AndroidGuys

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• Sulia Quick Launch app review
• 16 paper themed Android wallpapers
• In Brief: 7 Android-related things you should know (March 1, 2013)
• Sony C670X Leaked with 4.8″ display and Snapdragon 600
• Former Apple evangelist Guy Kawasaki hired to advise Google-owned Motorola
• Sprint calls on $49.99 Sprint Force as latest 4G LTE handset

Sulia Quick Launch app review Posted: 01 Mar 2013 04:37 PM PST My quest to find interesting and useful productivity apps seems to never end, and this week I’m taking a look at Sulia Quick Launch. Quick Launch is a lockscreen replacement that offers users a bevy of functions and features to stay connected right from the lockscreen. Conduit, the creators of Sulia, also have a nice selection of other useful apps, including a more social version of Quick Launch. I found Quick Launch to be functional, easy to use, and just very handy to have. It’s a slight contrast to Active Lock Screen, which I reviewed a few weeks ago. For users that are more news-focused, Quick Launch may be worth a look. Jumping right into the app, the basic layout is fairly simple. You’ve got a lock icon in the lower center of the screen, and pressing it brings up four options: Phone, Camera, Unlock, and Messaging. Each has an obvious function, but the unlock icon holds a secret gem. When the user drags the lock icon over the unlock icon, they’re greeted with the 5 most recently used apps. I’ve mentioned in previous reviews how useful something like this can be, and Sulia does a nice job of implementing it without giving users another icon to stare at. On the left side of the lock icon, there’s a nice little slider for vibrate/silent functions. At the bottom of the screen, users are given a tab that slides up to reveal a settings button and the option to select which topics are shown in the stack. The top half of the screen is occupied by what I like to call the carousel stack. Users can select up to four news topics from a typical list (I chose politics, technology, food & dining, and football). News articles on each topic are displayed in their own row. Users can swipe left or right within each row to see other articles (hence the “carousel”), or swipe up and down to get to one of the other three topic choices (hence the “stack). This is very well thought out, and it’s a different take on a widget or something along those lines that just gives users a boring, scroll-able list of words. It’s interesting to me that Conduit didn’t stop with news here. There are also options to add Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram carousels, which appear at the bottom of the stack. Obviously the items in these carousels are not articles, but posts from social network friends. While this is fun and convenient, I did find a few minor issues. Namely, the Facebook carousel only shows photos from friends, and not regular posts. As nice as it is that I now get to facepalm at those duckface photos without even unlocking my phone, it’d be even nicer if I could see good old-fashioned image-less posts as well. Ironically enough, the Twitter carousel only shows tweets, and not images that my friends tweet. The only other issue I’ve found with these social carousels is that each is restricted to its default app. If I want to comment on a Facebook friend’s photo from Sulia, the only option is to install the Facebook for Android app, which I haven’t used in at least six months. The same goes for Twitter and Instagram. The option to choose other apps (like Scope Beta, for example) would be a great addition to Sulia Quick Launch. Above the carousel stack is a pretty little Sulia logo and a search bar. I do love that Conduit took the time to add that here. Users can search for anything right from the lockscreen, and Sulia takes them into the browser. I can only imagine how awesome this will be if Google Now is integrated into the search feature. As far as usage goes, I’ve been very pleased with Quick Launch. From day-to-day, it’s served me fairly well without any major bugs or crashes. It’s smooth, fluent, and just downright useful. Aside from the minor grievances with the social features, Sulia Quick Launch is one of the most functional lockscreen replacements I’ve come across in recent memory. It’s right up there with Active Lock Screen in terms of usability and features, although Sulia seems to cater more to news-oriented users than users that are looking for a minimal look. In any case, it is nice that there are several great lockscreen options on the market. If you’d like to put Quick Launch through its paces, you can download it below. What We Liked Layout is interesting, very easy to use Smooth and fast, with no major bugs Users are able to customize what topics they see Social network carousels are a nice touch Room for Improvement Ability to see more than just photos for Facebook, vice-versa for Twitter Option to choose different social networking apps to view content Download Sulia Quick Launch (Google Play) The post Sulia Quick Launch app review appeared first on AndroidGuys.

16 paper themed Android wallpapers Posted: 01 Mar 2013 11:57 AM PST Looking to change up your Android home screen?  It doesn’t get much easier than swapping out the wallpaper; it’s one of the quickest ways to breath new life into the mobile experience. We recently began curating a collection of wallpapers for you, dear reader, and are only too happy to share the goods! We’ll be adding to the collection on a regular basis and will occasionally highlight a theme or specific artist’s work we really appreciate. This collection of wallpapers is centered around the common theme of “Paper, paper, paper!“. Click to view slideshow.   Click here to see our entire  collection of wallpapers. Note that the wallpaper page may go through a few changes over the coming weeks and that your experience should improve with each update. If you see something that you think we’d like to share, drop us a line.  What’s more, if you have created some wallpapers of your own and want help in spreading the word, we’re your guys. SEE ALSO 12 really great wallpapers for Android 15 Bright and colorful wallpapers for Android 12 green wallpapers for Android  15 dirty, gritty, grungy wallpapers 15 lucky Android wallpapers for St. Patrick’s Day     The post 16 paper themed Android wallpapers appeared first on AndroidGuys.

In Brief: 7 Android-related things you should know (March 1, 2013) Posted: 01 Mar 2013 11:49 AM PST In Brief is a compilation of notifications, rumors, photos, videos, infographics, and Android-related news tidbits which, for whatever reason, did not end up with a post of its own on AndroidGuys.  These are things that we still feel are worth knowing, even if in a passing manner.  Consider it a grab-bag of Android goodies.  If you have something that you think is worth a mention on AndroidGuys, be sure to reach out to us via our contact page.  This week features Project SHEILD’s “Burn Zombie Burn!”, News Republic’s 3.0 update, Celltick’s Real Time Coupon Server, a new Magellan app, and much, much more! Burn Zombie Burn! by Tick Tock Games will be coming onto the mobile scene for the first time this summer thanks to NVIDIA. This former PS3-only game puts the same graphics and nail biting action on NVIDIA’s Tegra 4, and will have you taking out zombies faster than the gang on Zombieland. Need a quick stress release after a long day, coming July 2013,  you will be able to try this zombie-scorching game on Project SHIELD. If you’re more in the mood for news rather than flesh eating monsters, Mobile Republic launched their News Republic 3.0 update this week as well. With 3.0, readers can easily organize their home screen to emphasize their favorite news from top rated media outlets, and headlines now update immediately on-screen. If you are looking to catch up on foreign media, News Republic is available in eight global editions and five languages. In more media news, The New York Times also released The New York Times on Flipboard for Android and Kindle Fire. The launch is an extension of the NYT Everywhere strategy, which is designed to expand The Times's reach to users on third-party platforms. Following authentication within Flipboard, existing Times subscribers will have full access to all content on Android and Kindle Fire. As with other New York Times news applications, the Top News section is free. On Android, non-subscribers will be able to purchase a subscription from The Times directly within the Flipboard app. Looking to save a few extra bucks? Celltick unveiled a real time coupon server and opened access to its 140 million user global coupon network at Mobile World Congress this past week. As part of the launch, operators can now leverage Celltick's mobile coupon engine to incorporate mobile coupons as part of the overall marketing strategy, and Celltick's unique pricing model allows merchants to offer mobile coupons at a fraction of the cost of the competition. Better price for the merchants means better deals for the consumer. So whether you are in the U.S. or feel a trip overseas is in order, you will have a coupon app you can take with you across the globe. Since we are on the topic of travel, coming this Spring, Magellan plans on releasing the SmartGPS App for iOS and Android mobile devices. The SmartGPS mobile App will automatically display continually updating models that graphically flip to show reviews, tips, and offers from Yelp and Foursquare for nearby restaurants, stores, and services. This means users can now navigate to chosen locations directly from the SmartGPS App without needing to open an additional application or device. If you still need the turn-by-turn navigation, a premium edition will also be available from iTunes and Google Play. Here’s a few things to think about. Have you ever wanted to run a web server from a phone? Have some Linux software you really wish you had no matter where you go? Want to have just one device that can do everything you need? A college student has launched a kick starter project, with the goal to raise enough funds to commit enough resources to the project and produce a polished and fully functioning method for installing Linux on top of Android. If interested, click here to back the project. And to round off the week, here is a crazy statistic to bring you back to reality. 85% of people surveyed by Apigee in February 2013 admitted they would rather go without water than their mobile apps, and 82% of those surveyed said they can’t go a day without their critical apps! Can you check your email without an application? 42% said they wouldn’t be able to do it! Check out some of the findings of Apigee’s 2013 Mobile App Behavior survey of over 760 smartphone owners across France, Germany, Spain, the U.K. and U.S. and see where you may fit in: 18% of the French are unable to order dinner without using an app 32% surveyed said they can't wake up in the morning without an app Some people use more than 50 apps per day Many use apps to impress people Surprisingly high numbers admit to using apps behind the wheel First smartphone? Germans say no age is too young!           The post In Brief: 7 Android-related things you should know (March 1, 2013) appeared first on AndroidGuys.

Sony C670X Leaked with 4.8″ display and Snapdragon 600 Posted: 01 Mar 2013 08:20 AM PST According to XperiaBlog, they have received leaked information about a new Sony Xperia device. The Sony C670X is looking to be a slightly altered version of the Sony Xperia Z (C660X) we saw at CES 2013. The C670X looks to pack some powerful specifications, with a 1.8GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600, Adreno 320 graphics, and a 4.8-inch 1920×1080 display. Other features include 32GB internal storage, 2GB RAM, and a 13MP camera, fancy. While this is still just a leak, we are only left to compare this device to the Sony Xperia Z. Looking at the renders, the C670X seems to offer a more “aluminum” body, rather than the all glass design of the Z. Only time can time what we will really see; if we see this device at all. The Sony C670X is rumored to launch this summer which gives Sony a few months to potentially change the design, specs, and all. Source: Xperia Blog   The post Sony C670X Leaked with 4.8″ display and Snapdragon 600 appeared first on AndroidGuys.

Former Apple evangelist Guy Kawasaki hired to advise Google-owned Motorola Posted: 01 Mar 2013 07:36 AM PST Guy Kawasaki, former Apple evangelist and book author, announced earlier this week that he has gone Android by accepting an advisory role at Google-owned Motorola. His new role with Motorola will have him focused on product design, user interface, marketing and social media. One of his first duties was to create a Google+ community about mobile devices, and rumor has it that he is also working on an iPhone contender tentatively code-named X-Phone. Kawasaki says "the sky is the limit for Motorola" and professes his love for "mobile devices, Android and Google", adding that Motorola is at the "nexus of these three passions". A little history on Kawaski: Kawasaki gained a job at Apple in 1983; worked as an Apple evangelist for four years. He left Apple in 1987 for ACIUS, the maker of the Apple database software 4th Dimension and lasted there for two years before going freelance in 1989 to write columns and found Fog City Software, which created an email client that was sold to Claris. Kawasaki returned to the iPhone maker as an Apple Fellow in 1995. His venture capital firm Garage Technology Ventures backed The Motley Fool and D.light Design. Currently, he serves as a managing director of Garage Technology Ventures and has been involved in the rumor reporting site Truemors and the RSS aggregation Alltop. You can visit Guy Kawasaki’s Google+ Mobile Device Community here: https://plus.google.com/communities/112915392661745517235   The post Former Apple evangelist Guy Kawasaki hired to advise Google-owned Motorola appeared first on AndroidGuys.

Sprint calls on $49.99 Sprint Force as latest 4G LTE handset Posted: 01 Mar 2013 06:42 AM PST Sprint today announced its latest smartphone, the Android 4.0 Ice Cream powered Sprint Force, is now available online and at retail locations around the country. Priced at $49.99 (after a $50 mail-in rebate) with a two-year service agreement, the handset features a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 4-inch WVGA display, 5-megapixel rear camera, and 1-megapixel front-facing camera. Equipped for 4G LTE, the Sprint Force also comes with support for Sprint ID, the personalized theme packs of apps, wallpapers, and widgets. Affordable and Feature-Rich Sprint Force 4G LTE Smartphone Available Now for Only $49.99 Sprint Force is available now in Sprint Stores, Sprint Business Sales, Telesales (1-800- SPRINT1) and Web Sales for just $49.99 with a new line or eligible upgrade and two-year service agreement after a $50 mail-in rebate. Sprint Force features Android™ 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and a 4-inch WVGA 480×800 touchscreen display that keeps the user connected, entertained and productive. Offering access to the Sprint 4G LTE network, Sprint Force offers a rich Web browsing experience. It is also the newest Sprint ID smartphone. Sprint ID is an innovative way to personalize Android smartphones with apps, widgets, wallpapers, ringtones and more. ID packs deliver a complete mobile experience – based on consumers', students' or businesses' interests or favorite brands. Additional features on Sprint Force include: Dual cameras: 5-megapixel rear-facing camera with auto-focus, LED flash and video capture and 1-megapixel front-facing camera for video chat 3G/4G LTE mobile hotspot capability supporting up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously Google Play™ with more than 600,000 apps, millions of songs and books, and thousands of movies The post Sprint calls on $49.99 Sprint Force as latest 4G LTE handset appeared first on AndroidGuys.

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