Android Central |
- Official eBay for Android app hits version 2.1
- OUYA Development Kits up for pre-order at $800 US
- AT&T to invest $8 billion in wireless infrastructure
- Sprint Galaxy Nexus, Nexus S factory images now available
- Sprint Galaxy Note 2 OTA bringing Multi Window View
- LG Nexus 4 review
- Rogers, TELUS, and Bell announce nearly identical unlimited talk and text plans
- HTC Sense 4+ video walkthrough
- AT&T fined $700,000 by FCC for overcharging PAYG customers
- T-Mobile finally gets black HTC One S
- Android smartphone adoption rate reaches six times iPhone
- The case for an on-contract T-Mobile Nexus 4
- Deal of the Day: Cruzerlite SPI-Force Case for Samsung Galaxy S3
- German retailer Media Markt lists Nexus 4 for Dec. 15 at €395
- Sprint picking up spectrum, customers in Midwest from US Cellular
- Carphone Warehouse cuts 32GB Nexus 7, Galaxy Tab 2 prices
- Sony Xperia T/TX update adds Miracast streaming and more
- Arcane Legends review
- Mobile Nations Passport is now live!
- Tablet options for kids, Droid DNA discussion [From the Forums]
- Motorola Photon Q receiving maintenance OTA
| Official eBay for Android app hits version 2.1 Posted: 07 Nov 2012 04:53 PM PST
After a little slip-up with a bad v2.0 update, ebay has charged ahead with a feature release, v2.1 to its official app. What we're looking at here is a smattering of fixes and a couple of feature enhancements. As for new features, you can now save multiple draft listings, shipping can now be calculated (in the U.S.) and there are more pre-populated fields to simplify posting. As for fixes, there are improvements to saved searches, improved tracking information handling and better image handling. Snag the update at the Play Store link above. Thanks, Ellis! 
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| OUYA Development Kits up for pre-order at $800 US Posted: 07 Nov 2012 03:32 PM PST
If you're a game developer, or the sort of fellow who just has to get your hands on cool stuff as soon as you can, you might want to have a look at OUYA's page today. The Development Kits -- an OUYA console, two controllers, and access to the ODK (software development tools) -- are now available for preorder. The kits check in at $800 US per piece, and should be available in January 2013. Now before the comments fill with lunacy, remember that this is not the retail price of the units. This offer is designed for software developers who want or need early access to make sure their stuff is ready when the OUYA consoles launch later in 2013. We're not going to second guess the pricing of the developer kits, as we assume that the people in charge know what they are doing. All this means for the consumer (that's you and me) is that there's an even better chance the OUYA will launch with support for more apps and games. That's a good thing. Source: OUYA 
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| AT&T to invest $8 billion in wireless infrastructure Posted: 07 Nov 2012 03:03 PM PST
AT&T has just released its plans regarding a massive investment in both its wireless and wireline infrastructure. Over the next three years, AT&T plans to invest a total of $14 billion -- $8 billion in wireless, $6 billion in wireline -- to improve all aspects of its services. Although its 4G LTE network has been rolling out at a steady pace, it is upping expectations with this new influx of spending. The new goal is to cover 300 million Americans with 4G LTE coverage by the end of 2014. AT&T plans to leverage its recent spectrum acquisitions in the most populous markets to help improve 4G LTE networks that have already been deployed. Hopefully with this new round of investment AT&T will offer a truly nation-wide LTE network in the near future. Source: AT&T Newsroom 
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| Sprint Galaxy Nexus, Nexus S factory images now available Posted: 07 Nov 2012 01:55 PM PST
One of the greatest parts of owning a Nexus is the software support from Google. Now this goes beyond just updates, as Google also posts complete "factory images" for Nexus devices so that willing hackers can always return their devices to stock firmware through first-party approved methods. Things got a little sticky when the Verizon Galaxy Nexus and Sprint Galaxy Nexus (and Nexus S) were released, however, because they included closed-source bits related to CDMA and LTE. This put a damper on Google's ability to release the images for anyone to download. Thankfully, the Sprint Galaxy Nexus ("mysidspr") now has a complete image available for download by anyone that includes everything you need to return your device to stock 4.1.1 Jelly Bean. Additionally, Google has posted the 4.1.1 factory images for the Sprint Nexus S 4G ("sojus") and 4.1.2 images for the AT&T Nexus S ("sojua") as well. It's good to see Google not leave out older hardware, even though it's two Nexus revisions behind now. The process is pretty simple if you've got a little bit of patience. Need help using these tools? Head to the forums, there's plenty of great info and helpful users at the ready. Source: Google Developers; More: Sprint Galaxy Nexus Forums; Sprint Nexus S 4G Forums 
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| Sprint Galaxy Note 2 OTA bringing Multi Window View Posted: 07 Nov 2012 12:34 PM PST
When the Galaxy Note 2 started showing up on carrier store shelves here in the U.S., there was one curious omission to the firmware. The U.S. variants of the device were shipping without Samsung's touted Multi Window View software that lets users move around different apps in small windows while they do other things on the device. Well, fear not if you're on Sprint because the feature is rolling out OTA (Over The Air) starting today. The update to software version L900VPALJC is primarily to bring the new Multi Window View feature, but also includes a few other fixes. GPS lock settings can now be controlled by corporate administrators, email messages properly go into the Outbox when sending with no signal (or in AIrplane Mode) and SMS notifications will now beep while in a phone call. Have you received the OTA yet? Let the other users know in the forums. Source: Sprint Support Community; More: Sprint Galaxy Note 2 Forum 
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| Posted: 07 Nov 2012 10:07 AM PST
The Google Nexus 4 is easily the best since the original, but this one does come with some compromiseThere's something about taking a Nexus phone out of the box that still gives goosebumps. Even now, with the LG Nexus 4 -- a phone that leaked every which way to Sunday before finally being announced, sans Google event, thanks to Hurricane Sandy -- hands tremble a little bit. This time around, however, those tremors are from a sense of unease as much as they are from excitement. After two generations of Samsung devices, Google's Nexus phone line shifts to LG. Worldwide standing aside -- and make no mistake, there's a big world out there, and a lot of it owns LG hardware -- it's not a company with much cachet here in the States. Add to that the preconceived hangups folks have about some of the Nexus 4's specs, and we're in for a drama-filled start for the fourth iteration of Google's premier smartphone. This is going to be fun. Strap in, everybody. It's time for the full Android Central review of the Google Nexus 4 by LG. 
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| Rogers, TELUS, and Bell announce nearly identical unlimited talk and text plans Posted: 07 Nov 2012 09:16 AM PST
Today Bell announced a handful of new unlimited talk and text plans for Canadians. Surprise! They're pretty much identical to the ones we've seen from Rogers, which have coincidentally also gone public today. Here's what you get on Bell starting November 9.
Rogers, starting today?
Is it just me, or is there a shocking lack of honest competition between the big carriers in Canada? Now we just have to wait to see if TELUS will follow suit. Update: Aaaaand there it is. Slightly different mix. Includes caller ID, voicemail, and unlimited family calling on all three, but you pay five bucks more.
Anyone interested in the new plans can hit up Bell and Rogers, though Bell's plans aren't live yet. Or you can just hold out for another 6 GB/$30 promo, or better yet, switch to WIND or Mobilicity. 
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| HTC Sense 4+ video walkthrough Posted: 07 Nov 2012 09:07 AM PST The HTC One X+ has just launched in Europe, and it comes pre-loaded with the latest version of HTC's Android UX, dubbed Sense 4+. It's a minor revision to Sense 4, with a handful of new features stacked atop a familiar UI. The biggest change is the bump up to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, bringing improved performance through Project Butter, and the new Google Search app with Google Now. In addition, there's a new Sense gallery app, incorporating content from Facebook, Picasa, Dropbox and other sources, as well as a redesigned version of HTC Watch. The Sense camera app has also grown a couple of useful new abilities -- there's a countdown timer for the front-facing camera, as well as "sightseeing mode," which lets you lock and unlock directly into the camera app, bypassing the lock screen. Other new stuff includes "Get Started," HTC's web-based setup assistant, and full USB host capabilities, which brings USB keyboard, mouse and memory stick support to the phone via a USB OTG cable. Check out our complete video walkthrough above. We'll have full review headed your way tomorrow. 
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| AT&T fined $700,000 by FCC for overcharging PAYG customers Posted: 07 Nov 2012 08:42 AM PST
Back in 2009, AT&T started shifting pay-as-you-go data subscribers to full monthly customers, despite promises that they would be able to grandfather their old plans in. This meant that customers would end up paying $25 - $30/month more than they used to, but thanks to a tidal wave of customer complaints and the intervention of th FCC, not only are those customers getting refunds, but AT&T is coughing up a $700,000 fine. The FCC chairman Julius Genachowski commented on the resolution:
FCC Enforcement Bureay chief Michele Ellison also chimed in.
That's some tall talk, and AT&T is understandably on the defensive. They say that fewer than 0.03% of their customers had been affected, and that the vast majority of them have already been refunded. Was anyone affected by this transition years ago? Experience any other similar forced transitions with other carriers? Source: FCC Via: Reuters 
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| T-Mobile finally gets black HTC One S Posted: 07 Nov 2012 07:56 AM PST
Gray got you down? Been pining for a black, MAO-clad version of the HTC One S for T-Mobile U.S.? Your wish has been granted, as you can now snag a "ceramic black" version of HTC's slimmest and sexiest phone of 2012. It's free on contract (after a $50 mail-in rebate), and you'll have the the same version the rest of the world has been able to enjoy for months. The phone's exactly like the original -- same 4.3-inchSuper AMOLED touchscreen and qHD resolution. Same 1GB of RAM and 8MP camera. And (sigh) same Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, though HTC has said the international One S will get Jelly Bean soonish, and we expect T-Mobile to follow suit. The black One S on T-Mobile is only available online, so hit the link below, and grab your credit card. 
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| Android smartphone adoption rate reaches six times iPhone Posted: 07 Nov 2012 07:49 AM PST
Mary Meeker, an investment partner at KPCB, has given a preview of her annual Internet Trends report recently, and is showing that the growth in Android smartphones is six times that of iPhone. This certainly lines up with data we've seen from IDC lately. She's using data from Gartner and Morgan Stanley to put together that figure, which is a sharp step up from the four times growth Android handsets were enjoying as of her last report in the spring. The research showed that by the end of the year there will be 1 billion smartphone users worldwide, but 5 billion mobile users total, meaning there's still a lot of folks that are due for an upgrade. It's also worth noting that the number of internet-connected Android devices surpassed the number of internet-connected Windows devices shipped in Q1 2012. Meeker estimates that by the end of 2013, 160 million Android devices, 80 million Windows devices, and 100 million iOS devices will be shipped every quarter. That certainly puts things into perspective. As great as Android is doing, iOS is still no slouch. iPad adoption is way higher than iPhone (five times faster compared to three times faster in the spring), and it's probably safe to assume that number will rise once the figures from the iPad 4 and iPad mini are factored in. Do these findings jibe with what you see on a day-to-day basis? Is Android really taking over as aggressively as the numbers suggest? Is it fair to pile on multiple mobile manufacturers against Apple alone in side-by-side comparisons like this? Are there really that many people still using dumbphones in the world? Source: TechCrunch 
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| The case for an on-contract T-Mobile Nexus 4 Posted: 07 Nov 2012 07:22 AM PST
The Nexus 4 was announced to much fanfare last week, especially when the prices hit. $299 for 8GB? That’s less than half what a high end smartphone will cost you off contract nowadays. Buying from the Play Store at these prices is a no-brainer for many of us. After the dust settled, we started to get more information about the pricing and availability of the Nexus 4 outside of the Play Store. Here in the states, your only option to pick up the device with a carrier attachment is on T-Mobile. As we’ve learned since the announcement, T-Mobile will be charging $199 (after $50 mail-in rebate) on a Classic Plan with a 2-year commitment for the 16GB Nexus 4. Now some quick math will make you realize that this may not be the best deal in the world. At $199, you’re signing a 2-year contract to save $150 off of what Google is charging directly. As we’ve highlighted several times before on the site, there are a multitude of reasons to consider buying a device full price and choosing a cheaper plan without a subsidy. T-Mobile itself even offers Value Plans, which are in every way identical to Classic Plans but are cheaper every month because they offer no device subsidy -- not to mention the multitude of Prepaid options it offers. So why do I think it’s a good idea that T-Mobile is offering the Nexus 4 on contract for an inflated price? There are actually a few good reasons. 
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| Deal of the Day: Cruzerlite SPI-Force Case for Samsung Galaxy S3 Posted: 07 Nov 2012 06:05 AM PST
The Cruzerlite SPI-Force Case is available for just $10.00 today only. That's 60% off the normal price! Grab yours while supplies last. Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts! 
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| German retailer Media Markt lists Nexus 4 for Dec. 15 at €395 Posted: 07 Nov 2012 05:20 AM PST
If the Google Play store's not your thing, German retailer Media Markt has the upcoming Nexus 4 listed at €395 (including that whole VAT thing), with a release date of Dec. 15. That's just about a full month past the official German release from Google Play, though, so you're going to have to exercise a little patience But options are always good, even if they'll make you wait a little. Google opens up Nexus 4 orders on Nov. 13 in the U.S., UK, Canada, Germany, France, Spain and Australia. Source: Media Markt; thanks, DaTommy123! 
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| Sprint picking up spectrum, customers in Midwest from US Cellular Posted: 07 Nov 2012 05:02 AM PST
Sprint this morning announced that it will acquire from US Cellular 20 MHz of spectrum in the 1900 MHz band in Midwest markets including Chicago, South Bend, Ind., and Champaign, Ill. It'll also get 10 MHz of spectrum in St. Louis. The moves, which are costing Sprint $480 million, will affect some 585,000 USCC customers Source: Sprint 
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| Carphone Warehouse cuts 32GB Nexus 7, Galaxy Tab 2 prices Posted: 07 Nov 2012 03:56 AM PST
UK retailer Carphone Warehouse has announced several tablet price cuts today, including two leading budget Android tablets, the Nexus 7 and Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0. ASUS and Google's newly-launched 32GB Nexus tablet goes on sale from today at £189, £10 cheaper than most retailers, including the UK Google Play Store. Similarly, the Wifi-only, 8GB 7-inch Galaxy Tab 2 will go on sale at Carphone Warehouse for £149. That'll get you a dual-core, ICS-based tablet which also boasts a rear camera, unlike the Nexus In addition, Apple's short-lived third-gen iPad has been cut by £40 to £359. The new Tab 2 prices are live on Carphone's site right now, though both Nexus 7 and iPad remain at their previous price points for the moment. Carphone Warehouse offers these price reductions as part of its push to "offer the lowest prices on tablets on the high street." With the holidays looming, we're sure to see more competitive deals emerge online and in brick-and-mortar retailers in the weeks ahead. More: Carphone Warehouse 
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| Sony Xperia T/TX update adds Miracast streaming and more Posted: 07 Nov 2012 03:40 AM PST
Sony Mobile sends word that a new software update is now pushing out for its leading European and Asian handsets, the Xperia T and Xperia TX. Very similar in design and specs, we recently reviewed the Xperia T, while we met the Xperia TX briefly at IFA in Berlin, Germany a couple of months back. The biggest feature added in the new software update is Miracast sharing over Wifi -- a feature you might remember from the Nexus 4 and Android 4.2. This allows the phone to wirelessly mirror its screen onto a Miracast-compatible display over a Wifi network. However, as we've discovered during our tests with the Nexus 4, your network infrastructure, as well as your TV or monitor, will need to be Miracast-friendly. The latest update also includes an optional extended standby function, which can disable data connections after a set period of time, while keeping text and call features working. Sony claims this can increase standby time by as much as four times, which could greatly increase battery life for those who switch it on. The Xperia T's mediocre battery life, you may remember, was something we highlighted in our review of the phone. Other changes include some Sony app improvements, such as interface changes in the Movies and Walkman music apps. Check the source link below for the full list of differences. Sony says the update will begin rolling out globally starting this week, so if you've already received it on your Xperia T or Xperia TX, be sure to shout out in the comments and let us know how you're getting on. Source: Sony Mobile 
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| Posted: 07 Nov 2012 02:52 AM PST Arcane Legends recently enjoyed a soft launch in Canada and Australia, bringing a fresh, colorful fantasy MMORPG to Android. The developer, Spacetime Studios, has a lot of experience in freemium mobile massively multiplayer online games, having kicked off the trend with Pocket Legends way back when, and since released other themed games such as Star Legends and Dark Legends. I’ve dabbled in those previously, but let me say right off the bat that Arcane Legends blows the others out of the water. 
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| Mobile Nations Passport is now live! Posted: 06 Nov 2012 11:42 PM PST Easily access all of Mobile Nations, all with one account! You can now also register and login via Facebook, Twitter, Google and Microsoft!Your most-requested feature is finally here! Instead of having to maintain separate account logins and passwords for each and every one of our five communities -- Android Central, CrackBerry, iMore, Windows Phone Central and webOS Nation -- with Mobile Nations Passport you can now access all of your favorite sites with one easy login. Now, don't worry! Even though we've unified our account management, we know and love the unique identities of each of our sites as much as you do, and we're not changing that. The power to control which sites you want your account to be associated with is still all in your hands -- we're making it easy, not automatic and certainly not mandatory. We're also maintaining your individual post history and forum profile on a site by site basis, so you get the recognition you deserve for each and every platform. The video above will give you a quick, two-minute run-down of how Mobile Nations Passport works. Watch it, and then register or, for existing members, simply login to activate your Passport now! 
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| Tablet options for kids, Droid DNA discussion [From the Forums] Posted: 06 Nov 2012 06:49 PM PST
Just in case you missed out on some of the Android news today, now is the time to go ahead and get yourself fully caught up. Here on the blogs and in the Android Central Forums there is plenty to talk about. 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 nearly 1 million members helping members and nearly 2 million posts in our Android Forums. Are you one of them? Join today! 
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| Motorola Photon Q receiving maintenance OTA Posted: 06 Nov 2012 06:26 PM PST
Sprint's leading hardware keyboard slider device from earlier this year, the Motorola Photon Q, is receiving a sizable maintenance OTA (Over The Air) update today. Software version 7.7.1Q-6_SPR-125_ASA-10 is bringing a whole host of enhancements and fixes to known bugs:
The support page notes that the update will be rolling out in stages, and all devices should have it within the next 14 days. To apply the update, make sure your device has a 50-percent or greater charge and Wifi or 4G (preferred) for downloading. Has your device received the update? Let the other users know in the forums. Source: Sprint Support Community; (2) More: Sprint Motorola Photon Q Forums 
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