Monday, September 10, 2012

Android Central

Android Central

Renaissance Blood THD on sale for $0.99 until September 13

Posted: 09 Sep 2012 05:18 PM PDT

Android Central

Everyone loves a deal right? The developers of the Tegra 3 title, Renaisance Blood THD, have one for you. They have reduced the price of the game to just $0.99/£0.62 for one week only running until September 13. With the regular price of the title set at $3.99, there's a healthy saving to be had.

This is all in aid of the latest update to the game, which along with some fixes also brings with it the all new stage 3 and the ability to use the continue button 3 times in a match. 

For anyone note familiar with the title, Renaissance Blood THD is an FPS style game powered by the Unreal engine. And, it involves a lot of killing stuff. Not convinced? Then check out Jerry's hands-on with the title first before making your decision.  

Sony tears apart Xperia Tablet S so we may feast on the tablet parts within

Posted: 09 Sep 2012 04:27 PM PDT

Android Central

Conducting teardowns on new devices is nothing new, we usually have the guys over at iFixit to thank for keeping our circuitry viewing habits fulfilled. However, in a slight break from the norm, Sony's engineers themselves have taken apart their latest Android tablet, the Xperia Tablet S, and consequently put it back together again. 

On the one hand, it's a piece of shameless self promotion for Sony. But, on the other hand, there's something strangely compelling about viewing the components that make up some of our favorite gadgets and gizmos. Having gone hands on with the Xperia Tablet S in Berlin at IFA, the thinness of the device is noticeably impressive. Just as impressive is the technology that has been squeezed inside, such as a different battery to the previous Tablet S, that covers more surface area but is vastly thinner. 

There are a few comparisons drawn with the Tablet S, the predecessor to this device, and the differences are noticeable, especially given that the Tablet S was released only last year. The Tegra 3 powered Xperia Tablet S is a natural progression on the Tablet S, that maintains the same folded magazine style form factor of its predecessor. The design has been updated though and progressed with the use of metal on the exterior, and improved internals within. 

Given the splash proof nature of the Xperia Tablet S too, there seems to be a healthy amount of adhesive sealant. Getting in, the engineer said, took about 20 minutes. But, putting it all back together again one wonders whether some of that water resistance may have been lost. 

For the full run down, head on over to the source link below where you'll find a step-by-step run down of each and every component within the tablet. If you're in a little more of a hurry, check out the minute long version after the break. 

Source: Sony Blog

read more

C Spire Wireless launches LTE network, with Galaxy S3 and Photon Q

Posted: 09 Sep 2012 04:10 PM PDT

C Spire

C Spire has launched their LTE network, with Greenville and McComb, Mississippi lighting up as of today. They have quite the rollout plan if you're a Mississippian, with LTE eventually eventually blanketing the state from Oxford in the north all the way down to Biloxi and Gulfport. We love seeing regional carriers push forward with new technology, especially when Android is being used.

Of course, an LTE network isn't much use without devices to take advantage, and that's where Android comes in. Today you can order the Motorola Photon Q for $199 with a new contract, and the Samsung Galaxy S3 (Galaxy S III) will be coming soon. 

C Spire's plans are a bit different than what most of us are used to, with special data plans for streaming video and tethering. Rather than try to hash it all out here, I'll direct you to the Choice Data Pass options page, where there are also handy links to get more information. Anyone in the Magnolia State planning to jump on board here? Sing out in the comments.

More: C Spire; Thanks, deltascrew!

Weekend project: DIY USB on-the-go from old cables

Posted: 09 Sep 2012 01:34 PM PDT

DIY USB on the go

USB on-the-go cables are handy as heck with Android devices. They're a specially wired cable that allows the same USB port you use to charge or communicate with a computer to be used to connect USB peripherals right to your tablet or phone. That means things like game controllers, mice or keyboards, USB thumb drives, or even USB hard drives if you have access to an older model one with a separate power supply.

There are no set and fast rules about what USB gadgets you can and can't use, or if you'll need root to do anything with them but in general "standard" Android devices won't allow you to mount a USB thumb drive without being rooted and having a way to send the commands to mount the device, and Samsung devices running Android 4.0 or higher will. Most devices running Ice Cream Sandwich or higher will recognize game controllers, mice, or keyboards. For more information about your particular device, head into the forums and ask the hackers -- they know everything in there.

Before we get started, know up front that this is not the best way to get a USB OTG cable. The easy way is to order one from Amazon for a buck or so, and wait for it to be delivered. But I know I'm not the only smartphone geek who has cables laying around and would rather do-it-myself. It's fun, it saves a buck, gets some of that junk you just can't bring yourself to throw away used up, and offers instant gratification. If you're semi-handy with a soldering iron, have the parts, it's fun and it's for you. Read on past the break.

read more

Gogo going to get your Android device online overseas in 2013

Posted: 09 Sep 2012 08:30 AM PDT

Gogo in-flight internet

Here's some good nerd news for you road warriors who fly outside the U.S. Gogo has signed a deal that will bring in-flight Wifi to flights over portions of the Atlantic and north Pacific, and over Asia, South America, Africa and Australia. That means you can drag out the laptop if you want, but it also means you can whip out your Android smartphone or tablet instead. That's something I find myself doing with increasing frequency. A laptop on a plane means work. An Android smartphone means Jetpack Joyride for me.

Pricing wasn't announced, but you should be able to get online early next year.

Source: Gogo

From the Editor's Desk: Fires, forks, forums and fall

Posted: 09 Sep 2012 07:27 AM PDT

Phil Nickinson

Woke up this morning to the first hints of fall here in Northwest Florida. Don't worry, that'll change soon enough -- 90 degrees and high humidity likely isn't going anywhere just yet. But for now, I'm back from one trip, getting ready for yet another, and am just enjoying the cooler temps, light breeze and the fact that the Steelers are on TV tonight.

A few thoughts on the past week, and a few on what's coming up:

read more

New Kindle Fires can be ad-free for a one-time $15 fee

Posted: 08 Sep 2012 07:52 PM PDT

Amazon Kindle Fire HD

The Internet has been in a tizzy since we heard that Amazon would not be allowing the removal of the "special offers" package from the new Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD units. If you weren't aware how all this works, previous Kindle readers were available at a little bit lower price, but included ads to help support them. For a small fee, you could have these removed.

We first heard that Amazon would be including this on all the new Kindle Fire devices, and apparently that they would not be offering an ad-free experience. Ars Technica has received word from Amazon that they will be allowing users to go ad-free for a one-time payment of $15.00 This hasn't yet been updated on the Amazon special offers website, but we're inclined to believe the fine folks at Ars Technica. 

Short version -- if you were worried about having non-removable ads on your new Kindle Fire or Kindle Fire HD, there's nothing to fear. They can be removed if you pay Amazon a $15 fee. 

Source: Ars Technica

Editorial: Could there soon be a new fork in the Android road?

Posted: 08 Sep 2012 05:11 PM PDT

Android

Editors note: We're re-posting this after yesterday's mention of Samsung creating their own operating system by Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam. We don't know that anyone is doing anything at this point, but we thought it was a good time to reopen this discussion.

Android. The word itself makes each of us think of futuristic mechanical things that evolve quickly and know no bounds in their abilities. It's a good word, and perfect to describe the devices we hold with such high regard around these parts. And like the androids we think of from Hollywood movies or dusty old science fiction novels, our phones and tablets are slowly working their way into every nook and cranny of our life, taking over one step at a time. We embrace it, we benefit from it, and most of all we enjoy it.

But Android is changing. Very few phones are released with stock Android, and the custom versions (don't call them skins) are getting more and more intricate and polished. OEMs are putting a lot of work into the software running on the phones they sell, making them stand out as their own product. Join me after the break, and let's talk about what Android is, what it isn't, and what might happen in the future.

read more
Posted by at 5:58 AM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)