Android Central |
- Nexus 7 now available from the Play Store in Korea
- Sprint Optimus G Jelly Bean update rolling out now
- Scope update brings new UI, host of new feeds, advertising and Android Central
- Path update hits Android with messaging, stickers and 'The Shop'
- LG Optimus G Pro updated for messaging, camera improvements
- Motorola makes the Droid RAZR/MAXX Jelly Bean OTA official
- Gogo: Airborne Android use up 400% in two years
- Nexus 4 Launches in Japan
- Reviewing Humble Bundle 5: NightSky HD
- AT&T HTC One X finally gets Jelly Bean
- Motorola swaps in stock apps in Droid RAZR/MAXX Jelly Bean soak test
- Deal of the Day: Cruzerlite Bugdroid Circuit Case for Galaxy S3
- LTE-capable Sony Xperia Tablet Z hitting Japan on Mar. 22
- ASUS Transformer AiO Windows 8 all-in-one doubles as an Android tablet
- AT&T bringing LTE to four more cities
- News Corp. to release education focused 10-inch Amplify tablet
- Mobile Nations Fitness Month final winners announcement!
- LG Optimus LTE III makes its debut on SK Telecom
- This week's sidebar poll: Do you use NFC?
- C Spire Galaxy S3 Jelly Bean OTA rolling out now
| Nexus 7 now available from the Play Store in Korea Posted: 07 Mar 2013 06:11 PM PST
Google is expanding Play Store availability of its devices today by bringing the Nexus 7 to Korea directly. Sure the Nexus 7 has been out for some time now, but that doesn't mean its not still one of the best options when it comes to the 7-inch form factor. And any time that you can buy Google's products directly from them rather than a third party retailer is a bonus. Korea will have access to both 16 and 32GB versions, but there's no indication (although we're not great at reading Korean) that there's a mobile data version right at this moment. Let's hope that Google continues this trend of bringing the Play Store -- and Nexus devices as a whole -- to more countries. Source: @GoogleNexus (Twitter) 
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| Sprint Optimus G Jelly Bean update rolling out now Posted: 07 Mar 2013 03:28 PM PST
LG Optimus G users on Sprint have something to cheer about today, as the Jelly Bean OTA update has just started its rollout. As newer versions of the Optimus G have started to come out of the box with Jelly Bean on board, it's good to see Sprint keeping up with the update on the original devices that came first. Users will get the whole suite of Jelly Bean updates like Google Now, Project Butter and resizable widgets with this update. The stock ICS browser is being replaced by Google Chrome as well. The new software is based on Android 4.1.2 -- version LS970ZVA -- and will be rolling out in phases starting today. Seeing the update on your device yet? Head to the Sprint Optimus G forums and let other members know what your experience has been with the update. Source: Sprint; More: Sprint Optimus G Forums 
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| Scope update brings new UI, host of new feeds, advertising and Android Central Posted: 07 Mar 2013 03:14 PM PST
The last time we heard from Scope, the all-in-one social aggregator, they were opening up a VIP program for interested beta testers. We've been part of the VIP program since it began, and some interesting features have been introduced which are now ready for the prime time and pushing out through Google Play. With this update, Scope is taking a big step forward into becoming a personalized news service more than a social media aggregator. Scope has gone from operating with just a handful of social networking services, to now containing over 20 different services -- including your favorite Android resource. That's right, one of the new news services contained within Scope is an "Android News" feed, provided by Android Central. The UI has also been updated, with a slide out menu that replaces the previous swiping between feeds. It's pretty slick, and brings a little more order to things than endlessly swiping between your feeds. One change which may disappoint some users though is the introduction of in-app advertising. This isn't a decision that the developers took lightly by any means: 
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| Path update hits Android with messaging, stickers and 'The Shop' Posted: 07 Mar 2013 01:54 PM PST
Path has just been updated to add private messaging, stickers and "The Shop" to fall in line with the update that hit iOS yesterday. If you're not familiar, Path is a social network that is limited to a set number of friends, which is meant to enhance the relationships you build with the smaller group. This latest update is hoping to help with that by offering private messaging between users, as well as "stickers" that can be sent back and forth. Some of the stickers are free, but others are paid -- in the range of $0.99 to $1.99. If you want to make a sticker purchase, you'll have to head to The Shop, where you can also buy filters for photos you post (a la Instagram) at $0.99 a piece. The update certainly adds a useful feature in the form of private messages, but still leaves us scratching our heads over paid stickers and photo filters. If you haven't checked out Path in a while, maybe the new update is worth it for you to give another look. You can grab a download from the Play Store link above. 
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| LG Optimus G Pro updated for messaging, camera improvements Posted: 07 Mar 2013 01:04 PM PST
A quick heads up for those of you in Korea with the U+ version of the LG Optimus G Pro -- there's a small update waiting for you that apparently improves messaging and camera functionality. And that's all we've got. The update (actually, we had two updates) took just a few minutes, and the end result was software version F240L10L. If you've got one of these underrated, oversized phones, head into the system settings to give it a go. 
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| Motorola makes the Droid RAZR/MAXX Jelly Bean OTA official Posted: 07 Mar 2013 12:38 PM PST
We had some pretty interesting information regarding a Jelly Bean soak test for the original Motorola Droid RAZR and RAZR MAXX, and now Motorola has made the update official. The support page has just gone up indicating that the update will be rolling out in phases, as is usually the case. There's no specific note about the removal of the Motorola apps and being replaced by stock Google apps, but this looks to be the same update that we were seeing before. Seeing the update on your own device yet? Shout out in the forums to let other members know what your experience is. Source: Motorola 
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| Gogo: Airborne Android use up 400% in two years Posted: 07 Mar 2013 12:19 PM PST
If you're using in-flight Wifi on a plane over the United States, you're using Gogo's ground-to-air Internet service. And today the provider dropped a few statistical tidbits our way. The broad strokes are that 26 percent of smartphones connecting to Gogo's service are Android, with the rest running iOS. (BlackBerry and Windows Phone total just 0.016 percent.) That might not seem like a lot, but Gogo is showing a 400 percent increase in total Android use from 2011 to 2013. That's assuming the devices are correctly reporting what they're running of course, so if anything those numbers are probably low. Check out the full infographic at the link below. Source: Gogo 
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| Posted: 07 Mar 2013 11:13 AM PST
This has been an exciting couple of months for Google fans in Japan. First the Nexus 10 launches, then the 3G Nexus 7, and now finally the Nexus 4. The Japanese product page is up, giving a rundown of everything Google's latest flagship phone has to offer. The hardware looks identical to the U.S. version, pentaband HSPA+ radio and all. The current shipping time is 1-2 weeks, and both the 8 GB model and 16 GB model are currently available. And good news for those looking to accessorize - order pages for the wireless charging orb and bumper case are also up, however the bumper is currently out of stock. Source: Google Japan 
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| Reviewing Humble Bundle 5: NightSky HD Posted: 07 Mar 2013 10:05 AM PST
The Humble Bundle is an awesome way to get some great new games for a great price, but also support developers and charities at the same time. The 5th iteration of Humble Bundle has six games up for offer, some of which are making their Android debut through the sale. We're going to take a look through these titles one by one, starting off with NightSky HD. Hang with us after the break and learn a little bit about NightSky, a fun puzzle game cast in black and white scenery. 
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| AT&T HTC One X finally gets Jelly Bean Posted: 07 Mar 2013 09:03 AM PST
Update 2: Never mind AT&T's blog post ... the update most definitely is available now. It's a whopping 630 MB. Update: And AT&T has pulled its blog post announcing all this. Figures. Original: AT&T today finally announced that its HTC One X is getting Android 4.1 Jelly Bean starting today. We'll let that sink in for a minute. This one's been a long time coming. In addition to the expected Google improvements, such as Google Now, Project Butter, better notifications and all those other improvements we've been enjoying on other phones for some time, you'll get:
AT&T says the update should be available any time now, though we don't see it yet, and now we've got that blasted "You can't check for updates again for another 24 hours," which is as annoying as ever. Source: AT&T; More: HTC One X forums 
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| Motorola swaps in stock apps in Droid RAZR/MAXX Jelly Bean soak test Posted: 07 Mar 2013 07:52 AM PST
The folks in our Motorola DROID RAZR and DROID RAZR MAXX forums are all aflutter this morning, and rightfully so. A new software soak test -- wherein a few brave souls get in some final testing before the real push begins -- is hitting devices, and Motorola's own changelog for the Android 4.1.2 update confirms something surprising: Custom software features are being replaced by stock Google apps -- or are being removed altogether. Consider:
That's just the tip of the iceberg, but it's a pretty big deal. You'll also find Google Now, improved voice search, better camera quality, and the Chrome browser has been added. Hit the link below for the full changelog, and keep an eye out for the full push, which should follow the soak test fairly soon. Source: Motorola 4.1.2 changelog 
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| Deal of the Day: Cruzerlite Bugdroid Circuit Case for Galaxy S3 Posted: 07 Mar 2013 06:40 AM PST
The Cruzerlite Bugdroid Circuit Case is available for just $8.00, 60% off today only. Grab yours while supplies last! Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts 
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| LTE-capable Sony Xperia Tablet Z hitting Japan on Mar. 22 Posted: 07 Mar 2013 06:38 AM PST
If you're in the market for a 10-inch Android tablet, Sony's Xperia Tablet Z is one of the more compelling non-Nexus offerings out there, as we discovered during our time with the device at Mobile World Congress. There's no fixed Western release date for the tablet just yet, but as ever Japan's getting first dibs on this new Sony device, with carrier NTT Docomo announcing Japanese availability of its 4G LTE version from Mar. 22. Pre-orders are scheduled to begin from this Saturday, Mar. 9. Like the Wifi-only version we saw in Barcelona, the LTE-equipped Tablet Z is powered by a quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU at 1.5GHz, with 2GB of RAM, a 1080p display and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean backing up Sony's Xperia UI. It's also sporting an incredibly thin chassis design, and at 6.9mm thick, Sony says its tablet is the world's thinnest. The Sony Xperia Tablet Z with LTE will set Japanese buyers back a hefty ¥85,470 ($913) at launch. For more on the Xperia Tablet Z, check out our hands-on feature from MWC. Source: NTT Docomo; via: XperiaBlog 
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| ASUS Transformer AiO Windows 8 all-in-one doubles as an Android tablet Posted: 07 Mar 2013 05:16 AM PST
ASUS is all about crazy devices that double as other devices -- take the Padfone Infinity and Fonepad, announced last week at MWC, for instance. Today the Taiwanese manufacturer has launched an equally outlandish entrant into the all-in-one PC market, the ASUS Transformer AiO. By day, the AiO is a humble Windows 8 PC; by night (or, you know, whenever), it detaches from its stand to become an Android 4.1 tablet. That's because it's actually two devices in one -- the Windows side is powered by a third-generation Intel Core i5-3350P CPU (8GB of RAM, 1TB of storage), whereas the Android tablet UI runs on an NVIDIA Tegra 3 chip (2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage). Both operating systems come to life on the 18-inch 1920x1080 LED display, which makes the AiO the largest commercial Android tablet we can think of. It's a little perplexing to see Windows 8 and Android side-by-side on this kind of device, not least due to Microsoft's keenness to promote Windows' tablet credentials. But ASUS is also touting the AiO's ability to run Windows 8 in remote desktop mode on the tablet UI, so you'll have that option open to you while you're in tablet mode. The ASUS Transformer AiO is due for release during the second quarter, and will be priced at $1299 in North America. 
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| AT&T bringing LTE to four more cities Posted: 06 Mar 2013 09:35 PM PST
AT&T has kicked out an early morning (or late evening, depending on where you hang your hat) set of press releases about LTE network expansion. The following cities should be lit up and ready to go on AT&T's LTE network: Anyone living in these areas and finding some AT&T LTE? Shout out in the comments!
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| News Corp. to release education focused 10-inch Amplify tablet Posted: 06 Mar 2013 08:54 PM PST
News Corp. will be announcing a 10-inch Android tablet designed for K12 schools Wednesday at the SXSWedu conference in Austin, Texas according to the New York Times. Led by former chancellor of New York City schools Joel Klein, News Corp.'s Amplify division is aiming to make headway with Android into the school system, and their first offering is an ASUS built tablet, an entire curriculum, and the infrastructure to support it all. The tablet uses what Amplify is calling a “blended learning” model that combines new technology with current teaching methods. When a student starts to drift away from the prepared lesson, they will be warned with a pop-up advising them to put their "eyes on teacher". In addition, students will be able to take their tablet home each night, and use it to play educational games. A tablet running the special software, training, and customer care options starts at $299, with a two-year subscription for an additional $99 yearly. For students without Internet access at their homes, a premium model will be available with a 4G data plan at $349. The pricing is reasonable, and it appears that News Corp. is serious about providing support. It's nice to see Android move into a space once dominated by Apple and Microsoft, and we wish everyone involved the best of luck. Source: NYT 
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| Mobile Nations Fitness Month final winners announcement! Posted: 06 Mar 2013 07:56 PM PST
All throughout the month each site was giving away prizes for participation. We announced some winners mid-month, and below are the final results from the remaining contests from across Mobile Nations. If you were participating in the forums or on the blog contests, be sure to look below and see if you're a winner! 
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| LG Optimus LTE III makes its debut on SK Telecom Posted: 06 Mar 2013 07:01 PM PST
LG has just officially taken the wraps off of the Optimus LTE III, which has made some appearances in leaked images recently. As a worthy successor to the Optimus LTE II, the latest version has a 4.7-inch 720x1280 IPS display, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 8MP camera and a sizeable 2540mAh battery. The design falls in line nicely with other recent handsets like the mid-range L Series and Optimus G Pro, with a square design, plastic back and physical home button. On the software side we're looking at Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, along with LG's software UX tweaks and apps. LG is teaming up with SK Telecom to release the Optimus LTE III in both black and white versions, but we'd be surprised if it ever hit the states in its current form. Our only chance at this one is likely a carrier-customized version a few months down the road. Source: LG 
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| This week's sidebar poll: Do you use NFC? Posted: 06 Mar 2013 06:34 PM PST
NFC has been set to be the "next big thing" for a while now, but has never taken off. Most high-end Android phones ship with an NFC chip now, so the hardware is out there, but there is one big piece of the puzzle missing -- a reason to use it. Most folks instantly think of Google Wallet whenever NFC is mentioned. Unfortunately, that ship has sailed and unless Google can force a drastic change in the way partners do business, it's a non-starter. Carriers and OEM partners effectively killed Google Wallet by refusing to support it in favor of their own solutions. But NFC can do much more than mobile payments. Apps like NFC Task Launcher and Tasker allow you to use an NFC tag to do just about anything your phone is capable of, phones can share data by bumping their backs together, and you can even set up a Nexus Q by touching it to your phone. So we wanted to find out, now that NFC has been around a while is anyone really using it? Answer in the poll after the break or in the sidebar to the right. Before we go, a look at last week's poll. Who brought the best devices to show us at MWC 2013?
Looks like the HTC One wins this round, but the season is early! 
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| C Spire Galaxy S3 Jelly Bean OTA rolling out now Posted: 06 Mar 2013 05:52 PM PST
Hot on the heels of the Jelly Bean update for the Verizon model, the Galaxy SIII (S3) on C Spire Wireless is receiving its own OTA starting today. The update will bring users up to Android 4.1.2 -- build L710WWMB3 -- and include numerous features. On top of the usual Jelly Been goodness like Project Butter and Google Now, there are specific fixes and enhancements being made to the software. Several apps -- including Chrome, Paper Artist and Voice Search -- along with a dozen new widgets have been added with the update. Numerous fixes, including an S Voice update, MusicHub 3.0 update and streaming audio/video fix are all included. The update is pushing out OTA in phases (as is usually the case), but if you're anxious you can also check manually for the update in your phone's settings. If you've really got some time on your hands, you can download the Kies desktop software and install the update manually. Source: C Spire; Thanks, Jeff! 
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Fitness Month is over here at Mobile Nations for another year. Health and fitness should be a year-round commitment, and it's never too late to start so if you missed out during February be sure to check back through the blogs and forums for content you may have missed. Hopefully you found some apps or tips to help you meet your fitness goals, or maybe even found some moral support in the community to help keep you motivated.
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