Saturday, September 22, 2012

Android Community

Android Community


Google Play comes to Twitter

Posted: 21 Sep 2012 07:28 PM PDT

If you’re an avid Twitter user and use it to keep up with companies and even special deals, you might be pleased to know that the Google Play store has created a Twitter account to tweet out announcements and other news. Follow it now if you want to keep up with all the cool new things Google Play is doing.

With the new Twitter account, Google Play plans to tweet exclusive content, updates, and special promotions on content like apps, games, movies, TV shows, and books. They also mention “awesomeness” as something that they plan on offering with the new Twitter account.

The account already has over 6,500 followers as of this writing, and that number will simply continue to grow. But what’s perhaps more interesting are some of the users that Google Play is following, like Carly Rae Jepsen, a fake Justin Bieber, and the Amazon Kindle team.

It's also still too early to see if their Twitter account will offer anything different from what their email newsletter offers, but in any case, for those wanting to really make sure they’re staying up to date with all things Google Play, be sure to give them a follow.


Motorola announces S11-FLEX HD wireless headphones

Posted: 21 Sep 2012 04:03 PM PDT

If you’re like me, you have trouble finding just the right pair of headphones or earbuds that perfectly fit your head and/or ears. It’s a long and tough battle that may never end (it hasn’t ended for me yet). Motorola seems like they have a viable solution to that problem, though, with their new S11-FLEX HD wireless headphones.

The S11-FLEX headphones are behind-the-head headphones with earbuds that wrap over your ears. The “FLEX” in its name comes from the fact that there’s a flexible outer band and an adjustable inner band that allows you to adjust the size of the headphones to fit your head’s shape perfectly.

The earbuds are also adjustable to fit the ears and head for those with abnormal skulls and cartilage that aren’t quite what the industry would call “average” (which is most of us). They have a 150-foot range and run off of Bluetooth, which means you could be on the other side of your house and even your yard, and these babies would still be able to pick up a signal.

Other features include dedicated volume controls, an EQ, and a super-quick 5-15 minute charge times. While Motorola claims these things have excellent sound (even over Bluetooth), we’re not going to take their word for it, and I’m sure some audiophiles might agree, but if you’re looking for a set of cans that are extremely adjustable, these might be it.

You’ll be able to grab a pair of these on October 28 for $130.


Samsung unveils pink Galaxy S III, coming to Korea

Posted: 21 Sep 2012 03:34 PM PDT

We all love to add a little personality to our smartphones, whether it’s through a special case or just the color of the phone itself. If pink just so happens to be your favorite color (I know it’s my favorite color), you’ll be happy to know that Samsung unveiled a pink-colored Galaxy S III. An intimidating phone never looked so weak.

Samsung certainly loves their colors, though. They announced four new colors for the S III back in August, and today they have announced the most manliest of colors, which brings the total color count to seven (the other colors being Marble White, Pebble Blue, Amber Brown, Garnet Red, Sapphire Black and Titanium Grey). Was I naming off Bob Ross colors just then?

The pink Galaxy S III will hit store shelves in Korea next week, but we have yet to hear word on whether or not it will be coming to the States. Then again, I would find it hard to believe that Samsung would hold back on the pink version and not make it available before Christmas or even Valentine’s Day.

If the pink version did eventually end up hitting Stateside, do you think you would get one? Maybe buy one for the Mrs.? Personally, I think pink is a fun color and it would definitely enforce the whole “real men wear pink” philosophy, but I don’t know if I’d want a device that I use constantly and every day to be glowing pink. Just my personal preference, though.

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 GSMArena]


Verizon Galaxy S III developer edition now for sale

Posted: 21 Sep 2012 02:49 PM PDT

Samsung‘s flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S III, has been a huge hit. It’s sold more than 20 million units so far and it’s only expected to grow with the holiday season coming up. Now it looks like Samsung will be selling the developer edition of the Verizon version to anyone who wants to pony up full price for it.

It comes in “Pebble Blue” and will cost $600 for the 16GB version, while the 32GB version will sell for $650. All the specs are the same, including the Qualcomm S4 Krait processor and 2GB of RAM with a 4.8-inch Super AMOLED screen. The only difference is that the bootloader is unlocked, making it extremely hacker-friendly.

It seems that Verizon waited too long for anyone to care anymore. The retail version of the Galaxy S III already has had its bootloader cracked, so the developer edition is more or less identical to the retail version. Still, for those that don’t even want to deal with a locked bootloader to begin with can now pick one of these up.

While it’s now already out, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Verizon has waited this long to allow the developer edition of its S III to be purchased. They usually like to keep their phones on lockdown, so it’s nice to see them open up a bit, especially when the Galaxy S III is one of their most popular Android devices.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy S III (LTE)
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : AT&T Verizon
    Announced Date : June 04, 2012
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As : SGH-I535 (Verizon), SGH-I747 (AT&T)
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.8 Inch
  • Resolution : 1280x720
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED HD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.37 Inch
  • Width : 2.77 Inch
  • Depth : 0.33 Inch
  • Weight : 133 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 2100 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.0.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • 3GP
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
  • WMV
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
  • IM
Hardware
    CPU : MSM8960 Snapdragon
    CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 2000 MB
    Internal Storage : 16 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
  • 720p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
  • CDMA
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
    CDMA Band:
  • 800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :


CyanogenMod 10 Nightlies rolling out for T-Mobile Galaxy Note

Posted: 21 Sep 2012 01:56 PM PDT

Samsung’s Galaxy Note is a pretty cool phablet if we do say so ourselves. Even American Airlines thinks so, since they’ll be using them throughout their fleet. There’s some good news for CyanogenMod fans that own T-Mobile Galaxy Notes: CyanogenMod 10 Nightlies have begun rolling out.

It’s only been a week since a custom Jelly Bean build showed up for the AT&T and International versions of the Galaxy Note, and now CyanogenMod 10 Nightly builds are available for T-Mobile’s version of the device. Your path to a CMified Galaxy Note starts at their website, where you can directly download the 160MB .zip file that contains everything you need.

Of course, we already know that the Galaxy Note II is right around the corner, and it will include Jelly Bean right out of the box. However, if you’ll be stuck on the original Galaxy Note for a while, the CyanogenMod 10 Nightly will give your device a modified Jelly Bean interface until you’re able to upgrade again.

If you’re curious about the Galaxy Note II, it has a 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED display with a 1280 x 720 resolution, a 1.6 GHz Samsung Exynos quad-core processor, 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB storage, an 8 MP rear camera and 1.9 MP front camera, and a massive 3100 mAh battery. You can already pre-order it on US Cellular too.

[via Android Police]


Verizon CFO: “Unlimited is just a word”

Posted: 21 Sep 2012 01:07 PM PDT

Hot on the heels of the iPhone 5 release, Verizon CFO Fran Shammo has some strong words to say. Shammo argues that unlimited data is essentially going away forever and never coming back. According to the report he said that “unlimited is just a word” and that “it doesn't really mean anything."

Those are certainly fighting words from Shammo, and I’m sure T-Mobile has something to say about that, since they offer “true unlimited data” to its customers. Frankly, we’re not really sure why Verizon has lost hope in unlimited data. We can only guess the company wants to limit its users so that it doesn’t overload the network, but we know that’s really not what it’s about.

On a related note, Shammo says that Verizon’s new Share Everything plans are going great. Consumers are being more receptive to it than the company originally thought. Shammo said that it’s because users realize they don’t need unlimited data, so they end up having an easy time accepting coming off of an unlimited plan.

Then again, 2GB shared data plans start at $30 per month, which is the same cost as what unlimited plans were priced at, but we knew that was too good of a deal for consumers. It’s no surprise Verizon wanted to get rid of anything that relates to a “good deal.”

Have you given up your unlimited data plan and went to Verizon’s shared data? Let us know in the comments.

[via SlashGear]


Hulu Plus, HBO GO, and Max GO updated for Android

Posted: 21 Sep 2012 12:29 PM PDT

If Netflix isn’t cutting it for you and are instead resorting to other popular streaming apps like Hulu Plus, HBO GO, and Max GO, you might be happy to know that some small updates have come to all three. They aren’t significant, but they may play a small role in improving your mobile movie and TV show watching sessions.

For one, all three apps have been updated to include closed captioning. This is great for when you forgot your earbuds at home and aren’t able to crank the volume where you’re at (like on the subway or waiting in line somewhere). Hulu specifically notes that its app supports English and few other language when they’re available, but we’re not sure about the others.

On Hulu’s Android app, you can now share TV episodes on Twitter Facebook, and other services (not the actual episodes, mind you. Just links to Hulu). Sadly though, there’s no 10-second rewind button like the one that showed up in the latest update for iOS recently.

Obviously, to use any of these apps, you’ll have to pay for a subscription first. You’ll need a Hulu Plus account in order to use their app, and HBO and MAX also require a subscription to their TV channel before you can start streaming their stuff on mobile devices. Hulu Plus is actually not a bad deal at all, which only costs $7.99/month, and they’re constantly offering free trials.

The updates are available now in the Google Play store: Hulu Plus | HBO GO | MAX GO


Boeing preparing airlines for cell phone use

Posted: 21 Sep 2012 11:26 AM PDT

With all of the debates going on about whether or not passengers should be allowed to use their mobile devices during a flight, Boeing has just decided to bypass that altogether and start prepping its biggest planes for cell phone use, allowing passengers the opportunity to make phone calls during a flight.

Boeing’s flagship aircraft, the 747-8, as well as the 777 and its newest 787 Dreamliner will be equipped with the tools needed to be able to easily connect phone calls 30,000 feet in the sky. They plan to have this done sometime in 2013. They also want to equip these planes with Wi-Fi, live television, internet access, and wireless streaming media (by 2014). Plus, all of this could potentially run off of Android.

However, it isn’t exactly up to the airlines whether or not they allow passengers to use cell phones during a flight — that will be up to the government. In the US, mobile phone usage is currently banned by the Federal Aviation Administration, and they’ve unfortunately given no indication that they plan on lifting that ban.

Hopefully, Boeing will move on to equipping all their planes in the future, and that other aircraft manufacturers will get the memo, including Airbus and Embraer. For now, Boeing shouldn’t be in any kind of hurry, since adding mobile phone capabilities to their planes will be pretty much useless until the FAA says otherwise.

[via CNET]


Android Authority

Android Authority


Motorola Droid Razr M goes for $50 on Wirefly

Posted: 22 Sep 2012 02:35 AM PDT

If you missed the deal that Wirefly had on the Motorola Droid Razr  – where the phone was offered for only $50, last week — it's redemption time. The same retailer is giving customers the opportunity to snag the Kevlar-adorned phone at a similarly tempting price.

Whether you're a new customer or looking to upgrade on Verizon Wireless, you can score the Droid Razr M for $49.99 from Wirefly. Yep, this looks like an extension from last week's deal. But we don't see why customer should be complaining, given that the M is still selling at a full price ($99) at Verizon stores. To sweeten the deal, you don't have to pay anything for the Fedex standard shipping. As for reasons why the Droid Razr M is worthy of your hard earned money, let's just say you won't find any other phones that sport a Kevlar coating for that low price, considering the phone boasts a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 1GB RAM, 4G LTE, NFC, and 2,000mAh battery.

The edge-to-edge 4.3-inch display of 960 x 540 resolution should please those who aren't yet ready to commit to a bigger-sized phone. Although the Droid Razr M only ships with Ice Cream Sandwich, an upgrade to Jelly Bean is guaranteed, as promised by Motorola Mobility’s CEO. Hit the link if you don't want to miss the chance to get the Droid Razr M for $50 the second time around. You can choose between the black and white models.

Related Posts

Deal of the day: Droid Razr M available at $80 from Wirefly, Deal: Motorola DROID RAZR M currently on sale for only $50 with contract, Motorola's Droid Razr M Developer Edition goes for sale, to ship September 24


This article, Motorola Droid Razr M goes for $50 on Wirefly , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Is the HTC One X 5 real after all?

Posted: 21 Sep 2012 08:32 PM PDT

HTC One X 5

At the beginning of the week Android Authority reported on what was supposedly a leaked image of an HTC phablet.

The leaked image called the phone the HTC One X 5. Shortly after the leak, it became known that this was nothing more than a concept image by Flickr user Danny Tu. That’s the end of the HTC One X 5 rumor, right? Not exactly.

According to Pocket-Lint, they have now received word that the image was in fact the real deal. Could Pocket-Lint be wrong? There are certainly suspicious parts to this photo, like the fact that Android Market is on the phone’s front.  Any current Android user will know that Android Market has since been changed its name to Google Play.

There have been leaked pictures in the past of a HTC phablet that falls in line with this rendering, though. It’s possible that the name One X5 is in fact real, even if this photo was potentially altered or isn’t a real press image. Perhaps the image was leaked to Flickr to get the Android community talking about the idea of an HTC phablet? With the fiscal problems HTC is facing, the company could use all the positive buzz it can get, after all.

Prior rumors surrounding an HTC phablet suggested that the phone will have Beats Audio, a 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and a 1920×1080 pixel resolution.

What do you think? Is this the real deal, despite the visual cues and speculation that stands against it? If it is legit, does the HTC One X look appealing to you?

Related Posts

HTC phablet becomes known as the HTC One X 5, Official: Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE is real, to be released “very soon”, Official Virgin Mobile ICS update for the HTC EVO 3D leaks, looks like the real deal


This article, Is the HTC One X 5 real after all? , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Android Authority On Air – Episode 30 – Chameleon Launcher Round 2

Posted: 21 Sep 2012 06:03 PM PDT

This week we’re back with your favorite Kickstarter Android Launcher, Chameleon. As you may recall, this wasn’t our first go with the HTML5 based widget launcher, we had an exclusive interview with Chameleon when it all began back in early August. This week they dropped version 1.0 to the Play Store and we went live with them again to bring you all the goodies such as widget API’s, upcoming widgets and performance increases. Besides Chameleon, other popular apps had some hefty updates and overhauls this week. Google Maps added a few features, Facebook began copying Google+ features again, and Twitter had some impressive updates.

Android as a whole hit some nice milestones this past week such as capturing 68% of the 2012 Q3 market share. We also saw the Google Play Store add over 600 titles. These include Family Guy, Modern Family, Prometheus and more. Matias Duarte, the man behind the ICS and JB gorgeous UI let the world know he’s only about a third of the way done with Android’s UI.

Don’t you just love the fall? It’s gadget heaven. We had tons of device rumors, news, and announcements this week. From the LG Optimus G, Oppo Finder 5, to the Padfone 2 and even some Nexus rumors. Some old devices received much needed OTA updates this week and the HTC One X might be getting Jelly Bean sometime in October.

For rootin’ and ramen noodles (watch the show) the Android Open Kang Project dropped build #2 on the world and man loves them some customization. CyanogenMod 10 keeps on truckin’ adding support for more devices this week. There’s also a new universal root tool making the rounds and so far it roots a hefty amount of devices. Lastly, if you decided to pick up a Kindle Fire HD, the bootloader is still locked but thanks to an unpatched bug (thanks Amazon!) you can easily root your new Fire.

Miss the show? Tune in or watch below:

YouTube
SoundCloud
Stitcher
iTunes
RSS

Links
HTC One X Jelly Bean update coming in October, new report says
Microsoft wins patent injunction against Google in German court
Asus to launch the Padfone 2 on October 16
Alibaba spins off Aliyun OS. Could recent Google troubles haved caused this?
SoundCloud adds editing features to its Android app
War must go on – Samsung to attack iPhone 5 with infringement claims on eight patents
Sprint CEO: 1 million LTE devices sold, wishes Windows Phone luck
ZTE Warp Sequent is available at Boost Mobile with ICS and low-end specs for $200
LG's quad-core Optimus G to start selling in Canada in November
Android 4.0.4 ICS update heading to AT&T's Sony Xperia Ion
Google releases update to Maps just as Apple rolls out iOS 6
Official: LG Optimus G to be released in Q4 in the US, carrier names still unknown
U.S. Galaxy Note 2 launch confirmed with five carriers: Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile & U.S. Cellular
Samsung rolls out ICS update for AT&T's Galaxy Exhilarate
AT&T turns on its 4G LTE service in Seattle, Portland and more
Chameleon launcher finally gets V1.0 release, more dashboards for some
Verizon locks down another Samsung phones' bootloader
Matias Duarte: Android is "about a third of the way to where I want to be"
Google's Chrome browser doesn't work on the new Motorola RAZR i
IDC: Android has four times more global market share than iOS
PSA: $25 Google Play Credit With Nexus 7 Purchase Promo Ending September 30th
Complaint filed by Motorola to ITC puts Apple under the looking glass
Acer announces the Iconia Tab A110 (again!), coming soon with Jelly Bean on board
New Amazon Kindle Fire HD gets rooted with an old expoit
Twitter App gets update – "My Profile" now has background image ability, and 'Photo Stream'
Judge Koh: Sales ban for Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 to remain in place
Motorola RAZR i launches in London, features 2.0GHz Intel processor
G-nex, Nex7 and others have AOKP JB Build 2 now available to them
Asus Padfone 2 inching closer to its release, packs quad-core S4 CPU in leaked benchmark
Most ICS/JB devices now accepting XDA universal root method
Alibaba maintains Aliyun's legitimacy, but agrees with app piracy accusations
HTC phablet becomes known as the HTC One X 5
Oppo Find 5 gets more specs revealed, including 2 GB of RAM, 12 MP cam and 2,500 mAh battery
Galaxy Nexus 2 (GT-I9260) apparently in the works, could be called the Galaxy Premier

Related Posts

Android Authority On Air – Episode 23 – Live with Chameleon, Android Authority On Air – Episode 25 – Google Play Gift Cards and CM10, Android Authority On Air – Episode 29 – iPhone5 Announced – Apple still playing catch up


This article, Android Authority On Air – Episode 30 – Chameleon Launcher Round 2 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


New and fresh Android apps of the week (September 21 issue)

Posted: 21 Sep 2012 02:00 PM PDT

Android app developers do amazing things.  They cook up useful or fascinating — sometimes useful and fascinating — Android apps that answer numerous mobile needs.  To be a developer is no easy task.  It requires not just programming skills but also, more importantly, an understanding of human needs and wants.  With the latter being a neverending stream, the flow of new and fresh Android apps also flows ceaselessly.

In this September 21 edition of our weekly roundup of new and fresh Android apps, you’ll get to know about a/an:

  • feature-filled stopwatch and timer;
  • personal virtual coach for quitting smoking;
  • simple-yet-beautiful high-definition battery widget;
  • sieve for filtering unwanted SMS;
  • automatic Facebook album creator and photo uploader that also detects whom you are with;
  • friend-maker and socializer, especially for the shy ones;
  • cloud-based file sharing with a social touch;
  • radar for finding like-minded folks near you;
  • ICS-themed barcode and QR code encoder/decoder;
  • helper for digging through hundreds or thousands of call logs or SMS messages;
  • interactive math-teaching app for kids;
  • letter and number teacher for kids;
  • timer that stops music playback automatically, especially when you’re going to sleep;
  • diagram and flowchart creator; and
  • animated weather radar.

What are you waiting for?  Try these new apps today and let us know what you think of them.

StopWatch and Timer Pro

Our Android smartphone has a default stopwatch and timer that lets you monitor time. But, if you want to use a stopwatch and timer with even more features, you can use StopWatch and Timer Pro on your mobile phone. This app carries neat features such as a voice prompt and shake gesture support.

The app is just like the ordinary stopwatch app. You can monitor time and break it into laps. The app also has the feature that allows you to chronologically sort the laps. If you visit the Statistics tab, you will find the number of laps and see which one is the slowest or the fastest.

You can also control the app by shaking your phone to start and stop the time. Set the shake settings to split the time into laps, reset the clock, and much more. The app also allows you to hear a voice prompt according to the duration of time you set on the Settings menu. If you want to change the stopwatch into a timer, just head over to the Settings menu and enable the Timer mode.

You can download the ads-free StopWatch and Timer Pro for about a dollar from the Google Play Store.


Exsmokers iCoach

Studies suggest that smoking is bad for the health, but why do people still want to inhale those toxic fumes? Experts say that a stick of cigarette contains a concentrated dose of nicotine that triggers a rush of dopamine and other neurochemicals that washes over your brain’s pleasure centers. It also overrides the brain’s rewards system so smokers think that they need to smoke in order to survive. No wonder it’s hard to stay away from those tempting little sticks.

Some may even spend a lot of money for the smoking cessation meds to control their addiction. You can also do it naturally, but it would be a hard and slow process. If you’re planning to start a smoke-free life, you can try the Exsmokers iCoach app.

The Exsmokers iCoach is an app that will help you take your first step in stopping your smoking addiction. But, before it does that, you will be taken to the assessment stage where you will answer a couple of questions about your smoking habits. This will allow the app to assess your smoking background and determine which phase you are in stopping your addiction. Once the app has determined your phase, it will then display a couple of tips and some advice for you to follow. It even has a saving calculator feature that calculates the amount you will save when you stop smoking.

The ads-free Exsmokers iCoach app can be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store.


Beautiful Battery HD

Our Android device, however useful, won’t be of use if it doesn’t have enough battery power.. That’s is why it is important to constantly monitor your battery level on your notification menu. But, some may find the battery icon too small that you can’t easily see your battery status when you unlock your Android handset. Thankfully, there are several battery widgets from the Google Play Store that allow you to display your battery status right on your homescreen. One of those apps is Beautiful Battery HD.

This app is a battery widget that allows you to place your battery level right on your homescreen. What’s great is that the widget features a nice display that suits your HD-screened device, such as the Galaxy S3. You will also notice some color changes when the battery level goes down further. Green will indicate a good battery level, yellow will be your battery’s half value, and red for your almost-drained battery. You will also see your battery level in percentage on the app.

In order for this app to remain free, it needs to be supported with lots of ads. The app will warn you that it will be putting some stuff on your handset, such as the search shortcut on your homescreen, a bookmark on your browser, and a browser search homepage. The app will also pushes ads to your notification menu.


Easy sms filter

We receive a variety of text messages on our Android phones. We may sometime receive personal messages from our loved ones or general messages from our friends. But, sometimes we don’t want to receive a text message from someone or promo messages from your local phone network. If want to stop those annoying text messages from reaching your notification menu or your inbox, you can use the Easy sms filter app to silently filter your unwanted SMS messages.

What this app does is that it blocks the SMS messages from the contacts you added on the list. You can also select a message from your inbox so the app can block it the next time the sender sends a message to your phone. I was able to test the app and it successfully filtered the messages from the contact I added on the list. You can view your filtered messages on the Log tab in the app.

The ads-free Easy sms filter app can be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store. I was amazed that the app was ads-free, considering that this is a free app. The app’s user interface is also simple and easy to use.


Evertale

Have you ever experienced taking lots of group pictures on your Android phone but failed to share them with your friends? It is easy to take a lot of pictures but time-consuming to upload them for your friends to see. All your photos will just be “gathering dust” on your Android phone. Thankfully, we have Evertale to do the uploading job. This app doesn’t only upload photos but also detects your nearby friends and creates an album of pictures from all your mobile devices.

In order to enjoy these features, you and your friends must have Evertale installed on your mobile devices. You will also need a Facebook account to use this app. Once the app detects your friends, you can now take pictures and automatically generate a group album.

The app will also determine which friend you are with and automatically shares the album with that friend. The app’s permission requirements suggest that the app uses the phones GPS in order to determine which friends you are hanging out with.

The app will also notify you when an album has been created so you can view it at Evertale.com. You will also need an active Internet connection for the app to upload and post your group pictures.

The ads-free Evertale app can be download for free from the Google Play Store. The app is still in beta, so expect that it might have some flaws on some mobile phones.


Related Posts

New and fresh Android apps of the week (September 7 issue), New and fresh Android apps of the week (September 14 issue), New and fresh Android apps of the week (July 28 issue)


This article, New and fresh Android apps of the week (September 21 issue) , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


[deal] HTC One X only $20 at Amazon with new AT&T contract

Posted: 21 Sep 2012 01:40 PM PDT

htc-one-x

If you’ve been waiting to pick up an HTC One X, now might be the right time. The phone will only cost you $20 if you grab it and a new contract today via Amazon Wireless. That’s $80 less than it would cost you from an AT&T store.

The HTC One X packs a 1.5 GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor, 1 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal storage, and a 4.7″ Super IPS screen with a 312 DPI 720 x 1280 screen. An 1,800 mAh non-removable battery and 8-megapixel rear and 1.3-megapixel front cameras round out the features. The One X runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (though it should see an update to Jelly Bean in October) with HTC Sense 4.0.

Amazon Wireless has both the white and gray versions of the phone available for $20 for new customers, and $100 if you’re already an AT&T customer. These deals don’t always last very long, so if you’re interested, you may want to just take the plunge and buy it now.

Does this sound like a good deal to you? Any owners of the HTC One X want to chip in with their thoughts to help out prospective buyers?

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This article, [deal] HTC One X only $20 at Amazon with new AT&T contract , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Subway Surfers dashes into the Google Play Store [video]

Posted: 21 Sep 2012 01:05 PM PDT

Subway Surfers, which was a major hit for iOS devices with over 25 million downloads, has finally made it onto Android devices. The trailer video shows you what to expect.

Get ready to engage in some serious acrobatics as you guide Jake, Tricky and Fresh through the levels, hoping to escape the Inspector and his pitbull. Luckily, you aren’t expected to run without help: a hoverboard and a paint-powered jetpack will help you navigate the busy levels. Either dodge the trains or jump and run on top of them, collecting coins all the while.

At the time of this writing, the app has had just about 1,000 ratings in the Google Play Store and it still has a score of 4.8 out of 5, so it looks like Android users are enjoying it every bit as much as iOS users.

Check out the video below and then go grab the app from its Google Play Store page.

Well, what are you waiting for? Why haven’t you downloaded it yet?

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This article, Subway Surfers dashes into the Google Play Store [video] , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 arrives in Canada today, priced at $499

Posted: 21 Sep 2012 12:52 PM PDT

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1

Europe and the U.S. have had the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 since mid-August now, but what about Canada?

Earlier this month, we learned that preorders for the Canadian version of the Note 10.1 would start soon, but we didn’t receive word on the actual day it would launch.

Now it’s official, Samsung has released the Note 10.1 WIFI model at the originally suspected price point of $499. Beyond the tablet itself, 50GB of Dropbox storage will also be included. Were you hoping for an LTE model? It’s coming sometime by the end of this year, so don’t worry.

The Note 10.1 is powered by a 1.4GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM. Other specs include a 10.1-inch WXGA display, 5MP rear cam, full HD playback and recording, 32GB memory, MicroSD expansion, a 7,000mAh battery and Android 4.0 ICS.

Is the Galaxy Note 10.1 worth its $499 price tag? Normally you can’t go wrong with Samsung, but the Note 10.1 could possibly be the exception to this rule.

Many reviews on the net have been less than receptive of the Galaxy Note 10.1. Critics call the Note 10.1 out for being poorly built and not nearly up to the quality that Samsung is capable of producing. Even the software, particularly the custom skins, were criticized by one particularly harsh Android Police review.

Negative reviews or not, any Canadian readers planning on picking up the Note 10.1?

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This article, Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 arrives in Canada today, priced at $499 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Verizon version of the Galaxy Nexus finally gets Jelly Bean, starting today

Posted: 21 Sep 2012 12:46 PM PDT

Verizon Galaxy Nexus

When you buy a Nexus device, you expect quick upgrades to the latest and greatest compatible version of Android. In most cases, Google has done a good job with this. Unfortunately, Google can only control so much and leaves many of the details up to individual carriers.

Nearly two months after GSM variants were upgraded to Jelly Bean, Sprint finally managed to get the upgrade out to the Nexus on September 6th. Now it is Verizon’s turn. Better late than never, I suppose. The upgrade will roll out in waves starting today and should reach all Verizon Nexus users within two weeks.

How do you upgrade? Normally an OTA like this would simply show up with a prompt telling you about the new version’s availability. For some reason, Verizon has elected to offer this only through WIFI, likely to cut down on data traffic caused by upgrading. To ensure you get the update as quickly as possible, make sure your WIFI is toggled on. After ensuring you are running on WIFI you can always manually check for an upgrade under the "System Updates" section.

Is Jelly Bean worth the update? Yes it certainly is. From faster overall performance to the new "Google Now" search features, there is a lot to love in Android 4.1. Perhaps the jump isn’t as huge as from 2.x to 4.0, but there are still significant changes in stability, ease of use and overall performance.

Does anyone own the Verizon version of the Galaxy Nexus? Did your update arrive yet?

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This article, Verizon version of the Galaxy Nexus finally gets Jelly Bean, starting today , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Samsung Galaxy Note II will ship to Europe within the next two weeks

Posted: 21 Sep 2012 12:41 PM PDT

Samsung Galaxy Note II

Anxiously awaiting the Samsung Galaxy Note II? The wait is almost over for those in Europe.

Yesterday we learned that the Note II is hitting Italy on September 28th. What about the rest of the European market? An unofficial report coming from Sam Mobile suggests Samsung’s new phablet will start rolling out to Europe within the next two weeks.

Want the exact dates for the launch of Samsung’s new smartphone? We may not know all of the exact dates yet, but here are a few specific release targets:

  • France October 1-2
  • Germany September 27
  • Netherlands October 1-2
  • United Kingdom October 1-2
  • As expected, September 28th in Italy

We now know when it’s coming, but what about pricing? If the source proves correct, you can expect the Note 2 to arrive at a non-subsidized price of about 699 Euros. The actual cost will be much lower for the majority of buyers, thanks to lower pricing with a two-year commitment.

Need a refresher on the specs? The display is a gorgeous 1280 x 720 5.5-inch AMOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass 2. As for the internal hardware, it is powered by a 1.6GHz Exynos quad-core CPU with 2GB of RAM.  Other specs include 16/32/64GB internal storage options, microSDHC, 8MP rear camera, 2MP front-facing camera, 4G LTE, 3,100mAh battery and a redesigned S-Pen. The phone will be available in Titanium Grey or Marble White.

Are you interested in picking up the Samsung Galaxy Note II at launch, or are you eying a different Android smartphone?

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This article, Samsung Galaxy Note II will ship to Europe within the next two weeks , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


LG Optimus 4X HD Canadian release delayed, Wind and Videotron to get exclusivity

Posted: 21 Sep 2012 12:33 PM PDT

As excited as we are about the upcoming Optimus G "beast", it's pretty obvious that LG still has a long way to go to narrow the gap between itself and Samsung in Android smartphone sales. The thing is that we sometimes get the feeling LG is not even trying hard enough to challenge its arch rival.

Take the Optimus 4X HD, for example. That never looked like a second-class smartphone to us, packing some quad-core heat when dual-core was still the standard, and sporting a pretty great True HD IPS LCD screen with a 4.7-inch diagonal.

Still, LG treated the 4X HD more or less like a mediocre device, releasing it in Europe in late June, in Asia soon after, but not in key markets in North America. We heard about a Canadian release scheduled for the fall ever since late July, but alas it seems like the phone won't be hitting the major carriers we were suspecting it to.

Don't get the wrong idea, we're not ones to discriminate based on a carrier's number of subscribers, but it's just that we think there might have been some tech lovers up North who wanted to see the high-end phone launched on Rogers, Bell or Telus, the nation's most important wireless service providers.

Instead, if Mobile Syrup's sources prove correct (and they usually are), the Optimus 4X HD will only get Videotron and Wind Mobile launches, the two carriers that barely hold a 3% share of the total Canadian market together.

But wait, there's more. The actual release seems to have been pushed back, from the suspected September to "sometime in October". There are no details about the exact ETA or the device's pricing, but LG really needs to hurry up, not to mention avoid making the phone available at a very "premium" price tag.

As far as specs go, we suspect the Canadian version of the Optimus 4X HD to be identical to the international models, meaning it will come with the same Tegra 3 processor, 1 GB of RAM, 16 GB of on-board memory, microSD support, dual 8 MP/1.3 MP cameras, NFC, and 2,150 mAh battery.

There'll be no 4G LTE speeds for the 4X HD, as neither of the two carriers is offering support for the technology, while the software will most likely once again see Ice Cream Sandwich seasoned with LG's Optimus UI 3.0. There is a promised Jelly Bean update supposedly coming to the phone soon, but with LG's software upgrading track record we wouldn't hold our breath.

Meanwhile, there’s still no news about the phone ever making it to U.S. shores, although the fact both Videotron and Wind use T-Mobile-friendly AWS bands  might be a hint to a Magenta release.

Excited about the prospect of (finally) seeing the 4X HD in Canada? Disappointed that it doesn’t come to more “familiar” networks? Let us know below.

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This article, LG Optimus 4X HD Canadian release delayed, Wind and Videotron to get exclusivity , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.