Android Central

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• ZTE Flash looks to be coming to Sprint Nov. 11
• Got Nexus 4 questions? Head to the Android Central forums!
• Electronic dart board hacked to keep score using Android
• Black Samsung Galaxy S3 now available from Vodafone UK
• Android Central Podcast - Live!
• New malware could allow SMS phishing, sideloaders beware
• This new render of Verizon's Droid DNA looks familiar
• Hands-on with the Nexus 7 and iPad mini tablets
• Our Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 reviews: They're coming!
• The Nexus Phone family: Four generations of Android
• Android 4.2 brings new security features to scan sideloaded apps
• How-To unlock the Nexus 4 bootloader
• How to enable developer settings on Android 4.2
• Nexus 4 unboxing
• Mophie Juice Pack now available for Samsung Galaxy S3, yours for $100
• LG Optimus G, Sony Xperia TL available from AT&T today
• Apple's 'apology' ad goes from snarky to snoozy
• Clearwire cutting back LTE rollout expectations by 3,000 new sites
• Deal of the Day: Cruzerlite Androidified Clone Army Case for Google Nexus 7
• Sponsored: Get the benefits of a tablet in a phone with the LG Intuition
• Rumored HTC Facebook phone gets codename, reportedly still in the cards
• Google slips a walking and cycling tracking card into Google Now
• Acatel to launch Android devices with Three UK
• Samsung has sold over 3 million Galaxy Note 2's
• Jelly Bean build for the Droid RAZR HD leaks out

ZTE Flash looks to be coming to Sprint Nov. 11 Posted: 02 Nov 2012 05:17 PM PDT Well, that's a pretty convincing screen we see above. The folks over at Engadget have been tipped as to the availability and pricing of the upcoming ZTE Flash on Sprint. The Flash looks to be slotting into the mid-range category all things considered, with a $129 on-contract price tag. The picture shows Android 4.0 on board, a 4.5-inch display, 12MP camera and 1.5GHz dual-core processor -- nothing to sneeze at, but not top of the line. This lines up with a previous leak of the Flash almost spec-for-spec. An additional picture from the same leak shows the forward-looking product portfolio for Sprint at this point, including a new color of the Galaxy SIII (S3) at $99.99, the LG Mach and a few other devices we've seen. Take a look at the second inventory picture after the break. Source: Engadget read more

Got Nexus 4 questions? Head to the Android Central forums! Posted: 02 Nov 2012 03:48 PM PDT The Nexus 4 is finally officially official -- a new LG-built Nexus device sporting a quad-core Snapdragon S4 chip and a unique chassis design. The full review's coming soon, but in the meantime, Phil's got one in-hand, and is answering your questions over on the Android Central forums! So if you've got any burning questions about the new Nexus, or the new version of Android, 4.2 Jelly Bean, you can head on over to the link below and get the answers you crave. If you're not already registered on the Android Central forums, it's quick and easy to do so! More: Nexus 4 Q&A on the Android Central forums

Electronic dart board hacked to keep score using Android Posted: 02 Nov 2012 02:32 PM PDT Dart and Android enthusiast Dan was growing weary of manually keeping score of his lunch break dart games with his coworkers. He decided to put his tinkering skills to the test and create DartDroid, a way to interface a Bluetooth Android device with his $12 electronic dartboard. Now obviously electronic dartboards can keep score, but if you're playing custom games, that doesn't really help that much. Armed with his dartboard, Android device, electronic bits and some programming knowledge, Dan set to work. Being an appMobi employee, he used their HTML5 framework to make the client app for the dartboard. Like most Android projects, you can view the diagrams and download the code for DartDroid on Dan's site.  via: Hackaday source: Bluetooth Dartboard Project

Black Samsung Galaxy S3 now available from Vodafone UK Posted: 02 Nov 2012 02:08 PM PDT Amid the sea of LG Nexus 4 content floating around right now, it would be easy to forget about some of the other hot Android devices out there. Word reaches us today that the Samsung Galaxy S3 is now available on Vodafone UK in black. It's a Samsung Galaxy S3, but it's black. It's that simple -- but in black, it does look fantastic. It can be had completely free of charge on a new 2 year contract, for £41 per month for the 16GB version. A little pricey, but it's still one heck of a phone.  Source: Vodafone

Android Central Podcast - Live! Posted: 02 Nov 2012 01:04 PM PDT Show starts NOW (or thereabouts) The Android Central Podcast is recorded live in front of a live studio audience, so you can catch us in the act. Watch us live from your phone with the UStream app. (Search for MobileNations.) Miss a show? You can listen to every episode of the Android Central Podcast online. Web | RSS | iTunes | Stitcher

New malware could allow SMS phishing, sideloaders beware Posted: 02 Nov 2012 12:43 PM PDT Researchers at NC State University have discovered a new bug in current versions of Android that would allow malware to spoof the sender of an SMS message. The exploit works on Gingerbread, Ice Cream Sandwich, and Jelly Bean, Google has been made aware of the issue and will be releasing a security patch.  In the meantime, the team at NC State says they won't be releasing all the specifics of how it's done, but chances are someone will find it now that they know what to look for and what version changes to inspect. This means it's important that you trust any applications you plan on sideloading onto your Android device. Of course, users who pick up a Nexus 4 with the built-in sideload scanner are covered. The bigger issue, as always, is how long it will take OEMs and carriers to push any fix out to their existing phones. Unfortunately, the answer is either "a long time" or never, so it's up to you to be vigilant. If you get an SMS message from your bank, or school, or anyone who asks for personal or login details, tap the phone icon and call them just to be on the safe side. Source: NC State University; via Engadget

This new render of Verizon's Droid DNA looks familiar Posted: 02 Nov 2012 10:57 AM PDT Oh, right. That's because it looks exactly like the physical model of the Droid DNA (aka the HTC DLX) we first showed you a week or so ago. Looks like pieces are starting to fall into place, with this @evleaks, erm, leak showing some official branding for the "Droid DNA" name as well -- which, by the way, is a name we first brought you as well in the form of a Verizon MAP listing. Still no word on when we'll see this 5-incher, but evleaks is pointing toward early December. Source: @evleaks

Hands-on with the Nexus 7 and iPad mini tablets Posted: 02 Nov 2012 10:16 AM PDT Nexus isn't the only news in town today. Apple's 7.9-inch iPad mini is on doorsteps, and we've picked one up to take a look at it next to the Google Nexus 7 tablet from ASUS. Some quick thoughts, in random order: Yep. The iPad mini is thinner. Much thinner. But because of its aluminum back (and it's a very sexy back), it's much more slippery. The Nexus 7's extra thickness (not that it's all that portly) and rubberized texture make it more comfortable, at least in some very short-term testing. Apple made a big deal about the iPad mini having a thinner bezel -- the space between the usable display and the edge of the device. And the iPad mini certainly looks cool with that thin bezel. I'm not sold on the usability just yet. Maybe it's because I'm just used to having to keep my thumb off the screen (Apple's got some software tweaks to compensate for that, apparently), or maybe it's in combination with the thinness, and toss in the iPad's extra width over the Nexus 7, but it seems more uncomfortable to hold. That may change over time. Pixels. The Nexus 7 wins this battle hands-down, with its 1280x800 resolution at 7 inches, compared to 1024x768 at 7.9 inches for the iPad mini. That's 216 pixels per inch for the Nexus 7, versus 163 for the iPad. And that density makes a big difference, if you have discerning eyeballs like we do. We've got some quickie video after the break, where you can see the difference in size, along with a quick walkthrough. Have at it. read more

Our Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 reviews: They're coming! Posted: 02 Nov 2012 10:12 AM PDT OMGWHEREISYOURNEXUSREVIEW?!?!?!?! They're coming, folks! As you've no doubt seen and heard, the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 reviews are starting to hit the streets. And we can't wait for you to read ours. But here's the thing -- these are important devices, not just your run-of-the-mill, one-a-day Android phone and tablet. New hardware, new software, and they really do deserve more than just a couple of days' look before you get our definitive review.  In the meantime, it's not like there's not going to be any Nexus coverage. We've got tons lined up, starting this morning. Did you know that Google's hidden the developer settings in Android 4.2? Because it has. Worried about unlocking the bootloader? We've got you covered. Or how about a look back at the four generations of Nexus phones? Jerry's got you covered there as well. Plus, we'll be recording our weekly podcast this afternoon. Plenty of new Nexus to be talked about there, no? And, yes. Our Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 reviews are well under way. We're rather proud of them, and we want you to be, too. We're taking our time. The short, short version? You should love these devices. They're good, though not without compromise. And they still go on sale Nov. 13, so nobody has to make up their minds today. Thanks for your patience.

The Nexus Phone family: Four generations of Android Posted: 02 Nov 2012 09:55 AM PDT From the Nexus One to the Nexus Four — and a couple Galaxies in between Back in the winter of 2009, the rumors were flying about Google getting into the phone business. Previously they offered what were called Android Developer Phones (we know them as the G1 and the Magic, both made by HTC for Google's reference devices), but this was supposedly something different. Many at Google denied these rumors, but as we all saw the following January, the Nexus One was unveiled. The Nexus One was a huge leap forward when compared to the current crop of premium smartphones of the time. A fast 1 GHz processor and 512MB of RAM powered the AMOLED screen, and it quickly ushered in an era of what became known as the "superphone." By today's standards, the Nexus One specs are pretty mediocre, but back then they were unheard of. To go along with these great specs, was a premium build with a unibody design, and a certainty of prompt and early updates to the Android OS. The hardware had it's share of issues, but none of us cared when Froyo came out, because it was fast -- and so was the OS update. The Nexus program was a hit, if not a very successful retail venture, and we knew things were going to get interesting. The Nexus One set the stage for the Nexus line, and what it would become. read more

Android 4.2 brings new security features to scan sideloaded apps Posted: 02 Nov 2012 09:06 AM PDT Talking about malware on a mobile platform is a tough thing to do right. Some of what you hear is real, and needs addressed responsibly, but so much of it is just FUD from folks trying to sell you something or get you to change your choice of device. We try to do the former, without downplaying the serious issues, but we also depend on users to be a little bit savvy and not do the things that lead to getting malware on the phone in the first place. Thankfully, Google has stepped up and taken the reigns here. As ComputerWorld's JR Rapheal has pointed out, starting with Android 4.2 users now have the option to have every application that is being sideloaded scanned before installation. This uses the same technology as Google Play's Bouncer, and is designed to scan for and find malware -- both known cases and suspicious applications. If an app's fingerprint matches known malware, you'll be blocked from installing the application. If the app shows anything that the canner feels is suspicious, you're warned that it may be harmful and given the choice whether or not to install. The service is entirely opt-in, and your choice can be changed at any time through the device security settings.  We're big proponents of responsible reactions to and prevention of mobile security issues. In a time where companies release blurbs in the press that exaggerate the amount of malware (Android VP of engineering Hiroshi Lockheimer notes that actual dangerous malware is extremely rare on the Android platform) and push users to use their products, we're glad to see Google taking this sort of action. There is no substitute for common sense, but Android 4.2's new security scanning feature sounds like the right way forward.

How-To unlock the Nexus 4 bootloader Posted: 02 Nov 2012 08:12 AM PDT A lot of us who are planning to buy the LG Nexus 4 will be doing so because of the developer options, including the easily unlockable bootloader. Unlocking your bootloader is something to think about before you jump in and do it, because a locked bootloader is essential to keeping your device secure. Once you unlock it, a knowledgeable person can take every bit of data off your phone, even if you're unrooted and have adb debugging turned off, and even with a secure lock screen. Now that's out of the way. (Seriously -- think before you take the plunge, OK?) If you're going to want to unlock your bootloader, you'll want to do it before you have the phone all set up, because unlocking it erases everything from your phone. That's a security feature. If a hacker gets your phone and it is not unlocked, he can't get into your data to steal it as easily. Security is good. So make your decision before you dive into the Google Play store and set things up just so. With all things considered, if you're going to unlock it, hit the break and see how to do it. read more

How to enable developer settings on Android 4.2 Posted: 02 Nov 2012 08:11 AM PDT Google has hidden the developer settings in the latest version of Jelly Bean - here's how to get them back A few months from now, this will seem funny. But for a little while, for a few scary hours, we had no developer settings on the Nexus 4. Ponder that for a moment. A Nexus device with no developer settings. Actually, it wasn't quite that bad. A little hackery, and we had a direct shortcut to the dev settings.  But there's an easier way to enable the developer settings on Android 4.2. Oh, they're still on the phone, so nobody freak out. Google hasn't taken the "developer" out of its Nexus line, and it's not going to anytime soon. But the settings have been hidden from casual view in the settings menu. Here's how to get them back: Go to the settings menu, and scroll down to "About phone." Tap it. Scroll down to the bottom again, where you see "Build number." (Your build number may vary from ours here.) Tap it seven (7) times. After the third tap, you'll see a playful dialog that says you're four taps away from being a developer. (If only it were that simple, eh?) Keep on tapping, and *poof*, you've got the developer settings back. So why would Google hide the developer settings on a Nexus? It likely has nothing at all to do with the device in this case. Think bigger. It's just a change in Android 4.2. If you're reading this blog, chances are you'll want to poke around in them -- or, in most cases, get to the USB debugging settings. There's not a whole lot of danger here. But ever since the dev settings were consolidated into a single menu in Android 4.0, it's seemed odd that they remained in plain sight on more consumer-friendly phones. Does your mom need dev settings? Nah. So, Google's hidden them in Android 4.2. We're fine with that move -- and we expect it to be documented in the Android dev portal.

Nexus 4 unboxing Posted: 02 Nov 2012 08:08 AM PDT Attention citizens of Earth: Here is your Nexus 4 unboxing. Yes. From me. The guy who hates unboxings. But for the Nexus for? What the hell. We'll unbox it. So here's the Nexus 4 box. And here's us pulling the Nexus 4 out of its box. It is no longer in the box. It is unboxed. It is a Nexus 4, without a box. What's in the box? Stuff.

Mophie Juice Pack now available for Samsung Galaxy S3, yours for $100 Posted: 02 Nov 2012 07:57 AM PDT Mophie, one of the most respected external battery pack suppliers for the iPhone, has finally released their version for the Samsung Galaxy S3. Costing $100, the 2300mAh battery pack and protective case combination promises to double the battery life of your Galaxy S3. It's a good chunk of cash to drop on such an accessory, but having seen one of the prototypes in the flesh at IFA, the quality is undeniable. If you're interested, head on over to the source link below.  Source: Mophie

LG Optimus G, Sony Xperia TL available from AT&T today Posted: 02 Nov 2012 07:27 AM PDT Great news for all of you on AT&T today as the LG Optimus G (see our review) and the Sony Xperia TL (see our hands-on) are available now.  The Optimus G can be had for $199 with a 2-year contract while and Xperia TL costs $99. Both can be bought in-store as well as online. If you're concerned with having the top of the line phone, the Optimus G will be your choice. LG has done a fantastic job and has made it one of the top phones on the market. In case you've forgotten, it packs a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 1GB RAM, 32GB of storage, a 4.7-inch True HD IPS Plus display, 8MP rear camera and 1.3MP front-facing. The Xperia TL, known as the 'Bond phone' because James Bond will use it in the upcoming film Skyfall, is a great phone, especially at the $99 price point. It sports a 4.6-inch HD Reality display, 13MP camera, 1.5GHz quad-core processor, Android 4.04 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and NFC support. Two great options for AT&T customers. Do you plan on picking one up? If so, which one? Tell us in the comments or our Xperia TL and Optimus G Forums. Source: Sony Xperia TL on AT&T; LG Optimus G on At&T

Apple's 'apology' ad goes from snarky to snoozy Posted: 02 Nov 2012 07:14 AM PDT Remember how Apple got called out by a UK judge for basically being a dick when it "apologized" by saying the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 didn't "infringe" but still "willfully copied" the iPad? Yeah. Those were good times. Apple's revised advert is appearing in British papers today (please let it be on Page 6!), and it's a snoozer. It's a 87 words (or something like that -- we fell asleep) of pure legal drivel. But at least it's more in the spirit of what the judge intended, we suppose. Have a cup of coffee, and have a read. Then pour another cup. (And in related news, it seems the earlier "non-compliant" statement has now been pulled from Apple's UK site -- go figure.)

Clearwire cutting back LTE rollout expectations by 3,000 new sites Posted: 02 Nov 2012 07:04 AM PDT Clearwire has just released some interesting but understandable news today regarding its expected LTE rollout for 2013. Previously, the company's plans were to have 5,000 new LTE cell sites by mid 2013. Now that Sprint controls a majority of Clearwire again, the plans are changing a bit. Clearwire will be cutting its expected LTE rollout down to 2,000 new sites to fall better into line with what Sprint is doing in its own LTE rollout. Part of the change will come on the device side as well, as Sprint will start deploying data devices in Q2 and phones in Q3 next year that operate on the 2.5GHz frequency, which Clearwire and Sprint will both be deploying LTE on. It's disappointing to see Clearwire cut its expectations for an LTE rollout, but if in the end it turns out that Sprint and Clearwire will keep their networks compatible and running smoothly, it'll likely be for the better of both companies. Source: FierceWireless

Deal of the Day: Cruzerlite Androidified Clone Army Case for Google Nexus 7 Posted: 02 Nov 2012 07:03 AM PDT The Nov. 2 ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day is the Cruzerlite Androidified Clone Army Case for Google Nexus 7. The Androidified Case is made from shock absorbent and scratch resistant thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). This slim-fitting case comes in a variety of colors and provides great protection from day to day use and accidental bumps and spills. The sleek, light-weight design of the case fully wraps around the Nexus 7 while also raising the front of the device to protect the screen while face down. The Cruzerlite Androidified Clone Army Case is available for just $9.00 today only. That's over 60% off! Grab yours while supplies last. Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts!

Sponsored: Get the benefits of a tablet in a phone with the LG Intuition Posted: 02 Nov 2012 06:49 AM PDT   Want the functionality of a tablet in a high-end smartphone? If so, the LG Intuition may just be the phone you've been waiting for.  The LG Intuition's 5" display with 4:3 aspect ratio is a joy to use, whether it's taking notes with the included Rubberdium pen or browsing the web with blazing Verizon 4G LTE speeds. With a 1.5GHz dual core processor and Android 4.0 under the hood, performance is snappy on the LG Intuition. It'll handle any task you throw at it, and the big screen is great for entertainment too! Brought to you by LG. Click Here to Learn More.

Rumored HTC Facebook phone gets codename, reportedly still in the cards Posted: 02 Nov 2012 03:35 AM PDT You could be forgiven for not remembering the HTC ChaCha and HTC Salsa. HTC's first-gen Facebook phones failed to make much of an impact when they were released in mid-2011. But apparently that hasn't deterred the manufacturer or the social giant, as fresh rumors are emerging today of another Facebook phone in the works, slated for a 2013 launch. UK tech blog Pocket-Lint reports via sources in HTC's native Taiwan that the phone in question currently goes by the codename "HTC Opera UL." The device is reportedly an OEM phone, meaning one manufactured by HTC specifically for Facebook (in the same way the Nexus One was HTC-manufactured but Google-branded). Recently-posted Nenamark benchmarks for the device suggest it'll run a 1.4GHz dual-core processor of some description, with an Adreno 305 GPU, Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean and a 720p display. It's worth noting that earlier leaks have suggested this may be a forked version of Android, rather than a Google-approved build. Today's reports echo a story from Bloomberg which appeared a few months back. That report suggested that a "modified" version of Android would be used in a HTC-built Facebook phone that'd be released in 2013, after delays prevented a late 2012 launch. Pocket-Lint's report says that the "Opera UL" has indeed been delayed, though it's not clear whether this refers to the original delay to 2013, or whether additional setbacks have pushed it back even further. Is a fully-integrated Facebook experience still a major selling point for a mobile device? Let us know what you think down in the comments. Source: Pocket-Lint

Google slips a walking and cycling tracking card into Google Now Posted: 02 Nov 2012 03:19 AM PDT Google Now continues to try and improve our daily lives one little step at a time, and the latest addition seems to be doing just that. Some users are reporting this card now appearing when they open up Google Now, which reports on the distances you walked and cycled in the last couple of months, with a comparison of the two. Pretty nifty, and while not quite at the same level as an actual pedometer, those of you who like to keep active will no doubt find it useful.  How accurate it actually is -- especially for the cycling -- remains to be seen. Presumably this relies on having your location data, so turning this off should disable it if you're not too keen. Have you seen this card show up yet? Shout out in the comments below, let's see how active we all are.  via Android Central Forums

Acatel to launch Android devices with Three UK Posted: 02 Nov 2012 03:03 AM PDT French phone manufacturer Alcatel is reportedly set to launch an Android smartphone on the Three network in the UK. But don't get too excited yet, as not only does it not look great, but it's also running the two-year-old Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Alcatel One Touch UK and Ireland country director William Paterson said: “We are extremely pleased to have a handset launching with Three. We feel this will be a great partnership, as Three aims to offer value for money to their customers, just like we aim to do with all our handsets. We are looking forward to working together and launching more handsets in the future.” The Alcatel One Touch Smart 903 which has a 2.8 inch display will apparently be followed by other devices later this year. As far as specs go this is all we currently know.  Let's hope software wise the future devices are a little more up to date. This one had better be as cheap as chips or I have a suspicion it may not do too well. Source: mobilenewscwp

Samsung has sold over 3 million Galaxy Note 2's Posted: 02 Nov 2012 02:34 AM PDT Not so surprisingly, the Galaxy Note 2 has sold well. Samsung is reporting that in just over 30 days, the Note 2 has surpassed 3 million devices sold. It took just a handful of months for the original Note to hit 10 million devices sold, so the Note 2 is expectedly selling at a faster pace than that. There's a lot of demand for the huge phone, and it has only been announced on two of the four major carriers in the U.S. Back in September, JK Shin -- head of Samsung Mobile -- said he expected to hit the 20 million sales mark for the Galaxy Note 2 (although no time table was given). A lofty goal for sure, but the holiday season will surely be kind to Samsung as we see the launch of the device on Verizon and AT&T here in the states. Source: Samsung Tomorrow

Jelly Bean build for the Droid RAZR HD leaks out Posted: 01 Nov 2012 09:49 PM PDT When the Droid RAZR HD was announced, Motorola was quick to note the Android 4.0 powered device would indeed be getting an update to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean by the end of the year. One could conclude from that that Motorola has been doing some testing of the update in an effort to get it ready by that time but alas, owners are still waiting. While we wait though, the more adventurous out there may want to check out a new Jelly Bean leak that has now popped up. Labeled as "9.1.39Xt926.verizon.en.us" this release is noted to be non-official and carries with it the typical slew of warnings, like the fact that if you load it - you may end up stuck on this build for a while and it's potentially full of bugs. You won't have to be rooted to load it up but you should be stock, it can be side-loaded as well but if you're looking to keep the root access you currently have you'll need to back up root using OTA Root keeper. Again, not for everyone to take for a spin but if you're interested, you can hit the source link below to learn more and grab the downloads. Source: DroidRazr

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