Saturday, November 24, 2012

Android Authority

Android Authority

Google Play’s Cyber Weekend promotion: Movies, TV series, music and more on sale

Posted: 24 Nov 2012 02:08 AM PST

With Black Friday come and gone, holiday shoppers are now eagerly waiting for Cyber Monday to arrive. But you don't have to wait until Monday to start enjoying the Cyber Weekend offers on Google Play. Following the discount treatment that many apps and games are getting, you'll find that there are more deals to be had on Google's online store.

Over at Google Play Movies, several titles are up for grabs for $2.99, including oldies but goldies like Jaws, Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Scarface, Serenity, Ray, and several others. The newer ones like The Social Network, Eat Pray Love and Burlesque can be had for $9.99.

The deals for TV series are pretty limited, but they include beloved shows like House and Friday Night Lights, where the complete full season of the two are going for $12.99 and $9.99, respectively. It's a great saving considering that an episode of the show costs $1.99.

The music selection is more varied and compelling, as the list contains some of the best albums of 2012. New-ish offerings from Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj and Ne-Yo are selling for $2.99, while you can get Frank Ocean's excellent Channel Orange LP for $4.99 and fun.'s Some Nights for $5.99.

As for books and magazines, Google is giving up to 80% and 50% discounts, respectively, on some e-book titles and magazine subscriptions.

See anything you like above?

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First trailer for Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition released

Posted: 23 Nov 2012 11:49 PM PST

It has become a trend for classic games to come out on mobile platforms – among your Final Fantasies, your Grand Theft Autos and even your NBA Jams, there is a plethora of games available for people to either relive or discover enjoyable experiences from yesteryear. The next game in this line is Baldur's Gate, the much loved role-playing game by celebrated developer BioWare.

The first trailer for the Enhanced Edition made for Android, iOS and even PC has just been released and you can see it below. This new version touts better graphics, new original content, and cross-platform multiplayer action. $9.99 is the price that you will have to pay in order to be a part of this gaming blast from the past.

The iOS and PC versions of Baldur's Gate are set to be released by the end of November, but the Android version is currently listed as TBA. We'll have the word when the release date is given, so stay tuned!

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ZTE releases Android 4.2 to ZTE N880E, first Chinese OEM to do so

Posted: 23 Nov 2012 10:00 PM PST

ZTE
Jelly Bean 4.2 hasn’t been out for very long. As is the norm for new Android releases, only a very few phones even run it. Most of them are Nexus devices that were either released that way or got a quick upgrade. Now, a non-Nexus device is running 4.2 in China thanks to ZTE.

ZTE became the first Chinese manufacturer to release Android 4.2 to any of their smartphones. They happened to pick the N880E for the update. According to their official website, it should be available right now.

With the update, ZTE N880E owners will get all the perks that come with 4.2. So ZTE isn’t pulling any punches with the update. What’s interesting about it is the N880E is not a spectacularly spec’d device. With a single core 1GHz processor and a 480 by 800 resolution screen, it isn’t nearly as powerful as some devices that other OEMs have deemed not good enough for the update.

Is ZTE going to release 4.2 to other devices?

They sure are. ZTE Head of the Terminal Division, Mr. He Shiyou, has stated, “ZTE will introduce more models on Android 4.2 in the future, and will continue to make improvements to equipment performance and stability, ensuring that our handsets meet with the high expectations of today's consumers.”

So if you have a ZTE handset and it’s relatively current, there is a good chance you’ll see Android 4.2. After all, if a 1GHz processor can handle it, many of their other devices can as well. Are there any ZTE owners out there excited about ZTE’s update plan? Let us know in the comments.

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uTorrent for Android gets WiFi-only option

Posted: 23 Nov 2012 08:38 PM PST

Unlimited data plans are going the way of the dodo. You see carriers clamping down on unlimited bandwidth, and even with so-called “unlimited” plans, these usually come with fair-use clauses in which heavy users’ accounts are throttled.

It’s all in the name of fair use, carriers say. If everyone uses too much bandwidth, then the entire network suffers. As such, if you’re fond of downloading big files through peer-to-peer networks or BitTorrent, you might want to steer clear from accessing your downloads through cellular data.

With BitTorrent for Android, though, it might be tempting to do downloads straight from your mobile device. That’s all right if you’re running on a WiFi connection, but the moment WiFi gets disconnected, you might find your cellular data use jumping from all the torrent packets being transferred.

The latest update to the uTorrent client addresses this, with its WiFi-only feature. “The new WiFi-only mode feature pauses download activity when you're outside a WiFi area, and automatically resumes downloading once WiFi is accessible again.”

This update should be a boon for users who just want to download a file through BitTorrent and forget about it. You shouldn’t have to keep on pausing downloads manually whenever you’re on the move.

uTorrent is an Android exclusive for now. Users on other platforms are not likely to get the app anytime soon, especially the more closed ones like BlackBerry, iOS and Windows Phone. Well, not officially, at least. Head on to the source link to download or update uTorrent.

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Google Maps gets 10,000 indoor locations on desktop, venue owners urged to upload floor plans

Posted: 23 Nov 2012 05:36 PM PST

While Apple’s latest iOS Maps offering is languishing with precision errors, messed up aerial images and a general disdain among the mobile community, Google is continuing to innovate and improve on its own Maps application. The latest update: 10,000 new indoor locations for your desktop viewing pleasure.

Google Maps has updated its desktop offering with 10,000 new indoor locations, mostly done through establishment floor plans. Access to this information is seamless. Users just need to zoom in on an establishment and can then see a detailed floor plan, with labels appropriate to the establishment.

For instance, zoom in on an airport and you can see the location of the gates. Zoom in on a shopping mall, and the establishments will appear, including retail stores, restrooms and even ATMs. A few key points to note:

  • Google has a big mapping community. The crowd-sourced effort works in conjunction with Google’s own acquisition of GIS data. As such, we can expect more and more establishments to upload their information to make it easier for patrons to browse and navigate.
  • Android usually gets first dibs on whatever improvements Google has to offer, and so the indoor navigation functionality has been available on the platform for some time now. Expect more hair-pulling from iOS Maps users who get frustrated with the slow speed and lack of detail on Maps (I know! I have it on my iPhone and I want to rip it straight out of the touchscreen).
  • The locations are limited as of now, with support for Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the U.S. More locations will be added soon, and submissions from other countries will greatly help in this effort.

While indoor locations are more useful when accessed from mobile devices, this can still be useful when planning a trip to the mall, museum, library, train station, airport, or any place of interest. If you’re planning to go gadget shopping at brick-and-mortar stores this Cyber Monday, then you might want to check out store layouts before you go, and then use Google Maps on your Android device to help find the establishments when you’re actually in the area.

If you’re a store or establishment owner, you might want to submit your floor plans to Google, which can help encourage people with their virtual exploration.

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Can a Galaxy Note 2 be used as a PC? [video]

Posted: 23 Nov 2012 05:34 PM PST

note 2 pc

Depending on who you ask we're now in the post PC era, where mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets are becoming more and more popular with the crowds that regular PCs. But essentially these are smaller and smaller personal computers that are slowly picking up some of the workload from their older brothers, the regular keyboard-and-mouse PCs.

That's especially true with this year's flagship devices, that offer better and better specs and can be used for a variety of daily computer-related operations.

But can a device like an Android smartphone be used to completely replace a PC? A new video posted by ColdFustion proves that the Galaxy Note 2, hooked up to a monitor via a HML Samsung adapter and an HDMI cable, and further hooked up to a wireless keyboard and mouse combo, can be used for a variety of tasks that are/were usually done on a PC.

There are limitations and this is not a complete PC experience – we're probably getting there in the following years – but things like web browsing, email, content consumption, running productivity apps and even gaming can be done on such a setup in order to take advantage of the bigger display.

Sure, the downside of relying on such a computer model is that you'd have to carry with you all the extra accessories needed, and make sure that a decent monitor awaits for you at your destination. But the video above proves that in the future, the better, more efficient and smaller smartphone and tablet components will get, the more PC-like support they'll be able to offer.

Anyone using or interested in using such a setup on a regular basis?

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Todoist free gets unlimited sync, Premium half off for Black Friday

Posted: 23 Nov 2012 04:47 PM PST

Todoist, a new task management Android app, is getting a few changes after being out of the gate for just a few days. Sync, which was previously available just once a day for basic users, will now be unlimited and continuous for all.

This is a nice gesture from the developer for Todoist users, as the change comes after some feedback from early adopters. The update should be ongoing for all users already on the free version, so be on the lookout for the added functionality.

In even sweeter news, the guys over at Todoist have also put a big price cut on the Premium features. Not to be outdone by all of the Black Friday craziness, the premium features of Todoist are half off for just today. The services, normally $29 for a year's subscription, are now just $14! You get even more organizational features unlocked, as well as reminders so that you never forget your tasks.

As of writing this, the Todoist Black Friday page states that this deal is only available for the next 9 hours and 45 minutes, so all of you hoping to get a good look at all that this task management app has to offer will have to act fast! Find the deal in our source link.

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Samsung SCH-W2013 Jackie Chan Android flip phone launched in China

Posted: 23 Nov 2012 03:39 PM PST

After looking at the dual-SIM Galaxy Note 2 flavor that was made official in China, it's now time to check out another Android device launched in the region. The SCH-W2013 is an Android flip phone that's made for/with Jackie Chan, but don't expect it to be a Samsung flagship device that will soon go on sale in other markets.

Don't get us wrong, it's not an entry-level device either, as the handset sports dual 3.7-inch Super AMOLED displays with 800 x 480 resolution, 1.4GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, microSD support, 8-megapixel camera, 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera, dual-SIM support, 1850mAh battery and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Engadget reports that the phone will cost from 18,000 to 20,000 Yuan, which translates to $2,900 to $3,120, respectively, and it may be a little too much for mobile device shoppers.

The SCH-W2013, which seems to lack a customer-friendly name, was launched at a charity concert earlier today and will be available from China Telecom in the region. As for an international release, we have no idea whether this particular Android handset will make it to other countries.

Would you buy one such Android flip phone?

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iPhone 5, iPad mini iOS 6 source code apparently withheld by Apple in patent case against Google

Posted: 23 Nov 2012 03:13 PM PST

It's not just Samsung that's targeting Apple's latest iOS products in patent-based lawsuits, but Google also, which is engaged in a patent battle of its own against Apple inherited from Motorola.

FOSS Patents reports that Google has recently filed a motion in the Southern District of Florida to complain that Apple has failed to provide the iOS 6 source code, or Apple's latest OS version that's running on the iPhone 5, iPad mini, and other Apple mobile devices.

Google needs the code to "perform some infringement analysis," and while Apple did promise to offer it, it failed to do it so far:

Google’s motion says that Apple “has, at various times, promised to produce iOS source code by or “shortly after” September 21st, by November 9th, and by November 30th”, but two months have passed now since the release of iOS 6 “and almost four months after Apple released its most recent OSX software”, whose source code Google also wants to evaluate.

Google is interested in going through the code as fast as possible in order to be prepared for the following court date in the case set for December 14. Apparently the company has to decide by then whether there are any grounds to also add Apple's newest products to the list of iOS devices allegedly infringing Google/Motorola patents.

We'll be back with more details about the Apple vs Android drama in the coming weeks, as we find out more details from these Apple vs Google and Apple vs Samsung cases.

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Huawei Ascend G330 release date set for December for free with £10 per month contracts

Posted: 23 Nov 2012 02:45 PM PST

Huawei
While the big named devices are the big news right now, there is still a lot of interest in mid range and entry level smartphones. In the UK, there is a mid range smartphone coming out from Huawei for those who don’t want to spend half a grand on a phone.

Back at IFA in August, Huawei introduced their mid device, the Huawei Ascend G330. Residents of the UK may recognize this, as the Ascend G300 is already available. According to Unwired View, it isn’t an upgrade of the G300, but rather a slightly improved version.

Is the Huawei Ascend G330 worth buying?

It depends on your preferences. If you want a top of the line phone with the latest specs, then this won’t be for you. If you want a mid range device with decent performance, then this may be for you. The Huawei Ascend G330 comes with a dual core, 1GHz processor, 512MB RAM, a 4 inch, 480 by 800 resolution display, and 4GB of storage with a MicroSD card option.

It won’t win any awards for being the best, but those who want a free phone with a cheap plan that isn’t awful, this may be the device you’re looking for. Expect it to hit shelves sometime in December. Is anyone considering this for themselves or a loved one?

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