Android Central |
- Ravensword: Shadowlands now available in Google Play; this is what a mobile RPG should look like
- The Da Vinci Code free in the Play Store; Inferno prolouge and first chapter as a bonus
- Nexus 4 Bumpers in stock in the U.S. Google Play Store
- The Greatest Android Podcast in the World returns tonight
- Huawei Ascend G700 leaks as an affordable option for the Chinese market
- Sony Xperia E officially on sale in the UK, costing £129.99
- Droid RAZR HD and MAXX HD Android 4.1.2 update is live
- Kobo Arc to receive Jelly Bean update starting today
- Trapster 4.0: navigating through the latest update
- Nexus 7 8GB on sale for $139.99 at 1saleaday
- Turn the web into a phone-controlled 3D puzzle with Chrome's World Wide Maze
- MetroPCS picks up Huawei Premia 4G
- Deal of the Day: Incipio Feather Hard Case for Google Nexus 7
- Nexus 4 back in stock at German Google Play Store
- Eric Schmidt: Chrome and Android to remain separate
- Popular mobile security app Avast! marking Gmail, Whatsapp, others as malware
- Samsung aware of lock screen security issues, working on a fix
- Samsung confirms UK Galaxy S4 will use quad-core Snapdragon 600 CPU
- EE to extend LTE services to rural Cumbria
- Chameleon Launcher for phones now available in Google Play
- Xperia Z devices are randomly dying, but Sony is working on a fix
- Visa CEO: 'totally appropriate' to charge PayPal, Google Wallet for mobile payments
| Ravensword: Shadowlands now available in Google Play; this is what a mobile RPG should look like Posted: 21 Mar 2013 04:34 PM PDT
Ravensword: Shadowlands, Crescent Moon Games third in the Ravensword series, is now available in Google Play. I'll tell you up front -- it's not cheap. The game checks in at $6.99, but after just a few minutes playing it I know a lot of folks will think it's worth every penny. Ravensword: Shadowlands is an evolution of the RPG / adventure game genre, bringing character skills, plenty of items to hunt for, and a decent storyline. The kicker is that it also has some of the most impressive visuals we've ever seen. Running through the world, both above ground and in dungeons, comes to life because of incredible 3D details. It's a very "Elder Scrolls" look and feel. Mounted combat, multiple weapon choices, enchantments and quests make the gameplay exciting, and it's all very playable. In addition, if you're using a Tegra 3 device like the Nexus 7, you'll also have some superb bloom effects, real-time shadows, and life-like ragdoll physics. There is no way we can give this a full review in just one day, but we wanted to let everyone know it's now available. We'll revisit after we've had a chance to hack and slash our way through a little more. For now, hit the break to see the gameplay trailer, and the Google Play link above will direct you to the download. More: TegraZone 
| ||
| The Da Vinci Code free in the Play Store; Inferno prolouge and first chapter as a bonus Posted: 21 Mar 2013 04:12 PM PDT
Many times we get asked where good free books can be found for Android. Not only is this one free, but it also comes with some extra content. Dan Brown's runaway hit The Da Vinci Code can now be downloaded from Google Play Books for free until March 24 for your phone or tablet. Packaged with this e-copy are the prologue and first chapter from Brown's upcoming novel Inferno, available May 14. As the fastest selling adult hardcover of all time, and second best in sales only to Harry Potter in 2004, this book has been hard to avoid - but if you've managed to do so, or just want to relive the mystery while getting a sneak peak at Inferno, make sure to hit that download button by the 24th. 
| ||
| Nexus 4 Bumpers in stock in the U.S. Google Play Store Posted: 21 Mar 2013 02:27 PM PDT
Perhaps one of the most sought after accessories on Google Play, the bumper case for Google's Nexus 4 is back in stock. Ever since the launch of the Nexus 4, Google has had problems getting these bumpers out to customers. Even those who ordered on launch day were told to expect delays up to 3 weeks. Since then, the availability of the bumpers has gone from back in stock, to out of stock, and even to "no longer available for sale." This forced Nexus 4 owners to either buy 3rd party bumpers, or pay incredibly inflated prices on sites like eBay. While a tad expensive, the official bumper definitely has a fit and finish that compliments the Nexus 4 nicely. For a better look, check out our full review. Hopefully Google has gotten their supply problems under control like they did with the phone itself. I wouldn't risk it though - if you've been waiting for one of these, order now. Source: Google Play Store; thanks, Michael! 
| ||
| The Greatest Android Podcast in the World returns tonight Posted: 21 Mar 2013 02:02 PM PDT
We're back, baby! After a couple of busy weeks and a schedule change or two, we're back to our regularly scheduled time and place tonight. There will be plenty of talk about phones, and CPUs, and Zoes, and life companions, as well as some discussion of what Google's been up to recently -- both good and bad. So join Phil and the gang -- and, of course, the chat room -- live tonight at 1 a.m. GMT / 9 p.m. EDT / 6 p.m. PDT for the live broadcast. You should be there. You will be there. You must be there. After all, you are what makes it the Greatest Android Podcast in the World. Not at a computer? Pick up the free UStream Viewer from Google Play [link] and search for Mobile Nations a little before the show (it won't appear until we go live). We'll see you there!
| ||
| Huawei Ascend G700 leaks as an affordable option for the Chinese market Posted: 21 Mar 2013 01:44 PM PDT
Shortly after MWC we saw a leak of the Huawei Ascend G710, and now a very similar G700 is making an appearance online. The renders above, tweeted out by leakster @evleaks, show a device that falls in line with current Huawei design. According to some sleuthing on the part of Engadget, the plastic device will be sporting a 5-inch "HD" (assumedly 720p) display, along with 2GB of RAM and a MediaTek quad-core processor. The indication is that the device will eventually sell for around $300 unlocked, which would put it well under the recent flagship Ascend D2 and Ascend Mate. Interestingly, those specs line up very similarly to those of the previously leaked G710 although the designs seem to be different. With very similar names, we'd expect these devices to slot into price points right next to each other. Don't get your hopes up for a U.S. launch though, these are likely bound for just the Chinese market. Source: @evleaks; Via: Engadget 
| ||
| Sony Xperia E officially on sale in the UK, costing £129.99 Posted: 21 Mar 2013 12:26 PM PDT
Only the black versions are currently available -- white ones are due sometime in April. For your money, you're getting a solid entry level Android smartphone. Better still, it's a solid entry level smartphone running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Other specs include a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 3.5-inch HVGA display, 4GB of onboard storage, 512MB of RAM a microSD card slot and a respectable for its size, 1500mAh battery. This is by no means going to excite those that breathe bleeding edge devices, but the Xperia E also has a little party piece. Sony has released an experimental Firefox OS ROM for the Xperia E, so for those so inclined, it's not an overly expensive way of checking that out either. Source: Clove 
| ||
| Droid RAZR HD and MAXX HD Android 4.1.2 update is live Posted: 21 Mar 2013 11:42 AM PDT
Droid RAZR HD and MAXX HD owners have started receiving an update for their devices. This latest OTA will bump both versions of the RAZR HD to Android 4.1.2, and comes with security patches from Google and a fix for data roaming. Multiple software improvements have also been made. Detection of USB cables has been improved, as has the devices' Wifi connectivity. Wallpaper options have been added when selecting home screen icons, and the camera app has had improvements made to its touch-to-focus, notifications, and low light performance. Headset connectivity is better, as is pixelation in video streaming. Media sync problems should also be gone, now that sync more stable. If you're rocking a Droid RAZR HD or MAXX HD, be sure to hit the forums and let us know how you're getting on.. Source: Droid Life 
| ||
| Kobo Arc to receive Jelly Bean update starting today Posted: 21 Mar 2013 11:08 AM PDT
The 7-inch Kobo Arc (read our review), which was released just a couple of months ago, will start its Jelly Bean update rollout today. The update will bring everything you'd come to expect from Jelly Bean -- Project Butter, actionable notifications, Google Now and new keyboard functions. Presumably the update will still include Kobo's software customizations, which it calls the "Tapestries UI". This seems to be just a basic updating of the OS, with other Kobo-specific updates being announced. That's completely fine with us -- Jelly Bean is a big jump up in overall functionality and usefulness. Happen to have a Kobo Arc and receive the update today? Let us know in the comments. 
| ||
| Trapster 4.0: navigating through the latest update Posted: 21 Mar 2013 10:00 AM PDT
Trapster has been around for many years now, and although it has gone through a lot of changes since 2010 none may be as important as the move today to version 4.0. The newest version of Trapster leaves no portion of the interface or functionality untouched -- improvements can be found across the entire app. There's a new and user-friendly main interface, but the revamp goes all the way through to the settings. Best of all, the mapping data has been improved substantially with the switch to the latest HERE Maps as the base, with a new 3D view and vector-based images. So what makes the new version of Trapster so great? Read on past the break and see what version 4.0 has to offer. 
| ||
| Nexus 7 8GB on sale for $139.99 at 1saleaday Posted: 21 Mar 2013 09:07 AM PDT
Google's Nexus 7, one of the most popular tablets around, is available on 1saleaday for today only. These units are factory-refurbished versions of the 8GB model, which is no longer available directly from Google. They come with a 90-day warranty, as well as the AC adapter and micro-USB cable. At this price, you can grab yourself a Nexus 7 and the dock for less than the price of the cheapest model in the Play Store. If Google sticks to a yearly refresh cycle for their tablets, we can expect a new version of the Nexus 7 tablet to be announced in less than two months. But if a deal is more important than having the latest and greatest, and you don't mind having 8GB of storage, then jump on this deal before it's gone. 
| ||
| Turn the web into a phone-controlled 3D puzzle with Chrome's World Wide Maze Posted: 21 Mar 2013 07:17 AM PDT
Google's Chrome Experiments are wacky technological showcases designed to demonstrate what's possible with a modern web browser. And the latest of these experiments is a doozy -- World Wide Maze lets you turn your favorite website into a 3D marble-based puzzle. To get started with World Wide Maze you'll need the latest desktop version of Chrome, and a phone running iOS 5 or Android 4.0 or greater. Next you synchronize your desktop and mobile browsers by entering a code, or using the Chrome Tab Sync feature. Then use a keyword search to find a site to turn into a maze -- an image heavy site like Android Central works pretty well. Once Google's finished crunching the site in question, it'll be presented to you on your PC as a multi-level 3D maze -- think Marble Blast or Super Monkey Ball -- controlled by your smartphone's accelerometer and on-screen touch controls. Pretty cool! Check out the Google Chrome World Wide Maze at the link below. Alternatively we've got an official video after the break. Source: World Wide Maze; via: Engadget 
| ||
| MetroPCS picks up Huawei Premia 4G Posted: 21 Mar 2013 06:35 AM PDT
MetroPC this morning announced the availability of the Huawei Premia 4G, a 4-inch Android smartphone. It's running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, has a 5-megapixel camera with Flash and is powered by a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM. The display is covered with Gorilla Glass. On the software side, expect MetroPCS to push the "joyn" feature, which adds video and Wifi-calling, instant messaging, and file sharing. You'll have to have a 4G LTE data plan to use it. The Huawei Premia 4G is available today for $149. 
| ||
| Deal of the Day: Incipio Feather Hard Case for Google Nexus 7 Posted: 21 Mar 2013 06:34 AM PDT
The Incipio Feather Hard Case is available for just $19.00, 46% off today only. Backed by our 60-day return policy and fast shipping. Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts! 
| ||
| Nexus 4 back in stock at German Google Play Store Posted: 21 Mar 2013 05:04 AM PDT
The UK isn't the only country that's just seen a fresh influx of Nexus 4 stock at its Google Play Store. Today the official +Nexus Google+ page sends word that the coveted handset is now back in stock in Germany. The phone is available in 8GB and 16GB flavors for €299 and €349 respectively, and set to ship in 3 to 5 days. (Incidentally, the phone's still in stock in the UK and shipping within the same timeframe) Grab 'em at the links below -- 
| ||
| Eric Schmidt: Chrome and Android to remain separate Posted: 21 Mar 2013 04:52 AM PDT
With the recent news that Chrome boss Sundar Pichai will be taking over from Andy Rubin as head of Android, together with Android features like Google Now starting to show up in Chrome OS, there'd been speculation that the two platforms would eventually merge into one. Not so, says Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt, who spoke to reporters at the Big Tent conference in India today. According to Reuters, Schmidt said that the two would remain separate, but that there'd be more "commonality" between them. So while we may see more overlapping features, the two operating systems will remain technically independent. And it would seem there are no plans to roll Chrome OS and Android into one super-OS spanning both mobile and desktop. Schmidt also dismissed speculation that he himself may be leaving the company, saying "Google is my home." Source: Reuters; via: The Verge 
| ||
| Popular mobile security app Avast! marking Gmail, Whatsapp, others as malware Posted: 21 Mar 2013 04:48 AM PDT
Whoopsies. It appears that the popular "Avast! Mobile Security" -- it's got somewhere between 10 million and 50 million downloads from Google Play -- is marking Android's Gmail as malware. You might get a lot of spam and other unwanted e-mail, but that doesn't quite make gmail itself a malware app. This, folks, is what you call a false positive. More: Android Malware scanners - should you use one? Users of Avast are reporting other false positives as well, including WhatsApp, Amazon, ScoreCetner, Redbox, PayPal, Google Currents, YPMobile, HP ePrint, Rdio, Linked In, Foscam Remote and others. The good news is you can white list it with the app. Also, Avast apparently is aware of the mix-up and has a new set of virus definitions on the way. Support forum moderator Filip Havlicek writes:
So, yeah. False positive. Let's hope Avast didn't miss anything that actually is malware. Source: Avast support forums 
| ||
| Samsung aware of lock screen security issues, working on a fix Posted: 21 Mar 2013 03:35 AM PDT
The past few weeks have seen some prominent lock screen security issues come to light on certain Android 4.1-based Samsung phones, including the Galaxy Note 2. Most recently, blogger Terence Eden was able to completely bypass the Note 2's lock screen security by cleverly utilizing a vulnerability in the way Samsung's TouchWiz software exits out of certain emergency dialer menus. This morning Samsung has confirmed to Android Central that it's aware of the issue and working on a fix. Here's the manufacturer's statement in full --
As we mentioned in yesterday's post, using this technique to bypass a phone's security in the real world would be tricky and time-consuming process, so we're not losing any sleep just yet. Nevertheless, it's good to see that a fix is indeed on the way. 
| ||
| Samsung confirms UK Galaxy S4 will use quad-core Snapdragon 600 CPU Posted: 21 Mar 2013 03:19 AM PDT
It's quad-core, not octa-core, but that's not something worth worrying aboutFollowing recent speculation across the blogosphere, Samsung has this morning confirmed to us that UK consumers will get the quad-core Snapdragon 600-powered Galaxy S4, rather than the octa-core Exynos 5 variant. That's contrary to the original press release sent out to UK media last week, which suggested the opposite. Here's the updated statement from Samsung --
And as we know from speaking with Qualcomm last week, that quad-core CPU is the company's latest Snapdragon 600. 
| ||
| EE to extend LTE services to rural Cumbria Posted: 21 Mar 2013 02:30 AM PDT
The EE LTE train continues to roll along, with the latest expansion to the UK's fledgling 4G network heading to a more rural setting. While many of the major cities across the UK are covered by EE's LTE service, the next expansion sees rural Cumbria receiving the high speed mobile data service. The Northern Fells is one of the UK's most rural areas, and EE's LTE will now provide high-speed data to around 2000 people across a 100 square mile area. Speed wise EE is committing to a consistent download speed of 8-12Mbps, rising as high as 20Mbps. The launch of the service in this area follows a 4G mobile broadband trial started by EE back in May 2012. The full press release can be found after the break. 
| ||
| Chameleon Launcher for phones now available in Google Play Posted: 20 Mar 2013 08:19 PM PDT
We first had a look at Chameleon Launcher for the phone-sized screen about a week ago, and plenty of folks were excited and waiting for it to launch publicly. That just happened, and now you don't have to be a Kickstarter backer or Android blogger to get your hands on a copy. Chameleon Launcher has been available for your Android tablet for a while now, and we've noticed there are two kinds of people: those who love it, and those who hate it. It's a very different experience than the one Google or the folks who made your Android phone give us, and it may take some getting used to. The good news is that it's very feature-rich, and the developers are constantly tweaking things and adding even more new features. Downloading Chameleon Launcher from Google Play requires a decision -- do you go for the $3.99 version that runs on both the tablet and the phone, or get the $2.91 version that is phone only. You'll need a version of Android that's 3.2 or higher to use either, and they aren't interchangeable -- choose wisely. You can have a look at our hands-on after the break, and decide for yourself if you think it's for you. 
| ||
| Xperia Z devices are randomly dying, but Sony is working on a fix Posted: 20 Mar 2013 07:29 PM PDT
Some Sony Xperia Z users are reporting that their device is randomly shutting down, never to turn back on again. XperiaBlog points to several different user groups that are finding their devices shut down without their knowledge, and can't do anything to have them come back to life. Although some report success doing a hard reset (holding power + vol up), this doesn't seem to be universal fix. There also doesn't seem to be a known cause either, which makes the bug even more troublesome to diagnose. Sony's response to the issue is that it has come up with a fix for the random shutdowns, which will be implemented with the device's next software update. Our own Xperia Z seems to be going along strong and hasn't had such an issue, but then again we may just be lucky. Source: XperiaBlog; More: Sony Xperia Z Forums 
| ||
| Visa CEO: 'totally appropriate' to charge PayPal, Google Wallet for mobile payments Posted: 20 Mar 2013 05:32 PM PDT
Following previous statements from MasterCard, Visa is potentially planning to charge mobile payment operators extra fees for their transactions. Speaking at the Barclays Emerging Payments Forum, CEO of Visa Charlie Scharf stated that it would be "totally appropriate" to charge mobile payment processor additional fees for using its cards for payments. Payment systems like PayPal and Google Wallet are what's called a "staged wallet", which acts as an intermediary between credit cards and retailers that are accepting the payments. Because of this, when Visa and MasterCard cards are attached to the services they don't receive back as much information about the purchases being made. Once relegated to just online purchases, the likes of PayPal and Google Wallet have started to put this payment system to work at physical retail locations as well. This not only directly cuts into the fee income of Visa and MasterCard, but cuts them twice when they also don't receive the valuable customer purchasing data. These additional fees, which MasterCard already plans to implement, will hopefully help in both arenas. "Help" may not be the best descriptor though, because a new set of fees for staged wallet providers will only reduce the number of choices you have to pay with. Visa and MasterCard have a huge interest in cutting down any competing payment systems that sidestep their current ways of doing things. As many know, they have even gone so far as to launch their own mobile payment systems -- to little adoption. We know that consumers want these types of single-wallet systems to simplify the way they pay for things every day, let's just hope that Visa and MasterCard don't have their way with this one. 
|
| You are subscribed to email updates from Android Central - Android Forums, News, Reviews, Help and Android Wallpapers To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment