Monday, November 5, 2012

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Google Android News Android Forums


DIY: Custom comic book case for Samsung Galaxy S III

Posted: 04 Nov 2012 11:54 AM PST

Is that boring solid-color or ubiquitously-designed plastic case just not cutting it anymore? Well, perhaps it’s time to recycle and outfit it with a custom comic book theme.

This do it yourself project stems from the same style of paper mache-like tactics you used in elementary art class. The process is fairly straightforward. Simply cut out your desired pieces of reading material and attach them to your case via Mod Podge application finish. After it sets, just apply some matte or glossy sealer (hair spray works) and, when dry, the end product is a beautiful super-hero themed case not like anything you’d find at an accessory retailer.

For an in-depth guide explaining how to DIY or to order your own customized case, hit the source links below.

Via: Phandroid
Source: Etsy



Carphone Warehouse reveals Galaxy S III Mini pricing, starts at £25 monthly

Posted: 04 Nov 2012 10:39 AM PST

Samsung recently announced a little brother to its flagship phone, the Galaxy S3 Mini. Retailers have offered bits and pieces of information about pricing and availability on the bite-sized handset, and now Carphone Warehouse is following suit. Similar to other retailers, Carphone Warehouse will be offering the device SIM-free for under £300, or about $480.96. They will also offer on-contract pricing starting at £25 per month, or about $40, with the device free.

It’s not an expensive device, but it’s going to face some stiff competition from Google’s Nexus 4 and its $299 price tag. I think its best market will be consumers who want a capable device, but don’t want the huge screens that are on nearly every flagship phone available, and appreciate an SD card slot and removable battery. Anyone going to be picking one of these up? Let us know in the comments. Hit the break for full press release.

Samsung Galaxy S III Mini Price Revealed

LONDON, November 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ –

When the Samsung Galaxy S III hit the market a few months ago, the smartphone world was buzzing, with many rushing out to get their hands on one of the most feature-packed mobile devices to date. Then, not long ago, rumours began to emerge about a smaller, mini version of the S III, the Samsung Galaxy S III Mini. It was finally made official and, yeah, it’s smaller, but still packs many of the features that made its bigger brother the must-have phone of the summer.

Smart stay was a feature that many were intrigued with; stare at the screen, and the S III Mini will recognise your face, keeping the screen bright until you look away. The trick is pulled off thanks to some clever software that’s coupled with the front facing camera. It actually recognises your eyes and tracks them, enabling it to determine when you’re reading, and when you’re done. It should help you save more battery life, and get rid of some frustration from early-dimming displays.

There’s also the now famous Popup play feature, a perfect example of the easy and efficient multitasking abilities of modern smartphones. This feature lets you open a stored video into a popup window. This video is always on top, appearing above everything else on the screen. You can move it around so it’s not in the way, and it’s really cool for searching the web or messaging without having to miss your favourite show. The 4″ screen of the Samsung Galaxy S III Mini, while smaller than the larger S III, still offers plenty of room. We’ll get onto the advantages of the smaller screen a little later.

The Samsung Galaxy S III Mini also has built-in voice control, which Samsung calls S Voice. This lets you launch apps, make calendar reminders, search the internet, turn on and off features and more, all with just your voice.

Of course, the S III Mini isn’t just a downsized S III – it actually offers a few things the larger phone doesn’t. For one, there’s that smaller screen. While the current trend in smartphones has been to increase the size, an extreme example being the mammoth Samsung Galaxy Note II with its 5.5″ display, smaller displays are easier to use, especially with one hand, and mean the phone can be built to a smaller size, meaning it’s easier to carry around. It also helps with battery life – the main draw on a smartphone’s battery is still the screen, so a smaller touchscreen means less power needs to be used to light it up.

There’s also the small matter of the S III Mini’s software. It comes in the box with a newer operating system, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. This is smoother, faster and includes new features like offline voice typing and an improved Google Search feature. There’s also blocking mode, a feature that lets you limit what your phone notifies you about. This can be texts, phone calls or reminders. You’re free to turn it on and off manually, via a timer, and set up exceptions, so for example your best friend can ring you while you’re out, but no sales calls will get through.

Finally, there’s the price. High street and online retailer Carphone Warehouse is offering the Samsung Galaxy S III Mini for as little as £25 a month, with the handset yours for free. Upgrades are given at the same rate, and SIM free you can pick the S III Mini up for under £300, making it a more economical option than the full sized S III.

Notes to Editors

• Carphone Warehouse is the largest independent mobile phone retailer in the UK, with over 800 stores nationwide

• Discover how to get more from your gadgets with eye openers from Carphone Warehouse. Eye openers is a YouTube channel which features videos of Carphone Warehouse team members sharing useful hints and tips on everything from laptops to Sat Navs to the latest mobile phones. With new videos being added each month, users can search through hundreds of videos athttp://www.youtube.com/user/eyeopeners.

About Carphone Warehouse and Geek Squad

In 2006 Best Buy established a partnership with Carphone Warehouse to bring its business model and mobile phone expertise to the US market under the banner ‘Best Buy Mobile’. Two years later, Best Buy acquired 50% of The Carphone Warehouse’s European and US retail interests for £1.1billion, creating Best Buy Europe.  The joint venture now encompasses the following retail and technical support brands: Carphone Warehouse, The Phone House and Geek Squad.



LG Rumored To Sell Nexus 4 At A Significantly Higher Cost Than What Is Found In The Play Store

Posted: 04 Nov 2012 06:18 AM PST

 

While it’s exciting that Google is selling the Nexus 4 through its Play Store for as little as $299 here in the US and parts of Europe, it looks like those in other parts of the world may not be so lucky to grab the device for such a low price. According to Androidos, there are reports coming in from Europe indicating that LG will be selling the Nexus 4 directly for as much as €599 or $768 USD in countries like Italy. Additional reports indicate similar pricing for other markets including Spain and India, which will likely see the device priced at INR 34K or 35K (roughly $650 USD). The increased pricing is beginning to have a major negative effect as well: LG’s supposed pricing structure seems to have a ripple effect as several retailers such as Phone House will not sell the phone due to the high pricing, which potentially means less availability for many Android fans abroad.

There’s no official word yet from LG and/or Google regarding this, but as soon as we grab further details, we’ll be sure to share it with you all.

source: Androidos



Nexus 4 battery confirmed to be easily replaceable

Posted: 03 Nov 2012 09:58 PM PDT

When Google unveiled the LG-produced Nexus 4, some potential customers were frustrated by the lack of a removable battery. This may be bothersome for those who rely on extra batteries to get through the day, but those worried about replacing broken, defective or burnt-out batteries should no longer do so.

As it turns out, this may not be as big of an issue as some have anticipated. While we previously got a good look at the underlying internals of the device, new information suggests the 2,100mAh battery is just a couple of screws away, meaning that swapping out a new battery won’t require you to completely tear apart your device. This should help quell fears of those who are worried about burning out your phone’s fuel cell. Catch an additional image after the break.

Via: Reddit
Source:  Twitter



Verizon pledges $1.2 million to aid Hurricane Sandy victims

Posted: 03 Nov 2012 06:39 PM PDT

Yesterday Verizon announced that their philanthropic arm, the Verizon Foundation, is pledging $1.2 million to aid victims of Hurricane Sandy. The contribution is split into two parts. The first is a matching pledge by the Verizon Foundation for the first $1 million donated by Verizon customers who contribute through the Text to Donate program. The Text to Donate program enables customers to make a donation to the American Red Cross by sending a text reading REDCROSS to 90999. Doing so will trigger a $10 donation to be included on the customer’s next bill or withdrawal from a prepaid customer’s balance. Verizon indicates they are waiving any fees to ensure 100% of donations reach the American Red Cross. Customers can elect to contribute up to $50 via texting.

The second part of the pledge will involve direct contributions amounting to $200,000 to nonprofit agencies in New York and New Jersey that are assisting with relief efforts. In addition to the pledges indicated, the Verizon Foundation also indicates they are providing a 2-to-1 match of employee online donations to the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. Along with the matching grants, Verizon has set up mobile charging stations in affected areas to help those still without power recharge devices so they can maintain communication with others.

Verizon Foundation Pledges $1.2 Million to Provide Relief to Hurricane Sandy Victims

Foundation to Match Customer Text Donations up to $1 Million to the American Red Cross; Will Also Donate Additional $200,000 for New Jersey and New York Relief

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Nov. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — The Verizon Foundation will match $1 millionbeing raised by customers through the Verizon Text to Donate program to the American Red Cross to help provide immediate relief to those impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Verizon Wireless customers can make a $10 donation by texting REDCROSS to 90999. To provide additional relief, the Verizon Foundation is also donating $200,000 to nonprofit agencies in New Jersey and New York that are assisting with local efforts. In addition, the foundation is providing a 2-to-1 match of employee online donations to the Red Cross and the Salvation Army.

“Our hearts go to those impacted by this disaster, and we are leveraging our resources to help mend communities,” said Rose Stuckey Kirk, president of the Verizon Foundation. “From our employees who are working round-the-clock to reconnect our customers, to our support of national and local relief agencies, we are committed to supporting our communities, especially in times of crisis.”

Text messaging fees will be waived, and 100 percent of each donation goes directly to the American Red Cross. Verizon Wireless customers who pay monthly bills will see their donations on the next regular monthly bill. For customers using the company’s prepaid services, donations will be taken from customers’ prepaid balances.

Additional Help and Support From Verizon

Charge Your Devices: To support those in areas impacted by Hurricane Sandy, Verizon Wireless has also set up multiple mobile device charging stations to assist those still without power.
Wireless Service: For more information on Verizon Wireless efforts related to Hurricane Sandy, visit the Emergency Information Center.

Report a Problem: Customers can contact Verizon online at www.verizon.com/outage to report any wireline service-related issues; or call 1-800-VERIZON (1-800-837-4966). Please note that hold times will be longer than normal due to higher calling volumes.

Enterprise Updates: Regular news updates from Verizon Enterprise Solutions are located atwww.verizonbusiness.com/info/hurricane.

The Verizon Foundation is focused on accelerating social change by using the company’s innovative technology to help solve pressing problems in education, health care and energy management. Since 2000, the Verizon Foundation has invested more than half a billion dollars to improve the communities where Verizon employees work and live. Verizon’s employees are generous with their donations and their time, having logged more than 6.2 million hours of service to make a positive difference in their communities. For more information about Verizon’s philanthropic work, visit www.verizonfoundation.org ; or for regular updates, visit the Foundation on Facebook ( www.facebook.com/verizonfoundation ) and Twitter ( www.twitter.com/verizongiving ).

About Verizon
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America’s most reliable wireless network, with nearly 96 million retail customers nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America’s most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500. A Dow 30 company with $111 billion in 2011 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of 184,500. For more information, visit www.verizon.com .

VERIZON’S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high-quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon’s News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news . To receive news releases by email, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.



Android 4.2 clock and keyboard apps available for flashing

Posted: 03 Nov 2012 06:21 PM PDT

Earlier this week, after Google announced Android 4.2, an update to Jelly Bean, some sources managed to obtain standalone apk files for the 4.2 keyboard. The keyboard from 4.2 is sought after due to the inclusion of “Gesture Typing,” which allows users to glide their finger over the keyboard in a Swype-like fashion. Google asked sources to take down links to the apk files as the software was not yet ready for versions other than 4.2.

That has not stopped work by others to extract the code from Android 4.2 and package the keyboard app for use on non-4.2 devices. Those efforts have resulted in files for the keyboard app that will run on 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich or better devices and the 4.2 clock app that will run on 4.1 Jelly Bean devices.

To install, you need a rooted device with a custom recovery installed. Use the source link to access the files needed. Needless, to say, installation carries the usual caveats regarding the flashing of software onto your device. The apps are experimental and device compatibility is still sketchy at this point.

source: Droid Life



Apple posts new statement about Samsung case after court rebuke

Posted: 03 Nov 2012 05:43 PM PDT

 

After a rather stinging development this week when the UK court of appeals chastised Apple for their recent attempt to post a court-ordered statement on their web site concerning one of their many lawsuits with Samsung, Apple has posted a new statement on their UK web site. Apple was required to post a statement indicating Samsung did not copy the iPad when producing the Galaxy line of tablet devices. Apple does not exactly say that, but they do state that Samsung does not infringe on a specific Apple registered design. The new statement probably meets the legal requirements of the UK court.

Apple managed to get a new statement on their homepage that meets the court’s font size mandate within the time frame mandated by the court. Despite protesting that it would take two weeks to do so, Apple managed to achieve this coding feat within the 48 hours set forth by the court. It is not clear whether Apple’s attorneys realized they were representing a client that is a huge technology firm and might possibly have the resources to update a web page. Another alternative is that someone in Apple woke up to the fact that the required posting time frame will now result in the statement being on the web site well into the holiday shopping season and perhaps it would be best to just get things over with as quickly as possible. Apple appears to have taken care to not include any sneaky commentary regarding the court’s ruling in relation to results from other courts. If there is anything positive for Apple in this particular incident it is that the court allowed them to put the statement in the footer of the homepage instead of front and center.

After the original court of appeals ruling upholding the judgment in Samsung’s favor, there was a possibility of an Apple appeal. Given their attempts to comply with the court’s order to publish a statement on their web site and take out print ads, it appears Apple is conceding this skirmish. If the courts are satisfied with this latest attempt, then this lawsuit should be completely resolved by December 14th.

source: Apple UK



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