Tuesday, October 16, 2012

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Google Android News Android Forums

Unapproving shareholders look to block MetroPCS and T-Mobile merger

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 04:05 PM PDT

T-Mobile’s parent company, Deutsche Telekom, was poised to merge with MetroPCS for a purchase price of $1.5 billion, until the shareholders stepped in. MetroPCS, who has been successful with their low-cost LTE service, is currently sitting at around $11.33 per share. Deutsch Telekom’s original offer of $1.5 billion would hand over 74% of the stock, which works out to around $12.48 per share, as well as include a 1-for-2 reverse stock split. The remaining 26% would stay in the shareholders hands.

The current shareholders are feeling a bit undervalued, which you can’t completely blame them since the company was once valued at $10 billion. They feel that the small asking price is a far cry from the $39 billion AT&T dropped for T-mobile itself, and T-Mo doesn’t even offer LTE service. This barricade by stockholders could potentially affect not only the mobile service business, but also increase the value of the MetroPCS stock on the New York Stock Exchange.

Source: Phandroid

Android 4.1.2 update now rolling out to GSM Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S handsets

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 03:56 PM PDT

While the update to Android 4.1.2 may have arrived for Nexus 7 owners last week, the new software is now making its way to specific Nexus handsets. The latest iteration in Jelly Bean is currently rolling out to select GSM Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S smartphones. Users are reporting that only “yakju” variants of the Galaxy Nexus are currently seeing the update, though it’s expected that the “takju” model (the one officially sold through the Google Play Store) will be getting in on the action over the next couple of days.

As expected, version 4.1.2 is a minor update for phones. Other than a slight performance increase, no incredibly significant changes are noticeable. Despite the Nexus 7′s update having unleashed landscape mode, Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S users will continue to be limited to portrait, sans any custom launcher.

If you simply can’t wait for the update to hit your device, you can always head to the source link below to flash the OTA manually.

Source: XDA

AT&T Optimus G available Nov. 2 for $199, pre-orders start tomorrow

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 02:20 PM PDT

LG’s hottest and newest flagship device in the LG Optimus G will be available on AT&T starting November 2nd with pre-orders starting tomorrow. Here’s a small list on what you can expect with this device:

  • Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
  • 4.7-inch 1280 x 768 True HD IPS Display (with Zerogap Touch)
  • 1.5-GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor
  • 2,100mAh battery
  • 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera
  • 4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.0

While LG doesn’t exactly have the best track record with its customers, the Optimus G will definitely be a device to be reckoned with. Preliminary reviews of the device are showing great things, especially when it comes to its IPS display.

Anyone out there willing to give LG another shot with the Optimus G?

source: AT&T

Contest: Win a Nexus 7 courtesy of Security Coverage and TalkAndroid

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 02:14 PM PDT

We recently reviewed Password Genie Data Protection, which is a fantastic app for keeping all your accounts and password information safe. It’s one of the must have apps for every Android user. The makers of Password Genie, Security Coverage would like to reward one of our loyal readers with a brand new 8GB Nexus 7. Who’s going to argue with that? Just complete the following two steps to enter for a chance to win.

  1. Like Password Genie on Facebook.
  2. Head over to our forum post and tell us if you have ever been a victim of password theft (I know I have).

What could be simpler? You have until Thursday, October 18 at 11:59pm EST to complete the tasks at hand. On Friday, October 19 we will post the winner. If you are the lucky winner, you can expect an email to the account associated with your username. Good Luck.

Click here to enter

Microsoft drags Google along in their patent dispute against Motorola Mobility

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 01:59 PM PDT

Microsoft’s current dispute against Motorola Mobility in Germany has taken a turn as they have now dragged Google into the mix. In the past, companies have always taken Google’s Android vendors to court, but never Google themselves. Microsoft has taken that step as the patent in question defines a method for a mobile device to obtain a map from one database, call up resource information such as the location of a hotel from a second database, and overlay the two sets of data.

According to a Microsoft spokesperson, they decided to bring Google into the mix because ”It became necessary to add Google to this particular case because Motorola maintains that it lacks sufficient information about actions occurring on Google’s servers.”

In response, Google’s Deputy General Counsel Allen Lo said in an emailed statement: ”We want to focus on innovation, not litigation, but we’ll vigorously defend against any amended complaint Microsoft files.”

What do you guys think of Microsoft not just taking Motorola to court, but Google themselves as well?

source: rueters

FTC looking at possible antitrust case against Google

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 01:17 PM PDT

After over a year of investigating, members of the FTC are starting to believe that Google has illegally used it’s power as the most dominant search engine. This means that Google is looking at a rather serious anti-trust case. Numerous internet companies have been asking the FTC to repremand Google including Yelp and Nextag. Google has the ability to give other websites low quality rating scores pushing them down the results list and putting their own products at the top. The only way around that would be for companies to buy ads so they will be at the top which of course gets Google more money.

Along with their strength as a search engine, FTC is also taking a look at how Google is handling patents “which are determined to be essential to smartphones”. They are even suspicious that Google may be using patent infringement lawsuits as a way to hamper innovation and strengthen their own product, Android. Many companies that use Android have found them selves in court which has had Google thinking about how they handle patents.

It is suspected that the FTC will decided by the end of the year if Google has broken the law or not. If they do think Google broke the law then the most likely outcome will be a settlement between the search giant and the FTC, if that falls through another long court case is in Google’s future.

Source: Reuters

Featured Play Store Review: YourCity 3D [Live Wallpaper]

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 10:20 AM PDT

YourCity 3D, from inHause Games, just hit the Google Play Store, and if you’re a fan of live wallpapers you’re going to want to check it out. YourCity 3D gives you an aerial tour of a beautiful computer generated city at night that includes bright lights and moving traffic. The cool thing about it, is that no two cities are the same since it will reset automatically every day. It contains no textures or geometry data as they are procedurally generated and completely random.

You can also add a little customization of your own like building names, scrolling displays, and billboard signs. The building names are LED style and reside at the top of the buildings and scrollable displays are shown across buildings. You can choose as many of these names as you want. As to billboards, you can point the app to whatever folder has the pictures you want included. These settings are available just before setting YourCity 3D as your wallpaper, and they are saved in case you want to change to another wallpaper and revert back to it.

YourCity 3D is very attractive and since it’s dark, it will have minimal battery drain. The only negative I did find was that billboards and building names are sometimes not all that viewable on phones, but it’s really not the focal point anyway. It’s the city itself and the aerial views, which will give your phone or tablet a really nice look. inHause did say they are going to make some changes that could improve this issue, but I still think it’s worthy of an install and it’s my go to live wallpaper right now. It’s $1.49 so give it a try. Check out the quick demo video below and hit one of the download links to get started. As always, let me know what you think.

Full list of features

  • Contains no textures or geometry data.
  • All textures and geometry are procedurally generated and completely random.
  • No two cities are the same.
  • City automatically resets daily, so you’ll have a different city every day.
  • Simulated traffic and traffic lights.
  • Decorate your city with animated billboards that are built from pictures and photos on your device.
  • Set your scrolling text displays to show anything of your choosing.
  • Name your buildings.
  • Full 3D hardware acceleration. Supports OpenGL ES 2.0 / 1.1.
  • Optimized for low memory usage and little to no impact on system performance.
  • Supports all Android devices with Android 2.2 and up.
  • Inspired by PixelCity by Shamus Young.
  • Built on LibGDX by Badlogic Games.
Your_City_3D_Live_Wallpaper_01 Your_City_3D_Live_Wallpaper_02 Your_City_3D_Live_Wallpaper_03 Your_City_3D_Live_Wallpaper_04 Your_City_3D_Live_Wallpaper_05 Your_City_3D_Live_Wallpaper_06 Your_City_3D_Live_Wallpaper_07 Your_City_3D_Live_Wallpaper_Splash_Banner Your_City_3D_Live_Wallpaper_TA

Click here to view the embedded video.

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Play Store Download Link

First in series of Modern Combat 4 videos released by Gameloft

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 09:43 AM PDT

Video game producer Gameloft released a new video today for their forthcoming Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour game coming this fall. Gameloft is creating a series of “Developer Diary” videos as part of their promotion efforts. If the first one is any indication, the videos will be a combination of samples of game play and commentary from the developers explaining what changes and improvements are being made since the last title.

For Modern Combat 4, the developers note one major change will be the ability to play as either hero or villain. Gameloft also indicates they have completely redone the animations for the game, both for players and vehicles, through the use of some new technology. This includes the use of ragdoll models for people in the game. The video shows some of the updated motion capture that was completed as part of development. The game will also include a new “tactical system” which is supposed to make moving around easier for players.

The second video in the series will cover multiplayer features of the new game. You can check out the first Developer Diary below.

Click here to view the embedded video.

modern_combat_02 modern_combat_03 modern_combat_4

source: AndroidCentral

Archos GamePad gets a hands on demo video

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 09:33 AM PDT

The Archos GamePad was announced in August and is still an extremely intriguing device. This tablet is clearly made for the gamer in us all. It has buttons on the side so the entire 7 inch 1024 x 600 screen is available for looking at what you’re doing. The dual-core processor and quad-core GPU partnered with the gaming buttons off the touchscreen will make advanced gaming better than ever on Android. Oh did I mention that it could be priced somewhere south of $150? Instead of listening to me ramble about the GamePad, hit the break and check out the video by Charbax who demos the device and explains how the buttons integrate into the Android platform.

Click here to view the embedded video.

LG releases Jelly Bean update schedule for some devices

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 09:03 AM PDT

LG’s Korean site released information today regarding their plans to roll out Jelly Bean updates to some of their devices. It appears the first device to get the official update will be the LG Optimus LTE II starting some time in November. Translating the Korean page is a bit of challenge, but it appears a Jelly Bean update for the LG Optimus G will be pushed out in December. As 2013 opens, LG indicates both the LG Optimus Vu and LG Optimus Vu II will get Jelly Bean updates during the first quarter.

According to Jong-Seok Park, LG’s Vice President of the Electronics Mobile Communications division, the updates will include both Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and some of LG’s own apps and UI modifications. Among the changes that are touted are increased touch screen response speed and enhanced “Q” apps. The changes are expected to create a user experience that is similar to what users get with a Jelly Bean device out of the box.

LG does not indicate whether the time frames and devices listed apply to markets outside Korea.

source: LG Newsroom Korea
Posted by at 5:42 AM

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