Android Central |
- How to enable Gmail 4.2 swipe and zoom features
- Jelly Bean now on 6.7% of Android devices
- Earpiece buzz not unique to the Nexus 4, but it's there [buzz]
- Samsung Galaxy Note 2 LTE Android 4.1.2 update package emerges
- Android Central 2012 Gift Guide: Phil's holiday wish-list
- State of the Mobile Nations Survey: We need your opinion!
- Polk Audio announcing 3 new headphones made specifically for Android
- Gmail 4.2 update now available for non-Nexus devices
- Google says Nexus 4 ordering available in Canada today
- Jelly Bean begins pushing for the Droid RAZR HD/MAXX
- Sony pushing out software updates for Xperias P, U, Go, Sola
- MObile Nations Movember Final update - The aftermath!
- 'Flow through Space' video appears, offers a new look at SwiftKey Flow
- Don't forget: Stuff your stocking with Android Central
- Three new LTE locales for AT&T
- Monday Brief: iTunes 11, an official launch window for Windows Phone 7.8, BBJam Asia, and more!
- Start your week with the Greatest Android Podcast in the World!
- SwiftKey aware of Android 4.2 upgrade issues
- Xperia S Jelly Bean announcement expected this month
- Rumor mill hints at upcoming Samsung phones and tablets
- Weekend news roundup: December 2, 2012
- XBMC 12 beta 2 now available with official Android support
- Canadian Samsung Galaxy S3 owners, your Jelly Bean OTA is ready
| How to enable Gmail 4.2 swipe and zoom features Posted: 03 Dec 2012 04:38 PM PST
Starting today, that fancy new Gmail update -- version 4.2 -- is bringing the much-requested features of pinch-to-zoom and swipe-to-delete to any device running Ice Cream Sandwich or later. But curiously, the best settings and features aren't even enabled by default. So how do you turn those settings on? It just takes a few extra taps into the settings menu, so read on and see how. 
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| Jelly Bean now on 6.7% of Android devices Posted: 03 Dec 2012 04:07 PM PST
Jelly Bean's install base got a huge boost in the past 30 days, but it still only powers less than 7-percent of all Android devices. Today's version number release from Google sees Jelly Bean with a 4-percent jump from November, while Ice Cream Sandwich sees a smaller increase of 1.8-percent with a total of 27.5-percent of all devices sampled. We see Gingerbread still holds the lion's share (and likely will for a while), and Jelly Bean growing faster then ICS. This is because many of the phones running Gingerbread aren't going to be supported with an update, and phones that shipped with ICS are getting updated to Jelly Bean. The sampling process is pretty simple, just keep track of the version on every phone that visits Goggle Play in a 30-day period. This means devices that don't have Google Play services aren't counted, and devices that do have Google Play but weren't designed to are being counted. It's a bit of a mess, but one that we should be used to by now. Next year, ICS will be dominant while we look at the small number of devices running Android 5.0. We don't have to like it (especially when it's one of our phones a version or two behind) but there's not much that can be done about it. We expect a similar picture next month. Source: Android Developers Dashboard 
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| Earpiece buzz not unique to the Nexus 4, but it's there [buzz] Posted: 03 Dec 2012 03:16 PM PST
First thing this afternoon when I got to my battle station, Phil gave me a call. This isn't unusual, we talk a lot, but today he wanted to ask me what I thought of the Nexus 4 and the crazy hissing/buzzing/evil sound you can almost hear coming from the earpiece. The one I can't hear and had never heard of. We threw some ideas back and forth, even got nerdy and spoke of vibrating crystals on the PCB that may be firing the eardrum and tiny bones inside the skull to create a sound, and I told him I would dig around the Internet and see what I could find. That's how this job works a lot of the time. Anyhoo, my non-buzzing Nexus 4 and I went in search of what could be happening. 
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| Samsung Galaxy Note 2 LTE Android 4.1.2 update package emerges Posted: 03 Dec 2012 02:10 PM PST
Samsung has been hard at work preparing Android 4.1.2 updates for a number of its Galaxy smartphones, and it seems the first device to get the upgrade will be the international 4G LTE version of the Galaxy Note 2 (GT-N7105). That's the version that supports LTE on Euro-friendly 800, 1800 and 2600 MHz bands, not to be confused with the 3G/HSPA-only version we reviewed back in October. Today's firmware package comes via unofficial Samsung update archive Samsung-Updates.com, which shows it has the build number N7105XXDLK7. The version available right now has Vodafone South Africa branding, but that shouldn't stop it working on other carriers' Note 2 LTE devices, assuming they carry the model number GT-N7105. We imagine we'll begin to see Android 4.1.2 rolling out over-the-air for various Samsung devices soon. Earlier rumors had suggested the first Samsung 4.1.2 updates were due to begin in December. Android 4.1.2 is a minor update to the OS, introduced in October, shortly before Android 4.2 hit. Aside from the usual bug fixes and tweaks, the most visible changes include subtle alterations to the way the notification shade works -- in 4.1.2, notifications can be expanded with a single finger swipe down. Fingers crossed for more Samsung updates later in the month. The Galaxy S3's 4.1.2 update is rumored to include a particularly tasty festive treat, in the form of the multi-window feature from the Galaxy Note 2. Source: Samsung-Updates 
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| Android Central 2012 Gift Guide: Phil's holiday wish-list Posted: 03 Dec 2012 01:09 PM PST
Insert your favorite holiday cliche here. Go ahead. Do it. I won't judge. 'Tis the season. Deck the halls with something something. It's that time of year again. We're starting our annual holiday gift guides. And this year, we're personalizing them. Perhaps you've already seen Jerry's glazed ham? (OK, who hasn't seen Jerry's glazed ham.) Now it's my turn. Read on for my must-have Android-related gifts for 2012. 
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| State of the Mobile Nations Survey: We need your opinion! Posted: 03 Dec 2012 12:59 PM PST
With new Apple, Android and Windows Phone 8 devices hitting the market this fall, and new BlackBerry 10 phones just around the corner in early 2013, there have never been so many amazing phones on the market to choose from. Before the holiday season hits, we wanted to pause for a moment and check in to see where everybody is at. It'll only take a minute or two to fill out this State of the Mobile Nations survey, and we'll love you forever if you do. Thanks for participating! 
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| Polk Audio announcing 3 new headphones made specifically for Android Posted: 03 Dec 2012 12:46 PM PST
Polk Audio, makers of quality headphones and speaker systems, is announcing today that it will be offering three different headphones made specifically to work with Android devices. The headphones offer full call, volume and music controls with microphones as well. The models are part of the "UltraFit" line and are appended with "a" in the model name to indicate their functionality. You'll find the UltraFit 1000a, 2000a and 3000a are available now in the $70 to $100 price range. Although there is a spec for headphones that work with Android devices, we've yet to see quite the set of offerings that users of Apple devices have had for years. Hopefully with Polk kicking things off, other manufacturers can follow suit. Source: Polk Audio 
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| Gmail 4.2 update now available for non-Nexus devices Posted: 03 Dec 2012 11:22 AM PST
Just a quick heads up that there's an update to your Gmail app that brings you the same version that we've been enjoying on the Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Nexus 10 and Galaxy Nexus with Android 4.2. That means you've got swipe to archive/delete, zoom into HTML e-mails (be sure to turn it on in the settings) and other bad-assery. The full update's available for any device on Android 4.0 and above. Here's that changelog:
If you're on Android 2.2 (and above), you'll get new labels for third-party app developers, and other performance improvements. Hit the Play Store app on your phone (or the link above) to get your update on. 
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| Google says Nexus 4 ordering available in Canada today Posted: 03 Dec 2012 11:21 AM PST
If you live in Canada and haven't been able to get your paws on a Nexus 4, Google has now sent out an email letting everyone know they'll be offering the well sought after device online today. 12:00 noon PST is when things kick off and no doubt, you'll need to be quick with a browser to get in on this action. Anyone going to try their luck? If so, may the force be with you. Source: Google Play, Thanks @bjom77! 
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| Jelly Bean begins pushing for the Droid RAZR HD/MAXX Posted: 03 Dec 2012 10:12 AM PST
With the official 'heads up' having arrived last week, Droid RAZR HD and Droid RAZR HD MAXX owners can now delight in the wonder that is Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. By now, we're sure you are all aware of the enhancements that come with it but just in case you're not, Motorola has outlined a few of the finer additions on the blog:
There are plenty of bug fixes in place plus, the preloaded Color application has been removed only to be replaced by the Amazon suite of apps, same as what we've seen on the Droid DNA. If you've not grabbed the update yet, go ahead and check for updates. If you have, make sure you stop by the Android Central forums and let us know how things are going for you. More: Droid RAZR HD (and MAXX) forums 
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| Sony pushing out software updates for Xperias P, U, Go, Sola Posted: 03 Dec 2012 08:41 AM PST
Sony Mobile has announced that it's pushing out new software updates for four of its ST-Ericsson NovaThor-based mid-range smartphones, the Xperia P, Xperia U, Xperia Go and Xperia Sola. The latest firmware is still based on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich; Xperia owners will be waiting until 2013 before Jelly Bean lands on their devices. Bug fixes and performance tweaks are the order of the day, including stability fixes, as well as improvements to Wifi connectivity, tethering, camera, NFC and messaging. Owners of Xperia U, Go and Sola already running ICS-based firmware should get the new update automatically over-the-air. Xperia P owners may have to wait a little longer, as roll-out will depend on carrier approval and other conditions. Sony advises anyone still running Gingerbread on one of these phones to download the PC Companion or Mac Bridge app to update manually. All 2012 Xperia phones are due to be updated to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean in early 2013, although Sony has not yet offered upgrade timeframes for early 2012 Xperias. An announcement regarding release timing for Jelly Bean on the Xperia S is expected in mid-December. Source: Sony Mobile 
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| MObile Nations Movember Final update - The aftermath! Posted: 03 Dec 2012 08:39 AM PST Total Mobile Nations Network Movember Funds Raised: $14,409 (USD)December is here which means the month of Movember is over and our moustaches have been shaved off. This is the first time we participated in the event as a network and it was an outstanding success. Together we raised over $14,000 for prostate and men's mental health research... MO-MAZING!! Be sure to watch the video above to take a gander at the many men who participated in this year's event. And below we give special props to the tremendous fundraising efforts of a few of the team members that went above and beyond the call of duty, and also pay tribute to our favorite moustaches grown this month. We'll be reaching out to these invidividuals to hook them up with some special prizes, courtesy of MObile Nations. Big congratulations to everyone that participated, and see you all back here next year for Movember at MObile Nations! 
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| 'Flow through Space' video appears, offers a new look at SwiftKey Flow Posted: 03 Dec 2012 08:27 AM PST SwiftKey has already announced their new Flow keyboard and started sending off word that beta invite emails will be imminent, but aside from the original video released, we've not seen a whole lot of it in action. That changes today. Pay particular attention to the space bar here. That appears to be new. Swipe down through the space bar and just keep on going. You don't have to lift a finger. Full phrases in one fell swoop. Er, swipe. We're still waiting on the actual beta to drop, but this video certainly makes it look like we'll see it soon. Source: YouTube; Thanks, anon! 
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| Don't forget: Stuff your stocking with Android Central Posted: 03 Dec 2012 07:56 AM PST
What's more is that each of the 31 winners will automatically be entered to win a free Nexus 4, which we'll choose and announce the first week of January. We're going to change things up each week to keep it fresh. Here's the breakdown:
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| Three new LTE locales for AT&T Posted: 03 Dec 2012 06:12 AM PST
AT&T this morning announced it's turned on 4G LTE data in three new cities. They are: Albuquerque, N.M., Reading, Penn., and Salt Lake City. We've seen a couple dozen new areas go live in the past few weeks. AT&T previously announced that it plans to spend $14 billion on its network over the next three years. Source: AT&T 
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| Monday Brief: iTunes 11, an official launch window for Windows Phone 7.8, BBJam Asia, and more! Posted: 03 Dec 2012 05:37 AM PST | ||
| Start your week with the Greatest Android Podcast in the World! Posted: 03 Dec 2012 05:23 AM PST
Welcome to the first full week of the final month of the year. Yes, it's December already, and that means we've only got a handful of shows left until 2013. But we're not slowing down one bit. If you missed the live recording Thursday night, we tackled the continued disappointment that is Google Play's inability to sell us a Nexus 4. Plus, what the hell is Ingress? And, of course, more of your 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. Plus, we answer your e-mails and voicemails. You don't want to miss it. Check out the Android Central Podcast. 
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| SwiftKey aware of Android 4.2 upgrade issues Posted: 03 Dec 2012 04:12 AM PST
You might've read about this issue in Phil's latest column, or experienced it first-hand if you've upgraded to Android 4.2 on a device with SwiftKey installed. In any case, some SwiftKey users are finding that after upgrading to the latest version of Android on Nexus devices, the keyboard is either soft-disabled or removed entirely, taking user data along with it in some cases. Fortunately, SwiftKey says it's in touch with Google to identify exactly what's going on --
It's rare to see this kind of glitch in a major OS update, but at least there's a simple workaround for those affected. And for what it's worth, SwiftKey works just fine on Android 4.2 once it's installed. Source: SwiftKey 
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| Xperia S Jelly Bean announcement expected this month Posted: 03 Dec 2012 03:21 AM PST
When Sony Mobile announced that its leading 2012 products would be getting upgraded to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, Xperia S owners were left in the lurch, with no timetable for the arrival of their update. But today it seems an announcement may be near -- on its official Twitter account, Sony Mobile UK has promised details on exactly when Android 4.1 will hit the Xperia S by "mid-December." For the moment that's all Sony is saying on the matter, although the Xperia S is definitely confirmed as being in line to receive Android 4.1, as per the previous announcement. Sony's Jelly Bean upgrade roll-out is set to commence in "mid-Q1 2013," according to a statement released by the company in late October. The first handsets in line for upgrade will be its late 2012 flagships, the Xperia T, Xperia TX and Xperia V. Fingers crossed, Xperia S owners -- hopefully your Jelly Bean update won't be far behind. Source: Twitter, via: XperiaBlog 
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| Rumor mill hints at upcoming Samsung phones and tablets Posted: 03 Dec 2012 03:06 AM PST
It should come as no surprise that Samsung is working on next-gen smartphones and tablets -- after all, every major manufacturer is engaged in the development of new products. But the latest round of rumors from SamMobile could shed some light on specific details of Samsung's upcoming tablets and phones. The site has proved accurate with earlier Samsung leaks, so we're inclined to give these reports a bit more time than the average Internet rumor. Citing sources in Samsung's native South Korea, SamMobile claims the next-generation Galaxy S device (think Galaxy S4) is known internally as "Project J," and that current timetables call for an announcement in April 2013. As the Galaxy S3 was unveiled in London in early May this year, that means we could see a successor launch as the S3 turns one year old. A new, budget-friendly Galaxy Note variant is also reportedly in the works. Apparently aimed at the European market and lacking S Pen support, the device likely won't wear the "Galaxy Note" branding if and when it appears. SamMobile speculates that Samsung might not use its leading HD SuperAMOLED display tech in this device. Finally, a 13.3-inch ASUS Transformer-style device -- a tablet with QWERTY keyboard dock -- is also said to be planned, though there's no word on whether this will run Android, Windows or some other OS. The "Galaxy S4" or "Project J" reports aren't particularly surprising; most manufacturers tend to release a new flagship phone every twelve months. But the introduction of a large-screen device with a more budget-oriented price tag would be an interesting development indeed -- right now, more affordable devices tend to top out at around 4.3 inches. We'd take these latest rumors with a pinch of salt in any case. No doubt we'll learn more about Samsung's upcoming mobile devices at the CES and MWC shows over the next few months. Source: SamMobile 
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| Weekend news roundup: December 2, 2012 Posted: 03 Dec 2012 12:03 AM PST
While we wind down and get ready for the start of another work week, let's have a look and see what we might have missed in the Android world. As usual, there's always something going on and it's usually pretty awesome. Read on! The hardware we love
The software it runs
The editorial content you won't want to miss
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| XBMC 12 beta 2 now available with official Android support Posted: 02 Dec 2012 07:54 PM PST
The folks at XBMC have released the second beta for version 12 (Frodo) and we finally see official Android support. XBMC for Android has been "unofficially" available on and off, as the open-source project code is easily compiled and redistributed. Official support means the right people are working on it, with organized version control and bug tracking. In case you're not sure what XBMC is, think of it as the ultimate cross-platform digital media hub. Support for most fie types on most operating systems, compatibility with a multitude of remotes, and easy network streaming make XBMC a pretty big deal. Getting official support for Android is a pretty big milestone for the platform as a whole. Remember, it's still in beta, and you're forewarned that the first load is ultra-slow. Also, right now XBMC doesn't work with Android 4.2, but we're told beta 3 corrects this and is "right around the corner". For more information and the download, hit the links below. Source: XBMC; via XBMC for Android forums 
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| Canadian Samsung Galaxy S3 owners, your Jelly Bean OTA is ready Posted: 02 Dec 2012 06:39 PM PST
With Samsung having already announced the release date as being December 3rd, it looks like they simply just couldn't wait to get it out the Samsung Galaxy S3 update to owners. Folks on Bell, Rogers, TELUS and Virgin have all reported the notification for Android 4.1 Jelly Bean on their devices. The update comes in at a somewhat hefty 318MB but it's certainly worth the time it'll take to get it downloaded and installed. Have you got the update yet? If so, stop by the Android Central Galaxy S3 forums and let us know how things are working out for you. Thanks, Mike! 
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