Android Central |
- These Cruzerlite Plushies are awesome, and we're giving one away
- Sector Strike brings free, classic arcade space shooting to Android
- From the Android Forums: Getting an OTA after rooting
- Samsung Galaxy Note 2 hits U.S. Cellular stores October 26
- Need for Speed Most Wanted to be released on October 30 on Android and Kindle Fire
- Sprint Samsung Galaxy S3 to see Jelly Bean from October 25?
- Supposed first Jelly Bean build for Samsung Galaxy Note leaks out
- Atari bringing Rollercoaster Tycoon and Dungeons & Dragons to Android
- Memoto camera to record life with two pictures every minute, shared through Android app
- Motorola DROID RAZR HD/MAXX HD review
- Sprint releases push-to-talk app for Android
- Square mobile payment service comes to Canada
- Samsung TecTile app bumped to version 3.0
- Sony Xperia Go arriving in Canada this November
- UK retailers cut 16GB Nexus 7 price ahead of Google event
- Verizon's HTC DLX to launch as the Droid DNA?
- Nuance launches Siri-esque Dragon Mobile Assistant
- LG Nexus 4 renders leak [Update: more]
- Deal of the Day: iSkin Vibes Case for Samsung Galaxy S3
- AT&T releases Q3 earnings, 'record sales quarter' for Android devices
- Kindle Fire + Kindle Fire HD up for pre-order in Japan, shipping Dec. 19
- Jelly Bean update hits unlocked UK Samsung Galaxy S3
- T-Mobile Galaxy Note 2 now available
- Beach Buggy Blitz updated, sheds Tegra exclusivity in the process
- Motorola RAZR M launching in Japan on October 26
| These Cruzerlite Plushies are awesome, and we're giving one away Posted: 24 Oct 2012 03:34 PM PDT
I am an Android nerd. I love little Android toys, figures, t-shirts, you name it. If it has Android on it, in it, or around it I'm all over it. I work all day in an office with no Xbox, why not fill it with cool toys, right? RIGHT?!? Now I've got some new ones to collect, as the new Cruiserlite Android plushies are available from ShopAndroid. Super heros, pirates, even Big Android BBQs are well represented, and there's no way I can know that these are available and not have them. ALL of them. I imagine I'm not alone, Slide those Bucky Balls over to the side, and make room for these jewels. We're giving one away at random in the comments, but you can also grab one (or all) of these 8-inch tall rascals at ShopAndroid for $19.95. Just keep them away from your dog! Here's where you win one. Just comment below, and somewhere around midnight PT I'll pick a comment at random. I'm going to have to send you email through the site to find out where to send it, so make sure you have real details filled out on your user page. Just click your name in the upper right if you need to adjust anything, Good luck!
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| Sector Strike brings free, classic arcade space shooting to Android Posted: 24 Oct 2012 03:19 PM PDT
The guys behind the venerable Tank Hero game have launched their next title on Android called Sector Strike. It's a free-to-play sci-fi shoot 'em up with all of trappings of classic 2D spaceship games. You move your ship around to evade enemies while holding the trigger down on your guns and picking up credits from their wrecks to spend on upgrades. Players gradually work their way through new sectors, provided they survive the withering hail of plasma fire from a wide range of crafty foes. I've played a little bit on my Nexus 7 and the graphics are buttery smooth, the gameplay is challenging, and the controls are very responsive. Yeah, they offer in-app purchases for accelerated progress, but it doesn't feel like there's anything you can't get just by playing the game a whole bunch. As far as casual, old-school pew-pewin' on Android goes, Sector Strike is looking very promising. Check it out. 
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| From the Android Forums: Getting an OTA after rooting Posted: 24 Oct 2012 03:13 PM PDT
HOLLYWOODANT215 asks in the Galaxy S3 forums,
Another great question from the forums. The answer isn't simply a yes or a no, unfortunately. Rooting, in itself doesn't do anything. It simply allows you to do more things that you could without root. Things like changing or moving files in the system to see emojis. Your phone is like a computer, with partitions and folders. When an OTA comes along, the first thing it does is check to see that the partitions holding the boot image and the recovery image are unmodified. It also checks the folders containing the system files to see if everything is in order. Most of the time rooting your phone simply adds a couple files without changing any others, and an OTA will flash over just fine. The issue comes when you change any of the system files, or delete ones that should be there. In this case, the normal method to see emojis is to change the system font files. If the OTA needs to touch those font files in any way, the process will fail because they aren't the same as unmodified stock ones should be. The good news is that the OTA probably won't care about the font files and all will be well. For you pros out there, what I'm saying is that any time you replace or remove a file inside /system, you run the risk of not being able to accept an OTA. Of course a custom recovery or kernel also means you can't accept an OTA as well. One thing worth mentioning before we end this. You always run the rick of losing root anytime there is a system update. Hit the Play store and install OTA RootKeeper, and run it to protect your superuser access. Have a question you need answered? (Preferably about Android, but we're flexible.) Hit up our Contact Page to get in touch! 
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| Samsung Galaxy Note 2 hits U.S. Cellular stores October 26 Posted: 24 Oct 2012 02:34 PM PDT
U.S. Cellular has announced that the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 will be on store shelves starting October 26 (this Friday), and that tomorrow is the last day for preorder. Those that have already been ordered will be shipping tomorrow. The timing doesn't come as much of a surprise since Sprint's launch is looking similar. You can get a full look at the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 in our review, but here's a quick run-down of the specs.
Anyone interested can pick up the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 from the U.S. Cellular online store here for $299 on a two-year contract. Anyone buying, or is there another carrier that's more viable for you? 
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| Need for Speed Most Wanted to be released on October 30 on Android and Kindle Fire Posted: 24 Oct 2012 01:56 PM PDT We already know that EA's latest premium title, Need For Speed Most Wanted, is to be released this month. We just don't know when or for how much. October is quickly passing us by, so good news then that it seems EA is sticking to their word. On their official website, the title is listed as being available for iOS, Android and Kindle Fire on October 30. Still no mention of a price, but given the trailer, we're expecting a premium price for this premium title. Source: EA 
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| Sprint Samsung Galaxy S3 to see Jelly Bean from October 25? Posted: 24 Oct 2012 12:39 PM PDT
Sprint Samsung Galaxy S3 owners might want to take a look at this one. Android Central Forums member Skunkape60 shared this image with us all a little earlier today that, if genuine, indicates the Android 4.1 update to the Galaxy S3 will start pushing out from October 25. That's tomorrow then. We've got a build number, a reminder to the stores to update their own devices, pretty much everything. It also looks like the Sprint update will bring some LTE related improvements too. It does say that it will be rolling out over the course of a few weeks, so be patient. But, from tomorrow, start checking for those updates. Source: Android Central Forums, More: Hands on with Jelly Bean on the Galaxy S3 
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| Supposed first Jelly Bean build for Samsung Galaxy Note leaks out Posted: 24 Oct 2012 12:21 PM PDT
Excitement continues to build around the world for the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 -- we're in NYC tonight for the Next Big Thing event -- but what of its predecessor? Owners of the original Galaxy Note are eagerly awaiting word on Jelly Bean for their beloved devices. XDA Developers forums member eybee1970 has posted what is apparently the first full leaked official build of Android 4.1 for the original Note. However, this is an extremely early build, and flashing to your own devices is discouraged. Contained within are things we would expect to see from Jelly Bean -- Google Now for instance -- but there are things missing, and big nasty bugs within making this one not for the faint at heart. Word is, that the official update could be due to drop in December. A software update in early September brought a selection of the Samsung features from the Galaxy S3 and Note 2 to the Note, but we're under no illusions that it's Jelly Bean you folks want. 
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| Atari bringing Rollercoaster Tycoon and Dungeons & Dragons to Android Posted: 24 Oct 2012 10:48 AM PDT
Retro gaming fans listen up, this one's for you. Atari has announced a range of titles heading our way, which includes Rollercoaster Tycoon and Dungeons & Dragons: Warbands. Both are slated to be available in early 2013. Many an hour was wastes building the theme park rides of our dreams in the 90's desktop classic, and we're going out on a limb and saying the same will apply when the mobile version lands. D&D: Warbands is a virtual recreation of a game usually played with collectable figurines, but is sure to be a hit based on the insane popularity of the D&D universe. We're spoiled with some fantastic looking mobile games these days, take the likes of Horn or the Bards Tale as examples, but there's an awful lot to be said for these re-releases of some of our favorite games from years past. Nostalgia is a good feeling. Source: Atari via Android Police 
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| Memoto camera to record life with two pictures every minute, shared through Android app Posted: 24 Oct 2012 10:42 AM PDT
It looks like the next big thing has hit Kickstarter, and it's called Memoto. This tiny little 5 megapixel camera clips to your clothes, automatically takes pictures, geotags them, and once plugged into your computer over microUSB, uploads to the cloud for storage (provided you have a subscription plan with Memoto). There isn't a single button on the camera because it automatically starts shooting as soon as you start wearing it. The picture quality isn't particularly great, but Memoto is aiming for sheer volume. We're talking two per minute for two days straight on a single charge. Luckily, the Android and web app will help organize everything into batches of shots and splice the moments into time-lapse videos. Sharing can be open or private, with selective visibility. 
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| Motorola DROID RAZR HD/MAXX HD review Posted: 24 Oct 2012 10:36 AM PDT
Newer. Better. Faster. Longer. It's the updated Motorola RAZR line.When the original Shortly after its release, though, the RAZR was outspec'd and overshadowed, relegating it to mid-tier status behind the likes of HTC’s One line and Samsung’s Galaxy S 3. But good things come to those who wait, and fortunately, Motorola seems to have been hard at work over the past few months. Today, the RAZR HD and MAXX HD are equipped to reclaim their spot on Verizon’s top shelf. But do they have the curb appeal to compete with some of the best Android devices ever made? Find out in our full review of the Motorola RAZR HD and RAZR MAXX HD. For another perspective, be sure to check out our earlier review of the Canadian version. 
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| Sprint releases push-to-talk app for Android Posted: 24 Oct 2012 10:27 AM PDT
Sprint has launched an Android app to allow push-to-talk on some phones. The Kyocera Rise budget phone will support it, as will the upcoming LG Optimus Elite, it said. Push-to-talk is a transmission method that turns your phone into a walkie-talkie, of sorts. The type that only allows communication one-way at a time, so like an air traffic controller, you’ll have to say “over” after each sentence, and of course “over and out” when your conversation is done. For cell users, push-to-talk cellular is supposed to give people a way to quickly broadcast a message to receiving handsets. If multiple handsets are hooked up, a team leader can speak to all of them without ringing each one up individually. Some apps already emulate this function, like HeyTell and Zello, but the Sprint app uses the carrier’s Direct Connect push-to-talk service. Sprint says it has a million users on Direct Connect already (most on rugged handsets), and hopes the app will allow it to tap into a new user-base. Sprint customers can hit the Google Play link above to download the app. 
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| Square mobile payment service comes to Canada Posted: 24 Oct 2012 09:40 AM PDT
Square's mobile point of purchase system has expanded beyond the U.S. into Canada today, marking their first step into international markets. Though Square didn't advertise any particular launch partners up north, they do have free headphone jack fobs available for small businesses to start accepting credit card payments on whatever Android devices they happen to be using. Transaction fees are 2.75% per MasterCard or Visa swipe, which is apparently pretty competitive. Unfortunately, Square Wallet isn't available to Canada just yet, but will be arriving in 2013. The app will enable users to pay for goods, use loyalty cards, get receipts, and leave reviews for businesses. Although Square tends to be lumped in with iOS, their Android app has been available for a couple of years now. I'm interested in seeing if Square hops on the NFC bandwagon at some point, but for the time being, I'm sure they do reasonably well just dealing with Visa and Mastercard. It would be great to see some Interac support eventually, too. Hey Americans, how often do you see Square in use in businesses? Should we feel screwed that Square Wallet isn't available right out of the gate? Keep in mind that we still don't have Google Wallet up here, or even anything like Isis, so this may be the best thing we can get for mobile payments for the immediate future. Any Canadian business owners interested in giving this a shot? You can sign up over here. Soruce: Square 
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| Samsung TecTile app bumped to version 3.0 Posted: 24 Oct 2012 09:15 AM PDT
Samsung has updated its TecTile app to add more features like batch actions and the ability to set tags to private. The mobile app is meant to program Samsung TecTile NFC hardware tags that can be used to automate tasks. Users can tap their phones on tags to perform common tasks. You can launch a running app and the music app before a workout, for example, or tap one by the bedside to mute the ringer and launch the alarm clock app. The TecTile tags were first released in June, together with the launch of the S3 to show off its NFC capabilities. The version 3 update accompanies the entrance of the Galaxy Note 2 on U.S. shores, and brings a number of new features. 
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| Sony Xperia Go arriving in Canada this November Posted: 24 Oct 2012 08:46 AM PDT
The mid-range waterproof Sony Xperia Go will be coming to Canada by way of Rogers-owned Fido this November. Sony also announced that a snazzy exclusive yellow model available if you're picking one up unlocked from Sony stores, while Fido will have black and white versions available. The Xperia Go was originally announced running Gingerbread, but an upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich was rolled out a few weeks ago. Who knows if it'll be lucky enough to get Jelly Bean, but it seems like the real selling point for the Xperia Go is its ruggedness. We've seen this thing take a fair bit of punishment, and if it can keep the pricetag relatively low, there may be a lot of value there. Unfortunately, Sony stayed mum on how much it would cost either on Fido or unlocked, but the UK launch over the summer should provide a good idea of what to expect. Specs and additional details are in the press release below. Any Fido customers considering picking this one up? 
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| UK retailers cut 16GB Nexus 7 price ahead of Google event Posted: 24 Oct 2012 08:40 AM PDT
We're all expecting to see a 32GB Nexus 7, amongst other stuff, unveiled at Google's "Playground" event in NYC next Monday. That'll probably mean one of the existing Nexus 7 SKUs -- the 8 or 16GB model -- will be put out to pasture. As such, high-street retailers in the UK have begun reducing the price of the 16GB Nexus 7, which until recently would've set you back £199.99. Currys has dropped its price to £189.99, while Comet goes a tenner further at £179.99. A 32GB variant may be on the horizon, but 180 quid for the 16GB version still represents decent value. Before it sold out, the 8GB model was available for £159 from the Google Play Store. It's possible prices might drop further next week, but if you absolutely must pick up a Nexus 7 right this second, these are two pretty good deals. Source: Currys, Comet; via: Eurodroid 
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| Verizon's HTC DLX to launch as the Droid DNA? Posted: 24 Oct 2012 08:05 AM PDT
We're starting to learn a little more about HTC's upcoming 5-inch offering to Verizon. The HTC 6435LVW already has gone through the Global Certification Forum, we brought you the first pictures of it with Verizon branding this week -- and now it apparently has popped up on Verizon's Minimum Advertised Price listing, named the "HTC DROID DNA." (Remember that DLX has been a codename up until now.) Please, smartphone gods, let that be the official name, and not HTC DROID DNA 4G LTE. We beg you. And that minimum advertised price is set at $199 -- perfectly fine for what should be a pretty high-end set. The start date for the MAP -- Nov. 20 -- also lines up with the Thanksgiving-esque launch window we've been working under. Still, ain't nothing official until it's official, folks. We've got the full MAP listing after the break. And note the appearance of Verizon's Samsung Galaxy Note 2, with a MAP price of $299 (unsurprising) and a launch window of any time now, pretty much like all the other carriers. If you're looking for more on the Windows Phone 8 info on this MAP listing, our cousins at WPCentral have the full breakdown. More in our Rumored Devices Forums; Thanks, anon! 
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| Nuance launches Siri-esque Dragon Mobile Assistant Posted: 24 Oct 2012 07:30 AM PDT
Today Nuance kicked off the beta for a new app called Dragon Mobile Assistant. It lets users talk to their phones in a natural human voice for a variety of tasks, including booking calendar appointments, dictating messages, updating Facebook and Twitter, getting GPS directions, finding businesses, and checking the weather. It even has an S-voice style audio wake-up command so you don't have to press a button to initiate a query. Sure, Personal Assistant has a lot in common with Dragon Go, but this is packaged in a way to more directly offer an Android version of Siri. Nuance is in a good spot for launching a voice activated personal assistant given its pedigree (especially now that they've acquired Vlingo), but it's hardly the only show in town. A small start-up called Maluuba has a very sharp-looking app that focuses on specific silos of content. Of course Samsung's S-voice is an option on pretty much all of their newer phones, plus the latest version of voice search built into Jelly Bean can handle a lot. There's Evi, though it wasn't particularly great the last time we used it. Dragon Personal Assistant is free, but it's only available in English in the U.S. for devices running Android Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0. They're expecting to launch more broadly before the end of the year, at least. Which voice-activated personal assistant do you use on Android? Are there any that are fast enough to be more practical than just typing in a query or manually navigating to something on your device? How do you think these options stack up against what's available on iOS? Source: Nuance 
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| LG Nexus 4 renders leak [Update: more] Posted: 24 Oct 2012 06:56 AM PDT
Update: Added additional image from @evleaks. Here it is -- the LG Nexus 4. Some official-looking press renders for the much anticipated fourth-gen Nexus phone has emerged via noted Twitter leaker @evleaks. The images confirm what we've already seen from the extensive Belarusian leak of a few weeks ago, while showing us the final rear chassis design. As expected, "with Google" is gone, and in its place is a big old Nexus logo. In addition, LG's "crystal reflection process" back has dots arranged in a speckled pattern, in a possible nod to the original Nexus One live wallpaper. The second image released by @evleaks sports a different notification dropdown setup to the first, suggesting that the on-screen image in the earlier shot is likely a placeholder. (Note that promotional shots like this are often assembled from scratch by manufacturers in Photoshop, making on-screen images easy to swap out.) In any case, it seems this is our clearest look at the Nexus 4 yet. Don't forget we'll be live from New York City next Monday, Oct. 29, to bring you full coverage of Google's new Nexus devices and Android announcements! Check past the break for the original image. Source: @evleaks 
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| Deal of the Day: iSkin Vibes Case for Samsung Galaxy S3 Posted: 24 Oct 2012 06:33 AM PDT
The iSkin Vibes Case is available for just $18.00, 40% 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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| AT&T releases Q3 earnings, 'record sales quarter' for Android devices Posted: 24 Oct 2012 05:36 AM PDT
AT&T has released their Q3 earnings this morning, and among all the numbers they reported a "record sales quarter" for Android devices. Good news indeed, but we should still remember that of the 6.1 million smartphones sold in the quarter, a big portion were iPhone's. Overall, AT&T reported 678,000 new subscribers for the quarter, putting them at a total of 105.9 million subscribers. EPS is up from $0.61 a year ago to $0.63, and a record free cash flow of $6.5 billion is also reported. Data revenues for the carrier also went up in line with the increase in smartphone sales, with an increase of 18.3%. Consolidated revenues however remain flat year on year at $31.5 billion. In short, AT&T gained customers, and made some money. For the full report hit the source link below. We've also got a short video with Ralph de la Vega to run through the shortened version embedded after the break. Source: AT&T 
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| Kindle Fire + Kindle Fire HD up for pre-order in Japan, shipping Dec. 19 Posted: 24 Oct 2012 04:33 AM PDT
Amazon's Kindle Fire range continues to spread, with today's news that Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD tablets will be heading to Japan in time for the holidays. Both devices are available to pre-order now at Amazon's Japanese site -- the vanilla Kindle Fire priced at ¥12,800 ($160), and the HD version at ¥15,800 ($200). In addition, Amazon offers the Kindle Fire HD with 32GB of storage for ¥19,800 ($250). For the moment, it seems only the 7-inch Kindle Fire HD will be offered in Japan -- there's no mention of the larger U.S.-bound Fire HD models arriving on Japanese shores. Gaining a foothold in the Japanese tablet market will be an important step for Amazon, as it does battle with the likes of Apple and Google. Both flavors of Kindle Fire will begin shipping to Japanese consumers on Dec. 19. Source: Amazon More: Kindle Fire HD 7-inch hands-on 
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| Jelly Bean update hits unlocked UK Samsung Galaxy S3 Posted: 24 Oct 2012 04:02 AM PDT
After it began rolling out on certain British carriers last week, the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update for the Samsung Galaxy S3 has this morning started to hit unlocked handsets. Those whose phones are parts of the "BTU" (British unlocked) region can now grab the 284MB update over-the-air or through Kies. In addition to bumping Samsung's flagship smartphone up to the latest version of Android, this software update also adds a number of new features to TouchWiz. These include "blocking mode" for better control over notifications, alerts and callers, and an optional new "easy mode" for the home screen launcher, which automatically populates it with useful widgets. And, as it's Android 4.1, you get features like the new Google Search app with Google Now, and performance enhancements thanks to Google's "Project Butter." If you've picked up your update, hit the comments and let us know how you're getting on. If you're still waiting, head to Settings > About device > Software update to see if your Jelly Bean upgrade is ready yet. Source: Android Central forums 
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| T-Mobile Galaxy Note 2 now available Posted: 24 Oct 2012 02:57 AM PDT
When we last saw the T-Mobile Galaxy Note 2, it was a late night at CTIA MobileCON in San Diego, and the release date was "this fall". We've seen plenty of hints and rumors about just when it would pop up, and it looks like that time is now. It's a beastly device. a 5.5-inch 720p display covers a 1.6 GHz quad-core Exynos processor, 2GB of RAM, and a pretty darn good 8MP camera. Combined with the S-Pen and Wacom screen digitizer, the Note 2 is what many folks feel will be the ultimate mobile device. Part phone, part tablet, part artist tool, it's a great mix of features and function wrapped up in a sexy package. Starting today you can get your hands on one here in the U.S. It comes at a cost, of course, and if you're not familiar with T-Mobile's pricing it can be a bit confusing. The Note 2 will cost $369.99 on a two-year contract, or if you prefer, the full retail will be $649.99. Check out our hands on and review of the International Galaxy Note 2, and head into the forums to talk this one over! Source: T-Mobile 
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| Beach Buggy Blitz updated, sheds Tegra exclusivity in the process Posted: 24 Oct 2012 01:55 AM PDT
Vector Unit, developers of such titles as Riptide GP and Shine Runner really outdid themselves with their latest title Beach Buggy Blitz. A completely free, yet completely amazing game, the only downside was that you needed a Tegra device to play it. Well, everyone else now has cause to celebrate. The latest update to Beach Buggy Blitz brings it to non-Tegra devices. Compatible with "most modern Android devices," you'll still need to try it for yourselves to be sure. But, since it's free, that's not too much of a hassle. For those of you who've been playing Beach Buggy Blitz for a while, there's some additional treats on board. As we approach Halloween, we get 2 new characters and a special, Grim Rod, car available too. There's also a coin doubler added to the in game purchases, along with a smattering of performance and bug fixes. 
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| Motorola RAZR M launching in Japan on October 26 Posted: 24 Oct 2012 01:35 AM PDT
The Motorola RAZR M -- or, the full screen smartphone as it's often referred to -- is to receive a Japanese launch on carrier Softbank. Due to land on October 26, the RAZR M will take advantage of Softbank's 4G LTE services. Additionally, the first 10000 people to purchase the device will receive a Motorola P4000 Universal Portable Power Pack. Anyone wanting to try one out before purchasing should head to Shibuya 109 special event space in Tokyo, on October 27, 28 and November 3, 4. Or, be sure to check out our full review of the Verizon RAZR M. Full press release can be found after the break. 
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