Android Community |
- Oscars 2013 app released by ABC
- Samsung Galaxy Pocket Plus image and specs revealed
- Chrome Beta for Android gets updated with tons of bug fixes
- DreamPlay looking to give your Disney toys a virtual life
- LG Optimus G Jelly Bean update starts rolling out
- Simple banking app now available for Android
- LG responds: They are not working on the Nexus 5
- Jumio Netswipe Mobile turns your smartphone camera into a credit card reader
- Oppo Find 5 gets a January 29 release date in China
- Android 4.1 Jelly Bean arrives for the AT&T Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro
- AT&T giving $100 discounts towards Nexus 7 purchases on a two-year agreement
- Google Now adds automatic digital boarding passes for select airlines
- Huawei G520 4.5-inch quad-core phone for $225 gets pictured
- Kyocera Torque hits the FCC with 4G LTE and ICS
- Samsung fights to keep Apple from overturning the Galaxy Nexus sales ban
- LG Nexus 4 now available with Virgin Mobile UK
- Motorola PHOTON Q getting OTA update – still no Jelly Bean
- Pulse app update brings Facebook, Flickr, YouTube, and more
- Nexus 4 stock arriving at T-Mobile stores – good luck getting one
- CES 2013 was home to more than 150k attendees
| Oscars 2013 app released by ABC Posted: 15 Jan 2013 11:32 AM PST ABC Digital has released the official Oscars app for 2013. This release comes ahead of the Oscars, which will take place on February 24. The app appears to have just about everything that an Oscars fan could hope for, however ABC Digital released the app for Android 4.0 or later, which means that they cut-off support for about half of all Android users.
The Oscars 2013 app has landed in the Google Play Store as version 1.0 and with the promise of being able to “stay up-to-date on all things leading up to Oscar Sunday.” The app has features broken down into two categories — from nomination through Oscar Sunday and on Oscar Sunday. Taking the former, users will have the ability to cast and share your virtual ballot using the MyPicks section as well as read about the nominees and watch movie trailers and view other videos and photos. The app will also allow users to watch hosted specials on fashion and nominated films and actors. That last one was another from nomination through Oscar Sunday feature. Moving up to Oscar Sunday and we find goodies to include being able to watch your favorite celebrities walking the red carpet, following the winners while they are backstage in the Dolby Theatre and seeing the stars mingle during the course of the evening. The Oscar Sunday coverage will also include a few viewing options. Users will be able to use the Watch Mode where the correspondents will guide you, or the Direct Mode which will allow you to pick which camera to view on your own. Bottom line here, if you are a big fan of the Oscars, this is an app that you will likely want to download. And rest assured, the app is free, both to download and also to use. |
| Samsung Galaxy Pocket Plus image and specs revealed Posted: 15 Jan 2013 11:04 AM PST It looks as if another Samsung smartphone has been revealed. Though, this reveal comes ahead of any official announcement. What we have are details on the Galaxy Pocket Plus, a rather low-end device. Not to mention, a rather small device. And as the pocket in the name would imply, the Galaxy Pocket Plus will have one perk — it should fit easily in just about any sized pocket.
The handset is sporting a 2.8-inch QVGA touchscreen, 850MHz Broadcom BCM21654 processor, 1200 mAh battery, 2 megapixel rear-facing camera and running Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich. Other details include the handset having Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS, USB 2.0 and an FM Radio along with an accelerometer and digital compass. In terms of connectivity, one can expect GSM on the 850/900/1800/1900 bands and WCDMA on the 850/1900 bands. The handset will also be running the TouchWiz user interface on top of Ice Cream Sandwich, however according to details provided, it will be a modified version due to the low power of the phone.
Again, these details come ahead of any official announcement. Despite having a near complete set of specs and a clear image, we have yet to see anything in terms of which markets the Galaxy Pocket Plus will be available in. That being said though, Samsung is expected to release the Galaxy Pocket Plus in the first half of 2013 and given that, we could very well see an official announcement during Mobile World Congress 2013 which will take place at the end of February. [via SamMobile] |
| Chrome Beta for Android gets updated with tons of bug fixes Posted: 15 Jan 2013 10:38 AM PST Google’s popular Chrome Browser for Android has officially left the beta tag and is readily available from the Play Store. However, Google still wants to test new features, fix bugs, and have beta testers. Earlier this month they announced a new Chrome Browser beta program, and today their new app received it’s first update. Read on for more details.
Chrome for Android is extremely stable, works great for daily browsing, and is now coming stock on many new devices like the Nexus 4 and Motorola’s recent phones. Google’s still working hard to improve their app and those looking to enjoy the latest and greatest with cutting edge features – and bugs – the beta version is for you. Users will be able to enjoy the latest features, but could also be introduced to a few new bugs or issues that will cause the occasional quirk. The good thing here is you’ll be able to provide feedback and help improve the project as well. Today they’ve issued the first update to Chrome Beta and it has tons of new features, fixed plenty of bugs, and added a few as well. Here’s the full changelog:
Today’s update will bring Chrome Beta for Android to version 25.0.1364.33 and everything mentioned above is what you have to look forward to. It appears some auto-resizing issues are still present, the DROID DNA is having a few issues, and Qualcomm devices might not play too nice either. In the meantime expect frequent updates to address problems and improve performance of the Chrome Browser. [via Google Play Store] |
| DreamPlay looking to give your Disney toys a virtual life Posted: 15 Jan 2013 10:04 AM PST Disney has recently announced a partnership with JAKKS Pacific that may soon bring virtual life to some of your toys. The virtual life would be limited to specially equipped toys and be done in conjunction with the “DreamPlay” app. And yes, there is talk of the app coming to Android devices.
Disney is licensing use of its characters to DreamPlay and while the concept here has yet to be proven, it will allow children to see some of their Disney toys come to life. Well, virtually anyway. The concept is this, take a DreamPlay capable Disney toy and point your smartphone or tablet camera at it and watch it come to life. Some of the use case examples include Sebastian from the “Little Mermaid” movie playing a real-life set of bongo drums. The way it would work is you point your camera at the drums and then Sebastian will come on the screen and begin playing. Another example includes a new and unboxed toy. In this case, pointing your camera toward an unopened Tinker Bell toy and the screen would show the doll leave the box and begin to soar around. Of course, the key here is whether or not kids are going to want to watch their toy open up and dance around virtually, or if they would rather open the box themselves and actually play. Simply put, this may be a bit of a novelty. Neat, but novelty. That being said, the DreamPlay capable toys will end up being priced a “couple of dollars” more as compared to non-DreamPlay capable toys and they are expected to come available in the US by way of Target and Toys R Us. [via phoneArena] |
| LG Optimus G Jelly Bean update starts rolling out Posted: 15 Jan 2013 09:59 AM PST Today we’re hearing reports that the folks from LG have started the initial update rollout to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean for their popular quad-core LG Optimus G flagship smartphone. Back in October LG announced it was coming soon, and today’s it has started to arrive for users in South Korea. With it arriving in some parts of the world, the US release can’t be too far behind.
The Optimus G launched in the US last year to great expectations with a new 4.7-inch HD display, quad-core power by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 Pro, 2GB of RAM, and of course that 13 megapixel camera. For full details and information on the update it’s available from LG Mobile’s site. For now the update is rolling out for SK Telecom in South Korea only, but we’re expecting other regions will get the same treatment shortly. The update brings Android 4.1 Jelly Bean to the Optimus G. Which includes a better keyboard, enhanced and smoother performance, and of course Google Now voice actions. The expandable notifications will be a feature many will enjoy too. In the past LG’s been slow to updates and while many have beat them to Jelly Bean, this is certainly quicker than we expected and a step in the right direction for good ol LG. As usual, the update is available over the air and will be arriving soon, or can be manually installed with the correct files from the LG Mobile link above. If you don’t want to wait for it over the air get the LG Mobile Support Tool and give the update a try today. As a reminder this is not for the US Optimus G, so don’t even try. We’ll update when we know more about the two US-based versions. Device Info
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 [via PocketDroid] |
| Simple banking app now available for Android Posted: 15 Jan 2013 09:11 AM PST The folks at Simple began teasing the upcoming Android app release a short while back. At the time the word was that Simple would be available for Android users in “early” 2013. And well, it looks like the time has arrived — the Simple banking app is now available from the Google Play Store where it brings support for devices running Android 2.3.3 (Gingerbread) or later.
Android users will also be happy to learn that the Simple app is not a direct port of the iPhone app. The Android app is being touted as a “streamlined and intuitive” app that has been “designed from the bottom up for Android.” Fancy talk aside though, the Simple app brings the expected features including the ability to find ATMs (from the Allpoint network) as well as being able to see your current transactions. The app also breaks each transaction down into detail showing the spending category, map location and more. Other goodies include on-the-go budgeting using the Spend from Goal feature and the ability to know how much money you can spend at any given time using the Safe-to-Spend feature. That all being said, the news of a Simple app for Android does come with a catch — the service is still invite only. Those hoping to score an invite can request one from the Simple website or install the app and request one from the app. The Simple team also announced on Twitter that if any Android users have an old/unused invite, they can use that now. Otherwise, they will be reinviting Android users over the next few days. |
| LG responds: They are not working on the Nexus 5 Posted: 15 Jan 2013 08:44 AM PST Earlier rumors sprung up suggesting that LG had halted production on the Nexus 4. According to the story, LG was stopping production on the Nexus 4 and shifting things toward the Nexus 5. Anyway, it looks like another chapter has come available for the topic. But nicely, this chapter includes details from an LG official.
The details are coming by way of the Korean language Chosun Biz website and in short, production of the Nexus 4 has not been stopped. Granted, that is not to say there is not an LG Nexus 5 coming at some point in the future, however as of now there is nothing in regards to a new Nexus. In fact, the LG official noted that the “domestic Pyeongtaek manufacturing plant has been producing the Nexus 4 without a hitch” and that the rumors of the Nexus 5 are “unfounded.” And perhaps key for those looking forward, it was also said that LG has yet to finalize their product plans for Mobile World Congress 2013. The catch here, while LG has made it clear that the Nexus 4 production remains on-track, that does not seem to have changed the fact that the handset has been mostly unavailable for some time now. A quick check of the US Google Play Store has both the 8GB and 16GB Nexus 4 as being sold out. Otherwise, aside from grabbing the handset direct from Google, there has been some availability with carriers. Device Info
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[via Talk Android] |
| Jumio Netswipe Mobile turns your smartphone camera into a credit card reader Posted: 15 Jan 2013 08:14 AM PST Jumio has announced the release of Netswipe Mobile for Android. And for those not familiar with Jumio, they are bringing their credit card scanning solution to Android. Yes, the Netswipe Mobile solution was previously available for iOS. That aside though, this solution will be available for app developers and is designed to turn your “smartphone camera into a real-time, secure credit card reader.”
Put simply, with Netswipe Mobile you will be able to take a picture of your credit card to make a payment. Jumio notes that this will take away the need for customers to manually enter a credit card number during the checkout process. This could have a few potentially good points — first, it should make the checkout process a bit quicker and second, it should eliminate a failed checkout process due to typing an incorrect credit card number. In terms of using the Netswipe Mobile solution, this will need to be integrated into Android apps. Jumio has said that existing Android apps would be able to integrate the Netswipe Mobile solution in as little as 30 minutes and that once integrated, it will work with Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club, American Express and Discover cards. Other details note that the integration is available for free and the company has released an SDK along with additional documentation which can be found on their website at www.jumio.com. For those thinking the Jumio name sounds new, or unfamiliar — remember, they are not looking towards the individual user, but instead offering a solution for those who are providing service towards the individual user. And just to offer a use case scenario, Jumio announced a partnership with Travelocity (for their Hotel Deals by lastminute.com app) back in October 2012. [via TNW] |
| Oppo Find 5 gets a January 29 release date in China Posted: 15 Jan 2013 07:27 AM PST The Oppo Find 5 was announced back in mid December. The original announcement highlighted a 16GB model and an expected availability of sometime in early 2013. Otherwise, while the release details were kept to a minimum — we did know that the Oppo Find 5 was heading towards China as well as the US and Europe.
All that being said, it looks like the first phase of the global release has been detailed. The Oppo Find 5 will be available in China at the end of the month. More specifically, the handset will be available for purchase on January 29. Those anxious to make a purchase will be able to move forward with pre-orders beginning today, January 15. Otherwise, nothing specific has been released yet in terms of the US and European availability, however now that the global release has begun — we expect those details to come available sooner rather than later. Those in China have the 16GB mode available with a 2,998 yuan price point. As of yet the 32GB model has not been released. And while the 2,998 yaun price would be about $485 in terms of US dollars — we are expecting the Find 5 to drop at $499 (16GB) and $569 (32GB). Needless to say, we are not expecting the Find 5 to be available with any carrier discounts when it arrives here in the US. Regardless though, the Find 5 will bring goodies to include HSPA+ connectivity along with a 5-inch 1080P display, Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, 2GB of RAM, 2500 mAh battery, 1.9 megapixel front-facing camera, 13 megapixel rear-facing camera and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. [via Engadget] |
| Android 4.1 Jelly Bean arrives for the AT&T Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro Posted: 15 Jan 2013 06:48 AM PST AT&T has announced the latest update for the Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro smartphone. And yes, this update is bringing Jelly Bean. In fact, the update will arrive as Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean along with baseband version I547UCBLL1 and build number JRO03L.I547UCBLL1. Perhaps more exciting here — this update is available now and users can grab it over-the-air or using Kies.
Many of you already know what getting Jelly Bean means. New goodies such as Google Now, the enhanced notifications and the smoothness of Project Butter. But those are just a few of the changes. The AT&T changelog also lists an update for Pop Up Play and the addition of the Swype keyboard as well as the addition of a blocking mode and the easy mode. The blocking mode will allow you to disable incoming calls, notifications, alarms and LED indicators for a set period of time. The easy mode is what AT&T describes as a “simplified user experience” for the first time smartphone user. This update also brings some enhancements to the camera including live camera and camcorder filters. You will also be able to pause and resume while recording a video. Aside from the changes, users getting ready to update will need to know a few things. Any Bluetooth devices will need to be re-paired after the update and any user created or custom APN’s (Access Point Name) will be erased and need to be reconfigured after the update has been applied. That all being said, while you can use Kies, it may be quicker and easier to grab the update over-the-air by navigating to Menu -> Settings -> About device -> Software update to get the process started. Device Info
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[via AT&T] |
| AT&T giving $100 discounts towards Nexus 7 purchases on a two-year agreement Posted: 15 Jan 2013 06:14 AM PST A special offer has recently shown up on the Nexus 7 WiFi + Mobile Data product listing in the Google Play Store. The offer is available for just a limited time, and does mean a discount for those who purchase the HSPA+ capable version of the Nexus 7. Well, for those who purchase the tablet and also agree to sign a two-year commitment with AT&T.
That being said, the offer seems simple enough — buy the tablet and activate it on a postpaid standalone or Mobile Share plan and you will get a $100 bill credit. This ‘special offer’ is available at this time and will remain so through February 14, 2013. In other words, you have about a months time to make a decision here. Otherwise, once you purchase the tablet, the activation can be done directly from the device, by visiting an AT&T store or by telephone (by calling AT&T). The decision as to how good a deal this is will have to be a personal decision, however we must remind you — the $100 will come in the form of a bill credit and not an instant discount. In other words, you are still going to have to pay $299 at the time of purchase. And sure, if you agree to the two-year commitment you will then get several months of mobile data without having to shell out any additional money. But remember, if you avoid the contract and then later decide you don’t need (or use) the mobile data — you can always add and remove the data as needed. Device Info
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[via Google Play] |
| Google Now adds automatic digital boarding passes for select airlines Posted: 14 Jan 2013 04:35 PM PST Google‘s voice search and Google Now feature sure is impressive, and they’ve been adding features and updating it at a pretty rapid pace. We already knew they were planning things like adding airline boarding passes to the growing list, but today their automatic boarding pass system just went live. Google shared the news today on Twitter as well as released a neat new video.
The recent Google Now update allowed the search app and Google Now cards to search and display relevant content from places like your Gmail, and today they took it a step further. Once enabled (optional) Google Now will find flight confirmations and add them to the notification bar as expected, but today’s push enables Google to automatically create a digital boarding pass too. Essentially for the select airlines that are currently offering this option (Google didn’t mention which airlines) you’ll have a digital boarding pass already created, ready, and waiting for you. Just simply get through those pesky airline security checkpoints and you’re set. Check in online and you’re done. No printing boarding passes, no lines, nothing. Google’s done it all and simply let the gate scan the QR code-type digital boarding pass. Pretty simple as long as your battery doesn’t die. As mentioned above, the service is currently available only for select airlines, not to mention you’ll need to be running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean or above to enjoy Google Now. Over time we’re expecting plenty more to be added, so for now we’ll just have to wait and see. I’ll be sure to test this on a few upcoming flights and report back if all goes well. Here’s to hoping US Airways and Southwest is supported. |
| Huawei G520 4.5-inch quad-core phone for $225 gets pictured Posted: 14 Jan 2013 03:58 PM PST Huawei has previously only been known for their budget friendly smartphones that were also a bit on the cheap side, but as of late they’ve been changing their game. Last years Ascend D Quad showed promise, and this years brand new Ascend Mate and Ascend D2 we saw last week at CES are certainly a step in the right direction. One that wasn’t mentioned last week, the Huawei G520, has appeared and looks rather nice given the price.
Huawei announced their Ascend Mate 6.1-inch phone and their quad-core 1080p Ascend D2 during CES last week but their new G520 went under the radar. This phone apparently didn’t make the showroom floor but will begin hitting store shelves in China starting on the 21st. While it isn’t anything top-tier, it has impressive specs for just $225. The Huawei G520 rocks a 4.5-inch IPS 720p HD display, and a 1.2 GHz quad-core MediaTek processor under the hood. You’ll also get 512MB of RAM, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and a pair of cameras. Pretty decent for the price right? While we wish it had more RAM or an 8 megapixel camera instead of 5, the $225 price point is rather impressive. This might not have a massive screen or a 1080p display but for those on a budget Huawei apparently just delivered another exceptional choice. We haven’t heard much regarding this phone but you can see the China Mobile logo up top, so it’ll hit the market in China first. We haven’t heard any details regarding launches in other regions but will report back once we hear more. 4.5-inch quad-core for $225 anyone? [via Unwired View] |
| Kyocera Torque hits the FCC with 4G LTE and ICS Posted: 14 Jan 2013 02:52 PM PST A new device from the folks at Kyocera is apparently in the works with a rugged design and those 4G LTE radios over on the Now Network. This won’t be gracing Verizon or AT&T’s 4G LTE, but today we’ve learned more details on the upcoming Kyocera Torque so lets take a look. Today the smartphone hit the FCC so it should be arriving soon.
According to some leaked photos provided by UnwiredView, the above smartphone is the new Torque and it will be quite the little durable and budget handset. We certainly can’t call it pretty, or handsome, or even remotely attractive — but it will be able to handle the elements quite well. In what appears to be one of the worst designed smartphones ever, the Kycera Torque does have one thing going for it. That being it will be the first 4G LTE capable IP67 rugged smartphone for the carrier, and for the US. Now on to those depressing specs that will surely leave something to be desired. Obviously this phone is all about ease of use and durability, but the specs aren’t too great. The Torque comes with a 4-inch wVGA 480 x 800 resolution display, not even qHD, but does appear to be running what we’re told is Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. As you can see from the images you have a front and rear facing camera, dedicated Android navigation buttons, an extremely industrial and waterproof design, and possibly wireless charging pins on back. The device also hit the FCC today confirming NFC support, among other things, and could be a sign the carrier will be launching this rugged smartphone with Google Wallet on-board soon. If you need a durable smartphone stay tuned for more details. |
| Samsung fights to keep Apple from overturning the Galaxy Nexus sales ban Posted: 14 Jan 2013 02:00 PM PST Samsung claimed a small victory back in October when the US Court of Appeals overturned the preliminary injunction that banned Galaxy Nexus smartphone sales. And while some may argue that the importance of the Galaxy Nexus is not the same as it was back in October — remember, it may not be about the amount of sales at this point, but what not attempting to stop the sales may mean for the trial. Regardless though, it looks like Apple is now trying to have that ruling overturned.
Or maybe more accurately, Apple has asked all nine active Federal Circuit judges to reconsider that decision. We are going to have to wait for the judges decision to see which way this ruling will go, however according to a recent Reuters report; “several legal experts believe Apple faces long odds in trying to persuade the appeals court to revisit its decision.” Samsung followed up the request by saying that a review was unnecessary because “Apple did not have enough evidence to show a “causal nexus” between its patented search capability and iPhone sales to justify a ban on sales of the Galaxy Nexus.” Samsung argued further that the ruling against Apple used well established reasoning and that it did not conflict with US Supreme Court precedent. That all being said, representatives from both companies declined to comment on the situation. Of course, with the trial scheduled to go to federal court in March 2014, we would have been more surprised if they had offered a comment. Device Info
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[via SlashGear] |
| LG Nexus 4 now available with Virgin Mobile UK Posted: 14 Jan 2013 01:21 PM PST The LG Nexus 4 has come available with yet another UK based carrier. The latest is Virgin Mobile, which joins Three and O2. Of course, the Google Play Store also sells the Nexus 4 in the UK, however we all know how that is going at the moment — out of stock. Simply put, if you are in the UK and looking for a Nexus 4, one of the carriers seems like your best bet.
In the case of Virgin Mobile, the carrier has it available with a 24 month tariff and priced from as high as £99 down to the magical sounding — free. Well, free along with the two-year commitment. The lowest monthly price you can pay and get the handset for free is £31. This plan includes 200 minutes, 500 text messages and 500MB of mobile web. A bit more expensive per month, but also with quite a bit more in terms of data will set you in at the £39 per month tariff. This plan includes unlimited minutes to landlines and 2500 minutes along with unlimited texts and unlimited mobile web. There are a few other options, however you get the picture, the more money you pay each month, the more you get included in your plan. And regardless of the price you pay (upfront or monthly), the handset is the same which means a device running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and features to include a 4.7-inch True HD IPS display, quad-core 1.5GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, a 2100 mAh battery and an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera. Device Info
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[via Virgin Mobile] |
| Motorola PHOTON Q getting OTA update – still no Jelly Bean Posted: 14 Jan 2013 12:51 PM PST Motorola has been on a hot streak lately with software updates for many of their impressive Android smartphones. One that is getting updated today – although not the update we want – is the QWERTY keyboard packing PHOTON Q slider. As the title implies, this isn’t Jelly Bean but you’ll want to accept the update anyways as usual.
Motorola recently updated many of their top end devices to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. That includes the RAZR HD, and briefly the original RAZR and RAZR MAXX got the same on Christmas, although that update was since pulled and is missing in action. The last PHOTON Q update was back in November, but today another will grace your handsets. The good news: Motorola and the Now Network are rolling out a quick OTA software update to version ASA-14 for the PHOTON Q that should improve overall usage, speed, performance, and reliability of the smartphone. The bad news is that they didn’t give us any other details. the changelog literally says, “Various fixes to improve overall device stability.” Either way an update is an update, and there’s bound to be someone somewhere that has been having issues with stability that should see improvements after this update. Motorola recently confirmed Jelly Bean was coming to multiple new smartphones in early 2013 – the PHOTON Q included – so it’s only a matter of time before this gets the latest and greatest. Stay tuned and drop us a comment if you notice any big changes after the update. Device Info
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[via Android Police] |
| Pulse app update brings Facebook, Flickr, YouTube, and more Posted: 14 Jan 2013 12:33 PM PST The Pulse Android app has recently been updated and it looks like it was all about social. In fact, the Pulse app is now sporting integration with social services to include Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, Tumblr and YouTube. This all comes along with the 3.0.6 update which also included some bug fixes as well as some improvements to the photo and video viewing.
The mention of bug fixes was just that, a general mention. Of course, annoying bugs are generally a bad thing so on that thought, having less issues to worry about sounds like a good thing. Moving over to the photo and video viewing improvements and this deals (at least in part) with the social integration of Flickr, Instagram and YouTube. In short, these can now be viewed with less clutter which according to the folks at Pulse, will “let those gorgeous snaps speak for themselves.” Perhaps key here is the social integration, which Pulse notes as a change of the time. You see, the Pulse app originally launched two years ago and since then, browsing has changed. The details from Pulse note that before the focus was on solving the issue of people using lots of different websites to browse the news. And well, they believe that people now move between multiple social networks (as opposed to multiple sites). Anyway, regardless of why Pulse choose to integrate these social services, the end result is this — you can now add your social sites and then sit back and browse them all from one app and one location. Otherwise, the Pulse app remains available for free and with support for devices running Android 2.2 or later. The Pulse app can be found in the Google Play Store. [via SlashGear] |
| Nexus 4 stock arriving at T-Mobile stores – good luck getting one Posted: 14 Jan 2013 12:15 PM PST We have some good news and bad news regarding LG and Google‘s popular Nexus 4 smartphone to share. We’ve been rather quiet regarding this entire “out of stock” situation, but seriously it’s extremely sad and sort of pathetic to be completely honest. Google and LG seemingly have blown what could have been an awesome device and a top notch launch.
Basically this has to be one of the worst product launches ever considering the huge amount of hype. The excellent top-tier hardware and software all combined into an excellent and budget friendly price really was impressive, then comes the “limited availability” and out of stock issue. While we won’t get into that too much here, lets just say this was a blown opportunity. It’s now January 14th and the Google Play Store has been out of stock for way way too long, T-Mobile stores haven’t had any devices for weeks either, and users that were able to get lucky and buy one from the Play Store are probably still waiting for it to ship. Seriously. Samsung can sell and ship 30 million Galaxy S III phones! What’s going on here Google and LG?
OK now that I’m done ranting we’d like to confirm our earlier reports that T-Mobile stores across the US will be getting stock this month of the hard-to-find Nexus 4. The screenshot above confirms they’re headed to stores. The bad news however, is the shipments could be rather small with this particular store only getting 5 devices. Those will last what – 15 minutes before they are sold out. Hopefully other stores in larger cities have a much higher count, but for now we’re not going to hold our breath. For those still interested (and not turned off by the sad affair of trying to actually buy one) head into your local T-Mobile store over the next few days and maybe you’ll get lucky and be able to snag the quad-core Android 4.2 Jelly Bean powered LG Nexus 4. Otherwise, better luck next time Google. Device Info
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[via TmoNews] |
| CES 2013 was home to more than 150k attendees Posted: 14 Jan 2013 11:42 AM PST While there wasn’t quite as much Android presence as we’d have liked, CES 2013 was still wildly successful and tons of fun. In case you didn’t know, it was the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and as usual had a huge turn out with thousands of visitors. This year the CEA explained it was again one of the biggest in history and enjoyed over 150,000 attendees.
We were there first-hand to enjoy being smashed into tiny halls packed to the brim with tech fans, geeks, CEOs and more but wanted to share a few neat bits of information with you guys — the readers. As we mentioned above the show topped 150,000 attendees, who were all roaming the halls. Those halls which combined total up to be about 1.92 million square feet of exhibit space at the Las Vegas Convention Center. For an idea of just how large that actually is, there was nearly 40 football fields worth of floor and space, with 3,250 exhibitors spread out sharing their latest and greatest innovations and toys. While we didn’t get an exact number, we were told the 150,000+ number of visitors didn’t quite pass the 156k from last year. It came really close though. However, CES 2013 was the biggest in its 45-year history in terms of square footage, with more than 1.92 million square feet of exhibit space, compared to 1.86 million a year ago. The CEA confirmed over 3,250 exhibitors showed off 20,000 new products at the show this year. Oh and that attendee list included 35,000 people from overseas, with folks from over 170 countries making an appearance at the show. From Maroon 5 to good old Snooki there was plenty of fresh faces at the show this year too. I avoided the halls with Bieber and Bill Clinton however, I just didn’t want to have anything to do with that noise. For all of our coverage from the show be sure and once again check out our CES 2013 Portal, as well as our CES 2013 Wrap-Up. |
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