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Posted: 14 Feb 2013 11:33 AM PST
This week has been full of nostalgia. First with Pokemon blasting onto the Android scene, and now we have Tamagotchi. Yup, the little virtual pet keychains that were ridiculously popular in the 90s are back to grace our Android smartphones and tablets. To celebrate 16 years in business the Tamagotchi is now available for Android, and your pet will even be in color this time.
 While I wasn’t the biggest fan of the Tamagotchi back in the day, they sure were popular. Feeding and taking care of your little virtual pet without the hassle of cleaning up after a real animal. The idea was pretty genius. Brought to us by NAMCO Bandai is the all new and completely free Tamagotchi LIFE pet for Android. Who’s interested? Instead of completely changing the simplistic fun of the Tamagotchi, they’ve kept the app basically the same as the original only with a few added differences. You can now have different colors, the resolution is a bit higher for our smartphones although your pet will still be 8-bit, and you can change the wallpaper and Tamagotchi shell too.  All the original Tamagotchi and collection sets are available in app, they have featured and signature wallpapers, and hey, you can even share your pet to Facebook. We knew that was coming. In 1998 sharing to Facebook meant I had to walk down the street and knock on a friends door to show him my Tamagotchi pet. If you’d like to relive the past, or share this past-time with your kids head to the link below and get the free app today. [via Play Store] |
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Posted: 14 Feb 2013 11:21 AM PST
We recently saw the return of the Nexus 4 Android 4.2.1 factory images and coming as we would expect given an updated release — Google has posted the Android 4.2.2 factory images. These images are available for the Nexus 10 and Nexus 7 tablets as well as the Nexus 4 and Galaxy Nexus smartphones.
 Some handsets, such as the carrier specific Galaxy Nexus models and the Nexus S are still reflecting older builds. Basically, these factory images will be useful for those who have flashed a custom ROM and are now looking to get back to the original out-of-box state. Or alternatively, these will be useful for those who tried to flash a ROM and ended up with a brick. One of the interesting takes here, some of the smartphones have several builds available. Some are going back to Android 4.0.4 and even 2.3.6, but in the case of the Nexus 4 — it is just Android 4.2.2 (JDQ39). While there are most likely some theories as to why that is, we should point out that the Nexus 10 and 7 sit in a similar position with just one version being available. Another exception is for the Wi-Fi only Nexus 7 which has 4.2.2 (JDQ39) and 4.2.1 (JZO54K) available. Bottom line here, Google has released the Android 4.2.2 factory images for most Nexus devices which really just goes to say that you should be able to do a bit of playing with ROM’s and a bit less worrying about not being able to get back to where you began. If nothing else, we suggest downloading the factory image for your device ahead of time — just in case you need it urgently, or just in case Google happens to remove it like they did with the 4.2.1 images. [via Android Police] |
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Posted: 14 Feb 2013 10:48 AM PST
Today we have stumbled on a collection of screenshots that appear to confirm some previous rumors. Rumors that Samsung has a smartwatch in the works to join their Galaxy lineup. The images you’ll see below are being called the Samsung GALAXY Altius, and certainly look to be a “smartwatch” and not the Galaxy S IV or a smartphone.
 The images have appeared on a Korean messageboard that has a conversation going about smartwatches and if they’ll take off and become another successful product in this mobile market. No one appears to be denying the device exists, and instead are talking about how it will compete with the rumored iWatch and other smartwatches we’ve seen over the past 8-12 months. Multiple rumors have all pointed the codename “Altius” to the Samsung Galaxy S IV smartphone, but could they all be wrong and instead it was a smartwatch? That’s what these look like. The series of screenshots are obviously not a 4.99-inch 1080p display. And instead are 500×500 and square, just like a watch face. Then you’ll clearly noticed multiple mentions of Samsung and Altius both here.  There’s mention of SKT for SKTelecom, so that could be where rumors of a smartphone were mixed up, and that also gives credence to the idea that this smartwatch will have phone or data capabilities aside from the usual Bluetooth and WiFi. Looking over a few of the screenshots we clearly see “AltuisOS” being listed so this could be java-based, but still has that Android look if you ask us. These screenshots are either old – saying beta2 – or this project is still a long ways from ever hitting shelves and being announced by Samsung. One thing worth noting is that second screenshot above sure looks a lot like Windows Phone OS with those tiles, which will probably be live tiles updating with weather, messages, missed calls, and everything else you’d expect from a smartwatch. The bar below makes us believe it will have a touchscreen, and you can swipe to the next screen. AltuisOS is mentioned more than a few times so we’re still debating whether or not this device will run Android. For now we’re still digging for more details, and feel free to drop us a comment if you can read the information on screen. Is Samsung preparing a smartwatch? All signs point to yes this afternoon. Would you buy one if it neatly synced to your Galaxy S III or upcoming Galaxy S IV? Maybe Samsung will unveil this alongside their Galaxy S IV as a family of devices. We’ll have to wait and see.       [via SlashGear] |
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Posted: 14 Feb 2013 10:45 AM PST
This almost goes without saying, however Android and iOS are the dominate players in the smartphone market these days. What may be a bit more interesting though, is just how much of a dominance these two have when combined. Details coming by way of a recent IDC report are showing a number of 91.1 percent for the fourth quarter of 2012.
 That doesn’t seem to leave much room for everyone else. Stepping back from Q4 and looking at 2012 as a whole and that number is only slightly less — 87.6 percent when Android and iOS are combined. Looking at units shipped instead of percentages and we are still seeing some big numbers. According to this same IDC report, Android vendors and Apple shipped a total of 207.6 million smartphones during Q4 2012. That 207.6 million number is up 70.2 percent as compared to the 122.0 million that were shipped during the same quarter in the previous year. Ramon Llamas, research manager with IDC’s Mobile Phone team has said that “the dominance of Android and Apple reached a new watermark in the fourth quarter.” And really, with a combined percentage now greater than 90 percent what else can be said. Touching on Android for a moment and we go back to Samsung being dominant. It was noted that Samsung accounted for 42 percent of Android smartphone shipments during 2012 and that following them was “a long list of vendors with single digit market share, and an even longer list of vendors with market share less than one percent.” Of course, aside from Android and iOS we still see Windows Phone and BlackBerry fighting it out for the remaining part of the pie. [via Business Wire] |
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Posted: 14 Feb 2013 10:12 AM PST
We know you guys all love the custom and ever changing Google Doodle artwork that graces the front page of Google from time to time, and now we can enjoy it on our mobile devices in another way. For those running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, Google Now has received a little update behind the scenes that wasn’t mentioned in yesterdays update. We now get Google Doodles right on our phone too.
 Google Now has had nice artwork in the past, but unless you resided in a major city like New York, LA, Las Vegas, and a few others you were greeted with a generic image of some mountains or the sunset. Today however we can now confirm Google Now syncs and will show the Google Doodle just like on the web. Today we have a fun little carnival, although it doesn’t move like Google’s homepage on a PC. The image above is today’s Google Doodle, which I’m enjoying on my Galaxy Nexus this afternoon. This was already available in the browser, but now we have it on Google Now. This Doodle is celebrating two things. One being George Ferris with a few ferris wheels, as well as Valentine’s Day with a little warm-felt heart in the middle. Now instead of just a little variety during the day, we get the same fun and informational Doodles as the web version. I’m still hopeful that eventually Google will make them interactive but that probably isn’t coming any time soon. So next time you’re busy dictating your Google Search, take a few moments out of your busy day and enjoy the Google Doodle on your Android phone or tablet. It’s the little things Google. We like it, it’s a nice touch! – Thanks to all who sent this in! |
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Posted: 14 Feb 2013 10:02 AM PST
Archos has officially announced their latest family of tablets, the Platinum line, one of which we happen to have seen come up in rumor form earlier this morning. Rumors aside, this latest Platinum series announcement includes three tablets — the 97 Platinum, 80 Platinum and the 116 Platinum.
 Archos has said these Platinum tablets will arrive with “sleek” aluminum designs and “the best” high definition IPS displays. As we have come to expect with Archos, the names clue us in on the display size. In this case we have 9.7-inch (2048 x 1536), 8.0-inch (1024 x 768) and 11.6-inch (1920 x 1080) models. These tablets will all be running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean at launch and sharing many of the same specs across the board.  For example, they will all have a quad-core 1.2GHz processor with 8-core GPU, 2GB of RAM, front- and rear-facing camera, microSD card slots, mini-HDMI and access to the Google Play Store as well as the Archos Media Center applications. The 97 Platinum and the 80 Platinum will both be available this month and the 116 Platinum is expected to arrive in April. The tablets will arrive with price points of $299, $199 and $349 for the 97 Platinum, 80 Platinum and 116 Platinum respectively. And as we have seen with other Archos tablet introductions, they have taken the opportunity to compare with the competition. The 97 Platinum is going after the iPad with a “comparable” display and 40 percent less expensive price tag and the 80 Platinum is said to be “a fraction of the cost” of the Kindle Fire HD 8.9. |
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Posted: 14 Feb 2013 09:40 AM PST
Search YouTube, or Google for that matter and you will find more Harlem Shake videos that anyone needs to see. Well, it now seems like we have the one extra, this one done on the Google campus and dubbed the Google Office Edition. Basically, what we have is a bunch of Google employees dancing around the Android characters.
 What can we say, while neat to see Google getting in on the fun, we may be ready for the next meme to kick off. Not to make this about Google catching on late and everyone being bored with this Harlem Shake meme or anything, but we suspect it would have been that much more interesting had Google been able to get those statues in on the dancing action. Alternatively, if you are really into this, you can also check out the Facebook edition or even the Late Night with Jimmy Fallon version. Regardless of which you choose to watch, or how many you choose to watch, you will likely fall sick of hearing that music sooner rather than later. I know I did. I spent a few minutes writing this post and ended up getting drawn into the never ending loops of Harlem Shake videos. With that, the Google edition is just 30 seconds in length and can be seen above. For those like myself who had managed to avoid this meme for a good while, you may want to keep resisting. |
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Posted: 14 Feb 2013 09:00 AM PST
Coming as another in a series of HTC One (M7) leaks and rumors, it looks like some price points and release dates have been revealed. The information is dealing with the US release and comes along with some details about the exterior casing. The key here is that while these details all sound believable enough — nothing is official until we get the word from HTC. Well, HTC or the carriers.
 That warning out of the way, it is now being reported that the HTC One will launch in the US market with three carriers — AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint. The price is said to be $199.99 for a 32GB model and $299.99 for a 64GB model. Nothing has been mentioned in terms of Verizon Wireless, however given the previous HTC M7 coverage, that part is not all that surprising. Otherwise, aside from the two price points and the three carriers — it was said that the HTC One would be available beginning on March 22. Of course, we suspect we will be getting the official details come February 19 when HTC has the announcement event. Additionally, there was some talk about the handset itself. To begin with, further mention of the colors, which are said to be black and silver/white. It was also mentioned that the previous image of the HTC M7 with a soft-touch black exterior was real. The catch, that was nothing more than a pre-production unit used for testing. It seems the final design will have a metal casing with front-facing speakers. Other still rumored specs include a 4.7-inch 1080p display and quad-core processor with Jelly Bean and Sense 5. Given the hype surrounding the handset so far, this is likely a silly question — but who is excited to see what HTC has to offer? [via HTC Source] |
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Posted: 14 Feb 2013 08:18 AM PST
Coming ahead of this weekends A Good Day to Die Hard movie release, Fox Digital Entertainment has released the mobile game DIE HARD for Android. The game has you playing as Jack McClane and arrives as an endless runner style. Though, it is doing that with a small twist, in DIE HARD you have the danger coming from the front which forces you to go on the attack and confront your enemies head on. We should also mentioned that this one has come by way of POSSIBLE, the developers behind The End.
 As of now the DIE HARD game is available by way of the Google Play Store (link) and while not yet available in the Amazon Appstore, it is said to be coming sometime in the “next few days.” The game is free to download and is touting features to include awesome 3D graphics along with vivid colors and an immersive world. Perhaps more important for some though, DIE HARD has support for high-resolution displays at 60FPS. Not to mention, a variety of gadgets, weapons and power ups to unlock.  Our friends at SlashGear have spent some time playing and have described it as “a sweet ride from start to finish.” In addition to having already played their way through, they also spent some time with two of the people responsible for the game. As mentioned earlier, this game is from POSSIBLE, however it was said that the idea for this game began with The End. They saw The End as another endless runner style game and thought they could expand that genre with the release of DIE HARD. Bottom line here, judging from the screenshots and the game play action that we have seen, it looks like we here at Android Community are going to be spending some time playing DIE HARD in the not to distant future. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the game is available for free and with support for a wide variety of devices (2.2 or later). Lastly, for those worried about getting involved with a movie release game, it looks like Fox has committed to provide “ongoing support” including new levels and environments.    [via SlashGear] |
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Posted: 14 Feb 2013 07:39 AM PST
Barnes & Noble has both announced the date when they would be releasing their third quarter earnings for fiscal year 2013 and also offered a warning for investors. According to details coming from the Barnes & Noble issued statement, the third quarter earnings results would arrive before the market opens on February 28. In addition to the earnings report, the company will also have an investor conference call that same day.
 This is where things appear to be getting interesting for investors. Barnes & Noble has offered a warning telling how they expect the fiscal year 2013 NOOK segment EBITDA loss to be “greater than it was in fiscal 2012.” Furthermore, they also mentioned how they expect fiscal year 2013 NOOK Media revenues to be “less than $3 billion.” Previous expectations suggested that the EBITDA loss would be around what they saw in the previous year and the NOOK Media revenues were expected to be $3 billion, as opposed to the now less than $3 billion. Otherwise, for those wondering where the NOOK Media side fits in, this is the portion that deals with the NOOK and college business. You likely remember, the one that Microsoft backed to the tune of $300 million in April of 2012. Microsoft backings aside, it is details such as this, that when combined with reports of not-so-stellar holiday sales and plans of closing numerous retail stores over the next 10 years — we do have to wonder just how well things are going for Barnes & Noble. That said, it looks like we are going to be getting somewhat of a look come February 28 when they announce their latest earnings report. [via Barnes & Noble] |
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Posted: 14 Feb 2013 07:06 AM PST
This wouldn’t be the first time we are hearing about an Android powered smartphone coming from Archos, however the rumors have once again begun to surface. So far we have yet to see anything official coming from Archos, the talk however is pointing towards a trio of smartphone. Well, the smartphones and another tablet. Specifically, an 11.6-inch tablet called the 116 Platinum.
 Lets kick things off with the smartphone talk though. This actually stems back to September 2009 when Archos was expecting to launch a 3.5G ‘phone tablet’ with a 4.3-inch display and 1GHz ARM Cortex processor. These plans were reportedly ditched due to lack of carrier support. The key here, would carriers now be interested? Or alternatively, would now be a good time for Archos to give this a go without direct carrier support? Time will tell how those questions can be answered, but in the meantime, lets talk rumored specs. The details are coming by way of a French blogger named Pierre Lecourt. According to Lecourt, Archos has plans to release three phones with the display sizes being; 5.2-inch, 4.8-inch and 3.5-inch display. These will be called the Archos 52 Titanium, 48 Platinum and 35 Carbon. The Archos 52 Titanium is said to have an 800 x 480 display and dual-core 1.2GHz processor. The 48 Platinum, while with a smaller display, is actually said to have higher-end specs. This handset is believed to have a 1280 x 800 resolution display along with a quad-core 1.7GHz Mediatek MT6589 processor. Rumors suggest this handset could arrive priced at around 250 euros. The final handset, the 35 Carbon is tipped to feature a 480 x 320 display, 512MB of RAM, 512MB of internal storage and a single-core processor. The price for this is said to be around 90 euros. Moving over to the tablet and this one is looking like it will be an 11.6-inch model dubbed the Archos 116 Platinum. Rumored specs here include a high-resolution display, quad-core 1.2GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. The price for the 116 Platinum is expected to be a bit more than $450 and it looks like it will arrive for sale in Europe as well as the US. [via Liliputing] |
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Posted: 14 Feb 2013 06:33 AM PST
Coming just a day after LG announced their Optimus L Series II line of smartphones, sales of the currently available Optimus L Series devices have reached a new milestone. In short, LG has said Optimus L Series sales have topped 15 million. This handset originally launched during Mobile World Congress in 2012 and according to LG, has been selling at the rate of one device per second over the previous two months.
 Looking back, the Optimus L Series reached the 10 million mark back in December of 2012. Given those details, it now makes perfect sense as to why LG announced the Optimus L Series II line. Why mess with a good thing? Of course, while LG has already announced the Series II line of handsets, they are still planning to make an official unveiling during Mobile World Congress 2013. LG has said the Optimus L Series II devices will “carry on the legacy of its predecessor, offering a user experience unique to LG smartphones.” Coming from the previous announcement, we know the Series II devices will include the Optimus L3 II, L5 II and the L7 II. We have yet to see a full set of specs for the complete line, however LG did offer enough to give an idea. The L7 II will be the top of the line and include a 4.3-inch WVGA IPS display, dual-core 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8225 processor, 768MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot, 2460 mAh battery, VGA quality front-facing camera and an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera. Shifting over to the L5 II and the L3 II and we know that these will have a 4.0-inch WVGA and a 3.2-inch QVGA IPS display respectively. Otherwise, the only other bits that LG has shared in terms of these two include the battery sizes, which will be 1700 mAh and 1540 mAh. Regardless though, MWC is quickly approaching and we know more information will be available at that time. [via Fierce Wireless] |
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Posted: 13 Feb 2013 05:07 PM PST
It was only yesterday that the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean update became available for a variety of Nexus devices. The GSM Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 7 (Wi-Fi), and Nexus 10 were all able to be updated to the latest version. However, Google’s latest smartphone, the Nexus 4, was left out of the loop, disappointing a lot of users. Now those of you with a Nexus 4 can rejoice because the Android 4.2.2 OTA has just become available for you.
 The Android 4.2.2 update brings a variety of features to your device. It brings improved stability and performance, as well as a various bug fixes. Alongside that, it also features a new download notification that shows you how much time is left before your app finishes downloading. You are also now able to toggle your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on/off by long-pressing their respective squares. Finally, there are new sound notifications for both wireless charging and the low battery signal. If you’re an AdBlock Plus user, be aware that the new Android 4.2.2 update does prevent the app from working. There is a patch included in the update that prevents AdBlock from automatically configuring the proxy in your phone in order to block out ads. However, on the plus side, this also prevents malicious apps from being able use the Android security flaw for phishing, as well as compromise your privacy. The update is available through OTA, however you can also download the update manually from Google. The update is about 51MB and shouldn’t take too long to download over a Wi-Fi connection. We hope you enjoy your new update and the new features that it brings. You can also see what else Android 4.2.2 has in store for you in the timeline below.
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Posted: 13 Feb 2013 04:49 PM PST
Intel plans on launching its own internet-based TV service soon, and it will also be compatible with mobile devices. Intel Media’s general manager, Erik Huggers, confirmed that the company had plans of launching their TV service to mobile devices across a variety of operating systems. Hugger did say, however, that Intel’s TV service will initially only launch on a select amount of platforms, and that it may take some time before it becomes available for every device.
 Intel’s TV service will allow consumers to watch on-demand shows and movies, as well as live television. Intel will create a TV box supplied with its own hardware that will supposedly bring a whole new kind of TV experience to its users. Intel says that it will be a game changer. One strange detail mentioned about Intel’s TV box is that it will have a camera that detects if anyone’s in front of the TV. The camera is said to keep track of your movements and viewing habits in order to personalize the way you watch TV. It will also be used for target marketing. Intel also mentioned that their TV services won’t be cheaper than its competition’s, which makes it less appealing compared to Hulu and Netflix. It will offer programming bundles that are similar to the packages from cable TV companies. The bundle is supposed to be well-curated for various types of users. Intel is going to have a tough time competing with the likes of Netflix and Hulu, and it’s going to have an even harder time selling the camera feature. However, those of us with mobile devices may be in for a treat. It’ll be interesting to see what types of bundles the Intel TV service will offer, and the ability to view live TV does help set it apart from its competition. Although Hugger did say that Intel’s TV service will only be available for a select amount of devices at launch, it’s very likely that Android, with its huge amount of users, will be one of those devices. [via AllThingsD] |
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Posted: 13 Feb 2013 04:16 PM PST
Today we have some good news for all those looking for an excellent media and video player for Android. Yes we’re talking about the Archos Video Player. While their hardware gives us mixed feelings their integrated software, particular this video player, is one of their best offerings. Today they’ve released a free version and we have all the details below.
 Archos has always been known for having awesome video players with their Android devices. Their video player can basically handle anything and everything you toss its way. It’s one of the few strong points for their tablet lineup. Offering hardware accelerated video decoding the amount of different file size, type, formats and such is a breeze for Archos. Back in December they released their acclaimed media player to the Google Play Store and many were excited, only to find out they were asking $4.99 for the application. That price is worth it for many though, as it is probably the most capable video player for Android – although I’m sure a few others will have something to say about that.  While Archos has an excellent video player the price has certainly kept many from using that option, so today they’ve announced a free version. Sadly this free app is ad-supported. Hopefully this doesn’t mean popups in the middle of our videos. Because that would just be gross. For those wanting an extremely powerful video player that also has a pretty slick UI feel free to try out the just released free version from the link below. Then drop the $4.99 should you decide it’s worth it. [via Play Store] |
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Posted: 13 Feb 2013 04:04 PM PST
A new kickstarter promises a screen protector that will protect your smartphone or tablet from having its screen cracked. Whether you drop your device, or smash it with a hammer, the new Rhino Shield will keep your screen from shattering. The developers of Rhino Shield promises their product will offer your phone more protection than Gorilla Glass, which many of us know isn’t shatter-proof.
 The Rhino Shield is a polymer that has extreme impact absorption while boasting excellent transparency. There are a total of 6 layers to the screen protector. There is an oil repelling layer, scratch-resistance layer, impact dispersion layer, impact damping layer, high strength layer, and an adhesive layer. The shock-absorbing and impact layers will protect your device from various instances, such as when you drop your phone… or throw it against a wall out of anger. The scratch-resistant layer will help protect your device from accidental scratches, whether they come from your keys or from the claws of your pets. The Rhino Shield does look like an all-in-one screen protector. It protects your phone from all the great dangers a mobile device can encounter, and also provides the basic qualities of a screen-protector, like fingerprint resistance. It’s probably a God send for those of you who seem to possess butter fingers. The Rhino Shield group hopes to raise £50,000 by March 13th. So far it has reached nearly £2,500. If you pledge £12 (or around $16), you can get a Rhino Shield for a variety of popular devices including the Samsung Galaxy S III, Samsung Galaxy Note II, iPhone 5, HTC DROID DNA, and more. The pledge prices increase depending on the size of device you want to protect. If this at all interests you, check the Rhino Shield out. [via Kickstarter] |
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Posted: 13 Feb 2013 03:48 PM PST
The update to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean for HTC’s popular One S smartphone began rolling out internationally back in late December, but it still hasn’t arrived for everyone quite yet. While the T-Mobile version is still up in the air and in the testing stages, the folks down on Three UK have confirmed the update is rolling out this week.
 It’s arriving a month and a half later than the international version, but that isn’t too bad considering some carriers take much longer with updates. (looking at you Verizon) The official @ThreeUK Twitter account confirmed the news this week, stating that the update is on the way and users should be on the eager lookout. As expected, the update will be bringing all those awesome new features and improvements we’ve been loving on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean for some time. Things like Google Now voice search (our personal favorite) expandable and improved notifications, and project butter should also improve the overall speed and performance of the user interface — even with Sense UI on board. For those on ThreeUK waiting for the update, it should be arriving any time now. If you haven’t received it nor don’t feel like waiting head into settings and check for updates manually. We’re being told the update comes in around 600MB in size, which seems massive, so you might want a WiFi connection if you don’t have the biggest data plan. Enjoy that latest HTC’d out version of Jelly Bean and let us know how it goes by dropping us a comment below.
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Posted: 13 Feb 2013 03:33 PM PST
OUYA CEO Julie Uhrman has high praises for the OUYA gaming console. She believes that it will be the best Tegra 3 device available in the market. The OUYA gaming console, which is set to go on sale 4 months from now in June, is highly anticipated, raising nearly $8.6 million and having 63,000 backers. The console is expected to be released next month.
 What’s also surprising is that OUYA is also working directly with a team from NVIDIA . According to Engadget, both OUYA and NVIDIA are working together to maximize the efficiency of the Tegra 3 processor inside the OUYA gaming console. Since the OUYA connects directly to a power outlet, there’s no battery dependency which means that the Tegra 3 processor can be pushed even farther. Uhrman says that NVIDIA has been extremely supportive in the development of OUYA. NVIDIA is “going all in” and helping OUYA become the “best Tegra 3 device” on the market. With the help from NVIDIA, OUYA has been able to create a huge catalog of TegraZone games that are optimized for the gaming console. NVIDIA has also praised OUYA and say that they’ve “been amazing to work with”. Uhrman believes that OUYA’s partnership with NVIDIA will continue to flourish, even with their upcoming gaming consoles. She says that OUYA will launch a new gaming console every year, following the same model as smartphones. This will help the company differentiate from the big console makers, Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo. The OUYA consoles will continue to adopt NVIDIA’s latest chips, including this year’s Tegra 4.
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Posted: 13 Feb 2013 03:07 PM PST
Today we’ve learned about an impressive sounding new game coming soon to Android smartphones and tablets. One important detail is one of the key developers on the game is a former creative strategist from Infinity Ward, Robert Bowling. Think tactical strategy shooter game for Android built from the ground up for touchscreen controls. It will be called Breach & Clear and is apparently coming soon.
 The game is being developed by Mighty Rabbit Studios and reports have confirmed the former Infinity Ward employee is on board to help it be a smashing mobile success. Bringing his creative ideas to the game from a AAA console developers perspective should really help this game shine. This first or third person shooter game players will be tasked with taking out enemies and terrorists throughout different locations around the world. Using technical strategy and gameplay to Breach & Clear out hostile environments. Sounds good already right? There will be a wide variety of gameplay techniques, different locations worldwide, and tons of objectives just like popular PC and console shooter games. Here’s what Bowling had to say about the game: “We’re hoping to change the conversation about what denotes a mobile game. With Breach & Clear, we've taken the design principles of creating a major console release and transferred that to a title that just so happens to be launching on mobile devices.”Then followed that up with even more details regarding the gameplay mechanics and experience. “Our focus is to take a gameplay experience and mechanic that is built from the ground up for mobile or touch control and enhance it with the depth and progression you’d expect from a AAA console release.” – Robert Bowling, executive producerFor those familiar with popular PC shooter games from Infinity Ward – like Call of Duty – having this type of experience and creativity on board as an executive producer should really do wonders for the game. We don’t have too many other technical details regarding the upcoming strategy game for Android, but hopefully we’ll be hearing and seeing more soon. [via DroidGamers] |
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Posted: 13 Feb 2013 02:58 PM PST
NVIDIA has just released its financial results for fiscal Q4 2013. The reports show that NVIDIA earned about $1.1 billion in Q4, which is $100 million down from Q3. On the plus side, this is a big increase from fiscal Q4 2012 where NVIDIA made $953 million. That’s about a 16.1% year-over-year increase. NVIDIA’s net income was $174 million in Q4 which is 16.8% down from the $209.1 million they made in Q3. Year-over-year however, they grabbed a 50% increase in profits from fiscal Q4 2012 where they made $116 million.
 NVIDIA expects their revenue for Q1 of fiscal 2014 to be around $940 million. They expect their GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) and their non-GAAP gross margins to be flat compared to Q4, sitting at 52.9% and 53.2% respectively. They expect their operating expenses be around $430 million while their non-GAAP operating expenses should be somewhere around $395 million. NVIDIA listed the highlights of fiscal Q4 2013. It listed the three Windows RT devices that contain its NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor, the Asus VivoTab RT, Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11, and Microsoft Surface RT. It lists both the announcement of Project SHIELD as well as its upcoming Tegra 4 chip. It also mentions its GRID gaming technology that will be offered to service providers worldwide. Last, it cites its launch of the Tesla K20 family of GPU accelerators. NVIDIA’s fiscal 2014 will most likely be great as well if manufacturers adopt its Tegra 4 chip. HP is rumored to be adopting the NVIDIA Tegra 4 for its mysterious Android tablet, and VIZIO may also be using the chip in its line of tablets. Project SHIELD was a hit at CES, but until we see its price tag, it’s hard to speculate whether or not it’d be a great seller. Here’s hoping NVIDIA has a great fiscal 2014. [via NVIDIA] |
Sunday, February 17, 2013
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