Friday, May 17, 2013

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Google Android News Android Forums

Sprint HTC One receiving OTA update to fix key sensitivity

Posted: 16 May 2013 02:41 PM PDT

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Sprint and HTC are releasing their first update over-the-air for the HTC One. This update, labeled version 1.29.651.10, includes BlinkFeed improvements, a new Sprint Zone client, and improved back and home key sensitivity.

The most notable of these is the improved key sensitivity. Users have complained that the capacitative back and home buttons were not properly reacting due to the touch targets being placed too close to the screen. This update is supposed to increase the size of the touch targets, hopefully fixing the problem for HTC One users. The update is expected to be rolled out to customers in stages, beginning today. To check for it, you can go to Settings -> System Updates -> HTC software update -> Check Now.

Source: Sprint Community


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PBA Bowling Challenge adds multiplayer support thanks to Google Play’s game service

Posted: 16 May 2013 02:31 PM PDT

PBA_Bowling_Challenge_Splash_Banner

Concrete Software wasted no time incorporating Google’s new gaming service into their title PBA Bowling Challenge. Multiplayer support was a function users had been requesting for the highly rated game and the new game service enabled Concreate to quickly incorporate that feature into their title. Concrete’s decision to take advantage of the new game service may be a harbinger of how Google’s game service will serve both players and developers. According to Keith Pichelman, CEO of Concrete Software:

“…finding a multiplayer service that would meet our needs proved to be difficult. We were very fortunate that the release of Google Play game services happened to coincide with our plans for the game. We were able to integrate quickly and easily with their services to give our users the ability to bowl in one-on-one, real-time matches against their friends.”

In addition to the multiplayer support that came with yesterday’s update, players also get access to leaderboards, achievements, and daily challenges with a single Google+ login required. PBA Bowling Challenge joins several other games supporting the new framework. The game is free, so check it out using a download link after the full press release.

Concrete Software Releases Multiplayer Update to PBA® Bowling Challenge for Android

(PRLEAP.COM) Minneapolis, MN – May 16, 2013 – Concrete Software, developers of rock solid mobile games, and the Professional Bowlers Association are pleased to announce addition of Multiplayer in PBA Bowling Challenge on Google Play™.

Following an outstanding initial release, leading to over 2.8 million downloads and a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on the Google Play store, a long-awaited multiplayer update to PBA Bowling Challenge has finally arrived.

“Multiplayer was the obvious next step for the title,” said Keith Pichelman, CEO of Concrete Software. “It was by far the most user-requested feature and something we had intended to include from the beginning, but finding a multiplayer service that would meet our needs proved to be difficult. We were very fortunate that the release of Google Play game services happened to coincide with our plans for the game. We were able to integrate quickly and easily with their services to give our users the ability to bowl in one-on-one, real-time matches against their friends.”

In addition to multiplayer functionality, the integration of Google Play game services includes full Leaderboards and Achievement systems all through a single G+ login. Concrete Software plans to take advantage of other features, such as cloud saving, in future updates to PBA Bowling Challenge.

PBA Bowling Challenge is available now on Google Play.

About Concrete Software
Since 2003, Concrete Software has been creating your favorite games across all major mobile platforms, including iOS, Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone. Fun, challenging, addictive
- Concrete Software makes rock solid games. Find out how at www.concretesoftware.com.

About the PBA
The Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) is an organization of more than 3,200 of the best bowlers from 17 countries who compete in PBA Tour, PBA International Tour, PBA Regional and PBA50 Tour events. Nearly one million ESPN viewers watch PBA Tour on Sundays during the tour season and thousands around the world watch PBA activities on Xtra Frame, the PBA’s exclusive video streaming service. PBA sponsors include Brunswick, Ebonite International, GEICO, Jack Link’s, MOTIV, Storm Products and the United States Bowling Congress, among others. For more information, log on to www.pba.com.

Google Play is a trademark of Google, Inc.

Kayla Mueller
Concrete Software

QR Code generator

Google Play Download Link


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SMS integration within Google Hangouts on its way

Posted: 16 May 2013 11:16 AM PDT

Google_Hangouts_Google_IO_Announcement

When Google announced the new Hangouts application yesterday, many people were excited to finally have an integrated, synced messaging service. That excitement was tempered by the realization that SMS was not supported – at least, not yet. The lack of SMS integration was curious since the application’s permissions include the ability to send, receive, and read SMS messages. Some users were also getting messages during the installation or upgrade process that seemed to indicate the app was using SMS for phone number verifications.

A message from Dori Storbeck, community manager with Google indicates “SMS integration is coming soon – it is one of our most requested features!”  Storbeck did post an update later indicating “We actually have nothing to announce at this time.” The pieces seem to be in place for SMS integration and it is clearly a function that users are interested in having. The question remains as to when it will be made available.

source: +Dori Storbeck


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Game over June 30th for Google+ Games

Posted: 16 May 2013 10:43 AM PDT

google_plus_games_shut_down_notice

With yesterday’s announcement about the new Google Play games service, Google also started the process of shutting down Google+ Games. Visiting the Google+ Games page yields visitors a new banner announcing Google+ Games will not be available after June 30th. Some developers are already working on replacements or alternatives for players who want to continue to play a particular title. 

If a user had made some payments in the game, Google indicates there are a couple options available. If the developer has an alternative site for the game, the unused balance of payments can be used at the new site. If an alternative is not available, it appears players have until June 30th to use up whatever balance they may still have in their account.

Google’s help page explaining this change also includes a short description of Google’s new game services available through Google Play which provides a framework for cross-platform gaming on Android, iOS, or the web. Since Google wants to see the new game services succeed, it makes sense they would wanted to eliminate competition, even if it is their own platform.

source: Google


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Google Wallet arrives for additional Sprint and U.S. Cellular smartphones

Posted: 16 May 2013 07:37 AM PDT

Google_Wallet_Card

 

Google officially announced via Twitter that its Wallet service is now available for the Sprint variations of the Galaxy S 4 and HTC One smartphones, as well as the Sprint and U.S. Cellular variations of the Galaxy Note II smartphone as well. This means that all owners of those phones will need to do is simply visit the Play Store and grab the latest update in order to get in on the awesome payment action. Naturally, it would be nice for more devices to take advantage of the great service, but at least Sprint as usual, is ensuring its customers can take advantage of the awesome service.

Hit the link below to grab the latest update.

 

 

Google_wallet_qr_code

Play Store download link


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Next version of Android to feature Bluetooth Smart support, expected in the coming months

Posted: 16 May 2013 07:28 AM PDT

Bluetooth_Smart

While many were disappointed to hear nothing of a new release of Android yesterday at the Google I/O keynote, there is some good news on the horizon. An update is coming, and it will feature Bluetooth Smart support. It would be a bit odd to have an Android OS update for something as trivial as this, so we’re obviously expecting some more new features to come with the update as well.

The Android team could be slowing the pace at which they release updates so that they can give manufactures a chance to can catch up, and so that they can also improve their overall reputation for slowly released updates. Either way, we’ll know what comes of all this in a few months. More to come…

Sources: Android And Me, Vince Mi


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Samsung Galaxy S 4 is the world’s first smartphone to recieve coveted TCO certification

Posted: 16 May 2013 07:27 AM PDT

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Samsung’s Galaxy S 4 smartphone is certainly comes with all of the bells and whistles out there for power users, but it is now environmentally-friendly thanks to its recent TCO certification— a first for any smartphone. In case you’re not familiar, TCO Development is an group that prides itself on identifying products that are environmentally-friendly, economically viable and socially responsible manufacturing. The construction of the Galaxy S 4 is confirmed to not only be a reliable device, but it is also free of harmful metals like nickel, which can allow the phone to be recycled safely at a future date:

“In the social category, Samsung demonstrated that it is committed to socially responsible manufacturing and is compliant with International Labour Organization and United Nation conventions. In the environmental category, it was found that the GALAXY S4 was free from many hazardous materials such as nickel, beryllium, and mercury which, if present, would have severely restricted its potential to be recycled at the end its lifecycle. In terms of economic viability, the power efficiency of the charger was praised, as was the smartphone's industrial design which boosts reliability”. 

Congrats to Sammy on this major milestone!

source: Android Central


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Upgraded ASUS Fonepad announced, will feature better processor and extra storage

Posted: 16 May 2013 07:14 AM PDT

asus-fonepad

ASUS has already announced the successor to their Fonepad model, which was confirmed to feature a better processor and extra storage. The new phone will ship with an Intel Atom Z2460 chip running at 1.6GHz and a whopping 32GB of build-in storage. It seems as though nothing else has been changed, which means the device will come with a 7-inch 1280 by 800 pixel IPS display, 1GB of RAM, a 3MP main camera, and a microSD slot for additional storage space.

Obviously the key feature of the Fonepad is the 3G radio built-in, allowing this tablet to make phone calls and browse the web without relying on WiFi. The phone has been confirmed to launch in Taiwan for the equivalent of $300 USD, which isn’t too bad when comparing it to the original ASUS Fonepad. There is no news about other markets the phone will be launched in, if any. We’ll update you when any news breaks.

Source: Engadget


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Galaxy Note 3 not expected to offer flexible display or metal design

Posted: 16 May 2013 06:58 AM PDT

Galaxy_Note_3_Flexible

More unconfirmed reports recently revealed that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will not feature any kind of flexible display or metal design. Instead, the phone will maintain a prototype similar to the Galaxy S 4, featuring a plastic body. It seems as though the main reason behind this is because the company cannot mass-produce flexible screens and metal materials in sufficient quantities for such a device.

It’s a little disappointing that we won’t get to see some new innovative features in Samsung’s next big phone, but we’re sure they’ll be coming down the pipeline very soon. This is still just a rumor, so we’ll keep on the lookout for more information on the topic and give you updates as they come out.

Source: SamMobile


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Samsung planning to free up storage space on Galaxy S 4 for users

Posted: 16 May 2013 06:37 AM PDT

samsung_galaxy_s_4_usable_space

It looks like Samsung is about to respond to the recent criticism of the Galaxy S 4 that the guaranteed 16GB of internal storage turned out to be about only half of that, due to bloatware and the heavy Touch-Wiz UI. Samsung’s initial response was that users should get expansion microSD cards to get some more storage— obviously this wasn’t an acceptable answer to end-users. If a company promises a certain amount of storage, then the phone should actually have that amount of storage, or at least something close to it.

After an outrage from the Android community, Samsung seems to have taken a complete 180 turn on the issue. Today the company announced that it would be looking to update the phone to optimize software in order to free up space for customers. Whether this means they’ll be removing some bloatware or some of the Samsung “smart” features, we know either way that the company is looking to right their wrong. Check out the press release after the break.

“We appreciate this issue being raised and we will improve our communications,” Samsung spokesperson said for CNET UK. ”Also, we are reviewing the possibility to secure more memory space through further software optimisation.

“Samsung is committed to listening to our customers and responding to their needs as part of our innovation process.”

Source: CNET

 


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