Monday, July 23, 2012

Android Community

Android Community


Samsung Galaxy S III Jelly Bean update coming as soon as August

Posted: 23 Jul 2012 10:55 AM PDT

Samsung’s brand new Galaxy S III smartphone is a smashing success. The company has already stated over 10 million have been sold, and that is only the beginning. Today we are getting reports that Samsung is already in the final testing stages of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean for both the Galaxy S III, and the older Galaxy S II.

The past 4-6 weeks most of Samsung’s Galaxy S II models have just barely received Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, so the possibility of the newest OS already being near completion is extremely good news. SamMobile is reporting the update is almost ready, and that the SGSII and Galaxy Note will both see the update after the new flagship Galaxy S III gets it first.

Samsung has yet to publicly announce any update plans, but we all knew they’d be updating their newest devices to Jelly Bean — just no one thought it could be this soon. Sources extremely close to Samsung are claiming that final testing is under way, and they hope to have the update rolling out as early as late August. The wait might be less than we all thought. Who’s excited to get that Jelly Belly goodness on their Galaxy S III?


Verizon Galaxy Nexus dropped to $99 – still waits for Jelly Bean

Posted: 23 Jul 2012 09:54 AM PDT

The week is starting off rather nice with Verizon announcing their Samsung Galaxy Nexus (LTE) will be dropped down to just $99 with a new 2-year contract. This marks the lowest Verizon has sold the Google experience device for, and is a pretty solid deal. We’ve seen low prices like this before but not directly from the folks at Verizon.

With impressive new smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S III stealing the thunder it makes sense to drop the price of a few older, lower spec’d phones to help sales. The Galaxy Nexus is no slouch though. The camera might be lacking compared to the competition, and it has an older processor under the hood but it gets the latest and greatest Android OS versions from Google. Not to mention the huge development community for said device.

It might be a “Nexus” but Verizon manages to take their sweet time with updates sadly. When Google announced Android 4.1 Jelly Bean they stated the Galaxy Nexus, Nexus S, and Xoom would all see the update mid July. Which has came true and all the above have received the update — except Verizon models. Both the Verizon Galaxy Nexus and XOOM are still waiting. Hopefully Verizon gives the okay and the LTE Nexus gets Jelly Bean soon, but for now we have no definitive date.

This is still a solid device with tons of upside and potential. Who’s snagging one now they’re only $99?

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : GALAXY Nexus 4G [Verizon]
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : Verizon
    Announced Date : December 14, 2011
    Release Date : December 15, 2011
    Also Known As : Nexus Prime
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.65 Inch
  • Resolution : 1280x720
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.33 Inch
  • Width : 2.67 Inch
  • Depth : 0.37 Inch
  • Weight : 150 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 1850 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : 150 hours
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.0.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.264 / AVC
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU : OMAP 4460
    CPU Clock Speed : 1200 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1000 MB
    Internal Storage : 32 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 5 MP
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • CDMA
    CDMA Band:
  • 900
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 3.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :


Dead Trigger game goes free, buyers that paid unhappy

Posted: 23 Jul 2012 05:11 AM PDT

If you’re a fan of zombie shooter games for your Android device, you may have picked up Dead Trigger earlier this month after we spent a bit hands-on time with the game. Dead Trigger is a very impressive game with nice graphics and great game play. One of the better features of the game was the price. It was available for one dollar.

A great game for a buck is hard to beat. However, despite the game only costing one dollar, there are some players their angry that only a few weeks after launch, the game has been made into a free app. The people behind the game are offering an explanation as to why the game started for one dollar and then went free.

The reason the game is now free is piracy. The developer says the piracy rate was unbelievably high and therefore, the company decided to make the game free. The developers are also noting that the game is not a freemium title and will remain free to play without any in app purchases.

The official statement: Regarding price drop. HERE is our statement. The main reason: piracy rate on Android devices, that was unbelievably high. At first we intend to make this game available for as many people as possible – that’s why it was for as little as buck. – It was much less than 8$ for SHADOWGUN but on the other hand we didn’t dare to provide it for free, since we hadn’t got XP with free-to-play format so far. – However, even for one buck, the piracy rate is soooo giant, that we finally decided to provide DEAD TRIGGER for free. Anyway – DEAD TRIGGER is not FREEMIUM, it always was and still remains FREE-TO-PLAY, that means, all players are able to play it without IAP! We stand up for this statement, because all members of our team are playing (and enjoying) DEAD TRIGGER without IAP.


Google takes the Nexus 7 camping in its first ad

Posted: 23 Jul 2012 04:28 AM PDT

Google has been selling all the Nexus 7 tablets it can build so far. The 16 GB version of the new tablet has been virtually impossible to find. This has left many users with no option but ordering the 8 GB version of the tablet from the Google Play store. Both versions of the tablet have been extremely difficult to find in retail locations too.

Google recently stopped taking orders for the 16 GB version of the tablet due to overwhelming demand. Despite the high demand and popularity of the Nexus 7, Google has decided to launch its first commercial for the tablet. The commercial is on YouTube right now, and it’s called Nexus 7: Camping.

The commercial shows a dad and his young son in the backyard camping with the Nexus 7. The commercial shows off a few things the tablet will do as the campers look up things about a frog they caught, watch movies, and play games. The commercial also shows them using the tablet as a flashlight as they traipse through the dark woods.

[via SlashGear]


Samsung Galaxy S III sales hit 10 million

Posted: 22 Jul 2012 06:42 PM PDT

Samsung‘s latest in the Galaxy S line has unsurprisingly proven to be quite popular with smartphone owners out there, with the company claiming that total sales of the Galaxy S III to date have climbed past 10 million. The phone is hitting that sales milestone ahead of expectations, thanks in no small part the massive marketing campaign Samsung has rolled out to hype the new handset. What makes this even more impressive is that the Galaxy S III has only been available in Europe and Asia since the end of May, with North American carriers first getting the phone only last month.


If we were to look at it on a day-to-day basis, the Yonhap News Agency says that sales of the Galaxy S III have averaged about 190,000 per day. However, it’s unclear if that 10 million figure is how many handsets have been shipped to retailers, or how many have actually been sold to consumers. In any case, we’re sure it’s a number that’s making Samsung executives very happy this evening.

As the year rolls on, Samsung can look forward to enjoying more success with the Galaxy S III, as some estimates peg the handset with 40 million sales by the end of 2012. Samsung is expected to have performed very well in Q2 thanks to the Galaxy S III’s launch, and since Apple isn’t likely to announce a new iPhone until at least September, that opens the door to a very successful Q3 for the company’s new flagship device. To add to all of this excitement, we’re getting a major Galaxy-related announcement from Samsung on August 15, so the Galaxy line of products is definitely one to watch heading into next month. Be sure to check out Android Community’s review of the Galaxy S III for more information on the immensely popular handset!

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy S III
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : May 03, 2012
    Release Date : May 29, 2012
    Also Known As : The Next Galaxy, SGSIII
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.8 Inch
  • Resolution : 720x1280
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED HD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.37 Inch
  • Width : 2.77 Inch
  • Depth : 0.33 Inch
  • Weight : 133 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 2100 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.0.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU : Exynos 4 Quad
    CPU Clock Speed : 1400 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 1024 MB
    Internal Storage : 32 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

[via SlashGear]


Android Community Weekly: July 22nd, 2012

Posted: 22 Jul 2012 12:58 PM PDT

This past week was a pretty good one if you’re a Nexus S owner, but not so good if you’ve been trying to get your hands on the Google Nexus 7. Google began sending out Android 4.1 Jelly Bean updates to Nexus S phones on select carriers Friday night, but unfortunately earlier in the week the company announced that it was having some trouble keeping 16GB Nexus 7 tablets in stock. As a result, the 16GB Nexus 7s now have an estimated delivery time of 3-4 weeks when shipping from the Google Play Store, so unless you’re okay with picking up an 8GB model instead, you might be left waiting for a Nexus 7.


In other news, HTC announced that its One Series phones will indeed be getting an update to Jelly Bean, but sadly didn’t delve into specific dates. Samsung is also plotting a major Galaxy-related announcement for August 15, and we have a feeling that the announcement has something to do with a new Galaxy Note or Galaxy Tab. The fact of the matter, however, is that we won’t know for sure until Samsung makes its announcement next month, so the company could come out and reveal a brand new device with Galaxy branding. Is that exciting or what?

Qualcomm, Verizon, and Google all posted quarterly results this week, reminding us how terribly confusing fiscal years can be. Qualcomm is looking great at the end of its Q3 and is expected to remain strong for the rest of the year, and Verizon’s Q2 isn’t looking all that bad either, with the company adding that it expects to have 4G LTE service set up in 400 markets by the end of the year. The real star is Google though, which reported consolidated revenues for its Q2 that topped $12 billion. That figure alone is enough to stagger even the richest of the rich, so don’t expect Google to lose its status as one of the biggest companies in the world anytime soon.

We’ve also got a review of the Motorola Atrix HD for you to check out, as well as a hands-on posts with the ZTE Grand X and the Samsung Music Hub beta. If you’re in the mood for some Android gaming, we’ve got that covered too – we highly recommend you give Auralux a try and you might also be pleased to know that The Dark Knight Rises is now available on the Google Play Store, just in case the movie wasn’t enough to satisfy your Batman cravings. For all of you who were lucky enough to get your hands on a Nexus 7 this week, have a look at our list of the top five games that are perfect for your new slate.

As always, keep an ear to Android Community for the latest Android news, and enjoy the rest of your Sunday!


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This Is Why Android Can't Have Nice Things
Gizmodo
This Is Why Android Can't Have Nice Things Dead Trigger, a mobile video game for iOS and Android, is now free in the Google Play Store. Awesome, right? Except no. It's not awesome, since it's only free because the piracy rate for the Android version is ...
See all stories on this topic »
Google's Nexus 7: Android tablets have the same old problems
ZDNet
Since that article was written, sales of Android tablets in Q1 of in 2012 were abyssmal when compared to Apple's iPad. As of May 2012, market research firm NPD reported that the iPad had approximately 62% of the tablet market, with Samsung running at a ...
See all stories on this topic »
Android Users Don't Want To Pay For Anything
WebProNews
Sure, the games on Android are nice, but nobody can make money. We've had reports of developers dropping support for Android after finding that nobody buys their games. Now we're seeing new evidence that people are playing games on Android, but ...
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Intel Not Porting Google's Android for Clover Trail Tablets
PCWorld (blog)
Intel is a big backer of Android, but the source did not disclose what direction the company would take on Android OS for tablets. A prototype tablet with another Intel Atom chip code-named Medfield has been shown running Android, and Vizio is expected to ...
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Android Gets Security Boost From Duo Security, DARPA
eWeek
Smartphone security firm Duo Security plans to release an app for Android phones on July 23 that will check the operating system on consumer devices for known, but unpatched, security flaws. Dubbed X-Ray, the application will detect all privilege-escalation ...
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App comparison: iPad vs. Nexus 7 -- no clear winner
ZDNet
Summary: Quite a few apps are now available for both the iPad and Android tablets but they are quite different on the two platforms. The 8 apps are shown in screen shots, first on the iPad followed immediately by one taken on the Nexus 7. James Kendrick ...
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ZDNet
Georgie App For The Blind Helps Visually Impaired Android Users Navigate ...
Huffington Post
Called Georgie, the app for Android devices enables people with little or no sight to accomplish daily activities that could be difficult for them. "The great thing that attracted me to (creating the app) was this notion of gaining confidence, and also having ...
See all stories on this topic »
Samsung Galaxy S III Sales Hit 10 Million
PCWorld (blog)
Since its release on May 29, the Galaxy S III -- which runs Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich), has a 4.8-inch display and a quad-core processor -- has been critically acclaimed. According to Samsung's Jong-kyun, sales of the handset could top 40 million, ...
See all stories on this topic »
'Dead Trigger' now free on Android due to 'unbelievably high' piracy rate
Gizmodo
Dead Trigger, a zombie FPS for smartphones from the makers of Shadowgun, is now free to download on Android thanks to rampant piracy on the platform. In a statement on Facebook, developer Madfinger Games says that even at $0.99, the piracy rate on ...
See all stories on this topic »
Europe's Square, iZettle, Is Coming To Android, Testing First On Samsung ...
TechCrunch
It is now extending its dongle-based service Android devices, to add to a service that already works with the iOS-based iPhone and iPad. The company tells me that the first step is a test phase on select Samsung devices in its home market of Sweden, "but our ...
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TechCrunch

Blogs5 new results for android
 
Plex Android app updated with remote control from mobile devices ...
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While it was exciting to hear that XBMC is making its way to Android, the Plex media center has been on the platform since last year and was recently.
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Uniquely Android: AirDroid
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Uniquely Android is a series we started last week to shine the spotlight on those apps that take advantage of the unique capabilities of the platform and provide an experience that you wouldn't find in most other phones. Last week we featured ...
Android Phone Fans
Android Community Weekly: July 22nd, 2012 | Android Community
By Eric Abent
This past week was a pretty good one if you're a Nexus S owner, but not so good if you've been trying to get your hands on the Google Nexus 7. Google began.
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American Psycho with Android Phones Is Totally Perfect
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If American Psycho is a pitch-perfect satirization of 80s yuppyism and excess, then this parody video from Tech Radar is a spot-on representation of what it's like buying a smartphone right now.
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HTC Desire HD will not receive Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich ...
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Web1 new result for android
 
All About Android 68 | TWiT.TV
Nexus 7 live unboxing, XBMC for Android, GameTanium confuses, a more secure Jelly Bean, and more.
twit.tv/show/all-about-android/68


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Android Authority

Android Authority


The first non-Nexus Android 4.1 Jelly Bean phone is a ZTE!

Posted: 23 Jul 2012 02:52 AM PDT

zte logo

Just a few days ago, we were discussing how ZTE might be the one to start the “stock Android revolution“, with their upcoming Grand X flagship, which will arrive with stock Android 4.0. ZTE is trying hard to become a stock Android manufacturer, and they’ve been working with Google to bring out stock Android devices faster into the market. According to Kan Yulun, VP and CTO of ZTE's handset division:

“ZTE has an excellent relationship with Google and this, combined with our extensive R&D capabilities and our experience of customising devices for partners around the world, means we are able to bring new technologies to market very quickly”,

One of the results of this close relationship is the ZTE N880E smartphone, which was launched in China in May with Android 2.3, but is now jumping straight to Android 4.1.

This will make the ZTE N880E the first smartphone to run Android 4.1 in China, and (to our knowledge) the first non-Nexus device to run Jelly Bean. How is this possible, you may wonder? My guess is ZTE was one of the limited number of partners that received the PDK beta, before Google even announced Jelly Bean to the public.

The ZTE N880E looks like a mid-range phone in terms of specs, but the Jelly Bean upgrade should make it run smoother than ever before, and it’s the reason why I’m excited for Jelly Bean to arrive even on lower-end smartphones.

The full list of specs of the ZTE N880E includes:

  • Size: 119mm x 61mm x 10.4mm
  • Screen: 4.0-inch, WVGA, 480 x 800 TFT, capacitive touchscreen
  • Weight: 130g
  • Battery: Li-ion 1650mAh
  • Standard: CDMA2000 1x, EVDO Rev.A, 800MHz
  • OS: Android 4.1.1
  • Platform: Qualcomm 7627A
  • Frequency: 1GHz
  • Memory: 4GB (storage) + 512MB (RAM)
  • Extended memory: MicroSD (max. support 32G)
  • Camera: 3.2MP AF
  • Bluetooth: 2.1, A2DP, AVRCP
  • WLAN: 802.11 b/g/n
  • Other: GPS, GMS, FM, A-GPS

It’s nice to see that Google is working so closely with manufacturers to bring out upgrades faster, but ZTE wasn’t the only one in the limited beta program for the PDK. We’ve heard rumors that Samsung may upgrade the Galaxy S3 to Jelly Bean as soon as this August, and of course we know HTC is preparing to upgrade their One series smartphones to Jelly Bean very soon as well, so they must’ve been included in the limited beta as well.

This is great news all around for the Android ecosystem. Not only some smartphone manufacturers are starting to switch to the Google Experience version of Android, but the PDK is helping them upgrade to the latest version of Android much faster than before.

Hopefully, this also means that Android manufacturers will support their devices with upgrades for a lot longer than a year, and that they will upgrade more of their models as well.


This article, The first non-Nexus Android 4.1 Jelly Bean phone is a ZTE! , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Transformer Pad Infinity to launch in Australia on August 7

Posted: 23 Jul 2012 02:26 AM PDT

COmputex Asus TF700

Good news for Android fans in Australia that yearn to try out Ice Cream Sandwich (and soon Jelly Bean) on a sleek, high end 10-inch tablet. Today, ASUS Australia sent out press invites for an August 7 event dedicated to the launch of the Transformer Pad Infinity TF700.

The Transformer Pad Infinity is ASUS' current flagship model, boasting a beautiful 10.1-inch 1920 x 1200 pixels Super IPS+ LCD display that is perfect for enjoying media and games. Speaking of games, the Tegra 3 quad-core processor will do light work of powering even the most demanding TegraZone exclusive titles. The TF700 comes with 1GB of RAM,two storage options (32GB and 64GB), and a 8MP rear camera.

Check out our quick hands-on video from COMPUTEX 2012 to learn more about the beautiful Infinity.

According to an ASUS statement from last week, the Infinity will be among the first devices to receive an Jelly Bean update, sometimes in "the coming months".

At the press event in August, attendants will also get some hands-on time with ASUS' other star device, the Google-branded Nexus 7.

Thanks, Josh!


This article, Transformer Pad Infinity to launch in Australia on August 7 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Galaxy S3’s inner beauty exposed thanks to intrepid X-Ray technician

Posted: 23 Jul 2012 01:29 AM PDT

samsung-galaxy-s-iii-x-ray

Do you love teardowns? I do too, but the thought of losing a beautiful device in the process is always making me a bit sad. Call me sentimental, but I wished there was a more humane, non-invasive way to see what makes my Samsung Galaxy S3 tick… Well, there is.

Engadget reader alexcaron works with mammography machines, and, in his spare time, he likes to shoot bursts of X-rays at consumer devices, such as the iPad, Galaxy Tab 10.1, or the Nexus S. The results are beautiful, ethereal images of the innards of our beloved gadgets, which reveal many of their components.

Alex stuck a new Samsung Galaxy S3 in the X-Ray machine, obtaining the image you can see below. What strikes me is just how much of the space inside the Galaxy S3 is taken up by the battery. You can also spot the two cameras, speakers, the antenna, and various circuits.

Apparently, the X-rayed Galaxy S3 still works fine, so it's not the same device that caught fire a few weeks back, apparently due to exposure to an external source of radiations.


This article, Galaxy S3's inner beauty exposed thanks to intrepid X-Ray technician , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Best Android apps for brain training and exercise

Posted: 22 Jul 2012 09:00 PM PDT

We are in the age where technology allows us to do so many things that in the past we could never do or never do well unaided. Because of technology, ironically, many people are no longer exercising their mental skills and, instead, are making their gadgets do things like computations and analyses for them. In turn, their mental capabilities become rusty. After all, “Use it, or lose it.”

If you refuse to let your brain turn to mush, we’ve put together a list of apps that can help you exercise, train, and sharpen your brain. They are mostly free to download from the Google Play Store. Read on to learn about the best Android apps for brain training and brain exercise. Flex those mental muscles, yeah?

The Moron Test

Do you think you are smart? Or, are you a moron? One way to find out if you are either of the two is by trying the puzzle-filled game called The Moron Test. As the name of the game suggests, it tests your mind through different obstacles and challenges which are seemingly easy yet tricky. Every time you solve a problem or finish a challenge, you’re closer to being a genius. You need to finish all the obstacles for you to be hailed as a genius.

The game has a fun and animated interface, featuring different animated characters adding to the fun factor of the game. It’s great to play with your friends or the whole family. The Moron Test lets you exercise your brain through various challenges while being user friendly. Take the test to know whether or not you are a moron.

Brain Age Test Free

What do you think the age of your brain is? If you are curious, we suggest that you try and play Brain Age Test Free. It’s an easy and simple game that analyzes your brain age by testing your short-term memory.

When you play the game, you will see bubbles with numbers inside them. The numbers will eventually disappear and you have to tap the bubbles in the numbers’ descending order. You have up to 3 chances before the app will start to analyze your brain age.

Play the game 10 minutes a day and it will help exercise your brain, particularly your short-term memory, making you more alert and most importantly, making your brain younger. You can also track your progress through the progress screen. The game is very user friendly, perfect for everyone no matter what age or brain age.

Brain Age Game

We have already mentioned one brain-age determining app and another app of this sort is Brain Age Game. Playing this game lets you determine what your brain age is, but what makes the Brain Age Game unique from The Brain Age Test is that it also measures your memory age and arithmetic abilities.

It has different kinds of brain tests that will help you workout your brain reflexes and concentration. At the end of each test, the app will show your scores, which you can opt to post on the global scoreboard.

Tracking your performance and improvement is also supported via the Progress button on the homescreen, as well as sharing your results to Facebook every time you play.

The Brain Age Game is a great and fun way to exercise your brain. You can encourage your Facebook friends to workout their brains, too.

Memory Trainer

There’s no doubt that the human brain is capable of more than what you are using it for, and the only way to squeeze some extra performance from your brain is by training it. Memory Trainer does just that for you, exercising your brain to improve spatial and working memory, as well as helping in improving your concentration through regular workout sessions.

The app is very handy; you can use it during your short breaks or while waiting for something. It explains to you more about memory training, allowing you to have an in-depth understanding of how it can improve your brain.

The app allows you to track your progress and continuing your last session is also supported. If you think you’re getting the hang of it faster than you thought, you can also tweak the difficulty settings of each session to make it more challenging.

Math Genius Brain Trainer

Solving mathematical problems does improve your brain skills, since it requires concentration, observation, memorization, and computation. You need to have imaginative thinking to be good at math and you can get a daily dose of that with Math Genius Brain Trainer.

This app provides you math puzzles to solve. They can be addictive, certainly useful if you want to make your brain perform better. The app puts your brain to the test with infinite levels, and playing it regularly improves your skill in doing quick and accurate calculations. If you love puzzle games, then for sure you’re going like this game, too.

It’s user friendly and it includes instructions to give you hints on how to the play the game. You can also tweak some of the app’s settings via the Preference button found on the homescreen. You can also continue your unfinished games anytime you want via the Continue button.

Brain Genius Deluxe

Brain Genius Deluxe is another app that is filled with brain training exercises, dedicated to help your brain think better. In this app, you have to prove that there is a genius within you by passing all of its 23 brain training games. You may think that those may not be much, but these games are challenging since they are timed. Playing it also allows the app to analyze your brain skills such as observation, memory, calculation, and reasoning.

You can also track your performance when you use this app. Brain Genius Deluxe is also available for iPhone/iPod Touch users, allowing you to compare your scores with your non-Android friends. And, if ever you need a break from the challenges, you can check out the bonus games included.

Interface-wise, the app is very easy to use and each challenge is easy to understand. It has a fun and nice-looking interface, too.

Brain Cafe | GeoQuiz

Learning never stops, even when you step out of the four corners of your school. There are always new things to learn about, and our very own planet Earth simply doesn’t run out of interesting wonders. Learning about these wonders is fun and enjoyable with GeoQuiz. It simply provides you with trivia about different things on our planet.

You can easily learn new things in a specific field that you prefer since the app allows you to choose from various categories. Everything is presented well in the app’s brilliant-looking interface which features different landscapes and views. GeoQuiz is easy to use and it has loads of knowledge waiting for you to discover.

Find Differences

Do you have sharp eyes? Can you pay attention to small details? To be able to do so, your eye-and-brain coordination should be high. Find Differences is a fun and easy to use app that will help you improve your attention skills and exercise your brain, too.

All you need to do is to spot the tiny differences for every pair of high quality images that the app presents to you. They could be tricky, but the app can give you a hand, giving you 5 free hints and for every 200 points that you earn by playing the game, you get another free hint.

It’s great to play when you have nothing to do, letting you kill time while working out your brain.

Math Workout

Another app that gives you a daily dose of mental math exercises is Math Workout. It has brain training exercises and math drills designed to keep your mind sharp and alert. The app lets you choose among different kinds of categories and challenges. If you have done all of the challenges or you are not up for them, you can choose to challenge other players of the app via the Online World Challenge.

Tracking your mental math progress is also supported by the app, letting you know how fast you are learning or improving your arithmetic skills. The app is also easy to use and you can use it no matter what your age is, guaranteed to make your mental skills sharper.

Chess Free

One of the classic mind games that really requires critical thinking is chess and Chess Free simply lets you enjoy this game on your smartphone. It’s one of the best free chess games that you can get on Android and it’s really a quality chess app if you consider its nice and classy interface and the game features.

The game has 10 levels that you can play, from novice level up to expert. It’s also great since it uses the Treebeard chess engine which plays chess in a very human-like manner, allowing you to learn from the great moves that it will make. It also has a CPU thinking option where the moves that the CPU is considering to make are shown.

It also has other features like stats, timers, hints, and handicaps which can help you evaluate how you are improving in each level that you play, not to mention a Review game mode to let you see every move that you and your opponent made during the game. Ches Free is definitely a great game to play with your friends.

PowerVocab: Vocab Word Game

Playing word games is also a great and fun way to exercise your brain and to enrich your vocabulary. One great app that helps you with flexing your skill with words is the PowerVocab: Vocab Word Game. It has features like Learn words, Challenge quiz, and Search words that help challenge and exercise your mental skills. You can also choose to challenge other live users.

The app itself is not just something that you can play during your past time because it also functions like a real dictionary. Each word is presented with complete definition, examples, and phonetic pronunciation, which is very handy if you encounter words that you do not understand. It is a good way of exercising your mental muscles while at the same time enriching your vocabulary.

Classic Simon

Have you heard of the Classic Simon game? If you haven’t then we suggest that you should try it out. It’s a very easy 2-player game yet it’s really a great brain teaser to help you give your brain cells some exercise. Its simplicity allows users of all ages to play it.

To play this game, all you have to do is just to repeat the colors and sounds in the correct order. The app has a very simple interface with the classic 4 color mode but you can also choose advanced modes such as Super color mode with 9 colors, Magic Memory mode or the Chaos mode. Tease your brain with this vintage app.

MatchUp : Exercise your Memory

If you like playing memory games and puzzles, you may have already stumbled across MatchUp : Exercise your Memory and similar games. Its definitely one of the best classic simple games that can also help you exercise your mind every once in a while. Not familiar with this game? To play this game, you just have to flip the cards and match them all with the least moves possible.

The faster you match all those cards, the better is your memory. If you want more of a challenge, just need add more cards. You can choose among 2×2, 4×4, 5×6, 6×6, 8×8, and 10×10 card grids. The harder the level becomes, the more complicated the images are, so the game will really test your memory, as well as your attention to detail. Playing it often will help train your memory to be sharper.

Brain Workout

Need a brain workout to improve several brain skills? If that’s the case, then you might want to try Brain Workout. Unlike other brain exercise or training apps, it trains your brain to improve in different areas such as memory, focus, reaction, and accuracy through different brain exercises.

It has 4 different brain training games for the brain skills that were mentioned and it also analyzes your performance in each area to help you know where you should improve. The app allows you to keep track of your progress from the first time you use the app. You can also share and compare your results with your friends.

Sudoku Free

When it comes to exercising your mind, one of the best classic puzzles to play is Sudoku and Sudoku Free is the app of choice if you want a quality Sudoku game. It has a very neat and intuitive interface, letting you reach all the buttons of the app easily, such as the numbers and some other options.

It has 4 levels: Easy, Medium, Hard, and Extreme. It also has several handy features such as automatic saving, Undo and Redo, and intelligent hints. You can also play with other players in real time if you are looking for challenging opponents. You can then post your scores and track your progress online.

(Can’t live without Sudoku? See our post about the best Sudoku apps for Android.)

Unblock Me FREE

Another mind-boggling game that would really squeeze your brain is Unblock Me FREE. You have to get the red block out of the board by sliding the other blocks out of the way. It’s seemingly easy, yet it’s a tricky game that would help you improve your problem-solving skills. The game has 4 levels of difficulty from Beginner to Expert.

You don’t have to worry of about running out of puzzles to solve since the game has 4,200 puzzles for you. There are two game modes, namely, Relax Mode and Challenge Mode, the latter you can play if you just want to kill time while the other if you are really serious about playing the game.

Unblock Me FREE also has a ranking system to motivate you to play better, a hint system to give you a bit of help, and an Undo system to cancel moves.

Brain Test HD

Training and exercising your brain will be very addictive and fun when you try Brain Test HD. It includes various games and brain exercises that you can play to improve your memory, speed, flexibility, accuracy, and reaction. It’s also a great app that you can use to turn your waiting moments to fun a brain training session.

Like other brain training apps, it also has the feature to allow you to track your performance using a progress graph. It also features brain classification based on your IQ and how well you play the game. You can brag about your high scores to your friends by sharing your results via Facebook.

Move the Block

If you are looking for a mind-enriching game that you can play with your siblings or your parents, then try Move the Block. It’s a great game for all ages and it’s very challenging, not to mention very brain-stimulating.

To play this game, you have to move the columns and rows up and down to achieve a target figure. The app has 100 exciting levels that you can play, so it will be long before you run out of puzzles to solve. Tracking your scores every time you play is also supported in the app, allowing you to see how much you have improved. Your scores could also be shared on Facebook so that you can let your friends know that you are exercising your brain.

Reversi Free

Reversi Free is another game that can give you a mind-boggling exercise. It’s one of those games which are seemingly easy to play yet very tricky. You have to be very clever and careful in flipping those chips, or else a game that you thought you were going to win will turn into a shocking loss.

The app has a very user friendly and intuitive interface. It has 10 levels of difficulty including some hints that can guide you in playing the game. It also shows your game statistics such as how many losses, wins, and draws you had. It’s a great game to give your brain a bit of exercise everyday.

Brain Exerciser

Pump some math problems into your brain to help it exercise with Brain Exerciser. The app tests your arithmetic skills by giving you math questions such as basic subtraction or addition. It may seem easy but if you haven’t been practicing with computations lately, you’ll surely struggle at the beginning.

The app has three different games that you can play: Add Like Mad, Number Breaker, and Balloon Solver, all of which are designed to help your mind become alert and sharp. It won’t help you solve complicated math problems, but it’s great to refresh your math skills once in a while.

It doesn’t matter how old or young you are. Having a sharp mind is not only a gift of genetics but also a result of frequent practice. Exercising your brain cells can make a difference. Even if you are old, your brain can still grow new neurons, so it’s just a matter of putting them to use for you to stay sharp. Try the best Android apps for brain training and brain exercise on this list so your brain will always stay alert and sharp.


This article, Best Android apps for brain training and exercise , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Galaxy S3 sales top 10 million in less than two months

Posted: 22 Jul 2012 05:07 PM PDT

Samsung's 2012 flagship device, the Galaxy S3, is doing a lot better when it comes to overall sales than its predecessors – sure, the comparison is not necessarily fair since from year to year we're seeing more and more people dumping regular cell phones and feature phones in favor of smartphones. Hence, it makes sense to see the Galaxy S3 sell better than the 2011 Galaxy S2, which itself did better than the original 2010 Galaxy S.

The smartphone environment is dominated by the iPhone and by the Galaxy S flagship devices – when it comes to single device sales – in that order. While no Android maker managed to match Apple's sales of a single handset, the Galaxy S3 is probably the first smartphone that will attempt to do it.

A new report now reveals that Samsung has already sold over 10 million Galaxy S3 units, after less than two months since its launch – the handset was first released in the UK on May 29.

The news comes straight from Samsung's president Shin Jong-kyun, who mentioned the sales mark to reporters. At this rate, Samsung is selling almost 200,000 Galaxy S3 units per day, and the company is expected to sell over 40 million Galaxy S3 units by the end of the year.

Comparatively, Samsung sold over 10 million Galaxy S units (as of January 2011) and a combined 30 million Galaxy S and Galaxy S2 units (as of October 2011), although these numbers are certainly higher by now. Samsung is not mentioning smartphone sales in its quarterly reports anymore but the company is expected to have sold 50 million smartphone units in total in the second quarter of the year.

Meanwhile, Apple is expected to announce somewhere around 30 million iPhone sales for Q2 2012, it's third quarter of fiscal year 2012, and the company's next-gen iOS smartphone should hit stores at some point in fall.

Have you purchased your Galaxy S3 yet?


This article, Galaxy S3 sales top 10 million in less than two months , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


HTC Desire HD Ice Cream Sandwich update officially canceled

Posted: 22 Jul 2012 02:54 PM PDT

We conclude today the HTC Desire HD Ice Cream Sandwich drama, as it looks like HTC has decided to completely scrape Android 4.0 upgrade plans  for the device – see the screenshot above taken from the company’s official blog where its ICS plans were posted back in March.

Initially, we heard that Canadian carrier Telus decided to cancel the ICS upgrade for the smartphone, and then we found out it was HTC that decided to temporarily stop upgrade plans. At the time, HTC lead us to believe that the Desire HD will receive its Android 4.0 build in the near future, but now it looks like that won't happen, at least not officially.

While developers will certainly find a way to bring various ICS versions to Desire HD owners, if that's not happening already, HTC has explained in a one-paragraph update on that March blog post why it decided not to rollout the ICS update for the once-flagship smartphone:

After extensive testing, we've determined that the current version of HTC Sense with Android provides customers with the best experience on the HTC Desire HD. When we consider new versions of software, we weigh a number of factors, but ultimately the customer experience on the product is the deciding factor. We apologize for any confusion this change may have caused our customers.

Interesting way of formulating this response – "the current version of HTC Sense with Android provides customers with the best experience on the HTC Desire HD." Well, what about customers that really want to try out ICS on the handset? Maybe without any Sense on top of it? Oh wait, that's where custom ROMs come in!

Let's hear it from HTC Desire HD owners, are you disappointed?

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This article, HTC Desire HD Ice Cream Sandwich update officially canceled , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


The Dark Knight Rises gets Nexus 7 fix in app update

Posted: 22 Jul 2012 02:34 PM PDT

The recently released companion game for Christopher Nolan's summer blockbuster The Dark Knight Rises is available for Android and iOS devices in the Google Play and App Store, respectively.

But Android users have discovered that the game is not exactly compatible with the Google Nexus 7, the hottest Android tablet in town that started shipping just over a week ago. Nexus 7 owners were not able to download the game after purchasing it from the Google Play store but it looks like the issue has been corrected with an app update.

But that's not the only error Android gamers experienced. It appears that certain game resources were downloaded twice on some devices. You may think that's not such a big problem, but The Dark Knight Rises is a 1.8GB download, so having certain files download twice is certainly annoying, as it requires plenty of additional memory.

The good news is that the game promises a great experience, as the player will be able to explore a "huge map," "enjoy stunning graphics for total immersion in the dark universe of Batman," use Batman's arsenal and vehicle collection and deal with "dozens of missions" and "random events" – this immense Batman universe explains why the game needs so much storage space.

The game, a $6.99 purchase, is now fixed and can be downloaded from the Google Play.

Have you played The Dark Knight Rises on your Android device? What do you think about this latest Batman game?


This article, The Dark Knight Rises gets Nexus 7 fix in app update , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


16GB Nexus 7 completely out of stock, Google stops taking orders

Posted: 22 Jul 2012 12:05 PM PDT

Yesterday we showed you that the Google Nexus 7 has been sold out already with various third-party retailers, both the 8GB and the 16GB model. As for ordering the tablet from the Google Play store, the 8GB version had a 3-5 days shipping date while the 16GB version would have only shipped in 3-4 weeks.

Those of you that managed to get their 16GB Nexus 7 orders in should consider yourself lucky, as it looks like the model is no longer available for order. Google has stopped taking orders and lists the device as "coming soon.” Interested buyers can sign up to be "notified by email when Nexus 7 (16GB) becomes available."

Apparently Google simply didn't make enough 16GB Nexus 7 units to meet demand, according to The Guardian:

Sources close to Google say the search giant seriously underestimated the demand for the 16GB version of its 7in Nexus 7 tablet, which has sold out from stockists and other sources while demand for the smaller 8GB version remains comparatively low.

Moreover, the same publication notes that the Search giant was taken aback by the decreased interest in the 8GB version, which Google hoped it would sell very well. The company thought that buyers will combine the 8GB physical memory available on the cheaper model with its cloud-based storage solutions to make up for the limited storage space. But it looks like buyers are more interested in storing their files on the tablet instead of relying on the cloud, and that's why the 16GB version is more appealing. That's even more so considering that neither version comes with microSD support, and therefore buyers can't upgrade the storage on the device themselves.

Not to mention that some third-party retailers have only been stocking the 16GB version, while the 8GB tablet was available via the Google Play store.

Finally, since both models are very affordable, it's really not surprising to see the 16GB Nexus 7 sell out completely.

At the same time, let's not forget that the 8GB Nexus 7 tablet is also shipping in 3-5 days, which means Google has sold plenty of units. However, the company, which is expected to sell 2-3 million Nexus 7 units this year, is yet to mention how many tablets it sold since announcing the device in late June at Google I/O.

Neither Google nor Asus specified at this time when the new 16GB Nexus 7 batch will be ready, and the UK publication notes that it "could take some weeks to arrive." You may still find plenty of 16GB Nexus 7 stock on sites like eBay or Craigslist, although you should expect to pay a premium price for the tablet.

Have you ordered your Nexus 7 unit yet? Which capacity did you choose and why?


This article, 16GB Nexus 7 completely out of stock, Google stops taking orders , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Google attempts to join HTC as co-defendant against Nokia

Posted: 22 Jul 2012 10:55 AM PDT

htc-vs-nokia

We've covered the Nokia initial filing against HTC, as well as HTC's response to Nokia in a couple of previous articles, but just in case you only need a quick sum up, what you need to know is that Nokia filed suit against HTC (and also an ITC complaint) back in May 2012 for the alleged breaking of no less than 16 patents owned by the Finnish smartphone manufacturer. HTC responded a couple of weeks back and rose a FRAND (Fair, Reasonable and Non-Discriminatory) licensing and patent exhaustion defense. So far, this all seems to have nothing to do with Google, right?

Well, as it turns out, the Search giant has a totally different opinion on the matter, as a recently uncovered Google filling has revealed that Google has asked the court to join HTC as a co-defendant in the case. Although Google was often forced to provide testimonies relating to its Android OS in lawsuits against third-party Android manufacturers (not to mention that its lawyers attend many Android-related lawsuits), this is the first time when Google steps up and asks to become a co-defendant in a lawsuit that does not target the company directly.

It remains to be seen if Google will be granted the permission to share the defendant bench with the High Tech Computer Corporation, even though some analysts claim that both Nokia's filling, as well as HTC's defense do not involve Google in any obvious way. The same experts claim that Google's move might be closely tied with the EU Anti-Trust complaint that it has formulated last month against Nokia and Microsoft, as well as a previous ITC decision that excluded 5 patents leased by HTC from Google.

It sure looks like Google's lawyers are becoming at least equally busy as the suit army employed by Apple. They've already started to copy moves from the Apple lawyer rule-book, and now it looks like they are also adopting the same "trial frenzy" attitude that the iPhone maker has been much criticized for in the recent months.

What are your thoughts on this? Is Google's attempt to beat Apple at its own game something you frown upon, or is it something you support? Drop us a line in the comment section below and let us know!


This article, Google attempts to join HTC as co-defendant against Nokia , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Rdio Android app gets major update with UI tweaks and extended search results

Posted: 22 Jul 2012 10:42 AM PDT

Spotify, Pandora, Rdio and Music Unlimited. These are probably the most well-known and popular music subscription services available globally, and they are currently involved in a take no prisoners battle that can only benefit the regular music-loving tech-savvy user.

But while the competition should get the best out of online music streaming, there are still a few areas where neither service has managed to reach perfection. We are talking, of course, about the still steep subscription fees and the services' sometimes-buggy mobile apps.

On the first front, there hasn't been much movement recently and it almost seems like the competitors are in evil cahoots to keep the price bar high, but as far as that second inconvenience goes, we are noticing quite the involvement from the highly acclaimed streaming services.

No less than two of the "Big Four" have pushed some much awaited and appreciated updates to Android in the past couple of days or so, with Rdio quickly following Music Unlimited's suite (or the other way around). Although we don't want to compare apples and oranges, seeing as the two updates don't have much in common, we have to say that Rdio seems to have put a bit more effort into the new Android app than Sony did in its Music Unlimited update.

The 2.2.1 version of the Rdio Android app, available for download over on Google Play, comes with quite a few cosmetic changes, but there are also a bunch of new features and functions added, as well as a number of bug fixes. The UI improvements and enhancements are actually too numerous to mention here, but you'll definitely notice how you can organize new releases in a grid view, jump from a song in a playlist to the album where it came from, and more easily edit and add playlists.

You'll also be able to take advantage of a much better organized search section, with optimized and extended results, while the activity stream has been updated with new clickable URLs. Finally, the update's changelog also mentions some "miscellaneous bug fixes", which will most definitely make up for most of the problems that popped up with the app's February update.

Hopefully, the new upgrade will not bring some bugs and glitches of its own, which would mean that we could finally enjoy the app on truly any device running Android 2.1 or up, as it has been promised for a while now.

Exactly like Music Unlimited's latest update, Rdio doesn't come with any specific support for Google's new Nexus 7 tablet, but unlike Sony's service, we don't have much to worry about. In fact, we're willing to bet that Rdio 2.2.1 will work beautifully on the new 7-incher, so go over to Google Play no matter what Android gadget you are using and download it with confidence.

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This article, Rdio Android app gets major update with UI tweaks and extended search results , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.