Friday, June 15, 2012

Android Community

Android Community


Verizon alerting DROID RAZR owners Android 4.0 ICS update is “coming soon”

Posted: 15 Jun 2012 10:45 AM PDT

It appears to finally be coming. The folks from Verizon seem to actually be ready to push the latest and greatest mobile OS of all times to a few of their flagship phones. After months of waiting, multiple leaks, missed dates and more Verizon and Motorola are ready to update the DROID RAZR and RAZR MAXX to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. More details below.

After the ICS update was “confirmed” to be arriving June 12th from a few supposedly reliable sources and never came, users were extremely upset. Either they barely missed that date or are now giving users an update to calm the minds of the millions who own the device because today Verizon started sending text messages out to all DROID RAZR and MAXX owners confirming the update to ICS was coming soon. Hurray!

Free Verizon Message: Your phone will soon be upgraded to Android 4.0. At that time we will remove your Verizon Wireless Mobile IM app because it is not supported on Android 4.0. Please download a new instant messaging app to use IM on your phone. Thank you for using Mobile IM!

Received Today June 15 at 12:02

The message above has been arriving on DROID RAZR and MAXX handsets all afternoon according to multiple tips we’ve received today. Our inbox and comments are flooded with them so it’s safe to say this update is finally coming soon. Verizon has yet to announce a date, but as soon as we see the update documents arrive on their support pages we’ll report back and let you all know when to expect the update. For more details on what ICS will bring for the RAZR hit the links of the leaks below.

– Thanks Amadeuss, Clevenger, and everyone who sent this in!

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : DROID RAZR
    Manufactuer : Motorola
    Carrier : Verizon
    Announced Date : October 18, 2011
    Release Date : November 03, 2011
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.3 Inch
  • Resolution :
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED Advanced qHD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.15 Inch
  • Width : 2.71 Inch
  • Depth : 0.27 Inch
  • Weight : 127 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 1780 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : 8.9 hours
Software
    Android OS:
  • 2.3.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU : OMAP 4430
    CPU Clock Speed : 1200 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1000 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
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • CDMA
    CDMA Band:
  • 800
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1700
  • 1900
  • 2100
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 3.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :


Motorola DROID Bionic update rolling out today with 4G LTE fixes

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 04:53 PM PDT

The Motorola DROID Bionic is in the news again today. While it has received its fair share of updates since being released, and many to try and fix 4G LTE issues, today they’ve went ahead and started pushing another. We first mentioned it was coming last week, and today it’s arriving for users so get ready to hopefully see some improvements.

Sadly this is still not Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, but while they try and fix a few bugs and issues it is probably preparing the phone for the ICS update that is coming sometime in this third quarter. The changelog is rather small as you can see below. Verizon and Motorola mention data stalls, and 4G LTE as both being fixed or improved so that is a good sign.

Apparently early last week the update was just rolling out to testers, but as of today the public should all be receiving and enjoying this latest update. The Bionic seems to be plagued with 4G LTE problems more than most, so hopefully this finally brings some peace to its owners. As usual you can wait for the update to arrive, or head to Settings>About Phone>System Updates to get it started today. Drop us a comment if you’ve received the update, and if you’ve noticed any changes to 4G LTE.

P1070441-540x405 bionic
Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : DROID Bionic
    Manufactuer : Motorola
    Carrier : Verizon
    Announced Date : August 24, 2011
    Release Date : September 08, 2011
    Also Known As : Targa
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.3 Inch
  • Resolution : 540x960
  • Screen Type : qHD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.00 Inch
  • Width : 2.60 Inch
  • Depth : 0.40 Inch
  • Weight : 159 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 1735 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 2.3.x
    Audio Playback:
  • MP3
    Video Playback:
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU :
    CPU Clock Speed : 1000 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
  • 720p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
  • CDMA
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
    CDMA Band:
  • 800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11a
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 2.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

[via Droid-Life]


Motorola Atrix 3 hits the FCC en route to AT&T

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 04:06 PM PDT

Motorola’s next flagship phone for AT&T will most certainly be the Motorola Atrix 3. It was uncovered and leaked last week, possibly being called the Atrix 3 LTE and today we’ve received some more information and an FCC filing, adding credence to the rumor.

Codenamed the Motorola Dinara we are now seeing it listed as the Motorola MB886 passing through the FCC along with those AT&T 4G LTE radios on board according to Engadget. This pretty much confirms what we already knew, and that is this phone will be headed to AT&T here eventually — probably sometime in July.

The Atrix 3 should follow right along with the previous models footsteps although it’s suggested to be rocking a 4.5 or larger 1280 x 720p HD display, and will be powered by the same 1.5 GHz dual-core Qualcomm processor as the new Galaxy S III. Just like the Galaxy Nexus, Moto’s Atrix 3 will have no capacitive buttons and do all the navigation using Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich’s on-screen keys — which is something I’ve been waiting for manufactures to adopt. Sadly the FCC filing doesn’t reveal anything else so we’ll just wait to wait until it leaks in the flesh to get more details.

ATT_Motorola_Dinara_leak atrix3

[via FCC]


LG Eclipse 4G LTE quad-core headed to AT&T in October

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 03:20 PM PDT

The name LG Eclipse isn’t a new one. We’ve heard and seen various leaks of this device over the past few weeks indicating a rather powerful smartphone headed to the US complete with Qualcomm’s quad-core Krait processor. Today however it has leaked again, en route to AT&T, and possibly hitting the market come this October.

If you’ve been looking for a phone to eclipse the Galaxy S III or HTC One X this might be exactly that. Specs from previous leaks have confirmed an impressive 4.67-inch 1280 x 720p HD display, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and then one other extremely important spec — a Qualcomm S4 “Krait” (Cortex-A15) quad-core processor running at 1.5 GHz. Qualcomm’s new S4 dual-core keeps up rather well with NVIDIA’s quad-core Tegra 3, so this new processor could really cause a stir in the mobile markets.

None of this is extremely new as you can see plenty on the Eclipse 4G LTE from the links below, but today according to Engadget the phone has cleared certification for Bluetooth SIG confirming it was headed for AT&T, and even tipped off the launch date claiming Halloween. Obviously this can’t be confirmed for now, and things are always open to change but we could be seeing some impressive quad-core phones around mid to late October that is for sure. More details are available from the via below.

[via SlashGear]


CyanogenMod 9 official release candidate builds coming soon

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 02:56 PM PDT

You’ve probably been enjoying CyanogenMod 9 on your phone or tablet for more than a few months already, but they’ve only been nightly “experimental” builds — although seem plenty stable to me. Today however the team from leader @Cyanogen has confirmed they’ve stopped all changes in what they call a “code freeze” and are preparing the first wave of official release candidate builds of the most popular ROM for Android.

Their main and only rule is never ask for ETA’s, but today they’ve been kind enough to give us all the update so we don’t have to wonder or break the first rule of CyanogenMod. The move to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich was a large one, especially when you support as many devices as the CM crew does. This code freeze basically means they’ll temporarily no longer be accepting new code or features and will tighten up and squash any outstanding bugs. Leading to a stable RC build for most devices for those that don’t dare dip in the nightly crackflashing.

“The initial release will cover a subset of devices (still to be fully determined). We've put many new internal processes into place which should guarantee quicker updates to the CM Core, and also make it easier for new devices be added.”

For now they’ll only be accepting bug fixes and additional device support while they iron out any outstanding issues and start rolling on these official releases. If you’ve been patiently waiting for the real thing (and not a kang) the wait is almost over. They don’t mention specifically what devices will get RC1 this go around, but most likely it will be a rather large list. Stay tuned for additional details and they start pushing out builds for the various devices they support.

[via CM Blog]


Google Play Books expands to Germany

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 02:25 PM PDT

Google’s Android Market, now known as the Play Store doesn’t offer all of its services across the globe. While many have been waiting for movies and music in other parts of the world, we’ve had it stateside all along. Today however Google has just added Germany to their list and are now offering Google Books to the country. This is a small update, but one of many we’ve seen recently.

These posts usually always have a few angry readers from other parts of the world, and that is understandable but Google has been making slow but steady progress. Recently they added 4 countries to the Play Store seller list, Australia got movie rentals, and they’ve even expanded full carrier billing.

Obviously there are still millions of people without these options, and hopefully they’ll continue to update and add more at a fast pace. For now however, those in Germany can now enjoy all the Books that the Google Play Store has to offer. Google Books is available in Germany for the web, Android, and that other iOS option. Enjoy!

[via Google]


Lenovo LePad A2107 is the world’s first dual SIM tablet – headed for China

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 01:43 PM PDT

While everyone is trying to produce the thinnest tablet or one with the best camera, or the highest screen resolution around, the folks from Lenovo have just launched their own specialty. The LePad A2107 will apparently be the world’s first dual-SIM Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich tablet. The specs might not be groundbreaking but lets take a look.

Lenovo introduced this tablet earlier today for the Chinese markets, and it comes complete with two SIM cards. The new LePad will offer both WiFi and 3G connectivity as well as a 7-inch 1024 x 600p capacitive touch display. Again not the highest resolution, and the specs below aren’t too great either. The important thing is the dual-SIM as that is a popular feature in China.

Other specs for the new Lenovo LePad A2107 include a 1.0 GHz single-core MTK6575 processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, micro-SD slot and of course running on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The tablet will also come equipped with a 3 megapixel rear camera, front camera for video chatting, and a decently sized 3,550 mAh battery good for 10 hours of usage. At 11.5 mm it isn’t the thinnest, or the thickest but should be decent for those needing the dual-SIM option.

Lenovo has yet to confirm all the details but this tablet will be available in China starting June 18th. For those in China you’ll want to check up on this tablet if it’s of any interest to you.

Lenovo-Le-Pad-A2107 LenovoLePad1 lepad-3

[via GSMInsider]


Flipboard beta for Android updated with bug fixes

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 12:43 PM PDT

If you’ve been enjoying the brand new Flipboard beta for Android on a shiny new Galaxy S III, or other phones now that they’ve released the beta we have good news today. Flipboard has just issued another quick update for their popular news app and it should fixed multiple problems we’ve been hearing about as of late. The new beta is available for download now and we have more details below.

Last month they officially released the beta version, so it’s nice to see updates coming so quickly. Hopefully it will be leaving beta soon and will arrive in the Play Store for all users to enjoy. Other than a few minor visual design changes everything else is behind the covers and will help battery life, memory usage, and some general fixes.

galaxy-s-iii-117-sg-1-540x3592 Screenshot_2012-06-14-11-41-53

Since Flipboard isn’t in the Play Store yet, you’ll be receiving a notification in-app to accept and download the latest beta version. For those that haven’t yet tried out Flipboard you’ll want to check out our hands-on here, then head to flipboard.com/android for more details. Hit the link below to download the latest version.

Flipboard Beta download

– Thanks V!


Google posts neat video showing off Google Play Movie rentals

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 12:30 PM PDT

Google has just released a pretty epic video over on YouTube showing off just how great their Google Play Store is, and the fact that you can rent movies and watch them anywhere. It’s all about Bananas and mirrors (watch the video.) In case you didn’t know. You can watch half of the movie on a PC, and the other half on your Android tablet. Look at you Google, getting all creative and stuff.

It might not be Netflix or Redbox in terms of selection, and the pricing can sometimes be a bit much if you ask me but Google’s been continuously working on movie rentals. Inking deals with multiple studios to bring hundreds or thousands of Movies to the Play Store and our Android phones and tablets. Check out this clever video that just blew my mind:

Pretty random video Google! Also in the usual Google fashion there are a few “easter eggs” hiding in the video that you should be able to find while moving your mouse around on the video. I spotted at least 4 but you’ll have to do the digging and searching on your own.

Do you use the Google Play Store for your movie rentals?


Temple Run: Brave now available in the Google Play Store

Posted: 14 Jun 2012 11:56 AM PDT

Temple Run was a very anticipated game for Android, and has seen million and millions of downloads since launching back in April. It was one of the most hyped and waited for games I’ve seen in a long time. This week however, they’ve just launched another version of their hit game and are calling it Temple Run: Brave in collaboration with Disney’s Pixar.

Yup, this is the Temple Run you love and enjoy with a little twist. They’ve integrated the red-haired Bow & Arrow gripping girl from Disney’s new movie Brave, and added a few tweaks to make the game even more addicting. We mentioned this a few weeks back, but as of yesterday it’s finally available to all.

Merida, the animated movie Brave’s main character is the star of the new game. Running from angry bears instead of monkeys like the original game, and Imangi Studio’s have added in some archery action where she can use her bow & arrow to hit targets throughout the game. Now you can run, slide, jump, turn and shoot your way across the wilds of Scotland on an endless running adventure!

Temple Run: Brave is available today, right now on the Google Play Store for Android phones and tablets for just $0.99 and should be loads of fun. Hit the link below to get running and jumping today.

Temple Run: Brave Link