Thursday, April 25, 2013

Android Community

Android Community


Iron Man 3 game Review: what you need to know

Posted: 25 Apr 2013 11:10 AM PDT

Get ready to suit up for tons of explosive action and snarky Tony Stark attitude, as the folks from Gameloft have just released Iron Man 3 the game for Android. The game is absolutely free, so what do you need to know? For starters it’s full of in-app purchases, and is almost 800MB in size so might take a while to download. Check out our hands-on pictures, video, and game thoughts below to see if it’s worth it.

Screenshot_2013-04-25-09-54-43

We’ll start with one of our favorite quotes from Tony Stark. “I’m a Genius, Billionaire, Playboy, Philanthropist!” You’ll be playing Tony Stark as he battles A.I.M. forces from around the world. The game is played as an endless runner, like Temple Run, only you’ll be shooting and blasting enemies with an arsenal of Stark Industries weapons.

The movie hits theaters May 3rd, and we’re a bit excited to see how it is, and the game is said to follow the comic and movies somewhat closely. So we’ll have to update later and see how Gameloft does in that regard. As we mentioned above, the game is 790MB in size, and takes an additional 15 minutes or so to download and play. If you’re low on a data plan you might want to get this at home on WiFi. Check out the video below to see if it’s even worth it.

That was just a very quick look at the initial start and first level of the game. From there the action actually really picks up and it gets quite fun. I was rather pleased with my first 15 minutes of Iron Man 3, even though the in-game graphics aren’t as good as we hoped. However, the explosions are quite good, and the controls are decent. And yes, you can use the gyroscope and control the game by tilting your tablet or smartphone. I had to lower the sensitivity though, it was a bit extreme out of the box.

Now, lets talk about in-app purchases. This game is free but follows the freemium model so you can enjoy it at no cost, but really enjoy it and power-up, add more armor, get better weapons and more if you choose to purchase more stuff. The in-app purchases are pretty extreme too. Going on the record here. There’s an in-app purchase of $99.99 USD. Yes, nearly 100 bucks. That’s just ridiculous. On the bright side that will get you the billion dollar Stark Highrise Tower from the movies. If that’s your thing.

Screenshot_2013-04-25-09-55-42

Actual gameplay is extremely fun and I found myself enjoying it more than I thought I would. At first it wasn’t much, but after you get more weapons and past the 10,000m mark the game really picks up. You’ll be dodging street signs, trucks on the road, jets in the sky and blasting enemies. Then trying to dodge incoming fire while sliding your finger on-screen to fire missiles at targets becomes a bit of a challenge. There was no lag whatsoever, but I did get the occasional lag when in-between sessions the game gives you an ad for other apps and games, which is a bummer.

All the terrible in-app purchases aside, the game has some unique (and irritating) ideas that makes it rather unique. You can earn XP points to buy any of the 18 different Iron Man suits available. Sadly after you purchase it, you have to spend coins earned during the game to actually build it. So yes, Gameloft is double dipping in your pocket. You’ll likely end up giving them some actual money to build up suits faster. Weak!

Screenshot_2013-04-25-09-55-12

Then the cool yet irritating feature is the suit then takes time to build. It isn’t magical here guys, and Jarvis has to build your newly purchased Iron Man suit. The second one in game takes roughly 14 minutes to build. While waiting go for another flight and earn more coins, XP, and get ready to buy additional weapons. You can skip the wait time, but again, this costs diamonds which are even harder to get in the game.

Screenshot_2013-04-25-10-17-53

So in the end Iron Man 3 for Android is actually extremely fun. It’s a fast-paced action endless runner full of 3D graphics, and the sound track is pretty epic. The game has soo many different power-ups, new suits, and options like buying the Stark Tower that you could play it for days and days. It’s a good approach for those who love to dive head first into a game, but casual gamers will probably lose interest thanks to truckloads of in-app purchases all over the place.

Give it a try from the link below and expect to either love it, or get bored trying to earn enough to get additional suits and weapons that you either give up, or cave and spend some actual money.

[via Play Store]

Screenshot_2013-04-25-10-17-53 Screenshot_2013-04-25-10-13-30 Screenshot_2013-04-25-10-16-39 Screenshot_2013-04-25-09-58-15 Screenshot_2013-04-25-10-11-07 Screenshot_2013-04-25-09-56-55 Screenshot_2013-04-25-09-58-02 Screenshot_2013-04-25-09-55-42 Screenshot_2013-04-25-09-54-43 Screenshot_2013-04-25-09-55-12 Screenshot_2013-04-25-09-55-32 Screenshot_2013-04-25-09-54-33

LG Optimus G Pro image leak highlights AT&T branding

Posted: 25 Apr 2013 10:55 AM PDT

LG announced their “share the genius” event that will be taking place in New York City on May 1st. They then later confirmed the announcement was going to be for the Optimus G Pro. Given we have already spent some hands-on time with the handset we know the specs will include a 5.5-inch 1080p display, quad-core 1.7GHz Snapdragon 600 processor and Jelly Bean.

BItelSgCEAEVtZh

The kicker today, an AT&T branded image has leaked this morning. The pic comes by way of @evleaks and is showing just what one would expect — a device that looks like what we have seen previously, only this time sporting an AT&T logo on the backside. Of course, the bit about the Optimus G Pro heading to AT&T is no real surprise.

In fact, previous FCC filings and leaks had the handset as arriving with the carrier in May. Time will tell whether the handset will actually released in May, but as of now an AT&T branded Optimus G Pro is looking like a safe bet. Other specs for the handset include 2GB of RAM, a 3140 mAh battery and 13 megapixel rear-facing camera.

We have also seen details of the handset having either 16GB or 32GB of internal storage, but so far we haven’t seen any details in terms of which variant AT&T will have available. Putting the Optimus G Pro aside for a moment and taking a look at the bigger picture — AT&T doesn’t appear to be making it easy to pick a device. Just to name a few, AT&T users already have the HTC One and Samsung GALAXY S 4 to pick from.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Optimus G Pro
    Manufactuer : LG
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : February 18, 2013
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 5.5 Inch
  • Resolution : 1920x1080
  • Screen Type : IPS LCD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.91 Inch
  • Width : 2.99 Inch
  • Depth : 0.37 Inch
  • Weight : 172 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 3140 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.1.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 APQ8064T
    CPU Clock Speed : 1700 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:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

Samsung GALAXY S 4 firmware leaks begin

Posted: 25 Apr 2013 10:16 AM PDT

With the GALAXY S 4 release sitting rather close, the official firmware leaks seem to have begun. The first of these leaks includes the firmware for the GT-I9500. This particular leak is for version I9500ZCUAMDG and it includes the firmware along with the kernel and necessary Odin files. Basically, everything you would need.

S-flipcover1-540x303

These files are coming by way of AdamLange (posted on the xda developers forums) and this thread amounts to what is the beginning of a stock ROM archive thread for the GALAXY S 4. This first ROM, aside from being for version I9500ZCUAMDG, is from China. The build date is noted as being April 24, 2013 and it is indeed for Android 4.2.2.

As to who may find these useful, those who like to play around and install various third party ROMs. Simply put, these official ROMs will allow you to quickly and easily get your phone back to a stock out-of-the-box experience. Needless to say, while we aren’t sure how many will benefit from the Chinese region firmware, we do suggest you download the necessary files (once the correct files for your region are posted) before you get into trouble.

You know, in an effort to help make that recovery time just a little bit quicker. Otherwise, we have been seeing plenty of GALAXY S 4 release details for the US market. US Cellular will have the handset available for purchase on April 26, Verizon Wireless has pre-orders available as of today and T-Mobile has pushed their online availability up to April 29. In the meantime, those curious about the GALAXY S 4 and torn between that and the HTC One may benefit from our recent comparison post.

[via xda developers]

HTC Rezound getting OTA update – still no Jelly Bean

Posted: 25 Apr 2013 09:50 AM PDT

Owners of the popular HTC Rezound over on Verizon Wireless should be on the lookout for an update coming soon. The Rezound received a small update back in February that was titled as a “device enhancement” update, and today we’re getting another. Only we still won’t be running Android 4.1 (or 4.2) Jelly Bean on the handset. More details below.

cameraringwtmk11-540x3311

The last Rezound update was tiny coming in at 6MB, but this time around you can expect a slightly larger update to arrive. According to the Verizon support documents this will bring a variety of fixes and changes, as well as support for global roaming. Something we thought was arriving back in August of last year.

Again, this is not Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and sadly you’ll still be on 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich after the update. Which is surprising considering it comes in at roughly 207MB in size. Verizon is updating most of their bloatware apps, fixing a few issues, and improving performance. It’s said to improve video and Skype calling, improve overall device stability, LTE connection, and battery life. Then bug fixes as usual.

Sorry guys, this isn’t the latest Android we all were hoping for complete with Google Now and all those Jelly Bean treats, but it could be paving the way for that update to arrive soon(ish). The update was recently approved by Verizon so we should see it arrive on handsets in the next few days, most likely all weekend long. Start checking for updates!

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Rezound
    Manufactuer : HTC
    Carrier : Verizon
    Announced Date : September 16, 2011
    Release Date : November 14, 2011
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.3 Inch
  • Resolution : 720x1280
  • Screen Type : NA
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : NA
  • Width : NA
  • Depth : NA
  • Weight : NA
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 1620 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 2.3.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU : Snapdragon
    CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1024 MB
    Internal Storage : 16 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • CDMA
    CDMA Band:
  • 800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 3.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

AT&T expands 4G LTE coverage across eight states

Posted: 25 Apr 2013 09:05 AM PDT

AT&T seems to be offering these 4G LTE expansion updates on a fairly regular basis these days. The most recent came back on April 18, however we have been seeing these types of expansion announcements several times a month lately. On that note, this latest touches on coverage across eight states including Colorado, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Virginia and West Virginia.

ATT-Mobile-Phone-Wireless-Logo-Store-Window-540x3041212

Keep in mind that some of these are new markets and some are expansions of previously covered markets, lets first begin with Colorado. The Colorado coverage deals with Denver, which has been expanded to include parts of Golden and Lakewood. Some new coverage has been turned on for those in Kokomo, Indiana as well as Shelbyville, Kentucky and Flint, Michigan.

Previously existing coverage in Northwest Mississippi had 4G LTE available for those in Oxford. This expansion brings LTE to parts of Batesville along Highway 6, Sardis and South Oxford. Shifting back to another new market and those in Springfield, Missouri will now have the option to use LTE. New coverage has also been turned on for those in Petersburg, Virginia and for those in Morgantown, West Virginia.

Otherwise, looking the 4G AT&T network as a whole and we see the carrier still touting themselves as having the “nation’s largest 4G network.” To clarify, that includes the HSPA+ and LTE networks, which according to AT&T, is now accessible by more than 292 million people. AT&T users also get access to the nationwide hotspot network, which has 32,000 locations spread across restaurants, hotels, bookstores and retailers.

MetroPCS Q1 2013 earnings posted ahead of merger closing

Posted: 25 Apr 2013 08:36 AM PDT

The MetroPCS and T-Mobile merger received the final approval yesterday. Following that news, we now have the MetroPCS Q1 2013 earnings report. In addition to the expected financials, this report also touches a bit on the merger. In the report there is mention of how they plan to have the merger completed by April 30, 2013. Of course, Deutsche Telekom had said that much yesterday.

METROPCS COMMUNICATIONS, INC. HUAWEI PREMIA

Further details include how, due to the pending merger completion, MetroPCS will not be hosting a first quarter 2013 earnings call. Putting that aside for a moment, the earnings report shows MetroPCS as having quarterly consolidated total revenues of approximately $1.3 billion. This was up 1 percent as compared to the first quarter of 2012.

Other details show a net income of $19 million for the quarter, which includes $3 million in expenses. There was also mention of the average revenue per user being $40.96, which looking at the year-over-year comparison was an increase of $0.40. MetroPCS also revealed details of a decreased churn rate (down 20 basis points as compared to Q1 2012) and how they have surpassed 3.5 million 4G LTE subscribers.

Sticking on the topic of 4G LTE, MetroPCS has said those 3.5 million subscribers now represent 39 percent of their total subscribers. Also, as one would suspect, the carrier saw a large increase in 4G LTE subscribers in recent months. Based on details provided, MetroPCS LTE subscribers increased by 1.2 million from December 31, 2012.

[via PR Newswire]

Verizon Wireless begins accepting GALAXY S 4 pre-orders

Posted: 25 Apr 2013 07:53 AM PDT

As we were expecting to happen, Verizon Wireless has officially opened pre-orders for the GALAXY S 4 today. The pre-orders are available for the 16GB model in black or white, which according to details coming from the carrier, will ship by the end of May. Specifically, Verizon is saying the GALAXY S 4 pre-orders will ship by May 30.

Screen-Shot-2013-04-23-at-3.00.32-PM2-540x314

There is always the hope these ship out sooner, however the May 30 date does coincide with the in-store availability date we saw announced yesterday. Basically, it looks like those who pre-order a GALAXY S 4 with Verizon Wireless still have a little more than a month of waiting ahead of them.

Similar to expecting the GALAXY S 4 pre-orders being available today, the pricing comes with little surprise. Basically, that is to say the handset is indeed priced at $199.99. The catch, that price point comes after a $50 mail-in rebate which means you will need to be prepared to shell out $249.99 on the day of purchase. Alternatively, those looking to avoid the long term commitment and go month-to-month should be prepared to shell out $649.99.

Taking that a step further, that means those who are looking to take Verizon up on this new ‘Device Payment Plan’ option would be paying a little less than $60 per month (the handset price would be $54 per month, however there is sales tax as well the $2 per month finance charge to consider). Bottom line here, if you are ready to choose the GALAXY S 4 with Verizon Wireless, you can move forward with a purchase at any time.

[via Verizon Wireless]

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy S 4 (Qualcomm)
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : AT&T T-Mobile
    Announced Date : March 14, 2013
    Release Date : April 24, 2013
    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 APQ8064T
    CPU Clock Speed : 1900 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 2000 MB
    Internal Storage : 16 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 :

Huawei denies plans to shift focus from US market

Posted: 25 Apr 2013 07:19 AM PDT

A few days back we saw the story about how Huawei was planning to shift focus from, and move out of the US market. Well, flash forward till today and it looks like Huawei is now telling another story. This latest round of details are coming by way of a Bejing News report with comments from Huawei's Executive Vice-President, Eric Xu.

huawei_p2_sg_2-540x362

Basically, he spoke about how the foreign media reports had misunderstood and misreported the original story. He went on to talk about how Huawei does not have plans to abandon the US market and in fact, how they have been trying to enter the US market. Whether this was a case of a misunderstanding or actually a case of backpedaling on the part of Huawei remains to be seen, however one thing seems clear — Huawei is not all that popular in the US at the moment.

Even the Bejing Times has said [after translation] that “Huawei operator business in the United States is almost a total failure.” The other side here, a part that sort of suggests that Huawei will remain in the US (with a little less focus) is how they have only cut the US based R&D and sales teams and not removed them completely.

It was said the R&D department went from 800 down to 500. Of course, a slimming down of departments could also be a first step toward an eventual closing. That all being said, while there clearly seems to be some remaining confusion here, we suspect this will not be the last we hear from Huawei on this topic.

[via phoneArena]

T-Mobile HTC One S Jelly Bean update begins

Posted: 25 Apr 2013 06:50 AM PDT

We have yet to see anything from T-Mobile on the official HTC One S software update page about the Jelly Bean update being ready, however we are seeing reports coming from those with a device in their hands. We still need the official word from the carrier, however if you are carrying a T-Mobile branded HTC One S — you may want to check for an update.

hero-540x38911

To do that, navigate to Menu -> Settings -> About phone – Software updates -> Check now to try and get the process started. Otherwise, those with a bit more patience can sit back and wait for the update notification to arrive. Regardless of the route you choose the end result will be the same, Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean. As such, one of the new features will be the improved notifications.

With Jelly Bean the notifications will be expandable and actionable. Simply put, you will be able to pinch-out to expand to see more as well as take actions such as deleting an email message. These improved notifications also show more detail which will help on items such as text and picture messages — here you will see the entire message and entire image. Jelly Bean will also bring Google Now.

Aside from what Jelly Bean will bring, this update will bump your handset to software version 3.14.531.11. The update measures in at roughly 675MB in size, which according to the system update notification, will need to be downloaded using a Wi-Fi connection. Bottom line here, if you are rocking an HTC One S with T-Mobile you will soon be running Jelly Bean.

[via T-Mobile]

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : One S
    Manufactuer : HTC
    Carrier : T-Mobile
    Announced Date : February 26, 2012
    Release Date : April 25, 2012
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.3 Inch
  • Resolution : 540x960
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.15 Inch
  • Width : 2.56 Inch
  • Depth : 0.31 Inch
  • Weight : 120 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 1650 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.0.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU : Snapdragon S4
    CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1024 MB
    Internal Storage : 16 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
    CDMA Band:
  • 1700
  • 2100
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 3.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

Samsung Experience Shops now opening in Best Buy locations

Posted: 25 Apr 2013 06:30 AM PDT

We had already known Samsung would be launching mini-stores within existing Best Buy retail stores, however it looks like those stores are now beginning to open. Samsung, along with Best Buy have announced the opening of the Samsung Experience Shop within New York’s Union Square store.

Samsung_Experience_Shop_Grand_Opening

This opening will have some festivities attached, but it should be pointed out this is just one of more than 1,400 stores that will be opening. As for the Union Square opening, that will be today, April 25 and it will be celebrated with a Bruno Mars concert. Keep in mind, the concert availability will be limited. In fact, Samsung and Best Buy are limiting that to the first 300 fans to show up.

While that is clearly a small number in the grand scheme of things, lets instead focus on what these Samsung Experience Shops will be offering. Aside from the Union Square store opening, Samsung has said those specialty stores will be “across the US by early summer.” Initially, a fair bit of attention will be going to the GALAXY S 4, however that is just one aspect of these mini specialty stores.

Samsung has said these will be a place for customers to come and “explore, purchase, activate and service the broadest portfolio of Samsung mobile products and accessories.” Basically, these shops will be a place where those interested in a Samsung device will be able to get some hands-on time before making the commitment with your wallet.

[via Business Wire]

Viber app security flaw allows the bypassing of the Android lock screen

Posted: 25 Apr 2013 05:55 AM PDT

Viber is an Internet application that allows messaging and other tasks that is a rival to Skype. Reports have surfaced that indicate Viber has a serious security vulnerability that would allow nefarious users to completely bypass the device’s lock screen. The security flaw is a serious threat to a number of users, the app is been downloaded over 100 million times.

viber_android

The Viber flaw can be exploited on a number of Android smartphones including devices from Samsung, Sony, and HTC according to security firm Bkav Internet Security. The specific techniques required to exploit the flaw on various brands of smartphones do vary according to the security company. However, no matter the technique, the exploit takes advantage of the way Viber handles pop-up messages.

A Viber spokesperson said that the company is aware of the flaw and the potential exploit. The spokesperson says that the company will have a fix the patch the flaw available next week. The company learned that the exploit existed on Wednesday of this week, so they are working quickly.

This application flaw is most recent to surface in a rash of security vulnerabilities in various applications that allow hackers to bypass a device’s lock screen. Lock screens are important to many users to help keep unauthorized people from accessing e-mails, websites, and contacts. The video below shows the exploit being taken advantage of to bypass the lock screen on a Samsung device.

[via ArsTechnica]

NASA put three Android-powered PhoneSats into orbit last weekend

Posted: 25 Apr 2013 05:37 AM PDT

It’s been a while since we talked about NASA and its plans to put three Android smartphones into orbit. NASA first announced its plans for the PhoneSats in the summer of 2012. The smartphones at the heart of the small and inexpensive satellites are the HTC Nexus One. If you’re wondering why NASA chose such old smartphones to use in the project, it has been in the works since those devices were new.

phonesat-732x386-540x284

NASA put the satellites containing the smartphones into orbit around the Earth at an altitude of to 150 miles on Sunday. The purpose of the PhoneSats is to take photographs of the Earth from space. NASA certainly has better equipped satellites in orbit for that task already. The real purpose of the satellites is to gather the technology and experience needed to create cheap satellites costing under $10,000.

NASA hopes to learn with its PhoneSat program if smartphone could be used as the brain for a new generation of low-cost satellites. As cool as it is for Android devices to be the heart of these satellites, they weren’t the first smartphones to make their way into space. NASA put a pair of iPhone 4s on the ISS in 2011.

Once the satellites complete their mission, they will plunge back in the atmosphere of Earth. They will completely burn up during that reentry so you have no chance of picking up a slightly used Android smartphone that’s all been in space on eBay.

[via Huffington Post]

Samsung delays Knox launch

Posted: 25 Apr 2013 05:25 AM PDT

Samsung offered up a bunch the details on its Knox version of the Android operating system designed for business purposes back in March. The first time Samsung talked about Knox was in February and at the time it expected the business-oriented operating system to launch along with the GALAXY S4 this month. Sources are indicating that the launch of Knox is being delayed.

Screen-Shot-2013-03-14-at-4.17.07-PM-540x298

According to the sources, who claim to be briefed on Samsung’s plans, the launch has been pushed until the summer. The sources specifically say that Samsung is now looking at a launch around July. Neither of the two sources wanted to be identified, reports the New York Times, because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly about the company’s plans.

Some Samsung Galaxy smartphones are expected to ship with Knox preinstalled. These devices will be aimed at business users who in the past may have used devices such as the BlackBerry. While Samsung is eyeing July for a launch of Knox, that launch will apparently be a limited version of the operating system.

The sources tip that the fully featured version of Knox wouldn’t come until a later date. Reports indicate that all of the framework components required for the business centric operating system will come installed on the device. However, full-featured activation by solution providers and distribution channels wouldn’t be made available until a later date.

[via New York Times]

Will LG’s first flexible screen smartphone run Android?

Posted: 25 Apr 2013 05:14 AM PDT

There are a number of technology firms around the world hard at work on creating flexible displays to allow new form factors for smartphones and other devices. LG has announced that it plans to launch a smartphone using a flexible OLED screen before the end of 2013. LG hasn’t offered up a lot in the way of details on the smartphone, but there is certainly a strong chance the device would run the Android operating system.

flexible_oled-580x387

LG is definitely more known for its Android smartphones than any other type device. The tip that the flexible screen smartphone will be coming came from LG VP of mobile Yoon Bu-hyun. The device is expected to launch sometime in Q4 2012. If LG sticks to that schedule, odds are the device will turn up early in the quarter so it’s available for holiday shopping.

Another thing we’re not sure about with respect to the flexible screen smartphone is exactly what form factor it will take. One potential form factor for flexible screen devices is a clamshell style phone that offers a long display with no seen when opened. However, clamshell phones aren’t exactly popular anymore with most devices using a candy bar form factor.

Other flexible screen smartphone prototypes we’ve seen, particularly from Samsung, uses the flexible screen to wrap around the edges of the device to provide notifications to the user a can be seen without picking the phone up or standing directly over. We will have to wait until later this year to see exactly what LG has in mind.

[via SlashGear]

HTC: No injunction in Netherlands, HTC One will not be delayed

Posted: 24 Apr 2013 04:03 PM PDT

This week we’ve heard and reported a few details regarding a lawsuit from Nokia aimed right at HTC and their new flagship One smartphone. The word on the street was Nokia sued over some microphones in the One, and received an injunction against the smartphone. However, today HTC has confirmed that isn’t accurate and their smartphone will continue to be available worldwide with no further delays.

htcone_androidcommunity_review2-540x4262

This afternoon the folks from HTC have issued a statement on the recent court filing and proceedings in the Netherlands, and are confirming their smartphone will not be delayed, and Nokia did not win an injunction against the handset. Apparently the microphone used inside the HTC One was for Nokia only, and the rumors got out of control pretty quick over the situation. Here’s what HTC had to say.

Nokia did not obtain an injunction against the HTC One in the Netherlands, or anywhere else for that matter. The lawsuit was brought by Nokia solely against STM (the microphone manufacturer) and won’t cause any issues or delays with the HTC One. The injunction that was obtained prevents STM from selling this particular microphone to other smartphone manufacturers. And last but not least, the judgement states HTC can (and will) continue to use the microphone module already purchased from STM, based on good faith, and Nokia’s attempt to ban the HTC One actually failed.

“HTC will transition to improved microphone designs once its inventory of STM microphones is exhausted.”

In closing HTC gave the above quote regarding their upcoming plans for the smartphone. So basically Nokia didn’t win anything that will cause HTC problems or delay their new flagship smartphone. It’s available as we speak from AT&T and internationally, and will be hitting more carriers in the coming days. The HTC One will not suffer any setbacks in the Netherlands or anywhere else over this matter.

Nothing too exciting, but we needed to set the record straight. Nokia’s attempts failed and the HTC One is here and ready to battle the GALAXY S 4 and any other smartphone that comes its way.

Google joins FIDO to strengthen and replace passwords

Posted: 24 Apr 2013 02:45 PM PDT

Protecting your digital content and identity will soon be handled by more than just a simple password, as Google has just joined FIDO and their password authentication initiative. FIDO, the Fast IDentity Online Alliance has joined forces with Google to try and come up with a solution that could bypass passwords alltogether. Or at least strengthen the authentication systems.

yubico-neo-v1-454x284

Back in January we heard Google was preparing to delete passwords in favor of NFC solutions, and that is just one part of many being offered by FIDO. In the future we might be tapping NFC enabled rings on our hands to access parts of our smartphone, or even login to Gmail on our computers.

FIDO was founded by many companies like Lenovo, PayPal Validity and others, and Google’s just the latest (and biggest) to join the growing alliance. Sam Srinivas, the Product Management Director of Information Security at Google, stated that the company is looking forward to "continuing our current development work on strong, universal second-factor tokens" for FIDO. Which sounds like Google’s taking this pretty seriously.

Some of FIDO’s technology includes Biometric Verification (like facial unlock and fingerprint scanners), One time password systems that are triggered often, NFC chips which will be extremely secure but possibly a hassle, and things like TPM (Trusted Platform Module) and more. TPM employs a chip in a computer system, separate from the OS, with its own software, and is ideal for money transactions based on how secure it is. Then of course there is USB Token verification methods and much more.

These are just a few of the examples given by FIDO, and surely with Google also working on a new process we’ll see all types of interesting things. Maybe Google Glass can just scan your retina for clearance. Mission Impossible style. More details on the Google FIDO partnership can be found right here.

[via SlashGear]

Addicting casual game ‘Bad Roads’ arrives on Android

Posted: 24 Apr 2013 01:47 PM PDT

Today we found a rather fun game that we figured you’d all like to check out. If you love a casual game that is easy and quick to pick up, or just love to support those small-time developers then Bad Roads is certainly for you. Just like Temple Run, Fruit Ninja and more the game is extremely simple and minimalistic, but plenty of fun and a good time waster.

Screenshot_2013-04-24-12-47-23

We were tipped off on this game from the folks over at XDA, as this game is actually developed by one of their small-time developers. This is no big publisher or anything of that nature, but certainly a good game that had plenty of time and effort put into it. We love seeing simple little games like this so check it out below.

Bad Roads’ objective is pretty simple and clear. You’ll be driving Ted’s Truck full of ducks (yes I said chickens below) ducks in crates and you’ll have to safely transport this precious cargo over some pretty bad roads and rough terrain. It’s your usual 2D side scrolling game and we’ve seen plenty of similar titles, but this one just has that indie minimalistic feel to it. If you know what I mean. With a simple yellow background and silhouette of tree’s and building, you’ll be driving along for hours. Take a peek at our gameplay video below.

You can’t tell me you don’t love those plain graphics and 1950′s elevator music. We sure do! As you saw above the game is easy to pick up and play, has fun graphics and decent physics, and it’s absolutely free too. Not only that but the developer was kind enough to leave ads out of his game, but you can also grab the donate version for just over a buck should you want to support him. More details can be found at this XDA thread, then get it from the link below.

[via Play Store]

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Remember The Milk app update brings Android tablet support

Posted: 24 Apr 2013 01:23 PM PDT

While there are plenty of options for task management apps when it comes to Android, it is hard to argue that Remember The Milk is a name known by many. And now, thanks to a recently updated app, those using RTM will be able to do so on an Android tablet. This newfound tablet support arrives as part of the v3.0 app update which also includes what is being described as a “new and intuitive” user interface.

android3_tablet

The v3.0 update also brought some improvements to the widgets and reminder notifications. Part of the new interface is the addition of the “card stack concept.” With this you will be able to swipe through your tasks and notes with gestures. Another item coming with this update are the new task and note views. In this case, the task view redesign was done in an effort to make it quicker and easier to edit or delete a task as well as add a new note. Switching over, the new note view will now allow you to go full screen while viewing or editing a note.

Other items coming along with the Remember The Milk v3.0 update include being able to edit multiple tasks as well as the ability to “tap to get stuff done.” In the case of the tapping, here you will be able to complete and also postpone a task by tapping and holding. From this point you will see the options for ‘Complete’ and ‘Postpone’ appear for selection.

Otherwise, this update also brought something specific for those using Android 4.1 and above — updated notifications that are actionable. Those using Remember The Milk with Jelly Bean will be able to ‘Complete’ or ‘Postpone’ a task from the notification. They will also be able to get multi-line notifications which should help for those reminders that have multiple tasks included. Finally, the redesigned widget. With these, the widgets now have what is being described as a “cleaner” design as well as a resizable Smart Bar Widget and support for lock screen widgets. That all being said, Remember The Milk v3.0 can be found using this Google Play Store link.

[via Remember The Milk Blog]

HTC One vs GALAXY S 4: launch time in the USA

Posted: 24 Apr 2013 12:55 PM PDT

The Samsung GALAXY S 4 and the new HTC One are both what can only be described as flagship Android smartphones at the top of their game, but they are both quite different. Now that the HTC One is readily available, and Samsung’s S4 is hitting the streets all over the place we decided another quick vs comparison post and video was in order. Which smartphone is right for you? It’s all about size!

vs

These two smartphone have some pretty similar specs in terms of raw hardware, but deep down they are completely different in all aspects. We have the same Qualcomm quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor and 2GB of RAM, 16/32/64GB storage options, impressive cameras, and of course full HD 1080p displays. Do you want more of the same, or something new? Is a 5-inch screen too big, or just right? That’s for you to decide, but we’ll help you out.

To get started and so you know everything humanly possible about both smartphones. You’ll want to see our reviews. We’ll start by directing you to our brand new and thorough GALAXY S 4 Review, then check out the HTC One Review, as well as the AT&T One Review. Then the video below will give you a quick glance at a hardware comparison.

So which device is right for you? That’s for you to decide sadly. All we can do is give you the facts, showcase the features, and you’ll have to decide if you want an all aluminum device with stunning sound and a new design direction, or the tried and true Galaxy S 4 from Samsung. Here’s the stats, by the numbers!

Samsung GALAXY S 4
Display: 5-inch Full HD Super AMOLED 1920×1080 resolution at 441 PPI
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 1.9 GHz Quad-Core Processor / Samsung Exynos 1.6 GHz Octa-Core Processor – depending on market
Cameras: 13 megapixel rear and 2 MP front
Dimensions: 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm, 130g
Storage: 16/32/64 GB internal storage, 64GB capable microSD slot
Battery: 2600 mAh (removable)

HTC One
Display: 4.7-inch Full HD Super LCD3 1920×1080 resolution at 469 PPI
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 series 1.7 GHz Quad-Core Processor
Cameras: 4MP UltraPixel rear, 2.1 wide-angle front
Dimensions: 137.4 x 68.2 x 9.3mm, 143g
Storage: 32/64 GB internal storage (no micro-SD)
Battery: 2300 mAh (non-removable)

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

A few things worth mentioning are the fact the HTC One runs Android 4.1, while Samsung is already on the absolute latest Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean from Google. Samsung’s been pretty good on their updates lately too. HTC, not so much. While the GALAXY S 4 is surely an impressive smartphone all around, the HTC One just feels like it takes more steps towards the future of smartphones. However, both will be rock solid for years to come, and make any user plenty happy. Which will you be buying?

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Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy S 4 (Qualcomm)
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : AT&T T-Mobile
    Announced Date : March 14, 2013
    Release Date : April 24, 2013
    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 APQ8064T
    CPU Clock Speed : 1900 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 2000 MB
    Internal Storage : 16 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 :

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : One
    Manufactuer : HTC
    Carrier : AT&T
    Announced Date : February 19, 2013
    Release Date : March 29, 2013
    Also Known As : HTC M7
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.7 Inch
  • Resolution : 1920x1080
  • Screen Type : TFT
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.41 Inch
  • Width : 2.68 Inch
  • Depth : 0.36 Inch
  • Weight : 143 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 2300 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 : 1700 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 2000 MB
    Internal Storage : 32 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 4 MP
    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 :

US Cellular GALAXY S 4 availability begins this week

Posted: 24 Apr 2013 12:45 PM PDT

Despite news of an unexpected delay coming from T-Mobile, it appears as if US Cellular will have the GALAXY S 4 shipping later this week. The carrier has announced that the GALAXY S 4 would be available for online purchase beginning on April 26. Perhaps key though, pre-orders will also begin shipping that same day.

Screen-Shot-2013-04-23-at-3.00.32-PM

Aside from online availability, US Cellular has said the GALAXY S 4 would be available in retail stores beginning on April 30. Those who pre-ordered can also expect the S View Flip Cover, which was being offered as part of the pre-sale process. It looks like the S View Flip Cover offer is only available for those who pre-order the handset, so if you had been on the fence about a purchase, now seems like a good time to move forward.

US Cellular has the 16GB GALAXY S 4 and that will be available in both the White Frost and Black Mist models. Otherwise, while the US Cellular 4G LTE network is not quite as large as some of the other carriers, it is important to note that it currently covers 61 percent of their user base. Looking forward, US Cellular plans to have that upped to 87 percent by end of year 2013.

For those keeping track, the T-Mobile GALAXY S 4 availability was pushed to April 29. Verizon on the other hand will have the GALAXY S 4 available for pre-order beginning tomorrow, April 25. The Verizon pricing (at least after the mail-in rebate) will be the same as US Cellular, sitting at $199.99 on a two-year agreement. T-Mobile with their UNcarrier approach will have the handset available with a $149.99 downpayment and an additional 24 payments of $20.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy S 4 (Qualcomm)
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : AT&T T-Mobile
    Announced Date : March 14, 2013
    Release Date : April 24, 2013
    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 APQ8064T
    CPU Clock Speed : 1900 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 2000 MB
    Internal Storage : 16 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 :