Friday, August 10, 2012

Google Alert - android

News10 new results for android
 
How makers of phones and tablets are faring
Businessweek
Many companies including Nokia and Research in Motion have been struggling to compete with Apple and manufacturers of devices running Google's Android software. Here's a look at earnings and other reports from selected companies in the industry.
See all stories on this topic »
HTC One X gets Android ICS 4.04, with Jelly Bean promised
ZDNet
"The primary update will include an upgrade to Android version 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich), in addition to an improved Sense experience which will enable the ability to map menu functions to the 'recent app' key — improving visual presentation in non ...
See all stories on this topic »

ZDNet
Google Translate Android app now interprets text from photos
Los Angeles Times
Google Translate for Android Gingerbread will now translate text from photos. The app was updated Thursday by Google to include the new feature, which should be helpful when it comes to restaurant menus and road signs, as well as books and magazines.
See all stories on this topic »
Nvidia touts ascendancy in Android, Windows 8 tablets
CNET
Nvidia's emergence as a leading player in both the Android and Windows 8 tablet markets was driven home today when the chip supplier's CEO discussed second-quarter results in an earnings conference call. Revenue rose to $1.04 billion from $1.01 billion ...
See all stories on this topic »
How Google's stealth support is buoying Samsung in Apple fight
CNET (blog)
Apple's various lawsuits represent an attempt to slow the momentum that Android has enjoyed over the last few years. While the iPhone 4S remains a phenomenally successful single device, there are scores of Android phones constantly flooding the market, ...
See all stories on this topic »
Android 4.1, JellyBean Comes to First Ever Android Smartphone, T-Mobile G1 ...
Christian Post
The new Google software seems to be making its rounds with many of the Android devices of the past, however, the G1 that launched back in 2008 is the furthest back one could go and normally runs the first-ever build of the software. The new JellyBean ...
See all stories on this topic »
Android HIFI Streams Music to Your Android Device from iTunes and Other ...
Lifehacker
Android: Apple's media-streaming technology, AirPlay, is designed to stream only to "Apple approved"devices, but Android users can get around this by restriction with Android HIFI. The free app turns your Android device into a receiver for streaming ...
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Threats to Ouya - Developers Win
Gamasutra (blog)
There is a new Android based game console on the horizon called Ouya. There are plenty of people excited about it and plenty of people saying that it will fail. I had some thoughts while commuting on my scooter (seems that's where most of my thoughts ...
See all stories on this topic »
Add Quick Launch shortcuts to your Android lock screen
CNET
You may be familiar with the TouchWiz shortcuts on Samsung Android devices -- well Quick Launch is similar in how it works, but not how it looks. Instead, this lock-screen replacement is bit more modern than TouchWiz, which means it pairs nicely with ...
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[Review] Does the Samsung Galaxy S III Live Up to Its Hype?
ReadWriteWeb
Not all Android smartphones are created equal. That is evident just from taking a look at Samsung's own Galaxy series. But when a company aims for the top of the market, it better come armed with its best hardware and software specifications ...
See all stories on this topic »

ReadWriteWeb

Blogs5 new results for android
 
WatchESPN Android app update finally brings access for Comcast ...
By Richard Lawler
While the WatchESPN app for iOS got an update that opened up mobile streams for Comcast cable customers back in May, it's taken until now for Android.
Engadget
Samsung Galaxy Beam Review | Android Community
By Cory Gunther
Today we have the one and only Samsung Galaxy Beam smartphone to show everyone. This isn't actually the one and only, as Samsung's released a phone with the.
Android Community
Ouya Android gaming console: Kickstarter campaign ends with a bang
By Dan Graziano
On Thursday, Ouya's Kickstarter campaign came to an end with the project having raised nearly $8.6 million from 63416 backers. The startup is led by for.
BGR: The Three Biggest Letters In Tech
Android Authority Developer Interviews: Moborobo
By Bogdan Petrovan
We've sat down with Frank Chen, the CEO of Moborobo Inc, and discussed about Android in general and developing for Android in particular. Check out our latest developer interview below.
Android Authority
Google Android app translates photos
By Patrick Roanhouse
Google Translate for Android, today available as v2.5, packs some smoking new features: voice-to-text and text-to-voice translation in more than 64 languages and -- get this -- photos.
BetaNews

Web1 new result for android
 
All About Android 71 | TWiT.TV
Crisis of Design, profile switching, Calendar events in Google Now, Galaxy Note 2, and more.
twit.tv/show/all-about-android/71


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Android Authority


Trial reveals Samsung and Apple U.S. sales figures

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 03:00 AM PDT

One great side effect of the Apple vs Samsung trial is that all sorts of juicy details and secrets are revealed. Exact sales figures for all the different models can be difficult to come by, but yesterday we got a look at the U.S. sales figures for Samsung and Apple. You'll never guess what Samsung's top selling phone was. Go on, have a guess.

If you somehow managed to divine the answer as the Samsung Galaxy Prevail carried by Boost Mobile, then give yourself a pat on the back. This budget Android smartphone topped the chart, but that's because of Samsung's habit of offering slightly different versions of the same phone on different carriers under different names. If we add the figures together we can see that the Samsung Galaxy S II, in all its many guises, was the real star of the last couple of years for Samsung.

Total U.S. smartphone sales for Samsung from June 2010 until June 2012 totaled over 21 million. Sadly enough, Samsung's tablet sales haven't been as impressive. Total sales of all the Galaxy Tab range come in at under 1.5 million units.

Apple sales

For the iPhone, we have figures for U.S. sales dating back to the original iPhone release in 2007. From the release until June this year they sold over 85 million iPhones. If we just look at the results from 2010 Q2 up until 2012 Q2, so as to compare directly, then Apple's smartphone sales were over 62 million compared to Samsung's 21 million.

The dominance is more marked in the tablet market, as you might expect. Apple has sold over 34 million iPads since the first version was released up until June this year.

 


This article, Trial reveals Samsung and Apple U.S. sales figures , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Vodafone Australia makes good on their Jelly Bean promises

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 02:30 AM PDT

Last month, we reported a story regarding OTA Jelly Bean updates and its delay to the Nexus S. Then a few days after, we put out another story about the Nexus S getting the eventual update after the delay. Then just a few days ago, we reported about the Samsung ICS OTA update. What does all of this mean? It means we’re here to tell you Vodafone has finally made good on its promise and pushed out the OTA Jelly Bean Android 4.1 goodness!

At the moment, information is scarce about the Web, but the story is developing, and people are commenting all over Australia on their Nexus finally getting Jelly Bean.

The official announcement went out about a day ago but curiously enough, the Vodafone blog has not been updated to include the Nexus S rollout or the status of the JB going out. But it doesn’t matter,because many of you out there with a Nexus S have gotten the Jelly Bean Android 4.1 install. If you haven’t gotten it yet, please be patient, as Vodafone has said this OTA update will be gradual over a few days as opposed to a mass blast.

Have you received your Jelly Bean yet? Are you awaiting anxiously still? Sound off in the comments below!


This article, Vodafone Australia makes good on their Jelly Bean promises , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Nexus 7 integrated into a Dodge Ram

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 02:20 AM PDT

A car modifier and Android enthusiast has taken his new Nexus 7 and created a great in-dash holder for his 2008 Dodge Ram, and also linked up the charger and audio output.

As said in the video, many iPad installs have been done on vehicles, but the Nexus 7 is a cheaper (and we think better) alternative for in-car navigation and media.

So why bother doing this? Well, for starters, the Nexus 7 is great for media. The music application with its sleek cover flow would give an unprecedented experience if you like to enjoy your music while driving. You also get to use Google Maps, which has a navigation feature built in. You would need to acquire mapping for your area beforehand, though. Alternatively, just switch to a navigation application that uses OpenStreetMaps, such as MapFactor Navigator. This is a great app I have used abroad, and I thoroughly endorse it. Both the cover flow and maps are shown in the video below.

The Audison Bit One device which redistributes audio.

The audio output from the Nexus 7′s headphone jack goes into an Audison Bit One audio controller. You can play with an equaliser on the Audison device, or download an app to do it on the Nexus 7 (also shown in the video). The Audison device then pipes out the audio to all of the speakers in the Dodge Ram.

Back in March, I posted an article on an OEM Android car stereo from Clarion. Their system was a low-end Android device tailored for music, navigation and a couple of games, though. This “bay for Nexus 7″ idea for the Dodge Ram allows you to use your Nexus 7 at the office, then pop it into its holder and enjoy music/podcasts on the way home with a touchscreen interface.

Obviously not everyone (very, very few in fact) will want to gouge out part of their dashboard, and a lot of cars don’t even have room for something like this. Still, it’s a step towards the right direction. Android tablets might come integrated in cars in the future.

As always here is the original video, showing how the Nexus 7 fits in the Dodge Ram and what it is used for. Enjoy!


This article, Nexus 7 integrated into a Dodge Ram , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Mobile phones might soon come with a health hazard label

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 02:08 AM PDT

Mobile phones are potentially detrimental to our health. Not only do we spend countless hours twiddling our thumbs on touchscreens and squinting at ever-too-small text in the middle of the night, but we’re also subject to potentially harmful radiation. This is why legislators are trying to enact a law that will require manufacturers to place warning labels on mobile phones, and which will create a national research program that will look into health issues concerning mobile phones.

H.R. 6358, or the proposed Cell Phone Right to Know Act, will also require the Environmental Protection Agency to update the current mobile radiation standards. The current maximum for SAR — or specific absorption rate, the metric used to measure mobile phone radiation — is deemed too conservative. This then limits device manufacturers and equipment suppliers in terms of the design, power and service levels they can offer.

A federal report by the Government Accountability Office says that SAR limits will need to be revisited, which should ensure “proper balance between protecting the public from exposure to potentially harmful RF energy and allowing industry to provide telecommunications services to the public in the most efficient and practical manner possible.”

The proposed law, introduced by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), will also require device manufacturers to add warning labels on devices — somewhat like the labels found on cigarette packaging. The existing rules on SAR and labeling are quite dated, and are based on research dating back to 1991. Back then, of course, mobile devices were designed differently, and networks used different mobile standards (AMPS, anyone?). With the fast pace of network development and with the increased data throughput that networks can support, perhaps radiation standards need a revisiting.

The basic precept of the bill is information. “As long as cell phone users may be at increased risk of cancer or reproductive problems, Americans must have the right to know the radiation levels of cell phones,” says Kucinich.

Of course, there are arguments against the harmful effects of cellphone radiation. After all, even our microwave ovens and CRT screens give off more radiation than mobile devices. And then there’s the non-concentric design of mobile antennas, which are designed to radiate the signal in an expanded, rather than focused, manner.

While the issue on radiation is still being debated, the kind Congressman says labels will help consumers choose mobile phones based on their radiation levels — sort of like choosing a car based on emission standards and mileage. “While we wait for scientists to sort out the health effects of cell phone radiation, we must allow consumers to have enough information to choose a phone with less radiation,” Kucinich said.

As a smartphone user, do we need increased concern over cellular radiation?


This article, Mobile phones might soon come with a health hazard label , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies – Video review

Posted: 10 Aug 2012 01:06 AM PDT

Assuming you're done playing Dead Trigger, and what with season 3 of The Walking Dead not hitting the small screen until October, your best bet to get your daily Zombie fix is to play GLU's Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies. Now we know that the game is an exclusive for Xperia devices until September 6, but this just gives more time for non-Xperia gamers to prepare. Trust us — killing Zombie takes a lot of effort that the more preparation you have, the less likely you'll get mauled by those pesky brain eaters.

As promised, our resident game meister Clayton has posted his video review of Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies.  Along with the brief walkthrough, we have also provided additional information for your reading pleasure.

Graphics and Gameplay

Upon firing up the game, you'll get the option to choose between a single player and a co-op multiplayer mode. The co-op mode lets you create a team of up to 4 players for a Zombie showdown, but it only works on WiFi.

Going solo means you can choose one out the available four characters on the game. Next, you'll have to choose your battle ground: Kino Der Toten, Ascension, Call of the Dead: Director's Cut, or Dead Ops Arcade. If this is your first time playing the game, you may want to start with the tutorial.

The basic premise of Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies is simple: kill as many zombies as you can and stay alive. Along the way, you can collect coins and points to buy better ammo and to unlock doors to new areas.

GLU has done a fine job in porting the console game to Android. The overall graphics quality, as noted by Clayton, is pretty good. It's not quite at the same level as the Xbox counterpart, but it's definitely one of the better looking games available for the platform. Bearing in mind that Clayton is running the game on an Xperia Ion, which is powered by a dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S3 processor, we can only imagine that it will run much smoother on a Snapdragon S4 or Tegra 3.

Control

While the game has a solid control set, and is quite responsive to touches, there's only so much the developer can cram on a small screen before it blocks your view. The left side is reserved for a virtual stick to move the character around, while the right side is where you aim. Shooting requires you to tap the "target" button once to hone in, and tap the screen once more to shoot. There's also a handy "stab" button when things get a little too crazy. As is the case with other games, it'll take a while to get used to the controls and master it.

Verdict

For $7, Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies may seem a bit much compared to Dead Trigger's free price tag, but you're really getting the full Call of Duty experience on your mobile device. With great graphics and solid control, the game is definitely worth the download.

No related posts.


This article, Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies – Video review , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Intel to launch resonance-based wireless charging technology for ultrabooks, smartphones by 2013

Posted: 09 Aug 2012 07:37 PM PDT

charging

Tablets and smartphones are wireless, sure. But when you run out of battery, you’ll be scrambling to find your charger and a wall outlet to top up the device’s juice. As we increasingly become mobile, though, we want new ways to charge without necessarily being tethered to the wall or to a bigger device like a notebook computer.

Wireless charging technologies have existed for some time now, including the Powermat and a few other niche device-specific charging apparatuses. However, wireless charging has not yet met mainstream acceptance, mostly due to the limitations of such technologies and the attendant costs. For one, some solutions are compatible with certain phone models only, and will necessitate special cases. Another limitation is positioning. Inductive charging will require that you position the phone a certain way, atop an inductive mat.

Short of wearing batteries on our clothes – which may be possible in the near future, too — wireless charging may just be around the corner. Intel is reportedly working toward bringing wireless charging technologies to mainstream use by 2013 in ultrabooks, DigiTimes reports. Upstream supply chain sources cited say Intel is working on a resonance-based technology to achieve this.

The concept will involve charging the mobile phone from an Intel ultrabook using a combination of a wireless transmitter and related software. Intel claims this will not result in a significant power draw from the ultrabook, and will not require the phone to be positioned in a special way.

The included software will let the user control certain functions, such as positioning tests, charging control, and diagnostics.

To date, wireless charging technologies have been quite expensive. For instance, NTT DoCoMo and Sharp have developed smartphones that meet the Wireless Power Consortium‘s Qi standard, although high prices can be a barrier. But efforts are being done to bring down costs and improve the usability of the technology. Take for instance the Fulton eCoupled wireless charging technology introduced at CES. This concept involves charging a device everytime the user slips it inside a handbag.

Intel wants users to be able to charge smartphones just by placing them within the vicinity of a notebook computer. No mats, no cases, no special positioning needed. It’s just a matter of having device manufacturers support the resonance-base charging technology.

Sources say Intel’s upcoming Haswell platform is not likely to fully support the technology, but a few ultrabook models may support wireless charging by second half of 2012. Once wireless charging becomes mainstream, we might just soon be ditching our power cables altogether.


This article, Intel to launch resonance-based wireless charging technology for ultrabooks, smartphones by 2013 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Droidicious: Android app for managing Delicious tags and bookmarks

Posted: 09 Aug 2012 03:00 PM PDT

Delicious, also known as del.icio.us, is a social bookmarking service focusing on tag-laden bookmarks and scans through every topic that exists in the Internet. Although there is still no word on the official companion app for the Delicious service, there are, however, some third-party Delicious apps that developers have created to bridge the gap.

One of such apps is Droidicious, a promising Android application that integrates with the Delicious service, bringing in new features such as remote access and synchronization with your Delicious account.

Droidicious also brings a holo-themed UI inspired by ICS with full support for Android tablets.  It comes with many other features that will make your bookmarking experience on an Android device truly worthwhile.

For the user-interface, Droidicious brings a tablet-optimized Holo theme that also works well with Android phones. Droidicious brings a lot of features to the table, including integration with your favorite Android browsers, instant sharing with Delicious via compatible apps, auto completion of URLs, instant bookmarking, customizable notifications for sync, sorting of links and tags, uploading tasks automatically, link bookmarking, tag filtering, and adding of optional bookmarks to sync with your Delicious account.

On the app's home screen, you will be greeted with lists of various tags associated with your bookmarks, as well as the total number of bookmarks beside each tag. The toolbar found at the top houses other options such as adding a custom bookmark, refreshing the app's content manually, or heading over to the settings screen.

Selecting a tag activates the batch selection mode so that you can easily pick as many tags to instantly view all the relevant bookmarks. If you prefer using the app in landscape mode, you can easily run through all of your content, thanks to the dual-pane design of Droidicious. The left pane lists your tags and search bar, while the right pane houses your bookmarks.

Overall, the app is just a mere extension of Delicious. Bookmarking has never been easier than with the Droidicious application. Like most third-party alternatives, the app does lack the option of accessing custom Stacks, but we do hope that this feature will be made available with the addition of some innovative features such as extensive Stacks management, sneak peek option, social media networking, inbox support, a homescreen widget, and other basic goodies that you could expect from a social media application.

You can download Droidicious Free (delicious) for free to help you manage your Delicious tags and bookmarks. A paid version is also available.

What do you think of Droidicious?


This article, Droidicious: Android app for managing Delicious tags and bookmarks , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 discounted by $49.01 in Apple stores – what does it mean for Android?

Posted: 09 Aug 2012 02:57 PM PDT

In case you didn't hear, Sprint has recently decided to lower the price of the 16GB iPhone 4S model to $149.99, which is 49.01 lower than its regular price, while also waiving the activation fee. The carrier is apparently doing this as an attempt to try to move as much iPhone stock as possible in anticipation of the upcoming sixth-generation iPhone.

While that's certainly not a surprising move for a carrier, or for third party retailers – Best Buy and Radio Shack also have discounted offers on iPhone models – it's certainly worth pointing out that some actual Apple retail stores are ready to match the discounts available from these third-party retailers on a case-by-case basis.

This move is something unheard of in the iPhone business, at least for Apple, as the company has always sold the iPhone for full price, ignoring similar offers from other companies, even when approaching a new iPhone launch.

In fact, the only time Apple is discounting its iOS devices – not including refurbished devices sold through its online store – is after the launch of a next-generation device. It's only then that Apple usually shaves off $100 from the price of the previous-generation device, in case it keeps selling it in store.

Currently, the official iPhone prices – and I'm referring to subsidized devices here – are $199/$299/$399 for the iPhone 4S, depending on storage capacity, $99 for the iPhone 4 and $0 for the iPhone 3GS.

MacRumors has obtained a screenshot that reveals that Apple stores will offer a $49.01 discount on iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 models, but the sale won't be made public. That means you'll have to request the lower price in store, citing the store that's selling the chosen iPhone model for next.

Assuming the leaked image above is not a fake, then why is Apple willing to lower the price of its iPhone by $50 and why does it matter for Android buyers?

iPhone 5/6 Arrival

The next-generation iPhone – iPhone 5, as it's mistakenly referred to by tech blogs instead of the more logical iPhone 6 name choice – is expected to be announced on September 12, and launched in up to two weeks later. The news has not been confirmed by Apple at this time, but as we approach September we'll know more about the next major Android adversary.

Since the hype around the new "iPhone 5" is reaching higher and higher levels as we get closer to the launch of the handset, it's likely that some potential iPhone buyers will refrain from buying a 2010 iPhone 4 or a 2011 iPhone 4S and wait for the next-generation device that's expected to be a major product refresh when compared to its predecessor.

Due to this increased buzz, Apple iPhone sales tend to somewhat decrease in anticipation of the new iPhone launch, and maybe Apple is interested in selling as much exiting iPhone stock as possible in the months/weeks preceding the launch of the new device.

But that may not be the only reason Apple is willing to consider discounting Android devices.

Android Pressure

The price of an Android device tends to goes down in the months following its release. From Amazon, and third-party retailers, to carriers that offer the device for subsidized prices, various discounts can be seen, even for once-flagship devices – the best example right now is the Sprint Galaxy S3 selling for $99 on Amazon.

That happens because in the Android ecosystem a new star is born every few months, and that star captures the full attention of the media but also of the consumer only for a few months – depending on how hot the device is – right until the next best thing comes along.

But this fast turn around of Android devices help carriers sell a large number of Android devices each quarter, and, overall, helps Android become the leader in the smartphone business when looking at market share numbers.

Is then Apple trying to fight off Android pressure especially at this time, when its iPhone sales are at the lowest level of the year, as people are waiting for the new iPhone to hit stores? Is Apple trying to make its iPhones even more appealing by dropping their starting subsidized prices in order to better compete against ultra-affordable Android smartphones?

Apple has never tried to be the number one smartphone maker by market share, as the company is able to command a different top that it may be a lot more interested in, overall profits. That's where Apple is king, as the company is able to keep its iPhone margin high, by not budging when it comes to dealing with carriers on the price of the smartphone.

While HTC has financial difficulties despite having some very interesting Android handsets out there, Apple manages to cash in on its iPhone's popularity quarter of the quarter. The best example here is the iPhone 4, the company's only iPhone that was the Apple flagship smartphone for more than a year – launched in June 2010, the iPhone 4 was replaced only in October 2011, and throughout the period it sold very well quarter after quarter.

So then, are there other reasons for Apple to decide to discount, even though only on request, the price of the iPhone in its retail stores?

Carrier Subsidy

The iPhone is a nightmare for the carriers, and there's no secret about that. No major operator can afford not to carry the iPhone – just look at Sprint, which only got it in late 2011, and T-Mobile, which still doesn't officially support it (there are over 1 million iPhones on the network) – but no carrier is completely happy with Apple.

Not only is Apple not willing to let carriers dictate any terms when it comes to iPhone hardware, and more importantly, crapware software, but Apple has a tough stance on its pricing model. Carriers spend a lot of cash on iPhone subsidy upfront, and while they make that cash back, and then some, during the contract iPhone buyers are locked in, the fact still remains that those subsidies affect the bottom line.

Is Apple therefore willing to show carriers that it’s willing to change its stance on iPhone pricing in order for carriers to push iPhone sales over, say, Android or Windows Phone sales – just recently AT&T was rumored to have issued an internal memo advising staff to recommend Android and Windows Phone devices over iPhones in its retail store, a rumor that was categorically denied by the carrier, but certainly raised enough eyebrows.

At the same time, Apple is probably least worried about mobile operators right now because it's already working with a large number of carriers around the world, and plenty of customers would be ready to jump ship to the competition to get the iPhone.

New Management

We'll also point out that this move comes under new management. Tim Cook has been the ruler of Apple for almost a year now – not counting his acting-CEO times – and he has made various decisions that were not necessarily in line with what Steve Jobs would have done.

Nevertheless, Apple's stock is on the rise, and the company has sold record numbers of iPhone 4S and new iPads, its latest smartphone and tablet model with him at the helm. So there would be no apparent reason for Cook to decide to selectively drop the price of its iPhone models – the same $49.01 discount is not available in Apple’s online store – with a few weeks/months to go until the launch of the new iOS smartphone generation.

Without official information from Apple as to why the company has chosen to offer such discounts, we can’t but speculate on the reasons, and wonder what it all means for Android and the whole smartphone ecosystem. But we’ll certainly keep an eye on Apple, especially at this time of year, when new products are about to be launched.

Is anyone switching from Android to “iPhone 5″?


This article, iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 discounted by $49.01 in Apple stores – what does it mean for Android? , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


FlightTrack introduces free version with brand new interface

Posted: 09 Aug 2012 02:33 PM PDT

For those of us that are far from being frequent fliers, it’s nice to have a tool that can help us keep track what gates flights are on and other flight information for the rare times we do get aboard a plane.

On the other hand, why pay for a flight tracking app if you won’t use it hardly ever? If this sounds like your own situation, you will be happy to know that the popular FlightTrack app is now offering a free version for those of us that don’t need the full-blown premium variant.

The new FlightTrack app is available both for iOS and Android users, featuring simple menus that get the job done without all the extra fluff. This version is designed to give you basic information about you flight, but don’t expect features like Weather or TripIt Sync, unless you are willing to pay for the premium app. You can snag the app today through the Google Play store.


This article, FlightTrack introduces free version with brand new interface , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


XDA member creates workaround to make Verizon Galaxy S3 a world phone

Posted: 09 Aug 2012 01:51 PM PDT

Thinking of taking your Verizon Samsung Galaxy S3 on your next business trip abroad? While Verizon has promised that a software update to make the Galaxy S3 a global phone would be rolled out, a release date has never been confirmed. If you don't want to leave it to chance, here's a workaround that XDA forum member lair12 has concocted, which will turn your Galaxy S3 into a full-fledged world GSM phone.

By going to the original thread at XDA, you can get in-depth tutorial on how to make your Verizon Samsung Galaxy S3 work on foreign soil – with in-depth being the keyword here. There are a lot of steps to follow and you'll need some knowledge on how to root your Galaxy S3, as well as using ClockworkMod Recovery. You'll also need to download several apps from Google Play for the method to work.

As a preview, here's what lair12 has posted on the thread:

a1- rooted the phone with stock ROM
a2- use sprint.recovery.image for clockworkmod (others may work as well)
a3- load APN Manager app from Google Play
a4 – load HiAPN Global app from Google Play
a5 – load Ghost Commander app from Google Play
a6 – load Dropbox app from Google Play
a7- load PhoneInfo app from Google Play
a8 – back up APN’s to sd card through HiAPN
a9- edit "apnlist_backup.xml" found at sdcard>HiDroid_Net>HiAPN using Ghost Commander app (select DB text editor to open) and then edit to include your required APN information. 

Think they're long and complicated enough? Those are actually just the things that you need to do before you leave the country. The tutorial also shows you the steps to make the actual switch from LTE to GSM once you hit your destination, as well as how to return the phone to its original state.

Check out the link for the complete and detailed instruction if you're still interested.


This article, XDA member creates workaround to make Verizon Galaxy S3 a world phone , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.