Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Android Central

Android Central

Madfinger Games bringing titles to OUYA, Moga and Gamestick this year

Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:21 PM PDT

OUYA Console

Shadowgun and Dead Trigger the first games to add wider console support

As a new breed of Android-powered consoles and gamepad accessory devices hit the market, Madfinger Games is hoping to keep up with the times by expanding console and accessory support for its most popular games. First up is Shadowgun, which is expected to hit OUYA on June 4th, as well as be available when Gamestick officially launches. Madfinger also says it isn't ruling out porting over even its older games to the consoles. On the accessory front, Dead Trigger will support both the Moga Pro and Wikipad controllers, which will add to its current support of Shadowgun: DeadZone.

Madfinger says it is interested in bringing all of its popular games to the different platforms and controllers, which is a big deal for gamers that want a better experience than using just touch controls. As these accessories become more popular, having this wider support can be a big plus for the studio.

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Google releases Glass intro video to help us all get started

Posted: 30 Apr 2013 03:52 PM PDT

New Project Glass YouTube channel starts up with an intro video for us all to enjoy, and wonder at

Despite being a long time out from the general consumer release of Project Glass, it's hard to deny that it's the hot ticket right now. The first units are in the hands of the lucky 'Explorers,' while the rest of us mere mortal, non-Glass wearing folks can simply look on in awe. 

We can at least get a look at the first in what's likely a series of tutorial videos for Glass released by Google, though. The new Project Glass YouTube channel has uploaded its first video, a getting started guide to Glass. We see a very quick, basic run through of how you operate it, and a look at the Google Now style card UI. It's exciting stuff, for sure, so if you're into Glass, be sure to keep an eye on the Project Glass YouTube channel. 

Source: Project Glass (YouTube)

    

Mophie announces Juice Pack for the HTC One, on sale now for $99.95

Posted: 30 Apr 2013 03:25 PM PDT

Android Central

Well renowned battery case makers latest creation protects your HTC One with an extra 2500mAh battery on board

If you're looking to protect that shiny new aluminum HTC One of yours, and want a little more juice to see you through the day, then Mophie is here to help. A well respected name in the mobile accessory world, Mophie has been producing their range of Juice Pack external battery cases for the iPhone for years now. More recently, we saw a Juice Pack for the Samsung Galaxy S3, and now we're treated to one for the new HTC One. 

Available in black or silver -- although silver isn't showing as shipping until mid-May -- the Juice Pack comes with a 2500mAh battery on board which is enough for a full charge of the phones on board power plant. It adds a little in length to the phone, and some extra thickness, but doesn't seem to make it any wider and importantly doesn't impede either of those front facing speakers. And, it looks to cover pretty much all of that aluminum body. Extra battery life and protection combined doesn't come cheap though. The Juice Pack is on sale now for $99.95, and whichever way you look at it, that's a lot of money. 

Source: Mophie

 

    

Andreessen: Android poised to explode in emerging markets

Posted: 30 Apr 2013 02:47 PM PDT

Marc Andressen on Bloomberg

Bloomberg recently TV interviewed Marc Andreessen, the guy who’s famous for co-founding Netscape and currently works as a VC at his own Silicon Valley VC shop, Andreessen Horowitz.

Towards the end of the interview, he was asked what’s big for 2013. After saying that tablet growth would still be huge, he followed up with this quote:

"The other thing I think I'd point to is the $50 Android smartphone is about to hit the market worldwide. Smartphones are about to be put in the hands of another 3 billion people who don't have them. And that's probably the single biggest thing that's happening right now."

In the developed world, we tend to think of Android as Samsung Galaxy S3 and S4, the new HTC One, maybe some Sony, and throw Motorola in for good measure. Yeah, we hear about cheaper hardware, but rarely do we stop to think about what it means to emerging markets.

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AT&T Galaxy S4 unboxing

Posted: 30 Apr 2013 02:20 PM PDT

AT&T Galaxy S4

My time has finally come. It's time I put down ... the other phone I've been using and pick up the Samsung Galaxy S4. Alex Dobie did a stellar job with our deep-dive Galaxy S4 review on Sprint's variant, and now I've got AT&T's in house. 

Hardware-wise, we're not really looking at anything different here. Same 5-inch Super AMOLED display. Same Android 4.2.2 with Samsung's TouchWiz atop it. Same 1.9 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor. Same paltry 16GB of on-board storage space -- only we know that's not quite true. 

Where AT&T differs from Sprint, aside from a handful of AT&T-specific applications -- of course is in the network. So we'll see how this thing handles a day of proper LTE versus spotty EVDO. Like many of you, I'm particularly interested in the camera. Will it be a better all-around choice? Will I miss Zoes and Video Highlights too much? Will I, like so many of you, be underwhelmed by an iterative design instead of a radical overhaul?

Only one way to find out. Time for the Samsung Galaxy S4 to live in my pocket for a few weeks. Join me in our Galaxy S4 forums, will ya?

Hit the break for a quick video intro.

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Win one of 10 tickets to Lookout's annual Google I/O kickoff party

Posted: 30 Apr 2013 02:18 PM PDT

Lookout

Lookout's annual Google I/O kickoff party is May 14, here's your chance to get on the list

If you're going to be in the Bay Area come May 14 (there's a little thing called Google I/O going on) listen up!  Lookout is having a big party for a few close friends, and you could win a chance to be one of them.  They have provided us with 10 tickets for the bash to hand out, which will be chock full of fun, food, and drinks.  Sounds like something nobody would want to miss.

There's no transportation or Google I/O passes; you'll have to provide those yourself.  It looks like an awesome way to get things started at Google I/O, so if you're going to be in the area hit the forums to read the details and try your luck! 

Win 1 of 10 tickets to Lookout's annual Google I/O kickoff party

    

AT&T now offering trade-in discounts on new devices

Posted: 30 Apr 2013 01:06 PM PDT

Phones

Every smart phone trade-in qualifies for at least a $100 credit towards the purchase of a new device

AT&T is extending an offer from any of its retail locations that will give customers who trade-in an old smart phone at least $100 towards a new phone of their choice on the network. As long as the phone you are trading in is no more than 3 years old, and is in good working condition, you'll receive an instant credit of $100 or more to put towards a new device. AT&T says that each device will be evaluated, and some could be worth more than $100 as well. The credit can be applied towards brand new devices like the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One, or lower-end devices as well.

While some authorized retailers may participate in the trade-in program, corporate AT&T stores are guaranteed to participate and may accept a wider range of devices, including tablets, data sticks and even feature phones. The offer seems like a pretty good deal for those trying to make an upgrade and save an easy few dollars, and could bring your on-contract price for a new device near $0 if you're lucky.

Source: AT&T

    

Samsung Galaxy S4 accessory roundup

Posted: 30 Apr 2013 12:38 PM PDT

Galaxy S4 S View case

Picking up your Galaxy S4 this week? Check out some of the top accessories

The Galaxy S4 is finally upon us, and that means many of us will be looking for some shiny new accessories to go with the latest Samsung smartphone. Here's a quick roundup from ShopAndroid.com --

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How to get to the developer settings on the Galaxy S4

Posted: 30 Apr 2013 11:56 AM PDT

Samsung Galaxy S4 developer options

It's worth a quick reminder that the Samsung Galaxy S4 is one one of the first devices to actually launch with Android 4.2.2.  And it's also worth a reminder that the developer options are hidden by default starting with that version of Android. As those of us who have been using Nexus devices for the past quickly learned, you'll need to spend about 20 seconds and a few taps of the ol' index finger -- OK, any finger will do -- to open up the nether regions of your Galaxy S4. 

So. You're sure you want to do this? You want to unlock the developer options on your Galaxy S4? Cool. Here's how.

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2Fuse: A quick time killer with simple gameplay

Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:58 AM PDT

2Fuse

A game doesn't have to be complicated to offer hours of fun

There are in-depth and wonderful games that require hours and days of your time to complete, and then there are the equally necessary games that draw you away from reality for just a few minutes at a time. 2Fuse is in the latter group, and executes on that premise quite well. It's a quick and dead simple puzzle game with just a few rules and some fun animations and sounds to keep it lively, paired with a gameplay model that will keep things fresh no matter how many times you play.

Just because a game is simple doesn't mean it needs to be overlooked -- stick around after the break and learn a little bit more about 2Fuse, a new puzzle game on Android.

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AT&T flips the switch on even more LTE markets

Posted: 30 Apr 2013 10:14 AM PDT

AT&T Logo

Over a dozen new markets, primarily in the South, are seeing AT&T's latest network infrastructure

AT&T isn't slowing down on its LTE network deployments, as evidenced by several large markets going live with the service starting today. Users with LTE-capable handsets and the proper provisioning should see the network, if they haven't already, in the following areas:

The carrier is surely hoping to keep up a pace like this through much of 2013 in order to meet the expansive rollout Verizon is doing right now. Live in one of the above markets and seeing LTE up and running on your AT&T handset yet? Let us know in the comments.

    

Yahoo! v1.0 update improves interface, adds news summaries

Posted: 30 Apr 2013 07:51 AM PDT

Yahoo! App

A newly refined design highlights the company's best products

In an attempt to make some leaps forward in terms of design and user experience, Yahoo! has revamped its Android app today with a new interface and set of features. Version 1.0 of the app changes the look of things, with an endlessly scrolling set of news stories as the main page, which nicely displays the article title and a summary with an opaque background over a headline image. Those summaries condense the article's main premise into a short paragraph, which is very similar to the technology that Yahoo! acquired just recently when buying a company called "Summly". 

Other highlights of the app include a revamped search interface that includes images and video in-line, which can be found behind a nice slide-in panel on the left side of the app. Here you can also find settings for customizing your news topics and sources, as well as quick tabs to launch other popular Yahoo! apps on your device such as Mail, Finance and Messenger. The entire design is a big step forward for Yahoo!, and certainly makes a better case for staying installed on your device.

    

Be sure to check out (and subscribe to) our revamped YouTube channel!

Posted: 30 Apr 2013 06:54 AM PDT

Android Central on YouTube

A quick heads up, boys and girls, that we're now taking advantage of YouTube's updated channel design. More (and better) playlists, more customization and, perhaps most important -- an intro video from yours truly. Easiest way to get my face off your screen? Subscribe!

Yes. That's basically blackmail. Or something. Subscribe you'll not see that video of me (that's at Grand Central Station, by the way), getting you to that all-important Android content even sooner.

 Anyhoo, check it out. We're still tweaking the design a bit, but Google's definitely making things easier on the content providers (that's us) so we can bring a better experience to the consumers. (That's you.)

    

Deal of the Day: Qmadix Snap-On Cover w/ Holster for HTC One X

Posted: 30 Apr 2013 06:26 AM PDT

Deal of the Day The April 30 ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day is the Qmadix Snap-On Cover w/ Holster for HTC One X. The durable Snap-On Cover protects your One X while allowing full access to all functions. The case features a textured rubberized exterior that provides a secure grip to your device while the included holster has a durable ratcheting swivel clip that allows use in both vertical and horizontal positions.

The Qmadix Snap-On Cover w/ Holster is available for just $18.00, 49% off today only. Grab yours while supplies last!

Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts

    

Sony Xperia SP now available on T-Mobile UK, priced £250

Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:51 AM PDT

Sony Xperia SP

LTE-capable mid-ranger shows up with an affordable PAYG price tag

Sony's Xperia SP looks to be one of the more interesting mid-level Android handsets coming our way over the next few weeks. It's packing a Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU, an aluminum trim and a trademark Sony "light bar" down below, not to mention an 8-megapixel camera using the company's Exmor RS stacked image sensor tech.

So the prospect of picking up such a device at a cut-down price point is nothing to be sniffed at. Today T-Mobile UK is the first British network to start selling , even ahead of most SIM-free retailers. What's more, T-Mobile's price is significantly lower than what we'd been expecting, at just £249.99 on Pay As You Go. The phone itself will be SIM-locked, and you'll need to purchase £10 worth of PAYG airtime, but that's still a lot of telephone for your money. In addition, the fact that it's locked to T-Mobile specifically means in theory it should work on sister network EE, which offers 4G LTE connectivity.

Alongside EE, O2 and Three will also be launching the Xperia SP in the coming weeks, as will a variety of SIM-free retailers.

You can also expect a full review of the Sony Xperia SP here on Android Central in the near future.

Source: T-Mobile UK; via: Recombu

More: Sony Xperia SP hands-on

    

EE's 4G LTE comes to 12 new markets

Posted: 30 Apr 2013 04:28 AM PDT

EE

Total EE 4G c​ities reaches 62, carrier says

EE, the UK's first and currently only 4G LTE network operator, sends word that it's just flipped the switch on LTE in another twelve towns across the country.

From today, EE's 4G services are available in Aylesbury, Berkhamsted, Billericay, Blackpool, Brentwood, Dewsbury, Huddersfield, Lytham St Annes, Marlow, Pontefract, Thame and Windsor. The list of new markets shows LTE spreading further into rural areas, and EE says its 4G network now covers more than 50 percent of the UK population. By the end of June, the operator says it'll have reached a further 18 markets, and aims to bring its coverage up to 70 percent of the population by the end of the year.

EE is sure to face more competition in the coming months, as rival networks launch their own 4G offerings based on the 800MHz and 2600MHz spectrum auctioned off earlier in the year. Vodafone, O2 and Three are expected to launch LTE networks of their own later this year, in some cases possibly as early as this summer.

Press release is after the break.

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Intel CEO to FCC: Softbank is the best buyer for Sprint

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 09:15 PM PDT

Sprint Logo

A strange endorsement as Sprint contemplates accepting a higher bid from Dish

In a letter to chairman of the FCC Julius Genachowski, CEO of Intel Paul Otellini has expressed that he believes Softbank is a better choice than Dish to buy Sprint. Following a trip to Asia where he met with Softbank, which an Intel spokesperson refers to as "a business partner", Otellini chose to write to the FCC to encourage the company's bid for Sprint regardless of the fact that Dish is offering a higher amount. Otellini's recommendation is one based on competition, he says:

"Son-san’s vision to build a high speed competitive third national network is very compelling. We need this competition in the wireless space as the ATT/Verizon model is not giving that to consumers at this time."

No further explanation is given as to why Softbank would provide a better competitive chance for Sprint than Dish, but CEO of Softbank Masayoshi Son has proven in the past to be a bit of a mover-and-shaker in the industries his company is a part of. That may not be enough for Sprint to consider its offer, however, as the bid from Dish is still over $5 billion higher. Sprint is expecting to vote on its current deal with Softbank on June 12th.

Source: Reuters; FCC

    

Best Buy preorders for the Sprint Galaxy S4 delayed for 2 to 3 weeks

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 08:01 PM PDT

Galaxy S4

Some phones preordered from Best Buy will be delayed until May 9 through May 20

If you put in a preorder for the Sprint Galaxy S4 through Best Buy, you'll want to check your email. It seems that at least some of the phones aren't going to make their original shipping date.

We're sorry, but the fulfillment of your recent pre-order is taking longer than expected. We expect it to arrive between May 9 and May 20. To keep you informed of its delivery, we'll send tracking information once the item has shipped.

If you prefer, you can cancel this order at any time. To do so, please call us at 1-888-BEST BUY (1-888-237-8289). If possible, please have your order number handy.

If we don't hear from you before the order is shipped, we'll assume you still want this item and accept this delay.

Once again, we're sorry for this inconvenience, and we’ll do our best to make things right.

We know that there are some supply issues for the Sprint version, so canceling your preorder may not be something you'll want to do. But the option is there if you'd rather. 

Folks have reported success picking them up directly from Sprint over the weekend in the forums, so that's worth checking out as well. Worst case scenario? You'll be waiting until the second week of May for your new shiny from Best Buy.

Thanks, nanosman#ac!

    

From the Forums: What's your favorite HTC One video highlight theme?

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 07:27 PM PDT

And be sure to show us your favorite highlight while you're there

HTC's new video highlights are pretty awesome. Highlights are those 30 second videos created from your pictures and Zoes, and are perfect for sharing on YouTube or your favorite social network. Currently, there are six themes you can choose from for your highlight, and they run the gamut from subtle black and white to popping fresh flashy cuts. They are all fun to try and play with.

But if you're like us, you find yourself choosing one more often that the others. For me, that would be "Islandia" -- the happy music gets me every time, even if the old Super 8 style scratchy overlay isn't my favorite. 

We hope HTC has more themes in the works, or an API third party developers can use to create their own. in the meantime, jump into the forums and let us know your favorites.

[POLL] What's your favorite Video Highlight theme?

    

You're welcome, Kyle! Enjoy your HTC One Developer Edition!

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 06:43 PM PDT

Thanks

Got a great video response today from Kyle, aka Phestor or AnAm85, who won the 64-gigabyte HTC One Developer Edition in our recent contest. HTC pitched in some goodies, too, after the contest ended, which was more than generous. 

So congrats to Kyle -- as well as Rey Ford and misterasset, who each won Nexus 4s -- and hope you enjoy your phone!

Check out Kyle's gracious reply after the break.

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Is an official Twitter app for Google Glass in the works?

Posted: 29 Apr 2013 05:24 PM PDT

Twitter for Android

But what exactly would you do with a Twitter for Glass app?

Although Eric Schmidt seems to think that Google Glass is a year away from being in consumer's hands, the evidence is building that Twitter is working on its own app for the eyewear. A tweet has surfaced of a pretty unassuming picture, but the devil is in the details here -- the picture claims to be sent from a "Twitter for Glass" client, as denoted at the bottom of the tweet next to the timestamp. The tweet and account have also since been deleted, which you would expect if someone Twitter for Glass Tweethappened to leak something a bit too early. If that wasn't enough for you, consider also that the tweet in question has been found and pointed out by Jonathan Gottfried, who made the first unofficial Twitter client for Glass called "GlassTweet".

The evidence is pretty strong here, and we wouldn't at all be surprised if Twitter was working to have its client ready to go for the launch of Glass. The real question is, what would you actually see or do with a Twitter client on such a limited interface? We wouldn't expect a full scrolling list of your timeline, but what about notifications? Well, those would presumably be handled by your phone's own Twitter notifications already. Will the only function be to send pictures directly from Glass to Twitter? We hope they come up with something more compelling when it is actually available, but for now it's an interesting thought experiment.

Source: TechCrunch

    
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