Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans


Lyft Is An On-Demand Ridesharing Service Officially Coming To Android Tomorrow

Posted: 27 Aug 2012 07:42 PM PDT

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For frequent travelers or city dwellers, you know that hopping in a cab and moving from destination to destination can rack up quite a toll on your finances. Thankfully, there are new services that look to improve upon this experience, saving your wallet whenever visiting, or simply traveling through the city.

Brought to from the guys at Zimride who introduced social ride sharing to the world, Lyft is an all new service brings easy to find, on-demand drivers to you, via the push of a button. But unlike Uber’s suited up drivers who pick you up in black town cars and charge a flat rate of $40, Lyft drivers are just everyday folk (who passed extensive background checks) and will take you wherever you wanna go, for a suggested donation (typically 80% less than cab fare). Because both drivers and passengers are rated by each other, donate poorly and chances are you’ll have a tough time finding another Lyft driver in the future.

Lyft launched as a beta around 2 months ago and since then, it’s grown to more than 100 drivers (with plans to offer 200) offering easy lifts around the city of San Francisco for a fraction of the price you’d pay with Ubers or cabs. For Android users, the official app will finally be available tomorrow, August 28th, adding gobs of new users into the fold. Let’s hope with the thousands of new Android users comes even more success, bringing Lyft to more cities around the US. Would any of our readers be interested in trying out Lyft or better yet, becoming a Lyft driver?

[TechCrunch]

 


HTC Proto Is Now The Desire X – Pictured In The Wild Along With Specs

Posted: 27 Aug 2012 05:56 PM PDT

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It was barely last week that we caught glimpse of the purported “HTC Proto,” a mid-range device to fill in a gap left open when HTC introduced their One series of handsets. Fast forward to today where we’re now seeing official retail docs emerge, showing us the official specs of the device, along with a brand new name: the HTC Desire X.

Design wise, we’re looking at a baby version of One X with what appears to a polycarbonate non-removable back cover coming in either navy blue or white color varieties. According to the leaked doc, the Desire X will nestle itself snugly in between the high(ish)-end One S, and its lower-end sibling, the One V. Here’s some quick bullet points:

  • 4-inch 800×480 Super LCD display
  • 5MP camera, AF, LED flash, BSI sensor, F2.0, 28mm, WVGA video recording, HTC ImageChip
  • 1 GHz dual-core (S3?)
  • 4GB internal storage, 768MB RAM, microSD slot, Dropbox 25GB for 2 years
  • 1650 mAh battery(removable)
  • Beats Audio
  • Android 4.0.4 with Sense 4.1
  • 114g, 118.5 x 62.3 x 9.3 mm
  • HSPA/WCDMA(Asia/Europe  900/2100 MHz), GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz)

Above you can see the Desire X side-by-side with the One X, trademark HTC stylings and all. There’s no word if we’ll ever see this device here in the states, but now that the Desire X is out of the bag, here’s to hoping HTC still has that rumored 5-inch phablet hiding under their sleeve for a surprise IFA announcement.

[ePrice | Via Pocketnow]


Leaked: Motorola DROID M Press Shots and Specs – 4.3-Inch qHD Display, S4 Processor and NFC

Posted: 27 Aug 2012 04:57 PM PDT

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For those that like a little kick in their mid-range devices, Motorola might have exactly what you’re looking for. Bound for Verizon Wireless, the recently rumored Motorola Droid M is once again appearing before an official announcement in a set of leaked press shots along with full spec list.

The LTE equipped device will come with a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED “bezel-tastic” qHD Gorilla Glass 2 display, the now standard Qualcomm S4 dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 8MP rear with complimentary 3MP front facing camera, global roaming support, micro SD slot (I can hear the cheers already) and NFC on board. The above promo shot also shows software making Ice Cream Sandwich a shoe-in at launch.

Motorola is throwing an unveiling event scheduled for September 5th, where it’s more than likely we’ll see both this little fella, along with the RAZR HD, make an appearance. Expect the Droid M to hit with an affordable $150 pricing. What do you guys think about the DM? Is it a nice enough upgrade from the OG RAZR for those that wont commit to the RAZR HD?

[Engadget]


Sears giving up free keyboard dock with purchase of ASUS Transformer Pad TF300

Posted: 27 Aug 2012 04:04 PM PDT

If you’re in the market for an ASUS Transformer Pad TF300 soon why not get one from Sears? It’s not that I think they’re this super awesome retailer or anything, but they’re offering a really sweet deal if you decide to get it from their store shelves.

You will be walking away with a free keyboard dock, an accessory that will currently run you anywhere between $100-150 normally. It’s a great deal when you get anything for free, so there should be no reason to look anywhere else if you were already looking to purchase the tablet or tablet + dock elsewhere. Get two in one and pat yourself on the back for a job well done. The tablet itself is $400 and you can find it at the link ahead. [Sears via Droid Dog]


Are these the final Galaxy Note 2 specs?

Posted: 27 Aug 2012 03:03 PM PDT

We’re right around the corner from Samsung’s big unveil in Berlin and we’re expecting them to bring the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 with them. It seems someone has leaked the device’s specs ahead of time.

Nothing here is surprising considering we had an idea of what the specs would be long ago, but there’s nothing like a little added affirmation. We’re said to be getting a 5.5 inch HD display, Android 4.1.1, a 1.4GHz Samsung Exynos 4412 processor, an 8 megapixel camera, storage options of 16GB and 32GB, and LTE where available.

Earlier today we were able to get a look at alternative color options, and now there’s one thing left to see: the device itself! It has impressively eluded the eyes of many for this long, and it looks like we’re going to have to wait until the Unpacked event barring a last minute appearance. [via Seoul.co]


Root checker found in DROID 4 and DROID RAZR/MAXX Ice Cream Sandwich builds

Posted: 27 Aug 2012 02:41 PM PDT

Uh-oh. It looks like Verizon and Motorola have found another way to find out if they can deny you service on a malfunctioning rooted phone. It’s been discovered that the Ice Cream Sandwich builds for the Motorola DROID 4, Motorola DROID RAZR Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX include a root checker.

When booting into the recovery, a three character notation will come up letting prying eyes know what you’ve done to your device. For instance, “qe 0/0″ means your device has never been rooted, “qe 1/1″ means your device is currently rooted, and “qe 0/1″ means it was rooted before, but currently isn’t.

We imagine this check doesn’t come up with custom recoveries, and if you have a custom recovery then they’ll know you’re rooted anyway. We don’t like it and we know you don’t feel very different, but if Galaxy Nexus users are able to get along with the lock icon during boot-up for devices with unlocked bootloaders many people shouldn’t have an issue with this.

The only difference is that you can’t revert to an official factory state and have it all disappear and that just may be what pushes the DROID bunch over the line. What do you think of this “root check?” [via Droid-Life]


Samsung posts internal statement regarding jury’s decision

Posted: 27 Aug 2012 02:15 PM PDT

With all the statements we’ve been hearing about lately we’d be foolish to pass up on the opportunity to read Samsung’s take. They took to the Samsung Tomorrow blog to post an “internal” statement (we’re not sure how that works with this being out in the public and all) and it basically comes down to this: we’re disappointed this happened, and we’re going to be trying to appeal to the courts and go through the legal motions that come with such a significant case.

They mentioned their legal success against Apple in countries like Germany, Korea, and the United Kingdom in efforts to show that, despite today’s United States ruling, there are many other countries that think Samsung’s actions were harmless and that Apple’s cases were a bit frivolous.

Regardless, Samsung has a lot more to do than just release a statement so they’ll likely be getting the appeals process in motion while we’ll be at the edge of our seats waiting for the next major development in one of the most important lawsuits in all of technology. Read the statement in full below.

On Friday, August 24, 2012, the jury verdict in our trial against Apple was announced at the US District Court for the Northern District of California. The following is an internal memo that reflects Samsung’s position regarding the verdict:

 

 

We initially proposed to negotiate with Apple instead of going to court, as they had been one of our most important customers. However, Apple pressed on with a lawsuit, and we have had little choice but to counter-sue, so that we can protect our company.

 

Certainly, we are very disappointed by the verdict at the US District Court for the Northern District of California (NDCA), and it is regrettable that the verdict has caused concern amongst our employees, as well as our loyal customers.

 

However, the judge's final ruling remains, along with a number of other procedures. We will continue to do our utmost until our arguments have been accepted.

 

The NDCA verdict starkly contrasts decisions made by courts in a number of other countries, such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, and Korea, which have previously ruled that we did not copy Apple's designs. These courts also recognized our arguments concerning our standards patents.

 

History has shown there has yet to be a company that has won the hearts and minds of consumers and achieved continuous growth, when its primary means to competition has been the outright abuse of patent law, not the pursuit of innovation.

 

We trust that the consumers and the market will side with those who prioritize innovation over litigation, and we will prove this beyond doubt.


Apple files to have 8 Samsung phones banned in the US, including most of the Galaxy S2 line

Posted: 27 Aug 2012 12:41 PM PDT

Another exciting development (well, exciting for us spectators anyway) has taken place in the ongoing post-trial happenings between Samsung and Apple. The latter has filed to have 8 of Samsung’s devices banned from the market.

These include the Samsung Galaxy S2 for T-Mobile, AT&T, the Epic 4G Touch, the Skyrocket, the Galaxy S Showcase, Galaxy S 4G, the Samsung DROID Charge, and the Samsung Galaxy Prevail.

The chart you see above breaks down which phones are violating which patents. A hearing to discuss the injunctions is going down September 20th, and Apple would have to prove that letting these devices exist in the market will lead to irreparable damage for Apple’s brand and sales.

Considering many of these devices are still available — and selling well for very cheap prices — Apple no doubt targeted these devices as part of a strategic play. We’re sure Apple’s eyes are on Samsung’s hot new seller known as the Galaxy S3, but there’s very little for Apple to nitpick about as Samsung cleaned up most of what these older devices had causing them to be cast to the fire in the first place.

If there was anything for Apple to go after in that regard they’ll need a lot more time to build up a solid case. But regardless, these devices remain a big part of Samsung’s current offerings and it would be a big blow should Apple convince the courts that they need to be banished from store shelves. You can read the filing in its entirety here if you wish. [via The Verge]


Lenovo IdeaPad A2109 can now be yours for $300

Posted: 27 Aug 2012 11:53 AM PDT

Between the Nexus 7, the Transformer Series, and Samsung’s new Galaxy Note 10.1 it would seem we have all we need for the Android tablet space, but there are more options out there. Consider Lenovo’s new offering — the IdeaPad A2109.

It’s a 9 inch, Tegra 3 device will be coming to town with Ice Cream Sandwich. Other specs include 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, a 3 megapixel rear camera, and a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera.

Best of all? It’s coming to you for a cool $300. That’s not a bad price to ask for a tablet with that spec line. You could do a heck of a lot worse indeed, and the margin I’m talking about between this and some of these other affordable tablets is staggering. If $300 is your sweet spot and you’re up to stray from the usual players, head to Best Buy and check it out.


Verizon LG Intuition press shots leaked, looking kind of fat in those jeans

Posted: 27 Aug 2012 10:56 AM PDT

Verizon’s LG Intuition, an Optimus Vu variant, is poised to launch sometime soon and first press renders of the device have finally shown up.  It still boasts that ridiculous 4:3 aspect ratio that makes it one of the more wider phones you’ll have ever carried.

The device doesn’t host any remarkable features outside that aforementioned aspect ratio, though we do know Verizon has elected to stick with the four button layout for navigation instead of using on-screen controls.

A nice 4G LTE logo graces the back, and we can see a camera with flash on the back (as well as one on the front to accompany it). That’s about it, though, as far as hardware.

The software side of things shows a glimpse at LG’s Optimus UI 3.0 running on top of Android 4.0.3. It’s possible we could see Jelly Bean by the time the Intuition arrives on store shelves, but I would definitely doubt it. [LG Optimus Vu]


Original Motorola DROID gets new life with functional Jelly Bean ROM [VIDEO]

Posted: 27 Aug 2012 10:27 AM PDT

While the original Motorola DROID — which is coming up on its third anniversary this November — isn’t anywhere near being the hot device to acquire, it still enjoyed a rich year or so atop the ranks of Android devices. Many people bought the device that kick-started the Android craze, and many of those people (including yours truly) still own it.

If your tinkering hand is feeling a little tingly you might want to consider putting Jelly Bean on the device. That’s right, the device has gotten its very own Jelly Bean ROM, and truth be told it will extend the life of your phone even longer if you’re the type who still hasn’t upgraded.

The ROM is very smooth and stable, and the only thing that isn’t working quite right is the camera. It’s not too surprising that Jelly Bean runs smoothly on the device. Ice Cream Sandwich ran a lot better than Gingerbread, Froyo, and Eclair ever did, and Jelly Bean adds even more improvements to help performance.

You won’t be getting the buttery smoothness that you’d get from other phones, of course — the hardware is simply too dated — but it’s remarkable that it looks as good as it does on such a slow processor. If you’re still using the DROID as either a phone or a media player you’re sure to want to get your hands on it. Head to the source link for the download. [XDA via Droid-Life]


Best Buy outs Samsung Galaxy Stellar as handset formerly known as the Samsung Jasper

Posted: 27 Aug 2012 09:16 AM PDT

When the Samsung Galaxy Stellar appeared in a Verizon rebate document, we speculated that it could be the street name for a device codenamed the Samsung Jasper. After a leak last week revealed the Stellar would retail for $99, Best Buy has outed the full product listing, which confirms our initial suspicions. The Jasper will launch as the Galaxy Stellar, a mid-range device with a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU, 4-inch display, and Android 4.0.

The listing remains live at Best Buy’s site despite any official announcement on behalf of Verizon or Samsung. As of now the phone is listed at $449.99 without a contract and appears ready to purchase, but we our guessing Best Buy won’t be able to fill any order placed at this time. When the 4G LTE Galaxy Stellar will launch is still a mystery.

[via AndroidPolice]


New leak outs two color options for Samsung Galaxy Note 2, ‘Titan Grey’ Galaxy S3

Posted: 27 Aug 2012 08:14 AM PDT

As the announcement of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 draws near we are learning a few last minute details. Just as with the Samsung Galaxy S3, the Note 2, which has been pegged with model number GT-N7100 (the first Note was the N7000), will ship in two color schemes: “Ceramic White” and a second color only shown as “TBD” in the retailer inventory listing that revealed the options. Speaking of the Galaxy S3, yet another variant was outed in the leak, a so-called “Titan Grey” edition.

The Ceramic White name might indicate the use of the material in the construction of the Note 2. It was rumored before the launch of the Galaxy S3 that that particular handset might utilize a ceramic casing, but the prospect never panned out. Perhaps Samsung has found a way to work it into the next edition of the note.

The Titan Grey GS3 and Galaxy Note 2 are listed as launching during the first half of October, which also coincides with the rumored release date of the black version of the Galaxy S3. The date also follows a month after the impending unveiling of the Note 2 at IFA in Berlin later this week.

[via DroidDog]


LG Optimus Vu II with infrared capabilities coming next month to Korea

Posted: 27 Aug 2012 07:22 AM PDT

LG has rather unceremoniously unveiled the Optimus Vu II, a followup to their original phablet that launched earlier this year. The biggest change (or the only one LG is talking up at this point) is the addition of an infrared transmitter for controlling other devices such as set-top boxes via a special QRemote app. It might be realistic to think that the Optimus Vu II will carry few other changes from the debut model, as LG hasn’t revealed too much in the technical specs department.

The Optimus Vu is coming to Verizon as the LG Intuition this fall and is rumored to sport a quad-core Tegra 3 processor, an upgrade over the dual-core innards of the previous model. It could be that the Optimus Vu II sees a similar bump in CPU spec when it launches in LG’s native South Korea next month.

[via Engadget]


Google issues statement after Samsung defeat in Apple patent trial, not worried

Posted: 27 Aug 2012 06:50 AM PDT

Despite a jury returning a verdict indicting Samsung of infringing upon several Apple patents, Google isn’t worried about the results of the monumental trial affecting Android on the larger scale.

In a statement Google has said,

"The court of appeals will review both infringement and the validity of the patent claims. Most of these don't relate to the core Android operating system, and several are being re-examined by the U.S. Patent Office. The mobile industry is moving fast and all players — including newcomers — are building upon ideas that have been around for decades. We work with our partners to give consumers innovative and affordable products, and we don't want anything to limit that."

In reality, Google has to be more than a bit concerned about the results of the trial. While Samsung may have a chance of winning an appeal, and even though much of what Samsung was found guilty on has no direct bearing on Android, the win could give Apple all the strength it needs to challenge Google directly. At that point, here’s hoping Google’s patent acquisition spree pays off.

[via AllThingsD]


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