Thursday, December 6, 2012

Android Community

Android Community

10Terra Nexus 7 Bamboo cases available now

Posted: 05 Dec 2012 10:48 AM PST

For all those Nexus 7 owners that want a durable case to protect their tablet, yet want it looking classy and awesome at the same time we have a case just for you. It might not be the most functional option available or protect the screen, but the 10Terra Eco-friendly pure Bamboo version for the Nexus 7 are available now. More details on these awesome hand-finished cases below.

Back in September we first mentioned this Kickstarter campaign, and in just 30 days the folks from 10Terra managed to get enough backers to make this sexy case a reality. After waiting a few months, improving the design, and smoothing the edges the Nexus 7 cases are now shipping, and available today. They also offer the same bamboo style for a few iDevices too.

What we get is an awesome Bamboo case for the Nexus 7 that features all the cut-outs and ports needed. As you can see in the pictures everything is precision cut, then the manufacturer hand-finishes every single edge for a smooth and pretty finish. The cutouts are angled and easy to access, and the Bamboo design just looks awesome. I’m a huge fan, backed this project right away, and should have mine in a few days to post another hands-on with the final product.

The case uses friction to stay together, so it’s extremely easy to attach and remove. The video above shows you how awesome these cases look and feel, as well as how it all works together so easily. The video was a pre-production unit and the official cases available today are even better. It’s a pretty penny coming in at $49.99 for the Nexus 7, but you’ll have one of the classiest and sexiest cases around. Learn more and get your own today from the via link below.

Nexus7-02_grande Nexus7-03_grande Screen Shot 2012-12-05 at 10.27.24 AM

[via 10Terra]

Samsung Mobile Store opens its doors in Paris, France

Posted: 05 Dec 2012 10:35 AM PST

If you’re planning to take a trip to a Paris soon (or you happen to live there), then perhaps you should stop in at Samsung‘s first Mobile Store. The Samsung Mobile Store opened its doors late last week, and though it isn’t the first retail store for ol’ Sammy, it is the first retail location to focus only on the company’s mobile devices. This means that you can expect a ton of Android devices on display, among other things.


Samsung Tomorrow has posted images of this store inside and out, and we have to say it looks pretty cool. There’s something about the blue and white color scheme that just works, and the shop looks big enough to accommodate numerous customers while remaining small enough to retain a more intimate feeling. The employees are all decked out in Samsung blue, and of course, Samsung’s flagship products are on display and advertised everywhere.

If you’ve got children with you, there’s a place in the store created especially for them. In this children’s area, kids can interact with tablets that are packed with writing and drawing apps developed for their age group (Samsung says it’s intended for children aged 4-8). Customers can even recycle their old Samsung products at this store, with Samsung obviously hoping that they’ll spring for a new device once they’ve done their part to save the world.

Retail stores for tech giants are nothing new, of course, with Apple and Microsoft both opening stores on what seems like a pretty regular basis. We’re not sure what Samsung’s plans are for future stores, but if this one in Paris does well, we can see the company opening new Mobile Store in other regions of the world. We’ll just have to wait and see how this one does, so stay tuned.

Huawei Ascend Mate 6.1-inch 1080p quad-core phone confirmed by exec

Posted: 05 Dec 2012 09:59 AM PST

It seems everyone is getting into the phablet smartphone game as of late. Add in the new tier of 1080p displays, quad-core processors, and large batteries and what you get is the new Huawei Ascend Mate. We first mentioned this phone back in October, but recently a Huawei exec has indeed confirmed this phone is coming soon. More details and additional specs can be found below.

Recently on the Chinese version of Twitter called Weibo the Senior VP of Huawei, Yu Chengdong, posted a quick update all but confirming this larger than usual handset. He mentions that Huawei has plans for a large-screen smartphones early next year. Most likely that will indeed be the Ascend Mate we’ve seen a few leaks on, and hopefully we’ll learn more at CES.

The Ascend Mate has leaked with a few impressive specs already. Those confirm a 6.1-inch 1080p HD display, Huawei’s 3rd generation K3V3 1.8 GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and even a massive 4,000 mAh battery. That would make it have the largest battery of any phone to date, but hopefully that isn’t just covering for a poorly efficient processor.

Interestingly enough the Huawei VP’s post was made using their rivals Samsung Galaxy Note II, which most likely is being used for comparison purposes. Yu Chengdong went as far as to say the Ascend Mate would have a cooler design, better grip, a more industrial feel and much better battery life. Oh and for the record the image above isn’t what the final product design will entail. Stay tuned for more details on this new phablet, and hopefully we’ll see it in the flesh early next year.

[via iTechnews]

Nexus 4 stock returns at T-Mobile, but with a $400 price tag

Posted: 05 Dec 2012 08:49 AM PST

It’s no secret that the Nexus 4 is a hot item. Google Play is selling out of them faster than they can make them. T-Mobile sold out of its initial stock in just a matter of hours, and then it restocked and sold out of that almost as quickly. Well now the phone is back in stock again, but something immediately stands out as being different from the previous listings on T-Mobile.



It seems that T-Mobile is trying to capitalize on the high demand for the device by raising the price substantially. The subsidized price of the device on T-Mobile’s website is now listed at $399.99. That’s $50 more than Google is charging for the device with no contract. That makes it a tough sell for T-Mobile, with the only saving grace being the fact that Google cannot keep the device in stock at all.

Hopefully, this is a typo on T-Mobile’s part that will be fixed, but that seems unlikely. More than likely, T-Mobile realized that buyers are willing to pay a premium to get the device now. Time will tell if the stock keeps moving at the same speed as it did before at this new price. It seems likely that many buyers would be turned off by this new , much higher price tag.

One thing to note is that there is a link that says, “Already a T-Mobile customer? Log in to see your price.” Perhaps existing customers will be able to get a lower, more reasonable price for the popular device. Feel free to check in and try for yourself (and good luck), since new contract prices are typically lower than prices for existing customers.

[via T-Mobile]

TomTom Navigation app gets support for more than 200 more devices

Posted: 05 Dec 2012 08:14 AM PST

TomTom, one of the leaders in GPS navigation, has just dropped an update for its Android app. The update adds some new features, but the most important part of the update is that it adds support for more than 200 new Android devices. This means a ton of new people will be able to use the app to find their way from one place to another.



Some new devices include Samsung Galaxy S III, HTC One X, and LG Optimus G. Other smartphones with a screen resolution between 800 x 480 pixels and 1280 x 800 pixels are also supported by the update. If you’ve been waiting to grab the TomTom app, but were unable to because your device was not supported, today just might be your lucky day.

The update also includes some important new features such as the ability to save map data to your device’s SD card. That map data can take up a ton of memory, and having it store to an SD card can save a ton of space in your phone. This should be a great feature for users of the app.

The last thing included in the update is an improvement to the way TomTom handles downloading map updates. The mechanism for downloading has been improved, which should streamline the process for users. Of course, the app is still very expensive when compared to the the standard cost of the apps on Google Play. However, when you compare it to the cost of a standalone GPS unit, it seems much more reasonable. You can download TomTom for your region from Google Play right now.

[via TalkAndroid]

Safely distract kids with Amazon FreeTime Unlimited for Kindle Fire

Posted: 05 Dec 2012 07:23 AM PST

Sometimes, you just need a way to keep the kids busy so you can get stuff done. Well Amazon has launched a service called FreeTime Unlimited for Kindle Fire that is a kid-friendly entertainment service designed to keep kids happy and entertained. The subscription-based service pulls in books, games, educational apps, movies, and TV shows that are specifically designed with young people in mind.



All of the apps included in this program have ads, in-app purchases, and social media integration disabled. This means you don’t have to worry about the kids racking up a giant bill buying things in apps without your permission. The "Unlimited" package also means there's no restriction on how many times they watch individual episodes or movies.

For this program, Amazon has teamed up with Common Sense Media for ratings. This is designed to make sure that not only are the apps appropriate for kids, but also that what the child does use is likely to be interesting for their particular age group. Parents can also add their own picks individually and set limits on how much video, app, and reading time is allowed.

The FreeTime content is accessed through a separate interface, and it supports separate profiles for each child. A password is required to leave the app, so it keeps kids from getting out and using the full features of the tablet. Amazon FreeTime Unlimited is priced at $4.99 per child or $9.99 per family, per month. Prime members receive a discount on the service, taking it down to $2.99 per child or $6.99 per family. It will work on Kindle Fire, Kindle Fire HD, and Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ with a software update coming soon, and a month's free trial to get you started.

[via Slashgear]

PhoneJoy Play smartphone game controller on Kickstarter

Posted: 05 Dec 2012 06:31 AM PST

One type of smartphone accessory that people always seem to want is a good game controller with developer support. For most games, on-screen buttons can get the job done, but in almost all situations, physical buttons make for a better experience. A new device called PhoneJoy Play has hit Kickstarter, and it’s a controller that supports almost any device you can think of.



The controller is designed to pull apart, so it can comfortably accommodate all shapes and sizes of smartphones. It also pushes in for easy carrying. While closed, the controller measures 102 mm wide by 87 mm high by 37 mm deep. When fully extended, it comes in at 255 mm wide by 87 mm high by 37 mm deep. This means it should be easy enough to carry around, but big enough to fit even extra-large devices.

In fact, it can fit smartphones up to 153 mm wide and 14 mm thick. The controller weighs in at about 250 g. It comes with Bluetooth 3.0 technology to communicate with your smartphone. This means it can work with almost any kind of device such as Android, Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and iOS devices.

The wireless range promises to be up to 30 feet, but you will likely be using it from close to your smartphone, so range should not be an issue. The battery in the PhoneJoy Play is good for 20 hours of play per charge. It also features 14 programmable buttons for playing your games. The creators are seeking $50,000 and with 29 days to go, has raised $11,424. The cheapest pledge that will get you one of the controllers when they ship in April of next year is $50.

[via Slashgear]

Sony reveals new Xperia E affordable smartphone

Posted: 05 Dec 2012 06:12 AM PST

Sony is breaking the mold from its typical product suite with a new smartphone that it claims will be very affordable. If there’s one thing Sony is not known for, it’s making cheap products. Sony’s new phone will be called the Sony Xperia E, and it will be built around simplicity.



Sony is offering the new device in black, white, and pink. It uses HD Voice technology for high quality audio to make calls clearer. To go along with that, the phone also features noise canceling technology to keep background noise out of your calls. It also comes with a cool feature designed to help device owners keep track of data usage to make sure they don’t go over their plan allotment.

The phone also comes with an improved standby mode, which is designed to extend the standby time of the phone by four times. When the phone goes to sleep for a few minutes, it will automatically turn off Wi-Fi, data, and background apps to save the battery. Calling and messaging still work as normal during this low power state.

The new Xperia E will feature Android 4.1 and it will have DLNA wireless connectivity. It comes with a 1500 mAh battery installed. Sony announced that it features a 1 GHz processor, but they did not specify exactly what processor is included. Sony left off two really important pieces of information; the price, and the release date. Hopefully Sony reveals these facts soon.

[via Slashgear]

Android Community Nightly: December 4th, 2012

Posted: 04 Dec 2012 07:30 PM PST

If you managed to miss all the news that happened in the world of Android today, don’t worry because the Android Community Nightly has you covered. We’ll round up everything from today that mattered most and neatly take care of your Android news addition. Today was a mild day full of Samsung news, and a few interesting updates from Google. Read on for the full days breakdown.

Today we’ll start off with what we’re most excited about, and that is Google I/O 2013. Google announced the dates for IO, and it’ll take place May 15-17th and we’re expecting tons of awesomeness. I have a feeling Google’s Project Glass will be a big part of the show this year. In software news we got a few interesting bits worth pointing out. The developers behind the wildly successful Cut The Rope announced a new game called Pudding Monsters. RockStar Games teased Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, which lands on Android this Thursday. Gameloft’s Modern Combat 4 is coming soon, and the new and improved Beautiful Widgets 5.0 is available today.

There was plenty of hardware news, all starting with Toshiba’s new mid-priced Excite 10 SE quad-core Tegra 3 tablet — but it’s nothing special. Speaking of tablets, Nabi announced their Tegra 2 Android 4.0 kids tablet for the holidays set at just $99. While we’re talking about hardware lets mention Samsung. Their S Pebble music player is now coming to the US as the Samsung Muse music player, and apparently they’re selling a Pico Projector built with Samsung Galaxy smartphones in mind.

Verizon Wireless wants to collect our data in return for “rewards” and targeted ads — something I’ll opt-out of as soon as possible — and Android distribution numbers came out again, with Gingerbread still leading the pack. Google opened a private area on the Play Store for companies, Facebook Messenger now works on all Android devices even if you don’t have a Facebook, and Apple is trying to patent wireless charging. To wrap things up the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10-inch slate is getting Jelly Bean, Samsung’s working on a Cortex-A15 based quad-core for their Galaxy S4, and the Google Wireless phone company was almost a thing — almost.

Clink any of the links above for more details, and stay tuned for more Android news all week long. See you tomorrow!

Qualcomm announces two new processors in Snapdragon S4 line

Posted: 04 Dec 2012 06:23 PM PST

Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon S4 line of processors has proven to be incredibly popular, so it isn’t much of a surprise that the company has added two new CPUs to the Snapdragon S4 family. Announced today, the MSM8226 and the MSM8626 are bound for China, and offer a number of features that we have a feeling manufacturers will pay attention to. Those manufacturers will have a little bit of a wait ahead of them, though, as these new processors aren’t scheduled to launch until Q2 2013.


The 28nm silicon quad-core chips can boast support for 1080p recording and playback along with support for up to 13-megapixel cameras thanks to the Adreno 305 GPU. Both of them come with multi-SIM support, which includes dual SIM, dual standby and dual SIM, dual active and each can support China’s TD-SCDMA, CDMA, and HSPA+ networks. According to Qualcomm, the WTR2605 radio that makes these chips compatible with those networks is 40% more efficient and an impressive 60% smaller than its predecessors.

At the same time these chips launch, the company will also be delivering Qualcomm Reference Design versions of each. With these chips, developers receive handset development resources, which includes access to hardware and software that has been tested for compatibility with QRD devices. According to Qualcomm, its QRD customers will be “offered everything they need to rapidly deliver differentiated smartphones to the mass market.”

So, Qualcomm continues to push forward, meaning that we’ll expect demand for its Snapdragon S4 line to stay high. There isn’t any specific release information available yet, but with as fast as the technology industry moves, Q2 2013 should be here before we know. Keep it tuned here to Android Community, as we should have more details about these chips soon.

Etsy launches Android app, get ready to shop

Posted: 04 Dec 2012 05:40 PM PST

It isn’t exactly a secret that Etsy has caught on in a big way, and it’s quickly become the first stop for a lot of people looking for handmade products. Given the popularity of the service, many users have been wondering when the company was going to launch a mobile app. Wonder no longer folks, because the day has arrived at last – Etsy’s official Android app has gone up on the Google Play Store.


Announced today on the Etsy News Blog, this new app comes with support for English, Dutch, French, and German right from the start, which is pretty impressive if you ask us. Using the app, you can browse through all 17 million listings on Etsy, so you’ve got access to Etsy’s entire storefront through the app. The app seems pretty straightforward, showing you a number of different categories you can swipe through right when you boot it up.

Of course, you can also easily search and view your cart by touching the appropriate button in the menu bar. You can view other members’ favorite items and browse through their shops if they have one, as well as make your purchases right there in the app. Etsy will also let you track your order through the app, so it sounds like the Etsy app has most if not all of the functionality of the actual website.

All in all, it isn’t a bad little app, and Etsy addicts are sure to spend a lot of time on it. There’s one small problem though: the app doesn’t support landscape mode at the moment, only portrait mode, so keep that in mind if you’re planning on browsing Etsy from your phone or tablet. The Etsy app can be found now on the Google Play Store [download link], so head on over there to give it a spin.

Screenshot_2012-12-04-20-08-03wtmk Screenshot_2012-12-04-20-08-19wtmk Screenshot_2012-12-04-20-08-26wtmk Screenshot_2012-12-04-20-08-42wtmk Screenshot_2012-12-04-20-09-23wtmk Screenshot_2012-12-04-20-19-36wtmk

Motorola launches notification light toggle widget on Google Play

Posted: 04 Dec 2012 05:00 PM PST

The notification lights on Android devices are certainly handy, but there are times when they can be downright annoying. Some of them are so bright that they can sometimes cause problems when you’re trying to go to sleep, and if you’re the type who is always getting new notifications, having that blinking light going off all the time can wear on the nerves quickly. Luckily, Motorola has come up with a solution, releasing a new widget on the Google Play Store that lets you manually turn the notification light on and off.


Of course, you can do this in the settings menu of some devices already, but for those who can’t, this will be a great widget to have. Even if you can turn your light off by going to into settings, having this widget on your homescreen will streamline the process. Even better is that the widget is a free download, so you don’t even have to shell out any cash for it.

It seems that Motorola released this widget to solve a rather unique problem for some users. Apparently, a “small number of users” using some devices (Motorola specifically mentions the DROID RAZR HD) had their notification light disabled against their will. This happened if they had disabled the notification light on an old device and logged into the Google Play Store with their new phone, so this widget sets out to solve that issue.

The perk here is that those who haven’t fallen victim to that notification light bug can still benefit, as Motorola says it should work on most Android devices. Naturally, there will be some devices that aren’t compatible with the widget, but unfortunately Motorola doesn’t have a list of those devices. Guess you’ll just have to download it from the Google Play Store [download link] and see for yourself if it works!

Google exec confirms phone service aspirations were axed

Posted: 04 Dec 2012 04:04 PM PST

Lately we’ve heard a few reports that Google and Dish were in talks to launch their own Google wireless service, something that would be amazing. Today however it looks like Google’s been looking into offering their own phone services before, but those plans have all since been axed and canceled. Below are a few comments from Google’s own VP Milo Medin, who was speaking on the matter.

This week Vice President of Google Access Services Milo Medin made a few casual comments on the fact Google was looking into their own phone services. He mentioned it casually as if it wasn’t a big deal, but we all know how big of a deal Google’s own carrier could be to the US smartphone market. Google’s recently launched their high-speed Google Fiber cable service in Kansas, and apparently their phone service was just as close — but never saw the light of day.

When it all comes down to it Medin is basically stating that a VoIP service could very well have been a reality already for Google if it weren't for regulations that blocked them from entering the market. Those same regulations weren’t as big of an issue for Google Fiber, hence that project went forward:

“We looked at doing that. The cost of actually delivering telephone services is almost nothing. However, in the United States, there are all of these special rules that apply." – Medin

This comment and discussion was brought up on Monday at the CityAge Summit on the New American City at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Business leaders and officials alike were speaking at the summit, and Google’s phone service and Fiber were both hot topics of discussion. For now Google Fiber is gaining traction and rolling out in Kansas City as we speak, while Google’s phone service aspirations are on the back burner. Hopefully all this talk with Dish regarding a “data-only” service ends up happening, as that seems far more likely at this point.

[via SlashGear]

Google Knowledge Graph gets support for seven different languages

Posted: 04 Dec 2012 03:14 PM PST

We’ve been talking plenty about Google‘s efforts in the search space lately, and today’s news holds another big announcement for us. Google has announced that its Knowledge Graph, which works behind-the-scenes with Google Now, has been expanded to include support for a handful of new languages. The Knowledge Graph is a way for Google to deliver not only the information you’re looking for when you search, but also extra information that’s relevant to your query.


Starting today, users can take advantage of Google’s Knowledge Graph in Spanish, Italian, French, German, Japanese, Russian, and Portuguese. The big G doesn’t go into much depth when explaining this new functionality in its post to the Inside Search blog, but it does give a few examples. For instance, Google talks of searching for a sumo wrestler in Japanese, which would not only give you his own ranks, but information on other top-ranked sumo wrestlers. All of that information would be given to you in Japanese, so you’d be able to discover all new information in your native language.

That, ladies and gentlemen, is worthy of being called “awesome.” However, Google says that this is more than just a simple translation job, as there are words that have different definitions all around the world to take into account. Knowledge Graph also considers what information is relevant to your region, so there’s a lot of work going on under the hood to make sure you get the best results possible.

According to Google, Knowledge Graph “now covers 570 million entities, 18 billion facts and connections, and about three times as many queries globally as when we first launched it.” That isn’t bad at all considering Knowledge Graph has only been around since May. Just a word of warning: Google says it will be rolling out this new functionality over the next few days, so if you don’t see it right this minute, just know that it’s on the way. Be sure to check out our story timeline below for more on Google Now!

Samsung Exynos 5440 quad-core to be based on Cortex-A15 for Galaxy S4

Posted: 04 Dec 2012 03:05 PM PST

Samsung’s brand new Exynos 5250 dual-core processor powering the Nexus 10 tablet is the only production mobile processor currently based on the Cortex-A15. The chip is extremely fast, powerful, and efficient, and now we’re hearing their upcoming quad-core powerhouse will be the same. Samsung’s own Kernel Git page has confirmed their upcoming Exynos 5440 quad-core, although we had our suspicions already. A processor we’re all hoping will be powering their upcoming Galaxy S4 smartphone.

Samsung’s recently updated their page with multiple patches to support the new processor, being called the Exynos 5440. The reference board is identified as "SSDK5440." So far we don’t have too many details at this point. Specs regarding clock speed, RAM support or anything else all is still a mystery. It’s safe to say this will be the future of their smartphones, tablets, and even ultrabooks like the new Samsung Chromebook.

Originally we had our hopes up for a Cortex-A15 based Galaxy S III, but it ended up rocking Samsung’s quad-core A9-based processor. However now that the Nexus 10 has arrived rocking this SoC technology it’s only a matter of time until they start producing their flagship smartphones with the same.

We’ve heard rumors suggesting Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S IV will boast a 4.99-inch 1080p HD display, a quad-core processor, 13 megapixel camera and more. All which seems to make sense given how they’ve been improving it from generation to generation. Pair a 1080p display with a Cortex-A15 based quad-core processor and hopefully Android 4.3 Key Lime Pie (or 5.0) Samsung will have another winner on their hands. These rumors are starting to fall into place rather nicely already. CES and the first few months of 2013 are going to be really exciting.

[via SamMobile]

Department of Energy program to make batteries more powerful, less expensive

Posted: 04 Dec 2012 02:30 PM PST

When you’re shopping around for a new phone or tablet, battery life is one of the most important bullet points you can look at. After all, you can have the best equipment running beneath a beautiful screen, but if the battery life is poor, those top-of-the-line components aren’t going to do you much good. The Department of Energy has decided it’s time to come up with new batteries that are not only more powerful, but less expensive as well.


Specifically speaking, the Department of Energy wants researchers to make batteries five times more powerful and five times less expensive in just five years. That sounds like it’s going to be a pretty big undertaking, which is why the Department of Energy will allocate a total of $120 million in funding over these five years. Apparently, the DOE wants wants this new battery program to be similar to the infamous Manhattan Project in execution.

That doesn’t mean that this will end with a new super weapon, but rather that the DOE expects progress to be made at a quick pace. The program will have to advance quickly if the DOE expects this to be done in just five years, which is why it’s pulling some of the country’s best researchers together for it. In all, six national labs, five universites, and four private firms will participate in this program, so the DOE will have some of the country’s leading minds working on beefing up the world’s batteries.

Naturally, since so many things are powered by batteries these days, this isn’t done specifically with smartphones and tablets in mind, but our essential mobile devices could certainly benefit from this research. Even today, we’re seeing manufacturers pay more attention to batteries, with the DROID RAZR MAXX in particular shipping with a huge 3,300mAh battery. Provided everything works out with this program, it may not be long before our mobile devices are shipping with excellent batteries left and right.

[via ComputerWorld]

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10-inch getting 4.1 Jelly Bean OTA

Posted: 04 Dec 2012 02:10 PM PST

Last week the folks from Samsung starting pushing out the update to Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean for their popular Galaxy Tab 2, only it was just for the 7-inch slate. Today however multiple reports are flooding in that the 10-inch Galaxy Tab 2 is also getting the same treat as we speak. Only their WiFi slate is getting the update, but read on for more details.

The Galaxy Tab 2 10-inch launched with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box, but now it’s finally getting the near latest version of Android. Samsung’s been busy updating all their popular smartphones, and it seems the tablets took a little backseat. Today however their two newest tablets now have been updated.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10-inch WiFi slate (GT-P5110) is getting Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean in the UK, but so far that’s the only region that is seeing the update. Most likely this will continue to roll out over the next few days, and we’ll see more countries enjoy the latest and greatest from Samsung.

As usual the update to Jelly Bean is available over the air, and users can also manually install the latest update using Samsung Kies software should you not want to wait. Along with an improved user interface and lockscreen this brings along all the treats from Google with Jelly Bean. That includes project butter for a fast and buttery smooth user interface, Google Now voice search, expandable notifications, and much more. We’ll report back when the update starts arriving outside of the UK. For now give it a try and let us know how it goes in the comments below.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy Tab 2 (10")
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : February 25, 2012
    Release Date : May 13, 2012
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 10.1 Inch
  • Resolution : 1280x800
  • Screen Type : TFT PLS
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 6.9 Inch
  • Width : 10.1 Inch
  • Depth : 0.38 Inch
  • Weight : 580 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Polymer
  • Battery Capacity : 7100 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.0.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
  • WMV
Hardware
    CPU : OMAP 4
    CPU Clock Speed : 1000 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1000 MB
    Internal Storage : 16 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 3.2 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 3.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

[via SamMobile]

Facebook Messenger Android registration now only requires name and number

Posted: 04 Dec 2012 01:42 PM PST

If you’ve always wanted to take advantage of the Facebook Messenger app for Android but never wanted to go all-in and create a Facebook account to do so, then you’ll like this next bit of news. The Facebook Messenger for Android app has been updated, ditching the requirement of a Facebook account for registration. Now, all you need to supply is your name and phone number.


That certainly isn’t bad, and it should give Facebook Messenger an influx of new users. Of course, with more than 1 billion people using Facebook across the world, it isn’t as if the company is necessarily hurting for users, but there are still plenty of people who don’t feel comfortable handing over all of that personal information. As our friends at SlashGear point out, this also helps Facebook directly compete in the SMS space, sidestepping carrier fees for text messaging.

Watered down registration requirements aren’t all this Facebook Messenger update brings to the table. Now the app also allows for group conversation as well as photo sharing, so those who are already using Facebook Messenger are getting some bonuses too. While the update sounds great, there’s just one small problem in that it isn’t going live in all regions right away.

Instead, this update will be going live in India, Australia, South Africa, Indonesia, and Venezuela today, with other regions apparently getting it shortly. We don’t have an exact time frame for release yet, with Facebook only saying that it should be going live in other countries in the next few weeks. We’ll be keeping a eye out for a release announcement, so be sure to watch Android Community for more information!

Apple files patent for wireless charging from up to 1 meter away

Posted: 04 Dec 2012 01:25 PM PST

The guys from Cupertino have been busy with patents lately, and today we have one more to report on. It appears that Apple has filed for a patent regarding wireless charging. Yes, a feature we enjoy in our Nexus 4, the new Nokia Lumia, and multiple other devices. Better hide those Nexus 4′s before it’s too late. The patent is based around wireless charging technology using magnetic resonance — something that’s been around for some time. More details after the break.

I can see the clouds already starting to appear over this patent, and hopefully it gets rained on before we see any lawsuits stem from this one. Apple’s patent application, number 20120303980, outlines its magnetic resonance charging technology. The difference here over what we already know and use today (like the Nexus 4) is their patent allows for truly wireless charging. Magic from as far as 1 meter away. Instead of placing the iDevice on the mat, it can just be near it.

Imagine charging your phone all night sitting on your bed, with no wires or setting it on a platform — Just sitting by your pillow. That’s where this is going. Sadly this technology isn’t anything new either. Even though Apple's patent details a wireless technology that doesn't require any form of contact, they aren’t the only company that has been working on wireless charging technology from a distance.

Apparently Apple filed for the patent in November of 2010, so this is certainly nothing new. Interestingly enough, a company called WiPower patented wireless charging as a whole back in 2008. So the difference here remains to be seen. WiPower was later acquired by Qualcomm and formed into The Alliance For Wireless Power along with multiple patents and intellectual property from Samsung. Wireless charging hasn’t really taken off as much as many thought. With Nokia offering it today, LG’s Nexus 4, and even the new HTC DROID DNA all having the capability, they all require a mat for charging. Being able to truly do this from 3.2 feet away from the charging system would be an awesome feature I’d love to have on my current smartphone and tablets.

This truly wireless charging technology is already available today in some forms, so it will be interesting to see more on Apple’s specific patent and if they have enough to gain approval.

[via SlashGear]

GameKlip gets a redesign, universal phone mount

Posted: 04 Dec 2012 12:56 PM PST

Mobile gaming has been the subject of much debate between those who consider themselves “true gamers,” mostly because of touchscreen controls. A lot of gamers out there like playing with a keyboard and mouse or a controller and find touchscreen controls to be sub-par when held up to the other methods. Enter GameKlip, which looks to merge the best of both worlds by making your smartphone play nice with a PlayStation 3 SixAxis controller.


Of course, GameKlip is nothing new, as it’s been around for a few months now, but today its makers have announced something big: it appears that GameKlip has been given a redesign. The new GameKlip (which you can see in the video below) looks a lot less bulky than previous iterations, and it’s made specifically for the Galaxy S III. Don’t have a Galaxy S III? That isn’t a problem.

That’s because GameKlip (the company, not the product) has launched a new universal case mount that can attach to any case out there. There’s one slight problem in that the adhesive the universal case mount uses is permanent, but that helps ensure that your phone doesn’t fall off its mount as you’re playing. If you don’t have a case for your phone, GameKlip offers a “growing selection of cases” on its store, so there’s a chance that you’ll be able to find a case for your phone there. Cases start at around $3 on GameKlip’s website, which isn’t too bad considering how expensive some cases can be.

Both variants come with a proprietary cable that can connect your phone to your controller, and both are available now for $14.95. If you have a rooted device, you can connect your phone to your controller wirelessly, but the cable should come in handy for those who don’t want to bother with rooting their device. Are you going to pick up a GameKlip for mobile gaming, or will you just stick with touch controls for now?

[via GameKlip]
Posted by at 12:46 AM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)