Monday, July 2, 2012

Android Community

Android Community


AT&T Galaxy S III in-store availability date set for July 6th

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 11:13 AM PDT

The entire Samsung Galaxy S III launch wasn’t as smooth as we, or Sammy wanted it to be here in the US. It was nice to see them launch on all carriers around the same time with the same design, but demand was much higher than product at launch. Everyone had to delay or filter their launch and today AT&T has confirmed the Galaxy S III flagship phones in-store availability date.

The AT&T 4G LTE powered Samsung Galaxy S III has been shipping in limited numbers via pre-orders and online sales, but you’ll be able to walk into any AT&T store on Friday July 6th, and walk out a proud new SGSIII owner. AT&T has confirmed the date earlier this afternoon at their official blog.

Get this 4.8-inch 720p HD smartphone rocking Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, an impressive dual-core Qualcomm S4 processor, 2GB of RAM, and even the Pebble Blue model all later this week. If you didn’t pre-order or haven’t had much luck finding stock the wait is almost over. Who already has a Galaxy S III? Did you get it from AT&T, or will you be snagging one up on Friday? Check out our Galaxy S III review if you are still on the fence.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy S III (LTE)
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : AT&T Verizon
    Announced Date : June 04, 2012
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As : SGH-I535 (Verizon), SGH-I747 (AT&T)
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.8 Inch
  • Resolution : 1280x720
  • 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
  • 3GP
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
  • WMV
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
  • IM
Hardware
    CPU : MSM8960 Snapdragon
    CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 2000 MB
    Internal Storage : 16 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:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :


Nexus 7 under attack, Nokia claims it infringes on their WiFi patents

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 10:23 AM PDT

Here we go again. It looks like Nokia is set to possibly join the crowds that are going after Google and their Android devices, or at least that is how things appear. Apple has went after the Galaxy Nexus and the Galaxy S III as of late — and we should hear more on that later today. And now we are hearing the brand new Nexus 7 tablet could be next.

According to the folks at The Inquirer ASUS and Google’s brand new Nexus 7 is enjoying the use of a few WiFi patents owned by Nokia, and aren’t licensed. Now Nokia is coming out of the wood works and wants some cash for that tablet, and Jelly Bean. Nokia goes as far as to say the two companies never mentioned the licenses, and never asked for anything — and instead did as they pleased and just used them freely. Hopefully Nokia doesn’t launch a legal battle (Plus against Google wouldn’t be as easy) and instead they’ll most likely ask for some loyalties for each unit sold, just like Microsoft gets from HTC and many other Android OEM’s.

All this patent and lawsuit nonsense is really getting old, but I don’t need to tell you guys that as we can tell by your reactions in our comment section below. Hopefully this will get cleared up shortly, and we’ll report back once we’ve heard more.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Nexus 7
    Manufactuer : Asus
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : June 27, 2012
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As : Google Nexus 7
Display
  • Screen Size : 7 Inch
  • Resolution : 1280x800
  • Screen Type : IPS LCD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 7.81 Inch
  • Width : 4.72 Inch
  • Depth : 0.41 Inch
  • Weight : 340 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 4325 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.1.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • 3GP
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
  • WMV
    Messaging:
  • IM
Hardware
    CPU : Tegra 3
    CPU Clock Speed : 1300 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 1000 MB
    Internal Storage : 8 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : NA
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 3.0
  • A2DP
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

[via Engadget]


Google Ears Shazam rival ported from Jelly Bean for those on ICS

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 09:48 AM PDT

Many of you might have missed this neat new feature during Google’s IO announcements of Jelly Bean, and in case you did Google’s released their own Shazam or SoundHound like feature called Sound Search — or Google Ears. This music listening and tagging service has been built into Android 4.1 Jelly Bean but thanks to a few devs from XDA can be used on all ICS devices and ROMS.

Yup, just like Shazam or SoundHound Google Ears will listen and analyze a song for you, rather quickly, and then bring up the artist, album and a direct link to the Google Play Store so you can buy it. It seems to work just as quickly as SoundHound, and better than Shazam — so it’s definitely worth a try.

It doesn’t offer any history or previous tags like competing apps, but a direct one click link to the Play Store to buy the song is quite nice. It was pulled and ported for rooted devices but this latest APK will work on stock and rooted phones and tablets. Anyone with ICS or an ICS ROM can enjoy Google Ears today. Go ahead and download the APK below, then check for the widget and add it to the homescreen of your choice.

Google Ears APK: Download

[via Mobilephonefans]


Verizon: HTC DROID Incredible 4G LTE arrives July 5 for $149

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 09:30 AM PDT

HTC’s new DROID Incredible 4G LTE smartphone has finally received a confirmed release date. After Verizon and HTC announced it back in May and stated it was “coming within the next few weeks,” it will finally be available to Verizon customers on July 5th for just $149.

We all should know plenty about HTC’s latest DROID by now, but if not this is essentially an HTC One S but for Verizon and with a slightly smaller screen. It does have a few minor differences but for the most part is a pretty nice mid-range phone. The Incredible 4G LTE comes with a 4-inch display, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, Sense UI 4.0, Beats Audio integration, a rear 8 megapixel shooter followed by a 2 megapixel front camera, and a micro-SD slot.

Today Verizon and HTC have officially confirmed the rumored release date of July 5th, and it will be hitting shelves at $199 with a $50 mail in rebate. Users will end up paying $149 but it’s a shame they are requiring the MIR. It’s a great mid-range offering, and almost like a mini HTC Rezound. We should be getting our hands on it momentarily so stay tuned for more details.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Droid Incredible 4G LTE
    Manufactuer : HTC
    Carrier : Verizon
    Announced Date : May 07, 2012
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.0 Inch
  • Resolution : 540x960
  • Screen Type : S-LCD qHD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 4.80 Inch
  • Width : 2.40 Inch
  • Depth : 0.46 Inch
  • Weight : 132 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 1700 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 : MSM8960 Snapdragon S4
    CPU Clock Speed : 1200 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1000 MB
    Internal Storage : 8 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • CDMA
    CDMA Band:
  • 800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11a
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

[via Verizon]


VLC beta version for Android hits Google Play

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 03:43 AM PDT

We told you a week or so back that a beta version of VLC, the cross-platform multimedia player, was coming to Android. That beta version is now officially available for download on the Google Play store. VLC is described as a free and open source cross-platform multimedia player that will play most multimedia files.

VLC points out that this is a beta version intended for power users and hackers, and it is not stable and is slower than the final version will be. This particular version is only for devices running an ARMv7 CPU that will support NEON. Other devices will be supported soon. The developers say that the app will play most local video and audio files as well as network streams just like the desktop version of VLC.

The app supports multi-track audio and subtitles as well as autorotation, aspect ratio adjustments, and gestures are supported for controlling volume. The app also includes a widget for audio control and supports audio headset control, cover art, and complete audio media library. The app has missing features and is an early beta so many things will be changing between now and future beta versions and the final version. The app requires the processor mentioned before and Android 2.1 or higher.


Pantech outs new 5-inch Vega S5 LTE smartphone

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 03:02 AM PDT

Pantech has unveiled a new Android-powered smart phone in Korea called the Vega S5. The smartphone has a five-inch screen and will be released early this month. One of the key features of the smartphone is that it has a 13-megapixel camera on the rear. That five-inch screen is a IPS HD LCD with very slim bezels.

Pantech says the design of the phone is optimized for the average Korean hand measuring a width of 8 cm. The design phone allows the user to hold it with one hand and the thumb of the average hand can touch anywhere on the five-inch screen. The camera has a tracking focus feature enabling continuous shooting of moving targets and zero shutter lag. The phone has the world’s first WTR RF chip designed to reduce power consumption.

Internal battery is a 2100 mAh unit, and the chip uses a QUALCOMM LTE processor. Other features of the smartphone include support for sharing TV content on a larger screen, T-DMB tuner, and support for streaming audio. The phone also uses some sort of Smart Voice voice-recognition system and supports alarms, e-mail, Google Maps, and more. The phone runs Android 4.0 ICS and is available in white or black colors. Pricing is unknown at this time.


Android Community Weekly: July 1st, 2012

Posted: 01 Jul 2012 11:36 AM PDT

Today is July 1st and we can look forward to tons and tons of great news in the world of Android this month. Just like the past week, July will also be all about Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. A lot happened in the Android Community last week but we were pretty busy with a small event I’m sure you all heard plenty about — Google IO 2012. To start off this weekly review of Android news hit our Google IO Portal to get started.

Google IO was an awesome event this year. With tons of new devices, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, a weird Nexus Q, and best of all — Google’s Project Glass skydiving right onto the roof of the Moscone West Center in San Francisco. What a ride it was all week, and we are sad that it had to end — I don’t even know where to start.

Jelly Bean!!! Google announced Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, showed off some of its awesome new features and improvements, showed us it’s buttery smooth, and then dropped the Nexus 7 Tablet on the world. They go hand in hand however, and both will be available to Android users worldwide in mid July. The Nexus 7 is up for pre-order as we speak starting at $199, and Jelly Bean AOSP will arrive in July too.

I could go on for hours about Google IO, Jelly Bean, and the Nexus 7 but instead just hit all the various links below for your dose of news. This week the DROID RAZR and RAZR MAXX also finally officially received Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and I’m sure Jelly Bean is another 6 months away for you guys sadly. Acer dropped their new quad-core Tegra 3 1920 x 1200 True 1080p HD tablet in the Iconia A700 and you can see our review here.

Tons of exciting things happened this week for Android. The Bionic saw a leak of ICS, Google Chrome left beta and is available for all 4.0+ devices, HTC teased us the DROID Incredible 4G LTE will arrive sometime this week and more. In case you missed anything from one of the most epic news weeks for Android be sure and take it all in from the timeline below or check out the Google IO portal linked to above.

Who’s excited for Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and what is your favorite new feature? Personally I love Google Now!

Screen Shot 2012-07-01 at 11.09.55 AM Screen Shot 2012-07-01 at 11.25.26 AM acweekly


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News10 new results for android
 
Want Android 4.1 Jelly Bean? Be Prepared To Wait
InformationWeek
Android 4.1, a.k.a. Jelly Bean, is the best version of Google's smartphone operating system yet, but most users won't see it for at least six months.
See all stories on this topic »
The Android era: From G1 to Jelly Bean
CNET
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean further fragments the OS as many handsets wait to update to Android 4.0. CNET weighs in on how far the Android OS has come and where it's going. Read this blog post by Jessica Dolcourt on Android Atlas.
See all stories on this topic »
Going Android: An Experiment
TIME
With the arrival of Jelly Bean, I'm putting aside my iPhone 4S and trying the Galaxy Nexus as my primary smartphone.
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Telcos back Firefox phone platform to rival Android
Reuters
Sprint, D.Telekom, Smart, T.Italia, Telenor join backers* Phonemakers ZTE, TCL to make first handsets early 2013* New platform focuses on lowering smartphone price* Price seen well below cheapest.
See all stories on this topic »
VLC Player Beta Lands on Android
PCWorld
VLC for Android offers access to your entire video and media library with full search capabilities -- if your phone is among those supported.
See all stories on this topic »
Google engineers stress importance of Android app security at I/O
ZDNet (blog)
Summary: Android is most commonly-targeted mobile OS when it comes to malware, so Google engineers offered developers some basic but helpful tips during I/O last week.
See all stories on this topic »
The Amazing Economics of Android—Devices Without Profits
Slate Magazine (blog)
I was talking with some friends over the weekend about Android which, as they were noting, has been a runaway success as a mobile telephone operating system product. Tons of people use it, in other words, and it seems likely that it'll pick up another ...
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After any major OS update, the first question on everybody's mind is naturally "When can I get it?" As Android owners know all-too-well, the answer to that question inevitably involves waiting,...
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Family Tech: New Android OS unveiled
Inside NoVA
Google has taken the wraps off the newest version of the Android Operating Systems, version 4.1, code name: Jelly Bean.
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Android 4.1 Jelly Bean: Our Impressions.
Gadgetsteria
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is the latest OS for Google's mobile platform, and after some hands on time thanks to a trusty friend and his Galaxy Nexus, the best release Google has pushed out before, But, more importantly, Android 4.1 brings one very ...
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Blogs5 new results for android
 
Official VLC app now out for Android: only an unstable beta, but it ...
By Sharif Sakr
Okay, so VLC may not be the media darling it once was, but it still has a legion of fans -- as evidenced by the (official) beta version's warm welcome.
Engadget
Media Player VLC Now Available for Android as Beta
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VideoLAN's popular media player VLC has made its way to Android in beta form.
Mashable!
Samsung Appeals Sales Ban On Galaxy Nexus | TalkAndroid.com
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If not, then Sammy (or maybe even Google since the phone runs stock Android) will have to come up with a software workaround, similar to what HTC had to do to get past the injunction on their One X series of phones. Are we having fun yet ...
Android News, Rumours, and Updates
VLC beta version for Android hits Google Play | Android Community
By Shane McGlaun
We told you a week or so back that a beta version of VLC, the cross-platform multimedia player, was coming to Android. That beta version is now officially.
Android Community
Android, High-Performance Audio in 4.1, and What it Means – Plus ...
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Android devices may, at last, get the kind of sound performance that makes music and audio apps satisfying to use. We've suffered through generations of the OS and hardware that were quite the opposite. But material, measurable changes to ...
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Web4 new results for android
 
Android 4.1 for Developers | Android Developers
Android 4.1 is the fastest and smoothest version of Android yet. We've made improvements throughout the platform and added great new features for users and ...
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Android.Appenda | Symantec
Remove Android.Appenda - Symantec Security Response provides comprehensive internet protection expertise to guard against complex threats, information ...
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News, Commentary and Insights from the Flash Player and AIR Product and Engineering Teams.
blogs.adobe.com/.../06/flash-player-and-android-update.html


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Android Authority

Android Authority


Huawei Ascend P1 TV commercial released

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 02:54 AM PDT

Chinese device manufacturers such as Huawei and ZTE are very popular in their home market and now vying for a piece of the Android smartphone pie on the world stage.

Huawei in particula had a great showing at this year’s CES and MWC, where they featured devices such as the Ascend P1, the Ascend P1S, which for a while held the title of the world’s thinnest smartphone, and the Ascend D quad, which the company claims is the world’s fastest smartphone.

Unfortunately, Huawei isn’t well known in the world market, a market already saturated with amazing devices like the HTC One X and the Samsung Galaxy S3. What’s the best way to become a house-hold name? With some good old marketing, of course!

In its bid to gain some popularity among smartphone-buying consumers, Huawei has released a TV ad for the Ascend P1. Like almost every smartphone related ad that we’ve seen recently, the video doesn’t feature the phone at all, at least until the last few seconds. Instead, it aims to get the message across, about what Huawei’s smartphone lineup represents a meeting of beauty and brains. You can take a look at the commercial below.

Since we haven’t heard about the Huawei Ascend P1 for a while, here is a quick recap of the specifications:

  • 4.3″ Super AMOLED qHD display
  • 960×540 resolution
  • 1.5 Ghz dual-core TI OMAP 4460 processor
  • 1GB RAM
  • 4GB internal storage, expandable via microSD
  • 8MP rear camera, 1.3MP front camera
  • 1670 mAH battery
  • Dolby Mobile 3.0 and 5.1 Surround Sound technology
  • Android 4.0 out of the box

In an effort to keep the “beauty” aspect of the device, which is very very thin, Huawei made some compromises, like the measly 4GB of storage on-board, making the use of a microSD card a must. Granted, this will also likely help to keep the price of the device more than competitive, against similarly speced smartphones.

What are your thoughts? What did you think of the commercial? Is the Huawei Ascend P1 the perfect combination of beauty and brains? Will you be looking to buy the Ascend P1? Let us know in the comments section below.


This article, Huawei Ascend P1 TV commercial released , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Kobo eBooks for Android receives revamped UI and extra features in latest update

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 02:43 AM PDT

Our smartphones and tablets have been responsible for making obsolete a lot of electronics, such as MP3 players and point-and-shoot cameras. Looks like books are the latest casualty in the path to electronic dominance by our handheld devices. Does that mean we’ve stopped reading? Not even close! We are now seeing an increasing trend of consumers turning to eBooks and eReaders to get their literary fix. Gone are the days of papercuts from turning a page. Swiping across a screen is so much easier.

There is not shortage of good eReader apps on the Google Play Store, and Kobo eBooks has been one of the more popular ones. Kobo boasts an extensive collection of free and affordable books, while also making reading fun with “Reading Life,” which tracks your reading habits with interesting stats.

The Kobo eBooks app for Android has now received an update. The update that takes the app to version 4.1 includes:

  • A revamped interface with easier navigation
  • New home screen design
  • Updated reading menu and page layout
  • Improved tablet support
  • Two page landscape view for tablets only
  • Ability to rate the books that you’re reading

If you love to read and are looking for a good eBook application, Kobo could be the answer for you. You can download the Kobo eBooks app from the Google Play Store here.

What are your thoughts? Are you an avid reader? Do you use Kobo eBooks? If you’ve received the latest update, let us know your experience in the comments section below.


This article, Kobo eBooks for Android receives revamped UI and extra features in latest update , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Day 2 keynote from Google I/O available online

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 02:41 AM PDT

Day 1 of Google I/O featured all the “cool” announcements, with the introduction of Android 4.1 Jellybean, the Google Nexus 7 tablet, and the Nexus Q. The long keynote ended with a live demo of Google Glasses, which included skydivers jumping of a blimp. So, how do you top that?

By showing a behind-the-scenes look at how the live demo of “Project Glass” was put together. That’s how the keynote address of Day 2 ended, but not before a slew of announcements and information was discussed. This time, the keynote was focused more on the software side of things, which included various Google applications such as Chrome, Google Drive, Gmail, etc. Here are some of the highlights.

  • Google Chrome: Starting off with Chrome, Sundar Pichai, SVP of Chrome and Apps, announced that Chrome has over 310 million users, making it the most popular browser in the world. Following that was the announcement of the availability of Chrome for the iPhone and iPad.
  • Google Drive: There were a lot of statistics (10 million signups) and uses (image recognition technology) discussed. This was again followed by the announcement of the launch of Drive for iOS.
  • ChromeBook: Continuous and regular updates promised for the Chrome OS. Chromebooks will also now be available in-stores at Best Buy, and will reach other retailers later this year.
  • Compute Engine: One of the final announcements were about “Compute Engine,” expected to be in direct competition with Amazon’s Elastic Cloud Compute and Microsoft’s Azure. Compute Engine is a service that will allow you to run Linux Virtual Machines on the same infrastructure on which Google is based. Didn’t make much sense to me, but should be great for developers.

You can watch a video of the keynote from Day 2 of Google I/O here. Only if you have an extra hour and twenty minutes that is. Don’t forget to catch the behind-the-scenes footage of the live Google Glasses demo, at the end of the video.


This article, Day 2 keynote from Google I/O available online , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Best Android apps for privacy protection and security

Posted: 01 Jul 2012 09:00 PM PDT

Privacy has always been an issue, even long before the Android platform was invented. Since time immemorial, people have always been trying to protect their privacy and personal data from both public and private threats. As technology grows each day, so do the number of scams, thefts, hacks, and malicious attacks. Smartphones, being bearers of your personal data, are also delicious targets for privacy intrusions.

A lot of Android apps exist to help secure your phone and safeguard your privacy.  In this post, we feature some of the best apps for securing your phone and protecting your privacy.

Lookout Mobile Security

One of the most popular security applications is Lookout Mobile Security. The app features all the basic smartphone protection methods, absolutely free of charge, with more available options if you buy the premium version. Lookout will perform a full scan on your phone for malicious apps and will automatically back up your data. In case you’ve lost your phone, Lookout will help you track you device.

Another advantage of buying the premium version is that you will also get Lookout's Secure Browsing feature that protects your phone from virus or malicious sites that intend to get around your phone's security. The premium version, however, will need a subscription plan of US$3.00 per month. If you’re concerned about securing your personal data from prying eyes, then Lookout Mobile Security might just help you in filling those security loopholes.

Webroot Security and Antivirus

Webroot Security and Antivirus offers a unique package that most big-name antivirus companies failed to include in their features. Just like Lookout, Webroot Mobile Security offers a subscription package to users who avail of their premium service, which includes features for completely wiping all data from the subscriber’s phone.  It also includes an App Inspector that functions and behaves much like Privacy Inspector. By using the app's web portal, users can track down their phone in case it is missing or stolen.

Other features of Webroot include secure web browsing that automatically scans web links and URLs to block phishing and other malicious sites that may be harmful to your phone. The app also includes remote access, SIM card lock, device lock and wipe, SMS blocking, and an antivirus tool that continuously scans and monitors your phone.  If you are looking for security on your phone, then Web Root Security and Antivirus is a great choice.

NQ Mobile Security and Antivirus

Here's an interesting application that is not just an ordinary virus scanner but also serves as a baseline of defense from malware and other intrusions. NQ Mobile Security will back up your contacts so you can always recover them on a separate device. It will also track how much data you are using so you won't go over the bar with your data plan.

On top of that, it lets you manage your applications, optimize your phone to run efficiently, manage your network, backup and restore, and monitors your privacy protection. NetQin Mobile Security is packed with lots of features that protect your phone, and anyone who has a sluggish phone can take advantage of the app’s special features. Overall, NetQin Mobile Security is a wonderful app to secure your personal data.

Norton Mobile Security Lite

Norton Mobile Security Lite offers both anti-theft and antivirus features that will certainly keep your privacy intact and away from prying eyes. One of the most well-known names when it comes to antivirus software, Norton Mobile Security Lite for Android devices still lives up to its name from its older brother. The lite version offers free anti-malware protection that eliminates viruses and malware before they start infecting your phone.

The app is also easy to use and after users have finished downloading the application, it will automatically set itself up in just a few taps. Even better, it features anti-theft and anti-loss protection that allows users to locate their phone remotely and even lock and wipe their phone data. Another feature worth mentioning is the Web Protection feature that protects your personal information and blocks malicious websites and cybercriminals trying to hack into your phone.

SeekDroid AntiTheft and Security

If you are looking for something simple yet deadly effective in keeping your phone's data secured then SeekDroid is all you need. Once you sign up for an account, SeekDroid will automatically hide itself to avoid detection from applications. In case your phone gets lost or stolen, just log into the SeekDroid website and from there you can track down your phone’s location.

Aside from locating your phone, it also lets you keep track of the calling activities of the person who found your phone. You can also remotely wipe your phone if you think that your security is compromised.  Other features that SeekDroid includes are tracking your device using breadcrumbs, an audible alarm, text message support, and retrieving SIM ID and IMEI. SeekDroid is available on the Google Play Store for a small fee of US$2.99.

Plan B

Here's an interesting application that will help you save your phone from potential thieves. Your best chance of securing your phone is to remotely install Plan B from Lookout. Once the app is installed using the Web-based Android market, Plan B will automatically work and send users email alerts with regards to their phone's approximate location. The app uses GPS locations and will constantly update you with information every 10 minutes.

Each location update will be emailed to the phone owner, with accuracy of just a few meters. Just recently, the app proved its worth when it helped Jon Barrow, an Ars Technica writer who lost his phone in a taxicab. He installed the application remotely and managed to locate and recover his lost phone shortly after. What's even more amazing is that Plan B is absolutely free to download from the Google Play Store.

WaveSecure Mobile Security

WaveSecure Mobile Security from McAfee offers users many security and privacy options for their phone. Unlike its competitors that are offering their applications for free, WaveSecure on the other hand requires a US$20.00 yearly subscription fee to use all of the services it has. Like Norton, WaveSecure will give users the option to wipe and lock down their phone automatically.

However, the app doesn't do a clean scan for malware; instead, it backs your phone data and allows you to restore it using another device. In case your phone gets stolen or dies, users can simply restore their files easily. In case you fear that the thief will eventually uninstall the application, then you can install WaveSecure Uninstall Protection that prevents any user from uninstalling the app without first entering a unique password.

LBE Privacy Guard

Want to protect your privacy? Then all you need is LBE Privacy Guard, a powerful privacy protection tool that is tailored specially for the Android platform. The app features state-of-the-art API interception technology that provides enhancements to the Android permissions system. The only catch is that LBE Privacy Guard requires you to have a rooted phone. If you don't, then it is pretty much useless.

LBE Privacy Guard lets users protect their applications by controlling each application when accessing important data. Not only that, it also blocks malicious operations such as trojans and malware. The app can also block network traffic even if you don't have an unlimited data plan. This is definitely an application that you don't want to miss out on. Try it today, absolutely free of charge.

Gallery Lock

Hide your pictures and videos with Gallery Lock. Chosen as one of the best applications by Times Magazine, Gallery Lock does everything to carefully hide away your photos and videos from unwanted eyes. From the name itself, Gallery Lock is a managing tool that lets you hide your gallery photos and videos individually when you want a little bit of privacy.

The management options of Gallery Lock allow sorting of individual folders, a stealth mode that hides the app’s icon, and protecting your multimedia files with a pattern lock. Gallery Lock also features a beautiful user interface that is easy to navigate.

App Defender

App Defender is a simple locking application that prevents chosen applications from running without explicit permission, thus protecting your privacy. Whenever you start a protected application, App Defender always asks for a password so other people using your phone cannot get information such as browser history, emails, and personal data.

For tighter security, you can also set a specific passcode for every application. Every time a wrong passcode is entered, the app will show you the number of failed attempts, so you’ll be notified that someone attempted to release the lock on your phone.

Lock down your phone against malicious sites, malware, and prying eyes with these apps. If your phone gets stolen, easily locate it or wipe your data to protect yourself against thieves abusing your personal information.

Which one of these security and privacy apps do you have on your phone? If your favorite privacy protection app didn’t make it to our list, let us know what it is by leaving us a comment below.

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This article, Best Android apps for privacy protection and security , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Google Sound Search: “What’s this song?” now available for ICS

Posted: 01 Jul 2012 07:56 PM PDT

“Google Ears” or Google Sound Search is one of the new features of Android Jelly Bean. Google Sound Search isn’t a launchable application, but a home screen widget that helps you identify songs.  Identifying songs you aren’t familiar with isn’t anything new to Android. If you’re familiar with Shazam or SoundHound, you know exactly what these types of applications do. However, Shazam and SoundHound don’t allow you to purchase music directly from the Google Play Store after it’s been identified, Google Sound Search does.

Thanks to XDA Android hacker asdfzz, owners of devices running Android 4.0 can take advantage of this Jelly Bean feature.

How does it work? Simply add the widget to one of your home screens.

Then, when you find a song you’re not really sure what it is, just flip over to the home screen containing the widget and let the magic begin.

After your song has been identified, you can then visit the Google Play Store to buy your new found song by tapping the price tag.

To get started, download the Google Sound Search APK and install it as you would any other third party application. Once installed, don’t forget to add it to one of your home screens. Happy sound searching!


This article, Google Sound Search: “What’s this song?” now available for ICS , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Google+ Events spam fix incoming, temporary unsatisfactory fixes available meanwhile

Posted: 01 Jul 2012 09:10 AM PDT

One of the new Google+ features announced during Google I/O is called "Events" and it's supposed to be a neat addition for active Google+ users that will let them share event invitations with friends and family and integrate them directly in Google's Calendar app. That's how the app should work in theory, but in practice Google pretty much blew it and a fix is required by users that have been annoyed by this unexpected spam source.

Google has thoroughly explained Google+ Events during the event, and it's understandable why it's important for the company. With Events heavily integrated in Google+, and considering that there are over 425 million Gmail registered accounts – most of Gmail users probably use other services like Google Calendar, but aren't necessarily Google+ active users – Google may be aiming to convert more people to actually using Google+.

In addition to support for custom invitations that "would stand out," the Events feature offers a Party Mode that allows users to share images with everyone attending at event in real time, right from a mobile device.

But apparently Google made Events work in such a manner that the new Events you're creating, or are invited to, are automatically added to your Calendar. Neat, right? But what if you have a few thousand followers that spam your Calendar – without them knowing – with all sorts of events that you're never going to attend to? That's the problem.

Google's Vic Gundotra said that a fix is coming soon but we have no idea when it's going to be pushed out. In the mean time you can somewhat fix the problem yourself by turning off "Show events you've declined" in your Calendar and the "Automatically add invitations to my calendar" option, to prevent unwanted spam.


This article, Google+ Events spam fix incoming, temporary unsatisfactory fixes available meanwhile , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Amazing Alex coming in July to Android, first non Angry Birds game from Rovio

Posted: 01 Jul 2012 08:27 AM PDT

Rovio may have cashed in on its very addictive Angry Birds franchise, but the company is determined to impress its customers with other games as well. One such game is Amazing Alex, also a physics puzzler, which will be available on Android and iOS devices starting with July.

Alex is a kid that likes to "turn everything into adventure," and adventure you shall experience on your Android device. The game will pack "100 challenging levels" and users will be able to create their own levels and share them with friends, thus challenging everyone else to solve even more mysteries.

Unfortunately we don't have a firm release date for the game, and we have no idea what Android devices will support it initially – hopefully the game will work on most devices – so we'll just have to wait for the company to release more details about Amazing Alex. Pricing details for the game are also unavailable at this time, but we'll find out more details in just a few days.

It will definitely be interesting to see whether the new franchise will be at least as popular as Angry Birds, a game that's available across a variety of platforms, including Android mobile devices, and a game that has been downloaded over 1 billion times across all platforms (counting all game versions).

We can at least enjoy the first Amazing Alex trailer while we wait for Rovio to reveal more details about Amazing Alex. Anyone excited?

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This article, Amazing Alex coming in July to Android, first non Angry Birds game from Rovio , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.