Android Phone Fans |
- Official Nexus 7 dock appears on ASUS Japan’s website – Coming soon to the US?
- ASUS working on a Google TV USB Stick – ASUS Qube receives FCC certification
- Got a new Verizon Galaxy Note 2? Mix and match Samsung’s official battery covers for a unique look
- Would you buy a Nexus TV? [POLL]
- Frankie Frost is Dead Zebra’s Android collectible for the Christmas season
- SwiftKey Flow nears public release, beta testing starts soon
- Preview: Anomaly Korea from 11 Bit Studios [VIDEO]
- OUYA development consoles shipping December 28th, prototype gets pictured for the first time
- Nexus 4 demand is so high that eBay will regulate sales
- Nokia job opening re-ignites Android speculation
- Sharp’s 5-inch 1080p smartphone stands tall against competition
- 3G-enabled Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 (P7300) gets Ice Cream Sandwich
- Jelly Bean ready for Verizon’s Droid RAZR HD/RAZR MAXX HD
- Verizon to carry the Samsung Galaxy Camera according to the FCC
- Report: Google Play revenues closing in on Apple’s App Store, up 311 percent
| Official Nexus 7 dock appears on ASUS Japan’s website – Coming soon to the US? Posted: 30 Nov 2012 07:20 PM PST
Just because I, personally, don’t see the need for docks (or even tablets for that matter), doesn’t mean that the rest of you don’t find them useful. In fact, I’ve seen a lot of discussion about docks with just about every major Android release, the Nexus 7 being no exception. Those of you that can’t stand another minute without a dock to nestle your Nexus 7 can rest easy, ASUS has finally cooked one up with your name on it. Well, actually it has their name on it, but you know what I mean.
We saw an early glimpse of the cradle many months ago and it looks like all those many months of R&D have finally come to fruition — that is, if you speak Japanese. The dock popped up on ASUS Japan’s website, where it will be available for sale sometime this month for 3,480 yen (around $42.23). No word if or when we can expect this to come stateside, but hopefully that Nexus branding means we’ll see it come to the Play Store before long. Anyone feenin’ for a Nexus 7 dock?
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| ASUS working on a Google TV USB Stick – ASUS Qube receives FCC certification Posted: 30 Nov 2012 06:11 PM PST
While I’m beginning to have little faith that Google will ever turn around the sinking ship that is Google TV, there’s no denying the platform has potential. Despite my feelings on the budding platform, it appears some OEM’s aren’t quite ready to quit the “Android for your TV” spinoff, with ASUS finding itself as the newest OEM to take a chance on Google TV but — not in the way you might be thinking. The ASUS Qube is the device passing by the FCC today and it appears that, instead of going for the traditional set top box route like Vizio or Sony have done, ASUS could introduce and Android dongle for televisions. The “Android on a stick” will be powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core Marvell Armada CPU and connect to a television via USB (similar to the Roku USB stick), transforming a dumbTV, into a smartTV.
There’s even a few apps that have popped up in the Play Store from ASUS that directly reference the Qube, so it’s safe to say something will launch soon. Let’s hope they’re working on getting some kind of Android version of Airplay in there. What do you guys think — if priced right, would you buy an ASUS Google TV USB stick?
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| Got a new Verizon Galaxy Note 2? Mix and match Samsung’s official battery covers for a unique look Posted: 30 Nov 2012 04:20 PM PST
In the Android community, we’re generally known for customizing our devices to better suit our individual tastes and style. While this is typically done through the use of themes or 3rd party apps, what about when it comes to the outside of your device? Well, if you have the Verizon version of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, you may be inclined to know that the official Samsung battery covers are now live on Samsung’s online store. Whether you needed a shiny new replacement cover (already?), or simply wanted to mix and match covers on your new Note 2, Samsung’s official covers can be purchased for a fairly reasonable $20. If the Verizon logo on the back feels like an eyesore (only compounds that branded home button) — tough noogies. You wont be able to find replacement battery covers for any other version of the Note 2 from Samsung, not even the international version. I called up Samsung to find out how I could get an unbranded battery cover for my Note 2, and they simply said it’s not possible. Lame.
Of course, you can always snag an official Galaxy Note 2 Flip Cover for a much higher $40. A little too rich for my blood, these covers offer a fair amount of protection, while showing off your device in bright new colors. You can save money by buying a 4-pack in the colors shown above — pink/yellow/green/white or blue/orange/black/white — for a cool $100. One of the best parts about owning a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 (or even the S3) is because almost every major carrier in the world offers the device with no variance in design, accessories for the Note 2 are plentiful. But I have to warn you — colorful battery covers can be found on the cheap from sites like eBay or Amazon, and while those come in a variety of materials and finishes, they do not come with an embedded NFC chip. Might not be a big deal if you don’t use “S Beam” or Google Wallet, but I wanted to give you a heads up.
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| Would you buy a Nexus TV? [POLL] Posted: 30 Nov 2012 03:29 PM PST Google started its Nexus line of devices with phones. That was a sensible starting point at the time because, well, phones were the only things Android was running on. Tablets came along and Google eventually adorned the big slate category with its Nexus branding. Heck, they even tried their hand at a Nexus-branded orb that was supposed to be the most awesome media center ever (which, due to technological shortcomings and lack of supply, ended up becoming a dead dream). So why couldn’t Google ever make a Nexus TV? They most certainly could if they wanted to, and we’d be highly interested in seeing how such a project would come out. Designer Jonas Dähnert felt the same and took it upon himself to create some concept artwork of what a Nexus TV unit would look like.
The artist decided not to go too in-depth with detailing specs (after all, it’s just a concept — who really cares what it’ll run?) but we do learn of a few goods he’d like to see. Its main feature would be a 3D panel that can be used to do 3D video chat with its dual front-facing cameras. It’d be running a customized version of Android (we’d guess Google TV, of course) and would come with ports galore. HDMI, full-sized USB, SD card slots, ethernet, WiFi, a VGA port and more would all be available for the end-user. I can imagine LG or Samsung taking such a project on, but the most interesting thing to think about is pricing. It’s quite simple for Google to subsidize a $600 phone in order to sell it to the end-user cheaply, but TVs might be an entirely different beast. Still, it would be quite nice to see something like a 50 inch LED 3D 240Hz Google TV unit for $500. The artist also had another cool idea regarding Google’s Project Glass. There would be interchangeable lenses, dual front cameras for recording 3D content, and a set of 3D-enabled lenses for viewing the 3D content on that aforementioned TV. It’s all unlikely at this point, of course, but it doesn’t hurt to dream, does it? Take a look at a couple of photos above and below, and be sure to head to the source link to check out the full slate of renders. Also, don’t forget to vote in the poll below and let us know whether or not you’d buy a Nexus TV (along with Nexus-branded glasses, apparently, to go along with it).       [via t3n]
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| Frankie Frost is Dead Zebra’s Android collectible for the Christmas season Posted: 30 Nov 2012 02:03 PM PST Our friends at Dead Zebra have been busy since releasing Werewolf, the sporty Android collectible that was made available for the holiday season. The team endured hurricane Sandy, thankfully, and went to town on releasing its special Android collectible design for Christmas — Frankie Frost.
Designed by Scott Tolleson, Frankie Frost embodies everything the wintry atmosphere of the Christmas season has to offer. Snow flakes, ice and the bluish tone of cold weather all shine through with this design, and it would look great up against any desk ornaments throughout the holiday season. The only thing that could have made Frankie better is a hook to hang him onto a fresh pine tree. You can own one for just $10, and the buying period will be split into two: 11am PST on December 6th, then exactly 12 hours later for another round on that same day. These tend to go fast so Dead Zebra is limiting these to two per household — sorry, no hording for eBay, folks. The collectible will begin shipping December 10th, so it should be in folks’ homes in time for Christmas (though those of you outside the US will want to select faster shipping times as delays could push delivery past December). Be sure to bookmark Dead Zebra’s site and return on the aforementioned day at the aforementioned time to secure yours. [via DYZPlastic]
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| SwiftKey Flow nears public release, beta testing starts soon Posted: 30 Nov 2012 01:19 PM PST
Good news for all you texting and status updating junkies out there, SwiftKey Flow is finally nearing an official public release. Yeah, I got pretty excited too. Evan Tapper, SwiftKey’s community manager, sent out an email today to those who signed up for early access to the upcoming SwiftKey Flow update, know that beta testing is set to begin. Here’s the email going out to testers:
While an expected launch date wasn’t given, typically an official release in the Play Store follows pretty quickly after beta testing begins. Oh, and for those wondering, SwiftKey Flow will not be a separate download for those that have already purchased SwiftKey in the past (3, 2, or 1), and will be an update to the existing SwiftKey 3 already found in the Play Store. Great news.
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| Preview: Anomaly Korea from 11 Bit Studios [VIDEO] Posted: 30 Nov 2012 01:11 PM PST
If you ever played Anomaly Warzone Earth, you will understand why we jumped at the chance to preview the game’s upcoming sequel. In Anomaly Korea, the action shifts to the games titular country where players will face new enemies and challenges with the help of new units and new powerups in this “tower offense” game. What is a “tower offense” game? Think of it as the opposite of tower defense. Instead of building up a fortress and waiting for hoards of enemies to come to you, you outfit a crew of tanks, missile launchers, and artillery units and take the combat on the road. As your units come head-to-head with enemy machines, only the strongest survive. You can collect money to upgrade units throughout the game as well as buy additional support. A big part of the Anomaly series is the use of powerups, which range from necessities like repair to smokescreens to keep enemy fire off your back. New in Anomaly Korea is the Blast powerup, which allows your units to fire faster and further than normal in order to engage a large group of enemies or fire from outside of an attacking tower’s range. New units include the Horangi tank, which can unleash a special power capable of taking out an enemy with a single blast.
While there are plenty of additions to Anomaly Korea, the gameplay remains the same. So does the excellent presentation, which features top-notch voice acting, crisp graphics, and plenty of excitement. Each level can be completed in a variety of ways, whether that means avoiding as many enemies as possible or wiping them all off the map. A number of challenges keep the levels fresh, from rescuing an ally pinned down behind enemy lines to clearing a factory of occupying forces. Anomaly Korea will be available for Android soon, bringing 12 all-new levels for fans of the original. An advanced ‘Art of War’ mode will put the skills of the most advanced players to the test. From our short preview, we’re left with nothing but excitement for the next entry in the franchise and can’t wait to get our hands on the full game.
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| OUYA development consoles shipping December 28th, prototype gets pictured for the first time Posted: 30 Nov 2012 12:27 PM PST The OUYA storm is beginning to brew, folks, as the latest Kickstarter update from the project has reached our inbox. Those who’ve pledged were notified that development kits will be sent out starting December 28th for all the developers who want to start creating great games tailored for the Android Jelly Bean-powered gaming cube. This also marks the first time we’ve ever seen an actual OUYA unit in the wild, prototype or otherwise. While this doesn’t mean much for everyday users in the immediate future, it is important in the long run as developers will have ample time to create, port and optimize the very content that you’ll be sinking your teeth into once the OUYA is available for sale later next year.
The overall package will be a smallish console in roughly the same skin that has been marketed all this time, though we imagine some things could change by the time it hits full-on production . The software is called the OUYA Development Kit — or ODK, for short — and will be accessible through a web-based developer portal shortly after the kits ship. This will give developers the tools needed to create seamless gaming experiences with the OUYA controller, upload games to the OUYA store and ultimately start raking in the dough. Unfortuntely — as you know — not everyone was able to get their hands on an OUYA development console through the Kickstarter funding period. OUYA says not to worry, though, as you’ll still have access to the software tools as soon as they’re ready, and production OUYA units will be development kits in and of themselves. Some of you may get lucky and win a development console in OUYA’s official giveaway, though, so be sure to read up on how you can participate in that juicy opportunity. OUYA says those who paid extra to have the hardware early can expect some extra cherries on top of this sweet cake, too. No further details were given, but we can only imagine that developers will receive many thanks for their early support in a very cool way. Alongside all this good news, OUYA took the opportunity to update folks on the situation regarding early access to usernames. Long story short, you will have ample time to get your request in come December 25th if you haven’t already, and tiebreakers will be handled using chronological order — first come, first serve.
We’re quite excited about this, and while the Android gaming experience we’ve been longing for is just under a year away we can practically feel the project inching forward in our veins with each waking moment and update. Stay tuned to Phandroid as we’ll continue to bring you all there is to know about the OUYA as we make the trek on this interesting path. [via GameFans]
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| Nexus 4 demand is so high that eBay will regulate sales Posted: 30 Nov 2012 11:51 AM PST We knew the Nexus 4 by LG was going to be a hot item when it launched, but I don’t think many anticipated it’d be quite this hot. Well, a very attractive unlocked price pretty much assured demand would go through the roof, but we’re still impressed regardless. Demand is so high that Google has trouble keeping up with orders from the Play Store, with every period of availability lasting mere minutes before orders are put on a 2-5 week hold. It appears Google’s latest and hottest phone has reached a new plateau in the supply/demand equilibrium, though, as it has attracted the attention of eBay. The firm will regulate sales of the Nexus 4, mainly for two different reasons:
You see, when a phone as hot as the Nexus 4 is in high demand and short supply, the scum of the earth will take that opportunity to trick people into buying fake devices with misleading or downright false listings. The same thing happened with the Nintendo Wii about 6 years ago, and several iPhone launches. It’s an unfortunate reality of public eCommerce, but it happens. eBay’s policy will allow authorized resellers to list as many units as it wants, will allow top-rated sellers to list 8 units a week, will allow medium performance sellers to list 4 units a week, and will limit the smaller and newer guys to one listing per week. These rules will likely be enforced until Google has a steady flow of devices, and at this rate we’re not sure how long it’ll take to reach that point. Tongue-in-cheek congratulatory praises would be sent Google’s way for such an “accomplishment,” but the Nexus 4′s launch has been tainted by what can only be described as very shoddy customer service and a rookie mistake of failing to properly gauge demand by Google. As a result, customers have had money taken with the belief that they’d receive their devices in a timely manner only to be told they might have to wait as long as a month. Early communication by Google was nearly non-existent, but the company has since filled more orders and has been more vocal about the status of customers’ orders. As for those looking to eBay or other third-party marketplaces for their wares, always remember to read every listing in full, use verified and official payment options for maximum protection and be sure to take a crash course on how to use the different contact forms provided for you to get in touch with both the seller and eBay (or whichever site you’re using). Keep your wallets safe, my friends. [eBay via PhoneArena]
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| Nokia job opening re-ignites Android speculation Posted: 30 Nov 2012 10:09 AM PST
A job posting to Nokia’s LinkedIn page is stirring the pot once again on speculation that Nokia could turn to Android to save their handset business. But wait, didn’t they already turn to Windows Phone for that? The job listing seeks a qualified principle software engineer to "oversee the development of embedded Linux device software and hardware drivers for our exciting new products.” While that certainly sounds like it could have something to do with Android — Google’s mobile OS is based on the Linux kernel — there is little reason to actually believe this is the direction Nokia is headed. Exhibit A: Nokia’s recent efforts show nothing less than an all-in approach with Microsoft’s Windows Phone. Just look at the recently launched line of the manufacturer’s Lumia phones. As our friends over at WinSource point out, perhaps Nokia feels a little snubbed by Microsoft and HTC’s partnership for the Windows Phone 8X, but would that really motivate the company to switch to or take on a second smartphone platform? Which brings me to Exhibit B: Nokia’s history of stubborn resistance to the Android OS. You might recall a certain exec once said that switching to Android to save their smartphone business would be the equivalent of a young boy peeing his pants for warmth. As a short-term strategy it sounds like it could work, but it isn’t a sustained solution. Or that was Nokia’s sentiment at the time. That statement dates back two years, so perhaps Nokia’s view has changed since then. Android, at least, has proven to be more than a flash in the pan. Do we still dream of a smartphone that beautifully marries Nokia’s design and hardware with the Android OS? Sure. Does a single job listing suggest this could soon be a reality? That’s doubtful.
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| Sharp’s 5-inch 1080p smartphone stands tall against competition Posted: 30 Nov 2012 09:48 AM PST Samsung, HTC, Motorola and more might have the wireless industry’s ear more than any other crop of OEMs, but there is no shortage of great devices coming from those who aren’t particularly big in the smartphone market. Sharp is one of those companies, and its new 5 inch smartphone is looking to stand toe-to-toe with competition from the big boys. The company’s 5-inch, 1080p SH930W impresses in a few different areas. The aforementioned display is just one of the many things we can give them a grand “thumbs up” for, but there’s a lot more to be had. With a dual-core 1.5GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, an 8 megapixel rear camera, a 2 megapixel front camera and Jelly Bean out of the box it promises to be no slouch.
Sharp is so confident that its phone can stand with the best of them that it even did so in the handy comparison chart you see above. It likens the phone to the Samsung Galaxy S3, LG Optimus Vu, Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and LG’s Optimus Vu, all pretty great smartphones in their own light. Oddly missing is the HTC DROID/HTC J Butterfly, the phone which most closely matches its specs with a 5 inch 1080p display. We imagine Sharp left it out to make sure none of the phones could match up to the SH930W’s pixel density of 443 PPI, but we won’t get into the subtleties of marketing. All we know is that the company certainly has the potential to make a bigger name for itself in this sector of the technology world starting with this phone. Unfortunately, Sharp’s status as a global electronics player won’t matter much with this phone — release plans are still limited to a couple of regions, with Russia and Hong Kong being the only markets we can confirm will get it at this point. The phone is due out at some point in December as the “Q4 2012″ target window doesn’t leave room for much else at this point. [via Unwired View]
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| 3G-enabled Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 (P7300) gets Ice Cream Sandwich Posted: 30 Nov 2012 08:13 AM PST Folks in various parts of the world are set to receive Ice Cream Sandwich on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 today as the OEM has started pushing the Android upgrade to the 3G version. To be specific, those with device model GT-P7300 are reportedly receiving notifications to download and install the big upgrade.
We’ve seen reports from the likes of Austria all the way over to Cambodia, and we’re sure the reports won’t stop rolling in there. Some of you with this particular model might not see it right away, but note that the upgrade would be coming through Samsung Kies. Those with rooted devices can look into their own preferred options for grabbing upgrades, but whatever your situation may be just be happy to know that Ice Cream Sandwich is finally here. But now folks are starting to look toward Jelly Bean — after all, two major revisions have come out since Google has released the Android 4.1. The fact that it took this long for the Ice Cream Sandwich roll out to happen doesn’t bode well for those looking for the chewy treat. We wouldn’t hold our breath for Samsung to deliver Jelly Bean in a timely manner so if you’re lactose intolerant or if an Ice Cream Sandwich just isn’t enough to whet your sweet tooth then be sure to explore your after market options at places like AndroidForums.com. In the meantime, keep checking Kies and let us know if your country has started to see the new upgrade in the comments section below. [via SamMobile]
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| Jelly Bean ready for Verizon’s Droid RAZR HD/RAZR MAXX HD Posted: 30 Nov 2012 08:07 AM PST
The Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update for Verizon’s Motorola Droid RAZR HD and Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX HD has been approved. The proof is in the support documents that have just gone live on Big Red’s site. The new software version will bring about several new features including actionable notifications, improved voice search, and Jelly Bean’s improved keyboard. You also get access to Google Now and its system of helpful, predictive cards. The Droid RAZR handsets launched earlier this fall with Ice Cream Sandwich and both feature a similar array of hardware. The LTE devices sport a 4.7-inch display, dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, and 8MP camera. The biggest difference is the larger battery found in the RAZR MAXX HD. An update to the latest branch of Android should give smartphone shoppers another reason to consider the handsets this holiday season. With approval from Verizon, it should only be a matter of days before Android 4.1 begins rolling out to users.
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| Verizon to carry the Samsung Galaxy Camera according to the FCC Posted: 30 Nov 2012 07:24 AM PST For a while it looked like AT&T might have been the only place to buy a Samsung Galaxy Camera. The Android-powered point-and-shoot isn’t even available in WiFi-only models via retail stores yet, but it looks like another carrier is about to join in on the fun. The FCC has seemingly approved a version of the camera with Verizon’s 4G LTE radios inside.
Even AT&T’s version is HSPA+ only so we’re sure Verizon will use that fact to its advantage when marketing the device here in the states. The company’s 3G network might not be enough to handle the many high resolution photos users are bound to upload and share over the course of their ownership with the device, so we’re glad no expenses have been spared in that regard. Big Red’s model number looks to be EK-GC120 so there’s little doubt that this is just some slight variant on AT&T’s part, and the 700MHz spectrum LTE radios inside all but confirm its approach to Verizon’s store shelves. Unfortunately we’re still relatively early as this is the first word of Verizon even looking to carry the device. There’s no telling when they might be looking to launch it, but even when keeping in mind minor production changes to add Verizon branding, Verizon-specific software and the company’s 4G LTE radios we’d say it won’t take long until we reach marketable status. We’d love to see it out before Christmas, but don’t hang your hat on that. For now, just sit back and keep a close ear to the street as we try and pinpoint the date of its arrival.
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| Report: Google Play revenues closing in on Apple’s App Store, up 311 percent Posted: 30 Nov 2012 07:05 AM PST A sticking point for developers has long been the perceived notion that the Android Market/Google Play Store has never been all that profitable. Even with an install base that outnumbers that of Apple, the iOS App Store has always been the bigger revenue generator. According to a report from App Annie, the tides are starting to turn. There is still quite the divide between the two platforms, with Apple’s marketplace generating four times the revenue of Google’s, but the Play Store has seen tremendous growth over the past year. Since January, revenues are up 311 percent. Overall downloads are up 48 percent. In the past month Google saw a positive gain in revenue while Apple’s dipped slightly. It would appear Google’s time to overtake Apple is approaching, though a closer look at the data suggests another outcome. While the gap is narrowing, both companies have seen a drop off in growth. App downloads and revenues could be peaking. We could be watching the mobile apps and games bubble as it nears its bursting point.
Interesting to note is the fact that Japan, where Amazon recently launched their own Appstore, has overtaken the United States in terms of Google Play revenue. The US, however, remains a dominant force in the global apps market and still accounts for the majority of mobile downloads. [via TechCrunch]
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