Friday, March 8, 2013

Android Authority

Android Authority


Google Glass app will recognize people in a crowd for you

Posted: 08 Mar 2013 02:38 AM PST

google glass

A new Google-funded app will let Glass recognize and point people in a crowd, based on the clothes and accessories they wear.

When you think about identifying a person, the first technology that comes to mind is facial recognition. But recognizing people by their faces isn't always feasible. In low light, in crowded areas, or simply when someone stands with their back against you, it's often hard to distinguish people.

Try finding some friends in a crowded shopping mall. More likely, you'll recognize them by their clothes and gait, rather than their faces. That's precisely the idea behind a new app, called InSight, that will let the Google Glass identify and point people, based on their outfits.

InSight is being developed by students in North Carolina, with financial help from Google. The app takes a unique "fashion fingerprint" of a person, by analyzing their clothes and accessories. The system builds a "spatiogram" that contains the "spatial distribution of colors, textures and patterns" in a person's outfit. In other words, InSight learns what you are wearing.

Running the app, Glass can compare the spatiograms of people in its field of view with the spatiogram of the person you are looking for. When a match is made, the wearable computer will display the name of the person over the area where the person is located.

Early tests have demonstrated a 93 percent success rate for the system.

From my understanding, the system depends on the consent of the user who will be identified. InSight will snap pics of the user while he or she uses the phone, and build their spatiogram file in the background. Than the person can choose to send the file to another person, who can then load it up on the Google Glass.

Because the spatiogram changes each time you change your shirt or put a new scarf on, it could be relatively easy to evade tracking.

I do think that similar systems will be eventually be deployed by police, security teams, and similar personnel. Just imagine how easy it will eventually be to track people in a crowded train station, based on a quick scan made through a security camera. Till then, there are more benign applications for the app. For instance people suffering from a neurological condition that prevents them from seeing faces are likely to embrace this tool.

The Glass is slowly turning our sci-fi fantasies into reality. Terrifying? Probably. Exciting? Absolutely!

The post Google Glass app will recognize people in a crowd for you appeared first on Android Authority.

Sprint makes Android 4.1.2 update for LG Optimus G official, rolling out now

Posted: 08 Mar 2013 02:31 AM PST

LG Optimus G

The LG Optimus G might have only landed in Europe last month, but it has been available in Asia and North America ever since last fall. And it had everything the competition didn't. Except for Jelly Bean.

And if you weren't that bugged about the outdated software at the time of G's release, you certainly saw your frustration growing and growing and growing over the following months. But the torment is finally over… at least for Sprint users.

The carrier (or LG) was reported to be sending out rivers of JB butter starting a couple of weeks ago, but the upgrade has only been made official yesterday. Oddly, the Sprint community page where the software bump was detailed is currently down. Still, we don't think that has anything to do with a last-minute cancelation.

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Therefore, if you're still struggling with the OG Ice Cream Sandwich, now is probably a good time to ensure you have a strong active Wi-Fi connection and enough storage space to go around. You'll want to swing by the Settings – About Phone menus too, and if you still don't get a prompt message over-the-air, you're out of luck.

But just for the moment, because Sprint has apparently announced the software package will take up to ten days to spread around to everybody.

Weighing in at a hefty 474 MB, the update will bump up your OS to Android 4.1.2, build number LS970ZVA. We don't have to tell you how massive the upgrade is, as it's going to change basically everything about your software, from the UI to the overall speed and performance.

You'll be getting Project Butter, Google Now, expandable, actionable notifications, Android Beam, loads of bug fixes, as well as enhancements to the QSlide function. Oh, yeah, and brand new features and apps like Privacy Keeper, Quiet Time and Safety Care. Pretty awesome, right?

The post Sprint makes Android 4.1.2 update for LG Optimus G official, rolling out now appeared first on Android Authority.

Bill introduced to Senate to make cellphone unlocking legal again

Posted: 08 Mar 2013 02:24 AM PST

banner-galaxy-s3-sch-i535-unlock-bootloader-120828To unlock or not unlock, that is the question… well in the USA at least. The bizarre story of America’s legislators decision to make phone unlocking illegal took another twist this week when a bipartisan bill to make cellphone unlocking legal again was introduced in the Senate. Back in October 2012, the Librarian of Congress granted a 90 day window for smartphone buyers to unlock their phones, the 90 days came and went, but the confusion remained. The problems for smartphone users started with the 1998 Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA) which was designed to curb copyright infringement in a digital age. Since then there has been various statements about how the DMCA affects smartphone unlocking and jailbreaking. Oddly the current problems only affect smartphone users, tablets it seems can be exempt, but only because there is no legal definition of a tablet yet!

Once the January deadline passed lots of groups have weighed-in with statements and comments including the FCC, which said it was going to look into the situation, and the White House which said it believes “that consumers should be able to unlock their cell phones without risking criminal or other penalties.”

So it would seem that with White House approval, Democratic senators Amy Klobuchar and Richard Blumenthal, along with Utah Republican Mike Lee, have submitted the Wireless Consumer Choice Act. The act is quite short and simply says that the FCC has 180 days to “direct providers of commercial mobile services and commercial mobile data services to permit the subscribers of such services, or the agent of such subscribers, to unlock any type of wireless device used to access such services.”

“Consumers shouldn’t have to fear criminal charges if they want to unlock their cell phones and switch carriers,” said Senator Lee in a statement. "Enhanced competition among wireless services is the surest way to increase consumer welfare.” Senator Richard Blumenthal added, “This legislation is common sense, crucial for protecting consumer choice, and important for ensuring healthy competition in the market.”

Similar action is being taken by Rep. Anna Eshoo, a California Democrat, in the House. The congresswoman says that she intends to introduce legislation eliminating the ban on unlocking cell phones and other mobile devices.

The post Bill introduced to Senate to make cellphone unlocking legal again appeared first on Android Authority.

Lenovo S920 leaked – a supersized mid-range smartphone with Android 4.2

Posted: 08 Mar 2013 01:47 AM PST

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The past several years have been really hard on most major PC manufacturers, but not on Lenovo. The China-based corporation has more than thrived under pressure, boosting its profits when almost everyone else was bleeding money.

And after climbing to number two in the PC vendor ranks, Lenovo is now obviously looking for a new challenge. Which might well be the smartphone world. The Intel-based K900 can be called the company's first real venture in the high-end phone niche, especially that we expect it to get a global release pretty soon.

Meanwhile, the company needs to consolidate its already impressive homeland smartphone sales and what better way to do that than unveiling a stylish supersized mid-ranger with a friendly price point?

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Said device, allegedly named S920, is not yet official, but, according to sources close to MyDrivers, it should go on sale in a couple of months. We already have a bunch of photos showing off the 5.3-incher and you can pick up on the HTC Butterfly "homage" from a mile away.

The bright colors, the slim body and even the curves and edges of this new "phablet" scream Butterly. Not that it's a bad thing. After all, HTC's big guy is a very stylish slab of silicon, so why not take a few design cues from it?

As far as hardware goes, the S920 is not to break any records, as it's supposed to pack a quad-core Mediatek MT6589 processor and, we're guessing, 1 GB of RAM. The MT6589, while boasting four active cores, is barely faster than a dual-core Snapdragon S4 chip, so we don't think we're wrong when saying the S920 is not to be a high-ender.

Lenovo S920

The new phone's leakers have been mum on the display's resolution, but the chances of it being Full HD are slim. 720p is definitely in the cards, which is still okay provided the price will be right. The only other details known at this time is the thing will be running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean (which is nice) and the battery will be a 2,250 mAh unit (not so cool).

Obviously, everything will hang on pricing, but we’re fairly certain Lenovo can deliver and make the S920 irresistible. At least for folks over in China, because we don’t think the 5.3-incher will enjoy a global launch anytime soon.

The post Lenovo S920 leaked – a supersized mid-range smartphone with Android 4.2 appeared first on Android Authority.

HTC One availability severely limited by issues with UltraPixel camera – industry sources

Posted: 08 Mar 2013 01:43 AM PST

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Industry sources say that HTC is having trouble making enough camera modules for the new HTC One. As a result, the availability of the One could be severely limited in the next months.

You got to feel sorry for HTC. Once the champions of the Android world, the Taiwanese now seem caught in a death spiral. Just this week they reported the worst financial results in three years. The One is their (last?) hope of deliverance, but the signs are not good. In fact, they are awful.

A Taiwanese brokerage firm has cut their estimates for the number of One units that HTC would ship in the first half of 2013 by up to a massive 80 percent. The cuts are the result of "channel checks" ran by KGI Securities, that indicate HTC is having trouble securing crucial components required for mass production of the new flagship. The components are said to be the voice coil motor (VCM) and compact camera module (CCM) that go into the HTC One's UltraPixel camera.

According to a KGI analyst, the yield rates for manufacturing the camera components are between 20% and 30% for the VCM and under 20% for the CCM. These are far below what can be considered a commercial yield. As a result, KGI says that HTC will only be able to ship between 800,000 and 1.2 million One units in the following months.

The UltraPixel camera is one of the pillars of HTC's marketing strategy for the One. The company took a big risk with customers by opting for a novel 4MP sensor, at a time when most competitors are offering or planning to offer 13MP sensors. If these analyst predictions are accurate, the camera could ultimately be the downfall of the One, and possibly, of HTC.

Already, some signs indicate that HTC is trying to mitigate the impact of the yield issues, by delaying the launch of the One in smaller markets, like Singapore or Taiwan, in order to ensure supply in crucial markets like the US. HTC initially promised a global launch around March 15, but it now seems that big markets like China and Japan could get the One as late as May.

With Samsung preparing to unveil the Galaxy S4, and many other phone makers boasting competitive devices, HTC faces a bleak outlook if it can't bring the One to market quickly. The brief window of opportunity that the company had is about to be slammed shut.

The post HTC One availability severely limited by issues with UltraPixel camera – industry sources appeared first on Android Authority.

10 Again – Nexus 10 Tips and Tricks

Posted: 08 Mar 2013 12:01 AM PST

10-again-nexus-10-full

I covered the Nexus 7, the Nexus 4, and now I have 10 Again ready for you for the last of the line of Nexus devices – the big brother, Nexus 10. As the big tablet capable of a multitude of different functions and uses, the Samsung-developed device cannot be fully described in only 10 tips and tricks. However, based upon my own personal usage of my gateway drug into the larger tablet market, I have compiled what have been my favorite functions.

If you follow my 10 Again series thus far, you know that I always start with a disclaimer. First off, I think that you all know by now how to take a screenshot an Android device. It is possible on pretty much all devices now and I covered it in my previous 10 Again editions, so I won't dedicate one of the tips to it. If you need a refresher – volume down and power button for most any device. And lastly, there are a few tips in here that you may have seen before and while they may pertain to pretty much any device, I maintain that the Nexus 10 makes the specific function even more enjoyable.

And with that, let's jump right in.

Protect your investment

While the Nexus 4 might be a fragile device compared to a majority of the other devices in the market, I am certain that one of our nightmares as Android users is seeing any device hit the floor and shatter on impact. A 10 inch tablet, even one as decently constructed as the Nexus 10, fits squarely in this list.

So, as might be the habit of many of you users already, getting a good case for a good device could mean the difference between a tablet or a broken brick. But we should also always want our cases to have function along with providing protection – luckily there are plenty of choices for just this notion.

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My personal choice for the Nexus 10 is the Poetic Slimline Portfolio case, which has a folding front cover that doubles as a stand for your tablet (kind of like the iPad Smart Cover). Your Nexus 10 will snap into the body portion of the cover and then three magnets along the lining keep the cover closed and prevent it flapping about. Also, the magnet in the front flap makes it a smart cover that wakes the device when it's pulled open. So, you have nice protection with an easy way to keep the tablet standing for your viewing pleasure. I am also a big fan of how minimalistic it all is.

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There are a ton of other covers available, so you can easily find the one that suits you best – just do a quick Amazon search and you'll be treated with a long list. Go check it out and ensure the safety of your Nexus 10!

Invest in a good keyboard

This next tip involves another accessory that should bring out even more functionality from your Android beast. The 10 inch form factor brings more real estate for your fingers to point, press, and play, and this is especially true for typing. If you are great at touch typing with just your index and middle fingers, then you might be in good shape already. Also, the newest version of Jelly Bean added gesture typing, making the keyboard experience even more accessible.

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However, some of us just can't quite stray too far from our home… keys. There is something about the tactile feel of a real keyboard that just feels best – not to mention, a physical keyboard is likely the fastest way to get some messaging done. Luckily, getting a Bluetooth keyboard for the Nexus 10 is a little more practical than getting one for any smaller devices. So, why not take advantage of it?

This Logitech Bluetooth Keyboard pairs with any Android device and becomes a full fledged keyboard capable of all the typing capabilities you need to take advantage of. It runs for very long times on two AAA batteries and even comes with a carrying case that doubles as a stand (if you don't already have a way to prop up your tablet). It isn't a full sized keyboard but it should still prove very effective for most people.

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Honestly, it is an investment that I've gotten a lot of use from, especially when I need to do long write ups and lugging my big laptop just isn't practical. While it is an extra piece of equipment to bring along, the combined size of the tablet and keyboard are still better than a laptop and its power brick. And that alone makes this a worthwhile tip in my book.

Text from your tablet

Here's one I think more people should take advantage of – we might already have our Android phones handy at all times, but when we're using our tablets, we might be too lazy to keep them near enough to check on every single notification. Especially text messages. Luckily, people have already thought about that and created solutions for making your tablet and phones communicate and bridge that gap.

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Enter MightyText. A free application that you install on your phone syncs through the web and the tablet version installed on the Nexus 10 receives the notifications. Just sync your Google account and it does the rest. MightyText also logs missed calls It is an actually surprisingly well designed application considering it is free. This way, you are able to send texts from your tablet by typing into the application, which is then pushed out to the phone via the interwebs. After that, it is business as usual for your phone to send out the SMS.

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If your phone is a little too far away for your lazy butt playing GTA on your Nexus 10, here's an easy way to respond to all those texts blowing up your phone.

Set up a guest profile

Here is a tip that is quite important likely primarily for tablets, though the Nexus 10 and 7 devices are the only ones fully capable of it in the new Android Jelly Bean. A fair amount of us users might not be in this situation, but sometimes people need to share their tablets with significant other people. Maybe a small family or a couple could use multi-user functionality.

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And that is exactly what is available in the Nexus 10 with Jelly Bean 4.2. In the settings, add a new user and have the other person set it up. It will be a completely fresh start for that user – the setup will look exactly like the procedure you went through when first powering up your Nexus 10 – and the interface, apps, and settings will all be stock. This is a blank canvas for the other user to have free reign over, allowing installation of unique apps and personal tweaks that only he or she can choose. Switching between multiple users is easy – when at the lockscreen, all of the different accounts are listed at the bottom. Simply pick one and the wallpaper will change.

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This is a great way of making the Nexus 10 accessible for anyone that you are close to, while ensuring that your space remains, well, yours.

Get an office suite

If you pick up a physical keyboard for your Nexus 10, chances are you are not looking to take it out just for mundane tasks like responding to MightyText SMS texts or simple quick Google searches. Your investment in a useful keyboard will likely fuel a more involved processes. For someone like me, typing long write ups is perhaps the best example of this. I needed a better way to get all of my documents put together than using the on screen keyboard.

So, you have your keyboard, but what is the best way of creating those papers? You could get an office suite. Microsoft Office might not ever make it to Android devices, but there are plenty of other alternatives. Suites for $15 like QuickOffice and OfficeQuite Pro might prove to be well designed and highly useful, but there are free applications available – Kingsoft is one of them.

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Kingsoft is not the most optimized office suite, as it sometimes can't keep up with very fast typing without some lag, but it is capable of pretty much any basic functions for documents, spreadsheets, and even presentations. For the price tag of free, Kingsoft Office certainly fulfills the right needs and might be the best suite for you.

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Personally, however, I just need the most basic functions to type down anything from thoughts and full write ups that could be later formatted when needed. For this, I choose Google Drive. Formerly Google Docs, the search giant recently decided to combine its cloud storage application and the document/spreadsheet/presentation creator into one big application. It is a simplistic but still elegant application that doesn't have the lag of Kingsoft, making this my choice for all writing and editing. Coupled with my Logitech Bluetooth Keyboard from the previous tip, I can get writing done just about anywhere.

Catch up on your literature

In a past feature of mine, I mentioned that the Nexus 7 has been more practical for everyday, on-the-go usage because of its smaller size that resembles my writing notebook. This is still true, as I get a decent amount of reading done on the 7, but that doesn't mean that the super high resolution screen of the Nexus 10 can't be used for this same end, as well.

The larger screen is great for magazine reading, if that is your thing – just purchasing your Nexus 10 should have yielded a few magazine examples that you can sample, but the Google Play Store is full of different brands and subscriptions that you can choose from. Of course, I prefer novels and books for some typically more worthwhile reading. Google Play has a pretty extensive collection of literature, but you can always easily install the Kindle app and sync your Amazon book purchases. Why get a Kindle when you can use your Nexus 10 to circumvent that extra device?

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Sure, the Nexus 10- screen might be most ideal for videos and games, but that doesn't mean you can't get productive. You can read ahead to see what will happen in the upcoming season of Game of Thrones, for example. Just don't spoil the story for everyone else.

It's okay to Daydream

Here's a tip that I had for the Nexus 4, as the update to Jelly Bean 4.2 brought a slightly obscure but still quite useful feature to the Android operating system: Daydream. My favorite way of describing this – if you are a former BlackBerry addict, you may have gotten used to having your phone plugged in either on your bed next to you or on a nightstand. Upon plugging in, the phone immediately goes into a clock mode, making your BlackBerry a nice sleeping companion. Admittedly, that's really one of the few useful features left that Android didn't blow out of the water.

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Until now. Daydream provides a list of screensavers for when the phone has been plugged in for a fixed amount of time. After, say, 30 seconds, the plugged in Nexus 10 can turn into a big clock or even a photo frame. Coupled with a case like from the previous tip, the propped up Nexus 10 can be the best bedside clock you've ever owned or the most dynamic photo frame you've ever seen.

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It's just a great way to get some extra life out of your device even when it is just sitting on your desk, charging. As such, the Nexus 10 shows us that it's still okay to Daydream.

Take control of your games

It's about time I brought a gaming tip up in a 10 Again, and the Nexus 10 is perhaps the best platform thus far for it. With a great dual-core Exynos processor backed by the wonderful Mali T604 graphics, you're damn right I'm going to be playing games on this tablet. Oh, and don't forget about the awesome 2560×1600 resolution screen. The Android app ecosystem is consistently getting greater games and this is one of the best ways of taking advantage of it.

Among your Final Fantasy games, the Grand Theft Autos, and all the racing games like the new Real Racing 3, you have a plethora of console quality gaming experiences at your fingertips. Once you're done with the next chapter of that book, frag a few people or cause a few pileups to decompress. Now that's what a tablet is for.

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But what is the only hurdle that comes up in these situations? The on-screen controls. Don't get me wrong, playing using the touch controls in various game is still possible and at times good enough, but if we really want a true console experience, a game controller is the best way to do it. Thankfully, there is a way of doing this – in my case, it is with a Playstation 3 Sixaxis controller, its included USB cord, and our trusty friend, the OTG (on-the-go) adapter made for the microUSB port on the Nexus 10 (or pretty much any Android device). You will also need the paid app Sixaxis Controller fom the Play Store – trust me, if you are a big gamer on your Nexus 10, the $2 price tag is an incredibly low tag for an enhanced gaming experience.

Install the app and use your OTG cable to connect the Sixaxis controller to the Nexus 10. Now, quick note – if you want to wirelessly pair the controller to the tablet via Bluetooth, you will need root access. However, if you don't have a rooted Nexus 10, you can use the controller via the cord. Not much a problem for me, though having the USB port available for charging would be nice. Maybe in the future I'll root it for this function, but I don't play for that long.

Start the app and when the controller is connected, hit "Start" and then press the Playstation button on your controller and it will show the input on the screen. You can then go into the preferences and toggle the setting to make the Sixaxis controller viewed as a native Android gamepad. Seasoned PS3 players will notice the button layout is different than that on the Playstation, that is only for the face buttons and doesn't take long to get used to, anyway.

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After that, you have a gamepad to use for your Android games and you didn't have to shell out an exorbitant amount to make it happen. From what I know, Xbox controllers are able to be used on Android devices through a similar procedure, but I don't have an Xbox. Playstation all the way.

Expand your horizons

Perhaps the tip above taught you something new about the OTG cable you already had, but now would be a good moment to remind you of one of its main functions – expanded storage. The Nexus 10 doesn't have expandable memory available, so you have to get a little creative. Luckily, your portable thumb drives are already available and when you have an OTG cable, you can just connect it into the microUSB port of your Nexus 10 and voila – you have extra storage.

You will need an app though – the Nexus Media Importer. For 3 bucks, you can get all the storage you need. One thing you should know is that root is required for read and write access, but if all you want is to get data from a USB stick easily, you don't need to root your Nexus 10 for that.

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I'm a streaming service kind of guy (Spotify, Netflix) but when I do have a long trip, easily copying a lot of episodes of my favorite shows into my USB stick and then using the OTG cable to watch them makes for a great feature. I love this little adapter.

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Extend your display

And finally, we go around the Nexus 10, opposite the microUSB port, to find the microHDMI port. For most of us, this kind of port might be a little foreign, but trust me when I say that this may just become your new best friend. If you have never taken advantage of your Android device's ability to mirror its display to a TV or even a projector (which I have demonstrated in the past), then the Nexus 10 is a great place to start. After all, there is a whole different port made for it.

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You will need to get an extra peripheral for the port, however – for whatever reason, the Nexus 10 doesn't come with an adapter or a cord that has micro on one end and regular HDMI on the other. For about 10 to 15 bucks, you can get either a short-ish cord or just a plug adapter. This one is from Staples, oddly enough. However, you just have to use the adapter and connect the Nexus 10 to any HDMI ready device, like a TV, and your display will automatically be mirrored on it.

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Now imagine it – you can already use your Nexus 10 for a plethora of uses, from reading to viewing to even gaming. Now imagine it as a hub from which you can do all these things on your big screen TV or your projector. That makes the Nexus 10 one of the most versatile devices I certainly have had the pleasure of using. And that is why this is my favorite tip to round out this 10 Again.

What did you think of these tips? Do you have any tips and tricks that you believe should have made this list? Let us know in the comments below and watch the video presentation above to see this 10 Again in action!

The post 10 Again – Nexus 10 Tips and Tricks appeared first on Android Authority.

OUYA accepting game submissions ahead of its launch date

Posted: 07 Mar 2013 03:42 PM PST

OUYA

“Let the uploads begin.” That’s what OUYA said in a blog post that was put up on Thursday. The company announced that its app store is ready to go and is now accepting game submissions, as it quickly approaches the March 28 launch date for its Kickstarter backers.

OUYA has launched its Developer Portal where game developers will be able to download the OUYA Development Kit. From there, they will be able to start uploading their games to the OUYA app store before the official launch of the console. That way, developers have their games on the OUYA store by March 28 and consumers will be able to play away.

Developers who upload their games ahead of March 28 will have their games available to play on March 28. Games uploaded to OUYA will have to go through a submission process, so if you want your game on the OUYA store on launch day, it would be wise to upload it before the console is officially launched.

Furthermore, OUYA is starting from scratch again. That means that if you’ve previously uploaded your games, you’ll have to upload them again to get them on the OUYA store. After that though, OUYA says you will have free reign over your game when it’s time to update your titles. You’ll be able to do it whenever you need too.

OUYA will film documentaries of certain developers

Finally, to encourage developers to put games on the OUYA store, OUYA has said that it will select the top three games, which is measured by popularity, and will be filming documentaries on each of these games. OUYA did not mention when these documentaries would be available, but the offer is up for anyone who is able to get their game on the top three within six weeks of the console’s launch.

It was mentioned that the documentaries will be used for launch marketing when the console is widely available in June, so you can expect them to be available for viewing by then.

Will you be uploading a game to the OUYA store? Be sure to let us know in the comments!

The post OUYA accepting game submissions ahead of its launch date appeared first on Android Authority.

Team Coco app updated, supports phones and full episode streaming

Posted: 07 Mar 2013 03:12 PM PST

team-coco Conan O’Brien’s Team Coco app has been been updated with support for phones and full episode streaming. The app was previously only supported by tablets, which was a questionable move considering that everyone is on the go these days. Regardless, it’s great to see that phone support is finally here.

With the app you will have access to videos, photos, articles and even very helpful things like show schedules. The app also includes a new syncing feature, which will you to sync your phone with the TV broadcast allowing you to watch full episodes on your phone.

The one downside to the Team Coco app is that it still has ads and there is no way to get rid of them. Other than that, users will enjoy this app a lot, unless you’ve taken sides with Jay Leno, that is. You can snag the the update from the Google Play Store right now.

Have you downloaded the app yet? What do you think of it so far? Be sure to let us know in the comments!

The post Team Coco app updated, supports phones and full episode streaming appeared first on Android Authority.

LG Nexus 4 and accessories now available to purchase in Japan

Posted: 07 Mar 2013 03:06 PM PST

LG Nexus 4

It’s been an exciting few months for Japanese Nexus fans. Those in Japan that are looking to expand their Nexus collection beyond the Nexus 10 and the 3G Nexus 7 will be excited to hear that Google has just launched the Nexus 4 in Japan.

The Japanese product page for the Nexus 4 is up if you’d like to get a full rundown on the device. Japanese customers will also be happy to hear that they won’t have to wait as long as the rest of the world for the Nexus 4 wireless charger, as it is also available alongside the Nexus 4 bumper (the latter is currently out of stock though).

As for the hardware of the device, it’s pretty much identical to any other Nexus 4 out there. It should, by now, also be common knowledge by now that the device comes in 8GB and 16GB. It will cost interested customers 27,977 yen and 32,656 yen, respectively, and according to the current exchange rate.

Still unsure whether or not to get the device? It’s not for everyone, but one of the most appealing factors of the device is the fact that Nexus devices are always the first to get a firmware upgrade. In other words, you get the next version of Android before anyone else. It’s good enough for me!

The device’s current shipping time is 1-2 weeks. Will you be getting Google’s newest flagship device and maybe even a few accessories to go along with it? You may want to hurry on over to the Google Play Store if you’re wanting to get it. No doubt this bad boy will set out quickly!

The post LG Nexus 4 and accessories now available to purchase in Japan appeared first on Android Authority.

Motorola announces Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean for the DROID RAZR and RAZR MAXX

Posted: 07 Mar 2013 03:00 PM PST

Motorola Droid RAZR update

We received word Thursday morning that a Jelly Bean soak test was in progress for the DROID RAZR and RAZR MAXX. Now, Motorola has officially unveiled Android 4.1 Jelly Bean for the two devices on its blog. The update will soon be rolling out in phases.

Android 4.1, as per usual, will bring new features like Google Now, a new notification bar and even Google’s Chrome browser. Motorola has also gotten rid of its old BLUR software suite in favor of Google’s apps. This more than likely is because of Google’s ownership of Motorola.

Jelly Bean for the DROID RAZR and RAZR MAXX has been long-awaited, so it should not be very long now before users begin getting pop-ups notifying users that Jelly Bean is ready for download.

A guide on manually updating the device should be available shortly. If you’ve got a DROID RAZR or DROID RAZR MAXX, keep hitting that check for update button! If you have gotten the update, be sure to sound off in the comments!

The post Motorola announces Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean for the DROID RAZR and RAZR MAXX appeared first on Android Authority.

Android and Me

Android and Me


Google’s I/O 2013 website chock full of Easter eggs

Posted: 07 Mar 2013 02:47 PM PST

It’s Thursday. The weekend is almost here. And if you’re anything like me, you could probably use a quick pick-me-up at the end of the work day to ease you into Friday. Luckily, Google has you covered. Google’s I/O website seems pretty simple. There’s a few links neatly...

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AT&T’s HTC One X finally updated to Android 4.1

Posted: 07 Mar 2013 01:24 PM PST

After months of waiting, the Android 4.1 update for the HTC One X has finally been released. Back in October, we heard that AT&T had received the code from HTC to begin their testing process, but things had been extremely silent until now. From what we can gather, the 630 MB Android 4.1 update...

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Android Rookies: 10 new apps worth checking out this week

Posted: 07 Mar 2013 06:42 AM PST

New apps need lovin' too, right? Every day there are thousands of new entries on the Google Play store, but many go unnoticed and never receive the attention they deserve. We have shown in the past that this community can discover great apps and launch them to new heights, so we're bringing back...

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