Android Central |
- Native Facebook for Android app nearly ready for release
- Live from CTIA
- Live from CTIA MobileCON in San Diego!
- This week's sidebar poll: Which OEM do you want to see make the next Nexus?
- Galaxy S3 with 64 GB of storage coming to select regions
- AT&T HTC One X drops to $0.01 on contract
- HTC DLX details emerge
- ZTE plans to use Android in set-top boxes for 3D TVs
- T-Mobile announces Galaxy S3 is its best selling device of all time
- Google wants developers to start building quality tablet apps
- HTC Desire X now available SIM-free in the UK
- Wild Blood brings Arthurian hack-and-slash gameplay to Android
- T-Mobile to release Samsung Galaxy Note 2 on October 24?
- Samsung Galaxy S3 soon available in black and brown on Verizon
- Google Play TV shows, movies, and music now on Google TV
- Motorola DROID XYBOARD 8.2 and 10.1 get a taste of Ice Cream Sandwich
- LG gets official with Optimus L9 for T-Mobile
- Sony Xperia T hands-on video and initial review
- Sprint StarStar Me offers vanity phone numbers and controlled call forwarding
- Samsung Galaxy Note 2 now available in titanium grey from Clove UK
- Verizon announces Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich for Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7
- Angry Birds Star Wars hits Android on November 8
- 32GB Nexus 7 looks increasingly likely as new details leak
- Deal of the Day: Qmadix Metalix Snap-On Cover for Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX
- Monday Brief: WP8 Event, Galaxy Note 2 Review, PlayBook OS 2.1, and more!
| Native Facebook for Android app nearly ready for release Posted: 08 Oct 2012 04:36 PM PDT
We know that Facebook's current app strategy has been more or less a failure on Android. Following an update to the app on iOS from mostly HTML5 to native code, it looks like a native Facebook for Android app is in the final stages of testing according to an anonymous source inside the company. We'll hopefully be seeing an official statement and release from Facebook soon. The Google+ app has set the bar pretty high at this point, we'll see if Facebook can catch up. Source: Engadget 
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| Posted: 08 Oct 2012 04:20 PM PDT
We're back for yet another trade show from CTIA, the organization that represents the wireless industry as a whole. Earlier this year we found them (and you found us) at the spring event in New Orleans. It's now fall, and we're back in sunny San Diego, where the event has been renamed MobileCON. So sit back, relax. Re-live the past, and stick around for the future, and we bring you all the Android news from CTIA. 
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| Live from CTIA MobileCON in San Diego! Posted: 08 Oct 2012 04:17 PM PDT
Yes, folks. We are back in sunny San Diego, Calif., where baseball has just wrapped up (sorry, Padres fans), football is in full swing (sorry, Chargers fans) -- and the mobile tech is ... Well, it's here. We're at the fall CTIA event, henceforth to be called MobileCON, which might or might not hide the fact that this thing's still all about enterprise. And that's OK. We're prepared to own our inner IT admin if you are. Anyhoo. We're about to bring you two full days of whatever it is we're here to see, which should include a bit of Android, a bit of other stuff, and a lot of fish tacos. Get the full lowdown -- and re-live the spring event's stories -- at our CTIA home page. You'll be glad you did. 
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| This week's sidebar poll: Which OEM do you want to see make the next Nexus? Posted: 08 Oct 2012 03:43 PM PDT
It's the time of year where all Android fans start to think about the next Nexus device. We're Android fans first and foremost around these parts, so we're right there with you all thinking and making a wishlist about what we want to see from Google. Maybe the most discussed thing is who is going to make the darn thing. There's four "sensible" players in this race -- Samsung, HTC, Motorola, and LG. Without being privy to the entire bidding process for the job (if there even is one) we have to put all four of these companies as equally able to build a phone for Google. We can't instantly dismiss smaller players like ZTE, but they aren't going to be able to compete with these four when trying to get a contract. There's all sorts of rumors flying around about the upcoming Nexus phone -- some we believe, some that make us skeptical -- but toss all those aside. This is what you want to see. Vote in the poll, and tell everyone in the comments why you feel the way you do. The poll is after the break, or you can find it in the sidebar to the right. Before we go, a look at last week's results: Are Android smartphone cameras good enough?
While none of us will complain when manufacturers give us better cameras, it looks like most of us are dealing with what we have just fine. I wonder how this one would have went over two years ago ... 
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| Galaxy S3 with 64 GB of storage coming to select regions Posted: 08 Oct 2012 02:28 PM PDT
For the storage-hungry among us, the 32 GB of internal storage on the Samsung Galaxy SIII (S3) just might not be enough. Back in August we heard some rumblings about a 64 GB model of the device being on sale from Clove, and now we're hearing a bit more confirmation on the release. Italian retailer ePrice has put up a listing for the device at 800 euros and has confirmed the listing to be real. Unfortunately, the U.S. and U.K. branches of the retailer don't have any details on the release of the device for those regions, adding to the suspicion that this SKU may only be coming to select markets. If you're lucky enough to live in one of the limited regions that will be receiving a 64 GB model of the S3 (or would like to pay an importer a pretty penny for it) you'll hopefully be able to get your hands on one soon. With a total storage capacity of 128 GB given you use a 64 GB microSD card, that's some serious storage space for a phone. Source: Engadget 
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| AT&T HTC One X drops to $0.01 on contract Posted: 08 Oct 2012 02:22 PM PDT
While AT&T's version of the HTC One X has been $99.99 on contract for a while, new customers signing up via Amazon can now pick up the device for just a shiny penny. It's the same One X we know and love, available in either white or gray, and if you're willing to jump through the couple extra hoops and sign agreements with both Amazon and AT&T then you can save yourself that nice chunk of money. Considering that the HTC One X+ is on the horizon this isn't surprising, but if the small spec bump in the new device doesn't seem worth the money to you, the original One X is still a great device. Do any of you plan to pick up the One X now that the price has dropped again? Let us know in the comments. Souce: Unwired View 
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| Posted: 08 Oct 2012 02:19 PM PDT
Long time Windows Mobile hacker and HTC insider Football has trickled out some details of the HTC DLX on Twitter today, bringing us a new rumor for a new week. According to Football, the HTC DLX will be a 5-inch "full HD" device, with a Snapdragon S4 Pro at 1.5GHz and 2500mAh battery under the hood, come with a 12MP rear camera and 2MP front camera, and run Android 4.1.2. This may or may not be the rumored 5-inch HTC device headed to Verizon for the holidays, hopefully with a world version released at the same time. We can't confirm or deny this one, but considering the source it's worth some discussion. Source: @Football4PDA 
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| ZTE plans to use Android in set-top boxes for 3D TVs Posted: 08 Oct 2012 02:04 PM PDT
Outside of smartphones, ZTE makes all sorts of gadgets, including tablets, wireless infrastructure equipment, internal components, and soon Android-powered set-top boxes for 3D TVs according to a recent announcement. A new agreement will allow ZTE to sell devices directly to customers of a digital TV device and service provider called Nagra. Nagra, which has a 70 percent market share of cable TV devices in Europe, should be a huge conduit for ZTE to get into this space. The details are pretty sparse as to the capabilities (or interface) of the new boxes, but ZTE notes that it will provide video calling and support the HTML5 standard for web content. We're all aware of the generally poor user experience offered by current cable TV boxes, so any chance we have at getting a fresh approach -- running Android to boot -- is a great thing. Unfortunately, given the U.S. Congress' view of the company, we wouldn't be surprised if there were a few snags along the way in bringing boxes like this to cable providers here in the states. Source: Bloomberg 
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| T-Mobile announces Galaxy S3 is its best selling device of all time Posted: 08 Oct 2012 01:25 PM PDT
This may come as no surprise to many of us, but T-Mobile mentioned on Twitter a couple days ago that the Samsung Galaxy S III (S3) is the carrier's all-time best-selling device. There's no doubt that the Galaxy S3 (and Galaxy S2 before it) have been monumental hits for Samsung, but T-Mobile also puts a lot of their marketing weight behind these flagships. Considering that it doesn't offer that fruit phone and often misses out on other devices because of exclusivity deals with other carriers, the success of the Galaxy S3 for T-Mobile may be more important as a single device than it is to any other carrier in the US. Source: T-Mobile (Twitter) 
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| Google wants developers to start building quality tablet apps Posted: 08 Oct 2012 01:10 PM PDT
With the launch and relative success of the Nexus 7 -- and other popular large tablets -- it's apparent that Google is trying to take Android tablets seriously. One sticking point with Android on larger screens though was the conflict between having separate tablet apps, scaled-up phone apps or universal binaries that can handle all screen sizes. Today on the Android Developers Blog, Google is highlighting several points that Android developers should keep in mind when getting their apps ready for use on tablets. As a follow-up to previous pushes for better design, these latest guidelines help developers manage making apps look better on large screens by recommending ways to make the app scale properly, make use of the extra screen real estate and improve graphics for tablets. In the post, popular tablet-optimized apps from Mint.com, TinyCo and Instapaper are highlighted as good examples of what developers should be trying to do with their app designs. The idea of having a single app available in Google Play that scales and changes based on the device is a very compelling one, provided that developers do a good job of managing those different screen sizes. It's good to see that the Android team is doing what it can to help along the process. Source: Android Developers Blog 
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| HTC Desire X now available SIM-free in the UK Posted: 08 Oct 2012 01:07 PM PDT
Announced and thoroughly covered at IFA in Berlin just over a month ago, the HTC Desire X has now moved from "pre-order" to "in stock" from two popular phone retailers in the UK. Both Unlocked Mobiles and Clove Technology have the Desire X for sale SIM-free for £218 and £228, respectively. For that price, you pick up a device with a 480x800 (WVGA) 4-inch SuperLCD display, 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, 768MB of RAM and a 5MP camera -- running Android 4.0.4 and HTC's Sense 4.1 software. It's important to note that these prices include VAT, but not shipping. Are you interested in the Desire X at this price point? Let us know in the comments. Source: UnwiredView; Unlocked-Mobiles; Clove Technology 
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| Wild Blood brings Arthurian hack-and-slash gameplay to Android Posted: 08 Oct 2012 12:59 PM PDT
Wild Blood, Gameloft's first Unreal-powered game, is now available in Google Play for $6.99. The action game loosely follows the mythology of King Arthur and in particular his knight Sir Lancelot. Arthur has lost his gourd and opened up a the very gates of hell, leaving Lancelot to beat back the evil with whatever steely or magical implements of destruction he can find. Meanwhile, Queen Guinevere got herself captured, which sucks for Lancelot since he's been seeing her on the DL. I got a bit of playtime in, and though the framerate is a bit choppy on the Nexus 7 and there are optional in-app purchases employed, the action is fast, and the monsters are absolutely awesome. Anyone else pick this up? Worth the seven bucks? How's performance on your device? Still a little tacky to push IAPs in premium-priced games, no? 
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| T-Mobile to release Samsung Galaxy Note 2 on October 24? Posted: 08 Oct 2012 12:09 PM PDT
The usual caveats apply with this one folks, but it's potentially good news for T-Mobile customers eagerly awaiting news of the Galaxy Note 2. This leaked screenshot obtained by the good folks over at TmoNews, seems to indicate that the 5.5" Note 2 will be available on October 24 in both white and grey. We all know it's coming, that isn't the potential story here. October 24 is the date of the Samsung "Next Big Thing" event in New York City -- which, of course, we'll be covering live. Should this all play out, could we be looking at some same day availability for the Note 2? Leaks are fun, that's for sure, but we'll be keeping a close eye out for any further news. And, to kill some time while you wait, be sure to check out our full review. Source: TmoNews 
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| Samsung Galaxy S3 soon available in black and brown on Verizon Posted: 08 Oct 2012 11:44 AM PDT
It's been a little while now since we first heard all about the additional colors the Samsung Galaxy S3 was to become available in. Indeed, some of those colors we saw first hand at IFA 2012 in Berlin, but news of their availability globally has been a little thin on the ground. News from Verizon today is that the black and brown versions of Samsung's hit handset will be coming soon to Big Red. A sign up page over on the Verizon website is live now, and while there's a distinct lack of pricing information, it would be hard to see a color change warrant a change in price. If you've been holding out for either of these, be sure to keep an eye out for release information that will no doubts follow soon. Source: Verizon 
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| Google Play TV shows, movies, and music now on Google TV Posted: 08 Oct 2012 11:15 AM PDT
Google TV owners will now be able to access all of their movie, TV, and music purchases from Google Play on the big screen. Purchases can be made directly on the system, and include options for auto-updating subscription billing. This is a long time coming, though some models, like one of Sony's, have already been dabbling in Play movies. In any case, it's good that this trove of content is getting a widespread rollout. How many of y'all own a Google TV? Have you been hurting for access to Google Play content, or have you been getting your shows from elsewhere? Those of you that don't have a Google TV, does improved access to Play store content make it any more appealing? It seems weird that it has taken this long for Play shows to find their way to Google's set-top system, but I'm sure it's been an uphill battle against cable and satellite service providers and the agreements they have with various studios. Source: Google 
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| Motorola DROID XYBOARD 8.2 and 10.1 get a taste of Ice Cream Sandwich Posted: 08 Oct 2012 10:25 AM PDT
Samsung isn't the only one upgrading their tablets to ICS today. Motorola has begun rolling out Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich to the DROID XYBOARD 10.1 and 8.2 (also known as the Xoom 2 in Europe), as expected. Motorola has provided a nice little walkthrough video showing all of the latest updates. The new quick access lock screen, and the usual ICS goodies. The Wi-Fi-only models got their upgrade over the summer. If you're looking to pick one up from Verizon, the 10.1-inch model starts at $549.99 and the 8.2-inch model goes for $429.99, but be sure to check out our pre-ICS review before taking the plunge. What do you guys think - do the new Motorola customizations in ice Cream Sandwich add some freshness to the XYBOARD family, or are they still too samey compared to alternative Android tablets out there? Source: Motorola 
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| LG gets official with Optimus L9 for T-Mobile Posted: 08 Oct 2012 09:55 AM PDT
The mid-range LG L9 that we had heard about last week has just been officially announced for T-Mobile U.S.A. The press release makes a point to highlight the L9's svelte 0.36-inch profile, if staying slim is important to you. Many of the rumored specs check out:
It's squarely in the mid-range fore sure, but that's hardly a bad thing. No information was given about pricing or availability besides the fact that we'll see it land in stores sometime "this fall". Anyone biting, or are we all in the "Jelly Bean or bust" car? 
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| Sony Xperia T hands-on video and initial review Posted: 08 Oct 2012 09:52 AM PDT
Sony Mobile returns in late 2012 with a new design, and faster hardware in its most recent flagship smartphone, the Xperia T. If the Xperia T looks familiar, it might be because it's channeling a little of last year's Xperia Arc, with an elegant-flag front and a curved back. And while the Xperia T is heftier than its predecessor, it feels just as great in the hand. Hardware highlights include a Snapdragon S4 dual-core CPU at 1.5GHz, a impressively bright and clear Sony IPS-based HD Reality Display and a 13MP rear camera (check out our initial photo and video samples). On the software side, we're unfortunately still running Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich, though Sony promises an upgrade to Jelly Bean in due course. Being a Sony phone, the Xperia T delivers an understated skin on top of ICS, with Sony-branded apps including a Walkman music player and PlayStation Mobile. Timescape returns to perform its social media duties, and Xperia Link allows an easy way to tether the device to a Sony tablet, if you have one. On the whole, it's a solid high-end package from Sony, and a marked improvement upon early 2012 efforts like the Xperia S. We'll have a full review written up in the days ahead. In the meantime, check out our full hands-on video and photo gallery after the break. 
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| Sprint StarStar Me offers vanity phone numbers and controlled call forwarding Posted: 08 Oct 2012 09:17 AM PDT
Sprint has kicked off a new add-on service today called StarStar Me. For $2.99/month, subscribers can register a new number that's accessed by people dialing ** and a name of your choosing. Calls sent to that number (which could be, for example, "**COOLDUDE") are then forwarded to your regular line, but thanks to an Android app, you get a lot of extra control, including automated SMS replies, selective blocking, or sending virtual business cards with full contact information. The only real downside here is that StarStar Me will only work with other phones within the United States, but for most folks on Sprint that should be fine. If you're interested, you can sign up for StarStar Me at Sprint's landing page. It certainly sounds pretty handy for anyone that does a lot of networking and doesn't want to cut down on the hassle of making sure people get your right phone number. Any Sprint customers thinking of getting this? How often have you been inconvenienced because you couldn't remember a friend's number? 
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| Samsung Galaxy Note 2 now available in titanium grey from Clove UK Posted: 08 Oct 2012 08:48 AM PDT
Clove UK has recently confirmed that they have the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 available in titanium grey, which may be a nice change of pace from the white version which seems to be the only thing available on Vodafone. Three's version is available in the grey as well, and EE is also supposed to be launching theirs soon, but if you just can't wait, Clove has their on sale here for £440. If you haven't heard, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is an excellent piece of kit. Here's a quick run-down of the specs.
For the full nine yards, you'll want to meet our Samsung Galaxy Note 2 review. Any Brits thinking of picking one up? Which carrier would you go with and why? Via: Clove 
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| Verizon announces Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich for Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 Posted: 08 Oct 2012 08:02 AM PDT
Following a few scattered releases in Europe, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 is landing in the U.S. by way of Verizon. All of the stuff you'd expect is there, including a new tab for handling home screen widgets, a data usage monitor, revamped settings menu structure, and a few other odds and ends. The full feature list can be found in this PDF. If you've been thinking of picking one up, you can check out some of our hands-on time with the device back at CES when it was still running Honeycomb. Here are the specs.
There's still no word on specific dates, but don't be surprised if ICS becomes available sooner than later. Any Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 users in the house? Anyone tempted to pick one up for $400 now that the software is reasonably current, or is it not worth a second glance without Jelly Bean? Via: TalkAndroid 
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| Angry Birds Star Wars hits Android on November 8 Posted: 08 Oct 2012 06:53 AM PDT
Last week Rovio teased the announcement of a Star Wars-branded Angry Birds game and today they have officially taken off the wraps of the project. Angry Birds Star Wars is due to hit Google Play and the Amazon Appstore on November 8, featuring stages based on classic settings like Tatooine and the Death Star. As you can see, there will be plenty of familiar characters there as well. As hinted by the original invitation to check out Toys 'R Us, there will be a big merchandising push, but it won't kick off until October 28. It's still early, so it's hard to say if the game will be significantly better or different from previous Angry Birds titles, but the Rovio CEO boasts that this will be "the best Angry Birds game we've ever done". Angry Birds Space added a nice spin on the classic gameplay, though it was still very much in line with what we've come to expect. Needless to say, lots of people love Star Wars, and there's something to be said for piggie-shaped TIE fighters. Is the Angry Birds brand still fresh and lively to you, or does this kind of co-branding qualify as jumping the shark? It certainly feels like between the merchandising and the endless tide of off-shoot games, the brand is been worn out, but maybe that's just me. Source: Rovio 
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| 32GB Nexus 7 looks increasingly likely as new details leak Posted: 08 Oct 2012 06:32 AM PDT
Reports of a 32GB Nexus 7 have been circulating for the past week or so, and fresh details emerging today suggest there could be more to the device mere rumor. First up are reports from a Japanese Nexus 7 buyer on Twitter, who claims to have been mistakenly shipped one of the 32GB units. The tablet purchased by Twitter user @oppese was reportedly boxed up and labeled as the 16GB model, but when powered on revealed a total of 27GB available for media storage, after the 5GB or so reserved for the OS. And another leaked inventory screen is doing the rounds today, purportedly from UK retailer Dixons Stores Group (Currys/PC World). The shot shows the 32GB Nexus 7 priced at £199.99, same as the current price for the 16GB model. If this image is accurate, it stands to reason that the 32GB model might replace the 16GB version at the $250 price point in other territories, likely leading to a further price cut on the 8GB and 16GB Nexuses. None of this is officially confirmed, but with Apple's 7.8-inch iPad due to make its debut in the next couple of weeks, we're sure Google and ASUS will be looking for ways to remain competitive in the 7-inch tablet space. Source: @Rage06, The Digital Reader 
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| Deal of the Day: Qmadix Metalix Snap-On Cover for Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX Posted: 08 Oct 2012 06:27 AM PDT
The Qmadix Metalix Snap-On Cover is available for just $14.00, 53% off today only. Backed by our 60-day return policy and fast shipping. Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts! 
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| Monday Brief: WP8 Event, Galaxy Note 2 Review, PlayBook OS 2.1, and more! Posted: 08 Oct 2012 06:06 AM PDT
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