Android Phone Fans |
- Vince Vaughn And Owen Wilson Shooting New Movie “The Internship” At Google’s HQ
- Jelly Bean Update For HTC One X Coming In October, One X+ Launching Same Month [Rumor]
- Google, Stack Exchange, and USPTO Giving The People Power To Squash Patent Trolls For Good
- Shoddy NFC security could allow free metro rides; could lack of maturity fail NFC? [POLL]
- Netflix for Android users seeing new user interface?
- Facebook Messenger gets UI refresh; stock app also gets update treatment
- Walmart apparently kicking Amazon out its stores
- Archos 101 XS now available in Europe
- Roku for Android app now includes “Play on Roku” feature
- SoundCloud for Android now lets you edit audio directly on your phone
- ASUS schedules dual Padfone 2 launch events for October 16
- Are Apple’s Fancy 3D Rendered Maps Better Than Google Maps? See For Yourself [Images]
- AT&T’s Sony Xperia Ion now receiving Ice Cream Sandwich
- AT&T-ready Sony Xperia T shows face at the FCC
- MetroPCS announces ZTE Anthem 4G
| Vince Vaughn And Owen Wilson Shooting New Movie “The Internship” At Google’s HQ Posted: 20 Sep 2012 07:37 PM PDT
Looks like the dynamic duo from the Wedding Crashers will be hitting the big screen once again for an upcoming movie being shot right now at Google HQ. Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn were on set for their new movie “The Internship,” where real live Googlers will appear as extras in the film. Google co-founder Sergery Brin was even generous enough to host a dinner at his home where some of the crew was invited and Vince Vaughn even spent some time with Eric Schmidt as part Google’s employee talk sessions to air soon on YouTube.
If you’re wondering what other Google goodies will show up in the film it’s said that Google’s self-driving cars as well as Google Glass will make cameos in the film. The movie will be a comedic take on life in Silicon Valley though we’re not sure when it will be released in theaters.
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| Jelly Bean Update For HTC One X Coming In October, One X+ Launching Same Month [Rumor] Posted: 20 Sep 2012 06:13 PM PDT
If you’re an HTC One X owner, you’ve no doubt been eagerly awaiting any word on the planned Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update for your device. Seems the man known as MoDaCo has gotten some valuable intel regarding the firmware update for the One X and, if all goes according to plan, it’s said that HTC will begin pushing out the update by October. Before you jump out of your seat, keep in mind this is only HTC’s update and will be subject to inspection from your local carrier before it can be approved for your device. Even then, the update will arrive for all devices — carrier branded or not — before Christmas time. In an extra bit of news, Mr. O’Brien also got word that October will also be the month we can expect the fabled HTC One X+ to launch and it will come preloaded with Jelly Bean out of the box. No update required. Let’s hope the One X+ makes it’s way to more carriers than just AT&T this time around. [MoDaCo]
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| Google, Stack Exchange, and USPTO Giving The People Power To Squash Patent Trolls For Good Posted: 20 Sep 2012 05:18 PM PDT
Starting today, you can help make the world a better place thanks to a (desperately needed) change in patent law allowing 3rd parties the ability to challenge ridiculous patents filed by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. At one time illegal, now all you’ll need to do is dig up enough evidence to support your claim and along with your comments, it can all be sent directly to the USTPO for review and further analysis. Brought to you by good guy Google and the folks at the Stack Exchange who’s work in conjunction with the Patent Office, make the whole process even easier for those wanting to keep the world safe from patent trolls. Jumping onto patents.stackexchange.com will give “patent troll hunters” the resources they need to discuss sketchy patents, validity, or prior art with others, where evidence can be filed to the USTPO with minimal effort. Google is doing their part by linking disputed patents found on their handy patent search site to Stack Exchange discussions. Bad boys, bad boys, what’cha gonna do when we come for you… Currently, there aren’t rewards in place for patent busters, but users will awarded badges for bragging rights once they’ve successfully taken down a patent. This is yet another instance where crowd sourcing can work in everyone’s favor and I can already hear the patent trolls squealing in horror. As a bonus, here’s a quick link to a patent I dug up, filed by some dudes named Jonathan Ive and Steve Jobs. It’s an electronic doohickey they apparently “invented” and you might find vaguely familiar. [Patent D504889] “Ahhhh, what’s up, doc?” “Shhhhh… I’m huntin’ patents.” [Wired | Thanks, Adam!]
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| Shoddy NFC security could allow free metro rides; could lack of maturity fail NFC? [POLL] Posted: 20 Sep 2012 03:38 PM PDT NFC is a great technology, but like anything in this digital age security is perhaps the most important element of all. A group of hackers at the EUSecWest security conference in Amsterdam showed how it was possible to manipulate some NFC-based fare cards to allow a metro rider to get free rides. Using an app called “UltraReset,” riders can roll their balance back up to, say, ten rides should they use all of them up. The way that it works is that the application reads a balance of ten rides from the initial card you purchase. Once you’ve used all those rides up, your Android phone will write that information back to the fare card and use it as if you’ve purchased another ten rides — and you can keep doing this as much as you want to. Apparently this works for NFC-enabled subway systems in New Jersey and San Francisco, and it may work for even more that have yet to be tested.
One of the presenters, Corey Benninger, demonstrated an ability to read the card’s data using a modified version of “UltraReset” called “UltraCardTester.” The latter only demonstrates the ability to read, not write. The full app is not being released for fear of abuse by those looking to save some bucks, but Benninger notes that it is so easy to code an app to manipulate the metro cards that someone with little programming experience can just as easily make their own app. The reason for bringing this up is not to dangle some desirable functionality in our faces, of course — they simply want these cities to get the message and plug up holes that could eventually cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue due to false rides. Benninger says the fix is easy, and that it simply requires a more secure NFC chip or a better way of handling the “on/off” bits that represent each ride in the back-end. Both cities confirmed to be vulnerable are said to be using Mifare Ultralight chips, and unless other cities have a more secure and practical back-end to handle the “bits” there’s a good chance they could be just as vulnerable if they employ these chips. It’s an interesting development that has us wondering if many of these industries are ready for NFC. Whether it be due to lack of competence by engineers or lack of understanding of what, exactly, NFC is providing in terms of the balance between convenience and security, one thing is for sure — it’s still a relatively new technology that could mean dire financial consequences for a government or business if they’re not on their P’s and Q’s. Unless those who are employing it completely understand what they’re doing with it we could see NFC failing fast if it happens to become an economically-taxing fumble. Let’s get it together, guys. [via Computerworld]
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| Netflix for Android users seeing new user interface? Posted: 20 Sep 2012 02:35 PM PDT
Some people are claiming to see new user interfaces in their Netflix for Android applications despite Netflix not having an update in the Google Play Store. That would, of course, be explained by the fact that Netflix likely uses an HTML5 webview for its main content pane, a setup that would allow them to update several UI and functionality elements without having to submit an update to the Google Play Store. The new interface apparently delivers a side-scrolling experience not unlike what we’ve seen on tablets, the desktop, and other devices. It has a darker look and feel, and new options to single-tap a movie/show card to show info on it or double-tap a card to play are present. Even on a fresh download of Netflix I was presented with the old user interface, but enough users are reporting the changes that this just might be true. Let us know in the comments if things look a litle bit different from you. [Droid-Life, Google Play Store]
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| Facebook Messenger gets UI refresh; stock app also gets update treatment Posted: 20 Sep 2012 01:54 PM PDT Facebook Messenger has been updated in the Google Play Store, and it brings with it some nice UI changes that Facebook hopes will make conversational reading more natural. They’re using speech bubbles to separate text, the ability to swipe left to see who’s online and available to chat, improved speed and reliability, text messages, the ability to add friends to the top of your favorites, and more.
The stock Facebook app also got some update love, though it’s not quite the native UI refresh we’ve been waiting for. They’ve also updated its Messaging UI to reflect the Messenger application’s new look, as well as a new button in the News Feed screen to see who’s available to chat, the ability to see who’s active before sending a message, and stability improvements. Facebook says it is all part of the company’s new update strategy. Instead of letting users wait long periods of time for new features and bug fixes for the sake of having bigger updates, the social networking giant will instead issue more frequent updates that’ll sprinkle in new features and bug fixes for a more progressive approach. I love it, and hopefully the truly big update — the one where the dastardly HTML5 nonsense is put to rest — will be out sometime soon. Head to the Google Play Store here and here for Facebook and Facebook Messenger, respectively.
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| Walmart apparently kicking Amazon out its stores Posted: 20 Sep 2012 12:57 PM PDT The list of many different places you can go to buy Amazon Kindle devices has just gotten smaller. Reuters is reporting that Walmart is dropping all things Kindle. They apparently see no need for Amazon’s devices with the likes of, say, Barnes and Noble, Sony, and others with fine products on the market. It follows a similar move by Target, which also gave a similar spiel about how the Kindle line just doesn’t fit between their many options anymore. Right away it all sounds like bitter drivel to me, and I know I’m not the only one that feels that way. The general belief is that these brick and mortar retailers are feeling threatened by Amazon’s presence in retail.
With its online-only model, Amazon has become the biggest e-commerce site there is, and to drive sales like they’ve been able to without a brick and mortar format probably irks these big-box retailers to no end. So why not attack Amazon where it hurts? The Kindle business is a huge part of Amazon’s cash flow, and retailers feel like supporting the products in brick and mortar would be like supporting Amazon’s ability to cut into their retail traffic. But these retailers still support retailer Barnes & Noble’s line of tablets and e-readers, do they not? Well, they’re specialists. They sell books and multimedia, so they’re not a direct threat to Walmart or Target. Amazon, on the other hand, probably sells more different products and brands than Target and Walmart combined. Also, because Amazon’s devices tend to be priced ridiculously cheap it’s believed Target and Walmart are as unhappy with the profit margins of selling these devices as they are with Amazon quickly rising up in sales. Amazon’s retail sales grew 42% last year, while Walmart and Target grew a combined 6.7%. Sure, it’s hard to improve much when you’re already at the top but to do what Amazon has been able to do in an online-only capacity is nothing to sneeze at. Can you see why there would be some animosity between Amazon and these retailers? I’m not saying this will become a trend and we’ll see a mass-exiling of Amazon products in physical retail outlets, but Amazon has been specifically targeted (no pun intended) by the two biggest big-box retailers in the world — they must be doing something right. [via Reuters, Stores.org]
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| Archos 101 XS now available in Europe Posted: 20 Sep 2012 11:55 AM PDT Archos has made its 101 XS tablet available across Europe today. Users will enjoy a pretty respectable Android 4.0 tablet that has room for TI’s OMAP 4470 processor clocked at 1.5GHz, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, and more.
While it doesn’t sound extraordinary up against the many tablets currently available from Samsung, ASUS, and more, it does attempt to entice users with a nice keyboard dock that comes bundled with every purchase. The package will cost you £300, but we know Archos’ history will make it difficult to trust this thing in the long haul. Head to the official Archos site if you’re interested. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
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| Roku for Android app now includes “Play on Roku” feature Posted: 20 Sep 2012 11:06 AM PDT Roku’s companion app for Android has made great strides in functionality, and some great new additions are being introduced today. The company updated its app to include a “Play on Roku” feature, a utility for streaming photos and music from your phone to your Roku player using your home’s WiFi network. It’s also announced that the app is now available in every country where Roku is sold, meaning none of their customers should be boxed out from the ultimate Roku experience.
Roku boxes are a low cost option for those who want internet TV-like features without wanting to pay the hefty costs usually associated with the likes of Google TV, Apple TV, and more. Check it out at Roku’s site if you’re in need of a cost-effective multimedia solution, and be sure to get the app from the Google Play Store. Read on for full press details.
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| SoundCloud for Android now lets you edit audio directly on your phone Posted: 20 Sep 2012 08:57 AM PDT
A pretty substantial update of SoundCloud for Android has been released today, bringing the music sharing network’s app to version 2.3.0. The app adds in some pretty nice functionality, namely the ability to manipulate and edit audio files directly on your Android device. You can now trim clips and add fades to recordings made with your smartphone. For a little more control over sound creation, recordings can now be paused and resumed. The new features create some interesting possibilities for those looking to user their Android phone as part of the creative process rather than simply as a media consumption device. It isn’t full-fledged multi-tack recording by any means, but it should make SoundCloud a little more useful. Grab the latest version of the app from Google Play now. Google Play Link: SoundCloud [via AndroidPolice]
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| ASUS schedules dual Padfone 2 launch events for October 16 Posted: 20 Sep 2012 08:10 AM PDT
ASUS isn’t keeping any secrets with an invitation they just sent out to press in Italy and Taiwan. Emblazoned in bold lettering at the top of the invite is “Padfone 2.” So, yep, the cat’s out of the bag. Interestingly, ASUS is actually holding two concurrent events to introduce the followup to the phone/tablet combo released earlier this year, on in Milan, Italy, and another in Taipei, Taiwan. Few other details were provided, but with no attempt to keep the subject of the event a secret, we couldn’t as for much more. Speculation points to the Padfone 2 receiving an upgrade in processing power to a quad-core Snapdragon S4 chipset. Otherwise, we expect the device to cosmetically mirror the first edition. Other potential improvements include more RAM, a higher resolution display, and Jelly Bean at launch. What ASUS should really consider addressing is the pricing and release strategy of the device, which attempts, like the device itself, to straddle the line between smartphone and tablet computer. [via NotebookItalia]
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| Are Apple’s Fancy 3D Rendered Maps Better Than Google Maps? See For Yourself [Images] Posted: 20 Sep 2012 08:07 AM PDT
Apple made a controversial decision when they decided to ditch Google Maps in iOS 6 entirely in favor of their own mapping and navigation service. When it comes to software, I think it’d be safe to say this has been one area Apple has always excelled in. You may have heard some of the hype surrounding Apple’s new 3D mapping Google Maps has long been Google’s feather in the hat, a crowning achievement of modern technology in the digital age. But can Google Maps even hold a candle to the “magic” of Apple’s 3D rendered maps? Let’s take a quick look at some famous landmarks when viewed through the eyes of Apple’s new 3D maps, and compare ‘em to Google’s tried and true Street View. Maybe you can tell me which you think looks best.
Would make a really cool sequel to Fallout, not really functional in real world usage though…
Looks like this 3D modeling stuff is nothing more than a gimmick. A ruse. A pretty box that inside, is empty. The most unfortunate part about all this is that when Apple goes to war, sometimes it’s their own users that get caught with the short end of the stick. The perfect example of Apple cutting off their nose to spite their face. 3D maps isn’t even the half of it. A Michael Degusta said it best in a blog post when he pointed out all the features iOS users would be losing upon updating to iOS 6:
So why have I dedicated an entire post to Apple’s maps on an Android blog? With the iPhone 5 hitting new sales records its first weekend, you’d be fooling yourself to think that Apple hasn’t wooed more than a few Android users with promises of security and their “fancy” apps. Just when it comes to maps and navigation — arguably the biggest weapon in the smartphone war — Google Maps still finds itself unmatched. To put it bluntly, Apple’s maps app sucks. Big time. Hey iPhone users, I see you got some pretty 3D maps and I’m happy for you, I really am. But maybe it’s time to switch to an OS from a company that doesn’t tell you what they think is best for you. Just a thought. [Via Gizmodo | Additional reading: The New York Times]
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| AT&T’s Sony Xperia Ion now receiving Ice Cream Sandwich Posted: 20 Sep 2012 07:24 AM PDT
Last week the rollout of Android 4.0 for the international model of the Sony Xperia Ion began, but AT&T users were left with a big question mark about when the update would arrive for their devices. Luckily the wait wasn’t very long at all, as today owners of the phone on AT&T’s network are reporting that the update has started hitting handsets. The update should be identical to the build released for the LT28i version of the Xperia Ion, which itself differs very little from the version of Ice Cream Sandwich being delivered to other members of the Xperia family. Any AT&T Xperia Ion users received the update yet? Let us know how it’s working out for you! [via DroidDog]
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| AT&T-ready Sony Xperia T shows face at the FCC Posted: 20 Sep 2012 06:31 AM PDT
The last time we saw the Sony Xperia T at the FCC, we were disappointed to learn that the version in question did not show signs of support for AT&T’s network. We remained hopeful that rumors of a 4G version for the US carrier would pan out, and it looks like it’s paying off. The Xperia T has made another visit to the regulatory committee, this time bringing along support for AT&T’s LTE network. While Sony hasn’t commented officially, images have surfaced showing an Xperia T handset with AT&T branding, leading to speculation that the two would launch the device in the US. This FCC filing only serves to further support the idea, which now seems all but a done deal. [FCC via PhoneArena]
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| MetroPCS announces ZTE Anthem 4G Posted: 20 Sep 2012 05:41 AM PDT
Plenty of ZTE news this morning. After announcing their Blade III smartphone for a European release, MetroPCS is launching the ZTE Anthem 4G, the smartphone maker’s first LTE handset available in the United States. The Anthem is an Android 2.3 device and features a 4.3-inch display, 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, and HD video playback via HDMI, and is priced at $219 after mail-in rebate. The phone is available with any of MetroPCS’s all-incusive service plans ranging from $40 to $70 per month. MetroPCS hasn’t provided and exact launch date, saying only that it will launch “in the coming weeks.”
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