Saturday, January 26, 2013

Android Authority

Android Authority


RetroArch is an awesome (and free) multi-system emulator Android app

Posted: 26 Jan 2013 02:35 AM PST

Retroarch-emulator

The gaming scene on the Android platform has gotten better with age, but do you ever get that longing feeling of wanting to go back in time to play those PSX or GBA games from the good ol’ days? Hunting down and using a dozen or so emulator apps are doable, but not very convenient and cheap. This is where RetroArch comes in and sweeps you off your feet.

The RetroArch is a new emulator app that allows you to play thousands of classic games from a surprisingly large number of gaming platforms – and then some more. Here's the complete list:

  • PlayStation 1 (emulator: PCSX ReARMed)
  • Super Nintendo (emulator: SNES9x Next)
  • Nintendo Entertainment System (emulator: FCEUmm / NEStopia)
  • GameBoy / GameBoy Color (emulator: Gambatte)
  • GameBoy Advance (emulator: VBA Next)
  • Arcade (emulator: Final Burn Alpha)
  • Neo Geo Pocket Color (emulator: Mednafen NGP)
  • Virtual Boy (emulator: Mednafen VB)
  • Sega Genesis/Mega Drive (emulator: Genesis Plus GX)
  • Sega Master System/Sega Game Gear (emulator: Genesis Plus GX)
  • Sega CD / Mega CD (emulator: Genesis Plus GX)
  • PC Engine / PC Engine CD (emulator: Mednafen PCE Fast)
  • WonderSwan Color / Crystal (emulator: Mednafen Wonderswan)
  • Cave Story (game engine: NX Engine)
  • Doom 1 / Doom 2 / Ultimate Doom / Final Doom (game engine: prBoom)

The app also supports PnP detection of various USB and Bluetooth gamepads, real-time rewinding of games, advanced pixel/vertex shader, customizable touchscreen overlays, and more. One of the best things about RetroArch is that it's completely free with no nagging ads whatsoever!

If you're intrigued, grab the app now from Google Play. Let us know what you think of RetroArch below.

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Samsung’s dual-SIM GT-I8262D smartphone gets official in China

Posted: 26 Jan 2013 01:11 AM PST

Samsung-GTI8262D

Ever think what would the Android landscape be like without Samsung? While you ponder upon the question, here's another up and coming smartphone from Sammy that will only see the light of day in China, the GT-I8262D.

The Samsung GT-I8262D – first appeared last month – doesn't seem to have a name yet, but you can already find the phone on Samsung's website. Wondering what it's packing inside? Let's go through the sheet of specs now.

As is the case with most phones that are released in the country, the GT-I8262D comes with dual-SIM support. The phone sports a 4.3-inch display with 800 x 480 resolution and is powered by a dual-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm MSM8225 Snapdragon processor with Adreno 203 GPU.

The rest of the fairly unremarkable specs include 768MB of RAM, 4GB internal storage, microSD slot (up to 32GB), 5MP rear camera, WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, dual-SIM slot (WCDMA & EDGE), 1,700mAh battery, and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

If and when Samsung decides to put a name on the phone and announce pricing and launch details, we'll let you know.

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U.S. Cellular to offer the Galaxy Note 10.1 LTE soon

Posted: 26 Jan 2013 12:11 AM PST

Samsung Galaxy Note

The Galaxy Note 10.1 is expected to arrive in LTE flavor on Verizon pretty soon, with a Sprint variant to follow not long after – though the latter hasn't been officially confirmed. Now, it looks like another wireless carrier is going to offer the tablet.

Without so much as an announcement, the Galaxy Note 10.1 is already up on U.S. Cellular website, where it's currently listed for $499 – after rebate. However, you can't purchase the S Pen-equipped tablet just yet.

While the Galaxy Note 10.1 that's listed there doesn't seem to come with LTE connectivity, it only makes sense that the LTE variant will make its appearance soon. As pointed out by Unwired View, it is likely that the U.S. Cellular will be selling the LTE-enabled SCH-i925U model of the Galaxy Note 10.1. We should be hearing more about in the coming weeks.

For the uninitiated, the Note 10.1 comes with a 10.1-inch WXGA display with an active Wacom digitizer, a 1.4GHz quad-core processor,  2GB of RAM, 16GB internal storage, microSD slot, 5MP rear camera, 1.9MP front-facing camera, 7,000mAh battery, and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box.

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Concerned about the mobile unlocking ban? Sign the White House petition

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 08:47 PM PST

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I earlier wrote about what can be a potential issue among mobile users in the U.S. The Librarian of Congress has deemed it illegal to unlock mobile phones starting Saturday, January 26th, on the premise that the user does not actually own the software in the device, but is only a licensee. As such, you can no longer — legally, at least — have your phone unlocked unless you have finished your contract with your mobile carrier, or unless you have explicit permission from your service provider.

We got a message from a reader about something that can potentially change the minds of the authorities. If you’re familiar with the White House’s We the People Initiatives, citizens can submit petitions, which the government will be compelled to act upon, or at least decide upon, if you reach a certain number of signatures within 30 days. That used to be 25,000, but after the “Death Star” brouhaha, where “the people” wanted the U.S. government to establish an $852 quadrillion space-based weapon, the White House has recently raised the bar to 100,000.

Reader Sina Khanifar wrote us to about a We the People petition, which has already garnered 8,818 signatures as of this writing, and will require 91,182 more signatures by February 23, 2012.

You can sign the petition here: Make Unlocking Cell Phones Legal.

“We ask that the White House ask the Librarian of Congress to rescind this decision, and failing that, champion a bill that makes unlocking permanently legal,” says the petition.

Do note that there is no guarantee the White House will act favorably — as with the Death Star petition, which it shot down due to cost constraints, and because “[t]he administration does not support blowing up planets.” But at least the ruling will be subject to review and discussion. Head on to the source link to sign.

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HTC Mini: a small Bluetooth dumb phone to better use big-ass smartphones

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 06:05 PM PST

HTC-Mini-1

Since there are some pretty big smartphones out there, and since HTC has decided to go ahead and release a dumb phone to pair it with your big-ass smartphone, we'll just go ahead and paraphrase Jeff Foxworthy for this one: "In case you need a smaller phone to actually use your big-ass phone, then you might be a redneck."

Not that we're judging or anything, because it looks like the HTC Mini will be shipped by default with the Butterfly in China, so some buyers will be forced to get the unwanted accessory. Yes, this is not a joke.

We have no idea what HTC was thinking with this one, but the HTC Mini is a Bluetooth accessory we hope one won't have to buy. The thing looks like a good-old dumb phone and it's expected to help you make better use of your large smartphone.

But if you find 5-inch, or bigger, smartphone is too much of a hassle in day-to-day phone call use, and you need an HTC Mini to talk on the thing, then you could probably go for something smaller, but equally smart. Bigger isn't always better, no matter what they tell you!

In addition to Bluetooth, the HTC Mini comes with NFC support and the device also acts as a remote control when the smartphone is connected to a TV and can be used as a camera shutter trigger but also as a Butterfly finder, in case you lose it (seriously).

Is this why HTC is having a tough time making serious money off of Android device sales? You know, because it's investing money in products that should have never been approved? Now, if this was a smartwatch, we’d be telling a different story…

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Galaxy Nexus reaches end-of-life with Verizon

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 04:56 PM PST

banner-galaxy-nexus-i9250-minimalistic-kernel-121220

Not only is the Nexus 4 out of stock with most retailers, Google included, but its predecessor has reached end-of-life with Verizon.

So if you were planning to purchase an affordable on-contract Galaxy Nexus from Big Red to make up for the Nexus 4 scarcity, you may have a tough time following through with your plan.

After being launched in very-late 2011 – much later than Android fans expected it to hit Big Red – the device quickly became the handset of choice for plenty of Android users that wanted access to Google's latest Android version.

We have no idea how many Galaxy Nexus units Verizon sold to date, although we do know the number is not comparable with other Android more popular devices and that it's minuscule when pitted against iPhone sales, at least according to Samsung.

If there's one reason to be annoyed with Verizon's Galaxy Nexus though, is the fact that the carrier managed to screw up the timeliness of the Android updates the Galaxy Nexus was supposed to receive.

What handset will you be moving to from the Galaxy Nexus?

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T-Mobile Nexus 4 out of stock… again

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 04:28 PM PST

Nexus-4-videotron-canada

Stop me if you've heard this before, but the Nexus 4 is out of stock. I'm not talking about the Google Play Store, which is one place you still can't buy the device from no matter how hard Google and LG are working to pump out more devices.

I'm talking about T-Mobile, the fourth largest carrier in the U.S. and the only one that stocks Google's fourth-gen Nexus. Well, it doesn't stock it anymore as it has sold it out again, but in theory, it's the only U.S. carrier selling the handset from time to time.

Just a few days ago we told you that T-Mobile stores were receiving Nexus 4 stock, but it looks like the new units ran out almost as fast as they came in. We have no idea when the handset will be back in stock with the mobile operator, but we're certainly keeping our ear to the ground for more news.

Meanwhile, if you're going to Canada and/or Korea soon, you may be able to pick one up from Fido and Videotron, and SK Telecom and Korea Telecom, respectively.

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Ubuntu smartphone to launch without app store, won’t support Android apps

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 04:11 PM PST

ubuntu-phone

One of the most exciting announcements of the beginning of the year is the Ubuntu phone – not to be confused with Ubuntu for Android. Canonical is ready to make a serious play for the mobile business – at least part of it – that's dominated by Android and iOS, with Windows Phone and BlackBerry left to battle for third place.

And the Ubuntu phone certainly looks like an interesting alternative. The new mobile platform will surely appeal to current PC users that choose Ubuntu as their desktop OS, but not only.

As you already know, any Android device that runs Google's OS will be able to run Ubuntu, as long as you'll be willing to perform the installing part, and the Galaxy Nexus could soon get its first Ubuntu phone code.

Meanwhile we learn via Engadget that the Ubuntu smartphone will not have an application store when it launches. That may sound like a deal breaker for some, but fret not, as an app store is in the works and will surely be available to users down the road. Here's what Canonical product manager Richard Collins had to say on the matter:

In terms of our first go-to-market product strategy, the intention is not to have an application store full of ready-made applications that are there to download. We have a very definite approach in terms of addressing a very important part of the market where users are primarily interested in being able to use a core set of applications.

Furthermore, in case you hope you'll be able to install your Android apps on Ubuntu, you'll have to know that Canonical won't support that. The company is ready to assist developers in porting their apps to Ubuntu, but it won't offer a magic tool to let users immediately run Android apps, as they are, on Ubuntu:

Many Android developers already use Ubuntu as their desktop OS and we have a very close affinity with them. We intend to encourage them to make their Android applications run on Ubuntu, but we won’t engineer any middleware for running Android apps. Developers are intelligent and capable enough to make their apps run on our devices. We have an active initiative right now to directly help them achieve this.

Anyone already excited to get their hands on an Ubuntu smartphone?

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7 sizzling new Android apps of the week (January 25 issue)

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 02:00 PM PST

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It’s party night tonight and here in Android Authority we party with the hottest new apps from the Google Play Store. This weekender special is a potpourri of apps designed to make your week fun, relaxing, and most of all, convenient.

This week, we feature apps to help you keep healthy, stay social, and be creative. As they say, nothing beats a healthy man or woman than a healthy and happy Android user. But, don’t let me keep you waiting — here are these week’s picks of 7 new Android apps.

Headset SMS Reader

Whenever I use my Android phone as a music player, I usually leave it inside my pocket. But, when a message arrives, I have to take out my phone to read my messages. Fortunately, I won’t need to do that with azendpowa’s Headset SMS Reader app. This app automatically reads out the contact’s name and text messages. You can also set the app to read messages only when earphones are connected. With this app, I can now leave my phone inside my pocket and listen to incoming messages. You can also add a mini widget on the homescreen to quickly enable/disable the app. The ads-supported Headset SMS Reader app can be downloaded for free. Although the app has ads, ads only appear on the app’s menu and won’t bother you.


Time Tracker

Do you want to track the time of you spend on daily activities such as exercise, sitting in front of the computer, or working? Use the Time Tracker app by Thomas Gallinari and track your time with ease. All you need to do is list all your activities in the app. When you’re about to perform that activity, start the timer. When you’re done, just stop the timer for that activity and store your record in the app. The app also shows your activity history for the day or even for the last 30 days. This app is useful for personal use or in office settings. You can start tracking your time for free with the ad-free Time Tracker app.


Image Editor

I just love taking pictures and thanks to the latest smartphone technology, I can take clear photos that I can easily edit. Speaking of editing, SkySoftware’s Image Editor allows you to edit photos and images on your phone. The app also has a camera feature, allowing you to edit a recently captured photo. With Image Editor, you can add effects, shapes, and layers on your image. You can also resize the image or crop it to the desired dimensions. Image Editor also allows you to draw and use your drawings as your wallpaper. The app takes getting used to and lags a little when you’re drawing. It is also ad-supported but the ads don’t get in your way while you’re editing.


Omegle Chat App

Meet new friends while you’re off your PC with GreatDroidAppz’s Omegle Chat App. This chat application lets you connect anonymously with strangers who have the same interests as you do. The app features a clean and easy interface. You can start chatting with a random stranger by clicking on the Start a Chat button or add your interests to help the app look for a conversation partner with the same interests. You can also authorize the app to access your Facebook likes instead of manually typing in your interests. Not up to talking? You can post a question and watch two strangers discuss their answers. Omegle is certainly a fun way to interact and meet new people on the go.


LifeKraze

Staying motivated can be tough when you’re on your own, but thanks to LifeKraze developed by devs of the same name, you can feel motivated just by posting your thoughts and accomplishments. Read through what other members of the LifeKraze community are thinking of or are accomplishing and give them Highfives or reward their efforts using points. You only have 200 points to give every week, so give them to the people who deserve them. Ten points means “good job!” while fifty points means “amazing!” The more you post your accomplishments on LifeKraze, the more chances you’ll get to earn points in return and earn badges.


MealMonkey

Your diet can definitely make or break your fitness goals. You might not notice it, but what you’re having each meal might not exactly be healthy. On the other hand, who wants to count calories? We have our own diets anyway, why would we want to adhere to what other people describe as healthy? MealMonkey, developed by ActiveHealth Management, however, doesn’t want to shape you up by having you count calories or follow someone else’s diet. Instead, you’ll be the judge of your own meals. Is that quarter pounder burger and mound of fries healthy to you? Then indicate its level of healthiness on a slider. You can track how healthy your meals are with a chart so you can see for yourself if you’re falling below your meal healthiness goal.


Light Sleep Alarm Clock

A good night’s sleep doesn’t necessarily mean a full eight hours, but it’s actually waking up during a light sleep cycle. There are a number of alarm clock apps on the Google Play Store that measure how well you sleep using your phone’s accelerometer, but that means keeping your phone on your bed and risking knocking it off to the floor. Light Sleep Alarm Clock by vanangelov only needs you to put your phone on your bedstand and uses your phone’s microphone to monitor any sound changes around it. The alarm rings a little before your set time, when it detects that you’re starting to stir, and wakes you up gently. Once you wake, you can see the actual time you spent in bed and the time you spent sleeping. The app will even show you your sleep efficiency. The Light Sleep Alarm Clock is ad-supported but you only see the ads when you set the alarm and when the alarm goes off.


Grab these 7 new apps now while they are still sizzling. What apps have you tried? What app do find most useful? Do you have some fresh Android apps to recommend? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment and vote for your favorite apps in the polls below. Stay tuned for next week’s serving of new apps, only here in Android Authority.

(with contributions from Alvin YbaƱez and Dan Evans; banner image courtesy of Shutterstock.com)

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

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Polarbit Games’ Cracking Sands makes a splash in the Google Play Store

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 12:37 PM PST

cracking sands

It has been a long road of development for Polarbit Games, the team behind the Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart series and Konami Krazy Racing. Their kart racing game, Cracking Sands, has finally made a splash on the Google Play Store after nearly a year in development. The premise of Cracking Sands is easy to understand — start driving and pray you have the bigger gun.

Customization is a strong point in Cracking Sands. You can customize your very own kart using a wide array of parts. Just about anything on your kart can be switched out with something else, including your character’s outfit. Guns can even be placed on the kart to make sure you’re always in first place! Cracking Sands is much more violent than your average friendly Mario Kart race.

To ensure you stay in first place, a variety of tools are available to use at your discretion. From land mines to deadly machine guns, you will be able to take out your opponent with ease and win yourself the race. It is a lot harder than it sounds though. Racing in a straight line and attacking your opponents is no easy task. Regardless, what fun would Cracking Sands be if you could not play with your friends?

While Cracking Sands comes with some fun singleplayer levels, the game also features online play, which makes it worth the price. If you’re interested in picking up the game, you can get it off of the Google Play Store for $4.99.

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Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans


Chrome for Android to finally get password sync soon

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 03:27 PM PST

One thing holding many people back from switching to Google Chrome for Android is the absence of password synchronization. Folks wouldn’t be as peeved as they are if the feature wasn’t already available in the iOS version of the browser, but when Google’s own operating system doesn’t get the same tender love and care as its biggest competitor you begin to wonder what gives.

Well, following Google’s explanation that it takes more work and time to implement the feature in the Android version due to the way user accounts work in the OS, we finally have word that the feature is being worked on and should be in a beta build near you soon. New code has been committed to the Chromium project that will finally allow us to sync our passwords to our Android devices.

With everything drawn up and ready to go, we should be seeing this feature in a beta channel update at some point in February, though it’s not wise to hold us to that estimation. Regardless of when the exact landing date is, though, we’re excited to see Chrome for Android making progress and getting one of the most important features for those of us who take password management seriously.

This saga makes us wonder if Google can eventually reach its goal of wanting to get Chrome on all platforms synced up on the development cycle. If it takes Google months longer to implement a feature in one version of an operating system opposed to another then it can’t guarantee that each platform will be updated at the same time.

Not all features will have to lag as far behind as password sync did, but Google’s desire to “do it right” for each individual platform will keep it from being able to get a more uniform update schedule going. Unless you want development on other platforms to be held back for the sake of identical updates and feature sets, this is something we’ll have to deal with for the time being. But don’t let my Debbie Downer commentary deter you from the excitement this news should bring — go nuts and celebrate!

[via Google Code, Chromium, thanks PhaseBurn!]

HTC Mini is a mini phone… for your smartphone [VIDEO]

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 02:37 PM PST

The folks at HTC realize that some people aren’t comfortable with using a huge phone. With the explosion of the “phablet” market in recent months, many folks are steering well clear as they fear that holding a 5+ inch slate up to their heads will make them look more ridiculous than a bear dressed up in a cowboy outfit.

Well, in order to make the HTC J Butterfly, the international version of the DROID DNA, more attractive to those who prefer to talk on smaller devices the OEM has started offering the HTC Mini. It’s a small, NFC-equipped Bluetooth handset that is meant to accompany your smartphone. It’s built like an ordinary cordless candybar phone that you might find inside a home, but it’s actually just a glorified Bluetooth handset.

Some people might not think it makes much sense to carry yet another deice to solve the problem of the original being too cumbersome, but if you simply want something more comfortable to fit into your jeans while the phone sits inside a bag or purse then I guess this is for you. Unfortunately it looks like the device is exclusive to China for now, but hopefully it gains enough traction and attention to get HTC to offer it in all markets.

It sounds as if HTC’s willing to bundle these with the purchase of new units instead of requiring separate purchases, so if you happen to be in the market for a a J Butterfly in the near future then you might as well ask about how you can get one of these to go along with it. You might not be able to understand everything in the video above, but it’s easy enough to follow along — hit the play button and give it a quick viewing.

[via MicGadget]

US Cellular to sell the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 soon

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 01:56 PM PST

The ninjas at US Cellular seem to have confirmed that the regional carrier would soon be carrying the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1. It’s a bit odd to see a device pop-up on a carrier’s website with a formal announcement from them, but that is exactly what has happened here — you can see for yourself right here, if you care.

Unfortunately we don’t have any information in regards to when we can expect it, but it looks like the usual price of $499.99 with instant rebates will hold. It’s also worth noting that this early listing doesn’t make mention of any 4G LTE radios inside of the tablet, but evidence does exist suggesting US Cellular will introduce a model with radios compatible with its high speed wireless data network.

Another unfortunate element of the spec sheet is the inclusion of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. As we know, Samsung has started the Jelly Bean rollout for the WiFi version of the Note 10.1, and it brings with it some much needed performance enhancements and improvements. We’d hoped any new editions of the tablet coming out would come with the update out of the box, but unless this is just outdated information then that doesn’t look to be the case here.

Still, it wouldn’t be a bad purchase for anyone looking for a data-enabled tablet to haul around. It features a quad-core 1.4GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, a 10.1 inch Wacom-enabled display with S Pen support and more. We’ll be reaching out to US Cellular to find out when, exactly, we can expect this device to hit, and if 4G LTE will eventually be coming along for the ride.

[via Unwired View]

Bid farewell to the Verizon Galaxy Nexus

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 01:27 PM PST

Welp, folks, the ride is over. The Verizon Samsung Galaxy Nexus — the first of its kind, in fact — has finally reached end-of-life status. The Galaxy Nexus was the third Nexus device to grace the airwaves of the world, but it was the first Nexus device Verizon decided to try its hand at. While that hand was very far from perfect, the device was still decent success for the carrier and it made folks hopeful for the future of truly open devices on Big Red’s network.

Unfortunately, a few glaring issues plagued its existence. For starters, because Verizon’s LTE technology was proprietary Google was forced to go through their pipeline for firmware updates. The promise of a Nexus device was always that users would get updates fast and first, but updates for Verizon’s version were delayed weeks and months at a time due to the testing and certification process they have to go through. While those of us keen on rooting and ROM’ing devices didn’t have much of an issue with that, it’s clear to see why others didn’t take quite as kindly.

Another big bruise on an otherwise attractive package was Verizon’s need to control access to the device’s secure element. The NFC chip housed the element, and it’s something that is needed in order to allow full access to Google Wallet’s NFC payment features. For some reason, Verizon wouldn’t let Google — of all people — get that deep. This obviously led many to believe Verizon simply didn’t want Google Wallet competing with its own payments solution ISIS, as the latter continues to be the only service with access to the secure element.

It’s hard to say how Google felt about the way Verizon handled the Galaxy Nexus without being able to sit in on those uber private board meetings and conference calls, but we imagine it left a very sour taste in the search giant’s mouth. The future of the Nexus brand on Verizon is uncertain as a result, and although it looks like the carrier might still be getting a Nexus-esque phone (if recent Motorola X rumors are to be believed) it still won’t quite be the same.

The Verizon Galaxy Nexus will live on through sites like eBay and Craigslist and will continue to be backed by the most passionate development community there is, but don’t expect to walk into a Verizon store and see it paraded around any longer.

[Verizon via Droid-Life]

Google Glass audio to be delivered through “headphoneless” headphones?

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 12:59 PM PST

Google’s Project Glass has been an interesting thing to follow. We first heard about the wearable technology back at Google I/O last year, and while the company’s initial vision was little more than a concept at the time, it has come a long way. We haven’t seen a huge influx of actual use cases outside of taking photos/video and sharing them to Google+ just yet, but perhaps all of that will change once Google holds its private developers’ event (though, considering those attending will be under strict NDA we might not hear about anything that will be discussed at the workshop).

Since then, many different patents have been uncovered to give us an idea of what kind of features Google might look to add between now and whenever these things are ready for retail. One such patent was a laser-projected keyboard that might allow someone to type or dial a phone number by manipulating a virtual keyboard on their hand. It sounds crazy, but projected keyboard technology already exists and it’s not outside the realm of possibility.

Another very interesting patent has been uncovered as of late in regards to Google Glass — “headphoneless” headphones. This patent, filed in October 2011, describes a system where a built-in vibration transducer will be used to create an indirect bone conduction speaker. In English, this means that a vibration motor within the frames of the glasses resting on a bone just in front of your ear could be used to send audio signals straight to your inner-ear.

This sort of tech would solve the issue of audio for the purposes of, say, a phone call or listening to turn-by-turn walking directions without having to wear actual earphones or make use of a privacy-killing external speaker. The easy way out would be to use frame-mounted ear buds, but it sounds like Google really wants this tech to be the 9th wonder of the world. Whether or not something like this ends up making it into Google Glass is still up for debate, but the existence of such a patent lets us know that Google’s at least thinking about it, and that’s all that we need to get excited.

We’re expecting Google to give us an update on the project at Google I/O in May — which we’ll be on hand for, of course — and we’re still trying to see if we can deliver any updates to you guys from the developer workshop taking place next month. Either way, Google’s looking to drop quite the bombshell in 2013 and you can bet we’ll be smack-dab in the center of the blast radius to absorb all the exciting bits we can.

[USPTO via Patent Bolt]

White House petition started to combat phone unlock law

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 12:00 PM PST

Did our story regarding the Library of Congress’s revision to the DMCA law to make the unlocking of phones illegal put a bad taste in your mouth last night? Well, here’s a bit of toothpaste to try: why not petition the White House to see what their stance on the matter is and if they’d be willing to do anything about it? A petition was set up on the new White House Petition site, a tool that the current administration has given the American people to make their voices heard.

The difference between this petition and the thousands you see on, say, Change.org is that the White House administration has promised an answer to any legit petition that has a certain number of digital signatures. This particular petition was made while the threshold was 100,000 signatures, and it has about 5,200 as of the time of this writing. This promise was tested a short while ago with the request that a death star be built — and, sure enough, the White House did respond in quite the geeky nature.

I should note that even if the petition does make it to 100,000 signatures it doesn’t mean anything is guaranteed to change. All this guarantees is a response, but sometimes even that is more valuable than nothing at all. We’d love to see this law be abolished in the very near future. The Library of Congress might not have totally ill intent, but in a time where cellular carriers already have a bit too much control on their side it’s easy to understand why users would be upset.

Anyone from the likes of Canada, Europe and Australia would come to America and gag at the wireless practices in this country. Between high contract prices, overpriced rate plans and an absolute mess of a spectrum and technology situation you might liken the scenario to a bad Steven Seagal flick — sure, the characters and plot (phones and LTE) look nice, but at the end of the day the star of the show is a flabby old man past his prime (carriers) with below average acting skills still trying to pretend that he knows martial arts.

Enough of my blabbering, though — go ahead and sign that petition, and let’s see if we can’t get someone from the White House to explain to us why carriers are afforded yet another thumb to pin us down with. Head here to get started.

Google holding Project Glass Developer Conference attendees to strict NDA

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 11:33 AM PST

If Google pulls any big surprises at next weeks Project Glass Developer Conference, we won’t be hearing about them. Google is holding all attendees to the strictest of non-discolure agreements, asking that anything learned as part of events occurring in New York and San Francisco not be made known to the general public.

To accomplish this, Google is requiring all registered developers to use special Google+ accounts to test the features of the Android-powered glasses, lest they post anything to their personal profiles. Any photos or video captured at the event become the property of Google, as the agreement states that those in attendance “waive any moral rights you have and agree not to exercise them.”

But it does sound like developers will be able to take home their Glass preview units based on certain language in the agreement. A disclaimer warns of the dangers of using Glass during real world activities such as driving or playing sports.

Phandroid registered several member of our staff, including our lead developer, for the Glass Explorer program. We have contacted Google for further clarification on the NDA in relation to media coverage of future Glass events.

[via Mashable]

Nexus 4 again out of stock at T-Mobile

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 07:41 AM PST

The Nexus 4, which only recently went back on sale via T-Mobile’s online store, is once again out of stock through the carrier’s web portal. The quickly sell out can no doubt be attributed to voracious Android fans looking to get their hands on the notoriously hard to find device.

While the Nexus 4 wasn’t anticipated to sell near the level of phones like the Galaxy S3 and iPhone, it is clear that LG and Google grossly underestimated demand. Representatives from both sides say they are working hard to address the issues. A backlog of orders and even more customers waiting for the chance to make a purchase are making it quite difficult. Just imagine how many phones the two companies could have sold by now if they actually had any to sell.

[via TMobile | Thanks, Samarth!]

HTC debuts Desire U for China and Taiwan

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 07:10 AM PST

HTC’s Desire line lives on with the announcement of the Desire U, a low-end smartphone headed to China and Taiwan. The Android 4.0 smartphone features a 4-inch display, 1GHz single-core processor, and 5MP camera along with 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, and microSD support.

Exact pricing for the Desire U was not announced, but expect the phone to command something on the cheaper side considering the specs. At this point, there seem to be no plans to release this one in other regions, though it would make sense for other emerging markets.

[via Engadget]

More Note 8.0 pictures show off S Pen support

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 06:15 AM PST

For the seeing-is-belieivng types out there, here are a few followup pictures to yesterday’s first look at the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 showing off the tablet’s S Pen. From the looks of things, the stylus will get a slight external makeover to fit the Note 8.0′s design, but while Samsung will almost certainly bake in some new functionality, it’s not being shown here.

Otherwise it’s the same Note 8.0 we have been seeing in renders and leaks. Quad-core CPU, 1280×800 8-inch display, and a launch suggested for Mobile World Congress. We’d say the veracity of this particular device is all but certain at this point.

[Frandroid via PocketNow]

Samsung announced rugged Galaxy Xcover 2

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 05:15 AM PST

Rumored for the past couple weeks, Samsung has made their Galaxy Xcover 2 official. It’s an Ice Cream Sandwich device with a 4-inch WVGA display, and as the followup to the original Xcover, you bet your buttons this latest entry is just as rugged. The Xcover 2 can withstand the perils of being submerged in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes.

Powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor, the Xcover 2 features GPS and GLONASS and comes with Cardio Trainer Pro pre-installed. If you’re phone is going to be rugged might as well use it to track fitness or do some geocaching. A 5MP camera with VGA front-facing camera round out the notable specs.

No release date or pricing information was revealed at this time, but it’s a bit surprising we heard anything at all. We fully expected Samsung to unveil the Xcover 2 at Mobile World Congress at the end of February. Their eagerness to show off the phone means we might see it launch before the global trade show, but we still expect the handset to be on site along with the rest of Samsung’s 2013 line.

Samsung GALAXY Xcover 2

January 25, 2013

SEOUL, Korea – January 25, 2013 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, today unveiled the Samsung Xcover 2, the ideal smartphone for active explorers who are enjoying outdoor lifestyles and seeking a durable mobile device with essential smartphone capabilities.

• The GALAXY Xcover 2 is optimized to endure against the most rugged outdoor conditions, whether you’re at work or
play. Protected against the elements, it is dust and sand proof. It’s even water resistant to a depth of one meter for up to
30 minutes (IP67 Certified). You can now take photos under water with the direct camera key, hold on tight to your
device with the strap holder and not worry about dropping your phone as the battery cover lock gives added protection.

• Pre-downloaded Google map data, an enhanced GPS + GLONASS which shortens the satellite signal detection by
up to 20% to tracks your location more accurately, LED Flash next to the camera which can be used like a torch and
a huge battery capacity of 570 hours(1,700mAh), making the GALAXY Xcover 2 is the best possible smartphone partner
for outdoor exploration.

• In addition, the Cardio Trainer Pro workout application will also help you achieve your fitness goals by creating a
tailored training program, checking your progress and recording your track and speed.

• For everyday, users can expect the powerful performance characteristic of a Samsung smartphone with the robust
GALAXY Xcover 2 shell. Its vivid 4.0″ (100.8mm) WVGA display provides a clear and wide viewing experience,
a 5-megapixel camera and VGA front camera that will let you record precious moments in high resolution,
Bluetooth® v 4.0 gives a better connection that consumes less power and detects devices 50 meters away.
An impressive 1GHz dual core processor powers the core of the GALAXY Xcover 2, which ensures
a fast operating speed for seamless multitasking, faster webpage loading and softer UI transitions.

• Samsung GALAXY Xcover 2 runs Android™ 4.1 (Jelly Bean) enabling faster and smoother screen transitions and
providing an enhanced user interface featuring a new, easier-to-use notification panel. As a premium Samsung
Android™ phone, the device is packed with a series of innovative features and services to boost performance and
the overall user experience. The intuitive Motion UI understands your movements to shake and update or turn over
to mute; data can be synced, backed up and restored with S-Cloud; S Voice lets users control the phone using
their voice, allowing you to see the weekly weather forecast, the contact number you’re trying to find or even take
a picture as you speak; Best Shot recommends the best shot from a series of photos; Smart Stay recognizes
whether the user is looking at the screen to dim the screen accordingly. Users can also enjoy all the benefits of
Samsung Hubs, including the latest versions of Readers Hub, Video Hub, Game Hub and Music Hub.

LifeKraze lets you earn points and rewards for completing everyday tasks

Posted: 24 Jan 2013 08:55 PM PST

In the wild, wild west of today — that is, the internet — there are a ton of companies looking to cash in on the next big idea. Social networks have been a lucrative venture for many, though only the strong seem to survive longer than a year. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Google+ have most of the attention, and a bunch of copycats attempt to emulate these formulas with very little success.

Every now and then, a company decides to truly innovate in the social arena, and I happen to believe LifeKraze is one such company. While this social network is more niche in focus, it is a fresh idea that has me excited to add yet another distraction I don’t need to my already hectic life. LifeKraze is a bit more than just a distraction, though.

The purpose is to post about the different goals you attain and accomplishments you achieve, and let all your nosy friends know about it. They can give you as little or as many points as they want to for that goal, so if you feel like your “snooze button” friend waking up in the morning is worthy of 50 points (a pretty big amount, relatively speaking) you can award them that. 

It’s not just about getting the points, though — it’s what you can do with them that makes this even more worthwhile. You can turn your points in for discounts and offers from the likes of Skullcandy, North Face and more brands of varying types. Not everything will be appealing to everyone, but new deals and rewards are added all the time to keep you motivated in trying to rack up points.

A weekly recap of stats — including the amount of points given and received, high fives given and received, and the amount of accomplishments you have — keep you willed and motivated not only to keep accomplishing tasks of your own, but to award the accomplishments of others.

Of course, without an ample amount of friends and family on the service it will be a little hard to get into, but with a little effort it’s easy to see how LifeKraze can become the next great social network for many people. Get started with the Android app over at the Google Play Store.

 

AT&T adds 780,000 subscribers in Q4

Posted: 24 Jan 2013 08:00 PM PST

AT&T, like seemingly everyone else, has released its end-year financial results for 2012. The fourth quarter of that year saw Ma Bell adding 780,000 new subscribers to its books. While that number seems a tad modest compared to Verizon’s 2.1 million postpaid additions, it’s still a pretty nice feat AT&T can be proud of.

AT&T sold 10.2 million smartphones last quarter, but Apple’s iPhone accounted for an astounding 8.6 million units. We’d like to believe the other 1.6 million were mostly Android phones, but there was no word on those particular numbers. Of all phones sold to postpaid customers, 89% were smartphones — that’s not a bad statistic to throw into a bullet point list at all.

Jumping into the dollar signs like Scrooge McDuck would into a pile of gold, AT&T is reporting $17.6 billion in wireless revenues for the quarter, but ended up losing $3.9 billion. AT&T says folks shouldn’t worry, though, as those losses are due to a number of different factors. Namely, Hurricane Sandy-related expenses, pension restructuring and more are said to have affected the pockets of HTC, circumstances we imagine aren’t normal.

On the year, AT&T still came out on top as it profited $7.3 billion and added 3.8 million subscribers. More than two-thirds of AT&T’s postpaid smartphone customers are on tiered data plans, a win for the carrier considering how much resistance there is to the eventual death of unlimited data.

AT&T doesn’t have the ability to call itself the number one carrier in terms of postpaid customers, but we’re sure the execs up in those deep Texas offices don’t mind the commanding second place lead they have over the likes of T-Mobile, Sprint and US Cellular. Click on through for the full financial results.

Android Central

Android Central


HTC Butterfly to have companion 'Mini' handset available in China

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 03:20 PM PST

Android Central

HTC looks poised to launch a companion handset device in the Chinese market to go along with the new HTC Butterfly (aka Droid DNA.) The Mini, which looks similar to many candybar phones of yesteryear, will pair with Bluetooth via NFC to your smartphone and let you make and receive calls, view call logs and calendar information on its monochrome screen. HTC apparently envisions the Mini being used for more than just calls though, acting as a remote for when the Butterfly is plugged into a TV and helping users find their Butterfly when it is lost.

At first glance we're not so sure how adding a second handset device makes anything easier on the consumer, because at some point you just start running out of pocket space, but you could easily see this as an accessory for around the house rather than when you're out and about. Come home, plop your phone on the wireless charger at the door, and just have the Mini with you to make/receive calls. It could easily be used as a home phone replacement. Let's also remember that different markets demand different features from phones, and this really could be appealing to Chinese users.

Because this looks to be a China-specific accessory, we wouldn't be surprised if it never made its way to other countries. It's interesting to see HTC experimenting with different accessories though, and we don't know what development of the Mini may lead to in the future for other markets around the world.

Source: Slashgear



A first look at Blitz Brigade - an upcoming multi-player shooter from Gameloft

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 02:49 PM PST

This one's not for the kids -- Blitz Brigade is set in WWII, and is a team-based multiplayer shooter (it reminds me of Battlefield Heros) with plenty of action, and plenty of graphic imagery. We don't know much more than that, only that it's coming to Android and iOS soon. 

From the trailer, it looks like it will offer plenty of fun and plenty of blood, which should make it a hit. We'll know more when Gameloft shares a little. Until then, check out the video and imagine this one on your Android tablet.



Use Instagram to win a pair of Motorola S11-Flex wireless headphones

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 02:04 PM PST

Motorola contest

Motorola is running a little contest on Instagram, and the prize is a kick ass pair of S11-FLEX HD wireless headphones. They're promoting the contest as a little extra motivation while working out to help folks keep their New Years' resolutions (the S11-FLEX headset is sweatproof), but entering to win them is strictly a no-pain affair.

Just fire up Instagram on your phone (all the cool kids will use Android!), post a picture showing how wires get in the way and use the #howiflex tag. The contest ends January 31. It looks like an easy way to get a great Bluetooth headset, so give it a shot. You can grab Instagram from the Google Play link above if you need it, and you can find more information at Motorola's Facebook page.

Source: Motorola



WindowsAndroid is ICS running on your Windows box, we go mouse-on

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 01:15 PM PST

There are a few options available to those wanting to run Android apps on a Windows machine. The first, and oldest, is the official Android emulator; there's also Bluestacks, which has been around for a while. Today another contender emerges -- WindowsAndroid, from Chinese startup SocketeQ. Unlike the emulator, it runs Android natively on your Windows PC, and unlike Bluestacks it brings to life the full Android OS, not just individual apps. Essentially, it's full-blown open-source Android running natively, in a window, on Microsoft's desktop OS.

read more



SF Launcher Alpha brings a little piece of Google Now to the homescreen

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 11:51 AM PST

Android Central

Back at Google I/O last year, our very own Phil Nickinson posed the question -- might Google Now become an Android home screen? Well, a new custom launcher in the Play Store brings a little taste of that to life. SF Launcher Alpha comes from the same developer who brought us the Fixed 4.2 Clock Widget, and integrates the now familiar Google Now images with a card style layout for apps and widgets. 

The top image is currently limited to that of San Francisco, London or the generic Google Now image, but will change with the time of day from dawn through day into dusk. Below it sits a widget 'card' and while only one widget is on show at any time, it scrolls so you can add as many as you like. Below that sits your favorite apps, the number displayed is customizable and you choose from scratch -- when you first start the launcher this card is empty. 

Scrolling in from the left brings up the settings menu where the theme can be chosen along with numerous different visual setting tweaks, as well as controlling the behavior of tapping on the clock and top image. This can be customized to launch search, the stock clock app, quick settings, among others. 

Scrolling in from the right brings up your full app drawer, all the while maintaining the top image and clock. It's a simple idea, and a simple launcher, but is definitely something different to other launchers we've seen. It's still in the early Alpha stages, but is available to download for free from the Google Play Store now. Click on past the break for a quick walkthrough video.

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Sony releases Jelly Bean alpha for Xperia T

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 10:41 AM PST

Android Central

The official Sony Xperia T Jelly Bean update might still be a few months away, but in order to give developers a sneak peek at what's ahead, Sony has released an early alpha ROM for the device. The Xperia T Jelly Bean alpha can be flashed using Sony's own flash tool, after unlocking the Xperia T via the official bootloader unlock utility.

A few caveats apply here -- radio functionality like Bluetooth, Wifi and mobile data is not included (likely for regulatory reasons), nor are Google apps. In addition, Sony says the UI has not yet been updated to reflect the final look and feel of the Xperia Jelly Bean firmware -- i.e. what's on the new Xperia Z. And crucially, if you unlock your Xperia T and apply this alpha ROM, you won't be able to update to the official Jelly Bean firmware once it's released. So this ROM really is one for advanced users and adventurous devs only.

Hopefully today's release will accelerate the progress of Jelly Bean-based custom ROMs for the Xperia T. If nothing else, we'd expect this to be hacked into something with working radios and Google Apps in a relatively short space of time. If you possess both a Sony Xperia T and a strong sense of adventure, you can find full instructions over at the source link.

Source: Sony Developer World Blog



Quento turns basic math into a fun time-waster

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 10:39 AM PST

Quento for Android

Look, I'm not a math guy. Ask anybody. My wife. Any one of my grade-school teachers. My first-grade daughter. My 2-year-old daughter. They know I don't do math worth a damn. So what am I doing playing a game all morning that involves adding and subtracting? Moreover, why am I still playing it now?

Fresh off a successful launch of iOS, Quento has come to Android.

read more



Temple Run 2 - a notable update to a fantastic game

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 09:03 AM PST

Temple Run 2

Temple Run 2, a sequel to the vastly popular original, sticks with the same format and proven gameplay but makes notable improvements across the game. If you somehow avoided playing the original game, it's a pretty simple concept to get ahold of. You're running away from some scary beasts down a complex level of twists and turns, and you are trying to collect as many coins and perks as you can along the way. Swipe up to jump, down to slide, across to turn and lean the device left or right to stay out of trouble.

Temple Run 2 has the same set of controls as the original, but the levels are spiced up a bit, breaking free of the original combination of straight runs and 90-degree turns. There are rope zip lines to use, and more sweeping turns and curves to navigate through. All of the extra flare helps keep the game interesting, which is important for something that can usually become quite repetitive. The settings menu has a bit of a visual overhaul as well, with easier to use buttons and a better character selector. The store is still here to buy coins (via in-app purchase,) but the game is still free to play and the purchases aren't completely necessary if you want to keep things cheap.

This game is a worthy successor to the original, building on what seems like a classic platform less than a year after its Android release. I've been playing quite a bit on both a phone and tablet with absolutely no hiccups or issues, even at max graphical settings. The animations, sounds and gameplay are all top-notch and set a standard for what every game should feel like when you play it.

Stick around after the break for a video walkthrough and some gameplay of the new version.

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Latest Chrome Beta allows tinkering with experimental features

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 08:05 AM PST

Android Central

The Google Chrome Beta for Android has once again been updated, this time with a singular but interesting change. The new version 25.0.1364.47 enables access to chrome://flags, a hidden menu page that allows all sorts of experimental, work-in-progress features to be switched on (at your own risk).

Among these, as Googler Brandon Jones points out on Google+, is support for WebGL, a JavaScript API for rendering accelerated graphics. Many of the features on the list aren't supported on the Android branch yet, but there are quite a few that may be of interest to web developers and the hacking/tweaking crowd.

If you're already running Chrome Beta, you can grab the latest version from the Play Store app. If not, you can find it at the Google Play link above.

Source: Google Chrome Releases



Nexus 4 headed to Fido in Canada next month

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 07:41 AM PST

Android Central

Hot on the heels of Videotron's announcement yesterday, rival Canadian network Fido has announced that it too will carry the LG Nexus 4. The phone has appeared in Fido's reservation system, with a release scheduled for sometime in February. To secure a Nexus 4, Canadians will need to pay a C$40 up-front reservation fee.

Pricing information is promised in the near future, but if other territories are anything to go by, it's likely the unsubsidized cost will be somewhat higher than the Canadian Google Play Store price.

For an overview of how we've been getting on with the Nexus 4 since its November launch, check out our 'Nexus 4, two months on' feature.



Deal of the Day: Incipio Feather SHINE Hard Case for Galaxy Note 2

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 07:00 AM PST

Deal of the Day The Jan. 25 ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day is the Incipio Feather SHINE Hard Case for Galaxy Note 2. At only 1mm thin, this form fitting case keeps bulk to a minimum with its sleek, snap-on design. It features radio transparent materials so it doesn't affect reception and its high density, ultra-light plextonium frame ensures that your Samsung Galaxy Note 2 stays protected against drops at all times. Color options include silver, black, and white.

The Incipio Feather SHINE Hard Case is available for just $17.00, 43% off today only. Grab yours while supplies last!

Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts



Fresh Galaxy Note 8.0 photos emerge showing S Pen, software

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 05:41 AM PST

Android Central

Just a day after we got our first look at the Galaxy Note 8.0 in leaked spy shots, a couple more photos of the 8-inch tablet have emerged online. Today's pics come via French Android community Frandroid, showing apparently the Note 8.0 alongside its 5.5-inch sibling, the Galaxy Note 2. As with yesterday's images, we see a tablet with a curved design and a phone-style three-button setup on the bottom bezel instead of traditional on-screen keys. And this time around we get to see the larger "S Pen" stylus, which was docked away in yesterday's images.

Yes, there's also an earpiece up top for making calls, as we saw in yesterday's shots. But that's nothing new -- 7-inch Samsung tablets have been doing that since the original 2010 Galaxy Tab.

Today's pics reveal a little more about the device's software. Unsurprisingly, the Note 8.0 is running Samsung's TouchWiz UI, but it also seems to be using a "phone-style" launcher, similar to the direction taken with the stock tablet launcher in Android 4.2 -- which this device is rumored to be running. The presence of floating windows suggests that Samsung's included its multi-window tech in the Note 8.0, too. In addition, we can also clearly see a notification bar up top in both shots.

Samsung's expected to make the Note 8.0 all officially official at Mobile World Congress at the end of February. Leaked spec sheets suggest we can expect similar internals to the Galaxy Note 2 -- a 1.6GHz Exynos 4 Quad CPU, 2GB of RAM and 16 and 32GB storage options, expandable via microSD slot. Stick with Android Central for full coverage of the Note 8.0 and other Samsung devices at MWC, and be sure to check out our latest podcast for more discussion on this device.

Source: Frandroid



Samsung announces Galaxy Xcover 2, new ruggedized mid-range phone

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 05:20 AM PST

Android CentralFollowing some brief leakage earlier this week, Samsung has announced the Galaxy Xcover 2, a new ruggedized mid-range phone running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. As the name suggests, it’s a follow-up to last year’s Galaxy Xcover, and it comes packing IP67-rated water and dust resistance.

Hardware-wise, we’re looking at a dual-core 1GHz CPU running the show, with 1GB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD slot. The screen’s a 4-inch WVGA (800x480), and there’s an 5MP rear camera and a VGA front-facer. (A dedicated camera key is also included.)

As ruggedized smartphones go, the Xcover 2 brings some interesting hardware and design chops, and the fact that it’s running an up-to-date version of Android should result in a pretty good user experience, too. Today’s announcement doesn’t specify any release date, but earlier leaks have suggested it could be out as soon as next month. 

We've got more images after the break.

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Android Central 123: Giant fake phones?

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 04:27 AM PST

Podcast MP3 URL: 
http://traffic.libsyn.com/androidcentral/acpc123.mp3

Thing 1: Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0

Thing 2: State of the Nexus

Thing 3: HTC and Sense 5?

Thing 4: Other stuff



HTC announces Desire U, 4-inch mid-range device for Taiwan

Posted: 24 Jan 2013 09:40 PM PST

HTC Desire U

HTC has just quietly rolled out a spec page for a new device, the mid-range Desire U, targeted at the Taiwan market. Falling in line design-wise with the rest of the recent "One" and "Desire" devices, the Desire U has a smooth plastic body and rounded edges with a classy looking circle design that accents the back plate. On the inside, this device is clearly lower end, with a 1GHz processor, 4GB of (expandable) storage, 512MB of RAM and a 480x800 (WVGA) display. The U has a 1650mAh battery, which should give a good bit of life for a device with these specs.

The device is a Taiwanese listing, so the frequencies on this device are set up for that market -- 900 and 2100MHz HSPA along with 900, 1800 and 1900MHz GPRS/EDGE. No one is likely to import this, but with a striking design and acceptable specs, this low-ranger may do well in specific markets. We're finding unlocked pricing of about $275, which is quite competitive.

Source: HTC (translated)



Samsung's Q4 2012 financial earnings: "We made lots of money"

Posted: 24 Jan 2013 05:25 PM PST

earnings

Samsung has announced their financial results for the last quarter in 2012, and they beat all estimates -- even their own. The electronics group posted an operating profit of 8.84 trillion Won ( that's about 8.27 billion US dollars), on 56.06 trillion Won (about 52.45 billion US dollars) in revenue. That's a 10-percent increase in profit over the Q3 2012 earnings, and almost a 90-percent jump year-over-year. Total profits for 2012 came in at 29.05 trillion Won (about 27.2 billion US dollars), on a total revenue of 201.10 trillion Won (approximately 188.15 billion US dollars). In addition, Samsung spent 2.96 trillion Won (about 2.76 billion US dollars) on research and development over the quarter.

That's a whole lot of cash.

Of course, much of this profit comes from smartphone sales, and with Samsung that means Android. By getting product into the hands of people who want it, Samsung has made more money from Android in one quarter than Google did with all their products and services. We don't see this slowing down anytime soon, and imagine a new crop of Samsung mobile products will set the stage for similar numbers next year. Hit the link for the full financial results.

Source: Samsung (pdf)