Android Central

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• OpenTable joins Google+ Developers Live to discuss Google+ sign-in and over-the-air installs tomorrow
• TweetDeck for Android is going the way of the Dodo
• CM10.1-m2 based on Android 4.2.2 now available
• Unlocked Sony Xperia ZL headed to the U.S. with LTE and new color option
• Samsung Galaxy S4 to employ 'eye scrolling,' says NYT
• White House, FCC chair agree SIM unlocking should be legal
• LG Spirit 4G review
• Real Racing 3: quality gameplay meets the freemium model
• Sprint fires up nine new LTE markets
• Minor Galaxy Note 2 security loophole could lead to momentary lock screen bypass
• Deal of the Day: Incipio NGP Soft Shell Case for HTC One X
• Dbrand vinyl skins for LG Nexus 4 review
• Monday Brief: A BB10 update, webOS sold to LG, more MWC, and more!
• First Samsung Galaxy S4 teaser trailer emerges
• HTC One SV reduced to £260 by UK retailer for one week only
• ClockworkMod Superuser app now available in the Google Play Store
• ASUS Transformer Pad TF300 first non-Nexus to get Android 4.2; roll out begins today in the US
• eTrizzle: find movies from a variety of sources

OpenTable joins Google+ Developers Live to discuss Google+ sign-in and over-the-air installs tomorrow Posted: 04 Mar 2013 05:13 PM PST   We all know that Google has rolled out tools for developers to use Google+ sign-in for the web and for Android apps, but something that isn't getting as much attention as it should is the over-the-air app installation that can happen when a developer sets up his or her web app. On the surface it looks like magic -- use Google+ to sign into a web site (like fitbit.com or opentable.com) and during the process you're presented with a screen that will install the mobile app directly to your phone if you would like. It's a new level of app discovery that will drive users (that's us) to the apps we're likely interested in. This is important. If you're visiting a website and engaged enough to want or need to sign in, chances are you'll want to take a look at the Android app. It makes it easy for users to find the apps, and makes it easy for developers to let us know they're there. The folks at OpenTable realize how important this can be, so they're joining Gus Class and Chris Cartland from Google in a special Google+ Developers Live session tomorrow (March 5) at 2:30pm PST.  If you're a developer, or even an interested user, this should answer a lot of questions about the over-the-air app install process, as well as discuss the ways it can benefit developers and users alike. You'll find all the information in the Google+ event page listed below. Google+ Developers Live: Over-the-Air Installs

TweetDeck for Android is going the way of the Dodo Posted: 04 Mar 2013 04:15 PM PST TweetDeck, which has been owned and operated by Twitter itself since mid 2011, is closing down its Android and iPhone apps to focus on future development of its web app. The app itself hasn't seen an update or redesign in the Play Store since the end of 2011, but other developers have built on top of TweetDeck for much longer. In a post on its official blog, TweetDeck says that it will discontinue support for the apps in May by pulling them from their respective stores, and the apps will stop working short after. Some of the "blame" is put on Twitter's upcoming retirement of the v1.0 API, which the apps rely on, but it's a much bigger story than that. This shutdown should come as no surprise considering the stagnation in development of the app and Twitter's move to cut down on third party Twitter client development. TweetDeck says as much in its post, where it notes that it has made "an increased investment in Twitter for iPhone and Twitter for Android", and that the combination of a better official Twitter app along with improvements to the TweetDeck web app will improve the experience for users. Source: TweetDeck

CM10.1-m2 based on Android 4.2.2 now available Posted: 04 Mar 2013 02:15 PM PST CyanogenMod has just released its latest "M" build, CM10.1-m2 based on Android 4.2.2, for several different devices. The M builds are meant to be a bigger step up in stability from just another nightly build, but not quite ready for the mainstream as a "stable" release. Its for this reason that the CM team encourages bug reports on these builds, which can go a long way towards that stable release. Starting today the CM10.1-m2 builds will be available for several devices, including the Nexus lineup, HTC One X / Evo 4G LTE, Galaxy S / S2 / S3 / Note and a few other odds and ends. If you're interested in moving up to the latest M build and have one of the above devices, head to the source link below and grab your download. If you don't see your device listed just yet, don't worry. They note that CM10.1 nightly builds will continue for other devices until they hit a level deemed acceptable as an M build. Source: CyanogenMod

Unlocked Sony Xperia ZL headed to the U.S. with LTE and new color option Posted: 04 Mar 2013 01:01 PM PST Sony's other 5-incher heads stateside with T-Mobile + AT&T LTE bands and new red color Good news for American Sony fans with a few hundred dollars to blow on an unlocked smartphone. The Xperia ZL -- the more compact cousin of the Xperia Z -- is landing in the U.S., where it'll be available unlocked from the manufacturer's online store. Like its international counterpart, the ZL packs a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 CPU, a 13MP Exmor RS rear camera and a 5-inch 1080p HD Reality Display screen. The main differences include the unique notification light down below, as well as the smaller chassis size and lack of waterproofing. Of particular interest is the extra color variant that's cropped up -- a red option with a black front -- and the American ZL's support for LTE Bands 1, 2, 4, 5 and 17 alongside the standard pentaband HSPA. If our calculations are correct, that means it should work on both T-Mobile and AT&T's LTE networks -- T-Mo's in the process of lighting up Band 4, while AT&T has LTE deployed on Band 17. In theory that means you'll have an unlocked handset that can run quite happily on either carrier's 4G LTE -- a unique proposition for the U.S. market. However U.S. carriers being as they are, we'll have to wait until devices begin shipping before we can confirm that everything's working in the real world. There are no details available on pricing just yet, but previous unlocked Sony handsets haven't come cheap. In any case, there's a sign-up page on the Sony Store where customers can register their interest. Anyone in the U.S. tempted by the prospect of such an unlocked, LTE-capable Sony phone? Shout out in the comments! More: Hands-on with the Sony Xperia ZL Source: Sony Store; via: XperiaBlog

Samsung Galaxy S4 to employ 'eye scrolling,' says NYT Posted: 04 Mar 2013 12:12 PM PST The Samsung Galaxy S4 launches next Thursday, Mar. 14, and the rumor mill is starting to churn. The latest unofficial reports on Samsung's next Android smartphone comes from the New York Times' 'Bits' blog, which claims to have word of a new scrolling technique used by the handset. Apparently the S4 will use eye-tracking technology to automatically scroll through articles -- "The phone will track a user’s eyes to determine where to scroll, said a Samsung employee who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the news media. For example, when users read articles and their eyes reach the bottom of the page, the software will automatically scroll down to reveal the next paragraphs of text." It wouldn't be the first time Samsung's used this kind of tech on a smartphone. The Galaxy S3 included "SmartStay," a feature which used the front-facing camera to determine whether the user was looking at the screen and lock it accordingly. There are no specific details about how this eye-scrolling feature might work, but the Times notes Samsung has applied for trademarks of "EyeScroll" and "Samsung EyeScroll" in the EU and U.S. respectively for similar-sounding software features. To us, this sounds like exactly the sort of feature Samsung might bring to a new smartphone -- recall the wacky "Smart Rotation" feature that debuted on the Note 2 to assist with horizontal reading. However pre-release rumors don't always reveal the full picture, so we'll have to reserve final judgment until we see what Samsung's been building next Thursday. Source: New York Times

White House, FCC chair agree SIM unlocking should be legal Posted: 04 Mar 2013 10:41 AM PST Some good news today in the fight for making it legal to SIM-unlock your phone without having to go through an operator. The White House has swiftly responded to the petition that garnered the support of more than 114,000 people, with a pretty crystal clear subject line -- "It's time to legalize cell phone unlocking." That's a pretty powerful step in the right direction, but it doesn't actually change anything yet. If you want to (legally) SIM unlock your phone, you still have to go through your operator to get it done. That, in and of itself, is not a bad thing. If your account is in good standing and you've paid off the subsidy on your phone, they should hand over the SIM unlock code with no problem. There are cases, however, that make things a little more difficult, and that's where this legality issue comes into play. read more

LG Spirit 4G review Posted: 04 Mar 2013 09:47 AM PST Anyone living in one of America’s largest urban areas in 2013 has undoubtedly seen the claim: “Everybody’s moving to Metro.” And the claim isn’t that far off; in the past year, contract-free, budget-friendly carriers have boomed both in terms of subscribers and coverage. The industry’s growth can be attributed to a lot of things, including incredible rate hikes from the nation’s three largest carriers, though the most important factor has been the rapid evolution in smartphone technology. Case in point: the LG Spirit 4G, a knockout device in terms of both style and functionality. Where the Spirit really shines, though, is its price tag—at $199 with no contract and MetroPCS’ unlimited plans starting at just $40, the Spirit is perhaps the most capable of all economy Android devices on the market today. read more

Real Racing 3: quality gameplay meets the freemium model Posted: 04 Mar 2013 08:24 AM PST With a name like EA behind it, the Real Racing series has a high bar set for itself to offer a great mobile gaming experience. Real Racing 3 is the latest in the series, and it surely doesn't disappoint when it comes to the quality of design. But users are still cautious about the title, as instead of charging several dollars for the game up front, EA has chosen to go with a "freemium" model to generate revenue. Real Racing 3 offers great gameplay, visuals and sound, but does that overcome the annoyance of constant in-app purchases? Read on past the break with us and see. read more

Sprint fires up nine new LTE markets Posted: 04 Mar 2013 07:25 AM PST Sprint this morning announced that it's flipped the switch for 4G LTE data in new new markets. They are: Altoona, Pa. Asheville, N.C. Columbus, Ind. Elkhart/Goshen, Ind. Hammond, La La Crosse, Wis. San Juan, Puerto Rico Statesville, N.C. Temple, Texas You'll need one of Sprint's LTE-capable phones for the new high-speed data, of course, but current 3G-only phones also should see some improvement as part of the Network Vision improvements. Source: Sprint

Minor Galaxy Note 2 security loophole could lead to momentary lock screen bypass Posted: 04 Mar 2013 07:10 AM PST As Samsung security vulnerabilities go, this one's relatively minor. Nevertheless, if you're using lock screen security on the Galaxy Note 2, this latest loophole is something you should be aware of. Blogger Terence Eden has discovered a way to briefly bypass lock screen security on Samsung's 5.5-incher, momentarily allowing access to the home screen. By hitting "emergency call," then "emergency contacts," then holding the home button, the main home screen becomes visible for around a second -- just enough time to load an app, before reverting back to the lock screen. This dismisses any app that's loaded, but if a direct dial shortcut is placed on the home screen then it's possible to activate this and make a call, bypassing the lock screen security. Using this method it could also be possible to load up email or SMS apps for long enough to get an overview of sensitive messages. So this certainly isn't anywhere near as serious as the Exynos kernel vulnerability or USSD code hacks that came to light late last year, but it's probably something that should be fixed. Until then, if you're concerned about folks breaking past your lock screen security, you could avoid placing direct dial shortcuts on your main home screen. (Or alternatively keep your phone away from people you don't trust.) We've got Eden's original video after the break. Source: Terence Eden; via: Engadget read more

Deal of the Day: Incipio NGP Soft Shell Case for HTC One X Posted: 04 Mar 2013 06:37 AM PST The March 4 ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day is the Incipio NGP Soft Shell Case for HTC One X. This case is completely flexible and is made from a semi-rigid polymer to protect your device from drops. The NGP case slips around the One X and fits snugly, leaving access to the screen, camera and ports. Color options include black, pink, and mercury. The Incipio NGP Soft Shell Case is available for just $12.00, 40% off today only. Backed by our 60-day return policy and fast shipping. Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts!

Dbrand vinyl skins for LG Nexus 4 review Posted: 04 Mar 2013 06:07 AM PST Glass-backed devices like the Nexus 4 look great. But a glass back, like any design decision, is a compromise. Glass -- even reinforced glass like Corning’s Gorilla Glass 2 -- is less durable than metal or plastics. And besides, not everyone is fond of the look and feel of a glass-backed smartphone. Hence the arrival of protective skins like Dbrand’s that not only cover up the vulnerable glass, but come in a variety of colors and textures. Made from 3M vinyl, Dbrand’s Nexus 4 skins are precision-cut to match the back of the device, including the stylized “Nexus” lettering under the camera assembly. Dbrand provided us with a selection of skins for review, and each one of them was an exact match for the back of the Nexus 4 -- no rough edges, no overlap -- pretty impressive for a mass-produced skin. read more

Monday Brief: A BB10 update, webOS sold to LG, more MWC, and more! Posted: 04 Mar 2013 05:27 AM PST Mobile Nations Podcast Feed Mobile Nations on iTunes Mobile Nations YouTube Mobile Nations podcasting update: What's new for 2013! ZEN & TECH 53: Fitness month balance special Apple vs. Samsung: Damages cut by $450 Million, new trial ordered HTC user experience director on 'redefining' HTC Sense Where's the 'Wow!'? – Motorola purchase is a long-term plan, Google's CFO reminds OS 10.0.10.672 for the BlackBerry Z10 now available through numerous carriers BlackBerry 10 'will be available across the U.S. in a few short weeks' Why is there different BlackBerry 10 OS updates happening around the world? LG purchasing webOS for smart TVs, HP keeping cloud services, LG committed to open source webOS development Not with a bang but a whimper The Palm Timeline Debug & Iterate team-up podcast: The future of human interface Privacy and security in the age of iPhone mics and cameras HTC learns in 2013 what Apple knew back in 2007: Widgets aren't widely used MWC 2013 Nokia press conference - the Devices Between Windows Phone 8 and Blue lies a path of more frequent updates Nokia Lumia 720 hands-on, the unibody with microSD support

First Samsung Galaxy S4 teaser trailer emerges Posted: 04 Mar 2013 03:03 AM PST Light on details and heavy on hype, here's the first official teaser trailer for the Samsung Galaxy S4, due to be announced in New York City on Mar. 14. The trailer introduces the young Jeremy Maxwell, guardian of a magical box of Galaxy S4 secrets. Check it out above. We'll be live from NYC on the 14th for the main event.

HTC One SV reduced to £260 by UK retailer for one week only Posted: 04 Mar 2013 02:25 AM PST We're big fans of the HTC One SV around here, that's no secret. It's a beautifully designed and manufactured smartphone that offers LTE data speeds at an affordable price point. UK retailer Expansys has announced a 'deal of the week' on the HTC One SV that sees the price cut to just £259.99 SIM free and unlocked. We don't get the sexy looking red version, but both the blue and white ones are up for grabs.  By our reckoning -- for this week at least -- this price point makes the HTC One SV about the cheapest 4G LTE enabled device you can pick up on the British market. Despite the more budget oriented price, the One SV still offers a premium look and feel, and the same Sense experience as some of it's bigger brothers. Picking one up? Jump into the comments or the HTC One SV forums and tell us about it.  More: HTC One SV review Source: Expansys

ClockworkMod Superuser app now available in the Google Play Store Posted: 04 Mar 2013 01:47 AM PST We first took a look at Koush's ClockworkMod Superuser app about a week ago, and we were impressed with what we saw. A well designed utility app for rooted users, that brought a great feature set along with being free and open-sourced. At the time, the only way to try it out was to flash it manually, either via ROM Manager or via recovery.  That all changes today as Superuser has been pushed to the Google Play Store to download and install to your device. Also since the beta builds, some 'embarrassing spelling mistakes' have been rectified, as well as a few other fixes. It will remove any current Superuser apps on your device, and if you're having issues installing via the Play Store, links are provided in the description to a direct download to flash manually.

ASUS Transformer Pad TF300 first non-Nexus to get Android 4.2; roll out begins today in the US Posted: 03 Mar 2013 09:00 PM PST ASUS has announced that they will begin pushing the Android 4.2 over-the-air update to the Transformer Pad TF300 for folks in the US today. Other regions will follow during the month of March. This makes ASUS, and the TF300, the first non-Nexus tablets to see the 4.2 update, which includes the long awaited multiple user support. In addition to the version bump to 4.2, ASUS says the update will also bring enhanced performance and stability. To go along with the OTA, ASUS will also offer updates for their App Locker, Virtual Keyboard, Lock Screen and Setup Wizard applications.  Also mentioned in the press release are the Transformer Pad Infinity, The MeMo Pad Smart 10-inch, and the MeMo pad, which are slated to receive the 4.2 update during the second quarter of 2013. Notably absent is any mention of 4.2 for the Transformer Prime. The TF300 was a popular -- and very capable -- tablet for ASUS last year. With the new features in Android 4.2 it should offer a great experience for owners throughout 2013. Jump past the break to see the full press release. Discuss in the TF300 forums read more

eTrizzle: find movies from a variety of sources Posted: 03 Mar 2013 05:25 PM PST Unless you've used the eTrizzle service on the web before, the name won't give you any indication of what this app actually does. Confusing branding aside, the app provides a very useful service. In an age where people are looking to "cut the cord" and have multiple sources of content, it can be either confusing or time consuming to try and find where movies are available. eTrizzle hopes to solve this problem by aggregating several different sources of digital (and physical) movie content and making it searchable right from an app. read more

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