Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Android Community

Android Community


GALAXY S 4 system dump offers S Voice APK, ringtones and HD wallpapers

Posted: 26 Mar 2013 11:01 AM PDT

Part of the T-Mobile news this morning dealt with the upcoming availability of the Samsung GALAXY S 4. But more to the point for the day, it looks like a GALAXY S 4 system dump has surfaced online. Basically, this means that we are being given the opportunity to see and even play with some of the goodies that will come with the handset. Up today we are seeing the updated version of S Voice as well as the GALAXY S 4 ringtones and wallpapers.

P3142798-galaxy-s-4-ac1-540x3032

The S Voice app is available in APK form and therefor able to be sideloaded on select devices. The early reports are showing the GALAXY S 4 version of S Voice to be compatible with the Galaxy Note II, the Galaxy S III and the Nexus 4. These leaks are coming by way of the folks at SamMobile who note the APK appears to work “work flawlessly on Samsung Firmwares whereas has some issues on AOSP based ROMs.”

s-voice-s4-01

That said, those choosing to install the APK will need to do so at their own risk. As for us, it seems to work just fine on a Galaxy S III and for those curious, yes it can be uninstalled. The installation process is the same as any other sideloaded APK and offers the same warnings as you go through the process. Once installed, the updated version of S Voice appears to be close to the same as the previous version. That is to say while it may have some minor differences, the main features remain the same as before. We included several S Voice screen captures with some seen above and the rest being tucked away in the gallery at the bottom of the post.

fhd_02 fhd_05 fhd_06

Otherwise, the ringtones are packed up in an 11.8MB file download and are described as being inspired by nature. Of course, that just goes in to the bit about the GALAXY S 4 using the Nature user interface. This also ties in with the wallpapers. There are seven HD wallpapers in total, of which you can check out a few in the above image gallery.

[via SamMobile]

Screenshot_2013-03-26-13-36-43 Screenshot_2013-03-26-13-36-51 Screenshot_2013-03-26-13-38-17 Screenshot_2013-03-26-13-38-23 Screenshot_2013-03-26-13-38-37 Screenshot_2013-03-26-13-39-10 Screenshot_2013-03-26-13-39-17 Screenshot_2013-03-26-13-39-22

IDC: Tablet shipments on the rise and will overtake PC shipments by 2014

Posted: 26 Mar 2013 10:08 AM PDT

The latest IDC report has been posted and it touches on the topic of the worldwide smart connected device market. IDC notes that this market had crossed 1 billion shipments in 2012 and it shows Apple as pulling in close to Samsung for the fourth quarter of the year. Perhaps more interesting for some, it is looking like a post-PC era is getting closer reality.

android_tablets_pile1-580x387-540x360

The report is calling for tablet shipments to surpass desktop PC shipments this year and surpass portable PC shipments in 2014. On this note, desktop PC shipments are expected to drop by 4.3 percent in 2013 and portable PC shipments are expected to remain at a flat growth of 0.9 percent. Looking towards the tablet side and the IDC is forecasting shipments to reach “a new high” of 190 million. This would account for a year-on-year growth of 48.7 percent.

Smartphones are also expected to continue to rise with a potential growth of 27.2 percent which would bring the number up to 918.5 million. Shifting back to the topic of smart connected devices as a whole and we are looking at numbers greater than 1 billion. This accounts for a year-over-year growth of 29.1 percent which is said to have largely been driven by the tablet.

As for the front runners here, we have Samsung and Apple and in this case, it looks like Apple has closed some of the previous gap. Apple accounted for 20.3 percent of device shipments while Samsung accounted for 21.2 percent. The revenue however tells another story, a story of Apple being on top. Here we have Apple accounting for 30.7 percent with Samsung sitting at 20.4 percent.

[via Business Wire]

T-Mobile 4G LTE Android lineup to include the GALAXY S 4

Posted: 26 Mar 2013 09:54 AM PDT

T-Mobile has had their UNcarrier announcement this morning and as we have seen — it included details on LTE devices and LTE coverage as well as plans and even a brief mention of the upcoming advertising campaign. The intent here is to focus on the Android devices with LTE support, but we will mention that the advertising campaign will be western themed.

P3142796-galaxy-s-4-ac-540x30311

Anyway, back to the task at hand — the Android devices with LTE support. T-Mobile will have three available, of which only one is available at the moment. In fact, we have yet to get a specific release date for the other two devices just yet. The list includes the HTC One, Samsung GALAXY S 4 and the Samsung Galaxy Note II.

The Note II is the handset that is available at the moment. Given the new UNcarrier details have shifted away from contracts, the devices will be a bit more than some are used to. The Note II is available with a downpayment of $199.99. Future payments for the Note II then include 24 payments of $20. We should also point out that T-Mobile has recently released an update for the Note II that enables the LTE support. You can get a bit more detail on that update from our earlier post.

Otherwise, the GALAXY S 4 and One are both expected relatively soon. The official word on the HTC One is that it will be “available later this spring.” The GALAXY S 4 is said to be coming “in the second quarter of this year” with a release possibly set for May 1. Both the One and GALAXY S 4 are expected to arrive with downpayments of $99.99, however we still need a bit more on the monthly payment amounts. With that thought, it should be an interesting race to see which will come first — the One of the GALAXY S 4.

Samsung GALAXY S 4 from T-Mobile due May 1st for $99

Posted: 26 Mar 2013 09:51 AM PDT

Like many of you, we’ve all been waiting for more details and pricing regarding the upcoming flagship Samsung GALAXY S 4 smartphone – and even the new HTC One. Today on stage T-Mobile has been talking 4G LTE, unlimited data, contract-free plans, and of course the GS4. According to T-Mobile the GALAXY S 4 will be available “May 1st for $99″.

Screen Shot 2013-03-26 at 9.45.10 AM

We’ve covered everything that’s gone down thus far this afternoon, and it’s all linked to below. However the extra little bit of information they dropped on stage is what caught us off guard and we wanted to share. That being the GALAXY S4 should be available May 1st from T-Mobile with full 4G LTE. The date sounds like a soft date, and not confirmed, but they sounded pretty sure about it.

Legere, the new man in charge at T-Mobile said it would arrive “About May 1st” so we’ll have to take that for what it’s worth. Technically we could see it at the end of April, or on May 2nd – but who knows. What we do know is HTC’s attempt to beat Samsung to market doesn’t look too good right about now, and hopefully they hurry. Oh the HTC One will also only be $99, but they didn’t tease a release date.

As for pricing, this is nothing new to T-Mobile but might be new for the vast majority of users from other networks. The GALAXY S 4 will be yours contract-free for $100 from T-Mobile. However, you’ll be required to make monthly payments of $20 for 2 years to pay it off. It’s like a lease, but the device is yours to do as you’d like once it’s paid in full. Hopefully come May 1st the device will be available, and you can enjoy it in one of the new T-Mobile 4G LTE cities.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy S 4 (Qualcomm)
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : March 14, 2013
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 5 Inch
  • Resolution : 1080x1920
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.37 Inch
  • Width : 2.748 Inch
  • Depth : 0.31 Inch
  • Weight : 130 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 2600 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.2.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • 3GP
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
  • WMV
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
  • IM
Hardware
    CPU : Snapdragon 600
    CPU Clock Speed : 1900 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 2000 MB
    Internal Storage : 32 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 13 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
  • 720p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11a
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
  • 802.11ac
    Bluetooth:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

T-Mobile confirms first seven 4G LTE markets across the US

Posted: 26 Mar 2013 09:32 AM PDT

Today the folks from T-Mobile just unleashed tons of details on their future. With new “UNcarrier” unlimited plans, no contracts, the iPhone 5, HTC One and of course their 4G LTE network. In case you haven’t been following along the “No More Mr. Nice Guy (or girl)” campaign is long over and the black leather-clad Bad Girl Carly commercials are only going to continue. Today T-Mobile confirmed their first 7 cities with 4G LTE, and more than 200 million users can expect to have LTE in the next 6 months.

P1100960-540x405

Essentially a few of the metro areas we’ve already heard about and been reporting on, and a few more, will all have 4G LTE as of today. We’ve actually already been seeing LTE live from T-Mobile in a few locations, like Las Vegas and Phoenix, and today (or soon) they should all be getting the green light from good guy gone bad.. T-Mobile. Here’s the first 7 locations, although oddly New York City wasn’t listed:


– Baltimore
– Houston
– Kansas City
– Las Vegas
– Phoenix
– San Jose, Calif.
– Washington, D.C.

As we mentioned earlier today, T-Mobiles has a few 4G LTE phones that will be available. Aside from the BlackBerry Z10 and the iPhone, T-Mobile will be offering 3 Android devices with 4G LTE out of the gate. That being the Galaxy S 4, the Galaxy Note II (which already supports LTE) and the upcoming HTC One smartphone.

T-Mobile then went on to tell us all that this is only the start. The start to a long but quick rollout to offer the fastest and biggest 4G LTE network. Obviously these devices all support their faux-4G HSPA+ speeds, so combining them with T-Mo 4G LTE you’ll have a pretty big network to be working with. The update and rollout of 4G LTE for T-Mobile expects nearly 100 million users to have 4G LTE in the US by summer, and over 200 million customers throughout the US by the end of 2013. We’ll continue to update as we hear more, and hopefully they announce more cities in the coming weeks.

T-Mobile 4G LTE UNcarrier device lineup revealed

Posted: 26 Mar 2013 09:08 AM PDT

T-Mobile is currently sharing the UNcarrier details, which thankfully includes a breakdown of the devices that will be available. We touched on the devices in a previous post, however it looks like T-Mobile has revealed a bit more in terms of availability and pricing details. Well pricing and availability for most of the devices anyway.

adsfasd

Again, this list includes several Android handsets, but it also contains a mobile hotspot as well as the Apple iPhone and BlackBerry Z10. Beginning first with the Android device details, this includes the GALAXY S 4, Galaxy Note II and HTC One. Certainly a nice selection. The GALAXY S 4 and HTC One remain a mystery for the most part.

T-Mobile has said the GALAXY S 4 will be available in the second quarter of the year and that the HTC One will be available later this spring. The Galaxy Note II on the other hand is already available and in fact has an LTE enabling update ready and waiting. Current Note II users that are in a T-Mobile LTE area will want to grab their handset and check for that update.

The mobile hotspot is the Sonic 2.0 and it will be the first LTE hotspot for T-Mobile. This device will be available beginning today and is priced at $29.99 down with 24 monthly payments of $5 per month. Not that we expect many Android users to be super interested in either of these last two, but the BlackBerry Z10 is available now and will set you back $99.99 down with 24 monthly payments of $18. The iPhone availability will include the 5, 4S and 4 and begin on April 12.

T-Mobile UNcarrier event run-down: devices, plans, changes

Posted: 26 Mar 2013 08:52 AM PDT

The T-Mobile “UNcarrier” event is underway and it looks like we have some details on everything from devices and plans to overall changes. As expected, some of this has already been revealed over the past few days. Needless to say, these latest details have arrived direct from T-Mobile. So with that, lets begin with talk of devices.

Screen Shot 2013-03-26 at 10.37.58 AM

T-Mobile has announced several 4G LTE capable devices. Some of these are Android, and some are from other companies. Beginning first with the most important for the Android Community readers and the device list includes the Samsung GALAXY S 4, Galaxy Note II and the HTC One. Other LTE capable devices that will be available with T-Mobile include the BlackBerry Z10, iPhone 5 and the Sonic 2.0 Mobile Hotspot.

Moving over to the topic of plans and T-Mobile is referring to this as the Simple Choice. T-Mobile has said this will remove the contracts and also “take the pain and confusion out of the wireless experience.” This means users will be able to pick from one plan that offers unlimited talk, text and data and also upgrade their device anytime they want.

On the topic of the LTE network it looks like the are planning to have coverage available for 100 million users by mid-year 2013 and 200 million by the end of the year. The LTE network is also officially launching in seven markets which includes Baltimore, Houston, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Jose and Washington, DC. Otherwise, T-Mobile will soon be kicking off the “T-Mobile un-leash” campaign which will play on the western film genre.

T-Mobile LTE now live for those in Phoenix

Posted: 26 Mar 2013 07:59 AM PDT

T-Mobile seems to have quite a bit going on at the moment, not the least of which is an event scheduled for a little later today. That event is said to be full of some big announcements, however it looks like we have already begun seeing some of them. For example, the LTE coverage has quietly been going live and we have seen those “UNcarrier” plans come available for individuals and family plans.

t-mobile_usa-580x4271113-540x39711

The previous LTE coverage was first mentioned back on March 22. That news included word of T-Mobile LTE coverage in eight cities. And as of today, it looks like we have one more city that has gone live. The latest is Phoenix, Arizona and that joins Denver, Las Vegas, Kansas City, New Orleans, New York, San Diego, San Jose, and Seattle.

The Phoenix coverage is showing speeds averaging between 20-30Mbps down and nearing 20Mbps on the upload. Certainly good speeds on both the down and up, however as we mentioned the other day, those speeds will likely drop as more users pick up LTE capable devices. In other words, if you are rocking a T-Mobile LTE device in any of these cities — take advantage while you can.

Otherwise, previous T-Mobile leaks had placed LTE coverage as coming to Baltimore, Houston, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Jose and Washington DC on March 26. Basically, while we are expecting to learn more during the event today, it looks like the only three of the of the official seven cities still waiting are Baltimore, Washington DC and Houston. That said, if you happen to be in one of those three and are rocking a LTE device with T-Mobile — you may want to start looking for your faster speeds.

[via Engadget]

AT&T announces Jelly Bean for the Samsung Galaxy Express

Posted: 26 Mar 2013 07:29 AM PDT

Another AT&T branded handset is getting Jelly Bean. The handset is the Samsung Galaxy Express and the update will be arriving as Android 4.1. Perhaps even better, AT&T has said the update is available now and that it will be coming over the air. Those with an AT&T branded Galaxy Express now have two options ahead of them.

galaxyexpress

You can take the casual approach which means sitting back and waiting for an update notification to arrive on your device. Should you take this path, wait for the notification and then follow the prompts. Those looking to get the update now should connect to a Wi-Fi network and then navigate to Menu -> Settings -> About device -> Software update -> Check for updates to get the process started.

Of course, regardless of the path you follow — the end result will be the same and leave you with Jelly Bean. In this case that means the regular Jelly Bean goodies such as improved notifications, Google Now and the smoothness that comes as a result of Project Butter. There will also be some AT&T specifics included. The AT&T items include the introduction of an Easy Mode and Blocking Mode.

The Easy Mode is as the name implies and will allow the user to switch get a “simplified experience” that is aimed at the first-time smartphone user. We are not all that certain many current owners will need to switch to Easy Mode, however Blocking Mode may be something to look at. This will allow you to disable incoming calls as well as notifications, alarms and LED indicators for a designated period of time. Finally, the Jelly Bean update will also bring a data usage calculator that will let you set limits and better manage your data usage.

[via AT&T]

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy Express (AT&T)
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : AT&T
    Announced Date : September 28, 2012
    Release Date : November 16, 2012
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.5 Inch
  • Resolution : 480x800
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED Plus
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.22 Inch
  • Width : 2.72 Inch
  • Depth : 0.37 Inch
  • Weight : 136 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 2000 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.0.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • 3GP
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
  • IM
Hardware
    CPU : MSM8960
    CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : NA
    Internal Storage : 8 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 5 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 720p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

Cut the Rope developers promise four new games this year

Posted: 26 Mar 2013 07:14 AM PDT

Zeptolab is the company behind Cut the Rope and it looks like they have a few new games planned for release in 2013. While the original Cut the Rope has been around for a few years now, it remains a popular game. We have also seen one follow-up which arrived as Cut the Rope: Experiments. Coincidentally, the Experiments title was recently updated.

cut-the-rope-580x445

Not to mention, Zeptolab also released the Pudding Monsters game back at the end of 2012. Putting the previous games to the side though, the remainder of 2013 should bring four new games from Zeptolabs. The co-founders, Efim and Semyon Voinov recently spoke with Polygon and detailed their upcoming plans, which look like they will begin in April.

While we have yet to see many details on the upcoming releases, the founders did mention that the title set for release in April will be a new Cut the Rope related game. They also spoke about the success of Cut the Rope noting that it had recently passed the 300 million download mark.

Aside from these four new titles planned for 2013, the company is choosing to focus on quality as opposed to quantity. In other words, it sounds like we can expect good things from Zeptolab in 2013. The founders also touched on the topic of platforms saying that their “first priority is always mobile” and they will “see if it makes sense to go to other systems.”

[via SlashGear]

Playphone Games Portal coming to Verizon Android devices in Q2

Posted: 26 Mar 2013 06:45 AM PDT

Those rocking an Android device with Verizon Wireless will soon have another app store of sorts. This latest will be a gaming portal and it comes as a result of a partnership between Verizon Wireless and Playphone. Basically, this sounds like something those searching for games may be interested in. Of course, the companies are touting perks for developers as well as the users.

playphone-android-verizon-

The Playphone Game Portal will begin showing up on Verizon Android devices during the second quarter of 2013. Verizon has yet to say which devices would get the Game Portal first, however they have said that it will be coming to the newest devices first with an eventual rollout to older devices as well.

One aspect of the Playphone Game Portal is social. The folks at Playphone have said that their SDK will allow developers to easily add social game discovery capabilities to include recommendations, invites and leaderboards. They also believe that given this is a game focused portal, developers who are releasing games may have better visibility as opposed to the Play Store.

Needless to say, a developer is still able to have their titles released in the Play Store and the Playphone Game Portal. Shifting back over to the users and we see some perks in terms of easy billing. Games purchased through the Game Portal will be billed directly to your regular Verizon account. Similar to the increased visibility for developers, this should flip nicely for the user. Well, that is assuming the user is looking for games.

[via PhoneScoop]

SwiftKey update brings fixes and improved predictions

Posted: 26 Mar 2013 06:25 AM PDT

SwiftKey 4 landed in the Google Play Store back in late-February. That arrival had marked the end of a several month beta period. But perhaps more important for today — the SwiftKey app has recently been updated. This update is not what we would describe as major, however it does have plenty of fixes. SwiftKey is now sitting at version 4.0.1 and it remains priced at $3.99.

swiftkey

As for what has changed, been added or fixed. The one improvement is a welcomed one — the changelog notes an improved prediction quality. Moving over to the changes and we have some that will probably be more important depending on which language you are using and which handset you are using. Of course, there are also some general fixes such as the issue where the keyboard was sticking on the initial caps.

Other fixes include the issue with the question mark being unreachable, the @ sign will now appear directly above the A on a long press and a “number” of crashes in the installer. Some of the device specifics include Flow trail problems on the HTC One, issues with the HTC One stock mail app and the HTC One Notes app. Those with a Samsung device should also notice a less jumpy cursor while in the calculator.

Otherwise, the comma has been fixed in Arabic, the locations of the Turkish “i” have been swapped and the French “guillemet” has been added to secondary characters. All said and done, like we said, not a major update but still one that should be welcomed. Especially if you had been dealing with any of these quirks. Plus, the improved predictions should be good for all.

[via SwiftKey]

Android-powered MiiPC hits Kickstarter

Posted: 26 Mar 2013 05:25 AM PDT

The problem with turning kids loose on the Internet is manyfold for parents. Kids can purposely access content that is inappropriate for their age, and can accidentally access content that is inappropriate. Those facts make it very important for parents to be able to control what their kids do and see on the Internet.

miipc

A new Android-powered computer has turned up on Kickstarter called the MiiPC that allows parents to control what their kids do online. The big feature of the computer isn’t hardware, but a companion application that runs on Android devices and the iPhone allowing parents to see what their kids are doing online in real-time and control their access. The companion app allows multiple user profiles to be set up allowing different kids different levels of access.

The companion application also allows parents to control specific websites that kids can access and to limit the amount of time kids can spend on specific websites, such as Facebook. The computer itself is a basic Android device using a dual-core 1.2 GHz Marvell Armada processor with 1 GB of RAM. The machine has 4 GB of internal flash storage.

The MiiPC is also fitted with a memory card slot for storage expansion. Connectivity includes built-in Wi-Fi, Ethernet port, and Bluetooth 4.0. The computer has two USB 2.0 ports, inputs for speakers and a microphone, and an HDMI output supporting full HD resolution. A pledge of $89 will get you one of these little Android-powered computers with shipping expected to begin this summer. The project was seeking $50,000 and has currently raised over $51,000 with 44 days to go.

[via Kickstarter]

Atlas Controller update adds new devices to compatibility list

Posted: 26 Mar 2013 05:17 AM PDT

It’s been a while since we talked about the Atlas Controller for Android devices. The Atlas Controller is a video game controller that is similar to the controller used for the Xbox 360. The controller was developed by a company called Green Throttle and went up for pre-order last November.

atlas-controller

The Atlas Controller has been shipping typically within 24 hours for while now. The developer behind the controller has now announced an update that allows the Atlas Controller to work with more Android devices than were previously supported. The update for the controller now allows it to support devices running Android 4.0 and later.

One possible caveat to support for these devices is that they must have a video-out capability. Newly supported devices include the Samsung S III, Asus Transformer Pad, Google Galaxy Nexus, Samsung Tab 2.0, Galaxy Note, Galaxy Note II, Samsung S II, Google Nexus 10, HTC One X, Motorola Xoom, Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX HD and EVO 3D.

If the Android 4.0 device lacks a video output, the controller and games from Green Throttle using its Arena app are supported, but players won’t be able to play on their big-screen TV. The Atlas Controller is available now for $39.95 online and the app is available for download on the Google Play store.

[via Green Throttle]

ViewRanger for the outdoorsy Android users gets updated

Posted: 26 Mar 2013 05:05 AM PDT

If you’re an outdoorsy type of Android user, you may be familiar with the outdoor GPS app called ViewRanger. The developers behind the application have announced a significant new update for the Android application bringing it to version 3.5.0. The update was released this month and is available to download now.

viewranger

One of the main changes to the application for version 3.5 includes a rewritten store section in the Organizer section of the app. In that section when you select a route, you may now also be offered map options to go with it. The updated app also features a download history button that lists all of the named maps you have downloaded allowing you to download them again if needed.

Some of the larger maps are now split into parts allowing you to download them only when needed to save space on your device. Users can now also comment on another users shared tracks. Version 3.5 also fixes an issue with the navigation arrow on one Android tablet.

Rounding out the fixes includes repairs to graphs for routes shorter than one km or one mile allowing them to work in this new version. The app also has numerous fixes for crashes reported through Google Play and through the app. This app is a GPS mapping application for trails for hiking and biking all around the world.

[via ViewRanger]

Bug discovered that allows bypassing of Sony Xperia Z lock screen

Posted: 26 Mar 2013 04:55 AM PDT

There’ve been a number of bugs surfacing in Android devices of late that allow users to bypass the lock screen. Most of the Android exploits so far have been for Samsung devices. However, a new exploit has turned up for a Sony Android-powered smartphone called the Xperia Z.

sony_xperia_z_review_sg_28-580x385-540x3581

This particular smartphone has the full details of the exploit readily available online. Bypassing the lock screen is a very easy and straightforward process so anyone assuming that their data is secure behind the lock screen needs to be aware that all anyone needs to break into your device is a simple text string. To take advantage of this screen lock bypass you don’t have to mess with any the physical parts the phone or tweak the SIM card.

All you need to do is open the emergency dial pad and type in a string of symbols and numbers to bring up the service menu. Once in that service menu, the NFC Diag Test can be accessed which will then give access to the home screen via a press of the home button. There’s no word from Sony at this point of if or when it will offer a software patch to block this exploit.

The upside is should you ever forget your unlock code, you can access your device using this method. The downside is that should you leave your Xperia Z lying around anyone can access your information in short order.

[via SlashGear]

HTC Desire Q and P smartphone details and pics revealed

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 04:41 PM PDT

The folks from HTC have just announced two new budget smartphones for their popular Desire series. After seeing a few reports and initial rumors on these two phones last week, today we have all the details. Complete with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and Beats Audio these little smartphones are average at best – but will make great mid-range budget devices.

Screen Shot 2013-03-25 at 4.36.59 PM

Starting with the smaller sibling the Desire Q (pictured above) you’ll be working with a 4-inch display and pretty average specs. It will come in black, white, or red color options and we’re hearing the specs are the same as the bigger brother – the Desire P. However at this time the full Q specs haven’t been revealed.

As for the bigger of the two, the Desire P, you’ll get a decent 4.3-inch display, but sadly it’s only WVGA for the resolution. However, you’ll get a 1.0 GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, as well as an 8 megapixel camera and micro-SD slot for expanding storage. It will also be available in white and red for about $365 in China.

HTC-Desire-P-Android-Jelly-Bean

These devices look and sound a lot like the One Su and SV announced just a few months ago, and will certainly not be headed to any major US markets anytime soon. For now these will be budget-aimed, and we’ll all just have to wait for the HTC One to arrive in late April on all the US carriers. We’ll update when we get full details and pictures from HTC.

[via UnwiredView]

Kaspersky mobile security updated with full version trials and new features

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 03:08 PM PDT

Today one of the biggest names in PC and virus protection has just announced some good news for us Android users. If you’re one of the many that worries about your mobile smartphone or tablets security, we have some good news in the form of Kaspersky ultimate protection. Their Android smartphone and tablet apps have been available for some time, but today they’ve announced full-featured (not lite) 30-day trials, as well as some new features.

kasper

While we won’t get into Android or smartphone virus or malware discussions, we will say that their apps have relatively positive replies on the Google Play Store, even though they are priced quite high. Kaspersky mobile security for your smartphone was lowered in price down to just $14.95 moving forward, and that’s the full premium version. Then the tablet version remains $19.95. So what’s new? Read on for more details.

Previously Kaspersky Labs offered a watered-down and lite version of the mobile app, available for free in the Google Play Store. Today however, you can now get the entire apps full features with everything included absolutely free. The only thing is this is a 30-day free trial, then you’ll need to pony up the cash. I’m a fan of both Kaspersky and ESET NOD 32 on my personal PC, what about you guys?

Kaspersky Mobile and Tablet security are apparently also getting a new “alarm” feature. While we don’t see updates in the Play Store the companies official press release confirms the details. Kaspersky will now scan links as they arrive for malicious forwarding, and they even have a new alarm feature. This will be a web portal users can sign into and set their phone or tablet in alarm mode should they lose their device. This makes it audible and easy to find – as long as you didn’t leave it at the office or school.

All the anti-theft and realtime virus protection for your smartphone and tablet from Kaspersky can now be had in full-feature form for free. So if you’re interested head to the links below for more details, or check them out on the Play Store.

[via Kaspersky Tablet; Mobile Security]

One misguided tweet takes on a life of its own

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 02:54 PM PDT

You never know what’s going to happen in the land of Twitter. Adria Richards’s story is a prime example of that. At the PyCon Technology Conference last week, Richards decided to publicly shame two developers who were bothering her with their sexual jokes. The developers were sitting behind her, and were talking to each other about “big dongles” and “forking someone’s repo”, and yes, while they were acting immaturely, Richards’s actions took things a bit too far.

Public shaming can go both ways

Richards snapped a picture of the two developers, and tweeted their photos to her followers, as well as everyone following the PyCon hashtag. She tweeted, “Not cool. Jokes about forking repo’s in a sexual way and “big” dongles. Right behind me #pycon.” Her tweet instantly went viral. The PyCon staff got in touch with Richards (through tweets and text messages) and escorted the two developers out.

Richards then made a blog post explaining the entire situation, and how she achieved justice for herself as well as all of the women in the tech industry. But it wasn’t really justice that she achieved. One of the developers was fired from his job at PlayHaven. He stated, “As a result of the picture she took I was let go from my job today. Which sucks because I have 3 kids and I really liked that job.”

Many women in the industry supported Richards’s actions, while many other women stated that Richards’s actions weren’t a representation of feminism, but just her way of satisfying her own ego. Redditors were outraged by the entire situation and even started a “Feminist Victims Fund” for the fired developer. The issue even got Anonymous’s attention. The group threatened SendGrid, Richards’s employer at the time, to fire her, and they launched a DDOS attack against the company to show just how serious their threats were.

SendGrid shortly terminated Richards’s position after the attack, and stated, “We have taken action that we believe is in the overall best interests of SendGrid, its employees and our customers.” So while Richards believed that she was achieving justice by sending out that tweet, she inadvertently started an online war. She ended up damaging someone’s reputation and career, the companies that they worked for, PyCon, and herself. So the moral of the story is, be careful what you send out on your mobile devices, and if you can solve an issue by directly confronting those involved, take that route. Everything could have easily been solved if Richards had just turned around and asked the two developers to ease up on the jokes.

Evernote fires back at Keep, signs partnership with Deutsche Telekom

Posted: 25 Mar 2013 02:12 PM PDT

Today Evernote has been in the news more than a few times. After Google launched their note competitor last week, Google Keep, we’ve been seeing plenty mentions of the note-taking app. Today they have two things they’ve announced in what looks to be a fire back at Google. For one they released an awesome update with tons of new features, and now we’ve learned they signed an exclusive deal with Deutsche Telekom to improve their international presence.

Evernote-will-implement-two-factor-authorization-in-the-future

Deutsche Telekom, the parent company of T-Mobile, has just signed what we’re being told is an exclusive and strategic partnership deal with Evernote. Something that aims to bring the service’s premium features to millions of DT users. The folk at Evernote are hoping this new strategy will help improve their international presence, and in return, international growth.

According to the press announcement Evernote will be giving the nearly 37 million Deutsche Telekom and T-Mobile users in Germany Evernote Premium service absolutely free for an entire year. Not to mention DT has over 22 million fixed-line customers, which will also be offered the same free premium subscription to Evernote.

For those curious what all comes with premium, you can start by clicking here. This will give all DT users in Germany access to Pin lock, larger files and bigger notes, faster image recognition, offline features, bigger faster uploads, and of course no ads or promotion material. So far we haven’t heard any additional details, but hopefully T-Mobile users here in the US get to enjoy the same benefits. It looks like Evernote isn’t afraid, and will continue to improve and push forward.

[via DMW]