Saturday, November 17, 2012

Android Community

Android Community

Twitter for Android updated with tons of new photo features

Posted: 16 Nov 2012 11:35 AM PST

For all you Twitter fans out there tweeting away, the official Twitter app for Android has received a sizable new update today that brings a few neat new features. Just like Facebook, Twitter has been adding a lot of focus as of late to the photo aspect of their social app. Today’s update added tons of new photo and video rich features.

The folks from Twitter have put tons of effort in the photo and video content on the mobile application lately, and this update brings enhanced content features app wide, and to the new discover aspect of Twitter. While in the discovery tab you now will see tweets right in the stream, and those tweets show photo, video, and article previews so you can easily engage, RT, and reply.

Search has also been improved. When you search for a specific item or hashtag Photo Streams shows photos and what’s happening live, and search results show media previews instead of having to click the link. This will consume more data but now pictures, videos and more will have previews right in your search results.

Last but not least Twitter added and improved the “manage account” settings. They’ve made it easier to change options on the go with mobile, as well as a new change password system that is simple and easy for Android users. Apparently that was a big issue for some. The popular 3rd party Twitter App Hootsuite also got an update, for those curious. Get the latest version of the official Twitter app for Android right now in the Google Play Store.


Nexus 4 Dot Live Wallpaper hits Google Play for free

Posted: 16 Nov 2012 11:24 AM PST

When it comes to the Nexus 4, there are a lot of things to like (except the lack of a microSD slot, but that’s another story for another time). One thing people seem to like most is the design of the device. The only problem is that the Nexus 4 is currently sold out on the Google Play Store and even some of those who ordered it on launch day are being told that their phone won’t ship for another three weeks. What’s a prospective Nexus 4 owner to do?


Well, for starters, you could download Wasabi’s new Nexus 4 Dot Live Wallpaper for your device, which brings a little Nexus 4 style to your smartphone. It’s free, but that doesn’t mean that it will populate your home screen with ads. Instead, the ads only show when you’re in the Live Wallpaper settings menu, leaving you free to enjoy your incredibly cool wallpaper while you’re on your home screen.

This live wallpaper comes in a variety of different colors – white, purple, red, blue, green, and yellow – and each of them look great. You can change the color at anytime by opening up the Nexus 4 Dot “app” that’s downloaded to your phone. You can increase or decrease the rate at which the dots fade in and out and you can also change the size of the dots too. All in all, it isn’t bad choice if you’ve been searching for a new Live Wallpaper.

The ads are a little on the annoying side, but hey, the developers have to make money somehow. At the end of everything, the ads are a small price to pay for having a Live Wallpaper that looks this cool. You can download the app from the Google Play Store right now [download link] and if you do, be sure to jump down to the comment section and tell us what you think of it.

nexus4wallpaper nexus4wallpaper5 nexus4wallpaper4 nexus4wallpaper3 nexus4wallpaper2


Samsung preparing 4.99-inch 1080p HD Super AMOLED for Galaxy S4

Posted: 16 Nov 2012 10:31 AM PST

Now that HTC’s officially announced their impressive new 5-inch 1920 x 1080p display with a stunning 440 pixels per inch, Samsung is looking to do the same and stir up the excitement. New reports today are appearing from Korea stating Samsung is preparing their own beautiful 1080p smartphone display that could be unveiled at CES come early January.

According to the reports, Samsung’s screen is said to rock a 1920 x 1080p True HD resolution on their popular AMOLED technology, be extremely bright and crisp, and nudge out HTC’s by a hair offering 441 pixels-per-inch. At that high of a pixel count the eye can’t really tell, so it will be all about brightness, colors, and of course battery life.

An interesting part of the details also claim this screen will debut on Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S IV (S4) and possibly even be revealed at CES 2013. Samsung’s trend as of late is to host their own event to get all the attention, aside from trade shows, to announce their flagship devices. Not to mention the Galaxy S II and S III were also revealed in March and April, not January. Following their previous cycle we might just see samples at CES, with an actual device announcement later in Q2 2013.

Between the HTC DROID DNA, a possible 4.99-inch Galaxy S4, and devices like the Galaxy Note II at 5.5-inches I have a feeling by late 2013 we might be up to 6-inch screens and beyond. To me that’s just crazy. I’m having a hard time justifying a 5-inch display as it is. I might as well use the Nexus 7 3G as a phone at this rate. With 1080p HD displays, quad-core processors and more things are really speeding up quickly in the world of mobile. This years CES show in Las Vegas should be another exciting one. As always, we’ll be there live with all the news. I’ll take a Galaxy S4 please!

[via SammyHub]

OtterBox launches new cases for DROID RAZR HD, DROID RAZR MAXX HD, and Samsung Galaxy Tab 2

Posted: 16 Nov 2012 08:49 AM PST

So, you just bought an expensive device, you want to protect it right? Well OtterBox, the company synonymous with ultra-protective cases for mobile devices, has just announced the launch of new cases for three popular devices. Owners of a DROID RAZR HD, DROID RAZR MAXX HD, and Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 can grab new cases from OtterBox to keep their precious devices safe and sound.



OtterBox is offering cases in both the Commuter and higher-end Defender series. Which one you choose will depend on the level of protection and how small you want the case to be. The Defender is much more protective, but with that, the case is bulkier. With the Commuter you get a little less protection, but the case is more streamlined. It all comes down to preference.

The Defender series is available now for the DROID RAZR HD and Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0). It is not out for the DROID RAZR MAXX HD, but OtterBox says that it is coming soon. The Commuter series is available for DROID RAZR HD and DROID RAZR MAXX HD. OtterBox does not mention if that case is coming for the Galaxy Tab 2 as well, so we assume they are not making one for the tablet.

Whichever you choose, you should get great protection. OtterBox is known for making tough cases that can handle the grind you put the device through. If you are looking for a new case for one of these devices, now might be the perfect time to jump on one of these.

Google and Dish in talks to launch new wireless service

Posted: 16 Nov 2012 08:01 AM PST

Google and Dish Network are in talks to bring a new wireless service that would be aimed at rivaling the big carriers such as AT&T and Verizon. According to a report for the Wall Street Journal, the talks are not incredibly advanced, and they very well could amount to nothing. As of this point, Google is one of the many companies that Dish has spoken with, and they are in what WSJ’s source calls an “exploratory stage.” Google declined to comment on the talks.



Dish has said repeatedly that it wants a partner to build a wireless network over the spectrum it has acquired in 2008. More competitors in the mobile space can only be a good thing, so hopefully this works out one way or another. Dish Chairman Charlie Ergen declined to comment on Google specifically, but he said they have spoken with companies “who would like to be in the industry.” Clearly, Google would seem to fit.

Dish also says that it makes sense for them to partner with a company with wireless towers and related infrastructure for transmitting data. Dish would also like a company with other expertise in the business. With Google being the brains behind Android, as well as the owners of device maker Motorola, it seems as if Google would be a perfect for the kind of company to go into a venture like this with Dish Network.

Of course, Google is no stranger to delivering data services. Google is working hard to roll out its fiber-based home Internet network, and obviously, the devices Google creates are heavily reliant on cellular data. As we said before these talks could come to nothing, but, it could certainly be a huge shakeup the mobile industry should this deal come to fruition.

[via WSJ]

Galaxy S II Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean test firmware leaks

Posted: 16 Nov 2012 07:35 AM PST

Galaxy S II owners looking go get some Jelly Bean action on their phone are in for some good news. Android 4.1.2 has leaked for the device in test form, thanks to XDA-Developers. Of course, this means it’s not a final build, and with that, there could be some small bugs and issues that pop up every now and then, so be prepared for that if you choose to flash this new firmware on your device.



The folks as SamMobile have tested out the firmware and said that it is actually quite stable. In fact, they call the build “very much near perfect.” This means Samsung could actually be planning to roll out an official Jelly Bean build for the Galaxy S II sooner rather than later. Only time will tell if this becomes a reality, but for time being, you can still get all the awesome new features with this leaked test firmware.

Of course, you run some risk anytime you flash an unofficial firmware on your device, so keep that in mind. Installing it is easy enough, but you just need to be careful. As long as you follow the steps properly, and remain aware that you could see some bugs, you should be fine. Here are the steps to flash the firmware courtesy of SamMobile:

  1. Unzip the file
  2. Open Odin 3.04 (already included in the firmware package)
  3. Restart phone in download mode (Home+power+vol down)
  4. Connect phone and wait until you get a yellow sign in Odin
  5. Add CODE_I9100XXLSJ.tar to PDA
  6. Add MODEM_I9100XXLS6.tar to PHONE
  7. Add CSC_HOME_OXX_I9100OXXLS1.tar to CSC
  8. Make sure re-partition NOT ticked
  9. Start flash, sit back and wait a few minutes.

Of course, with Jelly Bean you get access to Project Butter, which greatly improves the speed and performance of the device. You also get Google Now and the TouchWiz Nature UX. It also adds improvements to the notifications. If you cannot wait for an official release, then downloading this is the way to go, just keep the risks in mind, and remember, we are not responsible if you brick your device.

Judge rules that Apple and Samsung can add new product to lawsuit

Posted: 16 Nov 2012 06:15 AM PST

The never-ending patent battles between Apple and Samsung have received another layer. Both companies were requesting to add new products to the existing lawsuit, and the judge was decided rather he should allow this. His thought was that, should he not allow it, both companies would just launch into a bunch more suits, which would be worse. With that in mind, Judge Grewal has decided to allow both companies to add additional products to the existing suit.



Apple will be adding Samsung Galaxy Note, the Jelly Bean operating system, and the U.S.-version Galaxy S III smartphone to the suit. Samsung, on the other hand, will be adding iPhone 5 in its complaint against Apple. The addition of Android Jelly Bean is only in relation to the Galaxy Nexus device. If the rest of this patent battle is any indication, there will probably be more products added before the suit finally goes to trial.

These patent battles have been going back and forth for quite a while. Each company has won some disputes and lost some. The present suit is scheduled to go to trail in 2014. In all, this lawsuit includes 19 Samsung devices, as well as Apple's iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.

Of course, we all know about the major $1-billion victory Apple has over Samsung, which Samsung is still trying to get overturned. There is also the odd, and rather funny, case where Apple was forced to issue an apology to Samsung on its website. Hopefully, this massive suit in 2014 will be the big one that puts an end to the constant back and forth between the two companies. Only time will tell, of course.

[via SlashGear]

Vodafone introduces Smart Tab at an affordable price

Posted: 16 Nov 2012 05:55 AM PST

Vodafone has announced a new Lenovo-powered tablet available for its customers. This new 7-inch tablet is called the Vodafone Smart Tab II. Besides being a decent tablet, this one comes in with a very reasonable price, whether you get it on contract or with prepaid mobile data.



If you elect to go with a contract, you can grab the tablet for £29 with a two-year agreement of a data plan costing £20 monthly. That plan comes with 2 GB of mobile data, which is pretty fair for the cost of the plan. Of course, there are higher plans if you need more data, but they will cost you a little more. If you are not interested in being locked into a contract, Vodafone has you covered.

If you want the tablet with no contract, you can get it for £149. While it costs a little more, you are not locked into a data plan, which could be cheaper in the long run if you do not intend to run cellular data on the tablet all the time. Either way, this is a great price for mid-range tablet running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

The tablet also comes with a 1GHz processor. It comes with 4GB of internal storage and is expandable with up to 32GB microSD cards. The tablet comes with a 1024 x 600 resolution. It also features a 3MP rear-facing camera and .3MP front-facing camera. While not a high-end tablet by any means, it’s pretty good when you consider that you can grab one for £29 with a contract.

[via SlashGear]

Kobo Arc hits shelves in the UK, Canada, and France

Posted: 16 Nov 2012 05:38 AM PST

Kobo, the company best known for its ebook readers, is bringing its 7-inch tablet to market in the UK, Canada, and France today. The tablet is available starting at $199, depending on which storage option you choose. The Kobo Arc is available in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB options, so you can get however much storage you need.



The tablet comes with a 1.5GHz OMAP 4470 dual-core processor installed. Its 7-inch screen features 215 pixels/inch and 1280×800 resolution. It comes with a customized version of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich installed. Kobo says that they are working on a Jelly Bean update for the tablet, but it did not mention when they plan to push this update to market.

The tablet is quite light, coming in at only 364 grams. It comes with front-facing speakers, so the sound will actually reach your ears, unlike many other tablets. Speaking of front-facing, the tablet also includes a 1.3MP front-facing camera. It only has Wi-FI for connectivity, so there are no data plans available for this one.

While the ICS version is customized, it still comes with full access to Google Play, so buyers will not be limited to a proprietary app store. The tablet is available from many popular retails in the aforementioned countries. The 16GB version is $199.99, the 32GB is $249.99, and the 64GB is $299.99.

ShadowGun: DeadZone leaves beta – adds multiplayer voice chat

Posted: 15 Nov 2012 04:30 PM PST

If you’ve been enjoying one of the most impressive shooter games on mobile devices lately, ShadowGun, today you’ll be happy to know the multiplayer has officially left beta. ShadowGun: DeadZone multiplayer for Android is now not only free, but available to everyone and supports almost all newer devices. Just as expected today it has left beta and is in the Google Play Store.

Not only is ShadowGun one of the best looking and visually impressive games on Android, but they’ve now added an awesome and lengthy multiplayer option. For more details you’ll need to check out our ShadowGun: DeadZone hands-on video. With multiplayer combat of up to 12 players on any of their multiple different maps and arenas, and 10 different characters this really is one of the most in-depth multiplayer shooters for Android.

Today the game has officially left the beta tag behind enemy lines, and is available to all. Nothing has really changed on the face, but they’ve added one awesome and massive new feature. Chat! Multiplayer voice chat is now enabled in ShadowGun. Now instead of just sitting their quietly you can yell at the dude who clearly aims faster than you because he’s using a Bluetooth game controller instead of those tacky on screen controls. I’m one of them too.

We loved the beta and enjoyed a few countless hours of headshots, grenades, drones and more. The game has been improved since first launching on beta. They’ve improved the overall gameplay, graphics, and also improved the balance and fairness of the weapons. The Sniper rifle is still epic and I’d suggest you give it a try. The brand new and extremely impressive ShadowGun: DeadZone multiplayer for Android is available now. Go get it from the Google Play Store and maybe we’ll play a round or two together soon. Enjoy!

[via MadFinger Games]

Facebook App updated with Share button and improved photo tagging

Posted: 15 Nov 2012 03:45 PM PST

Facebook fans have reason to be excited today, as the company has just issued a quick update for their Android app that brings plenty of improvement. A fancy new “Share” button has been added for easy sharing while on the go using Android, and they’ve also fixed a few bugs and improved photo tagging. Who loves Facebook?

While we still wait for a new and improved Facebook for Android, which we here is coming, this will have to hold us over. The team behind Zuckerberg has added a new share feature and create album right from the timeline on mobile devices. This should make creating photo albums, and sharing anything from news to photos with ease.

Then as usual we have a few software improvements, bug fixes, and new features. Facebook states they’ve managed to improved their photo tagging system, especially on mobile, although we aren’t really sure what that “improvement” entails.

Conveniently the share, like, and comment tabs seem to have a slight redesign, and the app in general performs a little quicker. It did manage to crash about 5 seconds after I updated to it on my Nexus 7 however. Last but not least Facebook has fixed a status update failure issue that has apparently been plaguing a few users still. The update is available right now so go and get it from the Google Play Store.

[via Facebook]

Samsung Galaxy Camera hands-on and unboxing

Posted: 15 Nov 2012 02:42 PM PST

After being announced back in August at IFA 2012 in Berlin, we’ve been waiting patiently to get our hands on the new Samsung Galaxy Camera. The camera powered by Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, running a quad-core processor, and of course being an excellent point and shoot camera at the same time. We just got our own tightly sealed in a large shipping crate so enjoy the uncrating, unboxing, and hands-on video below.

The Samsung Galaxy Camera is a pretty impressive ummm device. Can’t call it a tablet, but it sure can double as one being almost exactly like a 4.8-inch Galaxy device complete with everything we know and love about Android. Samsung’s added all their top end hardware into one impressive camera here. Not only do we have Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, but this rocks a 16.3-megapixel CMOS sensor and an impressive 21x optical zoom.

The full specs include a 4.8-inch 1280 x 720p HD display, Samsung’s Exynos 1.4 GHz quad-core processor. It gets 1GB of RAM 8GB of internal storage, micro-SD support, Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS, and then of course Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. They’ve equipped it with everything we expect from Touch Wiz, complete with the Google Play Store for games and apps. Just let this camera accept phone calls and it can truly do it all. Enjoy the hands-on video below from our sister site SlashGear.

The camera actually supports GSM 3G and HSPA+ radios and will be available from AT&T later this month. I’m sure a few developers will find a way to hack phone capabilities into this thing too. From the video above you can clearly see it has all the functions and features of a regular point and shoot camera. From aperture, shutter, and program settings, to the usual modes to help beginners too. Jelly Bean is largely untouched when compared to Samsung’s Galaxy S devices — although the software has been modified to make more sense with a camera. We like the large dedicated camera button on the home screen for easy and quick access too.

If you love Android, this could be the camera for you. It has some impressive hardware, great software, an excellent 21x zoom and 16 megapixel lens and can be yours from AT&T for $499. We’ll be reviewing this later next week so stay tuned for full details.

Screen Shot 2012-11-15 at 2.19.44 PM Screen Shot 2012-11-15 at 2.18.55 PM Screen Shot 2012-11-15 at 2.20.16 PM Screen Shot 2012-11-15 at 2.20.51 PM Screen Shot 2012-11-15 at 2.21.15 PM
Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy Camera
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : August 29, 2012
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.8 Inch
  • Resolution : 1280x720
  • Screen Type : TFT
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.06 Inch
  • Width : 2.79 Inch
  • Depth : 0.75 Inch
  • Weight : 305 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 1650 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.1.x
    Video Playback:
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
    Messaging:
  • IM
Hardware
    CPU : Exynos 4412
    CPU Clock Speed : 1400 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 1000 MB
    Internal Storage : 8 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 16.3 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
  • 720p Video Recording
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11a
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • GPS
    FM Radio :
    NFC :
Posted by at 1:23 AM

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