Android Community |
- HTC M4 spied alongside a Sony Togari phablet
- Verizon Galaxy S III update killing 4G LTE for some
- White Nexus 4 arrives in the Google Play Store
- Android 4.3 coming in July for the HTC One Nexus
- White Nexus 4 officially arrives with T-Mobile
- CyanogenMod 10.1 RC3 drops ahead of ‘final’ release
- LG smartphone image leaks with hints of the Optimus G2
- HTC 7-inch Android tablet tipped for a September arrival
- Samsung’s upcoming 10-inch Galaxy Tab 3 tipped to arrive with Intel
- Samsung GALAXY S 4 Mini gets video tour by Three UK
- Imgur photo-hosting app for Android hits the Play Store
- Verizon GALAXY S 4 one-click root tool released
- Fleksy keyboard beta hits Google Play
- Sony Xperia Z headed to US carriers soon
- HP Slatebook x2 reportedly hits Europe in July
- CyanogenMod may offer a “heavily privacy-focused” version
- LG Nexus 5 prototype currently in testing phase
- NVIDIA SHIELD FCC filing arrives ahead of June device shipments
- Root Explorer update overhauls Android’s favorite File Manager
- Gameloft releases UNO & Friends multiplayer for Android
| HTC M4 spied alongside a Sony Togari phablet Posted: 31 May 2013 11:04 AM PDT A seemingly innocent image recently appeared on Twitter. At first glance it would appear to be nothing more than a collection of smartphones, however with a bit of a closer look, there seems to be a few unannounced handsets sitting in plain site. The image is showing what appears to be an HTC M4 as well as a Sony handset currently sporting a codename of Togari.
The image, which we have chopped in two for the purpose of this post has come by way of Twitter user @dahnyelperro with little more detail than he is based out of France. Also worth mentioning, but maybe not as important to the Android fans, the original intent for this image seems to have been to show off the Nokia Lumia 1030. Shifting back the HTC M4 and we see a device that appears to match the earlier leaked renders. For those comparing this to the HTC One, which does bring a similar look, the handset in this image appears to have the narrower speaker grills as well as the white frame running around the display. Aside from the look we are getting from this image, previous M4 leaks have suggested a handset that will arrive with a 4.3-inch 720p display, dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, a 1700 mAh battery and running Jelly Bean.
Looking to the next image and we see what appears to be a first look at the Sony Togari. This one seems to have the stylings of an Xperia Z, but on a larger scale. According to the rumors, the Togari is sporting a 6.44-inch display which would have this sitting in the almost-a-tablet category. Aside from the size, the Togari display is expected to be 1080p. That all being said, we do have to mention the obvious here. While the image appears to be the real deal, it almost seems a bit over the top to expect a picture with three unannounced smartphones. The other point to this image is where it has turned up — on a fresh Twitter account which at the moment has sent only 12 tweets and has just 19 followers. Then again, leaking an image like this on a new account may have been intentional. VIA: Engadget, Blog of Mobile SOURCE: Twitter @dahnyelperro |
| Verizon Galaxy S III update killing 4G LTE for some Posted: 31 May 2013 10:49 AM PDT Earlier this week on Wednesday the folks from Verizon Wireless pushed out a rather large update for the Samsung Galaxy S III. One that brought a host of improvements and new features. Sadly, we’re also hearing this update killed or severely weakened 4G LTE for many, and data speeds have slowed way down.
You’ll be on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean still, and the build is listed as VRBMD3, and it started arriving Wednesday evening for many. If you haven’t received it yet you might want to hold off as we’re getting loads of complaints and tips about the new radio causing issues with data speeds and 4G LTE connectivity. Read on below for more details, and a potential fix. So along with multi-screen, multi-window, best shot camera features, improved WiFi hotspots and much much more you’ll also be losing 4G LTE. That’s a drag. According to multiple tips flooding our inbox many people are barely getting 1-2 bars of LTE, and even when they do speeds are dead slow, or randomly really fast, but certainly no where near stable. Others are reporting no 4G LTE at all, with their devices being stuck on 3G continuously. Toggling airplane mode, rebooting, and even factory data resets hasn’t fixed the problem for many.
We’ve also received praises from the update, with many having absolutely zero issues here, so we’re not exactly sure what to make of it. The latest update rolling out this week sets your network mode settings to Global by default (as you can see in the image above) when most US devices are set at LTE / CDMA originally. We know global support was already available, but not enabled by default. A few tips in our inbox have suggested going into settings > more networks > mobile networks > and change the “network mode” to LTE/CDMA instead of global. This is getting 4G LTE back for many, but not everyone is having the same luck. That should pull it out of being stuck in global GSM (no 4G) roaming only mode. It sounds like Verizon might have messed things up here, and hopefully this gets addressed asap. Let us know if you’re having issues in the comment section below. -Thanks for the tip Michael |
| White Nexus 4 arrives in the Google Play Store Posted: 31 May 2013 10:18 AM PDT T-Mobile announced the immediate availability of the White Nexus 4 earlier this morning and it looks like the handset has also arrived in the Google Play Store. The Play Store listing has the handset available in an 8GB and 16GB model and they are priced at $299 and $349 respectively. Or perhaps more important for those who have already made up their minds and are ready to move forward with a purchase — they are shown as being in stock and shipping in 1 to 2 business days.
If the White Nexus 4 pricing sounds familiar, so will the specs. After all, aside from a change in color, this newly released White Nexus 4 is the same model that you have already come to love or hate. The one difference here, Google has the White Nexus 4 listed as being a limited edition. Those making a purchase will also get a free bumper. And for those worried, that bumper is white to match the phone. Alternatively, those looking to bring a bit more of a zebra look to their handset, the Play Store also has black bumpers available for sale. It doesn’t appear that you can swap out the free white bumper for one in black which means the additional bumper would set you back $19.99.    The handset is launching with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and given this is still a proper Nexus device — you can expect speedy updates moving forward. While that is a huge perk for many, you can also expect a 4.7-inch (1280 x 768) display, Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, 2100 mAh battery and an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera. The Nexus 4 has support for AT&T and T-Mobile including 3G and HSPA+ 42 connectivity. Of course, as the Nexus 4 is contract-free you can pick the carrier of your choosing. That means you could also look towards Straight Talk, a carrier that has some low-priced plans available. While LG has only recently announced the handset, we have spent some hands-on time playing. And in addition, those considering a first-time Nexus 4 purchase may also benefit from our earlier review. |
| Android 4.3 coming in July for the HTC One Nexus Posted: 31 May 2013 09:52 AM PDT It has been a crazy few weeks in the world of Android. From Google opting to not drop a new version of Android at their annual developer event, to multiple hardware partners announcing Nexus-like devices running stock Android. Previous rumors have pegged Android 4.3 Jelly Bean (not Key Lime Pie) for June 10th, but others are stating it will arrive in early July.
At this point we’ll just have to take everything with a grain of salt until the folks from Google announce the details themselves, but we like what we’re hearing. Yesterday HTC announced the HTC One Google experience device with stock Android, or the Senseless edition, and today reports are claiming Android 4.3 Jelly Bean will arrive very soon, and immediately get pushed to the new HTC One. The trustworthy and usually accurate developer @LlabTooFeR confirmed the information this morning on Twitter. Claiming exactly what was mentioned above. The question however, is when exactly Android 4.3 Jelly Bean will actually be announced and pushed out by Google. And when it does, how soon after the announcement will the HTC One and Galaxy S 4 get the update?
Also, does he mean it will get the update a few weeks after Android 4.3 is announced, or a few weeks after the HTC One is released? Which is June 26th by the way. This could mean that the new version of Android will drop soon, and then the HTC One will quickly be updated. It’s really hard to tell at this point. From all the recent 4.3 sightings (linked to below) it’s safe to say the new OS is coming soon, but how soon is the question. Google could be announcing something in early June, and if so, we’ll be ready with all the details. |
| White Nexus 4 officially arrives with T-Mobile Posted: 31 May 2013 09:37 AM PDT Putting an end to what seemed to have become an endless stream of rumors and leaks, LG announced the white Nexus 4 earlier in the week. The global rollout was expected to take several weeks, however it looks like the handset has since come available for those in the US market. T-Mobile has announced the immediate availability, though they have made it clear this handset will only be available for a limited time.
Anyway, as we had seen with the black Nexus 4, the carrier has it available with the Simple Choice plans. This plan ditches the standard two-year contract and instead has the user making a smaller downpayment with 24 additional monthly payments. In the case of the Nexus 4, those look to be $19.99 down with 24 payments of $17. Of course, that is for the group that T-Mobile considers to be “well qualified.” The white Nexus 4 retains the same specs and features as we have seen with the black model. Basically, that is to say you can expect a device that is running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean along with a 4.7-inch (320ppi) display at 1280 x 768, quad-core 1.5GHz processor, 16GB of internal storage, 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera and an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera. Touching on the plans for a moment and we have an individual option priced from $50 per month. This includes unlimited talk, text and (regular-speed) data as well as 500MB of high-speed data. Additionally, those looking for greater amounts of high-speed data can include the 2GB or Unlimited add-ons which come priced at $10 or $20 per month respectively. While you are considering a purchase, you can take a look out the time we spent hands-on with the handset. Plus, we have our earlier published Nexus 4 review. But in the end, the white Nexus 4 is the same handset as many have already come to love or hate. Of course, we suspect there are more than a few that had been waiting and hoping for this white model to come available. |
| CyanogenMod 10.1 RC3 drops ahead of ‘final’ release Posted: 31 May 2013 08:27 AM PDT CyanogenMod 10.1 RC1 dropped earlier in the month. The RC1 release brought an initial support for roughly 40 devices with talk about how it would be “one of (if not the last) milestone releases before a 10.1.0 is pushed out." With that in mind, CyanogenMod 10.1 RC2 ended up coming available about a week later and as of today, RC3 is available for download.
The RC3 support looks to be about the same as what we saw with RC1. Those looking to update, or to join in one the CyanogenMod fun for the first time can hit up the get.cm website for the latest downloads. Alternatively, those already using an earlier 10.1 RC release can use the CM update app. That brings the question as to whether you should worry about upgrading from RC2 to RC3. Or alternatively, from RC1 to RC3. The easy answer would likely come down to whether you are currently experiencing any issue. If you are having issues with your current build an upgrade may be the answer to your needs, but if things are running smoothly, you may be better served by waiting for the final 10.1.0 release. That said, the CyanogenMod Google+ posting did mention this is a “small incremental change over RC2.” There isn’t a full changelog available, however details coming from that same Google+ posting point towards the following items being addressed with this CM10.1 RC3 release.
Perhaps more important though, this just means we are now one step closer to seeing that final release. We do have to remember that the Cyanogen team doesn’t ever provide time estimates for upcoming releases. But with the way they seem to be running through these RC releases, one may be safe to think the final will be here sooner rather than later. SOURCE: Google+ |
| LG smartphone image leaks with hints of the Optimus G2 Posted: 31 May 2013 07:52 AM PDT There is still some speculation in terms of LG and a Nexus 5 and while those details still need to be worked out, it looks like we are getting a new look at another yet-to-be-announced LG smartphone. The handset is the Optimus G2, which in addition to this sighting, an image leaked earlier in the month. This latest Optimus G2 image leak can be seen below and while a quick glance appears to have the handset showing nothing more than a kernel crash screen, it does contain one interesting detail.
Looking closely at the text in the display and next to the number three we are seeing an email address of G2-SW-Stability@lge.com. Granted, this is nothing more than an LG email address that is seemingly used to collect crash reports, however that G2 tells the story of an Optimus G2. Remaining details would lead one to believe the SW stands for software. That said, it appears as if we have not gotten another look at the LG Optimus G2 smartphone. This brings the possible connection to the Nexus 5. If you remember back to the Nexus 4, that handset was based off of the LG Optimus G. Following that pattern, the Nexus 5 could be based off of the LG Optimus G2. We have yet to see much in terms of specs for the Optimus G 2 though. At this point we have seen rumors suggesting the handset will arrive with a 5.5-inch 1080p display and powered by a quad-core 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 series processor. If nothing else, the earlier leaked image did provide a look at what appears to be handset with a large display and a small bezel. Also worth noting, that earlier image had the handset shown without any hardware navigation buttons. All said and done, there obviously still needs to be an official announcement, but in the meantime it looks like the Optimus G2 and Nexus 5 hype is going to continue to build until that official word comes. With that, make sure to hit up our LG Optimus G2 portal for some of the earlier coverage. SOURCE: TechTastic |
| HTC 7-inch Android tablet tipped for a September arrival Posted: 31 May 2013 07:12 AM PDT There has been some recent chatter about HTC working on a new device. The stories suggested that would be a phablet style device. That is to say something with a display between 5 and 6-inches that could possibly compete with the Samsung Galaxy Note. While those reports still need to be worked out in greater detail, it is looking like HTC may also be planning to release a 7-inch Android tablet later in the year.
As with the HTC phablet rumors, the talk of a 7-inch Android tablet remains unconfirmed at this point. What we have is coming by way of a recent Bloomberg report and “people familiar with the matter.” Simply put, it was said that HTC has “plans to sell a 7-inch tablet based on Android around the same time as the version with Windows RT is introduced.” As for that Windows RT tablet, that is expected to arrive around September or October. While talk of a 7-inch Android tablet from HTC seems interesting enough, we cannot help but look back towards the past with models such as the HTC Flyer. That tablet did seem to have a bit of potential when it launched, however some may argue that was not the best time to be pushing a 7-inch Android tablet. That said, quite a bit has changed since HTC had the Flyer available and not only has tablet demand grown, but the software has improved dramatically. Needless to say, for now this is all rumor and in fact, when asked, an HTC rep told Bloomberg that they will not comment on rumors or speculation. Otherwise, aside from the bit about the tablet running Android and sporting a 7-inch display, the remaining specs are still unknown. So how about it, anyone think now would be a good time for HTC to jump back into the Android tablet business, or should they continue the focus on smartphones and the One?
On the topic of the HTC One, yesterday brought news of the Google Edition model. The Google Edition One will retain the same exterior stylings of the carrier branded One, however it will launch with a vanilla Android 4.2.2 installation and in turn, follow a Nexus-like approach with future updates. The Google Edition One is priced at $599 and will be available on June 26th. SOURCE: Bloomberg |
| Samsung’s upcoming 10-inch Galaxy Tab 3 tipped to arrive with Intel Posted: 31 May 2013 06:34 AM PDT Earlier rumors and leaks had been suggesting that Samsung was looking towards Intel for the 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab 3. While Samsung has yet to come forward with an official announcement, there has been some follow up and this time around we are hearing about Samsung and Intel from both Reuters and the Korea Times. Granted, that doesn’t mean this is all official, but it certainly does lend some credibility to those earlier rumors.
Based on what has been said thus far, Samsung will have the Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 loaded with Intel’s Clover Trail+ mobile processor. Everything seems to be pointing towards Intel in terms of a processor and otherwise, Samsung is expected to come forward with an announcement during Computex. That show kicks off on June 4th and otherwise, we do know that Samsung also has an event planned for later in June. That other announcement will take place in the UK on June 20th. Samsung is expected to announce some Galaxy phones and an ATIV device. Earlier rumors suggest Samsung will be announcing the GALAXY S 4 Active and the GALAXY S 4 Zoom. Otherwise, in addition to the Reuters report, the Korea Times is telling a similar story in that Samsung will be using Intel in the Galaxy Tab 3 10.1. This report cites unnamed sources from within Samsung and Intel and mentions that “Intel has agreed with Samsung Electronics to provide advanced processor chips for the upcoming budget Samsung tablets.” Further details coming here include bits about how Samsung is looking to purchase processors in quantity to better compete on tablet pricing. The report also touches on how Samsung is hoping to expand their tablet business two-fold in 2013. There are hopes that Samsung will sell 33 million Galaxy Tab tablets over the course of the year. Of course, while this all sounds good enough for Samsung, assuming these plans and rumors play out as expected, this could also be good news for Intel as it will give them more of a break from the PC business. SOURCE: Reuters, Korea Times |
| Samsung GALAXY S 4 Mini gets video tour by Three UK Posted: 30 May 2013 04:30 PM PDT Samsung’s exciting GALAXY S 4 has a pretty big following, but it looks like the smaller sibling might too. Earlier today Samsung confirmed and announced the GALAXY S 4 Mini after weeks of rumors, leaks, and speculation. Many thought it would be announced in June at their event, but today they spilled the beans. We’ve seen it plenty, but now it’s time for a video tour.
Today Samsung announced the handset and along with it we’re already seeing our very first look and promotional video for the mini phone from Three UK. It’s odd that we’re calling a device with a 4.3-inch display “Mini” these days, but that’s where the mobile marketplace has taken things. Thanks Samsung. In case you missed it we’ll be working with a 4.3-inch qHD 540 x 960 resolution display, Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, TouchWiz, a decent 8 megapixel camera and a 1.7 GHz dual-core processor. It certainly isn’t a flagship device, but will make a great mini-me. Take a peek at their introduction video below as well as a pretty good size comparison too.
Smaller isn’t necessarily a bad thing, even though the specs certainly can’t live up to the current flagship GALAXY S 4. We’re still waiting for Samsung to deliver the same internals in a smaller package. Can’t we have a top-tier flagship device that isn’t 5-inches? That’s just our thoughts, and we’re sure many would agree. |
| Imgur photo-hosting app for Android hits the Play Store Posted: 30 May 2013 03:52 PM PDT Get ready to easily and quickly upload all those kitty photos and funny GIF (not jif) images to the popular photo-hosting site Imgur with ease. While there’s been no shortage of similar apps in the Play Store, this is the official Imgur app for Android. It was released back in April for Australia only, but now everyone can get in on the action and easy uploads.
Oddly enough when Imgur released the app back in April it was geo-restricted to Australia only, then later was updated with support for Canada and a few other locations. However today we’re hearing that anyone and everyone will be able to use this as their go-to photo app on Android. You’ll be able to make galleries of cute kittens, take pictures of weird tings throughout the city and more and instantly upload them to Imgur for Reddit use and more. Again there’s plenty of 3rd party options available, but this comes from Imgur themselves.
It isn't just about uploading and hosting photos either, because Imgur has one of the largest communities on the web that are amazingly quick with funny viral photos and more. So instead of just uploading images you can also keep up with the latest pictures, news, viral photos and more. So here's the features for those also viewing Imgur and not uploading photos.
I’m pretty sure the first photo I ever uploaded to Imgur was of my Goldendoodle puppy Chloe. What about you guys? Get it from the link below and go crazy. SOURCE: Play Store, AP |
| Verizon GALAXY S 4 one-click root tool released Posted: 30 May 2013 03:30 PM PDT If you’re one of the many proud owners of the Verizon Samsung GALAXY S 4 and would love to root that 5-inch smartphone we have some good news. The device has already been rooted, bootloader cracked and more, but today an easy all-in-one simple one-click tool has been released to make your lives even easier. If you’re interested in rooting, read on past the break.
If you want to be rooted and ready for the coming soon CM10.1 builds for the GALAXY S 4, and any other custom ROM’s or hacks this will be probably the easiest way for now. As usual those awesome developers over at XDA have packaged a little one-click tool that does all the work for you. It’s extremely simple but as usual, will void your warranty. Again, this is only for the Verizon GALAXY S 4 (i545) and will root your device with ease. Then once Samsung and Google drop that Google Edition GS 4 you’ll already be rooted and waiting. A custom and completely stock Google Edition ROM will probably appear within a few days. So how do you root? Here’s how.
As the instructions say it really is that easy. Download the one-click file and unzip it on your Windows PC. Connect the GALAXY S 4 with USB debugging enabled and wait for those drivers to install (if they haven’t been installed automatically already) then just open up the newly extracted zip you downloaded and hit Go. It’s just that easy. It also lets you choose between ClockwordMod or TWRP, for those who’d like one or the other, so give it a try today and let us know how it goes. Now all we need is Android 4.3 or that Google Edition to get to flashing some fun on our shiny new Verizon GS 4. Good luck! SOURCE: XDA, Droid-Life |
| Fleksy keyboard beta hits Google Play Posted: 30 May 2013 03:09 PM PDT A new keyboard we first saw back in January has finally made it past the early development stages and is available starting today for all. Now that Google’s allowing beta testing through the Play Store, many developers are offering this option. Meet the new keyboard called Fleksy that is aiming to replace all the keyboards on Android.
Whether or not this will actually pick up and replace popular options like SwiftKey remains to be seen, but they have a pretty powerful suggestion and gesture based typing engine and experience. It’s simple. If you misspell a word a quick swipe will bring up multiple suggestions, and it’s usually correct on the first try. You can then gesture through the options by swiping up or down to choose the correct word. That’s if it didn’t get it right to begin with, but it usually does. It could take some getting use to, but once users get it down the entire typing experience could become rather quick and fluid. Misspell a word and quickly swipe to the right to not only replace it with the correct work, but Fleksy also adds in the space so you can just keep typing. Swipe forward twice and it fixes your typo and then adds a period, if you’re at the end of a sentence of course. It might be hard to understand, but their tutorial on first install is helpful. The developers claim that once you learn their system users won’t even need to look at their phones to type, it’s that accurate. Those quick swipes to the right will ensure the right word no matter what as you type along, although I’d still double check before hitting send on any outgoing text messages or work emails. Before you run to the Play Store or get mad that the link doesn’t work, you’re required to join their Google+ Community before downloading the keyboard. So hit that link and join the Fleksy keyboard community, then tap the Play Store link below it on Google+ (or at the bottom of this post) to try their latest beta today. Again this isn’t for everyone, and might take a learning curve, but we’ll gladly be giving it a try for the next few days. SOURCE: Play Store |
| Sony Xperia Z headed to US carriers soon Posted: 30 May 2013 02:41 PM PDT Today during the D11 conference we learned some exciting news for all you Sony fans. The companies CEO Kaz Hirai took the stage and had a few things to say about their products, the Xperia Z, and even mentioned we’ll be seeing it arrive on US carriers soon. Sony’s been making some stellar smartphones, but sadly the US hasn’t been able to enjoy them but that will soon be changing.
Sony’s current flagship smartphone is the impressive 5-inch 1080p Xperia Z, which by the way is waterproof, among other things, and soon enough you’ll be able to get it stateside. We’ve seen images leak with T-Mobile branding, and some odd FCC filings also give credence to the idea that AT&T might also carry the smartphone. Sadly that’s about all we know at this point, as the comments were short and to the point. Sony’s CEO Hirai stated the Xperia Z is “expected to arrive on a US carrier shortly,” but didn’t share details on which one so we’re still left wondering for now. The device went up for sale in the US unlocked earlier this month, and was also spotted at the FCC with T-Mobile 4G LTE, as mentioned above, so most likely they’ll be the first or only carrier on board. We’ve been expecting an announcement from both parties, but this will have to do for now until everything gets squared away. For all those who love a good Sony smartphone, get excited for the Xperia Z to likely hit T-Mobile this summer. SOURCE: AllThingsD |
| HP Slatebook x2 reportedly hits Europe in July Posted: 30 May 2013 02:04 PM PDT The folks from HP have been trying to break into the Android tablet game lately. First with their not so impressive Slate 7 tablet, and now with their Slatebook x2. HP’s new Slatebook x2 has a pretty good shot at reaching the homes of many potential buyers thanks to the 10-inch full HD display and quad-core Tegra 4, and we’re now hearing it might ship early.
Earlier this month HP officially announced the Slatebook, and we managed to get some quick hands-on time with it last week at CTIA. With a 10-inch 1920 x 1080p full HD display, stock Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and more all docking Transformer-style into a keyboard dock, this is one to watch out for. The initial announcement from HP had us excited for the new device until we got to the bottom. Which states this Tegra 4 quad-core powerhouse wouldn’t arrive until late August. That’s just too long to wait these days especially for such an awesome sounding device. Micro-SD, HDMI out, stock Android, 16GB of storage and more all with front facing speakers. We want one already. While the U.S. market might have to wait until late August to see this hit the shelves, it’s being reported that over in Europe it will be available in July. The device is supposed to hit the streets with options from 16 up to 64GB of storage, as well as the micro-SD slot, and hopefully HP also adds a 4G LTE model to their roster. We’ll be looking forward to a full review to test that Tegra 4. SOURCE: UnwiredView |
| CyanogenMod may offer a “heavily privacy-focused” version Posted: 30 May 2013 01:48 PM PDT Nothing has been officially announced just yet, however it looks like the CyanogenMod team is considering another fork of the ROM. The details are coming by way of Steve Kondik who recently hit up Google+ with talk of security. The talk began with mention of the CYAN-28 issue, which dealt with the “revoke app permissions” feature that was found in earlier builds of Cyanogen. This particular feature was included back in the CM7 days and judging from the “Won’t Fix” closing this issue recently received, it looks like it will not be coming back anytime soon.
With that in mind, Kondik didn’t just say that was not going to be reimplemented and move on. Instead this is where his Google+ posting came into play. The talk of security and the possibility of a forked release that is “heavily privacy-focused” and potentially for the users who really want anonymity. Kondik spoke about anonymity and noted that this issue shouldn’t be solved “by using a giant sledgehammer like data spoofing or code injection into apps or the framework.” While the specifics of this potential forked release are not fully detailed, there was mention about how there has been quite a bit of research and quite a bit has come down to solutions that should be useful to the end user. Kondik has said they “need to consider the use cases and create things that actually solve the problems.” This is where the forked version would come in as this version of Cyanogen could include those “heavily privacy-focused” features. The talk didn’t just stop there though and instead Kondik further spoke about how he wanted these features to be “useful to a broader audience.” From here the talk went to platform APIs which would be detailed and thorough, but yet still not allow the casual user any opportunity to break their system. It seems there is still plenty of ideas and potential flowing here and for now there was some further discussion based on different types of apps. There appears to be all kinds of possibilities that could come. Kondik even pondered the question as to whether or not they would be able to build something that “detected packets of data flowing to another country which contained all of your contact data” and possibly the more important aspect of that, have it then “notify the user and block the connection.” Bottom line here, the talk of serious security and anonymity has risen within Cyanogen and it looks like this will be one topic worth monitoring as we move forward. SOURCE: Google+ Steve Kondik |
| LG Nexus 5 prototype currently in testing phase Posted: 30 May 2013 12:55 PM PDT The waters are starting to get a little murky regarding Google’s plans for the next true Nexus. We’re not talking HTC One or GALAXY S 4 ‘Google Editions‘ but a true Nexus smartphone. Obviously they are hard at work with Motorola on the X, as confirmed last night, and even today confirmed the Nexus program is still fully under way. So what will we see next, and will it be the LG Nexus 5?
Earlier this week LG denied Nexus 5 involvement, which was expected, but sources have apparently confirmed that at least some sort of Nexus 5 prototype has been finished and is in the testing phases by LG. This doesn’t mean the next Nexus will necessarily be from LG, but what they’d like to offer has been made, and is being shown to top Google execs like CEO Larry Page. The information mentioned above is nothing but a rumor at this point, but the site has been correct in the past on multiple leaks from Korea. At least according to UnwiredView. According to them the next-gen Nexus 5 has been under testing for the past month, already shown to Google, and is picking up steam. However, there’s absolutely no other details that gives us a glimpse of hope or a release window.
The device is under extreme security conditions, and leaks probably won’t be happening anytime soon of the new flagship device. The report goes on to mention that Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie will indeed be coming later this year, and we could see a release of both the Nexus 5 and Android KLP in October – a year after the Nexus 4 hit the streets. We’ve seen an unknown LG device leak recently that could be their next Optimus G2, or the Nexus 5, but for now we’ll have to wait and see. SOURCE: UnwiredView |
| NVIDIA SHIELD FCC filing arrives ahead of June device shipments Posted: 30 May 2013 12:42 PM PDT The NVIDIA SHIELD has recently been spotted in an FCC filing. The Tegra 4 powered handheld gaming console is sporting the original codename, which for those who might have missed that detail, was Project Thor. That bit aside, the filing unfortunately doesn’t reveal anything new. And while that may have been a nice way to discover some hidden functionality or the addition of a cellular radio — there is an upside here.
The upside is simple, this filing just removes one of the final hurdles that could have stood in the way of shipments. Looking back, the SHIELD pre-orders began earlier in the month and while we are still waiting a specific release date from NVIDIA, those should be shipping soon enough. Previous details tell the story of shipments that are going to begin in early June.
Otherwise, the FCC filing had the usual array of goodies including the POA, confidentiality letter, FCC ID labels and the test reports. Nothing in the way of a user manual, but then again we suspect most wouldn’t have read it anyway. Not to mention, we suspect most of those who are eagerly awaiting a SHIELD delivery already know just about all there is to know about the system. Just in case, the SHIELD will have a 5-inch 1280 x 720 HD display with 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. We should also mention that it will be powered by a quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor. The system will launch with easy access to the NVIDIA TegraZone for games and those who move forward with a pre-order will get Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Episode II, and Expendable: Rearmed for free.
The system is priced at $349 and in addition to pre-orders fired with NVIDIA, those looking to make a purchase can also hit up several other retailers including Gamestop, Newegg and Microcenter. So how about it, anyone excited about the SHIELD? In the meantime, make sure to hit up our NVIDIA Tegra Hub to get a look at our previous SHIELD coverage including some hands-on videos. VIA: Engadget SOURCE: FCC |
| Root Explorer update overhauls Android’s favorite File Manager Posted: 30 May 2013 12:13 PM PDT An awesome update has just started arriving for the extremely popular file manager for Android, Root Explorer. The aging app is very popular with power users and is one of the best root file explorers available. I’ve been using it as long as I can remember, and can happily say the multiple tabs and Dropbox support has arrived, among other things.
We’ve been waiting for another major update to Root Explorer for some time now, and with version 3 comes tons of improvements and changes. The user interface was revamped a bit, they added support for tons of cloud storage options, improved the UI in other areas and much more. Well done guys. Well done! The multiple tabs for easy navigation and browsing is a welcomed change, as is the support for Google Drive and Dropbox. We also have better notifications as well, so that’s a plus. The entire app is getting better here, but the changelog below will give you a better idea of what to expect. • Multiple tabs. Pretty packed update here, right? The background processing of multiple operations is nice. You can now search for that latest ZIP you seem to have lost while also doing something else all at the same time. Then of course the improved multi-select action will be nice. The system before was a bit of a mess, even though this was still our favorite app around for the job. It’s still the best around and will cost you $3.99, but most would agree that’s certainly worth it. Get it from the link below and let us know if you like the new multi tab system. SOURCE: Play Store |
| Gameloft releases UNO & Friends multiplayer for Android Posted: 30 May 2013 11:54 AM PDT Who’s ready for a little Draw 4 or reverse cards while playing UNO & Friends live with your buddies on Android? Today the popular game publisher Gameloft released UNO & Friends to the Google Play Store, and it’s full of multiplayer game action and more. Sadly it doesn’t use the new Google Games integration, and instead will be synced to Facebook.
Back in March they released a teaser video that was pretty intense, but starting today you’ll be able to get and enjoy the real thing. It brings the same fun of UNO for Android they previously offered, only now it’s full of multiplayer action completely free. While the game doesn’t take advantage of the new Google Games experience and leaderboards, you’ll be able to keep track of everything and play with friends from Facebook. This is a drag for Android users, but the big picture here is the game can be played anywhere. From your smartphone, tablet, or even the PC right from Facebook. It’s cross-platform and you can play with everyone. If you wanted to see it in action, the video above is a quick glance at what we can expect from the new UNO & Friends by Gameloft. It’s time to gather up a few friends and play this classic card game, only we won’t be sitting around the fire, we’ll be able to play it anywhere and anytime. If you loved the original give the free multiplayer version a try from the link below. SOURCE: Play Store |
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