Android Central |
- Google Maps, Drive and Earth updated with bugfixes
- Leaked renders appear for LG Optimus F series devices
- Google shows us 'how it feels' to use Google Glass
- Sony Xperia Z video walkthrough
- Qualcomm announces the entry level Snapdragon 200 and 400 series
- HTC One Otterbox cases in the works
- BBC Sport application finally makes appearance on Android
- TaxCaster: start thinking about your 2012 tax bill
- Google updates 'What's new in Android 4.2' for the ultimate Jelly Bean changelog
- Virgin Mobile announces the Kyocera Event for just $79
- HTC One goes up for pre-order on Expansys at £519
- Qualcomm announces Quick Charge 2.0, up to 75 percent faster charging
- Beautiful Widgets hits version 5.1 with new widgets and beta channel option
- Watch the HTC One London launch replay
- From the forums: Top HTC One discussions
- Pudding Monsters: City Tour lands tomorrow
- Deal of the Day: BodyGuardz HD Anti-Glare ScreenGuardz for Galaxy Note 2
- UK 4G spectrum auction concludes, EE + Vodafone are the big spenders
- CNN adds live streaming TV to its Android app, still requires a cable subscription
- SwiftKey turns 4, brings 'flow' gesture typing to prime time
- GoSmart Mobile expands to nationwide availability
- HTC One launch day wrap-up
- No, there's no red HTC One
| Google Maps, Drive and Earth updated with bugfixes Posted: 20 Feb 2013 04:34 PM PST
Google has just pushed out some bugfix updates in Google Play for both Maps and Earth, along with a couple of feature improvements for Drive. Those improvements for Drive are the ability to stream video files from the app on devices running Android 3.0 and above, as well as the ability to now use pinch-to-zoom in the presentation viewer. Maps and Earth aren't getting anything notable, but we're never going to turn down a good set of bugfixes that will improve the overall experience of using these apps. You can grab the latest version of Google Drive for the new features at the Play Store link above. If you're interested in picking up the bugfixes for Maps and Earth, they can be found here and here. 
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| Leaked renders appear for LG Optimus F series devices Posted: 20 Feb 2013 04:13 PM PST
It all sits nicely with the recently released teaser trailer for LG's MWC showcase, which tossed some new letters -- F and V -- into the mix. We've already seen the latest in the L-Style range of devices announced officially, and while these two F-series devices bear a distinct resemblance, we'd hope the differences are more than just a different letter in the name. The F7 strikes a similar pose to the 2012 Optimus L9, with a slender looking profile and physical home button. It's important to note that these are just leaks, but given the usual reliability of the source, there's a good chance these are the real deal. Whether or not we do get to see them in Barcelona remains to be seen, but we'll be live on the ground next week bringing you whatever LG has to offer. Source: @evleaks 
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| Google shows us 'how it feels' to use Google Glass Posted: 20 Feb 2013 03:30 PM PST The promise of what Google Glass can provide is what nerd dreams are made of, and Google is showing off some of its potential capabilities in a new "how it feels" commercial that released today. Similarly to the first Google Glass commercial from last year, the video takes on the first-person POV to show the capabilities of glass in real-world situations. Not everyone will be flying stunt planes or doing aerial trapeze tricks, but Google also shows more realistic applications -- like playing catch with your dog, swinging your child around with both hands, or riding a rollercoaster. We also get a better idea of how we'll be able to control and see the information presented by Glass. Voice prompts are started with the command "ok, glass" -- so, for example "ok, glass take a picture", "google pictures of...", "start a hangout with..." -- and one clip shows waving in front of the screen to switch between information. The heads-up display (for lack of a better name) is shown to be persistent in the top right corner of your vision, and shows information such as pictures you take, video times when recording, messages and transcriptions, search results, hangout views and Google Now-style cards with information like weather and navigation. Google is opening up a competition to stir up excitement for Glass as well, which is open until February 27th, and will offer more people the opportunity to get their hands on the device at the cool price of $1500. We see huge potential for Google Glass going forward, and hope that these lofty concepts shown off in the commercials can become reality sooner than later. More: Google 
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| Sony Xperia Z video walkthrough Posted: 20 Feb 2013 03:29 PM PST With the Sony Xperia Z European launch approaching, we've had time to go hands-on with the device once again, and give you a more detailed breakdown of what's coming. So if you're after a quick primer on the next Sony flagship smartphone, check out the five-minute walkthrough above. 
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| Qualcomm announces the entry level Snapdragon 200 and 400 series Posted: 20 Feb 2013 02:54 PM PST
Qualcomm has announced their new 200 and 400 Snapdragon processors, designed to bring reliable performance to more people. The new chips are designed to power entry-level devices and should come in at a great price point, allowing the people who make our Android phones to deliver affordable phones with decent hardware under the hood. The 200 series features quad A5 CPUs, running up to 1.4GHz per core. In addition, the SoC offers the Adreno 203 GPU, support for up to 8MP cameras, embedded GPS, and multi-SIM UMTS or CDMA modem options. These chips are designed from the ground up to deliver a good balance of cost versus performance, along with good battery life for low-end smart phones. The 400 series beefs things up a bit, offering either a dual Krait aSMP version running up to 1.7GHz per core; or a quad A7 version at 1.4GHz. Both versions will be paired with an Adreno 305, native Miracast wireless display technology, and a full suite of modem options to fit just about any cellular network. The Snapdragon 400 will be an excellent choice for vendors who build high-volume phones that offer performance folks demand. Not every phone will offer top-end specifications. It's great to see options that make budget-friendly phones perform better, and Qualcomm realizes the importance of them. We expect to see devices running these processors in the market soon. For more information, visit the source link below. Source: Qualcomm 
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| HTC One Otterbox cases in the works Posted: 20 Feb 2013 02:21 PM PST
Sure, the back half of the HTC One is made of metal, but the front half is all glass, baby. And both of them could use some protection. One of the early entries in the HTC One case department is the venerable Otterbox, which has a trio of shells in the works. The cases actually are several layers of protection, with polycarbonate shells combined with rubber internals that cushion your HTC One as much as protects it from outright blows. There's a screen protector, too, if that's your thing. On the left here you see the Otterbox Defender Series with Realtree Xtra Green camouflage pattern. For those times that your phone has to go incognito and keep from being seen by furry woodland creatures, we suppose. In the middle is the more traditional HTC One Defender Series case from Otterbox. Same bad-ass protection that'll go over a little better in the boardroom, we suppose. And on the right is the Commuter Series case for the HTC One. It's toned down a little bit, still offering a great deal of protection, but without being mistaken for a tank. The Otterbox line for the HTC One starts at $59 for the Realtree case, $49 for the traditional Defender Series and $34 for the Commuter Series. You can leave your e-mail with Otterbox at the links below to be notified when they're available. Source: HTC One Defender Series with Realtree; HTC One Defender Series; HTC One Commuter Series 
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| BBC Sport application finally makes appearance on Android Posted: 20 Feb 2013 01:57 PM PST
British sports fans rejoice, the BBC Sport application for Android is finally here. Following on from a pretty decent mobile website that streamed live video such as the Olympic Games, and the release of an iOS app, Android users can now enjoy the best the BBC Sport team has to offer. Anyone who uses the BBC Sport website will know the depth of sports available, and the coverage for the UK's Football teams in particular. A couple of the headline features include a live football scores section, and the ability to play on-demand and live video. As such, availability is likely restricted to the UK, and we've already tried to find it in the U.S. to no avail. Spending a short time with the application leaves a mixed bag of opinions. The app itself is well designed, pretty slick to use, and the full BBC Sport content is there. Video quality in our early testing wasn't great, and hopefully is something the BBC will work on improving in coming weeks and months. If, like me, you've been waiting on this one, grab a copy at the Play Store link above 
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| TaxCaster: start thinking about your 2012 tax bill Posted: 20 Feb 2013 01:08 PM PST
The sooner you start thinking about your taxes the better, and TaxCaster does a great job of helping you estimate what you'll owe before you get started on it officially. We looked last week at what the IRS had to offer to check your tax return status once you're done, but sometimes you just need an app that'll help get you started first. This won't file your taxes, but it'll surely get you on the right path. Hang around with us after the break to see a quick overview of TaxCaster. 
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| Google updates 'What's new in Android 4.2' for the ultimate Jelly Bean changelog Posted: 20 Feb 2013 12:19 PM PST
As with previous updates, you can now check out Google's own complete Jelly Bean changelog for the new features of Android 4.2, all on one page. We all know about the big additions of lockscreen widgets, redesigned clock and quick settings in the notification bar, but you may have forgotten about some of the more subtle changes. We're going to be honest there were even a few small things -- like some obscure networking improvements -- in here that we didn't know about. Check out the full Android 4.2 changelog at the source link below, and be sure to let us know here in the comments if you find something new or interesting that you didn't know before. Source: Android Changelog 
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| Virgin Mobile announces the Kyocera Event for just $79 Posted: 20 Feb 2013 11:43 AM PST
Virgin Mobile and Kyocera have teamed up to offer an extremely low-cost Android device, the Event, for just $79.99 without a contract. Now you can't expect high-end specs at this price, but the Event shouldn't be a complete slouch. We're looking at a 3.5-inch HVGA (320x480) display, a 1GHz processor, 512MB of RAM (SDcard expandable), a 3.2MP camera and it's all running under Android 4.0. The software looks very slightly skinned as well, which is nice. The Event can be purchased for just $79.99 without a contract, and paired with one of Virgin's plans that offers unlimited data starting at $35 per month for 300 minutes. This device would be a great option for a frugal first-time smartphone user. More: Virgin Mobile 
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| HTC One goes up for pre-order on Expansys at £519 Posted: 20 Feb 2013 10:55 AM PST
It was only a matter of time, but we thought it would be a little more time than this. Expansys is following in Clove's footsteps today and has just put up the HTC One for pre-order at the cool price of £519. Both silver and black varieties are available, but only in 32GB capacity (as expected). The pricing looks about the same to what Clove is offering the One for SIM free in the U.K. also. Expansys also has pre-order placeholders ready to sell to U.S. customers, with both colors and capacities available, but there isn't any pricing information just quite yet. Three of the four major carriers in the U.S. have announced availability as well, so it looks like folks stateside will have several options when it comes to buying this device. Source: Expansys 
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| Qualcomm announces Quick Charge 2.0, up to 75 percent faster charging Posted: 20 Feb 2013 09:54 AM PST
If you thought Qualcomm's 40 percent faster charging time in Quick Charge 1.0 was impressive, wait till you see Quick Charge 2.0. The processor manufacturer today took the wraps off the second-generation of Quick Charge, which will power up smartphones and tablets up to 75 percent faster than devices that don't have Quick Charge 2.0. Quick Charge 2.0 is a combined effort of on-device technology (it's either a standalone integrated circuit solution, or built into the power management in the Snapdragon 800 system on a chip), along with the Quick Charge 2.0 wall charger. Qualcomm says that new tech will fit into existing wall charger footprints, so they'll look the same as what's currently available but provide up to 60 watts of power. Quick Charge 2.0 wall chargers aren't expected to be avialable before 2014, however. More: Qualcomm 
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| Beautiful Widgets hits version 5.1 with new widgets and beta channel option Posted: 20 Feb 2013 08:25 AM PST
The Beautiful Widgets team continues to push out updates, and the latest version of the popular app adds a substantial amount of new stuff. Among the additions in the latest Beautiful Widgets 5.1 are new widgets (natch) -- there's a "barebones" widget designed for tablets, available in 6x1 or 6x2 grid sizes. There's also the option to switch weather providers -- Weather Underground support is offered alongside AccuWeather. The forecast screen has been updated with "lifestyles" information when using AccuWeather, showing how well-suited the current conditions are to certain activities like golf, lawn mowing and hiking (as well as certain dangers like the flu risk.) And finally, there's a new optional beta channel that gives widget enthusiasts the chance to test out early features before they're fully stable. Check the source link for a full list of changes and fixes in the new Beautiful Widgets 5.1, or hit the Google Play link above to jump straight to the download. Source: LevelUp Studio 
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| Watch the HTC One London launch replay Posted: 20 Feb 2013 08:23 AM PST Peter Chou, Scott Croyle and a host of other live from London for the main event of the HTC One launch. More: HTC One forums 
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| From the forums: Top HTC One discussions Posted: 20 Feb 2013 07:56 AM PST
In case you missed it, HTC announced a new phone yesterday, and the Android Central forums have been busy with discussion about everything from the shiny all-metal body to the new "Ultrapixel" camera. Here's a quick breakdown of some the best threads so far --
More: HTC One forum
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| Pudding Monsters: City Tour lands tomorrow Posted: 20 Feb 2013 06:39 AM PST
ZeptoLab, the fine folks behind the likes of Cut the Rope and Pudding Monsters, announced today that Pudding Monsters: City Tour will be released Feb. 21 on Android and iOS. The gist is the same as the original -- you build Mega Monsters (out of pudding) to fight the angry Fridge Owner. This sequel adds 25 new levels set against the backdrop of skyscrapers and city streets. Look for a link tomorrow. 
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| Deal of the Day: BodyGuardz HD Anti-Glare ScreenGuardz for Galaxy Note 2 Posted: 20 Feb 2013 06:18 AM PST
The BodyGuardz HD Anti-Glare ScreenGuardz are available for just $9.00, 44% off today only. Backed by our 60-day return policy and fast shipping. Deal also available in the Canada store Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts! 
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| UK 4G spectrum auction concludes, EE + Vodafone are the big spenders Posted: 20 Feb 2013 05:52 AM PST
The UK's long-delayed 4G spectrum auction has completed today, resulting in the sale of 800MHz and 2600MHz airwaves to the country's largest operators for a total of £2.3 billion. Here's what it means for each of the major providers -- 
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| CNN adds live streaming TV to its Android app, still requires a cable subscription Posted: 20 Feb 2013 04:43 AM PST
CNN has finally decided to add a live TV stream to its Android app, but there are still a few caveats associated with the new functionality. Alongside the normal set of clips and content available previously in its app, you can now watch a live stream of CNN or HLN directly from a menu marked as "watch live TV". The caveat, as we mentioned, is that you're still going to be required to authorize with CNN that you subscribe to a cable TV package with one of its partners. It's an unfortunate (but still quite standard) situation for those of us who have chosen to "cut the cord" and don't subscribe to a cable service. The functionality, once you get it working, does seem to live up to its promise of providing a live CNN stream. Even on a solid Wifi connection it still didn't seem to be very high quality in our time with it, though. Understanding that there are issues, this is still a good start for CNN and hopefully more channels can follow suit. 
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| SwiftKey turns 4, brings 'flow' gesture typing to prime time Posted: 19 Feb 2013 11:56 PM PST
The folks at SwiftKey have made a hell of a good keyboard for Android phones and tablets. They've garnered numerous awards for it, from names like the GSMA, Fast Company, and our very own Editor's Choice awards for two years running. We're on record saying it's simply the best all around predictive text keyboard money can buy. There's a reason SwiftKey has sold over 2,000,000 copies and has over 70,000 5-star ratings in Google Play. When they debuted their beta versions of SwiftKey Flow, which incorporates swiping gestures into the keyboard, folks fell in love with it all over again. It was a swiping keyboard, with great autocorrect and personalized predictions that seemed to read our minds. SwiftKey has finalized things and they have released SwiftKey 4. It's on sale for $1.99 (it's normally a $3.99 app) if you don't already have SwiftKey, and it's a free upgrade for everybody who has already purchased. SwiftKey 4 incorporates "the flow" on top of the great features we're already using, and it just works. Ask anyone who has been using the beta builds -- you want this keyboard. Grab it from the Google Play link above, or install the tablet version from Google Play here. 
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| GoSmart Mobile expands to nationwide availability Posted: 19 Feb 2013 08:21 PM PST
GoSmart Mobile, a wholly owned and operated subsidiary of T-Mobile USA, is launching to nationwide availability starting today as previously rumored. The new prepaid carrier, which has operated in a limited number of markets since December of last year, will now offer its services in thousands of wireless resellers around the country. The pricing and structure is unchanged from the trials though it seems, and the prepaid-only carrier will be offering three plans at $30, $35 and $45. The $30 plan will be uninteresting to most of us as it doesn't offer data, but the $35 plan will offer unlimited 2G access while the $45 plan will offer unlimited "high speed" access. SIM kits for unlocked phones will set you back just $8. We're not sure what the speeds will be on the $45 plan, but GoSmart has previously indicated that its customers will indeed be put at a lower priority than T-Mobile's own-branded customers. With that being said, this could be a compelling option for some people that understand the limitations and are willing to be on a slightly slower speed priority for the monthly savings. And extra price competition in the prepaid space is always good. You can check out more about the new plans at the source link below. More: GoSmart Mobile 
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| Posted: 19 Feb 2013 06:58 PM PST
We're coming to the conclusion of our HTC One launch coverage, so now's a great time to get caught up on all the launch day goodness that we've published over the past few hours. Whether you want to check out hands-on video, in-depth write-ups or just the basic details, you'll find everything you could want to know about HTC's 2013 flagship linked below.
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| Posted: 19 Feb 2013 06:30 PM PST
Hate to burst anyone's balloon, but -- well, that's what we do around there. For a little while today, there was a red option listed for the HTC One on HTC's website. We're told that was there in error, and it's since been removed. So you can get any color of HTC One you want, so long as it's silver or black. Doesn't mean we might not see any colors down the road. (We have a feeling that red color was there for a reason, even if it wasn't supposed to be there yet.) But for now, it's silver or black only. Source: HTC; More: HTC One forums 
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