Thursday, May 2, 2013

Android Community

Android Community


Custom ROM aims to bring Facebook Chat Heads to all

Posted: 02 May 2013 11:14 AM PDT

Last month the folks from Facebook had a pretty busy few weeks releasing Facebook Home, the HTC First phone, and of course their new Messenger application with tons of new features. The only thing we really liked from Facebook’s new arsenal was their unified messenger system called Chat Heads. Little bobble heads on the edges of the display for seamless communication. Soon we’ll be getting that, without Facebook.

Screen Shot 2013-05-02 at 11.00.02 AM

As soon as we saw this feature making chat and messaging simple, fast, fluid, and best of all not intrusive to our multitasking we knew we wanted it everywhere. Multiple custom ROM makers saw an opportunity, and the folks from Paranoid Android are first to the plate. They have some of the best ROM’s around, and have announced the Chat Head feature will be customized and integrated into their ROM’s.

Well, they didn’t announce Chat Heads was coming. Instead posted the image above which is essentially a very similar chat system. You can see right on screen the similar little circle “Chat Head” that will be a quick and easy way to chat and communicate with people. Hopefully this will integrate Google Talk, Facebook Messenger, SMS and more all into a similar interface. We have a feeling they’ll be doing exactly that.

Tapping on them will popup a similar box that doesn’t take up your entire screen, and instead lets you reply and go right back to what you were previously doing. It’s chat and multi-tasking blend into one, and we love it. There was a few awesome things from Facebook, but getting them without being tied to Facebook will be even better. And we’re sure many of you would agree on that. Stay tuned as this is still in the works and coming soon.

[via PocketNow]

EFF report slams Verizon and AT&T over user data protection

Posted: 02 May 2013 10:48 AM PDT

A popular Digital Rights Advocacy group called the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is back this year and have released their annual report card. It’s called “Who has your back” regarding companies who protect their users – and their data – from the prying eyes of the government. Surprisingly, Verizon scores dead last and didn’t receive a single star, while AT&T only had 1 out of 5 themselves. It’s not looking good for wireless carriers.

Screen-Shot-2013-05-01-at-10.03.17-AM-580x371

The report is about a lot more than just wireless carriers.They actually grade huge companies like Twitter, Apple, Facebook, Google and others all in how they protect and fight for their users in both Congress, and Court. Surprisingly the folks from Twitter seem to “have our back” more than anyone else earning a full report and 6 out of 6 for protection. Google was pretty good with 5, but then you see a few that should have us worried.

As you see in the image above companies like AT&T, Apple, and even Amazon received a pretty low grade. And Myspace had the worst score (tied with Verizon) and sadly didn’t get a single good grade, zero stars. Which basically means Verizon won’t help you one single bit. DropBox and Twitter certainly deserve an honorable mention, as does Sonic.net.

Screen Shot 2013-05-02 at 10.42.43 AM

The report is actually rather interesting to read. Looking at the 6 different areas of criteria they grade on, you should be pretty worried when you see Verizon doesn’t earn a single star. In the end the EFF is calling out wireless carriers like Verizon and AT&T to join the larger companies by protecting their users, and publishing policies and transparency reports. Hit the link at the top of the page for their full breakdown. You’ll be glad you did.

[via SlashGear]

Instagram app update adds image tagging with Photos of You feature

Posted: 02 May 2013 10:44 AM PDT

The latest Instagram app update has been announced. This update brings a new feature called Photos of You, which is said to be the answer to the question of who. To give a bit of a background on that, the folks at Instagram have said he Photo Map answers the where and the captions and hashtags answer the what. With that in mind, Instagram users now have the Photos of You feature for the who.

ig-photos-of-540

Anyway, reasons as to why this was introduced aside, this basically means that you will be able to tag people in your images. You will be the only person able to add people to your images. But remember, while others cannot tag people in your images, they can tag their own images. For that, this is where the Photos of You section will come in handy.

The process of tagging is fairly simple. To tag an image as you are sharing it, you tap the Add People link from the Share screen. From here you tap a person in the image and then start typing their name or username. Alternatively, you can go back and edit previously uploaded images by visiting that image and tapping the “…” icon underneath the image. From here you tap the Add People link and start tagging.

The Photos of You feature will appear as a new section in your profile. This section will display any and all images that you have been tagged in. The silver lining here, users will be able to approve images before they begin appearing in their profiles. Otherwise, as this will likely be a feature either loved or hated, Instagram is giving you some lead time. They have said you have until May 16th to “play around and get used to the feature”before is becomes visible to others.

[via Instagram Blog]

Samsung: GALAXY S 4′s ‘powerful features’ to blame for storage limit

Posted: 02 May 2013 10:17 AM PDT

Recently there’s been quite a bit of talk regarding the GALAXY S 4 and its internal storage. The device is now readily available from AT&T and a few other US carriers, but owners are finding something they don’t like. Users that ran down to AT&T to snag a shiny new 16GB model were unhappy when they noticed only 8.8GB of storage available. The rest was all already being used.

Screen-Shot-2013-04-23-at-7.25.20-PM

When you buy a 16GB Galaxy S 4 to find out only 8GB or so is available, it’s understandable that you’d be a bit upset. However, you can always add a micro-SD card for more, which most devices don’t offer. The issue here being that all those apps coming out of the box take up plenty of storage. Samsung’s simply said you get "more powerful features" with the S4, and that’s the cause for the storage used.

All those amazing S-features we’ve been hearing about for the past few weeks are all taking up storage. Add TouchWiz changes and carrier bloat to stock Android and we’re using a decent amount of that 16GB of storage. Then add S-Voice, S-Health, Dual-Shot, Eye-scroll, Eye-pause and all of those fancy and nifty features to the mix, and that internal storage starts to drain.

Essentially, it’s the price you’ll have to pay for new features. This is why we can’t have nice things folks! Because people will always find something to be unhappy about. For a comparison, all the pre-loaded apps and features use almost an entire 1GB more than the Galaxy S III before it. Don’t worry though folks. You still have the option for the 32GB model, or just spend $50 or so and get a 64GB micro-SD card and end this little argument right now. More details in our full GALAXY S 4 Review.

[via CNET]

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 :

Wil Wheaton Recovery tool simplifies the HTC One root process

Posted: 02 May 2013 10:02 AM PDT

Wil Wheaton recently took to his Google+ page looking for anyone that had successfully rooted the HTC One. As it turns out, Wheaton was able to unlock the bootloader, but he could not get it to mount any partitions when he booted into recovery. As per his words, this process had him “about to scream.” Anyway, it seems that his pain and suffering has actually lead to a new tool that should help others through the HTC One rooting process.

wil-wheaton-recovery

That tool is coming by way of Koush, who has taken to his Google+ page to announce the Wil Wheaton Recovery tool. Koush has said “tough bootloaders call for an even tougher recovery” and as a result, we now have the Wil Wheaton Recovery tool that will “offer to root your device if root access is missing.” This is said to be a limited edition item and will work with AT&T and T-Mobile branded handsets.

The process begins with the user flashing the Wil Wheaton Recovery tool with fastboot. And as always, if this makes little or no sense, you either need to do a bit of research or simply skip the rooting process. That warning out of the way, after flashing you will boot recovery and then reboot back to Android once in the recovery menu.

This is where this tool makes it easy. Before the recovery actually exits, it will prompt you to install root. After this, once you are rooted you fire up your device, launch the Google Play Store and download (install and run) the Superuser app which will then complete the rooting process. Basically, thanks to Wil Wheaton having some issues, the HTC One root process has been simplified for all.

[via Google+ Koushik Dutta]

Facebook Trusted Contacts password recovery launches globally

Posted: 02 May 2013 09:28 AM PDT

Facebook has launched their latest password security option. This one is called Trusted Contacts and it has the user picking a few trusted friends who will be used if or when you ever find yourself unable to access your Facebook account. Basically you pick a few friends you can trust and if you are ever locked out of your account they will provide the security codes that will allow you back in.

screen-shot-2013-05-01-at-4-53-52-pm

The Trusted Contacts name sort of rings true here as you will need to pick contacts that are truly trusted. Basically, think of your trusted friend as being someone you would feel comfortable leaving a spare house key with. But also as someone that regularly uses Facebook and perhaps most important, a friend that will be wiling to help out in your time of need.

Remember, if you are locked out of your Facebook account, those friends will be the ones granted you access. This Trusted Contacts setup will be available as an alternative to answering security questions. And rest assured in knowing that Trusted Contacts can be changed at any time.

Anyway, while the process of actually choosing a few trustworthy friends may be difficult for some, the process of getting this setup is relatively simple. The one catch for those who primarily access Facebook on a mobile device — you will need to head to the desktop to get this going. Once on a regular desktop, just head to the Security option in the Settings.

[via GigaOm]

Toshiba AT10LE-A leak reveals an NVIDIA Tegra 4 tablet

Posted: 02 May 2013 08:53 AM PDT

Following a previous AnTuTu benchmark discovery of the Toshiba AT10LE-A tablet, it looks like the device has once again surfaced. This time however, as opposed to simply seeing a benchmark report, we are being treated to some images along with some specs and other details. Basically, it is looking like the AT10LE-A tablet will be powered by a Tegra 4 processor.

Toshiba-AT10LE-A-4

That said, this tablet is expected to arrive sporting a 10.1-inch display and running Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean. Touching back on the processor, these leaked images are showing that as running at 1.8GHz. Along with the images came word that this particular tablet will be a higher-end device.

That comment wasn’t clarified, however it could be due to the processor and the keyboard dock. At this point, it appears as if the AT10LE-A is shaping up to be a decent tablet. Of course, we have not yet seen anything official from Toshiba. Other details include the tablet having a memory card slot, mini HDMI out, stereo speakers and an external keyboard.

Toshiba-AT10LE-A-6

While an official announcement obviously still needs to be seen, at the moment it appears as if we are just beginning to get a solid picture of what we can expect from the Toshiba AT10LE-A tablet. We do have to wonder what will come next though — will it be an announcement or another leak.

[via techblog.gr]

HTC One trade-in program extended through mid-May

Posted: 02 May 2013 08:24 AM PDT

HTC has had a trade-in program available for those purchasing the One smartphone. The program was originally unveiled back in mid-February and has since been given a few extensions. And well, it looks like HTC has once again extended the deadline. This latest brings the purchase date into the middle of May and the mail-in date up into the middle of June.

htcone_androidcommunity_review10-540x29831

Specifically, the purchase date has been extended to May 19, 2013 and the mail-in date has been extended to June 19, 2013. In order to take advantage of this offer, those considering the purchase of a One will need to pre-register on the HTC website. Once pre-registered you will get a promo code along with some other details by email.

The long and short here, you basically buy the handset before May 19 and then head to www.htctradeup.com/htcone and enter that promo code. From here you then need to mail your old smartphone to HTC before June 19. The $100 credit will come back in the form of a Visa gift card, which really just means that you will still need to shell out the full $199.99 on the day of purchase.

Otherwise, while HTC has the trade-in program available for the One, those who are considering a purchase with AT&T may want to check out their recently announced offer before committing. The AT&T trade-in program is also offering a $100, however it is available for any of the available AT&T smartphones. You know, just in case you decide to go with a GALAXY S 4 or LG Optimus G Pro.

[via phoneArena]

Beautiful Widgets app update brings free and paid versions

Posted: 02 May 2013 07:48 AM PDT

Beautiful Widgets hasn’t been what we would consider super expensive in the past, however those who may have been interested in the app but were turned off by the price — your day has come. LevelUp Studio now has two versions of Beautiful Widgets available in the Google Play Store. The new app is simply called Beautiful Widgets and the previously existing version has been renamed and is now called Beautiful Widgets Pro.

beautiful

The Pro version remains priced at $3.49 and will likely be the one to choose if you are super into widgets and want the complete package. Needless to say, not everyone wants every widget available and for that, LevelUp Studio has released the free version of Beautiful Widgets. This one is free to download, however there will be some in-app purchasing.

Just to begin with, the free version will give you a good way to test out the app. Beautiful Widgets (free) includes three widgets — clock, weather and WiFi toggle. Free users will also be allowed to download 10 themes (from a collection of 2000) and those using the weather widget will have access to the dedicated weather forecast screen and weather data will be provided by Accuweather.

Basically, if all you want is a good looking weather widget, the free version of Beautiful Widgets should be the way to go. Of course, once you begin using that you may end up wanting more. In that case, the in-app purchases are broken down into packages. The in-app purchases include the obvious — more widgets as well as more customization options, unlimited theme downloads, the DayDream Screensaver and more.

Angry Birds Friends launches for Android

Posted: 02 May 2013 07:09 AM PDT

As we had been expecting to happen, Rovio Mobile has launched the latest version of Angry Birds for Android. This release is Angry Birds Friends and it brings a close connection to Facebook. As implied by the friends in the name, this version has you competing against your Facebook friends. The game is available for free and promises new tournaments and new levels every week.

angry-birds-friends-09

For the most part, Angry Birds Friends will be what we have come to expect with this franchise, only this time you will be doing it while competing with your friends. Some of the goodies mentioned here include being able to earn bronze, silver and gold trophies as well as being able to send gifts and even brag towards your Facebook friends.

angry-birds-friends-05 angry-birds-friends-07 angry-birds-friends-08

The game kicks off with a 5-step tutorial guiding you through the process and once that has been completed, you are able to login using your Facebook credentials and then the game play begins. Well, it begins right after you are awarded a bundle of 200 bird coins that you can later use toward power-ups. Also, as one would expect, the game automatically syncs with the game you are playing on Facebook.

Bottom line here, this is the latest installment in the Angry Birds franchise and we suspect this will be one enjoyed by those who are either already playing on Facebook, or those who are ready to compete against their friends as opposed to simply playing the game individually. With that, Angry Birds Friends is available for free and those interested will be able to grab it using this Google Play Store link.

angry-birds-friends-01 angry-birds-friends-02 angry-birds-friends-03 angry-birds-friends-04

Astrid task management app acquired by Yahoo!

Posted: 02 May 2013 06:27 AM PDT

Yahoo has made another acquisition. This latest is an app called Astrid, which is a cross platform task management app that is currently touted as having 4 million users. The folks at Astrid have announced the acquisition on their company blog, however while it seems they are happy with the current path — it seems current users may not be sharing in the joy.

astrid

The details from Astrid include how they are “thrilled” to announce the acquisition by Yahoo and then go on to talk about how when they first set out to create Astrid, they did so to “help as many people as possible become happier, healthier and more productive.” Basic sounding chatter, however the news current users may be more interested in seeing may be delayed a few months.

In this case, it was noted that Astrid will continue “as is” for the next 90 days. That sort of hints that a shutdown may be coming. Or at the very least, that some big changes will be coming after those three months are over. Going on, the details also mention that premium subscriptions are no longer being accepted and that current users will soon be notified with details on how they can download their data.

The Astrid team will be heading to Yahoo and will in fact be joining the Yahoo Mobile team where they plan to work towards Yahoo!'s goal of "making the world's daily habits more inspiring and entertaining." All that being said, we aren’t sure if this means Astrid will simply close or if the service and features will be rolled into a new Yahoo branded app. Needless to say, now be be a good time for Astrid users to at least start to consider some of the available alternatives.

[via Astrid Blog]

Android web traffic up significantly

Posted: 02 May 2013 05:52 AM PDT

A new report released this week about the Android operating system in the share of web traffic generated by Android devices. Reports from a company called Netapplications and it shows that Android traffic on the Internet is up significantly compared to last year. According to the report, web traffic generated by the Android operating system is up 35% compared to the same period of last year.

screen-shot-2013-05-01-at-7-43-07-am

Android now has 26% of all web traffic as measured by Netapplications. The report also shows that the iPhone and iPad combined account for 59% of all web activity. However, Apple has seen its share of web usage go through couple rough patches with a decline of 5.6% in February. iOS did rebound in March with a 6.5% gain.

One interesting aspect that the report does highlight is that while the install base for Android is growing significantly, but web usage for the platform isn’t keeping up with the overall growth of Android. Reports indicate that Android now has about 64% of overall smartphone market.

Despite owning more than half of the Android market, the operating system still generates less traffic on the web than iOS devices. Those numbers would seem to indicate that a large number of people adopting Android for smartphones and tablets simply aren’t going online, or at least aren’t visiting the roughly 40,000 clients that collect the traffic statistics for Netapplications.

[via Fortune]

Latest Android details show Jelly Bean adoption continues to grow

Posted: 02 May 2013 05:10 AM PDT

The latest Android platform statistics are in from Google looking at all the devices that visited the Google Play store in the last few weeks. The statistics show which version of Android is the most common across all devices that access the Google Play store. The statistics show again that Android Jelly Bean is continuing to grow significantly.

chart (2)

When Android 4.1.x and 4.2.x are combined, Jelly Bean has 28.4% of the entire Android market. The single most popular flavor of Android continues to be Gingerbread. Android 2.3.3-2.3.7 has 38.4% of the overall Android market making it the single most popular version out there. Gingerbread 2.3-2.3.2 also has a miniscule 0.1% of the market.

The numbers mean that when combined, the share for the latest to versions of Jelly Bean make it the second most popular version of Android on the market. Android ICS has a very close 27.5% of the market. Moving down the list Android Froyo has 3.7% of the market, Eclair has 1.7% of the market, Honeycomb has 0.1%, and Donut has 0.1%.

The latest report also looks at screen sizes and densities to determine the most popular on the market. Currently the single most popular sites falls in the normal range with a resolution of hdpi making up 37.3% of all devices out there. The normal size range has a total of 79.7% of the market. The most popular screen density in the extra-large category is mdpi, the most popular in the large screen category is also mdpi.

[via Android]

FitScales app combines Android with Wii Fit Balance Board

Posted: 02 May 2013 04:49 AM PDT

For a few years, the Nintendo Wii game console was incredibly popular selling out all across the nation. The same thing happened with one of the accessories for the Nintendo Wii game console, the Wii Fit Balance Board. Today, the popularity of the Nintendo Wii has reduced significantly meaning that all around the country there are a bunch of Wii Fit Balance Boards going unused.

fitscales

A new application has turned up for Android device users called FitScales that will allow you to use that Nintendo Balance Board with your Android smartphone or tablet. The application allows you to synchronize the Balance Board using Bluetooth to your Android device. Once you have the app installed and the Balance Board connected, you can use it as a highly accurate scale.

The application also allows users to pass data from the FitScales app to other Android health applications such as Fitbit and RunKeeper. The process of pairing your Android device and the application to the Balance Board promises to be very easy. All you need to do is install and launch the app, select your height for BMI measurements, and connect your preferred services.

Then you press the red button to synchronize the Balance Board and wait until it’s calibrated. After that you’re done and ready to weigh yourself. The application is available on the Google Play store right now at no cost.

[via Modaco]

Pantech Perception hands-on and unboxing

Posted: 01 May 2013 04:36 PM PDT

Today we have another unique handset to share with everyone from the folks at Verizon Wireless and Pantech. This 4.8-inch 720p display rocking smartphone is called the Pantech Perception and recently became available on Verizon for those on a budget. With specs similar to the Galaxy S III, and some features we’ve seen on the S4, it was worth a quick look so take a peek below.

20130501_155557

This isn’t the first time we’ve mentioned the Perception, and it went up for sale just a few days ago on April 25th. While the biggest downfall is Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich (yea, really) and not Jelly Bean of any kind. We’re hearing an update is already in the pipes and coming soon. Lets talk about that hardware.

The Perception offers a 4.8-inch 1280 x 720p HD display, so not bad, although it is considered mid-range these days. Under the hood we have the Snapdragon S4 dual-core 1.5 GHz processor and 1GB of RAM. So similar to the Galaxy S III. Then we get 16GB of internal storage, micro-SD slot, a 2,020 mAh battery and even an 8 megapixel camera on the rear. Still with us? It’s pretty decent all around, has a front facing camera, and can be yours for just $99 from Big Red.

20130501_155701

We’ll dive into it more in our full review, but essentially it has some specs that match the SIII, with some of those motion controls we saw on the GALAXY S 4. Pantech calls it Motion Sense and you can scroll through images, change or pause music, and all sorts of stuff all without touching the display. It’s a little bit of a gimmick, but could be useful. Get a better idea of the specs, hardware, and those motion controls in our quick hands-on video below.

Overall we have some mixed feelings about the Pantech Perception, but those might change the longer we spend with some of those features. Like previous devices from the manufacturer, they’ve covered Android with some changes that aren’t so pretty. Hopefully the update to Jelly Bean won’t be so intrusive, but don’t hold your breath.

20130501_155728

While it certainly isn’t a Galaxy S III, it comes pretty close in terms of hardware, look, and even the plastic feel. Give us this device 4-6 months ago for the same $99 price point and we’d be happy, but now it might just be a bit too late to the game. Overall the hardware feels quite nice and durable, the OS is pretty smooth, and once we spend more time with the handset we’ll deliver our thoughts in a full review.

Stay tuned and let us know if you have any questions on the Perception by dropping us a comment below.

20130501_155737 Screen Shot 2013-05-01 at 4.15.49 PM 20130501_155714 20130501_155719 20130501_155728 20130501_155636 20130501_155701 20130501_155623 20130501_155628 20130501_155557 20130501_155603
Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Perception
    Manufactuer : Pantech
    Carrier : Verizon
    Announced Date : April 23, 2013
    Release Date : April 25, 2013
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.8 Inch
  • Resolution : 720x1280
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.236 Inch
  • Width : 2.755 Inch
  • Depth : 0.35 Inch
  • Weight : 137 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 2020 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : 280 hours
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.0.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 : MSM8960 Snapdragon S4
    CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1000 MB
    Internal Storage : 16 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
  • 720p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
  • CDMA
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
    CDMA Band:
  • 850
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11a
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

GALAXY S 4 bootloader unlock release will have to wait

Posted: 01 May 2013 02:48 PM PDT

So we have some good news, and some bad news. The good news was reported this morning which is the fact that AT&T’s locked down Samsung GALAXY S 4 smartphone was hacked. Popular Android developers went to work and managed to hack and completely unlock that locked bootloader in just two days. The bad news, they won’t be releasing the unlock tool for another month.

Screen-Shot-2013-04-23-at-3.00.32-PM4-540x3141

Why you ask? Blame Verizon. Not really, but the developers behind this newly discovered exploit on Samsung’s GALAXY S 4 are correct in assuming that Verizon will also lock it down themselves. So in an attempt to save himself, and the developer community some time and hard work, they won’t be releasing the exploit method in hopes that it will work for all versions.

It’s a smart move, but sadly this little cat and mouse game with the carriers and manufacturers needs to stop. When Steve Kondik confirmed the S4 on AT&T was locked, he made some clear reasons as to why it does them no good. Dan (the man behind the hack) hopes that by not releasing the exploit, Samsung won’t close the exploit in time for Verizon to release the phone on May 30th. Which means his method will work on it too. They’ll patch it eventually, but hopefully not before we get a path to full access.

The developer behind the unlock, djrbliss, was nice enough to answer some questions over on XDA and basically confirmed these details. Stating he won’t be releasing this until after Verizon’s GALAXY S 4 hits the streets. He actually posted an entire Q and A sessions about the lock, so if you’re interested we have provided that at the via below. So in the end yes the S4 bootloader has been unlocked. And no, you can’t have it yet. Stay tuned!

[via XDA]

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 :

Twitter for Android update brings a menu button

Posted: 01 May 2013 02:02 PM PDT

Twitter rolled-out the big v4.0 update back in early-April. That update brought what was described as being a brand new look and feel. Perhaps key here though, that update brought an app that was more polished looking and in general, an app that was a bit nicer to use. Despite releasing a bug fixing update shortly after, there has been one item that remained missing.

twitter-menu-button-540

Well, that item had been missing until today. The latest Twitter for Android app update has landed in the Google Play Store and it has added a menu button. Basically, the Twitter app now has a menu button which will allow for quick access to your Accounts and Settings pages. While that seems to have been the most welcomed addition this time around, there were some other items mentioned in the changelog.

The folks at Twitter have said users will now be able to “enjoy a smoother experience” courtesy of some bug fixes and other improvements. Those bug fixes and improvements weren’t detailed, however as a general rule, the fewer the bugs the better the experience. Not to mention, we think many will agree that the smoother experience came along with the earlier v4.0 update.

Additionally, the changelog also mentioned the ability to see what’s happening near you or around the world by viewing Trends in hundreds of locations. Bottom line here, this may not have been the biggest Twitter app update we have seen recently, however it should be welcomed by those using the app with multiple accounts. As always, the Twitter for Android app can be found in the Google Play Store.

Pantech Breakout getting a quick update to remove bloatware

Posted: 01 May 2013 01:55 PM PDT

It’s update season over at Verizon Wireless and we can now confirm one of their mid-range handsets from Pantech is getting a quick software update this week. It looks like all those rocking the aging Pantech Breakout will be happy to learn that some bugs will be fixed, and some of that Verizon bloatware removed.

P1150374-540x304

The last update for the Breakout was back in December, which still didn’t bring a new version of Android, and sadly this update won’t be updating you to a tasty new version either. We’re still stuck on the same OS flavor, but at least you’ll be getting some bug fixes and such. Here’s what we’ve learned from the Verizon support page.

The update is quite tiny, and while it doesn’t actually list any bug fixes surely there are a few in there somewhere that should improve performance. However, all those pesky Verizon apps wasting valuable internal storage will be gone. Pantech and Verizon are removing Verizon Apps, VZW Video, Rhapsody, and even the Blockbuster app. I don’t think those stores are even around anymore.

The low memory notification issue has been fixed, and that could be due to them removing those worthless apps above. Then as usual we can expect some security improvements and key Google security patches, but that’s seriously all that Verizon posted regarding the update. It’s minor, but you Pantech fans should be on the lookout as it most likely will arrive sometime this week. Head into settings and check for updates yourself if you’d like.

[via Android Police]

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Breakout
    Manufactuer : Pantech
    Carrier : Verizon
    Announced Date : July 01, 2011
    Release Date : September 22, 2011
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 4 Inch
  • Resolution : 480x800
  • Screen Type : TFT
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.00 Inch
  • Width : 2.53 Inch
  • Depth : 0.47 Inch
  • Weight : 138 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 1500 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 2.3.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.264 / AVC
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
  • WMV
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU :
    CPU Clock Speed : 1000 Mhz
    Core : 1
    Ram : 512 MB
    Internal Storage : .390 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 5 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • 720p 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 :

Samsung Galaxy lineup may soon get Department of Defense approval

Posted: 01 May 2013 01:19 PM PDT

This isn’t the first time we have heard about Android handsets coming available for use by employees in the Pentagon, however it looks like the Department of Defense is just about ready to issue an approval. The catch here comes in with which devices will receive the approval. Right now, it is looking like those will include Samsung Galaxy smartphones. Or more specifically, Samsung Galaxy smartphones that are running the Knox security software.

Screen-Shot-2013-04-23-at-2.59.46-PM

As for the requirement of the Knox software, this is said to conform with the Pentagon’s Security Technology Implementation Guide, which would allow for things to include the sending and receiving of internal emails. The official go ahead has yet to be granted though, as of now The Wall Street Journal is reporting the Department of Defense approval is “expected in coming weeks.” Basically, it is looking like Samsung Galaxy handsets will soon be competing in a world where the BlackBerry is still one of the top players.

Aside from Pentagon employees having a bit more freedom when it comes to choosing a device to use, this could also mean good things for Samsung. Not only would they be placing themselves in another market, but this Department of Defense approval could eventually lead to a shift in decision from other security minded customers.

Otherwise, in addition to the Samsung Galaxy smartphones, an approval is also expected for the iPhone and iPad. These two devices would need to be running the latest version of iOS. Unlike Samsung devices and the approval for sending and receiving internal emails, it looks like the iOS approval will be limited to nonclassified communications such as email and web browsing.

[via Wall Street Journal]

Motorola XT1055 ‘X-Phone’ appears in benchmarks

Posted: 01 May 2013 12:43 PM PDT

The rumors have been getting pretty wild lately about what to expect from the folks at Motorola and Google now that they’ve joined forces. The X-Phone has been a hotly debated device, and we’ve seen a few fake benchmark results appear of the Google X phone too. However, today something a little more realistic sounding has appeared. Read on for our thoughts.

Screen-Shot-2013-04-12-at-2.20.03-PM-540x344

An unknown Motorola device being listed as the XT1055 has surfaced in the popular benchmarking applications AnTuTu. Now these are extremely easy to fake with a simple build.prop edit that any average rooted Android user can do, but this seems somewhat plausible. The Google X running Android 5.0.1 Key Lime Pie was obviously fake, and we’ve even seen a Nexus 4 LTE with Android 4.3 in here too. Again, that’s probably just a fake based off of recent rumors.

Now to get down to why this sounds a bit more realistic and reasonable to us. The DROID RAZR HD was model XT926, and others before it had even lower numbers in the title. We even saw a glimpse of a brand new Motorola design direction with the XT912A back in March. So what could this XT1055 be? The Motorola X-Phone? Maybe.

The leak doesn’t reveal a screen size but the hardware sounds pretty much like what we’d expect from Motorola right about now to follow the RAZR HD. That includes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 series quad-core at 1.7 GHz and 2GB of RAM. Just like the HTC One. Running on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, this could be a device in testing by Motorola, since Google hasn’t officially released the next version of Android yet.

image-thumb395

Google’s own Eric Schmidt recently suggested some good things coming from Motorola soon, and even called them “phenomenal” and “phones plus”, whatever that means. If Motorola drops something similar to the 4.7-inch 1080p HD HTC One with a closer to stock version of Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and RAZR MAXX-like battery would you be interested? We’ll see in a few weeks as surely something will be revealed at Google I/O.

[via PhoneArena]