Android Community |
- Verizon confirms HTC 5-inch phone as the DROID DNA
- Verizon details recovery efforts after Hurricane Sandy
- Chrome for Android updated with bug fixes, new Nexus device support
- Motorola Electrify M announced for US Cellular
- CM File Manager comes to CyanogenMod 10 – Root access mode included
- New game Zombie Driver makes it way to TegraZone
- HTC Desire C comes to Cricket Wireless without contract
- Samsung Galaxy S III Mini gets a launch date in the UK
- Amazon Cloud Drive Photos app launches on Google Play and Amazon App Store
- OUYA dev boards arrive and Jelly Bean updates go out
- Apple’s Samsung statement deemed “non-compliant” by judges
- Carrier billing launches on Google Play through Verizon
- AT&T and T-Mobile open up networks for victims of Hurricane Sandy
- Google Nexus Q banished from Nexus landing page
| Verizon confirms HTC 5-inch phone as the DROID DNA Posted: 01 Nov 2012 11:48 AM PDT If you’re impressed by the 5-inch 1080p smartphone coming from the folks at HTC and are on Verizon, then we have good news. Multiple leaks and reports have seemingly confirmed that the HTC J Butterfly 5-inch “phablet” will arrive on Verizon, and today the carrier has accidentally confirmed it themselves. Read on for more details about the upcoming HTC DROID DNA.
We’ve seen a few leaks suggesting it’ll be called the DROID Incredible X, or the HTC DLX — for Deluxe — but a new insert right into Verizon’s very own support page has cleared outed this smartphone as the HTC DROID DNA. I sort of like that name personally. Check it out in the image above, which also confirms the ADR6435 device code as we’ve seen before. Now that Google has confirmed their LG Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 we can sadly forget about the rumors regarding an HTC Nexus 5 — as that appears to be a no go sadly. However, those on Verizon will be able to enjoy an impressive 5-inch 1080p HD smartphone from HTC with Qualcomm’s 1.5 GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, a 2,500 mAh battery and apparently a 13 megapixel camera too. The device will most likely launch as the DROID DNA, and we got our first potential look at the device complete with Verizon branding last week — even though some thought the images were fake. Most suggests are slating this impressive looking smartphone to arrive on Verizon in mid to late November so get ready to enjoy that beautiful display. Stay tuned for more details. [via Droid-Life]
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| Verizon details recovery efforts after Hurricane Sandy Posted: 01 Nov 2012 11:40 AM PDT The worst of Hurricane Sandy is over, but the recovery effort is just getting started. There are missing people find, houses to rebuild, and services to restore. None of this is going to be easy either, so Verizon is helping out the recovery effort by doing a number of different things. For instance, the company has opened up Wireless Emergency Communication Centers on Staten Island, at Monmouth University in New Jersey, and in two locations at Toms River in New Jersey.
At the WECCs, visitors can charge their device and use the computer workstations that have been set up. Verizon will also have mobile phones available that visitors can use to get in touch with loved ones. If a Verizon store in your area is open, you can stop in for free device charging and free domestic calls. Some stores in the area affected by Hurricane Sandy may not be open yet, but Verizon assures that its opening these stores as quickly as it can. If the Verizon stores in your area haven’t been re-opened yet, be sure to keep an eye out for Verizon’s mobile stores-on-wheels. These serve as fully-featured Verizon stores, and they’re currently set up on Staten Island; Sea Grit, New Jersey; and Howell, New Jersey. Verizon seems to be doing a pretty good job at returning service to affected areas as well, as it says that 96% of its cell sites are now operational. All throughout Hurricane Sandy, we’ve seen carriers stepping up to make sure that customers are able to contact the people and services they need to. Just yesterday T-Mobile and AT&T said that they would open up their networks so that customers of both would have better coverage as the recovery process begins. We’ll update with more information on carriers that are assisting with the Sandy recovery effort, so keep it tuned here to Android Community for more!
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| Chrome for Android updated with bug fixes, new Nexus device support Posted: 01 Nov 2012 11:06 AM PDT Today the developers over in Mountain View for Google have just pushed out a quick and apparently needed update to the Chrome Browser for Android. The update is available this afternoon as usual in the Google Play Store, and at first glance only appears to be bug fixes, but there’s a few more things included as well.
The Play Store ‘What’s new” sure didn’t give us any details or information regarding the bugs, and performance improvements that were added, but both are briefly mentioned. We have a feeling most of these issues were related to Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, as well as the all new LG Nexus 4 and Samsung Nexus 10 tablet. Both are mentioned by Google themselves elsewhere. According to the Google Chrome Blog the update to Chrome on Android brings updates to both ARM and x86 versions, and the update brought important stability fixes and support for the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10. Both devices were announced earlier this week after Google had to cancel their launch event, and will be arriving for buyers in the coming weeks. Chrome for Android comes pre-installed on all Nexus devices like the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 — but it looks like a few outstanding bugs have now been trimmed off for optimal performance. To get the latest version right from Google head to the Play Store. For more details on both of their new Nexus devices stay tuned right here to Android Community for a full review coming soon.
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| Motorola Electrify M announced for US Cellular Posted: 01 Nov 2012 10:55 AM PDT It looks like US Cellular is primed to get a brand new Motorola handset, this one called the Electrify M. As the name implies, it isn’t all that different from the popular DROID RAZR M, and to make things even better, it’ll be compatible with US Cellular’s 4G LTE network. It’s also relatively inexpensive, provided you sign a two-year contract and take advantage of a $100 mail-in rebate.
According to Motorola and US Celluar, the Electrify M features a “virtually borderless” 4.3-inch display, the same size as the screen found on the RAZR M. Motorola isn’t talking about the resolution of the display just yet, but it seems safe to assume that it’ll be similar if not the same as the RAZR M’s qHD (960×540) resolution. The Electrify M is also packing an unnamed dual-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz, as well as a 2,000mAh non-removable battery. The Electrify M sports an 8MP rear-facing camera, and it will be running Android 4.0 out of the box. Don’t let Ice Cream Sandwich dissuade you though, as Motorola says this is one handset that will eventually get an upgrade to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. The device itself is scratch and water resistant, and it even comes equipped with NFC. All in all, it isn’t too bad a package, but what we know about the internals suggests that the only differences between the Electrify M and the RAZR M are cosmetic. So, what’s it going to cost? If you live in an area that has 4G LTE service from US Cellular, you’ll have to pay $99 after a $100 mail-in rebate. If you don’t live in a US Cellular LTE service area, the price goes up to $149 after the same $100 rebate. The Electrify M will be available online on November 8 and in US Cellular stores on November 9. Are you picking one up?
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| CM File Manager comes to CyanogenMod 10 – Root access mode included Posted: 01 Nov 2012 10:24 AM PDT Those awesome developers from what is still one of, if not the best custom ROM in the world of Android have just released a brand new File Manager. Today CM10 nightlys will start enjoying a brand new CM File Manager full of features, function, and a beautiful user interface that streamlines it right into the elegance of CM10. More details below, including that “root access mode” feature too.
CyanogenMod for those that don’t know, is a custom ROM built from the Android Open Source Project and tweaked to be fast, simple, stable, yet full of features, tweaks and add-ons to make it a community favorite. Today they’ve merged their very own File Manager into their ROM to bring even more features and functionality. While I’m a huge fan of Root Explorer, the folks from CM might have just replaced it overnight. Obviously this was just released and it still needs some work — like thumbnail previews — and a few various fixes but I’m sure it will be a powerful tool in the weeks ahead. One of the philosophies of CM is “any feature we add in should be seamless in it’s implementation, intuitive in its usage and functional to a large group of users.” and that is exactly what this new File Manager is. They’ve used the Holo UI theme elements to make it a familiar looking app, and so far it works great. One neat feature, which also kills root access type file explorers, is the “Access Mode.” Here you’ll start in safe mode so the file manager can’t cause harm to your device by inexperienced users deleting things they shouldn’t. Then you can opt for a prompt user mode where you’ll be guided and prompted before doing anything too dangerous, then full on Root Access mode where you’re free to do as you please. Once you enable Root Access Mode it launches in that mode — so use caution. For those that are fans of file manager and explorers get ready to enjoy another impressive option right from the CM developers themselves. It’s being merged into nightly builds as we speak. Enjoy!    [via CyanogenMod]
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| New game Zombie Driver makes it way to TegraZone Posted: 01 Nov 2012 09:05 AM PDT If you own an NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core device, we’ve got some good news for you. The new games, called Zombie Driver THD, has made its way to Google Play, and it looks like a solid game. It’s developed by Exor Studios, and they describe the game as having “massive amounts of zombie carnage and unprecedented destruction effects.” Clearly, it is being aimed at pushing the Tegra processor to its limits.
There are plenty of things to unlock the keep the game fresh and fun. There’s a total of 13 vehicles to choose from, so there should be lots to keep you playing for a while. According to developers, there are enough upgrades to turn your car into a “chariot of death.” Our friends at SlashGear are positively gushing about the quality of the game, so it definitely has us intrigued.
The graphics in the game come from PhysX by NVIDIA, and they looks quite impressive. The game is available now through the NVIDIA TegraZone for $7. It looks like the perfect way to relax and recover from the candy-induced fog that Halloween seems to generate for all of us.              [via SlashGear]
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| HTC Desire C comes to Cricket Wireless without contract Posted: 01 Nov 2012 08:43 AM PDT Cricket Wireless is bringing a new smartphone to its line up. The HTC Desire C promises solid features and specs at a reasonable price. That seems to be the general focus for most of the phones and devices released on Cricket. One feature the phone is clearly pushing is music playback, with Beats technology implemented.
That’s all well and good, but we need to get down to the nitty-gritty; the specs. The device comes with a 3.5-inch touchscreen, and a five-megapixel rear camera that, as you would expect, records video. Buyers of the phone will also receive 25GB of free online storage through Dropbox. The phone also includes a memory card slot for support of up to 32GB. The phone’s dimensions are 4.8 x 2.4 x 0.5″. It comes with a 1230 mAh battery for up to 370 minutes of talk time and up to 450 hours of standby. It’s available for $179.99 right now with no contract. Cricket Offers smartphone plans starting at $50 a month. [via SlashGear]
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| Samsung Galaxy S III Mini gets a launch date in the UK Posted: 01 Nov 2012 07:45 AM PDT Samsung recently announced the Galaxy S III Mini, and it was not exactly met with praise and love from the phone buying public. Still, it’s based on the ultra popular Galaxy S III, so it can’t be a complete failure. Well, Samsung has finally given the phone a release date in the UK. It will it the market November 8 in the UK.
The mini version of the phone features a five-megapixel camera on the back and a VGA camera on the front for video chat. It will be available in 8 and 16GB models with microSD support for expansion. While not the greatest specs on the market, it’s still a pretty solid little phone. We know that Vodafone UK and almost all major UK carries will have the device. Samsung announced the £249 price tag right away, but they were quiet on the release date until now. The phone will come with free games, including The Sims 3 and Bejeweled 2. November 8 is right around the corner, so if you’re in the UK and waiting to get your hands on the device, you won’t have to wait much longer. [via SlashGear]
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| Amazon Cloud Drive Photos app launches on Google Play and Amazon App Store Posted: 01 Nov 2012 07:12 AM PDT Amazon has just pushed a new app to Google Play and its own app store that allows users take advantage of its Cloud Drive from an Android device. Amazon intends for this app to be a place where users can easily upload and share photos. As you would expect, Cloud Drive has been integrated in Kindle Fire HDs already, but now, owners of other Android devices can use it as a place to store their photos in the cloud.
The app also features options for sharing your photos with other popular apps. You can upload photos to Facebook right from Amazon Cloud Drive Photos app. You can also use the app to share photos with friends via email and other applications. Overall, it looks like a pretty solid way to keep your photos in the cloud and save some local memory on your Android device. The app also has some nice features for the way it displays your photos. You can view them in a horizontal mosaic or vertical grid view, depending your preferences. If you are looking for an easy to use cloud storage app for your photos, Amazon’s new one might be right up your alley.    
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| OUYA dev boards arrive and Jelly Bean updates go out Posted: 01 Nov 2012 06:40 AM PDT OUYA absolutely cleaned up on Kickstarter, racking up around $8.5-million in funding. Since then, they’ve been pretty quiet. Turns out, they’ve been working on upgrading the device and getting developer boards ready to go.
While the dev board (pictures above) may not look like much, apparently it works without issues. While it might be smaller than a can of Coke, it’s a functioning video game system. Currently, besides the upgrade to Jelly Bean and these dev boards, the OUYA team is focused on graphics, wireless, and user-experience performance on the quadcore processor.
The team also confirmed that developer units should be ready in December. There will be a limited number of the developer consoles produced, and they will look slightly different from the production models. They won’t have the final UI, as they are just designed for developers to optimize their games. [via SlashGear]
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| Apple’s Samsung statement deemed “non-compliant” by judges Posted: 01 Nov 2012 06:24 AM PDT Recently, Apple was forced to place a statement on its website regarding its claims that Samsung infringed on the iPad. The judges ruled that the wording of Apple’s statement and the obscure placement on its website was not sufficient. They have given Apple 48 hours to rewrite the statement and feature it more prominently on the UK website.
The order was much more specific about how Apple needs to address the new statement. First, it must be up within the next 48 hours. It must use at least 11pt font and be featured on the homepage. Apple has tried to claim that it would not be possible to produce a new statement in such a short time; they wanted 14 days. The judge said this was a claim that he “cannot believe.” Apple’s lawyers are saying that the statement they issued were in line with the ruling. The lawyers claim the ruling "not designed to make us grovel." Apple’s lawyers were not able to convince the judge, and Apple will be forced to add the new statement. [via The Guardian]
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| Carrier billing launches on Google Play through Verizon Posted: 01 Nov 2012 05:51 AM PDT Verizon is finally adding the ability to purchase apps on Google Play and have them sent to your mobile bill. AT&T and T-Mobile have had the ability to do this for a while and Verizon was bringing up the rear in terms of this feature. Recently, we reported that the feature was coming to Verizon, and it’s finally here.
We are hearing that there is a $25 limit for carrier billing. Verizon has not officially confirmed that this is the case, but it is the report we are hearing. Hopefully Verizon will issue a statement about whether this is true. Of course, you can also look at that limit as a positive. If you were to lose your phone, at least you know the person who finds it cannot go crazy charging hundreds of dollars in apps to your Verizon account. You can also use Verizon’s website to block this feature if you are worried about children or other people who use your phone buying things without your permission. [via SlashGear]
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| AT&T and T-Mobile open up networks for victims of Hurricane Sandy Posted: 31 Oct 2012 01:48 PM PDT It isn’t often we get the chance to write about carriers doing truly amazing things, but today is an exception to that. AT&T and T-Mobile have announced that they will be opening up their networks for customers of both carriers in New York and New Jersey, two areas that have been hit hard by Hurricane Sandy. Since both companies use GSM and UTSM networks, it means that users will be able to switch between the two networks with no problem.
Users don’t have to do anything to use one or the other, either – when you place a call, your phone will just use whichever network is stronger in your location. AT&T and T-Mobile promise that this will be a seamless transition for customers, and that there won’t be any changes or extra charges to their plans. That’s definitely a good thing, because if you’re in an area that has been hit by Hurricane Sandy, the last thing you need is a headache from your carrier. There’s no word on how long AT&T and T-Mobile will keep this up, but it seems safe to assume that there isn’t a solid end date in place at the moment. Instead, the carriers will likely allow customers to use both networks until the recovery process in these areas is well underway. So there you have it folks – if you’ve been hit hard by Hurricane Sandy and you’re either a T-Mobile or AT&T customer, you chances of getting a call through to loved ones or to rescue crews just went way up. We have to give AT&T and T-Mobile major kudos for this one. It’s really good to see two major carriers coming together to help out those that have been affected by Hurricane Sandy, and hopefully it helps some folks get in touch with family members or get the assistance they need. Keep it tuned here to Android Community for more, as we’ll update you if we hear anything new about this AT&T and T-Mobile team up. [via SlashGear]
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| Google Nexus Q banished from Nexus landing page Posted: 31 Oct 2012 12:12 PM PDT If you’ve been waiting for Google to reintroduce the poorly-executed Nexus Q media streaming device, we’ve got some bad news for you. Google has removed the device from its Nexus landing page, which suggests that it may not be coming back anytime soon. In fact, Google may have decided to pull the plug entirely, as the Nexus landing page is now only populated by the Nexus 4, Nexus 7, and Nexus 10.
The Nexus Q is still listed on the Google Play Store, but as Engadget points out, it’s accompanied by a message that reads “This device is not for sale at this time.” Google delayed the official launch of the Nexus Q back in July, after some critics noted that the Nexus Q is an expensive device that doesn’t do all that much. At the time, the big G said that it would go back to work on “making it even better,” and it even sent out free Nexus Qs to those who had pre-ordered the device. While we were excited to see what Google could come up with, now we’re not sure that we’ll ever get the chance. Google hasn’t provided any official word on the matter, instead only saying that it doesn’t have anything to share at this time, so the fate of the Nexus Q is currently up in the air. Give it your best guess, because at this point, it’s as good as ours. We’d love to see the Nexus Q come back strong with a bevy of new features, but at least if it doesn’t, it means that Google has realized that there’s little point in offering feature-thin products just because it can. What do you think? Is the Nexus Q dead, or is it just going away for a while to let the new Nexus devices soak up the limelight?
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