Android Phone Fans |
- Notice a new “Google Settings” icon in your app drawer? Don’t be alarmed
- TuneIn Radio update adds Google+ sign-in, calendar integration
- HTC One to be OEM’s only true flagship for 2013
- CyanogenMod 10.1 nightlies come to Samsung Epic 4G
- Angry Birds Toons brings new cartoon for super fans
- Caterpillar’s CAT B15 is one sexy-looking rugged smartphone
- LG Optimus Vu II starting to get Jelly Bean
- HTC Rhyme to get de-bloated in upcoming OTA
- Hands-on: Sony Xperia Tablet Z [VIDEO]
- Andy Rubin shuts Google retail store rumors down, says feelings toward Firefox are “friendly”
- Hands-on: Huawei Ascend P2 [VIDEO]
- Google+ sign-in is now part of Google Play Services
- Hands-on: HP Slate 7 [VIDEO]
- Hands-on: NVIDIA introduces 5 new Tegra 4-optimized games [VIDEO]
- Falcon Pro developer discourages new downloads with $132 price tag, and it’s all Twitter’s fault
| Notice a new “Google Settings” icon in your app drawer? Don’t be alarmed Posted: 26 Feb 2013 03:59 PM PST Well judging by our inbox, quite a few of you are freaking out over this. Shortly after Google announced the latest version of Google Play Services, the company pushed out a silent upgrade to the Google Framework Services API that enabled a new “Google Settings” icon in your apps tray. Don’t be alarmed — rest assured that this is from Google, and most of you will be seeing this on your device in the coming days. So what, exactly, is it?
It’s an extension of the settings menu you already have under Settings > Accounts > Google. Really, it’s the same exact thing. The main difference is that using the Google Settings icon will grant you access to control Google+ sign-in settings, whereas the menu within Settings doesn’t. We imagine Google wanted to make sure every phone had the functionality built-in as folks like TuneIn and Banjo begins offering Google+ sign-in functionality right away, but manipulating the normal Settings menu would most likely require an upgrade from OEMs and carriers. We know how long those upgrades tend to take, though, so we reckon Google found no other way around it than to stick another icon in your app drawer. The icon is quite useless unless you’re looking to fine-tune those sign-in settings, and you can probably just hide it depending on what launcher you’re using it. We wouldn’t flat-out disable the app — some of this stuff is important — but it should be easy enough to get it out of your way if you really don’t want it. Handle it however you see fit and go on about your business, folks.
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| TuneIn Radio update adds Google+ sign-in, calendar integration Posted: 26 Feb 2013 03:36 PM PST
TuneIn Radio, one of the finest apps for live internet radio, has gotten a very interesting upgrade in the Google Play Store. The developers at TuneIn Inc moved quite quickly to add Google+ sign-in integration to its application, so those with Google+ accounts can get up and running with the service by using their Google+ credentials. It’s likely TuneIn was a launch partner for the feature as Google was revealed to have approached several developers before the Google Play Services update went public, but speedy is speedy. The latest version of TuneIn also allows you to add events, like concerts, sports events, and more, to a calendar with the click of a button. You’ll receive a notification whenever those events are set to begin so you won’t forget to, well, tune in. Finally, those with Chevrolet vehicles with MyLink can access TuneIn radio directly from their dashboards. It all sounds too juicy, so be sure to head to the Google Play Store with haste and try out all the new features for yourself. |
| HTC One to be OEM’s only true flagship for 2013 Posted: 26 Feb 2013 03:15 PM PST HTC seems to be taking its new strategy quite seriously. After HTC halfway broke its 2012 promise of not diluting its smartphone line-up with as many devices as it could, it seems the Taiwanese OEM is much more serious about cutting down the fat. Speaking with Omio, HTC’s Phil Roberson confirmed that HTC would not be going the route of yesteryear’s One line, where there were tons of different variants to get consumers confused (no one was worse than Sony in that regard, but I digress).
Nope, instead the HTC One — the one that was unveiled in New York City last week — is going to be the only One of the year: no HTC One XTLMFAO OMGPOP Edition or anything of the sort. That’s not to say this will be the only high-end HTC smartphone of the year — HTC still has the mid-range sectors to target, as well as a Windows line to promote — but the HTC One will remain at the top of HTC’s totem pole. The Samsung-esque strategy allows HTC to focus on branding and marketing one phone across many different carriers. No longer does it have to run a campaign for X-phone because it’s on Y-carrier. HTC won’t have to delegate manufacturing resources and time to tons of different smartphones. Accessories can remain carrier-agnostic. We enjoyed everything about that strategy on Samsung’s end, so we’re happy HTC is following suit. It’s a win-win for everybody involved, and we couldn’t be happier to see HTC finally realizing that over-saturation isn’t always the right answer. |
| CyanogenMod 10.1 nightlies come to Samsung Epic 4G Posted: 26 Feb 2013 02:58 PM PST
Owners of the original Samsung Epic 4G — Sprint’s keyboard-enabled version of the Samsung Galaxy S — will be happy to know that the device isn’t dead! Well… it’s probably dead at the hands of Sprint, but you know the development community always has your back. The phone has finally gotten its first nightlies of CyanogenMod 10.1, meaning those who don’t mind flashing a ROM or two can step up to Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and partake in exciting new features like lock-screen widgets. You should know by now that nightlies aren’t always guaranteed to be stable enough to be daily drivers. They’ll work to some degree, and in most cases they don’t pose many problems at all, but there’s always a chance that things won’t be stable. Knowing that, be sure to backup your current setup and make sure you keep a plan B if things don’t go as they should. Head to the CyanogenMod mirror here to get the 158MB download. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!] |
| Angry Birds Toons brings new cartoon for super fans Posted: 26 Feb 2013 01:59 PM PST Angry Birds exploded to become the first big crazy coming out of the mobile scene with plush toys, apparel, references to the brand in pop culture, and a ton more following the games themselves. Now, it’s about to turn into a cartoon. The folks at Rovio have announced Angry Birds Toons, a new cartoon series that’ll take us deeper into the lives and struggles between the birds and the pigs. This ongoing battle definitely does seem to have enough plumpness to it to fill out an entire cartoon series, and it’s something that could really take off if it eventually gets picked up on the right network. That said, Angry Birds Toons is a web-only series for now, so if you want your kids taking in bird-on-pig violence you’ll have to have them do it via a browser. The new series will premiere March 16th and 17th, and new episodes will be available each weekend from then. Bookmark this page and get ready to dive into one of the most interesting cartoons you’ll probably watch as an adult (be honest, you know you’re going to check it out). Anyone interested? [via Rovio] |
| Caterpillar’s CAT B15 is one sexy-looking rugged smartphone Posted: 26 Feb 2013 01:08 PM PST
There are always a few hidden gems at these trade shows, and one has emerged to capture our eyes and interest. It’s the CAT B15 by Caterpillar, a rugged smartphone that we wouldn’t be embarrassed to carry around. The phone, made out of silver anodized aluminum, can handle almost any harsh conditions you can expect, with military-grade protection from drops, spills and water submersion, dust, extreme weather conditions and more. The device isn’t quite cutting edge on the inside, but are these rugged beasts ever marketed to be strong on the inside? That said, the 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 chipset, 512MB of RAM, a 4-inch WVGA display (covered by Gorilla Glass, of course) and more. The device is headed to Europe next month for £299, and we’ll be scoping it out on the show floor to see if we can get our greasy, filthy palms on it. Have a quick look above. |
| LG Optimus Vu II starting to get Jelly Bean Posted: 26 Feb 2013 12:42 PM PST
LG’s Optimus Vu II is getting itself a tasty update starting today as LG Korea has announced the beginning of the Jelly Bean roll-out for the phone. Folks on SK Telekom and KT will be getting the upgrade today, but, ironically enough, those on LG U+ will have to wait until March. LG didn’t release details on roll-outs for other markets but we imagine users won’t have to wait too far into Spring. This wide 5-inch device wasn’t LG’s most popular or most pretty, but that doesn’t mean the small market surrounding the Optimus Vu II doesn’t deserve Jelly Bean goodness. We’ll see if LG’s willing to disclose details about roll-outs outside of Korea, but if you can’t wait then be sure to check out the wares coming from your favorite development communities to see if there’s anything you can do about getting some accelerated after-market support. [via LG Korea] |
| HTC Rhyme to get de-bloated in upcoming OTA Posted: 26 Feb 2013 12:22 PM PST
The HTC Rhyme was one interesting phone to behold when HTC announced it, but we didn’t expect it to be the type of smash mouth device that HTC would prioritize when it comes to delivering Android updates. We’re not totally disappointed it still hasn’t gotten Ice Cream Sandwich — after all, this one-off device was aimed at the crowd who probably wouldn’t care about bleeding edge software in the first place — but it would be nice to get it. That said, it definitely will be getting a small OTA update soon as Verizon has posted new details about it to its support site. The upgrade actually de-bloats the experience, removing video on-demand, music on-demand and the now-dead (well, dead if you have a modern Android device) V Cast. There are no other notable changes it seems, so sit back and relax as we wait for this one to roll in (we imagine no one’s in a huge rush to grab it either way). [via Droid-Life] |
| Hands-on: Sony Xperia Tablet Z [VIDEO] Posted: 26 Feb 2013 10:57 AM PST
It was barely announced, officially, just yesterday, and today we spent a little time in Sony’s booth, taking a look at their all new Sony Xperia Tablet Z. Sony touts the tab as the world’s thinnest 10.1-inch tablet, featuring a thickness of just 6.99mm (that’s thinner than many smartphones). Upon seeing the device in person, I can safely say this will be the sexiest Android tab to ever hit the market — hands down. Let’s cover some of the specs and then we’ll get to our video.
With a device this dainty, you’d expect the Xperia Tablet Z to be as delicate as a flower, but in our brief hands-on, the device felt sturdy, solid, and rigid, defying the laws of physics for a device this large, yet so skinny. To further showcase it’s durability, Sony even went the extra mile, adding dust and water resistance to the tab, hightlighting this feature in a dunk tank display, submerging the Tablet Z in water in the middle of their booth. You can expect the Sony Xperia Tablet Z to launch sometime in Q3 of this year with the 16GB model retailing for $500, and the 32GB for $600. Yum.            
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| Andy Rubin shuts Google retail store rumors down, says feelings toward Firefox are “friendly” Posted: 26 Feb 2013 10:55 AM PST After we talked about how nice a Google retail store would be, rumors began ramping up that Google would actually look to launch a small crop of stores either later this year or early next year. Why not, right? The Nexus program has skyrocketed, the ChromeBook Pixel needs a home, and you have a lot of third-party partners that would love to get their Android and Chrome-based products on your shelves. It all seemed to make sense… until the godfather of Android — Andy Rubin — decided to crush our hopes and dreams. As reported by AllThingsD, the Android chief decided to address the rumors in a round-table discussion, saying “Google has no plans and we have nothing to announce.” Furthermore, Rubin doesn’t even believe the Nexus program is far enough along to warrant needing a retail store. This suggests two things:
Rubin also decided to touch on Firefox OS. Being the noble man that he is, he says there are no ill feelings toward the development. Rubin understands that Android has evolved into a beast of a mobile operating system, and that the world still needs something to fill out the category of devices that have limited specs. Some might say this would imply Firefox OS will only be useful to provide low-end options for emerging markets, but we won’t stir the pot too heavily. Rubin says Android was originally built because there was no open option, but things are changing. Ubuntu has come with a very intriguing suite of its own even if it has no major backers yet, and, well, there’s Firefox now. Tizen is still floating about, but for now it seems like more of an enthusiast project than anything. The options exist, and Google’s happy that there will be others challenging the very space that helped Android’s rise to prominence in the first place. Competition is always exciting, and the users are the ones who ultimately win out in the end. We love us some Android, of course, and we’re excited to see how these other players will challenge Google to innovate and keep the interest of the mobile world for years to come. [via AllThingsD 1, 2] |
| Hands-on: Huawei Ascend P2 [VIDEO] Posted: 26 Feb 2013 10:30 AM PST
Huawei has issued their followup to the Ascend P1, the phone the kicked off the Chinese manufacturer’s transition to the high-end smartphone market. The phone features the most refined design of the company’s top tier handsets — it’s not quite as large as the the Ascend Mate or Ascend D2, making it Huawei’s most approachable device for consumers look for plenty of power in a slimmer package. Just like the P1 (and the P1 S), the P2 puts a focus on a slim build, measuring in at 8.4mm thick. It’s not the most svelte smartphone on the planet, but it will do just fine in your skinny jeans. A 4.7-inch display runs at a 720p resolution, while the phone is powered by Huawei’s in-house quad-core K3V2 CPU clocked at 1.5GHz. Icing on the cake comes in the form of a 13MP rear camera and 2420 mAh battery. The Ascend P2 is a definitive step up from the P1, but does feel a bit iterative. The specs are improved but at first glance Huawei hasn’t put a totally fresh spin on the device. The plan is to launch the phone a bit later this year in China and other markets. Plans for the US have not been made at this time.     
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| Google+ sign-in is now part of Google Play Services Posted: 26 Feb 2013 08:47 AM PST Google has just announced version 3.0 of Google Play Services, and it brings a big feature that many of us have been waiting for. This new version will enable developers to include a Google+ sign-in option for their applications. This will allow users to sign-in and sign-up for services with their existing Google+ account credentials, much like many apps do with Twitter and Facebook. The folks at Banjo have already had their app injected with this functionality.
The fun doesn’t stop there, though. Once users sign-in to your website using Google+ you can have it so that your app is downloaded over-the-air to their associated devices without any extra steps. Apps can tap into Google+ profiles to fill out a user account with details such as name, a profile picture, and a bio. You can give users the option of displaying various types of activities and actions performed within apps, and these posts can be controlled by users to make sure they’re not flooding their timeline. A lot more developer-centric changes have been made to the Google Maps API, including more than 20 bug fixes. Of those 20+ fixes, half of the top 10 bugs reported in the Google Maps issue tracker have been dealt with, quite an impressive rate and things will only get better from now on. There are also new features such as circles, anti-clockwise polygons, and access to the OnMyLocationChangeListener event for even deeper access to the Maps platform. As usual, us users won’t be seeing immediate satisfaction from these changes, but once developers get their feet wet with all the new goods introduced here you’ll be taking part in much more enjoyable user experiences, especially if you embrace Google+ with open arms like so many of us already have. Developers can find more info about all of the changes over at Google’s blog. |
| Posted: 26 Feb 2013 08:32 AM PST
HP has announced its own sub-$200 Android slate and named it accordingly. The HP Slate 7 was on the floor at MWC and we gave it the inaugural hands-on treatment, getting a feel for what the company that bought webOS is bringing to Android. The short answer is not much more than what others making 7-inch tablets have already done.
For $170, the Slate 7 is serviceable enough. You get a 7-inch display with a 1024 x 600 resolution, 1.6GHz dual-core CPU, and 3MP camera. The price affords 8GB of storage and 1GB of RAM. Perhaps the biggest differentiating feature is the inclusion of Beats Audio, much like HP has done with its notebook lineup (and similar to HTC’s inclusion of the audio enhancement software). The tablet has a solid feel for its price point and matches wits with other competitors in the class. Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is presented in stock fashion, and you get a few HP-centric apps to round out your experience. Still, we wonder how many more options people need in this class. At this point, tablet makers are mostly competing on price alone. Specs remain more or less in the same class. Rumors of a new Nexus 7 and other upcoming low-priced devices like the ASUS Fonepad make the HP Slate 7 a hard sell as it is.
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| Hands-on: NVIDIA introduces 5 new Tegra 4-optimized games [VIDEO] Posted: 26 Feb 2013 08:00 AM PST The folks at NVIDIA are in Mobile World Congress this week tooting the horn of its Tegra 4 platform. You had to expect the chipset vendor would be coming to town with some fresh new games to stuff into TegraZone, and we finally have an idea of what they are. We’ve already gotten some hands-on time with a few of these, so be sure to check them out in our video above. We’ve also included some quick summaries of each game so you’ll know exactly what to expect one they launch in TegraZone. Burn Zombie Burn
Carie: Blood Mansion
CODEX: The Warrior
Dead on Arrival 2
RU Golf
Find more details about these games over at NVIDIA’s blog. |
| Falcon Pro developer discourages new downloads with $132 price tag, and it’s all Twitter’s fault Posted: 26 Feb 2013 06:58 AM PST Have you tried to buy the Twitter client Falcon Pro recently? Did you notice an absurdly inflated price tag? That’s not an error or an obnoxious valuation by the developer — that’s to keep you from downloading it. Developer Joaquim Verges was recently forced to price Falcon Pro at around $132 to make sure new users don’t buy the application. It’s imperative to keep the app in the Play Store for those who’ve already paid for it and want to continue using the app, and he doesn’t want to make it free. Why, exactly, would someone do this? Well, Twitter, that’s why. If you don’t remember, the folks at Twitter introduced new API restrictions that made it so third-party Twitter clients could only get 100,000 “tokens,” which would be unique user activations. The idea was to drive more people to use Twitter on the web or Twitter’s own official apps. The tactic is believed to be in place so Twitter can maximize advertising impressions as it can’t control monetization for third-party apps.
Long story short, Falcon Pro was finally hit by the 100,000 tokens limit, which means new users can’t properly use the app without getting lucky and having someone release a token. It’s quite notable that the app has reached the limit while only having between 10,000 and 50,000 downloads in the Google Play Store (the exact number is somewhere in the 40,000 range). This would indicate an issue with piracy, and some illegitimate users might be taking valuable tokens away from those willing to pay for the app. That’s a different beast of a story for a different day. The point is that without the ability to authorize more than 100,000 accounts developers are finding it hard to make an honest living off the once-lucrative field of Twitter apps. We wouldn’t be as sour as we are if Twitter’s official app was a joy to use, but the truth is it isn’t. It works, but it doesn’t quite capture the sense of Android design, and it doesn’t have many of the features that are driving users to third-party apps to begin with. It’s an unfortunate situation that has stifled the growth and spirit of competition, with some developers flat-out refusing to create new Twitter apps from now on. That’s why Verges is supporting this petition, and so am I. The petition specifically requests a limit increase for Falcon Pro, but if we can get enough signatures to capture Twitter’s attention and somehow spur change we’re hoping it helps all developers alleviate what has become a very serious problem. In the meantime, do your comrades a favor and release the tokens to any Twitter app you aren’t using. It won’t do much in the grand scheme of things, but it’ll at least let a few more lucky souls use the apps they want to use instead of being forced to find alternatives or revert back to Twitter’s own lackluster experience. I won’t flat-out boycott Twitter — after all, it’s one of our favorite ways to stay in touch with you guys — but I have no problem letting Twitter know that its practices have long overstayed their welcome. Don’t be that guy, Twitter. |
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