Android Authority

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• Rogers pushes back Android 4.1 Jelly Bean updates for Razr HD and others to next year
• Lava Xolo A800 gets released in India for $220, a dual-SIM phone with 4.5-inch display and ICS
• 16GB Nexus 4 now sold out on Google Play
• Google shutting down unpopular services and apps starting January 2013
• “Android does not do much,” says former webOS investor
• Verizon offers discounts on Motorola DROID RAZR HD and more in holiday sale
• Nook HD and HD+ from Barnes & Noble available now from Walmart
• Galaxy Note 2 knockoff offers 5.5-inch screen and Jelly Bean at $150
• It is estimated that 18 million Android devices will get Malware in 2013
• HTC One SV goes through FCC, hints at U.S. release with 4G LTE

Rogers pushes back Android 4.1 Jelly Bean updates for Razr HD and others to next year Posted: 15 Dec 2012 02:48 AM PST While Samsung Galaxy S3 owners on Rogers are already enjoying their Jelly Bean treat, those sporting other devices that have been promised the software upgrades aren’t as lucky. The carrier's latest Android 4.1 rollout schedule reveals that the updates for some phones have been pushed back. For example, the Motorola Razr HD has been promised to receive Jelly Bean in "late December". The new schedule now puts down "late January" as the estimated date of when the phone will be upgraded. It's worth to note that the Verizon and international variants are already sporting JB. Other phones that are slated to receive Android 4.1 in late January include the Samsung Galaxy S2 LTE and the Sony Xperia T. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy Note and the HTC One X can expect to get the buttery smooth software in early January, assuming that the dates won’t be changed yet again. Bum out about the JB update delay for your phone? Share your thoughts with others below. Related Posts Rogers Canada schedules Motorola Razr HD Jelly Bean update for “late December” Rogers Jelly Bean update for Samsung Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note arriving soon Rogers Galaxy S3 Jelly Bean now set for 'early December'

Lava Xolo A800 gets released in India for $220, a dual-SIM phone with 4.5-inch display and ICS Posted: 15 Dec 2012 02:43 AM PST The India-based Lava Mobiles gained worldwide attention when they released the first Intel Medfield-based Android smartphone, the Lava Xolo X900, back in April. The company is now back with its latest Android offering, the Xolo A800. Despite the name, the Lava Xolo A800 doesn't come with an Intel CPU inside, as it takes the ARM route instead. Powering the phone is a 1GHz MediaTEK MT6577 dual-core processor. The Xolo A800 boasts a 4.5-inch IPS display with 960 x 540 resolution and comes with features like an 8MP main camera, VGA front-facing camera, 12GB internal storage, and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box. Completing the specs are the two available SIM card slots that offer 2G and 3G connectivity. There's currently no plan to market the Lava Xolo A800 outside India. If you like what you see of the phone, you should be able to find it in stores in the country for 11,999 rupees, which translates to about $220. How about it – do you think the A800 is a worthy phone to add to your Android collection? Related Posts Lava's Xolo X900 is the first Intel Medfield phone, coming soon in India Lava Xolo X900 Ice Cream Sandwich update now available Intel Medfield-powered Lava Xolo X900 gets benchmarked, performs surprisingly well

16GB Nexus 4 now sold out on Google Play Posted: 15 Dec 2012 01:28 AM PST Two weeks ago, we reported that the 8GB Nexus 4 has sold out on Google Play. Those who managed to grab the last few units of the phone were told to wait up to 10 weeks for the shipment. Now, the 16GB Nexus 4 is following the steps of the smaller variant, as it's become unavailable on the Play Store. Before Google ran out of the 16GB Nexus 4, the shipping date was listed as "8-9 weeks". This means if you ordered the Nexus 4 in 16GB flavor before it was sold out, the phone may only arrive in February. Here's hoping that Google will have more stocks of both variants sooner rather than later. If you simply must have the Nexus 4 before the end of the year, you might be able to score one from T-Mobile. While the phone is currently still listed as "out of stock" on the website, we heard that T-Mo will have more units coming in soon. We'll keep you posted. Related Posts Google Nexus 7 16GB model back on store in Google Play store 8GB Nexus 4 sold out again, as Google apparently closes 'pre-orders' Nexus 10 in 16GB flavor now out of stock on Google Play

Google shutting down unpopular services and apps starting January 2013 Posted: 15 Dec 2012 12:27 AM PST Image credit: Robert Scoble / Flickr Do you use SMS to schedule appointments via Google Calendar? Do you still sync your Symbian-based Nokia smartphone with Google Calendar? Do you use Smart Rescheduler from Google Labs? If you do, you might want to start looking elsewhere to fulfill your calendaring and syncing needs. Google is shutting down several services this wintertime, in an effort to ensure they can focus on services that matter more to users. Google wants to focus on “creating beautiful, useful products that improve millions of people’s lives every day.” In line with this, the company is moving away from working on products that not that many people use, or that are considered archaic. Take for instance calendar synchronization for Symbian Series 60 devices. Does anyone still use a Nokia S60 device? Probably so. But consider the sheer number of Android and iOS users who use mobile apps to access their Google Calendar data, which outnumber Symbian users today. Google wants to focus on improving their service to the increasing number of users on the bigger platforms like Android and iOS. (Never mind Windows Phone for now, unless the platform gains traction in the future, somehow.) Here are some of the apps and services that will be given the kill switch treatment come January or so. No more creation of reservable times on appointment slots in Calendar. Calendar Labs applications Smart Rescheduler and Add Gadget by URL will be discontinued. Create Calendar via SMS and Create Event via SMS will be discontinued, as Google says most users prefer to use mobile Calendar apps. Google Sync will cease support for new accounts by January 30, 2013, given the increasing popularity of CardDAV, CalDAV and IMAP on mobile devices. Google Apps for Business users will still enjoy support for the protocol, and existing accounts will continue working. For Symbian devices, Google Calendar Sync has been discontinued as of December 14, while Google Sync for Nokia S60 and SyncML will cease functioning by January 30, 2013. For developers, the Issue Tracker API on Google Code will be shut down by January 14. Punchd, a loyalty app, will be shut down by June 7, 2013, as Google is perhaps focusing on its Wallet service for loyalty and points. Google VP for Engineering Venkat Panchapakesan says these are all meant to ensure a “seamless, amazing Google experience,” which means the company is likely to be focusing on the platforms and applications that matter today. And we know what this means: Android and iOS. Related Posts Verizon Apps will be closing, removal from Android devices will begin in January 2013 Google services on Android vs. third-party services on iOS Google Play Services developer tool rolling out soon

“Android does not do much,” says former webOS investor Posted: 14 Dec 2012 11:53 PM PST We’ve heard a lot of criticisms about Android as a platform, including fragmentation, patent infringements, a copycat mentality, and a platform that has been made cheap by the proliferation of inexpensive, low-end devices. But a recent interview with a venture capitalist has brought Android criticism to a whole new level. Elevation Partners co-founder Roger McNamee says that using Android “is the equivalent of having a motor scooter at the Indianapolis 500.” Now let’s put things into perspective. McNamee’s company was among the investors of the webOS platform, when it invested into Palm, which then touted the connected operating system as an alternative to the iPhone. McNamee has once been hailed as a hero by webOS fans. As such, he may have some vested interest in his criticism toward Android, having once evangelized a platform that would end up being bought by another company (HP) and eventually dying a slow death. But Elevation Partners is also an investor in successful social media companies like Facebook, points out BGR, which may put some credence and clout to his analysis. Profitless prosperity Among McNamee’s criticisms of Android is that it has grown in numbers and has overtaken iOS worldwide, but Apple is still taking the lion’s share of the profits in the smartphone and tablet market. “Android has been managed essentially to make it a profitless prosperity,” McNamee says. Additionally, there is a danger — at least from Google’s perspective — that its association with Android will be diluted, in favor of Samsung. “Right now, if Google is not careful, Android will be Samsung or Samsung will be Android,” he adds. Of course, there’s the praise for Apple, which has “showed that a large company can not only innovate, it can transform and really rebuild markets.” Adding value? I know Android fans will be appalled at these statements. But I think that McNamee is taking a wrong appreciation of Android as a platform, and Google as a business. The value of Android for Google is not really in the raw profits it makes from the devices that Android manufacturers sell. Google, after all, is a software and services company (except perhaps for its hardware subsidiaries like Motorola Mobility), and value is derived from advertising dollars brought about by market knowledge they are able to gather through their free services . As such, every time someone buys and Android phone or tablet, Google does not care for the profit margin. But when that person starts using services like Gmail, Google Search, Google Now and the like, this adds value to Google’s business. You can check out the full interview at Bloomberg through the source link. I know a lot of us Android fans would have violent reactions against this kind of thinking regarding the platform. But let’s be constructive with our comments. Would you agree that Android is not giving any value to Google? Is Samsung becoming too dominant a player in the Android ecosystem? Is Apple taking too much of the mobile industry’s profit, and is this sustainable in the long run? Related Posts Bad News for Microsoft: HTC Might Buy webOS Should Samsung or Google Buy webOS? Open webOS comes to the Asus Transformer Prime

Verizon offers discounts on Motorola DROID RAZR HD and more in holiday sale Posted: 14 Dec 2012 11:11 PM PST As if being some of the most well-equipped Android-powered handsets ever wasn’t reason enough, Verizon has now decided to take $50 off the prices of both the Motorola DROID RAZR HD and the DROID RAZR MAXX HD, making them more wallet-friendly than ever before. The DROID RAZR HD is now available for $149.99 while the DROID RAZR MAXX HD goes for $249.99. The price cut on these two handsets comes as part of Verizon’s holiday sale for 2012, through which customers can also purchase a Motorola DROID RAZR M without paying more than $49.99 a piece. There’s also a bunch of non-Motorola smartphones up for sale, which include models from LG, Pantech, and HTC. The HTC DROID Incredible 4G LTE, which was originally available for $99.99, can now be purchased for only $49.99. And the Pantech Marauder, which used to be $49.99, is now available for free. It’s the same story for the LG Lucid, which dropped from $19.99 to free after the holiday sale discount. Verizon also offers free cranberry Motorola DROID RAZR units to all those who purchase any of the discounted Motorola DROID RAZR phones mentioned above. The catch is, the free DROID RAZR comes with an accompanying contract, just like all of the handsets listed here. Related Posts Verizon Droid RAZR and RAZR Maxx Android 4.0 ICS update coming soon, owners informed in text messages Amazon offers Droid Razr HD for $129.99, Droid Razr Maxx HD priced at $179.99 Droid Razr HD/Razr Maxx HD up for sale from Verizon, Amazon and Wirefly starting at $150/$200

Nook HD and HD+ from Barnes & Noble available now from Walmart Posted: 14 Dec 2012 11:00 PM PST The Barnes & Noble Nook HD and HD+ aren’t the most well known tablets out there. With most media attention being reserved for the Google Nexus 7 and the Amazon Kindle Fire HD, the Nook HD kind of slid in under the radar. However, that hasn’t stopped one of the United States’ largest retail chains from picking up the product. That’s right, you can now get the Nook HD and the Nook HD+ from Walmart. The Nook HD will run you $199 while the Nook HD+ runs you $229. They’re available both online and at stores. If you buy online, even the slowest shipping option promises that they’ll be at your house by Christmas Eve. So it’s good if you’re doing a little holiday shopping. Is the Nook HD or HD+ worth the price over the competition? It really depends on what you look for in a tablet. The Nook HD is a 7 inch tablet while the HD+ is about 9 inches. Neither of them have a front or back facing camera or GPS functionality. It only comes with 8GB of storage, but unlike more popular options, there is a MicroSD card slot available. In most other cases, it’s on par with the competition, with a HD screen and a sleek form factor. If you’re a power user who needs the fastest, most powerful tablet available, then the Nexus 7 is probably more your speed. If it’s Amazon content and multimedia experiences you crave, then you might be better off with a Kindle Fire HD. However, if you’re looking for a powerful e-reader that performs most other tasks well, then the Nook HD and HD+ may be an option worth considering. You can find the Nook HD at Walmart’s site here and the Nook HD+ here. Does the increased availability make the Nook HD and HD+ a more attractive option as a tablet? Let us know what you think. Related Posts Barnes & Noble once again drops Nook Color and Nook Tablet prices, now starting at $139 Barnes & Noble takes on Amazon with ad-free and light Nook HD Nook price cuts from Barnes & Noble looking to tempt budget tablet hunters

Galaxy Note 2 knockoff offers 5.5-inch screen and Jelly Bean at $150 Posted: 14 Dec 2012 10:50 PM PST The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 was first released just a little over two and a half months ago. But apparently someone in China has decided that it’s already ripe for the cloning. Indeed, you can now purchase a brand new Galaxy Note 2 knockoff in China that, according to its retail box, goes by the name “Android Note II.” And its casing is decked out in all white, too. Officially dubbed the Star S7180, this Galaxy Note 2 knockoff bears a striking resemblance to the original, that is to say that it closely matches the looks of the current flagship Samsung phablet. It even comes with a 5.5-inch touchscreen display and has Jelly Bean pre-installed by default. But sadly for all you clone handset connoisseurs out there, that’s where its similarities with the real deal end. Compared to the real Galaxy Note 2, the Star S7180 has modest specs. It uses a dual-core processor with 1GB of RAM and has 4GB of internal storage. It also features an 8-megapixel camera at the back. But at least it’s cheaper — it can be purchased for just $150 and a tiny shred of your dignity. Related Posts Galaxy Note Jelly Bean build N7000XXLS2 available for download Galaxy S3 Jelly Bean coming on August 29 alongside Samsung Galaxy Note 2? Galaxy S3 Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update rolling out "very soon," Galaxy Note 10.1 and original Galaxy Note also to get it

It is estimated that 18 million Android devices will get Malware in 2013 Posted: 14 Dec 2012 10:45 PM PST It is no secret that there is a lot of Malware on Android. In fact, every report seems to indicate that there is more Malware out there than ever before. As it turns out, predictions for 2013 are no different. There are many different anti-virus companies predicting that 2013 will be a record year for Malware. According to BGR, anti-virus companies like Lookout Mobile are predicting a pretty frightening year in terms of Malware on Android. As it stands, an estimated 18 million Android devices may catch a digital code next year. There are a number of contributing factors. For one, Android is the most popular mobile operating system on Earth. As Lookout Mobile notes, more than a billion Android devices are slated to be sold in 2013 alone. Another fun fact, those phones will download 70 billion apps. This is much like Windows computers catching viruses. It’s no so much that the virus is easy to catch, just that the sheer number of users makes it all but certain that someone will find a way to get it. In addition, there is sure to be an increase in Malware-bearing applications as well. So more Malware plus more devices capable of catching it equals more devices getting Malware. Is there any truth to these Malware numbers? Yes, there is. However, there is a total lack of context. If 18 million devices catch the virtual flu next year and 1.2 billion are purchased, that’s a paltry 1.5% of devices. In other words, 15 out of every 1,000 devices will get Malware. That’s not very many. As our loyal readers will no doubt point out, there are few companies out there who rely on sensationalism to sell products as much as anti-virus companies. Of course, there are other numbers to consider as well. For instance, BGR notes that a security firm estimates that 34.7% of Russian Android devices will get Malware as opposed to 0.40% in the United States. So, of course, location has a lot to do with it. At the end of the day, common sense rules all. Keep an eye on what you download and don’t install applications unless you trust the developer and trust the website or app store you got it from. Are these statistics just taken out of context or are anti-virus companies trying to make things sound worse than they are? Let us know your thoughts. Related Posts Orange partners up with Lookout, plans to bundle app in new devices Android Malware Genome Project shows that 86% of all malware delivered via repackaging of legitimate apps Most Free Anti-malware Apps for Android Nearly Useless

HTC One SV goes through FCC, hints at U.S. release with 4G LTE Posted: 14 Dec 2012 10:41 PM PST Were you disappointed when you first found out that the 4G LTE-enabled HTC One SV was only going to become available exclusively through EE in the UK? It was fairly disappointing news indeed, especially for those who were enticed by the HTC One S but saw the lack of built-in 4G LTE connectivity as a major deal breaker. Sure, it may be headed to Australia, but what about all those people looking forward to its release in the U.S.? Well, thanks to documents posted recently on the website of the FCC, it looks like it might be up for a U.S. release after all.   Evidently, it has already received FCC approval. It has been approved for use with GSM bands 850 and 1900 as well as WCDMA bands II and V. It also includes other wireless features like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC, according to the documents posted on the web site of the FCC. Strangely, the documents don’t mention anything about it being approved for use with LTE. So it looks like it’s all set for launch in the U.S., though its LTE capabilities are in question. Will people buy it without 4G LTE? Would you? Post your thoughts down below. Related Posts Leaked Sprint Report Hints at More Android Devices Coming Sony Xperia Go goes to the FCC, still no release date or pricing announced HTC Legend passes through the FCC

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Android Phone Fans

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• Simple Nexus 4 software mod allows for improved video recording with almost double the bitrate
• Rovio’s HD Games sale brings paid Rovio games at cheap prices for a limited time
• Will Google beat out Apple in enterprise? [POLL]
• Would you want this red HTC Droid DNA?
• Rogers pushing Jelly Bean to HTC One X and more in January
• Nexus 7 dock unboxing video surfaces, gives us our first hands-on look
• Verizon Galaxy S3 Jelly Bean update now rolling out
• Google+ for Android upgrade brings massive list of new features, including Photos Sphere, Communnities, profile editing and more
• Motorola ATRIX HD gets Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
• HTC One SV journeys through the FCC
• ASTRO v3 made available at Metago website for legacy lovers
• 11 Bit Studios’ Anomaly Korea launching in time for Christmas, watch a new gameplay trailer now
• Android Overload: Dell quits Android phones to focus on Windows tabs, Sprint offers to buy Clearwire for $2.1 billion, and more
• AT&T and unlocked devices have access to T-Mobile 4G in 5 new markets (CA being a big one)

Simple Nexus 4 software mod allows for improved video recording with almost double the bitrate Posted: 14 Dec 2012 07:15 PM PST Those crafty software tinkerers over on XDA are at it again, this time introducing a simple hack/mod for the Nexus 4 that dramatically improves the device’s video capabilities. All you need is a rooted Nexus 4 (with an unlocked bootloader) and a root file manager application with access to your system partition. After a quick XML edit, the Nexus 4′s default bitrate of 12mbps can be increased all the way up to 20mbps. Nice. The instructions are relatively straight forward and are as follows: Using a file browser (like root explorer/es file explorer etc) go to the /system/etc folder Make sure your system is mounted RW Search for the media_profiles.xml file and open it up in any text editor Once you scroll down you will see the following: Code: <EncoderProfile quality="1080p" fileFormat="mp4" duration="30"> <Video codec="h264" bitRate="12000000" width="1920" height="1080" frameRate="30" /> <Audio codec="aac" bitRate="96000" sampleRate="48000" channels="1" /> </EncoderProfile> Change the bitRate from 12000000 to 20000000 Save and reboot. The jump in quality is said to make for a clearer picture while shooting video, resulting in less noise and artifacts than the default setting. Of course, these newly outputted video files will be a larger in size and, as we all know, the Achilles heel for the Nexus 4 is its lack of storage space. Might have to better manage your media if you plan on using this mod. The original thread can be found on XDA where the dev responsible has even included a handy zip file for the flashing. As always, make sure you back up your ROM before experimenting with hacks like like this. Let us know how you like the results! [XDA]

Rovio’s HD Games sale brings paid Rovio games at cheap prices for a limited time Posted: 14 Dec 2012 04:44 PM PST If you haven’t gotten enough Angry Birds or simply want to grab an ad-free versions of some of your favorites Rovio has got a deal that you’ll want to take advantage of. You can get titles like Bad Piggies for just $.99. It’s a game which takes a break from that traditional Angry Birds model. You help the pigs design quirky vehicles that they can use to to try and level the playing ground against the wing-equipped birds. You won’t actually be able to attack the birds or anything, but perhaps Rovio’s got some ideas up their sleeves for the future. You can also get your hands on Angry Birds Star Wars for that same price. This game puts a huge emphasis on putting the fight between the Jedi-led birds and the Sith-lead pigs in the Angry Birds-ified universe of Star Wars. Appearances from characters like Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia are aplenty as special birds with devastating powers. These epic battles will take place on several planets and environments from the dual trilogy, and Rovio is planning a long string of upgrades to help keep the title fresh for quite some time to come. Amazing Alex and Angry Birds Space will also be $1 each so you’ll want to check those out if you haven’t already. The former of those two is especially interesting as it’s Rovio’s first title outside the Angry Birds universe. It’s quite the interesting casual game so give it a shot in the Play Store for the cost of a tasty, wintry Mcflurry or a night’s worth of foosball. You can find all of those titles and more in the Google Play Store. [via Rovio]

Will Google beat out Apple in enterprise? [POLL] Posted: 14 Dec 2012 01:49 PM PST With RIM’s Blackberry operating system and line of devices taking a backseat to Android and iOS in the consumer market, many are wondering who will be the company to gain the interest of enterprise. Some predicted RIM would never lose a ton of market share in that category, but they’ve steadily lost a lot of ground (albeit not at nearly the same rate as they did within the consumer market). Apple might have been the obvious answer five years ago, and Microsoft is still positioning themselves for a run at that market, but Android is just as viable a platform as any when it comes to meeting the needs of big business. Security has been one of the major issues that has kept Android back from being the end all, be all operating system in business, but now that Google is beginning to take a more steadfast approach in plugging up the holes we could see more suits looking its way. So, who do I think will win this particular war? My short answer is Google, but bias isn’t a part of that. Let me show you why I think Android could definitely look to dominate business. Open and “free” One of the biggest reasons businesses could have their cross-hairs squared on Google’s mobile operating system is due to its openness. Because Android can be had in open source form by anyone who knows how to compile source code, Google’s operating system lends itself well to businesses who need deep customization. We’ve seen Android adapt to everything from televisions and watches to glasses and tablets, so an IT department has to feel comfortable knowing they can do pretty much whatever they want with Android. Realistically speaking, the amount of businesses who will customize Android that deeply is likely so small that they don’t even show a blip on the radar in the grand scheme of things, but more control over software and hardware is something that a ton of businesses desire, and Android provides just that. And because Android is open, anyone can take any crop of Android phones and put their own workforce environments on them without help from Google or the OEMs. You can cook up 10 applications for your business right now and install them on all of your employees’ Android phones without having to interface with anyone you don’t want to, and that is a very big deal. Finally, if your business requires employees to use company-issued phones it would be a lot more cost efficient to order 100 or 200 cheap, unlocked Android phones wholesale through an OEM or third party seller compared to having to deal with the premium and perks that comes with interfacing directly with the likes of Apple. It’s secure enough for the military and NASA As I mentioned before, Google is starting to take security very strongly on the malware side of things. Malware isn’t the only thing to worry about when it comes to security, though. If businesses are wondering if Android can be tight enough to deliver secure mobile computing environments for its customers then they shouldn’t look further than what the United States military is doing with it. There was a time where we couldn’t go a day without hearing about how the United States Army or the Marines were using Android in the field to help with day-to-day operations. Whether it be simple things like training apps and guides to full-on GPS systems for field combat, the military has embraced Android in ways that we never thought they would. The United States Army regularly holds developer competitions to see who can develop the best and most innovative apps for its soldiers to use to help make life easier, and more serious and critical military applications are said to be worked on behind closed doors all the time. Beyond that, even NASA has employed Android for its space exploration efforts. If you don’t remember, the Nexus S became the first NASA certified smartphone to be used on-board a space shuttle for a launch mission. It wasn’t out scouring mars for aliens or foreign particles, but it helped along in missions to test NASA’s new SPHERES satellites — that’s a very big deal, I’d say. So if Google’s Android is powerful enough to help NASA and the United States military, private businesses surely have no reason to believe it’s not adequate for their own use, right? I would think so. Email is the trump card There’s no secret that fans of Microsoft Exchange are a bit underwhelmed by Google’s accommodations. For starters, Android’s Exchange support has never lent itself well to the calendar and tasks part of the equation. This has been an area where Microsoft (duh) and RIM have always shined, and I won’t act like it’s not an important thing to get right. But if we’re talking about Apple vs Google, the latter would appear to have the upper-hand. Both platforms offer your basic, standard built-in push email support for Exchange email, but Google has a leg up on Apple in that it specializes in providing its own very good set of enterprise-focused services for email and calendar. Google Apps for Business– which provides things like Gmail and Google Calendar for businesses — is a fantastic platform to migrate to and has proven to be a mainstay for many small and medium-sized businesses. Google’s still the little guy up against the likes of Exchange and IBM’s Lotus, but like Android the open nature of the platform means it can scale to the needs of a lot of different businesses (and at a fraction of the cost, no less). Apple simply doesn’t have anything like that in their arsenal, and that could be detrimental to their efforts in trying to sway enterprise. Even if you aren’t a fan of Android’s built-in Exchange support or looking to switch your company over to Google Apps, there are still a lot of nice solutions — such as Nitrodesk’s Touchdown — that can deliver everything you need. Enterprise won’t flock to Android nearly as hastily as consumers did simply due to the volatile and risky nature of switching up the communications aspect of any business, but when it’s all said and done I feel like Google has the tools — not only with Android, but with the powerful platform that is Google Apps — to emerge victorious.

Would you want this red HTC Droid DNA? Posted: 14 Dec 2012 12:58 PM PST Check this out. We’re looking at a special edition HTC Droid DNA made for Verizon employees in a special red color scheme. And it’s very red, indeed. Each handset is numbered and stamped “Verizon Employee Limited Edition,” and that’s exactly why regular customers won’t be able to get their hands on one. But would you want one? It’s the same great phone, which reviewed and named quite possibly HTC’s best Android device ever, only with a new paint job. Personally, it’s a bit loud for me. But it might just be someone else’s cup of tea. [via DroidLife]

Rogers pushing Jelly Bean to HTC One X and more in January Posted: 14 Dec 2012 11:35 AM PST Rogers has updated the release schedule for the Android 4.1 upgrade for several of their top-teir handsets, including the HTC One X and Samsung Galaxy Note. January is the month to watch if you own either of those handsets or the Samsung Galaxy S2 LTE, Motorola RAZR HD, and Sony Xperia T. The adjusted schedule comes shortly after Rogers pushed the Jelly Bean update to their Samsung Galaxy S3. For a complete list of handsets and the updated timeline, hit up the source link below. [via Rogers | Thanks, Jeff!]

Nexus 7 dock unboxing video surfaces, gives us our first hands-on look Posted: 14 Dec 2012 10:30 AM PST That Nexus 7 dock that appeared on ASUS’ Japanese website has surfaced in a YouTube unboxing video, giving us yet another indication that the accessory could soon be available for purchase. The video gives us our first look at the retail packaging for dock as well as a quick look around the unit, which features both microUSB and 3.5mm speaker ports. Overall the dock features a rather minimalist design, but if you have been hankering for a nice and cozy place to set your Nexus 7, it should make a great bedside companion. The video implies that the accessory is hitting Japanese retailers this week, which means a trip to the Google Play Store might not be far behind.

Verizon Galaxy S3 Jelly Bean update now rolling out Posted: 14 Dec 2012 10:10 AM PST Today seems to be Jelly Bean day for a lot of people. After AT&T’s Motorola ATRIX HD received the illustrious upgrade, Verizon has finally delivered the OTA to users of its Samsung Galaxy S3. It promised us it’d be here tomorrow, but many were still holding their breath and saying they wouldn’t believe it until they saw it due to the unpredictability that can come with wide-scale roll-outs. Well, you better be believing it now as we’ve gotten a string of reports in our inbox letting us know that the update is beginning to show up. Some folks are getting notifications that an upgrade is ready, but some of you might need to force the upgrade to initiate in the phone’s settings menu. And if that doesn’t do anything for you then a healthy glass of “wait” is in order as it could be due to Verizon employing a staggered process, meaning your device could be waiting as long as 3 weeks. Most people will get it sooner rather than later, though, so don’t let that little disclaimer scare you too much. If you don’t remember, this upgrade will bring things like Google Now, Project Butter, new notifications, new camera effects and more. ISIS support will also be added so you can make mobile payments using your NFC phone at supported locations within (currently limited) supported markets. Folks might not like that fact considering Google Wallet still isn’t supported, but Verizon’s stance is that Google’s app is not permitted to use the secure element required to make Google Wallet work, and that apps can only gain authorization through an approval process that may or may not be as straightforward to go through as Verizon makes it seem. Whatever the case may be, though, you’re still getting Jelly Bean so there’s a lot to celebrate today. Hit your phone’s settings menu right now to see if there’s a nice holiday treat waiting for you.

Google+ for Android upgrade brings massive list of new features, including Photos Sphere, Communnities, profile editing and more Posted: 14 Dec 2012 09:18 AM PST Google+ for Android is already a great application, but the software giant has made things even better in a very big upgrade rolling out to the Google Play Store today. When I say very big, I’m saying that this may end up being the biggest single upgrade to Google+ for Android we’ll ever see. There’s a lot to cover so let’s just dive right in, shall we? For Android Topping the list of changes is support for the newly launched Communities feature. You’ll now be able to partake in discussion regarding your favorite interests while you’re on the go. This feature was introduced for desktops about a week ago, and we knew it wouldn’t take Google long to get us into the fray of things on mobile. Another nice change is the ability to completely edit your profile on the go. You’ll be able to edit things like your name, your occupation and other fields that make it easier for people to stalk you. Google also mentions an easier way to author stuff, and subtle notices whenever there are new things to read on your timeline. Neato. Going further, you’ll now get the opportunity to save full-sized backups of your photos with up to 5GB of free storage space to help with that. The standard photo uploading sizes will continue to be unlimited with a price tag of $0.00 so those who don’t care to use Google+ in that way can go on about their business. Staying with the theme of photos, users will now be able to post and view Photo Spheres straight from their mobile devices. Kudos to Google for allowing us to take in 360 degrees of beautiful spherical scenes without having to move over to the desktop to do so. Oh, and you won’t even need Android 4.2 to view them — users on Froyo and higher will be able to enjoy them just as well as anyone else (though the creation aspect of it is still exclusive to those on the latest version of Android). Finally, we’ll be able to adorn our posts with some cheeky emoticons, view animated GIFs, get birthday reminders and get access to a new lock-screen widget (which would likely be an Android 4.2 exclusive feature, though we can’t say for sure right now). For the web Allow me to direct your attention to the next attraction — events. You’ll be able to send messages to individual guests through the events screen on the web, invite people to an event by copying its URL and sending it through whichever communications channel you like, and guests opting to head to the hot party of the weekend can note if they’re bringing others along. Finally, you can now duplicate previous events just in case you happen to be throwing similar or identical events every week, month or year. For Hangouts, Google has lowered the bandwidth requirement to participate in 10-way video chatting: you now only need 150 KB to hang. Also, Hangouts on Air will now get rid of the video square on the bottom of the main video feed if you’re the only one in the Hangout. The upgrade isn’t out as of the time of this writing but Google ensures us we’ll be knee deep in all these new features by the end of the day. You’ll be looking for version 3.3 so be on the lookout for it in the Google Play Store throughout the day. [Update]: Looks like it’s live in the Play Store right now. Go and get it! [via Google]

Motorola ATRIX HD gets Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Posted: 14 Dec 2012 08:11 AM PST Owners of the Motorola ATRIX HD need not wait any longer to step into the most recent major version of Android as AT&T has delivered exciting news this morning. The device has been stepped up to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean in what will be an over-the-air upgrade process. It’ll feature Google Now, expandable and rich notifications, Project Butter and more of the great enhancements Google introduced between Ice Cream Sandwich and the first Jelly Bean build. This would make the Motorola ATRIX HD AT&T’s fourth Jelly Bean phone, with devices like the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, Samsung Galaxy S3 and HTC One X+ preceding it. More devices are expected to receive Jelly Bean soon, as well, including the original HTC One X and the LG Optimus G, though there’s no solid timeline to hang on to. It’s recommended you connect to a WiFi network before trying to apply this upgrade, of course, but once you hit the settings menu and check for the firmware under About Phone you should be on your way to basking under the sun in a sea of sweet jelly bean goodness. [via AT&T]

HTC One SV journeys through the FCC Posted: 14 Dec 2012 07:46 AM PST The HTC One SV has popped up in an FCC filing, begging the question as to whether or not we could see the phone in North America. HTC announced the One SV for the UK and other European locales earlier this week, but there have been no indications that the phone will launch in the US. A similar handset, the HTC One VX, is already available from AT&T, though the two devices are not clones of each other. One possible destination for the One SV is a regional carrier or pay-as-you-go service provider. The handset was approved for use on WCDMA bands II and V as well as GSM bands 850 and 1900. Despite carrying the necessary hardware in its UK version, the report shows no mention of LTE. [via WirelessGoodness]

ASTRO v3 made available at Metago website for legacy lovers Posted: 14 Dec 2012 07:25 AM PST Metago promised a much-improved user experience when it introduced ASTRO v4 some time ago. A redesigned user interface, great new features and a new icon all came together to form what should ultimately translate into a better experience for most people, but Metago understands people may not be particularly fond of the new direction ASTRO has taken. People aren’t being resistant just for the sake of change, though. Some seem to have issues with bugs and stability, and others might be unhappy with a few features ASTRO decided to omit in version 4. The company has taken a bold step that many others probably wouldn’t and decided to accommodate those who preferred the classic ASTRO experience — it’s made version 3 available for download on its website at no charge. The company acknowledged the aforementioned sentiment regarding issues some users are having difficulty coping with and have assured us that Metago would continue to hammer out the kinks and introduce the features that would make people want to accept version 4 with open arms. Metago says version 4 is already starting to stabilize after many bug fixes have been pushed to the Play Store so be sure to give it another shot if you haven’t in a while. What’s more is that a convenient list of new functions and new ways to perform certain actions in ASTRO v4 is provided for those who are having trouble adapting to the new user interface. That list can be had on the very same download page that ASTRO v3 is being provided on. Folks should be warned that ASTRO v3 will get no further development so if you decide to download it you do so knowing that any bugs you experience are going to be there forever (though there aren’t many big ones that we can think of). All development resources are being poured into ASTRO v4 so get that version if you want the latest and greatest. Metago has great things planned for ASTRO starting this January, and we’re expecting to see what’s on tap for the longest reigning file manager on Android starting at CES. PS: Metago warns that if you want ASTRO v3 to install properly you may need to uninstall ASTRO v4 before installation. Be sure to take care of that through your favorite method if you happen to run into any problems. [via Metago]

11 Bit Studios’ Anomaly Korea launching in time for Christmas, watch a new gameplay trailer now Posted: 14 Dec 2012 06:53 AM PST Anomaly Korea, the followup to the award-winning tower offense title Anomaly Warzone Earth, will hit the Google Play Store in time for Christmas. The game builds on the original with 12 new missions, new powerups and special units, and the new Art of War mode. To coincide with the announcement, 11 bit studios has released a fresh gameplay trailer showing off their latest creation. We had a chance to preview Anomaly Korea and can say what you see is what you get. Sharp graphics, intense man-vs-machine battles, and explosions aplenty. It’s not necessarily the way I would have chosen to ring in the holidays, but it’s an appreciated gift nonetheless. Fans of the original will definitely want to check out Anomaly Korea. Newcomers to the series still have some time to brush up on the first installment before the latest touches down. An exact date for release wasn’t given, but expect Anomaly Korea to drop sometime in the next week or so.

Android Overload: Dell quits Android phones to focus on Windows tabs, Sprint offers to buy Clearwire for $2.1 billion, and more Posted: 14 Dec 2012 03:59 AM PST Android 4.2 keyboard goes head-t0-head against Windows Phone keyboard. Which comes out on top? [WinSource] Apple and LG win patent case against Alcatel-Lucent. [Bloomberg] Samsung suing LG over display tech patents. Looks to ban, several LG products and invalidate 7 of their patents. [KoreaTimes] Samsung chief strategy officer admits he’s an Apple user. [Electronista] Google Play Magazines are now available in the UK. [OfficialAndroidBlog] Pocket Legends adds 2 new character classes, content, and more. [SpacetimeStudios] BBC iPlayer and BBC Media Player updated in the Play Store with all new UI and more. Verizon Wireless lights up a handful of new markets with 4G LTE on December 20th. [Verizon] Dell dips out of the Android smartphone business. Says they couldn’t build a business on Android. [Forbes] Panasonic preparing a 108op full HD smartphone of their own. To debut at CES 2013? [TechKiddy] Sprint offers to buy Clearwire for $2.1 billion. [Bloomberg] Android malware could result in higher cellphone bills thanks to toll fraud. [TheNewYorkTimes]

AT&T and unlocked devices have access to T-Mobile 4G in 5 new markets (CA being a big one) Posted: 13 Dec 2012 07:34 PM PST Excuse me while I do my happy dance for a second (queue Flashdance dance sequence). Great news for those who love T-Mobile’s low monthly rates, but wish unlocked phones from AT&T or other parts of the world worked on their network. Tonight, T-Mobile has officially flipped the 4G switch on for their 1900MHz network in 5 new markets around the US — my home area of southern California being one of them. Here’s the other 4 markets lit up as well: Chicago, including the surrounding areas of: Aurora, Berwyn, Chicago Heights, Cicero, Des Plaines, Downers Grove, Evanston, Evergreen Park, Naperville, Oak Park, Schaumburg, Wilmette and Winnetka. Reno, Nev. Sacramento, Calif., including the surrounding areas of: Antelope, Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Fair Oaks, Folsom, Loomis, North Highlands, Rancho Cordova, Rio Linda, Rocklin, Roseville, Vacaville and West Sacramento. Fresno, Calif. Southern Calif., including: Alhambra, Anaheim, Claremont, Culver City, El Monte, Encino, Garden Grove, Granada Hills, Inglewood, Irvine, La Crescenta, Laguna Niguel, Monrovia, Monterey Park, Newport Beach, North Hills, North Hollywood, Paramount, Pasadena, Redlands, Reseda, Rosemead, Santa Ana, San Fernando, San Gabriel, Santa Monica, South El Monte, Temple City, Torrance, Upland, Valley Village, Van Nuys, Westminster and Wilmington. What does this mean to you? Well, where normally AT&T and unlocked devices from other parts of the world would only get 2G speeds on T-Mobile, suddenly find themselves capable of 4G speeds. Found a good deal on an unlocked quad-core Samsung Galaxy S3? Activate it on T-Mobile. Have an HTC One X+ but hate paying up the wazoo for AT&T service? Activate it on T-Mobile. And for those keeping count, T-Mobile now covers 100 million people in the US with their enhanced 4G HSPA+ network, making the #4 largest carrier in the US a viable option for those feeling like they’re paying too much on AT&T. As for me, I’ll be picking up Verizon’s HTC Droid DNA and loading it up with my T-Mobile SIM for super quick HSPA+ data speeds at half the monthly rate. Woot!

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Android and Me

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Day 14: Win an LG Optimus Vu Posted: 14 Dec 2012 11:32 AM PST Day 14 is live and that means another chance to win an awesome device in the 25 Days of Tegra. We've paired with our friends over at @NVIDIATegra to bring you a full month of giveaways and challenges, and things are starting to heat up. To enter to win today, your And Me Account will need [...] Visit our site to read the full article.

13 Android predictions for 2013 Posted: 14 Dec 2012 09:43 AM PST What will be the big Android stories of 2013? Read on to find out what Taylor sees in his crystal ball and be sure to join in the comments to share your predictions. I didn’t do a full blow predictions post for 2012, but here were my trend predictions from last year: Mobile market continues... Visit our site to read the full article.

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Google Android News Android Forums

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• Nexus 7 dock gets some hands-on time in new unboxing video
• Google+ for Android gets major update, available for download now
• Google Maps for iOS is now useless because Apple is rearranging the Earth’s geography to improve Apple Maps
• EE Confirms It Will Carry The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 LTE And Nexus 7 Tablets
• Samsung Pushes Jelly Bean Update To The Korean Variants Of The Galaxy S III Smartphone
• Sony Rumored To Have “Yuga” Smartphone In The Works, Would Feature 128GB Of Storage And Samsung Quad-Core Processor
• Media streaming AudioGalaxy bought up by DropBox
• BBC iPlayer updated with Android 4.2 support, fresh UI and improved video quality
• Nexus 10 Pogo Charger Might Have Maybe Been Spotted In The Wild
• Google Calendar gets an update with some important features

Nexus 7 dock gets some hands-on time in new unboxing video Posted: 14 Dec 2012 11:28 AM PST Not long ago we reported that a Nexus 7 dock popped up on Asus Japan’s website with the likelihood of an imminent release. Well, today a new video surfaced of the dock giving us a quick peek at the retail package and the accessory itself, which sports a microUSB port and a 3.5mm speaker jack. The video seems to indicate that the dock will be released in Japan some time this week, so hopefully we will see it showing up in the Google Play store soon after. Check out the unboxing video below. Click here to view the embedded video. Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more!

Google+ for Android gets major update, available for download now Posted: 14 Dec 2012 10:26 AM PST Google has been relentless with its updates lately, and today we see yet another important release from big-G; this time to its Google+ application. Early this morning Google released Google+ v.3.3 for Android and it includes some pretty big feature additions. First of all, Google has made the general user experience better by giving you the ability to easily edit your profile details, quickly author new content, receive more “subtle” notifications, and giving you access to Google’s newly released “Google+ Communities”. On the photo/video side of things, you’ll be able to upload full sized photos via Instant Upload (up to 5GB of free storage) on top of the unlimited storage that you already get for standard-sized photos (2048px). Android 4.2 users will now be able to post Photo-Spheres to their feed, and anyone running Android 2.2 and up will be able to view them. For video chatting capabilities, Google has made it possible for people to join a Hangout even if they have extremely low bandwidth (down to 150KB), though this feature seems to be enabled only on the web version of Google+. Also available on the web version, Google has made some improvements to the Hangout user interface, including hiding the “filmstrip” of faces if you’re the only participant in an “On Air Hangout”. As for the more social side of the app, Google has made some improvements to “Events”. Users can now send messages to specific guests, see who has opened your invitation, and duplicate events if you feel like having a re-do of your Christmas party (you can never get enough egg-nog, right?). Google+ has also been integrated into Google Now, sending you a “card” update to let you know when a friend has a birthday that day. Add some extra “stocking-stuffers” like animated GIF support, a lockscreen widget, and new mood based emoticons and you’ve got yourself a major update! Use the QR code or download link to get your update now, and hit the source link below if you want to see a ton of screenshots from the Google+ team. Note: Some of these features seem to be available only on the web version of Google Plus.  Source: Google+ Blog  Google Play Download Link Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more!

Google Maps for iOS is now useless because Apple is rearranging the Earth’s geography to improve Apple Maps Posted: 14 Dec 2012 07:18 AM PST As you might have heard, Google released their version of Maps for iOS yesterday finally giving Apple users a proper Maps app, or so they thought. Turns out Apple had a plan all along and they are working on a complete rearrangement of the Earth’s geography. Apparently they already started renaming streets, switching the location of buildings, and destroying some landmarks. Apple CEO Tim Cook said.. “Apple is committed to providing the best user experience possible, which is why we are working to dismantle Brooklyn Bridge and put London in Canada.” Leave it to Apple to disrupt the entire world to straighten out their mess. Head on past the break for the full video highlighting the details, and hopefully you will get a good laugh for this fine Friday morning. source: theonion   Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more!

EE Confirms It Will Carry The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 LTE And Nexus 7 Tablets Posted: 14 Dec 2012 07:05 AM PST   What do you do if you’re EE and have an ever-growing 4G LTE network to tout? You announce the availability of some new devices of course. EE has gone ahead and announced its plans to sell the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 LTE and a Nexus 7 + 4G Mifi bundle. While the prices aren’t exactly competitive, EE has different price options & data bundles for both devices:   Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 LTE £25.99 monthly and £249.99 upfront for 3GB £30.99 monthly and £199.99 upfront for 5GB £35.99 and £99.99 upfront for 8GB   Nexus 7 (likely the Wifi-only version) + Huawei E589 LTE Mifi £25.99 monthly and £49.99 upfront for 3GB £30.99 monthly and £29.99 upfront for 5GB £35.99 monthly and £25.99 upfront for 8GB Keep in mind that should any prospective customer go for either device, they will be locked into a 2-year contract and all of those pounds would indeed add up in the long run. Still— EE’s announcement is rather encouraging as it shows that the wireless carrier is really committed to giving its super-fast 4G network even more exposure. source: Android Central Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more!

Samsung Pushes Jelly Bean Update To The Korean Variants Of The Galaxy S III Smartphone Posted: 14 Dec 2012 06:25 AM PST   News has surfaced that Samsung has (finally) pushed the coveted Jelly Bean update to the Korean variants of the Galaxy S III smartphone. According to the gang at SamMobile, the update is now up for owners of the different Korean versions of the smartphone and can be downloaded via Kies Desktop Software or through OTA. The massive update will bring the Android software version to 4.1.2 and the build to JZO54K, while bringing the usual goodies like Multi-View, Smart Rotation and revamped Notification Panel. As exciting as this news is— the rest of the world is still waiting for the other versions of the Galaxy S III getting the Jelly Bean update. At least we’re seeing the devices get the update— one step at a time. source: SamMobile Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more!

Sony Rumored To Have “Yuga” Smartphone In The Works, Would Feature 128GB Of Storage And Samsung Quad-Core Processor Posted: 14 Dec 2012 06:01 AM PST   We now have some additional Sony news to share with you all. As previously indicated recently, we knew that Sony has at least one major flagship device that is in the works behind the scenes, though we couldn’t quite confirm what the expected specs would be— until now. Thanks to the gang at Phone Arena, we now know that Sony has named a mysterious device the C660X “Yuga”, which will be a 5-incher and be completely surrounded in Dragonglass glass panel (Dragonglass is similar to Corning’s Gorilla Glass). The news doesn’t stop there either— the upcoming device is reported to feature a specialized quad-core processor not from NVIDIA, Qualcomm or Mediatek— but rather the “Yuga” will feature a Samsung Exynos variant processor, which is a shocking departure from the normal processors that are used, but not completely unexpected considering we knew Samsung intends to have its processors all sorts of manufacturers’ smartphones. Additional details about the “Yuga” includes the following:   Samsung Exynos 5 Quad 3 GB 5 inch OLED display FHD 128GB ROM 16 megapixel 3000mAh battery Water / Dust resistant IR blaster   What’s unclear though is if this device will be identified as the Xperia 5 (or Xperia 6) or if it will be given some other name. Also, no one seems to know when this device is expected to be released– though we have a hunch we’ll see it in Q3 or Q4 of 2013. Still– we certainly know that Sony has some clear intentions on snagging a big share of the market place— and this device could certainly go a long way with achieving that goal. Stay tuned with Talk Android as we try to get further details of what could be a potentially game-changing device. source: Phone Arena   Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more!

Media streaming AudioGalaxy bought up by DropBox Posted: 13 Dec 2012 08:15 PM PST Hopefully there aren’t too many diehard AudioGalaxy fans out there, as it looks like Dropbox has bought up the music streaming service and has closed it to new subscribers. Existing users will be able to use the music streaming until sometime next year, but that’s not going to be around forever. Since AudioGalaxy isn’t a direct competitor to Dropbox, hopefully we’ll see this great music streaming service given new life as a new Dropbox feature. Music streaming is extremely popular, and cloud storage is extremely popular. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the popular Dropbox team try to tackle combining the two. source: Android Police Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more!

BBC iPlayer updated with Android 4.2 support, fresh UI and improved video quality Posted: 13 Dec 2012 07:20 PM PST After unleashing a breadth of information regarding future plans for its iPlayer Android app, the BBC has released an official update, bringing numerous fresh features to the radio and TV-streaming application. Users can now experience a polished UI, keeping in line with Google’s very own Holo style guidelines. Support has also been added for Android 4.2 in version 1.5.0.666, something that many fans had been complaining about since the initial release of the Nexus 4. Perhaps one of the biggest changes, though, is much improved video quality, which should help soothe the eyes of visually picky viewers. The app is available to download now from Google Play via the download link below. Play Store Download Link Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more!

Nexus 10 Pogo Charger Might Have Maybe Been Spotted In The Wild Posted: 13 Dec 2012 06:30 PM PST   A user over at Android Central posted a picture he is alleging is the magnetic pogo charger for the Nexus 10. The user, known as jstevenkim, went on to say the charger will be available on Amazon and eBay within the next 10 days for around $19.95 to $24.99 USD. There’s no way of telling if this is legit (other than waiting 10 days to see what happens) but, like Mulder, I want to believe. I want to believe the Nexus 10 pogo-pin connector will get more use than the similar port on the Galaxy Nexus. Sadly, this is closer than the Nexus 7 has come to getting a pogo charger. Although, we did see a dock which uses the pogo pins for charging, and possibly audio output, pop up on ASUS Japan but it’s yet to be made available for sale. I’m not sure if the pogo charger will really charge a device that much faster than micro USB, but it seems cool. Why should Apple be the only one with a magnetic attachment for their (Mac) chargers anyway? Source: Android Central Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more!

Google Calendar gets an update with some important features Posted: 13 Dec 2012 05:53 PM PST Google fanatics everywhere rejoice! Google Calendar has an update waiting for you in the Play store. This update has some pretty useful new features in tow, such as: making calls or opening maps directly from the notification, auto suggest while adding an address, and quick event creation from month view. These features should make interacting with your Google Calendar even faster than it already is. The app is up and available for download right now if you’re running Android 4.0.3 or later. Find the QR code or download link after the break. Google Play Download Link Visit TalkAndroid for Android news, Android guides, and much more!

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