Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Android Community

Android Community


Samsung Galaxy S III update rolling out in the UK

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 10:44 AM PDT

Those of you with the new flagship Samsung Galaxy S III smartphone will be happy to know the devices first update is rolling out today. It’s being reported throughout the UK and parts of Europe, and appears to be rather small. You’ll still be on Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich but should have some improved stability.

According to our sister site SlashGear, the update hit earlier this morning and should be rolling out to most Galaxy S III users although we’re getting reports that it’s not arriving for many. As usual you can wait for the over the air update, check for updates on the device yourself, or use Samsung Kies and a PC to manually update to the latest version.

Mainly Samsung is noting that the update will bring “stability improvements,” but we are also seeing brand new radios and a small kernel update so hopefully performance will be improved too. Although it certainly was not lacking during our review. Let us know how the update goes for you and if you notice anything different by dropping us a line below in the comments.

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 :


Verizon details Share Everything Plans – throws in free hotspots

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 09:58 AM PDT

Well guys, here they are. We knew they were coming but today the folks from Verizon Wireless have made it official. Announcing their new Share Everything plans with family and device-wide shared data options. First they took away unlimited data, and now they’ll be bumping up the price for most — although I’m sure some users will benefit from the changes. Read on below for full details on how your family can share a single line and data plan.

Verizon will be launching their brand new Share Everything Plans starting June 28th, and along with it the unlimited data option will disappear. It will be replaced by data plans that you can share with additional devices, but starts at 1GB for $50 — not cheap. One benefit here is all their plans will be moving to unlimited calls and texts, and the only limits will be placed on data usage. The other benefit here is you can share your plan with up to 10 additional devices (all for another fee sadly) and if you add a smartphone to the plan you get the hotspot feature for free — which also counts towards your data limit. Here’s the breakdown although you might be confused at first:

Essentially what you do is pick a data plan, starting at 1GB for $50 all the way to 10GB for $100 but I think 4GB for $70 is probably the (dare I say it) best deal. Then you chose what devices you have and add them in. So if you have two smartphones like the DROID RAZR or Galaxy Nexus, that is $40 each, then $70 to share 4GB data with both phones for a grand total of $150 per month. That gets you 4GB of data total, and unlimited everything else. If you want to add a tablet to that 4GB limit that will be an additional $10 a month. It all adds up quickly but for a medium sized family this could be a decent deal.

For me personally nothing on that list will match what I have now, but then I don’t have a family with 4 devices like many do. Verizon has also killed the unlimited data option all together, and from here on out the highest they’ll be offering is 10GB for $100, but you can add an additional 2GB for another $10 monthly. Is anyone confused yet? You can use up to 10 devices on any data plan, but each additional device is another fee, so that is where it racks up quickly. Here’s a quick video:

So what does everyone think? Are these deals worth it for couples or a family? For single device/line users It doesn’t look too great if you ask me, but then we do get unlimited calls and texts now. Drop us your thoughts below.


New Spotify for Android hits Google Play

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 04:45 AM PDT

Spotify has announced that it is pulling the covers off of its new app Spotify for Android. The new app is on Google Play right now and can be downloaded to your device. The new app has full support for Android 4.0 and a new slide out navigation pane. The app also offers cross fade/gapless playback settings for when you want to listen to lots of music with no interruption.

Other features include a widget to control Spotify from the Android home screen and playlist folders support. The app also offers social features that allow you to check out the profile pages and playlists of your friends. Artist imagery is offered in high resolution and the app has related artist view for the first time on mobile devices.

Spotify includes an “extreme” sound quality setting of 320 kbps for high-quality playback and has a play queue. As well as Last.fm scrobbling and promises to be much faster than previous versions.

Gustav Södertröm, VP Products at Spotify, said: "For all our Android users, this Spotify update is a huge leap forward. We've rebuilt it from top to bottom, making it faster, slicker and much better looking."

spot1 spotinfo spotstart P1090137


LG Optimus 4X HD quad-core available in Europe

Posted: 11 Jun 2012 04:55 PM PDT

While we are still waiting for some official details here stateside, if you’re in Europe the new NVIDIA Tegra 3-powered quad-core LG Optimus 4X HD is finally available starting today and has just launched acrossed Europe. It was just announced as officially available in Germany today.

Following the launch in Germany it will be available for those in the UK, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands will be able to pick one up, followed by Eastern Europe, South America, and Asia later on. That list doesn’t have the US anywhere but most likely we’ll be hearing more from LG USA here soon.

This is essentially LG’s new flagship phone complete with a 4.7-inch 720p IPS HD screen, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, NVIDIA’s quad-core Tegra 3 processor, 1GB of RAM, an 8 megapixel camera on the back and a hefty 2,140 mAh battery under the hood. Until we get our hands all over it we’ll reserve judgement against its rivals like the HTC One X or Galaxy S III but for now check out our hands-on from CTIA.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Optimus 4X HD
    Manufactuer : LG
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : February 22, 2012
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As : P880, X3
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.7 Inch
  • Resolution : 1280x720
  • Screen Type : IPS LCD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.21 Inch
  • Width : 2.68 Inch
  • Depth : 0.35 Inch
  • Weight : NA
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 2150 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.0.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • 3GP
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
  • WMV
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
  • IM
Hardware
    CPU : Tegra 3
    CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 1000 MB
    Internal Storage : 16 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 SlashGear]


AT&T Galaxy S III shipping before June 21st

Posted: 11 Jun 2012 03:27 PM PDT

If you’ve been eying the brand new flagship Samsung Galaxy S III, and also happen to be an AT&T subscriber we have some potentially awesome news for you. While they announced the phone earlier this month and opened up pre-orders like all the others we sadly never got an actual release date. Some new details have appeared stating pre-orders will arrive on or before June 21st.

According to the folks at DroidMatters multiple AT&T Premiere customers that have pre-ordered the Galaxy S III are getting confirmations that the phone will not ship, but arrive on or possibly before June 21st. The image below explains it all and clearly lists the date in red:

June 21st is also the date T-Mobile will be launching their Galaxy S III, and we’ve heard similar dates floating around for Verizon but nothing has been confirmed from them yet. Either way it looks like the end of this month multiple people in the US will be loving their carrier branded Galaxy S III superphones. Hopefully Verizon comes out and officially announces their date next — we’ve been waiting patiently. At the end of the day we are just glad the SGSIII is being launched so quickly and even for the US, instead of coming months and months after the international model in 4 different variations. Well played Samsung!

[via Phandroid]


T-Mobile Galaxy S II update to ICS available tonight – only on a PC

Posted: 11 Jun 2012 02:58 PM PDT

In T-Mobile’s usual fashion they have updated their official support page today for their Samsung Galaxy S II, detailing the upgrade to Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich. At the first of the month they tweeted the update was coming on the 11th, but today its been confirmed. We do have some bad news however. The update won’t be offered over the air with a painless and easy update like most — More details below.

For some reason T-Mobile and Samsung have decided to not offer the update to Android 4.0 ICS for their Galaxy S II as an OTA (over the air) update like almost every other update to ICS. Instead users will only be able to upgrade using Samsung’s Kies software and a computer. While this is a fairly easy process it’s still a shame they’ve made this a requirement.

Most likely the reason behind this is the fact that the “optional” update will wipe out the homescreen and make users set up their devices again. I’d call this a recommended update more than optional, as Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich was a major improvement and all users should want to have it. The update will be available starting tonight from T-Mobile and Samsung at 11 PM EST / 8 PM PST.

Instructions:
– Download Samsung Kies (here)
– Install and open Kies on PC
– Enable USB debugging on phone in settings > menu > apps > development
– Connect phone via USB
– Click and accept the update
– Enjoy

As usual users should back up any important data from their phones or micro-SD card just as a precautionary measure to avoid accidental loss but the update should not wipe devices out. As the support pages mention above the home screen and all icons will be erased but the phones apps, contacts, and data should all remain post update. Let us know how it goes by leaving us a comment below after you’ve done the update and enjoy that Ice Cream Sandwich.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy S II (T-Mobile)
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : T-Mobile
    Announced Date : August 31, 2011
    Release Date : October 12, 2011
    Also Known As : Hercules
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.52 Inch
  • Resolution : 480x800
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED Plus
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.11 Inch
  • Width : 2.71 Inch
  • Depth : 0.37 Inch
  • Weight : 135 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 1850 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : 167 hours
Software
    Android OS:
  • 2.3.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • 3GP
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU : Qualcomm APQ8060
    CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1024 MB
    Internal Storage : 16.384 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 3.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :


Android Authority

Android Authority


Max Payne Mobile finally heading to Google Play on June 14, is your device compatible?

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 02:52 AM PDT

Rockstar Games is on a roll in bringing those classic PC games to Android devices. After we first heard that the third-person shooter would be coming in April, Max Payne Mobile will finally come in all of its gun blazing,  noir storytelling goodness on June 14.

Max Payne Mobile, which is a port of the 2001 PC game, has been optimized to run on Android devices. The Android version features HD graphics, high-resolution textures, customizable controls, and gamepad support. Like many of its games, Max Payne Mobile also features Social Club connectivity, a social and gaming account integration where you can post your accomplishments and more.

Here’s a gameplay video (iOS version):

It seems Max Payne Mobile will only run on selected Android phones and tablets for now. Here's the list of supported devices:

  • Motorola Razr and Razr Maxx
  • Motorola Atrix
  • Motorola Photon
  • Motorola Droid Bionic
  • HTC One X
  • HTC One S
  • HTC Rezound
  • HTC Evo 3D
  • HTC Sensation
  • HTC Droid Incredible 2
  • Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S
  • Samsung Galaxy S2
  • Samsung Galaxy Note
  • Samsung Galaxy R
  • Sony Xperia S
  • Sony Xperia Play
  • Sony Walkman Z Series Media Player
  • Acer Iconia
  • Asus Eee Pad Transformer
  • Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime
  • Dell Streak 7
  • LG Optimus Pad
  • Medion Lifetab
  • Motorola Xoom
  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 / 10.1
  • Sony Tablet S
  • Sony Tablet P
  • Toshiba Thrive
  • HTC Flyer
  • HTC Jetstream

Don't forget to mark June 14 on your calendar and head to Google Play to download Max Payne Mobile for a mere $2.99.


This article, Max Payne Mobile finally heading to Google Play on June 14, is your device compatible? , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 Canadian release delayed, to start shipping on July 6 after all

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 02:30 AM PDT

Released in the United States a little while back, Samsung's Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 tablet was expected to start shipping in Canada by the end of this month. Future Shop, the only Canadian retailer taking pre-orders for the new 10-incher from Samsung, announced June 22 as a release date, but for some unknown reason you'll have to wait a bit more to get your hands on it.

The new shipping date is July 6, and the bad news doesn't end here. Future Shop is currently listing a limited number of tablets available, so you might end up waiting even after July 6 if you've pre-ordered or planning to pre-order the 10-incher.

There are only seven Galaxy Tabs “available” right now, but we're guessing Future Shop has already saved enough devices to fulfill existent pre-orders. As for future pre-orders, there's a good chance for those 7 tablets to be reserved over the next few hours, so any orders after that will most likely not be fulfilled until days after July 6.

Fortunately, Future Shop hasn't changed the new Galaxy Tab 10.1's pricing, so Canadian tech users will still be able to get the 10-incher for $349.99, which is 50 bucks less than what the tablet goes for in the United States.

For that kind of money, you'll get a pretty decent piece of technology (but not exceptional) powered by a dual-core 1 GHz TI OMAP 4430 processor and running Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich. Sporting a 10-inch screen with 1280 x 800 pixels resolution and Corning Gorilla Glass, the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 will be coming with 1 GB of RAM, 16 GB of on-board memory, a 3 MP rear-facing shooter, a VGA front-facing camera, WiFi, Bluetooth and a microSD card slot.

A 32 GB version should have been made available at the same time with the 16 GB model, but for the time being we don't know when to expect that to hit the market.

Are you tempted to go for a $400 10-inch mid-ranger even now when we almost know for sure Google and Asus will be unveiling a considerably more affordable 7-incher with better hardware? Is the Galaxy Tab 2 still a viable choice for tech users in US or Canada or has Samsung come too late with the tablet? Tell us what you think in the comments section below!


This article, Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 Canadian release delayed, to start shipping on July 6 after all , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Best augmented reality (AR) apps for Android

Posted: 11 Jun 2012 09:00 PM PDT

Augmented reality (AR) is a view of a real and physical image with some of its elements modified by computer generated effects, resulting in an enhanced perception of the real-time image. A perfect sample of augmented reality is the virtual score board while watching your basketball game.

Google’s Project Glass is said to introduce augmented reality to its users. By just using the glasses, you can see your Facebook status, Twitter updates, maps, and a lot more running in the background of your physical environment.

Augmented reality has also been integrated in apps on your Android device. By using your phone’s GPS, camera, and other sensors, you can view your surroundings with the added simulation of augmented objects.

In this app list, we will be talking about some of the best augmented reality (AR) apps for your Android device.

Layar

Look beyond what meets the eye. Reveal the hidden digital information in your surroundings with the Layar app on your Android device. This app lets you view digital information called “layer” right on your device’s screen. Make your Android device an extension of your eyes and be surprised with what you can find.

You can use this app to scan everything around you–restaurant menus, grocery products, magazine, posters, billboards, hotels, business establishments, and a lot more. Look around and you will be surprised to see digital information hiding around the corner. With this app, you can instantly get market links, product prices, digital posters, and a lot more. The new and updated Layar can also let you view videos directly from augmented reality.

You can also create your own layers by using the Layar Creator. You can get it by signing up at http://layar.com.

Download the Layar app for free from the Google Play Store and view the world from a different dimension.

iOnRoad Augmented Driving Lite

Most Android phones can be used as maps to navigate while driving, but do you know that your Android phone can also keep you safe on the road? Introducing your road guardian, iOnRoad Augmented Driving Lite. This app utilizes the phone’s front camera, GPS, and sensors to keep you safe on the road.

Primarily, the app monitors and keeps watch of your car’s distance from other drivers, making your Android device a collision warning device. While driving, the app shows you warning signals in colors. Green is when you are a safe distance from another car. If you are getting closer, the app will show a yellow sign.

When you are in the danger zone, the app will pop out a red warning sign and will tell you to slow down. This app also lets you stay on the road by sending off an alarm if you are drifting off the road. You can also see you car speed and set the app to tell you if you have reached the speed limit.

Be safe while driving with iOnRoad Augmented Driving Lite.

Wikitude World Browser

If you have an online encyclopedia on your desktop and mobile phones, you also have one that shares information in augmented reality. Featuring the Wikitude World Browser for your Android device. This app lets you view additional information about places by just looking at them on your phone’s screen.

If you are looking for a place to stay, or you don’t know which restaurant to eat at, just open the Wikitude app and scan your surroundings. You will see augmented reality content right on your phone’s screen. This app will show your places that you can stay at, restaurants to fill your tummy, special hotel offers, and a lot more.

You can also view your friend’s geotagged contents through this app. Also get to follow the blue bird and get your friends’ Twitter updates about the place itself.

If your favorite Japanese restaurant doesn’t have augmented content yet, worry no more for the app can let you add your own augmented content and share it with the whole world. You can also enjoy augmented games such as Bubble Tap, Swat The Fly, and Spice Attack.

Download the Wikitube World Browser and unlock a hidden world right on your Android device. 

Yelp

If you’re touring a new place and you need a guide to help you out, you should ask the help of Yelp to guide you around. This app will help you to find local businesses such as hotels, restaurants, gasoline stations, and many more.

The app also has an augmented reality feature that overlays business information near you. Just tap the Monocle button from the app’s main menu and scan your surroundings. You will see an overlay of local businesses on your phone’s screen. Tapping the overlay will direct you to an info page with star ratings and user reviews. You can also add your own review and add a star rating for a business establishment.

Ask the help of Yelp and you will never run out of places to find.

AugSatNav

Most Android devices use Google Maps to navigate their way through town. But, if you want to navigate using augmented reality, use the AugSatNav on your Android device.

This app doesn’t use any map to help you navigate. Instead, it will base its navigation on the actual pathway seen by your phone’s camera. The image is also highlighted with a white light so you will be guided where to go. If you need to take a turn, the app also displays an arrow of the direction you need to take. This app is perfect for asking directions while walking or going on a trip in your car.

Use the AugSatNav and navigate to places like a pro.

3D Compass+ (AR Compass)

An Android smartphone is an ideal tool for travelers because all sort of tools can be pack on this portable device–we have maps, navigation apps, local business finder apps, and many more. A compass is also one of the essential tools for travelers and explorers. This tool can be used for pointing to the right direction. The 3D Compass+ (AR Compass) app is your augmented reality compass app on your mobile phone.

The app primarily works as a compass on your mobile phone. Using the phone’s camera, the app displays the actual image of where you are going with an augmented compass on top of it. You can also change the compass into a Rose Compass, Marine Compass, and Artificial Vertical Compass. The app also utilizes your phone’s GPS and displays the map on the screen, making your phone an excellent navigation tool. The address of your location is also displayed in the app. You can also change the phone’s brightness directly from this app.

Make your Android phone as an ultimate navigation tool with 3D Compass+ (AR Compass).

Augment

The Augment app lets you view your own cubic objects such as paintings, cellphones, huge boxes, aquarium, big screen LCD screen, a computer, and many more. Surprise your guests with augmented paintings and furniture in your living room. You may even fill your room with augmented objects.

In order to use this app, you will first need to acquire a marker. A marker is a piece of paper with black and white markings. This is used to display the augmented object on your mobile phone’s screen. You can print a copy of your own marker at http://augmentedev.com/drupal7/Markers.

Once you have your markers, you can then view augmented objects. You can visit the app’s gallery and use objects created by other users. You can also make your own cubic augmented object. See the tutorial video below for a guide on how to create your own augmented object.

Sky Map

With a countless number of stars in the night sky, it is sometimes hard to find your favorite stars. You may even mistake a planet for a star. To help you with that problem, we have the Sky Map app to help you identify these shiny objects in the night sky.

The app utilizes your phone’s GPS and sensors to show you the exact stars in your location. If you find a shiny star in the sky, just open the Sky Map and point it in the direction of the star. The app will show you the name of the star you are looking at. This app transforms the night sky into a detailed and informative map of stars. You can also search for a star or a planet with this app. Just go to the search option and the app will point you to the star or planet you are looking for.

Find your favorite star with the Sky Map app on your Android device.

Satellite AR

If you are working for NASA, or you just want to monitor the satellites flying over the planet, you might want to install the Satellite AR on your Android device. This app lets you visually see which satellites are flying over you.

You can search any type of satellite with this app–GPS satellite, weather satellite, Search and Rescue satellite, and many more. Just select the satellite you want to locate and the app will do the rest. The app will display the location of a the satellite depending on your current location. You can also tap the satellite to know more about it. You will be able to know who built that satellite, when it was launched, its function, where it will pass, and many more.

Get to know the satellites with Satellite AR on your Android device.

Google Goggles

There are a variety of methods for searching for something on your Android device. You can either type the keywords on the search box, or you can speak it directly to your device. You can also take a picture of something and learn more about it by using Google Goggles on your Android devices.

Take a photo of a book and the app will let you know the author, title, and some extra information about the book. You can also scan business cards and the app will display the contact information for you. Scan a painting and the app will display the artist and the brief description of the painting. You can also select the Continuous option to continuously scan objects. With this option you can scan objects, landmarks, and many more without having to take pictures.

Wear the smartest goggles and get to learn everything with the Google Goggles app.

Although they are not real, augmented objects give us additional information such as overlaying 3D information on maps, posters, magazines, and pictures. Augmented apps can also be used as tools such as a compass, collision warning tool, and a lot more. With these apps, we learn to see the world from a different angle.

Besides the apps mentioned above, what augmented reality (AR) apps are you using on your Android device? Share them in the comment below.


This article, Best augmented reality (AR) apps for Android , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


T-Mobile to offer all phones free on Father’s Day weekend?

Posted: 11 Jun 2012 08:00 PM PDT

T-Mobile might not have the snappiest 4G network in the US or the largest number of high-end phones up for sale, but their special offers and discounts are (sometimes) unbeatable. For this year’s Father's Day, for example, T-Mo is preparing to offer all of the network's phones completely free of charge, if we are to believe a leaked promo material picked up by the guys at Tmonews.

The phones will be free with two-year carrier agreements, but that'll still be a very nice deal, at least for some devices.

All of these and many more should go down to $0.00 next week-end, but at least some of them will likely require mail-in rebates. I know what you're thinking: T-Mo should start taking pre-orders for the Galaxy S3 soon, but, even if that happens over the next few days, it's hard to believe Samsung's new flagship phone will be included in this special promotion. As you might know, the S3 starts at $199.99 at Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and US Cellular and is expected to go for at least as much from T-Mo.

Father's Day will be celebrated this Sunday, on June 17, but T-Mobile's offer is set to run on the 15 and 16 (Friday and Saturday), if the leaked promo material is not mistaken. The dates make sense, as you'll want to get your dad the gifts before Father's Day, so keep your fingers crossed for seeing as many phones as possible available for free and with as less "special conditions" as possible!


This article, T-Mobile to offer all phones free on Father’s Day weekend? , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Samsung has manufactured 200 million AMOLED displays since January 2007

Posted: 11 Jun 2012 07:00 PM PDT

SAMSUNG OLED TV
According to a recent blog post on SamsungVillage.com – an official Samsung blog about the various companies under Samsung's control – Samsung Mobile Display has produced no less than 200 million AMOLED panels. Since this new display technology entered mass production in January 2007, simple math (spooky, I know!) dictates that Samsung have produced an average of 100,000 panels each day, although real-world number show that it took Samsung 53 months to produce their first 100 million panels, and thus they have doubled production numbers in the past 11 months alone.

If you're interested in learning the details regarding the AMOLED (Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode) technology, you can check out this previous article on the topic. Those of you who are only interested in a quick sum-up should know that the advantages of AMOLED displays (when compared to LCD displays) rest in their better contrast ratios, more vivid colors and wide viewing angles.

As the aforementioned blog post was eager to note, the demand for AMOLED displays has grown exponentially in the past year or so, with numerous smartphones, tablets, game consoles and digital cameras relying on this new tech to provide a unique visual experience. It is also worth mentioning that Samsung basically owns the entire global AMOLED market (97 percent is the actual number) and is likely to maintain its lead. This is due, in part, to the huge amounts of money invested in this tech, which are investments that other AMOLED manufacturers have shied away from.


This article, Samsung has manufactured 200 million AMOLED displays since January 2007 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Galaxy S3 users can watch the Olympics for free on Eurosport Player

Posted: 11 Jun 2012 04:07 PM PDT

The 2012 Summer Olympics are just 47 days away and sports fans all over the world are already thinking about taking time off work to enjoy the Olympic fever. However, you don't necessarily need to be around a TV set to enjoy the 302 events in London, as Eurosport and Eurosport 2, are available on your Android devices through Eurosport Player.

Moreover, if you're one of the first lucky Galaxy S3 adopters, you'll be able to enjoy all the Olympic events for free. Samsung is offering a 1-month subscription to Eurosport Player, which can be activated any time between July 14 and August 12.

If you're thinking of getting a Samsung Galaxy S3, you now have one extra reason to do so by the end of next month. Samsung and Eurosport's offer is available for all Galaxy S3 owners living in any country covered by the pan-European television sports network, except for Italy. The Galaxy S3 is not the first Android-based device to come with such a special deal this year, with the Acer Iconia A510 Olympic Tab also offering a free one-month subscription to Eurosport Player around the time of the Summer Olympics.

The Eurosport Player application can be downloaded for free from Google Play, while I'm sure we don't have to tell you where to get the Galaxy S3. Enjoy!

 

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This article, Galaxy S3 users can watch the Olympics for free on Eurosport Player , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Fotodanz brings dancing photos to Android, get the app for free in Google Play!

Posted: 11 Jun 2012 04:02 PM PDT

Taking photos with mobile phones is now closer to art than ever and the high-resolution cameras, as well as the picture-editing apps, sometimes make smartphone pics look way cooler and more original than photos taken with a traditional camera.

But what about those times when you want to make your photos more alive, but you don't want to record a video clip? Cinemagraphs are the obvious way to go and, while iOS-special apps like Flixel and Cinemagram have allowed Apple users to take such photographs for a while, Android enthusiasts have been left out.

Dancing photos are now finally at your discretion, with the exclusive launch of fotodanz over on Google Play. Designed by bbigg Applications, the new Android app is very easy to use and, while it still lacks a couple of key functions and features, it will provide you with all you need to come up with your own cool cinemagraphs.

With fotodanz, you can capture three seconds of video, circle a region around the area you want to animate and make a still and boring photo come to life. The app is all about simplicity, so the user interface is intuitive and basic, while allowing you to get in touch with your creative side. You can therefore add several filter effects to your animations and refine them until you get to the desired "dancing" effect.

Another two aces up this app's sleeve are the automatic video stabilizer and the compression feature, reducing file size by as much as 70% (and we all know how much Gif files usually "weigh").

On the other hand, there are still a bunch of features lacking at fotodanz, some of which are truly deal-breakers. You can only share your animated pictures by e-mail for the time being, you can't record more than 3 seconds of video and you can only circle a single region in a clip and animate.

The first of these three issues should be solved soon enough, with social network sharing being included in the next update's changelog, while the other two aren't regarded by the app's developers as problems, but rather as features. And while it's true that simplicity is very important for such an app, I think that many of you would like some extra "space" to show off your abilities and creativity.

The next version of the app, due to be released in just a few weeks, will be bringing, aside from social network sharing, more filters and animations. Lagging issues reported by some users will also be addressed, so fotodanz is set to grow significantly with the 1.2 update.

Get the Android app for free from Google Play right now and let us know what you think about it. Would you have liked an extra touch of functionality or is fotodanz everything you wanted such an app to be?

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This article, Fotodanz brings dancing photos to Android, get the app for free in Google Play! , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Android devices multi-core processor use flawed for now, says Intel

Posted: 11 Jun 2012 12:02 PM PDT

While Intel is a respected desktop and laptop chipmaker, the company is yet to make a name for itself in the mobile business. But Intel is definitely interested in convincing smartphones and tablet makers with its recent announcement that the Medfield Atom processor is a good choice for upcoming mobile devices. What better way to do it than to criticize what the competition has to offer?

The Inquirer details certain comments made by Mike Bell, Intel's General Manager of the Mobile and Communication Group, regarding the efficiency of multiple-core processors found inside current Android devices. According to Bell, these Android devices are seldom able to make the most of their dual or quad-core CPUs, as chipmakers failed to adapt their multi-core technology to better fit Android's needs. Bell says that certain unnamed devices actually perform better when using only a single core for certain Android tasks than by having more cores involved in running them:

If you take a look a lot of handsets on the market, when you turn on the second core or having the second core there [on die], the [current] leakage is high enough and their power threshold is low enough because of the size of the case, that it isn’t entirely clear you get much of a benefit to turning the second core on. We ran our own numbers and [in] some of the use cases we’ve seen, having a second core is actually a detriment, because of the way some of the people have not implemented their thread scheduling.

One could argue that Intel is criticizing the competition only to highlight the advantages of its own Medfield CPU and explain why it doesn't have a multi-core mobile processor of its own yet. At the same time, let's not forget that Intel does know a thing or two about multi-core CPU efficiency in general, and the comments made by Bell may be worth investigating further.

So far, only three Medfield based devices have been announced, the Orange San Diego (Santa Clara) the Lenovo K800, and the Lava Xolo X900.  At the same time, Intel and Motorola have announced a multi-year, multi-device partnership back at CES 2012, so we expect to see various (Google) Motorola Android devices come with Atom chips on board in the near future.

Orange San Diego

Intel's Medfield SoC uses a single-core processor built on x86 technology, and we're certainly interested to see how Medfield-powered Android devices will do compared to the competition.

As for the competition, just a few days ago we explained in detail what the term "System on a Chip" means and we showed you the main players in the business. Not counting Intel, we have five (count them, 5!) other companies that are designing various ARM-based multi-core chips that are currently used in various Android devices. These are, in no particular order, NVIDIA, Qualcomm, Samsung, Texas Instruments and ST-Ericsson.

These dual or quad-core processors are certainly one of the selling points for current Android devices. So whether Intel is right or wrong, Android device makers will keep using them in future devices. From a different point of view, even if Intel's claims are perfectly legal, the chipmaker can't dispute any of the benchmarks that show the superiority of this year's dual and quad-core mobile devices compared to older smartphones and tablets.

It's also worth pointing out that Intel failed to provide more proof to back up its statements, so we're definitely looking forward to hear more on the matter from the company.

What do you think about this statement? Is Intel just trying to launch a smear campaign in order to maintain market position or do they have a valid set of points that everyone should take into serious consideration?

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This article, Android devices multi-core processor use flawed for now, says Intel , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Angry Birds Space update brings 10 new delicious Utopia levels

Posted: 11 Jun 2012 11:19 AM PDT

Fresh off the heels of announcing that Angry Birds Space has hit the 100 million download mark, Rovio decided to treat the fans with some delectable new levels that are filled with popcorn, cookies, and candy apples. Get ready to enter the 4th episode of Angry Birds Space, the Utopia.

The Utopia marks the first time that there is more than one planet design in a single episode. You'll get to feast your eyes on planets that resemble a cookie, a doughnut, a key lime pie, a jelly planet, and a caramel apple. Your main nemesis on the Utopia is the Fat Pig. And similar to how the ice meteors can split into several parts in the previous episode, you'll find the popcorn splits into three parts as well when hit.

As for the gameplay, there's a lot of bouncy action going down, thanks to the jelly-like surface of the planet, which definitely keeps things from getting too stale for the still-going-strong series.  The hardcore fans probably will have no problem breezing through the 10 levels featured in this addition.

The new Utopia episode is now available on both the freemium and paid version of Angry Birds Space. You can download the 23MB file on Google Play.


This article, Angry Birds Space update brings 10 new delicious Utopia levels , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


One X Wi-Fi issues appear to be caused by an HTC hardware oversight

Posted: 11 Jun 2012 11:07 AM PDT

In case you own an HTC One X and you're constantly struggling to get a decent Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth connection, then you need to know you're not the only one experiencing such issues. In fact, it appears that it's HTC to blame for your faulty connection, and while there is a way of fixing it – by taking the handset apart – you'd probably be better off contacting HTC and have them repair or replace you device.

A forum user at xda-developers thoroughly detailed his personal experiences with the handset, and shared with other One X owners various picture tutorials that could help them fix the problem. So far, there are as many as 10 distinct unofficial ¨how-to´s¨ for this particular matter and it looks like even HTC is monitoring the issue. Moreover, the thread itself, started only a week ago, is well over 42 pages, which means that various One X users are affected by Wi-Fi malfunction issues. The following is listed in that thread as a means of quick diagnosis:

However this thread is specifically for the confirmed (by the community & unfortunately me) hardware fault of a loose connection on the WIFI antenna.

If you are suffering from a really bad WIFI connection and think you may have this hardware fault, there is a simple test you can do.

The squeeze test.

Gently squeeze the side back of your phone, between the camera lens and the volume buttons, if your WIFI signal strength improves only to drop back down when you stop squeezing then you have this seemingly common fault. [See the following to better understand the “squeeze” test.

According to the thread (available here), there's a connectivity issue between the Wi-Fi antenna and certain contact points inside the phone. Sure, the One X is not the first smartphone in the world to experience such issues, whether they're related to WIFI, Bluetooth or 3G/4G connectivity, but it appears that unlike similar problems, this one can be solved either by HTC, a certified handset repair shop or by you. No official word yet from HTC whether it will fix this manufacturing issue so it won't affect new One X buyers.

In case you're thinking it's not a big deal, then you should consider the fact that this benign Wi-Fi issue also affects battery life and overall 3G/4G data consumption. Your phone will use more battery to try to connect to WIFI networks, and when that fails, it will use more carrier data instead.

Have you experienced any Wi-Fi issues with your One X handset? Interact with us in the comments and tell us your story.


This article, One X Wi-Fi issues appear to be caused by an HTC hardware oversight , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.