Android Phone Fans |
- Find a penny and head to Amazon Wireless for an AT&T HTC One X [Deals]
- Motorola DROID Xyboard, XOOM 2 WiFi, and XOOM Family Edition in Europe get Ice Cream Sandwich
- Google gives developers a “Tablet App Quality Checklist”
- Did Google accidentally ship a 32GB Nexus 7 to a Japanese customer?
- Google Play Music, Movies, and TV Shows now available on Google TV; new developer features
- T-Mobile announces the LG Optimus L9, available ‘this fall’
- Did Apple’s misrepresented evidence paint Samsung as the copycat unfairly?
- Samsung Galaxy S3 soon available in brown and black on Verizon
- Angry Birds Star Wars coming November 8th
- Sprint launches new vanity number service StarStar Me
- Congressional report warns of Huawei, ZTE as national security threats
- Galaxy Note 2 code hits Samsung’s Open Source Release Center
- HTC continues trend, net income down $137 million in Q3
| Find a penny and head to Amazon Wireless for an AT&T HTC One X [Deals] Posted: 08 Oct 2012 03:21 PM PDT With the HTC One X+ quickly approaching, units of the original One X no doubt need moving. That’s probably why Amazon has discounted the AT&T One X to just $.01. That’s right — a penny. Last I checked you couldn’t even buy penny candy or play at the penny arcades for a penny anymore. But you sure can own one of the best smartphones of 2012 for one.
The device features Qualcomm’s dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor clocked at 1.5GHz, as well as 1GB of RAM, an 8 megapixel camera, a 4.7 inch display, 4G LTE, 16GB of internal storage, Android 4.1 with HTC Sense, and more. A catch does apply, of course. You’ll need to be willing to sign a new two-year contract, and on top of that you can only be a new customer whether you’re looking for an individual plan or a family plan. But if those two hurdles aren’t an issue for you get over to Amazon Wireless and throw your copper at the display. Wait… never mind, don’t do that last part. [Thanks Josh!]
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| Motorola DROID Xyboard, XOOM 2 WiFi, and XOOM Family Edition in Europe get Ice Cream Sandwich Posted: 08 Oct 2012 01:55 PM PDT A decent amount of Motorola tablets will be seeing Ice Cream Sandwich starting today. For starters, the DROID Xyboard 8.2 and 10.1 on Verizon here in the United States will be getting the upgrade over-the-air.
It adds the usual toppings you expect to see out of Ice Cream Sandwich, but we’re sure users would be a lot more happy if they were to get Jelly Bean sometime soon. A couple of tablets in Europe also got the treatment. The Motorola XOOM 2 WiFi is eligible for the update, and those who own the Motorola XOOM Family Edition can get in on the fun. All these updates can be had by checking inside the About Tablet menu under Settings. Get to it and let us know if you’re having any issues pulling it down. [Motorola Europe Facebook, Motorola Blog]
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| Google gives developers a “Tablet App Quality Checklist” Posted: 08 Oct 2012 01:48 PM PDT It’s no secret that the amount of apps with tablet-specific user interfaces is lacking in the Google Play Store. It’s almost a deal breaker for anyone looking to get an Android tablet, and Google wants to help do something about it.
They’ve introduced a “Tablet App Quality Checklist” to give developers a better idea of what they should do to cater not only to the massive smartphone crowd, but the growing tablet one as well. The checklist will show developers how to organize their layouts for larger displays, take advantage of extra screen real estate, and use high-resolution resources. There’s a lot more to be had in the guide so we urge developers to put a nice, shiny bookmark in between the middle of these pages. Trust me: your users won’t thank you enough for getting rid of the need to scale smartphone apps to devices upwards of 7 inches. [via Google]
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| Did Google accidentally ship a 32GB Nexus 7 to a Japanese customer? Posted: 08 Oct 2012 01:10 PM PDT With more and more evidence suggesting a 32GB Nexus 7 unit is on the way it seems at least one customer may have proof of that straight from Google. A consumer in Japan reportedly ordered a 16GB Nexus 7. There was only one problem (or joyous occasion, depending on who you are): it wasn’t a 16GB Nexus 7. Instead, it seems to be a 32GB version.
If you don’t recall, Google was originally rumored to be making a Nexus 7 with 32GB of storage when the device was first announced. A bit of time went on before we ever heard anything concrete, but inventory systems have shown it, resellers seem to have it in stock, and we’ve since had a possible launch date to look forward to: October 24th! (Incidentally, that’s the same day Samsung will unveil the Galaxy Note 2 in the US, but that doesn’t mean much here.) With Google’s initiative to step into a cloud-based ecosystem it’s become important for users to get at least 32GB inside their tablets. That’s the main reason a lot of people haven’t sprung for the Nexus 7, but that should all be eradicated with this release. Yea, most of you would still rather have 32GB of storage with more expansion options, but if having a pure Google tablet is important to you then this is the best route to take. We’ll keep our eyes to the digital street for more. [via Notebook Italia]
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| Google Play Music, Movies, and TV Shows now available on Google TV; new developer features Posted: 08 Oct 2012 11:13 AM PDT Well it’s about time, Google. The Mountain View company announced the availability of Google Play Music, Movies, and TV shows for devices running Google TV. It’s a natural fit for those who’ve enjoyed life with Android on the big screen, and while this doesn’t bring over books and magazines (would you really want them to?) it’s nice progress in an otherwise stagnant experience.
Users can either buy content right from the device, or access the content they’ve bought on other devices via the cloud. That’s not the only thing in this upgrade, though. Google has announced new features for developers such as automatic updates, in-app subscription billing, and smart updates. The features will be coming to you via an upgrade. Google didn’t state whether or not this would be a hot update (where an app silently updates without prompting the user) but we should know in due time. Let us know when you start to see the new features as you use your Google TV devices in the comments section below. [via GTV Source]
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| T-Mobile announces the LG Optimus L9, available ‘this fall’ Posted: 08 Oct 2012 09:23 AM PDT
Leaked last week, T-Mobile has officially announced that they will carry the style-focused LG Optimus L9. The Optimus L9 is an Ice Cream Sandwich device with a 4.5-inch qHD display, 1GHz dual-core CPU, and 5MP camera all in a frame that measures in at a mere 0.36-inches thick. It comes as the top-tier option in a line that also includes the Optimus L3, L5, and L7. Exact pricing and release details were not mentioned, but the phone is pegged to launch this fall. Check out the full press release below for further details.
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| Did Apple’s misrepresented evidence paint Samsung as the copycat unfairly? Posted: 08 Oct 2012 09:16 AM PDT
If you ask Samsung, Google, and the majority of our readers, the Korean maker of the Galaxy S line of phones really got hosed when a jury made a $1 billion decision declaring that the company infringed on Apple software and design patents. While Samsung is seeking to have the verdict overturned due to claims of bias and misconduct, newly released court documents suggest that evidence might have been skewed to favor the maker of the iPhone and iPad. Specifically, an internal memo from Samsung bigwig JK Shin was quoted as urging his employees to “make something like the iPhone.” Left out was the context in which Shin merely used the device as a point of comparison, saying “when everybody (both consumers and the industy) talk about UX, they weigh it against the iPhone. The iPhone has become the standard.” Shin goes on to ask his designers to “make their own designs with conviction and confidence,” and to “make designs with faces that are creative and diverse.” Further spoiling Apple’s argument is Shin’s call to focus on screen size as a differentiating factor with statements like “our biggest asset is our screen,” and “it is very important that we make screen size bigger.” The full statement was not presented to the jury, with Apple instead cherry-picking choice quotes to fit their argument. Would the full letter have changed the opinion of those left with the decision? That’s a hard call. But it certainly presents a different angle on the matter. One that suggests Samsung wasn’t attempting to “blatantly copy” the iPhone as Apple’s legal team has so numerous times said. [via BGR]
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| Samsung Galaxy S3 soon available in brown and black on Verizon Posted: 08 Oct 2012 08:18 AM PDT
Add two more color options to Verizon’s Samsung Galaxy S3 lineup. The popular handset will soon be available in both brown and black variants on Big Red’s network. The new models were advertised this morning on VZW’s site along with a form to submit an email address to be notified of availability. As things stand, no word on exactly when we might see the two new colors, but we imagine they shouldn’t be more than a month or so off. We’d sure like to get a better look at the brown, though. It’s an interesting choice. [via DroidLife]
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| Angry Birds Star Wars coming November 8th Posted: 08 Oct 2012 07:51 AM PDT
Ready for the next Angry Birds spinoff? Me neither, but one way or another we’ll see it come November 8th. That’s when Rovio plans to launch Angry birds Star Wars, a tie-in to George Lucas’ sci-fi epic that combines all the bird flinging of past Rovio titles with characters and settings from the popular movies. Says Rovio CMO Peter Vesterbacka, “This is the best Angry birds game we’ve ever done.” The new game will, of course, launch with its fair share of merchandise, including costumes, clothing, toys, and plush dolls. This Angry Birds thing has really become quite the cash cow, amiright? [via Rovio]
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| Sprint launches new vanity number service StarStar Me Posted: 08 Oct 2012 07:10 AM PDT
Ever wish getting in touch was as easy as dialing a person’s name? Sprint is now offering a new subscription service that will allow users to assign a vanity number to their mobile phone, turning the normal 10 digits into an easy to remember dial code. Called StarStar Me, the new name/number follows after dialing the star sign twice. For instance, I could snag **KEVIN (**53846) and never have to worry about a new friend forgetting how to ring my cell. The service has a few other perks, including automated text message responses and “a unique way to share links to their blog, website or social media accounts.” StarStar Me will be available to Sprint customers for a monthly fee of $2.99.
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| Congressional report warns of Huawei, ZTE as national security threats Posted: 08 Oct 2012 06:24 AM PDT
If you caught 60 Minutes this weekend you might recall seeing Mike Rogers, chairman of the US Congress’ Intelligence Committee, urging American consumers to avoid purchasing products from Chinese mobile manufacturers Huawei and ZTE. Today the results of his groups 11-month investigation will be published to further detail the companies as threats to the security of our nation. The report, of which Reuters has obtained an early look, calls into question the ties both Huawei and ZTE have to the Chinese government, and further claims both parties did not willingly cooperate with the investigation. The accusations against Huawei seem to be the strongest, with the report pointing to allegations of “bribery, corruption, discriminatory behavior and copyright infringement.” ZTE has responded, expressing their disagreement with the findings of the committee and calling the accusations “baseless.” For two manufacturers attempting to broaden their impact in the US market, the news likely means an even greater uphill climb. [via Reuters]
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| Galaxy Note 2 code hits Samsung’s Open Source Release Center Posted: 08 Oct 2012 05:29 AM PDT
Heads up modders and devs of the Android world, Samsung has just released the source code for the newly minted Galaxy Note 2. While the phone hasn’t hit the streets in many regions around the world (the US included), those folks need not apply anyway as the code found at Samsung’s Open Source Release Center is catered toward the GT-N7100 version of the phone. The code should be enough to get interested parties started down the path toward custom ROMs for the 5.5-inch “phablet.” Search the aforementioned model number at the source link below to find it. [via Samsung]
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| HTC continues trend, net income down $137 million in Q3 Posted: 08 Oct 2012 05:15 AM PDT
HTC has just dropped its financials for the third quarter of 2012, and once again the numbers are following a downward trend. Overall, the Taiwanese mobile maker reported gains of NT$70.2 billion ($2.4billion), though net income (pre-tax) was down to NT$4 billion ($137 million). The number comes in far below last quarters income of $250 million. HTC has been banking on a strategy of fewer devices, higher quality in the hopes that it can draw customers back from the likes of Samsung and Apple, but this year’s HTC One line has yet to really spark the sort of positive earnings the company would like. Perhaps the One X+ will bring along plus results.
[via Engadget]
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