Thursday, August 2, 2012

AndroidGuys

AndroidGuys

Official Android Blog is finally here!

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 04:27 PM PDT

Almost 4 years ago, Google launched their very first mobile OS which is now known as the most famous mobile operating system, Android. Whenever any official news or report related to Android is released by Google, it always shows up on Google Mobile blog or any other Google blog but not anymore; because finally after a wait of four-long years, Official Android Blog is finally here. Now if you want to check what Google is upto with Android or just want to get a little in-depth with Android, just check the official blog and you will be good to go.

Though we will keep you updated with anything Android, but you should add it to your bookmarks to just stay in touch. Check out the blog and tell us what are your thoughts about it, and by the way that Android on the top of blog's banner is a fun thing, no?

Source: Google Mobile

Official Android Blog is finally here! originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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comScore: Android now own 51.6% of the mobile market, Samsung still leading the OEMs

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 02:49 PM PDT

We wait for comScore report every month because they keep us updated with the mobile statistics in the USA. Just like the last report, Samsung is still winning from all the other smartphone vendors, and Android is still sitting on the "throne of mobile operating systems", but there are just some slight changes. Compared to the previous quarter, Android got .6% increase making a total of 51.6%. Apple grew 1.7%, which is actually a huge increase, and on the other side; RIM, Microsoft and Symbian faced a decrease.

The reason Android is leading and iPhone is just behind it, is the fail of famous OS of their times like RIM and Symbian, there are losing customers on daily basis, which's actually a plus for either Google or Apple. Talking about top mobile OEMs, Samsung is leading but they faced a little decrease; also LG and Motorola. Only HTC and Apple got a little increase in their sales, and probably the reason HTC got a 0.4% increase is the good sale of the One X and others in the states. Though Samsung came out with the Galaxy S III this summer, but it seems we might see an increase in upcoming reports, so fingers crossed.

Tell us what do you think about it in the comment box below.

Source: Engadget

comScore: Android now own 51.6% of the mobile market, Samsung still leading the OEMs originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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WikiPad launching a tablet with a gaming dock, coming later this year

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 01:55 PM PDT

Android Market is growing rapidly and it consist of some amazing applications, and I am talking about games here. Like there are racing games, adventure games, sports and a lot others. Would you like to take your Android gaming experience to the next level? Then have a look at the WikiPad, it's a tablet that comes with a 10.1 inch display with 1,280 x 800 pixels, NVIDIA Tegra 3 T30 1.4GHz quad-core processor, Android 4.1 a.k.a Jelly Bean, 8-megapixel rear-facing camera with 16GB of internal storage. WikiPad is the name of the tablet, and it's made the company which is also known as the same.

The best thing about this tablet is that it comes with a gaming dock, which turns it into a gaming tablet that will give you the best gaming experience you can ever have on a tablet. The buttons resemble with the ones on XBOX 360, however the Wikipad President James Bower said that it will release later this year.

Are you looking forward to it? Tell us about it in the comment box below.

Source: VentureBeat

WikiPad launching a tablet with a gaming dock, coming later this year originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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Google Wallet now accepts all major credit cards, debit cards

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 11:41 AM PDT

In perhaps the biggest announcement since it was unveiled two summers ago, Google Wallet headed for the cloud. An announcement from Robin Dua (head of Product Management) tells us that the shift means that Google Wallet will now support all major credit cards and debit cards from Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.

To support all credit and debit cards, we changed our technical approach to storing payment cards. The Google Wallet app now stores your payment cards on highly secure Google servers, instead of in the secure storage area on your phone. A wallet ID (virtual card number) is stored in the secure storage area of the phone, and this is used to facilitate transactions at the point of sale. Google instantly charges your selected credit or debit card. This new approach speeds up the integration process for banks so they can add their cards to the Wallet app in just a few weeks.

For those who worry about security, the new cloud-based Google Wallet ensures that a lost or stolen smartphone will not spell certain doom and bogus charges.  Users will be able to remotely disable their mobile wallet app from the web, adding even more peace of mind for the mobile payment option.  Of course, the Google Wallet app still uses a password and Google always suggests using a PIN or lock screen on your device.

Google Wallet now accepts all major credit cards, debit cards originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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POLL: Do you use third party Facebook, Twitter apps?

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 11:25 AM PDT

We're going to go out on a limb here and assume that a vast majority of you have Android phones and/or tablets.  What's more, we're pretty confident that a lot of you use at least one social network to keep up with friends, family, celebrities, news outlets, and more.  Putting two and two together, we know many of you use mobile apps to follow along on Facebook and Twitter.

Today, we're asking whether or not you are using the official apps for those social networks.  Do you prefer the 'real' apps or do you like third party stuff better?  As always, drop your answer in the poll below and then head to the comments to defend your decision.  For those who do use third party apps, let us know which you like best!


POLL: Do you use third party Facebook, Twitter apps? originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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Archos ready to announce Gen 10 of Android tablets

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 10:49 AM PDT

Archos has begun teasing their next generation (G10) of Android tablets, having posted an image of one on the company Facebook page.  Without divulging any specs or details, Archos only says, "See you in 3 weeks for launch announcement."  Presumably getting unveiled at IFA in Berlin, Germany at the end of the month, we'd expect Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich or maybe even 4.1 Jelly Bean.  Judging by the image on Facebook, the tablet looks to continue in the line of sleek, premium form factors  Additionally, we can make out what appears to be a dock connector, speakers across the bottom, and power/volume buttons on the right.

Have you ever considered an Archos tablet for yourself?  Why or why not?  Are you intrigued by what could be unveiled later this month?  Let's hear it below!

Archos ready to announce Gen 10 of Android tablets originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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U.S. Cellular debuts pair of Motorola smartphones

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 09:14 AM PDT

U.S. Cellular today announced that they've added a pair of Android smartphones to their lineup.  Arriving online today and in stores tomorrow (August 2), the ELECTRIFY 2 runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and comes with a thin 8.4mm body.  Additional hardware details include a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, a 4.3-inch ColorBoost display and an 8-megapixel camera with LED flash and a 1080p HD camcorder.

Due on Friday, August 3, the DEFY XT is water and scratch resistant, dustproof, and features a 3.7-inch display. Other specs include 1GB ROM, 512MB RAM, a 1GHz processor, microSD expansion, and a 5-megapixel camera.

 

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.

About U.S. Cellular
U.S. Cellular rewards its customers with unmatched benefits and industry-leading innovations designed to elevate the customer experience. The Chicago-based carrier has a strong line-up of cutting-edge devices that are all backed by its high-speed nationwide network that has the highest call quality of any national carrier. Currently, 25 percent of customers have access to 4G LTE speeds and 54 percent will have access by the end of 2012. U.S. Cellular was named a J.D. Power and Associates Customer Service Champion in 2012 for the second year in a row. To learn more about U.S. Cellular, visit one of its retail stores or uscellular.com. To get the latest news, promos and videos, connect with U.S. Cellular on Facebook.com/uscellular, Twitter.com/uscellular and YouTube.com/uscellularcorp.

About Motorola Mobility
Motorola Mobility, owned by Google, fuses innovative technology with human insights to create experiences that simplify, connect and enrich people's lives. Our portfolio includes converged mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets; wireless accessories; end-to-end video and data delivery; and management solutions, including set-tops and data-access devices. For more information, visit motorola.com/mobility.

U.S. Cellular debuts pair of Motorola smartphones originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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Google updates developer policies with eye on consumer satisfaction

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 08:33 AM PDT

Google has made some adjustments to their Android developer policies and has begun sending out notifications via email.  If you're an Android developer yourself then chances are you might have seen this email by now.

Not a great deal has changed from before however things look to get better in the eye of the consumer.  For instance, Google will begin restricting names and icons that closely resemble other apps.  As for advertising and notifications, developers must not do anything that negatively impacts the user experience. What's more, Google is taking a more proactive approach in advising what is and isn't allowed on Google Play.  Going further, developers will see specific examples of practices that violate spam policies.

Hello Google Play Developer,

We are constantly striving to make Google Play a great community for developers and consumers. This requires us to update our policies when we launch new features, like subscription billing, and also when we see unhealthy behavior, like deceptive app names and spammy notifications. This email is to notify you that we've made some changes to our policies which are highlighted below.

  • We've added clearer details to the payment policy, and guidelines on how we will handle cancellations in our new subscription billing feature
  • We are restricting the use of names or icons confusingly similar to existing system apps in order to reduce user confusion
  • We are providing more detail on the kinds of dangerous products that are not allowed on Google Play. For example, apps that disclose personal information without authorization are not allowed.
  • We are giving more examples of practices that violate the spam policy.

Additionally, we are adding a new section that addresses ad behavior in apps. First, we make it clear that ads in your app must follow the same rules as the app itself. Also, it is important to us that ads don't negatively affect the experience by deceiving consumers or using disruptive behavior such as obstructing access to apps and interfering with other ads.

Please take a look at the Google Play Developer Program Policy at http://play.google.com/about/developer-content-policy.html to see all the changes and make sure your app complies with our updated policies.

Any new apps or app updates published after this notification will be immediately subject to the latest version of the Program Policy.  If you find any existing apps in your catalog that don't comply, we ask you to fix and republish the application within 30 calendar days of receiving this email.  After this period, existing applications discovered to be in violation may be subject to warning or removal from Google Play.

Regards,
Google Play Team

Google updates developer policies with eye on consumer satisfaction originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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Google postpones consumer launch of Nexus Q in order to “make it even better”

Posted: 01 Aug 2012 07:34 AM PDT

Google has seemingly killed the Nexus Q as we know it and does not plan to release the device we saw/received at Google IO in June.  The dense set-top sphere has been indefinitely delayed while Google aims to make the product "even better", presumably adding new features and abilities.

For those of you who pre-ordered one of the devices, Google will still be sending that out to you at no cost.  Now calling it a"dev unit", Google indicates that these will begin shipping "soon", maybe within a week.  Going forward, though, things are a bit unclear.

As to what is being changed within the Nexus Q remains unclear at this point, however it's likely a software update to allow for additional capabilities.  Should a hardware redesign be in order, things could take a while before they are back on track.  Considering its high ($299) price tag and short list of tricks, the tepid reviews for the Nexus Q are justified.

Indeed, the ability to pre-order has been pulled for now, however you can still sign up for notification of status changes and news.

FIX IT!

How would you "make it better"?  Leave a comment below with your suggestions to improve the Nexus Q.

Google postpones consumer launch of Nexus Q in order to “make it even better” originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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ASUS official accessory line-up for the Google Nexus 7 leaked

Posted: 31 Jul 2012 05:14 PM PDT

Google Nexus 7 is the latest bomb dropped by Google at the Android tablet market, and the explosion actually effected a lot of people, that's why it ran out of stock at Google Play store. Well, there's no doubt in it that it's an amazing tablet, and we also told you that you wouldn't regret after purchasing it. Now it's time to get a little fancy with the Google Nexus 7, because ASUS is planning to launch some accessories for it.

ASUS is coming up with three accessories; Nexus Dock, ASUS premium cover and ASUS travel cover. The Nexus Dock will let you put your Nexus 7 at a perfect angle, which will give you a better movie experience, browsing and many other things. Only sad thing is that there's no HDMI output, however it will cost $49.99 and its release date is 8/24.

However, Nexus 7's official case is available at play store, but if you are looking forward to ASUS to come out with more colours then there's ASUS travel cover. It will come in 6 beautiful colours and it really looks good, and it will cost the same, only $19.99.

Is there any Nexus 7 owner out there? Are you planning to get any of the mentioned accessory? Tell us about it in the comment box below.

Source: Droid-Life

ASUS official accessory line-up for the Google Nexus 7 leaked originally appeared on AndroidGuys.

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