Android Community |
- Google removes Ad-blockers from the Play Store
- Andy Rubin sends letter to partners in light of Android departure
- LG announces eye recognition tech for Optimus G Pro
- Google buys Machine Learning company to boost voice search and more
- Twitter Music app coming soon as the social site shuns Android
- Pebble responds to iFixIt claim, confirms Bluetooth 4.0 support
- Larry Page confirms over 750 million Android device activations
- Amazon drops Kindle Fire HD 8.9 pricing, also launches in Europe and Japan
- Real Boxing enters the Android Ring [Review]
- Samsung Galaxy S4 display, processor and camera specs appear confirmed
- Android leadership: Andy Rubin out, Sundar Pichai in
- HTC One headed to Verizon, just a month or so late
- Motorola unveils the RAZR D1 and D3 smartphones
- Pebble smartwatch tear down ends with destruction
- Google I/O 2013: Now sold out
- Google I/O 2013 ticket sales now available
- Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 3G makes the required FCC appearance
- Motorola XT912A smartphone leaks, is not the rumored X-Phone
- Free Android phones from… Domino’s Pizza!?
- Humble Bundle 5 for Android gets new games
| Google removes Ad-blockers from the Play Store Posted: 13 Mar 2013 04:36 PM PDT Today many frustrated developers took to Twitter and other social sites to share the news that their ad-blocker applications on the Play Store have been removed. Things like AdBlock Plus, Adaway, Adfree Android and many others have all been removed today for violating the Terms of Service. Google’s cracking down and hitting that old ‘remove’ switch this afternoon.
Google has essentially wiped these applications completely from the Play Store in one swift motion. In all honesty it was only a matter of time before these actually were removed, since they are in the end altering apps natural behaviors by blocking ads. Android 4.2.2 brought some new limits that helped disable many ad-blockers, but today Google put their foot down. According to the terms of service for the Google Play Store all ad-blocking applications are in violation, and that is the reasoning behind the removal. Lets face it, they are violating the TOS. Play Store agreement 4.4 is effectively what’s being used here, and here’s the agreement:
Not to mention ad-blockers cut into revenue streams, and can be a headache for many of those hard working developers we all love that offer their games for free. Many would rather pay to have an ad-free app, but there’s still millions of users that always opt for the free ad-supported versions of games and apps. At the moment a few apps still seem to be visible in the Play Store, but are all being removed. The few I’ve seen in the past are all missing, and probably won’t be returning any time soon. [via AndroidPolice] |
| Andy Rubin sends letter to partners in light of Android departure Posted: 13 Mar 2013 03:16 PM PDT This afternoon Google‘s own Larry Page informed the world of the shocking news that Andy Rubin was stepping down as head of the Android team, and now Andy has shared a few comments himself. In an email to partners and the Open Handset Alliance Rubin talks about his departure, and that he’s an “entrepreneur at heart” among other things. Read on for more details.
The entire event is a little bittersweet. We know Android has a huge future ahead of it, and the team is extremely capable of keeping things going. At the same time Andy Rubin was essentially the one that helped start it all and bring Android into our pockets and lives. Without Andy none of it would probably exist. While Google hasn’t made Andy’s new role public just yet, his open letter to partners was worth a quick read. The quick letter from Larry Page this morning didn’t provide too many details, and neither does this email from Andy. We’re still left without closure, but rest assured Android is in very capable hands and will continue onward. Andy talks again about the success of Android reaching 750 million device activations, and shares details about the mean and lean team that released Android Jelly Bean to great success.
He goes on to mention that a thousand brains are better than one, and he is proud of how the Android ecosystem and team at Google has grown. In closing Andy states “I am an entrepreneur at heart and now is the right time for me to start a new chapter within Google.” We still don’t know exactly what that new chapter will be, but have a feeling we’ll be learning more soon. Thanks for everything Andy, we wish you luck! [via WSJ] |
| LG announces eye recognition tech for Optimus G Pro Posted: 13 Mar 2013 02:41 PM PDT Today it looks like the folks from LG have one-upped and beat Samsung to the punch with a brand new feature for their flagship Android smartphones. What is this new feature? Eye tracking and recognition that will pause and play video when it recognizes you look away from your device. If that sounds familiar it’s because we’ve heard similar rumors about a feature for the Galaxy S4.
Tomorrow in NYC Samsung will be taking the stage to announce their new flagship and “The Next Galaxy” which is the Galaxy S4. One of the many features we’re expecting to see is this same type of eye recognition tech. It’s being reported as called “Eye Scroll” where the device will scroll up and down the page automatically for you based on eye recognition, and the same goes for playing back video. Sadly these are just rumors and LG’s officially announced the same technology this afternoon – beating them to the punch. Or being copycats. You decide. According to LGNewsroom, the LG Optimus G Pro will be the first device with such technology, and it will be embedded into their Smart Video application. This will enable the device to track and sense your eyes, then pause and play video playback if you look away from the display. You wouldn’t want to miss a frame right? There will be no manual input needed from the viewer, the Optimus G Pro will do all the work. If we didn’t know any better I’d say LG is looking to steal some of Samsung’s glory before the big unveil tomorrow. The only difference being LG’s feature will initially only be available on the Optimus G Pro, a Korean exclusive for now, while the Galaxy S4 will probably launch worldwide next month. Either way LG’s dual-camera recording technology we mentioned a few weeks ago, as well as this new feature are surely pushing the cutting edge. Keep it up guys! [via Pocket-Lint] |
| Google buys Machine Learning company to boost voice search and more Posted: 13 Mar 2013 01:54 PM PDT The folks from Google certainly are no strangers to snatching up promising and on-the-rise startup groups or companies, and today they’ve acquired another one. The company is called DNNresearch who specializes in ‘machine learning’ or artificial intelligence in computer systems. It looks like this is mainly for the image and voice recognition aspects, which we’ll certainly welcome to Android.
The startup was only incorporated last year, and was founded by professor Geoffrey Hinton of the University of Toronto along with two of his grad students, Alex Krizhevsky and Ilya Sutskever. Their expertise in neural networks and machine learning is what Google’s after, and now they have it. Professor Hinton is world-renowned for his research in this field, so we’re excited to see how things develop. According to reports DNNresearch has worked hard in this area and their research finding will have "profound implications for areas such as speech recognition, computer vision and language understanding." Which we’re expecting Google to use in many aspects of their Google Search, apps, and mobile features. Google is already leading the pack with most of these areas but this acquisition should further improve their voice recognition and prediction, text search, and even image search and recognition. The Google Search engine is already amazing, as is their Google Now feature on Android, but imagine all of these blending into one with Android as a whole and Google’s Project Glass. Professor Hinton will split time working with Google and doing research at the University, while the two grad students will be headed to HQ to start their journey as Google employees. [via SlashGear] |
| Twitter Music app coming soon as the social site shuns Android Posted: 13 Mar 2013 01:24 PM PDT Twitter is getting ready to take on some aspects of the music industry while also integrating plenty of music discovery and listening features into their service. According to a few new reports from CNET the new feature will reportedly be called Twitter Music and their iOS app could launch within the next month. Just like Vine, it looks like Twitter will once again shun Android users.
Last year the popular music discovery service We Are Hunted was acquired by Twitter, and CNET’s sources claim this will be deeply integrated into Twitters new Music service. Reports suggest the service and music app will give personalized music recommendations based on the musical artists the user follows, as well as the artists the user's followers follow. So you’ll also get music suggestions from your friends on Twitter. The new Twitter Music app will stream music using the popular service SoundCloud, and the UI will feature 4 simple tabs for a streamlined musical experience. You’ll have suggestions, as well as a #NowPlaying tab. Obviously using the hashtag you’ll get all sorts of recommendations from people around the world. Then of course we’ll have a ‘Popular’ tab where the overplayed songs by Imagine Dragons, the Lumineers, and Taylor Swift will probably all be plastered. Last but not least there will be an ‘Emerging’ tab where you can find unique, new, and on-the-rise music and artists to help find something not so trendy. We’re hearing the service will obviously be more personalized for Twitter users, but having an actual account with Twitter won’t be required. Sadly just like their popular Vine video sharing feature, Twitter Music will be launching for iOS first, with no release in sight for Android – although we hear one is in the works. [via SlashGear] |
| Pebble responds to iFixIt claim, confirms Bluetooth 4.0 support Posted: 13 Mar 2013 12:56 PM PDT Earlier today we saw that slightly hard to view Pebble smartwatch tear down. While much of the focus was on the actual tear down of the watch, there was a mention of Bluetooth. In reference to the Bluetooth LE support, iFixIt had said that they could not “find evidence of the hardware.” Needless to say, the folks at Pebble have since responded and offered some assurance on the matter.
Basically, those with and those still waiting on delivery of a Pebble can rest easy. The Pebble team has said the watch “most definitely has Bluetooth LE support.” Of course, as we had heard before, that support has yet to be enabled. What we have yet to learn is exactly when they plan to roll-out an update that enables the support. Needless to say, the cause for confusion seems to make sense. That thought comes by way of the statement from Pebble (by way of Reddit) which goes into some detail. They have noted that the “Bluetooth chips TI sent to Panasonic were labeled CC2560 but have been flashed with the firmware (and BT LE support) of a CC2564.” It seem the decision to use this setup was done in an effort to speed things up. Pebble further explains that chip makers will often make the silicon the same between product lines but flash different firmware for different features. In other words, despite the chip saying CC2560, they have been flashed with CC2564 with Bluetooth 4.0. Or in simpler terms, you should not worry — the smartwatch will eventually have Bluetooth 4.0 as promised. |
| Larry Page confirms over 750 million Android device activations Posted: 13 Mar 2013 12:35 PM PDT Back in September Google announced that nearly 500 million Android devices had been activated to date, and at a rate of nearly 1.3 million a day. Today along with the news that Andy Rubin will be stepping down as head of Android, Larry Page also threw in a new number for us to boast – and it’s a big one!
While addressing the public on the future of Android with Andy Rubin stepping down as head of Android, Larry Page slipped in a quick comment about just how many Android devices are being activated and used each and every single day. That number is nearly 1.35 million daily, and over 750 million devices in total. That’s pretty impressive when you really stop to think about it. Last October Google’s Eric Schmidt predicted that by October of 2013 Android activations will top 1 billion, and at this rate it looks like he’ll be right. That’s an obscene amount of Android smartphones and tablets roaming the world. We could hit 1 billion by the end of the summer thanks to the Galaxy S4, HTC One and others coming soon.
Larry Page also mentioned app downloads, although these numbers aren’t extremely new. Stating that the Google Play Store has recently celebrated its 25 billionth (with a B) app download to date and growing by the minute. We know Android is huge, and this certainly is showing us that there is no signs of it slowing down anytime soon. As a comparison recent reports suggest nearly 400 million iOS devices are activated. Keep the Android Army rocking Google! [via Google] |
| Amazon drops Kindle Fire HD 8.9 pricing, also launches in Europe and Japan Posted: 13 Mar 2013 12:25 PM PDT It looks like Amazon has a bit of good news for those who had been considering, but have yet to follow through on the purchase of a Kindle Fire HD 8.9. Basically, Amazon has announced some additional availability and also lowered the pricing. The tablet is now available in Japan as well as for those in the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. Perhaps key for those here in the US though, the price cut.
Amazon has announced that the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 is now $269. That price is for the regular Wi-Fi only model and the 4G model has dropped to $399. For those keeping track, that is a drop from $299 and $499 respectively. These price drops should bring a little more appeal, especially for those who may have been considering the 4G model. It is hard to argue with a $100 drop. Those curious or looking for a bit more information can check out our Kindle Fire HD 8.9 review right here. In terms of specs, the tablet (as implied by the name) is sporting an 8.9-inch display. Perhaps key here, that display is 1920 x 1200 and with a pixel density of 254ppi. Other goodies a dual-core 1.5GHz OMAP4470 processor, 1GB of RAM and storage options that vary depending on model. The Wi-Fi only model has either 16GB or 32GB while the 4G model has either 32GB or 64GB. The 32GB Wi-Fi only model is $299 and the 64GB 4G model is $499. Keep in mind, these prices all reflect the ‘with special offers’ pricing. Basically that is to say that you will see some advertising on the lock screen or be willing to shell out a few additional dollars to pickup a ‘without special offers’ model. [via Amazon] Device Info
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| Real Boxing enters the Android Ring [Review] Posted: 13 Mar 2013 12:03 PM PDT Many of you are probably familiar with the brand new boxing game for Android called Real Boxing, as NVIDIA’s been recently showing it off on their new Project SHIELD gaming device. However, today the stunning game has just landed on Android exclusively for Tegra devices. Get ready to float like a butterfly, and sting like a bee with this all-new game.
Real Boxing by Vivid Games is one of just a select few games for Android powered by the awesome Unreal Engine for mobile devices, and it shows. You’ll quickly notice an unparalleled level of details and lighting in the graphics, the rich and lifelike 3D environment, and much more. They even have added extensive ‘motion capture’ from real boxers for the most realistic gaming experience available. You might have seen this game on iOS in the recent past, but thanks to the power of NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 quad-core processor the entire game has been overhauled and enhanced for Android and you’ll notice right away. Tegra 2 owners can enjoy it, but the graphics won’t be quite as detailed. The entire game is incredibly deep too. The career mode lets you change the entire look and feel of your boxer, and fight your way through the ranks to become the king of the ring. Before we get into what makes it worth the price, take a peek at our hands-on video below. Impressive right? Sorry guys, I had to throw in the Manny Pacquiao comment just for fun. So back to the actual game, Real Boxing has a vast array of options making it quite the mobile game. Not only are the graphics amazing, but the sounds are too. The hits are realistic, even as the boxer hits the mat with a KO, and the immersive screaming fans and crowd is a nice touch. There’s 20 different opponents you can fight, 30 different fights you can schedule, and 3 belts to win as you reach the top. Then there’s a gym for training with mini games including skipping rope, a heavy bag and even a mini bag to work on your speed and jab. Train hard and become the Champion!
We’re actually extremely impressed with this game. It truly shows the power of the Tegra 3, as well as what mobile gaming can offer. Sadly the game isn’t as realistic as we’d like in terms of actual gameplay, but the graphics are as real as they get. You won’t be weaving in and out or forward and back dodging punches in real time, and instead just contextual buttons for dodge, protect, and then of course punches. Dodge a punch for improved stamina and power, then counter with a hook and knock out your opponent. As the game gets deeper it gets hard, but so far I’ve been able to KO multiple fighters with 2-4 punches all in the first round. It needs to be a little harder and more realistic than that, or else I’m just a good boxer. Add in the option for head OR body shots, as well as a full multiplayer mode and this will be as good as it gets. For those interested you can get it today for $4.99 from the NVIDIA TegraZone, or the Play Store link below. [via Play Store link]              |
| Samsung Galaxy S4 display, processor and camera specs appear confirmed Posted: 13 Mar 2013 11:54 AM PDT Samsung has been doing a rather bang up job in terms of teasing the upcoming Galaxy S4 announcement. Or at the very least, keeping the teasers coming at a regular enough interval to not let us forget. Of course, with all the hype, leaks and rumors, it would be near impossible to forget that Samsung had an announcement coming up. Just in case anyone may have forgotten though, Samsung has an event planned for March 14. The official event will kick off at 7PM EST and will be done at the same time as a public event in Times Square.
At this point there are a few items that we know, and a few that are safe to assume. Basically, we know the Galaxy S4 will be running Android. We can even say that it will be running Jelly Bean, though there has been some differing opinions on which specific version of Jelly Bean. The handset should also arrive with LTE connectivity, with a wide variety of carriers and with a larger display. Well, larger as compared to the Galaxy S III anyway. Rumors are calling for the display to measure in at 4.99-inches (5-inches to make it easy) and be 1080p (1920 x 1080). The processor looks to vary depending on market. So far it is looking like the US will get a quad-core 1.8GHz Snapdragon 600 series with Europe getting an Exynos 5 Octa-core. RAM should be in at 2GB and we are expecting a rather large 2600 mAh battery. The storage will also be upped with rumors suggesting that Samsung will introduce the Galaxy S4 with a 32GB and 64GB option — both of which will have a microSD card slot for any additional storage needs. Anyway, while much of this is still rumor, it does appear that a recent Bloomberg article has confirmed at least some. Citing “two people familiar with the product” they have said the Galaxy S4 will have a 5-inch screen and that the US model will have a quad-core Qualcomm chip. This same report also mentions the rear-facing camera as being a 13 megapixel. While some may be hoping to see Samsung do something a bit nicer in terms of build quality. Say, using less plastic, there is really nothing to suggest they will do anything but that. After all, that is what they have built on with the Galaxy S lineup. Not to mention the Galaxy Note lineup. All said and done, if nothing else we can say one thing — the event is drawing ever closer. Be prepared for the announcement tomorrow evening and rest assured in knowing that you will find plenty of Galaxy S4 related coverage right here on Android Community. |
| Android leadership: Andy Rubin out, Sundar Pichai in Posted: 13 Mar 2013 10:21 AM PDT Coming as rather surprising news, Google has announced that Andy Rubin will be stepping down. Keeping in mind, he is not leaving Google, but rather stepping down as the lead of Android. Google has announced that Sundar Pichai will be replacing Rubin as the Android lead. And just in case anyone wanted to get into the crazy thoughts, Pichai will assume the lead for Android along with his existing work with Chrome and Apps.
Oh, no. We can practically read the rumored headlines now; Google planning to merge Android and Chrome. Maybe that will happen, maybe it will not happen. For now, we know that Rubin is out and Pichai is in. That is all. For now Larry Page has said that “Sundar has a talent for creating products that are technically excellent yet easy to use—and he loves a big bet.” Perhaps a bit more exciting for Android fans, Page went on to note that while Rubin will be a “really hard act to follow” he feels that Pichai will “do a tremendous job doubling down on Android as we work to push the ecosystem forward.” Forward progress. While we suspect some will be skeptical of this move, we look forward to seeing what happens moving forward. If nothing else, this could make for an interesting time at Google I/O. Otherwise, no mention just yet as to what Rubin will be doing next with Google. Well, that is aside from Page requesting “more moonshots.” We have yet to see any statements from either Rubin or Pichai, but you can expect that we will be on the lookout. We are more than a bit curious to see where Andy Rubin will end up. Any guesses? All that aside, we do have to believe that this is going to be a tough move for Rubin, after all, it was way back in 2004 when he approached Google with details about Android. At least if nothing else, Rubin does appear to be going out while things are looking good. [via Official Google Blog] |
| HTC One headed to Verizon, just a month or so late Posted: 13 Mar 2013 09:44 AM PDT When HTC announced their new flagship smartphone back in February it was revealed to be headed to all major US carriers, but Verizon. Originally we were surprised to see them left out, but it looks like Big Red’s luck could be changing. Today we’ve confirmed from sources close to the situation that the HTC One will indeed launch on Verizon. It just might be a few months later.
After initial leaks and rumors suggested the HTC One would be launched globally on all carriers, including Verizon, we were shocked to see them not included. At the same time we’ve seen Verizon turn their heads to popular smartphones in the past, so at this point nothing would really surprise us. It recently appeared in a Bluetooth verification for Verizon, and we know a red version is coming – so it’s all lining up. It turns out that Verizon will get the prized HTC One smartphone in all its glory. What’s even better is they won’t be changing the design, or the name. It will simply come in the exact same (and beautiful) form and be called the HTC One. No DROID branding here to follow up the DROID DNA or DROID Incredible 4G. So what gives? Just like updates and everything else from Verizon it will be a few months late. According to our sources, as well as independently confirmed by AllThingsD, the HTC One will hit Verizon Wireless a month or two after the initial US launch by AT&T and T-Mobile. This means all major US carriers will be carrying the new flagship device, which should hopefully help save the ailing companies current downward spiral. This is good news for HTC, Verizon, and One fans as we should also see timely updates from all carriers. That’s another story on Verizon altogether though. It would appear that the One should be able to give the Galaxy S4 a pretty good battle on all carriers, and hopefully from a marketing standpoint too. Now HTC just needs to fix those rumored Ultrapixel camera shortages and get this device in the hands of customers worldwide. Stay tuned for more details, and we’ll report back as soon as we get additional details or a possible release date. Device Info
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| Motorola unveils the RAZR D1 and D3 smartphones Posted: 13 Mar 2013 09:36 AM PDT Motorola has officially unveiled a pair of RAZR branded smartphones. The announcement includes the RAZR D1 and RAZR D3, both of which will initially be headed to Brazil. Similar to some of the other RAZR branded smartphones, Motorola is touting these as offering a long battery life along with “awesome power” and “advanced cameras.” Interestingly enough, Motorola doesn’t offer any specifics on the camera.
Perhaps a bit more realistic, based on a look at the specs, neither seem like they will be a powerhouse. That is not to say they will not have any worthwhile features though. For example, both the RAZR D1 and D3 will be available as a single-SIM and dual-SIM model. The D1 will also come with (or without) support for analog and digital television. Both will also be available in black and/or white and running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.
Otherwise, the RAZR D1 will be sporting a 3.5-inch display, 1GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot and 1785 mAh battery. The RAZR D3 will share some of the same specs including the 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage and microSD card slot. The D3 will then have a 4-inch display, dual-core 1.2GHz processor and 2000 mAh battery. Motorola hasn’t said much in terms of a global release. The wording in the press release states that these handsets “will be available in Brazil.” That aside, the RAZR D1 will be available from March 13 and priced from R$ 549 (for a dual-SIM model with the analog and digital television support). The RAZR D3 will be R$ 799 and is expected to arrive sometime in the next “several weeks.” [via Motorola] |
| Pebble smartwatch tear down ends with destruction Posted: 13 Mar 2013 08:45 AM PDT We should be used to seeing our devices torn apart by the iFixIt crew. After all, we have seen the Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and countless other devices torn apart and opened up. This latest however comes a little bit different. The latest is for the Pebble smartwatch and differs in that the watch ends up being destroyed.
In fact, step 14 of the tear down notes that getting into the watch is a feat they have not yet mastered. This of course goes back to the Pebble being securely sealed to avoid any potential issues with water. The tear down goes on to note that it is “impossible to open the device without destroying it or at least compromising its waterproofing, making internal repairs infeasible.” Our take, good for everyday use, not so good for those with a Pebble in need of repair. The iFixIt Pebble tear down does end with a few interesting points, one being that the battery is not replaceable — at all. Basically, once the battery finally dies and will no longer hold a charge, your Pebble will need to be recycled. One good point here, the iFixIt team estimates that these batteries should be able to provide somewhere between 6-10 years of life. In other words, if you are still wearing the Pebble by the time the battery finally goes, you will likely be wearing a piece of retro technology. Otherwise, the Pebble tear down starts with the top being pulled off and the screen being busted and goes on to show all the internals such as the ribbon cable, backlight guide panel, motherboard and the Fullriver 3.7 volt, 130 mAh battery. On the flip side, those who are not as into seeing devices being torn apart, especially in a case of the Pebble where we suspect many are still anxiously awaiting delivery — make sure you check out our previous coverage which included some hands-on time. [via SlashGear] |
| Posted: 13 Mar 2013 08:22 AM PDT As we were expecting to happen, Google I/O 2013 has sold out. And done so rather quickly at that. A visit to the 2013 I/O registration page shows that registration is closed and “Google I/O is sold out.” Unofficial time reports have I/O as selling out in roughly 45 to 50 minutes, which is a bit slower as compared to last years event.
The I/O tickets sold out in under 30 minutes last year. This years sell out time was actually closer to what we saw in 2011 when they sold out in just under an hour. Of course, nothing has compared to I/O 2009 and 2010 when it took 90 days and 50 days respectively. Basically, it seems people got wise to the freebies and more people decided to attend the event. Now that you have missed out on a ticket, and the possibility of some extra goodies for attending — what is there to do. For starters, there is plenty of Google I/O related coverage. In fact, you can expect to see complete coverage right here. Google also streams much of the event. Not to mention, they also offer the videos for viewing on your own schedule. While there is still some debate as to what 2013 will bring, we do have previous years to judge. I/O 2012 saw the official announcement of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean along with the Nexus 7 and well, also the Nexus Q. That last one didn’t fare so well, however 2012 attendees were also treated with the over-the-top Google Glass demonstration.
We are still curious to see what the official sell-out time will be. Google has yet to say anything on that topic, however we have been hearing from quite a few potential attendees that were greeted with the message you see in the above screen capture. You know, the one that had users trying again, because while a ticket could not be found, there may still be some left. Basically, as we have seen in the past, Google I/O 2013 went as expected — that is to say it sold out fairly quickly and saw a fair amount of complaints from those who wanted to attend but could not buy tickets. All that aside, what are you expecting and/or hoping to see this year? And remember, Google I/O 2013 will run from May 15 – 17 and Android Community will be in attendance to share the news. [via Google I/O] |
| Google I/O 2013 ticket sales now available Posted: 13 Mar 2013 07:22 AM PDT Google has officially opened registration for the 2013 event. The tickets are available at this very moment, however that is likely to change rather quick. The Google I/O events have been selling out quicker and quicker each and every year and with some of the excitement already in place — we expect this to be a similar situation this year. Those looking to purchase a ticket will need to be quick, and also be willing to part with a fairly decent amount of money.
The general attendee tickets are listed for $900 and the academic (student and faculty) tickets are listed for $300. The catch with the latter, you will need to provide proof that you are either enrolled or employed at a school. Google has also said that you will need to have a Google+ account and also use your Google Wallet account for payment. We cannot say as much for the Google+ portion, however using Wallet should just make it easier. Plus, those already rocking an Android device likely have an up to date Wallet account which just seems to make sense. Those quick (and possibly lucky) enough to get a ticket will then have 5 minutes to complete the purchase. You will need to get your ticket, complete the payment portion and then fill out the registration form. The good part here, the 5 minute time ends when you complete the payment portion. Those ready to attend and feeling lucky should follow this link at the bottom of this post and get to buying. You will sign in with your Google+ account and will have to click the “allow access” button on the Google Developers pop-up. Once here you pick your ticket type, click that you agree with the terms and begin the wait to see if there are any tickets left. For those seeing things crawling to a halt when you get to the “waiting for an available ticket” page, rest assured in knowing that this can take some time. Google has said this could take upwards of six minutes, which basically means you should do everything in your power to sit back with patience and not hit the refresh button. Finally, those who miss out on the ticket, while that means you will not be getting the freebies that usual arrive for I/O attendees — rest assured in knowing that Google streams the events so you can still attend virtually. [via Google I/O] |
| Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 3G makes the required FCC appearance Posted: 13 Mar 2013 06:59 AM PDT We saw the Galaxy Note 8.0 make an appearance with the FCC back in late-January. At that time the tablet was shown under the model number of GT-5110 and it was a 16GB model with Wi-Fi connectivity. Basically, we were looking at the Wi-Fi only Galaxy Note 8.0 at that time. And well, as of today it looks like the FCC filing for the cellular connected model has been discovered.
This model is shown as the GT-N5100 and looks to contain support for 3G on the 800 and 1900 MHz bands. The filing also shows the tablet as still sporting the full phone functionality. Of course, before anyone in the US market gets worried about the lack of 4G, or excited about the inclusion of the phone — we are not expecting this exact tablet to arrive stateside. In fact, the Galaxy Note 8.0 that will be offered for those in the US market is expected to have 4G LTE. Otherwise, the Note 8.0 will bring an 8-inch display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 and a pixel density of 189ppi. The tablet will be powered by a quad-core Exynos 1.6GHz processor with 2GB of RAM, 16 or 32GB of internal storage and running Jelly Bean. Of course, there will also be the S Pen and the software goodies to include the multi-window support. Basically, the Galaxy Note 8.0 brings what you have come to either love or hate from the Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet — just in a smaller size. While we wait to find out some additional release details from Samsung, make sure you check the above video which shows a bit of hands-on time with the tablet. [via Engadget] Device Info
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| Motorola XT912A smartphone leaks, is not the rumored X-Phone Posted: 13 Mar 2013 06:29 AM PDT Much of the Motorola chatter has surrounded the rumored X-Phone lately, however it looks like another handset has been revealed. This latest is the Motorola XT912A and it has been spotted, pictured and reviewed in Vietnam. While we have yet to see anything from Motorola on this particular handset, it does leave us wanting to know a bit more. Still, wanting to know more is a difference from seeing something with a wow factor.
Basically, the Motorola XT912A looks to have some potential. Granted, that is not to say high-end, but certainly something to consider depending on the pricing. The handset is noted as having a 4-inch 720p display along with a Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, Adreno 320 graphics, 2GB of RAM and a 2000 mAh battery. The software appears to be a fairly stock version of Android. There is the Motorola widget sitting on display, however we could not help but notice the standard three capacitive buttons — one for back, home and menu.
Looking at the front of the handset and we are also seeing the Motorola logo towards the top left. On some level it looks a bit unbalanced on the left hand side, but it is clean and simple looking nonetheless. From the backside we are also seeing a simple clean look. You will nice the camera, flash and Motorola logo with a speaker sitting just to the right of the camera. The overall appearance of the phone appears to be rather nice. This of course brings the question as to whether this is final hardware or something being used for testing. As of now we have yet to see anything that would suggest a release was coming anytime soon. On that thought, while this is certainly not the specs we are expecting in the X-Phone, this could potentially be a nice mid-level device from Motorola. Time will tell just how accurate that thought will be though. [via Tinhte] |
| Free Android phones from… Domino’s Pizza!? Posted: 13 Mar 2013 05:12 AM PDT Hot fresh pizza is a great thing, we can all agree that. That is unless you happen to be lactose intolerant. The number of pizza companies, including Domino’s Pizza have apps available for Android smartphones and other devices. I think given the choice between having to call in an order and use an app, most smartphone users would choose the app hands down.
With that in mind, it’s still a bit of a surprise to me to hear that, of all places, Domino’s Pizza is offering free Android smartphones. The pizza company is offering smartphones valued at up to $599 to celebrate the launch of its new Android application. There are some expected caveats with the free smartphone deal. You have to sign up for a new two-year service agreement or upgrade using Verizon, Sprint, or T-Mobile. However, if you’re willing to do that there are some nice Android devices that you can choose from. For instance, you can grab the LG Optimus Elite or the Samsung Galaxy S Blaze. Some of the devices also include a $50 credit for the Google Play app store as well. Along with agreeing to a contract for two years, you do have to pay for a data plan and voice service through a company called Simplexity LLC. You also have to agree to receive a free SMS message on the wireless number associated with the device or download the Domino’s Mobile App. [via Sun-Sentinel] |
| Humble Bundle 5 for Android gets new games Posted: 13 Mar 2013 05:04 AM PDT Earlier this month we mentioned that a new game bundle called the Humble Bundle 5 had launched for Android users offering six games and five soundtracks. Only a few days later, that bundle has been upgraded adding some new games for buyers to purchase. This game pack is interesting because it lets the buyers set the price and donate money to charity at the same time.
The new video games added to the Humble Android Bundle 5 include Superbrothers Sword & Sworcery EP, Splice and Crayon Physics Deluxe. These three new games join Super Hexagon and Dungeon Defenders as games that are only available if you pay more than the average amount paid. As you can see in the screenshot that when it was taken the more than average price was over $6.66. Joystiq reports that the more than average price to unlock the additional games is generally under seven dollars. The new games also include their original soundtracks. The Humble Android Bundle 5 does include some games are available to people who pledge at any price. The always available games include Beat Hazard Ultra, Dynamite Jack, Solar 2 and NightSky HD. The games are also available in cross-platform supporting PC, Mac, Linux, and Android devices. [via Joystiq] |
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