Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Android Community

Android Community


HTC One X camera has hidden Bluetooth controls

Posted: 09 May 2012 08:55 AM PDT

It looks like there’s more hiding in HTC’s Sense 4.0 than meets the eye. The Chinese gadget enthusiasts at ePrice found that if they paired certain Bluetooth headsets with the HTC One X, they could operate the shutter mechanism on the camera by pressing button combinations on the headset. It’s a useful little trick, and one that’s strangely absent from all the HTC documentation we’ve seen thus far. It’s possible, but not confirmed, that the trick could work with the other HTC One phones as well.

There is a bit of a wrench in the process, though: it appears that the camera requires different button presses from different headsets. An iTech brand A2DP headset required two taps of the Volume Up button, while Plantronics and Jabra headsets required triple-taps of the Dial button. Some rudimentary testing on our own One X with a Motorola Finiti headset didn’t reveal any combination that would activate the shutter – it might not work at all on some headsets.

Regardless of functionality, the idea is a pretty slick one, especially for a phone with a camera as good as the HTC One X has. (Read our review to see how good.) Having a DSLR-style wireless remote shutter for a smartphone is a novel enough idea in itself, but the possibility that it’ll work with something most people have already (or can buy cheaply) is very exciting. Now that the phone’s source code has been published, we hope some enterprising developer will find out how it was done, and perhaps give a little more rhyme and reason to the combinations that work or don’t work.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : One X [AT&T]
    Manufactuer : HTC
    Carrier : AT&T
    Announced Date : February 26, 2012
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.7 Inch
  • Resolution : 720x1280
  • Screen Type : S-LCD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.31 Inch
  • Width : 2.75 Inch
  • Depth : 0.36 Inch
  • Weight : 131 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 1800 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 : S4
    CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1000 MB
    Internal Storage : 16 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    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
    CDMA Band:
  • 850
  • 1900
  • 2100
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 3.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

[via TalkAndroid]


Sony Xperia Ion leak suggests June release

Posted: 09 May 2012 08:30 AM PDT

While the Sony Xperia S has been making friends and influencing people overseas, its American cousin the Xperia Ion has been patiently and silently waiting in the wings at AT&T. There’s been no official word on when Sony’s flagship device will come to the US carrier, but a sharp-eyed member at Droid Matters spotted an advertisement in his Gmail inbox stating that the phone was scheduled for a June release. The ad links to a Sony page, not AT&T, so presumably the manufacturer made the error.

 This shouldn’t be taken as gospel, since a leaked textual ad does not a confirmation make. But considering that the last time we saw the Xperia Ion was next to its international brother at CES way back in January, the phone’s bordering on fashionably late as it is. With heavy hitters like the Samsung Galaxy Note and the HTC One X already filling spots on AT&T’s lineup, and the Galaxy S III likely to follow, a June release would be more than prudent for Sony.

The Xperia Ion roughly follows the design and specifications of the Xperia S, though the styling is a little more conservative and lacks a transparent navigation bar. It runs on a 1.5Ghz dual-core processor with an LTE connection and has a massive 12 megapixel rear camera. A 4.55-inch 720p display with better-than-average fidelity doesn’t hurt, either. The last time we saw it the Ion was running Gingerbread, but we can hope and dream that it’ll be upgraded to Ice Cream Sandwich before its release.


AT&T, Rogers HTC One X rooted

Posted: 09 May 2012 08:07 AM PDT

AT&T customers are still pretty upset at the arbitrary locked bootloader on the HTC One X, but at least they can do some basic modifications: root has been achieved. XDA Developers member Kenneth Penn has posted a one-click root solution for the LTE version of the One X, and it should also work on the phone headed for Canadian carrier Rogers as well. You’ll need a Windows PC and a basic understanding of Android, but as far as root process go, it’s relatively easy.

The difference between gaining root and getting an unlocked bootloader is an important one: while root access gives you control of the software, an unlocked bootloader will give you control over the entire phone. (That’s not a strictly accurate summary, but as Terry Pratchett says, it’s a useful lie.) Rooted phones enjoy the capability of running advanced applications and removing unwanted software permanently via access to the files on the phone’s protected storage.

Not that custom ROMs are impossible without bootloader access. Now that root has been achieved, someone is no doubt working feverishly at getting a custom recovery prepared and starting on a slightly cleaner version of HTC’s Sense skin. But to make major modifications (notably for newer versions of Android) a modified kernel is necessary, and that’s not currently possible. Efforts continue, but community attempts at unlocking bootloaders have met with mixed results in the past.

[via Mobiputing]

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : One X [AT&T]
    Manufactuer : HTC
    Carrier : AT&T
    Announced Date : February 26, 2012
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.7 Inch
  • Resolution : 720x1280
  • Screen Type : S-LCD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.31 Inch
  • Width : 2.75 Inch
  • Depth : 0.36 Inch
  • Weight : 131 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 1800 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 : S4
    CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1000 MB
    Internal Storage : 16 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    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
    CDMA Band:
  • 850
  • 1900
  • 2100
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 3.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :


T-Mobile will add international HSPA+ bands this year

Posted: 09 May 2012 07:48 AM PDT

One of them most annoying things about being a gadget lover in America is that none of the wireless carriers share all of their radio bands, making switching a phone from one carrier to another somewhere between difficult and impossible. But it’ll get a little easier by year’s end, thanks to T-Mobile’s continuing network upgrades. A company executive told journalists that it’s adding more wireless spectrum in targeted bands, so that international HSPA+ phones will finally work with speeds faster than 2G.

By extension, this also means that AT&T phones will be good to go on T-Mobile, assuming that you can get them unlocked. In fact this is probably T-Mobile’s aim, since the network has about a million iPhone users (all hilariously stuck with 2G data speeds) despite not offering the phone themselves. But for normal, sane people, it means that you’ll be able to buy an international phone (say, the Tegra 3 version of the HTC One X) pop in a T-Mobile SIM and get going.

There’s no mention of what this means for T-Mobile’s own phones. Obviously current T-Mobile phones can’t be moved to other GSM networks without suffering the same 2G speeds. But what will T-Mobile do to its own phone radios when its network uses the same 3G and HSPA+ bands as everyone else? Will T-Mobile phones be capable of worldwide roaming, or switching to another network entirely? we can only hope.

[via AllThingsD]


HTC EVO 4G LTE lands on May 18th for $199

Posted: 09 May 2012 06:58 AM PDT

Pre-orders are nice, but there’s no substitute for knowing exactly when your shiny new gadget will be sitting in your hands. For those fans of hyperbolic acronyms eagerly awaiting the HTC EVO 4G LTE, that day is May 18th. The much-anticipated variant of the HTC One X will cost $199.99 with a two-year contract. The carrier hasn’t said how much the phone will cost outright, but somewhere in the range of $600 is a fair bet.

The HTC EVO 4G LTE keeps the Snapdragon S4 dual-core, 4.7-inch 720p screen and 16GB capacity of AT&T’s LTE version of the One X, and adds a MicroSD card slot to boot. In a nice nod to the original EVO, its modified plastic and metal body gets a built-in kickstand (and as we’ve said before, we frickin’ love kickstands). It keeps the Android 4.0 operating system, Sense 4.0 skin and 8 megapixel F/2.2 camera, so in most respects beyond the aesthetic, it’s identical to the other LTE models of the One X.

Speaking of LTE: you won’t be getting it at launch. The Now Network’s LTE capability won’t be up and running until later this year, though the company has already started selling LTE phones like the LG Viper. The WiMAX network is being handed down in a metaphorical sense to low-cost subsidiaries like Virgin Mobile, which is launching the HTC EVO V 4G to take advantage of it.


Galaxy S III won’t launch with wireless charging kit

Posted: 09 May 2012 06:35 AM PDT

Those of you who were hoping to put away your wall-wart chargers for good upon the release of Samsung’s Galaxy S III will need to wait a little longer. SlashGear reports that the wireless charging kit highlighted in Samsung’s presentation last week won’t be available until at least September. A United Kingdom online retailer confirmed that the charging kit wouldn’t be available for the smartphone’s in-country launch at the end of this month.

The wireless charging kit is technically similar to the TouchStone charger first shown off with Palm’s Pre smartphone a couple of years ago, and the same technology has appeared sporadically since. Inductive charging is a popular aftermarket mod, and several cases and adapters are available for popular smartphone models, but the Galaxy S III is the most high-profile device yet to get the capability included in the hardware. The technology works by placing an electrical coil in close proximity to a compatible battery pack, and usually requires a specially-made case or battery cover.

SlashGear reasons that the delay may be because Samsung is eager to promote inductive charging in a more unified capacity with the Alliance for Wireless Power, for which it is a founding member. If so, the dock portion of Samsung’s wireless power kit (it also comes with a replacement battery cover) may be cross-compatible with other, similar devices. There’s no word from Samsung of the delay, but then they never said when the accessories for the phone would be available in the first place. The Galaxy S III hits Europe and the UK at the end of May, and is scheduled for a US release sometime this summer.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy S III
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : May 03, 2012
    Release Date : May 29, 2012
    Also Known As : The Next Galaxy, SGSIII
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.8 Inch
  • Resolution : 720x1280
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED HD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.37 Inch
  • Width : 2.77 Inch
  • Depth : 0.33 Inch
  • Weight : 133 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 2100 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 : Exynos 4 Quad
    CPU Clock Speed : 1400 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 1024 MB
    Internal Storage : 32 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:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :


LTE packing Sony Xperia GX and SX head to Japan

Posted: 09 May 2012 05:00 AM PDT

Sony has announced a couple new Android smartphones that are heading to Japan with LTE 4G connectivity onboard. Both of the new phones are in the Xperia line and include the GX and SX. Both smartphones run Android 4.0 ICS and one has a 13-megapixel camera on the back. The GX is the higher-end offering of the pair.

The GX has a slightly curved design with a 4.6-inch mobile Bravia display. The processor inside is a 1.5 GHz dual core unit, and the 13-megapixel camera can record HD video and has an LED flash for still shots. The smartphone has 16 GB of storage and will come in white or black colors. The SX claims to be the world’s lightest LTE smartphone at 95 g.

The smartphone uses a 3.7-inch Mobile Bravia display. It also has 1.5 GHz dual core processor and uses 8 GB of internal storage. This phone has an 8-megapixel camera and a few features that are aimed at the Japanese market alone such as mobile TV and an infrared port. It will come in black or white colors. Both phones have HDMI connectivity and support DLNA streaming. Pricing is unannounced and availability will be sometime this summer.

[via SlashGear]


Samsung Galaxy S III is the official 2012 London Olympics phone

Posted: 09 May 2012 04:45 AM PDT

The awesome Samsung Galaxy S III has been named the official phone of the 2012 Summer Olympics. A special edition of the phone packing in Visa payWave NFC technology will be handed out to Visa sponsored athletes and testers for the event. The NFC tech will allow athletes and other testers to pay for things during the Olympics by scanning their smartphones.

To be able to use the Visa payWave technology the smartphones require a Visa app to be installed on the phone and an NFC equipped credit card terminal. Payments made using the smartphone app over the equivalent of $32 here in the US require a password to be entered into the app. Smaller payments require no password.

The thing that always bugs me about this sort of NFC payment requiring no password is that if you lose your phone, anyone can swipe it and pay since no signatures are required. The app gives the user a rundown of all transactions and the balance on the account. I’m not sure what I think about NFC payments at this point, what about you?

[via SlashGear]


Flipboard for Android apk leaks!

Posted: 09 May 2012 03:46 AM PDT

Good News!! If you read our hands-on impressions of the Flipboard Android app and really like the application and were bummed that it was for the Galaxy S III only, you’re not alone. The good news is one of the hacking geeks over on XDA Developers has righted that wrong.

A guy going by Valcho says that he used AirDroid to extract the Flipboard.apk files so you can install Flipboard on any Android device you might have laying around capable of running it. It appears that the post is very fresh so we are not clear at all right now how well the apk works when pulled out of the Galaxy S III.

If you rush over and download the apk, be sure and let us know that installs and works correctly on your Android device. Users are already asking for the S Voice apk as well. The Flipboard app is eventually expected to come officially to devices other than the Galaxy S III, but until then this unofficial support is all we have.

[Thanks Paul!]


Kyocera Rise and Hydro ICS smartphone hands-on

Posted: 08 May 2012 10:49 PM PDT

Earlier today Kyocera announced a few new Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich budget smartphones called the Kyocera Rise and the Hydro. They aren’t your average household name but have been producing phone hardware for a long, long time. Here during CTIA 2012 we got some hands-on time with both of these new phones so check it out after the break.

Both of these smartphones have been designed specifically to be able to handle the rigorous activities of daily life, although the Hydro will be more up to the task with its water-resistant properties. The smartphones both will also be aimed for the budget smartphone buyer and will probably be available on regional carriers at some point, but no pricing or release dates have been released at this time.

The phones both come with a smaller 3.5-inch display running on a 320×480 resolution, so they aren’t the best looking displays, but then again they’ll be priced to sell too. Kyocera has equipped them both with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich but have opted for capacitive touch buttons instead of on-screen controls. They have stayed true to the ICS button layout and design, so that looks nice. Both phones come powered by 1.0 GHz single-core Qualcomm processors with 512MB of RAM, 2GB of internal storage, and decent 3.2 megapixel rear facing cameras capable of 720p video capture.

The Kyocera Rise features a slide-up design that reveals a 4-row QWERTY keyboard that was nicely spaced, had good feel and travel while typing, and will be a great companion for the heavy email, twitter, or texter. The device was thin considering the built-in keyboard and had a good overall feel in the hand with the aluminum accents. Kyocera’s Hydro on the other hand is fully water-resistant up to 30 minutes in 10 meters of water, and has the exact same specs other than no QWERTY keyboard and the battery cover is extremely rugged and durable.

Once Kyocera announces some pricing and carrier options we’ll be sure to update, in the meantime enjoy the hands-on pictures below. I was actually pleasantly surprised by the Rise myself.

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ZTE V96 Android 4.0 ICS 1.7 GHz tablet hands-on

Posted: 08 May 2012 04:35 PM PDT

The folks from ZTE have a new tablet on the horizon. It was first announced back in February during Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, but today here at CTIA 2012 they had it out and available for us to get our hands on it. This 10-inch Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich tablet comes with a 1.7 GHz dual-core Qualcomm processor. More details and video after the break.

Coming with the standard 10-inch 1280 x 800 display the ZTE V96 offers an untouched, stock version of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and a decent 5 megapixel camera around back. The interesting feature is the processor under the hood. Being equipped with a Qualcomm 1.7GHz MSM8960 dual-core S4 Krait processor with 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, and a micro-SD for expanded storage. Another thing here is the tri-band HSPA+ and full quad-band 4G LTE radios on board.

This tablet actually felt quite nice in the hand and had decent build quality too, although not quite up to ASUS or Samsung’s level. The specs are impressive, the build quality is nice, and the potential for 4G LTE makes this a pretty great tablet. That quad-band LTE could also potentially run on AT&T here in the US too.

The tablet didn’t have any unique features and Ice Cream Sandwich was completely stock, but I consider that a good thing. If that faster 1.7 GHz dual-core processor interests you you’ll want to stay tuned for more details from ZTE. Hit our CTIA 2012 Portal for more coverage live from New Orleans!

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HTC EVO 4G LTE hands-on

Posted: 08 May 2012 03:48 PM PDT

Say hello to the HTC EVO 4G LTE. HTC announced the new EVO 4G LTE last month but today while hanging out at CTIA 2012 we decided to grab some hands-on time with it, and do a quick comparison to the HTC One X. You’ll quickly notice how thin the LTE-capable device is from our video and pictures below.

While HTC didn’t brand this a ONE device like the One X or One S, you’ll get nearly the same specs as the top-tier One X here with the Now Network. The EVO 4G LTE comes with a 4.7-inch IPS SLCD2 display with a 1280 x 720p HD resolution. Under the hood is the impressive Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Krait 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, and 16GB of internal storage. One difference from the others is the EVO 4G LTE has a micro-SD slot for expanded storage unlike some of the others from HTC.

You’ll get the same impressive 8 megapixel rear camera with HTC’s Imagesense chip for enhanced photos, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and HTC’s Sense user interface changes as well. Just like the One X sadly the EVO’s battery will not be user accessible or replaceable, but does come in at 2,000 mAh and should hopefully last plenty long — even on 4G LTE.

Pre-orders for the new EVO 4G LTE started yesterday, and it should be available come May 18th from the Now Network for those interested.

P1090271 P1090265 P1090266 P1090276 P1090270 P1090269 P1090268 P1090267 P1090272 P1090274


LG Optimus 4X HD hands-on from CTIA

Posted: 08 May 2012 12:34 PM PDT

LG’s latest flagship made its American debut here at CTIA 2012, and we couldn’t resist taking another peek. The Optimus 4X HD crams the best of LG’s mobile technology into a superphone form factor that takes on the likes of the HTC One X, and not just because it’s also using an NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor. The phone is scheduled for release in South Korea and Europe this summer.

The phone is LG’s first quad-core device and it’s first phone to launch with Ice Cream Sandwich, though it’s got a similar skin to the ones displayed on previous LG Android phones. The 4.7-inch display naturally uses LG’s 720p IPS panel, making for a brilliant and accurate view. 16GB of on-board storage compliments an 8MP rear camera and 1.3MP front-facing camera. The phone is an impressively slinky 8.9mm.

Check out the video hands-on below:

The Optimus 4X HD hasn’t been confirmed for an American release, but LG phones tend to get several months of delay between European/Asian and US releases. A more interesting question is whether or not the 4X HD will remain LG’s flagship in the interim. Just after Samsung’s Galaxy S III event last week, LG pulled the wraps off the Optimus LTE2, with 2GB of RAM, wireless charging and a similar 720p display.

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LG Optimus Vu phablet hands-on from CTIA

Posted: 08 May 2012 12:16 PM PDT

It’s been many moons since we saw LG’s new entry in the growing “phablet” market… well, three moons, anyway. The 5.0-inch smartphone made a stop at CTIA 2012, and we wanted to see what had been changed since an earlier reveal at Mobile World Congress. With the Galaxy Note tearing up the sales charts all over the world, the LG Optimus Vu is hoping to take a bite out of its userbase.

The Vu gets a 5.0-inch display, in an odd 4:3 aspect ratio with a resolution of 1024×768. LG’s proud of its display technology, and while the Optimus Vu doesn’t have quite the pixel density of the Optimus LTE 2, it’s still using that awesome IPS panel. LG showed off a new capacitive stylus with the width of a #2 pencil, and numerous notation apps to boot.

Check out the latest version of thew hardware below:

Underneath the hood, the Optimus Vu uses a 1.5Ghz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM and (like most of LG’s high-end phones) it uses an LTE connection. 32GB of storage should be plenty for 8MP stills and 1080p video. Sadly the phone still runs Gingerbread, but LG promises it’ll get an Ice Cream Sandwich update eventually. The Optimus Vu is available now in Europe and Asia, with no word on a US release.

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