Android Community |
- Motorola XT1030 and XT1080 handsets surface at FCC
- LG Optimus G2 alleged specifications leak showing rear buttons [UPDATE]
- White Nexus 4 ‘no longer available for sale’ in the Play Store
- Kyocera Torque 4.1 Jelly Bean update coming later this week
- Real Racing 3 updated with better graphics and 180 new race events
- Barnes & Noble NOOK HD gets another price cut
- Angry Birds Red’s Mighty Feathers update brings 15 new levels and more
- Moto X custom backplate covers leak in multiple colors
- TrulyClean script removes GALAXY S 4 bloatware
- Glympse for Android update brings Evernote archiving
- Ingress update brings inventory sorting and high res phone support
- C Spire Galaxy S III 4.1.2 Premium Suite rollout begins today
| Motorola XT1030 and XT1080 handsets surface at FCC Posted: 03 Jul 2013 07:07 PM PDT We know Motorola is geared up to launch several handsets in the relatively near future, among them being “the first smartphone you can design yourself,” the Moto X. Also anticipated is a DROID Ultra and some other handsets under the Ultra line. It is possible that two Motorola handsets that have surfaced at the FCC are part of that series.
Unfortunately, the FCC filings don’t provide enough information to tell what the XT1030 and XT1080 are, but does show some of the specs, which include a plethora of various wireless technologies all jammed into one smartphone: Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11ac, WCDMA 850/900/1900/2100, LTE bands 4 and 13, and EVDO Rev A. Beyond that, the only other information shown is that the XT1080, not surprisingly, is larger than the XT1030. Speculation has it that these could be Ultra handsets that have cropped up, but there’s no way to know at this point, so we’ll have to wait for some details to leak or for Motorola to start rolling the devices out, whichever comes first. Given the LTE bands supported by the handsets, we’ll be seeing these at Verizon. Yesterday, we reported on some sources who claim the Moto X will not be a DROID-branded offering on Verizon, an interesting, yet not surprising, twist on the typical Verizon DROID flagship exclusives that are common. Teaser advertisements for the handset are rolling out this week, but we’re yet to see any images of smartphone. Word has it the Moto X will feature quite a few color customization options, with leaks hitting the Web earlier today showing images said to be of various color choices consumers will have. There’s also speculation that the Moto X will be priced at a low rate sans contract, somewhere in the $199 range. Motorola’s Dennis Woodside had hinted at this during the D11 conference, saying that he feels the industry is open to the company “building a low-cost, high-quality market.” SOURCE: Engadget |
| LG Optimus G2 alleged specifications leak showing rear buttons [UPDATE] Posted: 03 Jul 2013 05:41 PM PDT We’ve been hearing about the LG Optimus G2 flagship handset for awhile now, with the leaks slowly picking up speed as we narrow in on LG’s upcoming August 7th event, during which it is expected the smartphone will be unveiled. Both alleged images of the handset have surfaced, as well as specs, with another round appearing on the Greek site Techblog.gr.
As we’ve heard before, the bezel is said to be very small, which you can see in the image above, rumored to be of the upcoming handset. Likewise, word has it the LG Optimus G2 will run on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor alongside 2GB of RAM. All of this is consistent with past leaks, and includes word of a rumored 13-megapixel rear camera. There’s said to be optical image stabilization with the camera, which probably means we’ll find a nice camera app to go along with it. Other information provided by the sources includes an IPS display size of 5.2-inches, making it a tad more svelte than the current generation of the handset. The resolution is said to be 423ppi at full HD 1920 x 1080p. And then there’ the buttons on the phone, which are said to have been re-positioned over the current generation to the rear of the handset near the bottom. Word has it there are three total: the power button, volume rocker, and a +/- key that performs various functions like zooming. This is due to the narrow margins around the display, giving more room for screen real estate. Back in March, a benchmark surfaced that is believed to possibly be of the Optimus G2 due to the handset – the LG D801 – being listed as “g2_tmo_us”, which also hints at a T-Mobile offering. That particular benchmark showed a Snapdragon 800, but had the display at 1794 x 1080. We’ll know for sure in a few weeks, so stay tuned! Update: Another leak has surfaced over at RBMen indicating that the Optimus G2 will have 3GB of RAM instead of 2GB. SOURCE: Android Guys |
| White Nexus 4 ‘no longer available for sale’ in the Play Store Posted: 03 Jul 2013 04:39 PM PDT Back at the end of May Google finally unveiled and released the rumored White LG Nexus 4 to the Google Play Store. Giving users an option other than the plain black we’ve been enjoying since last October. Sadly a new version of Android didn’t come with it, but a white bumper case did. However, today both the 8 and 16GB White Nexus 4′s are no longer available for sale.
Earlier this week the 8GB White Nexus 4 went out of stock on the Play Store, and we just figured Google was waiting to receive more stock of the white flavor, but today the 16GB model received the same fate. That isn’t all either. Instead of just being out of stock as before, the listing says “no longer available for sale.” At the moment we’re not sure exactly what this means, but it looks like the limited white models are all gone, and Google will no longer be offering them. That sure didn’t last long. Basically about one month and they’re all gone. Google initially called the white version “limited” so this was somewhat expected, just not so quick.
For now it looks like this limited white edition is gone forever, but chances are you still might be able to find one from T-Mobile. They offered the white version of the Nexus 4 both in stores and online, so give that a try as a last resort if the color really matters that much. We’re turning our focus to the Moto X and the Nexus 5 here, but the 4 will still be around for a long while. VIA: Play Store |
| Kyocera Torque 4.1 Jelly Bean update coming later this week Posted: 03 Jul 2013 04:04 PM PDT If you’re the proud owner of Kyocera‘s latest smartphone, the rugged and waterproof Torque, we have some good news. After initially launching with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, to our disappointment, this week they’ll be updating the capable little device to Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. The update is slated to arrive on Friday, July 5th over the air.
Not only is the Toque waterproof, but it fully meets all those military specs. This means you can drop it, throw it down some stairs, take it for a swim and more and it will keep on chugging. Overall we enjoyed the mid-range handset for what it was, and made sure to test all of these capabilities on our Kyocera Torque Review. In case you missed it, it held up fine for some dips in the water and mud, and a long marathon while getting tossed around in our carry bag. The device can certainly hold its own, and now the software will be able to do so as well. Starting Friday the carrier and Kycera will start pushing Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean to all handsets. The changelog details international calling, power cycles, and fixes for sleep mode and email sync, just to name a few. Then of course being Jelly Bean you’ll get expandable notifications, improved performance, and full support for Google Now. It only has a 4-inch screen and a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, but Jelly Bean should breathe new life into this already decent little smartphone. If you have one, be on the lookout for an update to arrive sometime Friday. Let us know how it goes! VIA: AndroidPolice |
| Real Racing 3 updated with better graphics and 180 new race events Posted: 03 Jul 2013 03:32 PM PDT The popular Real Racing 3 already offers some of the best graphics to date, especially for a mobile game, but today they’ve updated their popular Android racer with some massive changes. We’ve got some newly improved graphics, a few new cars from Bentley and M-Benz, and even new tracks. If you’re a fan of this excellent game you’ll want to read on for the full changes.
Rear Racing 3 is one of the most realistic racing games for Android, and has a huge following. We’ll put aside the fact that even though it’s free, it has tons of in-game purchases, and instead just focus on all the improvements today’s update delivered. With more than 180 new events you’ll have plenty of racing to enjoy during the holiday tomorrow. At least for those in the US. Electronic Arts added tons to the game with this update. Not only do we get an awesome Bentley and Mercedes-Benz to race, but over 180 new tracks and events were added. That’s big. Then there’s an entirely new racing event called Time Trial. Here’s the full changelog:
One of the best racing games for Android just got better. It’s still free, and after the 1.3 GB download you’ll be able to get some stunning new cars to fly around corners with, but don’t spend too much cash or you’ll have to pull out the real wallet to continue. As far as improved graphics it appears the physics and such have slightly been improved, but that’s all we’ve noticed. Get it below and have fun racing on the streets. VIA: Play Store |
| Barnes & Noble NOOK HD gets another price cut Posted: 03 Jul 2013 02:56 PM PDT Last month the folks from Barnes & Noble confirmed they’ll no longer be working on and manufacturing the NOOK tablet. Instead, the company will license out the brand moving forward, instead of building their own. At the same time we saw a quick price drop to help shed some of their inventory, but now it looks like another drop has arrived, at least for the NOOK HD in the UK.
According to our own Chris Davies at SlashGear, B&N has just slashed the price again, and we can expect other regions to follow suite. The NOOK HD will be offered for £99 for the 8GB model (or £129 for the 16GB version), which comes in being about £30 cheaper than their last promotion or price reduction. It sounds to us like these NOOK tablets just aren’t selling, even with the prices being slashed. Even the larger 9-inch NOOK HD+ saw a price drop at the same rate as the smaller sibling. With the NOOK HD+ 16GB model being £149, and then of course the 32GB model is £179, respectively. According to the report Barnes & Noble called these price drops just temporary, but we have a feeling they’re here to stay. With the Kindle Fire and others doing quite well, and B&N looking to license out the NOOK brand, we can’t see a higher price being in the cards. The NOOK e-Reader will continue on, but at this time the state of the Android-powered NOOK HD is unknown. We’ll probably see a few third party models arrive sometime next year. VIA: SlashGear |
| Angry Birds Red’s Mighty Feathers update brings 15 new levels and more Posted: 03 Jul 2013 01:42 PM PDT The latest Angry Birds update has arrived in the Play Store. We are talking about the original version here and this update has what is being touted as “all-new gameplay.” This update is the Red’s Mighty Feathers episode and it brings some new levels in addition to some new game play action. Just to begin with, users can expect 15 new levels.
The interesting twist here is the bit about the addition of moving targets. Well, that and the mixing of features from Bad Piggies. This comes for Red as he has been given a new episode called Egg Defender. Basically, it is a combination of Angry Birds and Bad Piggies with “a frenzy of bird flinging and crazy pig contraptions.” In total there are 73 contraptions and Red has also been given some new powers from the Mighty Eagle. Some of these new powers include attacks that can be set forth with new speed and pinpoint accuracy. Of course, as we often see with Rovio updates, this one came with a trailer video which offers a short, but good look at some of what can be expected once you begin playing. Bottom line here, it looks like Rovio has added a bit more life for this original Angry Birds release. And if nothing else, this one should arrive as a welcomed update for those who were also playing Bad Piggies. Finally, while Rovio hasn’t given a specific timeline, they have said they are “gradually introducing” Rovio Account for Android users. In other words, if you happen to notice something pop up, don’t be super surprised. The Rovio Account setup was announced a little while back and means users will be able to keep their game in sync across multiple devices. SOURCE: Google Play Store |
| Moto X custom backplate covers leak in multiple colors Posted: 03 Jul 2013 01:01 PM PDT At this point Motorola and Google aren’t giving away too many details on their upcoming smartphone the Moto X. Aside from multiple details being leaked as of late, all we have is Motorola revealing the new sign-up page this morning. While confirming they’ll be customizable and handcrafted right here in the US. We don’t know to what extend that will be. Thanks to the leaked photo below and details from ABC News, we know they’ll be highly customizable.
What has just appeared this afternoon is the photo you see above. Showing the already familiar backplate of the upcoming Moto X in some rather unique colors. This isn’t your typical black, white, blue, or even silver. While Motorola will likely offer all of those “normal” colors, this leak reveals a more colorful plan. With fluorescent bright colors in teal, red, and purple. So far we know the device will obviously have tons of customization options, but we’re not sure if this will be manufacturer side-only, or if customers can do so as well. Will we choose the color while ordering the device, and that’s that? Or can we buy additional colors to suit our needs, personality, and mood for that week? Who knows. That would also mean the back would be removable (if true) and the battery as well. Which is doubtful given both Motorola and Google’s recent phone releases.
With the leaked photo today, things are about to get interesting as more and more details flood in. Speaking of more details, ABC News sources gave us all sorts of information today. Claiming custom colors, trim, engravings (think iPod engravings) custom wallpapers and color themes and more all out of the box. As in Motorola will set it up, and deliver a finished and customized device with a wallpaper the user uploads while purchasing and customizing the device online. ABC also states the Moto X will ship with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean (but we’re hoping for 4.3) and the specs still sound the same as we’ve been hearing. That being a 4.7-inch 720p display, a Snapdragon processor (hoping for a quad-core) 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage and more. Our tipster confirms they will offer at least 16 different color variations, and much more. Motorola appears to be going all out here, as does Google, and we’ll have to wait and see. Now we’ll just need to see the actual device again, confirm the specs for real, and get a release date. Who likes the idea of complete customization of your smartphone, before you ever get it? VIA: NoWhereElse |
| TrulyClean script removes GALAXY S 4 bloatware Posted: 03 Jul 2013 12:52 PM PDT The topic of bloatware is a discussion that is likely not going anywhere anytime soon. We see manufacturers and carriers loading extra apps all the time and that is a practice that will likely continue moving forward. While some apps can be removed or disabled on an individual basis, that doesn’t help when you have lots of apps you want removed.
With that in mind, it looks like some GALAXY S 4 users now have the option to delete nearly 100 apps at the same time. The ‘some’ portion of the user base comes in because this is an app (technically a script) that is for rooted users with a custom recovery. This script is called TrulyClean and it has been tested on Stock deodexed firmware, WanamLite, Omega and FoxHound. For those who may be a bit more adventurous, it was also said that TrulyClean should work on any TouchWiz based ROM.
Aside from the bit about these apps being removed so you don’t have to look at them, it will also free some space. Using the script should be a familiar process for those who have been playing the root and custom ROM game. In short, you will need to flash the TrulyClean.zip. The bigger catch with using the TrulyClean script is the apps that are being removed. The creator of the script notes how this was created for him and based on his taste and needs. Needless to say, it is possible to edit the script and have it keep certain apps in place. For example, by default the TrulyClean script will remove Gmail, an app we suspect many will prefer to stick around. Anyway, this script can be edited to your liking and as of now the most recent version is 1.4. It was also said that TrulyClean should work with any version of the GALAXY S 4. SOURCE: xda developers |
| Glympse for Android update brings Evernote archiving Posted: 03 Jul 2013 12:02 PM PDT Glympse is an app that allows you to share your current location with others. The nice part of Glympse is how this is all handled — on your terms. You create the Glympse and then choose who you want to share with and for how long. You can share over email or SMS as well as social sites. As of today Glympse has added some new features for Android users.
This latest version of Glympse is already available in the Google Play Store and it one that Evernote users will likely want to grab sooner rather than later. Basically, Glympse now supports Evernote. This integration means you will be able to save a ‘Glympse’ to your Evernote account. Or in other words, Glympse will now archive automatically in Evernote. The process of sharing to Evernote is simple and straight forward. The first time around you will need to login using your Evernote account credentials, however after that it is just a matter of choosing Evernote as a recipient in the “Send Glympse to” option. Of course you still have the same ability to pick the time you should be watched and to add a destination and message.    Once that Glympse has expired your trip details will be sent to your Evernote account. These will be saved in a folder called “My Glympse Trails” and will provide users with an archive of the Glympse data to include recipients, date, time, duration and the destination. Otherwise, this latest update also added a ‘Create a Glympse Group’ wizard that should help speed up the process of creating a group and getting others invited to view/join. There were also some other unspecified improvements and bug fixes. SOURCE: Google Play Store, Marketwired |
| Ingress update brings inventory sorting and high res phone support Posted: 03 Jul 2013 11:23 AM PDT Round up your inventory Ingress players, because today Google and Niantic Labs just released a pretty big update for the augmented reality game. The still in a closed-beta game has a huge following, even though it drains your battery thanks to the ongoing GPS needs, but it’s quite fun. Today the game received tons of improvements, fancy animations, and much more.
If you’re one of the thousands that still love this game (I know a few die hards) you’ll be happy to see the update delivers quite a list of things users have been asking for. For one they’ve finally added inventory sorting controls. So you won’t have to fumble through the entire list. I know my brief stint with the game this aspect bothered me. Ingress also added some fancy portal hacking animations, a new fire mode for weapons, a better health indicator, and more. The changelog even lists better support for high-res displays. Whatever that means. Hopefully our 1080p devices will look a little better, but that’s doubtful. Get ready to attack portals in both the real world, and the virtual world inside Ingress with all these new tools and fire modes. The game is quite odd, but can be loads of fun once you put enough time and effort into it. It’s still in a closed beta, but you can grab the latest update right now from the link below. Who plays Ingress? Did you try it and give up, or are you still waiting for an invite? VIA: Play Store |
| C Spire Galaxy S III 4.1.2 Premium Suite rollout begins today Posted: 03 Jul 2013 11:14 AM PDT C Spire Wireless originally updated the Samsung Galaxy S III to Jelly Bean back in March. That update brought the device to Android 4.1.2 and while that was likely welcomed by C Spire users — there was something missing. The update that arrived in March did not contain the Premium Suite side of the update that was made available to Galaxy S III users with other carriers.
With that in mind, it looks like there is a bit of good news for those carrying a C Spire branded Galaxy S III. Your carrier has announced the latest update and it will be bringing those Premium Suite features. First and foremost — the update is coming over-the-air and will also be available using Kies. Those taking the latter approach should grab an USB cable and fire up Kies on the closest Mac or Windows computer. Alternatively, those needing to find Kies will be able to grab it on the Samsung website. Perhaps easier for most is grabbing the update over-the-air. If you are taking the OTA route you can sit back and wait for the update notification to arrive or grab your handset and navigate to Menu -> Settings -> About device -> System updates -> Check now to get things going. Now that you know the few options you have, lets get into what the Premium Suite features include. Some of those goodies include multi-window mode along with an improved gallery app, customizable notification bar, Page buddy, Facebook Lock Ticker, Paper Artist, Best Face, Sound Balance, Camera Easy Snap and more. That said, you can get a better idea of the full feature set and what it all means in the two videos here in this post. |
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