Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Android Central

Android Central

This week's sidebar poll: Are you gifting an Android device to someone this holiday season?

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 05:07 PM PST

Nexus 7

'Tis the season in most of the western world, where we're spending time with our loved ones celebrating the year-end holiday. It's also the time when we traditionally exchange gifts, so that is the focus of our poll this week.

Google is knocking it out of the park price-wise with their Nexus devices, and OEMs are offering phones and tablets that do some amazing things. I know a lot of people would love to see a new phone or tablet with their name on it this month, but we're asking the folks doing the giving -- are giving someone an Android device this holiday season?

Hit the poll in the sidebar to the right or after the break, and let us know if you're handing out some sweet Android hardware, have everything covered without it, or just plain can't get one from Google. We'll let it simmer for a week then tally up the numbers.

Speaking of numbers, last week we asked who has seen a Google Play Gift Card in the wild. The vote was a mixed bag.

Poll

Looks like we're not the only one not seeing them in the store. Keep vigilant, or just enter to won one in our Stocking Stuffer contest.

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The 2012 Android Central Awards - voting is now open!

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 04:32 PM PST

2012 Android Central Awards

Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the 2012 Android Central Awards. You've been listening to us go on and on and on and on (and on!) this year about Android smartphones and tablets and apps. Now it's your turn to have the definitive say in what's the best of the best from 2012 and have bragging rights going into 2013.

For the hardware side of things, we pared down the suggestions to what we think will be the most popular choices. But if we missed your favorite smartphone or tablet, no worries. Just give us your write-in candidate in the "Other" choice in each question. Apps of the year are completely up to you.

Voting for the 2012 Android Central Awards will remain open until 5 p.m. EST Dec. 21. We'll tally up the winners over the holiday break, then announce them shortly after the new year, so stay tuned for that. (And for those of you who rock the forums on a daily basis, be sure to vote in our Community Awards.)

Enough preamble.

Official Twitter app updated with photo filters

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 03:36 PM PST

Twitter filters

The official Twitter for Android app just got a heck of an update, bringing a full set of photo filters built-in to the client. We all heard this would happen before the end of the year, but few expected anything this soon. The included filters are vignette, black & white, warm, cool, vintage, cinematic, happy, and gritty; also included are standard editing features like cropping and zooming.

Created by Aviary, the filters and tools promise to help you share the world around you in the style that's become popular with smartphone users. You can also preview your photos in a nice grid layout, and your photos are viewable directly from your timeline. 

It's looking to be a great update for folks who like to share photos on Twitter, and should balance out the loss of Instagram sharing we saw last week. Hit the break for a short video from Twitter and some screen shots, and grab the app at the link above.

Source: Twitter

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T-Mobile pushing update to the HTC One S, but you might not need it

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 03:02 PM PST

HTC One S

T-Mobile today started to push a 31-megabyte update to the HTC One S. If you don't get it, though, it might not be a big deal. The new version, 2.35.531.10 is only for devices that are on 1.53.531.16 or 1.84.531.4, according to T-Mobile's support site. If you're on 2.235.531.7, as a lot of you are after the update a couple months ago, you're still considered up to date and won't need this version.

If you did get today's update and have found yourself at Android 4.0.4, you can expect fixes for data connection delays and signal fluctuations, Wifi issues, crashes and restarts, e-mail links not opening, screen lag and skipping music.

And if you're still holding out hope for some Jelly Bean action, a little more patience is required.

Source: T-Mobile; More: HTC One S forums;
Thanks, Quincy!

T-Mobile 1900MHz HSPA+ now live in Seattle, Atlanta and Minneapolis

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 02:48 PM PST

T-Mobile SIM

With all of the big T-Mobile news that hit last week, one story that may have been buried was the carrier's continued rollout of 1900MHz HSPA+ markets. We like when carriers can give us a good idea of where exactly service improvements are happening, rather than a general "market." T-Mo has just put out a release indicating the granular areas around these three new markets that have the service available today:

  • Atlanta, including the surrounding cities of: Roswell, Alpharetta, Marietta, Covington and Conyers
  • Seattle, including the surrounding areas of: Lynwood, Bothell, Mill Creek, Edmonds, Redmond, Kirkland, Woodinville, Bellevue, Issaquah, Sammamish, Kenmore, Mercer Island, North Bend, SeaTac, Burien, Tukwila, Renton, and Lake Stevens
  • Minneapolis, including the nearby cities of: St. Paul and St. Cloud
    Additional Bay Area cites include: Fairfield, Monterey, Napa, Petaluma, Salinas, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa and Vallejo

That brings the total of 1900MHz HSPA+ markets up to 18 nationwide, with more on the way. T-Mobile says it is currently working on the upgrades in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, the New York metro area, Philadelphia, and San Diego. It makes sense that the carrier would be rolling out to the most densely populated areas first to get the most bang for their buck.

Source: T-Mobile

Pandora launches fully in Australia and New Zealand

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 02:34 PM PST

Pandora

Pandora has been trialing its service in Australia and New Zealand via a web-only trial, and now it has launched the service fully in both countries. Users down under can now sign up and have fully-functional Pandora accounts, including the apps on both Android and iOS. Pandora says that 75-percent of its traffic in the U.S. comes from mobile apps, so this is a big deal to be offering complete access to the new countries as well.

Australia and New Zealand are the first countries outside of the U.S. to have full access to Pandora, and hopefully the deals can be made to let the rollout continue to other countries also. Eager Aussies can grab a download of the app at the Google Play Store link above.

Source: TechCrunch; Pandora

Android Central Stocking Stuffers Week 1 winners

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 02:11 PM PST

Android CentralWe're into the second week of our month long Stuff Your Stocking contest here at Android Central, and that means that we've got a handful of winners to announce.

Last week we had random drawings from the forums, and we've tallied things up, consulted the random number generator, and picked winners for each day's contest. Each winner will need to check their inbox for all the details, but there's a $10 Google Play gift card with your name on it. I imagine everyone wants to know who those winners are, so let's get on with it!

A big holiday congrats goes out to each of you from all of us here at Android Central, and we know you'll find something great in Google Play to spend your gift cards on. Plus, you're automatically entered to win a Nexus 4 from us!

Don't forget that this week (we still have 23 gift cards that need a home) to enter you'll need to subscribe to our Youtube channel and leave a comment on a video. Read the full details here. Good luck, congrats to last week's winners, and thanks everyone for entering!

New at ShopAndroid.com: Andru 1A USB Charger in green, black or white

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 12:53 PM PST

Andru charger

If you're still on the hunt for a cool stocking stuffer this Christmas, ShopAndroid.com now has all three colors of the Andru 1A USB charger in stock. That's the traditional Android green, black, and white, available for $24.95 each. So put that beautiful Bugdroid to work and let it charge your favorite device. Get your now at ShopAndroid.com.

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Payment processor Bango bringing carrier billing to Google Play

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 11:40 AM PST

Google Play Logo

Bango, a mobile payments and analytics company, works with carriers (and other companies) as a middle-man to help set up payment systems and has now started offering Google Play billing as well. Carrier billing for items on Google Play is something that many carriers around the world are looking to get involved with. It's not always practical (or profitable) at the start to get it set up, however. Effectively outsourcing the payment processing and setup to another company makes sense for many companies out there trying to get into this game.

The first carrier on board with Bango for their mobile payments is Telstra in Australia. Given some of the big names that Bango currently does business with, we could see more carriers rolling out Google Play carrier billing with them soon. You can check out the full press release after the break.

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Android revamps in-app purchasing

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 11:02 AM PST

In-app purchases

The Android developer blog has just unwrapped a nice little present for developers -- Version 3 of in-app purchasing. This is mostly back-end stuff that us civilians might not notice, but that doesn't make them any less important. Here's what's new:

  • Streamlined code. Google says what used to take several hundred lines of code can be done in as few as 50 now. 
  • A more robust architecture.
  • Local caching, so API calls happen faster. That means part of the legwork is being done on your phone, without the need to call into Google Play.
  • And "the ability to consume managed purchases and query for product information."

OK, so that's all good for us, the user, too. Google says Version 3 will work on Android 2.2 and up, which means 90 percent of active devices should be good to go.

Source: Android Developers blog

HTC One X+ (AT&T) Review

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 09:44 AM PST

HTC One X+ (AT&T)

HTC’s fourth-quarter refresh of the One X is good, but is it good enough to keep you from waiting for the next tier of hardware?

When first holding an HTC One X+ (or any One device, for that matter) in your hand, it's hard to believe that the company has had such abysmal sales figures the past several quaters. It arguably has one of the best screens on the market, paired with an upgraded Tegra 3 processor and bumped up internal storage of 64GB. On top of all that, the device is downright gorgeous. It really does seem like it checks all the boxes.

The One X+ seems every bit a capable high-end device as its competition, much the same way as the original One X from earlier this year. Should it be considered as your next device? Read on and you may have a better idea if it's the right choice for you.

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Gmail is down, and there's not a damn thing you can do about it [Updated]

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 09:00 AM PST

Gmail

Have you ever felt so helpless before in all your life?

Update: GMAIL IS BACK! GMAIL IS BACK. PRAISE LLOYD ALMIGHTY, GMAIL IS BACK.

Update 2: OMG IT MIGHT BE DOWN AGAIN. HOLD ME.

Update 3: Looks like anything connected to Google is failing. Ads. Google Play Store. Basically, it's Judgment Day, people.

Playing around with clip on lenses: Part 1

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 07:26 AM PST

Android Central

Magnetic clip on lenses aren't new. They've been around for a while, often marketed as an accessory for the iPhone. Our buddies over at Windows Phone Central started playing around with some on the new Nokia Lumia 920, but we couldn't sit back and let them have all the fun, could we? 

A quick trip to eBay later and a pair of clip on lenses were on their way. They're a pretty inexpensive accessory, the 2 that I ordered cost me around £10 ($16) for the pair. As with real camera lenses, there seems to be plenty of choice out there over what to get, but I went with a Fisheye and a Wide Angle. I'm planning a week of goofing around with these and my LG Nexus 4, so part 2 of the post will drop next week. This week, a look at the lenses themselves. Next week, the results. Let's take a look.

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Monday Brief: T-Mobile gets the iPhone, BlackBerry 10's Hub, the Nokia Lumia 620, and more!

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 05:28 AM PST


Mobile Nations



Another week, more LTE locations for AT&T

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 04:48 AM PST

AT&T LTE

AT&T's march toward a network full of 4G LTE data continues, with three four new cities announced (so far) this morning. They are:

  • Wilkes-Barre, Penn.
  • Nashua, N.H.
  • Grand Rapids, Mich.
  • Auburn-Opelika, Ala.

So, that's three more to go along with the dozens we've seen go live in the last few months. If you're still waiting, hang in there. The ball's a-rollin'. And if you've got an LTE-capable device, keep your eye on that data indicator.

Source: AT&T

Start your week with the Greatest Android Podcast in the World!

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 04:43 AM PST

Android Central Podcast

It's Monday. Again. Dammit. But we're starting you off right this week. If you missed Thursday night's live broadcast of the Greatest Android Podcast in the World, you missed a mouthful. Three mouthfuls, actually, as Phil and Jerry were joined by none other than Ashley Esqueda to catch up with the week that was, and the week that will be. Plus, some great e-mails and voicemails.

The Android Central Podcast is your weekly peek into the world of Android, where we break down the news that really matters, and explain what's just a bunch of hype. You don't want to miss it. Check out the Android Central Podcast.

Nook Video UK launch announced with UltraViolet support

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 02:00 AM PST

Android Central

Good news for Nook HD and HD+ early adopters in the UK -- Barnes & Noble has announced the launch of its Nook Video service for British Nook owners. The move brings B&N's tablets up to speed with the latest Amazon, Google and Apple tablets, all of which offer their own on-board video services.

The move is made possible through new, expanded UK licensing deals with content owners such as BBC Worldwide, HBO, NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, STARZ, and Warner Bros. Entertainment, Barnes & Noble says. Individual TV shows and movies highlighted by B&N in today's press release include --

Sherlock, Call the Midwife, Game of Thrones®, True Blood®, Ted, The Bourne Legacy, The Amazing Spider-Man™, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Men in Black 3, Spartacus, Party Down, The Dark Knight Rises, Inception, Happy Feet Two.

Both high and standard-definition video content is available through Nook Video, with streaming and downloading supported on the service. Downloads are linked to the Nook Cloud service, allowing them to be played on other supporting devices.

What's more, Nook Video will also tie into the UltraViolet video system, allowing those who've purchased Blu-ray or DVD versions of titles to view a digital copy of this content on their Nook tablets.

You'll find more details in the presser after the break. If you've picked up a Nook HD or HD+ tablet in the UK recently, let us know how you're getting on in the comments.

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Sony Xperia E + E Dual get priced in Europe

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 01:24 AM PST

Android CentralWhen Sony announced the Xperia E in both single and dual-SIM flavors last week, it said the device would be affordable, however so far pricing info has been difficult to track down. Today that changes, as price details for the Xperia E and Xperia E Dual have emerged in a press release from Sony Mobile Germany.

Sony's priced the new entry-level Xperia at €159 (£128) with single SIM support, or €169 (£136) for the dual-SIM variant. Other Xperia E specs include a 3.5-inch HVGA screen, a 1GHz CPU and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean on the single-SIM version (the Xperia E Dual will ship with ICS and get an upgrade later.)

One of the first Sony phones to ship with Jelly Bean, the Xperia E is due to go on sale during the first quarter of 2013.

Source: XperiaBlog

Samsung demos their Premium Suite upgrade headed to the Samsung Galaxy S3

Posted: 09 Dec 2012 06:13 PM PST

Update: Samsung has now shown part 2 of the Premium Suite update, and you can find everything after the break. 

Just as we saw when Android 4.1.2 rolled out to international Samsung Galaxy S3's starting with Poland, the Premium Suite upgrade adds quite a few features and enhancements for Galaxy S3 owners. To show off those goods, Samsung has now posted up part one of a series of demo videos that highlight the changes headed our way. In short, it's a mixture of stuff from the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 as well as the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1. Here's what you can expect:

 Contextual Awareness

  • Page Buddy: Your phone will smartly predict what you intend to do according to your actions. For example, when you plug in your earphones, the device automatically opens up a page with the music player.
  • Contextual Menu:  When you list up apps, you can now choose to see the most frequently used ones first. Especially convenient when you’re looking through apps  to find files to attach.
  • Contextual Tag:  When you take a picture on the phone, you can tag the weather, date, and place immediately.

Enhanced Features

  • Multi Window: You can open two different apps at the same time into two different windows on the mobile screen.
  • Auto Share Shot Pairing using NFC: By setting the camera to ‘Auto Share Shot’ mode, you can quickly share your photos and videos by simply tapping their GALAXY S III with other NFC and S-Beam enabled devices
  • Reader Mode: You can easily control the size of the text on your browser! Also, you can just click the webpage to share it!
  • Facebook Lock Ticker: The easiest way to see your Facebook News Feeds – set your phone to show it on your lock screen.

It's a pretty awesome pack to have arrive on an already great device but alas, the typical disclaimer applies here. Samsung notes that availability and timing of the Premium Suite upgrade will vary depending on the country and mobile carrier.

Source: Samsung Tomorrow

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