The Nexus program seems a success (save for the availability problems that have marred the launch of the Nexus 4), but Google isn't content with providing just half of the Android experience. While the operating system on the Nexus devices is pure Android just as Google wanted it, the hardware part is pretty much controlled by whatever manufacturer Google decides to partner with.
If only Google had a subsidiary that manufactures phones… Well, our dreams will come true, if a report from WSJ is to be trusted. The newspaper claims that Motorola is working at producing a pure Google phone, one that is known internally as "Phone X".
The Phone X will be an entirely new product, that will complement Motorola's current lineup of devices rather than replace it. Moreover, once the Phone X is released, WSJ says that Google plans to release a "Tablet X".
The report says that the person in charge with the Phone X project is Lior Ron, who previously managed Google's successful (and very important) Maps service.
Motorola is apparently laser focused on providing a high-quality camera and great photo software. On the hardware side, the possibilities are quite exciting – according to the WSJ report, innovations like bendable displays and ceramic materials are on the table, although it's not specified if Google/Moto has finished the design of the device.
It's worth noting that the Google-Motorola acquisition was completed seven months ago, and that the typical phone takes about 18 months to develop. Whatever Google is planning for the Phone X, it's likely still in an early stage.
One last tidbit – the Phone X will apparently integrate technology from Viewdle, an image and gesture recognition company that Motorola bought in October.
The notification system on Android is stellar, and Apple obviously agrees, because it lifted it wholesale on its own iOS products. For years now, Android fans frustrated by the wave of litigation that Apple unleashed against Android OEMs (and Samsung in particular) have asked one thing – why isn't anyone suing Cupertino for the obvious rip off that is their notification center?
Well, someone is finally suing, if a report from the Korean news is to be believed. According to the Brightwire news service, the Korean news portal iNews24 reported today that "Samsung Electronics has brought a lawsuit against Apple in a court in South Korea over its ‘Notification Center’ patent infringement." Sadly, no other details were revealed, but we are working on finding more.
Needless to say, this development has the potential to be huge. Samsung has opened various legal actions against Apple before, with little success. In some cases, judges ruled that the Koreans can't make use of their standard-essential patents against competitors, while in others, jurors found that Apple isn't infringing Samsung's IP. The notification center case is, however, far more clear, and Samsung has a better shot at winning a legal action based on this feature.
What's interesting is that Samsung doesn't own patents related to the notification center, as Google is the inventor of the feature on Android. The Mountain View company was just awarded its first patent related to the notification system just last month. It's possible that this development has triggered Samsung's attack on Apple.
We'll look for more details and come back with an update.
With Christmas less than a week away, it seems like just about every Google Play app is going on sale to get in on last-minute holiday purchases. Now Rockstar joins the club by slashing the price on Max Payne and Grand Theft Auto III down to just $.99 for a limited time.
These games are nothing short of classics in their original form, but on your Android device they look even better thanks to optimized visuals that bring the experience closer to HD than ever before. The controls have also been reworked to work great on a tablet or smartphone.
If you are a fan of free-roaming titles and haven’t picked these up yet for whatever reason, you’d be wise to purchase them now before this deal runs out.
Google has been the subject of an anti-trust probe by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for the last two years, over the search giant allegedly giving competitors lower rankings in search results to promote its own products.
FTC was expected to wrap up the two year old case before the end of this month, but a new report has surfaced that says the decision could be delayed for a few weeks. The Wall Street Journal was first to report that the delay is due to the parallel investigation in the European Union, where investigators have taken a hard line against the search giant.
The EU has given Google a month to come up with detailed proposals to resolve the two-year old investigation into Google’s search practices. The competition regulator has been taking in settlement proposals from Google since July, but has not agreed on any of them so far.
While Google has agreed on making changes to its search results, the company is reluctant on letting regulators interfere in its search algorithms. It is widely believed though that the search giant would walk harmless at the end of this investigation.
The exact date for the announcement of a decision is yet to be made public by the FTC. The Commission’s decision is expected to come in 2013, while Google could settle with the European Union in January. If found guilty in Europe, Google could face a fine of up to $4 billion, which is 10 percent of its global revenue.
Although there are many document editors out there for Android, many times these types of apps can be rather pricey. Luckily, for a limited time you can pick up the highly-acclaimed Office Suite Pro for just $.99 via Google Play.
Office Suite is normally $15, so this is a pretty substantial discount. That said, it has been a free app of the day on Amazon’s Store in the past.
As far as compatibility is concerned? Word, Excel and PDF documents will play nice with Office Suite for both editing and creating new files. There are quite a few features found in Office Suite, including a full spell check, built-in file browser, presentation module and more.
Although a full-fledged word processor experience on a PC still beats out most of these mobile apps, Office Suite is certainly worth the dollar it takes to purchase it.
Keep in mind that this is likely a limited time promotion, so it probably wouldn’t hurt to pick this up right away if you are interested.
Anyone already pick this app up? If so, what do you think of it?
Not all Android games are created equal. This rings true especially for games with 3D graphics. And anyone who says otherwise needs to get ahold of a game that uses Unreal Technology. As you may already know, the Unreal Engine enables game developers to create a truly impressive 3D experience for gamers. Case in point, Gameloft’s Wild Blood for Android.
Wild Blood for Android is a game that allows users to play as Sir Lancelot — in 3D — while battling their way through Avalon to conquer a whole host of difficult challenges. Apart from story mode, it also has an 8-person multi-player mode that offers a good way to spend the time while playing 4 v 4, whether local or online through the use of Wi-Fi.
Because it uses Unreal Technology, players can really live the unforgettable journey of Sir Lancelot like never before. And the best thing about it is that it is now available through Google Play for only $0.99, down from the previous price of $6.99. Its current price is up as a limited time offer for the holidays. If you’ve always wanted to play Wild Blood or simply want to get a taste of Unreal Engine 3D, now is the time to do so by following the Google Play link below.
Recently we reported that Verizon subscribers were starting to see Jelly Bean rollout to the Samsung Galaxy S3. Following on Verizon’s heels, US Cellular has also starting roll out an update for the Galaxy S3.
The announcement came from US Cellular’s Facebook page earlier today. That said, not all customers will see it right away, as it will likely take a few days to completely make its way to all S3 owners.
So what’s new? Jelly Bean includes tons of improvements such as Google Now, Project butter speed improvements,enhanced notifications and much more.
In most cases an update notification should appear when the download is ready for you, but it’s never a bad idea to check manually under "Check for Updates" in the system settings.
Any US Cellular customers get the update yet? If so did the experience go smoothly for you?
If you are an AT&T user who is planning on buying a Samsung Galaxy S3 smartphone, then you are in luck. Amazon Wireless is back with yet another offer. The retailer is selling the Samsung Galaxy S3 at a discounted price of $79.99 only.
Don’t get too excited though, as you will have to sign a two-year contract in order to take advantage of this deal. If sticking on AT&T’s network with Galaxy S3 isn’t a problem with you then this is the deal you should not miss. The $79.99 price tag is only available to new customers. Those who need to upgrade their contract will have to pay $99.99.
Amazon is currently offering the Sprint variant of Galaxy S3 for $0.01 only while the Verizon variant is up for sale for $59.99. Nevertheless, $79.99 is the cheapest rate AT&T’s Galaxy S3 is available in the market today. AT&T is selling the Galaxy S3 for $199.99 in its stores. All colors of Galaxy S3 except the Garnet red are available in the Amazon Store at the lower price.
The folks at Google have prepared a nice little video post card for all of you Android users out there. Allow us to join the green robot from Mountain View and wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Need to charge your phone’s battery? Just set it on the console. That is if you would be driving (or riding) the 2012 Toyota Avalon, which comes with built-in Qi charging capability, letting you charge compatible devices by just setting them on the mat.
Mobile phones and automobiles are a good mix, especially with smartphones now doubling as navigation devices. But having to fumble with a lighter socket charger and having to work through wires might be in the way of a peaceful commute. Here’s where wireless charging tech comes in.
Toyota has announced this week that the 2013 model of its flagship Avalon sedan will come equipped with Qi charging — something that smartphone enthusiasts are likely to wish all car manufacturers will support in the future.
Support for the Qi standard is growing, with about 130 companies now part of the Wireless Power Consortium. But Qi is not alone, with other emerging standards also vying to be the dominant standard in wireless charging. These include the Alliance for Wireless Power (Samsung, Qualcomm) and the Power Matters Alliance (Google, Starbucks). Whichever will become the dominant standard will depend on device support.
In the case of Qi, 110 devices reportedly support the standard already, with a global install base of 8.5 million, as of 3Q 2012 figures. With the release of the Nexus 4, interest in Qi as a wireless charging and peripheral platform is most likely to grow.
Of course, Qi does not only involve wireless charging, but also other wireless peripherals, such as audio and video docks. Now, your car might be he next peripheral you would want your smartphone to connect to. We hope to see more auto makers introducing built-in wireless charging mats in their cars, so that charging while on the move will be less of a hassle.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Google and Motorola are working together to produce an “X Phone” and “X Tablet” for 2013 release. The devices are said to be separate from the Droid line of products, which leads us to believe they could be sold under the Nexus brand....
Over the last few weeks, HTC has been rolling out Android 4.1 to several of its handsets. The update started trickling out to the international HTC One X a few weeks ago and managed to land stateside on the HTC EVO 4G LTE late last week. Now, we’re getting reports that the Jelly [...]
It’s Day 21 and we’re back with 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 officially about to get crazy. To enter to win today, your And Me...
After securing all its technology patents and selling off its set-top box unit, Google is looking to do even more with Motorola if latest rumors are to be believed. The Wall Street Journal reported that Google and Motorola would look to create the “X” phone, saying the phone would be very powerful and poised to compete with the best of the best from the ranks of Samsung and Apple.
Many believed Google’s early influence on Motorola’s products would be in the software department, and while Motorola has certainly improved there we’ve been more interested in seeing what some Google-influenced hardware could look like. The product is due sometime next year, though how early or late into 2013 wasn’t disclosed.
Motorola will apparently be creating a tablet with the same branding, as well, so this will be its Galaxy series, of sorts. This news comes quite close to word that Motorola has signed a former marketing executive of Samsung Mobile’s. Marketing would be a very important part of breaking new ground in the mobile realm as the two man race between Samsung and Apple will require more than just great hardware to get a third competitor into the mix.
It wouldn’t surprise us if this mystery phone turns out to be the Motorola-made Nexus we’ve all been waiting for — after all, the “X” could definitely be a subtle nod to the Nexus line’s iconic logo.
There’s no doubt Motorola can create some very nice hardware, but not all carriers are feeling the same love from the Illinois based OEM as Verizon is. Verizon enjoys exclusive rights to Motorola’s most iconic brand — RAZR — here in the United States, and Motorola delivered three new devices for it in the latter parts of this year.
AT&T and Sprint each received lone device launches, and while the phones they got — the Atrix HD and Photon Q 4G — are great in their own merit, we’re sure they’d be sitting much nicer with some RAZR love. T-Mobile’s current lineup doesn’t feature Motorola at all, something that’s going to have to change if they want to become the premier OEMthey once were.
“X” phone makes this device sound about as epic as anything we’ve seen thus far, but what goes inside its chassis will ultimately determine how epic it really comes out to be. And even if Motorola happens to concoct the greatest mobile device ever known to man they’re going to have to get on the ball with marketing in order to take down the two aforementioned giants of the smartphone market. What do you hope to see in the “X phone?”
With the mobile gaming space ramping up, more and more companies are looking to capitalize on the wireless controller market. One of the biggest players has been PowerA and its MOGA Bluetooth controller. The beauty of the controller is its built-in clip that’ll cradle devices of many screen sizes to provide a more traditional handheld-like gaming experience.
PowerA has worked hard to get support from some of the Play Store’s top developers, including Rockstar, Gameloft and more. The company has given us a full list of the latest titles that have either already launched with MOGA support or will be launching soon. Check it out:
Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour (Gameloft)
BATTLE BEARS ROYALE (SkyVu Entertainment)
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (Rockstar)
Wild Blood (Gameloft)
Dead Trigger (MADFINGER Games)
Jet Set Radio (SEGA)
NFL Pro 2013 (Gameloft)
Tiki Kart3D (Arb Studios)
Expendable Rearmed (Retrobomb)
The Bard’s Tale (inXile Entertainment)
This’ll be a useful list for those who’ve just bought one or received one for the holiday season, and with tons of people receiving their free MOGA units from the promotion that ran last week we’re sure a ton will be looking into what games they’ll be able to use it with. Those are some great titles so be sure to check them out in the Play Store and put the controller through its paces.
Don’t forget that if you have a MOGA and a rooted device you can use it to control any game with standard controller support. All you need are these third party drivers and you are good to go to play any game or emulator that supports standard controllers. Be sure to check the MOGA out at PowerA’s website, and read on for full press details.
Top Android Games Launching With Support
For MOGA™ Mobile Gaming System
Woodinville, WA. – December 21, 2012 - More Android games are now being released simultaneously with support for the MOGA™ Mobile Gaming System by PowerA™. Gameloft’s Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour, Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and SkyVu Entertainment’s BATTLE BEARS ROYALErecently released on the Google Play store with MOGA support built right into the game. Gamers with a MOGA can download and immediately play those games with precision control that is usually only reserved for console gamers. With Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour, for example, using the “iron sight” button on MOGA improves gameplay and can increase a gamer’s performance.
Since being released in October, new games have been added to the system, with key titles in every major gaming genre. MOGA Enhanced titles that recently released, or will be available by the end of the year include:
Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour (Gameloft)
BATTLE BEARS ROYALE (SkyVu Entertainment)
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (Rockstar)
Wild Blood (Gameloft)
Dead Trigger (MADFINGER Games)
Jet Set Radio (SEGA)
NFL Pro 2013 (Gameloft)
Tiki Kart3D (Arb Studios)
Expendable Rearmed (Retrobomb)
The Bard’s Tale (inXile Entertainment)
“With the recent launch of Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour, gamers are provided with some of the most high-quality and immersive gaming experiences currently available on mobile,” said Baudouin Corman, Gameloft VP of Publishing for the Americas. “And when paired with the MOGA Mobile Gaming System, Android gamers can now also enjoy the pleasures of a true console-like gaming controller.”
“BATTLE BEARS ROYALE is our #1 game and it’s all about intense real-time multiplayer action packed with hilarious comedy,” says Ben Vu, Co-Founder & CEO of SkyVu Entertainment. “Our millions of core fans are extremely competitive. MOGA allows gamers to play better while keeping their thumbs off the glass to provide a full view of the action.”
MOGA was released on October 22, 2012 to critical acclaim, and has attracted support from top mobile developers and publishers who want to bring console-like precision and control to their Android phone and tablet-based games. Gameloft, Ratrod Studios, Ezone, Namco Bandai, SEGA, Ayopa Games, Vector Unit and other acclaimed publishers have developed MOGA Enhanced blockbuster titles such as The Dark Knight Rises HD, N.O.V.A. 3, Sonic CD, and Dungeon Hunter 3. New game titles, developers and publishers are coming on board each month. For a complete list of games that support MOGA, visit www.PowerA.com/MOGA.
MOGA combines three key innovations into a single powerful system. The MOGA Controller is the first state-of-the-art, full-featured controller designed specifically for mobile devices. Pocket-sized, portable and connected via Bluetooth® wireless technology, the MOGA Controller features the controls that mobile gamers and developers demand: dual analog sticks, two shoulder buttons, four action buttons and standardized start and select buttons. In addition, the MOGA Software Development Kit (SDK) provides mobile game developers greater precision, robust control and enhanced display abilities while enabling fast, efficient development of rich new game titles and MOGA enhancement of existing titles. Finally, the MOGA™ Pivot App enables gamers to easily browse, find and play a list of MOGA Enhanced Games in one convenient location. MOGA Pivot App is available free via Google Play.
The MOGA system supports Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and higher mobile devices. MOGA is now available for an estimated retail price of $49.99 USD at Best Buy, Walmart, Toys”R”Us, Fred Meyer, Gamestop, T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon and a nationwide network of additional retailers and carrier stores. It is also available through Amazon and PowerA.com.
PowerA creates innovative accessory products that enhance the world’s best video game and mobile technology experiences. A brand that has become known for high standards and quality manufacturing, PowerA delivers the safest products possible including game controllers, cases, starter kits and a wide collection of other accessories. PowerA products are available across the globe at major retailers including North America, Europe, Australia and Latin America. To learn more, visit PowerA.com. PowerA: Amplify Your Experience™
Great news for Square Enix fans looking to do a little gaming on their Android devices this holiday weekend. The video game publisher has just released 3 new titles into the Google Play Store, one of which has never been seen on US soil until this year.
Fresh new titles include classics such as Final Fantasy II and the all new “classic” Final Fantasy Dimensions. FF Dimensions was released back in 2010 in Japan, and saw an iOS port earlier this year. Square has also released an all new IP dubbed Demon’s Score — an Nvidia Tegra 3 exclusive — which relies on quick reflexes to button presses to a funky beat (these kind of games are a big hit in Japan).
The pricing on some of these titles will floor you. Where you can nab Final Fantasy II for a fairly reasonable $7 in the Play Store, Final Fantasy Dimensions and Demon’s Score both debut at $20 a piece. Even if I could rationalize a game like Demon’s Score with cutting edge, console-like graphics debuting at the price, Final Fantasy Dimensions looks as if it came straight from ’96 (and yes, I understand that’s the point).
If those Square Enix titles are out of the question for you and you were still looking to level up this weekend, Square Enix is having a holiday sale that’s marked down some of their most expensive titles by 70%. Chaos Rings is now a very affordable $4, (previously $13) as well as the prequel, Chaos Rings: Omega. The original Final Fantasy as well as Chrono Trigger have also been marked down — albeit, not as much — now $5 and $7, respectively.
Can’t pass up a deal like that on Chaos Rings (feeling a bit sheepish after spending $13 for it a few months back), but at least I can score a discount on the prequel. Which ones are you guys picking up? Any recommendations?
What happens when you take the stock audio files from the latest Nexus devices, lock them in a room with one of Washington DC’s sickest DJs, and don’t let them out until they’ve got a bad ass beat worthy to be made Phandroid’s video intro music? This:
Nacey has long been a staple of the DC party scene, but in the past several years has risen to receive international acclaim. Born in Baltimore, Nacey relocated to the nation’s capital where he co-founded Nouveau Riche, known in the DMV for the throwing the award winning “Best Dance Night” in the region as seen in the City Paper. The Washington Post calls him “one of the District’s more prolific DJs”, he’s performed at SXSW, and he’s been featured in countless publications including New York Magazine and RCRDLBL.
And now he brings you our very own “Android Music”.
When asked if he saw a parallel between the evolution of tech, the evolution in music (both consumption and creation), and the evolution of his art, Nacey had this to say:
Absolutely. It’s a great thing that technology has empowered so many people to make and record music. Most music producers have told me that the key to musical success is workflow, and I’ve found that to be pretty true as I get older. The better you can understand and use the tools that technology offers, the better you are at translating your ideas into a final product and not getting held up. That’s not to say that it’s necessary for creating something great, it just opens up a lot of possibilities. Sound design is crazy these days!
He wasn’t familiar with all the stock sounds found on the Nexus so he took a lot of time experimenting. They definitely contrasted the Android sound with which he was most familiar – the famed droning “Droid” sound found in Verizon’s branding – so he ran with the Nexus vibe to create this dreamy beat. When pushed to give the track a name he said, “Touchscreen Dream…haha I don’t know!”
We don’t know either… but it kicks ass.
Nacey continues to evolve and rise in the music world and is definitely an artist to watch in 2013 and beyond. He’s currently touring with the indiepop band Misun, where he functions as both the producer and bass player. Their second EP “Sleep” will be released in January 2013 on T&A Records. He has remixes and production work has expanded internationally, producing album cuts for Vietnamese pop sensation Suboi and remixing the Finish band TV Off — both dropping this year. Nacey’s also currently recording his own full-length album, which will debut this year and provides more of the deeper soundscapes that set him apart as a remixer to watch in 2012.
And for your listening pleasure, an alternate Phandroid intro produced by Nacey that we’re calling Nexus Nights:
While Dropbox will continue to release the latest approved builds of their Android app via Google Play, the popular cloud sharing service has initiated a new open beta to preview and test upcoming software. The latest version of the beta is 2.2.2.8 and is available as a direct download from the Dropbox forums.
The latest version introduces the ability to share or delete multiple photos at once, organize photos into shareable albums, and miscellaneous UI tweaks and bug fixes. Once installed, users can opt to keep the app updated to the latest beta directly within the app (all downloads from the beta forum will be set this option by default).
Joining the beta is not only a great way to do your part in helping the Dropbox team shape their already stellar Android app, but also comes with the perks of new features faster. Head over and grab the latest build now.
As much fire as Instagram has been under lately for the changes to its terms of service (which have been reverted for the time being), the company is still working as hard as any to continue to deliver a great experience. A new update has hit the Google Play Store that’ll add some great new features and a ton of new localization. For starters, 25 new languages are supported as Instagram looks to better support its foreign community.
The app also gets a new filter today. “Mayair” is the name of the newbie, and its effect brings a bit of contrast and pulls out a tad of a photo’s highlights. It does’t come with a border but you can add a basic black one if you want. It’s nothing remarkable, really, but it’s yet another option in a growing list of them so we can’t complain. Finally, you’ll now be able to share your Instagram photos to Facebook Pages alongside the existing ability to share your postings to your timeline.
Oh, and if you didn’t think the usual bug fixes and performance improvements were in tow then you haven’t been on Android long enough to know that that is how things operate around here. You can find your download in the Google Play Store if you haven’t already abandoned one of the biggest photo sharing communities there is.
We’ve been getting plenty of videos lately showing off Google’s lineup of Nexus devices, but the latest may be our favorite yet. Less of a commercial than a digital greeting card, the short spot tells the story of a lonely Android yearning for a bit of holiday cheer. Thanks to the Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Nexus 10, and the help of a few Googlers he got just what he wished for (look closely and you can even spot unreleased docks for the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10) .
Cutesy? Yes. Cool, nevertheless? Absolutely. We especially dig the stop motion animation. Kind of makes us wish for a full-length holiday spectacular in the style of Rankin/Bass and starring Bugdroid. We can certainly wish, right? Happy Holidays back at ya, Google!
If you’re a fan of classic gaming, you probably have a fond place in your heart for Pitfall!. The free running game set Pitfall Harry in a maze of a jungle where he had to avoid such dangers as quicksand, snakes, and pits while collecting lost treasures. Now it’s back, re-imagined for Android devices with 3D graphics and all new challenges as well as the ability to compare scores to friends on Facebook and Twitter
The updated version of Pitfall! was a big hit on iOS devices in 2012 and Activision is hoping for similar success on the Android platform, where the game is available completely free of charge in the Google Play Store. The game is supported on most newer Android smartphones and tablets.
Audio professionals who were dying for a USB audio recording on solution on Android can finally rest easy knowing that one has arrived in the Google Play Store. exTream has introduced software that will allow folks to record and playback audio over USB without effort at all. Written from the ground up, USB Audio Recorder Pro features custom code to add this much needed functionality that Google’s mobile operating system currently lacks. It’s something iOS users have enjoyed for quite some time.
The software utilizes USB host functionality found in many devices released today to transmit high quality audio as if you were hooked up to a Windows or Mac machine. Direct connection peripherals like Yeti’s easy Blue series work just as well as complicated setups from the likes of M-AUDIO, Behringer and more. You can find a full list of known compatibility here to see just how much equipment you can now use to record audio sessions on the go.
Recordings are saved as standard .wav files so you can export them to your desktop and even other apps on your phone and tablet just as easily as anything else. exTream even provides its very own multi-track sequencing app so you can mix tracks on the go. Folks are already raving about the functionality in the Google Play Store, but we’re interested in just how far the company is willing to take this.
It would be great to see them work with Google to get this functionality integrated into the core of Android, or work with OEMs to include it as part of the custom skins and codecs they tend to use on top of Android. It would no doubt be a great marketing point for any OEM, but exTream hasn’t confirmed plans to do anything of the sort as of yet.
It would also be nice to see the technology licensed to other developers in order to see a boom in professional audio recording apps in the Play Store, but we imagine that’s a bit of a long shot right now. We’ve asked about exTream’s plans for the future regarding USB audio recording on Android, and we’ll look to get deeper insight into what’s looking to be done with this technology to help advance the audio landscape of Android even further. The app costs $4 in the Google Play Store so head over there for the download if this is something you see yourself getting a lot of use out of.
A bit of a stir has arisen over on Reddit and XDA about a potentially bad situation for Samsung and owners of their Galaxy S3. A small but vocal group of people are reporting that their Galaxy handsets are experiencing a catastrophic mainboard failure that has resulted in several GS3-shaped paperweights.
Users are reporting random device failure after 150-200 days of use, regardless of whether the handset is stock or has been rooted with custom software. Samsung is replacing all handsets experiencing the issue under warranty, though there has been no revision to the hardware. This has led some to worry the problem will simply reoccur after another hundred days or so.
Compared to the millions of Galaxy S3 handset sold, the number experiencing the issue is minuscule, likely not enough to cause Samsung to revamp their hardware build. But if you have experienced a similar issue, know you are not alone. So let’s not everyone freak out. The world isn’t ending and your Galaxy S3 will be just fine.
An update to SwiftKey 3 is now available in the Google Play Store. Just in time for the holiday, version 3.1.0.377 brings a new Berry theme, a perfect touch of Christmas red. The update also enables support for more languages, including Armenian, Hindi, Irish, and Latin American Spanish. The full change log, which includes a split keyboard for “normal-sized devices” and improved key layout, can be found at the SwiftKey site.
Along with the update, the popular software keyboard replacement is on sale for holidays. 50 percent off its normal price, at $1.99 you have no excuse not to pick up the latest version of the eerily accurate predictive keyboard.
SwiftKey recently launched the Flow update to their keyboard in beta, which will eventually be available as an upgrade to owners of SwiftKey 3.
ASUS has surely enjoyed its relationship with Google to create the official 7 inch Nexus tablet, but the company still has more tricks of its own to show off in the world of Android tablets. Rumors regarding devices from the Transformer line of tablets have been unusually scarce, but perhaps that’s because ASUS has fallen in love with the 7 inch book-like slates they’ve worked on lately.
One of those leaked tablets was only in the form of a list of specs, but we do get a sample camera shot to behold. That tablet is the ASUS ME371MG. It’s a 7 inch slate that bears a striking resemblance to the Nexus 7, though the internals are quite different. This device will reportedly use Intel’s Atom chipset for its computing needs, specifically the Z2420. The base spec on this thing is a 1.2GHz single-core configuration that doesn’t sound amazing in the world of multi-core chipsets but should be able to hold its own.
The display is said to have a 1280×800 resolution, 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. WiFi, GPS and Bluetooth are to be expected, of course, but this thing is also said to house 3G radios. The sample image above looks to have been taken at about 3.1 megapixels, but there’s no telling if that’s the max resolution of the device’s camera just yet.
Also confirmed was the ASUS ME172V. This particular device is a bit more modest than the one you read about above. It’s a 7 inch slate itself, but comes outfitted with VIA’s 1GHz single-core WM8950, an ARM Cortex-A9 chipset which houses Mali-400 graphics.
The 7 inch panel on it uses TN technology instead of IPS, and also has only 1024×600 resolution, and looks to have just a 1.3 megapixel camera sitting on the front. Both of these tablets will launch with Jelly Bean 4.1 and we’re sure ASUS has something in mind for a custom user interface to sit on top of that.
We imagine these will be quite affordable as the specs don’t hold even the smallest candle to the Nexus 7, but ASUS has obviously fallen in love with the 7 inch design they started with Google’s line and will look to carry that design philosophy across what seems to be its new favorite category of slates.
These devices — the latter coming in both black and white — are said to be getting their unveiling come CES so we’ll be right there to get our eyes on both if that turns out to be true. And we wouldn’t write ASUS off as far as more exciting products — the OEM always seems to have something more up its sleeve for the biggest technology event of the new year.
Anomaly Korea, the sequel to the award-winning Anomaly Warzone Earth, is now available for download via Google Play. The game about an all-out invasion of the earth by a race of giant alien machines comes just in time for (supposed) end of the world.
Anomaly Korea features 12 new missions, new powerups and tactical units, and plenty more all polished off with HD graphics that will look simply stunning on your Android device. We previewed Anomaly Korea and have been excited for the full version of the game ever since.
The tower offense title is available for a special launch price of $2.99 if you act now. Head on over to Google Play and grab it before the machines win and doom the earth and its inhabitants forever.
“Anomaly Korea” Lands on App Store and Google Play
Defend Korea against invading aliens in 12 all-new tower offense missions
11 bit studios announced today that “Anomaly Korea,” the sequel to the critically acclaimed “Anomaly Warzone Earth,” is now available for iOS and Android devices via the iTunes App Store and Google Play. A partnership of 11 bit studios and Chillingo published the iOS version, while 11 bit published the Android version.
In “Anomaly Korea”, players take command of a squad of Earth’s defenders and use the tactical touch gameplay to run them through a gauntlet of deadly alien foes. While new weapons and new gameplay modes provide new ways to combat the alien scum, there are also new enemies and new challenges lying in wait for veteran and new commanders.
“Anomaly Korea” features:
A sequel to the award-winning “Anomaly Warzone Earth”
Think tactically across 12 new missions
Deploy new player powers and units to take on new enemies
Put your skills to the test in 'Art of War' mode
Cutting-edge visuals and a stunning soundtrack with full voice acting
Graphics optimized for today’s most powerful Android and iOS devices
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Nacey continues to evolve and rise in the music world and is definitely an artist to watch in 2013 and beyond. He’s currently touring with the indiepop band 
