Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Android Authority

Android Authority


Android 4.1 Jelly Bean coming to HTC One X and One S this month

Posted: 02 Oct 2012 02:23 AM PDT

HTC_One_X_and_One_S

October shapes out to be a great month for Android lovers. The latest good news comes from HTC, which today announced the HTC One X+, a revised and improved version of the One X, that you can read more about here.

Tucked away in the press release announcing the new One X+ is a little gem – details about the Jelly Bean update for HTC's One X and One S:

The Android Jelly Bean with HTC™ Sense 4+ update is scheduled to begin rolling out for the HTC One™ S and HTC One™ X from October.

We do hope that "from October" means in the following days, but we can't deduce anything more specific from HTC's brief statement. Also, it's very likely that the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update for the One X and the One S will first roll out to the international unlocked versions of the devices. Carrier-branded versions (like AT&T's One X model or T-Mobile's One S in the US) typically follow weeks or even months later.

Along with the serving of Jelly Beans, the One X and One S will probably receive the upgraded Sense 4.1 overlay (although HTC left this open by using the "4+" version), which provides enhanced performance and a number of bug fixes.

Show full PR text

HTC INTRODUCES THE HTC ONE™ X+.
MORE SPEED, MORE STORAGE AND MORE BATTERY LIFE
MAKE HTC’S BEST RATED ANDROID PHONE, EVEN BETTER

HTC also announces SenseTM 4+ with Android Jelly Bean upgrades for
HTC One X and HTC One S coming soon

TAIPEI – 2ND OCTOBER, 2012 – HTC, a global leader in mobile innovation and design, today unveiled the HTC One™ X+, a refreshed version of its award winning HTC One™ X smartphone, running the HTC SenseTM 4+ experience on Android™ Jelly Bean. The HTC One™ X+ combines the iconic design, amazing camera and authentic audio experience of the HTC One series, with increased performance, longer battery life and expanded internal storage.

“We are taking the HTC One™ X to a new level with the introduction of the new HTC One™ X+,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. “Our customers will have super-fast browsing, an even better camera and more immersive entertainment with Beats Audio.”

Performance, Endurance and Storage
Featuring a 1.7 GHz quad-core NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 AP37 processor and 64GB of internal storage, the HTC One™ X+ LTE version is up to 67% faster than the HTC One™ X1 LTE, making the HTC One™ X+ the best rated Android phone on the market. Developed to be lightning fast, the HTC One™ X+ enables quicker web browsing, fluid gaming and graphic rendering, and speedy downloads, providing effortless usage on the go.

In addition to its increased performance speeds, the HTC One™ X+ introduces extended performance with the inclusion of a 2100 mAh battery, giving you up to 50% (6 hours) more talk time, and longer to browse the web and enjoy your favorite music and videos2.

Imaging, Music and Movies
Combining the amazing camera capabilities of its predecessor3* with a series of intelligent features, powered by SenseTM 4+, the HTC One™ X+ has been designed to deliver the most premium mobile experience. The newly launched Self Portrait mode on the front camera helps you capture high quality photos by intuitively detecting the human face at various angles and applying subtle enhancements to skin and eyes. Sightseeing mode makes sure you’ll always be ready to capture the moment – one touch of the power button bypasses the lock screen and launches directly into the camera. Two new views in Gallery display images and videos and group them according to where and when they were taken.

Exclusively available on HTC smartphones, Beats AudioTM provides authentic, studio-quality sound that delivers the most immersive sound experience with an enhanced audio profile, crisper vocals and detailed high notes for your music, games, movies and videos. Making it easier to listen to music out loud, and through SenseTM 4+, the HTC One™ X+ introduces a new Tap and Go function, which allows you to connect the phone and your music to Beats speakers’4 when you tap them. To disconnect, it is just another quick tap.

Providing exclusive access to thousands of movies through HTC Watch 2.0, the HTC One™ X+ will appeal to both the avid film fan and the casual movie-goer. Combined with the introduction of video hub, another benefit of SenseTM 4+, for the first time you will be able to put all your video entertainment in a single place.

Easy Set Up
A new feature in the HTC One™ X+ is HTC Get Started, a new web service that guides the user painlessly through the set-up and personalisation process from a desktop web browser. Designed to enhance the experience of setting up a phone for the first time, this feature ensures that users will get the most out of their new phone from the beginning. With the touch of a button, users’ phone will reflect the settings and apps that were chosen on the Web. Visit start.htc.com for more details.

Availability
The HTC One™ X+ will be available in Europe and North Asia from October and in South Asia from November 2012. North America will make a separate announcement regarding availability of the HTC One™ X+. The Android Jelly Bean with HTC™ Sense 4+ update is scheduled to begin rolling out for the HTC One™ S and HTC One™ X from October.

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This article, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean coming to HTC One X and One S this month , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Deal of the day: Motorola Atrix HD available for a penny from Amazon Wireless

Posted: 02 Oct 2012 02:02 AM PDT

Motorola has been a sort of an Android black sheep these past few days, making a couple of announcements that have put the Google subsidiary under public scrutiny for all the wrong reasons.

First we heard about the Droid Razr HD and Razr Maxx HD launches being pushed back to the end of the year due to problems with the placement of the phone's antennas (aka "death grip"). Then Moto itself revealed that there will be no Ice Cream Sandwich updates for the Atrix 4G, Electrify and Photon 4G, three not so old phones that everyone expected to be upgraded at some point.

We know that bad things always come in threes, so it was only a matter of time until Moto closed the circle. However, just when we expected the Razr maker to strike out, they got back in the game with a home run.

The Atrix HD, the best Moto smartphone on AT&T, has been heavily discounted by Amazon Wireless, being now offered for the symbolical price of a penny. The 4.5-incher might not be as snappy and good-looking as the Razr HD, but it's still a very cool high-end(ish) handheld released just a couple of months ago.

Amazon's special offer is that much cooler given that you can purchase the Atrix HD for just $0.01 no matter if you're a new AT&T customer or an existing one wanting to upgrade or add a line to an account. Of course, you will be asked to sign up to a 24-month carrier agreement either way, but this is still one heck of a deal.

Still don't trust us when we're telling you the Atrix HD is one fine piece of technology and that you won’t regret getting it? Take a look at its spec sheet below and see for yourselves:

  • 4.5-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen with 1280 x 720 pixels resolution and 326 ppi pixel density
  • Corning Gorilla Glass and splash resistant surface
  • Dual-core 1.5 GHz Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 Krait processor
  • 1 GB of RAM
  • 8 GB of internal storage
  • MicroSD support for expanding the memory with an additional 32 GB
  • 8 MP rear-facing camera with autofocus and LED flash
  • 1.3 MP front-facing webcam
  • Android Ice Cream Sandwich recently updated to version 4.0.4; upgrade to Jelly Bean "coming soon"
  • 1,780 mAh Li-Ion battery
  • Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi hotspot
  • Bluetooth 4.0
  • HSDPA, HSUPA, 4G LTE
  • 140 grams weight
  • 133.5 x 69.9 x 8.4 mm dimensions
  • Available in white and black

There's no expiration date mentioned by Amazon for the special offer, and, while we don't think the deal will end very soon, we would advise you to hurry up and get an Atrix HD as the stocks could be limited. Are you planning to do that? Why? Why not?

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This article, Deal of the day: Motorola Atrix HD available for a penny from Amazon Wireless , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


The HTC One X+ is now official: Android 4.1, Tegra 3 and LTE, bigger battery

Posted: 02 Oct 2012 01:52 AM PDT

The HTC One X+ is a smartphones we’ve been hearing rumors about for months. Today it finally becomes an official device. Here’s what you need to know: It’s exactly like the HTC One X, except for a few small things. One, the NVIDIA Tegra 3 chip inside is clocked faster. In single core mode, the One X+ can hit 1.7 GHz. Two, the GPU is also faster, clocked at 520 MHz versus the 416 MHz in the original One X. Three, unlike the One X LTE variant, which was a One X with a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 inside, the LTE variant of the One X+ uses NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 alongside Qualcomm’s MDM9215 modem. How will that impact battery life? We don’t know yet. Speaking about battery, the One X+ has a 2,100 mAh battery versus the 1,800 mAh battery in the original.

Other notable changes include the front facing camera, which has been bumped up to 1.6 megapixels versus the 1.3 megapixel sensor in the original. The audio has also been upgraded courtesy of a new amplifier that makes the rear speaker suck less. As for software, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is on-board, along with what HTC likes to call “Sense 4+ UI”.

When will the One X+ come out? October, aka this month. Should you buy it? That’s incredibly hard to say. We’re huge fans of the Galaxy S III, we’re foaming at the mouth over the Note II, and within the next 30 days we’ll likely hear about the next Nexus device from Google. That means HTC’s One X+ struggles to get out attention. That and you can only buy it in black, which is a bit … limiting.

But hey, if you’re an HTC fan, then there’s no reason for you not to get this thing if you have the money. And if you’re already an HTC One X or One S user, you should know that you’ll get Android 4.1 Jelly Bean within the next few weeks.

Update: While we try to get our hands on this beast, have a look at these two videos from Recombu and C|Net UK to get an idea about what’s new with the One X+.

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This article, The HTC One X+ is now official: Android 4.1, Tegra 3 and LTE, bigger battery , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Gmail now lets you search for text inside your attachments

Posted: 02 Oct 2012 12:03 AM PDT

When Google announced Gmail on April 1, 2004, people thought it was a joke. What company in their right mind would offer users 1 GB of email for free? Fast forward to today and we’re not being the least bit hyperbolic when we say that Gmail has become an essential part of our lives. Not only does the threaded conversations UI make email easier to use, but the attitude that Google insists you have with email, that you should never delete a single message, completely changes your relationship with data.

Today Google is announcing that they’re making Gmail even better. Gmail users will now be able to search for text that’s inside their attachements. Here’s a hypothetical situation: Your friend forwards you a PDF of their itinerary to you so you can pick them up from the airport. You want to meet them at the gate, but you have no idea which airline they’re flying. Search for your friend’s trip, load up the PDF, and boom, there it is. Google being Google, this feature will work everywhere. In a browser, in the Gmail app, you get the idea.

Privacy nuts are probably going to go nuts and insist that Google is reading your sensitive documents, but come on now, let’s be serious. What’s a DOC file or a PDF file or a PPT file when you really think about it? Just strings of text wrapped in markup language. You, the user, input a query, that query gets converted into a string, and all Google’s servers do is match your input string to the strings that it has in their database. Simple as that.

Looking ahead, what else does Google have in store for Gmail? The company is testing a feature whereby your messages are searched whenever you do a Google search. In other words, when you go to Google.com and type in “dog”, you’ll see the top 10 websites about dogs, but in the right hand side you’ll also see all the emails you have that contain the word “dog”.

They’re just trying to make things that much faster.

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This article, Gmail now lets you search for text inside your attachments , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


AT&T introduces a new $65 prepaid plan; stay away and go with Straight Talk

Posted: 01 Oct 2012 11:09 PM PDT

AT&T is introducing a new $65 per month prepaid plan that includes unlimited minutes, unlimited texts, and 1 GB of data. To someone who wouldn’t know any better, that sounds like a steal, but in reality it’s just a scam. First of all, you can’t use this “cheaper” plan with any device you want. You have to go with a “GoPhone” from AT&T. In other words, they’ll gladly give you 1 GB of data per month, because they know no human in their right mind would transfer that much information using a low end smartphone. Second, there’s a better solution out there, one that doesn’t get enough attention. It’s called Straight Talk.

When you pay your AT&T or Verizon bill every month, you’re paying the salaries of the people who work in their retail stores, the construction workers who build those stores, the developers who make horrible ROMs that get flashed on operator branded devices, and the list just goes on and on. Enter Straight Talk, which is what we in the industry call a mobile virtual network operator. MVNO for short. They piggy back off AT&T’s network, buying access to it at a wholesale rate, and then reselling that access to you with razor thin margins.

Straight Talk gives you a SIM card you can shove inside any phone, and they charge $45 per month for unlimited everything. So do the math: $350 for a Galaxy Nexus, $45 per month for 12 months, that’s $890. Compare to that to someone who pays $200 smartphone and then locks themselves into a plan for two years that costs $90 per month. In the first year alone that adds up to $1280. That’s two Nexus 7 tablets right there!

Are there any downsides? Sure. Customer service is abysmal, there’s no roaming, and if your phone breaks you’re shit out of luck, but hey, $45 per month is hard to pass.

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This article, AT&T introduces a new $65 prepaid plan; stay away and go with Straight Talk , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean now on more than 25% of Android devices

Posted: 01 Oct 2012 10:37 PM PDT

Every two weeks, Google publishes a pretty pie chart that shows the version numbers of devices that are accessing the Google Play Store. Today that chart has been updated. How many Android devices are running 4.1 Jelly Bean? Just 1.8%. And what about 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich? An impressive 23.7%. Combine those two figures and you get 25.5%. Translation: One out of every four Android devices in use today runs a version of the OS that’s less than a year old. More than half (55.8%) of all Android devices are still on Gingerbread, which, for those of you who don’t remember this, launched in December 2010.

What meaningful conclusions can we draw from this data? Most people probably don’t care about what version of Android is on their device since they’re just fine and dandy with a two year old version of the operating system. The newest version of Android, Jelly Bean is less than three months old after all, is considered a niche platform that developers are probably not targeting as heavily for obvious reasons.

When will ICS penetration break the 50% mark? It’s easily going to take another year or so. ICS launched on the Galaxy Nexus in November 2011, but handset makers didn’t start shipping ICS devices until the end of the first half of the 2012. Remember how pissed off we were at CES and Mobile World Congress because all the new phones being announced were running Gingerbread?

And as for software updates, we commend Samsung for putting Ice Cream Sandwich on what’s arguably the most popular Android device to hit the market, the Galaxy S II. That being said, we’re still waiting to find out more information about when the GS2 will get get Jelly Bean. Meanwhile everyone else has a mixed track record when it comes to providing timely software upgrades, if ever.

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This article, Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean now on more than 25% of Android devices , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Navy-built spyware makes 3D model from camera images. Could your Android smartphone be spying on you?

Posted: 01 Oct 2012 06:52 PM PDT

Holy malware, Batman! (Image from The Dark Knight / Warner Bros.)

Smartphones have become a prevalent part of our lives, that we carry them anywhere — to work, to parties, to the bedroom, and even to the bathroom. This is why smartphones are also one of the things that can be used to spy upon us. You may have already heard about apps that eavesdrop on conversations even when the phone is idle.

But a new technology by the U.S. military goes beyond just eavesdropping. The PlaceRaider technology will actually reconstruct a 3D virtual model of your home, workplace, or just about any location, using the phone’s camera and orientation sensors.

If you remember how Lucuis Fox reconstructed a 3D image of a Hong Kong building’s interior in The Dark Knight using echo-imaging, this is similar. However, PlaceRaider uses the phone’s camera instead of sonar.

The technology is developed by the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center, and the malware or spyware aims to gather intelligence (a.k.a. steal information) from visual sources, which may include computer screens, documents and the like. The aim is to gather financial data, identity information, and just about any details that can be “seen” from the target’s location.

The app can run in the background of any Android device from 2.3 Gingerbread up. Blurry images and recordings from a pocket or in dark conditions are filtered out. Good images are then sent back to the developers’ servers, where a 3D representation is reconstructed based on location- and position-based inputs from the phone sensors. This includes GPS location direction and orientation.

According to Robert Templeman, who leads development of the app, a 3D representation makes it easier to gather intelligence than simple, raw photographs.

The developers recommend that smartphone manufacturers — and even users — secure themselves from this kind of attack by making sure the phone’s camera shutter sound cannot be muted. Another recommendation is the use of anti-malware and antivirus apps that alert the user of any infiltration.

Are you worried that Big Brother might be spying on you through your mobile device? Are you concerned about the moral implications of using smartphones to spy on everyone (just as Lucius Fox was)?

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This article, Navy-built spyware makes 3D model from camera images. Could your Android smartphone be spying on you? , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Rumor: Google acquiring facial-technology startup, Viewdle

Posted: 01 Oct 2012 05:53 PM PDT

Google

A new rumor claims that Google is acquiring a new facial recognition start-up company called Viewdle. According to Forbes, Google will likely pay around $30 million for the company. Keep in mind that this is all speculation and rumor, at least for now. Not surprisingly, Google and Viewdle both are responding with the same "no comment" routine.

So what is Viewdle all about? The company was founded in Ukraine in 2006 and is currently based out of Silicon Valley. The start-up has several Android apps such as SocialCamera and games like Third Eye, in addition to several facial recognition patents that Google is likely to be interested in. Probably its biggest feature, though, is its unique automatic tagging system for photos of friends and family.

Will this prove to be more than just a rumor? More than likely. Facial recognition is a hot technology. Google isn’t the only one buying up these types of start-ups, either. One of the biggest facial recognition start-up purchases came from Facebook earlier this year when the social network rival acquired "Face.com" for a little under $60 million. Considering Facebook is the biggest competitor for Google+, this purchase isn’t all that surprising.

Google+ has quickly sprung up to be one of the most important social networks on the Internet. Acquisition of new technology and start-ups help Google expand the services they can offer through their growing social networking service. What do you think of the talks of the Viewdle acquisition?

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This article, Rumor: Google acquiring facial-technology startup, Viewdle , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Sharp 1080p 5-inch display begins mass production

Posted: 01 Oct 2012 02:19 PM PDT

Sharp 1080p

Earlier today, Sharp officially announced that they have begun the full-scale production of a new 5-inch 1080p display, featuring an impressive pixel density of 443ppi. Sharp’s latest screen is about 1.3 times denser than their existing 4.3-inch 720p display and is a major record-breaking achievement for the company.  Previously, 340PPI was the highest resolution achieved on a smartphone, as seen on devices like the HTC Rezound and Sony Xperia V.

The big question is whether or not the 5-inch Sharp 1080p display will be the ticket to Sharp’s recovery from its current fiscal troubles. Although the company continues to innovate, it has also been forced to make tough decisions and cut thousands of jobs thanks to low profit margins and internal struggles.

While the quad-core Oppo Find 5 is the only official device to make use of the display so far, rumors claim that HTC is working on a new phone that will also use Sharp’s screen technology . The same rumors suggest that the phone might be part of Google’s official Nexus line. If a Nexus phone does end up using this display, it certainly prove to be a very lucrative move for Sharp. Enough to bring them back to a more stable state? That’s hard to say for sure.

The screen will be featured at the CEATEC trade show this week in Japan, where Sharp hopes to attract even more attention to its new high-res smartphone display. Does the idea of an 1080p 5-inch smartphone appeal to you or do you prefer a smaller screen size?

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This article, Sharp 1080p 5-inch display begins mass production , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


iPad mini release date set for early November, following mid-October announcement?

Posted: 01 Oct 2012 01:56 PM PDT

In addition to the rumored Nexus-branded device(s) expected to hit stores this holiday season we have one more important mobile device that's said to start selling this fall. Naturally, I'm talking about Apple's unannounced iPad mini, a late arrival at the budget-friendly tablet business, but nevertheless an important player for that niche.

Whether you like it or not, the iPad mini will sell like hot cakes, just like its 9.7-inch brethren, and bring some serious competition to a niche where the Google Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire versions are kings.

Just as rumored before the iPhone 5 event, Apple did not announce the smaller tablet during its September presser, intentionally delaying the introduction of a new best-selling device.

Now, word on the street via Fortune is that Apple will issue press event invitation for the iPad mini announcement this month. In fact, a sourse says that the press "can expect invitations to go out on October 10:

If the rumor is true, and if Apple follows its usual scheduling protocol, that would suggest a special event to unveil the product on Wednesday, Oct. 17, with a launch day of Friday Nov. 2 — plenty of time to capture holiday sales.

These details are yet to be confirmed by the company, but we'll certainly know more in the months to come. However, a November 2 launch would give Apple plenty of time to sell a boatload of iPad minis during the Black Friday and Christmas shopping sprees.

Japanese blog Macotakara, which has been a rather reliable source of Apple-related intel in the past, says that the new iPad is already in production in Brazil and that it doesn't have any confirmation that production is also underway in China:

According to my source, iPad mini was started production in Brazilian factory. I don’t have information if it has been produced in Chinese factory, yet.

We'll be back with more iPad mini details in the future, mainly because it will be an important addition to the tablet ecosystem and a device Google and every other Android tablet maker should pay attention to in the coming months.

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This article, iPad mini release date set for early November, following mid-October announcement? , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.


Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans


Google Sending Android Developers Subpoena Warnings Over FBI Investigation

Posted: 01 Oct 2012 07:28 PM PDT

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Now, we’re not exactly sure what’s going on here but  our inbox is exploding with developer friends who have been receiving emails from what appears to be Google’s legal team via the FBI, notifying them of a subpoena hitting Google. Essentially, it’s Google giving Android developers fair warning that they were forced to give out contact information and saying the FBI may follow up with developers individually as part of a subpoena.

We’ve called the Atlanta FBI and confirmed the E-Mails are 100% legit.

Hello,

Google has received a subpoena seeking information related to Android applications that may have been made available on alternative markets without the consent of the developer. The subpoena seeks information about those Android applications, including contact information for the developers of the applications. Our records show that your Android developer account will be included in the information Google will provide in response to this subpoena.

Google is not in a position to provide you with legal advice or discuss the substance of the process in our possession. For more information about the subpoena, you may wish to contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation — Atlanta Field Office at (404) 679-9000, reference #2011R00320/FBI/ORKIN.

Regards,

Google Legal Investigations Support

The representative we spoke with at the Atlanta FBI immediately asked if I was calling in reference to the Google E-Mail after identifying myself as a Phandroid writer. Without reference number, she confirmed the e-mail was real but that Google should not have sent it. Apparently they jumped the gun and she ensured that developers have nothing to worry about. If the FBI determines any of these developers are victims, they may follow up, but she insisted that developers should act as if the E-Mail was never sent in the first place.

We’ll have to wait for an official word from Google regarding the issue before we can cofirm, but we can’t help but wonder if this has something to do with the drama surrounding Google and the rival Aliyun mobile OS giving its users access to a plethora of pirated Google Play apps.

Did Google simply act too fast? Or did they simply think developers deserved to be notified immediately regarding the release of their contact information? Or was there a miscommunication between Google and the FBI?

We can’t be sure until we hear further official word from Google and/or the FBI… but you can be sure that we’ll keep you posted.

Thanks, Anton and everyone who sent this in!


Google Shows Off Google+ In New Video – Your Friends and Family Still Aren’t Going To Use It

Posted: 01 Oct 2012 06:28 PM PDT

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I’ve had this little talk with you guys in the past, but it seems that while we’re all fans of Android, that doesn’t mean we worship every service Google pushes out of their HQ as some sort of golden calf — and I think Google+ is one of them. Now I’m not saying Google+ will suffer the same fate as Buzz (they seem to be throwing a lot more effort and money into G+ — I just don’t see it taking off as the new Myspace anytime soon.

That’s not to say that Google+ isn’t awesome. I honestly believe it’s leaps and bounds better than Facebook (but only a hair better than Slutspace Myspace). As highlighted in Google’s new video, using their Events “Party Mode” for uploading and sharing pics with friends is enough to make anyone sign up. Combine that with group video calls, and instant picture uploading/sync with your profile and it’s easy to see the value in Google+. Now if only more people would start using it.

If nothing else, let this be a rallying cry for all the Android evangelists out there. It’s really up to us to get our less tech savvy friends and family on Google+ because lets face it, without them, Google+ will be nothing more than a feature packed ghost town.

[Play Store Link]


Sega Teases Zaxxon Escape In New Trailer – Coming Soon To Android [Video]

Posted: 01 Oct 2012 05:35 PM PDT

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There’s a good chance you haven’t the slightest clue on what “Zaxxon” was, or how it changed video games in the 80′s. Perhaps I’m showing my age a bit, but I remember going to my grandma’s house and there was 2 games we’d play on her dusty old ColecoVision — Donkey Kong and Zaxxon. Developed by Sega back in ’82, Zaxxon was one of the world’s first isometric space shooters and guess what? It looks like it’s about to get a long overdue sequel/remake for your Android device.

Sega uploaded a very brief teaser video for the upcoming title and while it doesn’t give us a chance to view actual gameplay, it does give us a quick peak at the games visuals which look pretty impressive. But then again, maybe I’m just looking though nostalgia goggles. What do y’all think?

[Via GameFans]


Heads Up: You Can Now Search Inside of Gmail Attachments – Grab Your Tinfoil Hat

Posted: 01 Oct 2012 05:11 PM PDT

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Alright, so either you’re going to love this new “feature” or you’re going to never want to send emails again. Apparently, Google has upgraded their indexing of user attachments inside Gmail that goes beyond the searching of text inside TXT or HTML files, adding Word Docs, Powerpoint, PDF, and other formats to the mix as well. That means if you someone sends you a Word Doc, you no longer have to remember the subject or text of the email — instead you can just search for keywords found inside the Word Doc itself. Awesome? You bet. A little scary? Well, there’s that too. How do you guys feel about Google’s new indexing of your email attachments?

[GoogleOperatingSystem | Lifehacker]


Google to buy face recognition company Viewdle

Posted: 01 Oct 2012 04:03 PM PDT

Google went on a bit of a shopping spree as they’ve snapped up another technology firm that should help them in a few different areas. It’s being reported that Google has purchased Viewdle, a software firm that specializes in facial recognition technology. Facial recognition is nothing new — in fact, there is a face unlock feature in Google’s Android 4.1 Jelly Bean — but there’s no secret that there is always room for improvement.

Unfortunately we can’t be too sure of Google’s reason to want them, but an automatic tagging system for Google’s social sites like Picasa and Google+ quickly come to mind. The news has not yet been confirmed by either party, and even when/if it does go down Google and Viewdle might not be interested in disclosing too many details. Any other thoughts as to why Google would want Viewdle? Make your thoughts known in the comments below.


AT&T launches new prepaid smartphone plan for $65

Posted: 01 Oct 2012 02:53 PM PDT

AT&T has announced a new plan for those who aren’t keen on signing contracts but want to use smartphones. It’s an unlimited text and voice plan for $65 per month and it includes 1GB of data. AT&T will still offer their old plans of $50 for unlimited talk and text; and $25 for 250 minutes, unlimited text and the option to add a data plan at additional cost.

While AT&T’s calling this plan affordable it’s still rather expensive compared to offerings from some of the other big guys. It’s relatively affordable, really, so don’t go expecting huge value unless AT&T is your only option for some reason. Read on for full press details.

Beginning Oct. 7, AT&T* GoPhone® smartphone customers will have a new rate plan option.  The new Monthly Unlimited Plan with Data offers unlimited talk and text, with 1 GB of data for $65 per month.  Unlimited text messaging to Mexico, Canada and over 100 other countries is also included.

This new plan is specially designed for smartphone users, and saves them $10 per month compared to previously available options.

The $50 monthly plan with unlimited talk and text and the $25 monthly plan with 250 minutes and unlimited nationwide text with optional data packages will continue to be available to smartphone customers.

Launching in conjunction with this new smartphone rate plan is AT&T GoPhone's newest Android device, AT&T Fusion™ 2, which lets customers enjoy the convenience of a smartphone with email, apps and web access for only $99.

"As more of our prepaid customers choose smartphones, we wanted to offer them a rate plan that meets their needs while still being an excellent value," said Judy Cavalieri, vice president – Voice and Prepaid Products, AT&T.  "We're excited to offer this new option to our growing base of smartphone customers to give them a better smartphone experience while keeping their budget in check."

AT&T operates the nation's largest Wi-Fi network** including more than 30,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots at popular restaurants, hotels, bookstores and retailers, and provides access to more than 220,000 hotspots globally through roaming agreements.  Most AT&T smartphone customers, including Fusion 2 customers, get access to our entire national Wi-Fi network at no additional cost, and Wi-Fi usage doesn’t count against customers’ monthly wireless data plans.

More information on AT&T GoPhone prepaid rate plans can be found athttp://www.att.com/shop/wireless/plans/prepaidplans.html.

 

 

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

** A Wi-Fi enabled device required. Other restrictions apply. See www.attwifi.com for details and locations.

About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's largest 4G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T | DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available athttp://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at@ATT.

 

 

© 2012 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. 4G not available everywhere. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.


Sharp begins production of 5 inch 1080p displays designed for smartphones

Posted: 01 Oct 2012 01:56 PM PDT

With the vast amount of innovation we’ve seen in the mobile space over the past few years you’d think these companies have already achieved everything under the sun, but Sharp is looking to push the bar even further now.

5 inch+ phones are nothing new thanks to the first phone of that size — the Dell Streak — and the decidedly more popular Samsung Galaxy Note, but to date those phones haven’t been able to achieve screen resolutions higher than 720p.

Sharp has been working to change that, however, with a 5 inch 1080p HD display designed to be used in smartphones, and it looks like they’re finally ready to go into production. With a 1920×1080 resolution and a pixel density of 443 this should be one of the most sharp looking (no pun intended) displays there are.

Sharp does produce its own line of Android smartphones but like Samsung it has no problem offering components to competitors. We could see these displays in major smartphones by the beginning of next year, though we expect adoption rate to be a tad slow.

OEMs would have to consider the cost of the display, and we imagine most of them are living happily enough with 720p solutions at the helm. It’s exciting news regardless, and it gives us yet another glimpse at what to expect from the mobile space in 2o13.


ASUS Transformer Prime gets port of Open WebOS

Posted: 01 Oct 2012 01:37 PM PDT

Although WebOS seems to be a mobile operating system on life support, it’s no surprise there is still some interest. It is a very good operating system, and had Palm and HP not dropped the ball on the Pre series and the TouchPad respectively it could have seriously challenged the market as a premier operating system.

Despite all that, developers are still making it accessible through Open WebOS, a development effort that will keep the operating system ticking on modern devices. The only problem with WebOS in general is still its lack of developer support, and with a very limited userbase to target that problem won’t be eradicated anytime soon.

A new device is being supported as the ASUS Transformer Prime has gotten its very own port of Open WebOS. As exciting a development as it is we have to let that excitement die down for just a bit.

The port is not yet ready for consumption by the general public, and to avoid being blamed for WW3 Steven Troughton, the main developer responsible for the port, will not release it at this time. It’s coming, though, and you should do yourself a favor by following this Twitter account for news on its arrival. [via WebOS Nation]


Google finally edges Microsoft’s market cap, still has insurmountable climb to best Apple

Posted: 01 Oct 2012 12:46 PM PDT

Today marks one historical event that Google will probably be celebrating. For the first time ever, Google now has a market cap higher than rival Microsoft’s. Investors pushed Google about $1 billion ahead of the Washington tech giant with $248.82 billion for Google and $247.23 billion for Microsoft as of the time of this writing.

Google is said to have reached this point because of their ability to offer a multitude of successful computing products, most of which are designed to drive internet traffic back into Google’s bread and butter: ads and search.

No one can deny Google’s meteoric rise to dominance in the smartphone space with Android. After contributing to the efforts that made Windows Mobile and Blackberry OS nearly irrelevant, and after overtaking its biggest competitor Apple, Google has created a place for themselves in one of the most important technological markets there is.

Mobile is so big that Apple currently commands a staggering $617.76 billion market cap, much of which the iPhone is responsible for.

Apple doesn’t hold much weight in desktop computing compared to Microsoft, but its status as both software and hardware vendors, its hugely lucrative iTunes business, and its aforementioned mobile success alongside strong brand loyalty will make it difficult for Google to hit that next milestone. Apple would have to purposely sabotage its own company to come down from that pedestal anytime soon.

Regardless, today’s milestone is no doubt big for Google. Even if it turns out to be short lived, this changing of the guard will forever be acknowledged as the moment where Microsoft finally realized that mobile computing and a focus on strong internet services is just as important as the traditional desktop model. [via Financial Times]


Adobe Reader XI for tablets will include documents signing, annotations, and more

Posted: 01 Oct 2012 11:38 AM PDT

Adobe has announced their new version of Acrobat/Reader. While the desktop apps have gotten some nice upgrades, we at Phandroid are obviously only interested in things that pertain to our favorite smartphones and tablets.

The mobile version of Adobe Reader XI, or 11, will offer users the ability to digitally sign PDF documents for those moments when you just can’t print and fax a document.

That alone is great, but we’re also getting the ability to add annotations and comments, fill in forms using radio buttons, check boxes and text boxes, as well as the ability to save those forms.

Unfortunately all of this is only for tablets at the moment, but Adobe hasn’t ruled out the possiblity of bringing these features to the smartphone version. The software isn’t quite available yet, and Adobe hasn’t given further details on when to expect it.

It shouldn’t take very long to get this rolled out to users, though, so keep an eye out on their site for more information. Read on for full press details.

Adobe Unveils Next Generation Acrobat XI with New Cloud Services

Powerful New PDF Solution Addresses Productivity Gap Across Devices and Platforms

SAN JOSE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today unveiled Adobe® Acrobat® XI software with cloud services, a powerful new solution that rises to today’s complex document challenges. The industry standard for PDF software will now feature complete PDF editing and export to Microsoft PowerPoint; touch-friendly capabilities on tablets; and newly integrated cloud services, including sophisticated Web contracting with Adobe EchoSign® and forms creation, data collection and analysis with Adobe FormsCentral. Acrobat XI additionally supports IT departments with seamless Microsoft Office and SharePoint integration, easy deployment, applications virtualization and robust application security to help provide a low cost of ownership and sound return on investment.

“They need a solution that enables them to collaborate with others inside and outside the firewall while at the same time meeting IT and organizational requirements for streamlined management, application security, and secure delivery of information – all with a high ROI.”

Products included in this release are: Acrobat XI Pro, Acrobat XI Standard, Adobe Reader® XI and newly integrated document services, Adobe FormsCentral and Adobe EchoSign.

“The compounding complexity of work has never been more pressing. As the number of mobile devices and the use of cloud services surge, information workers must be empowered to work more effectively with documents anywhere on any device,” said Melissa Webster, program vice president, IDC. “They need a solution that enables them to collaborate with others inside and outside the firewall while at the same time meeting IT and organizational requirements for streamlined management, application security, and secure delivery of information – all with a high ROI.”

The mounting productivity inefficiencies and cost of document-based challenges are highlighted in a recent global IDC white paper. A typical company with 1,000 employees has a productivity cost of US$15.9 million annually, the white paper calls out, and addressing these inefficiencies would be tantamount to hiring an additional 213 people.

With Adobe Acrobat XI, new and improved features and functionality for business professionals now include:

Edit PDF files, modify paragraphs, images, and objects by simply clicking and dragging using the new, intuitive Edit Text and Images tool. Arrange and visually merge select content and multiple documents into one organized PDF file, while retaining source file integrity.
Expedite document and Web contract approvals from weeks to hours with electronic signatures using the integrated Adobe EchoSign electronic signature service. Simplify forms creation, distribution and results analysis using the included Adobe FormsCentral desktop app.

Enhanced mobile capabilities. Work with PDF files across tablets and smartphones in touch-friendly Adobe Reader to annotate and add comments, as well as fill in, sign and save forms.
Save PDF documents as PowerPoint, Word or Excel files or reuse parts of or entire PDF files as Microsoft Office documents and Web pages without retyping or need to reformat.
Improved protection of all PDF files created from Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, and Excel to help prevent copying, editing, or printing without permission.

The new and improved IT features and functionality now enable IT professionals to:

- Standardize on an easy to use, full-featured, consistent, trusted PDF Reader now with full support for iPads and Android tablets. Additionally, deliver Acrobat XI and Reader XI as a centrally managed, touch-friendly, virtual application with new support for Microsoft App-V via Citrix XenApp.
- Integrate Adobe Acrobat XI more seamlessly with Microsoft Office and Microsoft SharePoint, enabling users to do more with PDF in an Office or SharePoint environment.
Streamline deployment and maintenance with free Adobe tools to aid configuration and installation, as well as enhanced support for Microsoft SCCM/SCUP and Apple Remote Desktop.
- Help mitigate risk and protect systems and data with industry-leading security technology, in addition to the Adobe PDF Whitelist Framework, allowing selective enablement of JavaScript for both Windows and Mac OS. Easily deliver multi-step PDF file preparation and security measures using the Action Wizard to help ensure organizational consistency.


GameKlip Review

Posted: 01 Oct 2012 08:44 AM PDT

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It wasn’t too long ago I told you guys about an accessory for your Android device that, when combined with the power of your Sony PlayStation 3 Sixaxis controller, transforms your device into a self sustained mini-console. It’s called the GameKlip and I know I wasn’t the only one anxious to get my hands on one. Many of our readers were also intrigued by the idea of the GameKlip, even though some were a bit more apprehensive about throwing down their hard earned money on a piece of plastic. Would it even work? How do you get the Sixaxis controller paired with the Android device? These are all questions I’ll be in answering in my review for the GameKlip.

Hardware

When you order your GameKlip, it will arrive inside a simple ziplock bag and if you’re real lucky, Ryan French — the guy who makes the GameKlip — will even throw in a complimentary roll of sweet tarts. It’s a nice, down-home touch and reminds you this ain’t some big, cold, corporate corporation that just wants your pennies into their bucket.

The GameKlip is available only for a handful of devices (detailed on their site) and comes in 2 versions — wired and wireless. The wired version works out-of-the-box with a few Android devices and quickly connects your device to the Sixaxis controller via a USB on-the-go cable. Once connected, everything will/should work like magic without the need for root or other funny business.

The wireless model, however, is a bit more tricky. Wireless requires a separate paid application from the Google Play Store (not in any way affiliated with GameKlip), another program you’ll need to install on your computer (to pair the controller), and root permissions on your device in order to get everything up and running. It was a long drawn out process and definitely not the most user friendly set up ever. But as I mentioned in my review video, can’t knock the GameKlip for a finicky app they didn’t create.

Design and Build Quality

I can’t stress this enough: the GameKlip isn’t being massed produced by some large accessory manufacturer like MadCatz or Nyko. Definitely more of a mom n’ pops operation, think of this more like that old timer who grows and bottles his own jam at the county fair. When it comes to build quality, essentially the GameKlip is a big hunk of crude plastic, molded to fit onto a PS3 controller, without clasps to secure your phone to it. There are no moving parts or joints, it definitely wont fit in your pocket, it’s not the best quality plastic, there are no soft touch finishes or padding — just a simple solution that solves a problem with Android gaming. So how well does it function? Let’s get to that.

The top of the GameKlip where you’ll be mounting your device features felt along the clasps to keep the plastic from scratching your device, and to provide for better hold. I can’t help but wonder if rubber wouldn’t have been better suited, but the felt gets the job done (just barely). The glue that holds the felt into place is far from permanent and it’s easy to imagine that somewhere in the future, they’ll fall off and get lost forever. Of course, replacing the felt isn’t exactly difficult and just about everyone’s got some super glue in a junk drawer should it ever come to that. I didn’t like how some of the gooey glue transferred onto my device, but it came off without too much fuss so it’s hardly worth mentioning.

The only real problem I had with the GameKlip’s design is that it didn’t hold onto the Galaxy Nexus as shown in the creators promo video (using a different device). GameKlip’s website has you choose your specific Android device for best fit, but that didn’t seem to matter much when it came to the Galaxy Nexus. The left handle of the GameKlip was never able to get a very good hold of the Galaxy Nexus (where the top of the device tapers off and gets really thin) and with a little shake, the Nexus slips right out of the GameKlip. The only time this would ever be a an issue is if holding the controller and device upside down, which unless you’re a trapeze artist — will probably be a rare occurrence.

Again, it’s only because of the odd shape unique to the Galaxy Nexus that this was even an issue, but could have been easily been fixed if the grips were just placed up a little higher on the device and/or made of rubber. Keep it upright and all’s fine.

Software

For those that don’t want to be bothered by the hassle of carrying around (or losing) a separate USB dongle, wireless is definitely the way to go. Unfortunately, as I mentioned before — you’re going to need a rooted Android device for it to work. If yours fits that bill, the Sixaxis controller can be paired using a variety of methods and with a few apps found in the Play Store. None are really as simple as “install and go,” with most requiring the downloading of separate software to a desktop computer in order to pair the controller with your phone or phablet. Ultimately, going wireless involves more steps and some additional money as well; given apps like “Sixaxis Controller” cost around $2 to download from the Play Store. Stay tuned for a full walkthrough video and post in the future for getting everything set up (I’ll also update this review with the video).

Conclusion

While the GameKlip is far from perfect, in a way, it’s almost not meant to be. It’s simply a quick and easy solution for Android gamers who need a little more precision from their smartphone while gaming on-the-go. Really, the the design and concept of the GameKlip can only go up from here. Can’t say I would be surprised to find other, big named manufacturers jump on a similar design of their own. Honestly, I’d recommend the GameKlip to anyone who plays more than the occasional Angry Birds on his phone. If this review sold you on the GameKlip, you can get your own — $15 for the wireless, $22 for the wired w/dongle) via the GameKlip website (linked below).

[GameKlip]


Samsung Galaxy Note 2 now available in the UK from Three, O2, and Vodafone

Posted: 01 Oct 2012 08:05 AM PDT

Samsung’s second take on the phablet form factor has officially launched in the UK as our calendars turn from September to October. The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is available today from Three UK, O2, and Vodafone. For Three, the hone will be available for €69 when purchased in conjunction with a €34 or €36 per month service plan or for €499 as a pay-as-you-go option. O2 and Vodafone have not released further pricing details.

Samsung Galaxy Note II – available now on Three

The Samsung Galaxy Note II is now available online at www.three.co.uk and in all Three stores.

The Samsung GALAXY Note II with it’s massive 5.55″ Super AMOLED HD display helps to unleash your creative side by letting you discover information faster, capture ideas, and express them more efficiently. Using the new S Pen allows you to be more precise and gives a writing experience that feels like writing with pen and paper and with Air View you can hover the S Pen over emails, picture and video galleries to preview them.

The Galaxy Note II also brings features such as Smart Stay and Best Picture from the Galaxy S III. This means that the phone will know when you’re reading an ebook or browsing the web and keep the backlight on. Additionally when you’re using the 8MP camera you can snap multiple shots and the Galaxy Note II will choose the best one for you.

Available in marble white and titanium grey, the super-fast Samsung Galaxy Note II comes with a powerful 1.6GHz quad-core processor and because the Galaxy Note II is HSPA+ compatible, you’re able to enjoy faster internet speeds and quicker downloads. Plus with a longer-life 3100mAh battery you can stay glued to your phone for longer.

Sylvia Chind, Head of Devices at Three said, “”With its range of cutting edge features, the Samsung Galaxy Note II is perfectly suited to those looking for innovation without compromise. Coming to life on the only network that was built for the internet, the Galaxy Note II combines the productivity of a PC in a handy smartphone size.”

The Samsung Galaxy Note II is available for £34 a month with an upfront cost of £69 on the Ultimate Internet 500 plan with a guarantee of no surprise out-of-bundle data charges or £36 a month with an upfront cost of £69 on The One Plan.

The device is also available on Pay As You Go for £499.99 plus a top up. All in One 15 costs £15 and gives 30-day access to all-you-can-eat data along with 300 any-network minutes and 3,000 texts. Or All in One 25 costs £25 and offers 500 minutes, 3,000 texts and all-you-can-eat data for a 30-day period.

Key features:

• 5.5″ HD Super AMOLED HD display
• 1.6GHz quad-core processor
• 8 megapixel camera with best shot feature
• S Pen functionality
• HSPA+ compatible


After delay, Jelly Bean update arrives for ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity

Posted: 01 Oct 2012 07:05 AM PDT

Originally schedule to launch last Friday, the 28th of September, ASUS announced that the Android 4.1 update for their Transformer Pad Infinity (TF700T) would be delayed until sometime this week. The company’s software department must have worked their tails off over the weekend, as reports are rolling in this morning of Jelly Bean’s arrival for the top-tier slate. We have the visual confirmation straight from our own Android Forums.

The update comes just days after ASUS launched the same new software for the popular Transformer Prime tablet. No word on when or if the Transformer Pad TF300 will receive the same treatment. Head on over to the link below to join in on the discussion and let us know what you think of Android 4.1 on the Transformer Pad Infinity!

[via AndroidForums]


Official: Sony Xperia TL headed to AT&T’s 4G LTE network

Posted: 01 Oct 2012 06:56 AM PDT

The Sony Xperia TL will soon find a home on AT&T’s 4G LTE network, the carrier announced today, and it’s bringing along plenty of exclusive content from the upcoming James Bond flick Skyfall. The Xperia TL is AT&T’s version of the Sony Xperia T, a phone first announced back at IFA in early September, and features an identical hardware profile. This includes a 4.6-inch 720p HD Reality display, 12MP camera, and a dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 processor.

The Ice Cream Sandwich handset will come bundled with Skyfall-inspired ringtones, wallpapers, and other goodies mirroring Sony’s initiative to brand the phone among James Bond’s many gadgets in the upcoming film (produced by Sony Pictures). The phone will also ship with a sample SmartTag, which can be programmed using the Xperia TL’s NFC chip. No precise details on pricing and availability were released.

AT&T debuts exclusive Xperia™ TL, SONY’S best in Mobile camera Technology, HD viewing and NFC connectivity

Featured in Upcoming James Bond Film Skyfall, Comes Preloaded with Exclusive Content from the Movie

DALLAS, Oct. 1, 2012 – AT&T* today announced plans to offer Xperia TL, the latest Sony smartphone bringing Sony’s best HD experiences, easy connectivity with ‘One-touch’ sharing enabled by NFC (Near Field Communications) and award-winning** arc design. This 4G LTE smartphone takes connected entertainment to the next level with new Sony media applications. As the official James Bond smartphone, it comes preloaded with exclusive content from the upcoming movie Skyfall.

Photo enthusiasts will delight in the impressive images taken with Xperia TL’s 13-megapixel primary camera that brings even the smallest of details to life. This high resolution camera captures quality images swiftly with its quick launch feature, going from standby mode (sleep) to first shot in just 1.5 seconds,1 making sure life’s unexpected moments are not missed. Plus, both the rear and front-facing cameras deliver HD recording capabilities for vivid video capture on the go.

Xperia TL gives you the ultimate in HD with a superb 4.6-inch HD display (1080 x 720), powered by the Mobile BRAVIA® Engine for razor sharp clarity and brilliance. The viewing experience on Xperia TL is accentuated by a stylish, slim form factor that emphasizes the display. For those looking to take their content from their smartphone screen to the TV screen, Xperia TL connects through MHL or wirelessly through DLNA.

To make enjoying content across devices even easier, Xperia TL supports ‘One-touch’ connectivity through NFC. Now, you can conveniently and instantaneously enjoy your music and photos across an array of NFC enabled devices by simply touching one to another to establish a wireless connection without a cumbersome pairing process. To get started with experiencing NFC, Xperia TL comes with one Xperia SmartTag in box. Using near field communication technology, SmartTags let you store device preferences for a variety of locations and situations – like opening and controlling volume on the music player if you head out for a run, turning on GPS and Bluetooth in the car or turning on your alarm and silencing your ringer at night.

Xperia TL includes three preloaded Sony media applications, Walkman, Movies, and Album, introducing a consistent user interface across Sony devices. Album will be especially appealing to photo takers with features such as:

  • Geo-mapping in satellite and traditional map views
  • More than 25 editing options
  • Improved layout of photo and video folders, both in device and online

Featured in the upcoming James Bond cinema release Skyfall, Xperia TL will be used in the film by 007 himself. As the official Bond phone, it will come preloaded with exclusive Bond content inclusive of behind the scenes footage, interviews, clips, wallpapers, ring tones, and more.

AT&T customers have access to the nation’s largest 4G network***, covering 275 million people. AT&T has two 4G networks that work together for customers, LTE and HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul. That means AT&T customers are able to enjoy a widespread, ultra-fast and consistent 4G experience on their compatible device as they move in and out of LTE areas. With other carriers, when you travel outside of their LTE coverage area, you may be on a much slower 3G network.

Key Specs for Xperia TL:

  • 4.6″ HD Reality Display powered by the Mobile BRAVIA® Engine
  • 13MP quick launch-fast capture camera that goes from sleep to snap in just over a second
  • Full 1080p HD video recording and a 720p HD front camera for the highest quality content
  • Easy connectivity with ‘One-touch’ function enabled by NFC
  • Latest generation 1.5GHz dual core processor for improved battery efficiency and fast graphics performance
  • Android version 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich). Upgradable to Android version 4.1 (Jelly Bean) following launch.
  • MHL connectivity for viewing content on a big screen without the need for a charger
  • Available in Black

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

** Xperia arc S and Xperia arc are winners of the EISA (European Imaging and Sound Association) award for European Camera Phone 2011-2012. Xperia arc is also the winner of the prestigious red dot Product Design Award 2011. Xperia arc was announced at CES in January 2011 followed up by the announcement of Xperia arc S announced at IFA 2011

***4G speeds not available everywhere. Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Learn more at att.com/network.

Sony Entertainment Network services are subject to availability by region, please see www.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com for more details.

Legal
1) Facts and features may vary depending on local variant. 2) Operational times are affected by network preferences, type of SIM card, connected accessories and various activities e.g. playing games. Kit contents and colour options may differ from market to market. The full range of accessories may not be available in every market. 3) Actual size of screen is approximately 4.55″. Camera capabilities are accurate as the date of this release.

Sony “make.believe” and Bravia are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Corporation. “PlayStation is a registered trademark or a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Xperia is a trademark or registered trademark of Sony Mobile Communications AB. Android™ is a trademark of Google Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. 4G speeds delivered by LTE, or HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul, where available. Deployment ongoing. Compatible device and data plan required. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Learn more at att.com/network.


Jelly Bean leaks for Sprint’s Samsung Galaxy S3

Posted: 01 Oct 2012 05:58 AM PDT

Just can’t wait for the official Jelly Bean update for the Samsung Galaxy S3 to come barreling down the pipeline? If you are the owner of Samsung’s flagship smartphone on Sprint’s network, you can take Android 4.1 for a spin now. The official update has leaked for the carrier’s SPH-L710 by way of XDA Forums complete with Samsung’s custom TouchWiz interface. This the JRO03L build of Jelly Bean, Android 4.1.1.

As would be expected, the folks at XDA have already created a few variants on the ROM, including Odex and DeOdexed versions while adding in root access by default. This doesn’t appear to be a final build, as users have reported issues with the stock browser, Google Now, and the phone’s gyroscope sensor. Head on over to the source link below for more details and download links.

[via XDA Forums | Thanks, Eric!]