Android Authority |
- Rumor: Moto X phone announcement coming on July 11
- Sony announces global rollout of my Xperia remote security service
- MEGA launches official client for Android
- Could this be a photo of the Motorola Droid RAZR Ultra?
- Ingress update brings gameplay enhancements and bug fixes
- Here’s what you should know before downloading Jay-Z’s “Magna Carta Holy Grail”
- Best unlocked Android phones, June 2013
- Sony SmartWatch 2 apparently shipping starting with the week of July 15 in the UK
- Android 4.3 Jelly Bean root already available
- Polaroid’s Polamatic: Because we absolutely need yet another photo app
- SHOULDERPOD is a really cool smartphone accessory for taking better pictures and video
- Yes, the NSA contributed code to Android. No, you don’t have to freak out about it
- Falcon Pro receives an update, and a “secret” way to bypass the token issue
- QWOP is now available for Android, still making us look silly.
- Motorola XT1030 and XT1080 hit FCC, possible members of the Droid Ultra family?
- Petition circulating for HTC to support the One S
- Cryptographic bug in Android lets hackers create malicious apps with system access
- EE doubles the speed of its 4G service in 12 UK cities
- Colorful Moto X custom backplate covers leaked, including purple, teal and red
- Samsung’s Premium Suite finally arrives to the C Spire Galaxy S3
- What are some of the best designed Android apps? Google answers
- Samsung to invest $4.5 billion in new R&D centers
- The ultimate Galaxy S4 FAQ: 140 questions answered
- Rumor: LG G2 specs to include 5.2-inch Full HD display and optical image stabilization camera
- Both white Nexus 4 models (8GB and 16GB) sold out on U.S. Play Store, Google confirms
| Rumor: Moto X phone announcement coming on July 11 Posted: 05 Jul 2013 12:32 AM PDT  Section from the first Moto X ad showing two people jumping in the water. The proper Moto X announcement is now rumored to take place on July 11, via an official Motorola press event, although press invites aren't exactly available at this time. The handset has already been confirmed during the D11 conference in May, where Motorola CEO Dennis Woodside mentioned its commercial name and some of its features. But the company did not reveal all the specs and features, nor did it show an official image of the device. Phone Arena reports that journalist "Leo Laporte has said that he was invited by new Motorola employee Guy Kawasaki to an event at Motorola on July 10th and 11th." Apparently Kawasaki told him that the event will be held for "select tech journalists," and that the event is about "something quite important." On top of this, the first Moto X ad that we've seen a couple of days ago and which has already been published by major newspapers on July 4, seems to indicate that 11 may be an important number for the company. The body shapes of the two people jumping into the water (image above) seem to form to roman numerals, X and I, which stand for 10 and 1, respectively. Together they form 11. While there's no indication we're talking about July 11, when paired with Kawasaki's reported press invitation they make more sense. Since we're speculating, we could always split the two numerals. The "X" could always stand for Moto X, while the "I" may indicate that it's the first Moto X generation that's coming soon. That said, we'll keep an eye on more Moto X details for you – and we've had plenty of those in the past few days – as we approach the official announcement and launch of the device. 
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| Sony announces global rollout of my Xperia remote security service Posted: 04 Jul 2013 09:31 PM PDT
In case you missed it, my Xperia is Sony’s attempt at making sure that Xperia smartphone users have a sort of back-up plan in case they ever lose their handsets. It’s no kill switch, but it could still be very handy. As the official home page of the my Xperia service states, “With my Xperia you can locate your device with a sound alert or display its position on a map.” And that’s not all. It adds, “You can also erase data and/or lock your device if you lose it.” Indeed, it can even be used to make a phone sound an alert and get a person’s attention. The way my Xperia works is really simple — all it needs is a user’s Google ID and Internet access. However, it hasn’t been made available to all Xperia smartphone users as of yet. According to Sony, timing and availability may vary by model, market & carrier, but the rollout is scheduled to be completed some time within the next few weeks. So if you’re still waiting for my Xperia access on yours, all you’ve got to do is stand by. 
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| MEGA launches official client for Android Posted: 04 Jul 2013 09:04 PM PDT
MEGA, the security- and encryption- focused creation of infamous internet millionaire Kim Dotcom, is taking a step towards legitimacy with the launch of an official application for Android. The app, a third-party client acquired by MEGA, offers full access to the service's suite of features, including file upload, camera sync, folder management, and search. Here's a complete list of features:
MEGA promised all uploaded files will, as before, be encrypted by default. In addition, the company said it intends to make available an iOS app and Windows sync client soon. The Android app is available from the Google Play Store. 
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| Could this be a photo of the Motorola Droid RAZR Ultra? Posted: 04 Jul 2013 09:03 PM PDT
After Verizon teased an upcoming Motorola smartphone with a new landing page, a photo of the supposed Motorola Droid RAZR Ultra is now going the rounds on tech blogs and news sites. The picture below is said to be the back side of the rumored phone.  Is this the Motorola Droid RAZR Ultra? Or a fake? The speculated device is seen bearing the white text “ELITE PARTNERS” and “NEW ORLEANS 2013.” It also has a Motorola logo on the usual position and a yellow Ferrari logo on the lower part. The patterned case appears to be made of Kevlar or plastic. It is unlikely to be aluminum with its texture. We’re not experts in examining whether or not photos are fake, but we can see something not so right with the “leaked” photo. The alignment of the aforementioned white lines of text on the case does not seem to match the orientation of the phone. Also, the pixelation around the text looks unusual. They look like they have been added on top of a photo of the Motorola XT621 Ferrari Edition pictured below. The pixelation looks like the result of merging two images with different resolutions and saved in a downscaled quality.
The alleged photo of the Motorola Droid Ultra does not come with its EXIF data, so it can’t be concluded if it’s an actual camera snap or a photo culled from the web and edited to look like something else. The “Ultra” part of the smartphone’s name is believed to indicate that the device will be a high-end one (or perhaps an oversized device). It could be Motorola’s flagship for 2013. The other upcoming device from the company, Moto X, is expected to be under the mid-range category. There are no details or reliable leaks yet on what the Droid Ultra’s specs would be, but we expect it to run Android 4.2.2 or 4.3 and pack a larger than average battery. Based on a month-old tip from @evleaks, the Droid Ultra will be released as a continuation of Verizon and Motorola’s team-up on the Droid RAZR line. 
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| Ingress update brings gameplay enhancements and bug fixes Posted: 04 Jul 2013 08:13 PM PDT
Ingress, Google's cult hit augmented reality game for Android, received a significant July 2 update that should universally please. Those lucky enough to have made the closed beta can expect a number of improvements, starting with interface enhancements. Included are new Portal Hack animations and results view, a new Fire mode, better inventory sorting controls, and new player welcome messages. Requisite bug fixes are also in tow, including improved support for devices with high density displays. Here's a full list of changes:
For the unitiated, the plot and gameplay of Ingress revolve around capturing territory containing "mysterious [sources of] energy" – portals. Essentially, two teams – the Enlightened and the Resistance – fight for dominance a massive, ongoing virtual game of capture the flag, using equipment and tools to gain advantages over one another. It's an interesting concept, for sure, and definitely fun if you live near other players. (I, sadly, do not.) Looking for an invite? According to Google's Ingress support page, your best shot is either visiting the game's homepage, or getting in touch with an "Ingress Agent." (Hint: they use Google+ a lot.) For existing players, the update is available from the Play Store now. 
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| Here’s what you should know before downloading Jay-Z’s “Magna Carta Holy Grail” Posted: 04 Jul 2013 06:17 PM PDT
Before downloading your limited free copy of Jay-Z’s latest album (if your device is eligible), you may want to know a few important details. As announced earlier, fans of the American rapper can now get a free copy of his latest album, Magna Carta Holy Grail, if they own a Samsung Galaxy S4, S3, or Note 2. The album will be made available through a Jay-Z branded Android app initially to a million Galaxy device owners. Aside from the 1 million app download limit, the album will only be available to a number of territories, particularly those considered as major music markets like the United States, Japan, the UK, Canada, and Australia. Good luck to those who may want to try tricking Google into thinking that they qualify for the free download. The app can be downloaded through this link. It may take a few minutes for the album download option to appear on your device. GlitchesAs of this posting, it would appear that many are not able to download or play the album after the app download. A considerable number of Galaxy device owners complained on Twitter that the Magna Carta app crashes, making it impossible to download the album. The app reportedly freezes and displays an error code. There are reports that it won’t get through the home screen. The free album will be the clean version, so you can say it will be somewhat safe to play at your workplace or home (if you have kids) and will be safe for younger Galaxy S4 owners interested in getting the album. [Update: Users have the option to download the explicit version after confirming you are at least 18 years old. Thank you, readers, for pointing this out.] If you want to upload the album to Google Play Music, you just have to go to “My Files” and look for the album in the “Music” folder. Then, use the Google Play Music app to upload the album to your collection in the cloud. If you want to use another application to play the album, just go to the location of the album (My Files / Music) and choose your preferred music player as you open the album files. Privacy issueBillboard published an article about a privacy concern related to the Magna Carta app, particularly with its location tracking. The issue was raised by rapper Michael Render (Killer Mike), who posted a screenshot on Twitter that showed the Magna Carta app permissions required: storage modification, system tool access to prevent the phone from sleeping and to retrieve running apps, location tracking, full network communication access, and phone status and identity reading. But as we have previously mentioned here on Android Authority, app permissions screens tend to be treated like a ToS or EULA — people just don’t care about it. Killer Mike’s meticulousness raises some questions on why a music app would want to be proactive in tracking its users. Changing the ratings gameAs announced by Billboard itself, the 1 million free album downloads to Samsung device owners will not be counted toward the Billboard chart ranking. It can be argued that the album downloads can be considered as “sales” because they have been presumably paid by Samsung. However, Billboard answered that such an idea “doesn't mesh with precedent.” Billboard mentioned that in 2008, 600,000 copies of Guns N’ Roses’ Chinese Democracy album were paid upfront by Best Buy and they were not counted as sales. They were only counted when fans actually paid for them. However, Jay-Z successfully convinced the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) to give him a quick platinum status, albeit with a small asterisk appended. RIAA was compelled to change their rules on Gold & Platinum Program awards. The change will allow more albums to obtain gold or platinum status sooner, especially through digital album sales. This will be a major change that will affect music promotions and charting (but maybe not for Billboard yet). Musicians with a record of bankability as endorsers will surely exploit this RIAA policy change to partner with major companies in the same way Jay-Z did. This means the possibility of multi-platinum albums within a day or even just a few hours after official release. Curbing Piracy?Music piracy is undeniably still a major problem, even with easy access through digital media like iTunes, Google Play Music and other online and mobile apps. Does Jay-Z’s stunt with Magna Carta Holy Grail address it? Not really. It could help promote the album, considering that several news sites and blogs are writing about the stunt. It could also help boost Samsung’s Galaxy S4 sales. However, it is not expected to address piracy directly. Various sites, including YouTube, will still be streaming tracks from the album, and users are still likely to distribute the album via BitTorrent. The Samsung-Jay Z partnership is certainly making quite an impact, and Jay-Z is obviously reaping the major benefit from the partnership. Let’s just hope Samsung also gets something positive out of the deal. As of writing, Google play says 500,000 – 1,000,000 installs, which is still within the 1 million mark. 
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| Best unlocked Android phones, June 2013 Posted: 04 Jul 2013 01:17 PM PDT
In America, you mostly buy phones from a carrier at a discounted price in exchange for a monthly bill, which usually comes out at about $70 a month or even more if you want extra features or added data on the plan. What many Americans don’t realize however, is that most of the world elsewhere buys phones at a full outright cost and then pays a much smaller monthly amount. There is still the option to buy unlocked SIM-free phones however. Google has been pushing this idea recently, with the ridiculously low priced Nexus 4 and the Google Play editions of Samsung's Galaxy S4 and HTC's One. Other companies such as Sony and Oppo have also decided to sell their devices unlocked in the US, instead of through carriers, and, with T-Mobile's "Uncarrier" move, unlocked phones are increasingly becoming commonplace. Worldwide however, unlocked phones are the norm. Let's take a look at the best unlocked phones available across the globe. Samsung Galaxy S4Samsung got a lead on the smartphone market when it introduced the original Galaxy S three years ago. Since then, the Galaxy line has dramatically increased in popularity, becoming the number one smartphone brand in the world, selling even better than the iPhone in many countries. When Samsung introduced the fourth iteration of its bestselling line, it wasn't met with a particularly strong amount of positivity. Many people saw the phone and immediately crossed it off as a no because it features mostly the same plastic build as last year's Galaxy S3. It is still a sturdy phone however and the plastic won't affect the end experience. On the software side, the Galaxy S4 is, by far, the most feature-packed phone available on the market. In fact, the handset is so full of features, that it actually might actually confuse some less savvy users. There are features such as "Air View" and "Smart Scroll" which, in theory, should make the device easier to use, but in reality, you don't really need. However, many Galaxy S4 users will be delighted with the variety of software features, and even if you don't care about them and decide to turn them off, you'll still be left with an amazing phone. HTC OneHTC is in a bad situation, and there's no denying that. Their smartphone line got polluted and people basically left them in the dark for Samsung. There is still a glimmer of hope though, as their profits increase over previous quarters. HTC's 2013 flagship, the HTC One is a device that caused a lot of tension in the smartphone industry, being one of the first non-iPhone devices to have a beautiful, aluminum body. Although that statement is exaggerated, it is true that the HTC One is a gorgeous device and one of the best built phones ever made. HTC is almost managing to outmanoeuvre Samsung and its plastic builds with this device. HTC also redid things on the software side, presenting a much cleaner and welcoming interface than before. There are also features such as "BlinkFeed" and "HTC Zoe" which add a little extra to the handset. However, there have been complaints about too many steps involved with each action, such as having to go to the settings menu to change the wallpaper instead of just long pressing the screen. The sales of the One are reportedly strong and should hopefully pull HTC out of the water. Nexus 4In previous years, Google has sold its Nexus devices with various carriers in the US. However, the recent mess of the Verizon Galaxy Nexus seems to have put them off carriers and given them a new idea on how to sell their phones. Together with LG, they developed the Nexus 4, the latest addition to the Nexus line, which runs pure stock Android, and is particularly appealing to Android enthusiasts. The Nexus 4 doesn't have the latest specs by any means, but it is still an extremely worthy contender, sporting a 720p display, 8 megapixel camera and quad-core processor. The most exciting feature of the Nexus 4 though, is the unlocked price. Google has found some way of selling the Nexus 4 at a mere $299, which is an unbelievably low price compared to most high-end unlocked phones. The lack of LTE and the glass back can be concerning though. Sony Xperia Z/ZLSony is perhaps not the first manufacturer that comes to mind when you think of smartphones. They never successfully made a device which had any significant impact on the market. This is mainly due to the fact that their devices don’t include the latest specs or software, thus not receiving acclaim from critics or the media. The Sony Xperia Z though is supposed to be their turnaround, being a high tech waterproof phone with a quad core processor and full HD display. The water resistant casing allows for submersion of up to three feet, which is an incredible feat for a smartphone with such a high quality glass build and thin profile. Sony also perfected its software with the Xperia Z, adding features and updating the interface to be smoother and more responsive. Samsung Galaxy Note 2Samsung’s most popular oversized device, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is another great handset available right now. Samsung’s Galaxy Note was a sleeper hit in the phone world, selling in high amounts even though it was a bit unusual at the time. Now however, phablets are becoming more and more normal to consumers. The Galaxy Note 2 by no means has the latest specs by 2013′s standards but still remains a strong option, due to the rich amount of features and responsive interface. The biggest feature of the Note 2 is the S Pen, a stylus which can be used to take notes and perform tasks around the device. The large 5.5 inch screen of the Galaxy Note 2 is something that won’t appeal to everyone, but can be extremely useful if you want a compromise between a phone and a tablet. Oppo Find 5Most people would immediately dismiss Oppo as just another of those cheap Chinese manufacturers who produce unreliable and badly built products. However, it has produced something worthy with the Find 5, a 5 inch device with an astounding build quality, gorgeous full HD display, and a blazing fast quad core CPU. Perhaps more interestingly, Oppo has customized the Android software quite a bit, adding its own layer to it. They have taken the rounded icon look of the iPhone and removed the app drawer, which may take some getting used too if you've used an Android device before. However, like most devices, the Find 5 can be rooted and have a custom ROM placed on it, giving it a new look and feel. All in all, the Oppo Find 5 is a great start for the growing Chinese manufacturer, and definitely deserves your attention if you're looking into fairly cheap unlocked phones. What is the best unlocked Android smartphone in your opinion? 
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| Sony SmartWatch 2 apparently shipping starting with the week of July 15 in the UK Posted: 04 Jul 2013 12:41 PM PDT
Sony's recently announced SmartWatch 2 is apparently going to arrive in stock with Clove starting with July 15, according to the UK retailer. The device is already available for pre-order with Clove, which basically said in a blog post that it will ship the first units as soon as they arrive. Furthermore, Clove's pre-order page now lists the new smartwatch for £120 (VAT included) or around $181, and has shipping pegged down to the "week commencing 15th July." That's certainly surprising considering that Sony said in the official SmartWatch 2 press release that the device will ship at some point in September. Not long after it was made official, the device was confirmed to arrive in France also in September, where it would cost €199, or around $258. From the looks of it, UK buyers interested in smartwatches are definitely getting a better deal, and an earlier ship date.
The Sony SmartWatch 2 sold by Clove will come with a black leather wristband in the box. As for the other features of the device, here's what you can expect:
Are you buying the Sony SmartWatch 2 or are you waiting for a similar product from the competition? 
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| Android 4.3 Jelly Bean root already available Posted: 04 Jul 2013 11:52 AM PDT
The recently leaked Android 4.3 firmware version has already been rooted, before actually being officially rolled out by Google. The news comes from xda-developers – where else? – which reports that xda Elite Recognized Developer Chainfire has managed to adapt his SuperSU root app for Android 4.3. The root works on the Galaxy S4 Google Edition version running the Android 4.3 OS that leaked a few days ago (JWR66N.S005.130625) and is the first Android 4.3 root out there, Chainfire said in a detailed explanation on Google+. According to the developer, it's not clear whether the protections in place are Android 4.3 defaults or "Samsung's doing," but the root required "quite a few mods to SuperSU:"
However, all features are "fully operational," so if you have a Galaxy S4 and want to install the Android 4.3 leak you'll be happy to know it can also be rooted. Like always with root and/or custom ROMs, we'll remind you that you're the only person responsible for whatever happens during such procedures with your smartphones and/or tablets. However, since you're entitled to do whatever you like to your devices, make sure you back up your data and follow the available instructions closely (links in the Source section following the post). That said, Android 4.3 is still not official, so we're back to waiting for Google to actually announce and release it. 
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| Polaroid’s Polamatic: Because we absolutely need yet another photo app Posted: 04 Jul 2013 11:37 AM PDT
Do we need another photography app with frames and filters? Polaroid thinks so. Who would have thought Polaroid still exists? Now, they would want to remind Android users about their iconic cameras through an app called Polamatic. Good news for those who can’t get enough of those faux-retro photo effects and the host of photo filters available now through the multitude of apps like Instagram.
But what’s a photo app without bells and whistles? Polamatic comes with 36 Polaroid frames, a handful of filters, and the ability to add captions and share photos. These are not ordinary frames, though. Polaroid says these are not computer-generated, but are high quality scans of new and vintage authentic Polaroid picture frames. There are 20 unique photo effects available. Photo captions can be written in a variety of fonts and with additional customizations. Photos edited with Polamatic can be saved at a high resolution of 2,282 x 2,771 pixels (about 5 megapixels). They can also be cropped within Polaroid’s classic border. Just like other photography apps, Polamatic also has its own image gallery, which lets you view your shots without the need to exit the app. The interface also allows for quick access to sharing or editing. Available for iOS for about a year now, Polamatic is debuting for Android. You can say that the app is not really that late to the party led by Instagram and its kin. But Polamatic comes at a $0.99 price tag, which users on the hunt for free apps might find disappointing. Apart from Instagram, there are several other alternative Android apps that also offer similar retro effects and implement photo filters. Cymera, for example, is a free Android camera app with a greater number of features including photo filters and effects. It can even take photos quietly without requiring a rooted phone. Polaroid’s foray into the mobile platform through Polamatic is not something you would consider undesirable, although it is almost unnecessary especially with its price tag. But I know a few Polaroid junkies out there who would still spend ten bucks for a box of Polaroid paper even when they already have smartphones and digital cameras. Will Polamatic’s $0.99 price tag be the better alternative? 
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| SHOULDERPOD is a really cool smartphone accessory for taking better pictures and video Posted: 04 Jul 2013 11:01 AM PDT
One of the great things about modern smartphones is that we have pretty great cameras bundled in. We love to take photos, share them with friends on social media, and capture a quick video for posterity. In the modern age of Ultrapixels and 20 megapixel cameras in devices, we'll want to transcend the casual photography we've been enjoying. That's where projects like SHOULDERPOD come in. A catch-all for better photography, SHOULDERPOD can do just about anything you ask of it. If you want to mount it to a tripod, no problem. Ever wish you had a handle for your phone? They've got you covered. The aim is for us to take better pictures and video, and devices like this make our smartphones more agile for accomplishing that. If you're worried about it fitting your device, don't. Unless you will have the upcoming Sony Xperia Z Ultra, SHOULDERPOD is adjustable to fit just about any device. It also looks like it grips well, so we won't have to worry too much about drops. The accompanying handle makes for a more ergonomic experience, so taking videos one handed should be much easier. Some are concerned about campaigns like this, as there is an underlying risk. We worry about seeing a return on our investment, but the crew behind SHOULDERPOD have vowed to only take the money if they reach their goal. From their Indiegogo campaing page:
If this intrigues you, as it does us, please check out their campaign and donate. We like that it's adjustable, meaning we can still use it when we update our device — so long as we don't upsize too much.
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| Yes, the NSA contributed code to Android. No, you don’t have to freak out about it Posted: 04 Jul 2013 10:43 AM PDT
To call the avalanche of leaks triggered by Edward Snowden a scandal is an understatement. Not a week passes without an embarrassing disclosure, and the secretive National Security Agency is at the center of it all. The NSA is allegedly snooping on the electronic communications of everyone from foreign nationals, to citizens of allied countries, and even Americans. Moreover, major tech companies including Google are purportedly cooperating with the NSA on a massive scale. Carriers hand over call meta data in bulk. It goes on and on. In this climate of confusion, the last thing we need is more fear, uncertainty, and doubt. Well, perhaps we need to doubt more things, but Android is probably not one of them. I am mentioning Android because, according to Bloomberg Businessweek journalist Mark Milian, we should all throw out our Android phones (and maybe switch to an iPhone). Gasp, the NSA has been contributing to the source code of Android! NSA code in Android? That's got to be bad! The NSA is surely reading my texts, viewing my naughty Snapchat pics, monitoring my web usage, right? Actually, no. While it's possible for NSA to do all those things, the agency is probably not doing it through a backdoor it sneakily planted into Android. Security-enhanced Android, by NSASo, if it's not looking to plant backdoors, what's the NSA's business with Android? Ironically, the agency has been working to make Android more secure. The agency is a longtime contributor to Linux, and its work is the basis of Security-Enhanced Linux, a feature that provides users and administrators more control over who gets to access what in the operating system. In January 2012, NSA launched Security-Enhanced Android, a project aimed at finding and closing security holes in Android. According to Businessweek, some of the code that NSA wrote has already been merged into the latest version of Android that runs on devices like the Galaxy S4 or the HTC One.
But why is the NSA interested in securing Android and Linux in the first place? Because the two operating systems are open source, flexible, and free, and therefore ideal for use in government systems. Android has already been used for a number of defense-related projects, and recently, Samsung devices running KNOX, a suite of enterprise security features, have been approved for use by the Pentagon. Long story short, it makes sense for the NSA to help harden an operating system that will run on devices that access critical government systems. Keep calm and spread FUDI'd go out on a limb to say that the only thing nefarious about this story is Mark Milian's reporting. The author tries to throw doubt upon Android, insinuating that the presence of code written by the NSA is jeopardizing the security of Android devices. Moreover, Milian goes as far as to suggest that open source software in general is a threat to security.
The fact that security features in general are, and should be, invisible to the user, isn't going to stop some good fear mongering:
Fortunately, we have alternatives:
The idea that NSA would add backdoors or vulnerabilities to its submissions, when all the source code is publicly accessible and is combed through by thousands of people, is simply ridiculous. It is just as preposterous to think that the best way to gain access to any operating system is to publicly announce that you are contributing to the OS, and make the tainted code accessible to anyone with an interest in it. Don't get me wrong. I am sure that NSA is indeed doing everything it can to penetrate Android, Windows, iOS, Linux, and every other operating system. Massive surveillance programs exist and no device or communication channel is truly secure. But this report from Bloomberg Businessweek is just a poorly thought out attempt to gain pageviews at the cost of spreading FUD. 
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| Falcon Pro receives an update, and a “secret” way to bypass the token issue Posted: 04 Jul 2013 09:59 AM PDT
Falcon Pro was perhaps the most popular victim of Twitter’s token policy, which resulted in the app finally being pulled from the Play Store after a reset failed to resolve the token limitation issue. After this defeat, the app’s developer Joaquim Verges went back to the drawing board to try and find away around this irritating situation. Sadly, I can't bring you news that the token limit has been removed, but Joaquim Verges has announced that the app is very much alive and well, with new v2.04 update available from getfalcon.pro. So, he’s still very intent on providing updates for existing users, without breaking Twitter’s rules regarding tokens. The update adds a brand new mobilizer for seamless integration of articles within the app, new scaled image animations, and a few small bug fixes too. So why is this particularly news worthy for the rest of us without tokens? Well as the bottom of the announcement Verges also noted that there's a hidden way to log in even if you don't own a token, but that we’d have to find out what it is for ourselves. He claims that this is a little bit of an "experiment" – hmm, very interesting. People have now had a day or so to figure out what the secret is and how it works, so if you still want the pleasure of figuring it all out for yourself then you should stop reading now.
Ok, still with me? Firstly, let’s start by finding the secret, you need to download the newly updated app from the link above. Then go to the login screen, press the Falcon logo and a little message should appear. Proceed by pressing the top left, right and then bottom right corners of the screen to reveal three green, blue, and red, squares. If you turn the orange one on (bottom left), you can simply turn it back off by touching again. Finally, shake your handset and you should receive another congratulatory message.
Once you’ve done that, you’ll need to head on over to the Twitter developers website and create a new twitter app. Don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it sounds, and there are simple instructions included in the Falcon Pro app once you’ve found the secret, so I won’t bother re-posting those here. So how does this bypass Twitters token limit? Well, as you know, any app is given a certain number of tokens, so the problem arises when a specific app becomes very popular and reaches the limit. But what would happen if everyone was simply creating their own apps, surely that doesn’t break Twitter’s rules? And that’s exactly what the exploit does, it’s a totally brilliant idea. By having users to create their own Twitter application keys, and in the process their own tokens, anyone can log in to Falcon Pro and use the app without Twitter getting in the way. Let’s see what Twitter has to say about this. 
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| QWOP is now available for Android, still making us look silly. Posted: 04 Jul 2013 09:45 AM PDT
If you've got nothing going on today, and feel the need to be humbled, give QWOP a try. A track and field game that looks like something out of Archer, the Android version made its debut on the Play Store yesterday. A long standing iOS and PC favorite, QWOP is an acquired taste. If you like really difficult games that make you want to break your device out of frustration, this one is for you. Relying on you to rhythmically rotate two circles on your device, as well as tilt the handheld, QWOP makes for a very difficult game. Each finger controls a leg, and each place on the diamond you frantically roll your thumbs around is a position of those legs.
If you're wondering why it's called QWOP, that's the runner's name. Awkward name, awkward game play, but oddly fun. A Play store rating of 4.2 shows early adopters like it, so there could be more to it than we're seeing. Maybe part of the fun is watching poor QWOP fall flat on his face because I'm a fool who can't make him run. I feel bad, though. If you think your fingers could possibly act as world class runners' legs, give QWOP a try. I couldn't even get the poor guy 30 meters, so hurdles and long jump are well out of my grasp. Your thumbs may be more nimble than mine, though. For one dollar, you will either feel like a hero or get a good laugh at yourself. Either way, it's fun.
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| Motorola XT1030 and XT1080 hit FCC, possible members of the Droid Ultra family? Posted: 04 Jul 2013 08:55 AM PDT
Right now is an exciting time for Motorola. The company is finally shedding its past, throwing on a new Google-centric logo and pushing its way towards a new direction. While a large part of that direction centers around the much-hyped Moto X, let's not forget that there are other phones in the pipeline as well. With that in mind, two new Motorola handsets have now surfaced by way of the FCC, the XT1030 and XT1080. What do we know about these handsets based on the FCC listings? Not a whole lot, other then the phones are packing a ton different of wireless technologies such as Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11ac, WCDMA 850/900/1900/2100, LTE bands 4 and 13 and EVDO Rev A. Considering the presence of the LTE bands supported by the two devices, we can make a pretty safe bet that these phones will be making their way to Verizon Wireless. But what the heck are they? First, let's remember that this isn’t the first time we’ve seen a Motorola XT10x0 numbered phone. Back in May we reported on the XT1060, which at the time was believed to be associated with the XFON (aka Moto X). So that's three phones, all of which are heading to Verizon. This makes us wonder, could these three devices all be different versions of the Droid Ultra that we’ve been hearing about? Perhaps the Droid Ultra M, Droid Ultra and Droid Ultra MAXX? That certainly sounds like a reasonable theory, though take it with a grain of salt. Keep in mind that if one of these models proves to be the Verizon Moto X, it won’t be arriving with Droid branding – at least according to the most recent rumors. No matter what the phones are named, we know that plenty of new devices are inbound from Motorola. Let’s just hope that the company’s latest efforts can live up to all the hype. 
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| Petition circulating for HTC to support the One S Posted: 04 Jul 2013 08:43 AM PDT
Two days ago, we told you about HTC's decision to discontinue support for the One S. Vowing the handset would not move beyond Android 4.1.1 or Sense 4, HTC has clearly decided to move on and support newer handsets. A focus on the future and dedicating yourself to more current devices is great, save for one issue: they promised they wouldn't. Back in February, HTC promised the One S, along with a few other devices, would get the Android update and a new take on Sense. Now they've decided that was not the direction they want to go, and One S fans aren't happy. A petition is circulating on Change.org, asking HTC to perform an about-face once again and support the device.
At just over one year old, the device is still very capable. It was never a top-tier device, but it was an HTC flagship for the One lineup. Considering many users are still under contract with the device, it would be a good idea to support it, and create some brand loyalty. HTC's new One may be a triumph, but issues like this tend to dog a company well into the future. While petitions are often more cathartic than effective, this one is right: HTC should follow through on their vow to support the One S. If this is a ploy to get users to update their devices to the new One, it has a very good chance of backfiring. The One S isn't old, but already forgotten by HTC, and that won't be forgotten by HTC fans. The petition still needs 273 signatures, so make your way over and sign it! Let's hope this one has some legs, and HTC responds favorably to the cause. 
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| Cryptographic bug in Android lets hackers create malicious apps with system access Posted: 04 Jul 2013 07:37 AM PDT
Since the digital signatures of Google and handset manufacturers can be faked it is possible to create a low level system app which has absolute access to the device. These system apps, which have what is known as ’System UID access’ can perform any function on the phone including modifying system-level software and system-level parameters. If such an app is installed on an Android phone, the user would be completely vulnerable to a multitude of attacks including key-logging and password sniffing. The researchers at Bluebox Security informed Google about the flaw (Android security bug 8219321) back in February and are now planning to reveal details of the bug at an upcoming security conference. Any real danger?Theoretical security flaws exist in almost every piece of software including iOS, Microsoft Windows Phone and Android. The journey from theoretical to real can be a long one, but not an impossible one. The question is now, is there any real danger to Android users. The answer is a bit grey. Bluebox Security says that the bug is present in 99% of all Android devices and they are right. Until Google releases a patch and the manufacturers release updates then the majority of Android devices remain exposed. However, the key metric about any vulnerability is how easy is it to exploit? First of all, users who download apps from third party sites including warez sites, torrents and media sharing sites are in the most danger. The most common way for hackers to spread their malware is to upload a copy of a popular app that has been modified to include malicious components. If hackers discover the secrets to Bluebox’s method of altering an app without breaking its cryptographic signature then apps with system level access could be installed on any version of Android from 1.6 to 4.2, even those which haven’t been rooted. It would also be possible for hackers to create fake firmware upgrades that look like they come from Samsung, HTC or LG etc, but are in fact just decoys that upload a malicious app. But for users who only use Google Play then the chances of infection are very small. It is unlikely that hackers will be able to get one of these apps into Google Play and we can assume that since Google has known about this bug since February, then it has implemented safeguards into the app store upload process to block any such apps from appearing online. What this means is that the old mantra, “only download from Google Play or the Amazon App store” is even more true today. It also means that should hackers succeed in copying Bluebox’s techniques that we will see a rise in the number of malware infections in countries which heavily use third-party sites like China and Russia.
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| EE doubles the speed of its 4G service in 12 UK cities Posted: 04 Jul 2013 06:29 AM PDT
It's time to break out the speed tests, as EE has doubled up the speed of its 4G network in 12 cities across the UK today. The plan was initially outlined earlier in the year, with just ten cities in the UK in line for an upgrade, but it seems that EE customers in two extra cities will receive boosted speeds as well. This boost in data speeds has been achieved by allocating more of EE’s spectrum to its LTE network. The carrier is now making use of 2x20MHz of its 1800MHz spectrum, rather than just 2x10MHz which it was using before. Theoretically, this means that you could download data at a speedy 150Mbps, but in real world applications you should probably expect something closer to 30 or 40Mbps. If you're lucky though, a few customers have been reporting speeds up to 50Mbps in London and Manchester, with some peak speeds hitting a very impressive 78Mbps. The sped up 4G service has gone online today in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Derby, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Nottingham and Sheffield, with Derby and Nottingham being the two additional cities added to list just before the upgrade. Don't forget that Vodafone, 02, and Three, are all planning to bring their 4G networks online before the end of the year. So if you're currently stuck for choice or receiving poor coverage, the 4G market will be receiving some healthy competition soon. 
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| Colorful Moto X custom backplate covers leaked, including purple, teal and red Posted: 04 Jul 2013 06:20 AM PDT
While the Moto X phone sign-up page is already live on Motorola’s official website, the Google-owned company is still unwilling to divulge more information about the anticipated smartphone. However, thanks to eager sources of leaks regarding the device, we now have a clearer glimpse of what the device’s back side would look like. They’re colorful, and they include purple. Veering away from the traditional black and white cases, the leaked photo shows three unusual colors, including teal and red, hinting at a possible shift in Motorola’s design language. Apparently, the device will be a little more rounded than the DROID RAZR series. The battery will also likely be removable. Don’t expect a unibody design like HTC One’s or the Lumia 928′s. It is not clear what the device’s primary case material will be. It could be plastic considering that it will be easier to have color variety with this material. Moto X is tipped to feature at least 16 colors, with the possibility of choosing a combination of several colors for a single device. However, prospective buyers can look forward to the possibility of getting the material they prefer as hinted with Motorola’s first ad for the Moto X smartphone.
The recently published newspaper ad highlights buyers’ “freedom” to choose what they would like to have on their device. It emphasizes the possibility of customization, just as rumored. Hopefully, the touted customization includes the choice of case material. Also noteworthy, of course is the company’s emphasis on the smartphone being designed, engineered and assembled in the United States. Obviously, the ad is aimed patriotic Americans who might feel it’s about time to support “Made in America” products in the midst of growing competition from Asian companies. Extent of customizations still uncertain?The extent of customizations is still uncertain. It could be limited to the exterior (color, trim and engravings, a la iPod). However, information published by ABC News claims that customizations will include the kind of wallpapers and color themes to be used by Android itself. It’s unclear whether or not buyers can also order software-related customizations. It will be interesting, though, if Motorola offers the option to pre-install apps specified by buyers. For carriers interested in having the device on their inventory, a standard version will be available. Obviously, customizing them is out of the question. The Moto X is presently being tested by carriers and will be “coming soon.” The first true Google-Motorola handset is one device worth anticipating. The idea of being able to do customizations even makes it more exciting. With the Galaxy Note 3, Sony i1, and HTC T6 expected to be announced soon, the second half of the year is surely a great season for smartphone enthusiasts. Which begs the question: Which color or customization would you choose? The choice of colors seems to be an interesting one, particularly for Motorola. Would you get a Moto X with a teal, purple or red backplate cover? 
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| Samsung’s Premium Suite finally arrives to the C Spire Galaxy S3 Posted: 04 Jul 2013 05:37 AM PDT
Back in March, C Spire customers with a Galaxy S3 finally managed to make the jump over to Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. While this was a welcome update, it was also missing something that many other carriers had already included: Samsung's Premium Suite. The good news is that C Spire has finally brought its GS3-wielding users what they have all been waiting for, a new update that finally includes Premium Suite features. The rollout of the new "Android 4.1.2 update with Premium Suite" actually began yesterday, and so it should be easily up for grabs by now. While you should get a notification telling you that the update is ready, you can also check manually by heading to Settings > About Device > System Updates > Check Now. In the event you can't get the OTA update to work, you can also grab it online through Samsung Kies. Okay so you now know how to get your hands on the update, but what exactly does the Premium Suite offer? Basically you get some of the new functionality that has made its way into other Samsung phones as of late. This includes support for multi-window view, photo tagging, a reader mode, S-Beam enhancements, and a few other useful improvements. Have you managed to grab the Premium Suite update on your C Spire GS3 yet? If so, what do you think? 
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| What are some of the best designed Android apps? Google answers Posted: 04 Jul 2013 05:29 AM PDT
Android apps have come a long way. In the early days of the Android Market, many criticized the look and feel of the average Android app, especially when it came to design. Things have changed for the better since then, and Apple's App Store no longer has a monopoly on beautifully designed, well-thought applications. But Google wants even more great looking apps to delight and surprise Android users. To promote the best practices in designing applications, the Android design team put together a collection of 11 beautiful apps that app developers can look at for inspiration. The 11 apps in the collection are the following: What makes these apps special? According to Google, it's:
Even if you're not interested in Android app design and development, you should still check out the collection, which includes some of the best apps that the Play Store has to offer. 
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| Samsung to invest $4.5 billion in new R&D centers Posted: 04 Jul 2013 05:28 AM PDT
It seems that the most common complaint about the Galaxy S4, if you have one, is that it's not really a significant leap ahead of the last generation’s Galaxy S3. "Samsung is turning into Apple" seems to be a not uncommon comparison these days, but perhaps the fact that Samsung is building five new research and development centers will help put these concerns to rest. Samsung has outlined its plan to spend 5 trillion won, which works out to roughly $4.5 billion, on five new R&D centers, which are to be built on its home turf in Korea. One of the first of these centers will be built in southern Seoul and will open in late 2015, costing the company the first $1 billion of its budget. This site is expected to employ around 10,000 people and will be focusing primarily on design research, which could apply to any number of Samsung products, including smartphones potentially. The other R&D centers will look at other arms of Samsung's business, including materials and component development. Two facilities set to be built in Hwaseong and Pyeongtaek will be dedicated to Samsung's chip and processor divisions, and its various display technologies, which are set to go online sometime in early 2014. In the increasingly competitive electronics industry, additional spending on developing will help set a company apart form the competition in the coming years, or at least allow it to keep pace with its competitors, and Samsung knows this:
This is clearly a pretty expensive endeavour, but we know that Samsung isn't afraid to splash the cash. Earlier in the year Samsung announced that it was investing $25 million in a new patent company to help protect its intellectual property in the US, and company spent a hefty $10.5 billion on R&D in 2012, a $1.4 billion increase in spending from 2011. It doesn't look like Samsung will be slowing down on the development front any time soon, bring on the new products. 
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| The ultimate Galaxy S4 FAQ: 140 questions answered Posted: 04 Jul 2013 04:44 AM PDT
Yesterday, we learned that Samsung managed to sell 20 million Galaxy S4 units in about 60 days, proving wrong the analysts that were worried about slumping interest in the new flagship. The Galaxy S4 is an amazing device, but that alone is not enough to capture the interest of millions of customers. Samsung also needs to offer good support services to ensure that customers stay satisfied after they purchase the device. How many times were you annoyed by a hapless sales representative or a grumpy customer service worker? To ensure that its customer-facing staff knows the ins and outs of the crucial Galaxy S4, Samsung prepared a guide that covers 140 of the most frequently asked questions about the device. The folks at Sam Mobile have got their hands on the internal guide and kindly made it available for download. We've embedded the document below, or you can go to Sam Mobile to download it as a PDF. Samsung Galaxy S4 Customer Consultant Guide FAQ Note that this guide is meant for internal use by Samsung personnel, so it may be a bit hard to navigate. With that said, the document is rather comprehensive, and it may help if you have unanswered questions about your Samsung Galaxy S4. 
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| Rumor: LG G2 specs to include 5.2-inch Full HD display and optical image stabilization camera Posted: 04 Jul 2013 04:06 AM PDT
The specs list of the upcoming LG G2 is now rumored to include a bigger screen than initially believed and a better camera. The LG G2 is the expected name of the LG Optimus G’s successor, as the company is said to drop the “Optimus” from its flagship device family. Greek site Techblog has apparently learned that the future LG flagship will feature a 5.2-inch LCD IPS display with Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution and 423 ppi, instead of the 5-inch panel mentioned by previous rumors. Additionally, the 13-megapixel camera of the handset is now said to come with optical image stabilization technology, a feature that's also expected to be seen in Samsung's next Galaxy Note model. The LG G2 is also expected to pack a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB or 3GB of RAM, and physical buttons placed on the back on the device. The publication says that the volume buttons on the back – as seen in recently leak images – will offer various functions including zooming and volume control. A power button should be located between them. Furthermore, a report coming from South Korean website ETNews, reiterates the fact that the LG G2 could pack fingerprint recognition technology, according to the images that were leaked a week ago. Thus, LG would beat Apple and Samsung with products to market featuring fingerprint-reading capabilities. The next-gen iPhone is rumored to come with fingerprint recognition features, and Samsung’s future Galaxy smartphones are also expected to pack similar powers. The publication speculates that LG may have intentionally leaked those pictures. However, we'll remind you that no matter what rumors say, the LG G2 is yet to be officially unveiled. The device is expected to be announced in early August during a New York-based event. 
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| Both white Nexus 4 models (8GB and 16GB) sold out on U.S. Play Store, Google confirms Posted: 04 Jul 2013 02:55 AM PDT
As the 16GB white Nexus 4 is no longer available for sale from the U.S. Google Play Store, a publication confirmed with Google that the limited edition smartphone has sold out. A few days ago we told you that the 8GB model was no longer available from the Play Store, and it looks like the 16GB version had the same faith. While it's not clear how many units Google had in stock in the first place, we'll remind you that the white Nexus 4 model has been labeled from the start as a limited edition item. Android Police confirmed with Google that the stock has run out, and the company did not say whether the handset will be back for sale in the future: Before you start wondering whether a Nexus 5 is due shortly, we'll point out that the black Nexus 4 models are still available in the U.S. Play Store. This is just the end of sales for a limited edition device, at least for now. White Nexus 4 units are still available with other retailers, so if you missed your chance to buy one from the Play Store, you'll be able to get yours from somewhere else, with T-Mobile being one good place to start. In fact, T-Mobile still offers a free wireless purchase with your Nexus 4 purchase, although the handset is slightly more expensive at $427.99. That's $19.99 down payment followed by 24 monthly installments of $17 each if you don't want to pay the full price for the device outright. 
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Polamatic is not just a photo editing app, though. It is also a camera app that can capture photos through your device’s main or front camera. The app’s camera interface also features a number of visual effects.
Security researchers have found a bug in Android which allows them to create malicious Android apps which appear to be genuine with the correct digital signatures. In computing, digital signatures allow any piece of data, including an app, to be checked to see that it is genuine and actually comes from the author. Now, due to a bug in Android, it is possible to create a fake app and sign it so it looks like a real app from any author including Google, or others like Samsung, HTC and Sony.
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