Android Community |
- NVIDIA SHIELD accessories revealed by Nyko
- Galaxy Note III photos appear again: but a “Mega” they may be
- Basis fitness tracker app arrives for Android users
- iTunes Radio free vs Google Music’s monthly fee
- Google acquires Waze in effort to help you “outsmart traffic”
- HTC First ‘Facebook Phone’ gets Sense by way of custom ROM
- HTC One release confirmed for C Spire Wireless
- Noom Walk Pedometer app launches for Android
- AT&T Galaxy S II Jelly Bean update detailed by Samsung
- AT&T 4G LTE expands in Pennsylvania and New York
- Apple’s iOS 7 and what it means for Android’s future
- LG considering the elimination of the Optimus high end brand?
- Android 4.3 caught on 7-Inch ASUS tablet at Bluetooth SIG
- Oppo Find 5 Mini shows its little 3.7″ 720p face
- HTC hires new VP of Global PR, Corporate and Internal Operations
- AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II finally gets Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update
- Mad Catz Project “M.O.J.O” console fully revealed at E3
- NVIDIA SHIELD Cribs brings Gearbox behind-the-scenes tour
- Paranoid Android HALO goes open source
- Samsung Galaxy Note 12.2 inch tablet reportedly in the cards
| NVIDIA SHIELD accessories revealed by Nyko Posted: 11 Jun 2013 10:50 AM PDT The NVIDIA SHIELD is just about ready to begin shipping and while there are some official accessories available, another company has since stepped forward with a few options. That company is Nyko and they have announced a dock and power kit as well as two case options for the NVIDIA SHIELD. The announcement is coming out of E3 and sadly, does not include a specific release date or any details on the pricing.
With that in mind, how about we first cover the travel case and the shell case. These will both fully cover and protect the SHIELD. Each will have a rubberized interior along with a detachable accessory bag for the power adapter or other smaller items. The travel case will be an EVA soft case and the shell case will be a high-impart hard case. Otherwise, while a specific release date has yet to be revealed, Nyko has said these will both be available “this summer.” Next up is the dock. This one is said to be coming “later this year” and will bring features to include Nyko’s dongle charging system as well as a full-sized HDMI port. Basically, this dock will allow you to easily connect your SHIELD to a television and also charge your system. The dock will also allow the user to use a Nyko PlayPad, which should have the SHIELD feeling just like a regular desktop gaming system.
The power kit is just what the name would imply — a way to keep your SHIELD powered up regardless of where you are playing. The power kit will include cables to keep your system charged at home and in the car. Those making the purchase can expect to find one AC adapter, one car adapter and one extra-long microUSB cable with a velcro strap. Similar to the cases, the power kit will be available sometime “this summer.” Looking towards NVIDIA, they are offering a SHIELD carry case that is priced at $39.99. The NVIDIA case is currently available for pre-order, just like the actual SHIELD system. For those who have yet to place a pre-order, the SHIELD is priced at $349.99 and still expected to begin shipping before the end of June. VIA: Gamasutra |
| Galaxy Note III photos appear again: but a “Mega” they may be Posted: 11 Jun 2013 10:42 AM PDT We know the folks from Samsung are working hard on their next-gen Galaxy Note smartphone, but we’ve yet to see it. Yesterday we brought you pictures that were being reported as the first images of Samsung’s upcoming 5.99-inch Galaxy Note III. Sadly, another has surfaced today (along with other reports) that seems to confirm it was just a fluke, and was the already announced Samsung Galaxy Mega coming in at 6.3-inches.
Above is another image that leaked this morning thanks to GforGames, which is also being reported as the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 smartphone/tablet hybrid. Looking at the image though it looks pretty massive. As in bigger than a 5.99-inch next-gen flagship device that we’re expecting in the Note III. All of Samsung’s products have these ugly square cases on them which hide their true design from the public so leaksters don’t notice anything new. It’s being reported by multiple eagle-eyed readers that this isn’t the Note III, and instead is Samsung’s 6.3-inch qHD mid-range Galaxy Mega smartphone in a case for a disguise. The image above sure gives off the impression the device is bigger than 5.99-inches, and the original leak yesterday has since been debunked.
TechTastic, the one who originally leaked the first Note 3 prototype yesterday has since updated their blog stating it’s not a Note device. The device doesn’t have the S-Note app for use with the stylus, and instead has the old school S-Memo app like the Galaxy S 4 and all those other non-Note devices. As you can clearly see in the image above. So for now the Samsung Galaxy Note III is still a mystery. There’s been reports of a new design language without all the usual Samsung plastics, one which was then scrapped in favor of their usual plastics for assembly and supply constraints. We’ve also heard the Note III will have the first flexible and unbreakable plastic display. So we’ll have to wait a bit longer before we get our first look. |
| Basis fitness tracker app arrives for Android users Posted: 11 Jun 2013 10:16 AM PDT The Basis fitness tracker app was originally announced back in January. At that time the app was expected to arrive in March and while that time has since come and go, some good news has arrived for Android users. The ‘Basis Fitness & Sleep Tracker’ app has arrived in the Google Play Store. And as a bit of a silver lining for those who still like to complete with iOS users, this is a case where the Android app has arrived first.
That aside, the app is available for free but you will need the Basis hardware to get any use from the app. Compatibility includes Android 4.1 Jelly Bean (and later) and for now the support will be limited to a select few Samsung devices. The list includes the GALAXY S 4 as well as the Galaxy S II and S III and the Note and Note II. The Basis hardware will track your daily habits and includes data on your step count, heart rate, calories, sleep and more. The nice part about the app is Basis users will no longer need to use a computer to sync the data. Not to mention, with the regular syncing on the Android app, you will get in-app notifications on your progress throughout the day. Of course, those in-app notifications also include nudges for those who may be slipping a little bit. Otherwise, the Basis is priced at $199 and while generally available for purchase from the mybasis.com website, they are currently listed as being out of stock.       All said and done, it looks like Android users now have another fitness tracker available with direct syncing. We hope to see the device support expand, but given the current use of Bluetooth to sync, the Basis compatible handsets were sort of expected. Well, that is at least when comparing to the list of devices currently supported by the Fitbit. SOURCE: Basis, Google Play Store |
| iTunes Radio free vs Google Music’s monthly fee Posted: 11 Jun 2013 10:10 AM PDT Yesterday, Apple put all the rumors to rest and officially announced their next entry into the music world with iTunes Radio. A music streaming service from Apple has been speculated about for years, and now that it’s finally here we wanted to compare it with Google’s offering. Apple is late to the subscription-based streaming party, but have a pretty good plan that has me questioning my Google Music All Access subscription already.
For those who’ve been waiting to see what Apple had in store, today would be a great day to start that free 1-month trial of Google Music, that’s for sure. Last month Google announced their “All Access” streaming music option. A service that already delivered cloud storage of up to 20,000 songs then adds the best part of Spotify and Pandora Radio combined. You can stream your own music, find and listen to anything you’d like (similar to Spotify) then create and build your own radio stations just like Pandora. It is the best of all 3 worlds, but it’ll cost you. For those wondering what the difference between Google Music and iTunes Radio are, we’ll explain. Google Music All Access is more like Spotify and Pandora combined, while iTunes Radio is simply more like a walled-garden Pandora streaming service. So essentially iTunes Radio isn’t anything new, it’s basically their version of Pandora. While Google’s All Access is Google Music, Pandora, iTunes, and Spotify all blend into one awesome service. You can play millions and millions of tracks, not just create a station that will “learn” what you like eventually. All Access is the complete package!
However, Google Music All Access will cost you. There’s one benefit to iTunes Radio and that is the service will be completely free – with ads of course. Just like Pandora you can stream endless radio and get the occasional iAd, or iTunes Match subscribers ($24.99 per year) can get the service without ads. When you compare that price (free) or even the $24.99 a year to Google Music All Access which is $9.99 a month, the service doesn’t sound quite as nice. Yes it offers way more, but it costs 5 times as much. Does Google have a play here? Absolutely. They are delivering a much better service overall. One that has more to offer, less restrictions, and will let you enjoy millions of tracks with ease. All from your PC, laptop, smartphone, tablet, or Google TV. Or basically any Android device with Play Store access for that matter. If you want a simple and free music service Apple’s option might be decent. For those music aficionados wanting a feature-rich option Google’s the clear choice. Oh and did we mention Google Music is coming soon to iOS. This means you can have the best on both platforms. In the end iTunes Radio will have millions of users because the current install base using iOS, and it will be free. As a result, hopefully Google restructures their pricing a bit and we possibly see a $4.99 All Access in the future. Get started today with Google Music All Access and enjoy your first month absolutely free. For those that signed up last month after Google I/O, your free trial is about to end, so you better decide if you’re coming or going. What will be your music service moving forward folks? Let us know below. |
| Google acquires Waze in effort to help you “outsmart traffic” Posted: 11 Jun 2013 09:10 AM PDT Putting an end to the recent string of Waze rumors, an acquisition has been officially announced this morning. Google has acquired Waze and while they choose not to say anything in terms of the dollar amount, there does appear to be a bit of good news for both Waze and Google Maps users. Basically, it looks like each side will be getting new features from the other.
Google has said this acquisition is being done in an effort to “help you outsmart traffic” and on top of that, they have acknowledged that Waze is currently the “fast-growing community of traffic-obsessed drivers is working together to find the best routes from home to work, every day.” For those not familiar with Waze, one of the bigger features is the ability to report (and get reports from others on) current traffic issues. Further details here include how the Waze development team will be remaining in Israel and continue to operate separately “for now.” Basically, Google doesn’t seem to have ruled out combining the teams at some point in the future. While some of the hardcore Waze users may be a bit upset by this acquisition, Google has also said they plan to “work closely with the vibrant Waze community” going on to say the community is the “DNA of this app.” Otherwise, there wasn’t any timeline as to when Waze and Google Maps users will see any of these new features. So far Google has said Maps could get some “traffic update features” and that Waze could get some of “Google’s search capabilities.” Speaking as a Google Maps user that really likes Waze, we can only hope that some of the traffic features arrive sooner rather than later. And if nothing else, maybe this means those who also use both apps will at some point be able to remove Waze and commit fully to Google Maps. In the meantime, is anyone already planning to run from Waze? Or will you at least be willing to stick around and see where things head moving forward. SOURCE: Official Google Blog |
| HTC First ‘Facebook Phone’ gets Sense by way of custom ROM Posted: 11 Jun 2013 08:44 AM PDT The HTC First hasn’t been around for all that long and it already has what could be described as an interesting history. The handset launched with AT&T and was originally priced at $99.99. That price quickly dropped to $0.99 and that was followed by speculation of AT&T dropping the handset entirely. Putting that all aside, it looks like the Facebook Home-running First can now get Sense.
The one catch with running Sense on your HTC First is that it is not a simple change in the settings. Instead Sense has arrived for the First by way of a third-party custom ROM. This ROM was released by XDA Forum Moderator jmz and it is based on Android 4.1.2 with Sense 4. This is an early release and it looks like things may not be exactly perfect at the moment. The ROM is said to be “very functional” with just a “few minor issues.” The issues are said to be mostly graphical, but we suppose it is better to know upfront before you make the commitment.    This ROM is called “JmzMystJBSense” and it can be downloaded from the xda-developers discussion thread. Aside from downloading the ROM itself, the process to get up and running is pretty straight forward. Basically, it matches the process you find with most other third-party ROMs. Things begin with performing a factory reset and flashing into recovery mode. For those not as familiar with the process, worry not as there is a detailed set of step-by-step directions available. Of course, aside from loading up a third party ROM to get Sense on your First, we should also remind everyone the handset has an easy to get stock Android experience available with just a few setting adjustments. VIA: Liliputing SOURCE: xda-developers |
| HTC One release confirmed for C Spire Wireless Posted: 11 Jun 2013 08:15 AM PDT C Spire Wireless has become the latest US carrier to announce the HTC One. The one catch as of now, the carrier has revealed little in terms of detail aside from the fact that the handset will be coming. Basically, C Spire Wireless has chosen to keep the release date and the price a secret for now.
The details were posted in the C Spire Circle discussion forums where they mentioned that “the new HTC One is coming to C Spire.” Otherwise, the only other bit released today was how they intend to “share more details in the near future.” Otherwise, C Spire Wireless appears to have a growing lineup of quality handsets. There are some older model handsets such as the Samsung Galaxy S II (for $59.99) as well as the Motorola PHOTON Q 3G for $9.99. Of course, looking at some higher-end devices and the carrier also has the Galaxy S III which sits priced at $79.99. Keep in mind, all of these prices assume a two-year agreement. Another recent announcement from C Spire was for the GALAXY S 4. This handset is only available for pre-order at the moment, however we have seen that it is priced the same as with other carriers. Basically, that is to say the GALAXY S 4 is available for $199.99 on a two-year agreement. And while it is hard to speculate on the pricing for the HTC One, the GALAXY S 4 pricing does seem to imply it will mirror other carriers. The HTC One that is released by C Spire will carry the same specs as we have already become familiar with which means a 4.7-inch Full HD display with Jelly Bean and the HTC Sense user interface. Not to mention the HTC specific features such as BoomSound, BlinkFeed and Zoe. All said and done, it now seems like the bigger question will be seeing who will have the One available first — C Spire Wireless or Verizon Wireless. SOURCE: C Spire |
| Noom Walk Pedometer app launches for Android Posted: 11 Jun 2013 07:46 AM PDT Noom Inc has released their latest Android app. This one is called Noom Walk Pedometer and as the name would imply, this app will be counting the steps you take throughout your day. And nicely done, the Noom Walk Pedometer app will be able to do the step counting without the need for any additional hardware. Basically, it looks like there is now an app for those who are intrigued by other hardware pedometers such as the Fitbit.
More to the point, the Noom Walk Pedometer app is available for free and will run on Android 2.3 or later which means there is now little excuse for the average Android user to get into the quantified self movement. Aside from the perk of not having to buy the extra hardware, the Noom Walk Pedometer app touts features such as how it can automatically count all of your steps and that it should use less than 2 percent of your battery. We haven’t tested the app long enough to speak to that accuracy, however the app does appear to run nicely. Not to mention, it looks good and is easy to setup and use. Additionally, the app also provides a social side which can help with a bit of extra motivation in the form of high-fives and comments from your friends. On the flip side, you can also provide some motivation for others as well.      Otherwise, in addition to the Noom Walk Pedometer app, there are also quite a few other apps from this same developer. One of those is the Noom Weight Loss Coach which does integrate with the pedometer app. Noom Inc also has a CardioTrainer and Trainer Pro app as well as a diet tracker app. All said and done, this looks like a good option for those who are interested in other pedometers but are not able and/or willing to part with the roughly $100 purchase price. Our testing was rather limited, however the steps that we checked with the Nook Walk Pedometer app seemed to match up rather closely to what our Fitbit was saying. VIA: The Next Web SOURCE: Google Play Store |
| AT&T Galaxy S II Jelly Bean update detailed by Samsung Posted: 11 Jun 2013 07:00 AM PDT The AT&T Galaxy S II began receiving Jelly Bean yesterday, however while we had been seeing reports from users, we hadn’t seen a changelog with all the specifics of the update. With that in mind, that changelog has since been posted by Samsung and it looks like it contains all the expected features.
The update will leave your Galaxy S II Skyrocket running Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean with baseband version I777UCMD8. As for the details of the update, AT&T Galaxy S II users can expect the following;
According to details provided by Samsung, it looks like the update (at least for now) is only available using Kies. And for those who are itching to get the update as quickly as possible and have had little (or no) experience with Kies, thankfully Samsung did provide a detailed set of step-by-step directions. Aside from the new features listed above, those upgrading will also see the general improvements that come as a result of Project Butter. Basically, things should be smooth moving forward. Samsung has also offered a few pieces of information about what you can expect after the update. For example, the update will remove any paired Bluetooth devices and other items such as the home screens and application menu will resort to the original default views. Those updating should also know that email accounts that have been added to the Social Hub or Samsung premium account will be removed and that any music playlists and settings will be reset during the update. Bottom line here, while Jelly Bean will be a nice update — you may want to make sure you do a bit of work before you begin to make sure you don’t lose anything in the process. SOURCE: Samsung |
| AT&T 4G LTE expands in Pennsylvania and New York Posted: 11 Jun 2013 06:29 AM PDT Coming less than a week after the previous 4G LTE expansion news, AT&T has announced new coverage for those in Pennsylvania and New York. The Pennsylvania coverage is limited to just one market, however the New York coverage is a bit more widespread for today. Of course, the way AT&T has been expanding the 4G LTE network over the past few months, even if your city is not yet live — it may be soon enough.
That being said, the Pennsylvania coverage if for those in Berwick. The New York coverage touches on Northern Madison and Oswego counties as well as markets in and around Cortland, Seneca Falls and Auburn. Breaking each of these New York expansions down a bit further and we have the following coverage for those in Madison.
The Oswego county coverage includes parts of Fulton, Phoenix and along Route 481 between Oswego and Syracuse. Lastly, the coverage for the Cortland, Seneca Falls and Auburn markets includes the following;
Otherwise, aside from the coverage that has been announced today, AT&T has said this New York coverage is arriving in addition to the coverage that is already available for those in areas of Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Saratoga Springs, Ithaca, Binghamton and Watertown. And looking forward, AT&T will be continuing the LTE rollout across New York State. Basically, this means that if you are currently eligible for an upgrade and happen to be living in one of these new 4G LTE markets — you may want to consider a handset with LTE connectivity. And for those who already have an LTE capable handset, now seems like as good a time as any to get out any begin enjoying those speeds. |
| Apple’s iOS 7 and what it means for Android’s future Posted: 10 Jun 2013 08:36 PM PDT Today, if you’re the type that follows tech and mobile news on any level, surely you saw the flood of Apple and iOS 7 news. The folks from Cupertino announced the all-new and completely redesigned iOS 7 for all their iDevices, and much more. If you missed any of it head to our sister site SlashGear for the details. We’re already seeing ‘Android vs iOS’ posts, or 5 things Apple copied from Android, but to be honest we like it, and I welcome the competition.
During the Keynote this morning Apple’s man in charge Tim Cook went as far as to state that this update will represent “the biggest change to iOS since the original iPhone," and he’s right. Their operating system was a marvel when announced back in 2007, but has only seen minor changes and add-ons since. To be completely honest while watching the keynote I enjoyed what they had to share, the changes made, and their improvements. Even if some were oddly familiar and a year or two late. We’ve seen all sorts of rips at Apple today. Some blogs calling iOS 7 the update that turned Apple devices into Android, and all types of crazy stuff. Yes they share features and designs, blatantly rip some off, but who cares? I don’t. It isn’t just Android. We see hints from all aspects of mobile here, and I feel like the competition is a good thing. At the same time the “copying” is a validation of just how awesome and successful Android really is. So yes, I’m ok with it.
I’m seeing a lot of comments in my inbox that iOS 7 looks like the popular Android custom ROM MIUI, with a nice little color pallet. Then add in the entire UI, which looks and sort of feels (thanks to the new font) like Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich’s base, which is the Holo UI, only with a lighter color theme. Their new Command Center is essentially a watered-down “quick settings” toggle we have on Android 4.1+, lockscreen notifications and shortcuts are nothing new to Android, Safari and its “cards” just wishes it was Chrome, and multi-tasking took a direct hint from HTC Sense. And I agree, this looks a lot like Android. But deep down I think comparing Android vs iOS is a little silly, and you won’t find complaints from me. I know what I like, and that’s Android. They surely borrowed the slide-out navigation drawers from Android, and we saw plenty of that “innovative” new feature today. Oh and iOS now has automatic app-updates. I didn’t even know that was missing. That’s sad. We’ve been enjoying both for a long time, so no complaints here. You can’t forget that Samsung did plenty of “borrowing” from Apple and their user interface designs back on the TouchWiz of old, and surely Blackberry and their new OS stole a little from everyone. These days everyone borrows a little from each other, and in the end competition remains strong, and those who work hardest and innovate most come out on top. I have zero doubts that the minor pump to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean will bring new features, and the overhauled Android 4.5 or 5.0 Key Lime Pie (hopefully coming later this year) will be even better. Android’s update cycle is obviously faster, more aggressive, and leading the charge, and we can’t wait to see what both sides do next. Particularly with team green. Bring on the Android Army! |
| LG considering the elimination of the Optimus high end brand? Posted: 10 Jun 2013 08:16 PM PDT In a shocking move, akin to Toyota shutting down its Lexus division, LG is supposedly in talks to shutter the doors of the Optimus nameplate on their higher end devices. The Korean company is well known for making devices that are already on the higher end of the spectrum, but just like the previously mentioned Toyota/Lexus relationship, “Optimus” is their current high end brand. As we know, brand names aren’t everything though, or are they?
GALAXY is a big brand name, so we’re questioning this move. Does the name matter though? It’s more about the actual quality of the product itself. LG is unlikely to slaughter quality just because they’re slaughtering a nameplate. The current Optimus G is of a fine caliber already, so the replacement G2 is likely to be just as high end, even while void of the “Optimus” nameplate. That being said, the Optimus brand isn’t rumored to be gone entirely. Chosun.Biz reports that the nameplate will actually be moved down a bit to the lower/middle end models, and that a whole new nameplate and “branding” will emerge for the top-tier models. It’ll be interesting to see how it all turns out, but who wants to wager some guesses as to what the new models will be referred to as? Back in May reports suggested LG will be going with a unified design language moving forward with all their hardware, and not just mobile. We could be seeing another hint of that here with the naming scheme, and surely they’ll share more details on this moving forward. SOURCE: Chosun.Biz |
| Android 4.3 caught on 7-Inch ASUS tablet at Bluetooth SIG Posted: 10 Jun 2013 06:17 PM PDT Android 4.3 is getting around, and being caught in more and more places. This time, it has been caught on an ASUS tablet, and the questions far outweigh the answers. Questions such as, “What is this Tablet? What is 4.3 doing on it?” And the perennial favorite, “When can I get my hands on both?”
Still using Jelly Bean as a base, the tablet itself is model coded K008. Although the newest iteration of Jelly Bean is yet to be announced, we believe it’ll be soon. When it is, will this Asus follow suit? We did see a Nexus 4 running 4.3 a couple weeks ago, which piqued our interest as well. Rumors are also floating around of a new Nexus 7 also, that will likely also underpin 4.3. Either way, this summer is shaping up to be an interesting one, with lots of reveals. Although we have no news on this ASUS tablet, or why it is Android 4.3 on it, we can tell you that it wouldn’t be Copyrighted by Bluetooth SIG if it wasn’t a stepping stone, or at least a prototype. With that in mind, fingers crossed that we’ll have something new to both look at and play with from the ever increasing quality of ASUS products. Paired up with 4.3 Jelly Bean, it should be a heck of a machine. Last thought. Could this be the new Nexus 7 we expected to see at Google I/O that never got announced? We’ll see! SOURCE: Bluetooth Special Interest Group |
| Oppo Find 5 Mini shows its little 3.7″ 720p face Posted: 10 Jun 2013 05:13 PM PDT There was a time, not too long ago, when people marveled at a 720P display on a big screen TV. When those puppies started to sell, they sold like hot cakes. I myself had a 55″ 720P Plasma Panasonic TV for a short while, and used to love sitting back and watching movies on it. But so much has changed in the past few years, that finding ourselves looking at the new leaked image of the Oppo Find 5 Mini smartphone makes us feel like geriatrics who keep hitting the snooze button.
The Oppo 5 Mini has shown its (rather small) face, but what it packs certainly takes our breath away. With rumors of the utilization of the same quad-processor found in the Find 5, it would pack a performance punch akin to the Ariel Atom V8 (Did someone mention 500HP in a 550KG package? No? Well I did). Sadly however, rumors are floating about of far less outlandish 1.2GHz Mediatek CPU fitted to a LCD IPS Display, to keep costs low.
It’s also been teased in this dizzying array of new colors for that individual touch the consumer may seek, including blue, green, red and yellow. Match that to a rumored price of 199 Euros or slightly more, and you have something that we’ll be aching to get our grubby little fingers on. The Oppo 5 Mini just goes to show that size isn’t everything. With the release of massive Tablet phones left and right from Samsung, HTC, and more, it’s refreshing to see someone else get back into the portable, comfortable, usable mobile field. SOURCE: MyDrivers |
| HTC hires new VP of Global PR, Corporate and Internal Operations Posted: 10 Jun 2013 04:26 PM PDT When HTC‘s Chief Operating Officer Matthew Costello stepped down, it appeared that HTC was getting its feathers in a tussle. Rumors persisted that they were beginning to become directionless, and even though strong sales opposed those rumors, the shuffling of major forces within the company suggested otherwise. Enter Lorain Wong, HTC’s new VP of Global PR and Corporate/Internal Operations. Could stability finally be back in the cards?
When HTC started to downsize earlier this year, we all kind of shut up and listened. As senior officials stepped down one by one, we became more concerned, and like everyone else began to doubt the stability of HTC as a whole. Now that Lorain Wong has entered the picture though, we can finally heave a sigh of relief, because it looks like she’s coming prepared with the right credentials, and the proper know how to give HTC the boost it most definitely deserves, and needs. She will be in charge of setting the benchmark for HTC globally as well as internally. This includes media and analyst relations, corporate communications and issues management, public relations, and overseeing all internal functions and tasks in all current locations as of now. She accomplishes all of this with a background of over 25 years of marketing, media, and communications skills, as well a tremendous amount of previous work experience as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Pacnet. Wong, having previously worked with ABC and with CBS as a field producer for relations in Beijing, China and having graduated with a degree in journalism, and previous experience in media law from Austin’s University of Texas campus, certainly doesn’t lack in experience. Put in charge of a company floundering in a quickly expanding field of competitors would be a challenge for anyone, but there’s no doubt that she comes prepared. Will she be able to boost the HTC brands image? Only time will tell, but our fingers are crossed. SOURCE: HTC |
| AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II finally gets Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update Posted: 10 Jun 2013 03:21 PM PDT With the Samsung Galaxy S 4 hot in the news and on everyone’s mind, not to mention Android 4.3 Jelly Bean coming soon, some will be happy to know their aging Galaxy S II is getting an update this week. AT&T updated their newer Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket to Android 4.1 back in April, but sadly the original GS II was left out, until today.
For whatever reason the original 4.3-inch standard Samsung Galaxy S II on AT&T hasn’t been updated, while the GS II Skyrocket, and all other carriers GS II’s have. This week however XDA and our inbox are being flooded with users claiming to be receiving the tasty Jelly Bean treat today. According to Android Police the AT&T Galaxy S II (SGH-I777) has Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean ready and waiting on Samsung Kies, build number UCMD8. If you’ve been waiting for all this goodness go and get it now. We don’t have a full changelog but you can expect some of those TouchWiz enhancements, not to mention project butter for a smoother OS. Then of course Google Now voice search and those ever important expandable notifications should all be on board. The update isn’t rolling out over the air, but could later this week. For now check Kies and give it a try today. SOURCE: AT&T |
| Mad Catz Project “M.O.J.O” console fully revealed at E3 Posted: 10 Jun 2013 03:01 PM PDT I think everyone who had a Playstation 2 when they were younger probably hated being poor teenagers. Being poor teenagers meant one of two things: Not joining your friends for lunch on Wednesday’s at the local Pizza joint, and not being able to afford new gaming stuff when the originals broke. So it was with much despair that we would drag our heels to the nearest game store and pick up a Mad Catz PS2 Controller, in utter shame. Well, Mad Catz has come a long way since then, and at this years E3 expo, they’ve revealed just how far they’ve come.
Still apparently only a prototype (according to Mad Catz themselves) this new Android powered console makes your PS2, and everything associated with it, look obsolete. Packing 16GB of internal storage with expandable microSD storage, Bluetooth 4.0 (which will come when the next version of Android takes flight), HDMI, Wi-Fi, a headphone port, and two USB ports for wired gamepads, it’ll be a heavy hitting machine when it does finally make it into consumer hands, as expected. Itself utilizing Mad Catz GameSmart platform, introduced at CES, it should prove to be very capable. GameSmart is a range of numerous Bluetooth accessories designed for mobile/home tech, such as PC’s, Tablets, TV’s and mobile phones. M.O.J.O itself is expected to ship with its own controller, the C.T.R.L.R. Bluetooth, with is a fully equipped game controller designed to work with all Android games. Mad Catz is also looking into using the Nvidia Tegra 4 Processor (again, also revealed at CES), and with that, also be equipped with the Nvidia Shield technology which will allow it to play via a Wi-Fi network via HD streaming. Although details aren’t finalized, if and when the prototype does hit the market, it’s expected to come in at around $99USD. With the out of production PS2 still sitting on some vendors shelves at $99USD itself, it’ll be up to to the refined gamer within to figure out which one is worth the dough. This time around though, we suspect you’ll be able to pony up the extra coin for a licensed controller should you choose the former. SOURCE: IGN |
| NVIDIA SHIELD Cribs brings Gearbox behind-the-scenes tour Posted: 10 Jun 2013 02:12 PM PDT Today, the folks from NVIDIA have decided that instead of giving us another (of many) looks at their upcoming Android-powered SHIELD gaming console, they’d take us behind the scenes at one of the most popular game developers studio. We’ve seen SHIELD plenty, and today we’re getting a behind the scenes look at Gearbox Studio, as well as their heads own personal Crib – MTV style.
Gearbox CEO and President Randy Pitchford was nice enough to take NVIDIA on a full tour, and for that we’re thankful to get to follow along. The popular game developers behind Borderlands and Borderlands 2 (which plays great on the SHIELD) is quite the nice guy as we can see from the video below. Now bare with us because the first few minutes of the clip will only make most gamers jealous. He spends his time playing games, enjoying life, and collecting every game console on Earth. Then we get a look at Gearbox CEOs home, NVIDIA SHIELD, and more so take a peek. As we already know, SHIELD is up for pre-order as we speak but we’re still all patiently awaiting for NVIDIA to formally announce when it will hit the shelves. It will arrive sometime this month, we just don’t know when. In the meantime enjoy the fun video, and catch up on your SHIELD coverage from our timeline below. |
| Paranoid Android HALO goes open source Posted: 10 Jun 2013 01:57 PM PDT The first public Paranoid Android HALO beta dropped late last week and it looks like we have another update this week. In short, HALO has been released as an open source offering. The Paranoid Android team has spelled out the details on Google+ and along with the open source news they have included a reminder about how HALO is still in beta.
Not to mention, about how the code has not been cleaned and that support for both the TabletUI and PIE remain unfinished. Needless to say, the team has deemed it “ready enough for release.” We aren’t sure who will pick this up or what ROMs this feature will show up in, however there are now two HALO related offerings on Github. In addition to the open sourcing, the Paranoid Android team also took some time to thank Facebook.
The Facebook comments go on to speak about how HALO is not a carbon copy, but an extension. The team has said they “tried hard to make it adapt to Android as best as we can.” This process started by extending the functionality to cover all apps and ultimately ended with “the sort of integration which you would expect from any native feature.” That said, there was also some details released about the current build. The team has said there doesn’t appear to be any crashing or spontaneous reboots and perhaps more important, that it shouldn’t pose any danger to your battery or overall performance. Anyway, as a result of the open sourcing, here is a list of recent changes;
SOURCE: Google+ |
| Samsung Galaxy Note 12.2 inch tablet reportedly in the cards Posted: 10 Jun 2013 01:30 PM PDT Samsung, in an effort to add more product to the already dizzying aray of variety on hand within their portfolio, is supposedly hard at work on a new 12.2 inch Note Tablet. Could this be the oft-rumored but never seen 11.6 inch tablet they’ve been working on, albeit in le grande size?
With Toshiba currently selling a 13.3 inch tablet, it would only make sense for Samsung to want to get into the game of selling a foot long themselves. And so they will, with the inclusion of a new Galaxy Note 12.2 inch tablet, with an eye popping 2560×1600 resolution screen. Plus, word is (for all you design gurus out there) it’ll come with an S-Pen stylus, unlike Toshiba’s offering. Bets are on as to how much price will be, but we suspect it’ll slightly undercut the next iPad’s price, which will be its leading competitor. Samsung is likely positioning itself for a release before the new iPad, which should give it an edge, and with a projected lower price point, it should remain in the lead for at least a short while. With that in mind, rumors of projected sales goals are at least 12 million in the first quarter. It’ll be most interesting to see if Samsung can achieve those targets, and how it is they plan to market the new tablet in a continuously expanding competitor landscape, that is, if it ever comes to light at all. SOURCE: etnews |
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