Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Android Community

Android Community


Galaxy S III Pebble Blue shipping in limited quantities

Posted: 30 May 2012 10:44 AM PDT

Now this is interesting. After we’ve reported several times that the Pebble Blue Galaxy S III has been delayed, and even received confirmation from Samsung themselves it looks like they’ve still managed to ship some out in limited quantities. For now the news is still trickling in but a few shops in Vietnam have received large shipments of the Pebble Blue version.

According to our friends at Sohoa in Vietnam multiple small batches of the Pebble Blue version have arrived, and from the pictures provided it looks awesome. We don’t see any manufacturing problems with the rear of the device, no discoloration or “milky” issues like we reported on yesterday.

While Samsung has still remained rather tight lipped about the situation it is highly possible that multiple casings made it out of the shop floors just fine and did not suffer defects. If that is the case Samsung has more than likely shipped out small numbers of the Pebble Blue Galaxy S III to retailers and they might actually be available to purchase this weekend, just in extremely limited quantities.

While we wait to see if similar reports come from other markets, if you’re located in HCM City or Hanoi, Vietnam multiple shops have reported Blue versions being available. We’ll update once we hear more details from other markets.

Samsung-Galaxy-s-III-15 Screen Shot 2012-05-30 at 10.31.05 AM Samsung-Galaxy-s-III-16

– Thanks Dang


Google Maps update brings Local Tab with Zagat Scores and more

Posted: 30 May 2012 10:21 AM PDT

This morning the team at Google has updated a few apps and one to get the treatment is Google Maps. Today they’ve begin rolling out the latest update to devices that brings with it a few improvements to directions, especially with popup bubbles, as well as the new “Local” tab with ratings and more.

Now with a simple tap of the dropdown menu when you go into the Local Tab you get a wide array of new and convenient options. Searching for local restaurants, bars, and more got easier. They also have added Zagat Ratings to search results. Zagat is mostly know for restaurant ratings but I’m seeing multiple scores for local Vegas bars too.

Thanks to the new Google Maps I’ve just found what will be my next night out. A highly rated restaurant and German Beer Pub just a few minutes from my house. Along with all the local features the new Maps also added navigation options directly to the map popup bubbles for those that have enabled the feature from Google Labs. Google’s released this quick video to show you the new Maps in action:

Screenshot_2012-05-30-10-02-09 Screenshot_2012-05-30-10-01-15 Screenshot_2012-05-30-09-58-48

[via Play Store]


Rogers taking Galaxy S III pre-orders, Canadian pricing revealed

Posted: 30 May 2012 10:07 AM PDT

Canadian Samsung fans, today is the day you’ve been waiting for. Just hours after regional carrier Videotron put up their standard sign-up page for the Galaxy S III, Rogers has begun taking pre-orders for the flagship device. Current Rogers customers can reserve theirs at this website, and prospective switchers can sign up for information. Unfortunately, there’s no word on pricing or availability.

It’s a good thing, then, that MobileSyrup spotted the relevant prices for most of the Canadian carriers on a dormant Best Buy page. Rogers will charge $149.99, with Telus and Virgin Mobile asking for $159.99 each, and SaskTel asking $169.99. Bell’s pricing isn’t currently known, but the price for a reserved GSIII is $50. All of these prices are on three-year contracts (see, the US doesn’t have the worst cellular system in the world) with a presumed no-contract price of $649.99.

Rogers’ pre-order page makes specific mention of the Galaxy S III’s LTE capabilities, but a quad-core Exynos processor is notably absent. That probably means that Rogers’ LTE version (and by extension, Bell’s) is getting the same dual-core Snapdragon S4 spotted in a Verizon benchmark. By extension, the same configuration will probably be set for all the US versions, with the possible exception of T-Mobile. While the Rogers site goes without a date, a previous leak indicates a June 20th release for the Galaxy S III across most or all of Canada.

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 :


Evernote Hello contact manager hits Android

Posted: 30 May 2012 09:37 AM PDT

Evernote is branching out from its standard notation/bookmark/link sharing service into something a little more relatable. Today they’re launching Evernote Hello, a contact manager that aims to make remembering your contacts much easier with contextual information. The free app builds on Evernote’s established services by backing up said contacts in your Evernote account, eliminating that annoying need to send out a Facebook message to tell everyone you lost your phone (not that Android users have to worry there).

There are three distinct pieces of information that Hello gathers to help you remember your contacts regularly. First is obviously their face, by the simple expedience of taking a photo of the person when you meet them. The second is by time, as the contacts are presented in a timeline view. And third is context, with groups on contacts met together or at a certain place being subtly linked within the app. For those awkward moments of spelling out someone’s last name, Hello allows you to pass your phone to the other person and even let them take their own photos.

Naturally Hello integrates with your existing contacts, and can also tie into your Linkedin account for easier completion of contact profiles. And once they’re set up, you can tie Hello contacts into items in the primary Evernote application. Maybe this won’t replace your tried and true Google-synced contacts, but for those with a ton of people they’re expected to meet and recall perfectly, it could be very useful. The app hasn’t landed on the Google Play Store just yet, but it’ll be on Evernote’s developer page when it does.

[via VentureBeat]


Archos Child Pad packs Ice Cream Sandwich… and Chipmunks

Posted: 30 May 2012 08:46 AM PDT

The resurgence of Alvin and the Chipmunks is baffling. It’s always been a bit of a cringe-inducing franchise, but the trio of CG-live action movies has been grade-A adult repellent for five years now. Even so, kids seem to love them – to the tune of about 1.1 billion dollars international gross across three movies. This being the case, it’s hard to blame Archos for wanting to get in on the action with their new ARNOVA Child Pad, which ties into the home video release of Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked. Sigh.

But wait a second – this thing isn’t all that bad. Once you get past the bright plastic casing and the Chipmunk-themed wallpaper and apps (thankfully there’s no rodents adoring the actual case) you’ll find a surprisingly complete 7-inch tablet. Running Ice Cream Sandwich. Yes, really. The specs are decidedly low-end, with an 800×480 screen, single-core 1Ghz processor, 1GB of RAM and 4GB of storage plus a MicroSD card slot, and a front-facing camera. All this for just $129.99.

The software’s been tweaked with kids in mind: first of all, while there’s plenty of pre-loaded apps and games (not all of which have singing rats in them), there’s no mention of the Google Play Store, for obvious reasons. Instead the Child Pad has a censored version of the AppsLib app store. And the tablet comes pre-equipped with six months of service from Mobile Parental Filter" by Editions Profil, giving the web browser some much-needed digital barriers. (Gosh, I hope the kids can’t figure out Ice Cream Sandwich’s app disable feature…) All in all, it’s a surprising little device considering the audience, and the price is hard to argue with.

The ARNOVA (Archos) Child Pad is on sale now from the Child Pad website, and should hit US retailers soon.


No Chrome OS tablets coming any time soon

Posted: 30 May 2012 08:12 AM PDT

Those of you hoping for a convergence of Google’s mobile and cloud desktop operating systems won’t be fulfilled any time soon. In a recent interview with Tech Radar, Googler Linus Upson put rumors of Chrome OS tablet – and full integration between Chrome OS and Android – well and truly to rest. The teams working on Chrome and Android are to remain separate, with the obvious exception of Chrome for Android.

That said, there is at least some collaboration between the two teams – and since both projects are based on open source code with healthy doses of Linux, that’s not surprising. Here’s Upson’s full quote:

We are not working on a Chrome OS tablet. We have our hands full in delivering a wonderful experience on desktop and laptop and the Android team have their hands full bringing a great experience on phone and tablet. But the two teams are working together even more closely.

While Chrome OS has been somewhat flat for a while, there’s been a lot of excitement this week as Google and Samsung released a new Chromebook and Chromebox desktop. Even more impressive, Chrome OS itself has received a huge makeover to make it look more like, well, an OS. It’s still nowhere near as complicated as a more “full” operating system, but familiar UI elements like windows and a task bar make it much more approachable.

Of course, there’s nothing stopping someone out there from loading Chrome OS onto a tablet – but there wouldn’t be much point. It’s definitely designed with a keyboard and mouse/touchpad in mind. You might as well load Android onto a full-sized desktop; sure, it would work, but it wouldn’t be a good use of the form factor. Let’s wait and see how Chrome for Android improves – hopefully with Jelly Bean – at Google I/O next month.

[via Pocket-lint]


Flipboard beta planned for multiple devices

Posted: 30 May 2012 07:24 AM PDT

If you’re at all excited about Flipboard making a long-overdue appearance on Android, odds are pretty good that you’ve already tried out the APK ripped from the Galaxy S III. But soon enough more Android users will be able to get in on the action. The developers have stated that they intend to release a beta version of the app for just a few devices, in order to test out different screen resolutions.

The initial release on the Galaxy S III was intended to provide a seamless and unchanging experience for all users – and probably get a little extra publicity for Samsung as well. Flipboard didn’t say which devices it would be targeting with the beta program, or indeed when it will start rolling it out. When they do, they’ll probably resort to side-loading apps for testers, as has been seen recently with Spotify.

The reluctance to develop for more than one screen size or resolution at a time is a common trait among iOS developers trying to break into Android. I’m no dev, but I’d say that a complacency with a single screen resolution and aspect ratio has made them somewhat inflexible with their interfaces, reluctant to take advantage of Android’s built-in developer tools that account for just that. After all, developers for desktop platforms don’t get intimidated by literally hundreds of different resolutions.

The Flipboard APK is floating around the web at the moment, and will probably be best experienced on phones or tablets with a 720p resolution. Those in select countries in Europe, the Middle East and Asia can try out the official version with the purchase of a new Galaxy S III.

[via SlashGear]


Confirmed: Galaxy S III hits Canada June 20th

Posted: 30 May 2012 07:06 AM PDT

Alright, Canucks, you tend to get most things a little behind us in the States, but now the wellie is on the other foot. The June 20th release date for the Galaxy S III has been confirmed by smaller French-Canadian carrier Videotron, stating flat-out that Samsung’s flagship is coming to their network on said date. Pricing and availability weren’t detailed, but the standard sign-up form has been posted. Also note that this is the white version – the Pebble Blue shortage will likely follow into the Americas.

Videotron’s confirmation comes after a leaked advertisement showed the Galaxy S III hitting the Canadian big four on the same day, namely Rogers, Telus, Bell and Virgin Mobile. None of the larger carriers have confirmed this. Another leak showed the phone hitting T-Mobile in the US on the same day, so we can but hope. A more interesting question is which carriers (if any) will get the quad-core Exynos version – Rogers and Bell have LTE networks, which at the moment will require a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4, as seen on leaked documents for Verizon’s GSIII.

The Galaxy S III is already available in parts of Europe and Asia, and makes its UK debut today. Between now and July, Samsung hopes to have the phone in more than 145 countries. None of the major US carriers have confirmed plans to release the device, but versions for all four have been leaked, some multiple times. Cross your fingers for a four-way launch in three weeks.

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 :

[via MobileSyrup]


ASUS MeMO 370T spotted in the FCC – possible Nexus 7

Posted: 30 May 2012 06:42 AM PDT

Those of you who are waiting for the much-rumored Nexus Tablet with bated breath should probably start saving your pennies right now. In addition to a benchmark discovered last night wherein the “Google ASUS Nexus 7” was detailed for the very first time, the ASUS MeMO 370T is now making its way through the US Federal Communications Commission. The low-cost quad-core tablet hasn’t been seen since CES more than five months ago.

For those of you who haven’t been paying attention, the long delay for the 370T was rumored to be intentional, as the combination of impressive hardware and low price had caught Google’s eye. Unconfirmed reports stated that the 370T had been cancelled altogether in order for ASUS to build the Nexus Tablet, with a similar 7-inch form factor and running Ice Cream Sandwich. We can’t confirm any part of that, but it certainly fits with the unreliable rumor mill. There’s also the possibility that the 370T will be sold alongside a Nexus Tablet as a slightly more premium device.

If you can’t remember, the ASUS MeMO 370T was set to use NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 processor, a 7-inch 720p IPS screen and a full gig of RAM, plus an 8-megapixel camera, external MicroSD card slot and Ice Cream Sandwich to boot. All this in a package aiming for a $250 MSRP – note that the Nexus Tablet gas long been assumed to be pointed at the $200 mark. We’re still waiting on confirmation on one or both, but those who are excited should keep an eye on Google I/O in late June, where the Nexus 7 and Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) are anticipated.

[via Engadget]


HTC puts import ban in US behind it

Posted: 30 May 2012 02:28 AM PDT

HTC didn’t wait long before it started tweaking some of its smartphones to get around the ITC ban on imports in the US. The bans were instituted on some HTC devices after Apple filed a complaint with the ITC. The import ban covered devices such as the One X and the Evo 4G LTE.

HTC was able last week to get a few handsets through customs, but it wasn’t clear how many of the devices had been released. The Evo 4G LTE started shipping again last Thursday but the One X was still being blocked. HTC has officially announced today that its smartphones have been released and are now shipping.

HTC said that it has completed the review process with U.S. Customs, and the devices were released because they were found to comply with the ITC ruling. That means bulk shipments should be coming and HTC fans who have been salivating to get their hands on the new smartphones will soon be able to get their fix. The official HTC announcement is below.

HTC has completed the review process with US Customs and HTC devices have been released, as they are in compliance with the ITC’s ruling. Future shipments should continue to enter the US and we are confident that we will soon be able to meet the demand for our products.


Sony goes waterproof with Xperia go and acro S

Posted: 30 May 2012 02:10 AM PDT

Sony has unveiled a pair new Android smartphones that are water resistant and ruggedized to protect from dust and drops. The new phones are called the Xperia go and the Xperia acro S. The go will be called the Xperia advance when it launches in the United States and it has a 3.5-inch screen with a resolution of 480 x 320. The smartphone also has a 1 GHz dual core processor inside.

Other features include a five-megapixel camera and IP67 dust and water resistance. That really makes the smart phone more water resistant and rugged than most others on the market. The biggest downside to the smartphone is that it runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread. However, Sony promises an update to ICS is in the works. The device has 8 GB of internal storage, 1265 mA hour battery, and 512 MB of RAM.

The acro S is the better equipped of the two smartphones rocking 4.3-inch display with a resolution of 1280×1024 and 1.5 GHz dual core processor. The camera on the smartphone is 12-megapixels and Sony says it can be ready to take a photo in under a second. Smartphones PlayStation certified and can record HD video in 1080p resolution. The front camera support 720p resolution and the smartphone has a 1910 mA hour battery. The go/Advance and the acro S are set to launch in Q3 2012.

[via SlashGear]


New evidence for the Galaxy S III on AT&T and US Cellular

Posted: 29 May 2012 06:19 PM PDT

At this point, the mystery of “will it or won’t it” in reference to the Big Four US carriers is over: if you’re on a nationwide cellular company you’ll get the option to buy the Galaxy S III eventually. Today’s leak shows Samsung’s flagship heading through the hallowed halls of the FCC with AT&T bands, just as it did for T-Mobile. But wait a tick: there’s good news even if you’re not on one of the cellular behemoths, as the GSIII was spotted in an internal US Cellular system too.

The model going through the FCC has both HSPA+ and LTE bands, which means that like the HTC One X, it will almost certainly be running a Qualcomm dual-core processor. The US Cellular version is still up in the air, however: they could choose to go with the powerful quad-core Samsung Exynos processor on the international version, or throw in LTE functionality and stick with Snapdragon. US Cellular’s LTE network is still tiny, but they’re probably going to pump it up as much as possible via marketing – with the Galaxy S III along for the ride.

The Galaxy S III was released today (or more accurately, yesterday) across Europe and Asia, though the Pebble Blue version is in short supply thanks to some manufacturing defects. There’s no official word from any North American carrier yet, but some leaked material indicates a June 20th date for the T-Mobile version. Hopefully we’ll be able to get our hands on local versions sooner rather than later.

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 :

[via UnwiredView, via android central]


“Google ASUS Nexus 7″ tablet shown in benchmark running Android 4.1

Posted: 29 May 2012 05:15 PM PDT

Well what do we have here? Rightware’s Power Board has posted a benchmark result for a previously unknown device going by the name “Google Asus Nexus 7″. Based on the specifications outed – an NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and a 720p resolution – this looks like it very well could be the much-rumored and long-awaited Nexus Tablet. The benchmark was run only once, but the brand in particular – simply listed as “Google” – is very promising.

Android Police dug a little deeper,  finding that the device in question is codenamed “Grouper”, keeping Google’s older tradition of codenaming devices after fish. (The Motorola XOOM was designated Wingray and Stingray for the Verizon and WiFi versions.) even more interesting, the Nexus 7 seems to be running Android 4.1, labelled “JRN51B”. This may be the Jelly Bean update we’ve heard about, which was previously assumed to be Android 5.0.

A more gradual update to 4.1 seems likely for Google I/O in June, where the Nexus Tablet - or indeed, the Nexus 7 – is presumed to be revealed. Based on months of rumors and speculation, Google is aiming for as low a price point for their latest developer device as possible, probably sliding in at $200 to compete with the cheapest of tablets and LCD e-readers. Now if only we could see it in the flesh… we’ll just have to wait a month (hopefully) to find out.


Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 LTE gets a minor update

Posted: 29 May 2012 04:34 PM PDT

It never rains, but it pours. In addition to the long, long awaited Android 4.0.4 update for the Galaxy Nexus, Verizon is sending out a software update for the pretty and pricey Galaxy Tab 7.7. No, it’s not Ice Cream Sandwich (though that should be coming eventually) but you’ll want to go ahead and install it if you want to stay on the official release path.

The only noticeable addition for the Galaxy Tab 7.7′s software is compatibility with IPv6, a future-proofing precaution that makes sure the tablet will be compatible with websites and services that upgrade to the newer Internet traffic protocol. There may be other changes under the hood, but if there are, they’re too small for Verizon to note them in their official release. The software build has been updated to FD01.

If you’re a long-time Android user, you know what to do. If not, go into the Settings application, tap “about tablet” and then tap “system updates”. You should see a download package available immediately – if not, then just wait a day or so for Verizon to roll it out to your area. So, Samsung and Big Red, when’s that Android 4.0 update coming, eh?

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy Tab 7.7
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : September 01, 2011
    Release Date : March 01, 2012
    Also Known As : Verizon Galaxy Tab 7.7 LTE
Display
  • Screen Size : 7.70 Inch
  • Resolution : 1280x800
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED Plus
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 7.74 Inch
  • Width : 5.24 Inch
  • Depth : 0.31 Inch
  • Weight : 335 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Polymer
  • Battery Capacity : 5100 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 3.2.x
Hardware
    CPU : Exynos
    CPU Clock Speed : 1400 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1024 MB
    Internal Storage : 16GB GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 3.2 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 720p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
    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
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :


Verizon Galaxy Nexus 4.0.4 update officially rolling out – for real this time

Posted: 29 May 2012 03:58 PM PDT

Would you look at that! Verizon and Samsung are finally ready to actually and officially roll out the update to Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich for the Galaxy Nexus. After originally pushing the update and then quickly canceling, a few leaks and more Verizon is finally ready to give it the green light.

Verizon finally posted up the Galaxy Nexus IMM76K Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich support documents over at the official Verizon Support Page. Explaining all the details and improvements that come along with the update. Whenever the support page finally goes live from Verizon the update is close behind. This is probably the same update that surfaced again last week now that its official and ready to go.

You can manually update your Gnex right now using the link posted directly above, or you can wait a day or so as the update should start arriving on handsets from Verizon any day now that they’ve approved it and listed it on their support page. According to their documents along with the usual 4.0.4 fixes Verizon and Samsung have fixed some text and email bugs, some multimedia message problems, and even improved call audio too. Verizon briefly mentioned data connection but that is about all.

It’s about time Verizon finally pushes this update. Nexus devices are supposed to be first in line to receive such updates and the international Galaxy Nexus received 4.0.4 a long time ago, but that is a discussion for another time. Start checking for updates and let us know once you get it.

Screen Shot 2012-05-29 at 3.43.12 PM Verizon-4G-LTE-Gnex-540x4051
Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : GALAXY Nexus 4G [Verizon]
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : Verizon
    Announced Date : December 14, 2011
    Release Date : December 15, 2011
    Also Known As : Nexus Prime
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.65 Inch
  • Resolution : 1280x720
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.33 Inch
  • Width : 2.67 Inch
  • Depth : 0.37 Inch
  • Weight : 150 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 1850 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : 150 hours
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.0.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.264 / AVC
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU : OMAP 4460
    CPU Clock Speed : 1200 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1000 MB
    Internal Storage : 32 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 5 MP
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • CDMA
    CDMA Band:
  • 900
  • 1900
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 :


Five custom skin and ROM features that stock Android needs

Posted: 29 May 2012 03:56 PM PDT

We love the Open Source Android Project. It’s where the Android community starts, where ROM developers go for “blessed” code, and without it, Android would still be puttering along behind lesser platforms. But the really great thing about Android is that it’s adaptable – and anyone can adapt is. Many custom ROM developers out there (and, to be fair, manufacturers as well) have made natural and obvious additions to Android that are so useful, Google should go ahead and add them right into the main development tree. Here are five of my favorites:

1. Notification Power Widgets

You can already see these guys in skins from Samsung and others: they’re the little buttons that appear when you slide down the notification bar. They’re dead useful, making quick settings like WiFi and auto-rotate accessible from any app. Many custom ROMs including CyanogenMod allow you to pick and choose which toggles you see. Non-rooted users can try Notification Toggle for the same effect.

2. More lock screen options

While we’re happy to see the Camera app added to the stock unlock screen in Ice Cream Sandwich, HTC has been ahead of Google on this for the better part of a year. Their customized lock screen allows you to choose up to four different apps that can launch when you turn on your phone, plus the default unlock. Most ICS ROMs and a ton of custom lock screens allow you to add even more.

3. Battery Percentage

Seriously, why isn’t there a way to enable a more precise battery meter in stock Android? It’s one of the first things I do with any new software, be it a custom ROM or a review device – for which I usually have to resort to some kind of app. My personal favorite is CircleMOD, which is included in many custom ROMs and flashable as a separate package for most popular phones.

4. Quick Flashlight

This one’s becoming more popular, just because it’s so darn useful. Pull your phone out of your pocket, hold down the power button for a couple of seconds, and you’ve got the familiar LED flashlight, all without even looking at your screen. (here’s a somewhat shaky video of the feature in action on AOKP.) It’s so handy that Samsung even added it to their tough-as-nails Rugby Smart for AT&T.

5. Themes

I’m not a big fan of themes myself, but commenter gmaninvan turned me on to this idea after Huawei announced that they were joining the custom UI bandwagon. In addition to letting modders pretty up their phones without resorting to root, a built-in themeing system might let some of the overenthusiastic manufacturers take it easy on the skins and just swap out a few image files. That would lead to quicker, more stable devices and faster OS upgrades. I’m sure id Google asked nicely, they could use the CyanogenMod/T-Mobile theme engine for AOSP. (Sample theme is ZeuBug from XDA.)

I still think that stock Android is better than any manufacturer skin out there, bar none. But that doesn’t mean that there’s no room for improvement. Google’s already taken a lot of hints from modders and manufacturers (and, let’s face it, the now-defunct WebOS) for Ice Cream Sandwich. Let’s hope they can make Jelly Bean even more fantastic via the sincerest of flattery to hard-working modders.

Let us know some of your favorite modifications to Android, and why you think they belong in the main development tree, in the comments section.


Motorola Vanquish and Asanti tipped as RAZR HD for Verizon and AT&T

Posted: 29 May 2012 03:35 PM PDT

Motorola’s DROID RAZR has been a pretty popular smartphone, and it even got a bigger brother in the RAZR MAXX. While we’ve seen multiple better versions of the RAZR floating around in other parts of the world, especially China, none have arrived in the US with a 1280 x 720p HD resolution. Today we are now hearing rumors some improved models are on the way for Verizon and AT&T both.

We’ve seen reports and leaks of a DROID RAZR HD for a long time now. While we originally thought the RAZR would be HD it never panned out. Now according to Pocket Now Motorola has two in the pipelines that are on their way soon. First, the Motorola Vanquish that will most likely be called the Motorola DROID RAZR HD, coming to Verizon as model number XT926 with 4G LTE which goes right along with yesterday’s inventory entry.

Then there’s also talk about a similar version headed to AT&T, also with 4G LTE. The Motorola Asanti is the codename for AT&T’s flavor of the DROID RAZR, although it will line up more along the lines of the Motorola Atrix HD. Another report suggests the Asanti will have a QWERTY slider keyboard and only a 540 x 960 resolution, and not be HD. Either way it looks like Motorola is getting ready to start their next few LTE phones for Big Red and AT&T. Stay tuned for more details as Motorola phones usually leak in large numbers.


Samsung Exhibit II 4G update rolling out – changes phones name

Posted: 29 May 2012 03:04 PM PDT

T-Mobile has a few Samsung phones they’ve released over the past year or so that didn’t get tagged with the popular “Galaxy” branding. One of those is the Samsung Exhibit II 4G. Today Samsung and T-Mobile are pushing out an update to the handset for those still using it, although you won’t see very many changes. More details after the break.

The update was detailed today by T-Mobile.com and will be bringing the budget-friendly smartphone up to Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread, as this phone will probably never be updated to Ice Cream Sandwich. Along with a few bug fixes, performance enhancements as well as some security patches from Google. The thing that immediately caught our eye was the name change. They’ve re-branded the phone as the Samsung Galaxy Exhibit 4G.

Pretty odd and interesting move if you ask us. T-Mobile already has a Samsung Exhibit 4G and we reviewed it here. Either they didn’t like the II in the name, or Samsung’s decided to re-brand all their phones with the iconic Galaxy brand. There should also be general improvements to WiFi and the camera on the phone so that is good news. The update is rolling out starting today so expect it to arrive on your Exhibit shortly.

[via Android Police]


Here’s why the Galaxy S III Pebble Blue was delayed

Posted: 29 May 2012 12:31 PM PDT

Samsung has confirmed their Pebble Blue Galaxy S III has been delayed with comments earlier today, basically stating that their high standards weren’t met with the blue models, thus resulting in small delays and new versions being manufactured. Samsung hasn’t mentioned any specific reason for the delay of their “newly invented” Pebble Blue color but it appears that we now know why.

Samsung’s new "special hyper-glaze material" coating they finish the devices with that gives the Galaxy S III a premium ceramic feeling, while also protecting the device from scratches and damage appears to be the problem. SlashGear received the details from the folks at Mobile Bulgaria who got the blue model and the image above is the results. The special glaze finish didn’t dry properly and as a result you get this “milky” and dirty looking finish that can’t be wiped or washed away. It’s almost like paint that didn’t dry properly, or too much was applied causing the milky result shown above.

This leads us to believe the Pearl White model could very well have the same effects, only they aren’t visible on that finish. Samsung only mentioned the blue model but Vodafone UK told Android Community yesterday that the 32GB white models have also been delayed, but not the 16GB version. Samsung has been rather quiet regarding the delays other than the comment mentioned earlier today, we’ve reached out for additional details and hopefully come clarification on the image provided. Here’s what Samsung’s had to say so far:

"Samsung's GALAXY S III Pebble Blue version comes with a newly invented blue colour and special hyperglaze material. In order to meet the highest internal quality standards and to provide the best quality GALAXY S III to customers, a short supply of Pebble Blue version is expected in some regions in the next 2-3 weeks.

Samsung is working hard to ensure that customers will get the Pebble Blue coloured devices as soon as possible."

For more details on the impressive smartphone check out this Galaxy S III review! Stay tuned as we wait for additional details from Samsung.

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 :


Ematic announces the eGlide Steal 7-inch ICS tablet for $119

Posted: 29 May 2012 11:45 AM PDT

Today Ematic has just revealed their newest entry into the Android tablet game. The name might be new to some, but they’ve recently been producing tons of budget tablets and today’s is no different. Just as the name suggests their new tablet is basically a “steal.” Being a 7-inch Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich tablet, with a capacitive touchscreen all for only $119. More details after the break.

Obviously this won’t have Samsung, ASUS, or Apple like build quality, but for $119 can you really complain? Ematic has some decent 10-inch tablets available too (linked to below) all for pretty great prices but this latest offering takes the cake. The Ematic Steal comes with a 7-inch Capacitive touchscreen although they don’t (uh oh) mention the resolution. It has a 1 GHz processor, 1GB of RAM which should be enough for most games, then 4GB of internal storage. You get a micro-SD slot too for as much storage as you’d like to add.

Overall the specs sound decent, as does its looks. As long as the build quality is decent and the unknown processor can handle the occasional games, web browsing, and e-reading this $119 tablet could be quite the steal. The tablet is apparently available starting today from retailers such as Walmart, JR.com and others so check it out if interested.

Screen Shot 2012-05-29 at 11.19.02 AM Screen Shot 2012-05-29 at 11.18.22 AM