Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans

Verizon’s Galaxy Note 2 To Have a Locked Bootloader? We’re Not Surprised

Posted: 18 Sep 2012 06:48 PM PDT

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Ever since images leaked of the Samsung Galaxy Note on Verizon, the Android modding community knew exactly what to expect in terms of hackability: a locked bootloader. Today, the boys at Brief Mobile were able to get in touch with one of their trusted tipsters who was able to confirm these suspicions.

So what does that mean for the average Android user? Probably not very much. But for those that like to tinker around with the software of their device, doing wild and crazy things like installing custom software, they’ll have to play the cat and mouse game that is finding a root exploit before it can be patched. Shouldn’t worry too much though, a similar situation occurred on the Verizon Galaxy S3 and we all know how that story turned out.

Chameleon Launcher No Longer Beta – Now Available In The Play Store For $10

Posted: 18 Sep 2012 05:56 PM PDT

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We’ve been following Chameleon Launcher ever since the developers took to Kickstarter for funding. After spending a short time in the Play Store as an exclusive beta for Kickstarter backers, Chameleon Launcher in now finally available for the rest of us. That is if you can afford it.

I’m sure your eyes have been transfixed on the price tag from our headline, but if you can make it run in the Play Store like you do da club, you’ll have no problem forking over the money for an otherwise fully capable launcher. If you’re genuinely interested in the launcher, but still leary, I’ll be giving this app a full rundown on my tabby in an upcoming post. Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve shelled out $10+ for an Android launcher (TSF Shell).

[Play Store Link]

Pocket for Android Updated With All New Text-to-Speech Feature – Makes It The Perfect Road Companion

Posted: 18 Sep 2012 05:17 PM PDT

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Pocket — formerly Read It Later — has long been one of my go-to apps for archiving interesting tidbits from around the web. Today, their Android application was updated in the Play Store bringing about some a good deal of bug fixes, enhancements and an all new feature. The most noteworthy is the ability to have saved articles read aloud to you, using Android’s built-in text to speech software.

Simply open up the article you’re looking to read, click the menu button in the upper right, select the “Listen (TTS)” option, and you’re off. Your phone will now read what ever text is displayed, and you can pause or skip ahead to paragraphs like you would tracks in your music app. Users also have to ability to control the speed of the read text, as well as select a variety of languages. Super cool, super functional, and this makes Pocket the perfect solution for keeping up to date the web while on the road. Pocket is free for download right now in the Google Play Store.

[Play Store Link]

HTC offering up to $300 if you ‘trade up’ to one of their phones

Posted: 18 Sep 2012 03:07 PM PDT

HTC has a few new phone’s on the horizon, and they are hoping to provide an incentive for smartphone shoppers to consider one (or any of their current handsets on the market) as their next purchase. The Taiwanese manufacturer is offering up to $300 in “trade up” value for customers purchasing a new HTC smartphone.

The catch is that, unlike other trade-in programs, you can only claim the value of your phone after purchasing an HTC device. You won’t be able to use the money directly towards the purchase of that phone. Still, HTC has provided a nice online source for getting a quote for your current phone, which should make it easier to bite the bullet up front before sending off your old handset. For instance, HTC is offering $150 dollars for a fully-functional Motorola Droid RAZR Maxx from Verizon.

It may be an avenue worth exploring if you are considering a new smartphone purchase. Head over to HTC’s site to see how much your current device is worth.

[via DroidLife]

Google updates Jelly Bean factory images for Nexus S and Nexus S 4G

Posted: 18 Sep 2012 01:41 PM PDT

Google has today provided an update to a couple of Jelly Bean factory images in their online database for Nexus devices. The global Nexus S (soja) received an update to Android 4.1.1 version JRO03L while the Nexus S 4G (sojas) saw its own Android 4.1.1 image with designation JRO03R.

There was no change in version for the GSM Galaxy Nexus or Nexus 7, and the LTE version of the Galaxy Nexus remains without an official Jelly Bean build, which is certainly a disappointment for Verizon users waiting patiently for an update to their pure Google Experience device.

[via AndroidPolice]

Jelly Bean adoption grew by 1,500% in first two months, outpaced previous Android versions

Posted: 18 Sep 2012 12:59 PM PDT

While a 1.47 percent market share at the end of August doesn’t seem like much for the latest version of Android, a closer look at the numbers reveals that Jelly Bean has been one of the most quickly adopted versions in the history of Google’s mobile OS. According to research gathered by mobile ad network Chitika, traffic from Jelly bean device grew at a rate of 1,500 percent in the two months following its initial launch.

In comparison, it took the previous Android version, Ice Cream Sandwich, to achieve a similar overall market share of 1.54 percent, an indication that Google and its manufacturing partners have done a better job of updating older devices to Jelly Bean or, perhaps more likely, the success of the Nexus 7 tablet, which ships with Android 4.1 on board.

In terms of the bigger picture, the majority of Android devices still operate on the 2.0 framework, with over 50 percent running Android Gingerbread. In an ideal world, current device models would be quickly updated to the latest OS build, but the problem dubbed fragmentation, or the existence of dozens upon dozens of differently specced phones with unique hardware running on a multitude of carrier networks, has created more than its share of stumbling blocks.

[via BGR]

 

Samsung Galaxy Exhilarate for AT&T has Ice Cream Sandwich update available now via Kies

Posted: 18 Sep 2012 12:10 PM PDT

With the pressure shifting to Samsung releasing a Jelly Bean update for the flagship Galaxy S3 handset, it is easy to overlook the job the company has done in delivering Ice Cream Sandwich to a good portion of their handset lineup. This includes the more budget-minded Samsung Galaxy Exhilarate for AT&T, which as of today has an update to Android 4.0 available via Kies.

The jump from Gingerbread to ICS includes everything we have come to expect from a Samsung-infused version of the updated Android OS. This translates to a heavy dose of TouchWiz alongside such new features as Face Unlock, improved multi-tasking, camera enhancements, and under-the-hood optimizations. The update won’t be heading out over the air, so Exhilarate owners wishing to update to the new software build will have to do so manually by connecting to a PC.

[via AndroidPolice]

Google ending $25 Play Store credit with Nexus 7 purchase on 9/30

Posted: 18 Sep 2012 11:36 AM PDT

When Google announced the Nexus 7 earlier this summer, they sweetened the pot for early adopters by offering a $25 credit to the Play Store to be used towards the purchase of content such as games, apps, books, and movies. For those still without an N7, you may want to consider purchasing the Jelly Bean tablet within the next two weeks, as Google plans to end the offer on September 30th. After that date, all purchases of the Nexus tablet will be processed without the added bonus. As before, to be eligible for the credit you must have a valid Google account with a credit card stored to your Google Wallet account. Check out Google’s support site for more details.

[Google via AndroidForums | Thanks to AntinmonyER and Unforgiven!]

HTC teases new device for tomorrow’s event, but is it Android or Windows Phone?

Posted: 18 Sep 2012 10:35 AM PDT

HTC has just posted a photo to their Facebook page teasing us with the the corner of a device and the number 19.9. It’s pretty obvious that the number references tomorrow’s date, when HTC will host a press event to introduce a line of new devices. Otherwise, there isn’t much to take away from what could either be a phone or tablet (or both), other than a time of 10:08 positioned to one side. The significance of that time isn’t clear, and we don’t have enough to go off of to determine if we are looking at an Android device or one running Windows Phone, if it is even an accurate depiction of what we will see tomorrow at all.

HTC is expected to have new handsets for each OS tomorrow, but much of the speculation leading up to the event has centered on Windows Phone, and we’re leaning in that direction with this latest tease. While there is a chance we will see the oft-rumored HTC One X+ make a debut, it seems less likely that the Taiwanese company will unveil their upcoming ‘phablet’ competitor. Keep it tuned here, though. We’ll be live at the event in NYC tomorrow bringing you the news as it breaks.

[via Facebook]

LG Otpimus G said to be primed for US launch

Posted: 18 Sep 2012 10:03 AM PDT

We had little doubt that LG would be launching its next flagship phone in the United States, but it’s always nice to hear a bit more confirmation. According to The Verge LG has reportedly confirmed the arrival of the LG Optimus G in the United States sometime down the line. In LG’s re-unveiling they mentioned it’d be available in most markets starting in October. It’s tough to say whether or not that includes the US since we tend to get LG goods late, but it’s worth noting anyway.

The Optimus G is a 4.7 inch HD device with a 1.5GHz quad-core S4 Pro processor, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, a whopping 13 megapixel HD camera, and more. We’d say a lot of people will be giving LG a second look after their brief setback in the smartphone game, though it’ll take a lot of “right” to reverse the “wrong” still in many people’s heads.

Twitter for Android update adds header photos for profiles, photo stream, and more

Posted: 18 Sep 2012 08:55 AM PDT

Twitter for Android has gotten itself a very significant upgrade in the Google Play Store. A long list of changes have been made, including the addition of profile header photos, a photo stream feature, pinch to zoom on photos, search suggestions for people, topics, or hashtags, better account management, and more.

It still won’t flourish as the premier Twitter experience despite it being Twitter’s official offering, but if you have stuck with the first party app this long then you’ll probably have no qualms with this update. Download it in the Google Play Store.

AT&T releases 4G LTE in Birmingham and Memphis

Posted: 18 Sep 2012 08:42 AM PDT

We’ve just received word from AT&T regarding a couple of southern states getting 4G LTE. Memphis, TN and Birmingham, AL are the latest to the party, and luckily for them they already have some desirable devices to take advantage of the high speed network. Phones like the Galaxy Note, Galaxy S3 and the HTC One X are the cream of the crop on AT&T, and they all have the necessary radios to connect to the great speeds Ma Bell provides. See if you can find that little 4G icon in the upper-right hand corner of your LTE device now.

More than 600 new Twentieth Century Fox titles available for rental or purchase in Google Play

Posted: 18 Sep 2012 07:33 AM PDT

Google has been working to make the Play Store a premier source for movie and TV show purchases and rentals, and today they’ve bolstered their catalog even more with the addition of 600 new titles from Twentieth Century Fox.

Prometheus, the Ridley Scott science fiction film, is even available in HD now — and we’re still 3 weeks out before it hits DVD and Blu Ray. More titles like Family Guy, X-Men, Ice Age, Glee, and more will all be available over the next few weeks. Head to Google for more details.

Carbon for Android to launch any day now

Posted: 18 Sep 2012 06:21 AM PDT

Carbon for Android — the WebOS Twitter client that is finally making its way to Android — has been teased for nearly half a year now and it looks like we’re closer than ever to a launch. Developer Dots and Lines tweeted they’d be done with the app in a few days, and that tweet was sent on September 14th.

If their estimation was correct we should hopefully see this app in the Google Play Store sometime this week. Of course, considering they didn’t give a solid date we can’t get our hopes up too soon — just know that the next disruptive Twitter experience is nearly finished. Keep an eye out on Phandroid.com for news on its highly anticipated arrival. [via Mobilesyrup]

Motorola RAZR i gets UK retail pricing and availability via Clove

Posted: 18 Sep 2012 04:56 AM PDT

The Motorola RAZR i was officially announced in the UK, and not even 24 hours after the event we already have a launch date and contract-free pricing from at least one retailer.

Clove says its first shipment is due October 1st, and those who pay a cool £342.00 including VAT will  be able to walk away with one. It houses Intel’s 2GHz Atom chip and a 4.3 inch Super AMOLED, edge-to-edge qHD display. It’ll also have 1GB of RAM, an 8 megapixel HD camera, and more. Head to Clove’s site if you want to pre-order today.
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