Sunday, April 28, 2013

Android Authority

Android Authority


Google Glass kernel source now available to download

Posted: 27 Apr 2013 04:58 PM PDT

google glass girl Credit: DVF

The Google Glass kernel source is apparently available to download for developers to start playing with it.

Karthik's Geek Center reports that it has found the Google Glass kernel source "in a temporary location on Google Code" from where it should be moved to a more permanent location in the future. In case you're interested in getting your hands on it, head on to the Source links below to get yours – you're looking at a 68.9MB tar.xz file.

What's interesting about the Google Glass kernel is that it has some NFC references in it, as the same source points out:

On digging into the Kernel, looks like it has got all the headers required for NFC support. May be Glass is NFC enabled? Or may be, since its running Android source, it has the NFC drivers by default?

However, there's nothing to suggest that Google Glass will have any NFC-related features. In fact, NFC is not mentioned in the specs sheet of the product – and by now we also learned more details about the processor type, RAM and Android version Google Glass runs.

Getting back to developing for Glass, you should also know that Google Glass has already been rooted, with the process described as "easy" by at least one developer.

Meanwhile, Google said via Eric Schmidt that it will exercise some caution initially by pre-approving apps for Glass, with the process opening up in the future. The same Schmidt also revealed in a recent interview that the commercial launch of the Glass will only take place in about a year or so.

In case you happen to have a great Google Glass app in the works, drop us a shout!

Buyer beware: There is a “root any Android” software you should never use

Posted: 27 Apr 2013 03:00 PM PDT

Android It’s not everyday that someone tries to charge you for a root guide. In fact, pretty much every root method ever is available free of charge if you search for it and do a little reading. It sounds shady, but it really isn’t. People who create root methods do so for the love of having their devices rooted and aren’t really looking to make a quick buck. After all, these are our devices, and we shouldn’t have to pay to do what we want with them. So you can imagine our disdain when we were directed toward a site that offers to root any Android device for a one time fee of $30.

The site is called root-android.org. Here’s how it works. You shell out $30 to get access to the Member’s Area. There you can download software that can, according to the site:

The Auto Rooting software is specially designed to work with all Android devices in the world today. This includes all Android tablets, phones, computers, and e-Readers. It does not matter what version of Android you are running, The Rooting Software works with all of them. – root-android.org

What a preposterous claim, right? There are a variety of reasons not to trust a site like this. For starters, there is an animated woman graphic in the bottom right corner that tries to talk you into that. They might as well put picture of palm trees in their banner and claim that they made $5400 a month working from home. Aside from questionable marketing tactics, we have three really good reasons why you should never buy or use this software.

Not all Android devices can be rooted

The very biggest claim this site makes is that it can root anything. However, as anyone familiar with the rooting culture can tell you, that is a big honking lie. It’s kind of hard to put trust and faith into a product that, right out of the gate, makes promises it cannot hope to keep. Not all phones can be rooted. For that matter, there are a number of devices that have very complicated root methods.

There are a number of instances where devices cannot be easily rooted. When OTA updates come in (Especially HTC Devices), they usually patch up all known root exploits and developers have to find a new way to obtain root. Or if the device isn’t popular enough to be rooted by the developer community and current exploits don’t do the trick. When the Verizon Samsung Galaxy S3 and Note 2 were released, their locked bootloaders prevented root for a period of time before developers found a way around it. The point is that there are times when phones can’t be easily rooted and there are even a few rare instances where root cannot be a achieved at all. Most of the time it’s temporary but it does happen. In these instances, this $30 software will not work for you.

You can get all of this and more for free

If someone offered you a good, free meal, would you turn it down to go spend $30 on the exact same meal in a restaurant? No? Of course not, because that’s not what sane people do. Every single root exploit that you can find in this $30 software is available free of charge at one of the Android development sites. Whether it be XDA Developers, RootzWiki or one of the other places, you can find all these root exploits for free. Not to mention that taking what’s already free and making people pay for it is just plain unethical. Look at what they did to water.

On top of taking free software and making you pay for it, they’re also taking away recognition to developers. People worked hard on some of these exploits. Those crazy people at unlimited.io keep hacking HTC phones despite HTC’s best efforts. What about those XDA devs who unlocked the Verizon Galaxy S3 bootloader and then shortly thereafter, the Verizon Galaxy Note 2 bootloader. These are names you should know because these are the guys doing the real hard work to get you rooted so you can have full control over your own devices. Did we mention they do it all free of charge?

You should learn more about what you’re doing

Would you start tearing parts out of your car before you learn how an engine works? Would you hire a chef who’s highlight cooking achievement is making Mac’n'Cheese right “most of the time”? No, of course you wouldn’t. Under that same line of logic, you shouldn’t go rooting your device without knowing what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. It’s not like putting decals on your rice burner just to be cool. You’re gaining access to sensitive parts of your device where, if you’re not careful, you can really mess things up.

So this $30 software gets you root. Do you know how it gets you root? If you’re running a potentially risky exploit to root your phone, you should probably know what that exploit is. It could help you troubleshoot if a problem arises. Now, this may sound hypocritical because most popular devices these days actually have one click roots (that are free, by the way) where they don’t necessarily explain the exploit.

The difference is that these are posted in forum threads where you can simply post and ask what they did. Most developers have no problem explaining what they did. In fact, the only time you’ll see a dev hide their methods is when they don’t want their methods to be patched. In many cases, these one-click methods and tool kits are open source, so you can go read the source code and see exactly what they did for yourself. More importantly, if you have trouble, you can post in the thread that you had trouble and someone will usually point you in the right direction. They may not be overly nice about it all the time, but usually they help get the problem solved. The point is that if you’re going to force your way into the secure and sensitive parts of your device’s file system, you should know a little more about what you’re doing and you should probably know where it came from so you know where to go to get real help.

Summary

It may sound like we’re being overly harsh here, but we assure you we’re not. This website is making you pay $30 for stuff you can find for free. They’re most likely using root methods that were developed by someone else and were intended for free use. They’re hiding everything they’re doing behind a pretty user interface so you really have no idea what they’re doing to your device. Worst of all, they’re claiming their service can do things that it cannot do. When it’s all added up, it equals a disaster for your Android device. It’s essentially like being put under by a doctor for surgery and when you’re about to pass out, you see him pop the “how to perform surgery” video into his DVD player.

If our logic just isn’t hitting that nerve, check out what their customers actually have to say. Devices not being rooted, 30-day money back guarantees not being honored, and all sorts of other seedy behavior are being reported. So if you are thinking of using this, or know someone who is thinking about using this service, our best advice is to not use this service. Nothing good can come of it. So get the word out and let’s help keep people from being ripped off!

Diamonds in the Rough: 7 Random Apps for Android You Might Like (Ep #4 April 22-28)

Posted: 27 Apr 2013 02:33 PM PDT

Diamonds in the Rough - Random Apps There are an endless number of apps on the Google Play Store. It's nigh impossible to sift through all of them, let alone find the good ones. So, if you're in a "hell, why not?" mood today, take a gander at this week's roundup of random apps we thought were pretty nifty, and that you might enjoy too!


Jester Chess - random apps

Jester Chess

We would be lying if we didn’t admit that this made the list strictly because of its claim that it brings the sexy back to chess. Frankly, we had no idea there was any sexy in chess to begin with and that tagline did a great job of making us want to try this app out. What we found wasn’t sexy, exactly. However, what we did find was a pretty entertaining chess game that focuses less on chess as a whole and uses the pieces to form puzzles.

Here’s how it works. Each level, there are some random chess pieces on the board. Your goal is to take all the pieces until there is one left standing in as few moves and in as little time as possible. As with all Android puzzle games at this point, you get a 3-star rating based on how well you do. It’s simple, it’s fun, there are a 100 puzzles in the free version of this game, and you can get a whole lot more for a buck. We went searching for random apps, and we found a chess game that’s only sort of a chess game. To give it a shot, download it below.


Get it on Google Play


Star Defender 4 - random apps

Star Defender 4

Recently, we did an app list for the most underrated games for Android and in that list there was a space arcade game. As it turns out, it wasn’t the only space arcade game worth checking out. In our search for random apps, we came across Star Defender 4. Star Defender 4 takes a much more classic and retro approach to arcade space shooters and one that fans of the old arcade days will no doubt enjoy.

This is a top-down shooter that is actually pretty fun to play. You use your finger to run across a fire bar to shoot and move. There are power ups, fun weapons that destroy a lot of bad guys at once, and some pretty decent looking bad guys and backgrounds. Is it the next Angry Birds? Probably not, but it’s genuinely a blast to play and the graphics are actually pretty decent. It’s $1.99 in the Google Play Store, but you can try it free before you buy it. Check it out below.

Get it on Google Play


Ocean Puzzles & Colors - random apps

Ocean – Coloring Puzzles

Something that’s quite hard to find is a good kids game on Android. Most of them are either way too simple or way too short. During our search for random apps, we may have found one that’s actually pretty decent. Ocean is an ocean themed coloring book and puzzle game that’s will hold the attention of the kids for at least a little while. There is some nice music, the backgrounds are interactive, and kids can choose between putting puzzles together or coloring on their own.

Unfortunately, you have to unlock the full app in order to get all the puzzles, but you’ll know if it’s worth it long beforehand because your kids will either like it or not right out of the gate. Also, the developers, MagisterApp, have identical apps for farms, the Savanna, and Christmas. So if your child gets tired of ocean themes, there are actually 4 other apps to choose from. To check them out, follow the button below.

Get it on Google Play


NFLWeather & Scores

NFLWeather & Scores

Yes, the NFL season has been over for a few months. Really, though, if you’re a football fan, the NFL is a year round thing. There is, after all, the draft, the free agent signings, and all the summer events that lead up to the start of the next season. The next on our list of random apps, called NFLWeather & Scores, is a great app to have if you’re an NFL fan and want to be prepared for the next season. This very simple, yet deceptively useful, app tells you the dates of each game scheduled for a given week and the forecast for that game. So you’ll know if your favorite team is playing in the sun, the rain, or the snow. Should you want additional details about the games, they’re available as well.

Again, this is a really simple app, but a very handy one. If you look up the game details, you’ll get the kickoff time, which TV network it’s on, where the game is being played, the surface (grass or turf), and other tidbits of info. It’ll even tell you if it’s in a dome or an open stadium. You won’t get in depth coverage like you would from ESPN, but if all you want is the schedule, the forecast, and some fun facts about each game, this is what you want. It’s available from the button below!

Get it on Google Play


Foodster - random apps

Foodster

Who doesn’t love a good meal now and again? During our quest to find the best random apps, we happened to find a nifty little app called Foodster. The app features a whole bunch of recipes. Not only that, but it’ll help you build grocery lists to make these various meals. There is even a function to build whole meals out of leftovers and odds and ends in your kitchen. Really, anyone who enjoys cooking or food in general should check it out.

Unfortunately, during my review, I found out that the app is shut down until June. Apparently, Pinterest bought out the service Foodster was using to share recipes and run the app so it’s gone down for re-tooling. So we can’t recommend it right now because it doesn’t do anything at this time. However, when it comes back (if you remember), do at least check it out. Foodies and people who like to cook could use more apps like this one so we hope it comes back sooner than later. You can use the button below to check out the app, but do remember that it’s down for a couple of months.

Get it on Google Play


Firestorm - random apps

Firestorm

Didn’t get enough arcade action with Star Defender 4? That’s fine, because the next app on our random apps list brings even more arcade goodness to Android. This one is a little more simple and slower than Star Defender 4 and the graphics aren’t as good. However, it is still quite a fun and challenging game to play.

In this game there are no levels. It’s kind of like Tetris. Bad guys fall from the top of the screen until they finally manage to kill you. As per the norm there are power ups that increase everything. So it may start out a little slow but it gets faster and more interesting the longer your streak goes. It’s a buck in the Google Play Store and you can find it using the button below.

Get it on Google Play


Debate It! - random apps

Debate It!

So, who likes to debate on the Internet? That was a joke, because practically everyone has their own opinions on everything. That’s okay for the next item on our random apps list. It’s an app called Debate It! and it allows you to input your opinion on important topics from the around the world and read what other people had to say.

What’s fun about it is the vote structure. You and five other participants input a short answer to a big question. Then people find these “games” and vote for whoever has the best answer. It’s a nifty way to express your opinion and see what other people have to say on the matter. Getting a vote gives you points and the person with the most votes wins the debate. If you like taking part in things like this, this is a fun app to try out. You can find it using the button below.

Get it on Google Play


Diamonds in the Rough Random Apps Wrap Up

That about does it for our apps this week. As always, feel free to leave a comment telling us what you thought of our selections this week. If you felt an app should be included that we didn’t include, feel free to comment with some random apps that you enjoy. Don’t forget, we do this every week so check back next week for some more random app goodness!

The Official Android Authority App Review

Posted: 27 Apr 2013 11:54 AM PDT

Android Authority We here at Android Authority strive to bring you the hottest content from the world of Android. So when we find there is a faster way to deliver content to you, of course it’s an option we took a closer look at. The result is the official Android Authority app. What does the official Android Authority app have included? Well we’ve done one of our reviews to show you everything it can do. If you’d rather watch than read, we’ve posted the video review at the bottom.


Android authority 1

App Features

First we’ll talk about the features of the Android Authority app. Essentially, you can view pretty much any content on the app that you can on our website. The latest news, opinions, features, app lists, device reviews, and everything else we do is right there in the app just like it is on the website. To start, you slide to the right to open up the menu. In the menu you can navigate across the app and read or view the various things we’ve released.

To start, we’ll talk about the content itself. In the menu, you’ll see options to check out the latest articles, the latest videos, and the latest episodes of our podcast, Android Authority on Air. Each in their own category so if you want to browse around for some older stuff too, it’s all there at your disposal. The app updates periodically in the background so when we post new stuff, the app will get it quickly.

Below that are a few ways to better organize our content for you. You can find articles written in the last 24 hours if you’d rather sort through our stuff that way instead of the full list. You can also read all articles you have not yet read. If there are any articles you like so much that you want to add them to your favorites, you can view your favorites under the All Stars menu.

Underneath that you’ll find all of our social media links so you can follow, like, or subscribe to us anywhere we have an internet presence. Feel free to do so! It’s also a second great way to keep up with all the content we produce since very nearly all of our stuff ends up on our social media sites as well as our official website.

Finally, at the bottom, are settings and tools. You can view any file that you download from us, force sync to see if there is anything new, switch themes from light to dark (and back to light again), and then a settings menu. Everything here is pretty much self explanatory. The settings menu is mostly sync settings like only syncing over WiFi and things like that.


Android Authority App 2

General Use

If you check out the review video, you can see that the Android Authority app runs pretty well. We tested it on a plethora of devices and so far it’s been smooth for everyone. The app makes it really easy to view all the latest Android Authority content whether it be articles or videos. There is a little quirk, though. To comment on articles, you must visit the site. There are links to do so within the app so if you feel the need to comment, just click on the Visit Website link where you can leave your comment. Otherwise, everything else is accessible from within the app. This includes sharing to virtually anywhere using the sharing button at the top.

Additionally, you can also translate text into another language should you need to. So even our readers from other parts of the world can enjoy this app. The list of supported languages is quite long, so there is a very high probability that your language is supported. You can also change the text size so it’ll be a little easier on your eyes when you read it. You can even copy the article link should you want to share it somewhere the share button doesn’t cover.


Android Authority App Wrap Up

All in all, it’s a very solid and well put together app. I’m not just saying that because I work here, either. Everything is fluid and straightforward. It’s not easy to get lost in this app or not know what to do. There are a lot of options for theming, comfort, and language support. Really, if you like Android Authority, this app is worth checking out.

Of course, we live to serve you, the tech enthusiast. We wouldn’t be anywhere without our readers and, as always, we want to bring you the best news in as many formats as humanly possible. It’s all about options right? So if you have any suggestions for our official app or want to leave us some feedback, feel more than free to leave a comment below, on the YouTube video, or even in the Play Store to let us know how we’re doing! If you want to try it out, just search “Android Authority” in the Play Store, or check it out directly here.

Samsung Galaxy S4 isn’t compatible with TecTiles, don’t worry TecTiles 2 coming soon

Posted: 27 Apr 2013 11:33 AM PDT

samsung tectiles

It has been a while since NFC made its way to smartphones. Heralded as the next big thing, it would make transactions easy, data transfers simple, connection to other devices a breeze and allow a whole host of other possibilities.

When Samsung launched the Galaxy S3 last year, it attempted to show off the possibilities of NFC through a new accessory named TecTiles. TecTiles are little NFC-enabled stickers which you could use to, for example, enable/disable Wi-Fi on your phone at a certain location and they became mildly popular.

However, in the Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung chose the BCM2079x NFC controller which is not compatible with Samsung's TecTiles that utilize MiFare Tags. This new controller follows NFC standards and is found in other phones like the Nexus 4, but won’t read the MiFare Classic 1k tags found in Samsung TecTiles. Brian Klug from AnandTech reached out to Samsung and the company offered a statement:

Samsung is introducing TecTile 2, an update to the original TecTile NFC programmable tags, which will be available in the coming weeks. TecTile 2 will use the current NFC technology on the market, allowing Samsung customers to further incorporate NFC into their daily lives and to use with the latest Samsung Mobile products and services, including the Galaxy S 4. As industry standards continue to evolve, Samsung remains committed to meeting those standards and adapting its technologies if necessary. Samsung customers can also fully utilize TecTiles 2 with existing Samsung Mobile NFC-enabled Android smartphones currently in market.
Samsung

But wait, that's not quite the end of the story yet. It seems some of the more recently manufactured TecTiles have been updated to NFC Forum type 4 tags. These tags would be compatible with the Galaxy S4, as well as the Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S3, so if you've picked up some TecTiles more recently you're in luck.

Rumor: Android 4.3 Jelly Bean is next, not Key Lime Pie

Posted: 27 Apr 2013 11:19 AM PDT

Android 4.3

We are almost due for the next version of Android, which is typically announced annually at Google I/O. According to Android Police founder Artem Russakovskii, the next version will be 4.3 Jelly Bean, and not 5.0 Key Lime Pie as previously expected. There are several reasons leading to this conclusion, the first of which involves server logs.

Android 4.3

Artem discovered multiple instances of the Nexus 7, and Nexus 4 running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. Making sure the logs were not faked, he traced the IP addresses. Where did they end up? To no surprise, Google, and two different IP ranges related to Google employees.

Digging deeper, the Chromium code site has received several comments in the past couple days from a developer by the username aruslan, revealing JWR23B as a build number. This is the same build number found in Android Police's server logs.

Artem further makes two great points, backing up his claims:

Google doesn’t assign version numbers to Android releases until a short time before they’re set to be unveiled. We’re talking weeks or a couple of months max. Google does not assign version numbers to internal/test releases. Those are usually called something like JellyBeanMR1 and then assigned proper versions number when they’re close to release.

It’s definitely a little strange to see another Jelly Bean variant, but we’re interested to see what comes of it. As with any rumor, you should take this with the proper amount of levity. However, the evidence does have us scratching our heads. With Google I/O less than three weeks away, we look forward to getting the full scoop.

What do you think? Will there be a Key Lime Pie, or will we simply see another Jelly Bean build?

Samsung Galaxy S4 arrives online at Sprint, in-stores at AT&T

Posted: 27 Apr 2013 08:43 AM PDT

Samsung Galaxy S4 close up 645px

After facing a short delay, Sprint’s Galaxy S4 is now available to buy in its online store. Similarly, AT&T has announced that the device is available in their own stores today.

Sprint customers will be able to get their hands on a Galaxy S4 for $249.99 on a new two-year contract with the carrier. However, if new customers bring their number to Sprint, the mobile operator will make you eligible for a $100 price break bringing down the cost of the smartphone to a mere $149.99 on a new two-year pact.

AT&T customers who aren’t interested in switching to Sprint for that somewhat tempting $100 discount can purchase a Galaxy S4 for $199.99 on a new two-year contract. The 16GB model is the only variant available at the time of this writing, but AT&T says the 32GB version is coming soon, which will run at $249.99 with a two-year commitment.

As a warning, those that are planning on picking up a 16GB Galaxy S4 may want to pick up a microSD card as well. Geek.com reports, between the system and preloaded apps, you’ll only have 8.82GB of space available for use, so if you’re thinking about loading up your brand new Galaxy S4 with a ton of files, a microSD card may want to be considered.

The Galaxy S4 supports a 4.99-inch Super AMOLED 1920 x 1080 Full HD display with 441ppi. It has a 1.9GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 13MP rear-facing shooter, a 2MP front-facing camera and has a microSD slot with support for up to 64GB of expandable storage. Samsung's latest flagship offering comes in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models, but the 16GB version seems to be the only one available from carriers and retailers at this time.

On the fence about the Galaxy S4? Be sure to check out our full review of the device (video above) or join us in the Galaxy S4 vs. HTC One debate!

HTC One now available to buy in Stealth Black at Sprint

Posted: 27 Apr 2013 08:39 AM PDT

htc-one-stealth-black-att

The HTC One has been available at Sprint for a few days now, but only in Glacial Silver, and now the carrier is offering the device in Stealth Black.

The Stealth Black model costs just as much as the Glacial Silver model — $199 on a new two-year contract. Aside from that, nothing has changed with the device, and other color variants remain to be seen.

The HTC One supports a stunning 1080p Full HD 4.7-inch display, a 1.7GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 4MP UltraPixel camera, a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, 32GB of internal storage and a 2300 mAh battery. On the software side of things, the device is running Sense 5 with BlinkFeed atop of Android 4.1.2.

Not sure about the HTC One just yet? Check out our our full review by Android Authority‘s Kristofer Wouk (video above)!

Nexus smartwatch concept is awesome, probably not that hard to make

Posted: 27 Apr 2013 06:22 AM PDT

Google Smartwatch 3D render concept

A concept video of the rumored Google smartwatch emerged online.

Fan concepts show up online all the time, but in most cases they are dream devices with made up specs and futuristic designs that have little chance of ever becoming a real product.

The video below does show a dream device (at least for some users), but the difference is its minimalist design isn't actually that crazy. Bearing the Nexus brand, this Google smartwatch concept could actually become a reality in the close future.

Google (along with other big players in the mobile industry) is rumored to be working on a wrist-worn wearable computer. Seeing what Sergey Brin's team of tech wizards managed to stuff into Glass (specs that are similar to the Galaxy Nexus'), a smartwatch similar to that in the video isn't all that far-fetched.

Would you buy a Google smartwatch if it looked like that? What features would you like to see on such a device?

Root exploit for Snapdragon-powered Galaxy S4 now available

Posted: 27 Apr 2013 05:21 AM PDT

samsung galaxy s4 on in hand aa

If you’ve just recently purchased a Samsung Galaxy S4 and you want to root your device, then you’re in luck — at least if you have the US version and other variants that run the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor. XDA Developers’ “drbliss” has published a recent root exploit originally meant for Motorola devices — aptly called “Motochopper” — which also works on the Galaxy S4.

The only limitation is that the exploit works only on Qualcomm Snapdragon 600-powered devices, including those that are co-branded by AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile. International variants that run Samsung’s Exynos 5 Octa chips will not work with this root exploit.

The process is simple: download the Motochopper archive, have the latest Samsung USB drivers on your machine, and ensure you have USB debugging turned on. Windows users then need to run the supplied run.bat batch file, while OSX and Linux users should run the supplied run.sh Shell script.

A word of caution, though: no custom recoveries or stock images are available for the Galaxy S4 at this point. This means you might have a hard time fixing your device in case you brick or soft-brick it. Also, drbliss warns that OTA updates might remove the ability to regain root access through this exploit (until another one is discovered).

But given that Samsung’s flagship series usually gets the most active development amongst enthusiasts, we think it should only be a matter of time until developers release custom recoveries, custom ROMs and stock ROM images, so tinkerers and tweakers can more easily play with their Galaxy S4.

So while Samsung mobile head J.K. Shin says it should not matter whether your Galaxy S4 runs on a Snapdragon 600 or Exynos 5 Octa chipset, it should make a difference if you’re planning to root your device at this time.

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans


Design Love: Camera Zoom FX

Posted: 27 Apr 2013 01:26 PM PDT

The design of Android apps has improved significantly in the last couple of years, and Camera Zoom is a great example of the change. It's also a great replacement for your built-in camera app, if you're looking for one.

Google updates policies to prevent developers auto-updating apps outside of Play Store

Posted: 27 Apr 2013 12:12 PM PDT

Facebook sneakily bypassed Android's app update system with the intention of automatically updating user's Facebook Home app. Google has updated their Play store policy banning developers from updating their apps via unofficial mechanisms.

Uniquely Android: Notif

Posted: 27 Apr 2013 10:44 AM PDT

Notif is a useful app that allows you to add notes, in the form of text, images or lists, to the notification drawer on your Android device.

Google Android News Android Forums

Google Android News Android Forums


Cringeworthy drop tests pit Samsung Galaxy S 4 against Galaxy S III and iPhone 5

Posted: 27 Apr 2013 04:33 PM PDT

samsung_galaxy_s_4_drop_test_v2

A new flagship device from any manufacturer means it is time for drop tests to see how it might hold up against the inevitable slips of the hand that users deal with in the real world. The Samsung Galaxy S 4 is hitting the market now, so we are subjected to viewing the results of these tests if you have the intestinal fortitude to see a brand new device hitting hard concrete. Testing the Galaxy S 4 may be of particular interest to those who have followed the debate about Samsung’s choice of materials for their devices and claims that plastic bodies help smartphones survive accidents better.

A new drop test from GizmoSlip pits the Galaxy S 4 against the Apple iPhone 5 and Galaxy S 4′s predecessor, the Galaxy S III. Besides using plastic for smartphone bodies, Samsung also boasts the use of Gorilla Glass to help prevent screens from shattering. You can check out the video below to see whether Samsung has been successful in setting their devices apart from their chief rival in terms of survivability when it comes to drops.

Click here to view the embedded video.


Come comment on this article: Cringeworthy drop tests pit Samsung Galaxy S 4 against Galaxy S III and iPhone 5

Android 4.3 spotted in the wild and no it’s not Key Lime Pie

Posted: 27 Apr 2013 12:58 PM PDT

Jelly Bean Illustration-580-75

While everybody is anxiously waiting for Google to hit us with new tech, software and the like at Google I/O this year, we’ve been hoping to hear about the next version of our favorite OS. Signs have pointed to Key Lime Pie being the next version and rumors show it to be Android 5.x.x. Even though it’s safe to expect Google to show off a new flavor of Android at the conference this year, another rumor suggests that KLP won’t be ready for prime time by then. Not to rain on everyone’s parade, but new information discovered by Artem Russakovskii of Android Police may add some weight to the latter of the two rumors.

APAndroid4.3

One of their readers tipped them off and Artem did some digging and found that Google is working on Android 4.3. Specifically they’re working on build JWR23B. As Google’s build’s first letter correlates with the version of Android it is, we can see that it’s Jelly Bean. This may disappoint a lot of you, but considering that Jelly Bean is only on roughly 25% of devices in one flavor or another, this will help give OEM’s some wiggle room with updates. If Key Lime Pie is going to be a major revision change like it’s being suggested Google may even need some more time to work out the kinks. Of course a lot of this is speculation. This also adds some weight though, to what Google said last year at I/O 2012 about slowing down the release of major revision to Android to help OEMs.

The fact is, Android 4.3 is in the works and Google doesn’t assign version numbers until a release is imminent. That being said, it’s probable that this is what we’re going to see here in a few weeks at I/O. Even so, the jump from 4.0 to 4.1 brought some nice features to Android as did the jump from 4.1 to 4.2 (although it introduced some bugs as well). It will be interesting to see what Google is cooking up and hopefully even with it being an incremental update we’ll see some new stuff, like Babel. Hint, hint.

 

source: Android Police


Come comment on this article: Android 4.3 spotted in the wild and no it’s not Key Lime Pie

CPU and RAM specs discovered for Google Glass

Posted: 27 Apr 2013 11:49 AM PDT

glassspecs

With the influx of people receiving their Google Glass Explorer Edition glasses Google decided to release some of the specs behind their newest tech. Among the 5MP camera and “all day battery on normal use” we saw 12GB of usable memory. What was missing was information about the CPU and the RAM the device was packing. However thanks to tinkerers Jay Lee and Liam McLoughlin we have those now. They were able to use USB debugging and ADB to find the following:

  • Android 4.0.4 – Ice Cream Sandwich
  • OMAP 4430 CPU – Dual Core
  • 1GB Ram (682mb not used by hardware)

While I’m sure the specs will be updated for the retail release of the device these specs aren’t bad. There isn’t an exact measurement on just how fast the processor is though. For those of you that are more technical you’re more than welcome to wade through the details here. Either way it’s enough to go on until we get official word from Mountain View. Hit the source link to take part in the discussion about all this information. Otherwise keep it locked here as we’ll update you when we find out more.

 

source: Jay Lee – Google Plus
via: Gizmodo


Come comment on this article: CPU and RAM specs discovered for Google Glass

Samsung Galaxy S 4 gets torn down by iFixit

Posted: 27 Apr 2013 11:38 AM PDT

Samsung_Galaxy_S_4_Teardown

We love it when the crew over at ifixit get their hands on the latest device. For those of you who don’t know what iFixit is, they are a group of individuals who like to take shinny new smartphones apart just to see what makes them tick. Now I know some of you may be thinking why on earth would anyone do that to such an expensive device. Well it’s simple really, for you of course. Their exploration helps you fix your new phone instead of having to buy a new one after a crazy weekend of fun, or bad luck.

Their new victim is the Samsung Galaxy S 4, and except for the glass this phone is rather easy to repair. As with all phones torn done by the ifixit crew, they give each a repairability score, and the Galaxy S 4 received an 8 out of 10. None of this should come as a surprise because Techno Buffalo did their teardown not too long ago and came up with the same answer. This phone is really repairable. Hit the break for all the teardown goodness and let us know if it changed your decision to buy the Galaxy S 4 or not.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Source: ifixit


Come comment on this article: Samsung Galaxy S 4 gets torn down by iFixit

Two new Kyocera phones leaked, Elite for Verizon and XTRM for US Cellular

Posted: 27 Apr 2013 11:05 AM PDT

kyocera evleaks

Two new Kyocera phones have popped up, courtesy of evleaks on Twitter. The top phone is the Kyocera Elite, an Android powered smartphone packing LTE bands for Verizon. This is Verizon’s first ever Kyocera smartphone, and their first Kyocera phone since 2006. No word on specs, but I have a feeling it’s not going to compete with the Galaxy S 4.

Also leaked is the Kyocera XTRM that’s heading to US Cellular. From the name, we can tell that it’s going to be a sturdy, rugged phone. No word on specs there, either, but as with most other rugged Android phones, they’re usually pretty modest devices. We should be hearing a bit more about both of these devices in the coming weeks, and we’ll be sure to let you know as soon as anything comes up.

source: evleaks


Come comment on this article: Two new Kyocera phones leaked, Elite for Verizon and XTRM for US Cellular

HP’s Slate 7 now available online for $169

Posted: 27 Apr 2013 10:24 AM PDT

hp slate 7

HP has finally released their slightly underwhelming tablet through their website, modestly priced at $169. For that price, you get a dual-core processor, Beats Audio, and a 1024 x 600 resolution 7-inch screen. At that price, I think it’s competing a little too closely with the $199 Nexus 7,  but it does offer what appears to be vanilla Android 4.1 and a nice design, so if you’re trying to stick to a very specific budget, the Slate 7 might be your device.

Anybody planning on picking one of these up?

source: HP


Come comment on this article: HP’s Slate 7 now available online for $169

Snapdragon-powered Galaxy S 4 rooted on launch day

Posted: 27 Apr 2013 09:52 AM PDT

Samsung_Galaxy_S_4_Front_Top_Samsung_Logo_TA

Not too long ago, an unlock tool was released for some Motorola devices that used Qualcomm processors. Well, it turns out that unlocking hack still works on newer Qualcomm devices, including the variant of the Galaxy S 4 with the Snapdragon 600 chip.  So if you’re planning on picking up a new Galaxy S 4 this weekend, you won’t have to wait for a root method.

The downside is that there are no stock images or custom recoveries available for the device yet, so if you brick the device in the root process, you’re completely out of luck. OTA updates will also likely mess up root. Fortunately, it’s a pretty safe bet that this is going to be a popular device, so it shouldn’t take long before some recoveries and ROMs start popping up. Until then, though, root at your own risk.

The method is the same as it was for the Motorola unlocking. You’ll need to download the package at the XDA link then follow these instructions.

  1. Extract the entire contents of the zip file.
  2. If you are using Windows, ensure you have installed the latest Motorola USB drivers available for your phone.
  3. Ensure your device has been rooted and you have a working installation of "su".
  4. Ensure USB Debugging mode is enabled on your device.
  5. If you are using Windows, navigate to the extracted directory and execute "run.bat". If you are using Linux or OS X, navigate to the extracted directory in a terminal and execute "./run.sh".

source: XDA


Come comment on this article: Snapdragon-powered Galaxy S 4 rooted on launch day

Google Glass already rooted and ready for primetime

Posted: 27 Apr 2013 07:42 AM PDT

Larry-Page-Google-Project-Glass

 

An enterprising and ambitious individual has already achieved root access for the Google Glass “eyeset” device. Cydia’s Jay Freeman recently took to Twitter and proclaimed his root success story, while also sharing a photo to the general public as proof for you non-believers out there. We’re surprised that this feat was achievable since you know… Google is pretty strict with the few developer versions that are out there and all. Then again, since the few Glass units out there are intended for the few elite individuals out there, it probably should have been expected that Google would be fairly lenient and allow for certain things to be accessible— at least for now.

There’s no word yet on what will come next now that root is enabled, but we’re certainly excited to hear— errr see any potential possibilities.

source: Jay Freeman Twitter
via: Phone Arena


Come comment on this article: Google Glass already rooted and ready for primetime

Sprint officially lists the black HTC One smartphone on its website

Posted: 27 Apr 2013 07:23 AM PDT

Sprint_HTC_One_Black_Online

 

It looks like AT&T isn’t going to be the only one to have the smooth HTC One smartphone in sexy black clothing. Sprint went ahead and listed that variant of the flagship device on its website as available for purchase now. The little puppy will run potential customers $550 outright— or there of course the option of taking advantage of additional savings which would bring the total cost to a hair under 100 bucks. There’s no exact word on how long it will take the black One to ship to customers’ front doors, but we’d imagine lucky recipients would receive them soon… very soon.

Hit the source link to check out the black version for yourself. Or if black doesn’t tickle your fancy, you can always grab the original silver version for the same price too.

source: Sprint HTC One Black | Silver


Come comment on this article: Sprint officially lists the black HTC One smartphone on its website

TalkAndroid Daily Dose for April 26, 2013

Posted: 26 Apr 2013 08:30 PM PDT

TalkAndroid_Daily_Dose

With hectic schedules, it can be hard to keep track of everything in your news feed. That’s why we created the TalkAndroid Daily Dose. This is where we recap the day’s hottest stories so you can get yourself up to speed in quick fashion. Happy reading!!

Contests

Contest: Win 1 of 10 tickets to Lookout's Annual Kickoff party at Google I/O

Guides

How to set up and use WatchON along with the IR blaster on the Samsung Galaxy S 4

How to create and share a Story Album on the Galaxy S 4

Google Glass

Eric Schmidt says Google Glass is inappropriate for some places and talking to it is 'the weirdest thing'

Google Glass easter egg aleady exposed

NY Times rolls out app for Google Glass users

Hardware

Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 to hit mass production stage in late May

Phones

Samsung Galaxy S 4 Duos launches in China with dual-SIM support, Exynos 5 Octa cpu

Mid-range Samsung Galaxy Core for Asian, European markets leaks

Sony Xperia ZR (Dogo) leaks with 4.6-inch 720p display

Tablets

ASUS ME302C tablet with Intel Atom Z2560 Clover Trail+ spotted in benchmark

Miscellaneous

Samsung smartphone market share hits new record for 1st quarter 2013

Intel to power Android Notebooks, says they'll be priced as low as $200

 


Come comment on this article: TalkAndroid Daily Dose for April 26, 2013