Android Central |
- This week's sidebar poll: Do you use the Amazon Appstore?
- Contest Winners: Nexus 7 prize packs, Google Play gift cards and Cygnett cases!
- Two-tone Cushnie Et Ochs HTC One X appears on eBay
- Google discontinuing their pre-paid credit card from Google Wallet
- Twitter starts allowing image uploads from their mobile site for Android 4.x users
- Naztech N15 Mini Boom Speaker review
- T-Mobile announces pricing and availability of Samsung Galaxy S Relay
- AT&T announces budget-friendly, LTE-equipped LG Escape
- Demolition Dash brings endless running destruction to Amazon Appstore
- Google Drive gets updated, new features for presentations, comments and creating folders
- Prepaid: Not just for burner phones anymore
- Three UK to offer Sony Xperia T
- Spigen Ultra Flip Case for Samsung Galaxy S3 review
- HTC giving away two-toned One X through Pinterest contest
- RIP CrackBerry Kevin's HTC One X ...
- Sprint coughs up list of locales to see 4G LTE 'in the coming months'
- Deal of the Day: Seidio ACTIVE Case for Samsung Galaxy S3
- Mobile Nations Monday Brief: Two Android events, Nokia Lumia 920, Apple iPhone event and more!
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 headed to Canada from Sept. 26
- Is Verizon readying a HTC Desire 4G LTE?
- Leaked screenshots suggest Galaxy Note 2 may also come to Verizon and AT&T
- First Android 4.1 Jelly Bean leaks appear for Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 and Tab 2 7.0
- LG P870 'Escape' spotted wearing AT&T branding
| This week's sidebar poll: Do you use the Amazon Appstore? Posted: 10 Sep 2012 04:32 PM PDT
Android is an open platform. Many folks mistakenly think this only refers to hacking, or source code, but the main part of being open means that you're free to install outside third-party software from any source. It's part of the whole "diversity equals strength" argument, and one that worked pretty well for companies like Microsoft. Since it's open, we're free to install other non-Google application markets on to our phones and tablets -- like the Amazon Appstore. For a while, everyone used it, if only to get that free app of the day. But lately it's not been in the news as much so we're wondering who still uses it? Of course, on a Kindle or on of the new Kindle Fire HDs it's a no-brainer. But what about the rest of the Android devices? Amazon's apps are now available outside the US, so it's time to revisit. You'll find the poll in the sidebar to the right, or you can just click past the break for it. Before we go, let's discuss last week's poll. We asked if you were interested in a dedicated camera that runs Android. The results were about what we expected:
With over 60-percent of us interested, Samsung and Nikon putting one on the shelves seems to be a great idea! 
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| Contest Winners: Nexus 7 prize packs, Google Play gift cards and Cygnett cases! Posted: 10 Sep 2012 01:47 PM PDT
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| Two-tone Cushnie Et Ochs HTC One X appears on eBay Posted: 10 Sep 2012 01:19 PM PDT
News of the two-tone Cushnie Et Ochs HTC One X broke last week, and earlier today HTC gave fans a chance to win one in a Pinterest contest. Now it seems you may be able to get hold of the exclusive device using cold, hard cash. The two-tone black and white One X has appeared on eBay, where a seller has started bidding at $350 with just under seven days to go. Seller 2012greatwhite86, who we should point out has a feedback score of zero, claims that only 150 of the devices were made, and that some were given out to members of the fashion community at New York Fashion Week. The listing is backed up by what appears to be a photo of the real deal, complete with two-tone packaging. In addition to the unique chassis design, the phone apparently comes with a “Ben Watts "Watts Up Photo" App, with Instagram-like functionality,” according to the listing. We’d always recommend caution when bidding on this kind of thing, but if you’re feeling brave, you can find the eBay auction listing down in the source link. Source: eBay 
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| Google discontinuing their pre-paid credit card from Google Wallet Posted: 10 Sep 2012 01:01 PM PDT
Back when Google Wallet first launched, Google also launched their own, pre-paid credit card for use with the mobile application. Then, just recently the service was opened up to allow the addition of other credit cards. Today, we're receiving emails in our inbox from Google themselves with further Wallet related news. As a result of opening up the service to other cards, the Google pre-paid card is going away. So you need to spend that money, and spend it soon. It isn't just over, just like that, though. There are some key dates provided that run down to the discontinuation of the card. On September 17, additional funds can no longer be added to the card. Then, following behind a month later on October 17, the card will disappear completely from Google Wallet. If you still have remaining funds on there though, don't panic, you will be able to request a refund. One further point to note however, is that resetting the application after September 17 will also remove the card. And it can't be re-added. So, probably better to spend your money first. 
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| Twitter starts allowing image uploads from their mobile site for Android 4.x users Posted: 10 Sep 2012 12:42 PM PDT
As if we needed any further indications that Twitter is moving away from third party clients, a new addition to their mobile website seems to have recently appeared. First spotted by the guys over at The Sociable, the mobile tweet composer now has an image upload button tucked in the bottom left hand corner. The catch, it seems the new feature is only available to users on Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean. It apparently also works on iOS 6 -- not that we'd know anything about that around these parts. It works just as you would expect it to. You tap the icon, and you're presented with the standard Android sharing window that will allow you to choose from whichever gallery you please. Also, we're seeing an option labelled as "Android System" which in fact allows you to upload a picture directly taken from the camera. While adding functionality is something that Twitter should actively be doing, it still isn't likely to go any part of the way to replacing many users favorite third-party clients. The mobile site is still too clunky to navigate -- much like their official Android app. Source: The Sociable via TNW 
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| Naztech N15 Mini Boom Speaker review Posted: 10 Sep 2012 12:04 PM PDT The Naztech Mini Boom speaker is a compact, affordable external speaker that plugs into your device with a built-in 3.5 mm jack. The interesting thing about this little guy is that it doubles as a reasonably good stand-alone music player too, thanks to a microSD memory card slot, playback control keys, and a dedicated headphone jack. Of course, if you want to share the music, the Naztech N15 Mini Boom Speaker unscrews and opens slightly to allow sound to spread evenly in all directions. 
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| T-Mobile announces pricing and availability of Samsung Galaxy S Relay Posted: 10 Sep 2012 11:46 AM PDT
T-Mobile announced the QWERTY keyboard-clad Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G last week without a peep about how much the thing will cost or when folks will be able to buy it. Today, T-Mobile tacked on a September 19 launch date and a $149.99 pricetag after mail-in rebate and a two-year contract. The Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G is squarely in the mid-range, but a low pricetag, some new unlimited plans, and an honest to goodness keyboard may be enough to sway back-to-school buyers. Here's a recap.
Personally, I prefer portrait-oriented keyboards, but I think I could get used to this one. Anyone else thinking about picking up a Galaxy S Relay? 
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| AT&T announces budget-friendly, LTE-equipped LG Escape Posted: 10 Sep 2012 11:26 AM PDT
AT&T announced a new mid-range handset from LG today called the Escape. The LG Escape made its first unofficial appearance a few days ago, and though it might not be the highest-specced phone out there, it's hard to complain for $49.99 on a two-year contract. Here are the main features.
The LG Escape goes on sale next week, starting September 16. Any back-to-schoolers looking for something affordable but decent? Or maybe the LG Escape looks a little too run-of-the-mill for you? There are a handful of neat software features included, which you can see in the video below. Source: AT&T 
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| Demolition Dash brings endless running destruction to Amazon Appstore Posted: 10 Sep 2012 10:46 AM PDT
Demolition Dash has just made the leap to Android with a launch on the Amazon Appstore. The endless running game puts players in control of Zilla, a monster that has recently awoken from an ancient slumber and is now eager to wreak some havoc in cities across the world. Although Zilla has his Disney-esque charm, there's are plenty of explosions and panicking military personnel to keep the game entertaining for us older folks. Here's a quick run-down of the features.
Having the games locked down to Amazon is a bit of a pain for us international folks, but I'm sure once the exclusivity period is up, we'll see it on Google Play soon enough. Until then, Demolition Dash can be found over here on Amazon for $1.99. 
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| Google Drive gets updated, new features for presentations, comments and creating folders Posted: 10 Sep 2012 10:17 AM PDT
Sometime last week, an overeager Tweeter let the cat out of the bag about an update to Google Drive that wasn't quite ready. Fast forward to today and it is ready, and has pushed out into Google Play. The full changelog is pretty hefty, but there's a few key points worth noting. Folder options are now included, allowing you to now create, upload to and move files between folders. For many of us omitting this for so long has been a cause of constant frustration with the mobile app, so it's definitely a welcome addition. The presentation viewing experience has also been improved, and now includes the option to swipe between slides, view slides full screen and view accompanying speaker notes. Basic table elements have also been added to the document editor, as has the ability to create, reply to and resolve comments. The full changelog reads thusly:
Google Cloud Print may not be the most widely used service either, but a welcome integration to the mobile Drive application. Grab yourselves a copy from the Play Store now, but do also check out the video after the break. While showing off some of the new features, it also shows off a forthcoming feature that isn't included in this update -- native editing and real-time collaboration for spreadsheets. Source: Google Blog 
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| Prepaid: Not just for burner phones anymore Posted: 10 Sep 2012 09:46 AM PDT
My phone works just like yours. It makes calls, sends texts and has a high-speed data connection with nationwide coverage. As a matter of fact, I have the same device as many of you, a Samsung Galaxy Nexus. That’s all run-of-the-mill, so why’s this important? I pay $45 every month to use my phone. 
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| Three UK to offer Sony Xperia T Posted: 10 Sep 2012 08:49 AM PDT
British network Three is the first to announce that it'll carry the Sony Xperia T. No release date is given for the device, but we've been told to expect a release in late September or early October, with Sept. 28 being singled out as a likely release date. The Xperia T is Sony's late 2012 flagship phone for international markets, with a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 CPU, a 4.6-inch 720p HD Reality Display, a 13MP camera and 16GB of internal storage. The phone will go up against the torrent of other devices from rival manufacturers this fall, including Samsung, HTC, Nokia and Apple. For more on the Xperia T, check our hands-on coverage from IFA 2012. And for some insight into how the Xperia T's arc design came to be, check our report from behind the scenes with Sony Mobile's designers. Source: Three UK 
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| Spigen Ultra Flip Case for Samsung Galaxy S3 review Posted: 10 Sep 2012 08:22 AM PDT
Flip cases are becoming increasingly popular, as phone owners look for an easy way to protect both the front and back of their devices. Spigen's Ultra Flip Case is one of the latest to emerge for the Samsung Galaxy S3, offering a solution for S3 owners who want to protect their phone's back cover and screen without adding too much extra bulk. The body of the case is similar to Spigen's Ultra Thin Air Series -- it's a similar shape, and constructed to protect vulnerable areas of the phone, with cut-outs for ports, buttons, speakers and the camera. The main difference with the Ultra Flip Case is its synthetic leather cover, which extends around the back of the case, protecting the screen fro, scratches and scrapes. On the inside of the cover there's a microfiber coating, designed minimize abrasions while the front cover is closed. Like the Ultra Thin Air Series, the case is a snug fit, and it's easy to securely snap the phone into place. While Samsung offers its own official flip case ($28.95), this replaces the S3's battery door, meaning it's not quite as easy to fit and remove the case on-the-go -- and it also means the sides and back of the phone aren't protected. If you're looking for something that's easier to hot-swap, Spigen's case is a better bet. If that's not a concern, check out our review of the official flip case for more on that model. All in all, if you're looking for something to protect the entire body of your Galaxy S3, both front and back, Spigen's Ultra Flip Case for Samsung Galaxy S3 is definitely worth a look. It's available for $34.99 from ShopAndroid.com, and comes in blue (shown in our photos) as well as white, green and yellow. We've got more images after the break. 
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| HTC giving away two-toned One X through Pinterest contest Posted: 10 Sep 2012 08:06 AM PDT
Okay, so maybe you can have one of those awesome two-toned HTC One X devices Phil was showing off last week, but only one of you. HTC has kicked of a Pinterest contest whereby folks follow HTCMobile, repin an image from their board showcasing the Cushine et Ochs edition of the HTC One X, and leave a comment on that picture with a link to their repin. If you're really into fashion and are particularly impressed with this special edition of the One X, be sure to check out the Q&A HTC hosted with the designer. The winner will be picked soon (September 14), so get repinning, though the terms and conditions for the contest might impose some geographic limitations. Oh, and if you're into Pinterest, I've been building up this phone-themed board over the last couple of months. The network doesn't just have to be all about fashion and food, y'know. Source: HTC 
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| RIP CrackBerry Kevin's HTC One X ... Posted: 10 Sep 2012 07:57 AM PDT
Gorilla glass is tough, but it doesn't protect from stupid.D'Oh!!! I decided to start the week on a healthy note and went for a jog this morning. I find the One X a little too big to jog with comfortably (whether in pocket or worn on arm), so I put it to use in another way... I start the clock app's stopwatch when I leave my house, and hit stop when I get back. Sounds pretty safe, right? Wrong. With my 5-miler finished, I panted my way back in the house. I picked up the phone. I hit stop on the stopwatch. But between my sweaty hands and post-run shaking, the phone fell out of my hand and landed screen side down onto the hardwood floor. Game over. Gorilla glass is tough, but it doesn't protect from stupid. :/ Lesson learned. Yet again. It's always safer to wrap your phone in a case. If you don't have one yet, click on over to ShopAndroid.com. Seriously. Be smarter than me. Protect your investment. As for my stop on Android for the Mobile Nations World Tour, I'll take this as a sign that it's time to move on. I have a couple final posts in the hopper. We'll get those posted this week then it'll be time to move on and try out another mobile platform. 
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| Sprint coughs up list of locales to see 4G LTE 'in the coming months' Posted: 10 Sep 2012 07:22 AM PDT
Sprint's been talking about its 4G LTE rollout -- which, along with an upgrade to its 3G speeds, is known as the "Network Vision" plan -- for what seems like forever. While in fact it has some 19 locales with the broadband-like 4G data, it's still got a long way to go to catch up with the likes of Verizon. Today, Sprint's proffered a list of areas where construction has begun on its 4G LTE network. While it doesn't give exact dates for LTE data to be available in the new cites, we do get the nebulous "in the coming months" phrase, but Sprint does say Network Vision is "expected to be largely completed by the end of 2013." Let's not beat around the bush, eh? to see if your city's making the cut, hit the list below. 
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| Deal of the Day: Seidio ACTIVE Case for Samsung Galaxy S3 Posted: 10 Sep 2012 06:49 AM PDT
The Seidio ACTIVE Case is available for just $16.00, 47% off today only. Backed by our 60-day return policy and fast shipping. Deal also available in the Canada store Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts! 
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| Mobile Nations Monday Brief: Two Android events, Nokia Lumia 920, Apple iPhone event and more! Posted: 10 Sep 2012 05:57 AM PDT | ||
| Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 headed to Canada from Sept. 26 Posted: 10 Sep 2012 05:47 AM PDT
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 has been available in the U.S. and Europe since mid-August, but so far the device has yet to appear on Canadian shelves. Today, though, Best Buy Canada has begun listing the device for release in just over a couple of weeks, on Wednesday, Sept. 26. The stylus-toting tablet will retail for C$499.99 for the Wifi-only version. The 3G/HSPA+ version available elsewhere is not yet listed. Any Canadians tempted by a Note 10.1 at this price point? Shout out in the comments. If you're still on the fence about the tablet, be sure to check our full Galaxy Note 10.1 review. Source: Best Buy, via: MobileSyrup 
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| Is Verizon readying a HTC Desire 4G LTE? Posted: 10 Sep 2012 04:07 AM PDT
Verizon is quite fond of its DROID branding, so the screenshot here obtained by Engadget leaves us a little curious. The image is reportedly of a Verizon internal device management system and clearly bears reference to a HTC Desire 4G LTE. Not to be confused with the DROID Incredible 4G LTE, listed alongside it, this appears to be a completely different device. While there is every chance that the name may not be final, the lack of DROID branding potentially indicates a low to mid-range device. With HTC having just launched the Desire X during IFA 2012, perhaps Big Red could be receiving their own LTE variant? Whatever the case may be, for the time being we'll file this one under the big old rumor pile until we see more. Source: Engadget 
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| Leaked screenshots suggest Galaxy Note 2 may also come to Verizon and AT&T Posted: 10 Sep 2012 03:13 AM PDT
We’ve already seen earlier leaks suggesting that Samsung’s Galaxy Note 2 may be headed to Sprint and T-Mobile in the U.S., and today further leakage seems to indicate that both AT&T and Verizon will also be joining the fray. Several leaked screenshots obtained by BriefMobile seemingly confirm the existence of the SGH-i317 for Ma Bell and SCH-i605 for Big Red, which if accurate, would indicate a Note 2 launch on all four major mobile networks. Samsung has yet to confirm its stateside plans for the Note 2, however if it were to secure a spot on the four largest carriers, just as it did with the Galaxy S3, it’d be another big win for the Korean manufacturer. A possible Note 2 launch on Verizon is particularly surprising to us, given that the carrier will likely launch two competing devices around the same time -- LG’s Intuition (Optimus Vu 2) and HTC’s rumored 5-incher. The assumption had been that Big Red was prepping these devices to compete against the Note 2 on other networks. But let’s remember that just because Note 2 variants exist on each carrier now, doesn’t mean all of them will see the light of day. We’ve known devices to have been pulled before release in the past. Nevertheless, we’re sure Note fans on all four major U.S. networks will be crossing their fingers in the lead up to Samsung’s official announcement. Source: BriefMobile, via: Engadget More: Hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 
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| First Android 4.1 Jelly Bean leaks appear for Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 and Tab 2 7.0 Posted: 10 Sep 2012 02:46 AM PDT
It appears Samsung's attention isn't just focused on bringing Jelly Bean to the Galaxy S3. Today we're starting to see the first Jelly Bean test firmware leaks for two of Samsung's current line-up of tablets -- the Galaxy Note 10.1 and Galaxy Tab 2 7.0. While Samsung has already confirmed that the Note 10.1 will get Jelly Bean, its plans for the Tab 2 line have yet to be confirmed. However, today's news would suggest it's well on its way towards receiving an update to Android 4.1. Bear i mind that both devices' updates are pre-release leaks of internal Samsung builds, meaning you should expect plenty of bugs if you device to take the plunge and install them. Both leaked updates are also available for only the 3G versions of the tablets -- GT-N8000 and GT-P3100. So if your model number differs, you'll need to wait for a different leak, or the finalized Jelly Bean update. Also, you'll need to have your tablet on the most recent publicly-available firmware to begin -- check the source links for details of exactly which version you'll need to be running. Aside from giving an early taste of Android 4.1 on Samsung tablets, these leaked builds may also be of use to custom ROM developers looking to bring Jelly Bean to these devices. Proprietary binaries are often needed to help newer versions of Android play nice with particular devices, so hopefully some code in these packages will be useful. More details and downloads are linked below. Source: SamMobile (Note 10.1), (Tab 2 7.0)
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| LG P870 'Escape' spotted wearing AT&T branding Posted: 09 Sep 2012 05:35 PM PDT
Those serial device tipsters at @evleaks are back once again, this time with a mid-range device seemingly bound for AT&T. The LG P870 'Escape' is supposedly a 4.3-inch device with a qHD IPS display, a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor and running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Additionally, the rear camera is pegged at 5MP, with the front shooter a 1.3MP effort. NFC is also on board, as is LTE and a 2150 mAh power plant. Design wise, the 'Escape' holds definite design cues to current LG devices, notably the Optimus 4X HD. It appears to be housing the latest version of the Optimus UI just like the 4X HD, and also has the same three capacitive buttons in favor of onscreen ones. Leaks are fun, but actual devices are even better, so we'll be keeping an eye out for any further signs of this one. Source: @evleaks 
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