Thursday, July 5, 2012

Google Alert - android

News10 new results for android
 
Galaxy Nexus Android Phone Banned in Apple-Samsung Patent Case
ABC News (blog)
Image credit: Google While Apple and Samsung's phones and tablets battle it out on store shelves, the companies (and Google) have been battling it out in the courtroom in ongoing patent disputes. Apple has accused Samsung and Google with its Android ...
See all stories on this topic »

ABC News (blog)
With The New Version Of Android, Google Has All But Caught Up To The iPhone
Business Insider
At first glance, Jelly Bean is nearly identical to Ice Cream Sandwich, the current version of Android that Google released late in 2011. Many of the new features in Jelly Bean are either under the hood or improvements to the overall aesthetics of the ...
See all stories on this topic »
Android Botnet Seen Spewing Spam
InformationWeek (blog)
If true, it's the first time Android devices have been hijacked by malware, turned into botnet nodes, and made to churn out spam.
See all stories on this topic »
Android smartphones 'used for botnet', researchers say
BBC News
Smartphones running on Google's Android platform are hijacked by a botnet, a Microsoft researcher says.
See all stories on this topic »

BBC News
Google: The World's Most Inscrutable Company
PC Magazine
Google launched Android 4.1, the Nexus 7 tablet, and Google Compute Engine. It even gave a full-on demo of a remarkably functional—even fashionable—pair of augmented reality goggles dubbed Google Glass. Amazing stuff. I don't think there is another ...
See all stories on this topic »
New Android Malware Uses Phones as Spam Botnet
PCWorld
The messages are being propagated through Yahoo's mail service and promote counterfeit Viagra and other pharmaceuticals.
See all stories on this topic »
Android upgrade report card: Who failed in the second quarter?
Computerworld (blog)
Android manufacturers love to make upgrade promises -- but how many of them actually follow through? A data-based analysis of who delivers and who disappoints.
See all stories on this topic »

Computerworld (blog)
Nexus 7 with Jelly Bean: a large smartphone without the phone
ZDNet
That may be a good thing, I have never been overly fond of the complicated tablet interface in Android. But it does raise concerns about how well existing tablet apps (and there are a few) written for the tablet interface will run under the phone style ...
See all stories on this topic »

ZDNet
Smartphones getting the Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) update
CNET
Curious to find out which Android handsets will be getting the software upgrade? Here's what we know.
See all stories on this topic »

CNET
Android Researchers Demo Clickjacking Rootkit Vulnerability
InformationWeek
Proof-of-concept malware can be used to launch malicious applications, with no warning or rebooting required, computer scientists show.
See all stories on this topic »

Blogs5 new results for android
 
Acer's Iconia Tab A210 Android tablet hits the FCC -- Engadget
By Donald Melanson
Acer wasn't divulging much about availability when we first caught sight of its Iconia Tab A210 at Computex last month (beyond a general \
Engadget
How Android Phone Owners Use Their Devices [INFOGRAPHIC]
By Kate Freeman
If you have a Samsung Galaxy-S and live in Sweden, chances are you like to talk on your mobile device using Bluetooth while on-the-go -- that's according t.
Mashable!
Security researcher warns of Android 'botnet' | The Raw Story
By Agence France-Presse
Malware has been spreading on Android mobile phones that takes control of certain email accounts to create a "botnet" to send out spam, a security researcher said this week. Microsoft security engineer Terry Zink said the malware has ...
The Raw Story
Android botnet wants to sell you Viagra, penny stocks and e-cards ...
By Chester Wisniewski
Criminals have created a botnet of Android phones to send spam messages using Yahoo! mail. The malware problems on Android continue to grow and mimic their Windows cousins.
Naked Security - Sophos
Boid for Android could become the standard for Twitter clients [Beta ...
By Quentyn Kennemer
Boid for Android could become the standard for Twitter clients [Beta Impressions]. posted on Jul 4th 2012 at 4:00pm by Quentyn Kennemer. Share This Story. Boid for Android has been in the works for quite some time. If you haven't already ...
Android Phone Fans


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Android Authority

Android Authority


Jelly Bean’s Voice Search flexes its muscles and accurately answers 20 new questions (video)

Posted: 05 Jul 2012 03:25 AM PDT

The new Voice Search function in Android 4.1 Jelly Bean doesn't cease to amaze us, although technically very few of us have actually had the chance to try it out. However, demo videos are piling up over on YouTube, and they all draw the same conclusion – Voice Search is awesome!

After compiling what probably was and still is the most comprehensive (and impressive) demonstration video of Voice Search a couple of days ago, Jean-Louis Nguyen (aka JLishere) has gone up and uploaded a follow-up clip with 20 fresh new searches.

Unsurprisingly, Voice Search once again does a stupendous job in accurately answering to different questions from very different areas of interest. Some small hiccups are still noticeable here and there, but all in all, the intuitiveness and, most of all, the feature's speed, are almost unbelievable.

The video starts off pretty modestly, like the original clip did too, and the first questions seem to be warming us up for something big. And something big does happen in the second part of the clip, where you can see how easy it is to make a "note to self" with Voice Search and Gmail, and how fast the voice assistant software directs you to Google Maps when asking to look for a location.

Once again, it's very nice to see such an "app" understand your questions immediately and not asking you to repeat them. Even if they are a bit ambiguous (like you know who does), Voice Search has no difficulty in answering questions from movies, geography, history, media and any other area of interest one might have. I am most impressed by the answer to "the loneliest number" question, which proves that Google hasn't only thought of superficial questions and voice searches, but has gone deep into the mind of its possible customers.

Are you as impressed as I am with this latest showing of the new feature’s intellectual "muscles"?

No related posts.


This article, Jelly Bean’s Voice Search flexes its muscles and accurately answers 20 new questions (video) , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Sky Go app coming to Ice Cream Sandwich devices this month

Posted: 05 Jul 2012 03:16 AM PDT

If you like the HBO Go movie-streaming app then you're certainly going to enjoy Sky Go, the network's mobile application that will let UK and Ireland Android fans enjoy some of the most popular shows available on Sky TV, especially now that it has been updated to support Ice Cream Sandwich devices.

The app will work with various ICS handsets including the HTC Desire S, Desire HD, Incredible S, Sensation, Sensation XE, Samsung Galaxy S, Galaxy Note, Galaxy Nexus, Galaxy S3 and the newly launched Galaxy S3.

Interestingly, the app will not work on devices that run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, which means Google Nexus 7 buyers will not have access to Sky Go right out of the box. However, we expect Sky to update its mobile app in a timely manner in the near future, especially once more Android devices get official Jelly Bean updates.

The Inquirer notes that, in addition to support for Ice Cream Sandwich, the new Sky Go movie-streaming app will also offer users access to on-demand features, which will let them "catch up with shows while on the go." Surprisingly, it appears that this feature will be available initially to Android device owners, with iOS owners getting it only later down the road – usually new app features are available on iOS devices before making it to the Android version of the app.

Sky Go offers access to 24 live channels including six Sky Sports channels, 11 Sky Movies channels, Sky Atlantic, Sky 1, Sky Living, Sky Arts 1, Sky News. Users will be able to select from over "500 movies and hundreds of shows," while on the go, and the app works via 3G or Wi-Fi.

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This article, Sky Go app coming to Ice Cream Sandwich devices this month , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Google Nexus 7 pre-order page now up on Dixons UK

Posted: 05 Jul 2012 03:14 AM PDT

UK folks, the days of yearning for Google Nexus 7 will be behind you soon. The 7-inch slate is now up for pre-order on Dixons Group's online stores, which means you'll be able to secure your unit of the Nexus 7 from the likes of PC World, Currys and Dixons and get it possibly before others do.  For now, only the 16GB model of the tablet is available to pre-order, while the 8GB model is nowhere to be seen. As expected, the former will cost £199.99.

According to their websites, if you pre-order the quad-core Nexus 7 tablet now, there's a good chance that you will receive the tablet by July 19.

The Google Nexus 7 tablet is expected to officially touch down in the UK in mid-July. Interestingly, earlier reports suggested that the 16GB model will hit retails stores a bit later than the 8GB model, with the former to be available on July 27. As for the availability of the 8GB Nexus 7 tab, it will hit major stores in UK on July 20 for £159.

One thing to keep in mind when purchasing the Nexus 7 tablet is that you won't be able to purchase digital content like TV shows, magazines and music from Google Play Store – as the three categories are only available for the US market for the time being. You can, however, download apps, games, books and movies.

Still interested in getting the Nexus 7?

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This article, Google Nexus 7 pre-order page now up on Dixons UK , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Quad-core Exynos-powered Galaxy S3 with LTE coming to Korea on July 9

Posted: 05 Jul 2012 03:08 AM PDT

Those of you living in the US who are excited by the prospect of finally being able to get a new Galaxy S3 super-phone from almost all of the nation's major carriers might have a new reason to pout.

Samsung has just announced the release of a new Galaxy S3 model in Korea and this particular version will be everything the US phone is, but will hold an extra ace up its sleeve. Featuring 4G LTE speeds and 2 GB of RAM, the Korean-only Galaxy S3 will be powered by a quad-core Exynos processor, which, to be honest, most of us thought was impossible until now.

We've been hearing about compatibility issues between NVIDIA's quad-core platform, Tegra 3, and LTE radios for a while. Sammy has released all LTE-enabled S3s until now with a dual-core Snapdragon S4 chip, so we assumed that this was the case here as well.

However, it now seems that Samsung has found a way to avoid those compatibility problems, announcing the coming of what will be the first ever quad-core phone with LTE on-board. And Koreans will not even have to wait long for this new S3 edition, as it's supposed to be hitting SK Telecom, KT, and LG U+, the nation's trio of major carriers. The date? July 9 (that's right, only four days to go).

I know, your first impulse as an American tech enthusiast. You’ve been waiting to get what most have considered to be the world's fastest Android smartphone. Now you ask yourselves, “why didn't Samsung make this quad-core LTE-enabled beast available in the US too?”

However, you should know that, despite the extra couple of cores, that Exynos 4212 chip might simply not be as "competitive" as Qualcomm's dual-core Krait. It's true, in theory, quad should beat dual in terms of performance, but we know how S4 managed to be significantly faster than Tegra 3 in several benchmarks and tests, so it's possible this is the case here.

All things considered, I'm still certain that there are a few tech-savvy people here who would have liked to at least be faced with the choice of going for either a dual-core LTE S3 or a quad-core.  But hey, don’t despair just yet, as there’s no way to know if this “Korean-exclusive” S3 model will not be exported to other regions soon enough.

Worst case scenario for Qualcomm, their dual-core processor will be slightly topped by NVIDIA's quad-core platform in terms of raw power, but it will still have an advantage in terms of efficient power usage. Seeing as this Korean version of the S3 comes with the same 2,100 mAh battery like its US "sibling", you should ask yourselves if you would be willing to sacrifice autonomy for the prospect of a small power boost. Would you?


This article, Quad-core Exynos-powered Galaxy S3 with LTE coming to Korea on July 9 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Huawei to launch Ascend P1 on WIND Mobile

Posted: 05 Jul 2012 02:31 AM PDT

The wafer-thin Huawei Ascend P1 is about to enter the Canadian market with a bang.  Teaming up with Alliance Films and Wind Mobile – as the phone's first confirmed carrier in the country – Huawei Canada is holding a "WIND Mobile Expendables 2 Sweepstakes" contest. The lucky winner will get to go to Los Angeles to watch the movie premiere of "The Expendables 2", starring action flick hero Sylvester Stallone.

But first, here's more information about the Ascend P1 and its launch in Canada. Though the phone comes in a diminutive 7.6 mm body, it boasts a dual-core 1.5GHz TI OMAP 4460 processor, 4.3-inch Super AMOLED display of 960×540 resolution,  1GB RAM, 4GB internal storage, microSD card slot, 8MP rear camera with dual LED flash, 1.3MP front camera, 1,670mAh battery and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

The launch date has not been specified by Huawei and Wind Mobile. Given that the contest will start July 9 and end on July 23, it's safe to assume that the Ascend P1 will be available to purchase from WIND pretty soon.

More details about the contest can be found on the Facebook page of the carrier. Aside from getting to take an extra friend to Hollywood for the movie premiere and stay in a 4-star hotel for two nights, you'll also get the phone plus 2 free months of WIND Mobile service.

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This article, Huawei to launch Ascend P1 on WIND Mobile , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Google phasing out 5 “obsolete” products

Posted: 05 Jul 2012 12:23 AM PDT

It’s not easy being Google. To stay important in a world of technology which is in a constant state of change, the need for continuous improvement and evolution is foremost. We’ve seen a lot of amazing products emerge from the secret, underground labs of Google (Android!!) and let’s be honest, some not so great ones. What was the deal with Google Wave?

Google I/O 2012 will be remembered for the launch of the Nexus 7, but there were some big announcements on the software side of things as well. On the flip side, Google has discontinued over 30 products since last year. In an effort to provide a simpler and better user experience, Google will be “trimming-the-fat” some more. In a blog post, Google announced the discontinuation of 5 more products. Here’s a quick rundown:

  • Google Mini – a part of the Google’s Enterprise Search offering since 2005. Better alternatives such as Search Appliance, Site Search, and Commerce Search are now available. Technical for customers still under contract will of course, be provided.
  • Google Talk Chatback – The embedded Google Talk widget is now “outdated.”
  • Google Video – Google Video has been in phase-out mode for a while now, with Google not allowing any new uploads since 2009. August 20 is the last date for uploaders to download, delete, or migrate their content to YouTube.
  • iGoogle – iGoogle will be “retired” on November 1, 2013. With apps running on Chrome and Android, the need for iGoogle has “eroded” over time, according to the post.
  • Symbian Search App – Last but not least, Google is discontinuing its Symbian Search App, and will encourage users to use the mobile web search function instead.

What are your thoughts? Which Google product are you disappointed to see go? Is there any other product you think should be discontinued as well?

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This article, Google phasing out 5 “obsolete” products , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


All Verizon tablets will be sold without contract

Posted: 05 Jul 2012 12:16 AM PDT

verizon smartphones 2012

Smartphone and tablet technology, in general, is evolving at a rapid pace. With every high-end device, high-resolution displays have become the norm. Single-core devices don’t make the cut and with the introduction of quad-core powerhouses, even dual-core processors are considered “old.” If you live in the US, you’re probably stuck with your “old” device for the next 2 years. We’ve already seen how the Brazilian government is forcing carriers to sell smartphones at full price without contract, and we’re slowly seeing the trend of Americans leaning towards prepaid connections to avoid the postpaid contract hassle.

While the subsidized rates are a huge help ($200 for a Samsung Galaxy S3? I’ll take it!), with faster and more powerful devices releasing almost every 3 months, getting tied to a 2 year contract is just too long. This was especially true in the case of tablets, which required you to get another data plan, which meant an additional 2-year contract for a device that will be out-dated very soon.

Verizon Wireless is the first network carrier that that has decided to stop selling their tablets at subsidized rates, and in turn, requiring 2-year commitments from consumers. Granted, not everyone will consider this good news, as you will now need to shell out at least $500 to get your hands on the latest Android tablet. If you use your tablet on-the-go, you’ll still need to account for the additional cost of a no-contract 4G LTE data plan.

As an example of the “inflated” prices, a Motorola Droid XyBoard 10.1 will set you back $629.99 for the 16GB version, a Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 priced at $549.99, and with the cheapest of the lot coming in at $369.99 for a Certified Pre-owned Motorola Droid Xyboard 8.2. You can take a look at the full list of tablets offered by Verizon here.

The Google Nexus 7 has certainly changed our perception of high-end tablets and the associated cost with buying one. And things will only be getting better if the rumors of the $249 10.1″ quad-core slate, Nexus 10, are true. But until then, if you want to get your hands on an Android tablet, be prepared to open up your wallets, at least, if you’re shopping at Verizon. Whether other network carriers such as AT&T, that also offer tablets at subsidized rates, will follow this trend, is yet to be known.

What are your thoughts? Yay for no-contract tablets? Or nay for full-priced tablets?


This article, All Verizon tablets will be sold without contract , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


BeNote app review

Posted: 05 Jul 2012 12:08 AM PDT

Ironically, note-taking has evolved from scribbling on paper, to typing on your laptops, to typing on our handheld devices, and coming back full circle to “writing” on our smartphones and tablets using a capacitive stylus. That being said, we are so used to taking notes on handheld devices, or typing away on our PC keyboards, that picking up a pen and writing on paper has become a strange experience. When it comes to the work aspect of life, sending important e-mails, and creating and sharing presentations and memos has never been easier thanks to various applications.

There is no shortage of note-taking applications available on the Google Play Store (you can check out our Top 5 here). Each have their own selling point depending on your individual requirements. Some are free, some are packed with features, and some are optimized for tablets. Today we are going to take a look at another such note-taking application, BeNote.

What is BeNote?

I might have jumped the gun when I mentioned that we would be taking a look at another note-taking app because as the developer claims, BeNote is not “just another” note-taking app. The intelligent note-taking app, developed by Uobia LLC boasts features such as:

  • Helps to efficiently capture and recall important information. Keeps notes organized and easily accessible.
  • Structured approach for efficient note-taking. Helpful note entry tools let’s you easily add information such as dates, time, participants, key points, actions, snapshots, and sketches, among others.
  • For heavy users, note filtering is possible not only according to type, but also by specified keywords, which you can add in a summary section.
  • Create “Topics” such as work, shopping, lectures, etc. You can also assign multiple Topics to one note.
  • Powerful built-in search function to find notes instantly.
  • Create, save and restore backups from various cloud storage options such as Google Drive, DropBox, etc.

There’s a lot that the developer promises with their note-taking app. Let’s take a look at whether it works as well as it sounds.

The Good

Right off the bat, I can say that BeNote is all that it promises to be. Here are some of my experiences:

  • Starting up the app, leads you to a minimalistic UI, which might not be great to look at, but is efficient, and definitely serves its purpose. Just tap on “Add New Note” and you’re ready to go.
  • You start off by choosing various Topics according to your needs, and you can then assign notes to each topic as you go along. Every note includes a set of pre-selected fields such as date, time, participants, key points, question and answers, decisions, and actions. These “fill-in forms” are very convenient as most of the sections are information we would likely add to a note anyway.
  • Efficiency is the key! Ever had those moments when you open up a note you’ve typed, and have absolutely NO idea what it was about? BeNote never let’s that happen because of its above mentioned fields. While it may sound tedious, it was very helpful in the long run (well, over the last 2 weeks that I’ve used this app) to have the information in the notes organized perfectly, and sorted according to Topic. You can also people directly from your contact list to the “Participants” section.
  • Another amazing feature is the image integration within a note (which comes in the Key Point section if you were wondering). You can not only add snapshots, but also sketch over them. You can also sketch anything on a blank canvas as well. This is the only note-taking app I can think of that integrates both text and images in a single note.
  • Once you’re done with taking notes, in comes the automatic organizational features. Notes are sorted according to topic, and each topic lists the notes with a small summary, so you’re not left wondering which note you were looking for. If you have “Action” items, you can check them off once completed, helping you keep tracking of pending projects.
  • As promised, you can create and then restore backups from various cloud storage services (I used DropBox).

The Bad

To be honest, there’s absolutely nothing wrong as far as the note-taking aspect of the app is concerned. Yes, being “forced” to use pre-determined fields (which, as far as I know, cannot be edited) can get a bit annoying, but it’s a huge boon when you’re usually left scratching your head trying to decode a note. You don’t have to use all the fields, of course, so every note you make is suited to your requirements. Overall, it makes for a very efficient and organized experience.

I do have some minor gripes about this app though:

  • The “Tablet-only” availability. BeNote can be downloaded only for your tablet. This does make sense as it’s a lot easier to take notes on a tablet than on the smaller screen of a smartphone. But, I don’t always carry my tablet around, so if I need to make a quick note or set an “Action” item, I can’t use BeNote.
  • The lack of a sync feature. I think this is partly because of the lack of smartphone support as well. Easy access to notes and presentations I create are a huge requirement for me, across ALL my devices, including my PC. Yes, backups can be created and stored, but at the least, I’ll need another tablet (and possibly one with BeNote installed) to access that backup.

Conclusion

I would highly recommend BeNote for anyone looking to get organized and be more efficient. This comprehensive note-taking app is great for meetings, lectures, projects, and to-do lists, and the in-note image integration feature is one of the best I’ve seen. If the app eventually features a sync option, BeNote will be my go-to note-taking application.

BeNote is available for download from the Google Play Store. You can check out a free trial version here, which limits you to a maximum of 20 notes.

What are your thoughts? Will you be trying out BeNote? If yes, or if you are already using this app, let us know your experience in the comments section below.

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This article, BeNote app review , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Best paid live wallpapers for Android phones

Posted: 04 Jul 2012 09:00 PM PDT

One of the perks of having an Android phone is that it is easy to customize. Every phone may look the same on the outside, but may differ in the inside. Advanced users usually customize their phones by changing the ROM’s features, improving its performance, and removing the bloatware apps installed on the phone.

In contrast, newbies tend to customize their phones by downloading tons of third-party applications from the Google Play Store.  You can download and install keyboards, launchers, widgets, and beautiful live wallpapers.

In today’s app list, we will be tackling some of the best paid live wallpapers that can help you personalize and customize your Android phone’s homescreen.

Thunderstorm Live Wallpaper

The pouring of rain, the dark and cloudy nimbus clouds, and the bolt of lightning from Zeus are some of the magnificent and awesome treats from Mother Nature. The sound of rain’s pitter-patter on the rooftop and the flashes of lighting may be frightening to others, but some may see these as a sight of beauty and art. If you want to see the rage of Zeus on your Android phone, you may want to download and use the Thunderstorm Live Wallpaper app.

This live wallpaper transforms your homescreen to the scene of lighting and rain in a stormy sky. The live wallpaper has a free version that allows you to use the live wallpaper with only its default settings. If you are allured by its stormy scene, you can buy the pro version and unlock the live wallpaper’s settings menu.

On the setting menu, you can customize and add your personal touch to the live wallpaper. You can adjust the bolt interval, how fast the clouds will move, camera speed, rain style, background, and much more. You can also change the color of the bolts into red, blue, yellow, pink, green, and whatever color that you like. The app also enables you to create lightning at the tip of your fingers whenever you touch the screen.

Make the Thunderstorm Live Wallpaper your live wallpaper and view the stormy sky on your Android phone.

Blue Skies Live Wallpaper

After the stormy sky has settled, the clear and peaceful sky appears to brighten our day. I can imagine myself watching the view of the clear sky with patches of cottony clouds while lying down on a grassy field, shaded by the shadow of an oak tree and the wind blowing against my face. What a sight to behold!

But, reality has sent me to a four-cornered room inside a house right in the heart of the city, where the wind has been stained with dust and the clouds painted with foul colors. But, thanks to Blue Skies Live Wallpaper, I can now view the clear sky right on my Android phone.

The live wallpaper transforms your phone’s home screen into the beautiful view of the clear sky. This live wallpaper also has a free version for you try. You can enjoy the live wallpaper with its default settings. If you find this app amusing, you will need to buy the premium version to unlock the live wallpaper’s settings menu.

Unlocking the live wallpaper’s setting menu lets you customize the live wallpaper on your homescreen. You can adjust the number of clouds, set wispy clouds, change the background image, alter the wind speed, adjust the light according to the time of the day, and many more. The wallpaper also allows you to view beautiful balloons flying in the sky. There is also an option that allows the balloons to represent the number of unread text messages in your inbox. The app also allows you to view a flying saucer when your phone’s battery runs low.

View the clear sky with the Blue Skies Live Wallpaper right on your Android phone.

Season Zen HD

The elements of Mother Nature are soothing to the eyes. Imagine yourself in a garden full of green trees and boasting with life. You can see the beams of sunlight above, covered by the thick leaves of the trees. You can also hear the birds singing and flowers dancing along to the whisper of the wind. If you want to view this beautiful scene, transform your Android phone’s homescreen into a mini garden with the Season Zen HD live wallpaper.

The app lets you have a mini virtual garden right on your home screen. The live wallpaper brings the elements of Mother Nature to your Android phone. You can see a bird flying, the flowers dancing with the wind, a butterfly passing by, the eggs sitting quietly in the bird’s nest, the beams of sunlight, and much more. What’s more is that you can enjoy this view in high-definition.

The live wallpaper also includes different seasons for you to choose from. You can enjoy the radiant glow of the sun by selecting the Spring theme. Enjoy a snowy treat by applying the Winter theme on your phone. Go and look for the Easter eggs with the live wallpaper’s Easter theme. You can also customize and combine each element in the garden according to your liking.

Grab the Season Zen HD live wallpaper and enjoy a virtual garden right on your phone’s home screen.

My Beach HD

Why go to the beach when you can have your own virtual beach right on your phone’s home screen? Download the My Beach HD live wallpaper and enjoy the relaxing scenes of the beach. The free version of this wallpaper will let you enjoy its default settings. But, if you want to fully customize the wallpaper, you will need to unlock the settings menu by buying the premium version of this live wallpaper.

You can do lots of cool stuff once you unlock the wallpaper’s settings menu. You can add your personalized message on the sign board, watch an airplane fly by, watch the sun as it sets in the horizon, customize the beach waves, watch a ship pass by, and much more.

My favorite scene is watching the night sky on the beach. I also placed a bonfire to keep my phone looking warm even with the coldness of the night visuals. At a distance, I can also see the lighthouse and a colorful fireworks display on the night sky. What’s more is that the effects and graphics are all in high-definition.

What are your waiting for? Make your own virtual beach on your phone’s home screen with the My Beach HD live wallpaper.

http://youtu.be/XkSDSIxUTVM

Christmas HD

Bring out the Christmas spirit on your mobile phone by installing the Christmas HD live wallpaper. This live wallpaper decorates your home screen with Christmas decorations. You can enjoy the colorful Christmas tree with its little sparkling lights, the gifts covered with colorful wrapping paper, the fire place that gives the room a yellowish glow, beautiful floral decorations, a note for Santa, and many more.

The live wallpaper also allows you to customize and enhance the wallpaper with your personal touch. You can change the color of the lights, choose the wrappers for the gift box, place your personal picture in the picture frame, put your names on the socks, change the decorations, and a lot more. You can enjoy all these features in high-definition graphics.

Bring out the Christmas spirit by adorning your phone with the Christmas HD live wallpaper.

Koi Live Wallpaper

The Chinese believe that raising Koi can bring good luck. That’s why most Chinese business establishments have a mini pond with Koi fish in it. If you want to attract good luck to your mobile phone, make virtual Koi your live wallpaper with the Koi Live Wallpaper. Basically, this live wallpaper transforms your phone into a mini pond with Koi.

You can try out the live wallpaper’s free version and install it on your phone. The free version lets you enjoy the live wallpaper with its default settings. The default settings includes a fixed background, some Koi fish, and the ripple effects when you tap water (touchscreen).

If you want to fully customize the wallpaper, you will need to unlock the settings menu by purchasing the the wallpaper’s premium version. With the unlocked version, you can add new Koi to the pond. You can even choose their sizes and colors. Put in more Koi in the virtual pond to bring more luck.

The premium version also allows you to change the background, add rain effects, put some lily pads on the pond, add some floral decorations, and much more. Bring in more luck by raising Koi with the Koi Live Wallpaper on your Android phone. 

aniPet Aquarium Live Wallpaper

If you’re dreaming of having an aquarium full of exotic fishes, you may want to try the aniPet Aquarium Live Wallpaper on your Android phone. This live wallpaper transforms your phone into a virtual aquarium. Aside from being a live wallpaper, this can also be your virtual pet fish on your phone’s home screen.

The live wallpaper lets you choose from 180 varieties of fish to add to your fish tank. You can also customize the size of your fish. The best feature I found in this app is the option to make your fish your virtual pets. You can enable the feature to keep your fish alive by feeding them. If left unfed for 4 days, your fish will die. You can feed your fish by tapping any vacant part of your home screen. Your fish will also grow. Mature fish will lay eggs and produce more baby fish.

Other options included are changing the background, changing the fish grow rate, customizing fishes, support for landscape mode, and much more.

Have yourself a virtual pet and a live wallpaper with the aniPet Aquarium Live Wallpaper.

Aquarium Live Wallpaper

Another aquatic live wallpaper for your Android phone is the Aquarium Live Wallpaper. Like the aniPet Aquarium Live Wallpaper, this wallpaper transforms your Android phone into a virtual fish tank. You can also customize the wallpaper such as changing the background, choosing what fish to place, adding some decors, and much more.

The Aquarium Live Wallpaper also features a 3D display that makes the live wallpaper more realistic. However, unlike aniPet Aquarium Live Wallpaper, this wallpaper only features a limited variety of fishes. It also doesn’t have an option to keep your fish alive by feeding them or setting your fish’s grow rate. But, you can still feed your fish by double-tapping on the screen.

Make your home screen the home for aquatic creatures with Aquarium Live Wallpaper.

Snowfall Live Wallpaper

Transform your Android phones into a winter wonderland with the Snowfall Live Wallpaper. I’m amazed at how this wallpaper transforms my home screen into a beautiful winter scene. It is like looking through the window and seeing the trees all covered with snow. The snow falling and the trees swaying with the wind makes this wallpaper stand out.

The live wallpaper will also allow you to add your personal touch. You can change the snowflakes to either crystals or blobs. You can also change the density of the snow and adjust the snow variance. The live wallpaper also has an option for you to change its background according to the time of the day and add some aurora effects to decorate the sky with colors.

The Snowfall Live Wallpaper can also be used to bring out the Christmas spirit on your mobile phone. You can add some Christmas lights on the trees, making them a natural Christmas trees on your mobile phone. You can also enable the Santa Sightings option. You can rarely see Santa pass by on your homescreen, but it will get more frequent as Christmas day approaches.

Transform your Android home screen into a winter wonderland with Snowfall Live Wallpaper.

City at Night Live Wallpaper

We have been talking about live wallpapers of fishes, trees, seasons, beach, and clouds. We should also not forget the things made by human hands. Transform your Android phone’s homescreen into a view of the city lights with the City at Night Live Wallpaper.

This live wallpaper lets you view a beautiful time lapse of the city. You will be able to see the moving lights of the cars, the blinking lights of tall buildings, and the flashing lights from airplanes as they pass by on your phone’s home screen. Accessing the settings menu lets you customize the live wallpaper. You can change the color of the clouds, adjust the traffic speed, change the wind direction, and many more. You can also allow the app to automatically change the background according to the time of day or manually add a background for a specific time of the day. Watch the city lights on your phone’s home screen with the City at Night Live Wallpaper.

With these live wallpapers, you can magically transform your phone’s homescreen into a snowy forest, a warm beach, a virtual fish tank, a cheerful Christmas hearth, an above-Earth expedition with the clouds, and a busy city. What live wallpaper makes your phone interesting and alive? Why do you like that wallpaper? Share your thoughts in a comment below.

If you’re searching for cool live wallpaper apps for your Android tablet instead, take a look at our post about the best paid live wallpapers for Android tablets. For something more stellar and eye-popping, you might want to see our article about the best HD live wallpapers for Android phones and tablets.

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This article, Best paid live wallpapers for Android phones , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Instamap: Viewing geotagged Instagram photos on Google Maps

Posted: 04 Jul 2012 06:00 PM PDT

Nothing is more refreshing than having the chance to take a peek at different local places or even distant parts of the world without actually having to deal with the hassles of traveling.

Say for example, you want to see the recently opened Sky Tree Tower in Japan, but you don’t have the luxury of time to go out of the country and leave your job. Perhaps you’d settle on just letting it pass, while hoping that someday, the chance would come knocking on your door. But, more often than not, you feel inclined to find ways to see the view without compromising your entire business.

You may not be able to fly out to the destination of your dreams just yet but at least you can enjoy beautiful pictures of it. Instamap, a third-party app for viewing photos, is finally here.

The app allows users to view geo-tagged Instagram photos on Google Maps while giving them users the luxury to navigate virtually to any place around the globe. In short, it’s the sum of Instagram added to Google Maps.

Just imagine how great it would feel to get a peek of the Egyptian pyramids while having a cup of coffee at home or in the office.

Unlike Instagram which only allows you to geo-tag your own photos, Instamap offers a more interactive way of exploring these photos by letting you see the geo-tagged photos of the people living in your vicinity. You can easily view any user’s profile by simply clicking on her or his avatar. Through the user’s profile, you’ll be able to see the user’s latest photos and followers.

It’s in the user’s profile where you get the chance to like or comment on  photos of your friends or family, and even share them on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.

The said photos are displayed in the form of thumbnails which you could click if you want to post a comment. Instamap will ask you to provide access to your Instagram account, for social interaction. You can view others’ photos if you choose to provide your info. Otherwise, you may go ahead and explore the rest of the available photos worldwide.

Moreover, Instamap is constantly updated, so whatever new photos posted on Instagram are automatically added to Instamap’s gallery. Details are also posted with each photo. Location and names of the places, for example, are part of the details.

Another interesting feature of Instamap is the Popular Photos option. This option shows all photos that are tagged as ‘popular’ by Instagram. So, if you like any of those photos and want to include them in your personal photo collection, you may store them in a single place with the help of Instamap’s My Liked Photos feature.

The app is totally free and runs on any Android device with Froyo or higher.

View Instagram photos on Google Maps through the free Instamap app on the Google Play Store.


This article, Instamap: Viewing geotagged Instagram photos on Google Maps , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.