Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Android Central

Android Central


Pixel wars: HTC One X versus Droid DNA

Posted: 20 Nov 2012 03:53 PM PST

Android CentralClick the image above to enlarge.

When the HTC One X arrived earlier in the year, it easily took the smartphone display crown, blowing us away with its high pixel density and super-clear zero-air-gap screen. Fast forward six months and we already have a successor in waiting, in the form of Verizon's Droid DNA. The DNA rocks a 1080p SuperLCD 3 screen versus the One X's 720p SuperLCD 2, and that means it boasts a whopping 440 ppi (pixels per inch) compared to the One X's 312.

It shouldn't be surprising to hear that the Droid DNA produces incredibly crisp images -- after all, it matches the pixel count of the average HDTV.  But the One X's screen is impressive in its own right, despite packing less than half as many pixels. As you can see in our close-up shot above, the differences between the Droid DNA and One X are noticeable but subtle -- when viewed up-close, icons, text and other on-screen elements do appear crisper. The perceived difference isn't anywhere near as great as going from WVGA to 720p, though.

Pixels aside, the two phones are pretty closely matched in color quality and brightness, too. The Droid DNA's screen is ever so slightly cooler and a little darker than the One X at maximum brightness, though these aren't differences you'll  notice unless you've got both devices sitting side by side. For general day-to-day use, both of these screens look stunningly good.

You'll be able to see for yourself when the HTC Droid DNA goes on sale tomorrow -- stay tuned for our full review. In the meantime, be sure to sound off in the comments, and stop by our Droid DNA forums for more great discussion.



T-Mobile improving coverage, lighting up 1900MHz in 10 metro areas

Posted: 20 Nov 2012 02:31 PM PST

T-Mobile SIM

T-Mobile is announcing 10 new markets that are being added to its list of 1900MHz HSPA+ areas, as part of its vision to eventually move to the frequency completely. Joining the current set of enhanced coverage cities -- Baltimore, Houston, Kansas City, Las Vegas and Washington D.C. -- users in the following locations will experience improved coverage and speeds, and should start seeing HSPA+ speeds on unlocked AT&T-compatible devices:

  • Phoenix, AZ: including Tempe, Scottsdale, Glendale, Peoria, Paradise Valley, Surprise and Ahwatukee
  • Mesa, AZ: including Chandler and Gilbert
  • Tucson, AZ: including South Tucson, Marana, and Vail
  • Silicon Valley: including Cupertino, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Santa Clara, San Jose
  • Oakland, CA
  • San Francisco, CA
  • Stockton, CA
  • Modesto, CA
  • Miami, FL: including Coral Gables and Miami Beach
  • Fort Lauderdale, FL: including Hollywood

Users in these areas may have already seen 1900MHz HSPA+ coverage before this date, but now T-Mobile feels there are enough towers supporting the service that it has launched it officially. Our own Chris Parsons notes that it has been off-and-on operational in Arizona before this point.

T-Mobile also notes that it is working to expand the same 1900MHz HSPA+ coverage in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, the New York metro area, Philadelphia, San Diego and Seattle, and users may start seeing faster service as they work to roll it out officially.

This is a very important move for the carrier as it attempts to lure customers away from AT&T -- especially those with the iPhone -- and offer them a full-speed experience with their current handset. As we move through 2013, we'll see even more markets go live with 1900MHz HSPA+.

Source: T-Mobile



Android 4.2 OTA update and factory image live for 'yakju' Galaxy Nexus

Posted: 20 Nov 2012 01:24 PM PST

Android Central

Good news for those of you waiting patiently on Android 4.2 for the 'yakju' variant international GSM Galaxy Nexus. We're seeing reports from Android Central Forums members that the OTA update has begun pushing out to those devices. Should you not wish to wait though, or just want a fresh start, the factory 4.2 image for the device has also been posted. 

This only applies to 'yakju' Galaxy Nexus owners at this time, which means people in places like Hong Kong and the UK should be seeing OTA notifications very soon. 'Takju' Galaxy Nexus owners had their updates push last week, and at this time there's still no sign of an update for the Verizon or Sprint versions of the Galaxy Nexus. 

And, because we're so good to you, we've got your download links below for both the factory images and the update package. For a run through of how to update your Galaxy Nexus to Android 4.2 manually be sure to check out our guide linked below. 

How to manually update your Nexus to the latest Android Version

Download: Android 4.2 update, Factory Image

More: Samsung Galaxy Nexus Forums



Ematic FunTab is the 7-inch tablet for your kids

Posted: 20 Nov 2012 12:43 PM PST

Ematic FunTab

We're always thinking about what tablet is best in sleek design and top-notch specs, but we're not always considering that not every age group should have its hands on a full-featured device. For the younger set, Ematic is creating a tablet experience that caters to them with this, the FunTab. It's running Android 4.0 and has mid-range specs, but that's not what's important. What is important is this tablet is rugged and easy to hold, and is pre-loaded with popular games like Angry Birds, Where’s My Water, Cut the Rope and Fruit Ninja. Ematic is also partnering to put a popular childrens app, Zoodles, on the device that helps keep kids safe and allows parents to check in on their progress separately.

The Ematic FunTab is coming to Walmart for just $119.99, a great price for this type of device. Once the kids grow up though, do them a favor and get them a Nexus 7, will ya?

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OpenFeint gaming service closing its doors on December 14

Posted: 20 Nov 2012 12:40 PM PST

Android Central

OpenFeint -- the service that used to ask you if you didn't like fun if you ignored it -- is closing its doors and discontinuing service as of December 14. The cross-platform game platform that allows you to chart scores on leaderboards, achievements and compete against friends is being shut down by owners Gree. At the same time, Gree is hoping that developers who utilized OpenFeint will transfer over to their own platform instead. 

As of shutdown "all OpenFeint network calls will be non-functional." In simple terms, it will cease to work. The actual end date may end up being later than December 14 but developers are urged to prepare for this date. All game information stored will be lost, and should developers wish to retain it migration to the Gree platform ahead of December 14 is advised. 

Source: OpenFeint via Joystiq



Say Welcome back to James Falconer, our new Mobile Nations Community Manager!

Posted: 20 Nov 2012 12:29 PM PST

Android Central Clean James... click here for a current photo of James' dirty Movember 'stache.

On a day when our Mobile Nations family of sites surpassed the 10 Million Monthly Readers milestone, it gives me great pleasure to re-welcome James Falconer to the Mobile Nations team in the role of Community Manager.

Longtime readers may remember James, as he was one of CrackBerry's co-founders and a regular voice on the site and force behind the scenes from 2006 to 2010. James left for a while -- got stronger, smarter and faster -- and now he's back and he's here for YOU.

All of our sites, including Android Central, CrackBerry, iMore, Windows Phone Central and webOS Nation are known for having the BEST forum communities - comprised of the the most passionate, knowledgable and dedicated members you'll find anywhere. We're not ones to settle for being the best though. James' new mission is to make our communities even better and members even happier, and he'll be spending every waking minute (and some of his sleeping ones too) doing just that.

You may see James drop in for the occassional post on the blogs, but where he'll spend the majority of his time is within our forums. He'll be active within the communities engaging with members and will be working with all of our forum volunteers to make sure things are running smoothly and that the forums are getting all of the support and attention they deserve.

I'll leave it to James to further introduce himself and unveil all of his awesome plans. In the meantime, join me in saying Welcome Back!



Archos introduces the 13.3-inch FamilyPad, arrives in the UK for £274.99 starting in December

Posted: 20 Nov 2012 11:28 AM PST

Archos FamilyPad

Archos has now introduced their latest tablet to the world. The Archos FamilyPad as it shall be called is 13.3-inches of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and aims to help you and your family capture some family time thanks to its size and 1280x800 HD display. The idea here being that the whole family can crowd around it and partake in activities.

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Google promises fix for Android 4.2 December birthday bug

Posted: 20 Nov 2012 09:54 AM PST

Android Central

Good news for anyone with a birthday or anniversary coming up next month, as Google has confirmed that it has a fix in the works for the recently-discovered "December birthday" bug in Android 4.2. The glitch resulted in December being absent from the date selector in the Android 4.2 People app, as you can see in the shot above.

The fix will most likely take the form of an over-the-air update for devices running Android 4.2 -- the Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10. No timeframe was provided for the OTA, but with December looming, we'd expect it to hit in a matter of days.

Here's the statement from the official Android Google+ account --

We discovered a bug in the Android 4.2 update, which makes it impossible to enter December events in optional fields of the People app (this bug did not affect Calendar). Rest assured, this will be fixed soon so that those of you with December birthdays and anniversaries won't be forgotten by your friends and family.

Source: +Android



Highlight brings its location-based matchmaking to Android

Posted: 20 Nov 2012 09:34 AM PST

Android Central

A new location-based social network has hit Android today called Highlight. Users set up profiles, list their tastes, post pictures, and send messages to other users. There's an obvious dating angle here, though it can be used for more innocent social networking too. Highlight pulls in data from Facebook to populate your profile, plus you can plug in LinkedIn and Twitter accounts. Profiles of unihighlighted contacts show shared connections, and for when you don't have the time to manually check in on the app, it can push notifications when someone you know or might know is in the neighborhood. 

Highlight has been steadily growing its userbase on iOS for about a year now, though the Android app has been nicely adapted for the Holo theme. I've played around with Highlight for a little bit, and even though Ottawa isn't exactly a bustling area for this kind of stuff, I've already found someone a few blocks away that has a common friend and is into phones. Any takers? How much luck have you had with location-based social networking? How about location-based dating? How well does Google Latitude handle keeping track of friends? 



Skype brings new layout, improved audio to Android tablets

Posted: 20 Nov 2012 09:10 AM PST

Skype for Android tablets

Skype today announced a fairly major update for Android tablets. In addition to the updated layout, there's no an option to sign in and merge your Skype account with your Microsoft account (an offshoot of the Windows-maker buying Skype), improved audio quality, and a number of bugfixes in Skype 3.0.

The audio improvements are brought about by Skype's wideband audio codec, SILK, the company wrote in its official blog.

SILK was designed to capture the richness of human speech. It copes well with the often varying speeds of Internet connections, ensuring that the audio quality is always the best it can be. 

There's a demo of SILK after the break.

Source: Skype

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TuneIn Radio turns on Premier League games

Posted: 20 Nov 2012 08:59 AM PST

TuneIn Radio

TuneIn Radio has long been one of our favorite Internet radio apps, and it just got a even better with the addition of live Barclays Premier League Games. What's more, they'll be available in English, Spanish and Mandarin.

For those who prefer football to futbol, more college football bowl games are being added this year, including the national title game. 

Hit the link above to get your download on. There's also a pro version available.



Cricket announces the Groove with Muve

Posted: 20 Nov 2012 07:34 AM PST

 

Cricket Groove

Cricket Wireless this morning announced the "Groove from Cricket," part of the carrier's Muve Music series. The ZTE-manufactured phone, which will be available Nov. 21 for $129 (though it's currently being promoted online at $79), sports a 3.5-inch HVGA display, runs Android 2.3.6 and has a 1500 mAh battery, with a 3.2MP camera out back and a 0.3MP shooter in the front.

Source: Cricket



Deal of the Day: Amzer TPU Hybrid Case for Google Nexus 7

Posted: 20 Nov 2012 06:38 AM PST

Deal of the Day The Nov. 20 ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day is the Amzer TPU Hybrid Case for Google Nexus 7. Made of highly durable material that feels great when gripped, this sleek looking case features anti-slip properties that give your Google Nexus 7 more grip on all types of surfaces. Plus, this case has a special anti-dust coating and cut-outs for all of your Nexus 7 features. Color options include black, clear and white.

The Amzer TPU Hybrid Case is available for just $9.00, 55% off today only. Backed by our 60-day return policy and fast shipping!

Deal also available in the Canada store

Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts!



Runkeeper's got a new Holo look and get's friendly with some new features

Posted: 20 Nov 2012 06:01 AM PST

Runkeeper

The folks at FitnessKeeper, Inc. have pushed out a big update to the popular RunKeeper app, bringing a holo-like interface and a slew of new social features to help make staying healthy more fun. The biggest of these is the new Friends tab, which ranks buddies gathered from your contacts and Facebook by the number of activities completed. You can find these buddies without leaving the app, and even give them a gentle poke if they seem to be slacking using Android's in-app messaging service.

the rest of the changes are pretty darn good as well. The new holo look with tabs and action bar navigation is a welcome sight, there's a new activities page to help keep track of what you've done and what's coming up, and there's now a bit more flexibility when you sign up for a new training plan. 

To take advantage of these new features, you'll need to connect RunKeeper to your Facebook account. Since that often can be a security nightmare, there's plenty of information on how to do it safely at the source link. You can grab RunKeeper from the Google Play link above, and catch a few screenshots of the app after the break.

Source: RunKeeper blog

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Sony launches PlayStation Mobile Developer Program

Posted: 20 Nov 2012 05:44 AM PST

Android Central

After a few months in beta, Sony's PlayStation Mobile Developer Program is today ready for prime-time. The program allows game developers to build titles for PlayStation-certified Android phones and tablets -- such as the Xperia T and HTC One X+ -- as well as the company's PS Vita device, for an annual fee of  7,980 Japanese yen (around $99).

Today's launch covers Japan, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia, with Hong Kong and Taiwan to follow in the near future.

PlayStation Mobile Developer Program membership gives devs the rights to create and publish as many titles as they wish, meaning the yearly fee doesn't stack for multiple games.

The full, finalized PlayStation Mobile SDK is available to download from the link below, after payment of the annual entry fee. You'll find today's full press release after the break.

More: PlayStation Mobile Developer Registration

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Amazon Appstore update pushing out, fixes Android 4.2 login issue

Posted: 20 Nov 2012 04:51 AM PST

Android Central

Since Android 4.2 started getting into peoples hands, whichever device it may be on, the Amazon Appstore has been experiencing an extremely irritating bug. Whatever happens, the Appstore application would log you out of its own accord forcing a re-login to use. Worse still, according to several Android Central Forums users, each login would add another authorized device to your overall list. 

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EE launches SIM-only UK LTE plans

Posted: 20 Nov 2012 04:47 AM PST

Android Central

EE, the UK's largest mobile operator, and so far the only one to boast 4G LTE services, has begun offering SIM-only 4G plans. Prices start at £21 per month for a 500MB allowance, going up to £36 for a 5GB data bucket. All contracts run for 12 months, and include unlimited calls and texts. EE's SIM-only prices are substantially more affordable than its 24-month, phone-inclusive deals, though obviously you'll have to swallow the extra cost of picking up an LTE-capable phone off-contract.

Today's launch follows a brief delay in the roll-out of EE's SIM-only plans, apparently due to additional network testing requirements.

More: EE



White Nexus 4 tipped for Dec. 13 UK launch

Posted: 20 Nov 2012 04:28 AM PST

Android Central

Reports of a possible white LG Nexus 4 were circulating in the run up to the device's launch, with UK retailer Carphone Warehouse putting up in-store displays showing a white color option. Now further proof of the white Nexus 4's existence has emerged, as details for a "Nexus 4 white" and Nexus 7 deal have appeared on the website of UK telco TalkTalk.

The page offers pre-orders on a range of price plans, and says that the first round of stock is expected on Dec. 13. That just happens to be the day O2's UK-wide exclusivity expires, allowing other carriers to sell the Nexus 4.

It's unknown as to whether the the white Nexus 4 will be available elsewhere. The white versions of the Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus never saw particularly wide releases -- and the standard black version is rare enough as it is. There's still no photographic evidence of the white N4's existence, although based on the appearance of the white Optimus G, and earlier white Nexii, we'd imagine the front face will remain black.

With the black Nexus 4 already back-ordered in many countries, it might be tempting to hold back until the white model arrives. Anyone planning on waiting it out? Let us know in the comments.

Source: TalkTalk; via: MoDaCo



HTC's Peter Chou dismisses talk of $6-8 per-phone payment to Apple

Posted: 20 Nov 2012 03:35 AM PST

Android Central

Since HTC and Apple settled their patent disputes and agreed to a cross-licensing agreement, there's been plenty of speculation as to exactly what this deal entails. One figure floating around the blogosphere last week was $6-8 per phone -- an estimated amount that at least one analyst thinks HTC might be paying Apple.

However HTC CEO Peter Chou was quick to rubbish this particular number at a recent public appearance in Tokyo. According to reports from Reuters, when asked directly, Chou dismissed the figure as "outrageous," while saying he is "happy" with the way the settlement worked out.

"I think that these estimates are baseless and very, very wrong. It is a outrageous number, but I'm not going to comment anything on a specific number. I believe we have a very, very happy settlement and a good ending."

The exact details of the settlement and cross-licensing agreement remain confidential, although rival manufacturer Samsung is working through the courts to reveal the exact amounts involved. It's widely speculated that at least some money is going in Cupertino's direction.

For its part, HTC's only official comment on the specifics of the agreement has been to say it doesn't expect it to have any "adverse material impact" on the company's financials.

Source: Reuters



Android 4.1.2 firmware for international Galaxy Note 2 leaks

Posted: 20 Nov 2012 03:05 AM PST

Android Central

Samsung continues to push ahead with Android OS upgrades for its leading smartphones, and the latest leaked build to emerge demonstrates Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean on the international Galaxy Note 2 (GT-N7100). The leaked firmware comes via Vietnamese site Tinhte.vn, and as you might expect, it looks a whole lot like Android 4.1.1 running on the Galaxy Note 2. The only difference we've been able to spot from the screenshots provided is a notification icon for the multi-window feature.

The leaked build carries the number XXDLJ2 , which according to Samsung's naming scheme indicates something built during October. Earlier leaks have hinted at a possible Android 4.1.2 upgrade for the international Galaxy S3 in December, so we'll have to wait and see if this holds true for its big brother, too.

Source: Tinhte.vn; via: SamMobile



U.S. DOJ requesting more information for MetroPCS merger approval

Posted: 19 Nov 2012 11:02 PM PST

MetroPCS Logo

MetroPCS announced today that the U.S. DOJ (Department of Justice) has requested additional information from the company regarding its proposed merger with Deutsche Telekom's subsidiary, T-Mobile USA. Although it has not disclosed what additional information is required, MetroPCS intends to fully comply with any DOJ requests. The end result, assuming that this second request goes to plan, is that the merger approval process may be postponed by up to 30 days extra.

Even with this possible month setback, MetroPCS continues to expect that the merger with T-Mobile will be completed in the first half of 2013. The companies are confident that the U.S. government will find the merger to be both pro-competition and pro-consumer.

Source: MetroPCS Investor Relations



Nexus 7 shipments for 2012 expected to top 5 million

Posted: 19 Nov 2012 09:50 PM PST

Nexus 7

We heard straight from ASUS itself that shipments of the Nexus 7 were approaching 1 million for the month of October, and now we're hearing more information about shipments for the whole of 2012. According to DigiTimes, suppliers report that ASUS will be shipping upwards of 5 million units total for 2012. That's quite a feat for a device that launched in just July of this year.

The report explains that many manufacturers peak their manufacturing in October and November for the big holiday sales, but that ASUS intends to keep shipments strong all the way through the end of the year. The new, lower price levels for the Wifi models and inclusion of a new HSPA+ model are surely helping out sales this quarter, and we'll be interested to see what the final numbers are at the end of the year.

Source: Digitimes



HBO Go app updated for Android 4.2 and Nexus 10

Posted: 19 Nov 2012 08:14 PM PST

HBO Go

Home Box Office has updated their Android app to support Android 4.2 and the Nexus 10 this evening, allowing plenty of folks (including yours truly) to go into couch potato mode. Besides these two big changes, there's also some "performance enhancements and bug fixes" that are always appreciated.

If you've updated your Nexus device to 4.2 and have been missing this one, it's time to hit Google Play and update or re-install. if you picked up a Nexus 10, I think it's high time to put the screen to use. Now bring on season three of Game of Thrones!

Thanks, Kevin!



Nexus 4 shipping notifications, Data signal concerns on 4.2 [From the Forums]

Posted: 19 Nov 2012 07:37 PM PST

From the Forums

While you get yourself caught up on the blog posts from today, don't forget that in the Android Central Forums there is plenty to talk about as well. Have some questions? Need some help or just looking to chat Android? You know where to go, check out some of the threads below to get started.

We've got over 1 million members helping members and nearly 2 million posts in our Android Forums. Are you one of them? Join today!



Pandigital calls it quits, all existing warranties cancelled

Posted: 19 Nov 2012 07:23 PM PST

Pandigital

Although Pandigital was never a company known for their great quality tablets, there is plenty of them out there on the market and in the hands of consumers. Back in July 2012, the company officially signed over all of their assets to a liquidator which was then to sell the assets off in order to pay Pandigitals creditors. In that time, Pandigital has now started sending out emails to former customers advising their warranties on products are no longer valid and if you wish to make a claim, it has to be done with the liquidator.

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