Android Central |
- AT&T buying up more 700MHz spectrum
- Netflix now available on Amazon Kindle Fire in the UK
- Samsung holding Australian launch event for Galaxy Note 2 on Nov. 14
- Party like it's Q2 2013 with this BB10 lockscreen mod
- PSA: Google services appear to be down [Update: we're back]
- Samsung launches Galaxy Note 2 Smart Dock, yours for $100
- Who needs a Nexus 4 (and why)?
- Sony puts a spin on the concept of racing games
- 'It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown' free today in the Amazon Appstore
- Ouya confirms game console will launch with Jelly Bean
- AT&T and T-Mobile to share networks in hurricane aftermath
- Verizon HTC Droid DNA name crops up again
- US Cellular announces expanded, new and planned 4G LTE markets
- 32GB Nexus 7 now available in the UK at Currys + PC World, priced £199.99
- Deal of the Day: Cruzerlite Androidified A2 TPU Case for HTC Incredible 4G LTE
- Got Nexus 4 questions? Head to the Android Central forums!
- Waze updated with pick-up request and social features
- ASUS: Nexus 7 sold 1 million units last month
- Samsung Galaxy Premier is official - 4.65-inch screen, Jelly Bean and TouchWiz
- LG Nexus 4 back up for pre-order at Carphone Warehouse
- AT&T launches new 4G LTE network locations
- Android 4.2 gallery and camera ported to Galaxy Nexus
- Galaxy S3 gets Palm Touchstone inductive charging with modded battery door
- Zombie Driver game splices Mad Max with undead apocalypse
- Does Google need a physical storefront? Nexus 10 Tablet thoughts [From the Forums]
| AT&T buying up more 700MHz spectrum Posted: 31 Oct 2012 04:14 PM PDT
The FCC has just released information detailing a deal between AT&T and a company called Broadband Wireless Unlimited for 700MHz spectrum in several markets around the country. Concerned parties have until November 14th to submit complaints on the deal, but if it were to be approved as it stands, AT&T would receive license to more spectrum in the B Block of the 700MHz band -- right where it currently operates its LTE network -- in specific markets where additional bandwidth is needed. The markets in question where this spectrum would be applicable are Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Depending on the market, AT&T would have anywhere between 70 and 125MHz of spectrum available for use post-acquisition. Source: FCC 
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| Netflix now available on Amazon Kindle Fire in the UK Posted: 31 Oct 2012 03:40 PM PDT
Despite the Amazon Kindle Fire in the UK coming with Amazon's own LOVEFiLM service baked in, that hasn't stopped rivals Netflix trying to muscle in. Netflix is now available to download from the Amazon Appstore for British Kindle Fire owners. The experience and content catalog is exactly the same as on regular Android devices, giving new Kindle Fire owners in Britain their choice of streaming providers. Both LOVEFiLM and Netflix come with free trials too, so be sure to check them both out first before committing your cash. Source: Netflix 
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| Samsung holding Australian launch event for Galaxy Note 2 on Nov. 14 Posted: 31 Oct 2012 03:05 PM PDT
We've seen the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 launch in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and we're starting to see the first signs of U.S. availability, but what about elsewhere? For our friends down under, their time is almost upon us, with the news of an official launch event for the device in Australia. According to the fine folks at Ausdroid, invites are going out for a launch event taking place on November 14. That gives eager Australians just two weeks before official release information should be out there. Additionally, it's expected that the Australian release will also see the 1800MHz LTE compatibility with Telstra and Optus 4G networks. Source: Ausdroid More: Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Review 
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| Party like it's Q2 2013 with this BB10 lockscreen mod Posted: 31 Oct 2012 02:55 PM PDT If you've at all paid attention to the recent news from RIM, the latest version of its OS -- BlackBerry 10 -- is definitely coming (no really guys, we're serious this time). We don't know when that'll be for certain, and we're not so sure it's going to pull anyone away from the Android world. If you're curious to try out the lockscreen from BB10, however, here's your chance. The always hacker-minded folks over at XDA have conjured up a mod to add the lockscreen to some specific devices on specific versions of Android, mainly 4.1 Jelly Bean at the moment, but hopefully expanded support is coming soon. Source: CrackBerry; XDA 
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| PSA: Google services appear to be down [Update: we're back] Posted: 31 Oct 2012 02:47 PM PDT
Update: After 15 minutes of misery, it seems we're now able to access Google services once again. Google is in the midsts of a bit of an outage, with Talk, Drive, Calendar, Google+, the Play Store, Gmail and others unavailable for many users, including via mobile. We're sure Google's working on getting things back up and running. In the meantime, vent your frustrations down in the comments. More: Google Status 
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| Samsung launches Galaxy Note 2 Smart Dock, yours for $100 Posted: 31 Oct 2012 02:13 PM PDT
If the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 doesn't already strike an imposing enough figure on your desk top, then you might want to take a look at this latest accessory release for the 5.5-inch behemoth. Unlike some previous accessory launches for Samsung devices -- remember the Galaxy Nexus debacle anyone? -- this is an actual product that is actually for sale right now. We first saw the Smart Dock -- albeit locked away in a glass case -- back at IFA 2012, in Berlin, the same event which saw the launch of the Note 2 itself. It promises to give you a makeshift desktop and media set up with a variety of useful connecting ports all rolled into one handy device. Packing a set of USB ports, a HDMI out connection and even a speaker line out port, the Note 2 Smart Dock is pretty well connected. It also comes with a pretty hefty price tag of $99.99. If the price doesn't put you off and you're thinking of picking one up, be sure to sound off in the comments below and let us know your thoughts. Source: Samsung 
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| Who needs a Nexus 4 (and why)? Posted: 31 Oct 2012 02:05 PM PDT
It's Nexus season again. That means a new phone, a new version of Android, and a bunch of folks arguing the merits (or lack thereof) of the new device. Everyone always wants the latest and greatest to actually be the latest and greatest, but the fact is that the Nexus 4 isn't for everyone. And that's OK. Android is not "one-size-fits-all." There will be a slew of phones released for the holiday season, and plenty more following in 2013. (To say nothing of all the excellent phones already released this year.) Different sizes, different shapes, and definitely a different set of features. There's a very good chance one of these upcoming or current phones will suit you far better than the Nexus 4 ever could. That's what we're going to look at here. Discuss a few of the pros and cons of the Nexus 4, and hopefully help in your informed decision. 
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| Sony puts a spin on the concept of racing games Posted: 31 Oct 2012 01:48 PM PDT
The NFC marketing bandwagon is coming out in full force, and Sony’s latest campaign will pit users against each other in a racing game with real toy cars, as part of its "Xperia Face Off" promotion. The Japanese phone maker will outfit its latest Xperia T phones in little race cars and the idea is to race around an obstacle course filled with NFC devices. Players have two minutes to transfer their Facebook profile pictures to as many of the other devices around the track as they can. It looks like the “Xperia Face Off” competition is only open to players in the UK, and will happen starting this weekend for the next three consecutive weekends. Prices are pretty sweet. The top 100 scores get selected for a prize draw, and the champion gets an all-expenses paid trip to Vegas with a plus one. The grand prize winner also gets to attend CES (maybe you'll see us there!) When:
Where: Shop 13, The Truman Brewery, 15 Hanbury Street, London, E1 6QR Entry is free. Source: Xperia Face Off 
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| 'It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown' free today in the Amazon Appstore Posted: 31 Oct 2012 01:40 PM PDT
Looking for a fun way to entertain the kids -- or big kids -- in your house this fine Halloween? Amazon has you covered, as their free app of the day today is "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown." When launched in the Google Play Store, this storybook app cost $5, so if you've got access to the Amazon Appstore, this is a great deal for this and future Halloween's. Of course, if Charlie Brown is a little too young for you, or your kids, be sure to check out our run down of the best Android games for Halloween. And, while the kids are entertained, be sure to head on over to ShopAndroid.com to take advantage of the 15% off special Halloween deals, or enter our sweet Halloween costume contest. 
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| Ouya confirms game console will launch with Jelly Bean Posted: 31 Oct 2012 01:36 PM PDT
The Android-powered Ouya game console is still on schedule according to the developers' latest update, and they've confirmed that it will launch with Jelly Bean. It wouldn't be surprising to see Android 4.2 folded in before the planned launch early next year, even though that version was just unveiled a few days ago. Apparently the Ouya folks have been busy talking with developers over the last few months, which is key considering porting high-resolution games to the big screen and optimizing controls for Ouya's hardware will be key to its initial success. To that end, they've outlined a few tips for developers in advance of the December launch of the Ouya SDK. For example, the gamepad will have a single-finger touchpad and a button for system-wide access to shutting down or quitting a game, but none of the familiar buttons like back or menu. Apps should be ready to run at 720p, 1080p, and 1080i resolutions. Notifications aren't employed, and all games are effectively free (though laden with ads and in-app purchases as the game creators see fit). Finally, Ouya reminds app-makers that the system is built for Tegra, and that anyone itching to get their game optimized should test with an Nvidia-powered Android tablet. As for the hardware, they've got the circuit boards printed, and are busy optimizing software and preparing dev kits for those that got in early. So, who backed Ouya? Any developers getting ready to make their games ready for the promising young system? Source: Ouya
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| AT&T and T-Mobile to share networks in hurricane aftermath Posted: 31 Oct 2012 01:01 PM PDT
AT&T and T-Mobile have struck up an agreement to share their networks in the New York and New Jersey area. They will enable roaming to mutual customers to share network capacity, so that those having trouble getting a cell signal may have a better chance. The carriers said that customers can carry on using their devices as per normal, with voice and data traffic going over whichever network is most operational in their area. Since both carriers are GSM-based, sharing should be seamless for users. Hurricane Sandy has caused a widespread power blackout in cities on the East Coast, and carriers have suffered infrastructure damage in its wake. In addition, it led to Google's last-minute cancelation of its anticipated Monday event. Today's full press release can be found after the break. 
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| Verizon HTC Droid DNA name crops up again Posted: 31 Oct 2012 10:36 AM PDT
The story of Verizon and HTC’s Droid DNA has led us from a nameless blurry-cam, through rumors of an “HTC DLX” to clear photos of the actual device and news of what appears to be the final branding. The 5-inch, 1080p smartphone, known in Japan as the HTC J Butterfly, looks set to become a major launch for Big Red later in the year. Today brings further confirmation of the Droid DNA moniker, as the “HTC Droid DNA” name has appeared on a Verizon support page listing devices with non-removable batteries. Alongside the name is the ADR6435 name previously associated with the “DLX” codename. If you've been following this device, you'll remember we first broke news of the Droid DNA name a few weeks back, when we spotted it on a leaked Verizon MAP document. So barring some last-minute change, it’s probably a safe bet at this point that the DLX will come to market as the Droid DNA. Verizon folks -- anyone thinking of skipping the current crop of phones in favor of a shiny new DNA? Let us know in the comments. Source: Verizon, via: Droid-Life 
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| US Cellular announces expanded, new and planned 4G LTE markets Posted: 31 Oct 2012 09:30 AM PDT
US Cellular this morning has announced an increased expansion of its 4G LTE network and aims to have 58% of customers covered by the fast service by the end of 2012. There will be additional 4G LTE networks in Iowa, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Oklahoma. In addition, new 4G LTE markets will be in Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia. The markets will be able to access the higher speeds beginning on November 5th. There are also upcoming markets that US Cellular has planned an expansion for by the end of the year. Those are:
Always great to see LTE service expanding to new markets. Congrats if you live somewhere that will see faster speeds on November 5th. Full press release is after the break. 
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| 32GB Nexus 7 now available in the UK at Currys + PC World, priced £199.99 Posted: 31 Oct 2012 09:19 AM PDT
UK retailers PC World and Currys is now offering the 32GB Nexus 7 for sale. The stores, which are both part of the Dixons group, are selling the new Nexus 7 model for £199 inc. VAT, matching Google’s Play Store price. Home delivery is available, as is the option to reserve online and collect in person, assuming you’re near a PC World or Currys store. All the stores in our area seem to have stock, so if you’re anywhere near a major city, stock levels shouldn’t be a problem. Announced on Monday, the 32GB Nexus 7 sells at the same price point occupied by the 16GB model since launch. The cheaper 8GB model has since been discontinued, and the £159 ($200) spot is now occupied by the 16GB’er. So far there’s no sign of the 32GB 3G Nexus 7 in the UK, either at retail or in the Google Play Store. UK carrier Three will offer that version at subsidized prices, but currently offers no release date. Anyone planning on picking up a 32GB Nexus 7? Shout out in the comments! Source: PC World 
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| Deal of the Day: Cruzerlite Androidified A2 TPU Case for HTC Incredible 4G LTE Posted: 31 Oct 2012 08:46 AM PDT
The sleek, light-weight design of the A2 TPU case fully wraps around the HTC Incredible 4G LTE while also raising the front of the device to protect the screen while face down. Precise cutouts provide easy access to all ports and buttons. Flexible, easy to apply, and easy to remove, this affordable case comes in several different colors, allowing you to choose the case that fits you as well as it fits the HTC Incredible 4G LTE. The Cruzerlite Androidified A2 TPU Case for HTC Incredible 4G LTE is available today only for just $5 -- that's 75 percent off. Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts! 
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| Got Nexus 4 questions? Head to the Android Central forums! Posted: 31 Oct 2012 08:03 AM PDT
The Nexus 4 is finally officially official -- a new LG-built Nexus device sporting a quad-core Snapdragon S4 chip and a unique chassis design. The full review's coming soon, but in the meantime, Phil's got one in-hand, and is answering your questions over on the Android Central forums! So if you've got any burning questions about the new Nexus, or the new version of Android, 4.2 Jelly Bean, you can head on over to the link below and get the answers you crave. If you're not already registered on the Android Central forums, it's quick and easy to do so! More: Nexus 4 Q&A on the Android Central forums
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| Waze updated with pick-up request and social features Posted: 31 Oct 2012 07:41 AM PDT
The Waze navigation app has recently been updated with a whole bunch of new social features, ranging from seeing the ETA of your friends, location sharing, pick-up requests, and lots more. Here's the full changelog for Waze 3.5.
As always, Waze continues to offer croudsourced mapping data, live traffic alerts, points of interest searching, finding the best gas prices, and the usual voice-based turn-by-turn navigation. The new features are pretty sweet, especially being able to request a pick-up, even if you don't use Waze. Still, it seems like the majority of Waze's new features depend on other friends using the same app, which can be hard to count on for less regular meet-ups. Any active Waze users out there? How often do you think you'll use the friends ETA feature? Anything else new that's really leaping out? 
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| ASUS: Nexus 7 sold 1 million units last month Posted: 31 Oct 2012 03:49 AM PDT
We've heard hints in the past that ASUS and Google's Nexus 7 tablet has been met with considerable commercial success. Today brings the strongest indication yet of the Nexus tablet's retail performance, as ASUS execs gave the Wall Street Journal a figure of 1 million units in the past month in a recent earnings call, according to the a report on the paper's website. Speaking to the WSJ, ASUS Chief Financial Officer David Chang said, "At the beginning, it was, for instance, 500K units a month, then maybe 600, 700K. This latest month, it was close to 1 million." That figure puts the Nexus 7 a considerable distance behind Apple's iPad, but still makes it one of the most successful Android tablets ever. With the launch of 32GB and 3G/HSPA variants of the Nexus 7, in addition to the Samsung-made Nexus 10, Google will be hoping this success continues into the new year. However, both Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 will face considerable competition from the latest Apple, Amazon and Nook offerings, particularly in the U.S. Source: WSJ 
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| Samsung Galaxy Premier is official - 4.65-inch screen, Jelly Bean and TouchWiz Posted: 31 Oct 2012 03:29 AM PDT
The Galaxy Premier packs a 4.65-inch, 1280x720 HD SuperAMOLED display, and is powered by a 1.5GHz TI OMAP 4 CPU, backed up by 1GB of RAM. You've also got 16GB of storage, expandable via a microSD slot, an 8MP rear camera and 1.9MP front-facer. On the software side, you're looking at Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean and Samsung's latest TouchWiz UI. At one point the Galaxy Premier was rumored as a possible Samsung Nexus device, owing to its product number (GT-i9260) being similar to that of the Galaxy Nexus. Instead, it merely looks like Samsung's re-using some Galaxy Nexus components in its latest mid-range handset. The Samsung Galaxy Premier is due for a November launch, priced at ₴5,555 ($679). So far there's no information available as to any launch outside of Eastern Europe. Source: Samsung Ukraine, via: Engadget 
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| LG Nexus 4 back up for pre-order at Carphone Warehouse Posted: 31 Oct 2012 03:06 AM PDT
After unceremoniously leaking its LG Nexus 4 product page last week, UK retailer Carphone Warehouse is once again showing the handset as available for pre-order. This time the expected delivery date is Nov. 13, same as the international Google Play launch date for the device. As before, there's no SIM-free price listed -- on Google Play prices start at £239 -- and on-contract rates on Vodafone and O2 start at £31 per month with a free Nexus 4. With O2 being the only UK network to directly confirm that it'll be offering the Nexus 4 directly, this could give those looking for a subsidized Nexus 4 on Vodafone the chance to pick one up for free. But with the Google Play SIM-free price being so low, any network-subsidized prices starting around the £30 mark are going to be a tough sell. Source: Carphone Warehouse 
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| AT&T launches new 4G LTE network locations Posted: 31 Oct 2012 02:44 AM PDT
An interesting bit of information from the press release for the Knoxville rollout indicates that the company spent over $1.3 billion on improvements in its wireless and wireline (home broadband) infrastructure in the area from 2009 to 2011. That gives you a good idea of how much these networks cost to deploy. We've got a look at both press releases for you after the break. 
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| Android 4.2 gallery and camera ported to Galaxy Nexus Posted: 30 Oct 2012 10:11 PM PDT
That awesome camera app, as well as the new Gallery we saw from the upcoming Android 4.2 release can now be installed on your Galaxy Nexus running Android 4.1.1. There's still a bug in the photosphere portion, but dmmarck, the fellow working in it, says he has some ideas and will continue to look at things for a fix. Be sure to visit the forum thread for the full instructions, as this one needs a bit of hackery to install. Source: Android Central forums 
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| Galaxy S3 gets Palm Touchstone inductive charging with modded battery door Posted: 30 Oct 2012 10:08 PM PDT
The Nexus 4's included inductive charging and Charging Orb got you excited about wireless charging again? We don't blame you. If you'll remember back to the launch of the Samsung Galaxy SIII (S3), Samsung indicated that the device would be compatible with inductive charging backs and chargers. Well that never really happened, and now an ebay seller is taking things into his own hands and offering wireless charging backs compatible with Palm Touchstone chargers. The back plates -- which are priced at $24 for the cover or $55 bundled with a charging station and a cable -- are in a very limited run of just a few dozen units. This is understandable considering that they're being made by hand, but hopefully they'll continue to make them to meet demand. Interested in knowing more about the mod? Hit up the source link below. Source: webOS Nation 
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| Zombie Driver game splices Mad Max with undead apocalypse Posted: 30 Oct 2012 09:30 PM PDT
Zombie Driver launched on Google Play for $6.99, giving players with Tegra devices the pleasure of running over undead with a wide variety of vehicles. Of course, nitro boosts can help a bunch when the hordes get a little thick, plus military-issued weaponry can thin the ranks from range. Beyond the story-based campaign, there's a race mode where you compete with other survivors to complete three laps, or you can try to weather an endless tide of zombies in the slaughter mode. Over time, players upgrade their various vehicles according to their playstyle. Like to get up-close and personal? Crank up your armor and dozer ratings. Prefer to hit and run? Upgrade your nitro and get a fast car. I played the first few levels and the graphics are beautifully gross on the Nexus 7. My only serious qualm is that the controls aren't that awesome. The game came to Xbox Live Arcade and Steam first, and it really shows. The default control scheme lays out WASD-style virtual keys with some awkward diagonal movement. At least there's support for keyboards and gamepads if you've got either handy. In any case, if you can't get enough gruesomeness this Hallowe'en, Zombie Driver is a nice change of pace from the deluge of other slaughterfests out there. 
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| Does Google need a physical storefront? Nexus 10 Tablet thoughts [From the Forums] Posted: 30 Oct 2012 07:50 PM PDT
Just in case you missed out on some of the Android news today, now is the time to go ahead and get yourself fully caught up. Here on the blogs and in the Android Central Forums there is plenty to talk about. Have some questions? Need some help or just looking to chat Android? You know where to go, check out some of the threads below to get started.
We've got nearly 1 million members helping members and nearly 2 million posts in our Android Forums. Are you one of them? Join today! 
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