Android Central

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• Samsung expected to hold Galaxy S4 event on Mar 14
• Announcing our Valentine's Day contest winners
• Hotel Tonight adds proper tablet UI support
• Unity Launcher: a little bit of Ubuntu flair on your device
• Reminder: HTC wants to show us something tomorrow, and we'll be there blogging it live
• Jelly Bean rolling out to the Samsung Galaxy Note (N7000)
• Mobile Nations fitness month week 3: Sleep and relaxation!
• HTC Rezound and Droid Incredible 2 getting a small 'Device Enhancement' update
• The Weather Channel app gets a sizeable update with a new look
• Xperia Z now on sale at Sony Mobile France store
• Deal of the Day: Body Glove DropSuit Rugged Case for Samsung Galaxy S3
• Monday Brief: More webOS drama, a BlackBerry Z10 Oreo, the Nokia Lumia 620 review, and more!
• Start your week with the Greatest Android Podcast in the World!
• LG finally reveals Optimus G Pro specs, price, availability
• Gundotra: 'Committed to making Nexus phones insanely great cameras'

Samsung expected to hold Galaxy S4 event on Mar 14 Posted: 18 Feb 2013 04:45 PM PST On the eve of HTC's much-teased February 19th event, multiple sources are converging on March 14th as the announcement date for Samsung's next flagship Galaxy S device. Originally eluded to by Eldar Murtazin of mobile-review and later corroborated by unnamed sources of The Verge, the Galaxy S4 will "definitely" be announced at a Samsung event on March 14th. The rumored event is expected to take place in the U.S., but it's unclear at this time what city will be hosting such an announcement. As for the design and details of the Galaxy S4, we really don't have much to go on. Again reported by sources of The Verge, the new device may follow the design language of what we will see as the Galaxy Note 8.0 at MWC. Although the leaks we've seen thus far of that device are apparently far off from what the final design is. With all of that being said, we'll only know the announcement date for sure when we hear it directly from Samsung. Source: The Verge

Announcing our Valentine's Day contest winners Posted: 18 Feb 2013 02:46 PM PST Back at the beginning of the month we decided to have a monster Valentine's Day contest. Now that it's closed, we're amazed at the response, and loved going through all the pictures. It's great putting a face to the names, ya know? Valentine's Day has come and gone, and Mrs. Nickinson has picked out a mess of winners. Since everyone wants to know if they won, here's your lists. Winners of the Grand Prizes (one Nexus 4, one Nexus 7, two t-shirts) justinbristoe marc9569 fastnasty JCfromtheBAY Because there were so many great entries, we also picked eight runners-up, who will get a pair of t-shirts: AxlMyk mishie apcyork Phoenix Rev borgdog thamenacing1 luigi1285 tmbarta Congrats to everyone, and a big thanks for entering. If you're a winner, be sure to check the inbox of the email you used to register here at AC. We need a little information about where to send the prizes. Stay tuned for more great contests from the best damn Android site on the Internet. Be sure to read through the break and check out the Grand Prize winning pictures. read more

Hotel Tonight adds proper tablet UI support Posted: 18 Feb 2013 01:12 PM PST Hotel Tonight has just updated its Android app with proper tablet support, offering a better UI experience to users with larger screen devices. The service, if you're not familiar, offers steep discounts on hotels because they are only able to be booked at noon (local time) to be used that day. Users can now view and book hotels on their tablets with this properly formed tablet UI, and Hotel Tonight says that you can go from launching the app to booking a room with "just three taps and a swipe". The designers of the new tablet UI on the app say that they specifically targeted Google's own Nexus tablets as references for the 7-inch and 10-inch design, and are extremely happy with the result. The interface takes advantage of the larger screens with bigger pictures while navigating and a better display when viewing hotel listings. You can grab a download of the new version of Hotel Tonight at the Play Store link above.

Unity Launcher: a little bit of Ubuntu flair on your device Posted: 18 Feb 2013 12:17 PM PST Canonical has laid out its plans to release Ubuntu phones at some point in 2014 -- but you don't have to wait that long to get a little bit of Ubuntu flair on your current Android device. Unity Launcher brings Ubuntu's interesting swipe-in sliding app selector to your device without changing your current launcher setup.  Stick around with us after the break to learn a little more about what Unity Launcher has to offer. read more

Reminder: HTC wants to show us something tomorrow, and we'll be there blogging it live Posted: 18 Feb 2013 10:10 AM PST HTC keeps trying to tease everybody about what may be in store for tomorrow's event, and you can find out just as soon as they tell the world by tuning in to the live blog tomorrow. We'll be on-site in both New York and London, giving you the play-by-play as it happens. While the details are all still shrouded in rumor, we expect to see HTC latest Android phone in all it's glory. Whether it be called the M7 or the HTC One, we're all sure to find plenty to love or hate about the device before we ever get our hands on it.  So be there at 10 AM Eastern tomorrow, and let's talk a little bit about phones.

Jelly Bean rolling out to the Samsung Galaxy Note (N7000) Posted: 18 Feb 2013 09:51 AM PST The international versions of the Samsung Galaxy Note are seeing a Jelly Bean update today. Users in the far East and Germany are reporting that they're seeing an OTA to 4.1.2, namely the same JZO54K build that leaked out last November. As a refresher, meet the new change log (same as the old change log) . Android 4.1.2 – Build JZO54K Project Butter Multi-View (can also be disabled) Page Buddy Notification Panel can now be customized New Additions in Notification Panel Smart Rotation New Samsung Keyboard Samsung’s Cloud services Direct Call, Smart Stay and Pop-up Play Features New Widgets From the Galaxy S III 2 Home screen modes New Notifications bar Google Now Of course this leaves the question of when or if the AT&T and semi-defunct T-Mobile versions here in the states are going to see such a thing. The answer is a resounding "we don't know". The US versions are essentially a Note in name only, and whether or not AT&T and Samsung want to update them is anyone's guess.  If you have the N7000 version though, keep an eye on your status bar or fire up Kies and see if you have an update waiting. Source: SamMobile

Mobile Nations fitness month week 3: Sleep and relaxation! Posted: 18 Feb 2013 09:33 AM PST Leave a comment below telling us your Fitness Month goals and be entered to win a FitBit! It's February and you know what that means? Mobile Nations Fitness Month! That's when we all get together to get in shape, share tips and tricks and recipes for success, review amazing apps and accessories, give away great prizes, and have a ton of fun! This year we're doing it a little differently, though. We're doing weekly themes, and that means every week you'll have new and exciting challenges, and new chances to win! Week 2: Sleep and relaxation! Relaxation, whether its full on mediation or just some simple breathing exercise, is how we keep our bodies and minds centered and balanced. Sleep is our reboot, when we write our daily cache to disk and run our system repairs so we're ready for the next day. As part of fitness month, we'll be reviewing a bunch of great apps and accessories that can help encourage, track, and train us to sleep and relax better and smarter. We'll also be doing THREE cool contests!   read more

HTC Rezound and Droid Incredible 2 getting a small 'Device Enhancement' update Posted: 18 Feb 2013 08:53 AM PST Verizon and HTC have announced a small update for the Rezound and the Droid Incredible 2 today. Listed only as a "Device Enhancement", no one is yet sure exactly what is getting updated, only that said updates should be making their way to handsets soon. Keep an eye on the forums to find out more. Source: Verizon (Rezound), (Incredible 2)

The Weather Channel app gets a sizeable update with a new look Posted: 18 Feb 2013 07:49 AM PST The Weather Channel's official Android app has been given a complete makeover in today's big update. In addition to an all new user interface and tablet optimization, they have beefed up the content quite a bit with more detailed forecasts, better and faster maps, and a better selection of videos from around the world. The full change log reads like this: “Expect rain to start at 3:15p”—No more guessing! If your weather is changing within 6 hrs, we let you the exact time it will happen. Faster maps with past & future radar, severe weather bulletins More detailed forecasts A better selection of videos Optimized for Android tablets Set up your favorites places to take full advantage of our weather widgets and notifications. What everyone has been asking for, a Refresh button! It is now easy to share your weather with your friends & family Of course, the biggest thing users are going to see is the all new UI. My first impressions are that it's quite nice. There's plenty of information, it's well laid out, and most importantly, pleasing to the eye. But according to the Play store entry's comments, many long time users aren't very happy with the changes. They note the new ad placement as a sticking point and feel it's less intuitive. Having not used the app before today's update means I have no reference, but I like it enough to keep it around for a while. This sort of thing is subjective, so the best advice I can give is to install it and try for yourself. It's free -- grab it at the Google Play link above. I've tossed a few screenshots after the break. read more

Xperia Z now on sale at Sony Mobile France store Posted: 18 Feb 2013 06:49 AM PST It looks like Germany isn't the only country getting an early chance to pick up the Sony Xperia Z. The phone has just gone up for sale on the Sony Mobile France online store. Purchased SIM-free, the 5-inch, 1080p-toting handset will set French buyers back €649 -- that's not cheap, but nor is it significantly more expensive than the average high-end smartphone. The phone is available in black and white -- the purple version isn't being offered unlocked, as it's exclusive to the SFR network in France. The Xperia Z should start appearing in brick-and-mortar stores before long, starting with the Sony Store in Berlin. Other European territories are expected to follow around the end of the month. Source: Sony Mobile France; via: XperiaBlog

Deal of the Day: Body Glove DropSuit Rugged Case for Samsung Galaxy S3 Posted: 18 Feb 2013 06:36 AM PST The Feb. 18 ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day is the Body Glove DropSuit Rugged Case for Samsung Galaxy S3. The DropSuit is made of a durable gel material that resists the battles of everyday life. The case has reinforced corners with a unique shock dissipation system to absorb impact and defend against bumps and drops. The strategically placed side bumpers provide a secure grip and added drop protection. The Body Glove DropSuit Rugged Case is available for just $10.00, 50% off today only. Backed by our 60-day return policy and fast shipping. Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts!

Monday Brief: More webOS drama, a BlackBerry Z10 Oreo, the Nokia Lumia 620 review, and more! Posted: 18 Feb 2013 05:21 AM PST Mobile Nations Podcast Feed Mobile Nations on iTunes Mobile Nations YouTube ZEN and TECH 51: Fitness month nutrition special! Iterate 40: The future of iOS design Is this the HTC One in black? Android 4.2.2 factory images now available for Nexus devices Android malware scanners -- should you use one? Top 10 tips for the BlackBerry 10 browser Introducing the BlackBerry Z10 Oreo - the tastiest Z10 color combo! Thinking of switching from BlackBerry 7 to BlackBerry 10? Here's what you need to know 'Chubby Checker' lawsuit filed against HP over endowment size estimator HP moving to Android for tablets and smartphones A final nail in the webOS coffin or a release from the purgatory of Palo Alto? Regarding iWatch, iTV, iPhone 5S, bigger and less expensive iPhones, iPad 5, and iPad mini 2 iWatch and the difference between Apple businesses and hobbies Power users vs. empowered users IDC reports a 150% YoY change for Windows Phone but is it enough? Nokia Lumia 620 Review - Affordability never looked so good Join the Windows Phone Central FitBit Group - You could win a prize

Start your week with the Greatest Android Podcast in the World! Posted: 18 Feb 2013 04:19 AM PST There's a ton of awesome Android news coming up this week. HTC's event on Tuesday. Our trek to Mobile World Congress at the back half of the week. And if you missed Thursday night's live recording, we've got your preview for it all. Plus, we recap what's new with Android 4.2.2, and take a bunch your voicemails.  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. Plus, we answer your e-mails and voicemails. You don't want to miss it. Check out the Android Central Podcast.

LG finally reveals Optimus G Pro specs, price, availability Posted: 17 Feb 2013 06:37 PM PST Update: LG expects to begin rolling out the new Optimus G Pro in overseas territories including the U.S. during the second quarter. LG technically officially announced the Optimus G Pro for the Korean market a few days ago, but now we've got all of the gritty details on the device. As we saw before, the new device will sport a full HD 1080x1920 5.5-inch (that's 400 ppi) display, with seemingly tiny bezels. Under that screen will be a 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage (SDcard expandable) and a removable 3,140mAh battery with wireless charging support. We're looking at 13MP rear and 2MP front cameras, LTE connectivity and shipping software of Android 4.1.2 with LG's latest UX customizations. The press release indicates availability of "next week" for the Korean market. Pricing is quoted at 968,000 won, which with a quick currency exchange calculation is just shy of $900 (although that's not always indicative of eventual U.S. pricing). The Optimus G Pro will be on display at MWC in just a week, so you can bet we'll have our hands on one soon. Source: LG

Gundotra: 'Committed to making Nexus phones insanely great cameras' Posted: 17 Feb 2013 06:12 PM PST 'Just you wait and see,' senior VP of engineering replies on Google+ Google's Senior VP of Engineering at Google, Vic Gundotra, took to Google+ this morning in a photography-themed post to reply to comments about the quality of Nexus phone cameras. The Nexus 4 is a pretty notable improvement in camera quality over what we saw on the Galaxy Nexus, but it's no secret that Nexus devices have lacked in the photography department. As you can see below, in response to a comment about just carrying a future Nexus device as his only camera Vic had this to say: It's clear with Google's improvements to the stock Android camera UI since Ice Cream Sandwich -- and the inclusion of Photo Sphere with Jelly Bean -- that a lot of focus is being put on the camera of Nexus devices, but it takes more than just a good UI to take good pictures. It really takes the combination of a quality camera sensor and great image processing software on the back end to have the end result of great pictures. While many Android manufacturers will pay to license image processing software from camera companies -- or in some cases borrow from the camera divisions of their own companies -- Google has historically kept things open-source in the camera department, which conflicts with paying for closed-source camera software. Now no one likes to just "wait and see," but it's our only option at this point. It's comments like this from high-ranking Googlers that make us hopeful for the future of Nexus camera capabilities though. Source: Vic Gundotra (Google+); Thanks, Grant!

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