Android and Me |
- Leaked “X Phone” pictures add credibility to earlier rumors
- New Instagram introduces Photos of You
- Korea Times says LG will make another Nexus smartphone
- Top 10 Android game releases this week: Shiny the Firefly, Vector, Tennis in the Face
- Why do Android OEMs agree to exclusive carrier launches?
| Leaked “X Phone” pictures add credibility to earlier rumors Posted: 02 May 2013 03:02 PM PDT For the last couple months we have been reporting on the mysterious Motorola X Phone, but there hasn’t been a lot of evidence to back up the wild claims of our sources. Today a new set of leaked images from @evleaks adds just a little bit of credibility to some of the “X Phone” details that have previously been shared. New pictures show an unannounced Motorola device concealed in a “blackbox” casing with the model name “XFON” that is clearly running on AT&T. Our last “X Phone” report said that the device would launch exclusively on AT&T in August, and then appear on other carriers around November. These new photos don’t completely confirm that this is true, but it’s a huge coincidence that the first device labeled as “XFON” is already being tested on AT&T. You can tell this is an AT&T branded device from the appearance of AT&T in the notification area, the AT&T 4G LTE logo, and the myAT&T app that is installed on the device. Another boost of confidence in our sources is provided by the fact that this new leak matches up with the Vietnamese leak from earlier this year. Our source had claim that device with the model number XT912A was an “X Phone” prototype, and these new pictures appear to be the same device.  An early prototype of the first Motorola “X Phone.” We don’t have much else to add at this point, so be sure to read up on rumor dumps one, two, three, and four if you missed our previous “X Phone” reports. Only the customizable RAM option has been debunked, so there's a good chance that most of the other details could turn out to be true. 
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| New Instagram introduces Photos of You Posted: 02 May 2013 12:09 PM PDT I’m pretty much obsessed with Instagram (follow me here), so I was happy to see that the new version released today finally ads the ability to tag other people. The new featured called Photos of You adds a new section to your profile that allows you to see all the pictures people have tagged you in. Instagram has always allowed you to include @mentions of other users, but now you can add people (and brands) to photos, similar to how tagging works on Facebook. Grab up the update from Google Play and check out the video below to see the new feature in action. Introducing Photos of You from Instagram on Vimeo. 
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| Korea Times says LG will make another Nexus smartphone Posted: 02 May 2013 09:32 AM PDT The Korea Times reports that “the consumer electronics arm of LG Group is working with Internet-giant Google to make another Nexus-branded Google Android smartphone.” LG produced the current Nexus 4 and rumors suggested they would also produce the “Nexus 5″, but this is the first report which openly states LG is making another Nexus smartphone. If this report is true, we would expect to see the next Nexus smartphone around October. This is when we hear LG will debut the Optimus G 2, and we speculate that their next Nexus will based on this device (just like the Nexus 4 was based on the original Optimus G). Recent clues suggest that Google will reveal Android 4.3 at Google IO this month, so that leaves open the door for Android 5.0 appearing on the next LG Nexus. There is a chance that we could see a refreshed Nexus 4 with LTE and a new Nexus 7 with a Snapdragon chip at Google IO, but we are not expecting any completely new Nexus devices until the end of the year. Another source claims that Motorola is also working on a Nexus smartphone, that is not the “X Phone“, but we have yet to hear any new details about that device. It will probably be a long wait before any concrete details appear, but we will be on the lookout for any news about the next Nexus smartphone. 
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| Top 10 Android game releases this week: Shiny the Firefly, Vector, Tennis in the Face Posted: 02 May 2013 08:48 AM PDT Welcome back to Android Gaming Weekly, our weekly recap to focus on new releases. We still plan to cover upcoming releases and games we're playing, but this column is dedicated to new games you can install and start playing right now. Check out our top picks and let us know if you have any suggestions for next week in the comments below. Shiny The FireflyDescription: This adorable game, set in the middle of a picturesque garden, has you helping Shiny, the cute little firefly, to find his babies. You'll have to fly, run, hide and defend yourself against a legion of enemies. Stubborn mosquitoes, hungry toads, mischievous plants, sneaky wasps, endlessly long centipedes and lots of other little, dangerous garden dwellers are going to get in your way and make your life difficult. Angry Birds FriendsDescription: Play Angry Birds with your friends… wherever you go! In this free new game, you can use your phone to challenge your Facebook friends for the title of ultimate pig popper and bird flinger! Play in weekly tournaments with your friends and see if you can snag the coveted bronze, silver and gold trophies. Plus, gather daily rewards, send and receive gifts, and brag about your accomplishments! VectorDescription: Vector is an exciting, arcade-style game featuring you as the exceptional free runner who won't be held down by the system. The game opens with a view into a totalitarian world where freedom and individually is nothing more than a distant dream. But the heart of a freerunner is strong, and you soon break free. Run, vault, slide and climb using extraordinary techniques based on the urban ninja sport of Parkour all while being chased by "Big Brother" who's sole purpose is to capture you and bring you back. Tennis in the FaceDescription: This is no Wimbledon, this is Tennis in the Face! Get ready for some hilarious ragdoll-smashing ball-bouncing action! Help Pete Pagassi to save the city from an evil energy drink corporation Explodz. Knock out creepy clowns, evil riot police and other Explodz-addicted maniacs with a tennis ball in the face. Bounce the ball off walls to reach targets lurking in cover and watch them tumble hilariously. Trigger masterful chain reactions and watch the chaos unfold. Roll: Boulder SmashDescription: Boulders yearn to smash! And this one’s been locked away for too long. Dish out destruction on the Aliens, Vikings, Cowboys and Zombie King. Show those sassy yetis who’s boss! Send those fancy-pants penguins packing! Teach those hayseed cowboys some manners! House of the Dead: LRDescription: You thought it was over… but we’ve found the Lost Reels. Join the original cast and blast your way through remixed worlds from The House of the Dead Overkill. Play in Survival or Story Mode and mow down waves of infected, blood-thirsty mutants in this b-style arcade shooter. Experience 3 goregasmic worlds full of carnage in Story Mode. In Papa's Palace of Pain, Ballistic Trauma, and Naked Terror, you'll be screaming 'til your last breath. Monopoly HotelsDescription: Are you a hotel mogul? Take control of Monopoly's luxurious 5-star hotels and create your own hotel empire. Upgrade hotel rooms and attract V.I.P. guests like MR. Potato Head. Customize your hotel with fun attractions like cupcake shops, movie theaters, and bowling alleys. Expand your property empire with a Museum, Zoo, Aquarium, and more! Jones on FireDescription: Jones on Fire – a high-speed action game of kitty saving and flame evading, running and jumping, where you are the hero! Become Emma Jones, firefighter extraordinaire, tough cookie and kitten lover. Beat 10 levels of dangerous mountain terrain, improving Jones' skills with every fluffy life saved. Dominate your friends on the kitty-saving leaderboards, and gain the adoration of millions of cats! Hell Yeah! Pocket InfernoDescription: You are Ash, a devil rabbit and the prince of Hell .Tool up with the meanest weapons, the scariest masks and craziest wheels to defeat the ugliest monsters. Hell Yeah! is a crazy action-adventure side-scroller set in Hell. This is the perfect on-the-go companion for dressing up a psychotic rabbit (Ash) in ridiculous masks and shooting gruesome monsters. In Hell Yeah! Pocket Inferno, you ride an awesome jetpack driller, avoid deadly obstacles, fire kick-ass weapons, exterminate ugly monsters, collect gold, level up, unlock collectibles and complete missions across the crazy worlds of Hell Yeah! Stick Stunt Biker 2Description: Stick Stunt Biker 2, the sequel to the smash hit Stick Stunt Biker (featured in the game of the year 2011 and 2012 categories) with more than 10 million players is now available! Bike fun and challenging tracks in different beautiful atmospheric locations and unlock various bikes like the chopper, the speed bike or even the hovering future bike. Avoid amazing obstacles while you master the tricky tracks, perform insane stunts and wheelies or relax while riding the chopper through spectacular landscapes. Perfect KickDescription: Perfect Kick is the world's first real-time multiplayer penalty kick soccer (football) game! The smoothest controls ever and one finger playable! Blasting, curving or even chipping the football in just one swipe! Join leagues, enter tournaments and win championships with other gamers from around the world in real time. An immersive simulation of a real life penalty shootout, the control mode of Perfect Kick is intuitive and simple. Swipe your finger across the screen to kick or block the ball with perfect control of angel, speed and power. COMING SOON
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| Why do Android OEMs agree to exclusive carrier launches? Posted: 02 May 2013 07:49 AM PDT AT&T is the king of exclusive phone launches, and this week they announced the LG Optimus G Pro would be available exclusively from their stores, for $199.99 with a two-year contract beginning May 10. We know why carriers love exclusive devices — they generate foot traffic in their retail stores, but why do hardware OEMs keep agreeing to limit their flagship devices to a single US carrier? We assume that AT&T made some kind of deal with LG to spend a couple million on advertising the new Optimus G Pro. This might benefit LG by raising consumer awareness of the device, but the majority of US customers will still be unable to use the device since they are not on AT&T. History has shown that carrier exclusive devices rarely sell well. The only major exceptions were the Apple iPhone and Verizon’s Droid series. The LG Optimus G Pro is an awesome device, but it doesn’t have the brand recognition of the iPhone and people will not be switching to AT&T just to buy one. Samsung has proven that US consumers will buy smartphones with huge displays larger than 5-inches, so the LG Optimus G Pro could possibly sell pretty well if it was available across the four largest US carriers. The Galaxy Note II is still a great device, but the newer Optimus G Pro has a better camera, faster processor, and higher resolution display. LG has a great product on their hands, but they appear to be shooting themselves in the foot by limiting the Optimus G Pro to a single US carrier. 
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