AndroidGuys

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• Strategy Analytics: Android gobbled up 70% of global market share in Q4 2012
• Fox Digital Entertainment begins hyping Alien Vs. Predator: Evolutions
• Verizon, AT&T consider monthly installments for devices
• ZTe Blade C to be released soon with Android Jelly Bean
• New Google patent may hint at Nexus or Motorola phone with multiple LED flashes
• HTC schedules press event for February 19
• Get this look for your Android home screen: Holo Cards
• Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 photos leaked ahead of MWC
• Samsung Galaxy Express announced for international markets
• Nexus 7 refresh reported to feature HD display, thinner bezel
• Active Lock Screen review

Strategy Analytics: Android gobbled up 70% of global market share in Q4 2012 Posted: 29 Jan 2013 01:56 PM PST Android accounted for seven in ten smartphones shipped around the globe in the fourth quarter of last year, according to Strategy Analytics. With an estimated 152 million smartphones shipped in Q4 ’12, Android nearly doubled in volume over the previous year. Last year saw the platform raking in 51 percent of the market however the surge now puts it at a massive 70 percent. Android is clearly the undisputed volume leader of the smartphone industry at the present time. Android's challenge for 2013 will be to defend its leadership, not only against Apple, but also against an emerging wave of hungry challengers that includes Microsoft, Blackberry, Firefox and Tizen. The coming quarters will be interesting to watch as Windows Phone continues to step on the gas and BlackBerry tries to muscle its way back into conversations. Of course, Apple is not going anywhere anytime soon; things could be much different in Q4 ’13.  Speaking of which, iOS accounted for 22 percent of the pie, leaving only 7.9 percent of the global market to split across everyone else. Strategy Analytics Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!

Fox Digital Entertainment begins hyping Alien Vs. Predator: Evolutions Posted: 29 Jan 2013 12:56 PM PST Fox Digital Entertainment has started up the hype machine for the latest release in the ongoing saga of Alien Vs. Predator. The game, Alien vs. Predator: EVOLUTION (AVP: EVOLUTION), is developed by Angry Mob Games (Muffin Knight, Predators) and looks to raise the bar in terms of visually stunning and flashy mobile games. Using the Unity Engine, AVP:E is 3rd person action-shooter/melee combat title, that lets plays choose either the Alien or Predator. Immerse story? Check. Vicious battles? Check. Upgradeable weapons, armor and abilities? Check, check, check. avp_screenshot_01 ◄ Back Next ► Picture 1 of 8 KEY FEATURES: Play as an Alien & Predator: Two distinctive gaming experiences, incorporating unique characters with numerous abilities Rich Sci-Fi Universe: A gripping campaign draws players deeper into the world of AVP: EVOLUTION 5 Unique Environments: Kill or be killed as you advance through the Temple Arena, the Marine Base, the Alien Hive, and more! A Proven Developer: Angry Mob Games has a proven track record developing popular titles like Guerrilla Bob, Muffin Knight and PREDATORS Upgradeable Characters: Create your own ultimate killing machine with character upgrades and enhanced abilities Unity Graphics Engine: Rich detail, advanced character models and distinctive lighting makes AVP: EVOLUTION a showcase title for new iOS & Android phones & tablets Unfortunately, we have no idea as to when this game will arrive as the press release only mentions Q1 2013. That said, we’ll be watching for more details in the coming weeks. Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!

Verizon, AT&T consider monthly installments for devices Posted: 29 Jan 2013 12:33 PM PST Verizon and A&T are both considering the switch to full-priced cell phones, according to a recent Reuters report. The two carriers are are weighing whether to follow T-Mobile into the non-subsidized smartphones territory and offer monthly installments. “That's something we've looked at on several occasions. I kind of like that idea…It's something we're going to be watching.” AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam, a tad guarded, says the idea is “very intriguing” but worries customers won’t want to pay full-price for devices. T-Mobile is expected to sunset Classic Plans this year and will move to full-priced handsets though it isn’t clear when this takes effect. Via: Electronista Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!

ZTe Blade C to be released soon with Android Jelly Bean Posted: 29 Jan 2013 09:04 AM PST ZTE, who’s Blade line of phones is becoming increasingly popular, is set to release another Blade device. The company from China is going to be releasing the Blade C, or V807, and it will be the first from ZTE to come out of the box with Jelly Bean. According to the specs, the phone will come with: 4 inch WVGA display 3G 3MP rear camera Bluetooth 4.0 dual-core 1 GHz MediaTek MTK 6577 processor 512MB of RAM 4GB of internal memory 1,600 mAh battery The V889S is already available in China, and should be coming to European markets soon. via unwiredview Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!

New Google patent may hint at Nexus or Motorola phone with multiple LED flashes Posted: 29 Jan 2013 08:59 AM PST In a new patent, Google has released their idea for a device (or devices) with multiple camera LED flashes.This leads us to the possible conclusion that, perhaps, a new Nexus or Motorola phone may be in the works with this new feature. For those wondering what good multiple flashes would do, consider this. Xenon flashes are much better than the LED flashes, and that’s a fact. However, a system of multiple LED flashes could, in theory, give greater depth to he pictures by illuminating things differently that are at different distances. Be sure to check out the full patent here, and let us know your thoughts in the comments. via unwiredview Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!

HTC schedules press event for February 19 Posted: 29 Jan 2013 08:34 AM PST HTC is sending out invitations to a press event for February 19 where it is expected that a new flagship smartphone will be announced. Presumably, this is the day where see the official unveiling of the long-rumored HTC M7. Very little is known about the event as of now however HTC does plan to start at  7 a.m. PT (10 a.m. ET) with a simultaneous HTC conference taking place in London. Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!

Get this look for your Android home screen: Holo Cards Posted: 29 Jan 2013 08:16 AM PST One of our absolute favorite things about Android is the fact that you can bend and tweak the platform to your needs.  Sure, there’s rooting and modding for deep level personalization, but that stuff does not always concern the everyday user. Some of just want to change the home screen around a bit and create a new user experience. To that end, we present our weekly series of Get This Look posts. In a nutshell we will show you a new look for your Android handset and tell you which apps you’ll need if you want to mimic the feel. Note that the following details are but the ingredients to which you can create your own delicious Android dish – results will vary.  But that’s awesome. In fact, many of the designs we highlight tend to use the same apps Continue reading: Get this look for your Android home screen: Holo Cards Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 photos leaked ahead of MWC Posted: 29 Jan 2013 07:34 AM PST Samsung looks to be gearing up for Mobile World Congress  and may soon deliver a next generation Galaxy Tab 3. We first heard about it just a week ago and now our friends over at PhoneArena got their hands on some leaked screenshots of the tablet. Rumor has it that Samsung is planning to launch a 10-inch and 7-inch version of the Galaxy Tab at MWC. Judging by the photos, the 7-inch model looks to be retail-ready. We expect Samsung to throw an Unpacked mega event in the end of February and should see this (or these) along with the Galaxy Note 8. Source: PhoneArena Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!

Samsung Galaxy Express announced for international markets Posted: 29 Jan 2013 07:23 AM PST Samsung today announced that the Galaxy Express will be headed to international markets in the coming months. Details include Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, a 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, 5-megapixel camera, 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, and 8GB internal storage. Like most Android phones today, there is also GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, microSD card slot, and a front-facing (1.3-megapixel) camera. In terms of software, the Galaxy Express features TouchWiz UI and a host of Samsung apps including Game Hub, Video Hub, Music Hub, Readers Hub, and Samsung ChatOn. Samsung   Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!

Nexus 7 refresh reported to feature HD display, thinner bezel Posted: 29 Jan 2013 06:48 AM PST The Nexus 7 will be refreshed with a “full HD” 1080p display and thinner bezel, reports Digitimes. Expected to carry the same attractive $200-$250 price point as the current model, the tablet is said to be manufactured by Asus. Citing sources with access to “engineering samples” of the device, word is that “several specifications” will also be tweaked for the new model. Unfortunately it is not clear as to when the tablet will arrive however mid-2013 seems a logical time frame.  With Google I/O taking place in the middle of May it stands to reason that Google could introduce the next-gen device at the big developer conference. In a related note, Digitimes claims that there have been an estimated six million shipments of the Nexus 7 through the end January. The most popular version? The $249 32GB Wifi-only model.   Digitimes   Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!

Active Lock Screen review Posted: 29 Jan 2013 06:15 AM PST Lockscreens are tricky. Most users (at least in my experience) like to stick with the stock lockscreen, because it’s simple and/or familiar. But as I’m constantly flashing new ROMs, I’m always on the lookout for a different spin on certain aspects of Android. Sliding Messaging was one, and this week it’s something called Active Lock Screen. Believe it or not, this free app was actually suggested to me by Google Play, under “Recommended for You.” I usually never find anything worth downloading there, but this time luck was on my side. After a quick look, my curiosity was more than piqued (Thanks, Reddit!). I installed the app, and I was instantly hooked. There are some major and minor reasons for this, so let’s jump right into them. The first noticeable thing about Active Lock Screen is that it’s very simplistic. There are only two target points for the lock icon: unlock, and a volume target (silent/vibrate/full volume). Seems pretty standard, right? Well, that’s where it ends. Once the user starts dragging the lock icon (or rather, the small ring that encompasses the lock icon), four icons appear, as shown above. Now, lockscreen shortcuts are nothing new. We’ve seen them in custom ROMs for quite some time, but this is a bit different. Each icon is a folder of sorts, holding up to eight different selections. The contact icon contains direct-dial shortcuts to user-set contacts. Basically, you drag the ring to the contact icon, then over “Dad,” and it jumps right into the phone to call your old man. It’s quite useful, although I do wish there were direct-text shortcuts as well. Moving on, the other three icons — messaging, camera, and a recent apps icon — are a bit more flexible. These can be loaded with up to eight apps. Obviously the intent is to put corresponding apps into each “folder,” but ideally anything could be done here. If you feel like throwing Temple Run 2 under the messaging icon, go for it. Now, while each icon opens a wheel of apps or contacts within, each icon (with the exception of the recents icon) is also a target in itself. Dragging the ring just to the contacts icon opens the call log, the messaging icon opens the stock messaging app (or whatever third-party messaging app you use). And obviously, the camera icon launches the camera. The concept of folders in a lockscreen is great, but it’s nice to see that the developers put some thought into the basics as well. But wait, there’s more! Along with customizable folders, Active Lock Screen brings… (wait for it)… themes and plugins! There aren’t exactly hundreds of themes for ALS just yet, but Celltick Ltd., the developers, have released a fair number of themes already. I’ve settled on the Contrast theme, which is shown in the screenshots throughout this post. One downside to these themes is that the user can’t select the wallpaper, as it’s predetermined by the theme to match the icons. Slight bummer. Of course, if themes aren’t really your thing, you can always stick with the standard look of the app as well. Plugins are one of my absolute favorite aspects of ALS so far. They’re essentially widgets, but a bit more targeted. Celltick has a few plugins along with their collection of themes, and users can even have multiple plugins on the lockscreen at once. My personal favorite is the TED Talks plugin, which displays a new TED Talk that the user can jump to on YouTube, right from ALS. Users can swipe left or right to go from one plugin to the next, and this doesn’t affect the lock or sound icons at all. Active Lock Screen does this very smoothly, and it’s a nice change from the Android 4.2 lockscreen, where the lock icon disappears when swiping to another widget. Dragging any plugin into the lock ring performs a specific action, depending on the plugin. A few of these come with ALS, including Facebook and gallery plugins. The latter is somewhat useful, but really just fun to play with from time to time. It’s also worth noting that plugins must be dragged into the ring, not vice versa. Touching the lock ring will push the plugins to the background (still visible, just smaller and out of the way) to reveal those four icons we love so much. Again, it’s the little things that matter. Plugins may just be a fancier version of lockscreen widgets, but they’re done so well in ALS that I don’t think I’ll ever be able to give them up. After playing around with Active Lock Screen for just over a week, I can honestly say that it will take some time for me to leave it for another lockscreen replacement. In the end, it might be considered more of a “lockscreen trying to be a launcher,” but that doesn’t really matter. With the growing number of themes and plugins, users truly have the chance to make their lockscreen one of a kind. Celltick has something going here, and they seem to realize that. I can’t wait to see what new updates they bring to ALS in the near future. If you’d like to give it a shot for yourself, you can download Active Lock Screen below. I’ve also included a second link to the Contrast theme used in my screenshots. What We Liked Very smooth and fast Simplistic, but with important features Plugins are genius and very well executed Customizable with themes and/or plugins Attention to detail is very noticeable Room for Improvement Adding direct-text shortcuts to the contacts icon/folder would be a nice touch As always, more themes can’t hurt Download Active Lock Screen (Google Play) Download Contrast Theme for Active Lock Screen (Google Play) Be sure to follow AndroidGuys on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!

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