Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Android Community

Android Community


AT&T CEO blames slow ICS updates on Google

Posted: 08 May 2012 07:52 AM PDT

We tend to avoid excessively suggestive metaphor here on Android Community, but the latest statement from AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson definitely qualifies under the edited heading “twin spheres of a metallic alloy nature”. In a recent wireless industry panel, the executive blamed Google for slow updates to existing Android phones. His statements are baffling, considering that Google doesn’t actually update any hardware beyond the Nexus phones and other developer devices.

Here are Stephenson’s words from the Milken Institute’s 2012 Global Conference:

Google determines what platform gets the newest releases and when. A lot of times, that's a negotiated arrangement and that's something we work at hard. We know that's important to our customers. That's kind of an ambiguous answer because I can't give you a direct answer in this setting.

The executive seems to be a little confused about how Android updates work: Google posts the open source code for new version of the OS on their developer website, then manufacturers update their phones (or all too often, don’t) then the carriers push out the updates (or don’t). The delicate relationship between device manufacturers and carriers in the US, where cellular providers often insist on custom apps, software, locks, blocks, and visual elements, can make the update process a maddeningly slow experience.

Stephenson’s comments betray a lack of knowledge in the fundamental way that the Android ecosystem functions – or, on AT&T, fails to function. It makes us wonder who made the call to arbitrarily lock the bootloader on AT&T’s HTC One X. Google responded to the comments, saying that they offer Android freely as it becomes available, and do not engage in negotiations for individual smartphones.

[via 9to5Google]


HTC EVO V 4G gets hand-me-down 4G on Virgin Mobile

Posted: 08 May 2012 07:29 AM PDT

The great WiMAX hope for The Now Network has faded, and they’re now investing in a true LTE network slated for some time later this year. But that doesn’t mean that they’re going to let all those “4G” WiMAX towers go to waste – they’ll just open them up for users of their low-cost subsidiaries, like Virgin Mobile’s US arm. Their first “4G” phone will be the HTC EVO V 4G, announced today at CTIA in New Orleans.

The EVO V 4G shouldn’t be confused with the original HTC EVO 4G, though it certainly shares some design DNA. And it isn’t a variant of the newer HTC One V. Nor is it a scaled down version of the HTC EVO 4G LTE on the parent network. (Good grief, these names are really getting out of hand.) No, the new HTC EVO V 4G is a rebranded version of the original HTC EVO 3D, with the addition of WiMAX radio bands. With us so far?

Despite running on some older hardware, the EVO V 4G uses Ice Cream Sandwich and what looks like HTC Sense 3.6. It’s complimented by a 4.3-inch QHD 3D screen, 5 megapixel dual cameras and 8GB of storage space. Virgin will start selling the new phone on May 31st with a price tag of $299.99, no contract required.

[via Cnet]


Android Open Kang Project ported to HTC One S

Posted: 08 May 2012 07:00 AM PDT

Everyone’s favorite unicorn-themed custom ROM has come to T-Mobile’s new flagship, the HTC One S. A quick look at the free ROM hosting site Goo.IM shows that noted developer Jacob “ProTekk” Bell has a version of Android Open Kang Project (AOKP) Milestone 5 ready and waiting for the “ville”, or One S. He showed off the build on his Twitter account yesterday, but offered no download or instruction.

AOKP has fast become the most popular new ROM to spring up since Ice Cream Sandwich became available. It’s built on a lot of CyanogenMod code, with a ton of tweaks and visual flair that are specific to Android 4.0. The build borrows heavily from other ROMs and mods (with attribution, of course) and adds its own bizarre sense of style – expressed via an angry pink unicorn theme seen in the boot logo, wallpaper and settings menu. You can disable the boot logo if you want, but you’ll be mildly chastised for doing so.

As far as we can tell, this build hasn’t been publicized on any of the major development forums yet. This being the case, we urge you to proceed at your own risk – there’s no telling what’s working or not working in the posted software. As always, make sure to make a Nandroid backup. If you’re not overly confident in your modding skills, it might be best to wait for an official release.


OtterBox Samsung Galaxy Note hands-on

Posted: 08 May 2012 06:25 AM PDT

The Galaxy Note has proven to be a surprising hit, with Samsung claiming over 5 million worldwide sales since the oversized phone’s introduction. And with so much more screen than anything else on the market, conscientious owners will no doubt want to protect their investment. Enter OtterBox, makers of some of the toughest consumer gadget protectors on the planet. The company was on hand at CTIA 2012 to show off the latest addition to their Defender series for the Galaxy Note.

The Galaxy Note case is OtterBox’s usual massive hunk of rubber and plastic, made all the more massive for the phone’s already large size. Cutouts and access tabs are found in the usual places for the power jack and headphone port, with overly protective adapted outer buttons for power and volume. This case in particular has to accommodate an unusually large hole going straight down to the device’s plastic shell, to allow for finger access to the S-Pen stylus.

The rest of the case is very similar to the other entrants in the Defender series (check out new OtterBox cases for the HTC One S and DROID Incredible 4G LTE here) in that it roughly follows the lines and style of the device within, while adding an astonishing amount of drop and crack protection. OtterBox did not say when the case would be available at retail, or for how much. But given the level of fit and finish on display, I’d say it’ll be ready later this summer.

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Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy Note
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : September 01, 2011
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 5.30 Inch
  • Resolution : 800x1280
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.78 Inch
  • Width : 3.27 Inch
  • Depth : 0.38 Inch
  • Weight : 178 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 2500 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : 390 hours
Software
    Android OS:
  • 2.3.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AMR
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
  • WMV
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU :
    CPU Clock Speed : 1400 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1024 MB
    Internal Storage : 32.768 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 3.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
    FM Radio :
    NFC :


Kyocera unveils new Hydro and Rise Android smartphones

Posted: 08 May 2012 05:13 AM PDT

Kyocera has announced a pair of new smartphones that are both running Android 4.0 ICS as the operating system. Both of the smartphones are designed to be able to survive the rigors of your daily grind. The Kyocera Hydro is ruggedized and water resistant. The other smartphone is called the Kyocera Rise, which has a slide up screen to reveal a keyboard.

Both of the smartphones use technology from the Kyocera Dura series smartphones. The Hydro has water resistance ratings of IPx5 and IPx7. That means the smartphone won’t get damaged if you are caught in the rain or if you drop it in the sink. The phone can be submerged in water up to a meter deep for 30 minutes and still be okay.

The Rise has a slide up touchscreen LCD with a QWERTY keyboard underneath. Both of the smartphones have a 3.5-inch HVGA capacitive 480×320 IPS LCD and use a 1 GHz QUALCOMM Snapdragon processor. Both have 2 GB of ROM, 512 MB of RAM and support microSD cards up to 32 GB. The phones also have 3.2-megapixel cameras with LED flash and the ability to record video. The phones also have Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB 2.0, and three axis accelerometers. Pricing is unannounced at this time.


Orange tips incoming Intel-powered Santa Clara phone

Posted: 08 May 2012 03:43 AM PDT

If you’ve been intrigued at the thought of Intel powering smartphones, it appears one of the first is set to land with Orange in the UK. The wireless carrier has tipped that the Santa Clara powered by an Intel Medfield processor is “coming soon.” Santa Clara won’t be the official name for the smartphone when it launches, it will get some sort of snazzy name.

It will be one of the first designs to use the Medfield Atom processor and will be available for contract and prepaid plans. The processor is a 1.6 GHz Atom, and the smartphone will use a 4.03-inch touchscreen. The rear camera will be an eight-megapixel unit.

At this point, we have no idea what the price for the smartphone will be. We do know that it will run Android 2.3 Gingerbread. We’re expecting the device to land at about $424 since the smartphone we’re talking about is very similar to the Lava XOLO X900. If you’re interested in the smartphone, you can preregister now.

[via SlashGear]


Maxthon allows Android users to create their own custom browser

Posted: 08 May 2012 02:22 AM PDT

If you are an Android smartphone user or tablet user, and you’ve ever wished you could make your own browser, Maxthon will help you build your own custom browser. The browser is powered by Maxthon Mobile, and the user can choose several aspects for the browser. The Make Your Browser service is free and available now to anyone who wants to try it out.

Using the new service, users can create an Android browser with their own personal look and feel, content links, splash screen, and homepage. The service walks users through making their own browser and allows you to choose a name for your browser and even the icon on your smartphones homepage. The homepage for the browser can be any URL the user chooses.

There are multiple themes/skins to choose from. The user can also upload their own splash screen. Once all the options are selected and uploaded, a click of the create APK button gets the browser ready for your device.


OtterBox DROID Incredible 4G LTE and HTC One series cases hands-on

Posted: 07 May 2012 11:03 PM PDT

Not everyone likes to cover the beauty of their smartphone with a big protective case, but for those who do Otterbox is always one of the first choices. Today at CTIA in New Orleans we managed to get a few minutes with the all new cases from OtterBox for both of HTC’s new One series, as well as the Incredible 4G LTE.

Shown off today were two of the most popular cases from OtterBox. Those being the rugged and extra durable Defender Series, as well as the lightweight Commuter model. Shown above is the Defender being installed on the AT&T HTC One X, as well as the commuter safely protecting the new T-Mobile One S below.

The Defender Series is as durable as they come and fully protects your phone from all sorts of damage while the commuter is silicone that is then wrapped in a hard lightweight plastic in all the right places to have optimal protection while remaining lightweight and easy to carry. Along with multiple cases and colors (as shown below) for the HTC One series OtterBox also is ahead of the pack and showed us a few HTC DROID Incredible 4G LTE cases. The phone was just announced earlier today, and they’ve already got both of the popular series listed above ready for the Inc, and will be available once Verizon finally launches the phone.

OtterBox has multiple colors, including blue as shown below for all three of the new phones, and although we don’t have an actual release date or pricing for the new phone cases we can expect them to be right in line with current offerings and be available shortly. We’ll update once they’re finally available. Stay tuned for full CTIA coverage coming tomorrow as things kick off.

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HzO Waterblock smartphone coating hands-on

Posted: 07 May 2012 09:28 PM PDT

When it comes to protecting your Android smartphone or tablet most cases don’t save you from water damage. Just ask my fellow writer Michael Crider about his poor Galaxy Nexus. Today at CTIA 2012 however, we were able to get some hands-on with a new technology that should one day curb that issue. Called HzO Waterblock, and it’s a hydrophobic water-proof coating for smartphones and tablets.

There are a few various spray-on techniques that companies use to make smartphones water-resistant, like the Splash guard on the DROID RAZR, but HzO’s technology brings this to a new level. Like other products they offer “protection from the inside” as their motto, only their nano-scale film barrier applied to the entire device during the actual manufacturing process is 100 times thicker than the competition. The video below explains this more.

The results from the thicker coating and enhanced process gives you more than just a water-resistant device — it’s closer to being fully waterproof as you can clearly see in the video above. We’ve seen similar technologies but this will hopefully one day be an option on multiple Samsung devices, as we’ve heard they are one of a few various partners. Learn more at HzOinside.com and stay tuned for more CTIA 2012 news coming soon.

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HTC DROID Incredible 4G LTE hands-on

Posted: 07 May 2012 08:42 PM PDT

Unlike the new Samsung Galaxy S III, the new HTC DROID Incredible 4G LTE has been leaked more times than I can count. Even though we’ve seen plenty already, here in New Orleans for CTIA 2012 we were able to get up close and personal with the all new Incredible 4G LTE from Verizon and HTC. Verizon hasn’t announced an HTC One branded device, but this is pretty close. Check out our hands-on below.

It’s not quite an HTC One device but you can hardly tell a difference, other than the fact they’ve gone with their traditional DROID branding. The Incredible 4G LTE is as close to the new HTC One S as you’ll get on Big Red for now. Coming equipped with very similar specs — not counting the slightly smaller screen the Incredible 4G LTE looks to be an appealing and great all around smartphone.

Hands-on with the DROID Incredible 4G LTE:

DROID Incredible 4G LTE Benchmark and HTC One S comparisons:

The new DROID Incredible 4G LTE comes with a 4.0-inch qHD display, the same size as the previous generation, but sadly didn’t get improved to an HD resolution. Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and Sense UI 4.0, the same fast and capable 1.2 Ghz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor, 1GB of RAM and a powerful 8 megapixel rear facing camera — albeit without the custom HTC Imagechip sensor for enhanced photos like the One series has.

A few important facts compared to HTC’s other recent offerings is the Incredible 4G LTE comes with a removable and user accessable battery, and micro-SD support for expanded storage. An issue that is seeing many complaints on the just released HTC One X on AT&T. Overall the phone feels very solid, and if you’ve ever used an Incredible or the HTC Rezound you’ll feel right at home.

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Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Droid Incredible 4G LTE
    Manufactuer : HTC
    Carrier : Verizon
    Announced Date : May 07, 2012
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.0 Inch
  • Resolution : 540x960
  • Screen Type : S-LCD qHD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 4.80 Inch
  • Width : 2.40 Inch
  • Depth : 0.46 Inch
  • Weight : 132 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 1700 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.0.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • 3GP
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
  • WMV
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
  • IM
Hardware
    CPU : MSM8960 Snapdragon S4
    CPU Clock Speed : 1200 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1000 MB
    Internal Storage : 8 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • CDMA
    CDMA Band:
  • 800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11a
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :


HTC One V tipped for American release at CTIA

Posted: 07 May 2012 01:31 PM PDT

We reported earlier that HTC confirmed its intention to bring the HTC One V to the United State,s but was exceedingly vague about carriers, prices and dates more precise than “summer”. Here at CTIA 2012 in New Orleans, it looks like HTC is setting up for a major One series reveal – observe the press passes being handed out at the conference. We’ll likely hear about carriers and dates in the next couple of days.

Just after the One V announcement, we heard that US Cellular, Virgin Mobile and Metro PCS were all set to get the HTC One V in favor of larger carriers. It makes sense: all three of these regional companies tend to prefer phones that can be purchased outright at lower costs, and the One V is the most junior of HTC’s new trio. The considerable delay beyond T-Mobile’s HTC One S and AT&T’s One X was likely to do a little re-eingineering, since some of the regional carriers operate on the more obscure CDMA standard.

Though it’s the smallest and weakest One phone, the One V still manages to hold some charm. IN addition to a return to HTC’s signature “chin” style, it’s got specs noticeable above most entry-level Android phones, with a 3.7-inch 800×480 screen, 1Ghz processor and 4GB of storage, not to mention Ice Cream Sandwich and HTC Sense 4.0. For our review of the international model, click here.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : One V
    Manufactuer : HTC
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : February 26, 2012
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 3.7 Inch
  • Resolution : 480x800
  • Screen Type : NA
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 4.74 Inch
  • Width : 2.35 Inch
  • Depth : 0.36 Inch
  • Weight : 115 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 1500 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.0.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU : Single Core
    CPU Clock Speed : 1000 Mhz
    Core : 1
    Ram : 512 MB
    Internal Storage : 4 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 5 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 720p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
    CDMA Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 2100
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :


CTIA 2012 in New Orleans: We’re here!

Posted: 07 May 2012 12:30 PM PDT

We’ve arrived in New Orleans and are jumping at the bit to get started giving you the news and content you need on all things Android here at CTIA 2012! We’ll be here all week long covering the big events as well as seeking out the coolest and most interesting devices and software (and services, of course) on the floor as we run through everything the event has to offer starting tonight. We’ve got events scheduled both on and off-site here at the Convention Center and will be bringing you a social media experience in addition to make sure you see the event from all angles and as fast as possible once each bit of news breaks!

We’re coming at you live in several respects for this series of events down south. Taking on CTIA 2012 with our sister-site SlashGear, you’ll find that we’re bringing you unique on-site galleries on Facebook, hang-out-based action with Google+, and instant updates galore via Twitter. Of course you’ll also want to follow the main news feed for the biggest drops right here on Android Community as well!

• Google+ +AndroidCommunity and +SlashGear
• Facebook /AndroidCommunity and /SlashGear
• Twitter @t_chrisburns for Chris Burns (SlashGear), @xguntherc for Cory Gunther (Android Community), and of course @SlashGear for SlashGear and @Androids for Android Community

We’re starting off quick right here in the evening on Monday, then will be continuing all day each day through the week. If you’re stuck at home and come across something interesting that you’d like us to cover, let us know! Email us with http://androidcommunity.com/send-tips/ or contact us via any of the social networks listed above with all tips, requests, and hate mail if you do so desire, and stick with us all week for sweet tech action!


Jury deadlocked in Google vs Oracle copyright case

Posted: 07 May 2012 12:23 PM PDT

When it comes to Oracle’s massive copyright and patent case against Google, there’s good news and bad news. The bad news is that the jury has stated that Google infringed upon Oracle’s copyrighted code in the manner of 37 Java APIs used in Android. The good news is that they couldn’t agree on whether these APIs consist of fair use, since they’re openly published for the benefit of Java developers.

At this point, the case could go one of several ways. The presiding judge could simply omit the portion of the verdict that couldn’t be agreed upon, allowing the patent portion of the case to go forward but leaving the copyright claims in limbo. Or, as Google has already put forward, he could declare a mistrial and start the who affair over again. Oracle claims that the RangeCheck code is sufficient to earn is a portion of Google’s profits from Android.

Whatever is decided, this case is set to drag on for weeks or (more probably) months longer. The patent claims in particular are worrying for Android, since it’s at least possible that a verdict in Oracle’s favor could lead to an injunction against Android as an OS. If that were to happen, the legal squabbles between Samsung, HTC, Apple, Microsoft and Motorola would look insignificant in comparison.

[via SlashGear]