Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Android Authority

Android Authority


New Nexus 4 batch shipping to U.S. early buyers, smartphone still out of stock in Play Store

Posted: 20 Nov 2012 02:48 AM PST

LG Nexus 4

The Nexus 4 is the latest Google pure Android smartphone in town and the device is selling like hot cakes in various markets. At the same time, we'll note that we have no idea how many of those cakes Google and LG produced in their initial batch, as neither company announced Nexus 4 sales numbers for the launch week.

We'll also remind you that Google managed to annoy early Nexus 4 buyers, by telling some of them that their new toys will ship in up to three weeks instead of the expected 3-5 business day initial shipping estimate.

Obviously Google wasn't able to make sure that everyone that ordered a Nexus 4 in the first minutes after launch will get the smartphone in a timely manner and we have no idea why that happened.

We can tell you though that a new batch of fresh Nexus 4 units is shipping to consumers and should reach their homes in the very near future. According to Phandroid, shipping confirmation emails have been sent to Nexus 4 buyers that purchased the device "three minutes after it went live in the Play Store," had their orders confirmed, but have never received a following shipping email.

We have no idea whether international Nexus 4 buyers in similar situations are also receiving such emails, and we have no idea whether all existing Nexus 4 orders will be honored in the following days. But we're certainly going to keep you updated.

As for Nexus 4 availability, the device is still out of stock, one week after being officially launched.

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Competitions galore in Sony’s exclusive Xperia Lounge

Posted: 20 Nov 2012 02:34 AM PST

Sony has been working hard to raise its game in the Android smartphone market. The company has to pull out all the stops if it expects to sell 50 million smartphones next year. A big part of that strategy has revolved around offering exclusive content and big name marketing tie-ins. We've just had Bond using an Xperia T and now Sony is launching the Xperia Lounge which features a range of exclusive content and competitions that give you a chance to win VIP experiences.

The app is currently in beta, but it is available for any Android smartphone running 2.3 Gingerbread and above. I snagged it from Google Play for my Galaxy S3 to see what all the fuss is all about. It's a fairly sleek and simple looking interface with three tabs along the top for View all, What's hot and By month. Then there's a list of events and competitions which range from the chance to win exclusive framed artwork from a Coldplay video, to tickets for a FIFA Club World Cup match in Japan, to an exclusive VIP experience in Hawaii where you'll watch 45 surfers compete in the Billabong Pipeline.

If you're a fan of sports, music or film then you'll probably find something to spark your interest. Sadly a lot of the content is actually exclusive to Xperia device owners. I clicked on the first competition that caught my eye and it popped up "Sorry Xperia users only". It would be nice if it filtered the available competitions by what you can actually enter on your device because tapping on them in turn to find out is rather tedious.

When you find a competition that you can enter without an Xperia phone you'll find a choice of sign-ins. You can use your Xperia account, your Facebook account, or your Google account, and the app will want some basic info and your email (make sure you don't tick the "spam me" box). The competitions generally have an easy multiple choice question to answer first. Thankfully after entering my log in for Google once the app remembered it and I could enter a bunch of other competitions with a tap.

Beyond competitions you'll find some exclusive video content in there which was mostly a mixture of skateboarding and adverts showing off how awesome the Xperia range is.

It seems like a pretty tidy app and free competition entry is always welcome. It's obviously best for Xperia users, but it's worth a look for other Android users. I'm keeping my fingers crossed about those Club World Cup tickets.

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ZTE Avid 4G for MetroPCS leaked, an ICS phone with possibly a 4-inch display

Posted: 20 Nov 2012 01:50 AM PST

If you're looking to get a 4G-equipped phone on MetroPCS that won't put too much pressure on your budget, you might want to add the ZTE Avid 4G to the wish list. Thanks to the ever-resourceful folks at @evleaks, the Avid 4G has made its first pictorial debut online.

The leaked picture of the ZTE Avid 4G doesn't reveal much, except that it will be heading to MetroPCS. From the name alone we can expect the phone to pack a 4G LTE radio.

As for the rest of the specs, details are still scarce. The Avid 4G seems to sport a 4-inch display (or slightly smaller) and run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. We can also see a front-facing camera and three on-screen buttons.

The ZTE Avid 4G is set to become the smaller cousin of another 4G phone on MetroPCS, the dual-core ZTE Anthem 4G. It is likely that we’ll be looking at a less than $200 price point. Our guess is the regional carrier will have the phone up for sale before the end of the year. We'll keep you posted.

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HTC’s CEO is absolutely furious at what the media is saying about the Apple deal

Posted: 20 Nov 2012 01:39 AM PST

Image Credit: CCS Insight

Two Saturdays ago, Apple issued a press release saying that they’ve settled all their patent issues with HTC and that the two have entered into a decade long licensing agreement whereby both companies can share each other’s patents. That press release took everyone by surprise because we all thought Apple would never, ever, settle. Steve Jobs told his biographer, Walter Isaacson, that he would do everything in his power to wipe Android off the face of the planet. Now that Tim Cook is in charge, does the company have a new policy towards competitors?

Forgetting about Tim for a second, today HTC’s CEO, Peter Chou, told reporters at a press event in Tokyo that he’s absolutely furious with how the media handled the news of their agreement with Apple. Shortly after the deal between the two companies was announced, rumors started circulating that HTC would have to pay Apple anywhere between $6 and $8 per Android handset shipped. Chou says those numbers are “outrageous” and that the rumors are “baseless”. HTC has repeatedly said that their Q4 financial results will not be impacted by the deal with Apple, so we don’t know where that $6 to $8 figure came from in the first place.

Truth be told, we don’t really know why anyone cares about this HTC deal. The company is in dire straits. They’re not performing as well as they used to in 2010, and these days, all the Android devices worth buying are made by either Samsung (Galaxy S3, Note 2) or LG (Nexus 4). That’s not to say that we don’t acknowledge how awesome an achievement the recently launched Droid DNA is, but it’s not going to be too long until we see 1080p smartphones from other companies.

Does HTC need to replace Chou in order to succeed? That’s a rumor that was first published by the Taiwanese publication Next Magazine. According to the Financial Times, not only is the rumor grossly incorrect, but HTC has said that they’re going to take the magazine to court!

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Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD 8.9 gets taken apart

Posted: 20 Nov 2012 12:26 AM PST

If you are intrigued by the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 and wonder how it holds up against other slates, we've pitted the biggest member of the Amazon tablet family against one of its fiercest foes in the market, the iPad 3. But taking the tablet apart is one thing we haven't done – and probably will not be doing.

Thankfully, it's one job that the folks at PowerbookMedic have no problem tackling. Let's find out what the $299 tablet packs inside!

It seems the talk of the town is true, Samsung does like to get around. The teardown of the 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD reveals that the tablet uses several key components from Samsung. The list includes the display, RAM, and flash memory.

 

Interestingly, most of the components are attached to the back cover of the tablet. And as noted by the website, the slate comes with a unique dual-battery setup inside, though the capacity only tops out at 6,000mAh.

The Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9 already went for sale last week, while the 4G LTE version should be available in the coming days. As a refresher, the 8.9-inch display (1,920 x 1,200 resolution) is accompanied by a dual-core 1.5GHz TI OMAP 4470 processor, 16/32GB internal storage, 1GB RAM, WiFi a/b/g/n, and a customized version of Android 4.0.

If you want more teardown goodies, feel free to hit the source for more explicit pictures.

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Google set to compete with Apple’s AirPlay and Microsoft’s SmartGlass

Posted: 20 Nov 2012 12:14 AM PST

Getting what you see on your phone to show up on your television has been something that companies have been trying to do for years. Nokia used to make smartphones with special headphone jacks that could pump out video over the now ancient yellow, red, and white cables that we all remember from our childhood. Then companies jumped on board the whole DLNA thing, but it was ridiculously complicated to configure, so only the nerdiest of nerds got it to actually work. Not long after that, we started seeing HDMI ports on smartphones.

Fast forward to September 2010, which is when Apple introduced the world to AirPlay. Your iOS device and your Apple TV are connected to the same network, so whenever you’re listening to a song or watching a video on your iPhone or iPod, you just tap one button and boom, it magically gets displayed on your television. We saw Google’s response to that just a few weeks ago with Miracast support in Android 4.2 and the Nexus 4.

But there’s more to AirPlay than just mirroring your screen. Apple wants developers to create apps where one UI is on the device in your hands, and another UI is on the television in front of you. Microsoft too, they’re trying this with what they call “SmartGlass”. They’re pitching it as a “second screen” solution so you can interact with your media in ways you couldn’t before.

According to an interview that Google Product Manager Timbo Drayson did with GigaOM, Google is set to release their own two screen standard that will be open for anyone to use. Details are light at this point, so we can’t even tell you when it’s going to be a reality, but you guys should definitely be excited.

Apple invented AirPlay to sell more devices. Microsoft invented SmartGlass to get more people to buy content from their new content stores. Google on the other hand, Timbo says it best:

“We really want to move the whole industry forward.”

Indeed.

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Nexus 7 shipments to top 5 million by the end of the year, says DigiTimes

Posted: 19 Nov 2012 11:35 PM PST

Google’s Nexus 7 is a product that’s received a ton of praise from the Android community, and it looks the mainstream is definitely taking notice. According to DigiTimes, who isn’t the most reliable source of information, but still manages to get quite a few number of things right, they say that shipments of the Nexus 7 are going to top 5 million units by the end of the year. It’s worth noting that shipments shouldn’t be confused with sales, but we have a hunch that every Nexus 7 being manufactured is ending up in the hands of someone who wants it.

So why is this product such a smash hit? We would be lying if we didn’t admit to ourselves that the ultra low price tag had something to do with it. Forgetting about how awesome Android Jelly Bean is for a second, Google really did something special by offering consumers a product that’s perfect for most everyday needs for a starting price of just $199. The high end model, with 32 GB of storage and cellular connectivity, is just $299, making it cheaper than the entry level iPad mini from Apple!

And as for the software, well what’s not to like about the newest version of Android? Google Now makes getting answers to your questions an almost Sci-Fi like experience. In fact, Google Now won the Popular Science “Innovation of the Year” award. Some people might bring up the lack of tablet apps argument, but on the 7 inch Nexus it’s far less of a problem. Those same apps on a Nexus 10 might look a bit off, but on the Nexus 7, they look like they’re being displayed on a jumbo phone.

What’s Google going to do to the Nexus 7 next year? All we want is a better screen. It doesn’t have to be higher resolution, but improved color reproduction, viewing angles, and clarity in general should be addressed. Here’s hoping.

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Android Authority On Air – Episode 38 – Now with less F5! (Nexus 4 Giveaway Part 2)

Posted: 19 Nov 2012 06:53 PM PST

This past week, the Android world wore out their F5 key, refreshing and refreshing the Google Play Store, their GMail accounts and their UPS Tracking results. Some of you were very lucky and able to order your brand spanking new Nexus device without a hitch. Many of you had all sorts of issues from page timeouts, to items disappearing from your cart, to receiving back-order emails to receiving no emails at all. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the show. No F5 required.

This week as mentioned above was the week that the new Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 dropped on the world. And man, did they create an amazing buzz and hype around the Android world. These gadgets sold out in every market they debuted in. In the USA, they sold out in under 25 minutes. Did you get one? Let us know.

Android 4.2 dropped on the world this week. You know what that means? Adding app compatibility. We saw a TON of apps get updated this week. Besides Android Apps, we saw some major enhancements to two apps for Google TV. We saw YouTube and Google TV’s TV and Movies Search App get a major overall and re-branding. The new YouTube app allows users to fling videos to their tv. It’s awesomely fun.

We had some drama in the rootin’ and ROMin’ world this week. I’m happy to say it seems the guys over at CyanogenMod have everything under control once again. Keep up the great work CM Team! TWRP got Android 4.2 support and we’re seeing Android 4.2 ROMs pop up for devices everywhere. The first non-Nexus device to rock Android 4.2? The Acer Iconia A500. Not bad. Speaking of Nexus devices, it looks like the Nexus S and Motorola Xoom have reached the end of the AOSP line.

Carriers continue to LTE all the things, lighting up roughly 50 new markets between all 3 major carriers here in the USA, HTC and Apple agree to play and pay, and Samsung and Apple continue to litigate. All this and more on this week’s show.

Miss the show? Tune in or watch below:

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Google Music gets boost in Europe with 5.5 million additional songs

Posted: 19 Nov 2012 06:02 PM PST

Google Music

Licensing is a complicated process, especially when you consider accessing content from across borders. For instance, a certain song may be available in the U.S., but not in Spain, or vice versa. As such, media companies are usually keen on getting into licensing deals with copyright holders. Google, for one, has successfully entered into an agreement with IP holders in Europe, and an additional 5.5 million songs have been added to Google Music.

The broad licensing deal covers IP rights from Armonia, a European alliance involving French, German and Spanish licensing groups, and will enable Google to distribute an additional 5.5 million songs in 35 countries in Europe. These include works from artists like Lady Gaga and Rihanna.

While it may not be as obvious — or even relevant — to most readers, industry representatives say this may set a precedent for other deals and companies. Google’s deal is considered as the broadest of its kind. In contrast, other companies, like Apple and Amazon, pursue country-specific licensing deals, which means they license content on a per-country basis. Google’s European deal essentially puts several countries under an umbrella license, giving access to a broader audience.

Google Music launched in 2011 with 8 million tracks from major labels. But while EMI and Sony Music Entertaiment joined in early, Google launched without Warner Music Group as a content partner. That changed in late October, when Warner finally entered into a deal with Google to distribute their catalog.

This European deal includes licenses for British and American music from Sony’s Latin works and Universal Music Publishing.

With this deal, is Google going to pose a bigger challenge for iTunes in terms of marketing muscle and actual content delivery?

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US Cellular now offering unlimited 4G LTE data plans

Posted: 19 Nov 2012 04:00 PM PST

US Cellular
Over the last few months, we have seen a shift in 4G data plans. Not even six months ago, Sprint was the only big carrier to give unlimited 4G data. Of course, their LTE isn’t available nationwide yet. However, people with WiMAX phones can still enjoy unlimited data. Not long ago, T-Mobile joined the unlimited 4G data train. Smaller carriers like MetroPCS have begun their own unlimited 4G data campaigns. Now, US Cellular joins the hunt.

While US Cellular has a nationwide footprint in terms of phone and text service, their 4G data is still kind of sparse. According to their coverage map, there are blips of 4G scattered around the eastern, central, and western United States. Having a 4G unlimited plan will be great for people in those areas.

The plans themselves are simple. For $40 a month, customers can have unlimited data. That’s $10 more than T-Mobile’s data package and $30 more than Sprint’s mandatory $10 unlimited data add on for smartphones. In terms of overall pricing, they all fall into the $89.99-$109.99 range. If you’d like unlimited 4G tethering, it’ll run you an extra $20.

Will US Cellular gain some market share with unlimited 4G?

Well, they are certainly going to try. Their plans are competitively priced with other national carriers, so they likely won’t get people to switch based on price. In areas where their 4G service is, they may be able to get customers off of AT&T and Verizon, who still don’t have unlimited plans.

Unlimited data is always a positive thing when it comes to deciding which carrier to select. Now US Cellular is among those where customers don’t have to worry about overages. Does this make US Cellular a more viable option for your service? Let us know.

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Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans


PSA: Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 do not support Miracast wireless display

Posted: 19 Nov 2012 07:11 PM PST

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For those that were unsure on where the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 stood on Android 4.2′s latest feature — Miracast wireless display support — it’s looking like this could end up being Nexus 4-only for now. There’s been an ongoing discussion over on Google’s mobile support forum and after much debate, a Googler took the time to weigh in on the issue confirming:

Just wanted to confirm that Nexus 4 is currently our only Nexus device that works with Miracast wireless display on Android 4.2. There was a reference to wireless display on our Help site for Nexus 10, but we’ve since removed that reference. Our apologies for any confusion that may have caused.

So, whether you have the Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 7, or Nexus 10 — just because they’re running 4.2 (which technically supports Miracast), there’s still more to the store. Whether or not Miracast could come to the Nexus 10 down the road, remains to be seen. For a quick video showing off what Miracast wireless display means to you, check out the official video below.


Google support offers free Nexus 4 to one lucky customer stuck in limbo [UPDATE]

Posted: 19 Nov 2012 04:21 PM PST

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Well, not a direct statement statement from Google HQ, it’s by no means less official. Take a look at this email a limbo’d Nexus 4 customer received after engaging in countless emails, and phone calls to Google’s customer support over the status of his order. Keep in mind this guy’s Nexus 4 order was processed a mere 1 minute after mine (which I received last Friday).

Hello [redacted],
Thank you for contacting Google Play! It was my pleasure assisting you today with your question in regards to the status of your order. I definitely understand how important it is to know when you’ll receive your device.

If you ordered on 11/13, your order is scheduled to arrive tomorrow. If you haven’t already received a shipping confirmation email that contains the tracking number, you should receive one by end of day today.

We apologize for all the problems that this delay that this has caused you and rest assure that you will receive all your orders at no cost to you.. However, please note that it can take up to 1 business day for the tracking number to be activated. Rest assured that once you receive your ship confirmation email with your tracking number, it is in the process of shipping for an estimated arrival of Tuesday, Nov. 20

Thank You,

[redacted]

The Google Play Support Team

How’s that for customer service? While this isn’t by any means guaranteed to everyone — we’re currently on the phone with Google customer service looking for voice confirmation — it looks like Google gone above and beyond your typical 10% discount or free overnight shipping in this particular situation. At the very least, it seems you guys should be getting some shipping dates sent to your email, so don’t give up hope if  you’re still stuck in limbo. That is, if you haven’t already cancelled and moved on to greener pastures.

UPDATE: Just got off the phone with Google and they have confirmed that this customer is, in fact…. receiving a free Nexus 4. Due more to the fuzzy wording in the email than anything, in any case, he will be receiving a free Nexus 4 for the mix up. Nice.


The Nexus’ fatal flaw: Google customer support

Posted: 19 Nov 2012 02:41 PM PST

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It’s definitely never been one of Google’s strong points. We’re talking about customer support. A stark contrast to a certain other company, Google just doesn’t provide the level of service most customers expect from an online retailer. Whether it’s YouTube, Google Play, or developers trying to figure out why their app was banned — if something goes wrong, don’t expect to talk to living, breathing person from Google who will help try and fix it.

This lack of support or transparency has reached a crescendo in forums like XDA where once eager Nexus 4 customers are fuming at the mouth over Google not providing them with any kind of update or information on the status of their Nexus 4 orders. You know, that one smartphone that almost crashed the Google Play Store and sold out in under 30 minutes upon going live. Yeah, that one.

Apparently some Nexus 4 customers were able to get their order in, but never received the dreaded “back ordered email” or a shipping email for that matter. Also known as “Nexus 4 limbo,” these customers have absolutely no idea when their devices will arrive, even though some have already had their credit cards charged. To make matters worse, there’s growing evidence mounting that devices aren’t being shipped on a first come, first served basis. Needless to say it’s a huge mess and Google needs to do something to fix it, but that’s the problem — they haven’t even acknowledged it.

This isn’t even the first time Google has failed miserably at their attempt to provide adequate support from a device sold from their online Market. Back in January of 2010, there was the whole Nexus One fiasco that left many customers salty after Google was unable to provide anything more than email support for their complaints. And there were a lot of complaints. That lead to Google releasing a statement that they’d try harder to provide better support saying:

"Solving customer support issues is extremely important to us, because we want people to have a positive Nexus One experience. We are trying to be as open and transparent as possible through our online customer help forums."

So, where is open transparency now? What’s interesting is back in October we reported on Google job listings looking to hire a customer support team right before the launch of the Nexus 4. While I’m sure we’ll hear from Google any minute now (the growing outcry is sure to reach the windows of the GooglePlex), the only question that remains is if it will be too little, too late.

Question and answer time: Has this debacle soured the Nexus experience for any of you out there? Also, are you more upset that you weren’t able to snag a Nexus 4 in time, or is this simply a poor customer service issue for you?


Republic Wireless leaves beta — pre-order your wireless freedom today!

Posted: 19 Nov 2012 02:10 PM PST

Remember Republic Wireless? It’s the hot new carrier in town that promises to alleviate you from the burden of overpriced cellular plans and contracts. Through technology called “Hybrid Calling,” Republic can offer unlimited talk, text and data for just $19 — that is borderline criminal (the other carriers would have you think as much, anyway).

Hybrid calling banks on you having a WiFi connection at home, at your workplace and in other public spots to alleviate the strain on the cellular network. It’ll use your WiFi connection to do all its dirty work when you’re connected, and will seamlessly hand-off to Sprint’s network to take care of things when you can’t seem to find some WiFi waves to surf on.

Well, the service — which was previously in a rather “open” beta — is now going to launch on a wide scale. The service is now open to anyone who wishes to use it, and pre-sales have started today. The only phone available right now is the Motorola DEFY XT, and you can walk away with one for $250. The devices are said to be shipping mid-December, and your first monthly charge of $19 won’t take place until your order has shipped.

Unfortunately, this network is not BYOD (bring your down device): currently this is the only phone you can use so bringing your shiny new Nexus 4 over won’t work out. This will be a deal breaker for many, I’m sure, but with a service as ambitious as Republic’s and in such an early state of infancy you have to deal with this sort of stuff as they evolve over time.

The future might not be too bright, anyway. Since Republic is in bed with Sprint for cellular coverage they could be tied to CDMA technology for eternity. Unless they begin renting spectrum for their own private use and have the capital to provide the necessary infrastructure it’s wise not to hold your breath for a GSM-based incarnation of Republic anytime soon.

This service will still be of value to many people, though. For starters, if your child absolutely needs a cell phone then why not get them a cheap one with a cheap monthly cost? It may not be the phone they want, but if they’re not buying it then they shouldn’t have any complaints.

And if you just want to get with the smartphone times without having to incur the bloated cost that tends to come with them in this day and age I can’t see why you would pass this up. There are other affordable options out there, of course, but you couldn’t touch these prices for this monthly price even on the great Straight Talk plan.

If you’re ready to take the plunge and want to order a DEFY XT be sure to remember that you can only order up to four. Republic will urge you to get WiFi access in your home, but they aren’t denying folks who don’t have it like they were originally rumored to be doing. You can pre-order it over at RepublicWireless.com starting today.

[via Republic Wireless]


US Cellular rolls out unlimited 4G LTE data plan

Posted: 19 Nov 2012 12:57 PM PST

Smaller wireless providers have to do what it takes to to stay competitive in a market with many options. For some, this has meant mergers. Others have opted to cut service pricing to lure in a few extra subscribers. US Cellular is doing their best to stay relevant by introducing a new unlimited 4G LTE data option.

The plan starts at $40 with an option to add data tethering for $20 more per month, a limited-time offer for customers residing in any of US Cellular’s 4G markets. The carrier aims to have 58 percent of its subscriber base covered with LTE by the end of the year.

In order to take advantage of the new 4G data pricing, US cellular is offering a selection of handsets with a $100 instant rebate, including the Samsung Galaxy S3. They are also offering a free Samsung LTE hotspot along with the purchase of any smartphone or tablet.

 


CyanogenMod music app Apollo now in the Play Store

Posted: 19 Nov 2012 12:54 PM PST

Anyone familiar with the latest version of CyanogenMod knows about Apollo. It’s a music app created by developer Andrew Neal, and while it enjoyed a brief period of time being available exclusively to CyanogenMod 9 and 10 users he wants everyone to be able to enjoy the Holo-themed music player. That’s why you can find it in the Play Store starting today, and we couldn’t be any more happy about that.

Apollo’s list of features is chock full of goodness with things like home screen playlist shortcuts, themes, notification controls, lock screen widgets for devices on Jelly Bean 4.2 or higher, four different home screen widgets, gapless playback, lyrics, a wide range of audio formats and a ton more.

More will be coming down the line, including a tablet UI, Last.FM scrobbling, automatic artist and album info, the ability to specify your own folders for the player to look for media in and more. Users can get a free version, but that comes with ads and we’re sure you lot aren’t too crazy about that. Apollo+, a $.99 upgrade, removes those ads and also brings you updates quicker than the free version so you can get in on all the great new feature before those who’d rather not pay.

From my short time with the media player I can say that this isn’t the end all, be all music experience to have across any platform, but you can do a whole lot worse and it’s worth a download to see this beautiful app in action. Find the free version in the Play Store here, and be sure to find Apollo+ here.


Hands-on video: LG Optimus G gives you the power to do what you want, when you want [Sponsored]

Posted: 19 Nov 2012 12:02 PM PST

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The LG Optimus G is sure to be a hot ticket item this holiday. Whether you’re on AT&T or Sprint, the Optimus G provides a superior smartphone experience thanks to speedy quad-core processor and innovative new software features. You can check out my hands on video above where I cover all these features and more. For more info on the LG Optimus G, visit LG.com.


Todoist for Android aims to be the last “todo” app you’ll ever need

Posted: 19 Nov 2012 09:39 AM PST

Perfecting the arsenal for your todo list needs has been the goal of many-a developer over the years. Remember the Milk is one of the finer options and suffices for most people. Any.DO came in and stole the thunder from them, and did so with ferocity and tenacity. Now, a new challenger steps into the ring.

At its core, Todoist isn’t a killer app that everyone should stop the presses for — there’s only so much you can do with a todo list experience, after all. But it’s how it does it that is catching everyone’s collective eye. Todoist gives you a suite of productivity tools in a very elegant, stylish and simple package. Those on Android 4.0 and higher will especially fall in love.

One of the biggest features is the ability to organize tasks into projects. My biggest issue with most task managers is that things can get messy trying to make “sub tasks” for a bigger goal, and Todoist makes this painfully painless (if that even makes sense).

The paid version allows you to color code certain tasks using labels, too, so taking a gander at your yet-to-be-finished responsibilities is even easier. You can sync across desktop and other platforms, though if you opt to stick with the fre version you’ll only get one sync per day.

In addition, Todoist features a host of reminder options. You can be notified via SMS, email or push if you need help remembering what’s on your plate for the day. Finally, task notes allows you to add details to any given task so you can make less vague headers for easier viewing.

You can find more info on Todoist at the app’s website, but the basic experience is free so why not just give it a shot yourself by visiting the Google Play Store? An in-app purchase option will be there to greet you should you find that this app answers the questions to all your task list needs. Let us know what you think of it in the comments section below!


RadioShack offering $50 Play Store gift card with Samsung Galaxy S3

Posted: 19 Nov 2012 08:22 AM PST

If you’re thinking about buying a Samsung Galaxy S3 for yourself or a loved on this holiday season you might want to consider the deal RadioShack has going on. If you buy your device from them you’ll get a $50 gift card for the Google Play Store in return.

It would be a nice addition to the stocking of whoever you’re buying one for as they’ll be able to get started with all the apps, games, music and more that they want right out of the box. This deal will only apply to those looking to buy one for Sprint, AT&T and Verizon — T-Mobile and US Cellular customers need not apply.

On top of that, RadioShack is offering $10 cash back for every $50 spent in its stores and online — that’s nothing to sneeze at, so even if you aren’t in for a Galaxy S3 you’ll want to see if you can do some of your shopping at The Shack than some other big ticket stores. We’re not yet sure if this particular deal has a limit but we’ll be looking to find out for you.

What’s more is that the device is available for $100 across all carriers, upgrade or otherwise. Also, new Sprint users will be able to join the Samsung Galaxy S3 club cheaper than usual as new customers can get the phone for just $50. It’s not a bad price for what is not only considered the best smartphone of this past summer, but still one of the best smartphones in the game today.

This isn’t a bad round of deals surrounding the Galaxy S3 at all so give it some serious thought if you are looking for one anyway. Be sure to call ahead and see if your local RadioShack stores have what you’re looking for in stock, and even if they don’t you can check their website since all of these deals are available online. Anyone in for one?


Samsung sues LG Display over OLED patents

Posted: 19 Nov 2012 08:19 AM PST

Samsung’s legal team is taking a break from their ongoing battle with Samsung to go after another competitor. The Korean company that produces the Galaxy line of Android phones has filed a patent suit against a branch of the Korean company that produces the Optimus line of phones. Specifically, Samsung is going after LG Display on the basis that several patents pertaining to OLED screen technology should be deemed invalid.

The suit is only the latest volley in the lesser-publicized court battle over the OLED technology that forms the basis for Samsung’s line of Super AMOLED displays as found in such devices as the Galaxy S3. Back in September, LG Display sued Samsung over their use of OLED displays, claiming infringement.

Samsung is seeking to have seven patents granted by a Korean intellectual property tribunal rendered invalid on the basis that they simply aren’t innovative enough to warrant such rights. Voiding such patents could effectively end LG’s ability to go after Samsung on the basis of infringement.

OLED displays, which don’t require the backlight typical to traditional LCD displays and therefore allow for increasingly slimmer device design, have been a staple in Samsung’s flagship products. The company boasts the largest deployment of such displays on mobile devices, something that Samsung sees as a competitive edge. LG’s deployment of OLED technology has largely been relegated to their television business, so the suit at hand isn’t strictly about mobile. That being said, if LG comes out the victor it could create some problems for Samsung’s handset division.

 


Nexus 4 drop test makes us cringe [VIDEO]

Posted: 19 Nov 2012 07:32 AM PST

There haven’t been many drop test videos showing us the Nexus 4′s durability thus far. We imagine that’s because so many people are unwilling to put “their precious” in harm’s way, and we don’t blame them. But it had to happen eventually — the first Nexus 4 drop test has arrived!

This particular test isn’t as extensive as we usually like, but we’ll take anything we can get right now. And it’s in German, so we have no idea what’s being said (cool points to whoever can clue us in on any interesting bits in the comments section below). But you don’t need translation to see how the Nexus 4 handled a drop or two.

The device was resilient with the first drop as it didn’t produce any noticeable cracks or damage. Nothing relevant came of its  plunge to pavement so that’s a good sign in itself. A second drop was performed from what could be considered “average” height, and the Nexus 4 landed on its glass-laden backside. Unfortunately it didn’t do so well here as a nasty shatter formed on the upper right, but the damage was relatively minor considering how this thing is built.

The display wasn’t affected at all, and that’s a good thing, but we have to remember that drop tests are hardly scientific. Point of impact, velocity, surface material and other factors determine how a phone might react to a fall, and we reckon a few more meetings with the sidewalk for this particular device would have spelled doom for the phone’s protective glass.

If nothing else, this video serves as a good reminder to be more cautious and careful with your phone, and to get a case or a bumper with it if you’re feeling a little bit clumsy. Go ahead and watch the video above.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]


Nexus 4 teardown reveals LTE chip, we pine for what could have been

Posted: 19 Nov 2012 07:04 AM PST

As often happens with the biggest mobile releases, iFixit has procured a Nexus 4 and done the dirty work of tearing the whole thing apart. The biggest reveal wasn’t the device’s orderly construction or relative ease of repair, however. It was the  discovery of something no one was really expecting: an LTE chip.

Now before those of us hoping for an LTE-enabled Nexus 4 get too excited, the chip is completely useless. The phone’s hardware does not include an LTE radio, so the chip hangs around like a vestigial organ and we are left longing for what could have been.

The chip is likely a carryover from the LG Optimus G, the phone that the Nexus 4 is largely based off of. While one might ask why a company would include a component in the device that has no function and could simply add to costs, it probably stems from LG wanting to consolidate the manufacturing flow for both devices. Instead of putting together a unique  circuit board for each phone, the two can share the component.

An LTE chip could also suggest that perhaps a 4G version of the device could find its way to retail, but we’re not holding our breath just yet. Andy Rubin has been pretty explicit in explaining Google’s reasoning behind leaving LTE technology (aside from this newly discovered anomaly) out of the Nexus 4.

We wish enabling LTE on the device would be as easy as a few software commands, but with the hardware as it stands you’d need a soldering iron and a lot more technical know-how than your average bear. But we can keep the dream alive, right?

[via Gizmodo]