Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans

GameStop to open mobile gaming arm within Kongregate, pledges $10 million to help independent mobile developers

Posted: 04 Feb 2013 03:44 PM PST

In an interview with Bloomberg, GameStop President Sony Bartel announced that the company will be opening a new “mobile gaming arm” within its subsidiary Kongregate. Headed up by a former Zynga executive, we imagine GameStop will act as a publisher for several mobile games, and might even jump into the business of creating its own. Tony Bartel was never given a full opportunity to explain what, exactly, the gaming division would be doing so we’ll have to await further details.

In that same interview, Bartel revealed that the company would pledge $10 million in an initiative to help independent developers create interesting mobile games. GameStop will use the money to help developers at every step of the way, from the amount of ramen that will be eaten throughout the prototyping stages all the way through publishing and advertising the game throughout various channels. GameStop will leverage 50 million customers it can reach electronically and customers in nearly 7,000 of its stores to help push titles forward.

It’s important for the retailer to get solid footing in the mobile gaming realm as the used games market is expected to change quite a bit over the next few years. Game publishers are electing to ship their games with online access codes to thwart used sales, and console manufacturers like Sony and Microsoft have been thinking about different ways to ensure more people buy games new instead of used. Many of these ideas seem horrid, but they are only in patent form and it would be a huge risk for any of them to be implemented.

With analysts predicting mobile gaming will take a ton of attention from consoles in the future GameStop is doing everything it can to make sure it stays ahead of the curve. Offering Android tablets and iPads in its stores is one way it has gone about that, and today’s announcements should thrust GameStop into an even more favorable position to take advantage of the next big boom in gaming.

[Thanks Michael!]

T-Mobile’s 4G LTE device train to start March 27th with Galaxy S3 in tow?

Posted: 04 Feb 2013 02:59 PM PST

Our friends at TmoNews have received new evidence suggesting T-Mobile would be bringing its first LTE devices in less than two months. Specifically, an LTE-enabled mobile hotspot device and T-Mobile’s LTE-equipped Samsung Galaxy S3 are said to be coming starting March 27th (though the latter could launch a week after that).

T-Mobile has already launched LTE in limited capacity over in Las Vegas, and testing is said to be underway in Kansas. We’re sure other markets are being tested right now, but without any devices to take advantage of the network it’s not that big of a concern for many of you yet. The timing sounds just right, though, as T-Mobile looks to begin an aggressive rollout that should cover much of its current 3G network with LTE by the end of this year.

It sounds like T-Mobile could also be shipping prepaid and postpaid versions of the Samsung Galaxy Exhibit on March 27th, though whether or not these two devices will have LTE is unclear. We’d doubt it for the time being, but they’re worthy to note anyway. The Blackberry Z10 rounds out the March 27th festivities for T-Mobile.

The carrier is looking to end that particular month with a bang, but keep in mind that this is only a rumor, and even if these dates are swirling around the offices of Magenta they’re subject to change at any time. We hope that’s not the case, obviously, unless any of these devices happen to launch sooner than we expect.

[TmoNews]

SanDisk’s storage cards up to 60% off Amazon today [DEALS]

Posted: 04 Feb 2013 01:48 PM PST

Need some flash memory for cheap? If you missed out on all the crazy deals that were going on during the holiday season for flash memory then you might want to check out SanDisk’s Amazon Deal of the Day event today. The company is offering storage options of all types on the retailer’s site for as much as 60% off today.

Most Android users will be particularly interested in microSD cards and full-sized SD cards, and some might even find the need for a flash drive. CompactFlash units are also available, though I don’t know if any Android devices which use that type of media even exist. Options for the former three come in at 32GB and go up to 64GB, though, so there should be no reason to hold off on buying a card if you’ve been looking for one. Grab one from Amazon here if you’re interested.

Best Buy introduces “platinum” version of Motorola DROID RAZR M

Posted: 04 Feb 2013 01:13 PM PST

Verizon’s Motorola DROID RAZR M has been introduced in a couple of whacky colors as of late, with a pink version being launched to celebrate the “spirit” of Valentine’s Day, and it seems yet another new option is on its way. Actually, the latest option won’t even be available from Verizon yet — Best Buy is the only one stocking this beaut for the time being.

It’s being called platinum, and while we’re sure it’s not coated in the real form of that super premium metal it sure is made to look that way. The greyish tones are accented by blue buttons. The look may not work for some of you, but I sure wouldn’t mind taking one of these out of my pocket on a subway ride or two.

Other than its new colorway, though, this is the same device that Verizon and Motorola have always advertised. It features a 4.3 inch qHD display, Qualcomm’s 1.5GHz dual-core S4 processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage, an 8 megapixel 1080p HD camera, a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera, a 2,000 mAh battery and more.

We’ll define it as a mid-range phone, but it wasn’t so long ago that this thing would have been considered a high-end beast. For just $50 we couldn’t ask for much more, so if this fits your budget more than, say, the DROID RAZR MAXX HD be sure to check it out at Best Buy’s site.

[via Droid-Life]

5 Blackberry 10 features Android users might already enjoy (and 5 that can be added with apps)

Posted: 04 Feb 2013 12:03 PM PST

So, Blackberry 10 has been announced and you’re wondering how it stacks up compared to Android. The truth of the matter is that Blackberry 10 doesn’t necessarily introduce much that is ground-breaking and revolutionary, but it does take a different enough approach to many things other platforms have already achieved, and even goes a step further by combining and borrowing several elements from the likes of Windows Phone and Android to create a fresh experience.

Blackberry’s tone when introducing its latest OS was a lot different from Apple’s, of course. While we had to clown Apple in our original iOS 5 comparison feature due to the company acting like its “innovations” were never done before, we’re applauding Blackberry for how it fundamentally changed some of the features we enjoy everyday, all while showing it off in a relatively more humble manner.

5 Blackberry 10 features Android users already enjoy

Let’s take a look at some of the features Blackberry 10 has that can be compared to stuff we already enjoy in Android. Later, we’ll take a look at some cool things Blackberry 10 has that Android doesn’t, but can be emulated through the use of third-party applications. Let’s get started!

Blackberry Hub, or Android Notifications

The Blackberry Hub in Blackberry OS 10 is being touted as an exciting and innovative concoction that consists of the right mix of notifications and a messaging inbox. The feature is implemented quite interestingly. Messages from the likes of Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, email, SMS and more are all grouped into the same list, and each individual application can control what types of messages show up in the Hub. Users can act on the items in the Hub individually, and depending on how the app is coded you can either “respond” to an item there, or jump into the app to do it.

Well, Android’s notification pane — which has been with the operating system since launch and has been greatly improved since — offers much of the same. Apps can serve up notifications however they like, and they can all be acted on individually. Most apps won’t do what the Hub does — such as sending notifications about individual emails and messages as their own new items inside the notification pane — but this is not about any limitation as much as it is about respecting the users’ screen real estate. The Blackberry Hub is, in fact, fundamentally different in that regard, but at the end of the day it’s still a glorified notification system.

Folks have also made a big deal out of the ability to keep an eye on the Hub without interrupting whatever you’re doing. The way it was presented was nice, but the notification pane affords you with the same experience. In fact, if you happen to be using the phone while a notification comes in you’ll often see a ticker-style preview of what it is in the status bar without ever having to slide the pane down. As for the ability to act on a particular notification from the Hub, Android 4.1 and higher gives you the same flexibility (assuming the developer codes that in, of course).

Active Frames, or the Android Apps Switcher

Active frames is Blackberry 10′s preferred way to switch between apps. When these apps are “minimized” and you’re looking at them in the active frames view, the apps — depending on how they’re coded — will show you a condensed version of the information you’re looking at. For instance, if you were looking at a specific contact within the phone app, that contact’s picture could show up with the latest status update from one of their social networking profiles. A minimized Foursquare might show your latest check-in, and a minimized email app will show you a quick preview of your inbox.

Switching apps (in Android 3.0 and higher) isn’t that much different, with the recent apps button giving you snapshots of your most recently used apps. The difference is that these snapshots only show you the last state of the app, so you’re not getting that updated and “live” information ala Windows Phone. It’s something that could change in the future, but half the concept of active frames has already been captured in Android, and the other half has been a staple of Windows Phone since its inception (our friends at WinSource know all about that).

Quick Toggles, or Android 4.2′s implementation of them

One new ability in Blackberry 10 is the ability to swipe down from the notifications window to access settings toggles. This feature might seem minor in scope, but take it from someone who has used iOS extensively — the convenience of having quick access to certain settings might be worth the cost of admission alone.

Android users recently got a native quick toggles feature as of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. Simply swipe down and press the settings button in the upper-right hand corner. Similar functionality is embedded in different ways via third-party ROMs or OEM skins, as well, so it’s something that most folks in the Android camp have enjoyed for quite some time.

Universal Search, or Google Search

Universal search in Blackberry 10 digs deep into various settings, apps and areas of the operating system to find the information you’re looking for. It’s something that the PC world has become accustomed to, obviously, and those of us on Android have become quite used to it ourselves. Blackberry 10 goes a bit deeper by default, going as far as allowing you to search documents, text messages and your image gallery.

Android’s search feature is just as wide open as any, though, as it allows developers to include results from their apps’ search feature in search results. Users even have full control over which apps the search feature is allowed to peak into, so if I don’t want IMDB or Twitter results included, they don’t need to be. Try it with Google Now by switching to “Phone Search.” (Oh, and be sure to check your phone search settings to make sure your favorite apps are included in the results.)

BB10 Voice Assistant, or Google Now

Some might argue that Siri was the first “useful” and “easy” implementation of voice assistant, but the truth of the matter is Android has had some of those features for quite some time. Legacy versions of Android didn’t have nearly as much, but it was still able to do things like send text messages to friends and dial phone numbers via voice. Siri might have “beautified” and expanded that approach, but Google came right back with what is now known as Google Now and ran with it.

Blackberry 10 boasts much of the same features, allowing you to compose emails, perform web searches, set calendar appointments, alarms and more through the use of voice. Neither platform seems to have a huge advantage over the other, but Google’s implementation predates Blackberry’s, and still holds a nice edge thanks to the Knowledge Graph, automatic updates and all the information Google has stored about you (as scary as that may sound).

5 Blackberry 10 features that can be had using Android apps

That said, there are still some features Blackberry 10 introduced that I wouldn’t mind seeing on the Android side of things. We would love for the following to be baked into Android at the core, of course, but we’ll also recommend some apps (where possible) from the Google Play Store that you can use to get close enough to the same experience on Android.

Blackberry Balance, or VMWare and/or Android 4.2 Profiles

Blackberry Balance is a very interesting solution to the problem of separating your work and personal environments on your mobile device. With Blackberry Balance, you can keep both lives completely separate as it enables you to treat two sets of data differently. Things like the ability to lock and encrypt certain documents, applications and accounts on the work side while keeping personal apps freely accessible will ensure no one can get into the things that matter.

The 256-bit AES encryption on your work profiles will protect your sensitive data. Data can’t even be copied between the two profiles. You can manage respective accounts and calendars separately, if you so choose, and you won’t need a separate device to achieve any of it. This particular feature is more useful to those working in the enterprise sector, but there seems to be many of those folks running around these days and this is something that a lot of people must think about when choosing a mobile phone.

Adding this functionality is not a simple task for the common Android user, but B2B solutions exist for those who don’t mind pitching the idea to their IT team. Run it by the folks at your workplace and see if you can’t get something like this up and running on the many Android phones available today.

Oh, and there’s also the addition of profiles as of Android 4.2 — these could easily be expanded to provide the same things Blackberry Balance does someday (though building 42 hasn’t produced any rumors to suggest it’s in the works). Close enough, though.

Blackberry Messenger, or GroupMe and Google+ Messenger

Let’s face it — Blackberry Messenger is still cool. Most folks probably don’t see the need for it anymore, and many of us might have only wanted it while it was still the hot “in” thing in high school, but if you crave a group messaging experience then Blackberry Messenger is still the cream of the crop. The version in Blackberry 10 even features video chats and screen sharing. Fortunately, other solutions do exist (and many of these solutions are device agnostic).

GroupMe is one of the most popular group messaging platforms that can compare, with the ability to send text, images and certain other forms of messages to individuals or groups. Bells and whistles like message receipts (knowing whether or not a message has been read), active typing monitoring and more can all be had here.

Then there’s Google+, which has all of that plus (no pun intended) the added ability to do group video chats — or Hangouts — with up to 10 people. We haven’t found a practical solution to screen sharing just yet, but be sure to let us know if you’ve found one in the comments section below!

Blackberry 10 Keyboard, or SwiftKey (they really are the same)

The keyboard in Blackberry 10 introduces a very interesting implementation for text prediction. Over time, the keyboard will learn your habits and will predict and suggest words based on what it’s learned. This doesn’t sound too much different than SwiftKey, does it? Well, that’s because Blackberry 10′s keyboard is actually based on the SwiftKey engine. SwiftKey is already available on Android, FYI, so be sure to check it out in the Google Play Store. The differences will come in the way it’s skinned — it looks Blackberry-esque, if you will — and the way your predictions are presented to you.

Predicted words will show up above individual letters where they make sense instead of grouped together in an area above the keyboard. If I wanted to type “Phandroid,” for instance, and got to the “a,” the keyboard might already know what I’m looking to type and will allow me to swipe up on the “a” key in order to insert the whole word. While I haven’t used it personally, this implementation sounds like it would be very intuitive. We don’t expect it to come to SwiftKey for Android, but we wouldn’t mind it at all. In the meantime, we’ll continue to enjoy SwiftKey Flow.

Blackberry 10 Email, or Touchdown

Most folks coming to Android from Blackberry won’t hesitate to let you know that email is one of the most important aspects of the smartphone experience, and that no other platform handles that aspect quite as nicely. The tradition will look to be continued in Blackberry 10 with a more intuitive, beautiful and easy experience than some of us are used to. Thankfully, Android’s options are entirely replaceable.

Those who exclusively use services like Gmail or Yahoo might find that the apps for those particular services are already great enough, and some K-9 based options, like the original K9 or OEM-customized versions of the stock email app, work just as well.

Then there is the need for a client that plays nicely with Exchange Activesync systems, and that’s an area where Nitrodesk’s Touchdown still shines. The app isn’t the prettiest and doesn’t get updated very often, but ask anyone who is using it to facilitate the fiercest of their email and calendar needs and they’ll probably swear by it. Your email doesn’t have to suffer just because you’re on the Android train.

Docs to Go, or Office Pro and Google Drive

Blackberry hit the jackpot when it bought Dataviz in order to provide built-in documents editing (through the use of Docs to Go, which is already on Android) for its users, but those of us on Android have to go a bit further to find similar functionality. The Play Store is not a long walk for anyone owning an Android device, though, and plenty of options do exist.

Alongside the aforementioned Documents to Go, which is still receiving regular updates in the Play Store, users can download another great option in OfficeSuite. Or perhaps Polaris Office is more to your liking. Or perhaps the free Google Drive. Yep, there are a lot of options, and things will only continue to expand. Microsoft is said to be offering a full Office suite for Android users in the first half of this year or very early in the second half, so no matter what your tastes are you’re pretty much set.

Name yours!

What are some of your favorite features from Blackberry 10? And if Android doesn’t have those features, how would you recommend users get them onto their phones and tablets? Most suggestions will come in the form of simple app downloads, but don’t be afraid to post about ROMs and mods, either (though we have to ask you to clearly disclaim which phone you’re suggesting it for, and we beg users who decide to apply them to take responsibility for their own actions). Let’s hear it in the comments below!

Android 4.1.2 leaks for Verizon’s Samsung Galaxy S3

Posted: 04 Feb 2013 10:31 AM PST

Samsung Galaxy S3 owners around the world have been enjoying the phone’s update to Android 4.1.2, except, of course, for those in the US, where the absent is not-so-surprisingly missing. While the wait continues, leaks continue to emerge, providing hope that the new software could soon arrive. The latest? Leaked build VRBMA2 for Verizon’s edition of the phone.

The update, which appeared over at XDA, is an official build but it is far from the final version Verizon will eventually release. Word is the current software does not include Premum Suite features such as multi-window view, though it is unclear if this is due to the early nature of the release or if Verizon does not plan to include the bonus elements of Samsung’s TouchWiz UX.

The build is available for installation if you fancy yourself the adventurous type. Be warned there are still bugs to be uncovered as Verizon and Samsung tool this one towards a final release, a release with no release date set in stone just yet.

[via DroidLife]

AT&T Unite 4G LTE hotspot coming Feb. 8th for $1

Posted: 04 Feb 2013 09:11 AM PST

AT&T seems to be getting serious with mobile hotspot as it is set to release a hot new device from Sierra Wireless in less than a week. It’s the AT&T Unite, a 4G LTE hotspot device with HSPA+ fallback, and those who need a gadget like this will be happy to know that you’ll be able to buy one of these starting February 8th for just $1. That price will require the signing of a two-year agreement, of course, but if you have to go that route then you can’t get much better than that.

The device has a 2.4 inch colored display that will feed you useful information such as battery life, data usage and connection status. Speaking of battery life, AT&T says you can expect 10 hours on use and 10 days of standby — in case you don’t know, that’s nothing to sneeze at for these small-sized units.

Users can connect up to 10 different devices via WiFi. It can be activated on existing individual or family accounts with either legacy plans or Mobile Share plans starting at an extra $20 per month. That’s not a bad deal so give it some real consideration if you find yourself needing one of these in the near future. Read on for full press details.

AT&T* announced today that the AT&T Unite is available for $0.99 with a two year agreement. The 4G LTE mobile hotspot from Sierra Wireless can be purchased through all AT&T channels beginning February 8.

Powered by the nation's largest 4G network**, AT&T Unite can connect up to 10 Wi-Fi® enabled devices, as well as provide a guest network for one-time users. Unite is easy to use with a 2.4" touchscreen display featuring data usage status and Wi-Fi network information right on the home screen.  With up to 10 hours of battery life and up to 10 days of standby, it is powerful enough to keep up with customers' lives.   Customers can also manage connected devices, change network and device settings and block unwanted devices from joining the network – directly from the touchscreen.

Customers purchasing connected devices from AT&T have more options in choosing the plan that's right for them and their mobile devices. Customers can choose one of AT&T's existing individual or family plans or select a shared data plan. With AT&T Mobile Share plans, new and existing customers can share a single bucket of data across smartphones, tablets, and other compatible devices, including the AT&T Unite. Adding a mobile hotspot device to a Mobile Share plan is just $20 a month.***

"It's easy to use and easy to carry with you, making it ideal for staying connected to family and friends throughout the day," said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, Devices and Developer Services, AT&T. "When combined with the nation's largest 4G network and our flexible Mobile Share plans, AT&T Unite offers a tremendous value for customers that are looking for reliable internet service while on-the-go."

AT&T customers have access to the nation's largest 4G network, covering 288 million people.  AT&T's 4G LTE network covers more than 170 million people.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

** 4G speeds not available everywhere. Limited 4G LTE availability in select markets. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Learn more at att.com/network.

*** Smartphone required. Up to ten devices per plan. Additional monthly charge per device. $15 per GB for add’l data. Unlimited talk and text for phones only. Activation fee may apply. Additional deposits and other restrictions may apply. Access to corporate email, intranet sites and apps available for $15/mo. per device.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's largest 4G network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T |DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com/aboutus or follow our news on @ATT, on Facebook athttp://www.facebook.com/att and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/att.

© 2013 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. 4G not available everywhere. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

HTC re-inventing the camera sensor, could introduce ‘ultrapixels’ with M7 flagship

Posted: 04 Feb 2013 08:55 AM PST

When HTC launched their One series in 2012, they did more than simply overhaul the software controlling the image sensor found in the One X, One S, and One V. They also focused on the hardware behind the lens, calling the combination of code and circuitry ImageSense. But those sensors were still measured in megapixels. For their upcoming M7, it’s all about “ultrapixels.”

OK, so the “ultrapixel” moniker is mostly for show — the M7′s camera will still be measured in megapixels, technically — but the technology that will make up what we could call ImageSense 2.0 does provide an interesting twist on mobile image processing.

Instead of a single 13MP sensor, the M7 is said to carry a set of stacked 4.3MP cameras. Each captures a single image and then stitches them together to form the final picture, which is not a true 13MP still. The resulting image is clearer, cleaner, and sharper than its individual parts taken separately.

Just as ImageSense was a core selling point in HTC Sense 4 and the accompanying One series, we expect ultrapixels to be key in the marketing of the upcoming M7.

[via PocketLint]

HTC warns of continued financial downturn for Q1 2013

Posted: 04 Feb 2013 08:05 AM PST

HTC is providing an early warning of what could turn out to be another bad quarter for the flailing mobile manufacturer. After stringing together a series of successively disappointing quarters before reaching their lowest point ever in Q4 of 2012, the Taiwanese company is informing investors to expect revenues at best to remain flat. At worst, HTC says to expect a 17 percent downturn.

HTC is banking on turning around their poor fortunes in 2013 after inking a licensing agreement with Apple and reevaluating their approach to product development and marketing. The burden rests on the likes of the company’s upcoming M7 flagship, but it will take more than a great device to spark new revenues. It starts there, of course, but HTC offered a varied selection of quality handsets last year to little or no gain.

We’ll know more about HTC’s current financial situation when they release their full report. We’re expecting to learn more about the M7 at a February 19th press event.

[via BGR]

Did this DROID RAZR suffer a spontaneous combustion? [PIC]

Posted: 04 Feb 2013 07:55 AM PST

We’re always approaching these weird rebel phone stories with a degree of caution. Some people like to claim that their phones suddenly grew the super hero-like abilities to explode and go up in flames without any fault of their own. Some phones can suffer a spontaneous combustion, though, and without proper proof either way we tend to post these stories to sit and marvel more than anything else.

The latest episode was brought to us by Cellect Repair, a repair service who obviously has a great deal of interest in stories like these. According to the user who submitted the photo of the DROID RAZR you see above, the phone was plugged into a wall outlet (using the OEM-provided charging cable and adapter) for a routine charging session, but things got not-so-routine when an odd odor began to form from the room.

Shocked to find out it was the DROID RAZR, the user was even more shocked that the damaged display continued to work normally despite a good chunk of it being melted off. Typical cases of “broken glass” don’t affect the digitizer and LCD panel, but this burn was thorough enough to melt all those layers and, in theory, should have rendered the display completely inoperable. Take that for what you will.

According to Cellect, the user brought the device to a Verizon store where the carrier executed a replacement process that was unlike its normal steps for investigation or repair. This would suggest that Verizon has internal knowledge of a possible issue with a very small amount of DROID RAZR units, but that can’t be confirmed. Cellects suspects the source of the burn could have been either the WiFi radio or the VCO, but couldn’t confirm the exact position and origin of the burn without more photos of the wreckage.

What do you think? Did this particular DROID RAZR have its soul burned due to causes unknown or is the user just pulling a fast one on Verizon to get themselves a free phone? Take a look at the photo above.

ASUS shows us what the 7-inch MeMO Pad can do in new promo video

Posted: 04 Feb 2013 07:06 AM PST


The 7-inch ASUS MeMO Pad, which was announced last month for a spring launch, is highlighted in a new promotional video posted to YouTube. The clip shows the low-cost slate’s usefulness in a number of situations, from office productivity to drawing, but unfortunately we have to settle for manipulated still shots of the device rather than a true video overview

If the MeMO Pad looks a bit familiar, chalk it up to the the device’s close relation to another 7-inch tablet manufactured by ASUS, the Nexus 7. With no rear camera and a lower display resolution, however, the MeMO Pad is actually priced cheaper than the Google-branded counterpart at $150.

[Thanks, Alex!]

Fuhu’s Nabi XD and Nabi Jr kids’ tablets show up at BestBuy.com

Posted: 04 Feb 2013 06:34 AM PST

Our friends at Fuhu, a company that is specializing in tablets for the youngsters of the world, told us to expect its latest Nabi tablets to release around this time, and it seems the company is about to make nice on its promise. The two latest devices — the Nabi Jr and the bigger Nabi XD (the former is for the toddler-type, while the latter is meant for older kids) — seem to be getting readied over at Best Buy’s neck of the woods for an eventual release.

The two tablets have made an appearance at the big box retailer’s website, though getting it in-store or via shipping seems to be impossible right this moment. We have feeling that will change soon, but without an official press release to confirm we won’t be able to gauge how close we are to it being shipped.

Nabi Jr is a $100 Android tablet with a 5-inch WVGA display, a Tegra 2 processor, 4GB of internal storage, a 2 megapixel swiveling webcam and a heavily customized version of Android 4.0. This version caters to those just old enough to start learning, but not too old for what could pass as a play toy. It’s been built to withstand the beating that a small child can unexpectedly deliver, so don’t get too worried if you think it won’t hold up to the forces of your young ones.

On the other hand, the $250 Nabi XD brings a 10.1 inch 720p device with 16Gb of internal storage, A customized version of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, a 2 megapixel webcam, 1GB of RAM and an NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor. This particular device is for children who are starting to know too much for their own good, and will need a tablet to fill their brains with all the information they seek.

Both tablets feature parent-friendly software that’ll aim to keep your kids’ eyes off the bad stuff you often find around the internet, as well as educational games and apps. We’ll be keeping our eyes on the Best Buy pages to make sure we don’t miss when they begin shipping, and we’ll update this post as soon as that occurs.

[via Best Buy 1, 2]

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 is Woot’s daily deal, starts at $379

Posted: 04 Feb 2013 06:25 AM PST

With a new round of Samsung tablets rumored on the horizon, we’re sure to see plenty of deals on last year’s models cropping up, including this Woot daily steal for the Galaxy Note 10.1. The slate is being sold in refurbished condition starting at $379.99 for a 16GB model in white or deep grey. The 32GB version is priced at $419.99.

It might not be the newest tablet on the block, but the Galaxy Note 10.1 still packs some power. It features quad-core processing, a 1280×800 10.1-inch display, and support for Samsung’s S Pen stylus. As an added bonus, a protective leather pouch is included.

If the prospect of a Galaxy Note 8.0 launching soon isn’t enough to lure you away from this deal, head over to the link below. Your chance will be gone when the clock strikes midnight (or supplies run out).

[via Woot | Thanks, Josh!]

Carbon (Twitter) for Android finally released

Posted: 04 Feb 2013 05:58 AM PST

It’s been a long time since we first learned that Carbon — a popular webOS-based Twitter client — would be headed to Android. The developers have had a hell of a time taking criticism from restless users, a bunch whose impatience led them to give the application the negative title of being “vaporware.” Recent rumblings suggested the app was close to release, but we took a “we’ll believe it when we see it” approach to that bit of news.

Well, it looks like that assessment was quite accurate as the developer, dots & lines, has officially launched version 1.0 of its Twitter client in the Google Play Store. The app’s claim to fame will be from its beautifully presented aesthetics, an element which we believe was the likeliest cause for all the delays in the first place.

The app is still early, though, and the lack of some key features show just that. For starters, customizable notifications — an important part of any Twitter experience — still aren’t in tow. Beyond that, folks who were hoping to see a tablet interface baked in will be a bit disappointed to learn that no such thing exists right now.

Options and settings as a whole are pretty scarce, but we’re sure later versions of the app will introduce even more flexibility (even Falcon Pro didn’t start off as fully-featured as it is, though development for that app raced along in comparison). We’ll be contacting dots & lines to see if we can get an ETA on some of these highly-requested features, but for now just give it a shot (it’s a free download, after all) to see how beautiful an Android application can be.

[Google Play Store download link]

WINE for Android is in the works

Posted: 04 Feb 2013 05:16 AM PST

Anyone who has used Linux in the past knows about WINE, because sometimes the platform just doesn’t have the full suite of apps one requires. If you don’t know, WINE is a compatibility layer that aims to run Windows apps on Linux-based systems in native form. The acronym tends to stand for “Wine is not an emulator,” a mistaken presumption that most users make when trying to describe its function.

The exciting work is being done to bring this over to Android. It’s a marriage made in heaven, we’d say, but things won’t be too perfect out of the starting gate. For starters, things are running quite slowly right now. The team working on the project was able to get a Windows app running, but the experience wasn’t smooth enough to be practical. Still, it’s an exciting feat to get this compatibility layer up and running on ARM architecture when most Windows apps (RT-based devices notwithstanding) are built primarily for x86-based devices.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t sound like this is the WINE team’s top priority — after all, more work is needed to bring its desktop Linux suite up to full capacity even after all these years of development. It’s said the project would get more attention if Intel’s x86 breaks considerable ground in the Android tablet game, though considering the company is having trouble doing that on the phone side of things (it has to compete with an immovable force consisting of the likes of Qualcomm, Samsung, and NVIDIA) we won’t hold our breath.

Would you want to see WINE on Android in imperfect form, or would you rather wait until the project can be done right? Be sure to sound off in the comments section below!

[Phoronix via The Register, thanks Matt!]
Posted by at 9:15 AM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)