Monday, March 4, 2013

Android Authority

Android Authority


Samsung Galaxy S4 to feature plastic casing, according to Eldar Murtazin

Posted: 04 Mar 2013 02:30 AM PST

samsung times square galaxy s4 invite 1

Samsung Galaxy S4's D-Day is nearing, and, as expected, the rumor mill is grinding at full throttle. But after several benchmarks and numerous stories focused only on specs and hardware, it's time to turn to something that could really make or break the "next big thing" – design. Specifically, build materials.

You've probably noticed that, as much as the GS4 has been leaked lately, the big guy's looks have been very neatly kept under wraps. There've been a few renders and depictions thrown around, but for the most part these have been guesses or "what ifs".

Meanwhile, not one word has been mentioned of the phone's build materials, although Sammy seemed to (faintly) hint at GS4's body being made out of glossy plastic. And as bad of an idea that sounds, it's still the best guess we have so far.

Only now it's more than just a guess. It's a full-fledged possibility, based on an account of Eldar Murtazin's first interaction with the S4. Wait, what? There's someone out there that has already seen the phone? It appears so, though we have our doubts.

samsung-galaxy-s4

If we are to blindly trust Murtazin, Samsung showed off the plastic S4 behind closed doors at MWC to a bunch of selected members of the press. The Russian is the guy to invite at these sorts of things, so it's definitely likely he was there. We also heard a long time ago that the S4 was going to make a similar appearance at CES, so everything checks out.

Murtazin is even the first source to tell us about the March 14 New York unveiling event and we all know that rumor proved legit. And yet we can't just forget about one of the few black spots on the journalist's excellent record of leaking stories before anyone else.

And, what a coincidence, that black spot involved the build materials of the last Samsung flagship, the S3. No ceramic for last year's big kahuna, so maybe no plastic for this year's? We certainly hope so, especially when hearing Murtazin that "all the weaknesses that are widely discussed for Galaxy S3 will be carried over to this product".

With HTC's One built out of premium aluminum, Samsung can't really afford to miss the mark on S4's design, can it? And yeah, we know, there are different kinds of plastics, polymers and so on, but the fact of the matter is that metal is better. It just is.

As for the numero uno controversial GS4 spec – the processor or processors – Murtazin seems to think the super-phone will be after all released in several versions with different chipsets, including one from Qualcomm. Okay, but will one of the others pack the Exynos 5 Octa? Sorry, but we'll just have to wait and see.

The post Samsung Galaxy S4 to feature plastic casing, according to Eldar Murtazin appeared first on Android Authority.

Watch Project Shield run a PS3 game without a hitch

Posted: 04 Mar 2013 01:30 AM PST

nvidia-shield-3

Mobile technology evolves so fast, it's mind boggling. Only a few years ago, gaming on the go meant crude graphics and simplistic gameplay, and here we are today, talking about console titles ported to run on a Android mobile device.

As part of its Android Thursdays series, which shows off Android gaming on the Tegra 4-equipped Project Shield, Nvidia demoed a complete port of a previously PS3-exclusive title, Burn Zombie Burn!

While not the most graphics intensive PS3 title, Burn Zombie Burn! is still a game that was designed to take advantage of the (still) powerful silicon inside a video console. So it's impressive that Nvidia not only managed to port the game to the Shield, but also added some extra eye candy, just to showcase the prowess of the Tegra 4 processor inside.

The game seems to run smoothly, and thanks to the extensive set of controls that Nvidia put on the Shield, gameplay is very similar to the console version.

We still don't have much information on when would the Project Shield become available, although Nvidia did give us a hint about the price tag of the device – it won't be cheap. Are you interested in Project Shield?

The post Watch Project Shield run a PS3 game without a hitch appeared first on Android Authority.

ZTE U935 leaks: a 5-inch Full HD smartphone with quad-core power for just $240

Posted: 04 Mar 2013 12:46 AM PST

zte-u935

Contrary to popular belief, we don't really like to play favorites here at Android Authority. And yet how can we keep a clear head and not fall hopelessly in love with a company like ZTE? Okay, maybe that U9810 packing 4 GB of RAM is bonkers (and not entirely in a good way), but the Grand S, Grand Memo and now U935 are positively dreamy.

What's so special about this U935? In a nutshell, it's so crazy cheap that it makes even the Nexus 4 look overpriced. Or rather it should be, as the pricing point is not yet official. The phone itself is not confirmed, but this is the second time we're hearing about it, so there's no reason to doubt its existence.

And now let's talk numbers. Based on rumors, the ZTE U935 is to cost 1,500 Yuan in China, which translates into around $240 ($236, to be more exact). That's peanuts compared to how most other high-end phones are priced these days. And the thing is, the U935 is high-end.

Okay, maybe not top of the line high-end, but the fellow does sport a 5-inch Full HD screen. And it also packs a punch, with a quad-core 1.2 GHz Mediatek MT6589 CPU and 1 GB of RAM beneath the hood.

zte-u935-2

You might remember seeing that low-cost processor perform sub-par in some benchmarks and it's definitely no Tegra 4, but at $240 it's blazing fast. And it's also supposed to be a power saver, meaning the 2,500 mAh battery inside the ZTE U935 should be enough to keep you going for a while.

An 8 MP rear-facing camera, a 0.3 MP secondary snapper, 8 GB of on-board storage, microSD support, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 wrap up a truly outstanding spec sheet… considering. Now, the U935 is definitely not what you'd call elegant, with a pretty chunky figure, but that's the least you could sacrifice, isn't it?

Unfortunately, the U935 is probably never going to leave its native land, which means our friends in China will be the only ones spoiled by the phone’s incredible bang for the buck. Unless we start planning a trip across the Ocean right now and bring back as many as these as we can. Who’s in?

The post ZTE U935 leaks: a 5-inch Full HD smartphone with quad-core power for just $240 appeared first on Android Authority.

Asus rolls out Android 4.2.1 update for Transformer Pad TF300

Posted: 04 Mar 2013 12:37 AM PST

asus transformer pad tf300t review

Asus has done it again. After the Transformer Pad TF300 became the first non-Nexus device to sport Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, which was rolled out to the slate last year in August, the TF300 now holds the title as the first tablet outside of the Nexus family to receive the newer Jelly Bean flavor.

The Nexus 7 maker has announced that the Transformer Pad TF300T in the U.S. will be getting Android 4.2 starting today via an OTA update, with similar software update to be pushed out to the tablet in other markets not long thereafter. While the specific build wasn't mentioned in the press release, we're seeing reports from users who have made the jump that it's Android 4.2.1.

It may not be the latest JB version, but at least you don't have to deal with the many bugs that the previous build was ridden with. Alongside new JB features like Daydream and multiple user account logins, the firmware also includes some performance and stability enhancements.

Meanwhile, those who own the Transformer Pad Infinity – as well as other newer Asus tabs — can expect to get upgraded to Android 4.2.1 in Q2 2013.

Have you gotten the JOP40D update yet on your trusty Transformer Pad TF300T?

Show full PR text

Android 4.2 released for the ASUS Transformer Pad TF300
Improvements include enhanced performance, stability and multiple user account logins

Fremont, CA (March 4, 2013) — ASUS is excited to announce Android 4.2 is now available in the US region for the ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T. Android 4.2 will be released to Transformer Pad owners via a free over the air update starting today in the United States and will be available in other regions during March. This new version of Android enhances performance and stability, improves the user experience with new features as well as providing multiple user account logins.

The ASUS Transformer Pad TF300 is one of the most successful ASUS tablets to date and offers a full notebook PC experience when attached to the innovative mobile dock. ASUS is committed to providing the best customer experience, and is the first manufacturer to receive Android 4.2 for partnered tablets. The ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity, ASUS MeMO Pad Smart 10", and ASUS MeMO Pad will receive Android 4.2 in Q2.

###
About ASUS
ASUS is a worldwide top-three consumer notebook vendor and maker of the world's best-selling, most award-winning, motherboards. A leading enterprise in the new digital era, ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today's digital home and office, with a broad portfolio that includes motherboards, graphics cards, optical drives, displays, desktop and all-in-one PCs, notebooks, netbooks, servers, multimedia devices, wireless solutions, networking devices, tablets and smartphones. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS won 4,168 awards in 2012 and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with its Eee PC™. ASUS has more than 12,500 employees around the globe with a world-class R&D team of 3,800 engineers. Company revenue for 2011 was approximately US$11.9 billion.

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HTC’s One was supposed to launch in Taiwan today, but now it’s due on the 7th

Posted: 03 Mar 2013 08:04 PM PST

HTC announced their 2013 flagship smartphone, the One, on Febrary 19th. That’s less than a month ago. According to Focus Taiwan, the company wanted to launch the device in their home market today, but the launch had to be postponed until the 7th. That’s this Thursday. Why was the launch delayed? We don’t know.

Strangely enough, when HTC unveiled the One, they said it would be available in 32 GB and 64 GB configurations. The One that’s meant for Taiwan will have just 16 GB of on-board storage. Why? Again, we don’t know, but it probably has something to do with cost.

When will the HTC One reach your respective country? Oh boy, that’s a tough one. If you want to wait until your operator offers it, then you could be looking at April or even May. If you want to import one from a site like Expansys, then you could probably have yours by the end of March. It really depends on what channels you prefer going through.

Should you even buy the One? We feel that you owe it to yourself to wait until the 14th to see what Samsung does with the Galaxy S4. Then, and only then, will you be able to make a fair comparison between what are arguably the two most important Android smartphones that are going to be released during the first half of this year.

What’s going to happen during the second half of the year? We’re looking at the Note III, the next Nexus, the first real Motorola phone from Google, and as much as it hurts to say this, an upgraded version of the One. Similar to how the One X got refreshed as the One X+ in 2012, we expect the same thing to happen this year.

The post HTC’s One was supposed to launch in Taiwan today, but now it’s due on the 7th appeared first on Android Authority.

Google will launch Play Store gift cards in the UK pretty soon, perfect for children

Posted: 03 Mar 2013 07:14 PM PST

Once upon a time, not that long ago actually, you had to be an adult with a fairly decent job in order to own a smartphone. Today, thanks to budget devices and operator subsidies, damn near anyone can own the latest and greatest device from HTC, Samsung, or even Apple. This means that younger folks are getting into smartphones as well, but there’s a small issue with that. Young people don’t have credit cards, and because they don’t have credit cards, that means they can’t buy apps.

Apple figured out how to solve this ages ago with the introduction of iTunes giftcards. Now pretty much any major online service has figured out a way to sell gift cards at retail outlets such as 7-11. Google is taking their sweet time to get Play Store gift cards into people’s hands though. They exist in the good ol’ US of A, but not anywhere else.

That’s soon going to change according to a Google Play Store support page that references UK Play Store gift cards. They’ll be available in the same denominations as the US Play Store cards (10, 25, and 50 GBP), but sadly we don’t have a precise launch date to share with you at this moment.

And what about other countries? Keep waiting. Suckers.

The post Google will launch Play Store gift cards in the UK pretty soon, perfect for children appeared first on Android Authority.

ZTE doesn’t want to “burn” money on ads, says that’s not part of their “character”

Posted: 03 Mar 2013 06:26 PM PST

Why did Samsung kick HTC’s ass last year and why are they probably going to kick their ass again this year? Advertising. HTC’s marketing budget is practically non-existant compared to the billions that Samsung spends every year to make sure you know what a Galaxy is and that there’s a new one out on the market. In fact, Samsung spends more money on ads in one year (about $14 billion) than HTC makes in phone sales.

It’s kind of sad, but that’s just the world we live in.

Now when you look at the smaller players, they’re even less hesitant to run an ad or two. According to ZTE USA CEO Lixin Cheng, who spoke to FierceWireless during Mobile World Congress, ZTE doesn’t want to “burn money to increase brand awareness”. He says that’s “not our character, it’s not our strategy.”

What is ZTE’s strategy? “B2B2C”, short for business to business to consumer. ZTE wants to court the operators, who in turn will tell their customers about ZTE’s devices. It’s a quaint concept, that needs to be said, but it appears to be working, albeit slowly.

And what about Huawei? That’s ZTE’s number one enemy. Huawei says they’re going to go big with a marketing campaign this year, telling people that their new corporate slogan is “Make it possible”, but we don’t know how much money they plan on spending. Huawei is the third largest phone maker according to the analysts at IDC, which means they’ve definitely reached the point where they need to flex their public relations muscles.

Can any company honestly get anywhere without advertising? Small companies can, but if you’re talking about markets where you’re pushing 50+ million units of a commodity every quarter, then you need some way to tell people to buy your wares.

The post ZTE doesn’t want to “burn” money on ads, says that’s not part of their “character” appeared first on Android Authority.

ZTE Grand Memo could be the first to use the Snapdragon 800 CPU after all

Posted: 03 Mar 2013 10:52 AM PST

ZTE Grand Memo aa 600 2

The ZTE Grand Memo, a new 5.7-inch Android handset unveiled at MWC a few days ago, happens to take the grand scandal title for this year's edition of the popular Spanish show.

In case you missed it, ZTE announced that the Grand Memo would be the first handset in the world to pack a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor. Why is that important? Because no flagship device from any of the main Android makers out there will equip that particular processor, which happens to be the top of the line Qualcomm SoC for this year.

Devices like the HTC One and the LG Optimus G Pro pack a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 CPU and even the Galaxy S4 is said to use the same processor, at least in some versions.

That's why having ZTE say the Grand Memo would use a Snapdragon 800 processor was a very important, and unexpected, revelation.

However, things turned sour when it was discovered that the Grand Memo would not come with the Snapdragon 800, not even the Snapdragon 600, as ZTE claimed later on, but with a Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU.

But now we hear that ZTE may indeed launch multiple Grand Memo versions which will not be completely similar. Some of them may indeed pack a Snapdragon 800 SoC, which could make the Grand Memo the first device in the world to use Qualcomm's top of the line mobile processor – unless someone beats ZTE to the punch.

ZTE is yet to tell us what Grand Memo versions will come with the flagship Qualcomm CPU on board and when that will happen, although considering that the Snapdragon 800 is only expected to hit OEMs in the second half of the year, you may be in for quite a wait. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor is also in the cards for certain Grand Memo models. Moreover, some of these devices will come with 1GB of RAM, while others will have 2GB under the hood.

While we wait for the first Grand Memo versions to hit stores, ZTE has plenty of time to make sure such PR disasters don't occur in the future. After all, this whole mess could have been avoided before becoming the MWC 2013 scandal.

Will you buy the Grand Memo this year? Are you ready to wait a while for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 model?

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Charcoal Black Galaxy Note 8.0 spotted in leaked photo

Posted: 03 Mar 2013 08:30 AM PST

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 aa 600 px (16)

Samsung's response to Apple's iPad mini was unveiled at MWC 2013 – the Galaxy Note 8.0 – where we had a chance to play with the device, whose existence wasn't really a secret as we got ready for the official announcement.

At the event, we only took the white version for a first hands-on preview and we compared it with the iPad mini and the Nexus 7, but today we're going to show you the Charcoal Black Galaxy Note 8 version that was apparently leaked.

The black Galaxy Note 8 is yet to be confirmed by Samsung, but considering that the iPad mini comes in black and white we wouldn't be surprised to see this Charcoal Black model become official. Not to mention that Samsung is already used to launching differently colored versions of its newest devices at some time after the official announcement, so a black Galaxy Note 8 would make plenty of sense.

Samsung-Galaxy-Note-8-0-Charcoal-Black

In case you haven't been keeping tabs on MWC 2013 this week, we'll remind you that the Galaxy Note 8 will feature an 8-inch display with 1280 x 800 resolution, 1.6GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16/32GB memory, microSD support up to 64GB, 5-megapixel camera, 1.3-megapixel rear-facing camera, voice call support, 4600mAh battery and Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean.

Will you buy a Galaxy Note 8 this year?

The post Charcoal Black Galaxy Note 8.0 spotted in leaked photo appeared first on Android Authority.

Galaxy S4 specs and features revealed in new benchmark: LTE, Exynos 5 Octa and PowerVR SGX 544MP

Posted: 03 Mar 2013 07:59 AM PST

galaxy-s4-specs-features-antutu-leak

With less than two weeks to go until Samsung unveils its fourth-generation Galaxy S model, a new benchmark leak seems to reveal its specs and features.

According to a new AnTuTu test, here's what the Galaxy S4 will have to offer:

  • 4.99-inch display with 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) resolution
  • 1.8GHz eight-core Exynos 5 Octa CPU
  • 2GB of RAM
  • PowerVR SGX 544MP GPU
  • 16/32GB of storage
  • 13-megapixel camera with LED flash and HD video recording
  • 2.1-megapixel front-facing camera
  • Wi-Fi
  • Bluetooth 4.0
  • NFC
  • GPS, A-GPS
  • LTE support
  • Android 4.2 Jelly Bean

Obviously, we can’t confirm any of this right now, and we're certainly looking forward to Samsung's March 14 New York-based Galaxy S4 event for official specs and features for the handset.

However, assuming we're looking at an actual Galaxy S4 benchmark here, we'll notice a few interesting things.

First of all, these AnTuTu screenshots seem to suggest that the Galaxy S4 will indeed sport an Exynos 5 Octa processor. We've seen many reports to date that claimed either that the handset will feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 SoC or that some Galaxy S4 versions (namely LTE ones) will pack Qualcomm processors, while the others will feature a Samsung-made next-gen CPU.

With that in mind, we'll also focus on that listed GSM/WCDMA/LTE support which is very interesting, and seems to suggest that Exynos 5 Octa-based Galaxy S4 units will come with LTE capabilities. In such a case, will Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processors be still needed?

galaxy-s4-specs-features-antutu-leak-1 galaxy-s4-specs-features-antutu-leak-2 galaxy-s4-specs-features-antutu-leak-3 galaxy-s4-specs-features-antutu-leak-4 galaxy-s4-specs-features-antutu-leak-5

As for overall performance, it looks like the Galaxy S4 is ready to blow past some of the competition, topping the AnTuTu Benchmark test with a total score of 24894. However, while the Galaxy S4 does much better than the LG Optimus G, the Nexus 4, the Galaxy Note 2 and the Galaxy S3 in this test, none of the recent flagship devices are listed including the Sony Xperia Z, LG Optimus G Pro or the HTC One.

We'll be back with more Galaxy S4 details in the coming days, as we expect plenty of leaks to hit the web before the device is officially announced.

The post Galaxy S4 specs and features revealed in new benchmark: LTE, Exynos 5 Octa and PowerVR SGX 544MP appeared first on Android Authority.

Google Android News Android Forums

Google Android News Android Forums


Charcoal Black Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 Photo Leaked

Posted: 03 Mar 2013 01:48 PM PST

GALAXY Note 8.0_1

Samsung has always been one for adding a bit of colorful flare to its devices. Be it the Galaxy S III in Pebble Blue; the Note II in Pink; or the Note 10.1 in Garnet Red, Samsung loves to give us choices. Well it appears that the Korean Giant’s newest addition to the family, the recently announced Note 8.0 will be seeing multiple colors as well. As a leaked press shot suggests (below) the tablet will not just come in white but will also be available in a Charcoal Black color. 

Samsung-Galaxy-Note-8-0-Charcoal-Black

This rumored color addition does appear to add some weight to the idea that Samsung is abandoning its short-lived, influenced-by-nature color scheme. Although that isn’t to say that down the road we’ll see different color options added. We won’t know until for sure until after the Note 8.0 debuts in the second quarter of this year. Stay tuned!

Source: PhoneArena


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Google currently testing data compression feature for Chrome Browser

Posted: 03 Mar 2013 01:46 PM PST

chrome-for-android

 

Chrome is no doubt one of the most popular web browsers on our Android devices, but it appears that Google is intent on making the web browsing experience just a little faster than it already is. Taking a page from web browsers like that from Opera, Google has unveiled a preliminary build of its Chromium web browser that utilizes data compression. Here’s how Google describes the data compression feature:

“Reduce data consumption by loading optimized web pages via Google proxy servers”.

So essentially Google’s data compression will do two things: provide more efficient security and speed up page load times. More efficient security comes from the Chrome browser using SPDY (the company’s proxy servers) which forces SSL encryption for all sites. The speeding up of the load page times on the other hand, is done by multiplexing multiple streams of data over a single network connection and assigning high or low priorities to page resources being requested from a server.

Google hasn’t exactly made this feature public yet, but it is available to test out for those of you Android 4.2 users who like to be ambitious and try things out. Hit the break for the full instructions on how to get this neat feature going.

 

  • Go to Settings, About Phone.

  • Find the build number

  • Tap on the build number repeatedly about seven times

  • Note that after the third tap, you’ll see a snarky dialog that says you are four taps away from being a developer.

  • After the seventh tap you will see a message that says "You are now a developer.”

Once all is done, the Developer Settings option (which you need to enable USB debugging) will again be in the device’s Settings app.


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Low-end Huawei Prism II with Jelly Bean coming to T-Mobile soon

Posted: 03 Mar 2013 11:02 AM PST

T-Mobile_Huawei_Prism

Images and specs of the T-Mobile Prism II (Huawei U8686) have been leaked online via @evleaks. A followup to the former Huawei Prism, the Prism II will feature a similar form factor to its predecessor and will come with Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean, a 1.0 GHz CPU and a HVGA (480 x 320) display. Not much else is known yet about this device but check back with TalkAndroid as we learn more about the device.

Sources: Twitter & Twitter


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LG hits the 10 million mark for LTE phones sold

Posted: 03 Mar 2013 10:39 AM PST

LG_Wireless_Ultra_HD_Transmission_Standard

The latest announcement from LG is that they’ve officially sold 10 million LTE-enabled smartphones globally. While they’re still trailing some of the biggest competitors in the market by a large chunk, it’s still a very impressive number, especially considering LTE isn’t commonplace all over the world like it is in countries like the US. Besides that, the number doesn’t include the Nexus 4, which has no (official) LTE but is still one of the best selling phones available on the market right now.

We’ve seen LG make a push for more LTE phones lately, and I think it’s going to pay off for them. 10 million is a good stepping stone, and LG has plenty of room to go up. When the wave of next generation devices hit the shelves in the coming months, expect LG to post some impressive numbers.

source: Newswire


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Update preps ESPN Bracket Bound app for 2013 tourney

Posted: 02 Mar 2013 07:14 PM PST

espn_bracket_bound_2013_app_play_store_banner

As March opens, college basketball fans are enjoying the final days of the regular season with teams jockeying for position in post-season tournaments. Next up will be conference tournaments and then the annual event known as “March Madness” – the NCAA Tournament. To help basketball fans keep up with all the action, ESPN has updated their Bracket Bound app for the 2013 season.

The app includes some features that users may find useful now, like the ability to setup favorite teams and games to keep track of the action. Other typical sports app features include access to news, conference standings, game results, and video clips of analysis and news. ESPN indicates the app will provide quick access to their WatchESPN app to watch live or recorded events as well as access to Twitter discussions the user may find interesting.

As far as the 75th NCAA Tournament goes, users can access the latest projections of who will make the field and where. ESPN indicates users will be able to access the ESPN Tournament Challenge using the app, including the ability to complete up to ten brackets. That function is not present in the app for now, but should be available via an update once brackets are announced.

You can check out some screenshots below. If you are interested in getting ESPN Bracket Bound 2013, use one of the download links below.

espn_bracket_bound_2013_screen_01 espn_bracket_bound_2013_screen_04 espn_bracket_bound_2013_screen_06 espn_bracket_bound_2013_screen_05 espn_bracket_bound_2013_screen_02 espn_bracket_bound_2013_screen_03

QR Code generator

Google Play Download Link


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Is Verizon prepping an Android 4.2.2 update for Galaxy Nexus users? Sure seems to be the case

Posted: 02 Mar 2013 05:27 PM PST

Android_4.2.2_Verizon_Galaxy_Nexus_Update

 

If you’re a Verizon Galaxy Nexus owner, then it looks like you’ve got some sort of update on the way… which we were already aware of and expecting. Reports are coming in that the nation’s wireless carrier is currently testing a mysterious JDQ39 build of Android 4.2.2 which seems to feature some new radios, but unfortunately seems to feature an old bootloader and old kernel version.

PWhy Verizon isn’t updating the kernel and bootloader beats us— but maybe it’s just part of its extensive testing before rolling out to the masses. Nevertheless we’ll certainly be keeping our eyes and ears open to what Verizon has up in its sleeves for you G-Nex users out there.

source: XDA Forums
via: Android Central


Come comment on this article: Is Verizon prepping an Android 4.2.2 update for Galaxy Nexus users? Sure seems to be the case

Hackers Access Evernote Secure Areas. Evernote Team Issues Service Wide Password Reset

Posted: 02 Mar 2013 04:56 PM PST

evernote

What would the internet be without hackers hacking things? Not a day goes by where some hacker somewhere is attempting to access secure or private information. Well it looks like the Evernote Operation’s and Security team discovered they they were at the receiving end of suspicious computer activities. Although personal content nor payment information looks to be affected the investigation does show that Evernote user information (usernames, email addresses associated with Evernote accounts and encrypted passwords) were obtained. While this is worrisome in itself, files containing said user information is encrypted. However rather than rely on just that the Evernote team is playing it safe and requiring that you head on over to evernote.com to reset your password. In the process they also would like to remind everyone the importance of keeping your password secure:

“There are also several important steps that you can take to ensure that your data on any site, including Evernote, is secure:

  • Avoid using simple passwords based on dictionary words
  • Never use the same password on multiple sites or services
  • Never click on ‘reset password’ requests in emails — instead go directly to the service.”

So if you’re a Evernote user then head on over to their web site to change your password. Hit the source link below to read the full post. It’s great to see a company be proactive about their security.  I don’t know about you, but I’m going to go reset my password right now.

 

Source: Evernote


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Toy Story: Andy’s Room Live Wallpaper Available in the Play Store

Posted: 02 Mar 2013 04:53 PM PST

ToyStoryAndy'sRoom

Back when I was a kid Toy Story was my favorite movie. Mostly because it appealed to something I then often thought about; my toys coming to life when no one was around. To this day it’s proved a timeless classic with millions of toys, two sequels and multiple videogames. Just the other day even, Disney/PIXAR released Toy Story: Smash It! into the Play Store for your gaming pleasure. They’re not stopping there as they bring an interactive live wallpaper into the mix. Toy Story: Andy’s Room promises to visually brighten your day while also entertaining you with activities involving your favorite Toy Story characters. As if being entertaining weren’t enough Disney/Pixar also brings the following with this wallpaper:

• Encounter popular Toy Story characters: Unlock and interact with 5 characters from Toy Story including Woody, Buzz, Rex, Hamm, and the Aliens!
• Collect points to unlock new characters with fun mini games: Catch falling army men, and hit the bullseye on the dart board to earn valuable points!
• Hang out in Andy’s room from day till night: Play from sunrise to sunset, and watch the room change throughout the day according to your local time!
• Customize your own cork board: Write fun messages and reminders on the cork board in Andy’s Room!

If you’re looking for a Toy Story nostalgia fix hit the break for a link to the Play Store download. Enjoy!

Android Central

Android Central


Socialmatic camera takes and prints Instagram pictures, runs Android

Posted: 03 Mar 2013 02:41 PM PST

Socialmatic

Socialmatic is hoping to hop on the Instagram popularity bandwagon by releasing its own camera specifically aimed at taking, sharing and printing Instagram pictures. The idea for this camera has been around for some time, but now the company has some specifics for us to see. The Socialmatic camera will have 16GB of storage with an SDcard slot, both Wifi and 3G connectivity and run Android as its base operating system. Running Android will enable it to share using the Instagram app, naturally, but you won't be constrained to just that network.

Tying into the retro theme, the camera will actually be Polaroid branded, and has a mechanism to print pictures directly in the camera. The design is an uncanny resemblance to the Instagram logo as well, which we doubt is going to help usability at all but certainly gets the point across on what this camera is meant for.

Socialmatic is targeting the first quarter of 2014 for commercial availability of the product, but no specifics are given regarding pricing.

Source: Socialmatic



Android at Mobile World Congress 2013 wrap-up

Posted: 03 Mar 2013 08:25 AM PST

Fira Gran Via

A look back over the past week's Android news from Barcelona

Like CES a month ago, this year’s Mobile World Congress was lighter than usual on major Android announcements. HTC did its thing in London and New York a week before; Samsung’s got its big event planned for Mar. 14. And the Android manufacturers who were present skipped a couple of the major devices we had expected to see at the show.

So what we were left with was a scrappier show than usual, though one that still gave us a good deal to talk about.  In place of our usual international roundup this week, we’re going to look back over the past week in Barcelona and highlight some of the major Android developments.

Join us after the break, won’t you?

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Leaked image shows Charcoal Black version of Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0

Posted: 03 Mar 2013 05:59 AM PST

Android Central

When we first saw the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 in Barcelona, it came in one color. Marble White. While white is very much Samsung's thing these days -- all recent big name devices have launched in white -- it doesn't necessarily mean it's for everyone. So then, how about this? This press image sent to the team over at PhoneArena shows a sleek black colored Note 8.0, reportedly termed as Charcoal Black. 

The usual caveats apply here though, folks. Until it's official, it's not official, so park this one in the rumor basket for the time being. But, it's not all that unreasonable to expect there to be other color variants of the Note 8.0 when it goes on sale. Nor is that unreasonable to expect black to be one of those colors. How about you guys though? Jump into the comments below and let us know which you prefer. 

More: Hands on with the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0

Source: PhoneArena



UK pricing for Google Play gift cards appears, actual cards still M.I.A.

Posted: 03 Mar 2013 03:53 AM PST

Android Central

The Google Play gift card saga continues to roll for eager potential UK based customers, with this latest information appearing on the Google Play support pages. There's no telling at the moment just how long this information has been there, but what it confirms is the amounts we'll -- eventually -- be able to purchase. And it isn't in anyway a surprise. 

It seems that the UK price structure will follow an almost identical numerical scheme to the U.S. cards, with £10, £25 and £50 cards to be available. No £15 one, but that's not a disaster. 

Considering the first signs of a UK launch were seen back in December, the fact we're yet to see these on UK shelves is still somewhat frustrating. Missing the holiday shopping period could be seen as something of a fail on Google's part, but at this point we'll take them when we can get them. 

via Redmond Pie



Software update inbound for Verizon's LG Intuition

Posted: 03 Mar 2013 03:13 AM PST

Android Central

Anyone out there pick up an LG Intuition on Verizon? Well, if you did, looks like you have a software update heading your way sometime soon. And no, it isn't looking like Jelly Bean, especially since the international variant the Optimus Vu hasn't had that yet. 

But, updates usually have some goodies in for us, right? There's the usual bug fixes built in, along with enhancements to the speakerphone. Device wise, email split view is being added, a nice feature for a large screen device. Some apps are removed, Color and V Cast, yet at the same time the Amazon Appstore is added in. We've known since the Droid DNA though that Verizon is starting to put Amazon software onto their devices.

For the full rundown on the update, hit the source link below. It's a pretty meaty one, weighing in at 204MB, so you'll perhaps want to accept it at home when it finally drops. At present it's still listed as coming soon, but when it arrives for you be sure to jump into the LG Intuition forums and let us know what you find. 

Source: Verizon



LG: 10 million LTE smartphones sold worldwide so far

Posted: 03 Mar 2013 02:33 AM PST

Android Central

LG's latest sales announcement may still seem somewhat insignificant in the overall standings, but that's not to say it's an achievement that should be sneered at. Announced this morning, LG has now sold 10 million 4G LTE smartphones worldwide. There's a strong chance that the bulk of those sales were made in its native South Korea, but 10 million is 10 million, wherever they're sold. 

Consider too the global mess that is LTE, and the fact that outside the United States and places like Korea, it's still starting out in many areas. Europe is still getting to grips with LTE, the UK has barely started for example, and making a device LTE compatible in different markets is still more of a headache than it should be in an ideal world. 

LG is committed to the 4G LTE device market, and with the introduction of the F-Series at Mobile World Congress, hopes to bring affordable LTE devices to the market. 

Source: LG (Newswire)