Android Phone Fans |
- Dungelot by Red Winter Software is my new bathroom buddy [VIDEO]
- Motorola RAZR i now getting Jelly Bean in the UK
- Pebble smart watch easy to scratch? [PICS]
- Jelly Bean sees modest climb, the rest see small decline in latest Android platform numbers
- Semi-full Instagram experience finally heads to your browser
- Chrome OS Notification Center screenshot reveals new unified Google messaging service?
- Nexus 4 factory image returns to Google’s developer site
- AT&T 4G LTE launches and expands in 6 markets
- [Update] HTC Thunderbolt Ice Cream Sandwich update starting to roll out
- You or someone you know buying a phone this year? Sign-up to receive a $50 gift card from Best Buy
- Blackberry 10′s Android runtime to be upgraded to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
- Android 4.2.2 could roll out this month
- Amazon announces virtual currency for use with Kindle Fire, Appstore
- Kim Jong-Un is an Android man: Spotted with HTC Butterfly
- Samsung announces Galaxy Young, Galaxy Fame
| Dungelot by Red Winter Software is my new bathroom buddy [VIDEO] Posted: 05 Feb 2013 03:46 PM PST
Sometimes you come across a game from the Google Play Store that really takes you by surprise. This was exactly my experience while perusing the Play Store’s latest Android games, then deciding to give Dungelot by Red Winter Software a download. Honestly, I didn’t think much of the game. Sure the art style looked fun and immediately brought back memories of Braveheart (one of my top 5 favorite Android games from yesteryear), but Dungelot was an entirely different horse. You’d have a hard time finding a box to put Dungelot into. The game plays like a combination of minesweeper mixed with rougue-like dungeon crawling RPG. Personally, I love mashup genres and dived in head first. What I found was a surprisingly light — yet strategic — casual Android game perfect for sitting through movie trailers, waiting at the DMV, or any activity in need of time killing. Watch my hands-on video (above) for a complete walkthrough of Dungelot.
Now, I invite you to simply give the game a download for yourself. There’s a free Dungelot Lite version currently available in the Google Play Store and should you decide you want the full version of the game, it’s only a paltry $.99 cents. Nothing to lose, and you might find Dungelot your next go-to game for those quick (or long) bathroom breaks. Just don’t forget to windex your phone after. Cheers. [Google Play link: Dungelot | Dungelot Lite] |
| Motorola RAZR i now getting Jelly Bean in the UK Posted: 05 Feb 2013 03:31 PM PST Those in the UK with a Motorola RAZR i will be happy to knowe that a fresh new upgrade is headed straight for your handset. The upgrade will bring you up from Ice Cream Sandwich to Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, and with that comes a whole slew of new features, including Google Now, Project Butter, face unlock, new notifications and more.
It sounds like the upgrade is headed out in your typical staggered fashion so don’t be alarmed if you’re not seeing it right away. Those in the first wave of the rollouts might have already gotten a notification, but if you want to try your luck at forcing it you can head to the Settings > About Phone menu to give the update checker a whirl. That said, there’s still a chance you won’t be able to find the upgrade waiting for you on the data waves so sit tight if nothing pops up. The RAZR i isn’t Motorola’s most impressive device in the world, but it’s a very solid offering from the Chicagoan company and we’re glad to see it getting the upgrade love that it deserves. Let us know how things go in the comments section below! [via Motorola] |
| Pebble smart watch easy to scratch? [PICS] Posted: 05 Feb 2013 02:10 PM PST One of the biggest questions the folks behind the Pebble, the Android-compatible smart-watch, had to face when promoting their Kickstarter was how the watch could hold up to a bit of a rough time. Pebble assured everyone that the protective glass it uses would be scratch resistant, and while “resistant” doesn’t necessarily mean “indestructible,” some users feel the glass is way too fickle for their claims. A couple of different reports have sprung up on the Kickstarter’s comments page, with users expressing distaste over easily scratched smart watches. One photo of the watch showed horrifying scuff marks, while another had a light, yet still bothersome scratch. According to one user, Pebble responded to the claims by suggesting users use Displex to fix the scratch.
We’re working to retrieve proof of said response, but we’d wholly understand it if a user got upset at that particular suggestion. For starters, Displex doesn’t always work, and I’m pretty sure that particular product only helps for a hairline/feather scratch — the watches in the images above and below seem to be well beyond that point. That said, we can’t flat-out take the users’ word for it, either. There’s no telling what sort of conditions the watches have been through. All we can do is reach out to Pebble for comment and see if we can’t get a clearer idea of just how “scratch resistant” these $150 pieces of tech are supposed to be. In the meantime, members of the community suggest buying a screen protector and custom cutting it for use on the watch. I suppose this also wouldn’t be a bad time for someone to cash in with a Pebble Smartwatch screen protector project on Kickstarter. Has your watch suffered the same fate?
[via Kickstarter, Thanks Frank!] |
| Jelly Bean sees modest climb, the rest see small decline in latest Android platform numbers Posted: 05 Feb 2013 01:12 PM PST The latest platform distribution numbers for Android have been posted to Google’s developer site, and the results are favorable (yet, at the same time, things seem a bit stagnant). For starters, Gingerbread is nowhere near being dead as it still holds a commanding 45.6% of the pie. There are a ton of Gingerbread devices out there, so they’re either not being upgraded on the software side or people aren’t willing to upgrade on the hardware side yet. The good news is that Jelly Bean saw a a slight increase to 13.6%, though a vast majority of that share went to Android 4.1 instead of 4.2 at 12.2% and 1.4%, respectively. Ice Cream Sandwich took an extremely small .1% dip to 29%, though that can be explained by more Ice Cream Sandwich devices being upgraded to Jelly Bean than Ice Cream Sandwich devices being sold. Most new devices will come with at least Android 4.1 this year so we imagine the trend will continue, and will ramp up in speed.
Fragmentation is an issue that Google is still hoping to get under control one day, but it doesn’t seem like the problem is as easy to solve as an algebraic equation. With the likes of Froyo and Eclair still showing decent life, and Gingerbread flat-out refusing to die well past its prime, you have to expect that we’ll never truly get everyone caught up. The most we can hope for is that, at the very least, more and more people get on Ice Cream Sandwich so that more focus can go toward creating great Holo UI apps. Ice Cream Sandwich never quite reached the same plateaus Gingerbread did, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Most people won’t upgrade their smartphones until they have an upgrade ready and the right combination of phone/price is presented to them, and it just so happens that the upgrade period for most people who originally bought Gingerbread phones will come up this year. Once more people get the opportunity to step up to the latest and greatest hardware at a fraction of the cost we should see them snapping up phones with Jelly Bean in droves, though Key-Lime Pie, or whatever the next version of Android will be called, would likely begin to take center stage. We enjoy the frequency in which Google upgrades its software, but because Android is open to OEM customization we have to deal with these unfortunate gaps. It’s a vicious and unforgiving cycle, folks, and while the pill may be tough to swallow it’s just something we’ll have to contend with if we want to continue to get upgrades every 6 months compared to the annual cycles most other companies are on. |
| Semi-full Instagram experience finally heads to your browser Posted: 05 Feb 2013 12:46 PM PST For one reason or another, Instagram was a bit late to the full desktop web experience. The photo sharing service largely existed as a mobile application, and the only meaningful presence it had on the desktop is for single photo views (if someone shared the photo to Twitter or Facebook) and a very minimal profile experience. Now, a semi-full extent of the service can be had on the web as it now allows you to scroll through your timeline, like pics and comment on them as if you were on your phone.
The service hasn’t completely shifted over just yet — photo uploading and editing is still limited to those using the app on their phones and tablets — but this is another logical step to breaking Instagram out of the mobile shell it’s been trapped in since 2010. The folks at Instagram say their initial vision of making the social network a mobile-driven machine still lives, though, so we’re not sure if we’ll ever be able to post photos from our desktop. Still, having a timeline view is a significant step forward and many will no doubt enjoy the ability to gawk at their friends’ horrible photos on their desktop. All you need to do to get started is head over to Instagram.com and sign in with your account. [via Instagram] |
| Chrome OS Notification Center screenshot reveals new unified Google messaging service? Posted: 05 Feb 2013 12:20 PM PST Our dream of seeing Chrome OS and Android unified might still be a bit far-off, but Google is looking to improve its netbook operating system in the near future. Francois Beaufort posted a screenshot of the new notification center that will come to Chrome OS in the near future. From the looks of things, you can expect notifications from Google+, Google Talk, Google Voice and other popular Google services, and you’ll be able to act on these notifications in different ways.
That alone is pretty interesting, but more relevant to our interests here at Phandroid is a new icon we haven’t seen before. It features a series of four multi-colored chat bubbles stacked onto one another, and while we don’t want to assume anything it would make sense for this to be the unified messaging service we’ve all been waiting for. It has long been predicted that the Mountain View company would look to replace all its messaging-centric services with a one-stop offering through Google+ ever since the social network was announced.
Google+ has been integrated into other services in more ways than one, so it only makes sense that the next natural step would be to combine it with the likes of Google Talk and Google Voice. This is just wishful thinking here, but it could be the Android equivalent of Blackberry Messenger that we’ve all been waiting for. Perhaps more exciting is the possibility of seeing Google+ Messenger come to desktops, whether it be in a new service or as its own standalone service. Users have been asking for that particular feature ever since Google+ Messenger launched, so we’d take it however we can get it. There are a number of different things this icon could represent, but we’ll have to wait until more information leaks or wait for Google to get more chatty at Google I/O to see what, exactly, is in store for the future of its services. What do you think this could be? [via ChromeSpot] |
| Nexus 4 factory image returns to Google’s developer site Posted: 05 Feb 2013 11:29 AM PST
After mysteriously disappearing from the Google Developers site, the factory image for the “occam” version of the Nexus 4 has returned. Carrying build number JOP40D, the image represents a clean install of Android 4.2.1. Google gave no comment in regards to why the build was originally pulled, but if it had anything to do with kinks in the code, hopefully that’s been worked out. For folks that enjoy experimenting with the software on the N4, which acts as a Jelly Bean development platform, the factory image is a must have in case you must restore to stock Android. The factory image can be downloaded now. As for the matching Android 4.2.1 binaries, they still appear to be missing. [via DroidLife] |
| AT&T 4G LTE launches and expands in 6 markets Posted: 05 Feb 2013 11:27 AM PST Tuesday has been a great day for AT&T thus far as the Texas-based wireless carrier has announced expansions and additions for its 4G LTE network in six markets today. Those in Northwest Georgia; Albany, GA; Cecil County, MD; Norfolk/Portsmouth/Virginia Beach and other parts of Virginia; Montgomery County, PA; and Bucks County, PA will all be seeing super fast 4G LTE speeds on top of the very serviceable HSPA+ network AT&T has deployed.
Ma Bell’s quest to match Verizon’s roll-out pace seems to be picking up a little more steam lately as it seems the carrier has a decent-sized round of launches and expansions every month. Their list doesn’t quite reach the dozens mark like Verizon’s tend to, but we should see things picking up considerably as we get deeper into the glorious year that is 2013. There’s definitely no shortage of LTE devices to take advantage of the super fast speeds. If you happen to have AT&T LTE in your area and you need a phone to take advantage of it make no delay in checking out the carrier’s selection over at Amazon. |
| [Update] HTC Thunderbolt Ice Cream Sandwich update starting to roll out Posted: 05 Feb 2013 10:43 AM PST It’s been a long time coming, folks, but Verizon’s eldest 4G LTE phone is finally receiving a healthy helping of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Signs of the update’s arrival have graced several corners of the interwebz for months in the form of leaked ROMs, but without word from Verizon or HTC we were beginning to worry that the upgrade might have been abandoned.
Verizon surprised us last week when it published details about the upgrade on its support site, though. It’s not Jelly Bean or HTC Sense 4, but users will get a more modern Android experience than the one Android 2.3 Gingerbread provides. For starters, all of those Holo-themed apps will now be available for download in the Google Play Store. Beyond that, some Ice Cream Sandwich-specific features — like the new apps switcher or the ability to access notifications on the lock-screen — will be along for the ride. A couple of reports from AndroidForums.com suggest this thing is beginning to roll out, though, so if you still have a Thunderbolt handy be sure to give it a whirl and check it out for yourself. We’d be surprised if most of you haven’t already used your bi-annual upgrades to ditch the phone, but we know not everyone has given up on the device just yet. Head to the settings menu and check for it under About Phone to see if you can finally step into the new age of Android. [Update]: Verizon has released official word regarding the rollout, letting us know that it is indeed going out today and that the process will be staggered (meaning not everyone will see it right away, so don’t panic if you’re not able to pull it down). Happy updating! |
| You or someone you know buying a phone this year? Sign-up to receive a $50 gift card from Best Buy Posted: 05 Feb 2013 10:11 AM PST Best Buy is running one of their most popular smartphone deals again for the 2013 calendar year. The company is accepting sign-ups from anyone who anticipates upgrading their smartphones this year. This sign-up will put your name, or anyone you know, in line for a $50 gift card in the event that you upgrade your phone with them at some point before December 31st, 2013.
The catch is that you only have until February 9th to sign-up. That should be no issue, though, as it only takes a couple of minutes to get through. Those of you who recently upgraded might not have another upgrade before the window expires, but this deal is active for any new activation — including those of you who are opening up a new line of service or adding a line — so even if you don’t think you’ll qualify for it before the end of the year you should sign up anyway. All you need to do is submit a phone number and an email address, and you’ll be on your way toward a free gift card with your purchase whenever that glorious day arrives. Head to Best Buy to get started. [Thanks Chris!] |
| Blackberry 10′s Android runtime to be upgraded to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Posted: 05 Feb 2013 09:50 AM PST If you were to tell me that a Blackberry device would be able to run Android 4.0+ apps sooner than some Android phones I would crawl into a hole and die from laughter, but that just might happen if today’s news is accurate. Engadget has confirmed with Blackberry that the Android runtime, a compatibility layer that allows Blackberry 10 devices to run Android apps, will be getting an upgrade to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.
This means it will be able to run virtually any Android application you can think of as long as the developer is willing to change a few lines of code. As we explained before, Blackberry (who used to be RIM, but will undergo a name change) would prefer developers to create native applications, but it is willing to use apps originally created for Android as a bridge while developers catch on. Android apps on Blackberry 10 don’t quite look like they belong, but they work and they’re enough for the time being. The 4.x batch of apps should look even better than the ones coded for Android 2.3, so if anyone happens to buy a Blackberry 10 device anytime soon there should be no shortage of great apps to sink their teeth into. |
| Android 4.2.2 could roll out this month Posted: 05 Feb 2013 08:46 AM PST
Google is reportedly set to launch a small update to Android 4.2 later this month, according to a report from The International Business Times. The update, which could be the last for the Jelly Bean version of Android before Key Lime Pie debuts at May’s Google I/O conference, is said to bring minor fixes and tweaks to the OS. The most notable adjustments will come in the form of Bluetooth improvements, something we have heard previously. The update is currently in testing internally and could reach phones, namely the Nexus 4, by mid march. [via BGR] |
| Amazon announces virtual currency for use with Kindle Fire, Appstore Posted: 05 Feb 2013 06:50 AM PST
Amazon has announced their very own virtual currency for use with their popular Kindle Fire series of tablets and Amazon Appstore. They are calling it — wait for it — Amazon Coins. The virtual coins will enter circulation with the purpose to drive monetization for developers, allowing users to purchase apps, games, and in-app bonuses beginning this May. For starters, Amazon is giving away “tens of millions of dollars’ worth” of the new currency to spark their virtual economy, but the goal is to get users spending real world cash on the digital dough. It’s a win-win for Amazon and developers. Money stays within the Kindle Fire ecosystem and devs earn the same as they would normally. Developers have until April 25th to prepare their apps for Amazon Coins. Pricing details and exchange rates have yet to be disclosed.
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| Kim Jong-Un is an Android man: Spotted with HTC Butterfly Posted: 05 Feb 2013 06:34 AM PST
While the vast majority of North Korean citizens have never laid hands upon a smartphone, their leader Kim Jong-Un gets a few special privileges. It comes with the territory of being the heir to power in the notoriously closed-off society. It should come as no surprise that the pudgy dictator owns a smartphone, nor the fact that the HTC Butterfly is his current mobile of choice. In reality, Kim Jong-Un has few options when it comes to the phone he wields. Samsung and LG, both manufactured in rival South Korea, are obviously off the table. As is Sony with its Japanese roots. The North Korean tyrant wouldn’t waste a second considering the iPhone or a Motorola device out of hatred for the United States. So his only choices rest with manufacturers based out out of China or nearby Taiwan. And when you want to position yourself as the most-esteemed political figure in the world, you better go big. So the 5-inch Butterfly with its high-end spec sheet fits the bill nicely. Meanwhile, residents of North Korea have little access to mobile technology, which is more than a little backwards. But that’s the way things go in North Korea. [via UnwiredView] |
| Samsung announces Galaxy Young, Galaxy Fame Posted: 05 Feb 2013 05:57 AM PST
Getting jump on the slew of Mobile World Congress announcement later this month, Samsung has officially debuted their Galaxy Young and Galaxy Fame handsets. The low-end phones pack a solid foundation into a pack that closely resembles that of the Galaxy S3 (and other recent Samsung models). The Galaxy Young features a 3.27-inch display, 1GHz CPU, and 4GB of internal storage. It runs Android 4.q. The Galaxy Fame sports a 3.5-inch display, 1GHz CPU, and 4GB of internal storage. It also runs Android 4.1.
Expect to see the phones on display in Barcelona at the end of the month. We’ll be sure to grab a peek while we are there. Details on pricing and availability are not known at this time. [via Samsung] |
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