Android Phone Fans |
- ‘Liveness Check’ in Jelly Bean’s Facial unlock can be spoofed, with some effort
- Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies launches as Sony Xperia exclusive
- AT&T to power down 2G network by 2017
- Benchmark scores confirms Tegra 3 for T-Mobile’s HTC One X+, Jelly Bean on board
- Galaxy Note 10.1 looks to be at center of August 15 Samsung event
- Samsung shows off new TV over 4G technology
- Verizon-branded wireless charging units for Samsung Galaxy S3 showing up in stores
- Make your Jelly Bean phone feel authentic with Jelly Belly’s Jelly Bean live wallpaper [APP REVIEW]
- RIM seriously considered going with Android
- Samsung Galaxy S Lightray 4G for MetroPCS now available for $460
- DLNA certification pegs Sony Xperia LT30 as the Sony Xperia T
- Reuters: Samsung confirms Galaxy Note 2 unveiling at IFA Berlin
- Consolidated HTC Q2’12 numbers fall in line with expectations; OEM provides bleak Q3 outlook
- Android Overload: Samsung Denied 3 Motions In Apple Patent Case, Native Ubuntu For Android Shown On Video, and More
- Congressman Invites Public To Help In Drafting Mobile Privacy Legislation – Launches AppRIGHTS.us
| ‘Liveness Check’ in Jelly Bean’s Facial unlock can be spoofed, with some effort Posted: 03 Aug 2012 03:14 PM PDT Google responded to security complaints about the Facial Unlock feature introduced as part of Ice Cream Sandwich by implementing a “Liveness Check” in Jelly Bean. Simply, the added layer of safety is designed to prevent the ability to spoof the lock method using a photo of the phone’s owner by requiring the user to blink. Well, getting around the new measure isn’t all that difficult, but does require a bit more work than the previous implementation. Step one: shop a photo of the phone’s owner so as to make their eyes appear shut. Step two: cycle between the two images on a computer screen. As we have said before, Face Unlock remains a neat party trick, but there still remains a need for further refinements before it becomes a go-to unlock method. [via AndroidPolice]
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| Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies launches as Sony Xperia exclusive Posted: 03 Aug 2012 01:50 PM PDT
One of the most entertaining games modes to ever grace the Call of Duty franchise has found it’s way to the Google Play Store as a standalone game. Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies has launched exclusively for select Sony Xperia handsets, including the Xperia Play, Xperia Ion, and Xperia S. The game pits active duty military against an army of the living dead over a collection of classic CoD maps. The title doesn’t come cheap, however. Those with a qualifying device will have to drop $6.99 to plow through hoards of undead enemies. Others will have to wait 30 days for the exclusivity period to end. Google Play Link: Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies
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| AT&T to power down 2G network by 2017 Posted: 03 Aug 2012 12:57 PM PDT
If you own a smartphone manufactured in the past two years, the following news likely won’t apply to you, but it’s still worth noting that AT&T has set a deadline for the end to their 2G network. They hope to cease operations by 2017. As the carrier continues to build out its 4G network and begins (along with other major carriers around the world) to investigate the potential of voice and data over LTE alone, the first moves are being made to shutter the aging 2G wireless technologies AT&T relied on for so long. This move away from older GSM voice and EDGE data coverage will come with “proactive” efforts to move the 12 percent of subscribers still holding on to a 2G device. [via Engadget]
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| Benchmark scores confirms Tegra 3 for T-Mobile’s HTC One X+, Jelly Bean on board Posted: 03 Aug 2012 12:32 PM PDT
The puzzle pieces are coming together to reveal more information about T-Mobile’s upcoming HTC One X+ . The latest info comes by way of the devices NenaMark benchmark scores, where it is confirmed that handset model number HTC PM63100 will run an NVIDIA Tegra 3 clocked to 1.7GHz. A 720p display is also present, and, perhaps most noteworthy, the One X+ is running Android 4.1. While a T-Mobile launch is expected for September, there are also rumblings that AT&T could see the phone as well. A souped up version of the HTC One X is something to get excited about by itself, but the thought of the handset running Jelly Bean gets our mouths watering all the more. [via Android and Me]
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| Galaxy Note 10.1 looks to be at center of August 15 Samsung event Posted: 03 Aug 2012 11:52 AM PDT
As we have speculated previously, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 looks to be the center of an upcoming August 15th press event hosted by the manufacturer. Just as Samsung’s invites to their IFA Unpacked event tipped us off to the unveiling of the Galaxy Note 2, the invite being sent to members of the press for the earlier event hints at the device’s larger tablet sibling. We expect to see a revamped tablet with quad-core processing and more, and we’ll be bringing you all the details as they roll in. The good news is the 15th isn’t so far off.
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| Samsung shows off new TV over 4G technology Posted: 03 Aug 2012 11:27 AM PDT
With carriers looking to transition to voice-over-LTE technology in the coming years, are calls aren’t the only thing that will soon join data on the next0gen 4G technology. Samsung has been testing LTE Broadcast technology for TV over 4G using a standard known as eMBMS (evolved Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service. Mobile TV has yet to catch on in places outside of markets like Japan, and it is unclear what Samsung’s ultimate goal is, but the large amount of bandwidth afforded by LTE may make the concept easier to swallow for carriers and consumers. Will mobile TV finally become a desirable service in places like the US? If one company were to push the subject and do so successfully, we’d imagine the world’s most successful smartphone maker would be the one to do it.
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| Verizon-branded wireless charging units for Samsung Galaxy S3 showing up in stores Posted: 03 Aug 2012 09:21 AM PDT
Samsung’s inductive charging units for the Samsung Galaxy S3 aren’t quite ready yet, but that won’t stop Verizon from offering a charging pad of their own. They’re selling an inductive charging pad for $50 alongside an official Samsung charging back plate for $40 according to PhoneScoop. While it’s unfortunate the official charging pad couldn’t be ready in time we’re sure folks who have been looking forward to it won’t mind this makeshift combination. If you prefer to get both pieces from Samsung then you’ll have to wait until September. Otherwise, call your local Verizon store and see if they’ve gotten any of these things in stock.
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| Make your Jelly Bean phone feel authentic with Jelly Belly’s Jelly Bean live wallpaper [APP REVIEW] Posted: 03 Aug 2012 08:12 AM PDT When I heard Jelly Belly was releasing their own app I just had to take a look. They’ve released a Jelly Bean live wallpaper that is actually pretty good. It’s simple but it does do the trick in getting you into the mood to have some of your favorite jelly bean flavors. Upon setting the live wallpaper I’m met with several options, including which flavors I’d like to appear in my jar, the background, and even the gravitational effect.
Yes, that means you don’t have to look at that god awful popcorn-flavored jelly bean if you don’t want to (sorry, Jelly Belly, but those things are vomit-inducing crap). Once you set the wallpaper you can start adding Jelly Beans by tapping on the display. The entry of flavors is random but rest assured it will only put the flavors you want in. From there you can flick jelly beans around to your heart’s content. The Play Store listing even suggests you can make up your own mini-games such as jelly bean volleyball, though if you’re planning to do something like that I’d suggest doing it on a clear home screen as icons and widgets can get away. You can dismiss the jar by shaking your phone and start the process of adding jelly beans all over again. Unfortunately I’ve found that it’s easy to accidentally dismiss the beans while the phone is in your pocket, but perhaps that’ll keep you tapping away. The app is a free live wallpaper and can be found in the Google Play Store.
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| RIM seriously considered going with Android Posted: 03 Aug 2012 07:32 AM PDT At least one of these OEMs has the guts to admit they were considering to use Android going forward. RIM’s CEO Thorsten Heins mentioned the company was looking at the open source operating system to determine their plans to move forward, but ultimately decided to go with what is now known as Blackberry 10. RIM was no doubt challenged to modernize themselves after seeing the likes of the iPhone and Android race on by. The challenge came with differentiation: did Android give them enough room to keep them from being a “me too” company?After all, RIM is one of few OEMs which make both hardware and the software which runs on it.
Nokia’s move with Microsoft wasn’t quite as surprising considering they held no loyalty to a homegrown operating system. It was important for RIM to develop their own option, though it obviously hasn’t come without its pitfalls. One major problem has simply been the unpredictable and unforgiving software development cycle. Blackberry 10 was expected to launch this year, but unsightly delays have pushed that back to early 2013. Many think it will be too late for RIM to offer a compelling smartphone experience by then as Android and iOS get better each and every day (let alone Windows Phone). And who’s to say RIM couldn’t properly distance themselves from what’s considered “the norm” with Android? Amazon did it with the Kindle Fire, and we’ve seen Meizu transform Android into a beautiful beast the likes we haven’t yet seen. Even MIUI, an after-market ROM, could fool one into thinking it’s not based on Android. But the decision was made, and RIM is dead set on making Blackberry 10 work. The only other question is whether or not the users are willing to wait while competition is steadily passing them by. [Telegraph]
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| Samsung Galaxy S Lightray 4G for MetroPCS now available for $460 Posted: 03 Aug 2012 06:21 AM PDT MetroPCS has announced official availability of the rumored Samsung Galaxy S Lightray 4G. The device has been launched in-stores and online today, and users can throw down $460 for the right to take it home. The Lightray 4G will run on the carrier’s LTE network and features a 4.3 inch Super AMOLED display, a 1GHz processor (type is unknown, but its clock speed is lower than the 1.4GHz it was originally believed to be), an 8 megapixel rear camera, a 1.3 megapixel front camera, Android 2.3, and more.
The phone does a lot to remind us of Verizon’s Samsung DROID Charge in everything from its specs to its looks, and if that phone is anything to go by we can’t say this will be a model smartphone. Of course, considering the rest of Metro’s lineup it’s not hard for a phone of this nature to be an attractive offering. Head to MetroPCS.com if you’re interested and read on for full press details.
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| DLNA certification pegs Sony Xperia LT30 as the Sony Xperia T Posted: 03 Aug 2012 05:46 AM PDT
A device that we know as the Sony Xperia LT30 may be coming to market with a different name if this DLNA certificate is to be believed. The certificate lists the device as having a product name of “Sony Xperia T.” It’s fine to suggest this name is real as it follows the naming convention Sony has been using for its smartphones as of late. While we’re still not sure what their logic is when deciding which letters to use, we at least know that “T” hasn’t been used up, and I guess that will have to count for something for the time being. The Sony LT30 is removed to be headed to market with a 4.6 inch HD display, a 13 megapixel camera, Android 4.0, and more. Sony is expected to have a nice showing at IFA later this month so we’ll have to see what’s in store for us when everything’s official. [via DLNA]
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| Reuters: Samsung confirms Galaxy Note 2 unveiling at IFA Berlin Posted: 03 Aug 2012 04:58 AM PDT When Samsung sent invites for an Unpacked event in IFA Berlin many speculated what it could be. All signs pointed to a new version of the Samsung Galaxy Note, but as with any rumor there was never any certainty. It appears Reuters may have helped so instill some, though, as they claim a Samsung representative (who is not being named, of course) has confirmed to them the plans to unveil the Samsung Galaxy Note 2.
The timing certainly makes sense. The original Galaxy Note was first launched October 2011. IFA takes place between August 31st and September 5th, and it’s likely we could see an October 2012 launch to give us that one year gap we tend to see between flagship releases. If there was ever any doubt that Berlin, Germany would be the stomping grounds for what most certainly could be the biggest smartphone ever then this should cover it. If not then the truth should be here in about a month’s time.
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| Consolidated HTC Q2’12 numbers fall in line with expectations; OEM provides bleak Q3 outlook Posted: 03 Aug 2012 04:49 AM PDT HTC’s released their consolidated earnings numbers for Q2 2012. It wasn’t that long ago that they released non-audited numbers to give us an idea of what their performance was. HTC raked in $3 billion last quarter, and after paying all the bills they only ended up with about $247 million. We’re not sure how long it’ll take HTC’s One series to pick up steam but at this pace we can’t imagine things are going the way they planned. And the painful thing for HTC to realize is that things are expected to get worse. They expect revenues to be somewhere between $2.3 billion and $2.67 billion, and lower profits.
With HTC’s latest decision to bow out of the South Korea market it’s clear they’re facing stiff competition up against that country’s native Samsung, the OEM responsible for the flagship smartphone currently taking the world by storm. Could HTC’s One series have been too late? Some people might say so. Samsung’s Galaxy S strategy looked to be successful even from the first device in the series. By the time the second crop of phones came around many were certain that would be HTC’s best shot to recapture interests. But the third rendition seems to be far too much for HTC to handle, especially when coupled with the fact that the big bad wolf is still out there. If HTC can’t right the ship by the end of the year one has to wonder if they’ll ever be able to.
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| Posted: 03 Aug 2012 01:53 AM PDT Greetings, earthlings. You’ve made it to another Android Overload. This is the place we stash all of the Android related news stories (and sometimes random articles) we find from around the internet throughout the day. As you’ve no doubt found out by now, no, the above video isn’t exactly “Android related,” but it definitely is Droid related. You know what they say, laughing is good for the soul. Here’s the other “almosts” from around the net:
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| Congressman Invites Public To Help In Drafting Mobile Privacy Legislation – Launches AppRIGHTS.us Posted: 03 Aug 2012 01:49 AM PDT If the whole SOPA fiasco in early 2012 proved one thing, it’s that legislation (especially when dealing with technology) can’t be thrown together all will-nilly, and needs to be more carefully planned and thought out if it’s going to succeed. Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA) is looking to do just that when it comes to user privacy on our smartphones, asking if our handsets are smartphones or tracking devices. The senator is turning to the public, asking for help in coming up with smart government policies before a bill is drafted up (ala SOPA). Recently, he launched appRIGHTS.us, a “bottom-up” project where you can send your ideas to ensure your data isn’t improperly collected, sold, and exploited by app developers, carriers and OEMs. Johnson’s senior legislative assistant went on to say,
The initiative was taken to the streets of Reddit, hoping to gain support from the very users that helped block SOPA from being passed early this year. If you want to do your part, hit up the source link for more details. [AppRIGHTS.us | Via RWW]
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