Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Android Community

Android Community


Verizon Galaxy S III pre-orders set to arrive July 5-6

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 04:34 PM PDT

Good news folks, it looks like the guys at Big Red have finally started shipping out those Galaxy S III pre-orders. Today Verizon officially announced that the flagship Galaxy S III will be in stores and available to purchase starting July 10th, but we can now confirm those that pre-ordered will get the impressive new phone even sooner.

Customers are now starting to get confirmation emails today from Verizon stating that the Galaxy S III has shipped. We are hearing July 6th from a few tips but a screenshot gathered by Droid-Life shows July 5th. After all the excitement and anticipation the wait is almost over guys!

According to many tips, devices are starting to ship today and if you were one that chose overnight shipping you should get it Thursday morning, since tomorrow is the 4th of July and not open for shipping. Between the tips, leaks, and reports it looks like most of you who pre-ordered back in June, or recently, should all start getting your devices in the next few days. Who’s excited?

Verizon-sgsiii-540x4511 galaxy-s3-orders-shipping-650x410
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 :


Google Now Voice Search Hands-on [Video]

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 03:54 PM PDT

One of the most interesting and exciting features of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is Google Now. Google’s new virtual voice and search assistant much like Siri, only smarter. Being able to gather from the biggest search engine in the world surely helps their cause. We’ve seen plenty of the features outlined from Google themselves during IO last week, and have reported on them ourselves. What you’ll see below however is an extensive hands-on video asking Google Now tons and tons of questions.

This doesn’t really need too much explanation other than the fact that I will say Google Now is simply amazing. This is the first initial release and we expect it to really grow into something excellent as it evolves. In its current form on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and the Nexus 7 it does tons of things great — but a few areas need improving. Voice recognition is extremely accurate, response time blows Siri out of the water, and the results are very simple and informative. Without further explaining, enjoy the video!

Google Now Voice Search

Now I didn’t get everything right the first time when I first started enjoying Google Now, but now that I’ve had a week to toy with it I’ve learned to ask the right questions (reminds me of iRobot). As you could see from my video above the response time is extremely quick. Whether it will remain that perfect as thousands and thousands start to use Jelly Bean as it rolls out is another question, but for now it’s blazing fast and useful.

Show this off to your family and friends, particularly those that love Siri, and see what they think. I hope you learned a few new tricks you can try, and enjoyed the barrel roll. I know I did!


Dead Trigger zombie shooter hits the Play Store [Hands-on]

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 03:15 PM PDT

It’s finally here folks! If you’re the type that loves to run around guns blazing while trying to save the world from zombies this will be your favorite mobile game. From the extremely successful and popular developers MadFinger Games comes the next epic shooter for Android — Dead Trigger. Following in Shadowgun‘s impressive footsteps this game delivers on more than just graphics. Lets take a look.

We’ve talked about this game more than a few times, and have been dying to get our hands on it. After experiencing a few problems and not launching yesterday like originally planned, you can get it today. Now that MadFinger has finally released it to the Play Store (and for the low price of $0.99) we’ve given it a quick look. The controls are essentially very similar to Shadowgun and if you’ve played it (you should ) you’ll feel right at home. Trust us when we say this will be $1 well spent. Check out our quick and first hand impressions while we continue playing this week.

Dead Trigger hands-on

Dead Trigger brings the same amazing visuals and lighting effects, impressive weapon selection, and more all to a post-apocalyptic world full of Zombies. With well over 40 hours of gameplay this is worth every penny if you ask me. My short limited time with the game has me completely amused, and I’ll probably be playing this more than I should come tomorrow for the 4th. Already getting more than enough headshots this will be one for the record books. Obviously from the video above you can see it working great with the Nexus 7 running on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and the stunning graphics are smooth thanks to collaboration with NVIDIA and their Tegra 3 quad-core processor.

The video should be enough for you to run out and buy this already, but if not check out the additional screenshots below then head to the Google Play Store link and buy this stellar game today for only $0.99 — Enjoy!

Dead Trigger Store Link
Dead Trigger Tegra Zone Link

Screenshot_2012-07-03-14-49-31 Screenshot_2012-07-03-14-49-39 Screenshot_2012-07-03-14-49-48 Screenshot_2012-07-03-14-49-56 Screenshot_2012-07-03-14-48-52 Screenshot_2012-07-03-14-49-09 Screenshot_2012-07-03-14-49-23 Screenshot_2012-07-03-14-48-31 Screenshot_2012-07-03-14-48-39


Google Now being ported to Ice Cream Sandwich

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 01:02 PM PDT

One of the best things about the Android Community is the fact they are always willing to help development for the greater world of Android. Take Google Now for example. The awesome new Siri-besting voice assistant announced alongside Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. We all want it, and developers from XDA are already hard at work making it work on Ice Cream Sandwich.

This brand new feature is extremely awesome but currently is only available for the select few using an Android 4.1 Jelly Bean device, or a few of the JB ROM’s released too. The folks from Droid-Life spotted some awesome development under way bringing Google Now to all, and we can’t wait to give it a try on more devices.

As usual the folks from XDA Developers are hard at work staying up all hours of the night working to get this figured out, and it appears they are quite close. You can install Google Now and the new search bar right to Ice Cream Sandwich with their modded APK, tweak a few settings and permissions, and give it a try today. Sadly it still isn’t working with voice, which is one of the coolest features but surely they’ll get it all sorted out soon.

To follow the entire thread and development check out the source link below. For directions and the install file click here.

[via XDA]


Verizon confirms Galaxy S III July 10th launch date

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 11:50 AM PDT

Verizon has just confirmed what we all basically already knew. That their version of the flagship Samsung Galaxy S III will be available starting July 10th both online and in-stores nationwide. Users will be able to enjoy their fast 4G LTE services across the country with a new Galaxy S III.

Verizon originally started pre-orders early June just like many other carriers, and later we started seeing ship date confirmations stating July 9th. Then pre-order ship dates slipped to the 10th, and last week the 11th. Just like T-Mobile and AT&T who had to delay and filter their launch dates, Verizon was preparing for the extra demand — but it appears that wasn’t needed. Verizon does state however that the 32GB model is only available online for the time being, and not in stores.

It looks like online and local stores will have the Galaxy S III in stock and available come July 10th, and those who pre-ordered will probably get theirs come the same day. Even if previous pre-order confirmations stated the 11th it looks like Samsung has stopped the bleeding with the overly high demand and has enough to cover this initial push. We have a feeling Verizon stores will still be selling out, so you’ll want to get down there quick if interested.

Be sure to check out our Galaxy S III Review, as well as plenty of additional coverage below.

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 :


Google Alert - android

News10 new results for android
 
When Will Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) Get t0 Your Smartphone?
PCWorld
Despite Google's efforts to sped up the process, Android software update lags will continue in short term.
See all stories on this topic »
Android Director: 'We Have the First Natural-Sounding Synthesized Voice in the ...
Wired News
Google's Hugo Barra, the product manager for Android, talks with Wired about what's new for the world's most popular mobile operating system: Google's voice, Google Now, Jelly Bean and the Asus Nexus 7 tablet.
See all stories on this topic »

Wired News
Google Nexus 7 Tablet Review: Solid, but Not Revolutionary
PCWorld
Android has always held a big advantage over Apple's iOS in its ability to expand on-board storage via a memory card; in fact, this is something that every tablet competitor to the Nexus 7 but the Amazon Kindle Fire (and Apple's iPad, natch) has. The ...
See all stories on this topic »
Android Jelly Bean Features Leak Online For Samsung And HTC Devices: How ...
International Business Times
Android's next operating system, known as Jelly Bean, has just been officially unveiled at Google's I/O event earlier this week. The redesigned software, which includes a new notification menu and a new lock screen among other features, will reportedly ...
See all stories on this topic »
Microsoft engineer discovers Android spam botnet
ZDNet
Summary: A Microsoft engineer has discovered and identified an Android botnet that is sending out spam on an industrial and international scale. Please only install Android apps that you trust.
See all stories on this topic »
Jelly Bean: Android ICS Hits 11% of Devices, Who Will Get Android 4.1?
International Business Times
Google unveiled Android's new Jelly Bean software last week, but it's difficult to get excited about Android software updates because manufacturers and carriers aren't clearing the new versions fast enough, so many people are left with older versions ...
See all stories on this topic »

International Business Times
Android clickjacking rootkit attack is more mischievous than malicious at the ...
Computerworld (blog)
Security researchers have created a proof-of-concept clickjacking rootkit for Android and it will even work on the Ice Cream Sandwich platform. Unlike other rootkits, the demo only shows it hijacking apps, but it works without restarting the Android ...
See all stories on this topic »
Google's Nexus 7 and $199 Tablet Alternatives
PCWorld
The Nexus 7 has the latest ARM processor and Android 4.1 OS, but the tablet may not be attractive to buyers looking for expandable storage or dual-cameras, which are available in similarly priced competitive products. Here is a comparison of tablets at ...
See all stories on this topic »
Android's Ice Cream Sandwich share breaks 10%
Los Angeles Times
It looks like Google 's Ice Cream Sandwich operating system is finally warming up in the smartphone market. Ice Cream Sandwich is now on one out of 10 active Android devices, according to data the company released Tuesday .
See all stories on this topic »
Apple wins ban on two Android devices: What it means for you
CNN
A judge slapped an injunction on the Galaxy Nexus phone and the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in a patent infringement lawsuit. Will this affect you?
See all stories on this topic »

Blogs5 new results for android
 
Android botnet discovered | Ubergizmo
By George Wong
While malware on Android isn't exactly unheard of, it looks like there's more than meets the eye. A Microsoft researcher recently came across some interesting spam emails that were delivered via Yahoo! Mail servers. In addition to being sent ...
Ubergizmo
iFixit application brings its repair manuals to Android, lets you fix it to ...
By Edgar Alvarez
Within the past few weeks alone, we've spotted the cautious hands of the folks over at iFixit dive very carefully into that Retina-friendly.
Engadget
Android Overload: HTC One V Now Available From Virgin Mobile for ...
By Chris Chavez
Tomorrow we celebrate our nation's independence and before we leave you for the night, we have the Android Overload. These are all the news bits from around the web that didn't quite make in onto our front page, but since they were so ...
Android Phone Fans
Spam from an Android botnet - Terry Zink's Cyber Security Blog ...
By tzink
A blog about fighting spam and malware by a member of Microsoft Forefront Online Security anti-spam team.
MSDN Blogs
Report: Xbox co-creator backing $99, Android-based game console ...
By Ben Gilbert
What is "Ouya," besides an amusing onomatopoeia? It's reportedly the concept for a $99, Android-based game console that has some very interesting backers. We've got original Xbox cheerleader Ed Fries, and acclaimed designer Yves ...
Joystiq


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Android Authority

Android Authority


Nexus 7 ghosting issues affect some displays, is it a widespread problem?

Posted: 04 Jul 2012 02:46 AM PDT

The Google Nexus 7 is available for pre-order in various markets already, but the device is not available to consumers yet in those countries. The only Nexus 7 units that can be used in the wild right now are the white versions that were handed free of charge to all Google I/O attendees last week. And it looks like some of those units have some display issues you should be aware of.

According to Android Police, the displays of some Nexus 7 units have an image retention issue, also known as ghosting, that has been replicated at least on two devices. The publication discovered the issue by leaving an image on the display at full brightness for 2 minutes and then pressing the home button. When looking at the home screen, one could easily observe the "ghost" of that former image – see images above (image) and below (retention).

Apparently the issue affects the Nexus 7 only when the display is set to full brightness. When the display is set on automatic brightness, "the problem is much less noticeable," while under any other conditions, the problem is a lot clearer to users:

But on maximum brightness or under incandescent/fluorescent light even on automatic, hovering over some icons for 5-10 seconds on your homescreen then swiping to an empty one will leave a very visible retained image for 10-15 seconds. Let me reiterate that: it’s noticeable even with things like homescreen icons on automatic brightness. You’ll have to look for it more, but it’s definitely there. I chose this example image because it’s the only one that’s really visible in a photo, it’s much harder to capture when it’s more subtle. The problem also becomes less severe the more time the display is on – it seems to “warm up.”

Image retention is obvious only when the tablet hasn't been used for a few hours. After "warming up" – which needs about 30 minutes of usage – the ghosting issue is of "lessened severity." The publication says some people suggest that the image retention issue is a characteristic of IPS displays, but after comparing the Nexus 7 with the Transformer Prime and a Transformer Pad 300 – also made by Asus, with both devices having IPS panels – it was discovered that only the Nexus 7 has a more severe issue. Apparently the two Transformer tablets only retain bright-white images on darker backgrounds, while the Nexus 7 does it with any image.

Asus has already issued a response, and it appears that the company can't replicate the problem on production units, or the Nexus 7 devices that will be shipped to buyers soon. Android Police speculates that the ghosting issue may affect only the white Google Nexus 7 units, the pre-production tablets, that were given to Google I/O attendees. We’ll tell you more once the Nexus 7 units are shipped to consumers.

Does any other Nexus 7 owner experience such ghosting issues? Let us know in the comments section below.


This article, Nexus 7 ghosting issues affect some displays, is it a widespread problem? , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Best Android apps for your Samsung Galaxy Note’s S Pen

Posted: 03 Jul 2012 09:00 PM PDT

The Samsung Galaxy Note, with its huge 5.3-inch HD Super AMOLED touchscreen and innovative S Pen, has catapulted its way to success and becoming the world's first phablet/phoneblet.

With the responsive and accurate movement of the S Pen, users can do a lot more things than just pointing and clicking buttons.  In fact, we found the S Pen so powerful that it can provide new ways to capture and create ideas. With the introduction of new applications that are tailor-made for the S Pen, or can put it to really great use, the Galaxy Note truly becomes more than just a smartphone.

Here are some of the best Android apps that take advantage of the Galaxy Note's superior and smart S Pen technology.

SketchBook Mobile

SketchBook Mobile is a great application to unleash your creativity, as well as fully utilizing your Galaxy Note’s S Pen. SketchBook Mobile is a drawing tool that will turn your Galaxy Note into a digital sketch pad for drawing, drafting, and even painting. Great for designers and hobbyists alike, SketchBook Moble can turn your thoughts into digital masterpieces.

Featuring an array of tools from airbrushes to pencils, SketchBook Mobile is definitely worth your time and money. And what better way to experience a professional grade application than by creating your works with the Galaxy Note's intuitive S pen.

Make accurate drawings down to the finest lines and curves as SketchBook Mobile has everything to guide you.

Together with the Galaxy Note's huge 5.3 inch display, drawing on a phablet this good is worth the time and effort.

SketchBook Mobile works great with other devices, too, provided they have the required 1.0 GHz processor and 512 MB of RAM.

Draw Something Free

With over 10 million downloads on the Google Play Store, Draw Something Free is undoubtedly one of the best social networking games out there. Draw Something is a simple game where you pair up with someone or a friend you know and get head-to-head in a guessing game. Instead of acting the word using your body and mouth closed, Draw Something lets you draw that word and lets the other person guess what it is. If the other person guesses the word correctly, then both of you win. For your efforts, you’ll get some coins.

Words are categorized according to easy, medium and hard. The tougher the words, the more coins you will be rewarded for guessing correctly. Draw Something is addictive, fun and easy to play. And, what better way to draw the object by using the Galaxy Note’s S Pen.

Fruit Ninja Free

Slice your way with your Galaxy Note's stylus in the epic slicer game known as Fruit Ninja Free. Fruit Ninja is a juicy action game that is not only fun and addictive but also a great way to relieve stress. Become the ultimate fruit avenger and slice your way through every fruit without remorse.

Fruit Ninja is a straightforward game with only a single objective — slice as many fruits as you can. As the game progresses, bombs are being added into the mix, making dexterity and skill your best friend.

Slice fruits using your Galaxy Note's S Pen, turning it into a samurai blade. Not only is the game fun but also a great way to use the phone’s S Pen.

Adobe Reader

Take advantage of the Galaxy Note's huge 5.3-inch screen by reading/viewing Word documents, PDF files, PowerPoint presentations, and graphics through Adobe Reader, which is frequently associated with PDF files and is the popular choice of many users.

Adobe Reader for mobile devices retains the same functionality as its older brother found on many desktop computers. You can still view documents easily and can skim through numerous pages in a breeze.

One thing worth mentioning in Adobe Reader for Android is the fact that you can annotate words, highlight sentences, and even scribble some comments on the document itself. Not only that, you can also zoom in and out of the document and even sign any document by using a finger.

The Galaxy Note's S Pen can do a great job in highlighting words in long documents as if you were holding a real book.

Adobe Photoshop Express

Adobe Photoshop Express for Android is a miniature version of the famous photo-editing software of the same name that is used on many desktop computers. Edit photos and share them instantly. You will be able to crop, rotate, adjust color, and add artistic effects to your creations. The app sports a clean user interface and controlling the image is as easy as it can get.

First time users can easily navigate through the app’s settings. The Galaxy Note's S Pen can make short work of editing photos. If you happen to be working with Adobe Photoshop on your computer with a graphic tablet and a stylus, then the Galaxy Note's S Pen won't feel any different. You will still get accuracy and the ease of navigating through the options compared to using your bare hands.

Photo Art – Color Effects

Create works of art fast and easy with Photo Art – Color Effects. Color your favorite pictures using your fingers or apply several effects with a set of tools at your disposal. Instead of using your bare hands to do all of the coloring, why not take the advantage of the Galaxy Note's S Pen?  Photo Art is one of the best photo editing apps available and it does a great job in enhancing photos.

Photo Art features 31 different effects and 12 brush types in its arsenal. Just like in any image editing application, you can configure the size of the brushes in pixels and other configuration settings. The Galaxy Note's S pen can greatly lessen the burden with pinpoint precision and other stuff that need to be done accurately.

Kids Doodle – Movie Kids Paint

Here's an application made especially for kids. Kids Doodle – Movie Kids Paint is an easy-to-use drawing application for kids and adults alike. The app features more than ten beautiful brushes that vary differently according to the color it represents. Users will be presented with a black background and a set of tools to start painting their pictures. The colors available are very much bright and attractive, sure to keep kids captivated.

There is also a built-in gallery recording for keeping track of your drawing progress. After completing a piece, convert the recording into a movie for kids to watch how their drawings come to life. Works can easily be shared through Facebook, Gmail, or Picasa. Kids Doodle is absolutely free to download on the Google Play Store.

Scratch Draw Art Game

Scratch Draw Art Game is like Draw Something for kids. Basically, the app is an art game where users start off with a black screen and scratch their way to create an image. Instead of the usual white canvas, Scratch Draw Art is completely the opposite. Behind the black background lies a random image and the more users scratch the surface, the more the picture is revealed.

On top of the main screen lies the tools: a pencil, an eraser, save, and share buttons. Scratch Draw features more than 260 backgrounds for users to discover and a pencil that supports multiple thickness.

Overall, Scratch Draw is a great starter application for aspiring young artists. Together with the Galaxy Note's S Pen, scratch drawing is as easy as it can get.

123s ABCs Handwriting Fun Finger Tracing Flashcards SET1

Another educational application that really puts the Galaxy Note's S Pen to good use is 123s ABCs Handwriting Fun Finger Tracing Flashcard SET1. Finger tracing has never been so exciting and fun. Especially made for kids who have just started to write their first ABC's, Finger Tracing Flashcard is a great companion to teach kids in the art of writing.

On the app's main home screen, users can choose a set which they want to master by tracing. These sets include lowercase and uppercase ABC's, numbers, and basic shapes. Once they have finished choosing a category, users can then start tracing their desired sets. The app is also kind of enough to provide instructions on how to properly write or draw a particular figure.

Kids Finger Painting Art Game

If your kids love coloring books then Kids Finger Painting Art Game will definitely make them fall in love with digital coloring. Kids Finger Painting Art Game is basically a fun-filled application that lets users paint over 120 coloring pages. There are different brushes to choose from and a paint bucket for easy coloring. But, if you really want some precision in coloring those sharp edges, there's nothing better than using the Galaxy Note's S Pen.

Kids of all ages will be amazed at the beautiful colors available to them and the drawings they can use them on. No more broken crayons or having to sharpen colored pencils! Users can have some digital fun using only their smartphones. Users can also zoom in and out of the drawings and choose varied coloring materials.

Say goodbye to doing things with just the tip of your finger. Make good use of the Galaxy Note’s S Pen with these applications. Which one of these Galaxy Note S Pen-friendly apps do you have? Do you think you’ll be able to live without your S Pen?


    This article, Best Android apps for your Samsung Galaxy Note’s S Pen , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


    CrowdStream: Establishing connections between music artists and fans

    Posted: 03 Jul 2012 06:00 PM PDT

    If you love spending your quality time by showing up at events, concerts, or gimmicks, then you're definitely going to love how CrowdStream is going to boost your music life to the next level.

    CrowdStream is a free Android application that connects avid music lovers with their favorite rock bands and stars at upcoming live events. It so happens that CrowdStream is one of the few applications that are popular among both music fans and stars.

    CrowdSteam essentially builds bridges between music fans and artists so that they can easily share exclusive content like photos, comments, and feedback of live concerts all over the world in real-time. Not only that, the app can also be used as a one-stop shop for all the information regarding past, present, and future events from all over the globe. Users can also search their favorite performers and fetch all the related information through their social-networking sites or even their local music library.

    CrowdStream features a sleek home screen layout where you can find the five main tabs for Events, Crowd, Camera, Stream and Profile tabs. Before you hop on the bandwagon, the app requires you to log in by creating a CrowdStream account. You can also use your Facebook ID. Creating an account is free and you can create one inside the app itself.

    Selecting the Events tab will further divide it into three main tabs. The Now tab is where you may want to check out the list of events that are happening. The Upcoming and Past tabs, on the other hand, speak for their respective titles and list all the events taking place. Content in each tab varies and tapping the Now tab will let you take a peek into the live stream content during the ongoing event.

    In the Crowd tab, you can search for artist information based on your local music library, as well as on other artists that you have liked on Facebook. Once all the information has been loaded up, you can set custom alerts for your favorite artists. Provided that you have already checked-in at an event, the Camera tab will let you start capturing and sharing event photos. If you haven't, the photo sharing feature won't be accessible.

    From the title itself, the Stream Tab displays live stream content of photos, comments, and likes from the events and artists that the you are currently following. Apart from checking out the interactions made by other users, you can also share it to other social networking site such as Twitter and Facebook.

    Lastly, the Profile Tab lets you alter your profile pages and settings that are associated with your Facebook and Twitter account through the CrowdStream network. You can also keep tabs on the events and artists that you are following or check out the photo stream that you have shared.

    CrowdSteam is a great application with a polished user interface and is feature-rich when it comes to sharing your passion for your favorite artists and music.

    If you’re a fan of musical events then CrowdStream won't certainly disappoint you. You can download CrowdStream absolutely free from the Google Play Store.


    This article, CrowdStream: Establishing connections between music artists and fans , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


    ISeeYou: App for preventing screen timeout when running certain apps

    Posted: 03 Jul 2012 03:00 PM PDT

    One of the not-so-nice things about the built-in power conservation functions in older phones is that it automatically turns off the screen when it thinks it is not in use. Imagine that you’re reading an article, letting your eyes travel across sentences when suddenly, your phone’s backlight turns off. You’ll need to tap the screen again to turn it on, which can lead to you losing your concentration and becoming irritated.

    Now imagine that you’re watching a movie. Tapping the screen can sometimes lead you, accidentally, to other pages and that means you're back to zero if you're watching a movie or a video. Although phones nowadays are at their peak when it comes to technology, the pesky idle screen timing out problem of older phones hadn’t been solved until ISeeYou.

    The ISeeYou app is a smart program that keeps the screen on when you are looking at your phone. ISeeYou can be best used when you have a front-facing camera to recognize your face.

    The app is perfect for busy people who don’t want to keep tapping their device’s screen just to make sure it doesn’t time out. Not only does this save you a headache, it also saves you time that you could use reading or watching your video.

    If your hands are full, simply glance at your phone and the ISeeYou app will detect your face, thereby keeping your screen from timing out. There’s no need to be envious of the Samsung Galaxy S3′s Smart Stay feature because you can enjoy the same function with ISeeYou.

    Another handy feature of the app is the Blind List, an exception list of some sort through which you can specify which apps the ISeeYou service will be “blind” to.  When an app on the Blind List runs, ISeeYou will not perform anything.

    Developed by Marco Roccagli, the app will make sure that your movie viewing and e-book reading will not be riddled with interruptions. The app works best on phones that run Android 2.3 or higher. With the ISeeYou Android app, you won't be irritated with your screen timing out again. You can now read articles, watch movies and videos without having to tap your screen frequently just to keep the display on.

    The lite version of ISeeYou lets you enjoy just the basics, such as starting/stopping the service and creating a Blind List.  For more features, you can get the pro version of ISeeYou, which allows you to change several standard settings such as polling rate, maximum scan time, the time before the display times out, and a few more. The pro version costs 99 cents only. Download ISeeYou Android app now, and enjoy the great features of your phone without the interruption of your screen timing out.


    This article, ISeeYou: App for preventing screen timeout when running certain apps , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


    Google Nexus 7 teardown already complete

    Posted: 03 Jul 2012 02:51 PM PDT

    The folks over at iFixit managed to get a hold of a Google Nexus 7 five days after being officially unveiled at Google I/O – in fact they did score a white version, the kind that was handed down to all attendees of the developer conference – and they did what they do best, tear it to pieces.

    We have already covered the Nexus 7 extensively since the first Google I/O keynote, so you should be pretty familiar with its specs and features, release dates, international launch announcements, rooting, custom ROMs and default OS version. So let's take a look at some of the things revealed by this "official" teardown:

    • The Nexus 7 is 10.4mm thick, precisely 1mm thicker than the new iPad. Apparently that extra millimeter of thickness makes the Nexus 7 more repairable than the iPad, although we wouldn't advise you to repair any tablet at home, especially if it's still covered by warranty.
    • GPS, NFC and Wi-Fi antennas may have been produced as soon as April or May.
    • The Nexus 7 has a 4,326 mAh battery that can offer 9:49 hours of battery life compared with the Kindle Fire's 4400mAh battery that offers just 7:42 hours of life.
    • The Nexus 7 doesn't get "disconcertingly hot" but rather "just a little toasty," according to Engadget.
    • The Nexus 7 features Hynix RAM, the same model found in the new MacBook Pro with Retina Display.
    • The Nexus 7 comes with two microphones, presumably needed to offer users great voice-based Google Search features.
    • It is still not known whether the Nexus 7 features Gorilla Glass or Gorilla Glass 2 from Corning, but I guess we'll find out more details about that soon enough.

    If you're curious to see more high-resolution images of the Nexus 7's internal components, head down to iFixit to check them out. The online publication has given the device a 7/10 repairability score, compared to the 8/10 score the Kindle Fire received, not that it really matters to most users, who are certainly not going to pry open their Nexus 7 units in order to replace any faulty components.

    Did you already pre-order a Nexus 7?


    This article, Google Nexus 7 teardown already complete , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


    Verizon Galaxy S3 release date officially set for July 10

    Posted: 03 Jul 2012 02:15 PM PDT

    Yesterday we found out that AT&T's Galaxy S3 is hitting stores on July 6, and now it's Verizon's turn to reveal more details about the launch of its own Galaxy S3 smartphone.

    The largest mobile operator in the U.S. announced earlier today that the Galaxy S3 will be available in its stores starting with July 10, just as some of the previous rumors suggested, with prices starting at $199.99.

    In case you were wondering, the 16GB Verizon Galaxy S3 will cost $199.99 when purchased with a new two-year contract while the 32GB version will set you back $249.99, also when bought with new two-year agreement. Comparatively, AT&T only has the 16GB model in stock. The device will be available in two colors, the usual Marble White and Pebble Blue, according to the official press release.

    We have talked so much about the Galaxy S3 lately that the smartphone doesn't need any more introductions. The handset is Samsung's 2012 flagship device, and the South Korean company will reportedly hit 10 million Galaxy S3 sales this month. In the U.S., the phone will be available from six carriers including Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and C Spire.

    Show full PR text

    SAMSUNG GALAXY S® III AVAILABLE ON THE VERIZON WIRELESS 4G LTE NETWORK STARTING JULY 10

    BASKING RIDGE, N.J. and DALLAS – Verizon Wireless and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) today announced that the 4G LTE-powered Samsung Galaxy S® III will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com/galaxys3 starting July 10. Galaxy S III customers will have access to the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network which is available in 304 markets across the United States. Verizon Wireless 4G LTE will be in 400 markets covering 260 million people by the end of this year.

    Customers can take advantage of 4G LTE-optimized apps like Color to share live video broadcasts of life's special moments with their Facebook® friends. Sharing live video with audio is an exclusive feature of the Color app on Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network. Customers can broadcast real-time footage of a newborn's first step with family members who are miles away or share a beautiful view of a vacation spot to make friends at home jealous. Combining America's largest 4G LTE network with the Galaxy S III's 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED™ display creates the perfect duo to watch movies, television shows and other video content with apps like viewdini. Viewdini brings the power of Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network to the screen by streamlining access to videos from a wide range of content providers, including cable operators, websites and other popular video sources. The viewdini app can be downloaded from Verizon Apps and Google Play.

    Additional features:

    • Android™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
    • Mobile Hotspot – Share a 4G LTE connection with up to 10 Wi-Fi-enabled devices
    • 1.5 GHz dual-core processor and 2 GB RAM
    • Share Shot – Create a temporary photo sharing network with a group of friends who are nearby at the same party or event; photos can be taken by any member of the group and shared with the entire group
    • S Beam – Share pictures, videos, documents and more by simply touching two Galaxy S III devices' backs together
    • S Voice™ – Featuring natural language recognition, you can control the apps and services used most with words instead of touch
    • Pop Up Play – Videos can be played in a small window while customers use the rest of the display to complete other tasks such as typing emails, organizing calendars and updating their social networks
    • Evolved camera capabilities – Burst Shot mode instantly captures 20 continuous shots and Best Photo feature selects the best shot to display
    • Enhanced camera – 8-megapixel rear camera with zero-lag shutter speed and a 1.9-megapixel front camera so customers can capture pictures and videos of themselves or video chat with family and friends
    • microSD™ card slot for expandable memory

    The Samsung Galaxy S III is available in 16 GB and 32 GB models for $199.99 and $249.99 respectively with a new two-year customer agreement. The 16 GB model will be available in stores and online starting July 10 and the 32 GB model will be available online starting July 10 and will be in stores in the coming weeks. Customers will also have the choice of the Galaxy S III in two colors: Marble White or Pebble Blue. Customers can visit www.verizonwireless.com/galaxys3 for more information on the Samsung Galaxy S III for Verizon Wireless.


    This article, Verizon Galaxy S3 release date officially set for July 10 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


    Swype Beta 1.0.3.5809: Living, learning keyboard capable of 4 text input modes

    Posted: 03 Jul 2012 12:00 PM PDT

    Swype is back with a vengeance and this time around, it certainly means business. The new Swype Beta has just been released to the public and if you're one of the lucky few who have tried the past versions, then the improved version will definitely blow you away.

    For those of you who have never tried it yet, Swype is an innovative custom Android keyboard developed by Nuance Communications. Since its debut, Swype has been reaping positive vibes from many Android users praising its simplicity and innovative way of “typing” on the keyboard. With every update, Swype is continuously improved with the promise of customer satisfaction. If you feel tired of the traditional method of tapping your phone to input letters, then Swype will definitely change the way you operate your keyboard.

    The latest version of Swype, dubbed as the "Living Keyboard," is a brand new beta version that features a more polished and sleek user interface and a smarter algorithm in analyzing key strokes. The text input capabilities of Swype have been enhanced to the extent that the developers want Swype to be the chosen keyboard replacement.

    The new update includes a whole variety of features that have been addressed in the past version. For instance, Swype is now able to predict the next word, thanks to the company's intelligent XT9 technology embedded in the application.

    Furthermore, users have control over their custom dictionary, which Swype relies on as its database of words. Not only that, Swype has upgraded its international language to support up to 55 different global languages. These can all be downloaded using Swype's online service.

    Swype's keyboard has also been tweaked to make the keys appear more spacious for users who have fat fingers. To save even more space, the language toggle has been mashed with the spacebar key and the Dragon Dictation segment was totally changed to include a visualizer to let Swype know that you’ve finished chatting.

    The four-way text inputs of Swype are composed of the following: Swyping, Tapping, Speaking, and Writing. These four modes can be used depending on the users’ preferences, so if they are still not completely sold on the idea of swiping their fingers over the keyboard, they can easily revert to the traditional keyboard tapping method.

    Writing, on the other hand, lets you scribble or draw (i.e., write) words, which Swype will automatically convert into text. And, lastly the Speaking method, from the name itself, is a speech recognition engine which allows you to say the words and Swpye will automatically convert them into text.

    Another feature of Swype is Swype Connect which lets users connect to their Facebook, Twitter, and mail accounts with the application's word database, so whenever you use these social-networking sites, Swype will automatically learn some new words that you have been using and add them to its database.

    The new Swype beta is currently in its early stages of development and is not available on the Google Play Store for download. However, the developers themselves were kind enough to let users download the Swype Beta keyboard from their website.  If you were a Swype user before, you can check out the new version by registering for the beta found on the Swype website.

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    This article, Swype Beta 1.0.3.5809: Living, learning keyboard capable of 4 text input modes , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


    Huawei’s new Emotion UI gets its own Chinese official website, should be up for download soon

    Posted: 03 Jul 2012 09:53 AM PDT

    Although it's still not a name to be reckoned with in the Western technology world, Huawei is certainly making efforts to change that and get in the high-end mix. The Ascend P1, P1S and especially the Ascend D Quad are the devices that could put Huawei on the map in Europe and the US, but unfortunately they still can't be found in many parts of the world outside Asia.

    Huawei will also be trying to draw the attention of tech users with a couple of software innovations, the most important one being the introduction of the Emotion UI for Android 4.0 ICS. The user interface, unveiled back in May, now has its own official website (in Chinese) and should be up for grabs soon enough.

    In fact, the new UI should have already been up for download, but for some reason the install links for the Ascend P1 E and Honor Glory don't work, while the Ascend P1's overlay is still listed as "coming soon". There isn't much to do before actually seeing the Emotion UI go live, so let's take a look on what the official website says about the overlay (using Google Translate, of course).

    "Probably the world's most emotional system" is described by Huawei as powerful, easy to use, and easy to enjoy, and the first thing we can notice about it is that it kind of looks like a more minimalistic version of Samsung's TouchWiz.

    That's a good thing, though, because most users don't necessarily appreciate overly complex tweaks and customizations and, for the most part, the Emotion UI doesn't seem to be spoiling the Google "pure experience" very much.

    Among the original features it brings to the table, there's a voice assistant app only functional in Chinese at this time, customizable homescreens and animations, access to Huawei's cloud service, custom desktop apps, theme-switching, and an "intelligent contact finder".

    The skin should come to Huawei's future flagship, the Ascend D Quad, soon, and it might be pre-installed on the device when it will finally hit the market. No words on when we should expect an English version of the Emotion UI with all that entails, but we'll probably be hearing on that in the coming weeks.

    What do you guys think? Is the Emotion UI the kind of original software tweak that can make Huawei's new high-end phones more attractive, or is it another overlay that will make Android look cheaper and feel less functional?


    This article, Huawei’s new Emotion UI gets its own Chinese official website, should be up for download soon , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


    Jelly Bean’s Voice Search rocks with answers to 40+ basic, but also outrageous questions (video)

    Posted: 03 Jul 2012 09:31 AM PDT

    Although it hasn't been the only important update or improvement it has brought to the table, Jelly Bean's voice search has been the highlight of so many articles and discussions this past week that I'm sure you're starting to get a bit tired.

    And while I know that you've already seen a fistful of video clips comparing the new voice search in Android to Apple's Siri, or simply showing off what the new feature can do, you shouldn't miss the video at the end of this post for the world.

    In this particular clip, Jean-Louis Nguyen, a Montreal-based technology geek (I hope he doesn't mind me calling him that) takes the voice search on the Galaxy Nexus for a pretty comprehensive spin, bombarding it with no less than 47 different questions.

    As expected, the Voice Search app does a stupendous job in providing the answers to the questions both accurately, but also extremely fast. The app's intuitiveness is easy to notice in the clip, as it has no problem distinguishing words pronounced in an almost identical fashion. Also, it's pretty great to see a voice assistant software that doesn't force you to repeat the question more than one time and that understands and "communicates" with you at an unbelievably fast pace.

    Now, I'm not going to spoil much of the fun you'll most likely have by watching the video and see the Voice Search handling more than 40 different questions, among which there are at least 10 or 15 difficult ones, in under 10 minutes, but I have to make a few observations with your permission.

    First off, what truly blew my mind from the first clip I saw demoing Google's Voice Search is the so-called "Knowledge Graph". The app's intuitiveness is only beaten by its knowledge, which is, without exaggerating, practically unlimited. Not only can the voice assistant in Android tell you what the weather will be like tomorrow or what actor played in a particular movie, but it can also provide you with sports results without the need of mentioning a baseball team's full name or its opponent's full name.

    The Voice Search might not understand humor and irony, but when asked for "the answer to life, the universe and everything", it immediately found the metaphor in Douglas Adams' Hitchkiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The app can also differentiate between "Worcester" and "Wooster", two words pronounced almost the same, and it can come up with answers from every and any area of interest, including movies, literature, geography, history or physics.

    Sure, the app is still not perfect and needs some additional work here and there (you can see that some answers are only provided in text, while "device features are not yet supported"), but the great thing about the video clip you'll watch below is that it really shows off the wide appeal of Voice Search in Jelly Bean, and how it can fit and satisfy so many different needs and desires.

    That being said, have fun watching the video and let us know in the comments section what do you make of it and how impressed are you about JB's Voice Search right now. And please, keep it civilized and don’t just try to annoy Apple fanboys by telling them Siri sucks – I think that they’re starting to realize that for themselves!

     

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    This article, Jelly Bean’s Voice Search rocks with answers to 40+ basic, but also outrageous questions (video) , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


    Sony launches Music Unlimited streaming service in Japan, offers access to over 10 million songs

    Posted: 03 Jul 2012 09:24 AM PDT

    Japan is and has been one of the leading markets in technology for the past decade or so, but for some reason major music streaming services have avoided the "Land of the Rising Sun". Spotify, Rdio, and Pandora are still not available to Japanese users, but fortunately for them Sony's Music Unlimited is available starting today in the region.

    Launched in December 2010 in UK and Ireland, Music Unlimited has enjoyed a pretty impressive spread in the last year or so and is now available in 17 countries around the globe, having well over one million active users.

    In Japan, Sony's on-demand streaming music service will come with initial access to 10 million tracks from major labels like EMI Music, Sony Music, Universal or Warner, but also from several independent labels. The service's catalogue should be upgraded and expanded "over time" and there's a good possibility the 15 million songs mark reached by the UK and US versions of Music Unlimited to be at least tied by the Japanese version by the end of the year.

    The Music Unlimited services and features can be accessed on a wide variety of Sony-manufactured devices, including the Xperia smartphones, the company's Android tablets, the Walkman line, PS3, PS Vita, and Vaio computers. Furthermore, you can also subscribe and listen to Music Unlimited tracks on pretty much any kind of Windows-based computer, as well as on Macs running OS X 10.5 or up.

    In addition to online streaming, which is the service's most important feature and its strongest point, Music Unlimited also comes with offline playback and access to 57 preset music channels categorized by genre and/or era. Furthermore, there's also a high degree of "communication" and interaction between the service and the users, with Music Unlimited adapting to music preferences based on like and dislike ratings and offering the "most compatible and enjoyable songs from the cloud".

    As you might expect, Sony's premium Music Unlimited service will come with truly premium pricing in Japan. You'll therefore be asked to rake in ¥1,480 (around $18.55) per month to enjoy all of the streaming benefits of Music Unlimited, which is almost double what U.S. and UK users are charged for the same features and functions, not to mention the considerably larger number of available songs.

    Fortunately, if you're still on the fence about Music Unlimited, or you don't think the service is worth all that money, you can get a free 30-day trial that Sony hopes will convince you to get some green out of your pockets.

    What say you, Japanese music lovers? Will you at least take the 30-day free trial for a spin? Do you think that Sony needs to drop the price of Music Unlimited to make the service truly appealing to the regular user? Drop us a comment below and let us know.


    This article, Sony launches Music Unlimited streaming service in Japan, offers access to over 10 million songs , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.