AndroidGuys |
- Samsung rumored to be prepping Galaxy Tab 10.1 or 11.6 with full HD AMOLED display
- HTC: The HTC One to hit U.S. “before end of April”
- FOR ANY BUDGET: Backup batteries and power packs
- In Brief: 9 Android related things you should know (March 22, 2013)
- Google Play 4.0 leak shows off cleaner design
- PhoneSuit Flex review
- Samsung to announce the Note 3 and Galaxy Tab 3 at the IFA 2013?
- APPTEASERS: 15 Android games and apps you should know about (March 21)
- MetroPCS now offering Huawei Premia 4G
- Google: Chrome and Android will remain separate as each solves different problems
- Five reasons Evernote still reigns over Google Keep
- Google officially steps on Evernote’s turf with Google Keep
- 25 geometry-themed wallpapers for Android
- Is Amazon working on a $99 7-inch Kindle Fire HD?
- 10 more awesome icon packs for Android
- T-Mobile’s UNcarrier pricing details surface
- Jawbone UP app arrives for select Android devices
- Samsung working on an Android wristwatch?
- Remember moments in Google+ Hangouts with new Hangouts Capture
- SnipSnap hopes to change the coupon game with Android app
- Jabra VOX earbud review
- Get this look for your Android: Holonex UI
- Verizon announces Android 4.2.2 for Galaxy Nexus
- Google to unify messaging and name it Babble, report indicates
- Suit up for new season of apple bashing with Mountain View Masher t-shirt
| Samsung rumored to be prepping Galaxy Tab 10.1 or 11.6 with full HD AMOLED display Posted: 22 Mar 2013 09:47 AM PDT It seems every day we hear something new from the Samsung camp, and yesterday was no different. We reported that Samsung will most likely announce an array of tablets coming soon to compete with the Xperia Z and other high-end options at IFA 2013. Well, there is more to the story than we thought. The Galaxy Tab 7.7 was Samsung's first tablet that implemented their Super HD AMOLED technology, and according to SamMobile, they have decided to implement it at a larger-scale. The insider for SamMobile couldn’t confirm the size of the tablet, but he expects it to have a 10.1" or 11.6" Full HD Super AMOLED screen . The source of the rumor, an alleged Samsung insider, has said that the company has completed prototypes with different screen sizes. He also said that Samsung's latest Exynos processors will power these devices, and just maybe Android 4.2 or 5.0 Key Lime Pie will be included as well. We have no idea when the Galaxy Tab with Super AMOLED technology will arrive, however it is always a possibility that it could be announced with the Galaxy Tab 3 in Berlin. We will make sure to update you as soon as we know more. The post Samsung rumored to be prepping Galaxy Tab 10.1 or 11.6 with full HD AMOLED display appeared first on AndroidGuys. |
| HTC: The HTC One to hit U.S. “before end of April” Posted: 22 Mar 2013 09:11 AM PDT HTC just issued a pres statement on the upcoming availability of the HTC One smartphone.
The old phrase, ”where there is smoke, there is fire” comes to mind, no? We had heard rumors that the U.S. model could slip the expected release time frame and this about wraps that up. On the other hand, HTC never did give us a solid time frame. For those in the UK and other markets, you will see the phone before us. Wonder if HTC plans to extend the $100 trade-in credit a bit longer? The post HTC: The HTC One to hit U.S. “before end of April” appeared first on AndroidGuys. |
| FOR ANY BUDGET: Backup batteries and power packs Posted: 22 Mar 2013 07:47 AM PDT Find yourself running low (or out) of battery come the end of your work day? Of course not, you own and Android phone and those are notoriously awesome, right? OK, in all seriousness, everybody could stand to use some extra power for around the house, office, or school. We’ve come up with a buyer’s guide of backup batteries, power packs, and other handy accessories to consider. You’ll find that the following list is grouped according to (current) price with links to Amazon. While this list is largely comprised of products we’ve spent time with, some are from also brands we’ve come to trust and admire. Under $50
Opteka BP-SC4000: The Opteka BP-SC4000 Ultra Thin Solar Powered Mobile Device Charger lets you charge up a variety of devices, including smartphones, Apple products, portable gaming devices, and GPS units. Thanks to 10 connecting tips, there’s a good chance that you device can be charge in a pinch. Two options exist for charging: micro USB and/or solar power. Contains a 4000mAh lithium-polymer power bank which should charge your standard Android phone twice over. $25.07
Skiva PowerVault: Very small and super light (only 4.8 oz), the 5000mAh internal battery is plenty to power a phone or tablet. Built-in 30 pin male connector allows for charging your older iPad or iPhone while the microUSB works for pretty much every Android handset ever. $34.99
PowerGen Mobile: With a 5200mAh battery, the PowerGen Mobile can provide up to (2) full charges while maintaining a sleek profile. In addition to its LED display, this compact little unit doubles as a flashlight.Compatible with all USB-powered devices $29.99
Anker Astro Mini: Touting a "lipstick" design, this 2600 mAh battery should boost your talk-time by roughly 8 hours. LED indicator, connectors, and travel pouch included. $21.99
Motorola P893: This economically-priced option should fit nicely in just about any pocket. Supporting only MicroUSB, this 1860 mAh unit offers the ability to charge two devices simultaneously. $18.95 $50+
PhoneSuit Flex: AndroidGuys contributing writer Shawn Collins' favorite of the bunch. Although significantly more expensive than the others on the list, you can head here to read why Shawn thinks it is worth every penny. $70.79
AViiQ Portable Charging Station with 5200mAh Battery: This convenient package includes a 5200mAh battery, a detachable wall charger, 4-port USB charging hub, and four cable rack winders. Encased in a well-designed leather zip bag, it’s everything you need to charge up to four devices when on the go. Thin, lightweight, and ultra-handy, it’s the first thing we toss in our bag when packing for a conference. $129.99
r.Pod Multifunction Portable Solar Battery Pack and USB Charger: A camper’s delight, this one collects power from either a microUSB port or the sun. Available in a variety of color options, this pill shaped unit doubles as a night light and triples as an ultra-bright LED flashlight. Clip on your backpack or canopy and take it everywhere. Read our full review here. $69.99
New Trent iCarrier 12000mAh Dual USB Ports External Battery Pack: With 12000mAh worth of juice, the New Trent iCarrier is strong enough for the average Android phone up to five times over. Features a 1A output for smartphones as well as the 2A port for your rapid charging tablet needs. Take this with you on a long trip and you’ll be able to enjoy the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy and both Star Wars trilogies. $76.95
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| In Brief: 9 Android related things you should know (March 22, 2013) Posted: 22 Mar 2013 07:00 AM PDT 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 HP’s built-in mobile printing, Battle of the Platforms, a Samsung Galaxy S3 sale, Vonage Mobile Video, Gamelofts Uno & Friends, and much, much more!
Let’s start this off with news from Hewlett-Packard. Last week, HP and Samsung announced they have begun collaborating on a built-in mobile print technology that will enable the new Samsung Galaxy S4 to send a printable file to most HP network printers (compatible with nearly 200 HP printer models) without having to download any apps. Print functionality will be supported with the upcoming release of the Samsung Galaxy S4, and will be available later this year as a firmware upgrade to the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Note 2.
Exercise seems to be the newest trend, so when it comes to technology, who do you think is the fittest of all the platforms available today? Android, iOS, BlackBerry, or maybe Windows users? To find out (for fun purposes only,) Endomondo has initiated a worldwide "Battle of the Platforms Challenge" to answer this question. Endomondo and T3 have joined together to construct a fitness challenge that began on March 1st and will run through March 30th, and will uncover the smartphone OS platform with the fittest, healthiest, most active users on Earth. To join in the fun, competitors need to visit Endomondo.com and register at the fitness social network. Then users can download the free Endomondo Sports Tracker app, available on most major mobile operating systems. Next, select the smartphone "team" for which you'll compete, and finally start burning calories! The winning mobile operating system will be named in April.
Have you been looking for a new phone and plan but just haven’t found ‘the one’ quite yet? On Monday, RadioShack rolled out an amazing deal for new 2-year Sprint activations. Customers can save up to $150 on the Samsung Galaxy S3, as well as still being able to take advantage of additional savings through RadioShack's Trade & Save program. This offer ends April 4th, so check out your local store for more details.
Speaking of phones, how about getting rid of that wallet-draining home phone service you still have? Ooma, a leading provider in HD-quality free home phone service recently introduced the Ooma HD2 Handset and Ooma Linx remote phone jack to compliment their already existing service, the Ooma Telo. The Ooma handset adds smart phone features to the home phone via the Ooma cloud-enabled platform, which includes a two-inch color screen that allows users to see the picture of a caller when the phone rings. The new Ooma Linx wirelessly connects phones, fax machines or other devices around the home to the Ooma Telo using the latest DECT technology. It also gives users the convenience to install their main phone anywhere in the house if the Ooma Telo is installed in a remote area of the home. Go to Ooma’s homepage for more info.
Here’s an interesting tid-bit you can talk about at the dinner table. Pocket Gems recently conducted an analysis of smartphone users (both Apple and Android) and their titles to understand the relationship between smartphone resolution and in-app monetization. They discovered that Android users with the highest resolution devices are nearly 10 times more likely to make in-app purchases than users with lower resolution devices. As far as iPhones go, the iPhone 5 monetizes nearly 4 times that of the older generation iPhone 3GS. What does that mean? Simply put, the better your screen resolution the more you purchase apps and games. If you get deeper into it, you can talk about income and the ability to purchase newer models of phones, but I won’t bore you with all that. You can download Pocket Gems’ findings here, and make yourself sound even more intellectual at the dinner table tonight!
Want some more info to fill your mind? Salorix has released a social media report that looks at Twitter conversations centered on the Samsung Galaxy S4 launch on Wednesday, March 13. The report reveals how Samsung dominated Twitter with 609, 248 tweets on the day of launch. 42% of the overall hashtags used are from Samsung campaigns, including #unpacked, #thenextgalaxylaunch, and #thenextgalaxy. For more interesting facts from the report, visit http://salorix.com.
You know all of the card games that companies have made into apps: Solitaire, Phase Ten, Five Card Draw, and so on. Well now Uno has joined the list with Gamelofts Uno & Friends. This free game will be a new way to play your favorite classic card game with all your online friends, coming soon to iOS, Android, and Facebook. Head on over to YouTube to watch the trailer. Release date is yet to be announced.
To finish off the week, Amazon released a new plug-in for websites called a Send to Kindle Button. Any website owner can add the new button so their visitors can send content easily to their Kindle devices. The Send to Kindle Button is available for website owners to download for free at www.amazon.com, or at http://wordpress.org for WordPress bloggers.
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| Google Play 4.0 leak shows off cleaner design Posted: 21 Mar 2013 04:05 PM PDT Google Play may be getting a face lift soon. The team over at Droid Life published photos yesterday of what they say is Google Play, 4.0. The new version, which is a lot more than the minimal tweaks they have done since 2011, seems to provide an updated interface with larger icons and a more streamlined design. As Droid Life pointed out, the actual layout of the pages hasn’t changed all that much, with search results being displayed in much the same way. The update does use new fonts as category/section titles however, as well as bigger, more eye-catching images, and bold colors to grab the users attention.
Android users shouldn’t expect an updated Google Play store anytime soon, as most of the new pages weren’t even available for Droid Life to explore (they only obtained the update through a testing rollout.) An official announcement may come at the Google I/O 2013 developer conference, and as soon as we get more information we will post an update. Until then, check out the YouTube video of the update provided by Droid Life and let us know what you think. The post Google Play 4.0 leak shows off cleaner design appeared first on AndroidGuys. |
| Posted: 21 Mar 2013 12:34 PM PDT
Living in Manhattan, I often find myself out and about in the city with dangerously low levels of battery power. I’ve tried to compensate by carrying additional USB cables, clunky cases with batteries built-in, and even book-sized portable charging solutions (often requiring a backpack) to varying degrees of success. In comes the Flex from PhoneSuit. I couldn’t believe just how small this thing was upon opening. Roughly the size of a thumb (unless you’re Dikembe Mutombo), this portable charger is the most practical option that I’ve ever used. While they offer an Apple charging option, mine came with Android-friendly MicroUSB (obviously). Featuring a 2600 mAh battery and 1 Amp “Quick Charge” technology, I found it capable of charging my Galaxy SIII quickly and fully. I found it light enough, and small enough, to stick comfortably in a jeans pocket while maneuvering the city’s various public transportation routes. While I can’t say that it won’t weigh your device down a bit when plugged in, using my phone with it attached wasn’t too cumbersome or clunky (with respect to its purpose). Retailing at around $70, I’m going to say this a must buy for city slickers without access to vehicle-chargers. It has replaced any other solutions I was using, and I can’t foresee it being dethroned any time soon. Product Features
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| Samsung to announce the Note 3 and Galaxy Tab 3 at the IFA 2013? Posted: 21 Mar 2013 11:43 AM PDT Samsung recently launched the anticipated Samsung Galaxy S4 recently, and it looks like they are looking forward to launch some new devices in 2013, probably the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3. According to SAMMobile, their “insider” is telling them that they will launch the Galaxy Tab 3 at the IFA 2013 along with the Galaxy Note 3. No words on the specifications or anything else. IFA 2013 will take place from 6 to 11 September 2013, so it does make sense that Samsung might introduce two of their new best devices later this year. What else we know is that they will stop updating the first generation of the Galaxy Tab. What do you think about the Samsung’s upcoming Note 3 and Tab 3, do you think they will have the ‘wow factor’ we didn’t see in the S4? Tell us about your thoughts in the comment box below. Source: SAMMobile The post Samsung to announce the Note 3 and Galaxy Tab 3 at the IFA 2013? appeared first on AndroidGuys. |
| APPTEASERS: 15 Android games and apps you should know about (March 21) Posted: 21 Mar 2013 10:36 AM PDT APPTEASERS is a collection of apps and games that are new to Android, recently updated, discounted, etc. Whatever the case, we think they’re worth exploring and are willing to bet that many of you would enjoy a few of them. We understand that we won’t get every single app that crosses our path but we hope to filter things a bit and pass them along to you, dear reader. Also, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Google+ as we showcase a different app each day. APPTEASERS: 15 Android games and apps you should know about (March 21)
SoundGeckoListen to the latest news from your favorite news and blog, automatically updated. Sound Gecko is a text-to-audio transcribing service that lets you enjoy written content from around the web on the go. Send article URLs by email or use the one-click browser extension, available from the website. Stay up to date while you drive to work, ride public transport, have a coffee, take a run, excerise at the gym, wait in queue, enjoying the sunset. FREE
The Great FusionYear 2022: society has truly changed during the last decade. The good old times have vanished. Put your anti-hero cape on and fight for what's yours with Max's help in this unusual and hilarious adventure.This is the first science fiction adventure as real as life itself. An adventure that merges the best of classic graphic adventure games with the fun look and feel of current comics. $1.99
MyPermissionsIdentify all the apps on the web and on the phone that are accessing that data, and easily let’s users either revoke or approve that access. MyPermissions is an easy, powerful way to scan, control and clean up applications across Web and mobile that have permission to access personal data. The Android app protects users from unknowingly sharing photos, documents, locations, contacts, emails, work history, political and religious affiliations, or any other private info, ever again. FREE
Word SoupCreate words within the grid of scrambled letters. Each word created is removed from the grid and the letters above fall into the gaps, creating new word combinations. With careful play, letters can be strategically brought into play and used to create longer words. Tilting your device slides the grid and creates more word making possibilities. You score bonus points if you can successfully clear the grid of all letters. $2.00
Raft PiratesAndroid sailors can now explore the online seas for weapons, blueprints, maps, and diamonds to build armed rafts, plunder other ships for loot, and protect themselves against enemy captains bent on snatching their booty. More resources means more dice to roll in battle and better preparation against attacks while the player is offline! FREE
StarcrossedStarcrossed is a whimsical 2D platformer game where you guide a crash-landed astronaut back to his home planet, using a rocket launcher to send him flying through space from one asteroid to another. Gravity plays a pivotal role as it will affect the astronaut's movement. Temperature is also important: be careful not to expose the astronaut to the burning heat of the sun or the freezing conditions of outer space for too long! FREE
Alien HiveAlien Hive is all about evolving aliens, blending match-3 with sliding tile puzzles for a game that feels both familiar and fresh. Swipe tiles to make matches – combine eggs to hatch cute baby aliens, and then help them fully evolve into Supreme Aliens. Match resource tiles for upgrades that let you take command of the board, with the goal of building the ultimate alien hive. Strategically avoid the Naughty Bots, who block your progress, by crafting power-ups to eliminate these baddies. As you advance, you will uncover the mystery of the hidden aliens… and tame the Red Planet! FREE
［+］HOME （plushome）A flexible, user-friendly solution enabling users to choose backgrounds and other visual features for their mobile devices' home screens which match their unique style, [+]HOME is already an established hit in Japan and is ready to take the rest of the world by storm as well. FREE
Abalone FreeAbalone features around 60 challenges designed by the game’s creators that become progressively more difficult, with realistic sound effects, over 30 game variations and the option for expert players to create their own boards. Be the first to push six of your opponent’s marbles off the edge of the board to win. Move one, two or three of your marbles with an in-line or broadside move: if your line has more marbles than your opponent, you can push his or her marbles off the edge of the board. Keep a close eye on your positions! FREE
Pics & Words – 4 Images 1 WordWhat’s the Word? You've got a set of 4 pictures that have something in common! Link scrambled letters and guess the word! Test your skills and vocabulary, exercise your logic and move on to harder levels of this word quiz game! New words and pics are added daily - Earn coins to get hints and solve the puzzle. FREE
Silent!Manage the silent mode of your Android of accord with your weekly schedule, select places at which your mobile phone should not ring, add exceptions for important callers, silence your phone at a specific time with a widget. Silent! can automatically enable or disable your mobile’s silent mode through a simple and friendly interface. Let the Silent! be part of your routine and never again find yourself in an awkward situation because your phone started ringing at classes, workplace, movie theaters, meetings and even at bedtime. FREE
Frederic Resurrection of MusicStep into Frederic Chopin’s shoes, and go on a magical journey. Accompany Chopin in his amazing journey full of humorous events. Battle your opponents in musical duels. Laugh till your stomach hurts with an hour of animated comic. Play through nine catchy arrangements of Chopin’s greatest classics. Practice your skills until perfection. Features 10 fantastic remixes of classical hits, 9 locations from around the world, and18 achievements of all difficulties. $.99
eReader PrestigioThe eReader Prestigio provides a whole universe of digital books, including over 622,000 pieces of literature in 22 languages, with 30,000 of them available for free. The main difference with similar applications is the support for Adobe DRM standard, which allows for obtaining and reading books from leading global online stores. These stores protect books with DRM without having to perform additional actions, such as installing a dedicated software or registering. FREE
SoundCloudHear fresh tracks from the world’s largest community of musicians, bands, producers and audio creators of all types. Play great free music straight from the cloud. Tap into a world of fresh new audio; find great music, comedy, news and more. All of the great music & audio on SoundCloud is free to listen to, with no ads and no monthly payment plan required. New feature introduces “sets” to the mobile platforms will allow users to build new collections of their favorite music & audio, or add individual sounds to sets that they’ve already started creating. A new filter in the search tab lets a user look for sets that other community members have put together. FREE
Dream MeaniesCan you stop the dastardly Dream Meanies from ruining Edgar’s dreams? Young Edgar is sleeping like a baby and having delightful little dreams. But the dastardly Meanies are out to ruin all that. Round up the Meanies before they dash Edgar's dreams. And watch out for the Night Terrors! Fortunately, the Power Naps are here to help. FREE The post APPTEASERS: 15 Android games and apps you should know about (March 21) appeared first on AndroidGuys. |
| MetroPCS now offering Huawei Premia 4G Posted: 21 Mar 2013 08:10 AM PDT
Huawei and MetroPCS have today announced the Huawei Premia 4G, a $150 Android 4.0 experience. While it might gets knocks for running an older version of Android, the price point and no-contract availability should be enough to sway new smartphone buyers. Hardware details include a 4.0-inch display, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, and 5-megapixel camera. Additional features include joyn by MetroPCS as well as optional Rhapsody and Mobile Hotspot capabilities. If interested in learning more, be sure to check out MetroPCS.com or swing by your local store. Both outlets are offering the Huawei Premia 4G starting from today, March 21. MetroPCS Continues to Deliver Value and Versatility with the Huawei Premia™ 4G MetroPCS' second Huawei 4G LTE smartphone packs high performance and design into affordable package DALLAS (March 21, 2013) – MetroPCS Communications, Inc. (NYSE: PCS) and Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, are giving consumers another great option to keep up with friends and family with a new powerful, yet affordable, 4GLTE smartphone – the Huawei Premia™ 4G – available for only $149. This latest addition to MetroPCS' extensive lineup of 4GLTE smartphones includes all the features for an exceptional mobile experience, including:
MetroPCS offers consumers unmatched value when pairing the Premia 4G with any of the simplified 4GLTE rate plans, which begin at $40 per month and offer unlimited talk, text and data – all applicable taxes and regulatory-fees included. Great services like MetroPCS 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot and Rhapsody unlimited on-demand music are available for low additional monthly charges, with Rhapsody offered at the best deal in town for just $5 per month. The Huawei Premia 4G is available in stores and online beginning today. The post MetroPCS now offering Huawei Premia 4G appeared first on AndroidGuys. |
| Google: Chrome and Android will remain separate as each solves different problems Posted: 21 Mar 2013 07:21 AM PDT
Eric Schmidt, recently speaking with a group, indicated that both platforms serve unique purposes and there are no plans to merge the two. While we should see more crossover between the two, and blending on features, there isn’t any reason to consider that one will kill off the other. The post Google: Chrome and Android will remain separate as each solves different problems appeared first on AndroidGuys. |
| Five reasons Evernote still reigns over Google Keep Posted: 20 Mar 2013 03:21 PM PDT
Look, as nice as Google Keep is in its first iteration, there’s a long way to go. Sure, I love the idea that it ties with my Google account, synchronizes across all my devices, and offers some great widgets. On the other hand, I’ve already come to see things in Google Keep that I miss from my Evernote experience. This is not to suggest, however, that Google will not eventually introduce some of these features. After spending a solid hour playing with Google Keep, I came up with five major reasons why Evernote is still my preferred method of collecting and curating notes, photos, tasks, and more. Collaboration While I understand that Google Keep is my notes and tasks, there are still things that I would live to share with others so that we can collaborate. Perhaps a grocery list with my wife, maybe a list of articles to start writing. Whatever it is, Evernote allows for better collaboration. Browser extensions Whether you are a Chrome, Firefox, or other browser user, chances are good that there’s an official Evernote extension. Toss in a smattering of wonderful third-party clients and you’ve got your pick of the litter. It’s incredibly easy to share a web page, image, or copied text to Evernote with browser extensions. Evernote Food Who here doesn’t love taking pictures of their dinner and sharing with friends? OK, you two can leave. For everyone else, we often find ourselves snapping pictures of our dinner and sharing across a variety of platforms. Evernote Food is a wonderful feature which not only provides these options but also for geo-location and notes. Yes, Android has really cool sharing features and a Google+ or Twitter share is but a press away. Places One of the features I love most about Evernote is that I can view pictures of receipts or notes on a map. It’s super easy for me to see all the taxi receipts, expenses, and other notes from when I travel. Rather than worrying about tagging everything with a specific code, I can simply view everything in one geo-based lump. Of course, I suspect Google will find a way to integrate Maps into Keep at some point. Until then, this is one of the most-compelling reasons to stick with Evernote. Skitch Drawing on top of an image, note, or photo is a breeze with Skitch and the features keep getting better. What was once a standalone app and service has come to really round out the Evernote experience. Sure, phones like the Galaxy Note 2 offer this in the overall experience, but this is way more fleshed out and detailed. Conclusion I’m very impressed with Google Keep thus far and think it is on its way to becoming an incredibly useful feature/service. If only because it’s Google, I expect it to grow with deeper Android and Chrome integration down the road. With that in mind, I still find Evernote to be a bit more suited to my tastes. A few releases from now, things could be completely different. What apps are you using for note-taking and to-do lists? Is it one of the above? Maybe you’re more of a Catch Notes or Any.DO person? Please, leave a comment or feedback in the comments below with your impressions of Google Keep, Evernote, or your preferred app. The post Five reasons Evernote still reigns over Google Keep appeared first on AndroidGuys. |
| Google officially steps on Evernote’s turf with Google Keep Posted: 20 Mar 2013 02:35 PM PDT That didn’t take long, did it? Google today announced on the official Android blog that Google Keep is available for Android smartphones and tablets. Offered as a free service and application, Google Keep lets users keep track of notes, photos, to-do lists, and other items. If this sounds to you like Evernote and Catch then you’d be correct.
Tied directly into Google Drive, Google Keep features voice input, color coding, priority ranking, a home screen widget, and lock screen widget.
As for how other companies react to Google Keep, I am guessing we’ll hear that they welcome Google’s approach and that it should help drive innovation. I’m immediately optimistic about the app and service but, longer term, I hope it sticks around. Here’s to widespread adoption; in all reality, this will likely stick around if only because of how it ties to Google Drive. The post Google officially steps on Evernote’s turf with Google Keep appeared first on AndroidGuys. |
| 25 geometry-themed wallpapers for Android Posted: 20 Mar 2013 12:02 PM PDT 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 are 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. About this collectionThis collection of wallpapers is a dedicated to the common theme of geometry. Yes, we’re talking about circles, squares, triangles, and other shapes. In digging up the following 25 wallpapers, we found that these basic shapes, combined with colors, make for great backgrounds to Android phones or tablets. In fact, we ended up having to enforce a limit (for now) so that we could focus on our next theme. There were just too many great geometry wallpapers for us to put in one collection. Rest assured, we’ll be back to revisit this theme again and again! 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
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| Is Amazon working on a $99 7-inch Kindle Fire HD? Posted: 20 Mar 2013 10:58 AM PDT Amazon seems to be on a tablet price slashing spree lately, and the latest news seems to continue the trend. According to techcrunch.com, it is rumored that a $99 Kindle Fire 7″ tablet is in production, and will be shipping this year. The new Kindle Fire HD will still have a TI processor like the rest of the lineup, and will have a 1280×800 resolution, just like today's Kindle Fire HD 7″ currently does.
Is Amazon just trying to quickly move out stock, or do they have something else up their sleeves? No matter what the situation, it is definitely working in favor of the consumer. Earlier this month, Amazon announced reduced prices on its Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ devices. The Wi-Fi-only version will cost $269, down from $299, while the LTE version dropped from $499 to $399. You may think $99 is a joke, but IDC Research Director on Tablets, Tom Mainelli, says otherwise. According to Mr. Mainelli, he believes this year tablets running Google's Android operating system will overtake the iPad for the first time, and the price seems very reasonable. (The Amazon Kindle Fire, of course, uses its own version of Android.) In the end, the possibility of a $99 Kindle Fire HD is just a rumor, but one we can’t ignore. Amazon denies that such a price drop will be happening, so all we can do is wait patiently and see what will happen.
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| 10 more awesome icon packs for Android Posted: 20 Mar 2013 08:34 AM PDT So you’ve gotten into customizing your phone or tablet a bit and now you want to tweak a bit more. Have you checked out our 25 fantastic icon packs post from early February? Awesome, right? Now you’re looking for more. We aim to please. One of the easiest ways to change your existing look is to install a new launcher. Once you do that, it’s even easier to swap icons in and out. Want to shake off the winter blues and put something a bit more spring-like or colorful? Presto. Prefer a minimal look with single colors across the board? Done. All you need is a great icon pack or two and you’re on your way. We’ve gathered up 10 more awesome icon packs to go along with our previous collection. We’ll continue curating these types of lists and will return with more once we’ve scooped up enough! Check out the gallery for a sample of the great icon packs available for Android. Mouse over anything that appeals to you, find out the name then head below for links! Note that there are a number of launchers for Android and that not all of these may play nice. Our advice is to read the details and check out the user comments if you aren’t quite sure. Further, some of these will require manual selection and adjustment.
Snack Pack Snack Pack is a clean and minimalistic theme to help bring the designer out in you. This theme works well with Apex, Nova, ADW, and Go Launchers. It may work with other varying launchers found on the market but has not been tested for compatibility. $1.49 Glass Rings The original Glass Rings is back! The theme that inspired hundreds of “Ring” themes. This time it is back for APEX, Nova, ADW, Holo Launcher, Holo HD and much more! This is a launcher theme (for Apex, Nova, ADWEX, ADW.Launcher, & more!) You must have one of these launchers installed for this to work. FREE SIWS Icon set modded by at428hk features 93 icons in black and/or white. FREE (donate via Paypal) VIVID 1,000 icons are included..with more to come in future updates! These icons are BIG, so if your launcher supports icon size changing increase the size to have even bigger HD icons. Currently supports: GO Launcher EX, ADW Launcher /Ex, Apex Launcher, Nova Launcher, Holo Launcher, Atom Launcher, Desktop Visualizer $1.99 SMPL White Includes 840+ beautiful icons to pick and choose from, and more than 2,500 icons themed. Supports Go Launcher, Apex Launcher, Nova Launcher. Also comes with full Go theme. $1.99 Rare White Includes 38 icons for some of the most commonly used Android apps. FREE
Crysta Works for Apex Launcher, ADW Launcher, Nova Launcher, and Holo Launcher. Features include icon mask , meaning all of your icons will be themed. Roughly 150 icons and two wallpapers in bundle. $1.30 Pushy v2 Works for Apex Launcher, ADW Launcher, Nova Launcher, and Holo Launcher. Features include icon mask , meaning all of your icons will be themed. Roughly 150 icons and two wallpapers in bundle. $1.30 Lustre This is a launcher theme (for Apex, Nova, ADWEX, ADW.Launcher, Nemus & more!) and will change the graphics and icons for many popular launcher replacements. Features include new graphics for dock bar (ADW & Apex), over 750 custom icons, themed search widget, and extra docks (ADWEX). $1.49 Google JFK Icons created by Google, collected and curated by carlosjj. Latest version (3.3) supports ADW, Launcher Pro, and Nova however development has been discontinued. Results may vary. FREE The post 10 more awesome icon packs for Android appeared first on AndroidGuys. |
| T-Mobile’s UNcarrier pricing details surface Posted: 20 Mar 2013 07:07 AM PDT The first details of T-Mobile’s forthcoming UNcarrier strategy have surfaced online, albeit in a very unofficial manner. The document you see here comes courtesy of Engadget and spells out the preliminary pricing and Classic Plan options for T-Mobile’s new direction. As it appears here, individual plans start at $60 per month and include unlimited talk, text, and 500MB of data. All plans, for that matter, will include the unlimited calling and texting; customers simply choose the data plan that fits their needs.
All but the truly unlimited data option also include tethering (SMSH, or Smartphone Mobile Hotspot) as part of the package however you can add-on a bucket of tethering to the $90 unlimited data plan. Once you hit your tether allowance, the feature turns off for the remainder of the month. Not to worry, though, as your unlimited high speed data continues on. Expected individual rate plans for T-Mobile UNcarrier strategy
Family plans follow a similar strategy in that customers pick the right data plan; mobile broadband options are also expected as add-on options for voice plans as well as standalone. It is expected that T-Mobile announces the new plans at the upcoming March 26 event in New York. The post T-Mobile’s UNcarrier pricing details surface appeared first on AndroidGuys. |
| Jawbone UP app arrives for select Android devices Posted: 20 Mar 2013 06:06 AM PDT
Jawbone today announced that the wristband and application is now available for select Android devices. Effective immediately, the is compatible with a number of handsets running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich or later.
So what does the Jawbone UP do? The question, rather, is what the UP doesn’t do for users. Design to be worn 24/7, the wristband helps track pretty much everything you do in your life, from tracking sleep and counting calories to waking you up from power naps and motivating you to move more. The UP app is available today as a free download on Google Play, while the UP wristband is available in the US for $129 at Apple, AT&T, Best Buy and Jawbone.com. As of March 20, Jawbone UP is tested and verified to work with the following:
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| Samsung working on an Android wristwatch? Posted: 19 Mar 2013 01:04 PM PDT Last year, Sony introduced Sony SmartWatch, a wristwatch that keeps the user in touch with their Sony smartphone. Now, it looks like Samsung is planning to bring the whole Android experience to a wristwatch. Reuters is reporting that Samsung is working on a device similar to a wristwatch which should again compete against you know who… Apple.
It seems trends as of late are to move into wearable technologies. This year’s CES saw a number of companies unveil smart watches or connected watches so it stands to reason that the bigger brands will want to follow suit. Or lead the way. Meanwhile, Bloomberg indicates that things are moving along fast and in a more officially recognized capacity.
Do you think its a good idea for Samsung to bring Android technology, with almost all kind of smartphone features, to a wristwatch? Tell us about it in the comment box below. The post Samsung working on an Android wristwatch? appeared first on AndroidGuys. |
| Remember moments in Google+ Hangouts with new Hangouts Capture Posted: 19 Mar 2013 12:20 PM PDT We all know what Google+ Hangouts is right? Just in case you don’t, it is the free video chat service that can do one-on-one chats or group chats with up to nine of your friends (or colleagues) at a time. Thanks to all of the interesting stories people have shared after a Hangout, Google decided to introduce a new feature today that will allow you to capture all of the funny, creative, and interesting moments during your Hangout. The app/plug-in/feature, called Hangouts Capture, will allow you to take pictures of your Hangouts-in-progress, and includes a number of features not available in the usual screenshot options.
Hangouts Capture lets users snap photos of the Hangout view with a single click. After taken, all photos are saved to a shared album that is only visible to Hangout invitees. These photos can then be viewed while in a Hangout, when browsing albums, or by visiting the original post. There are so many fantastic still moments that take place during a video conversation, and now you will be able to easily grab them as they come along. According to Google’s Jeremy Ng, the Hangouts Capture app will soon be available worldwide, so go ahead and start your own hangout, or check out scheduled ones here.
The post Remember moments in Google+ Hangouts with new Hangouts Capture appeared first on AndroidGuys. |
| SnipSnap hopes to change the coupon game with Android app Posted: 19 Mar 2013 12:11 PM PDT
After seven months of development and a bit of beta testing, SnipSnap today announced that the Android version of its coupon application has arrived. If you’ve not heard of the app (formerly iOS only), it aims to help eliminate the clutter and forgetfulness that comes with physical coupons. How does it work?Short and sweet, you snap photos of the coupons you find in newspapers, mailers, and magazines. SnipSnap will convert the text, barcodes, and images into a mobile-optimized offer which can be redeemed at your local stores. Don’t have any coupons to get going? Head to the Discover screen and see what your friends and family members are snipping and saving. Once you get to the store, SnipSnap will advise you that there are coupons which can be used. Even better, the app can let you know if there’s an upcoming expiration date to worry about. To redeem the coupons, simply show your handset to the cashier where they can easily scan them. According to SnipSnap, the average active users save 40 bucks a week. DetailsSnipSnap has a number of features that made the trip over from iOS, including store success rates, expiration dates, following friends, and in-store reminders. Looking ahead, the developers promise some Android-only features that should include widgets, barcode beaming, and Google+. Demonstration Time!Download SnipSnap (Google Play) The post SnipSnap hopes to change the coupon game with Android app appeared first on AndroidGuys. |
| Posted: 19 Mar 2013 11:30 AM PDT Up for review today, we have a pair of in-ear headphones from Jabra- The Jabra Vox. These headphones utilize an 8.6mm driver at 16 Ohm. Stated frequency range is 20hz – 20khz with sensitivity rated at 120db @ 1v. They weigh in at 17g and have a cord length of 17 inches. How’s that for nerdspeak? Ready to buy?
Lets start with the unbox and impressions. The box itself is a nice, clear shell showing all the major parts, mic and earpieces. Oddly it doesn't mention the extra eargels and bag it comes with, but rest assured they are in the box. When I first opened the case, I was instantly surprised by the build quality and materials. The cable is thick and very strong. In fact, Jabra mentions on their site the cables have been tested to 15KG of force (That's 33lbs!). Durability was obviously a point of accomplishment for Jabra when designing these. The cable has a nice, reinforced Y split and also small inline magnets in the cable. This way when you wind them up for storage the earpieces do not start getting in a bunch and wrapped around themselves. This sounds like a small deal, but its one of my favorite features and I think its outstanding. These are meant to be your grab and go headset. Calls, music, whatever you need.
Any time I have to grab my Apple or Sennheiser earbuds they are inevitably in a strong, intricately designed web of anger that I have to deal with. After using the Jabra, I start to realize in part that comes from the earbuds moving independently of each other and getting mixed up in the winding. /Rant, this feature fixes all of that so you just grab them and use. As mentioned, the cable is very thick and load tested. I also feel this is a great feature in case I ever need to Silent Snake someone at the gym to free up my favorite treadmill. Or I guess if it ever snags on a desk or something it won't break or tear. Whichever is more applicable to you. Jabra also included three different eargels and a carrying case. Also this unit has the inline volume control and microphone to be used as a headset.
I have included comparison pictures to my Creative and Sennheiser earbuds for reference on the size. The chambers add a little size, but because of the shape it doesn't interfere with your ear at all, and the sound quality payoff is tremendous. The included eargels are decent, and seem to be good quality. Tight fitment ensures they don't go flying out when jogging, and multiple sizes are included. I typically need to wear the smallest size for earbuds, and felt that the package really included two types of medium and a large as opposed to a S-M-L. I did wear them for multiple hours at a time, so they are passable. Onto sound quality! One of my favorite, yet most relative parts of reviewing audio equipment. To preface, the reference system here is a Dell Precision running a Creative X-FI Titanium HD (Burr-Brown PCM 1794A DAC) with stock op-amps. The reference headphones are a Koss ESP-950 Electrostatic for critical and Beyer DT990 for fun sessions.
I do not have any contenders in earbudland, just my Creative and Sennheiser MX500′s. Source music is in either 320k MP3 or 24/96 FLAC from NiN's "The Slip" album. I also did a few gaming sessions to round it out. I feel the Vox are surprisingly detailed in the middle of the range. Voices and acoustical instruments are clear. Treble is there, a little sharp, but not sibilant in any way. The biggest weakness of the Vox performance is bass. The low end is present, but much lighter than expected. They will require some equalization to be flat below 60 or 70hz. Of note, Jabra has included a free Dolby Digital player (Software) that you can install and use the included code to activate. I tested this on my iPhone and it certainly helps, though the default settings muddy up the midrange quite a bit. I found them best using Creatives EQ, no FX at all, with a 2.7DB @ 62hz and 3.1DB at 31hz boost. The rest of the line was fairly clean, with a slight bump at 16Khz. Once EQ'd a bit, I relistened. Strictly SQ speaking, they are far ahead of my MX-500′s, but as expected far short of a decent pair of cans. But that isn't what they are meant to deliver. The goal of these are to provide clear sound, quality construction, and a when needed pull headset duty with the microphone. They certainly achieve that.
I also feel compelled to say because of the sonic characteristics, these are outstanding for "critical" gaming. Because the bass is subdued, even when EQ'd, and the midrange is so present they let you hear every last detail of what is going on. They remind me of what Creative's software gaming mode works to accomplish by boosting the range that footsteps and whatnot fall in, and lessen the impact and low end.
I wrote most of this review not knowing the MSRP truth be told, and was very surprised to find the cost slated at $99 US. Based on just the build quality, I had expected them to cost more than that. Note that these are a headset and as such are sort of their own beast. If you are just interested in sound quality and bass impact, you will be better served by a pair of $100 cans. But, that is not where these units fight. They are small, solid, high quality and very portable. They have an inline mic so pull double duty as a headset. That said, let me summarize: Pros:
Cons:
The post Jabra VOX earbud review appeared first on AndroidGuys. |
| Get this look for your Android: Holonex UI Posted: 19 Mar 2013 10:43 AM PDT
Do you know what love to do with our Android handsets and tablets? We ‘re huge fans of changing the home screen around a bit and creating a new user experience. That’s why we present a weekly series of Get This Look posts. In a nutshell we show you a new look for your Android handset and tell you which apps you’ll need if you want to mimic the feel. Some of these are a little easier to create than others and many of them can be tweaked to no end. The following details are but the ingredients to which you can create your own delicious Android dish; your results will vary. Which is awesome! If nothing else, this is a great way to discover new apps, widgets, icons, and more! Holonex UI by semati WHY WE LOVE THIS LOOK:We’re fans of the way this look employs “tabs” to help keep things organized and not spreading them across home screen panels. Putting everything together in one tight spot works well and we’re hoping to see more of this approach. The middle of the screen has RSS headlines, something we find to be incredibly helpful for those who spend their days staying “in the know”. Should you want to hit up specific apps for more news or social media, the row of icons allows for customization. The shades of grey look great here and complement the icons; squares and sharp corners also work well with the overall rounded corner design. We would like to be swap out the skier for another image however it’s not necessarily a deal breaker. Check the archives for even more inspiration! WHAT YOU’LL NEED
What else:Nova Launcher:
*********************** MyColorScreen is dedicated to the great ways you can modify your home screens. The post Get this look for your Android: Holonex UI appeared first on AndroidGuys. |
| Verizon announces Android 4.2.2 for Galaxy Nexus Posted: 19 Mar 2013 09:15 AM PDT
Verizon today announced that it will finally issue the 4.2.2 Jelly Bean update for its Galaxy Nexus. Coming two months after Sprint did the same for its Galaxy Nexus, the Samsung handset gets the latest version of Android.
Not bad, considering there’s a new flavor of Android due in around two months time. The post Verizon announces Android 4.2.2 for Galaxy Nexus appeared first on AndroidGuys. |
| Google to unify messaging and name it Babble, report indicates Posted: 19 Mar 2013 08:00 AM PDT
As a huge Google fan, I am quite excited at the news that Google is looking to unify all of their messaging platforms under one name. Google Voice, Talk, Google+ Messenger, Chat for Drive, and Hangouts are all great products on their own, but they really don’t interact with each other well. The only two that try to function together are Google Talk and Google+, but even they are far from a happily working couple. According to Geek.com sources, Google will be consolidating all of their communications services into one app, called Babble. The service will work the same whether you are using your PC or phone, allowing users to continue their conversations regardless of the situation. Babble will also let users start a Hangout with any contact directly from the user list and send photos instantly from the chat window the same way you can now on Google+ Messenger. Google isn’t really releasing a new product, instead they are bringing together all of the existing services under a single app. No official time frame for the release of Babble (if that is what they name it) has been announced, but according to the sources at Geek.com, we should expect it to be unveiled during Google IO this year. What are your thoughts? Tells us in the comments below! The post Google to unify messaging and name it Babble, report indicates appeared first on AndroidGuys. |
| Suit up for new season of apple bashing with Mountain View Masher t-shirt Posted: 19 Mar 2013 07:35 AM PDT
Are you ready for a new season of baseball to start? OK, fair enough. How about this: are you ready for another season of apple bashing? We thought so. Check out the latest t-shirt release from our friends over at andylimited.com, called Mountain View Mashers.  SMASHING APPLES SINCE 2007 How better else do you show your love of Android and baseball in one awesome looking shirt? You can’t. Shirts are available in guys (S-XXXL) for only $17.00 and will ship starting Tuesday, March 25th. Shipping is $6 in the U.S. and $13.00 internationally and payment is accepted via Paypal. When you’re done placing your order, be sure to swing by explodedandy.com for another shirt! The post Suit up for new season of apple bashing with Mountain View Masher t-shirt appeared first on AndroidGuys. |
Those of you worried that Google will ultimately merge Android with Chrome need not fear – it ain’t happening anytime soon. At least, that’s the short term vision according to Google.
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