Friday, October 19, 2012

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[For Rooted Users Only] Trinity Kernel and TKT App Review

Posted: 18 Oct 2012 02:55 PM PDT

If you’re familiar with rooting and custom ROM’s, then I’m sure you’ve had your fair share of trying to find the right kernel to flash that coincides best with your phone and current ROM. Keep in mind that the best kernel is always up for grabs and I feel is just too subjective to definitively determine who makes the best kernel. Every phone is different, and every ROM (stock or not) is different. For me, the best that has worked for quite some time now on my Samsung Galaxy Nexus has been Trinity kernel created by XDA user Morfic. Trinity is currently available for the Nexus S, Nexus 7, (AT&T/TMO) Samsung Galaxy S III and the Galaxy Nexus.

If you’re not familiar with Trinity kernel, or if you’ve never used it, Trinity offers a kernel that’s optimized and enhanced for performance all while maintaining a great battery life. Morfic also offers several versions of his kernel all dependent to your liking, whether you want an overclocked CPU version or even an overclocked GPU version. Trinity also offers great colors for my Nexus’ SAMOLED screen. Upon first flash, you may notice a slight blu-ish hue to your Galaxy Nexus’ screen, but trust me, after a couple days you’ll get used to it and will never want to go back to stock colors. Here’s a full list of what Trinity offers:

  • Offering lowered voltages
  • Build optimizations
  • Performance through research
  • Removed wasteful debugging
  • Optimized ext4 mount options
  • VM, Filesystem, governor tweaks
  • Color Control
  • Contrast Control
  • Sound Control
  • Vibration Control
  • 307MHz to 512MHz GPU as indicated in filename
  • 1344 to 1728MHz as indicated in filename or any in between or above

 

With so much power and so many features/options from one kernel, there should be something else with it that gives you complete control, right? Morfic was great enough to create his own Trinity Kernel Toolbox (TKT) application that gives the user absolute control of the kernel so that he/she can change several aspects such as CPU overclock, voltages, colors and even vibration just to name a few.

Upon opening up the TKT app, you’re greeted with the “CPU” tab, in this section of the app you can set your minimum and maximum CPU frequency and choose your desired governor and I/O scheduler. This is an easy and quick way to overclock or underclock your device depending on your current needs or desires.

In this next part of the app, one can set and change the voltages of your CPU. To be honest, I’ve never touched this part of the app, mostly due to my lack of understanding when it comes to undervolting your CPU. Trinity is already undervolted by default and this just allows you to control it even further if you wish to raise the voltages or lower it even more for supposed better battery (if your phone ca handle it). One thing to keep note of: If you decide to change the default Trinity voltages, to my understanding you also have to turn off  ”Smart Reflex” which can be found in the next tab. If you’re familiar with undervolting then this is a great section of the app for you, if you’re not then I would highly suggest to just stay clear from this section until you familiarize yourself with it a bit more.

 

The “Tunables” section of the TKT app is what I use the most. In this section you’re able to change the vibration strength of your device and enable awesome features such as “USB Fast Charge” (this enables you to charge your device via your computer and USB cable just like it were hooked up to the standard wall charger). An advantage of owning a device with a SAMOLED screen is that you’re allowed to change many aspects of it such as gamma collors, color multipliers and the overall contrast of your screen. The TKT app allows you to change the colors of your screen to your liking. By default it’s on “Trinity Colors,” but if you wish to tinker it a little bit that best fits you, then this is an easy took for you to do so. At the very bottom you’ll see other switches: Smart Reflex, FSync and Thermal Throttling. XDA use GideonX provided a great explanation of these three: 

Smart Reflex is used to scale your voltages. Voltage will be increased or decreased when required. If you are overclocking, disable SR to have access to higher clock speeds.

FSync is a system call that can be toggled on to write buffers to disk (slow) or toggled off (fast) for performance. FSync defaults to on in the linux kernels, the option to disable it exists but it is advised to use this with caution. COMPLETE data corruption could occur if the phone crashes with fsync disabled.

Thermal throttling protects your CPU from overheating. If you are benchmarking, turn this option off to prevent throttling of the CPU that can cause lower scores. Just remember to re-enable it afterwards. Bear in mind that at 110C, the CPU will shut down no matter what. It is not advised to disable thermal throttling, however the option exists for those enthusiasts who are aware of the risk of permanent hardware damage. Please take the necessary precautions!

The very last page is the download section and gives you an easy way to download the latest versions of Trinity. The main ones I use are either the stables releases or experimental ones. To know which version you want, you first have to know a quick understanding of how Morfic labels his releases: TUV is Trinity undervolt, a kernel released with battery saving in mind. TNP is Trinity Nexus Prime, which includes options to overclock. The first number after the kernel designation indicates highest CPU slot. The next number indicates the GPU clock speed.

And that’s it folks! Trinity is a powerful, but yet battery saving kernel. Trinity is available for all Nexus devices and the Samsung Galaxy S III (AT&T/TMO). Trinity should be compatible on any AOSP based ROM such as CyanogenMod 10 and AOKP. I believe it even works on MIUI ROM’s! If you haven’t given Trinity a shot on your Nexus, I would highly recommend it. Trinity gives my “aging” Galaxy Nexus the wings it truly deserves. If Trinity interests you, you obviously have to have a rooted device along with a custom recovery such as Clockwork Mod. Here’s some benchmark scores of Trinity on a Google Nexus 7 provided by XDA user Simms22:

I’d like to thank Morfic (Twitter) and Simms22 (Twitter) for graciously helping me with the information needed to write up this post. If any of you guys have any questions, they’re always happy to help you out, whether it’s through Twitter or through their XDA thread. Below will be links to Trinity downloads, a QR code and download link for the TKT app and a link to the Trinity XDA thread. Enjoy!

QR Code generator

Play Store Download Link

Trinity Kernel

Trinity XDA Thread

DROID RAZR HD Developer Edition Hits Motorola’s Site for $599

Posted: 18 Oct 2012 02:25 PM PDT

Following last month’s release of the DROID RAZR M Developer Edition, those anxious to be able to do the same type of customization with the RAZR HD are in luck. The DROID RAZR HD Developer Edition is now available from Motorola via their website. Be warned though: The second you purchase this bad boy, your warranty is void. Basically, there is no warranty. However, this edition does let you customize to your heart’s content like custom software and themes thanks to its unlocked bootloader. Having this luxury will set you back a cool $599. The Developer Edition will begin shipping on October 22nd.

 

source:  Motorola

Marvel War of Heroes arrives on Google Play with trading card addictiveness in tow

Posted: 18 Oct 2012 01:54 PM PDT

Trading Card Games such as Rage of Bahamut have been extremely popular with Android users. Now the comic book giant Marvel, responsible for icons such as Spiderman and the recently revived Avengers series, have decided to cut themselves a piece of the pie with the recently released Marvel War of Heroes. Made by the same developers as the aforementioned Rage of Bahamut, expect it to have extremely strategic and open gameplay that everyone from the die hard TCG player to the 7-year old Iron Man fanatic can enjoy.

Published by Mobage games, it has a social aspect ingrained into its very DNA, allowing players to play each other, as well as participate in a cooperative campaign across the internet. Complete with all the Facebook and Twitter connectivity you could dream for, this is a game made for groups of friends to play and challenge each other. The game is currently out and early user reviews are proclaiming it the best game since Rage of Bahamut and many users are willing to share promo codes for exclusive and rare cards. With a free price tag, I suggest anyone who’s into TCGs to pick this one up for some on-the-go action. Hit the break for the download links.

 

QR Code generator

Play Store Download  Link

Premature earnings release causes Google stock price to nosedive

Posted: 18 Oct 2012 01:42 PM PDT

Earlier today, Google’s quarterly earnings were accidentally released via a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The premature filing appears to have been made in error by R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co., which is the company retained by Google to print its financial documents. As if the snafu involving the filing of unofficial documents was not enough, the results showed that Google’s profit declined by 20% amid rising costs and declining advertising revenues. This missed expectations and triggered a sell-off with Google share prices down 9% before trading was suspended. Once trading resumed at about 3:20 pm ET, it remained in that area and was down 8% at last report.

All of the trading action occurred based on a preliminary report marked “PENDING LARRY QUOTE.” Clearly a reference to Google CEO Larry Page who had not yet provided his spin on the financial results. In official statements filed later in the afternoon, in newly added text, Page indicates, “We had a strong quarter. Revenue was up 45 percent year-on-year, and, at just fourteen years old, we cleared our first $14 billion revenue quarter.”

Details in the filing show the average cost of a Google “click” for advertisers fell 15% compared to a year ago and 3% compared to the second quarter. The good news is that paid clicks were up 33% from the prior year and 6% from the prior quarter. The falling fees for advertising are at least partially driven by the fact that mobile devices tend to pull in less clicks and revenue and with the growth of mobile devices relative to traditional desktops, Google is in a tough situation.

Overall, Google was profitable for the quarter, yielding $2.18 billion, though that was down from $2.73 billion a year earlier. Revenue came in at $11.33 billion excluding some costs, but missed analysts expectations of $11.86 billion. Likewise, with adjusted earnings at $9.03 per share, Google missed expectations of $10.65 a share and actually went down compared to earnings of $9.72 per share a year earlier.

Despite today’s slide and missing analysts’ expectations, Google has been performing quite well during 2012. They have achieved double digit revenue growth for over two years and the stock price rose considerably starting in July after concerns about the Motorola acquisition faded. Motorola did have a loss of $527 million for the quarter, but the drag is not as bad as previously anticipated. Google has announced a planned 20% reduction in Motorola’s workforce.

source: WSJ

Sprint gains control of Clearwire

Posted: 18 Oct 2012 10:30 AM PDT

Sprint officially holds the controlling interest in Clearwire after buying out a shareholder pushing their stake in Clearwire from 48.1% to 50.8%. Clearwire and Sprint were both struggling financially but this move was made possible by Softbank acquiring Sprint on Monday. Sprint and Clearwire have done this dance before, but now that they have support from Softbank and a little more financial support it will be interesting to see what these companies are able to do in the future.

Source: Reuters

Carbon Trust certification awarded to Samsung Galaxy S III and Ace Duo

Posted: 18 Oct 2012 10:05 AM PDT

 The Samsung Galaxy S III is a phone that was instantly hailed as one of the best phones on the market and that was before the Jelly Bean update. When you have the combination of great hardware engineering and imaginative software all the praise is well deserved, now the Galaxy S III is being honored for being environmentally friendly. The Galaxy S III along with the Samsung Ace Duo in Europe were awarded the Carbon Trust PAS 2050 certification. PAS 2050 certification is based on greenhouse emissions over a devices lifetime. To put this into additional perspective, the Galaxy S II and Galaxy Note had also received this certification, so this adds to Samsung’s recent history of environmentally friendly phones. Does the environment ever play a role in deciding which phone you buy?

Source: Android central

PowerA Moga Controller hands on review: console-like gaming on the go

Posted: 18 Oct 2012 09:44 AM PDT

I think we are at the beginning of a boom for smartphone/tablet controllers. With the console showing signs of decline, all eyes are on on the mobile community. There are two elements that need to be met in order for mobile to take over. First, you need quality games, and second, you need good controls. Each and everyday we are getting closer and closer to console-like games, but what about the controls? We already have a number of controllers available, and nothing has excited me too much until now. The problem with controllers is that there’s no place to put your phone. If you try to put it on a table, it’s awkward, and it just doesn’t work. The PowerA MOGA Bluetooth controller takes care of this problem and gives you a complete portable mini-gaming system for $49.99 (available October 21). Does it live up to the hype and is it worth your hard earned dollars? Hit the break to find out.

Design

As soon as I took the MOGA controller out of its case, I noticed the build was exceptional and that it felt comfortable. It has all the stuff you could want in a controller. It has two analog sticks, one towards the top left and the other towards the bottom right. Above the right stick, you will find the standard A/B/X/Y buttons and just below the left stick, you will find a PowerA button, as well ones for start and reset. They also included right and left triggers to the front of the controller. All in all the controller feels comfortable to hold and the buttons and sticks are very responsive.

The top center of the controller houses the arm, which will hold your phone. You simply lift it up and extend the extension arm to place your phone (up to 82mm wide) in it. I’ve tested it with an HTC One X, a Samsung Galaxy S III, and a Samsung Galaxy Note I. All of them fit nicely in the holder without any struggles. The holder itself feels solid and it locks into place nicely when you’re not using it. The only issue that you might have is that your phone could have volume controls that are in the spot where the holder hugs your phone. PowerA designed the holder to be as thin as possible, but they can’t control every phone out there. You can place your phone slightly off center or flip it the other way to avoid any issues.

You will find the power button after you have lifted the extension arm. This is a nice touch since the MOGA won’t accidentally turn on when it’s not in use. The bottom has a textured rubber-like feel that’s non-slippery. You will find two battery compartments, one to the right and the other to the left. Each compartment houses one AAA battery. This is probably my biggest complaint with the MOGA, which is the lack of a rechargeable battery. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it is disappointing. Depending on customer feedback, it’s very likely it will be added with the next version.

 

 

Performance

The MOGA performed very well. As you will see in my hands on video below, the controls were responsive and there was zero lag, which is the most important.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Battery

As I mentioned earlier, my only real gripe is the lack of a re-chargeable battery. The good news is that it only takes two AAA batteries so that’s not a huge deal. PowerA says that you will get 18 hours of playing time, which is very nice. When your batteries are close to running dry, the PowerA button will start to pulse red. That will be the initial warning, and as things continue to drop, it will flash more rapidly.

Software

There is no software in the MOGA itself, but you need the MOGA Pivot app to use and pair your controller with your phone. Since you can only play games that are compatible with the MOGA, this app will help you easily find those games. You don’t purchase or download anything through the Pivot app as it will send you to the Google Play Store. It will also list the games that you already have installed with quick links to launch them. You can look up titles by category or by letter.

There is a decent number of games already available with more to come. Games that are compatible now include Asphalt 7: Heat, Doom GLES, Dungeon Hunter 3, Final Freeway 2R, Galaxy NGC3D HD, Gangster Rio: City of Saints, GnarBike Trials, N.O.V.A 3, PAC-MAN, Riptide GP, Rocket Fox, Six Guns, Sky Gamblers: Rise of Glory, Sonic CD, Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode II, Stealth Chopper 3D, The Dark Night Rises, and Virtua Tennis Challenge.

If you want to remap your controller’s buttons for certain games, you can do it if the developer put the code in for it. I noticed there wasn’t an option for Asphalt 7, but Riptide GP did allow for it.

Closing

I was really excited when PowerA announced the MOGA controller and now that I got my hands on one, I’m happy to say that it lives up to my expectations. There are a couple of disappointments like the lack of a rechargeable battery, but there’s always something. Since I can get 18 hours of use, it’s a minor inconvenience  The most important thing is comfort and responsiveness, and the MOGA tackles both with ease. It truly gives you better control with the feel of a portable gaming system, and it has me excited for the games that I didn’t try before because they lacked decent controls. Priced at $49.99, I think it’s a steal since it’s not only a high quality controller, but it can be used with future phones. Let me know what you think and happy gaming!!

 

 

Apple loses U.K. tablet design appeal, must run ads to clear Samsung

Posted: 18 Oct 2012 09:14 AM PDT

An appeals court in the U.K. has issued a ruling in one of the many Apple v. Samsung cases from around the world. This particular appeal involved a case where Apple had alleged Samsung copied the design of the iPad with their Samsung Galaxy Tab device. Apple had originally lost the lawsuit after a U.K. judge found the Samsung designs were not as simplistic as Apple’s. In a stinging turn of events for Apple, the London court had ordered Apple to post information on their web site and take out several advertisements in a variety of publications to admit that Samsung had not copied their products. Apple appealed the ruling and obtained a stay to prevent having to comply with the disclosure. The appellate court has upheld the lower court’s ruling that Samsung did not copy the iPad and they have affirmed the need for a very public statement from Apple regarding the matter.

In the ruling, the appeal judges noted, “The acknowledgement must come from the horse’s mouth. Nothing short of that will be sure to do the job completely.” The judges did indicate a single hypertext link on the homepage taking users to the full statement and original judgment will suffice. The link only needs to appear for a one month period. Along with a statement on the Apple web site, advertisements must be placed in sources like the Daily Mail, Financial Times, T3 Magazine and others.

In their appeal, Apple had once again argued that the front face and overall shape of the tablet was key to their claims. The judges for the appeals court indicated the question was not whether Samsung had engaged in any copying, but whether the design itself was too similar. As the lower court had previously found, the Galaxy Tab devices were not as simplistic as the iPad. The appeals court extended and expanded on this concept with additional details. One of the judges noted that Samsung had decided to place their logo on the front face of their device which was contrary to Apple’s registered design which specified there should be “no ornamentation.” It was also noted that Samsung used more varied color for the device’s rear case and had a bulge to allow for the camera along with different edges. Basically, it seems the court is telling Apple that their own design incorporates more than just the shape of a rectangle with a flat face and if they were to ever want to prove infringement, they will have to show design similarities beyond the basic shape.

Samsung issued a statement noting:

“We continue to believe that Apple was not the first to design a tablet with a rectangular shape and rounded corners and that the origins of Apple’s registered design features can be found in numerous examples of prior art.

Should Apple continue to make excessive legal claims in other countries based on such generic designs, innovation in the industry could be harmed and consumer choice unduly limited.”

Apple has declined to comment thus far. The case can still be appealed to the U.K. Supreme Court.

source: BBC

Acer Iconia Tab A110 tablet to hit the U.S. and Canada on October 30 for $229

Posted: 18 Oct 2012 07:43 AM PDT

With the Nexus 7 enjoying tremendous success, Acer is looking to crash the party with a 7-inch tab of their own. The Iconia Tab 110 is already available in the UK, but will finally makes its way to the U.S. and Canada on October 30 for $229.  This one will compete directly with the Nexus 7 and it has its pluses and minus. On the plus side, it has a microSD slot for expanded storage as well as a MicroHDMI slot to connect to your HDTV. On the minus side, it’s display comes in at 1024 x 600, which isn’t as good as the Nexus 7′s 1280 x 800.  The rest of the specs line up with the Nexus 7, which include a quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage, 2MP front-facing camera, Bluetooth 3.0, and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

The new 32GB version of the Nexus 7 will cost roughly $249 so it really comes down to what features are most important to you.

Full press release after the break:

Pocket Size Power Player: Acer Introduces Iconia A110 Tablet

SAN JOSE, Calif., (Oct. 18, 2012) Acer America today expanded its Iconia™ Tab lineup with the A110, a lightweight, pocket-sized 7-inch multi-touch tablet. Available Oct. 30 in the United States and Canada, the compact and stylish Iconia Tab A110 is perfect to tote around at all times to read, browse, play games and enjoy media.

"Today's consumers are increasingly mobile and want easy and instant access to entertainment at all times," said Paul Tayar, senior director of product marketing for connected devices, Acer America. "The Iconia Tab A110 is another example of how Acer is meeting the needs of consumers, by providing tablet form factors that combine portability and performance for fun and gaming, at affordable prices."

More comfortable to browse on than a smartphone, the trim A110 tablet is just 0.86 pound and less than a half-inch slim. Easy to hold in one hand for hours of comfortable enjoyment and slender enough to fit in a pocket or handbag, the tablet delivers bright and crisp images for movies, photos, books and games. Featuring a vibrant capacitive multi-touch display with 1024×600 resolution, the A110 ensures optimal screen viewing from every angle – up and down
and left to right.

Powered by the latest Android™ 4.1 "Jelly Bean" operating system, the A110 tablet provides faster and smoother performance for applications and widgets. Users can customize and expand their tablet experience with ease using the Android™ Market to choose from hundreds of thousands of apps to enjoy the A110 any way they want. Also preloaded on the A110, Google Play provides users with an entertainment hub and allows one place to find, enjoy and share apps, music, movies and books from across the web. Google Currents provides free online magazines from hundreds of publishers and online.

The A110 comes equipped with the NVIDIA® Tegra™ 3 quad-core processor, delivering industry-leading performance and responsiveness for running multiple apps, smooth HD video, fast web browsing and console-like gaming. The tablet's NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor features a unique Super 4-PLUS-1™ Quad Core CPU design with a fifth Battery Saver Core, which handles less demanding activities, ultimately using less power and improving battery life. The A110
supports long battery life with smart power management providing up to 7.5 hours of battery life.

Offering superior expansion and connectivity, the Iconia Tab A110 has a micro-USB 2.0 port for hooking up other devices, and a MicroSD slot providing additional storage up to 32GB and easy file transfers. For showcasing entertainment in a larger format, users can easily connect to an external LCD or HDTV via the A110's MicroHDMI output, with dual display support.

For added enjoyment, a two megapixel front-facing web camera enables face-to-face chats or quick snaps for still photos. Bluetooth® 3.0 technology allows users to wirelessly connect to other devices such as Bluetooth printers, keyboards, headsets or speakers. The A110 also includes 1GB of memory and 8GB internal storage.

Pricing and Availability

The Acer Iconia Tab A110 will be for sale on October 30 at leading U.S. and Canadian retailers with pricing beginning at $229.99 USD and CAD.

About Acer

Since its founding in 1976, Acer has broken barriers between people and technology, enabling users to explore, create and grow. Acer ranks No. 2 for notebook PCs globally. The Acer Group employs 8,000 people across the globe, and revenues for 2011 reached US$15.7 billion.

Acer’s channel business model is instrumental to the company’s success, while its multi-brand approach integrates Acer, Gateway, and Packard Bell brands in worldwide markets. Acer designs environmentally friendly products and, with its vendors, has established a green supply chain.

Acer is proud to be a Worldwide Partner of the Olympic Movement. That includes supporting the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games and London 2012 Olympic Games.

Netflix Gets Updated To Include Support For Devices Operating In Nordic Countries

Posted: 18 Oct 2012 06:50 AM PDT

 

Those of you living in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland can now get in on the Netflix party, courtesy of the latest update. That means those of you living there will be able to access and enjoy all the TV and movie content that you can handle. Oh and what’s more is the latest Netflix update also brings improved subtitle support for Android 4.0 and above devices. One thing we should note, however— now that the latest update is available for those regions, if there’s a sudden drop in productivity at various offices, we can only hope the blame is not placed on us.

Users can grab the latest update by scanning the QR code or clicking the Play Store link below.

 

Play Store

 
Posted by at 6:02 AM

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