Android Central

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• Verizon offering free Droid DNA promotion for limited time
• The most important story you'll probably miss this week
• BlackBerry 10 Android Runtime on track to support Android 4.2.2
• Keep up with Google I/O 2013 from home
• Adobe Connect Mobile adds support for Presenter, interactive tools
• Pinterest for Android updated with notifications, mentions and more
• Another glimpse at the Nexus 4 in white, this time on video
• Boulder Dash-XL: Blast from the past gaming
• How many times can you open and close NVIDIA Shield before it breaks?
• Apple looks to add Samsung Galaxy S4 to patent infringement suit
• BlackBerry Messenger announced for Android!
• BlackBerry announces new Android support in enterprise management suite
• Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile join AT&T's 'It Can Wait' campaign
• Deal of the Day: Samsung Protective Cover Plus Case for Galaxy Note 2
• A new look at the newly official NVIDIA Shield [video]
• 'Project' no more: NVIDIA Shield preorders start May 20 for $349, ships in June
• Test flight: NVIDIA Shield and the Parrot AR Drone
• NVIDIA Shield accessories: Carrying case and custom lids
• Here's how you make sure to get your hands on an NVIDIA Shield
• Nokia takes aim at Android rivals with aluminum-clad Lumia 925
• Phones4U to sell Huawei Ascend P2
• TuneIn Radio now lets you buy music you hear from Google Play

Verizon offering free Droid DNA promotion for limited time Posted: 14 May 2013 04:35 PM PDT A quick way to save on a great device if you're going to order online Verizon has just started running a promotion on its website offering a coupon code that knocks down the price of a Droid DNA to $0 on-contract, which is a substantial savings. Holding its spot as the flagship for the "Droid" brand on Verizon since November last year, the DNA has stayed at $199 on-contract since its release. All you have to do to get a coupon code for the device is provide your email address to Verizon at the source link below, where you'll then receive a code to apply at the online checkout for the savings. The promotion is only valid until May 21st, so you've got a week to make up your mind on this one. Even at 6 months old the DNA is still a great option on Verizon. The fact that Verizon is running a promotion to sell a device that is over 6 months old now should come as no surprise to anyone at this point. Carriers (often inexplicably) go through phases of discounting and promoting devices that they want to push, especially when they get to be this far into their lifecycle. However it will be interesting to see whether or not the standard price of the DNA will drop following this promotion. Source: Verizon

The most important story you'll probably miss this week Posted: 14 May 2013 03:39 PM PDT It's not a sexy issue, but kudos to the U.S. mobile operators for coming together against texting and driving We'll get to those smiling faces up there in a minute. But, first, perhaps the timing could have been a little better. Tucked between a little overexposure of the NVIDIA Shield and the BlackBerry Live keynote -- and just a day before Google I/O kicks off -- the four major U.S. cell phone operators joined together to announce their support for the "It Can Wait" campaign, an initiative started by AT&T to keep drivers from texting while they're behind the wheel. Sprint has had its own campaign, and it should be commended for that. But it's a combined effort that's needed, and, starting May 20, a combined effort is what we'll see. Millions of dollars in what essentially is advertising money is going into this. Sure, you'll see the brand names. Sprint. AT&T. Verizon. T-Mobile. And many others. But it's the message that's truly important. No matter the phone, no matter the operating system -- and, really, no matter what sort of hands-free whiz-bang system you might have rigged up in your car, any time you take your eyes off the road, you're putting us all at risk. Everyone. You, driving the car. Your friends and family inside the car. Those of us in the cars around you. The kids playing on the street. I'm as hypocritical as anyone. It's hard, I know. (And I work for a company that sells these whiz-bang hands-free devices. What the hell is my excuse, then?) And chances are you can glance down for a second, and nothing will happen. Until it does. The "It Can Wait" campaign focuses on texting, but the message, as is the name, is universal. Just a quick glimpse to see who that e-mail was from, even if you're not going to answer it. A peek at your favorite RSS feed, to make sure you didn't miss anything "important." A quick phone call -- hey, you're a good driver. No big deal. That is my wife and our kids up there. Shannon, Mia and Isabella. I'm her husband. Their father. I owe it to them to avoid doing stupid things whenever possible. (Anyone who's been in a room with me for more than 5 minutes knows that's often easier said than done.) I owe it to them -- hell, I owe it to everyone around me -- to keep that damn phone in my pocket when I'm driving. And so do you. Looking at that picture above helps me remember that. Let's not be naive, though. We're still going to see folks on their phones in the car. I'm still going to struggle with not stealing a quick glance. But not playing with your phone while you're behind the wheel is that important an issue. There's really no excuse for this sort of tragedy, given how easy it is to not pick up the phone in the car. But I'm still working on it. I'll get better at it. And, most of all, I need to set that example for my kids.  Thanks in advance, from myself, my wife and my children.

BlackBerry 10 Android Runtime on track to support Android 4.2.2 Posted: 14 May 2013 03:11 PM PDT Update to Jelly Bean for the Android Runtime is still on track and scheduled to land in June Back in February at BlackBerry Jam Europe we first heard talk of BlackBerry updating their Android Runtime environment from 2.3.3 Gingerbread, to 4.1 Jelly Bean. All has been quiet on that front since then, but today during the BlackBerry Jam keynote at BlackBerry Live, developers were presented with an updated roadmap that confirms the update is still planned, and is running on schedule. Only, it won't be Android 4.1 anymore that the Runtime will be based around, BlackBerry is going straight to 4.2.2.  Until Google introduces a new version of Android -- quite possibly tomorrow during the Google I/O Keynote -- 4.2.2 is the latest build, and BlackBerry should be commended for that. With the update due to hit in June, there's a strong possibility that BlackBerry 10 devices will have access to 4.2.2 before a number of Android devices. OK, so it's not exactly the same, but impressive nevertheless.  Android developers looking to move their apps to BlackBerry by way of re-packaging will benefit hugely from this. Apps designed around Gingerbread feel horribly outdated by current standards, and updating the Runtime to 4.2.2 will open the door to many more developers, with many more apps, and ultimately the BlackBerry 10 users should see a much improved experience. For more from BlackBerry Live, be sure to head over to CrackBerry for all the coverage you can handle.  Source: BlackBerry via CrackBerry

Keep up with Google I/O 2013 from home Posted: 14 May 2013 01:58 PM PDT Won't be in sunny California for Google I/O? Don't worry, you can still keep up with all of the action We're just a few short days away from Google's yearly developer conference, and while only a few thousand lucky individuals will be in attendance, everyone will have a chance to watch from afar. As you would expect, Google is dedicated to making video of every single session from the conference available online, and even live streams as much coverage as possible. Watching the keynote Of everything at Google I/O, what many are looking forward to most is the keynote. Although it's going to be hard to top skydiving with Google Glass onto the convention center, we'll all want to be watching it live to see what they can do this time. Luckily Google will be streaming the keynote live at 9am PT on May 15th. This is the only keynote of the conference and It's going to be a whopping 3 hours long, so be sure to plan your restroom breaks accordingly. Watch the live stream starting at 9am PT May 15th Following sessions Google has posted a complete list of sessions that will be available, each falling into one of the broader "tracks" such as Android, Chrome, Google+ and Glass. Using the session browser, you can choose to follow specific tracks, or you can look more broadly at the entire show. If a session you're interested in isn't broadcasted live, Google plans to make recorded versions available on its official Google Developers Youtube channel as soon as possible. Browse the Google I/O 2013 agenda See when and where sessions will be broadcast Watch recorded sessions from the Google Developers Youtube channel Install the app The official Google I/O app has just been updated for this year's conference, and it has a whole lot of useful information. Not only can you follow all of the session times and keep tabs on what's coming next with scheduled alerts, but you can also watch any of the live streamed sessions. The I/O 2013 app will be your guide to everything Google for all three days next week. Download the Google I/O 2013 app We'll be there too! Don't forget that Phil and Jerry will be covering everything they can get their hands and eyes on at this year's I/O, with all of the top-notch analysis you've come to expect from Android Central.

Adobe Connect Mobile adds support for Presenter, interactive tools Posted: 14 May 2013 11:50 AM PDT View, present and interact with meetings all from your mobile device Adobe is making a few useful updates to its Adobe Connect apps today that will improve the experience for those joining meetings from mobile devices. First up, users on phones and tablets can now both deploy and join webinars and meetings being conducted in the Adobe Presenter format, with additional features therein. Presentations can now be interactive for people viewing on a mobile device, letting them tap on questions and answers to give their input. Video conferencing has also been improved to let the users view both their own video feed as well as the person talking, on top of viewing paused feeds of everyone else in the meeting. Small improvements to the experience such as presentation backgrounds and new graphics are also small but useful changes that make Adobe Connect users on mobile feel like they're getting a complete experience. While you may not be using Adobe Connect Mobile on a daily basis, those in the education and enterprise markets will want to give this a look. More: Adobe

Pinterest for Android updated with notifications, mentions and more Posted: 14 May 2013 11:04 AM PDT Receive notifications, mention friends and search more easily in latest Pinterest update Social sharing service Pinterest has updated its mobile app with a few new features this afternoon. The new Pinterest version 1.5 lets you send a pin to a friend, mention friends in comments (like many social networks) and receive push notifications when someone likes, comments on repins your items -- a feature added to the web-based Pinterest a few weeks back. In-app searching has also been improved with search term suggestion. You can grab the latest version of Pinterest from the Google Play link above. Alternatively, hit the Play Store app to get updated if you've already installed an earlier version. Pinterest has also been updated to version 2.4 on iOS devices.

Another glimpse at the Nexus 4 in white, this time on video Posted: 14 May 2013 10:16 AM PDT An extensive new white Nexus 4 sighting leaves us with just as many questions as it answers We know based on previous pictures that at least in some capacity LG has made the Nexus 4 with a white casing, and this is probably the most extensive look at the device we have to date. At a conference in Dubai, the folks at TechView found a white model of the Nexus 4 sitting on display at a Qualcomm booth of all places. The device looks basically identical to previous leaks to our eyes, with a "crystal reflective process" back plate, the same silver plastic band around the screen and black bezels on the front of the device. The device is running just Android 4.2 (rather than 4.2.2 like other Nexus 4s), but other than that nothing on the video stands out to us as setting this device apart. Interestingly, more still photos of the white Nexus 4 surfaced from the same show in a forums post on The Verge, which also give us a good look at the device. One thing that these show us is the FCC ID printed on the back, which is identical to that of the current Nexus 4. Could this be little more than just a white color option to refresh the Nexus 4 several months after its launch? Google I/O may be a good time for Google to let us know for certain. Stick around after the break to see the video in full, and follow the source link if you're interested in seeing a few more random stills of the device. Source: TechView.me; The Verge Forums read more

Boulder Dash-XL: Blast from the past gaming Posted: 14 May 2013 09:31 AM PDT Staying true to the original along with a little modern gameplay and flair Boulder Dash has been around since the early 80's, and a new and improved version has finally made the jump over to Android for everyone to enjoy all over again. Retro game reboots are awesome, and they're even better when done properly -- and Boulder Dash-XL is a great example. It has walked that line of sticking true to the original concept while also making things fresh by bringing good controls over to mobile and adding new graphics, soundtracks and game types. Ready for a little blast from the past? Stick around with us after the break and see how Boulder Dash-XL pays homage to the original title from the 80's. read more

How many times can you open and close NVIDIA Shield before it breaks? Posted: 14 May 2013 08:23 AM PDT That's a big display, and a hinge that's a big point of failure — but the good news is it should last a while Stating the obvious here, but you're going to be opening and closing NVIDIA Shield a lot. You don't have a choice. To use it, you've got to flip open that 5-inch display, exposing the controls underneath and giving you a screen to work with. And that opening-and-closing mechanism also was one area NVIDIA focused on since we first saw a prototype in January. The hinge has been made more robust, NVIDIA told us at its headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif. But just how many times can you open and shut this thing before it gives out? More: Hands-on with new NVIDIA Shield read more

Apple looks to add Samsung Galaxy S4 to patent infringement suit Posted: 14 May 2013 08:02 AM PDT Apple says Samsung's new flagship smartphone "is an infringing device" Apple will move to have the Galaxy S4 added to its patent infringement case against Samsung, court documents reveal. In documents filed with the U.S. District Court in California and published by The Verge, Apple says it has examined the handset and "concluded that it is an infringing device." As such, it will add the GS4 to its list of infringing products, but remove one of the existing 22 so as to abide by the court's request that it limit the number of claims and devices. The list currently includes such phones as the Galaxy Nexus, Galaxy Note, Note 2, Note 10.1, U.S. Galaxy S2 models and the Galaxy S3. read more

BlackBerry Messenger announced for Android! Posted: 14 May 2013 07:58 AM PDT Today at BlackBerry Live 2013, the quintessential BlackBerry Messenger was announced as coming to Android this summer! It's going to be totally free, which is a welcome surprise.  CEO Thorsten Heins announced his company's goal to make BBM the standard in cross-platform messaging and that they'll be bringing their long-standing device-exclusive service to iOS and Android. In the long run, they intend to include advanced features like groups, screen sharing, and the recently-announced Channels to the other platforms. Keep an eye out for this one in Google Play over the next couple of months, and expect it to displace a lot of the current messaging platforms out there.  Any of you guys know folks that still use BBM? Any ex-BlackBerry-owners that miss BBM?

BlackBerry announces new Android support in enterprise management suite Posted: 14 May 2013 07:29 AM PDT The better part of the CrackBerry crew are at BlackBerry Live 2013 this week, and there was a bit of news for Android fans amid the general session. BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10.1 was announced, which includes support for Android devices. That means your IT guy can roll out apps and lock down BlackBerry devices throughout the company just as easily as it can with any Android devices.  read more

Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile join AT&T's 'It Can Wait' campaign Posted: 14 May 2013 06:49 AM PDT The fight against texting and driving has done something nearly unheard of in this mobile industry -- the four major U.S. carriers are joining forces to take part in the "It Can Wait" campaign. The new initiative begins May 20 with a co-branded advertising campaign in which you'll hear the real stories of folks whose lives have been affected by texting and driving. It'll kick off with the story of Xzavier Davis-Bilbo, AT&T says, who in 2010, at just 5 years old, was paralyzed from the waist down after being struck by a car driven by a young woman who was texting while driving. In March, a study commissioned by AT&T found that 49 percent of commuters reported having texted while driving, compared to 43 percent of teenagers in a companion study. You'll also see the "It Can Wait" campaign in various retailers nationwide. More: AT&T

Deal of the Day: Samsung Protective Cover Plus Case for Galaxy Note 2 Posted: 14 May 2013 06:20 AM PDT The May 14 ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day is the Samsung Protective Cover Plus Case for Galaxy Note 2. This slim case features a rubber bezel that absorbs any impact the corners of the phone may endure while the protective gel offers protection against other direct damage. It provides a buffer between the screen and surfaces to prevent scratches when placed face down. Comes in black or white. The Samsung Protective Cover Plus Case is available for just $17.00, 43% off today only. Grab yours while supplies last! http://ca.shopandroid.com/samsung-oem-protective-cover-black-efc1j9bbegcan/4A123A12875A.htmDeal also available in the Canada store Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts

A new look at the newly official NVIDIA Shield [video] Posted: 14 May 2013 06:00 AM PDT It's coming this June for $349, and we've got your first look at the refined NVIDIA Shield with stock Android Easily two of the more exciting announcements to come out of CES 2013 this past January were the Tegra 4 mobile processor and graphics platform from NVIDIA, and its "Project Shield" handheld Android gaming controller. Combining some of the most powerful mobile processing graphics available with a traditional gaming controller -- and a 5-inch, 720p display for good measure -- we finally had the potential for some real console-style gaming on Android. The big question, of course, would be the price. Today, that's been answered. Shield -- having dropped its "project" designation -- will retail for $349, a bit lower than what many of us here had expected. But "we're not selling Shield at a loss," NVIDIA told us from its headquarters in Santa Clara. However the math works out, what you get is a highly capable mobile gaming system that in fact can best consoles in some areas. We got a new look at NVIDIA Shield, with its refined hardware and expanded gaming roster.  read more

'Project' no more: NVIDIA Shield preorders start May 20 for $349, ships in June Posted: 14 May 2013 06:00 AM PDT NVIDIA promises to change mobile gaming with the Shield -- a handheld console that's pure Android and pure fun Think back to CES this past January, and chances are you'll remember NVIDIA's Project Shield. It sort of stole the whole show, and it's finally here. In case you missed all the hub-bub surrounding the device, think of a 5-inch, 720p multi-touch display, paired with a full game controller powered by NVIDIA's Tegra 4 chip. It's plenty powerful to play console-grade games, and the best part -- it runs Android so it launches with a full compliment of optimized titles to put it all to use. It doesn't stop there, either. Using an NVIDIA graphics card in your gaming desktop (GeForce GTX 650 or higher) you'll also be streaming titles using Steam, getting a cross platform experience like no other. The Shield promises to bring your gaming to a whole new level. And of course, we expect things to work quite nicely between the Shield and NVIDIA's new Grid platform. To get you started, there are two great titles pre-loaded -- Sonic 4 Episode II, and Expendable: Rearmed. You'll also have all the great games in Google Play available, including Tegra 4 optimized titles like Dead Trigger and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. In addition, NVIDIA has five new titles all lined up to make the most of the great hardware the Shield has on-board: Broken Age and Costume Quest from Double Fine, Flyhunter: Origins from Steel Wool Games, Skiing Fred from Dedalord Games and Chuck's Challenge from Niffler. Look for these titles to come soon. It all sounds pretty exciting, but the big questions are when, where and how much? We're going to detail the full availability, including how preorders will work, but know that general preorders start May 20, and the Shield will have a retail price of $349 when it ships this June. We're expecting this to be a whole lot of fun, and we can't wait to get units into our own hands. In the meantime, the forums are open for all the discussion you would ever want about the Shield, and the press release is after the break. More: NVIDIA Shield forums read more

Test flight: NVIDIA Shield and the Parrot AR Drone Posted: 14 May 2013 06:00 AM PDT The NVIDIA Shield might be a powerhouse of an Android-based gaming system, but that's really just the tip of the iceberg, right? If you're really looking to take your brain for a spin, you've got to try Shield with the Parrot AR Drone.  If somehow you've been able to avoid the AR Drone -- or its cousin, the Quadricopter -- picture this: A lightweight flying machine with four rotors, a few cameras and a Wifi Direct connection straight back to your smartphone. You control this miracle of modern mechanized flight using the controls on your phone or tablet.  But anyone who's used onscreen buttons knows that a physical controller is much better. So many more options Tactile feedback. With NVIDIA Shield, you get the best of both worlds. You get a physical controller, plus a 5-inch display so you can see what the AR Drone is seeing. It's a ridiculous amount of fun. And it being my first time with the AR Drone, I was horrible at it. So, after the break, we get a little help from an old friend in taking the AR Drone with NVIDIA Shield for a spin. Check it. read more

NVIDIA Shield accessories: Carrying case and custom lids Posted: 14 May 2013 06:00 AM PDT NVIDIA has a couple of kick-ass accessories to keep your Shield safe and looking unique We know where and when you can finally get your hands on an NVIDIA Shield, but once you get it you'll probably be interested in some of the official accessories for the device. At the time of launch, NVIDIA is making both a carrying case and removable custom lids for the Shield available. The carrying case will retail for $39.99 and is a hard-sided zippered affair that will keep the Shield nice and protected while you're not using it. The back is designed to let you charge it while completely closed in the case -- a nice touch. For the device itself, you can buy replaceable custom lids that adorn the back of the screen at $19.99. There will be several different colors and patterns available, with surely more to come. The stock lid is a brushed silver color, which matches the plastic insets on other parts of the device. Stick around after the break for a few more pictures of the case and a nice animation of how the custom lids are removed and replaced on the back of the Shield. More: NVIDIA Shield Forums read more

Here's how you make sure to get your hands on an NVIDIA Shield Posted: 14 May 2013 06:00 AM PDT Be one of the first to get your hands on NVIDIA's latest handheld gaming behemoth So now that NVIDIA has let the cat out of the bag on the device formerly known as Project Shield, it's time to find out where and when you can get one. First off, the Shield launch will be limited to just the U.S. and Canada for now, and we have no indication of when it will expand unfortunately. Official pre-orders for the general public will be kicking off on Monday, May 20th from NVIDIA's Shield website at the aforementioned price of $349. Eager gamers among us can sign up for email updates from NVIDIA on the product and get the bonus of pre-ordering starting today, which is certainly worth it. Pre-order devices will ship in June, which is when general retail availability will kick off as well. Those who opt to wait for the official retail launch of the Shield can buy directly from several different retailers. NVIDIA itself will sell the devices from its Shield website, as will Newegg at launch. For those wanting to see the hardware in person before buying, brick and mortar retailers GameStop, Micro Center and Canada Computers are all on-board for the launch day. We don't have a specific date for retail availability just yet, but you can bet we'll have a bit of a heads up before pre-orders start hitting people's doorsteps. More: NVIDIA Shield Forums Also see: NVIDIA Shield Pre-orders

Nokia takes aim at Android rivals with aluminum-clad Lumia 925 Posted: 14 May 2013 04:48 AM PDT We're suckers for sleek metal smartphones here at AC, so when Nokia unveiled its new aluminum-shelled beast, the Lumia 925, we had to sneak over to Windows Phone Central for a closer look. Nokia's latest Windows Phone 8 handset boasts an aluminum-framed design and outstanding camera features, like a certain Android handset we could mention. On the camera side, Nokia's packed in a 8.7-megapixel PureView shooter with Optical Image Stabilization, the same sort used by its predecessor the Lumia 920. That device is one of the few cameras that can compete with the HTC One in low light, and Nokia's promised hardware and software tweaks, so expect some impressive photographic capabilities. But it isn't all about the comparison with HTC's latest device. The Lumia 925 launch also gives Nokia a fresh product to hold up against the Galaxy S4, which will be backed up by Samsung's monstrous marketing budget. With its aluminum chassis and unique, minimalist software, Nokia will be hoping for favorable comparisons against the GS4. Our sister site Windows Phone Central has been spending some quality time with the Lumia 925 at the launch event in London this morning. Editor-in-Chief Daniel Rubino writes -- For those of you who dismiss this as just another 920, we’d suggest you reconsider. The phone feels like a Lumia 720 (which we love) but it has the 920 guts inside, making it a very compelling device for those who want a thinner, lighter phone. It’s not an iteration of the 920, but “another expression” of it. Check out Windows Phone Central for full coverage of the Lumia 925 launch. More: Nokia Lumia 925 hands-on at WPCentral

Phones4U to sell Huawei Ascend P2 Posted: 14 May 2013 04:38 AM PDT Phone seller will have exclusivity over white Ascend P2 Independent British retailer Phones4U has announced plans to stock the Huawei Ascend P2 when it's released next month. It's only the second retailer or operator to announce that it'll carry Huawei's latest handset, after Three UK revealed its plans last week. Phones4U also says it'll exclusively offer the white version of the phone. The Huawei Ascend P2, which packs a 1.5GHz quad-core CPU, a 4.7-inch, 720p display and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, is due to launch in the UK starting next month. For more on the device, check out our hands-on coverage from Mobile World Congress.

TuneIn Radio now lets you buy music you hear from Google Play Posted: 13 May 2013 06:32 PM PDT Direct links to the Play Store make music buying easier TuneIn Radio has just released an update to its streaming radio service that lets users quickly find and purchase the music they're listening to in Google Play. The app has simply added a Google Play icon to the action bar between the share and search buttons, and tapping it brings you to a pre-populated search page in Google Play where you can purchase the track being played. Presumably the button doesn't show up when it can't find a match for the music (it doensn't show up on talk radio, for example), but in our few tests it always returned results. The update is available for both free and paid versions of TuneIn, and is certainly one to update right away if you find yourself trying to remember and search for music to buy later. You can grab the free version from the Play Store link at the top of this post, and the $4.99 paid version right here as well.

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