Android Community |
- Galaxy S4 Google Play ROM gets ported to Verizon model
- #Square app squares Instagram images without the crop
- Samsung Galaxy S4 wireless charger hands-on
- Verizon Droid DNA price slashed in ‘limited time’ offering
- Amazon GameCircle support expands to all Android devices
- Skype for Android tops the 100m install mark, gets 4.0 redesign
- Sony ‘Honami’ images leak in render form
- LifeProof nüüd case will give you a waterproof Galaxy S III
- Vine makes entry into the Amazon Appstore
| Galaxy S4 Google Play ROM gets ported to Verizon model Posted: 01 Jul 2013 10:55 AM PDT Last week HTC and Samsung finally released their new Google Play edition smartphones running stock Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. The Galaxy S4 and HTC One with plain Android are available for all, but if you already own one from a carrier we’ve also got you covered. There’s already an HTC ROM to make your One stock, and now Verizon Galaxy S4 owners can do the same.
Thanks to those hard working developers at XDA, you can now unlock the full stock experience on your own Verizon Galaxy S4 by flashing their custom ROM. Brought to us right from the GPe version itself. They’ve ported the stock Android 4.2.2 build right from the Google Play Edition, and of course adding Verizon CDMA was quite the challenge. So far the developer states almost everything is working perfect. Skimming through the details it appears the IR blaster still isn’t working, and a few comments have suggested issues with GPS as well. Surely the developer will continue to work out these issues, so stay tuned for more details and updates. Those aside, if you’re looking for that stock experience and are locked into Verizon, this is one (of many coming soon) available. The same thread has options for blacked out Google Apps (thanks to Team BlackOut) as well as an option without root for those wanting that stock experience through and through. Give it a try, and let us know what you think in the comments below. SOURCE: XDA VIA: Droid-Life |
| #Square app squares Instagram images without the crop Posted: 01 Jul 2013 10:43 AM PDT A new app has recently made its way into the Google Play Store and this is one that may be of use for heavy Instagram users. Or maybe more accurately, #Square may be of use to those Instagram users who prefer not to crop the sides of their images to achieve the square format. The app is touted as being a simple photo editor for Instagram and based on the time we have spent playing, that seems to be just about as accurate description as possible.
The #Square app launches to a screen that allows you to either capture a new image or pick one from the gallery. Once you pick the appropriate option based on your needs, you will begin editing the image. You will likely notice the black border sitting on the top and bottom of your image — this is how your image will be squared without being cropped.
Also worth noting, that black border can be changed to just about any color your prefer using the dropper icon in the lower left. The #Square app also allows you to rotate the image and set the border size. And that about sums up the editing ability but remember that description — simple photo editor. The app does what it does and not much else. Anyway, once you have your image squared the way you want you can then send it off to Instagram by tapping the icon in the upper right corner. Tapping that launches the Instagram app and from there things will be familiar. In addition, the #Square app also allows you to share the image on just about any other service (using the regular Android share menu) or save the image to your gallery. One of the other key points for this app is that you are able to save these images without any reduction in quality. The save as option offers the option for JPG and PNG and allows you to manually adjust the quality, but the default is to keep the quality the same as the original. In fact, the other claim the #Square app makes is that it “doesn’t mess your photos quality” like some of the competing apps do. Bottom line, if you want to avoid cropping your images for Instagram — the #Square app may be one to check out. SOURCE: xda-developers, Google Play Store |
| Samsung Galaxy S4 wireless charger hands-on Posted: 01 Jul 2013 10:19 AM PDT This past week we’ve been enjoying a few more mobile options from the folks at Samsung. We reviewed their new Galaxy S 4 Active, and now we have the wireless charging dock available for some quick hands-on time. Samsung’s charging kit you're seeing here works with the Qi standard, just like many wireless chargers from Nokia, LG, and even the model for the Nexus 4. Samsung delivers a new battery cover to complete the task, so take a peek below.
Samsung finally unleashed the wireless charging kit on their online store recently, and for those interested we have a few thoughts on the package. The charging dock itself is quite large, much bigger in fact than both the Nexus 4 and LG’s wireless chargers. It has a durable and hefty feel, and a nice rubbery coating to keep the phone safe from any scratching while you toss it on and off for a quick charge. While Samsung’s Galaxy S4 (now) comes in a wide array of colors, sadly the charging dock only has one option available: grey. Of course anyone should know the dock will be plugged into a nearby outlet using the same micro-USB cord as usual, then you just toss your phone on that charging dock platform for juice. Samsung makes it very apparent on the device with a sticker, that you’ll need to be perfectly aligned. This held true too, slight turns and the phone wouldn’t charge. So long as the middle is centered, you’ll be good though.
Unlike the Nexus 4, DROID DNA and a few others, the Galaxy S4 requires a replacement battery cover to enjoy the wireless charging capability. One which won’t be provided in the box, but a quick $39 will get you the color of your choice. Verizon and most carriers have them in store and online in both white or black. Sadly, you’ll also need to spend $49 for the charging pad, but the convenience may be worth it to some. Speaking of the replacement battery back. It’s quite thick, and as you can see in the image below there’s a noticeable increase in thickness, but overall nothing to be concerned about. Compared to the Active below, you can see the difference. As a comparison the stock GS4 back is flush or thinner than the camera. Here you can see the lip added with the new back. The GS4 is thin already, so this almost gives it a more premium feel as it adds to the overall feel in your hand. That’s my opinion at least.
Sadly we wish this could have came standard, just like it did with the Nexus 4, HTC DROID DNA, Optimus G, and a few others. However, if you have the LG wireless charging kit, the Nexus 4 charger, or even some 3rd party Energizer models or even one from Nokia, they’ll all work with ease. All you’ll need is that replacement battery cover. Take a peek at a few more pictures below, then decide if the near $90 price is worth it to you. We love the convenience personally, just wish it would have came standard. Not as an aftermarket purchase.        |
| Verizon Droid DNA price slashed in ‘limited time’ offering Posted: 01 Jul 2013 09:55 AM PDT Verizon had dropped the price of the Droid DNA back in May and that brought speculation about the possibility of an HTC One announcement. The offer back in May had the handset available for free (on a two-year agreement) and well, it came and went without the news many had been hoping to see.
With that in mind, it looks like Verizon Wireless has once again begun offering the Droid DNA on what they are referring to as a limited time offer. Basically, Big Red has dropped the price of the Droid DNA to $49.99. This of course still requires a two-year agreement. The main difference (aside from the price) between this Droid DNA offer and the last — this time around we have official confirmation the HTC One is coming to Verizon.
We hope this price drop means Verizon is trying to clear some inventory ahead of a release date and price announcement for the One, but given what happened last time we remain a bit skeptical. That HTC One confirmation came by way of Twitter in early-June. At the time it was said the HTC One was coming to Verizon sometime “later this summer.” Anyway, it does seem to make sense that the carrier would want to sell off some of what would be an older model HTC. Otherwise, despite the Droid DNA not being the newest handset on the market, it is still more than capable and may actually be one to consider. After all, not everyone needs the latest and greatest smartphone. Plus, not everyone wants (or is able) to spend a few hundred dollars on a smartphone. SOURCE: Verizon Wireless |
| Amazon GameCircle support expands to all Android devices Posted: 01 Jul 2013 08:46 AM PDT Amazon launched GameCircle back in November of 2012 and as of today it looks like a rather large update has arrived. Basically, Amazon has expanded GameCircle support to include all Android devices. And for those who may have missed that original announcement, GameCircle was an answer to Apple’s Game Center.
The big difference from the original announcement to today — Amazon originally launched GameCircle with support only for the Kindle Fire. GameCircle is a free service available for developers that allows for goodies to include achievements, leader boards and WhisperSync for Games. This sounds like it could be good news for those playing games on an Android device. Of course, it is up to the developers to provide access to the GameCircle. For that, in addition to expanded the device support, Amazon has also said Whispersync for Games is “even easier to use than before.” This new setup will also automatically resolve conflicts and provide a queue that will save any new information that comes when the device is offline.
Another key perk with the Amazon GameCircle setup is how it runs — in the background. Amazon has said GameCircle has been designed with players and developers in mind and that it will sit in the background until a customer needs it. In other words, there are no splash screens at start up to annoy (or delay) the user. Furthermore, the developer can control which GameCircle events the user will see. Bottom line here, it looks like Amazon has stepped things up to better compete with the Google Play Game Services SDK that was introduced earlier in the year during I/O. Of course, while it is nice to see Amazon expand support beyond the Kindle Fire, Google still seems to have an edge given they also support iOS devices. SOURCE: Amazon |
| Skype for Android tops the 100m install mark, gets 4.0 redesign Posted: 01 Jul 2013 08:10 AM PDT Skype for Android has recently crossed the 100 million user milestone and coming along with that is word of an update. Skype for Android has graduated to version 4.0 along with the new version number comes what is being called a “modern” design that puts conversations first. With that in mind, as you can see from the image sitting below, the design brings a look that may be familiar to Windows Phone users.
In fact, the details coming from the Skype announcement talk about how they “started to reimagine” what Skype would look like when the Windows Phone 8 app launched late last year. More important though, the goal of the app was said to offer something that put the conversation first, which was done in part by making it easier to interact with the app. The interesting part here, Skype for Android 4.0 is a completely new app. This update wasn’t a makeover, but instead it was rolled-out as an app that was rebuild from scratch. Some of the focus with the redesign was stability and performance as well as load times, but that is not where things stopped. Skype 4.0 for Android brought a new look for the recent conversations and users will be able to access those conversations with a single tap. Additionally, Contacts and Favorites are accessible from a tap or a swipe and from that point, a tap on a person will launch the messaging window which means a conversation in the form of video, voice or text. Aside from the big changes that have come along with Skype 4.0, there is still more to come. There was talk of more updates in the “coming months and year ahead” that will make Skype “more reliable, reachable and mobile friendly.” SOURCE: Skype Blog |
| Sony ‘Honami’ images leak in render form Posted: 01 Jul 2013 07:32 AM PDT It looks like another round of leaks have surfaced for a yet-to-be-announced Sony handset. The model is sporting the codename of ‘Honami’ and last we heard was that Sony would be making an official announcement on July 4th. We still have a few days to see if that plays out as expected and in the meantime, a few rendered images have surfaced.
There are three in total and sadly, all are offering a look at the front of the device. These images are said to have come by way of a system dump and while it is hard to judge the accuracy, we can say that they seem to match the in-the-wild style images that surfaced late last week. This latest leak didn’t offer anything additional on the specs, but assuming we can believe the earlier leaks, the Honami looks like it could be one to watch closely. Well, that is assuming you are looking for a smartphone with a 5-inch display. The Sony Honami is expected to arrive with a 5-inch 1080p display with Bravia technology.
Other still unconfirmed specs for the Honami include a quad-core 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 processor along with 2GB of RAM. The handset is expected to measure in at 10mm thick and be water and dust resistant by way of an IP57 certification. The handset is also said to be packing a battery that is somewhere between 2700 and 3000 mAh and a 20 megapixel rear-facing camera. Further details on the camera show it to have a 1/1.6″ sensor and a Xenon flash.
Of course, we are also expecting the handset to drop with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. All said and done, the rumored July 4th announcement date is coming up quickly and it looks like we are going to be seeing more on the Honami sooner rather than later. Now lets just hope that next bit of news arrives as something official from Sony. VIA: Xperia Blog |
| LifeProof nüüd case will give you a waterproof Galaxy S III Posted: 01 Jul 2013 07:04 AM PDT LifeProof is a name that Android users may not know all that well. The company makes cases that are well, lifeproof. The cases are touted as being waterproof, dirt proof, snow proof and shock proof. The problem for Android users is that up until this point they had been available for iOS devices including the iPhone and iPad. Well, that is going to soon be changing.
LifeProof has announced a case for an Android device. Specifically, for the Samsung Galaxy S III. At this point we would have hoped to see something introduced for a slightly more current device, say the Galaxy S 4, but given there are still quite a few Galaxy S III users around — we certainly aren’t going to complain. Anyway, the case is called the LifeProof nüüd and it will keep your handset protected against water, accidental drops, sweat, dirt and the “other hazards of daily living.” Basically, the LifeProof nüüd will keep your handset fully protected. The interesting part here comes in with the design, which goes back to the name. This LifeProof case will be able to provide full protection against the elements without having the display actually covered. LifeProof touts this as being the ultimate touch-screen experience. If nothing else, it should make it a bit easier to use without having the display covered. This will work by sealing the inside of the case around the display. LifeProof called it a patent-pending Screenless Technology that uses a compression lock system that forms a waterproof seal between the case and the device touchscreen. More to the point, this is a first of its kind and is still able to provide an IP68 rating for submerging. That rating means your handset is capable of going up to 6.6 feet (2m) deep for up to one hour. This nüüd case will also allow for drops from as high as 6.6 feet (2m) and is said to exceed the military specifications against shock, drops and vibration protection. With that, LifeProof has said the case will sell for $89.99, however they have yet to offer a specific release date. Instead what they have said is the LifeProof nüüd case will be available for the iPhone 5 on July 7th and the Galaxy S III model will follow soon after. SOURCE: LifeProof |
| Vine makes entry into the Amazon Appstore Posted: 01 Jul 2013 06:29 AM PDT Vine pumped out a few app updates since we saw video come to Instagram and it looks like the app is now going after another group of users. This latest Vine related news hasn’t brought any mention of new features but instead the app is now available for those sporting a Kindle Fire. Simply put, the Vine app has made entry into the Amazon Appstore.
Similar to the version in the Play Store, Vine is available for free in the Amazon Appstore. The app is sitting at version 1.2.0 and it will be taking advantage of the front-facing camera on the Kindle Fire. That being said, we suspect this move into the Amazon Appstore had to wait until now given this front-facing camera support only recently arrived. While the Vine app may be entirely new for some Kindle Fire users, the v1.2.0 update also brought some other changes and improvements as compared to earlier versions of the app. That update also added a new upload manager for unsubmitted posts as well as some overall speed improvements. Otherwise, there were also some improvements to the settings and to the camera loading time as well as some smaller UI improvements and unspecified bug fixes. Bottom line, Vine v1.2.0 arrived as a rather welcomed update and if nothing else, it made it possible to take 6-second looping selfie videos a bit easier. Based on the comments in the Amazon Appstore it looks like there are some mixed feelings about the app. Some of the commenters seem super happy the app finally arrived and others are complaining about frequent crashing. That said, if you happen to be using (or trying to use) Vine on a Kindle Fire — we would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. SOURCE: Amazon |
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