Android Central

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• ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity TF700T receiving minor update
• Rovio's Bad Piggies gameplay revealed in new teaser trailer
• This week's sidebar poll: Do you use NFC often?
• ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T updated with minor stability fixes
• Root the Kindle Fire HD 7
• How to share Instagram pics on Google+ (or anywhere else)
• No restrictions on SIM-free Xperia T sales, says Sony
• AT&T LTE expands to Sacramento
• Scope opening up VIP program, but you only have 24 hours to register
• Xperia Link app now available - easy tethering between Sony phones and tablets
• MasterCard launching PayPass developer kit
• HTC ‘One X 5’ purportedly revealed in press render
• International LTE Galaxy S III Jelly Bean kernel source now available
• HTC 'Droid Incredible X' rumored for Verizon
• Telenav Scout offers another option for free GPS navigation
• Aston Martin gets in on the luxury smartphone act, high on price, low on specs
• Google acquires developer of Snapseed photography app
• Oppo Find 5 may be the first Android handset with 1080p screen resolution
• Amazon's Kindle Fire HD tablet found to contain tablet parts
• Reminder: We're live in London for Motorola and Intel's big event tomorrow morning!
• Scosche's new Rhythm pulse monitor includes Android fitness app
• Shazam updated for universal TV show tagging
• Monday Brief: iPhone 5, WP8 Goes Gold, Kindle Fire HD Hands-On, and more!
• Xperia U available for free this week as part of Carphone Warehouse's Smart Deals
• LG shows off Pocket Photo mobile printer, claiming to be the smallest of its kind

ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity TF700T receiving minor update Posted: 17 Sep 2012 04:51 PM PDT Well, how convenient. We've posted earlier today that the ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T was getting a small bugfix update, and now the TF700T is getting its own. Similarly to the TF300T, this small update is bringing the model up to firmware version IML74K.US_epad-9.4.5.30-20120907, according to our forum members who have received it. The update is small, mostly updating the camera firmware and fixing some bugs here and there. If you've got a Transformer Pad TF700T laying around, head to Settings > About tablet > Software updates and see if your device is ready to download the update. Once you get it, chime in in the forums and let us know how it's working. Source: ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity 700 Forums

Rovio's Bad Piggies gameplay revealed in new teaser trailer Posted: 17 Sep 2012 03:35 PM PDT Rovio revealed Bad Piggies, its swine-centric follow-up to Angry Birds, a few weeks back, but exact gameplay details had been a mystery, until now. Today, the first trailer for Bad Piggies gives us our first taste of what we can expect from the pig-focused follow-up. Much like Rovio's Amazing Alex, the pigs are tasked with building all manner of wild contraptions in order to make their way through levels, stealing eggs as they go. The piggies will be able to include wheels, umbrellas, propellers and even rockets in their creations, before guiding them through the 2D platformer-style levels. It's certainly a bit of a departure from flinging suicidal birds into the piggies' defenses, and hopefully an indication of a little more gameplay depth. "As far as the gameplay goes, Bad Piggies and Angry Birds are complete opposites," Petri Järvilehto, EVP of Games at Rovio told Y! Games. "Angry Birds smash things up, Bad Piggies build stuff. The pigs are all about making plans and building things, even -- and especially -- when they don't work!" Bad Piggies is due to appear for Android, iOS and other platforms next Thursday, September 27. You can find the full teaser trailer after the break. Source: Yahoo Games read more

This week's sidebar poll: Do you use NFC often? Posted: 17 Sep 2012 03:34 PM PDT When a new phone is released without NFC, there's a lot of wailing and teeth-gnashing on the Internet about how horrible it is that manufacturer X is silly for not including it. Some folks seem to be die-hard fans of the tech, while others just don't seem to care. The best way to settle that sort of argument is a steel-cage deathmatch a poll, so that's what we're asking this week. NFC is useful for much more than payments. I use it, and I can honestly say that I rarely use Google Wallet -- even when shopping in a store that supports it. It;s more natural for me to reach into my pocket and grab a few bucks that it is to use my phone. I like the automation ability that NFC adds, and have a tag in the cup holder of my car that changes a few things like turning off Wifi and starting up Google Maps. I also have one on my nightstand that puts the phone into desk clock mode. Nerdy, but that's how I roll. What about you guys? Answer the poll (you'll find it in the sidebar as well as after the break) and tell us in the comments how you're using NFC. Before we go, here's last week's results: Do you use the Amazon appstore? Nope. I keep away. -- 48.86-percent Yes, on my regular Android devices. -- 47.56-percent Yes, but only on the Kindle Fire. -- 3.58-percent Just about fifty-fifty here. We're just glad that Google gives that 47.56-percent of us the choice to use whatever appstore we want. read more

ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T updated with minor stability fixes Posted: 17 Sep 2012 03:07 PM PDT ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T owners are reporting that they're receiving another over-the-air update today, designed to improve stability of the Tegra 3-based tablet. Since the TF300T has already received its update to Jelly Bean, there are no significant changes to the underlying Android framework. But hopefully this latest OTA will fix some of the performance and usability issues that have been reported by some TF300T owners. The update brings the tablet up to version 10.4.2.13, still based upon the latest Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean. If you've got a Transformer Pad TF300T, head to Settings > About tablet > Software updates to see if the new version is ready to download onto your tablet. Once you're installed, hit the comments and let us know how you're getting on. Source: Transformer Pad TF300T forums; Thanks, Erckul!

Root the Kindle Fire HD 7 Posted: 17 Sep 2012 03:02 PM PDT It looks as if Amazon did not patch the standard method to root ICS devices discovered by SparkyM over at XDA, and the Kindle Fire HD can be rooted in mere minutes. In fact, the most difficult part is getting the device driver if you're running Windows. Also note that rooting does not mean the same thing as a custom ROM, and that this has nothing to do with the bootloader which is unsurprisingly pretty securely locked up. You'll need to have the Android SDK installed, and follow the instructions in the forums. You'll also need to know that you could really break things while rooting or running apps as root. Informed decisions are the best decisions. Good luck! Root the Kindle Fire HD

How to share Instagram pics on Google+ (or anywhere else) Posted: 17 Sep 2012 02:30 PM PDT Here's one we get asked quite often: How do you share from Instagram to Google+? After all, there's no way to automatically post to Google+ from Instagram like there is to Twitter, Flickr, Facebook, Foursquare and Tumblr. And while that's a shame, it's also indicative of how tightly Google continues to run things with its fledgling social network. And with Facebook having purchased Instagram earlier this year for the paltry sum of $1 billion, it's also something we're not likely to see change anytime soon. But you can share your pics (and only yours) from Instagram to Google+. It's quite simple, really, even if it's a tad hidden. In fact, you can share Instagram pics to any other app that accepts sharing intents from Android. And it's just one extra step. read more

No restrictions on SIM-free Xperia T sales, says Sony Posted: 17 Sep 2012 02:13 PM PDT Over the weekend news broke via one British online retailer that it might not be possible to get hold of an Xperia T phone without a contract in the UK. Expansys UK had reportedly told the press that it might be as long as January 2013 before the device was available SIM-free. We contacted Sony Mobile to get their side of the story, and it seems that there's been some crossing of wires over the exact details of the phone's availability. A Sony Mobile spokesman informed us that the Xperia T will be available "within timescales previously announced through Vodafone, EE, O2, 3, Carphone Warehouse, Phones4U and Tesco." We were told that although it was up to these individual retailers as to how they allocated their stock, there were no Sony-imposed restrictions on whether the phone could be offered SIM-free or not. In particular, Carphone Warehouse and Phones4U usually offer SIM-free deals in-store on new devices, and there's no reason to expect that they won't do the same for the new Sony flagship. So it looks like prospective Xperia T buyers don't have anything to worry about after all. The phone is expected to become available in the UK sometime next week, likely on or around Sept. 28.

AT&T LTE expands to Sacramento Posted: 17 Sep 2012 02:09 PM PDT Another day, another LTE launch; Sacramento, California is now bathed in AT&T LTE coverage. This follows closely on a bunch of expansions last week, and is a continuing part of AT&T's plan to cover a healthy chunk of the U.S. population by the end of the year.  We have any readers from Sacramento? Happy to get some LTE from AT&T, or are you already cozy with the competition? Which LTE handsets have you been holding out for? Source: AT&T

Scope opening up VIP program, but you only have 24 hours to register Posted: 17 Sep 2012 02:04 PM PDT Back in June, Socialscope became simply Scope, and progressed to the beta stage of development with a huge update to the application. All in all, we really like it, it does a fantastic job of managing your social feeds, and looks great into the bargain.  Word has just reached us from the guys at Scope, that they are readying a new release of the app. And, along with it also begins their VIP program. The program is designed to give Scope for Android users the chance to get access to the latest builds of the application before release, and then provide feedback to the developers. Sounds great, and interested parties can sign up by hitting the link below. Be quick though, as to keep the program manageable, registrations will only be accepted for 24 hours. You do have to be an existing user though, this doesn't provide you with an invite code.  Sign up to Scope for Android VIP program now!

Xperia Link app now available - easy tethering between Sony phones and tablets Posted: 17 Sep 2012 01:51 PM PDT In the event that you've just dropped some cash on a shiny new Sony tablet and matching Xperia smartphone, Sony's launched a new Android app to allow for easier tethering between the two. The Xperia Link application, now available on Google Play, lets you you pair your devices over Bluetooth, then share your phone's data plan with your tablet. That sounds a lot like plain old tethering, but Xperia Link aims to simplify the process, allowing you to remotely enable, connect and disconnect tethering on your phone via a widget on the tablet. It's probably not going to revolutionize the way you use your tablet, but if you often find yourself tethering, you may want to check it out. Sony's Xperia Link app is available to download from Google Play for free, and works on all Sony tablets, as well as Sony phones running Android 2.3 or higher. If you're already packing the prerequisite Sony hardware, you can check the Google Play link above to get started.

MasterCard launching PayPass developer kit Posted: 17 Sep 2012 01:25 PM PDT MasterCard has just released an "User Interface Software Development Kit – or UI SDK" to help app developers on Android and BlackBerry simply integrate PayPass NFC (Near Field Communication) payments into apps. As if there was any doubt that MasterCard was putting their weight behind NFC payments, this pretty much secures it. The idea of the UI SDK is to take out some of the guesswork of integrating PayPass into payment applications, which both helps out developers by offering an integrated system and of course benefits MasterCard because it will be making money off of the transactions. This should be a good step towards making NFC payments more of a mainstream affair, as more and more apps can take advantage of this UI SDK and know that their app will work with current MasterCard terminals that are already available in a wide variety of stores. A video about the UI SDK was posted by MasterCard, but seems to have been taken down. In the meantime, take a look at the full press release after the break. Source: MasterCard Newsroom read more

HTC ‘One X 5’ purportedly revealed in press render Posted: 17 Sep 2012 01:04 PM PDT Update: Ausdroid has pointed out that this is nothing more than a fan-inspired render. See the original at Danny Tu's Flikr stream. Maybe HTC should hire Mr. Tu, as everyone seems to love his design! HTC’s mysterious Verizon-bound 5-inch smartphone has been the subject of numerous rumors over the past several months, and we’ve seen purported blurry-cam shots of the device in the past. However, today, we might have our first clear look at the large-screened device, as the image above has surfaced on Chinese social network Sina Weibo. In the top left corner it's labeled as the 'HTC One X 5,' which is the first time we've heard this name associated with the rumored device. The image is low resolution, but it’s detailed enough to reveal a few key points -- a black design with red accents, Beats Audio branding, and both rear and front-facing cameras. The simulated image on the screen seems to have been taken from earlier HTC One X renders, as it displays Barcelona and Feb. 26 in the clock widget, as well as the old Android Market icon on the home screen. We’ve seen fake (and prototype) press renders leak out before, so there’s certainly no guarantee that this image is legitimate. The low resolution alone means it’d have been relatively easy to forge. HTC has a big event lined up in New York City this Wednesday, so it’s possible the One X 5 -- or Droid Incredible X, as the Verizon version’s rumored to be called -- will make its debut there. It’s equally likely, however, that Big Red will want to save such a flagship device for CTIA, or some standalone event. We’ll have to wait and see. Whatever happens, we’ll be live from NYC this Wedneday to bring you all of the day’s HTC news. Source: Engadget

International LTE Galaxy S III Jelly Bean kernel source now available Posted: 17 Sep 2012 12:43 PM PDT A couple days ago we told you about the European LTE Samsung Galaxy S3 (Galaxy S III) being launched with Jelly Bean, and today Samsung has released the kernel source for it. The GT I9305 is the quad-core Exynos version with on-board LTE that we've already seen in the far east, which should be getting its own Jelly Bean update next month. Like we always say, this code won't be very helpful to the average user. Its value to the fellows building custom ROMs for the US LTE versions of the SGS3 is also a bit up in the air, as the hardware is quite different. Right now, we just need to wait and see what the community can do with it.  Source: Samsung

HTC 'Droid Incredible X' rumored for Verizon Posted: 17 Sep 2012 12:35 PM PDT If you're looking for something a little more attainable than that Oppo Find 5, HTC may also be releasing a smartphone with a 1080p display. What we're apparently looking at above, according to the latest round of rumors, is the HTC 6435LVW (code-named DIx, assumed to be Droid Incredible X). HTCSource reports via a "reliable source" that the device in question  is currently known internally as the DIx, though the name is said to be the subject of  The phone is said to pack a 5-inch 1794x1080 touchscreen with a mind-boggling density of 480 pixels per inch. According to the source, the HTC Droid Incredible X has a quad-core 1.5 GHz S4 Snapdragon processor, 1.5 GB of RAM, and 16 GB of storage. It's also claimed there's a second LED indicator on the back of the device, to allow you to see notifications and other alerts when the phone's turned over. On the downside, there's apparently no microSD memory card slot and the battery is non-removable. Pen support seems doubtful, which may or may not make a difference to you.  Odds are good that we'll see this on Verizon since the "droooiiid" notification sound and signature red/tech-styled wallpaper are reportedly loaded into the software. Combined with the impending One X+, HTC's holiday season is shaping up pretty nicely.  In any case, here's hoping those specs pan out. They sure sound good, and hey - that screen resolution would blow the iPhone 5 out of the water, wouldn't it?  Here's hoping the rumors surrounding this device pan out as anticipated. Source: HTCsource

Telenav Scout offers another option for free GPS navigation Posted: 17 Sep 2012 11:22 AM PDT Today Telenav launched Scout, their newest GPS navigation app. It has the usual plethora of live traffic conditions, points of interest, and estimated times of arrival for various routes. Voice-activated commands are also included, which is something of a necessity when you've got your hands on the wheel. The app itself is free, but there are a handful of features that are available through an in-app purchase, such as alerts to speed traps, improved lane assist, and connectivity with select Ford vehicles through AppLink. That extra stuff costs $4.99/month.  Here's a video showing what Telenav is like. Are you happy with Google's Navigation app for Android, or do you find you need something more robust when going from point A to point B? Is there really anything particularly remarkable about Scout?

Aston Martin gets in on the luxury smartphone act, high on price, low on specs Posted: 17 Sep 2012 11:00 AM PDT Not content with producing some of the the worlds most beautiful cars, Aston Martin has decided to get in on the luxury smartphone space with this. Known as the Aspire, the device packs Android 2.3.5, an 800MHz processor, a paultry 256MB of RAM and a 3.2 inch HVGA display. Right. Choice of colors is broad, with black, white, silver, gold, and rose gold all on offer. The gold variants are in actual fact made with real 24 carat gold, and command an increased price over the other three. So, what about that price then. Well, the non-gold versions are a staggering $1290, with the gold ones running you for $1590. This one firmly resides in the fashion over function section of the market then.  Even to a die hard Aston Martin fanatic -- like a certain British writer -- it's almost impossible to recommend the Aspire. The choice to use outdated hardware, and software, in what is priced as a luxury device is bewildering. RIM didn't skimp out on the specs with the Porsche Design P'9981, yet whenever such an Android device in this category appears it disappoints on practically every level. Source: ePrice

Google acquires developer of Snapseed photography app Posted: 17 Sep 2012 10:26 AM PDT Last January, Snapseed made its debut on Android, and though it never made its way into Play, we will likely see the photo editing suite bundled in very tightly into the core Android experience. The developer, Nik Software, has announced that they have been acquired by Google.  Beyond the usual batch of artsy photograph filters, Snapseed includes selective adjustments, auto-correction tools, creative blurring add-ons, and lots of others. The UI is very finger-friendly, which has earned the app an excellent reputation.  It's great to see Google picking up talented developers to keep Android fresh. Which app devs would you like to see Google acquire next? Now one can only imagine how long it will take before Snapseed disappears from the iOS App Store...  Source: Nik Software

Oppo Find 5 may be the first Android handset with 1080p screen resolution Posted: 17 Sep 2012 10:07 AM PDT Chinese manufacturer Oppo has recently announced the Find 5, an Android phone that may very well be the world's first handset with a 1920 x 1080 screen resolution. Here's a run-down of the specs. 5-inch 1080p 1920 x 1080 (441 ppi) Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064 1.5 GHz quad-core processor 2 GB RAM 12 megapixel camera Android 4.1 Wi-Fi as/a/b/g/n Bluetooth 4.0 The Find 5 looks a little too good to be true, and I'll believe it when I see something more than a rendering. Even if it does pan out, the odds of seeing it here in North America are pretty slim. That screen resolution sounds great, but is it overkill, or are we still looking for something sharper on our phones? Would it be worth a significant hit in battery life to use a screen that dense? Via: AusDroid

Amazon's Kindle Fire HD tablet found to contain tablet parts Posted: 17 Sep 2012 10:04 AM PDT The good people over at iFixit have done what they do best to the new 7-inch Kindle Fire HD, they took it apart. Their first observation was that the guts of the HD version differ pretty greatly from the original Kindle Fire. Their teardown has confirmed the TI OMAP processor that Amazon touted and 1GB RAM. They also found the battery to be removable, if you happen to have a screwdriver. The good news is that they gave the device a reparability score of 7/10. While the battery is fairly easy to access, the CPU is rather difficult. If you'd like to see Amazon's latest tablet in various states of undress, you can hit up the source link for more pictures. Source: iFixit

Reminder: We're live in London for Motorola and Intel's big event tomorrow morning! Posted: 17 Sep 2012 09:10 AM PDT A quick reminder that we'll be live in London early tomorrow morning for Motorola and Intel's big "Edge" event, where we're expecting to see the smartphone maker and chip giant unveil the first Intel Atom-powered Motorola phone. A likely candidate is an international version of the Droid RAZR M, only with Euro-friendly HSPA+ radios and a Medfield chip in place of the Droid's Snapdragon S4. Whatever happens, we'll be liveblogging the whole event, and Moto will be running a live stream too, which is mighty generous of them. The fun kicks off at 10am UK time (5am EDT, 2am PDT, 11am CEST), and you'll be able to find our live coverage here on Android Central, as well as live.mobilenations.com. After the event's done, keep watching for hands-on coverage of Moto's new devices. The following 24 hours will be packed with more events, and we'll be live in New York City on Wednesday, Sept. 19 for LG and Qualcomm's do, and later HTC's big unveiling. Stay tuned to AC for full coverage of all the week's announcements!

Scosche's new Rhythm pulse monitor includes Android fitness app Posted: 17 Sep 2012 08:43 AM PDT Scosche has launched this cool new pulse monitor called the Rhythm that relays workout information over Bluetooth to your phone so you can monitor intensity, set schedules, and check progress through an app. Though Scosche previously only supported iOS, their newest app is now on Android with all of the same good stuff. Scosche Rhythm also includes a lot of audio functions, including the ability to set a Power Song to help you get through the most grueling parts of your workout, control music tracks from the armband buttons, and recieve audio prompts to pace your progress.  It's definitely a neat idea, and for those that are serious about fitness, I could see this app and the accessory getting plenty of usage. What are your favorite smartphone accessories to use during a workout? Any suggestions for stereo Bluetooth headphones? If you're interested, the Scosche Rhythm armband is available over here for $99.99. You can check out a video of the new app below.

Shazam updated for universal TV show tagging Posted: 17 Sep 2012 08:20 AM PDT Shazam, the classic music ID app for Android, is expanding its presence in television. Now activating the app while your show's on can instantly pull up information about soundtrack, cast information, trivia, related celebrity gossip, and links to helpful IMDB, Wikipedia, and official sites. As always, Shazam can share tags out to Facebook or Twitter. The downside? It's U.S.-only for now.    Shazam had previously tested these waters with a few select TV programs, but they've obviously expanded their database enough to handle any show on any network. Tablets are quickly finding their calling as a second screen during TV-watching, and being able to pull up relevant show info without having to type in a thing plays into that role perfectly. Of course, expanding geographic coverage of the service is the next step and making sure the ID database is deep enough to be reliable is going to be a perpetual challenge. Plus there's a bit of competition from existing TV companion apps, such as IntoNow, but I trust Shazam will be able to give them a run for their money.  How often are you guys checking your phone or tablet while watching TV? Do apps like this enhance the experience, or is yet another distraction from what's going on on-screen? Source: Shazam

Monday Brief: iPhone 5, WP8 Goes Gold, Kindle Fire HD Hands-On, and more! Posted: 17 Sep 2012 07:36 AM PDT Mobile Nations Podcast Feed Mobile Nations on iTunes Mobile Nations YouTube Kindle Fire HD 7 unboxing and initial impressions FUD fighting: Every smart device has unpatched vulnerabilities Nexus 7 can shoot 720p video from its front-facing camera, but is it really useful? What the iPhone 5 means to BlackBerry The Bard's Tale arrives on the BlackBerry PlayBook - Embark on a quest for coin and cleavage! BlackBerry 10 demo video shows off application switching, swipe gestures HP's Meg Whitman: "We ultimately have to offer a smartphone" A first look at the webOS GBU’s new digs HP ups layoffs count by two thousand; 29,000 positions gone by 2014 iPhone 5: Everything you need to know! Win a FREE iPhone 5 from iMore! iMore show 312: iPhone 5 event analysis Windows Phone 8 Has Officially Gone Gold Leaked photos of a new Nokia Lumia 820 with Windows Phone 8 finally appear HTC Windows Phone 8 devices will reportedly feature Beats Audio

Xperia U available for free this week as part of Carphone Warehouse's Smart Deals Posted: 17 Sep 2012 07:20 AM PDT Carphone Warehouse has announced its most recent Smart Deal, featuring the Sony Xperia U (see our review). Until Thursday, September 20th, it is available for free on Talk Mobile with an upgrade or if you're a new customer for a monthly fee of £10/month. With this deal, you'll get 200 minutes of talk time, 5000 texts and 250MB of data. In addition, if you're on Orange, 3, or T-Mobile, you can get the device on a prepay deal for £99.99, or £94.95 if you're upgrading. The Xperia U sports a 3.5-inch, 854 x 480 display, Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), a 1GHz dual-core processor and a 5MP camera. While it isn't going to set the world alight, the Xperia U is a pretty solid little device and at these prices could be a good choice for somebody shopping for an Android phone on a budget. Source: Carphone Warehouse

LG shows off Pocket Photo mobile printer, claiming to be the smallest of its kind Posted: 17 Sep 2012 07:13 AM PDT Does anyone truly still print digital photographs all that often? LG thinks so, and has just pulled the wraps off their new mobile printing solution, the Pocket Photo, which claims to be the smallest device of its kind. The printer itself sizes up at just 2.8- x 4.7- x 0.9-inches and images are transferred via a combination of NFC and an Android application.  The app can also be used to apply filters, a la Instagram, and also add items such as text and QR codes to the images before printing them. The printer also comes with a selection of colored accents, including silver, pink and orange. Hitting the shops in Korea the Pocket Photo will be priced around $169, although there is no word as yet on any potential release outside Korea. Click on past the break for a demonstration video. Source: LG (translated) read more

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