Android Central

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• Republic Wireless exits beta and welcomes device pre-orders
• CyanogenMod music app Apollo now available in the Play Store
• Firefox expands to support more devices, improve accessibility
• This week's sidebar poll: Droid DNA or Galaxy Note 2?
• Galaxy Note 10.1 with Jelly Bean and VoLTE coming to Korea
• U.S. Cellular now offers an unlimited 4G LTE data plan
• Google signs with European music publishers to bring 5.5 million new tracks to Play
• Qeexo FingerSense screen able to distinguish knuckle, stylus, nail, and finger taps
• Should I upgrade to the Nexus 4 now that the Galaxy Nexus has 4.2?
• Amazon kicks off Black Friday week with smartphone accessory deals
• From the forums: Cyber Warrior's Nexus 10 hacking video tutorials
• 'La Fleur' Galaxy S3 tipped for January arrival
• Ordered a Nexus 4 bumper? You may have to wait a while...
• Deal of the Day: Mobi Products Crystal Case for Motorola Droid RAZR
• Start your week with the Greatest Android Podcast in the World!
• No, your Nexus 4 won't magically grow LTE support
• Monday Brief: BBM Voice, the HTC Droid DNA, a T-Mobile Nokia Lumia 810, and more!
• Xperia Tablet S gets firmware update with VPN fix
• Fresh coat of paint for Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy S3 Mini in 2013?
• LG Nexus 4 qualifies for 50GB free Box.net cloud storage
• Last Chance to Win a Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 in our Mobile Nations Passport Contest!
• MObile Nations Movember Week 3 Update: I got 99 problems but my Mo ain't one!
• Weekend news roundup: November 18, 2012

Republic Wireless exits beta and welcomes device pre-orders Posted: 19 Nov 2012 04:44 PM PST If you haven't heard of Republic Wireless, we don't blame you. A new carrier that's been sitting in the ether beta for a while now, Republic is trying to take the traditional model of smartphone service and mix things up a bit. The basic premise of the service is that you get a device that's been specially made to utilize Wifi whenever possible for data, calls and texts, and then essentially "roam" on a cellular network when you're out of Wifi range. Probably the most interesting part of the service is that it's just $19 per month with no contract for unlimited calls, texts and data usage. Originally launched in beta with the offering of an LG Optimus One, the service is now open to the public with a Motorola Defy XT as the device of choice. It's going to be for sale from Republic for $249.99 -- again without a contract -- with a $10 start-up fee. Not the most high-end device, but considering the monthly cost you can see what market Republic Wireless is trying to target here. Hopefully as the service expands, more devices will become available. Sound interesting to you? Take a look at the source links below to learn more about Republic. Source: Republic Wireless; Republic Devices

CyanogenMod music app Apollo now available in the Play Store Posted: 19 Nov 2012 04:04 PM PST If you've spent any time using CyanogenMod 9 or CyanogenMod 10, you may have come across the built-in music player called Apollo. Rather than keeping it tied into CyanogenMod though, Apollo is now available for download in the Google Play Store in both free and paid versions. The player itself is quite visually appealing but its feature set is what throws it over the top. read more

Firefox expands to support more devices, improve accessibility Posted: 19 Nov 2012 03:17 PM PST Firefox has been working hard to expand the number of devices it supports, but has always been "limited" to devices running Android 2.2 or higher, with moderately good specs -- an ARMv7 chip or above, to be exact. Today Mozilla is announcing that it is expanding its support down to lower-end devices, ones that are as far down the line as an ARMv6-based 800MHz processor and 512MB of RAM. Mozilla lists a few devices, such as the HTC Status, HTC ChaCha, Samsung Galaxy Ace, Motorola Fire XT and LG Optimus Q, that will benefit from these looser spec restrictions. As part of its announcement, Mozilla also points out that Firefox is receiving improvements in accessibility features. Firefox now integrates seamlessly with TalkBack and Android's screen reader functionality, making the browser immensely easier to use for those who are visually impaired. While we like to focus on the latest whiz-bang top of the heap devices, a vast majority of Android devices sold around the world aren't that high-end. And just because someone doesn't have a high-end device doesn't mean they don't deserve to have more choices in browsers. The wide range of prices and specs that Android can offer is a huge selling point for the platform, and we'd like to see it stay that way. Source: The Mozilla Blog

This week's sidebar poll: Droid DNA or Galaxy Note 2? Posted: 19 Nov 2012 02:43 PM PST    While many a Verizon customer is still torqued that they didn't get a Nexus 4 on Big Red, it's not like there aren't going to be other phones released for the holidays. Case in point -- the heavyweight championship contenders you see above, namely the Droid DNA and the Galaxy Note 2. They both are big, have great innards, and big shiny screens. We can see why each has it's fans. Even better, both will soon be sitting on a shelf, waiting for you and your wallet to come pay a visit. We're not going to rehash all the pros and cons of each, there's plenty of that being done in the forums if you need a refresher. We're just going to ask -- if you're a Verizon customer, which one tickles your fancy? There's a poll after the break, or you can find it sitting in the sidebar to the right. Answer it. Let the world know! Before we leave for another week, let's have a look-see at last week's poll results. Were you able to order a new Nexus? Looks like the demand is still strong, and we hope Google can get their act together and get them back up for sale. Retail has never been their strong suit. read more

Galaxy Note 10.1 with Jelly Bean and VoLTE coming to Korea Posted: 19 Nov 2012 01:57 PM PST Samsung is rolling out a new model of its questionably successful Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet line, this time in Korea with LTE on board. Not only will that LTE provide users with a data connection, but Samsung has chosen to go all the way and offer VoLTE (Voice Over LTE) on the device also. Now you won't be holding this thing up to your head, but willing participants could surely use a bluetooth or wired headset to make calls if they really wanted to. New wireless connectivity isn't the only big part of this story though, this device is hitting out of the box with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean as well. The update will further develop the multi-window functionality on the tablet, now allowing a wider range of applications to take advantage of Samsung's window management software. The S Pen also picks up new features like hovering to preview items and others. These upgrades to Note-specific software will look familiar to anyone that has used the latest Galaxy Note 2. The last line item on the software updates side in this release indicates that other models of the Note 10.1 around the world in both 3G and Wifi configurations will be receiving the update as well, although "throughout the year" is the only timeframe offered in this particular release. Source: Samsung Tomorrow

U.S. Cellular now offers an unlimited 4G LTE data plan Posted: 19 Nov 2012 12:22 PM PST In an age where two of the four big U.S. carriers are moving away from unlimited data packages, one of the smaller -- dare we say "second tier" -- carriers is coming out with its own unlimited plan. U.S. Cellular has announced today that it will be offering an unlimited LTE data plan for just $40 a month. Customers wishing to tether their devices will also be able to do so, even on this unlimited plan, with an additional $20 per month charge. The carrier has been rolling out LTE to more markets as of late, and plans to have 58-percent of its customer base covered in LTE by the end of 2012. Although this may or may not be enough to convince some users to leave their current carrier, it's a great option to have if you're currently a U.S. Cellular customer. The plan is supposedly for a "limited time", and in concurrence with this deal the carrier is offering $100 instant discounts on some popular LTE devices, like the Samsung Galaxy SIII (S3), to boot. U.S. Cellular is really piling on the promotions this holiday season. read more

Google signs with European music publishers to bring 5.5 million new tracks to Play Posted: 19 Nov 2012 11:10 AM PST There's been a whole lot of talk about Google Music in the recent weeks, as Google has been furiously rolling out features to new countries and signing big content deals to back them up. Play Music went live in several European countries, it's music "matching" service just came to Europe, gapless playback support hit the app and this latest deal is going to bring another 5.5 million tracks from European music publishers to everyone's Google Play Store. Google struck a deal with music publishers to bring these tracks to 35 countries in total, with royalty rates in-line with what Amazon and Apple are paying labels, although no exact amount was specified. This is a really big deal when it comes to improving the general public's view of the Google Play Store ecosystem, which is all too important when selling devices these days. Source: Businessweek

Qeexo FingerSense screen able to distinguish knuckle, stylus, nail, and finger taps Posted: 19 Nov 2012 10:44 AM PST Qeexo, a small company borne out of Carnegie Mellon, has been introducing FingerSense, a technology that allows smartphones and tablets to tell the difference between touches with a fingertip, finger pad, nail, knuckle, stylus, or stylus eraser. They've modified a Samsung Galaxy S3 with a special acoustic sensor, while their  custom software demonstrates wide variety of applications, including contextual menus accessed through knuckle-taps, artistic input, and gaming. Qeexo is quietly getting developers hooked up with their Android SDK, and as a part of their pitch to OEMs, Qeexo boasts FingerSense is low-latency, real-time, and has a small demand on power.  Personally, I could see this kind of touch behavior becoming very natural, and adding a whole level of navigational depth to Android beyond the standard set of gestures we've become used to. The only problem is that it hinges on smartphone manufacturers being on board, and even then, it can take awhile for them to work it into a final, shipped product. At the same time, Qeexo has to win over developers to support the input with compelling experiences that push manufacturers to adopt FingerSense - a hard sell for busy developers.  More information on FingerSense, including a finished paper on the project is available here, while developers can learn more about getting involved at Qeexo's site. Developers, any interest? What are the odds that an OEM will pick this up? Could you guys see yourselves using knuckle-taps on a regular basis? Via: TechNewsDaily read more

Should I upgrade to the Nexus 4 now that the Galaxy Nexus has 4.2? Posted: 19 Nov 2012 10:01 AM PST Now that there are no questions about the Galaxy Nexus and it getting Android 4.2 (there never should have been any), it's time to take a look at the big question again -- should I spend money and upgrade? We've taken a look at how the Nexus 4 stacks up against the Galaxy S3 and the HTC One X, and how the 4.1.2 version of the Galaxy Nexus fares against the Nexus 4. Now that both phones are on the same version of the OS, and I've been able to use them for a few days, hopefully I can help you decide if you should push the button and order when the Nexus 4 becomes available again. read more

Amazon kicks off Black Friday week with smartphone accessory deals Posted: 19 Nov 2012 09:31 AM PST Black Friday's tendrils have crawled upwards to Monday, which means Amazon already has some excellent deals posted. For those of us into all things smartphoney, there are quite a few great accessories and devices that have been significantly marked down. There are also a lot of crazy flash sales going every couple of hours and offer lots of opportunity for those of us that want to get our holiday shopping done early. I just missed out on a 64 GB microSD memory card for $38; they were all sold out in a matter of minutes, so you're going to have to be fast. Let's see what else Amazon is offering... read more

From the forums: Cyber Warrior's Nexus 10 hacking video tutorials Posted: 19 Nov 2012 09:13 AM PST We know plenty of people who grabbed a Nexus 10 last week are aware of how to unlock and root it. But there's also a whole bunch of people, some even new to Android, who might need a starting point. For those folks, there's a real treat in the Nexus 10 forums. You might know Cyber Warrior from the Galaxy S3 forums, or from his amazing Android wallpapers. Turns out, he's a man of many other hacking related talents as well, and has put together and awesome pair of video tutorials to show you how to unlock the bootloader, and then root the Samsung Nexus 10 tablet. A world of potential is inside there, and this is your first step if you want to try and unlock some more of it. The videos are clear and well done, but that's not even the best part. Cyber's also always quick to assist from the coaches box anytime you hit a snag. He'll be there to help if you have any questions, and between he and the rest of the hard-working crew in the forums you'll soon be unlocked, rooted, and back running again if there's a problem. Sharing is caring, and the mods and advisers in the forums are the sharing, caring type of Android nerds. And we love 'em all for it!  [How-to] Unlock/Re-lock the Google Nexus 10 bootloader [How To] Root the Google Nexus 10 & Install ClockworkMod Touch Recovery

'La Fleur' Galaxy S3 tipped for January arrival Posted: 19 Nov 2012 08:03 AM PST It seems the Galaxy Note 2 might not be the only Samsung handset getting a fresh coat of paint early next year. Leaked press shots from SamMobile show what the site says is a "La Fleur"-branded Galaxy S3 sporting a floral design, along with similarly-decorated Galaxy Ace 2, Galaxy Ace DUOS and Galaxy S Duos handsets. The site says the floral-printed phones will feature unchanged internal specs, and will go on sale in January, just in time for Valentine's day. Of course, Samsung's no stranger to more... exotic stylings for its smartphones, especially around Valentine's. Last year it released its Galaxy S2 and Galaxy Note in questionable "berry pink" shades. Source: SamMobile

Ordered a Nexus 4 bumper? You may have to wait a while... Posted: 19 Nov 2012 06:56 AM PST So, some of us have our shiny new Nexus 4's in hand now. And, we're enjoying them very much. But, what about the accessories? Well -- in the UK Play Store at least -- the Nexus 4 Bumper is the only new Nexus product currently showing as in stock. You can still order one, and we're promised delivery in 3-5 business days. Great stuff. Or, so you might think.  See, I ordered a Nexus 4 Bumper on launch day last Tuesday. In one of my better judgment calls, I ordered the Bumper separately to the phone. After all, it's no secret that Nexus accessories have lagged way behind device launch dates before, is it? The phones sold out pretty quickly, but the order was processed and delivered within 3 business days as promised. So, where's the Bumper ordered on the same day? Still a pending transaction according to Google Wallet. A quick call to Google Play customer support came up with nothing, but to their credit, they have been looking into the issue. This morning an email dropped suggesting I may be in for a wait.  We are working to ship all items in your order as quickly as possible within the 3 week timeframe. You will receive an email confirmation as soon as your order is processed and on it's way. Looks like the same 3 week timeframe in which Nexus 4 orders will be processed. The difference being that you can still order these right this very second from the Play Store. Not the best turnaround time for an official accessory. (That's to say nothing of the official Nexus 4 charging pod that's still MIA.) So, the question to ask is -- has anyone actually had a Nexus 4 Bumper delivered? If so, jump into the comments below, or into the Nexus 4 forums and let us know what it's like.  More: Nexus 4 Forums

Deal of the Day: Mobi Products Crystal Case for Motorola Droid RAZR Posted: 19 Nov 2012 06:40 AM PST The Nov. 19 ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day is the Mobi Crystal Case for Motorola Droid RAZR. This crystal case is completely transparent allowing the original look of your RAZR to shine through. Its extremely lightweight design adds very little bulk to your device while still keeping it protected against drops and scratches. The two-piece design snaps securely around your RAZR and leaves access to the camera and ports of the device. The Mobi Crystal Case is available for just $5.00 today only. That's 75% off the list price! Grab yours while supplies last. Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts!

Start your week with the Greatest Android Podcast in the World! Posted: 19 Nov 2012 06:33 AM PST What do you do when you have the Nexus 4 released (more or less) the same week as the Verizon Droid DNA? You podcast the hell out of 'em both, of course! And that's just what we did Thursday evening. With Nexus 4s in hand (for some of us), and the Droid DNA in the other hand (for one of us), we're bringing you the latest on the hottest two Android phones out there. Plus, more of your e-mails and voicemails! The Android Central Podcast is your weekly peek into the world of Android, where we break down the news that really matters, and explain what's just a bunch of hype. Plus, we answer your e-mails and voicemails. You don't want to miss it. Check out the Android Central Podcast.

No, your Nexus 4 won't magically grow LTE support Posted: 19 Nov 2012 04:09 AM PST It takes more than a chip to enable 4G connectivity Ever since a recent iFixit teardown revealed the presence of a Qualcomm WTR1605L 4G LTE-capable radio chip in the Nexus 4, there's been a lot of speculation as to what it might mean. Conventional wisdom suggests that LG wouldn't just include extraneous silicon in the device unless it was planning to use it for something. That's led some to believe that the current Nexus 4, a device advertised with HSPA+ connectivity, might actually be hiding LTE support to be unlocked in a future software update. Or maybe it could be possible to root the Nexus 4 and, you know, use mad hacking skills or something to unlock LTE on the device. All of those things are wrong. read more

Monday Brief: BBM Voice, the HTC Droid DNA, a T-Mobile Nokia Lumia 810, and more! Posted: 19 Nov 2012 03:37 AM PST Mobile Nations Podcast Feed Mobile Nations on iTunes Mobile Nations YouTube The Verizon Droid DNA has arrived! Android Central review of the LG Nexus 4 Samsung Nexus 10 review RIM introduces BBM Voice - Make calls to BBM friends free over Wi-Fi First BlackBerry 10 smartphones suggested to start arriving in February BlackBerry L-Series gets sized up next to the iPhone 5 The Waiting Game Quick-Keys virtual keyboard updated for better performance and customization Use Nokia's Here mapping service on your webOS smartphone, thanks to homebrew Why Apple couldn't make the iPad mini with a Retina display Exclusive first look: 1Password 4 for iOS The future of Siri and Apple's services New podcast! Debug 1: Loren Brichter talks all about Apple, Tweetie, and Letterpress Nokia Lumia 920's Camera - A Second Look T-Mobile Nokia Lumia 810 unboxing and video tour Windows Phone 7.8 features confirmed in leaked Nokia presentation slide

Xperia Tablet S gets firmware update with VPN fix Posted: 19 Nov 2012 03:00 AM PST If you picked up a Sony Xperia Tablet S before it was recalled over water resistance concerns, you'll be pleased to learn that the tablet has just received an over-the-air update. The patch to 'release6a' is still based upon Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich -- no Jelly Bean yet, unfortunately -- but it does fix a few problematic bugs with VPN connectivity on the Sony tablet, which could be useful if you're connecting the tab to a corporate network. Xperia Tablet S owners can pick up today's update by heading to Settings > About tablet > Software updates. The Sony-made tablet is expected to go back on sale soon, presumably with fixed water-resistant capabilities. Source: XperiaBlog

Fresh coat of paint for Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy S3 Mini in 2013? Posted: 19 Nov 2012 02:46 AM PST With the Galaxy S3, Samsung's proven it's not afraid of adding a bit of color to its smartphone line-up. A few months back, the manufacturer debuted new colors for its Galaxy S3, including garnet red, amber brown and sapphire black. And next year it seems two more Samsung devices might be due a fresh coat of paint, specifically the Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S3 Mini. According to reports from SamMobile, which has proved pretty accurate with Samsung leaks in the past, the Korean manufacturer will introduce three new colors for the Note 2 early next year, and the S3 Mini in December or early 2013. The site's sources say the S3 Mini will appear in "Titan Gray, Garnet Red and Onyx Black," while the Note 2 will get "Amber Brown, Topaz Blue and Ruby Wine." The change in nomenclature for the blue and red versions of the Note 2 suggests these might look a bit different to "Pebble Blue" and "Garnet Red"-finished Galaxy S3s. SamMobile says Samsung will showcase the new colors at Mobile World Congress 2013, although given the alleged release timing, we think there's a chance they might also make a surprise appearance at CES in January. Either way, we'll live from both both shows over the next few months. Source: SamMobile

LG Nexus 4 qualifies for 50GB free Box.net cloud storage Posted: 19 Nov 2012 02:29 AM PST As it's being sold primarily by Google through the Play devices store, it's easy (and accurate) to think of the Nexus 4 as a Google device. But it's still an LG-made phone, and as such qualifies for 50GB of free space on Box.net, thanks to a partnership between manufacturer and cloud storage provider. To claim your free space, simply log into the Box.net app from your Nexus 4, and upon loading the app for the first time, you should see the message above, informing you that your cloud storage allowance has been upped. And as part of a time-limited deal, Box is also allowing you to share your good fortune with friends or co-workers, giving them access to 50GB too. The promotion runs until Dec. 31, so you've got plenty of time to bag some extra bits, and free up some of the Nexus 4's precious (and limited) internal storage space. Check the Google Play link above to grab the official Box.net app for Android. Source: Ausdroid

Last Chance to Win a Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 in our Mobile Nations Passport Contest! Posted: 18 Nov 2012 08:49 PM PST Click the image below to jump over to the official contest thread and leave a comment on that post for your chance to win! Remember, leaving a comment to this post won't get you entered... click the image above to head to the contest post and leave a comment there. Good luck! The Contest ends at 12 Noon PT on Monday, November 19th, 2012, so HURRY UP AND ENTER!

MObile Nations Movember Week 3 Update: I got 99 problems but my Mo ain't one! Posted: 18 Nov 2012 08:34 PM PST Mobile Nations Network Movember Funds Raised so far: $9358 (USD) Is this a new boyband, or the MO-bile Nations crew in Winnipeg? Welcome to our third Mobile Nations Movember update. We're be bringing you these updates every Sunday throughout the month of Movember (formerly known as November) as we grow out our moustaches and raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer research and men's mental health issues. When we embarked upon our Mobile Nations Movember mission I thought it would be great if we could raise $10,000, and we're almost there! There's still a lot of Movember left, and we've already raised over $9,300. Maybe it's time to up our goals to $15k? The facial lip growth is really starting to blossom now, so hopefully we'll see the 'staches and the fundraising continue to accelerate right through to the end of the month. If you haven't donated yet, we'll love you forever if you do. Donations can be made easily over the web. Simply jump over to our Mobile Nations Network page, click on the name of any of the inidividuals listed as part of the network, and hit the donate button. All funds donated to an individual will pass through to the network total. Keep reading for more on Movember and to see some great moustache photos from the team! read more

Weekend news roundup: November 18, 2012 Posted: 18 Nov 2012 06:56 PM PST       The weekends are usually a pretty quiet time for Android news. It's no wonder, with all the stuff flying around between Monday and Friday, the folks making the news and those of us reporting it need time to breathe. That being said, there's always something going on, and here's what happened this weekend in case you missed any of it. Device stuff Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9 unboxing The Nexus One makes a comeback (too bad it sold out) A Nexus 10 teardown The Nexus 10 keeps bouncing in and out of Google Play ZTE Grand X Pro gets leaked Software stuff Tweet Lanes falls victim to Twitters 100,000-token limit A new version of Google Play is pushing out to devices Our apps picks of the week Fake Apple apps appear on Google Play A bug in the People app forgets a whole month Editorial stuff Setting a custom APN on your Nexus 4 The international week in review Phil's weekly wisdom Vizio Co-Star review See everyone in the morning!

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