Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Google Alert - android

News10 new results for android
 
Page: Motorola Mobility acquisition is key to Google's future
ZDNet (blog)
The marriage will likely bolster Google's Android-based smartphone business and Xoom tablet business but maybe not its OEM business. The extent of its success will also be determined by its support in the greater open source community, especially among ...
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Google Has Finally Closed Motorola Mobility Acquisition
PCWorld
By Mikael Ricknäs, IDG News Google has finally closed its acquisition of Motorola Mobility, and will now start working on new devices while keeping Android open, it said on Tuesday. It has been about nine months since Google announced it planned to ...
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Amazon's Android Appstore Allows Users to Test Apps on Phones
PCWorld
By Ian Paul, PCWorld May 22, 2012 6:20 AM You no longer need a PC browser to test out apps from Amazon's Appstore for Android. The online retailer recently announced that you can try out apps before you buy them by using the company's new beta feature, ...
See all stories on this topic »
Why China Stuck Its Foot in Android's Door
TechNewsWorld
The government of China has given the pair its blessing, but one of the conditions regulators set was that the Android OS must remain open for at least the next five years. Google will have to file a report with China's Commerce Department every six ...
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Google acquires Motorola Mobility, rolls the dice with Android
ExtremeTech
All eyes are now on Google to see what it will do with a bunch of software platforms under its belt — Android, Chrome OS, and Google TV — and its new-found top-notch hardware division. Outwardly, we are promised, except for a new CEO — Dennis ...
See all stories on this topic »

ExtremeTech
It's Official: Google Is Now a Hardware Company
BusinessWeek
When Google first came calling, it was mostly interested in getting Motorola's trove of 17000-plus patents to help defend the Android operating system against lawsuits by Oracle (ORCL), Microsoft (MSFT), Apple, and others. Woodside's mission has since ...
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Google Acquires Motorola Mobility
MarketWatch (press release)
The acquisition will enable Google to supercharge the Android ecosystem and will enhance competition in mobile computing. Motorola Mobility will remain a licensee of Android and Android will remain open. Google will run Motorola Mobility as a separate ...
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Google closes on Motorola Mobility acquisition
USA TODAY
Google is already a formidable force in mobile computing thanks to its Android software, the chief challenger to Apple Inc. and its iPhones. At the same time, the acquisition is largely a defensive one. Google needs Motorola's trove of 17000 cellphone ...
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USA TODAY
Samsung Galaxy SIII Available June 1 from Amazon for $800
PCWorld
Amazon is now taking US pre-orders for the flagship Android device and bitter iPhone rival for $800 unlocked, but the price tag is not the only thing you should be weary of. Samsung and US wireless carriers are yet to announce their versions of the ...
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Google officially closes $12.5 billion Motorola Mobility deal
CNET
The search company and its vendor partners are currently waging legal battles around the world with a host of companies over claims that Android violates patents. Motorola Mobility holds thousands of patents and patent applications that could come in ...
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Blogs5 new results for android
 
Amazon Appstore For Android Now Lets Users Test Drive Apps ...
By Chris Velazco
The latest update for the Amazon Appstore Android app packs a welcome surprise — instead of being stuck Test Driving your apps on your PC, you'll now be able to do it from directly within the app. Well, some of you will be able to do it.
TechCrunch
Ben Heck's Android-controlled pot-stirrer does (most of) the cooking ...
By Sarah Silbert
Ben Heck is always thinking up gadgets that make life easier, from completely hands-free luggage to a sensor system for improved cycling safety. His.
Engadget
Netflix for Android updated with improved video streaming | Android ...
By Cory Gunther
The official Netflix for Android has received a rather minor update this evening. While the update is pretty small it does promise an enhanced playback.
Android Community
Nick Bradbury: Android's Overblown Fragmentation Problem
By Nick Bradbury
It must be hard to be a developer that has to support thousands of different devices, with screen sizes ranging from tiny to enormous, running multiple OS versions on all sorts of hardware. That's why I'm glad I'm not a web developer.
Nick Bradbury
Android Overload: T-Mobile and MetroPCS Want Dish To Give Up ...
By Chris Chavez
In case you're new around these parts, you've just entered into the Android Overload. This is the place you can always turn, for that extra helping of.
Android Phone Fans

Web1 new result for android
 
Diablo 3 Server Checker - Android Apps on Google Play
... from within Android. IMPORTANT: This app relies on Blizzard's Diablo 3 Server Status page to be accurat... ... Eluamous. (111). Free. SWTOR Server Checker ...
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.eluamous...


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Android Authority

Android Authority


Motorola tries to reason with upset customers, says ICS won’t improve older devices

Posted: 22 May 2012 02:54 AM PDT

For all the cheers that Motorola has got when the company finally updated its Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade schedule last week, the boos and jeers may have outnumbered them. Especially the ones that come from the owners of devices like Motorola Droid 2, Droid 3, Droid X3, and a host of others, who found that their phones will forever remain stuck on Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

Is it all just one big misunderstanding? Motorola hears your complaints and has the following to say on the matter.

According to the company, for those who have been wondering why not all relatively new devices will receive the ICS upgrade, the decision was made with the best of intentions. Motorola will only provide an upgrade to ICS if it will improve the performance of a particular device. Here are their exact words:

"We work very closely with Google and cell phone carriers for every software update. And, obviously we want the new release to improve our devices. If we determine that can't be done—well then, we're not able to upgrade that particular device."

There you have it – I hope that clears up any ill-feeling you may have for Motorola. Yeah, right!

Looking at the list again, it seems Motorola will provide the ICS upgrade only for devices that come with at least 1GB of RAM. It's worth mentioning that this self-imposed limitation doesn't seem to apply to other manufacturers, that release ICS devices that ship with less RAM than that, such as the HTC One V. But all hope is not lost. With Google's acquisition of Motorola expected to wrap up this week, there's still a chance that Google might review this policy.

Do you think Motorola's reasoning for its refusal to upgrade its older Droid devices to ICS is legit?


This article, Motorola tries to reason with upset customers, says ICS won't improve older devices , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Android 4.0.4 for Verizon’s Galaxy Nexus might be rolled out today

Posted: 22 May 2012 02:12 AM PDT

Verizon Samsung Galaxy Nexus

As of May 1, the share of Ice Cream Sandwich has reached 4.9% of all active Android devices, with 4.4% from those now running versions 4.0.3 and 4.0.4, while 0.5% are still running 4.0 and 4.0.2.

The numbers could've looked quite different if the Galaxy Nexus on Verizon hadn’t been stuck on Android 4.0.2 ever since it was launched back in December. Word has it that the long awaited update to Android 4.0.4 will finally arrive on Galaxy Nexus today.

Despite several leak builds of Android 4.0.4 for the Galaxy Nexus that have made their way out to the open, the carrier is taking it’s sweet time to announce a date for the official rolling out of update. But if you believe reports coming from several subscribers who apparently have gotten the tips from Verizon support staff, the update will start trickling down to your phone starting from 11 AM EST.

The Android 4.0.4 for Verizon's Galaxy Nexus will reportedly bring improvements to the signal strength of the phone's radio, smoother screen rotation, enhanced camera functions, and an overall boost of speed and performance.

Folks, better not get your hopes up until we receive confirmation from Big Red. But in any case, you might want to check your phone today for any update notifications. Think of it is a wonderful surprise if Verizon does roll out the Android 4.0.4 update today for your Galaxy Nexus. Don't forget to share the news with the rest of our readers by commenting below.


This article, Android 4.0.4 for Verizon's Galaxy Nexus might be rolled out today , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


New System Allows London Police to Instantly Download Your Phone Data

Posted: 21 May 2012 10:15 PM PDT

For those afraid that our right to personal privacy is slowly disappearing, there's a new example of law enforcement procedure to support that concern. If you're suspected of a crime or arrested in London, Metropolitan Police now has a new system enabling them to almost instantly extract data from your mobile device.

The new system, carried out with a device called ACESO, is supplied by UK mobile forensics company Radio Tactics. Metropolitan Police authorities will use the system to download all call log, photo, video, social media, and text message information on phones. Previously, phones had to be sent to a forensics lab to gather data from a phone suspected to have been used in a crime.

The issue of privacy, both on personal devices and in general, is a hot button worldwide. While the ability to solve a crime quickly is great, many would say that personal rights are even more important. Citizens are rightly reticent to trust government and law enforcement, so such news is at best seen as a double-edged sword.

Perhaps most concerning is that it appears that London police may be able to use ACESO to download your information if you're simply suspected of a crime. Even worse, it's not clear if the information is kept if you are cleared. Here's hoping that policy dictates they do the right thing and delete the phone data of innocent citizens.

While everyone hopes that law enforcement always has the best intentions in mind, that isn't always the case. Even when they do, no one is perfect, and even with the best of intentions sometimes police will go beyond what is allowed by law to solve a crime. With that in mind, anyone concerned with privacy rights should be suspect of abuse with the ACESO system.

What say you, loyal readers? Would you say this new Metropolitan Police policy is a good or bad thing?


This article, New System Allows London Police to Instantly Download Your Phone Data , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


How Wireless Charging Works

Posted: 21 May 2012 10:13 PM PDT

If you're like me, you find having to plug in your phone to charge it quite annoying. After all, we now live in a wireless world. What could be more cumbersome than having your phone plugged into the wall half the day?

Wireless charging isn't new, for example Palm (R.I.P) and HP made their Touchstone wireless charging system available for their webOS devices. It just hasn't quite caught yet, but we'll get into the reason for that later. The good news is that wireless charging looks like it may soon become more main stream, and one sign of this is that the much-anticipated Samsung Galaxy S3 is expected to have a wireless charging option.

Inductive Charging Explained

So, just how does this newfangled wireless charging work? First of all, the method of wireless charging used for smartphones is called inductive charging. This method of wireless charging harnesses the ability of using an electromagnetic field to transfer energy over a short distance via a transmitter (charger) and receiver (phone). Just set your phone down on the transmitter and your phone starts charging. Sounds pretty awesome, right?

Right now the technology only allows for the energy to be transmitted over a few millimeters. While this means we won't be gleefully prancing around the house, phone in hand, chanting "my phone is charging, my phone is charging," at least we'll no longer have to deal with those pesky wires.

Wireless Charging Standard

If you're wondering why wireless smartphone charging has yet to catch on, the reason is probably due to no standard being set. As a result all wireless charging devices, such as the aforementioned Touchstone, had to be created with proprietary devices and accessories. Fortunately, the Wireless Power Consortium has stepped in to save the day with Qi (pronounced 'chee'), a set of industry guidelines for inductive charging. So far Qi has the backing of 84 device manufacturers and carriers. With a standard in place, we should expect to see faster development and improvement in the technology because companies won't feel the need to re-invent the wheel if they decide to jump into the business.

As you can imagine, the possibilities for wireless charging are endless, and go beyond just the smartphone market. For now though, let's just be excited that the need of wired phone charging becomes a thing of the past.

I'm obviously looking forward to it, but I'm curious as to what our readers think about wireless charging. Do you wish it was already more common? Would you use it if you had the option?


This article, How Wireless Charging Works , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Best Android apps for VoIP and SIP calls

Posted: 21 May 2012 09:00 PM PDT

Staying connected has never been so easy, thanks to the modern-day smartphone, keeping us in touch with our friends even when they are out of reach. With advancements in the field of communications, smartphones have also evolved in how we communicate with other people.

Thanks to VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology, users can now get in touch with the special people in their lives by using the Internet connection on their phones. Since VoIP relies on the Internet, calling someone is relatively free of charge, with the exception of possible charges for using the Internet data connection.

Here are some of the best VoIP applications that are available in the Google Play Store.

Skype

Skype is arguably one of the best VoIP services being used all around the world, and remains as popular as ever, keeping faithful to its service by giving users free Skype-to-Skype video calls. The Android version of Skype still packs a lot of punch and provides the same features as its desktop counterpart.

Users of Skype for Android version will be able to make free Skype video calls, send instant messages, and voice calls via 3G or Wi-Fi. Not only that, users can make low-cost calls and send SMS messages to other mobile users directly using their Android phones.

 

 

Fring

Once you get used to the buddy system on Fring, there's no telling when you will stop chatting with your online buddies. Fring for Android is an innovative mobile application that lets you communicate and stay connected with your friends in a fun and easy-to-use environment.

Fring is not your ordinary buddy messenger. It is a complete package of all the best communication tools available on the Internet. Users can either choose from Fring's list of communication services such as a 4-way group video chat, 1-on-1 video chat via 3G or Wi-Fi, or hook up with friends courtesy of the Live Texting feature.

Enjoy high quality video chat, thanks to Fring's video calling DVQ technology that will give users the best video and audio quality possible, as it automatically adjusts to your data connectivity.

 

 

Line2

For those of you who are looking for separate lines for calling and texting on Android, Line2 is definitely the right app for you. Whether it's used for business or personal use, Line2 is an exceptional app that serves as a landline replacement and will keep your mobile number private.

Take advantage of Line2's different calling options. Choose from Wi-Fi, 3G, or 4G connections, depending on the service that you have applied for. In addition, users can benefit from the unlimited calls from U.S. to Canada, absolutely free. The app also supports SMS messaging with 24-hour support for the service. Line2 also has a built in Caller ID, call waiting, and call forwarding among its several features. There is a paid plan that gives you access to voicemail and conference calling.

 

Tango

Tango has already been considered as one of the best free video call/chat apps for Android. What makes Tango the prime choice for many users is its top-notch voice calls. Tango has very good quality when it comes to making VoIP calls. It also easily integrates with any Android phone. Users can have free calls via 3G, 4G, and Wi-Fi connection.

Tango seamlessly integrates with any device and is always ready to receive calls 24/7. This is a huge plus factor for users who heavily rely on VoIP calls as a means of transacting business or personal matters. Another plus factor for Tango is the fact that you don't have to disconnect when you don't want to use the service. Tango is always connected, even when you’re not using the service. This can easily eat up your phone’s battery, since the app always stays connected to the Internet.

 

 

Viber

Viber from Viber Media, is another excellent app that allows you to make free VoIP calls using your data plan. Viber basically functions the same as Tango but has better sound quality when it comes to making calls. With the use of Viber's cutting-edge HD sound quality, phone calls are much better than GSM calls.

Viber is simple to use and lets you connect with friends easily, as it synchronizes your contact lists almost instantly once you launch the application. Gone are the days when you had to manually set your own contacts or build usernames from scratch. Unlike Tango, Viber has good battery management and runs in the background. With over 40 million Viber users around the world, staying connected has never been so easy.

 

Linphone

Developed by Belledonne Communications, Linphone is another popular VoIP application that lets you make free calls, as well as video calls. Linphone is not your ordinary VoIP app, as it is opensource and is constantly updated and developed by the community.

Linphone uses SIP for its connections, making your calls sound good while keeping bandwidth at a minimum. This is quite handy for users who have a tight restriction on their data plan. Linphone also offers video calls to other users using MPEG4 and H264 codecs, but it is only made available to ARMv7 devices. It also supports a wide variety of audio codecs like iLBC, G711, GSM, G722, and Silk, just to name a few. The app also introduces audio multi-call and conferencing if you have multiple users on the line. Linphone also features echo cancellation, address book integration, and call history.

 

 

Groove IP Lite

Here's a groovy application that will surely satisfy your calling cravings. Groove IP Lite from Snrb Labs is an Android application that connects to Google Voice using VoIP. Users of Groove IP Lite can make free unlimited calls to any phone in the United States or Canada without costing a cent on voice minutes. Groove IP Lite works on any Android device, allowing you to make calls over a Wi-Fi connection.

Turn any ordinary mobile phone into a fully featured phone without paying any charges to your carrier. For those of you calling with a data network plan, each call uses 1.2 MB of data. If you’d like to do away with ads and to get more features, you can also purchase Groove IP’s pro version.

 

 

CSipSimple

VoIP apps couldn't get much simpler and easier to use than with CSipSimple for Android. CSipsimple is just the same as the VoIP apps you can find on the market but it is also one of the simplest to use. CSipSimple connects via WiFi just the same as those wired IP phones but minus the connection delay.

The user-interface has a minimalist feel and pretty much resembles the stock dialer found on most Android phones. The app features multi-accounts, call recording, supports a multitude of codes, as well as themes. The only downside of CsipSimple is that it uses a higher amount of bandwidth than any other VoIP app.

 

 

WiCall

Want to make cheap calls without bleeding your budget? If the answer is yes then say hello to WiCall from Zenitalk. Make cheap calls using WiCall and choose from WiFi or 3G connection. WiCall is cheaper than most VOIP service available in the Google Play Store and undoubtedly better than Skype and Viber.

WiCall is basically a prepaid mobile wireless telephone service with no plans and contract to maintain; that makes calling cheaper than most VoIP services. Compared to Skype, Wicall doesn't need a connection, neither does it ask you for a maintenance fee as your credits can last the whole year round. WiCall bypasses regular carrier restrictions and any VoIP calls you make are automatically routed via WiFi or any connection that you have at your home or at the office.

 

 

TiKL Touch Talk Walkie Talkie

Here's something that is so simple to use that you don't have change any additional settings to get started. Transform any ordinary Android phone to a Walkie Talkie, just by downloading TiKL Touch Talk Walkie Talkie.

Instantly communicate with someone or a group of friends with a single tap of a button. No set-up is required as the app only requires your phone contacts or Facebook friends to start communicating. The app is fast, simple and reliable as TiKL turns your phone into the ultimate Push To Talk Walkie Talkie.

TiKL works by connecting through a WiFi. 3G, 4G, EDGE and GPRS connection so you don't have to worry about voice charges from your carrier. Get free real time one-on-one push-to-talk calls at lightning fast speed or go global by taking group voice push-to-talk calls with friends from other networks.

 

 

Google Voice

If you are fond of making international calls then look no further than Google Voice. What makes Google Voice the top choice among VoIP applications is Google's interconnectivity with its products. Google Voice eliminates the problem of having to use multiple numbers for different purposes as users can enjoy a single number and still be connected with their close circle of friends, even if it's for business or personal use.

Creating a Google Voice account is easy as you just need to sign-up for a Google account. Google Voice has also a built in voicemail system that allows users to eavesdrop on someone during the recorded message. SMS is power, and Google Voice is fully integrated with it. Google Voice is not limited to just chit chat, but also allows you to send text messages to someone from anywhere in the world. Not only that, Google Voice also allows you to make cheap international calls using your own Google number.

 

 


With an abundance of VoIP apps available for Android devices, you’ll be able to make calls to anywhere in the world using your Internet connection. Save money on making calls today. If your favorite VoIP app didn’t make it to our list, let us know what your VoIP app of preference is in a comment.


This article, Best Android apps for VoIP and SIP calls , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


SmallTalk: An intelligent autoreply bot for SMS chit-chat

Posted: 21 May 2012 03:00 PM PDT

More than half of the world has mobile phones which serve as peoples’ everyday mode of communication with their loved ones, for texts and calls, or even for exchanging flirty messages and heartaches. After a while, that routine gets boring. There are times that not a single text or call arrives on your phone, which results in your being afflicted with boredom. That's one of the greatest issues of having a phone in your pocket. If you just receive simple texts like "How are you?", "Hey!", "Hi", "What are you doing?" and make replies like "I'm OK," "Yeah!," "Hello," and "I'm fine," it gets kind of boring, too.

It’s a good thing that one great Android developer heard our voices. Dat Pham has created an app called SmallTalk, specially made just to prevent SMS boredom.  More precisely, it is intended to make “small talk.” The SmallTalk app is a random chatting application.  It sends intelligent responses to your incoming SMS messages in just a blink of an eye but in a humorous and polite way.

SmallTalk already comes with several pre-configured chatbots (e.g. CleverBot, JabberWacky, Spock, A.L.I.C.E., Captain Kirk, and AfroBot) and each bot has its own personality.  You can choose your chatbot from the drop-down list at the upper-left corner of the main screen.

You can also configure SmallTalk to stop sending out automatic replies–this is the default setting.  Or, you can set the app to autoreply to everyone, to reply only to a selected bunch of contacts, or to mark contacts to be excluded from autoreplies.  This can be done by selecting the appropriate option from the drop-down list at the upper-right corner of the app’s main screen.

When an SMS message arrives (and provided you set SmallTalk to send autoreplies to the sender), the app will immediately reply to the text message.  In your Messaging app, you will see the conversation.  Messages sent by SmallTalk always begin with “SmallTalk:” to indicate that it is the chatbot’s message.  The “SmallTalk:” text, however, is not sent along with the SMS and will not appear on the recipient’s phone.  It’s just for you to identify which sent messages are bot-created and which ones are human (i.e., yours).

Some people find SmallTalk a handy app for dealing with small talk.  Others find it useful for avoiding having to deal directly with certain contacts (who, presumably, are bored and just want to make small talk).  If you’re a busy person and don’t have time to make small talk–or you simply are the kind of person who disdains small talk–the app can take care of that for you.

While some people find SmallTalk a good app for such practical purposes, others simply consider it a fun app to use with friends.  We tried installing SmallTalk on two Android phones, and set each phone to autoreply to the other.  The result?  Automatic, non-stop SMS conversation between two chatbots–which was quite amusing and could be a great conversation starter.  Be mindful of your carrier’s charges for SMS messages, though.

Go ahead and try the app. You can start with small talk and build it up into a big conversation. You can get SmallTalk for free from the Google Play Store.


This article, SmallTalk: An intelligent autoreply bot for SMS chit-chat , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


91 Locker: 4-way lock screen app with system toggles

Posted: 21 May 2012 12:00 PM PDT

There is a growing list of apps designed to give Android users a more personalized and customizable lockscreen. You can choose from the most feature-packed to the most lightweight and simplest lock screen application available. 91 Locker combines the two, being a lock screen application packed with several useful features yet  also light, letting you enjoy the awesome functionality without compromising memory.

91 Locker is the lock screen application to have if one will consider convenience, style, and practicality. In instances where your phone is locked, you will have trouble instantly switching your camera on to snap a celebrity’s picture or  to make quick calls in case of an emergency. Doing those things with this app will be a piece of cake and some operations can even be done without the need to unlock your device’s screen.

Features

Taking convenience into consideration, the app has multiple operation modes, letting you perform important device functions fast and easy, not to mention the stylish themes included to give your device a boost in appearance.

The app has two locker modes to choose from–the Ring Mode and the Linear Mode. Both let you directly jump to an app by dragging the ring/icon over that app’s individual icon. You can choose which apps you want to place on the lock screen for easy and fast navigation.

You can easily unlock the phone to snap a quick image with your camera, or go to your dialer or messaging app. The lock screen also allows you to see the number of missed calls or the number of unread messages in your inbox through icons displayed on the lock screen. Just tap to check your missed calls or your messages without having to unlock the lock screen.

Toggling commonly used phone settings is also easy. Just drag down the string-like mechanism on the top-right of the screen to reveal the relevant icons.

You can tweak sound profiles, flashlight, brightness, Wi-Fi, bluetooth, or the settings of the app itself. So, if you are boarding a plane, you just need to perform a few taps to switch to Airplane Mode or switch to another sound profile upon your flight’s arrival.

From the app’s settings, you can also set a custom wallpaper if you wish to switch from the default theme of the app. As mentioned, the app also comes with several various elegant themes that you can choose from.

In terms of the functionality and style, 91 Locker has everything covered. It’s a convenient, stylish and practical locker of choice that’s not only feature-packed but also light on your device. Try 91 Locker and check out its handy features.  You can download 91 Locker free from the Google Play Store.


This article, 91 Locker: 4-way lock screen app with system toggles , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


A Galaxy S3 is coming your way in 2 days! Meet the winners of our other giveaways!

Posted: 21 May 2012 11:30 AM PDT

Samsung-Galaxy-S3 aa giveaway

We here at Android Authority, live and breathe Android, and we love nothing more than to play around with the coolest Google-powered gadgets. Oh well, maybe there is something that we like more – sharing the joy of Android with you, our loyal readers.

It is your support and your attention that have propelled us to the forefront of the Android blogosphere. So, from time to time, we try to offer back a little something. And sometimes, that little something turns into something AWESOME, like the brand new Samsung Galaxy S3 that we are giving away to one lucky Android Authority reader.

Yes, in less than 48 hours, one of our readers will fire up his or her email, stare in awe for a minute or two, and then proceed to jump up and down like a lunatic. That's OK, we would do that too if we won a shiny new superphone! On May 23, we will announce the lucky winner of the coveted Galaxy S3, and if you haven't entered the international giveaway yet, now it's the time to do it. You have tons of ways of getting extra shots, from leaving a comment to hitting our Like button. It's easy!

Meanwhile, we thought you should meet the winners of our latest giveaways.

Mark Burdon, the happy owner of a new SmartQ T20 tablet

SmartQ tablet winner


This article, A Galaxy S3 is coming your way in 2 days! Meet the winners of our other giveaways! , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Microsoft developing service transfer Android apps to WP

Posted: 21 May 2012 09:53 AM PDT

Microsoft's Windows Phone platform has been released for more than a year and a half, but it has struggled to become a worthy competitor to Google's Android and Apple's iOS. The small number of devices running WP, as well as the relatively poor ecosystem have led to sales of just 2.7 million Windows Phone gadgets in Q1 2012. The mobile operating system powered only 2.6 percent of the smartphones sold worldwide in the first three months of 2012, which is disappointing for a product developed by a company that is so used to dominating markets.

While the poor sales will probably go on for a while, as far as apps go, Microsoft is currently making efforts to draw in new users and satisfy the existing ones. According to a Pocket-Lint report, Bill Gates' company has applied for a patent on a service that will allow applications from Android, iOS, and other rival platforms to be transferred to Windows Phone.

Although it sounds like an excellent idea in theory, we have to be realistic and say that it's almost impossible for Microsoft to launch such a service soon and also it to be as functional as we imagine it. Why is that? Well, it's very simple! In order for an app or several apps to be migrated from one platform to another, you need the permission from the initial OS and needless to say that we don't see Android or iOS welcoming such a thing.

In fact, both Android and iOS developers are trying their best to make users "addicted" to their ecosystems by offering as many exclusive apps as possible, so it’s unlikely that Windows will get any of the two to agree sharing apps on a regular basis.

There's also the money aspect for the regular user, which will likely be required to pay two times for the same app. Most users these days don't like to pay in the first place and rely mostly on free content, so to think anyone would want to pay twice the value of an app only to be granted the "honor" of having Microsoft's mobile OS powering their devices is, simply put, a fantasy.

In fact, these two issues are probably the most important things that are getting in the way of the project's development. Microsoft has applied for the patent of the migration service way back in November 2010 and, considering the fact that we haven't heard anything official on the matter until now, we can assume that the project is far from being finished.

Be that as it may, the idea is still a pretty enticing one and we would love to see it applied for Android and Apple, for example. There are still a lot of very useful and functional iOS-exclusive apps, so it would be very nice to be able to simply transfer them or have a service suggest similar apps in a matter of seconds.

Do you think that Microsoft's project could ever see the light of day? And if so, do you think that it will be more than a simple suggestion service? Would you fancy "migrating" from Android to Windows Phone if Microsoft's platform would have a better ecosystem and support for more apps?


This article, Microsoft developing service transfer Android apps to WP , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


T-Mobile’s upcoming myTouch QWERTY gets certified, to be released by the end of May?

Posted: 21 May 2012 09:37 AM PDT

T-Mobile's myTouch line has proven very popular over the years, especially due to the devices' features, but also thanks to the quality to price ratio they delivered. Started way back in 2009, with the myTouch 3G that ran Android 1.5 Cupcake (!), the series has had its latest revamp in the fall of 2011, in the form of the myTouch Q, running Gingerbread.

Although more and more tech users are looking towards high-end devices these days, especially in the US, it seems that T-Mo will continue to push in the entry-level niche. Not one, but two myTouch phones will be released this summer, and at least one of them seems to be ready for a launch by the end of May.

The myTouch QWERTY is manufactured by Huawei and has recently been approved by the Bluetooth SIG, which is usually the last formality for a device to go through before its release. The approval has confirmed some of the phone's specs, as we suspected them for a while, including HSDPA support, Wi-Fi, GPS, and microSD card support.

The rest of the features are yet to be officially confirmed, but earlier rumors and leaks have pretty much drawn up the new myTouch's full spec sheet. You can therefore expect the phone to be powered by a 1.4 GHz Qualcomm MSM8255T single-core processor and to feature a 4-inch WVGA display with 800 x 480 pixels resolution, 1 GB of RAM, 4 GB of on-board memory, a 5 MP rear-facing shooter, a VGA front-facing camera, and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

That's right, the myTouch QWERTY will most likely run ICS out of the box, which is not only great for an entry-level smartphone these days, but it's something that is still missing on several high-end devices. In fact, if we look at the whole picture for more than a second, we could probably call the future myTouch QWERTY a mid-ranger, rather than an entry-level gadget.

Sure, the display is not exactly what you would call ideal and the chipset is only a single core, but then again there's (probably) 1 GB of RAM, there are dual cameras, and there’s Ice Cream Sandwich. Also, there’s a slide-out QWERTY keyboard that looks well-sized and that really adds functionality. All in all, if this little guy will be priced decently, I really think it will become popular.

The other T-Mobile myTouch smartphone, set to come with the same tech specs like its "brother", but without a slide-out keyboard, hasn't shown up in any certification document just yet, but we are still hoping to see it released by the end of May as well.

How about it, folks? Could T-Mobile rock the lower to mid-range level of the smartphone market with the new myTouch duo? What would be a fair price to ask for the two devices? Hit us with a comment and let us know!


This article, T-Mobile’s upcoming myTouch QWERTY gets certified, to be released by the end of May? , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.