Thursday, April 19, 2012

Google Alert - android

News10 new results for android
 
Xtex's $150 Android Tablet Takes Aim at Kindle Fire
PCWorld
By Daniel Ionescu, PCWorld Apr 19, 2012 7:05 AM The My Tablet 7, a 7-inch Android tablet from Xtex, is gunning for the Kindle Fire, undercutting Amazon's device with a $150 price tag and topping the Fire with some specs. The My Tablet 7 may not be the ...
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"Which is the best Android phone out there right now?"
Computerworld (blog)
By JR Raphael (@jr_raphael) "Which is the best Android phone out there right now?" -- the headline of this story -- is the single most common question I get asked on a day-to-day basis. And it's understandable; after all, budget considerations not ...
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Android Malware Writers Exploit Instagram Craze to Distribute SMS Trojan Horse
PCWorld
By Lucian Constantin, IDG News In an attempt to take advantage of the popularity of free photo-sharing app Instagram among smartphone users, malware writers have created fake Instagram websites to distribute Android Trojan horses, according to security ...
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HTC One S Reviews: Critics are Drooling
PCWorld (blog)
By Ian Paul, PCWorld Apr 19, 2012 9:06 AM T-Mobile announced that the Android 4.0-powered HTC One S will arrive in the carrier's stable on April 25, and so far reviews say this phone is the Android device to beat in 2012. Reviewers are going gaga over ...
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Spotify's New Android App Available for Preview
Computerworld
The app features full support for Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, high-resolution images and improved social features. By Ian Paul PC World - Spotify, the premium streaming music service, will soon release a redesigned Android app, but if you can't ...
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HTC One S: My new favorite Android phone
Seattle Post Intelligencer (blog)
That's one reason why I was looking forward to higher-end handsets using Microsoft's Windows Phone, and why I had high hopes for Android 4.0, aka Ice Cream Sandwich. Unfortunately, Windows Phone doesn't yet match the feature set in the more-mature iOS, ...
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Seattle Post Intelligencer (blog)
Spotify for Android App Getting a Makeover
PC Magazine
By Angela Moscaritolo The Spotify for Android app is getting a makeover, complete with easier navigation, high-res images, and more social media integration. The streaming music service on Thursday released a beta version of the updated app, ...
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HTC One S (T-Mobile)
PC Magazine
Runs Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) out of the box. Feels fast and responsive. HTC Sense 4.0 is redesigned, with especially slick camera software. Clear voice quality. PenTile display makes for slightly fuzzy text. No voice dialing over Bluetooth.
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Android Malware Masquerading as Instagram App
Forbes
Capitalizing on the recent release of an Instagram app for the Android platform, there's now a fake version loaded with malware being pushed by the bad guys. The fake Instagram app was discovered by security firm Sophos.
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Forbes
Spotify launches Android re-design
CBS News
(Credit: Spotify) (CBS News) Spotify, the popular music-streaming service, is overhauling its Android app. Full coverage of Spotify at Tech Talk The new Spotify for Android will be completely redesigned from "top-to-bottom." Some of the new features ...
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CBS News

Blogs5 new results for android
 
Spotify previews overhauled Android app -- Engadget
By Brian Heater
We'll be the first to admit that we were a little disappointed when yesterday's \
Engadget
Spotify Launches Preview of Revamped Android App
By Samantha Murphy
Spotify is rolling out a preview of its new and improved Android app.
Mashable » Social Media
Overhauled Spotify for Android: All About Discovery
By Jamie Condliffe
Spotify's Android app has been in need of an update for some time—especially when compared to its beautiful Windows Phone offering. Fortunately, the wait is over, and the new version is much improved: it's cleaner, more visual, and wants ...
Gizmodo
Google Cloud Print Now Supports Android 4.0 Devices and All ...
By Chris Chavez
I kind of stumbled upon this the other day when attempting to print out a Shakey's coupon on my printer but didn't think much of it. Looks like Google has.
Android Phone Fans
Design on the Go: Designer Apps for Android
By Amelia Hunter
A collection of some of the top design related apps for Android to help our readers get their smartphone ready for design on the go!
Noupe


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Update - 309


Android 4.0 report card: Which manufacturers are failing?
Computerworld (blog)
If you're like many Android owners, the answer may be "not yet." The Ice Cream Sandwich version of Google's Android OS -- also known as Android 4.0 -- has been rolling out to devices since December. But three months later, many phone and tablet owners ...
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BlueStacks Beta Brings Android Apps to Your PC
TIME
By Jared Newman | @OneJaredNewman | March 27, 2012 | + If you've ever wished that your Android apps could follow you from phone to PC, BlueStacks has a way. The BlueStacks software, which is now in beta, allows you to run Android apps on a Windows PC.
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TIME
BlueStacks App Player Beta Brings Android Apps to PCs
PC Magazine
By Chloe Albanesius BlueStacks on Tuesday rolled out the beta version of its Android App Player, which will allow users to run Android apps on a PC. The software, powered by a technology known as LayerCake, works on devices running Windows XP, Vista, ...
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Latest BlueStacks ARMs your PC
CNET (blog)
The first beta of BlueStacks for Windows brings ARM Android apps to your PC courtesy a new technology called LayerCake. So yeah, that's the Android version of Angry Birds Space on your PC for free. by Seth Rosenblatt March 27, 2012 5:00 AM PDT Follow ...
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iVeia Announces the Availability of its Android(TM) Distribution for Zynq(TM ...
MarketWatch (press release)
SAN JOSE, Calif., March 27, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- iVeia today announced the availability of their Android(TM) Board Support Package distribution for the ZC702 Zynq-7000 Extensible Processing Platform (EPP) Reference Design from Xilinx®.
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After Alpha Attracts 1M Users, BlueStacks Goes Beta To Bring 450K Android Apps ...
TechCrunch
Because it's developed software designed to let Android users run their apps on all Windows PCs, tablets, and laptops — without any modifications. Not to mention the startup then raised another $6.4 million a few months later from AMD and Citrix ...
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For Google, to Play is to Fight the Commoditization of Android
ReadWriteWeb
Applied to Google relationship with Android and what we see is a ecosystem that has become increasingly commoditized. The Android brand has been diluted and while its core features come from Google, the search giant is not the first company that people ...
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BlueStacks App Player Brings Android Apps To Your PC Desktop
Mashable
BlueStacks, a company bringing Android apps to your desktop PC, released the beta-1 version of its App Player Tuesday. If you're an Android fan, the name BlueStacks and the product may seem a bit familiar. Named Best Software at CES 2012, ...
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BlueStacks Android App Player hits beta
TG Daily
The software - which supports Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 - enables Android apps to run in windowed or fullscreen mode on a PC. Indeed, the latest iteration of BlueStacks includes a feature dubbed "LayerCake" which allows apps written for ARM ...
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Lenovo Launches An Android App Store For The Enterprise
TechCrunch
Computer manufacturer Lenovo has launched its own Android app store today, called simply, the "Lenovo Enterprise App Shop." As the name implies, the service is targeting the company's businesses customers by offering custom management, deployment and ...
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TechCrunch

Blogs5 new results for android
Comparing iPad and Android tablet apps | TUAW - The Unofficial ...
By Kelly Hodgkins
PC Magazine editor Sascha Segan took a closer look at Android tablet apps and compared them to their iOS counterparts. He looked at the top apps for.
TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog
Samsung's Galaxy Y Duos Video Is The Coolest Thing I've Seen All ...
By Chris Chavez
Samsung has been on fire lately with clever ad spots (Dude, you're a barrista.) and today, their Portugal branch is bringing us another, this time, to.
Android Phone Fans
Zoho Debuts New Android, iOS Apps At Zoholics User Conference ...
By Chris Velazco
The team behind web-based productivity suite Zoho is in the middle of hosting their Zoholics user conference in San Francisco, and in between all the panels and presentations, they've taken the opportunity to talk a bit about their plans in the ...
TechCrunch
BlueStacks App Player Beta Brings Android Apps To Windows PCs ...
By Julian Horsey
BlueStacks Beta which is now available to download uses new technology called LayerCake, which provides the correct environment on Windows to run ARM Android Apps.
Geeky-Gadgets
Instagram for Android signup page goes live ahead of imminent ...
By Dan Graziano
Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom previously confirmed that an Android version of the company's popular iOS application was in the works, even claiming th.
BGR: The Three Biggest Letters In Tech

Update - 308



Posted: 27 Mar 2012 02:11 AM PDT
Akash-tablet
Over the years, you’ve probably seen quite a few bargains online or at your local carrier. Remember the great $99 TouchPad firesale? Well, here is an Android tablet that sells for much less than $100, one that is surprisingly good for its declared purpose.
The story will take us to India, a country where hi-tech gadgets are becoming ever so popular, even though hundreds of millions of people have little experience (if any) in using them. That is exactly the problem that the Indian Ministry of Education is trying to tackle. The plan is to introduce Android tablets to schools in rural areas that lack access to modern technology.
Namely, the Indian government will buy a total of 100,000 tablets at a cost of 2,250 rupees (about $44) each. The tablets will be sold to local schools at the price of 1,100 rupees per tablet, which is about $22. According to a report from Wall Street Journal, some tablets will be reserved for students who wish to buy them, and they will cost around $35. The tablets will also be available at local retail outlets, for all others who are interested, where they will cost around $60.
cheapest-ubislate-android-tablet

Are the $44 Android Tablets any Good?

Perhaps, by the standards of many of us, the $44 Aakash tablets distributed by the Indian government are nothing special. But when you consider the price and the purpose of the tablets, these slates are definitely impressive.
By now, you are probably wondering about the specs that these tablets have to offer. Well, we will answer the question for you:
  • Processor: Conexant A8, 700MHz
  • RAM: 256MB
  • Storage: 2GB, but expandable to 32GB
  • Display: 7-inch  resistive touch screen with 800×400 resolution
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi, GPRS modem
  • Battery: Up to 180 minutes (3200 mAh)
  • Operating system: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
  • Other features: 2 USB ports, 3.5mm jack for audio, HD video playback and streaming
The listed specs belong to the Aakash Ubislate 7+ model (made by DataWire, in the UK), but a cheaper model will come with a weaker processor and battery.
Here’s a video of the Aakash tablet in action:

Doesn’t look that bad, right? After all, a device designed for educational use doesn’t require fancy graphics or large amounts of memory to serve its purpose! Moreover, students would still be able to keep in touch via social media, play some games, and, enjoy the whole tablet experience. On the downside, the battery is very poor (which may be a problem in areas with rolling blackouts) and the resistive screen leaves room for improvement.
But is this just a start. We can expect better specs and a beefier battery in future version of the Aakash. And really, can you find anything better out there for such a low price?

This article, An Android tablet at less than $40? Yes, you read that right , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 11:27 PM PDT

Crafting beautiful collages can never be as easy and exciting once you get the hang of it. If you're a trigger-happy type of person who keeps important memories by capturing photo snapshots of key events of your daily life, then we’re happy to introduce you to an interesting application known as KD Collage.

KD Collage is the latest addition to the list of photo-editing Android apps made available on the Google Play Store. Handy for decorating and editing pictures on the go, KD Collage lets you create beautiful photo collages with your own personalized background. Users can also add text effects to give information on their work of art.

The application offers numerous photo collage styles–frames, patterns, and designs, each with its own unique style and appearance.  Each design or layout is unique and provides a specific number of photos that it can support. For a more personalized touch, users can choose different background images, gradient themed walls, textures, or even your own personal photo from device's gallery.
In addition to that, KD Collage supports a 90-degree spin of collages that even lets you pick a desired aspect ratio. Collages that are crafted using the application can be saved directly in your device's local storage and you can share them directly with friends. You can even set your creation as your wallpaper.

Not only that, KD Collage lets you keep track of your recent collage entries and lets you select what format to be used for the saved images. This is a great feature if you're expecting to keep high-resolution photos intact when the collage is made.  KD Collage is, in fact, among the handful of applications that offer users to save their crafts in full High Definition format.
What separates KD Collage from the rest of the photo-editing apps in the market is that it offers many customizations compared to its competitors. With just a series of taps on the options menu and a bit of effort, you can transform any ordinary picture into a colorful work of art in the form of a photo collage.

On the app's homescreen, users are shown numerous options. You can start by selecting the "New Collage" or explore recent works. Selecting the New Collage button will take you to another screen that offers several collage templates that you can use. Each template is unique and only supports a specific number of pictures. Adding photos can be done in a breeze. Just tap the image placeholder and choose the selected photo you wish to add.

The toolbar on the bottom part is useful for changing and editing collages. In here, users can edit backgrounds, rotate the canvas or change the aspect ratio of their works. There is also the feature of adding custom texts and the application offers a lot of options for that, too. Once the entire collage is done, simply tap the Save tab to save your work of art to your device.
Overall, KD Collage truly stands out by offering the most comprehensive photo-editing tools on the go. Sharing and making beautiful collages becomes so fun and easy with the KD Collage application. KD Collage is available in the Google Play Store as a free application or as a paid version.
Have you tried sharing your photos to your friends in the form of collages?  What application do you currently use for that?

This article, KD Collage: Create collages of your photos on Android , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 04:54 PM PDT

Fresh from the Mobile World Congress 2012, it seems like both Samsung and Nokia will be putting out interesting phones this year. But, what makes these phones particularly interesting isn’t just the specs they rock on the inside; these two phones each have their unique charm points. The Galaxy Beam is Samsung’s latest attempt at manufacturing a projector-equipped phone. Nokia seems to be getting competitive with their Nokia Pureview and this device’s crowning glory is its phone camera that packs more megapixels than actual cameras.

Design and Display

The Galaxy Beam has dimensions of 124 x 64.2 x 12.5 mm and a weight of 145 grams. It is equipped with a 4-inch AMOLED display and a resolution of 480×800 pixels.
At the top of the phone is a 15-lumen projector and bulb that shoots a 640×480 image up to 50 inches diagonally. Though it may not be ideal for a conference room presentation, this built-in projector can be used for sharing photos or videos and should be enough for most indoor situations. The lamp is rated for 20,000 hours of use so that means you won’t expect to be replacing it any time soon.

The Nokia Pureview has dimensions 123.9 x 60.2 x 13.9 mm and is slightly heavier at 169 grams. It has a 4-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 360×480 pixels, which isn’t quite impressive compared to the Galaxy Beam. For those of you used to the smooth backs of most Android phones, you may be a little bothered by how the Nokia Pureview’s camera sticks out of the back.

Storage

The Galaxy Beam has 8 GB of storage built into it and is expandable up to 32 GB through a microSD slot. It packs 768 MB of RAM.
The Nokia Pureview packs an internal memory of 16 GB and can be expanded up to 32 GB. It’s also got 1 GB ROM and 512 MB of RAM.

Camera

The Galaxy Beam has a 5-megapixel rear camera, which is less than the 8 megapixels we’re used to. It has a front-facing, 1.3-megapixel camera.
Now, here’s Nokia Pureview’s crowning glory. The Nokia Pureview will be packing not a 5-megapixel camera, not an 8-megapixel one either,  but a 41-megapixel camera. You read that right; this phone is more camera and is sure to capture the hearts of users who can’t stop snapping shots with their phones.
The Pureview’s camera is said not to lose its clarity as you zoom, which means that while  you take a photo of something,  you can zoom on, reframe, crop or even resize the image and the picture will still retain a great amount of detail. The Nokia Pureview also sports a second, front-facing VGA camera. The Nokia Pureview is said to also offer CD-like audio recording.

Processor and Operating System

The Galaxy Beam runs on Android 2.3 but it should be upgradable to Android 4.0. On the inside, it’s got a 1 GHz dual-core processor.
Naturally, with the Nokia Pureview being a Nokia phone, it runs on MeeGo OS out of the box. The operating system may discourage a lot of potential buyers, despite the crowning glory of the Pureview’s camera. The Nokia Pureview has a 1.3 GHz CPU.

Battery

The Galaxy Beam packs a 2000 mAh battery, which we imagine is to support the built-in projector. Samsung says that it’s aiming for 3 hours of continuous projector use on a single charge.

The Nokia Pureview, on the other hand, only packs 1400 mAh. It’s estimated to hold a standby time of 465 hours on 2G and 540 hours on 3G. It might also pack a talk time 11 hours on 2G and 6 hours and 50 minutes on 3G.
For those of you who are heavy phone users, you may have to pack your charger with you. Regardless of which phone appeals to your heart, it seems like the crowning glories of these phones are battery drainers.

Verdict

These two phones don’t seem to be directly competing, each one offering something different for users. Though these phones haven’t hit the market yet, from the features we’ve seen, the Nokia Pureview may just be the new best friend of shutterbugs who don’t like bringing around bulky cameras. It’s estimated to cost US$605 before it subsides. It’s expected to come out in May.
The Samsung Galaxy Beam on the other hand may be just what businesspeople on the go need. It’s the size of a phone without the weight and hassle of an actual projector. As of this writing, there appears to be no set price for the Galaxy Beam just yet.
Does any of these two phones sound like something you’d take with you daily for your business rounds?

This article, Samsung Galaxy Beam vs Nokia Pureview , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 04:05 PM PDT

Free Android apps attract us.  Many of us love free apps, in fact.  In many instances, there are free apps that provide good functionality and features, as well as great service from the developers.  Yet, most free apps provide limited functionality.  In most cases, the limitations can be lifted by buying the paid version of an app.
Do you really need to buy that paid app?  How do you decide whether to buy a paid app or not?  Here are some tips that can help you decide well.

How often do you use the application?

Before you spend a decent amount of money on a particular application, always think about how often you are going to spend time with the application.  Regardless of whether the app is free or paid, the question of use frequency needs to be raised.
Having tons of applications installed on your phone can chew up a lot of storage space, most especially if you tend to download tons of games without your ever playing them. Choose only the application that you will constantly need. Refrain from downloading apps that are not often used.

Is the application important?

A lot of buyers often experience impulse buying, which relatively explains the misery they end up after realizing that the application is not that useful after a couple of uses. An example of which is spending roughly $30-$100 worth of cloud storage service for, say 40 GB, which you won’t fill to the brim anyway. Instead choose the practical way and go for the best service that fits your budget.

Is there a cheaper alternative?

Many buyers are smart buyers who think before they purchase. These buyers are the ones who usually tend to check other stores and decide what store offers the best bargain. The Google Play Store is loaded with tons of applications to choose from. You can always find the best alternatives or equivalents to apps if you just know how to read the description and ratings made by other users.
Trust me, there are free versions of many paid apps.  There are also alternatives or equivalents that perform the same or similar functions as paid apps.

Does it work at all?

Android apps sometimes don’t work.  Most of the time, they do.  A lot of factors come into play.  There will be cases when alternatives don’t work under your particular environment.  If what matters more to you is that your Android app–whether free or paid–works on your specific device, then the issue is easy to settle.  You’ll be better off paying for an Android app that works out of the box, rather than waste your time making a free app work on your phone.

Does the developer frequently provide updates and bug fixes?

Most developers of Android applications release important upgrades or updates regularly.  Such fresh releases are often intended to fix bugs from earlier releases or to add support for more Android devices.  In other cases, updates also bring new functions and features.
Software is never a finished, perfect product.  Android apps are not exempted.  There will always be bugs and issues, and a good developer will always try to fix those.
An app user will likely install an app, even if it still has some bugs, for as long as the user feels secure that the developer is working on updates and fixes.

Does the application have a website or forum for customers to contact the developers?

Android application developers usually have a website that potential buyers and customers can use to get in touch with the developers, or even with other app users.  Applications with their own dedicated website helps assure you that the product you're purchasing is worth the time and money. It simply means that developers care for their customers and listen to their complaints.
Customers can also stay updated on the latest developments and tweaks happening to the application by visiting the official site. They can also have access to exclusive downloadable content to enhance user experience.

Can you try before you buy?

Most developers provide free trials for their paid apps.  This practice allows potential buyers to get a foretaste not just of the app but also of the quality of service and customer care provided by the developer.
The app demo or free trial is your way to test the waters before you part with your money.  So, try before you buy.

Conclusion

Choosing between paid and free applications is usually the consumer's choice and can be a very subjective experience.  The Google Play Store is literally flooded with thousands of applications and most of them are free to download. But, before you hit that download button, always bear in mind that there is a reason why some applications are free and why developers are charging for a price on their apps.  If you are about to buy an app, try asking yourself the 7 questions discussed in this article.
How do you decide whether to buy an Android app or not?
No related posts.

This article, Top 7 Questions to Ask Before Buying an Android App , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 02:53 PM PDT

OLED technology has provided a way to create thinner, more efficient, and brighter displays and lighting panels, starting a revolution in display technology. OLEDs, standing for Organic Light Emitting Diodes, produce their own light and are thin and flexible, unlike their older LED siblings.
There has been a lot of ongoing research into the applications of OLED displays, with companies like Sony, Samsung, and LG all working towards flexible and bendable display capabilities. A future where you will be able to roll up and pack away your TV, smartphone, or tablet is not that far. Of course, due to the unique properties and very specific production requirements, flexible OLEDs are still expensive to manufacture, but this cost will only go down with further advances in fabrication processes.
AMOLEDs are already used on small scale on some phones, tablets and television sets, with Samsung and Sony pioneering the technology with devices such as Samsung AMOLED TVs and Sony’s PlayStation Vita, which features a 5-inch AMOLED screen. And now a new, less known manufacturer joins the AMOLED club – Tianma, which announced its new 3.2″ and 12″ AMOLED prototype panels at the FPD China 2012 exhibition.

Tianma’s 12-inch panel boasts a 1280×800 resolution with a very high contrast that exceeds a ratio of 10,000:1. As you can guess from its size, this panel will be primarily suited for tablets and laptop screens. The 3.2-inch model features a 480×320 resolution and a similar contrast ratio, its primary application being smartphones.

Unfortunately, there has been no indication from Tianma about when these panels will actually enter production or in what devices we can expect to see them. We can only hope for a quick release, so that we can enjoy the wonderful experience provided by active matrix OLEDs in more products as soon as possible.
Below is a short video of the Tianma 12″ prototype panel, which is only a slideshow of images. But the higher clarity and increased brightness are instantly noticeable features. Courtesy of OledNet.


This article, “Democratization” of AMOLED: Tianma announces 12-inch prototype panel , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 02:48 PM PDT

Nokia's flagship device, the Lumia 900 smartphone, is set to hit AT&T stores on April 8. After being out of the limelight for so long, does the Lumia 900 offer enough incentives for buyers to put Nokia – and to a certain extent, Microsoft – back on the smartphone map in the US and the rest of the world?
It's quite telling how both companies are craving to have a bonafide hit on their hands as the Nokia Lumia 900 is positioned at a competitive $100 price point with a two-year contract. Despite its dominant global presence – and ever dwindling numbers in terms of market share and mind share – one would be wise to add that Nokia has never conquered US soil. Similarly, Microsoft needs to prove that their Windows Phone is a worthy competitor to Android and iOS platforms.
Attractive pricing aside, the Lumia 900 does ship with some of the finest hardware that Nokia has ever produced. The sleek polycarbonate unibody look of the phone is complemented by its 4.3-inch ClearBlack Super AMOLED display. The 4G LTE radio and 8MP Carl Zeiss camera should have no trouble gaining adoration from the masses, as they have received from critics.

The Lumia 900 isn't Nokia's first Windows phone offering in the US, as that honor belongs to the entry-level Lumia 710 on T-Mobile. While it didn't break any sales record, the phone's initial $50 price tag – which subsequently dropped to the magical price of $0 -was given away for free with a two year contract. It managed to get a few sales. Going cheap is no guarantee for success, but the aggressive pricing strategy that is being pushed by Nokia and Microsoft will definitely help in creating momentum for the Windows Phone platform.
Where does this leave Android devices? When it comes to the price that people are willing to pay for Android devices, they don't seem to be that bothered with the current price structure, where flagship devices often range from $200 – $300, with contract. However, given the speed that manufacturers are churning their Android devices out, sometimes it only takes a couple of months for devices to get discounted to that magical $100 price point. Of course, high-end Android smartphones from second-tier manufacturers are being priced competitively as well. The point is options are a blessing that Android supporters have.
Quite simply, it will take more than the Nokia Lumia 900 to cause a dent in Android's share. Pricing is a good start, but it would definitely help if they have that one killer feature to really entice users to make that leap of faith, such as a certain 41MP camera. If there's one platform that is jeopardized by the imminent rise of Windows Phone, we believe RIM’s Blackberry is the one facing the biggest threat.
How about you?

This article, Is Nokia's $99 Lumia 900 a threat to Android? , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 02:24 PM PDT
htc-wind-ice-cream-sandwich
This is a huge surprise and a refreshing story for fans of  HTC smartphones. An unannounced HTC phone was recently revealed in China, and reports suggest that it is a dual SIM phone which is quite unusual for HTC’s latest and greatest. To make matters more enticing, it appears to be very similar to HTC’s One S, as well.  It is certainly an interesting choice for dual SIM-aholics, but what else does it have to offer?
The HTC T328w Wind looks a lot like the HTC One S, only a bit smaller since it features a 4 inch display (Super LCD WVGA ) which is quite nice. It is also running the great Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and comes with Sense 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 3.0. On the back there is a disappointing 5 MP camera and it doesn’t look like they will be upgrading this before the release. Bases on its specs it is very similar to the HTC One V.
htc-wind-dual-sim UnwiredView
The phone will feature a 1GHz  single-core processor with 512MB of RAM. As for the storage space, there will be 4GB of internal memory with a MicroSD card support. The HTC T328w will sport a 1,650 mAh battery and there is no information on how long its standby time can last. What we do know is that the phone will be on sale first in China under the name HTC Wind, and we aren’t sure if it will be available in other countries. The price should be around 2,000 Chinese yuan, which is about $316.
A penny for your thoughts? Would you be interested if this phone was on sale near you? Expecting to see dual SIM devices out West anytime soon?

This article, HTC T328w Wind with dual-SIM and Android 4.0 out of the box spotted in China , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 02:23 PM PDT

Have you been looking for a game that is a perfect time-killer? One that is quick to load, easy to play, addictive, but can be put down at any time? If the answer is yes, I may have found it for you.
Entitled “Swerve and Destroy”, this graphically deficient, bare-bones game for Android is one of the best I’ve ever played, and it’s guaranteed to keep you occupied for hours.

The aim of the game

In Swerve and Destroy, you control a grey dot, moving amongst an ever increasing number of red dots. The dots are supposed to represent a person being attacked by zombies, from a top-down perspective. Even the slightest touch of a red dot will eliminate your grey dot and end the game on the spot. To destroy the red dots, you have to pick up the power-ups that are drifting around. These power-ups vary from an electric shield which enables you to destroy everything in your path, to a water gun which you must skillfully aim to destroy the dots before they touch you. Some power-ups you collect, hold onto, and can even stack up for later use, such as a shields and bombs, and there are others, with more devastating (and fun) effects, about eight altogether.

Beauty in simplicity

Part of what makes Swerve and Destroy so appealing is that it’s jump-in and jump-out, with no need to sit there five minutes more than you wanted to trying to beat a level. The only objective is to try and beat your previous high-score, and, if you have to switch to another application or answer a phone call, the game pauses itself and holds in memory for as long as possible, giving you the opportunity to resume play.
There are no on-screen controls, besides the occasional tap to set off a bomb. The maneuvering of the dot is entirely controlled by the accelerometer, which can be adjusted between 0′, 45′ and 90′ in the settings, so you can play Swerve and Destroy anywhere you go. The sensitivity is adjustable too.

As you can see in the screenshots I’ve included, the graphics look like something from the early 90s. And I suppose the gameplay can be considered as coming from that decade, as well. For me, Swerve and Destroy is an example of how games don’t need to be supercharged with amazing graphics and sounds, and to require ever-advancing hardware to run on. Sometimes the funnest things are the simplest.

Try it out for yourself

Swerve and Destroy has a nearly full featured free version, and you can upgrade to the full version for a reasonable price. In fact, if you get five friends to act as your ‘referrals’ you can get the game unlocked for free! Check the game’s settings page to see how to do this.
The Play Store link to the game is here. Try out the free version to see if you like it, but I am already sure you will. Though it is designed for phones, it looks just as good when blown up to full screen on a tablet.
Altogether, I’d rate Swerve and Destroy with 9/10, because it could do with a tablet optimized version (though I expect that is in the works) and perhaps a few more power-ups. Otherwise, it’s my new favorite Android game alongside Angry Birds Space.

This article, Quick review: Swerve and Destroy, a beautifully simple game , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Posted: 26 Mar 2012 02:23 PM PDT
With the upcoming release of the Samsung Galaxy S3, we have seen how rampant rumors and endless speculation can help whip everyone into an absolute frenetic frenzy – including us. While this is yet to die down, it seems we have already been caught in another rumor whirlwind, and this time, it’s all about Google’s upcoming Nexus Tablet. Google announced last December that they would be working towards releasing a Nexus Tablet to be released in less than six months. With this six month self-imposed deadline quickly approaching, rumors and speculation about this device has also been growing exponentially.
Here is a quick rundown of what we, think, we know.

ASUS will be manufacturing the Nexus Tablet


It seems that Google has been having trouble finding a perfect hardware partner to mate with its fantastic software releases. It first started with HTC producing the first ever Android phone, the G1. There was also the limited, and largely ignored release of the Google G2, which ended up gaining more popularity worldwide as the HTC Desire Z featuring HTC’s newly developed Sense UI. We then witnessed the public’s lukewarm reception to the Nexus One, which, at the very least, led Google to pursue other manufacturers for their later devices. Google has publicly stated that they work on a rotation type system, but really friends, let’s be frank. They want their Nexus line of devices to achieve great success, and for them to stand tall as a reference beacon of what Android devices can and should be.
Now, Google is enjoying a fruitful partnership with Samsung to produce its largely successful Galaxy Nexus, with the device being the first to feature the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS. With Samsung already boasting a vast portfolio of tablets, it seems that Google has now gone in another direction with its first ever tablet. Is it for the best? It certainly keeps everyone on their toes.

It is believed that Google has now partnered with ASUS to manufacture the first Nexus Tablet. This slate will be – or is at least suggested to be – very similar to the ASUS Memo 370T 7″ tablet, first seen at CES 2012. Confirming this is the fact that ASUS has gone as far as to scrap the release of the Memo Tablet in favor of the Nexus Tablet, according to some industry sources.

Specifications

The Nexus tablet was initially thought to house the NVIDIA quad-core Tegra 3 processor. But sources now suggest that Google has dropped the quad-core processor to keep the price at the lower end of the spectrum. While there has been no official confirmation, I would say that the processor will most likely be the dual-core Snapdragon S4, taking into account ASUS’ close relationship with Qualcomm. Aside from how low the price might get, any processor lower or slower than this would be a huge mistake, with the slew of mid- to high-end ICS tablets set to arrive in the market. Other specifications of this 7″ device should be standard, such as 1GB Ram, a 1280×800 resolution 7 inch display, front and rear camera, etc. but I am of course drawing my conclusions from the “scrapped” Memo 370T.

Price Point

Courtesy of TechRockstar
The ASUS Memo 370T had a $250 price tag, which was incredibly cheap for the high-end specs it featured. Keeping this in mind, it was suggested that the Nexus Tablet would fall in $199 – $249 price bracket. As far as rumors have gone, all signs are pointing to Google dropping the quad-core processor to reduce the price even further. So, we can now expect the Nexus Tablet to be in the $149-$199 range, and might cost even lower than the Kindle Fire or the Nook Tablet. Either way – we know it will be competitively priced, and, as a result of the tight software/hardware integration that the Nexus program provides, it will be super snappy and responsive – quad core or dual core.

Release Date


Some reports suggest that the Nexus Tablet might be launched during the CTIA Wireless Trade Show 2012 in New Orleans, held from May 8 – May 10. I think, however, it is far more likely that the Nexus Tablet will be announced at this year’s Google IO 2012 event held between June 27 and June 29 in San Francisco.  This will follow suit with a huge announcement and massive publicity, much like the event commands every year. Plus, each and every attendant, which are increasingly becoming part of the Android Elite, will receive a Nexus tablet, further spiking interest in a way that only Amazon and Apple can.

Conclusion


Here is how the tablet market stands at the moment. The iPad 3 has already been released to the zombies, with its amazing, battery gulping Retina display. ASUS is expected to lead the high-end Android device market with the release of the Transformer Infinity Pad Samsung is continuously adding to its ever-increasing Galaxy Tab selection. And there’s offerings around the corner from Lenovo, Toshiba, and many more. Not to mention the slew of low- to mid-range ICS tablet being announced and released almost everyday.
Still, while the Android Army is continuously producing new units like a war factory from Red Alert, it is difficult to wonder whether the Nexus Tablet will arrive with a case of “too little too late.” The price point is definitely attractive, and a lot of users will be craving the stock Android experience. But whether these factors will be enough to overcome an already saturated tablet market is yet to be seen.
If you want to be a part of Google’s (probable) announcement for the Nexus Tablet, or just want to enjoy the Google experience, registration for the Google IO 2012 event will be open from tomorrow. For more information, you can visit this link here. Be forewarned though, it’s going to set you back 900 big ones. Unless you are an academician, or something.
What are your thoughts? Is the Nexus Tab going to be your next tablet? Is the $50-$100 lower price tag worth the dropping of a quad-core processor in today’s market? Let us know in the comments section below.

This article, Will the Nexus tablet be released at Google IO 2012? , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
Posted: 26 Mar 2012 11:54 AM PDT
instagra-sign-up-goes-live
Instagram coming to Android is bound to be the newest craze in the Android app world, with fans of the image sharing service finally having something to look forward to. After announcing the upcoming Android app at SXSW a couple of weeks ago, the Instagram team opened up a snazzy sign-up page, where you can leave your email to get notified about the new app, as soon as it’s available. With all the buzz, will Instagram on Android reach the level of popularity it enjoys on iOS? This is something that only time will tell.
What we know for sure is that Instagram has over 27 million registered users on iOS, so it is only natural for the Instagram team to let Android users join the fun. Right now, the signup page is getting loads of traffic, so all seems good for the development team.
 Techlend
The co-founder of Instagram, Kevin Systrom, announced during SXSW that the release date is very close. When asked why it took so long for the team to develop a good app for Android, Systrom replied that it would have not been productive for Instagram to focus on two platforms at the same time. According to Systrom, the developers wanted to create a good, high-quality product for one platform (that is, iOS), and then to repeat the process for Android.
The team also claims that, in some ways, the Android app will be better than the one for iOS, yet they failed to explain their claim. Is this just a marketing trick? Or perhaps we can expect some juicy, Android-only features that will make our friends with iOS  green with envy? Many Instagram fans are hoping for something besides the usual filters and share options, which they can already get from other apps on Google Play.
Are you ready to join the fun? And, if you are not that excited about Instagram on Android, will you still give it a chance?