Sunday, October 28, 2012

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Google Android News Android Forums

Yet another LG Nexus 4 render

Posted: 27 Oct 2012 04:00 PM PDT

Even though Google has been forced to cancel their event on Monday, that has not stopped fans from continuing their search for any thing related to the LG Nexus 4 smartphone that was expected to be announced. While we wait on word from Google about rescheduling the event or some other means of revealing their latest technology, you can whet your appetite a bit with yet another leak of a render of the Nexus 4. There is not a whole of note in this latest image. Perhaps a better view of the bezel surrounding the back cover and a screen displaying a stock Android install are all we can glean.

Hang in there for more updates on Google's plans for their events and to finally see the new Nexus 4 as an official Google smartphone.

source: @evleaks

HTC One X starts getting some Jelly Bean love

Posted: 27 Oct 2012 03:04 PM PDT

HTC has made good on its promise to bring Jelly Bean and Sense 4+ to the One X this month. XDA users are reporting the roll out has begun in HTC’s home country of Taiwan. The hefty 352.87MB update (software number 3.14.709.16) will bring the One X to Android 4.1 and Sense 4+.  No news on the One S or One XL, but we remain hopeful this One X roll out is the beginning.

Of course, if you’re not willing to wait for the update to make it to your region, there are other ways to get Jelly Bean early on the One X.

Source: XDA
via: Gotta Be Mobile

Motorola DROID RAZR HD AND RAZR MAXX HD Smartphones Get Minor Security Update

Posted: 27 Oct 2012 02:42 PM PDT

 

Verizon’s hottest smartphones for the fall may be only a few weeks old, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t get a  welcome update, right? Well Verizon and Motorola have announced a minor security update for the DROID RAZR/RAZR MAXX HD smartphones. The build— version 0.7.2.XT926— brings a “Google Security Patch”… which may or may not remove the ability for owners to partake in any shenanigans with the device.

The update is expected to reach owners sometime within the week, so if you’re an owner of either device, make sure you’re on the lookout for the update.

source: Verizon Wireless

Nexus 4 support manual suggests 8GB and 16GB storage options, wireless charging

Posted: 27 Oct 2012 11:29 AM PDT

Support manuals for the LG E960 have emerged on the company’s Australian and UK websites, ultimately confirming the ubiquitous Nexus 4 moniker. The documentation suggests that the device will be available in both 8GB and 16GB versions. As we have come to expect with Nexus-branded devices, the handset will not support expandable storage via MicroSD. According to the manual, the device will also include an induction coil to enable wireless charging by default, something that users have been interested in for what seems like forever.

Unfortunately, it looks as though we’ll have to wait indefinitely for an official announcement, considering the cancellation of Google’s Nexus event on Monday. You know what they say–safety before fun, right?

Source: Engadget

Google Nexus event cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy

Posted: 27 Oct 2012 10:56 AM PDT

Google just officially announced this Monday’s event has been cancelled. It will obviously be rescheduled, but they are taking a wait and see approach. We certainly aren’t surprised, and although this is disappointing, we hope Hurricane Sandy’s impact is as minimal as possible for all areas involved.

We are canceling our Monday morning event in New York due to Hurricane Sandy. We will let you know our plans as soon as we know more. 

Stay safe and dry, 
The Android Team
So there you have it. We will let you know the details as soon as we get it.

Carphone Warehouse apologizes for launching LG Nexus 4 pre-order page prematurely

Posted: 27 Oct 2012 09:23 AM PDT

A couple of days ago Carphone Warehouse launched a pre-order page for the upcoming Nexus 4 along with the full specs. The page  stayed live for several hours before they were even made aware of the situation.  They later stated “Unfortunately a pre-order page for a new handset that we plan to range went live prematurely. We’ve now rectified this and apologise for any confusion caused.” Neither Google or LG provided a comment about the page.

The leak comes ahead of Google’s big event Monday, and it confirmed many rumors that have been floating around the internet for the past few weeks. The newest lineup in the Nexus family will boast a 4.7 inch LCD screen with an impressive 320 ppi, as well as a powerful quad-core Snapdragon processor and an 8 megapixel shooter. Speaking of that camera, the page listed bragged about a 360 degree panoramic shot. Again, not much we haven’t all heard before, but it’s reassuring that Google is willing to go all out on a very high-end device.

This isn’t the first time a device’s specs were leaked prematurely, and it certainly won’t be the last. And, hey, Google still has plenty of tricks left to pull out at its big event on Monday to surprise everyone. With the rumors of multiple Nexus devices and a Samsung tablet rumor gaining steam over the last few days, I’m sure we’ll still have plenty to be surprised by.

What are your thoughts on the specs? Is anyone disappointed in anything, like the move away from an AMOLED screen and lack of LTE? Let us know in the comments.

Source: BBC News

New DMCA ruling upholds rooting of phones not tablets

Posted: 27 Oct 2012 06:03 AM PDT

The latest ruling in the ever complicated Digital Millennium Copyright Act continues to list smartphones as exempt from the rules prohibiting rooting and Jailbraking as it did in 2010. Good news if you’re waiting for the Nexus 4, not so good if you’re waiting for the Nexus 10; tablets are not included in the exceptions.  The Library Of Congress listed five categories of exemptions which will go into effect on October 28, 2012 and will be valid for three years.

The Library of Congress found the definition of “tablet” to be too broad. The ruling determined “the record lacked a sufficient basis to develop an appropriate definition for the ‘tablet’ category of devices, a necessary predicate to extending the exemption beyond smartphones.” They cited “an e-book reading device might be considered a ‘tablet,’ as might a handheld video game device or a laptop computer.”

Another troubling element of the ruling concerns unlocking phones. You can unlock any phone you currently own or purchase within 90 days of the October 28th start date of this ruling. Any phone purchased after January 2013 can only be unlocked with the carrier’s permission. Are you starting to regret you didn’t sign the petition we told you about back in January?

If you’re interested in ripping a DVD on to your phone or unrootable tablet, it’s apparently still an act of piracy. The ruling only allows for ripping “in order to make use of short portions of the motion pictures for the purpose of criticism or comment in the following instances: (i) in noncommercial videos; (ii) in documentary films; (iii) in nonfiction multimedia e-books offering film analysis; and (iv) for educational purposes in film studies or other courses requiring close analysis of film and media excerpts, by college and university faculty, college and university students, and kindergarten through twelfth grade educators.” A similar exemption applies for “online distribution services.”

Source: Ars Technica

Canonical’s installer easily loads Ubuntu onto your Nexus 7

Posted: 26 Oct 2012 10:54 PM PDT

Have you ever imagined having access to a full fledged desktop experience on your tablet? Well, today the geniuses at Canonical have released the first version of their Ubuntu installer for the Nexus 7, effectively bringing the Debian-derived Linux desktop to your fingertips.

The whole process has been stuffed into a one-click installation tool, so users can easily install the special build (based on version 12.04) on their devices. Keep in mind that in order to properly install the software, you’ll need to have fastboot already set up and functioning, enter a few commands and, of course, have an unlocked bootloader. None of these things should be a problem though, considering it’s a Nexus device after all. In fact, you can find our in-depth directions on how to root and unlock your Nexus 7 here.

Unfortunately, the tool is currently only available as a developer preview for users with machines running Ubuntu 12.04 LTS or Later. However, it is expected that the service will expand with compatibility for other operating systems in the future. For full instructions and more information regarding the installation process, hit the source link below.

Source: Ubuntu (Instructions), Ubuntu (FAQ)
Via: Android Central

LG Nexus 4 prototype was lost and found at a bar, no joke

Posted: 26 Oct 2012 07:27 PM PDT

OK, stop me if you’ve heard this one: A man walks into a bar… Oh, never mind; I know you’ve heard a version of this one. Apparently back in late September, much like that other smart phone a couple of years ago, Google’s worst kept secret was left in a San Francisco bar and subsequently found by the bartender. Not thinking anything of it since he usually finds about 20 cell phones per week in the bar, he set it beside the cash register (the average phone is retrieved in 15 minutes per the bartender). However, unlike other patrons, the device was never retrieved as it sat there all the next day. One of the bartender’s friends, who is up on all the latest news and rumors, was in the bar soon thereafter and instantly recognized the device as the yet-announced LG Nexus.

At that time, the two obviously knew what they had on their hands. The patron then contacted Google headquarters letting them know he’s in possession of something that may be of interest of them. Google then sent out an “intelligence manager” to retrieve the device. Funny, the timing of all of this.  This on the Friday before the Monday of the big reveal? Hmmm… at any rate, if it’s true I’m sure someone who once had a pretty sweet job is now fired. Makes you wonder though, if someone was trusted with this phone and truly left it at a bar, how did they not realize it was missing? That’s a lot of drinking, and a pretty massive hangover the next day.

 

source:  Wired

Cruzerlite Androidified Clone Army Nexus 7 TPU Case Review

Posted: 26 Oct 2012 05:24 PM PDT

Finding just the right case for my Nexus 7 has been a challenge. I’ve tried the effective and highly flexible, yet very bulky rooCASE, as well as the updated Ultra Slim rooCASE. Both of these serve their purposes well, with the Ultra Slim edging out the original due to its much slimmer profile.

But there is another class of case that I needed to check out. Currently, my phone is an HTC Evo 4G LTE and I’ve been using a Cruzerlite TPU case on that for a while and I love it. TPU stands for Thermoplastic Polyurethane, which is a class of plastic that has many great properties for an electronics case, including elasticity, transparency, oil resistance, and durability. My Evo has never felt so protected.

So when I saw that Cruzerlite was making a TPU case for the Nexus 7, I jumped on it. After spending a couple of weeks using the case, I decided to write up a review with my thoughts. Hit the break for all the details.

Features

The Cruzerlite site lists the following features:

  • Shock absorbent
  • Made from TPU material
  • Sleek, lightweight design
  • Cutouts for all ports and buttons
  • Screen left exposed for full functionality
  • Easy to apply and remove
  • Anti-scratch material

I have to say that everything the feature list mentions is absolutely true. The TPU material is absolutely shock absorbent while remaining very light. It is also a breeze to put on. Most cases I have tried have their quirks when trying to insert the device, but the Cruzerlite case is by far the easiest to get on and off.

The case comes in eleven fancy colors and contains Bugdroid, the Android robot, etched into it as a repeating pattern. Android fans will love that… I know I do.

When the case is on, it barely adds to the size or thickness of the Nexus 7. It’s like a second skin. Though the back of the Nexus 7 is not slippery by any means, the Cruzerlite case is even less so, adding a nice grippy feeling that makes you feel secure when holding it.

The cutouts for the buttons and speaker are all cut perfectly and provide unfettered access to your entire device. This is a step up in my opinion from the official Google case that actually covers the power and volume buttons. The TPU material also helps keep the case nice and snug, keeping the cutouts always aligned properly. Leather cases tend to have a bit more give and the device moves around a bit inside them, sometimes causing button positions to shift a bit. Not an issue here.

The Good

Everything I mentioned above shows how great this case is. It’s durable, scratch resistant, thin, snug, and stylish. It’s also very affordable at only $19.90 from Cruzerlite’s web site.

So what’s not to like about it?

The Bad

Obviously, one disadvantage of this case over some of the other cases out there is that it does not offer a way to prop the device up to watch videos. It is merely a cover that protects the body, nothing more. That might be enough for some, but if you’re looking to watch a movie on your Nexus, be prepared to hold it in your hand or lean it against something.

The only other negative thing I would say about this case is that it doesn’t protect the screen at all. The case covers every inch of the device except the screen, as you can see in the following picture.

That being said, it is the perfect case for you if you carry your Nexus 7 in a bag or sleeve of some sort, and only take it out when you use it. For me, that’s not how I carry my Nexus. I prefer a case that protects not only the body, but the screen as well.

Conclusion

All in all, the Cruzerlite Androidified Clone Army Nexus 7 TPU Case is a solid entry as long as you don’t need to prop up the tablet or care about screen protection. I do really like the look and feel of this case, but since I throw my Nexus 7 into a backpack with lots of other loose objects, I require full time screen protection.

source: cruzerlite
Posted by at 5:48 AM

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