Android Central

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• How to uninstall Facebook Home from your current phone
• At least one AT&T store is selling the HTC One a bit early
• Upcoming title Arma Tactics makes us want Project Shield even more
• Dungeon Hunter 4 trailer now live, Android version coming soon
• How to install Facebook Home on your current Android smartphone
• Which Android smartphones can get Facebook Home?
• Motorola Droid Bionic update to Jelly Bean coming Monday
• Verizon moves to longer and stricter upgrade times
• Facebook Home now available for download
• Actual pilot downplays theoretical takeover of an airline by way of Android app
• Chat heads go live on Facebook Messenger as we await Facebook Home
• Sprint peddles purple Galaxy S3 for $99 on contract
• Deal of the Day: Amzer ShellCase w/ Holster for HTC One X
• Android Central 131: E-mail, voicemail and Facebook - oh, my!
• HTC First with Facebook Home now available on AT&T
• NYPD equipping officers with Android smartphones, new app
• New O2 Refresh plans decouple phone and service costs
• LinkedIn acquires Pulse in $90 Million deal
• I hate the Nexus 4 Wireless Charger
• Android Central Podcast - Live!

How to uninstall Facebook Home from your current phone Posted: 12 Apr 2013 03:58 PM PDT Facebook wants you to use its new Android launcher - but it's also made it easy to get rid of Want to remove Facebook Home from your phone? Maybe you tried it and it's just not for you? It's OK. It's pretty easy to get Facebook Home off your phone, and it only takes a few seconds. (In fact, kudos to Facebook for making the process so simple.) You can safely and easily remove Facebook Home from your current phone without losing anything. The normal Facebook app will still be there. You won't lose any chats, or any of your e-mail or contacts. Removing Facebook Home simply means you're going back to whatever "launcher" (that's the name for the home screens and app drawer on your phone) you were using before. It's quick and easy, and we'll walk you through it. read more

At least one AT&T store is selling the HTC One a bit early Posted: 12 Apr 2013 03:11 PM PDT Officially not for sale until April 19, but some folks are hearing differently -- and one fellow scored his today! If you're ready to buy the HTC One from AT&T, you might want to go visit your local store this evening. That's what go3go from the forums did, and he walked out with a shiny new HTC One in silver for his troubles. Just went in to my local AT&T store to check up on the pre-order deal with the media link since it said it was out of stock online. Was told the pre-order period was last week and the phone was out today. Walked out with a silver 32 gig. Still kind of in shock, since I was convinced it wouldn't be out till next week O_o It's a kick-ass phone, and we're glad that go3go was able to get his, but we have to wonder -- was the AT&T salesperson a bit confused about which HTC phone was released today, or is this just a quiet early launch? "Officially" the HTC One goes on sale April 19.  If you dropped in on AT&T and checked, what did you find out? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to congratulate go3go on his score. Source: HTC One forums

Upcoming title Arma Tactics makes us want Project Shield even more Posted: 12 Apr 2013 02:49 PM PDT Polish up your battlefield command with Arma Tactics, coming soon to Google Play We're all patiently waiting for the release of NVIDIA's Project Shield, but seeing things like today's mention of the new game Arma Tactics makes it seem like a long wait. It looks very much like a typical combat squad game on a console or the PC, including the incredible graphics and fine-tuned controls. You lead your squad through close combat, with random missions and an endless variety of tactics can be used to finish them. Some of us would go the stealthy route and snipe the enemy, while others can rush in with barrels blazing. Either way sounds pretty damn awesome right now. NVIDIA promises Arma Tactics to be "one of the best looking mobile games to date." The video certainly appears that way. Tegra 4 enhancements like complex textures and physics, or environmental effects (check out the smoke in the video) have really got me itching to play this one on the new hardware.  NVIDIA says Arma Tactics is coming soon to Google Play, in the meantime hit the break and watch the video. Source: Tegra Zone read more

Dungeon Hunter 4 trailer now live, Android version coming soon Posted: 12 Apr 2013 02:20 PM PDT The proven gameplay of Dungeon Hunter 3 has a worthy successor in the works for Android Gameloft has just released the latest version of its extremely popular Dungeon Hunter game on iOS, and it's now making the announcement that the game will be hitting Android soon as well. To get everyone excited about the expanded release, it is releasing an official trailer of the new gameplay. Dungeon Hunter is a fun hack-and-slash fantasy game with new graphics and gameplay on top of the proven aspects of the previous games like multiplayer and an intense storyline single player mode. Gameloft isn't quite ready to spill the beans on an expected date for the Android launch, but it reiterates that the game is nearly ready to hit Google Play. Take a look at the trailer above, and if you're interested in the franchise you can get a primer on it by trying out Dungeon Hunter 3 first.

How to install Facebook Home on your current Android smartphone Posted: 12 Apr 2013 01:17 PM PDT There's a little more to it than simply downloading a new application - we'll walk you through it Facebook has released its "Facebook Home" application for current Android devices, helping to bring your friends and family even closer to you. It's a separate app, so you'll have it alongside the traditional Facebook and or Facebook Messenger applications. Installing it couldn't be simpler, but you'll need to see if Facebook Home supports your phone. Then, hit the link at the top of this post, if you haven't downloaded Facebook Home yet. Once it installs, you're just a couple clicks away from using Facebook Home. read more

Which Android smartphones can get Facebook Home? Posted: 12 Apr 2013 01:09 PM PDT Facebook Home is now available in Google Play, but not for every Android device. Facebook says it'll be adding more in the near future. (And if you don't mind a little hackery, you should be able to get it onto your phone easily enough.) Here is the list of phones that are officially able to run Facebook Home. We'll update it for the first several months as Facebook adds more devices. (Facebook Home currently is only officially available in the United States.) read more

Motorola Droid Bionic update to Jelly Bean coming Monday Posted: 12 Apr 2013 11:51 AM PDT Android 4.1.2 will be pushed to devices in phases Droid Bionic users can expect an OTA starting Monday, changing software build numbers to 98.72.22.XT875. This is Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, and comes with some nice goodies. Google Now with its predictive search and voice commands will be included. Expandable notifications will now be accessible, letting users control music, return calls and texts, and even manage email from the notification panel. The Jelly Bean keyboard brings better dictionaries, as well as voice typing that works without a data connection. Some Motorola-specific enhancements include better Mobile Hotspot connectivity, an updated 'Back Up Assistant Plus' and new Visual Voicemail, along with improved voice and data reception quality. The OS also gets a little lighter, with Sling and MOG apps being removed by default. As the OTA update starts hitting devices next week, things will be quite busy in the forums. Be sure to post your findings after you give Jelly Bean a spin. Source: Verizon

Verizon moves to longer and stricter upgrade times Posted: 12 Apr 2013 11:28 AM PDT Customers will now be waiting an extra 4 months for new phones A few changes to how Verizon is doing upgrades were announced today, none of which are particularly beneficial to subscribers. The current 20-month waiting period for device upgrades has been extended to 24-months; Verizon says this "aligns the upgrade date with the contract end date and is consistent with how the majority of customers purchase new phones today." Current contracts that are up in January of 2014 or later will be affected by this change. Verizon has also given a 3 day notice that all New Every Two program credits will expire. Anyone wishing to make use of their credits before they're gone forever must do so before April 15. Upgrade sharing is here to stay, but upgrades can no longer be mixed and matched between device types. That is, an upgrade for a phone can only be used for a phone, not for a tablet or hotspot. This is an interesting move by Verizon, coming only a few weeks after T-Mobile's no-contract plans. It looks like Big Red isn't worried about longer and more restricted upgrades pushing folks over to other carriers, especially now that no contract plans with separate phone payments are being offered. Will these changes affect your carrier of choice? Sing out in the comments. Source: Verizon

Facebook Home now available for download Posted: 12 Apr 2013 10:52 AM PDT Launcher brings your friends' posts to you quicker (and prettier) than ever OK, boys and girls. Now's the time to see what all the fuss is about over this Facebook Home thing. As promised, it's now available in the United States, for free, from the Google Play Store. (It's actually still propagating in Google Play as we write this. If you don't see it immediately, hang tight. It's coming.) If you've somehow missed all the hullabaloo over the past week, Facebook Home is part custom launcher, part messaging client -- and all Facebook. You install it and get your friends Facebook posts front and center, in a nicely designed sort of lock screen called "cover feed." Then there's the "chat heads" messaging system -- it went live this morning in the Facebook Messenger app which pops up your friends profile pictures in little persistent bubbles. The traditional Facebook application is still there, of course. See also: Which Android smartphones can get Facebook Home? How to install Facebook Home read more

Actual pilot downplays theoretical takeover of an airline by way of Android app Posted: 12 Apr 2013 09:07 AM PDT Could an exploit via an Android app really hijack a plane? Not so, says a prominent pilot/author Finally, some sanity. After many a blog post this week re-reported Help Net Security's "Hijacking airplanes with an Android phone" piece -- in which security consultant and pilot Hugo Teso apparently demonstrated how he could theoretically interfere with an aircraft's flight management system -- and headlines grew more and more alarmist, Patrick Smith, editor of the popular "Ask the Pilot" blog has a few things to say about the matter. Starting with, "This is my pre-emptive plea, an open letter to the media to rein in this silly airplane story before it gets too much traction." We're listening. read more

Chat heads go live on Facebook Messenger as we await Facebook Home Posted: 12 Apr 2013 08:05 AM PDT Facebook app also updated to prep for Facebook Home's launch today Facebook this morning has rolled out an update to its Facebook Messenger app -- and "chat heads" are now live! These are the little persistent notifications that you get when someone messages you. Tap it to open and reply. You can move it around on the screen, but it'll remain docked to an edge. To get rid of it, just press, hold and toss to the bottom of the screen. If you use Facebook Messenger but hate chat heads, there's an option in the settings to turn them off when you're using other apps, so they won't just float on your screen. The Facebook application itself also has gotten an update this morning, in preparation for Facebook Home. (Some bugs were also squashed, according to the new changelog.) We're expecting Facebook Home (the launcher) to go live anytime now. More: Facebook Home and the HTC First - What you need to know!

Sprint peddles purple Galaxy S3 for $99 on contract Posted: 12 Apr 2013 07:35 AM PDT Sprint this morning announced that it's now carrying the Samsung Galaxy S3 in purple -- OK, amethyst purple, they call it -- for $99 on contract (and after a $50 mail-in rebate). That'll get you the 16GB version of the GS3, which is about to be replaced by the Galaxy S4 sometime this quarter. But, hey! Purple!

Deal of the Day: Amzer ShellCase w/ Holster for HTC One X Posted: 12 Apr 2013 06:25 AM PDT The April 12 ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day is the Amzer ShellCase w/ Holster for HTC One X. The Amzer Shellster combines the protection of a hard case and the power of a clip-stand holster. The case is impact resistant for complete protection and quickly slides in and out of the holster. Lined with a soft fabric, the holster doubles as an adjustable clip stand, perfect for displaying or media viewing. The Amzer ShellCase w/ Holster is available for just $9.00, 55% off today only. Grab yours while supplies last! Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts

Android Central 131: E-mail, voicemail and Facebook - oh, my! Posted: 12 Apr 2013 06:04 AM PDT Podcast MP3 URL:  http://traffic.libsyn.com/androidcentral/acpc131.mp3 Thing 1: New devices and reviews Kyocera Torque review Sprint HTC One - the Android Central casual review Samsung announces Galaxy Win - a mid-ranger that's almost a Galaxy S3 Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 hits the U.S. this week for $399 Samsung announces 5.8-inch and 6.3-inch Galaxy Mega smartphones Samsung Galaxy Pocket Neo now coming to the UK ZTE Geek announced: next-gen Intel CPU plus Android 4.2 Thing 2: Software and updates T-Mobile's Samsung Galaxy S2 getting Jelly Bean update Sprint's Samsung Galaxy Victory gets its Jelly Bean update AT&T confirms Samsung Galaxy S2 Skyrocket getting Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean Facebook Home and the HTC First land Friday - here's what you need to know Microsoft Office now rumored for Android in (wait for it ...) 2014 Thing 3: Random stuff to cool to miss Bootloaders have been unlocked on the Droid RAZR HD, Atrix HD, RAZR M Supposed Google Babel for Gmail screenshots leak Google Play Store gets a new look Google: Glass Explorer edition to ship within the next month Nexus 10 flip cover now available in Google Play

HTC First with Facebook Home now available on AT&T Posted: 12 Apr 2013 05:55 AM PDT $99.99 on-contract or $449.99 up-front, available in black, white, red or pale blue A little over a week after its announcement at Facebook HQ, the HTC First is available to buy from AT&T. The Facebook Home-equipped handset puts the social network front and center, with Facebook's new launcher bringing your news feed (and neat little features like chat heads) directly onto your home screen. The HTC First will set you back $99.99 on a standard two-year contract, or $449.99 if you're buying it outright. All four color options -- black, white, red and pale blue -- are available over on AT&T's site. Incidentally, we're not yet seeing Facebook Home on the Google Play Store, but that's also due to launch today alongside the Facephone. We'll continue watching throughout the day and keep you posted. More: Hands-on with the HTC First Source: AT&T

NYPD equipping officers with Android smartphones, new app Posted: 12 Apr 2013 05:08 AM PDT Image: NYT Android app arms police with real-time data Some 400 police officers in New York have been equipped with Android smartphones and a new crime-fighting Android app under a pilot scheme, the New York Times reports. The app is designed to give officers the ability to run person and address searches, bringing in information from several different sources. Officers can look up police records on individuals, including photos, and access vehicle registration records. The app is also fully location-aware -- NYPD officer Tom Donaldson told the NYT “If I see that in the last month, there have been six arrests on the seventh floor for drug trafficking, maybe I want to hang out on the seventh floor for a while.” Police would previously have had to rely on cumbersome laptop-based systems in their patrol cars to retrieve this info, or radio details back to a dispatcher. The app, officers tell the NYT, offers a much easier way to access this data. Donaldson explains, “Our dispatcher will tell us if they have a warrant or not but it’s a simple yes or no answer. I don’t know if the guy is wanted for murder or for not paying a parking summons. We rarely know. Now we know.” Source: The New York Times; via: The Verge

New O2 Refresh plans decouple phone and service costs Posted: 12 Apr 2013 04:13 AM PDT UK carrier appears to be following in the footsteps of T-Mobile USA, allowing customers to pay off their phone separately to their service plan O2 UK has announced the launch of "O2 Refresh," a new kind of price plan designed to disconnect the cost of smartphones from the cost of service plans. On O2 Refresh, customers effectively pay a separate service charge and monthly installments towards the cost of the phone. That means O2 customers wanting to upgrade early can simply pay off the remaining amount on their phone plan and start a new one, with no changes to the service plan. Naturally, if you're upgrading O2 encourages you use its O2 Recycle service to cash in on the value of your old phone, up to £260. Alternatively, if customers fully pay off their phone plan they'll then only pay the service fee each month. O2 refresh service plans range from £12 per month for 600 minutes, unlimited texts and 750MB up to £22 p.m. for unlimited minutes and texts, and 2GB. From Apr. 16 O2 Refresh will be available with the HTC One, Sony Xperia Z, Blackberry Z10, Samsung Galaxy S3 and iPhone 5, with the option of making an up-front payment towards the cost of the phone. In today's press statement O2 points out that many smartphone owners want to upgrade more than once every two years. O2 Recycle allows them to do just that, in a more economical way, while cleverly renewing their commitment to O2 in the process. (After all, phones purchased through O2 will be locked to the network.) The network also cites its push towards 4G LTE this summer as a reason for making it easier for customers to pick up new 4G-capable handsets. On the other side of the Atlantic T-Mobile USA has been switching to a similar system, with separate service fees and installments towards buying your phone, as well as the option to pay off the remaining cost of your device at any time. Brits, hit the comments below and let us know if you'd switch to O2 for this kind of deal. Source: O2

LinkedIn acquires Pulse in $90 Million deal Posted: 11 Apr 2013 11:10 PM PDT Pulse, and its 30 Million users, was bought out today by social platform LinkedIn Pulse, one of the most popular news readers for Android, was bought out by none other than LinkedIn today. The deal was reportedly to the tune of $90 Million, which consisted of stocks and a cash transfer. According to both parties, the Pulse news reader won't be going away any time soon, though. The Pulse team seems to be looking forward to the fruits of the deal, as they mentioned on their blog today. LinkedIn is the perfect partner as we continue our journey. The company shares our passions and values, our belief in the power of knowledge and elevated discussion, particularly for professionals looking for insights to help make them better at what they do. We believe this important step is the key to an even better experience for our community, and we’re excited for what’s to come. We can't predict the future, but there's little reason for the new owners to change anything at the moment. Pulse has more that 30 Million users, and is clearly one of the more successful apps for Android and iOS. We expect Pulse to continue to operate as it does today, at least for the foreseeable future. If you've not yet tried Pulse, give it a look by clicking the Google Play link above. Source: All Things D; More: Pulse

I hate the Nexus 4 Wireless Charger Posted: 11 Apr 2013 08:12 PM PDT WebOS Nation Editor in Chief Derek Kessler remembers a simpler era, when Palm Touchstones ruled the land About a month ago I picked up an LG Nexus 4. I've known Android for some time, but until buying the Nexus 4 I'd yet to actually own an Android handset. While Android has surprised me in some areas and frustrated me in others, that's not what I'm here to talk about today. Nope, I'm here to talk about the Nexus 4 Wireless Charger and how much I hate it. The photo above was taken approximately five minutes after I'd carefully and deliberately set my Nexus 4 onto the Wireless Charger to, well, wirelessly charge. And it did. The move to get from being positioned centered on the charger to resting on its side with the charger as a glorified kickstand was smooth and quiet. It went entirely unnoticed as I sat not two feet away, working on my computer. Not until I looked over to see if it had stayed in position did I discover that it in fact had not. Normally my Nexus 4 just slips down half an inch or so until it's no longer optimally positioned on the charger and no longer taking a charge through the ether. Sometimes it also lists slightly to the right, but only by ten degrees or so. After I took that photo, rolled my eyes, and posted it to Twitter, I carried on with my work, curious to see where the Nexus 4 would slide to next. Five minutes later, my typing was interrupted by a soft thunk - gravity had finally conspired to pull the phone entirely off the charger and it was now resting flat on its back on my desk. read more

Android Central Podcast - Live! Posted: 11 Apr 2013 06:02 PM PDT Show starts at 9 p.m. EST (or thereabouts) The Android Central Podcast is recorded live in front of a live studio audience, so you can catch us in the act. Watch us live from your phone with the UStream app. (Search for Mobile Nations.) Miss a show? You can listen to every episode of the Android Central Podcast online. Web | RSS | iTunes | Stitcher

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