Ion but was unwilling to pay the $100 asking price, this deal will definitely be the only one you’ll need. Best Buy has discounted the phone to free on-contract.

When you’re not forking over any cash in exchange for a two-year contract that’s the best you’ll get (unless they offered some sort of cash back deal, which is not something that happens in wireless).

You can be a new customer or an existing customer that is upgrading/adding a line, so there should be no reason for anyone to miss out if you weren’t already looking to buy one. Head to Best Buy’s site for the deal.

Waco, TX and Fayetteville, AR get AT&T 4G LTE

Posted: 16 Aug 2012 07:30 AM PDT

AT&T’s announced that addition of two new markets for their growing 4G LTE network. Waco, Texas and Fayetteville Arkansas (which includes “Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville and a number of surrounding communities”) will get a taste of the supercharged data network starting today. AT&T Arkansas president Ed Drilling had the following to say regarding the impact of 4G LTE on his region:

“Expansion of high-speed mobile Internet access across Northwest Arkansas is like building a bridge to the future," said state Representative Uvalde Lindsey. "It will help connect the best of what communities like Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers and Bentonville have to offer to economic opportunities across the globe. It will encourage investment. It will help create jobs.  I am very pleased AT&T has made such a significant investment in our communities."

Meanwhile, AT&T Texas president Dave Nichols says it’s all about what customers are demanding: faster, and better.

"We continue to see demand for mobile Internet skyrocket, and our 4G LTE network in Waco responds to what customers want from their mobile experience -- more, faster, on the best devices," said Dave Nichols, AT&T Texas President.

Fire up that Atrix HD, Galaxy S3, or any other LTE device you may have to see if the blazing 4G LTE icon is lit up for you. We look forward to seeing continued growth from AT&T to compete with Sprint, and to see if they can catch up to their #1 rival Verizon.

Physical Google Play Store gift cards pictured in $10, $25 denominations; could come as early as late August

Posted: 16 Aug 2012 07:16 AM PDT

Last night, it was revealed through some APK trickery from the Google Play Store update that Google would soon be bringing gift cards to the Google Play Store. We were sure it was coming in digital form, but new evidence confirms suspicion that Google would also be offering physical gift cards. New photos revealed today show Google Play Store gift cards in both $10 and $25 denominations.

If you don’t remember, I wrote an editorial this past Monday (with full belief that Google was working on a gift card format) pleading with Google to take advantage of a missed market: those who prefer to deal with gift cards when it comes to digital purchases instead of buying things individually.

It’d help people who like the convenience of balancing their bank account with just one purchase, people who want to buy gifts for loved ones, and for those who can’t use a credit card for whatever reason.

It seems we were right on time with our estimation that Google needed to jump into the market soon. A few short hours after writing that article I received an unconfirmed tip that Google was extremely close to offering gift cards, and that they would definitely be launching the cards either late August or early September.

With the Google Play Store update prepping for gift cards and today’s revelations, I’d say it’s easy to put a lot of stock into that launch window. This is what we’ve all been waiting, asking, and dying for. Take a look at the images above. [via Android Central]
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