Wednesday, April 10, 2013

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Google Android News Android Forums

Gamestick delayed, release slated for June

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 02:20 PM PDT

Gamestick_Available_PreOrder

When we last reported on PlayJam’s Gamestick project, they had started to take pre-orders for the $79 device after their successful Kickstarter campaign. Unfortunately, it appears that success has come at a price as PlayJam has announced they have delayed delivery of the Gamestick until June. PlayJam opened their Kickstarter project in January with a goal of $100,000 to be able to start delivering devices in April. However, they ended up pulling in $650,000 via pledges from around 5,700 backers. The Kickstarter fundraising effort was so successful, PlayJam was able to add a goal to provide a fourth color option for buyers. All of the additional units to be produced have resulted in some changes to production and shipping methods. According to PlayJam,

“Initially we had hoped to deliver GameStick to you at the end of April. We now expect to complete mechanical tooling about 4 weeks later at the end of May. Then the units are assembled, tested and assuming there are no issues, packed prior to shipping to each territory. We expect to ship around the 10th June. The volumes are now too large for us to be able to afford to air-freight them, which was our plan, so now we are going to have to use sea freight to deliver them. That's going to take around 2 weeks. Then we have fulfillment in territory – which we estimate will take between 1 and 5 days depending on where you are located. This means we think the likely date of arrival of your hand crafted GameStick will be at the last week of June.”

Although it is always disappointing to see delays for any product, especially one that has garnered as much interest as the Gamestick, at least backers can take heart that the reason is due to more demand than anticipated instead of a lack of demand.

source: TechCrunch


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Root method for Motorola RAZR HD and other devices running 4.1.2 released

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 12:31 PM PDT

motorola-root-480x416

Dan Rosenberg’s bootloader unlocking tool for Motorola devices is a pretty fantastic hack. Unfortunately, it does a painful requirement that some Motorola devices can’t get; root access. Many Motorola devices upgraded to Android 4.1.2 simply can’t be rooted. Well, before today, anyway. Dan Rosenberg, once again, has released a little hack to get your Motorola device rooted and prepped for that unlocked bootloader. This method was designed with the Droid RAZR HD in mind, but it will work on many other Motorola devices running 4.1.2.

Like always, rooting your phone does come with upsides and downsides, so be sure to read up on it before you make any hasty decisions. When you’re ready, hit the break below to get the instructions.

You can download the files you’ll need here.

  • Extract the entire contents of the zip file.
  • If you are using Windows, ensure you have installed the latest Motorola USB drivers available for your phone.
  • Ensure USB Debugging mode is enabled on your device.
  • If you are using Windows, navigate to the extracted directory and execute “run.bat”. If you are using Linux or OS X, navigate to the extracted directory in a terminal and execute “./run.sh”.

source: DroidRZR


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Motorola unlock tool for RAZR HD, RAZR M and Atrix HD released

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 12:17 PM PDT

Motorola_Logo_From_DROID_RAZR_MAXX_HD_TA

Yesterday, the bootloader was unlocked on some major Motorola phones by Dan Rosenberg; the RAZR (MAXX) HD, RAZR M, and the Atrix HD. Motorola devices are notoriously difficult to unlock, so that was a pretty big deal. Today, that unlock tool was released to users. As a warning, it does void your warranty, and the tool cannot relock the bootloader, only unlock it. Motorola also will probably fix the exploit used in a future software update, so if you want to unlock your device, it’s best to do it sooner rather than later.

To get started, you’ll simply have to have a rooted, supported device, then follow the instructions below, and remember that as of right now, this is irreversible.

Three final warnings before you make your decision:

  • You understand that using this tool will permanently, irreversibly void your device's warranty.
  • You understand that it may not be possible to "relock" your device's bootloader after unlocking using this tool. A side effect of this is that if you lose your device and you are not using disk encryption, a malicious party who acquires your phone may be able to extract all personal data from the device regardless of any lock screen.
  • You agree that I am in no way responsible for any damage to your device as a result of using this tool.

Now, for the actual instructions. You’ll need to download the tool here before you get started.

  1. Extract the entire contents of the zip file.
  2. If you are using Windows, ensure you have installed the latest Motorola USB drivers available for your phone.
  3. Ensure your device has been rooted and you have a working installation of "su".
  4. Ensure USB Debugging mode is enabled on your device.
  5. If you are using Windows, navigate to the extracted directory and execute "run.bat". If you are using Linux or OS X, navigate to the extracted directory in a terminal and execute "./run.sh".

There’s also a disclaimer that this will not work on any OMAP Motorola phones, such as the Droid Bionic or original RAZR. So if you were thinking about being adventurous, it’s probably not a good idea this time.

source: Vulnfactory


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New redesigned Google Play Store (version 4.0.25) now available to download

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 10:42 AM PDT

Google_Play_Store_Update_4.0.25

Well that didn’t take long did it? Google officially announced the redesigned Google Play Store earlier, and the APK is already available to download for manual updating. All phones and tablets with Android 2.2 or higher will get the new update over-the-air, but unfortunately it will take roughly 3 weeks to hit every device. If you’re like me, you’re impatient and don’t feel like waiting around, so all you have to do is grab the APK from the download link below and install it just like any other APK. In case you’re not familiar, just make sure you have “unknown sources” checked under settings/security. Then from your phone/tablet, tap on the download link below, then tap Download (5.9MB) and it will save it to your phone/tablet. Tap on “com.android-vending-4.0.25.apk” in your notification panel, answer OK to replace system application, and tap Install. After it’s installed, just tap open to start enjoying the new card-themed Play Store. Enjoy!!

Download Link

Thanks to all that sent this in


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Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 coming to U.S. on April 11

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 10:05 AM PDT

samsung_galaxy_note_8_render

Last week the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 went on sale in the U.K. Fans of the Galaxy Note devices in the U.S. will be glad to know the WiFi only version of Samsung’s latest tablet will be available on Thursday, April 11th at major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, h.h. gregg, Newegg, P.C. Richard & Son, Staples and TigerDirect.com. The Galaxy Note 8.0 will be Samsung’s first device with their Samsung WatchON software that is supposed to make it easier to channel surf both live TV and streaming video sources. The Galaxy Note 8.0 also comes with a built-in IR blaster, meaning the tablet can be used as a remote control.

Similar to the U.K. deals, Samsung is throwing in some extras for initial buyers of the device. Pick one up for $399.99 and you can get access to 50GB of DropBox storage for 2 years, a free month of unlimited music streaming in Samsung’s Music Hub, and for a limited time buyers will receive a $25 Google Play credit when they register their device.

Check out our hands on video of the Galaxy Note 8.0 from this year’s Mobile World Congress and the full press release after the break.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Samsung Brings Power and Portability to the U.S. with the Galaxy Note® 8.0 Tablet

In stores April 11, the Galaxy Note 8.0 delivers an unparalleled tablet experience for work and play

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J. – April 9, 2013 – Samsung Electronics America, Inc. today announces that the Galaxy Note 8.0 is coming to the U.S. market on April 11. Unveiled globally at Mobile World Congress in February, the Galaxy Note 8.0 will be available in stores and online at retailers including Amazon, Best Buy/Best Buy Mobile, h.h. gregg, Newegg, P.C. Richard & Son, Staples and TigerDirect.com.

A mid-sized addition to the Galaxy Note family of products, the Galaxy Note 8.0 has the power and advanced technology to enable multi-tasking at home, at work or on the go. The Galaxy Note 8.0 is the perfect size for entertainment and productivity, with unrivaled multimedia performance in a compact format. The S Pen has evolved to improve everyday usability with Air View; and Multi Window now supports more apps to perform tasks simultaneously allowing users to do more.

"The Galaxy Note defined an entirely new smartphone category and the Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet redefined the tablet experience for consumers," said Travis Merrill, vice president of Samsung Electronics America, Inc. "With the Galaxy Note 8.0, we fully expect to ignite the mid-size tablet market Samsung pioneered with the first Galaxy Tab. The Galaxy Note 8.0 is small enough to fit in your pocket or purse and packs the power needed for full mobile entertainment and productivity."

Galaxy Note 8.0 at Play

The Galaxy Note 8.0 will be the first product to feature Samsung WatchON, a new search and recommendation service that alleviates the chore of channel surfing and makes finding TV shows and on-demand video content faster and easier. Samsung WatchON simplifies the process of discovering new content to watch by searching across multiple content sources, such as live TV and streaming video-on-demand sources such as Samsung's Media Hub*, to recommend movies and TV shows. It also provides complementary content including actor bios, reviews and related information.

With the built-in IR blaster, the Galaxy Note 8.0 acts as a powerful universal remote, eliminating the need for multiple remotes to control the TV viewing experience. Users can browse for content then change the channel on the TV or cable box directly from the search window.

For entertainment on the go, the Galaxy Note 8.0's screen is great for everything from content viewing to reading. With its dazzling 8-inch WXGA screen, the Galaxy Note 8.0 is perfect for watching HD content, packing 1280 by 800 pixels. The Galaxy Note 8.0 also has Reading Mode, which adjusts color and brightness to an optimal level for reading. It provides the ability to customize fonts and themes so select books, magazines, documents and Web pages are easier to read. Combined with Smart Stay, which keeps the screen awake while you are reading, the Galaxy Note 8.0 is customized to ensure the best reading experience.

Galaxy Note 8.0 at Work

The tablet is quickly becoming a primary computing device for employees. The Galaxy Note 8.0 offers multi-tasking and productivity features, making users more efficient at everyday tasks, whether working at the office or on the go:

  • Multi Window: The Galaxy Note 8.0 offers true PC-like multitasking, so you can use two apps side-by-side. Multi-Window now supports 20 apps, including Polaris Office, Google Chrome and Facebook.
  • Air View: Conveniently preview your content without opening files or folders.  The S Pen held above the screen allows you to preview pictures in the Gallery, open menus on Web sites, and preview a message or an attachment in an email.
  • AllShare® Play: Pass content to the TV or remotely access files on your desktop computer.
  • Polaris Office: View, create, and edit Microsoft® Office Word® documents, Excel® spreadsheets and PowerPoint® presentations right on your tablet. With the Galaxy Note 8.0, you can add handwritten notes and drawings to your documents.
  • Awesome Note: A note-taking application and to do list manager, Awesome Note enables you to customize folder icons, colors, fonts and backgrounds for quick reference and visual organization.
  • Group Play: Share and collaborate on content, including documents, which allows users to work together.

For those using tablets for work, Samsung offers improved security levels for IT managers and employees. SAFE, or Samsung for Enterprise, is the security standard to provide enterprise- and consumer-friendly devices to businesses and their employees. With SAFE, the Galaxy Note 8.0 supports the needs of IT managers while providing businesses with the functionality needed to enhance productivity.

Powerful Performance

The Galaxy Note 8.0 features a powerful 1.6GHz Quad Core processor and 2GB of RAM to ensure optimum performance. Wi-Fi technology with dual-channel bonding offers more efficient connectivity for faster loading of Web pages and video streaming.

With a large, 4,600 mAh battery, the Galaxy Note 8.0 offers long battery life to work and play all day. Beyond the 16GB** of internal memory, the Note 8.0 can handle microSD cards up to 64GB, for a combined possible 80GB of storage. The 5-megapixel camera on the back can shoot 1080p video, and the 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera can handle video chats at 720p resolution.

Preloaded with Content and Services

Buyers will enjoy pre-loaded content and services valued at over $200, including 50GB of free Dropbox storage for 2 years***, 1 month free of unlimited music streaming in Samsung's Music Hub, Samsung's Smart Remote, Awesome Note, and more. For a limited time, they will also receive a $25 Google Play credit with the purchase of a Galaxy Note 8.0, when they register their device.

The Galaxy Note 8.0 will be available in white for $399.99 MSRP. Accessories will be available beginning mid-April. These include Book Covers in white, grey, pink or green, as well as USB and HDMI adapters, and a travel charger that connect via the device's microUSB port.

 


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Featured Android App Review: MMGuardian Parental Control [Tools]

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 10:00 AM PDT

MMGuardian_Parental_Control_Splash_Banner

We’ve covered a few apps that help with security for children’s phones, but I wanted to tell you about another one I came across called MMGuardian Parental Control from MMGuardian.com. It seems like the age that kids are given phones is getting younger and younger as time goes on. Of course you can give them a dumbphone, but with newer shared plans, it’s not out of reach to go for a smartphone. For some kids it might be an overkill, but a smartphone can give you a lot of features like knowing your child’s whereabouts, and with apps like MMGuardian Parental Control, it gives you the peace of mind you need when you give that shiny new or used smartphone to your child.

I think when it comes to apps such as these, a lot of parents don’t want to bother with them because they think it will be overwhelming and difficult to set up. I think that’s true for a lot of these apps, but nothing could be further from the truth regarding MMGuardian. All you really need to do is install the app on your child’s phone and activate it with your password of choice. Then it’s a matter of going through each area of the app that you want to control. Your child won’t be able to uninstall or deactivate the app without the password.

After you install MMGuardian on your child’s phone, you will be given the opportunity to register your email address and enter the phone number of your phone as administrator. This is where you will also create the password for opening the app on your child’s phone. Administrator phones don’t need the app installed as they will be able to receive SMS text messages from the child’s phone for status updates. Later, in the settings you can add more administrator phones and/or change the password.

The main screen consists of nine choices for setting things up:

Lock

This is where you are able to set an Auto SMS text response when the phone is actually locked. You will be able to schedule when the phone is locked from doing anything other than call or text an admin, and this auto SMS response will be sent to anyone who sends a message to your child during those times. Unfortunately there isn’t an option to disable it. I tried leaving it blank, but in my testing, the default message was still sent. I can see how some kids might feel embarrassed that their parents are locking their phone and don’t want to “broadcast” it. The default message is “Thanks for your message, I am not available at this moment.” It doesn’t necessarily say that their phone is locked, but those who receive that message will ask about it. Of course you can make the message whatever you want it to be, but hopefully the developers will add an option to disable it for those that wish to do so.

Time Limits

The Time Limits section lets you set the schedule for when you want the phone to be locked. You can set a number of different timeframes and it’s pretty versatile. You punch  in your start and end times and select which days you want. For example, if you know your child does homework every weekday between 7:00pm and 9:00pm, you can set it to lock. You can also set a schedule for just the weekends as well as one particular day of the week. You can always override any of these schedules by sending an SMS to the phone in case your child needs access for whatever reason.

Commands

This is a help section that lets you see all the SMS commands that you can send to your child’s phone for controls or requests when they are away from you. You can send commands that will get your child’s location, allow you to lock or unlock the phone, sound an alarm siren, turn safe driving mode on or off, request a daily report, or add a monitor command. All SMS messages need to be sent from an admin phone and any responses will go to the admin phone. Also in this section, you can send sample responses to your phone as well as demo the lock and siren functions on the child’s phone.

App Control

This is where you can block or allow apps that are installed on the phone. You have your choice of creating a list of blocked apps or creating a list of apps that you approve of. You can block apps full time or based on a schedule. You can also check the option to receive an SMS anytime your child installs a new app on the phone.

Track

The Track section lets you set a schedule in which you would like to be notified of your child’s location. It has the same kind of versatility as the lock scheduling.

Call Block

This is where you can block calls from either a contact or by phone number. This isn’t based on a schedule and is full time. You can also check to be notified for any calls that were actually blocked so you’re aware of them.

Safe Driving

For this feature, you either turn it on or off. If on, the phone will lock when it detects that your child is moving faster than 10 mph. You can also create override times when you know your child regularly rides the school bus. Additionally you can set up an auto SMS response message to those that send your child a message if the phone is locked because of this feature. You also have the power to remotely disable the safe driving mode by simply sending an SMS to the phone.

Monitor

This is where you can specify certain words, and you will be notified if they are contained in an SMS message sent to or from your child’s phone. You will not only be notified that the word was used, but you will also get the full text of the message.

Settings

This is where you can add or delete admin phones as well as turn on or off the Daily Summary Report or Uninstall Protection. If you choose to get the Daily Summary report, you will get a text message once a day telling you how many SMS messages were sent and received along with how many outbound calls, inbound calls, and missed calls took place during the last day. You will also learn how many web clicks took place. The Uninstall Protection option ensures that your child cannot uninstall the app either via the Play Store or via the built in Android apps menu if turned on

As you can see, MMGuardian is pretty comprehensive, but at the same time pretty simple to use. About the only thing missing is some sort of safe web browser, but hopefully that will be something that is implemented in the future. Now a service such as this isn’t normally Free. MMGuardian is actually Free, but you will need a premium subscription in order to schedule tracking, schedule lock times, block or unblock apps, block calls, and monitor words. The cost is $2.99 per month or $24.99 annually. You can also opt for a one-time license for $39.99. You do get a 14 day free trial when you first install the app so you can see how amazing it is before you commit to anything. If you don’t want to purchase a subscription, you can still utilize the safe driving feature as well as send SMS commands to lock or unlock the phone, locate it, or sound the alarm siren.

The bottomline is it’s free to try, and 14 days will give you a good idea if it’s for you. Check out my hands on video below as well as their trailer, and hit one of the download links to get started. As always, let me know what you think.

Features

  • Locate your child's phone via a simple text message.
  • Lock your child's phone also via a text message.
  • Set predefined times to be informed of the location of your child’s phone.
  • Set time restrictions to limit use, eg: during school hours.
  • Prevent your child texting and driving, without killing their phone’s battery.
  • Block incoming calls and texts.
  • Monitor alarming text messages.
  • Control which applications can be used, and when.
  • Receive a daily report on your child's phone usage.
MMGuardian_Parental_Control_01 MMGuardian_Parental_Control_02 MMGuardian_Parental_Control_03 MMGuardian_Parental_Control_04 MMGuardian_Parental_Control_05 MMGuardian_Parental_Control_06

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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Play Store Download Link


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WhatsApp says no deal with Google is in the works

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 09:40 AM PDT

whatsapp

Yesterday we reported on rumors that Google may be looking to purchase the popular messaging app WhatsApp. According to WhatsApp business guy Neeraj Arora, sales talks with Google are not being held. Arora says there are no plans, or even discussions, at this time around Google buying WhatsApp for approximately $1 billion. Other than denying the rumors, Arora provided no other information. Next week WhatsApp CEO Jan Koum is schedule to speak at a conference in New York City. Hopefully he will be able to share some new information about the future direction and plans of the company in light of these recent rumors as well as last December’s rumored buyout by Facebook.

source: AllThingsD


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Xiaomi Unveils The Mi2S And Mi2A Smartphone

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 09:36 AM PDT

Xiaomi

Xiaomi is a Chinese manufacturer of MIUI-powered smartphones, and has announced two new smartphones. Predecessor to the Mi2, the Mi2S has been upgraded with a better processor and camera. The Mi2A is more affordable and also features a slightly larger display. Here are the specs of both phones:

Xiaomi Mi2S

  • 4.3-inch 1280 x 720 display
  • 1.7GHz Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor
  • Adreno 320 GPU
  • 2GB RAM
  • 16 or 32GB internal storage
  • 13 megapixel rear-facing camera
  • 2 megapixel front-facing camera
  • MIUI running on top of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
  • 2,000 mAh battery
  • Available in five different colors

Xiaomi Mi2A

  • 4.5-inch 1280 x 720 display
  • 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-core processor
  • Adreno 320 GPU
  • 1GB RAM
  • 16GB internal storage
  • 8 megapixel rear-facing camera
  • 2 megapixel front-facing camera
  • MIUI running on top of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
  • 2,030 mAh battery

The Mi2S will cost $322 U.S. for the 16GB version and $371 U.S. for the 32GB version while the Mi2A will cost just $242. Xiaomi’s Mi2S will go on sale today from their website and the Mi2A will be available later this month.

Source: Xiaomi


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Google Play Store gets fresh new look starting today

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 09:17 AM PDT

Play_Store_Redesign_April_2013_01

The new version of the Play Store that leaked last month is now official. Google didn’t specify the version, but the overall look is identical with the new card-based theme. Google is touting the redesign as a simple and clean interface that helps you find great entertainment quickly. We have become a visual world so images and icons are much bigger and purchasing is now simplified so we can enjoy those apps, magazines, or movie rentals in quick fashion.

The new Play Store will start rolling out today to all Android phones and tablets running Android 2.2 or above. Unfortunately it will take a few weeks to get to every device, so chances are slim that you will get it today. However, the apk will most likely leak, which will let you manually upgrade. Stay tuned as we will post it as soon as it’s available.

Play_Store_Redesign_April_2013_03

source: Android Blog


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Google in the hot seat again as Microsoft, Nokia, and Oracle file new antitrust complaint with the EU

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 08:12 AM PDT

Google_Antitrust_Comlaint_Nokia_Microsoft_EU

Looks like Google might be in the hot seat again because competitors filed a new antitrust complaint against them in the EU alleging that the Android OS gives an unfair advantage for Google apps. The complaint was filed by Fairsearch Europe, which consists Microsoft, Nokia, and Oracle. Lead lawyer for Fairsearch said that Google is using Android "as a deceptive way to build advantages for key Google apps in 70 percent of the smartphones shipped today,"  He is referring to the fact that Android OEM’s have a contractual obligation to place Google-branded apps such as Maps, YouTube, and Drive in “prominent default placement on the phone.”

I guess if anyone is an expert with this kind of complaint, it’s Microsoft since they were already a victim for similar occurrences.  Back  in 2004, they were fined €497 million (or $600 million) for bundling Windows Media Player with its operating system. Then they failed to bundle competing web browsers with Windows 7 Service Pack 1, which cost them the €561 million (or $732 million).

No comments to this new case specifically, but Google spokesman Al Verney said the company continues "to work cooperatively" with the commission.

sources: NY Times / Fairsearch Europe (PDF)
via: TheVerge


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