Thursday, January 31, 2013

Android Authority

Android Authority


Sony’s Music Unlimited service now supports 320kbps streaming playback

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 02:09 AM PST

Music Unlimited

Feeling the heat from the competition, Sony Network Entertainment International has announced that high quality streaming is now available on its Music Unlimited service.

If you don't mind burning your data plan faster, you can turn on the high quality streaming option in the service's settings. By high quality, it means you can enjoy listening to the songs in 320 kbps AAC format. While this might be old news for Spotify customers, it's quite an upgrade for Sony's, as it previously only supported 48 kbps streams.

For now, the high quality streaming is only available on PC, PlayStation 3, and Android. Sony said that the new feature will come to more platforms soon.

Sony's digital music service, launched in July of last year, now boasts a collection of over 18 million songs. The premium subscription plan is offered at $9.99 per month in the U.S. If you use the service on your Android phone or tablet, make sure to head to Google Play to get the latest update that enables the high quality streaming.

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Sony HuaShan to be branded as Xperia SP, Xperia L also coming soon

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 02:09 AM PST

Sony

Is there anything more baffling in the Android world than the branding of Samsung's latest mid-range offerings? Sure there is, Sony's naming scheme. Just think about it, the Xperia family covers basically half of the alphabet already and there's no logical way to explain why the P is larger and more powerful than the U or why the E and Z have seen daylight after the J and S.

And don't even get me started on the double-lettered models that make less sense than Inception's plot. But hey, Sony doesn't seem to be bothered at all by these logical inconsistencies, so get ready to welcome the Xperia L and SP. Oy vey!

Granted, the two market names are far from confirmed at this time, but they have been spotted in Postel's database and "the Indonesian FCC" is usually to be trusted.

Out of the two, the SP is most likely going to be the shiner, as it's supposed to come packing a 1.7 GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor, an Adreno 320 GPU, 1 GB of RAM and Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean.

Sony-C530X-HuaShan

We don't know the device's screen size yet, but we’re almost certain the panel will be boasting a 1,280 x 720 pixels resolution. We've even seen a couple of low-quality pics starring the SP, only at that time the phone was known as the C530X or HuaShan (to be honest, both those names sound acceptable now).

In a nutshell, the Xperia SP is going to be a downsized version of the Z/ZL duo for folks that can't afford the top of the line phones, so chances are it'll be out soon. Maybe at MWC, maybe even earlier.

As for the Xperia L, aka the C210X, this has also been leaked before, but it's been mostly ignored so far. That's because it's not exactly a top-tier device, being rumored to come with an 854 x 480 pix res display (probably a 4-incher), a dual-core 1 GHz Snapdragon S4 Plus CPU, 1 GB of RAM and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

Come to think of it, that doesn't sound too awful, so maybe if the L will also follow Z's design philosophy while keeping the price bar very low it might stand a chance at least in Europe and Asia. But still, what the fudge is up with that random naming scheme, Sony? Are you trying to mess with our heads?

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Nexus 4 Wireless Charging Orb costs $59.99, not that it’s in stock yet

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 01:37 AM PST

lg-nexus-4-wireless-charging-orb-1

3D-print it out yourself (and add the appropriate electrical wiring) or buy it from a regular electronics retailer, the Nexus 4 Wireless Charging Orb will do its job, charge the Nexus 4 without any wires.

However, the accessory is not exactly available to Nexus 4 owners. Electronics retailer Pure Mobile is going to sell the Wireless Charging Orb for $59.99 to anyone interested, but the gadget is not exactly in stock at this time. So for now, all the store does is list the device.

There's no news regarding availability at this time, but you are invited to sign up to get notified when this mythical product gets back in stock. So better get ready to wait some more for this particular accessory to ship to your doorstep.

Will you pay $59.99 for the Wireless Charging Orb, or are you happy charging the Nexus 4 the usual way?

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Samsung just bought 5% of Wacom for $58.2 million, long live the stylus!

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 01:33 AM PST

According to a breaking news report from the Korean news agency Yonhap, Samsung has agreed to buy a 5% stake in the Japanese company Wacom. Don’t know who Wacom is? They make what’s considered to be the industry standard for digital drawing tablets. You’ve probably seen one of their products while browsing through a computer store. They’re basically large pads that have a stylus which lets you sketch. Wacom’s technology is used in both the first and second generation Galaxy Note.

So what assumptions can we make from this announcement? Samsung believes that the stylus is a key differentiator for their products. Considering that the China is the fastest growing smartphone market that currently exists, you can see the logic in this move. Typing Chinese characters on a keyboard is possible, but drawing them is way more convenient.

Will we see more Samsung products shipping with a stylus? There was a rumor we heard a few weeks ago that said the Galaxy S4 was going to ship with an s-pen, but we don’t believe it to be true. We’d of course love to be proven wrong, but our gut tells us that Samsung is going to reserve the stylus for devices that use the “Note” branding.

The big question on our minds is whether or not Wacom will be allowed to license their technology to other handset vendors. Companies tend to steal ideas from each other, something we don’t have a problem with, but what’s going to happen if someone like HTC wants to throw in stylus support? Will Wacom be allowed to work with them or will Samsung give Wacom the evil eye?

We just want to say that we’re super pumped about this news because several of us at Android Authority use the Note II, this writer included, and we’re having a difficult time imagining what life would be like without a stylus enabled smartphone.

Update: Here’s the official PDF (in English) announcing the deal. Samsung will buy 20,996 common shares of Wacom on February 19th at a price of 255,510 Japanese yen per share.

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Google Earth adds more than 100,000 new tours

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 12:39 AM PST

Google Earth Tour Guide Do you want to visit tourist spots but can't afford the luxury? No worries, Google Earth has got you covered. A major upgrade to its virtual tour guide feature includes tours exceeding 100,000, as well as 1 million photos from user submissions. The announcement comes from the official Google+ page of Google Earth. Besides the newly added popular tourist destinations that span 200 countries, the update also brings in refinements to existing tours. And complementing the snippets from Wikipedia and 3D flyovers are the Panoramio photos:

The new, richer tours combine … – for the first time – place highlight and more than 1 million user-generated Panoramio photos in order to create an immersive and educational exploration of your favorite places. Each tour ends with a selection of photo thumbnails which were selected from Panoramio as the best representation of a given place. Clicking on one of the thumbnails enables a full screen photo experience.

Many users welcome the update. A Robert Woldman commented that the tours let people "enjoy the world without enjoying the world." Another user, Leo Somera, says, "This is a great way to sample before you go.  A few times, I got fooled by ads or commercials with a destination that looks great on media, but fails in person." First introduced in October, the tour guide acts as a local expert that recommends interesting locations in the proximity as you navigate the globe in Google Earth. Available on Windows and mobile devices, the new tours can be viewed without installing a software update to Google Earth 7.0.

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Baldur’s Gate Enhanced Edition for Android gets delayed indefinitely

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 12:11 AM PST

baldur's gate enhanced edition

Have you been waiting for the release of Baldur’s Gate Enhanced Edition for Android? A lot of people have, and many still are. Unfortunately, each and every one of those people are going to have to keep waiting a little longer for the app to be released, as the developers behind it have hit an inconvenient snag that has something to do with the final ship panel APK files. This is according to a tweet from the game’s creative director Trent Osner which first got posted earlier this month.

There’s no word on when this particular Android game will be released exactly, but the good news is that work on Baldur’s Gate 2 is under way, at the same time. For now, one can only hope that both games are made available for download before this year’s first quarter finally wraps up.

Check out the first official trailer for Baldur’s Gate Enhanced Edition for Android:

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Write once run everywhere: Codename One kit hits 100k downloads, exits beta

Posted: 31 Jan 2013 12:04 AM PST

Codename One
The native mobile app development kits of today are all vastly improved versions of the ones that came before them. With that being said, however, there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done if they are to be used exclusively by experienced and novice app developers alike. Companies like Google, Apple, and BlackBerry are doubtless all working to further improve the native SDKs of their respective mobile operating systems, but if they don’t act fast, a powerful third-party mobile app development solution that’s starting to loom on the horizon will come in to steal their thunder soon. In fact, it has already started doing just that.

Back in June of 2012, an Israel-based tech startup launched Codename One as its namesake, a Java-based mobile app development platform that offers developers a write-once-run-everywhere solution to help save precious time and money on their projects. After months of being left in beta, Codename One has now been downloaded over 100,000 times and has been used to create more than 1,000 native mobile apps across all of today’s most popular smartphone platforms, including Android, iOS, Windows Phone, and BlackBerry.

Codename One is now on version 1.0, and its creators hope that more and more people begin to adopt it as their own mobile app development solution. Its highlight features include built-in Eclipse and NetBeans integration as well as the ability to allow developers to create true native mobile applications with the use of a single code base across all mobile platforms. This helps developers prevent fragmentation before it can even begin. Codename One is also free and open source, so anyone who wants in can get started on using it now.

Check out the full Codename One version 1.0 press release below for more information. Or as an alternative, hit the source link to get started developing with it.

Show full PR text

With 100,000 SDK Downloads, Mobile Development Platform Codename One Comes Out of Beta With 1.0 Launch

Tel Aviv, Israel – Mobile development platform Codename One is announcing the
launch of its 1.0 version on Tuesday, January 29. After releasing in beta last
June, Codename One – the first software development kit that allows Java
developers to create true high performance native mobile applications across
multiple mobile operating systems using a single code base – has garnered over
100,000 downloads and emerged as one of the fastest toolkits of its kind, on par
with native OS toolkits.

The platform to date has been used to build over 1,000 native mobile
applications and has been touted by mobile developers and enthusiasts as the
best write-once-run-everywhere solution for building native mobile apps. "I have
been developing with Codename One for a couple of months now. When you line
up all of the other options for development, whether native SDKs, Appcelerator,
ADF or others, Codename One wins on almost every front," said software
developer Steve Hannah.

Codename One has received widespread, viral acclaim in technology and
business media including InfoWorld, Slashdot, Hacker News, VentureBeat,
Business Insider, The Next Web, Dr. Dobbs and Forbes, which named the
company one of the 10 greatest industry disrupting startups of 2012.

"We have been thrilled with the success of our beta launch and are very excited
to release the much-awaited 1.0 version," said co-founder and CEO Shai Almog.

Almog, along with co-founder Chen Fishbein, decided to launch the venture after
noticing a growing inefficiency within mobile application development. By
enabling developers to significantly cut time and costs in developing native
applications for iOS, Android, Blackberry, Windows 7 Phone and other devices,
Almog and Fishbein hope to make mobile application development increasingly
feasible.

The Java-based platform is open-source and utilizes lightweight technology,
allowing it to produce unique native interfaces highly differentiated from
competitive cross-platform mobile development toolkits, which typically use
HTML5 or heavyweight technology.

By drawing all components from scratch rather than utilizing native widgets,
Codename One enables developers to avoid fragmentation – a major hindrance
found in the majority of competitors – and additionally allows accurate desktop
simulation of mobile apps.

The startup's founders are recognized for engineering Sun Microsystems's
famous Lightweight User Interface Toolkit, a mobile platform used by leading
mobile carriers and industry leaders to this date.

Codename One is available for download free of charge.

About Codename One
Codename One, named by Forbes as "one of the 10 greatest industry disrupting
startups of 2012," is an Israel-based technology company that has created a
powerful cross-platform software development kit for mobile applications. The
technology enables developers to create native applications across multiple
operating systems using a single code base. Codename One was founded by
renowned software engineers Shai Almog and Chen Fishbein in 2012.

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Arma Tactics to launch on NVIDIA’s Project Shield gaming console

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 11:35 PM PST

ARMA Tactics
Now that the wow behind the world’s first Tegra 4-powered Android gaming console from NVIDIA, codenamed Project Shield, has already died down quite a bit since the day it was first announced, it’s time to talk games. After all, in the world of gaming, a console is only really as successful as the quality — and quantity — of available titles for it allows it to be. Is there anything really worth looking forward to for NVIDIA’s Project Shield yet?

As a matter of fact, there is. Game developer Bohemia Interactive is said to be currently hard at work making a new squad-based tactics game for NVIDIA’s handheld console, and it’s called Arma Tactics. It’s a military-themed game where players take control of a four-member Special Forces squad and the objective is to complete a number of missions as part of an overall storyline. The enemy forces will be composed of local militia and your usual guns-for-hire.

While the idea for a military-themed squad game like Arma Tactics is not new in the slightest, it would be interesting to see how its creators plan to make it take advantage of NVIDIA Project Shield-exclusive technology. Namely, support for the powerful Tegra 4 processing chip as well as gaming across multiple screens. Multiscreen gaming support in particular, is said to be in the cards.

If you think Arma Tactics sounds exciting, then watch for it to drop some time in Q2 2013. It’s one of a few games specified by NVIDIA itself as headed for Project Shield, and it will be made available for download through the TegraZone portal when it finally gets relesaed.

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Carbon backup app lands on Google Play

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 11:21 PM PST

Carbon Backup app for Android
The latest backup application for Android that we told you about recently just went out of beta. We’re talking about a little app called Carbon Backup, and now, those who want to can download it by choosing either one of its two available versions on Google Play.

In case you didn’t know, Carbon Backup is product of the hard work and dedication of one man named Koushik Dutta. This is the same man responsible for the very popular ClockworkMod Recovery and he has a few other apps to his name. Now, with Carbon Backup, he’s taking on Titanium Backup and its ilk.

As mentioned earlier, Carbon Backup for Android is available in two different versions. First, there’s an ad-supported version that can be downloaded for free. Then there’s also a premium version that’s available for $4.99. Carbon Premium doesn’t have ads and allows cloud backup and restore to online services such as Box, Dropbox, and Google Drive.

Now that the app is out of beta, it offers one very important feature that was noticeably absent from earlier versions. It can now be used to back up applications without the need for rooting. Thanks to an accompanying desktop program, rooting is no longer necessary.

Make your way to the source below to check out the free version on Google Play for yourself.

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Samsung to rely on third-party chipsets to bolster entry-level market

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 10:13 PM PST

galaxy s3 mini multiple colors

Though it is currently sitting comfortably at the top of the world Android smartphone market, Samsung is not about to let its own present success get in the way of its success in the future. It owns over 30% of the entire smartphone market right now. What exactly is the South Korean electronics giant worried about?

According to a news report that was recently published in the Taiwanese DigiTimes, Samsung has noted that there will be a decline in demand for smartphones in more mature markets in 2013, a year when more and more high-end phones are being announced and released. As such, the company is trying to look for ways to maximize sales of its mobile phones outside of the high-end handset segment. Samsung is planning to increase sales of models that are not, strictly speaking, “smartphones.” Here’s how it plans to do just that.

Taking over the entry-level segment

Outside of the high-end segment, there are two more spots left for Samsung to take and rise to the top of, and these are the entry-level and the mid-range mobile phone segments. Samsung’s plan for taking over the entry-level segment in particular involves working with third-party chipset vendors in order to produce models with the highest price-to-performance ratios ever. They plan to use this tactic as they go up against the likes of Huawei, ZTE, LG, and Sony.


Samsung has actually done this exact same thing in the past. For instance, for the Galaxy S3 Mini, Samsung worked with ST-Ericsson and used the NovaThor ModAp CPU instead of its very own Exynos chip to get its processing chops in order. They’ve also worked with other chipset vendors such as Broadcom and Qualcomm in the past for similar implementations in other models.

Will Samsung succeed?

The bottom line is that Samsung intends to roll out low-cost models with ample processing power to attract more and more buyers and increase its market share in the entry-level segment. Of course, whether or not that’s enough to actually satisfy the target market is a different subject matter entirely.

What do you think of Samsung’s plan to rule to entry-level and mid-range smartphone roost? Do you think models that use third-party chipset solutions are in the same league as Exynos-powered ones? Or are they roundly inferior? Sound off in the comments.

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Android and Me

Android and Me


Court finds that Samsung did not willfully infringe Apple’s patents

Posted: 29 Jan 2013 08:39 PM PST

Remember that trial that dragged on interminably this Summer? I know it seems like they all do that. This one was memorable for a variety of reasons not the least of which was the fact that at the end of it all Samsung was on the hook to pay Apple $1.049 billion. You [...]

Visit our site to read the full article.

Rumor: Next Nexus 7 to feature full HD display, release at I/O

Posted: 29 Jan 2013 08:39 PM PST

Over the last several years, Google has established a yearly release cycle for Nexus phones. So it stands to reason that Nexus tablets will receive the same treatment. The first Nexus 7 was released at last year’s Google I/O, which means that about three months from now, we should be seeing a...

Visit our site to read the full article.

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans


100,000 new tours added to Google Earth

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 04:07 PM PST

Google Earth fans, listen up — it’s time to tour the world again. Google has announced that it has added 100,000 new tours to the virtual globe-trotting experience. Tours use pictures, Wikipedia excerpts and 3D flyovers to allow you to experience places you might not ever get a chance to visit all across the world. This massive update also features over one million user-made Panoramio photos, and Google uses some of the thumbnails from the photos which best represent that particular place.

Cities and popular landmarks from over 200 different countries are now represented so if most people should have no problem getting admitted to whatever virtual tour their minds can think of. The best part about it is that there’s no extra work involved on your part — if you have Google Earth on your desktop or Android device then the tours are ready to feed the curiosity bug inside of you. Google Earth can be had in the Play Store for the attractive price of $0.00.

[via Google+]

Google Play Music update brings improved widget and better shuffling

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 03:38 PM PST

Another Google application has gotten some update love today. Following Google+’s parade, Google Play Music has been blessed with some new features and changes that we should all appreciate. For starters, the widget has been improved with a “previous” button, something that was such a glaring omission that we were wondering if the Mountain View boy were smoking something when they were designing the widget. All our worries are quelled, though, as that is no longer an issue.

Going deeper into the app, Google has made it so that instant mixes now play beyond 25 songs. This annoying limitation made me use the feature sparingly, but we’re glad it’s finally been lifted. Other changes include new default album art, the ability to shuffle an album, artist or playlist, a fix for the freezing issue on the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the ability to see pinning progress on the album and playlist pages.

These updates address many things users have been speaking out about in the reviews for quite some time. There’s still work to be done, but no app is ever truly finished — any software engineer will tell you that much. Go ahead and grab the update from the Google Play Store.

Review: Nillkin case for the HTC Droid DNA [VIDEO]

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 03:32 PM PST

This image has no alt text

As you guys well know by now, I cycle between Android devices like I do my underoos (every few weeks). Since I’m often selling a previous device for the next greatest model, I like to ensure my devices stay in tip-top shape and near mint condition. There’s no better way to guarantee that than by outfitting a phone with a snazzy, stylish case.

A few weeks ago, my journey led me to some extremely affordable cases from a brand called Poetic and if you remember that post, things didn’t turn out so well for my HTC Droid DNA. No matter, I continued searching for a case and found a brand called Nillkin who offers a wide variety of cases for a few Android devices, my DNA being one of them.

When it comes to the DNA, I’m actually one of the few who loathes the red accents along the side (or anywhere for that matter), so finding a case to cover everything up was just as much about asthetics, as it was about protection. Thankfully, the Nillkin case covers up the sides of the device rather nicely, while providing a nice, textured soft-touch feel.

The only part that really bothers me about the case is the gap left open for the volume rocker. On most cases the edges go up all the way along the sides of the device. With Nillkin’s model, it’s cutout leaving a big gaping hole and is not only an eyesore, but feels a little weird in the hand. But hey, accessing the volume rocker has never been easier.

Still, it’s this one shortcoming that will lead me on another search for an inexpensive, but premium quality case for my DNA. In the meantime, the Nillkin case will suffice. If you don’t think the volume cutout will bother you as much as it did me, you can nab a Nillkin case for the HTC Droid DNA via the eBay link below.

[Nillkin case for the HTC Droid DNA on eBay]

Google+ update brings new notifications tray, additional community moderation features and more

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 03:18 PM PST

Google+ for Android is getting itself a new upgrade in the Google Play Store that changes a few interesting things. For starters, the folks at El Goog have implemented a new notifications tray for the app. The new tray slides in from the right and is pulled up by pressing the indicator in the upper right-hand corner. This setup more closely mirrors notifications on the web and puts more emphasis on them, so this change makes a lot of sense.

Users can now add a link whenever they create a post, something that has long been part of the web experience but is finally coming over to mobile. Most people were fine with simple text links, but this new functionality allows us to automatically pull thumbnails from whatever site was linked. Finally, folks who manage Google+ communities will be happy to know that more moderation features are in tow. The update awaits you at this link so be sure to give it a go whenever you find the time.

Rumor: HTC M7 launching March 8th with different color options

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 02:31 PM PST

It’s not often we learn of a possible concrete launch date for a phone that has yet to be unveiled, but the latest rumors regarding the HTC M7 seem to suggest that we have just that. According to a HTCSource, the OEM will look to launch the device starting March 8th through several retailers and carriers. We imagine this date pertains to Europe where most devices tend to launch first, with North American counterparts getting a swing at the plate a little bit later.

No information on who, exactly, would offer it could be had, but in the European market it’s often harder to find a big carrier that isn’t offering these flagship devices. America might be a little more tricky with possible rebranding and exclusivity talks, but earlier rumors suggest HTC aims to get this thing onto as many different carriers as possible.

Alongside all of that, we’re also told to expect multiple color options for the device. There’s the typical black armor that we’ve already seen in leaked images, but a white version could be in the works, as well. It’s not like HTC has never made a white device before so it’s not hard to believe that we could be seeing the HTC in this particular hue. Another edition of the phone could be introduced with aluminum, but the source of that specific details didn’t seem quite as sure.

HTC is holding an event in New York City February 19th and we fully expect the HTC M7 to be in attendance. We’ll be there live to cover it all so keep that date circled and keep it tuned to Phandroid to get all the latest regarding HTC’s 2013 bread winner.

[via HTCSource.com]

HTC says it embraces efforts of development community, but is that enough?

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 01:55 PM PST

Last week, we learned that the owner of HTCRUU.com was contacted by an HTC lawyer to take the site off the interwebz due to the use of HTC’s name in the URL and imagery on the site itself. According to that lawyer, the site’s use of HTC’s name and logo weren’t the only things that got the OEM’s attention. The lawyer implied that the distribution of HTC’s RUU files was also problematic, stating that it’s an intellectual property of HTC’s and that the owner of HTCRUU was prohibited from distributing the files even on its non-infringing domain, AndroidFiles.org.

Welp HTC’s taken to its own blog to clarify the issue a bit. In a public statement, the Taiwanese manufacturer said its request was fueled only by use of the URL and logos on HTCRUU.com. HTC states that it didn’t want its name associated with a site that was distributing files that could potentially harm the users’ devices, and that’s totally understandable — no company wants to be liable for a broken device through files that weren’t meant to get into the hands of the public. Like we always say when we post about mods and ROMs, you do all of that at your own discretion and no one is responsible for it but yourself.

HTC went on to say that the company openly embraces the development community as evidenced by the bootloader unlock tool over at HTCDev.com. It’s true that HTC has facilitated the development community as well as just about anyone you can think of.

Last week, there was some buzz about a website that contained RUUs for HTC devices being taken down at the request of HTC. We'd like to take a minute to provide some background.

The issue with the site in question was NOT that it provided custom ROMs or RUUs. The site used HTC trademarks without a license from HTC. The domain name contained 'HTC' and it used HTC logos, making it appear to be an official HTC website. Like any other company, we must protect our trademarks and brand. We cannot risk being associated with, and held liable for, software that we don't have any control over that's put onto an HTC device through a third party.

HTC openly embraces the community that chooses to flash custom ROMs onto their devices. The HTC Unlock Bootloader tool on htcdev.com evidences this support. We think the custom ROM community is valuable to the overall health of the Android ecosystem, and we have no intention of abandoning them. We love the passion of this community, and we hope you continue to build with us, use HTC products, and give us honest and direct feedback.

The story won’t end on that note, though. Some users, including HTCRUU.com owner James Taylor, feel HTC is still dancing around the issue of the lawyer’s original request that RUUs be completely taken down from any other file hosting site. The aforementioned website owner states that “the lawyer also said that all HTC files were required to come down also. This request included all RUUs and custom roms of mine.”

This conflicts with HTC’s apparent stance that the site was targeted solely due to the domain name and HTC images, and users want it in clear writing from HTC that it is OK to distribute RUU files in a way that isn’t infringing on HTC’s image.

The development community’s concerns aren’t all that unreasonable, and should HTC truly be fine with RUUs being uploaded then we’re sure someone will test and challenge the company in due time. For now, though, Taylor will seek HTC’s blessings in clear wording before accepting this statement as a proverbial pass.

[via HTC, thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Rogers and Fido RAZR HD customers receiving Android 4.1.2 update

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 01:08 PM PST

Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean has hit the slopes for yet another group of folks. Our friends up in the great white north who own the Motorola RAZR HD — those on Rogers and Fido, in particular — will be doused in some Jelly Bean goodness rather than snow as the update has come down from the smartphone heavens.

You’re getting Android 4.1.2 to be specific, a pretty interesting fact considering most updates tend to be Android 4.1.1. I guess if it takes this long you should at least expect the latest version of the first helping of Jelly Bean. It would be better to see Android 4.2 shining on the device, of course, but I suppose we can’t have our cake and eat it at the same time.

You’ll want to set aside 308MB in bandwidth, so be sure you have enough on your data plan or get hooked up to a WiFi network before you apply it. If the notification hasn’t already gotten to your handset then you can try your luck by visiting Settings > About Phone to force the update to commence.

[via Mobile Syrup]

Samsung’s 2013 La Fleur collection unveiled

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 10:20 AM PST

Samsung has unveiled new editions of some of its latest phones, such as the Galaxy S3, Galaxy S3 Mini, Galaxy Ace 2, Samsung Galaxy S Duos and the Galaxy Ace Duos part of its 2013 LaFleur collection of devices. These particular SKUs don’t actually offer anything of significant value over the original devices, but you do get some cutesy back plate designs. Perfect for the ladies and fitting for the upcoming Valentine’s day season, these phones aren’t confirmed to be headed everywhere just yet.

For starters, it sounds like only Russia is a sure bet to get a crack at this device, and if past releases are anything to go by then we won’t expect it to travel too far out of Europe. The Samsung Galaxy S3 La Fleur is said to be 22,990 rubles, or about $760, so it’s quite the pricey investment.

The other phones are sure to be much cheaper but we don’t have any information in regards to pricing as of now. The devices are said to be headed to Russian store shelves February 1st, and we’ll have to wait for word from Samsung regarding possible subsequent launches in other regions.

Android 4.2.1 update commences for Sprint’s Galaxy Nexus

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 10:17 AM PST

Sprint has begun pushing the Android 4.2.1 update for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, bringing the Ice Cream Sandwich flagship phone to the latest version of Jelly Bean. Major changes include an overhauled camera interface with Photo Sphere feature, a retooled notifications shade with quick settings, and lockscreen widgets.

The update brings the phone’s software version to L700GA02 and will rollout to all users over the coming weeks. Sprint says all users should have the update within 21 days. Verizon, the ball is in your court now.

[via Sprint | Thanks, Andrew!]

BlackBerry Z10 vs. Nexus 4 vs. Samsung Galaxy S3 vs. iPhone 5

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 10:07 AM PST

Here comes BlackBerry’s latest push, but how does it stack up to some of the most popular handsets on the market today? The Samsung Galaxy S3 and iPhone 5 represent two of the best-selling devices for their respective platforms, while the Nexus 4 by LG operates as Google’s example of what they think an Android phone should be.

BlackBerry’s all-touch Z10 stacks up reasonably well, though for those obsessed with the latest and greatest mobile advancements, elements like a quad-core CPU will be missed. Ultimately, the real comparison will come down to the BlackBerry 10 OS playing nice with the given hardware while winning over consumers. It will be an uphill battle, for sure. Click on the above chart for a bigger view.

RIM is now BlackBerry, announces BlackBerry 10 and new devices

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 08:16 AM PST

Today RIM went all in with their latest update to the fading mobile platform that once had a stranglehold on the enterprise market. Did I say RIM? I meant BlackBerry, as the company has now been unified under the single brand. It all accompanies the launch of BlackBerry 10 and the first two devices to run it, the BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry Q10.

The Z10 is BlackBerry’s all-touch device featuring a 4.2-inch display with a 1280×768 resolution, equaling a pixel density of 356ppi. The phone carries a 1.5GHz dual-core CPU with 2GB of RAM, an 8MP camera, and 16GB or 32GB storage options. The Q10 has similar internal hardware, but features a full QWERTY keyboard and 3.1-inch display at 330ppi.

For BB10′s flagship handsets, the hardware seems a little light when compared to the latest Android devices (and even the iPhone 5). But BlackBerry is hoping to succeed not on hardware alone, but also on through their brand new software platform, which reinvents the BlackBerry ecosystem for the touchscreen era.

A new emphasis has been placed on multi-tasking via “BlackBerry Flow,” a system not unlike Android 4.x’s multi-tasking application launcher, and integration with social networks and other communications platforms looks to create a more robust experience while recapturing BlackBerry’s position as the leader in mobile messaging. Apps also look to play a bigger role than ever in the BlackBerry experience.

It’s a bold move forward for BlackBerry, but at first glance we still wonder if they have done enough. The new OS looks slick and contains some intriguing functionality, but nothing that transcends what we have seen from other mobile platforms. Same goes for the hardware. In short, this could be BB’s last hurrah. Android certainly shouldn’t feel threatened.

Nexus 4 back in stock in more European regions

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 07:51 AM PST

After returning to the Google Play Store in the US and Germany, the Nexus 4 is going back on sale in more regions around Europe. Citizens in the UK, France, and Spain can all count themselves among those currently able to purchase the oft-soldout smartphones. If they are as lucky as those on the US, the phone might even ship within one business day (instead of the one to two weeks suggested on Google Play).

Yesterday we wondered if Google has perhaps finally gotten their act together when it comes to stocking the Nexus 4, and this widespread availability seems to confirm as much. Word is Australia will also see new stock become available shortly, and other regions are sure to follow.

Now potential Nexus 4 owners are faced with a new question altogether. Rather than ask when the phone will be back in stock, buyers will have to decide whether or not to hold out for the new white version of the phone.

[via TechCrunch]

More hands-on photos of white Nexus 4 emerge

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 06:35 AM PST

The above picture is the white Nexus 4. Confused? Turns out that only the back of the device will feature a white deco, as revealed in an extensive hands-on photo shoot that should quash any doubts about the pending release of the new color scheme.

A single photo of a white Nexus 4 surface online yesterday to much speculation. Some decried the image as a hoax while others remained hopeful that we could see the new version of the device soon. The latter option seems more likely, especially since it seems Google has finally caught up on the backlog of orders for the standard black version of the phone.

The new images reveal a smartphone that features a two-tone paint job. The front appears unchanged from the black model, while the back half gets a whitewashing while retaining the textured pattern featured on the back panel.

Release details don’t accompany the images, but we would be willing to be Google Play will be the place to grab it (unless it launches as an exclusive with a particular retailer or carrier). Specs, and therefor pricing, should likely remain the same. More images at the source link below.

[Tinh.te via UnwiredView]

ZTE sets sights on high-end smartphone market in 2013, teases Grand Memo phablet

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 05:47 AM PST

Taking a page from fellow Chinese manufacturer Huawei’s playbook, ZTE is looking to shift their focus away from saturating the market with budget-friendly smartphones and gravitating toward high-end devices in 2013. The company forecasts shipments of 50 million smartphones in 2013, with the category driving 70 percent of its device sales business. This will include the recently unveiled Grand S as well as a newly-teased phablet known as the Grand Memo.

We expect to hear more about the ZTE Grand Memo at Mobile World Congress, but for now we know it sports a 5.7-inch display and measures in at 8mm thick. The phone should help ZTE capitalize on the growing trend of mid-size devices falling somewhere between a phone and tablet.

ZTE has already risen to become the world’s fourth-largest handset maker, but the company hopes that pushing high-end devices will lead to an increase in revenue as well. In 2012 ZTE posted a net loss of 2.9 billion yuan (~$467 million). The new approach could lead to a 40 percent increase in smartphone revenues, helping to narrow that margin.

[via Reuters]

 

Newly ordered Nexus 4 handsets already shipping

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 05:33 AM PST

Google’s notoriously hard to come by Nexus 4 went back on sale through the Play Store yesterday with an estimated shipping time of one to two weeks. Today, folks who placed their orders as the handset became available are already receiving shipping notifications.

As the manifest above shows, the 16GB Nexus 4 is ready to ship. [EDIT: 8GB models are shipping as well. Thanks, Adam!] We haven’t confirmed if 8GB models are also ready to ship. Stock issues seemed to affect both models about equally, but we can’t be certain of Google’s current supply. What we can be certain of is that Google has already started the process of shipping new purchases, so many should be seeing their brand new Nexus 4 by the end of the week. How’s that for a turnaround?

[Thanks, Justin!]

Android Central

Android Central


Sony Music Unlimited now offers 320 kbps AAC high-quality streaming

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 04:54 PM PST

Sony Music Unlimited

Sony's Music Unlimited streaming service is being updated today to offer high-quality 320 kbps AAC music on all platforms, including Android. The service, which offers unlimited (go figure) music streaming for the monthly price of $9.99, is hoping to persuade users to try it over competing services like Spotify and Rdio. 320 kbps AAC is generally regarded as a high enough quality streaming that general users won't notice the difference between it and locally stored files, but also keeps data usage from streaming reasonably low.

You can download the Music Unlimited app from the Play Store link above, and there is currently a 14 day free trial available when you sign up. The higher quality audio may be enough to have more users trying this service going forward.

read more



T-Mobile launching GoSmart prepaid MVNO nationwide next month

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 03:55 PM PST

GoSmart

T-Mobile looks ready to start offering its new "GoSmart" prepaid MVNO service nationwide at some point in February. We heard back in early December that T-Mobile was planning to launch a new MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) under the brand name "GoSmart" as it started market-specific trials of the service near the end of the year. FierceWireless is now confirming that the service will be going live on a nationwide scale in February. The prepaid service, although completely owned and operated by T-Mobile, will carry no T-Mobile branding and offer three plans:

  • $30 per month for unlimited talk and text
  • $35 per month for unlimited talk, text and 2G data
  • $45 per month for unlimited talk, text and 5GB of "high speed" data

It still isn't clear what T-Mobile means by "high speed" data, but we have to assume at this point that it means HSPA+. Similarly to current T-Mobile plans, users hitting that 5GB threshold will be throttled to 2G speeds rather than charged overages. T-Mobile is indeed planning to prioritize it's own postpaid and prepaid customers over GoSmart customers, however, meaning that in times of congestion the GoSmart customers will be a lower priority. This can often be the case with prepaid providers, and at the prices you see above it's not surprising.

The service is said to launch with a "mobile SIM kit" for $8 that lets users bring their own unlocked GSM devices. This may be a compelling option for many of us looking to cut down the monthly cost of our phone bills, but we'll have to wait and see what the fine print says when these plans come out officially.

Source: FierceWireless; More: GoSmart Mobile



This week's sidebar poll: Are you interested in BlackBerry 10?

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 03:03 PM PST

Android Central

It's not every day that a major tech company reinvents itself like RIM has done. With Android and iOS gobbling up damn near all of the mobile market, RIM saw it was time to shift gears and deliver a revamped version of their BlackBerry operating system. I think they've done a fine job, and hope that investors and customers let it run its course to see what it can turn into. But enough of what I think.

What say you, fine readers of Android Central? We're not asking if you plan to jump ship and rush out to buy a BlackBerry Z10, only if you're interested in what the platform delivers, and more importantly, what it will blossom into. There's a poll in the sidebar to the right, and we've embedded it after the break to make it easy to find. Answer it, and tell us what you think.

Before we go, a look at last week's poll:

Are you ready to upgrade your phone?

Android Central

If posed as a yes/no question, it looks like three quarters of the folks reading AC are ready to upgrade. That's good news for Android OEMs, and watching them all deliver great gear to win out hearts and minds should be fun!

read more



Google+ app adds new notification tray, links when posting

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 01:34 PM PST

Google+ Notifications

The Google+ app has just been updated to add a few bits of functionality and a new notification system. With the previous update we received a new post composition screen that let you add a photo or mood to the post, and this update is putting a "link" option between the two. Tapping on it lets you manually add a URL, although we'd bet most people will be copy/pasting URLs in. On the main UI side, notifications have been redesigned as well. Instead of being hidden underneath the navigation controls in the left slide-in panel, you get a separate notification number between the refresh and settings buttons, that when tapped brings in a full notification-specific panel from the right.

The update also allows for more moderation options in Google+ Communities, which were recently released. You can grab a download of the new Google+ at the Play Store link above.



Google Play Music update improves widget, adds features, fixes bugs

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:36 PM PST

Google Play Music widget

Google Play Music has just received a notable update to add a few features that have been bugging users for some time now. Right off the top you'll spot a proper reverse button on the music widget, letting you go backwards in albums or playlists without entering the app. Instant mixes can now continue on past 25 tracks as well, and you can shuffle albums, artists or playlists. The default album art is changed to a simpler grey tile also.

When you pin albums or tracks, you can now see the progress of the download from that album or playlist view rather than just in the settings. There is also apparently a bugfix that should solve the problem of some Galaxy SIII (S3) devices freezing when using the app. It's a whole bunch of useful fixes and improvements, so go grab the update from the Play Store now.



RUUs, ROMs not the target of takedown, HTC says

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 12:04 PM PST

HTC

HTC today responded to concerns about the future of custom ROMs after a site that was hosting ROM Update Utility files -- HTC's proprietary full restore files -- received a takedown letter from a lawyer representing the manufacture. The site -- HTCRUU.com -- posted the apparent exchange at Reddit (and was later picked up by Rootzwiki). HTC on its blog today explains that it was the branding -- the use of the HTC logo along with the domain name -- that was really at issue. 

Wrote HTC:

The issue with the site in question was NOT that it provided custom ROMs or RUUs. The site used HTC trademarks without a license from HTC. The domain name contained ‘HTC’ and it used HTC logos, making it appear to be an official HTC website. Like any other company, we must protect our trademarks and brand. We cannot risk being associated with, and held liable for, software that we don’t have any control over that’s put onto an HTC device through a third party.

Stockpiling RUUs remains a bit of a gray area -- we've seen other sites taken down over the years -- but HTC pointed to its bootloader unlocking problem (which remains subject to the whim of its clients -- the carriers) as proof that it's committed to the modding community that that "we think the custom ROM community is valuable to the overall health of the Android ecosystem, and we have no intention of abandoning them."

Source: HTC



Windows Phone-using Gmailers get a reprieve

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 11:26 AM PST

Windows Phone 8 Google Sync

Google extends EAS sevice through July; Microsoft says it'll update to CalDav/CardDAV

Google is making a nice gesture today by extending the cutoff point for using EAS (Exchange Active Sync) to sync Google services to Windows Phone devices until July 31, 2013. If you'll recall back to December 2012, Google swiftly pulled support for EAS on Windows Phones, with the service set to expire today, January 30th. Google's hope was to move everyone over to using IMAP -- along with CalDAV and CardDAV for contacts and calendar -- to sync all types of devices. Because Android and iOS both support IMAP, CalDAV and CardDAV there were no issues to be had. Windows Phone, on the other hand, didn't have the extra protocols ready to go and was about to leave new customers out in the cold when they went to add Google accounts to their devices.

Luckily for both Microsoft and its customers, the new deal extends EAS support for Google Account syncing another 6 months. This will give Microsoft time to properly integrate CalDAV and CardDAV into Windows Phone, so that when this new extended cutoff period ends users will not be losing any features.

Source: Official Windows Phone Blog; More: WPCentral



Android 4.2.1 pushing for the Sprint Galaxy Nexus

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 10:30 AM PST

Sprint Galaxy Nexus

It's been a scant couple of weeks since the Sprint Galaxy Nexus saw an update to Android 4.2. Today it's got another update rolling out. This one brings things to Android 4.2.1 build JRO03U.L700GA02) and includes the following:

  • Redesigned camera interface and new Photo Sphere feature (a 360-degree panorama mode)
  • Notifications Shade accessible by swiping top screen edge downwards; swipe down with two fingers to view notifications; tap the notification to expand and take action on it.
  • Lockscreen widgets to access certain apps without unlocking the screen; sidescroll right for camera or left for other widgets (time and weather, gmail, etc.)

You can snag the update over the air (hit your settings>about menu for that), or download manually from Google and apply  it that way. (If you need help with that, hit up this thread in our forums.)

Note that this update is for the Sprint Galaxy Nexus and not the Verizon Galaxy Nexus. Repeat: Verizon's Galaxy Nexus has not been updated. Still.

Get help in our Sprint Galaxy Nexus forumsMore at Sprint



Waste time and flex your brain with Shift It

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 09:58 AM PST

Shift It

There's no shortage of quick and fun puzzle games on Android, and Shift It still stands out as a great one. When you start up Shift It and play the first level, you'll instantly draw comparisons to the paradigm of a Rubik's cube. The basic idea of the game is to take the nine section grid of different colored blocks, and move it around so that the blocks of the same color are all connected. You are faced with a 2D view, but the blocks are effectively 3D -- moving blocks off of one edge, you will see them reappear on the other side.

read more



Specs battle: BlackBerry Z10 vs. the best of Android

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 09:01 AM PST

BB10 comparison

Comparing the Z10 to the Galaxy S3 and others

Now that BlackBerry has finally managed to get some new hardware out the door, it's time to put it up against the best of Android. The BlackBerry Z10 is your basic black-slab phone, not unlike what we've come to know and love (or at least accept as standard design) with Android devices the past couple years. 

The specs probably won't send your jaw toward the floor or anything, but then again they're not really supposed to.

After the break, we've got a full breakdown of the BlackBerry Z10 (and read CB's full Z10 review if you get a minute) versus the Samsung Galaxy S3, HTC Droid DNA, Motorola RAZR MAXX HD and the Nexus 4.

And be sure to hit up our pals at CrackBerry for all the latest BB10 news.

read more



Carbon backup app launches on Google Play [updated]

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 08:49 AM PST

Android Central

Update: Whoops. Koush sends word that Carbon wasn't quite ready to go when we posted and that the folks in the forums spotted it early. It's now "live" live, so make sure you have the most recent version.

After a couple of weeks in beta, Koushik Dutta -- aka Koush -- has released his Carbon backup app on Google Play. The app uses Android's built-in backup feature to sync apps -- and crucially, app data -- to the SD card or cloud storage. If you're rooted, you just need the app itself. If not, there's an accompanying desktop app that can help you sync an unrooted phone.

A word of warning for Motorola users -- the app isn't available for Moto devices due to a bug in these phones which prevents Android's backup features from working correctly. A manual download link is provided on the Play Store listing for those running custom ROMs, or anyone who just wants to try anyway.

Carbon comes in two flavors -- there's a free version, which offers an basic ad-supported service. Then there's an ad-free premium version, which costs $4.99 and adds in more advanced stuff like Android-to-Android sync and cloud storage sync.

Both apps are available for phones running Android 4.0 or above -- hit the Google Play link above to grab the basic version, or head over here for the premium version.

via Android Central forums



Android and BlackBerry 10: How they stack up

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 08:04 AM PST

It’s BlackBerry 10 day today, and you knew we had to take a few minutes to see just what BlackBerry has to offer. Right off the bat, we’re going to say it’s good enough to keep folks still using the BlackBerry platform happy that they hung around, and probably even tempt a few people to give BlackBerry a try for the first time. Kevin has a good look at the hardware and some of the UI and features in the video. Give it a watch, then join us after the break we can see how it all matches up to Android.

For more info, be sure to check out CrackBerry's reviews:

read more



Nexus 4 back on sale at UK Google Play Store (Update: France too)

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 07:19 AM PST

Android Central

Update: The Nexus 4 is back on sale through Google Play in France too, with a 2-3 week shipping period.

Brits, here's your first chance of the year to get hold of a Nexus 4 at the crazy-low Google Play Store price. As before, prices are £239 for 8GB, or £279 for 16GB. Phones ordered today are scheduled to ship within 1-2 weeks.

And if you're in the U.S., the Nexus 4 still appears to be on sale stateside, and the links above are valid for you, too. If you're seeing the Nexus 4 for sale on any other regions' Google Play Stores, be sure to hit the comments and let us know!



Deal of the Day: Incipio NGP Soft Shell Case for Galaxy S3

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 06:46 AM PST

Deal of the Day The Jan. 30 ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day is the Incipio NGP Soft Shell Case for Galaxy S3. This flexible case guards your Galaxy S3 with a semi-rigid polymer shell featuring custom-cut holes for complete access to the ports and buttons of the device. The NGP material is malleable enough to slip around and snugly hold the Galaxy S3, but also firm enough to withstand impacts and scrapes. Color options include black, pink, gray, and turquoise.

The Incipio NGP Soft Shell Case is available for just $13.00, 35% off today only. Backed by our 60-day return policy and fast shipping!

Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts!



ZTE teases Grand Memo for Mobile World Congress

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 06:24 AM PST

ZTE

Android Central at Mobile World CongressBecause it's never too early to start pimping hashtags, ZTE this morning sent out invites to its Mobile World Congress press event on Feb. 25, promising to show a new Android device in the ZTE Grand Memo (which it recently showed off in Hong Kong), as well as a phone with the fledgling Mozilla OS. The hashtags, of course, are #ztegrandmemo and #ztemozilla.

Mobile World Congress runs Feb. 25-28 in Barcelona, Spain. We'll be there, of course, to bring you the whole thing.



This is the white Nexus 4

Posted: 30 Jan 2013 04:25 AM PST

Android Central

Just hours after we got our first look at the LG Nexus 4 in white, we have an even clearer look at the new color option for the device. These latest pics come from Vietnamese site Tinh tế, and show the white Nexus from a variety of angles. As with earlier white Nexus phones, only the back part changes color, with the front face remaining pitch black.

At the right angle it's possible to make our the "crystal reflection process" (sparkly) back, just as on the black model. And the camera and lens trim are reflective, in contrast to the black trims on the original. So from a design perspective, it's the same old Nexus 4 we know and love.

There's no indication as to when -- or even if -- the white Nexus 4 will be due for public release, but we're sure it'll sell out just as fast as the current model if it ever does. We'll keep you posted with any further details that emerge. In the meantime you'll find more pics after the break, and at the source link.

Source: Tinh tế, via: SlashGear

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US Cellular wants to pay you $300 to switch carriers

Posted: 29 Jan 2013 09:03 PM PST

US Cellular

U.S. Cellular is hoping to compel some users to head over to its network by offering $300 to families that bring along two or more lines and activate a smartphone. The incentive comes in the form of a prepaid MasterCard debit card, which is probably better than other ways they could've done it, although we may have preferred to have it put on your bill as a credit for service.

The promotion U.S. Cellular is running right now also includes several other incentives. New and existing customers living in LTE markets can take advantage of the carrier's unlimited data plans for $40 per month. The carrier says that 58-percent of its customers currently have LTE coverage, and that number will be almost 90-percent by the end of 2013. There are a few device discounts going on currently as well, with the Huawei Ascend Y for $0.01 and the Samsung Galaxy S III (with LTE) for $149.99.

If you've been thinking about moving to U.S. Cellular, now may be the time. These smaller and regional carriers tend to put together some pretty decent incentive packages to get new customers in.

Source: U.S. Cellular



Cameringo update fixes sharing intents, bugs

Posted: 29 Jan 2013 06:28 PM PST

Cameringo

We took a look at Cameringo a couple days ago, and the one issue we had was that sharing intents didn't work. Thankfully the developer has made a couple updates in the last day, fixing a few issues including sharing. We've gone through version 1.1 and 1.2 in the last 24 hours, and both have brought notable updates. 1.1 brought improved rendering on HTC devices and other internal improvements, and 1.2 fixed the sharing bug. The developer has been quick to respond to bug reports and get these fixes out quickly, which is great to see.

The end result is that Cameringo's UI has improved notably. Gone is the legacy menu key, and the UI elements to control settings and to capture photos are now transparent, giving you a full-screen viewfinder. When taking a shot you can now properly share that image to any available app, and the picture will actually come along.

As we said in our initial look at the app, it has a lot of great things about it that make it worth the $1.00 to purchase. Now with these improvements and bug fixes it's really a no-brainer if you're looking to add filters to your photos.