Android Central |
- Weekend project: Visit the Google Web Lab in London, or online
- LG Optimus G begins its worldwide availability rollout with Jelly Bean on board
- RIM schedules 'BlackBerry Live' conference same week as Google I/O
- 'HTC Sense 5' spotted on Droid DNA in China
- 1Weather adds tablet, lockscreen support
- Production line leak claims to show 6.44-inch screen for Sony device
- Samsung's JK Shin apparently confirms 8-inch Galaxy Note at MWC
- Monday Brief: More BB10 leaks, The Galaxy Note 8.0, and more!
- Captain Clumsy is a fun and free time-waster game
- Deal of the Day: Cruzerlite Jewel Case for Samsung Galaxy S3
- Start your week with the Greatest Android Podcast in the World!
- Samsung 'Galaxy Tab 3' devices said to be in the works along with mystery tab
- NFC-capable Galaxy S3 Mini launching this month
- Fresh HTC 'M7' images emerge showing new version of Sense
- CyanogenMod 10.1 'M-Series' builds now available for select devices
- Sony announces the quad-core, 10-inch Tablet Z
| Weekend project: Visit the Google Web Lab in London, or online Posted: 21 Jan 2013 04:49 PM PST
OK, so technically it's more of an outing than a project -- in London, at least. It's also not strictly Android, but it's all Google, so it's all good. In the basement level of the London Science Museum, the folks from Mountain View have moved themselves in and built an exhibit they call the Google Web Lab. A series of interactive exhibits designed to show off the power of the web, and of Google Chrome. Because, at the heart of it all, Google Chrome is controlling the whole show. The best part, is that each and every one of you, the Android Central readers, can play about with all of them without leaving your home. But, if you're in London anytime between now and June, pop by. The Science Museum is free to enter, and has a whole host of other cool, nerdy, non-Google things to look at too. It's the Google bits we're interested in here though, so lets take a look. 
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| LG Optimus G begins its worldwide availability rollout with Jelly Bean on board Posted: 21 Jan 2013 01:54 PM PST
LG has just announced plans to roll out its latest flagship, the Optimus G, globally to 50 new countries. The Optimus G may seem like "old news" to some of us -- the phone has been available in the United States, Canada, Korea and Japan for some time now -- but it hasn't rolled out globally until now. Coming first to Singapore at the end of January and to dozens of other countries afterwards, this model of the Optimus G will have LTE connectivity onboard in any country that supports it. LG is really pushing the idea that their LTE technology and knowledge is top-notch, hoping to make an impact launching the same device with the fastest network capabilities in multiple countries. Interestingly enough, the press release stipulates that the Optimus G heading out globally will also be running "the latest Jelly Bean OS and improved software," a huge upgrade from the original devices that ran Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box. That said, Android 4.2 isn't specifically mentioned, so it wouldn't surprise us in the least if we see Android 4.1 instead. The full presser's after the break. 
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| RIM schedules 'BlackBerry Live' conference same week as Google I/O Posted: 21 Jan 2013 01:40 PM PST
And, really, that's about all we have to say about that. We'll be South of Market in San Francisco May 15-17 for the Google I/O developer conference. Perhaps you remember last year's event, which included skydiving (twice), the introduction of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and Google's Project Glass. RIM will be at the Orlando Howard Johnson's (or somewhere nearby, we suppose) in Orlando May 14-16. And you might see an encore of the following presentation (after the break). Source: CrackBerry 
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| 'HTC Sense 5' spotted on Droid DNA in China Posted: 21 Jan 2013 11:48 AM PST
Now, this is far from official confirmation that Sense 5 is headed to 2012 devices line the DNA. But it seems to show someone, somewhere is experimenting with a new version of HTC's UI on existing handsets. Who knows what form the finalized version of Sense 5 might take, but the prevalence of this design across multiple leaks suggests HTC is re-working its software from the ground up. We'll keep you apprised of any further details, and we'll be live from Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next month, where HTC is expected to publicly unveil its 2013 line-up. Source: LeakROMS; via: HTCSource 
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| 1Weather adds tablet, lockscreen support Posted: 21 Jan 2013 09:50 AM PST
Popular Android weather app 1Weather slipped in a pretty major update over the weekend, adding a new user interface along with proper support for tablets. The radar section has been "optimized," you also get better notifications, and there's a new lockscreen widget for those of us running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. Hit the link above to get your update on, or download it for the first time for free. 
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| Production line leak claims to show 6.44-inch screen for Sony device Posted: 21 Jan 2013 09:38 AM PST
In late 2012 rumors were circulating that Sony was hard at work at a 6-inch-plus large form factor Android phone. If the latest leaked image from China is to be believed, such a device could soon be on the way. The shot above comes from Chinese forum Digi-wo, and was posted by a member claiming that it's a part from a 6.44-inch, 1080p Sony smartphone/tablet device. There's no way of verifying the image, except to say that the setting certainly looks like a traditional production line leak, complete with sterile-looking background and protective gloves. The screen itself sure looks large, but with nothing for scale it's difficult to get an idea of its exact size. In any case, some quick Photoshoppery reveals to us that it is indeed a 16:9 panel. Also, the lack of physical buttons suggests it's an Android device, though it doesn't match any Sony phone we're familiar with. With 5-inch smartphones set to become increasingly commonplace this year, manufacturers look set to push things even further in the large smartphone space. At CES a couple of weeks ago we saw Huawei attempt to gain traction with the 6.1-inch Ascend Mate. And rumors persist that Samsung will target a 6.3-inch screen size for the successor to its Galaxy Note 2. If this is an upcoming Sony smartphone that's already starting to roll off production lines, chances are we might see it first at Mobile World Congress in late February. Naturally, we'll be there to bring you live coverage. Source: Digi-wo; via: Engadget 
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| Samsung's JK Shin apparently confirms 8-inch Galaxy Note at MWC Posted: 21 Jan 2013 08:06 AM PST
Last year in Barcelona, Samsung managed to out the Galaxy Note 10.1 on the side of a building at Plaça de Catalunya, a day ahead of the official announcement. Looks like we'll have no such slippage for Galaxy Note 8, as Samsung's JK Shin apparently has confirmed a previous report to INews24 that we'll see yet another size variation at Mobile World Congress next month. What we don't yet know is whether this 'tweener will be more tablet than smartphone, or vice versa. We'll be in Barcelona, of course, and you'll be coming along for the ride. 
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| Monday Brief: More BB10 leaks, The Galaxy Note 8.0, and more! Posted: 21 Jan 2013 07:55 AM PST Daniel Rubino was too busy brushing his lovely locks to share his links this week so, some older Nokia news did slip in here accidentally as some of you noticed in the intro. It was covered in a previous Monday Brief but if you're interested, you can view that story here.
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| Captain Clumsy is a fun and free time-waster game Posted: 21 Jan 2013 07:28 AM PST
Anyone with time to kill or a public transit daily commute can always find use for a quality one-handed casual game, and Captain Clumsy fits the bill. The premise of this game is basic -- and purposefully so -- as a "falling" style game with simple controls. You're a clumsy pirate (you would be too with 2 hook hands) trying to steal his booty back from the angry gulls that are holding it captive. Your character barrels down through pirate-themed levels, collecting coins and avoiding the bad gulls along the way. The controls are simple -- tap on the left of the screen to go left, right to go right -- and that's it! It's easy to pick up and play casually, but if you want to do well you have to put some time and effort into it. The game keeps you entertained regardless, with a fun soundtrack and gameplay sound effects. The game follows the "free to play" with in-app purchases model (or "freemium," if you prefer,) which many games are going nowadays. You can play through the whole game without spending any money, but if you get stuck on a certain level or want to progress quickly, you can pay for power-ups in the store. Purchases of "coins" range from $0.99 to $14.99 for general purchases, and there are some specific perks you can buy too. There are still ads in the game -- both banner ads at the bottom of the screen and post-level full page ads for other games -- but once you make a single purchase in the store they go away. It still would be nice to have an up-front paid version of the game to not have ads from the start, but we understand this goes against the free-to-play nature of it. If you need a fun time-waster that appeals to a whole range of ages and skill levels, Captain Clumsy is definitely worth your time to check out. And as a free to play title, you can't go wrong with trying it out. Stick around after the break to see the developer's trailer for the game, and head to the link at the top of this post to grab it from the Play Store. 
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| Deal of the Day: Cruzerlite Jewel Case for Samsung Galaxy S3 Posted: 21 Jan 2013 06:40 AM PST
The Cruzerlite Jewel Case is available for just $8.95, over 50% off today only. Grab yours while supplies last! Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts. 
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| Start your week with the Greatest Android Podcast in the World! Posted: 21 Jan 2013 06:33 AM PST
Tired of Manti Te'o? Over the Lance Armstrong confession? Then move on over to drama of a different sort -- the Android Central Podcast. If you missed Thursday's broadcast, you missed Alex and Phil and Jerry catching up after CES week in Las Vegas, dispelling more ridiculous Nexus rumors, and fielding more voicemails that have ever been fielded in the history of Android Central Podcast voicemail fielding. The Android Central Podcast is your weekly peek into the world of Android, where we break down the news that really matters, and explain what's just a bunch of hype. You don't want to miss it. Check out the Android Central Podcast.
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| Samsung 'Galaxy Tab 3' devices said to be in the works along with mystery tab Posted: 21 Jan 2013 03:27 AM PST
Last week brought news of a possible 8-inch Galaxy Note tablet coming at Mobile World Congress; today we have more details of more future Samsung tablets from the same source. Samsung fansite SamMobile reports via “Korean insiders” that the company will soon launch a new line of Galaxy Tabs, including a possible 7 and 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab 3 (codenamed “Santos”), and a new mystery tablet known only as “Roma.” Exact hardware specs for the Galaxy Tab 3 line are uncertain, but SamMobile says the Tab 3 devices will likely come with a 5-megapixel camera, and be available in Wifi and Wifi/3G configurations. So no major surprises there, and we’d fully expect to see these new tablets make their debut at Mobile World Congress in late February. But the most interesting part of today’s report concerns the tablet codenamed “Roma,” a high-end tab which apparently carries the product number GT-P8200. That’s noteworthy because it’s just a stone’s throw away from the Nexus 10’s GT-P8110. Samsung’s usually pretty deliberate with its model numbers, so we might speculate that this “Roma” device could sport similar specs to the Samsung-built Nexus tablet. Question is, what separates it from the 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab 3? As with the Galaxy Tab 3 series, the “Roma” is said to be slated for release sometime in the first half of the year in 16GB and 32GB flavors. Like the Nexus 10, it will apparently feature a 5MP rear camera. Remember we’ll be live at Mobile World Congress next month to bring you full coverage of whatever new tablets Samsung announces. Source: SamMobile 
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| NFC-capable Galaxy S3 Mini launching this month Posted: 21 Jan 2013 02:48 AM PST
Besides the inclusion of NFC, giving the S3 Mini support for Samsung's "S Beam" NFC-based file-sharing capability, the S3 Mini with NFC is the same as its near-field-communicationless sibling. That is to say you're looking at a 4-inch device with a WVGA (800x480) SuperAMOLED display, a 1GHz dual-core CPU, 1GB of RAM and TouchWiz'd Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Pricing has yet to be officially announced, but Samsung says the S3 Mini with NFC will launch across major UK carriers and retailers from the end of January. More info in the presser after the break. 
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| Fresh HTC 'M7' images emerge showing new version of Sense Posted: 21 Jan 2013 02:27 AM PST
We’ve seen a few renders claiming to show HTC’s next flagship Android phone of late -- first an image based on an on-device animation, then another mock-up render did the rounds on Twitter and elsewhere over the weekend. These latest images, however, could be the most accurate yet. Today’s shots come from Android Police, which received them via an anonymous tipster claiming to have access to HTC’s next big thing, a phone currently known only by the codename “M7.” Based on the images, the device looks to share many design cues with the Windows Phone 8X and Droid DNA -- a primarily squarish design, with rounded corners and a rounded back. Interestingly, it seems HTC has swapped the location of the home and task switching button on this device -- home is now on the far right, and task-switching now lives in the middle. Alongside these photos, screenshots from the device show what’s said to be HTC Sense 5.0, the next version of HTC’s Android UI. If this is an accurate representation of what’s next from HTC, 2013’s version of Sense certainly looks more minimalist than earlier iterations -- the bright colors and faux 3D effects that’ve previously characterized Sense are nowhere to be seen here. There are new icons, new widgets, and what seems to be predetermined widget areas for social media updates, news and tutorials. The UI is also watermarked with “HTC Confidential” and a unique code, and Sense and Android versions marked as “protected.” Both are hallmarks of pre-release HTC software. On the whole, these images look pretty promising. But we still have no way of knowing where in the prototyping process this device lies, and how close it is to the finished product. Certain anomalies, like the excessive bezel, derivative design and lack of regulatory info on the back suggest that the finished product might look a little different. Nevertheless, it’s our best indication yet as to what might be next from HTC. We’ll likely find out more at Mobile World Congress 2013, where the company is expected to officially announce the M7. Source: Android Police 
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| CyanogenMod 10.1 'M-Series' builds now available for select devices Posted: 20 Jan 2013 09:04 PM PST
A handful of select devices are getting CyanogenMod 10.1 "M-Series" builds starting today. These builds are meant to be released less frequently, and are considered stable for daily use. You can think of M-Series builds as a step above nightly builds, which often have many bugs. The following devices are supported for now:
The CyanogenMod team says in its post that it is on-track for a stable release of 10.1 soon, and these M-Series builds are a good step in the right direction. If you have one of the above listed devices and are interested in the new builds, head to the source link below and grab your downloads. Source: Cyanogenmod 
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| Sony announces the quad-core, 10-inch Tablet Z Posted: 20 Jan 2013 06:41 PM PST
Sony Mobile has announced the Android 4.1-powered Xperia Tablet Z, right as we expected them to do so. The specs also match last week's rumors, with a few extra surprises thrown in. The Tablet Z comes equipped with a 10.1-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) display complete with the Mobile Bravia Engine 2, 2 GB of RAM, 32 GB of on device storage, a microSD card slot, NFC, and an 8.1 MP Exmor R camera. Providing the juice for all this is the Qualcomm quad-core APQ8064 processor clocked at 1.5 GHz, with an LTE modem on board for the ride. As rumored, the Tablet Z is also extremely thin (6.9 mm) as well as water and dust proof like it's slightly smaller cousin the Xperia Z. What we don't know is pricing and availability. Hopefully we get word at Mobile World Congress next month if not earlier. We'll keep an eye out and let you know when Sony has anything further to tell us all. We've got a picture of the rear after the break. Source: Sony Mobile (Japan) 
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