Friday, June 7, 2013

Android Community

Android Community


Sony Xperia ZU ‘Togari’ phablet leaks again – could arrive June 25

Posted: 07 Jun 2013 10:54 AM PDT

This is a strange one, but certainly something worth talking about. Now that Sony has a device with every letter in the alphabet they’re moving on to additional naming methods. Today we’re seeing a pretty random image of what is being reported as the Sony Xperia ZU Phablet. Previously spotted and rumored as the Togari tablet.

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The image below is making the rounds, and we’re not really sure what to think of it. It’s certainly an odd and different way to release an image of an unknown and currently unreleased device. It isn’t April fools, but feels like it is, because this phablet has a cute little baby kitty hanging out on the 6.44-inch 1080p tablets display.

According to what we know so far Sony could be revealing this phone later this month. And by phone we mean massive smartphone that fits the term “phablet” better than most being 6.44-inches in size. It’s working with a 1080p full HD display, and reportedly Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 800 series 2.3 GHz quad-core processor. So it should be a beast of a smartphone. Err tablet.

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As you can see it is rather large, and can handle that kitty with ease. The device is extremely sleek and thin, reportedly being just 6.5mm thick. We’re not expecting Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 800 quite yet, so while it could get announced in late June we certainly won’t see this hit the market for at least a few more months. That’s only if it indeed even sports Qualcomm’s new chip.

So far no other details on this Xperia ZU phablet, or that cat can be confirmed, but we’ll keep our ears open.

SOURCE: VR-Zone

HTC M4 Bluetooth SIG filing tips incoming HTC One Mini

Posted: 07 Jun 2013 10:23 AM PDT

The Verizon HTC One was spotted in a Bluetooth SIG (Special Interest Group) filing earlier this month and we have since seen that handset announced. Well, it now looks like another HTC branded handset has been spotted in a similar filing. This other is carrying a Design Name of PO58XXX. Or more to the point, this is believed to be the HTC M4, aka, the HTC One Mini.

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Coincidentally, this filing shows the approval as coming from Jean Chin, the same person that dealt with the Verizon HTC One. While we have those similarities, there is one likely difference in that we are not necessarily expecting HTC to drop an official announcement for the HTC One Mini today. Time will tell when that will happen, but one thing seems certain — just like we have seen countless rumors and leaks dealing with the HTC M4, they will likely continue until announcement time.

Looking back, earlier rumors have placed the HTC One Mini as having a 4.3-inch 720p display, dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, 2GB of RAM and the same 4.3 UltraPixel camera that is found on the HTC One. This handset is also expected to arrive running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean with Sense 5.0. As implied by this latest Bluetooth SIG filing, the HTC One Mini will be arriving with Bluetooth 4.0.

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The HTC One Mini is expected to be announced sometime in the late-summer. Otherwise, aside from this Bluetooth SIG filing containing a mention of PO58XXX, that same model number was previously used in a Wi-Fi certifications filing, though at the time there were a few more X marks included. That particular filing revealed support for WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n.

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Anyway, aside from the HTC One Mini, we are still looking towards a release of the Google Edition HTC One which is set for June 26th. And while Verizon has officially acknowledged the HTC One, they have yet to say exactly when it will be arriving and for now have that listed as being sometime “later” this summer.

VIA: TechTastic, delfi.ee

Samsung Galaxy Camera sample photos reveal 20.9 megapixel lens

Posted: 07 Jun 2013 10:13 AM PDT

Last year Samsung stunned the market with their rather impressive Galaxy Smart Camera complete with a 4.8-inch display, 16.3 megapixel sensor, and enough zoom for even the long shots. We’ve been hearing reports of a second-gen camera in the works, and today appear to have found some sample photos of the Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 complete with a 20.9 megapixel lens.

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There’s been a lot of talk and rumors regarding the Samsung GALAXY S 4 Zoom and its 16 megapixel camera, which should not be confused with the Galaxy Camera 2. These should be two different devices, but anything is possible at this point. The S 4 Zoom has been spotted at the Bluetooth SIG a few times, but we’re being told these will be two different devices.

Today, according to Techtastic some photos have leaked of the alleged Galaxy Camera 2 (model EK-GN120) which lines up with the previous models codename of EK-GC100. While most of the details still aren’t know, or confirmed to be different from the Zoom, they report it will be able to make and place calls. Which is a feature the current Verizon 4G LTE Camera can’t do.

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The image above was one of many found this week, clearly showing the devices model number, as well as that impressive image resolution. 5472 x 3080 is the highest we see, which means that the Galaxy Camera 2 will sport a 20.9-megapixel sensor. Or higher. So far we have no details on the rest of the specs, but surely it will be a step-up in all areas over the original.

The first Galaxy Camera has a 4.8-inch HD display and specs to match their Galaxy S III, so it’s plausible this release might follow the same steps and come with a 5-inch display and be powered similar to the GALAXY S 4. Although a quad-core in a camera might be overkill. Stay tuned as we’ll be looking for more details, and hopefully this will be one of many announcements at Samsung’s June 20th event.

Mad Catz to unveil Project MOJO as latest OUYA competitor

Posted: 07 Jun 2013 09:10 AM PDT

It is almost time for the start of E3 and it looks like we will be seeing another Android based game system announced. This latest is called Project MOJO and it will be coming by way of Mad Catz. There are still quite a few details that remain unannounced, however Mad Catz CEO Darren Richardson has referred to Project MOJO as being an “Android micro console.”

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Richardson spoke about how the console will be the keystone product in the GameSmart initiative and about how it is being designed to “interact seamlessly” with the Mad Catz line of controllers, mice, keyboards and headsets. Based on what Richardson spoke about during the recent investors conference call, it sounds like Project MOJO will be a device that is about the size of a smartphone.

Of course, said device will plug into a television for actual gameplay. Basically, it is looking as if there will soon be another Android-based console ready to tackle the living room. Or more to the point, to go up against the growing list which now includes the OUYA, GamePop and GameStick. At the moment it seems as if a main perk of Project MOJO will be peripherals.

OUYA had the novelty of attracting lots of attention from the crowd-sourced funding process and the GamePop has a few items going for it. To begin with, the GamePop will be a subscription service, but the company also announced support for iOS games (in addition to Android).

Anyway, while we wait for the official unveil during E3, there is talk of a possible connection with NVIDIA. Mad Catz recently partnered with NVIDIA, which could lead to Project MOJO being announced with a Tegra processor and TegraZone compatibility.

SOURCE: ThingsMicro, Business Wire

AT&T GoPhone prepaid plans set to change on June 20

Posted: 07 Jun 2013 08:28 AM PDT

AT&T recently announced some changes for GoPhone users and it looks like some additional changes will be coming later in the month. The previous change added support for HSPA+ and LTE network connectivity (provided the user has a compatible handset) and this latest will be switching up the available plans. AT&T has yet to reveal all the specifics, however they have said the GoPhone plans will be changing on June 20th.

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The carrier has said they will be dropping some of the lower priced plans and that in the end, there will be a “variety of plans” available for users to choose from. In a statement provided to CNET, AT&T has said they are doing this to simplify the options and also to eliminate some of the lesser used options.

“We’re making some changes to our AT&T GoPhone prepaid plans to simplify our offers and better align with what customers are choosing and telling us they want,”

At present the AT&T GoPhone options include a $25 per month plan along with a $50 and $65 per month plan. The bottom-tier plan includes 250 minutes for calling and unlimited messaging. Users then have the option to add data for an additional cost. The $50 plan includes unlimited talk along with the unlimited messaging. This plan also requires the data to be added on at an additional cost. The one plan that does include data is the top-tier which has 1GB of data along with unlimited talk and messaging.

We still need the official word from AT&T, however it seems reasonable the carrier may be shifting these plans to have more a focus on data. Or at the very least, to include data with all plans across the board. Of course, June 20th will bring the answer though. In the meantime, AT&T also rolled-out Aio Wireless, which is another prepaid service.

The Aio Wireless service has several plans and several smartphones and tablets available, however at the moment it is only available in a limited few markets. At present Aio Wireless is available for those in Houston, Orlando and Tampa. The Aio Wireless plans range in price from as low as $35 per month and as high as $70 per month.

SOURCE: CNET

Google’s Larry Page talks bathroom Glass use

Posted: 07 Jun 2013 07:47 AM PDT

Google Glass privacy concerns are not exactly a new topic. We have seen countless issues raised and even some locations placing a ban on using Glass. With that in mind, Google CEO Larry Page has spent some time addressing such concerns from investors during a recent shareholders meeting. Basically, it doesn’t seem as if Page is all that concerned.

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Page spoke about how “people worry about all sorts of things that actually, when we use the product, it is not that big a concern.” There is one location where people seem especially nervous about Glass — public restrooms. In fact, one investor called Glass a “voyeur’s dream come true.” Given that, Page also touched on the topic and compared the use of Glass to the use of a smartphone.

“You don’t collapse in terror that someone might be using Glass in the bathroom just the same as you don’t collapse in terror when someone comes in with a smartphone that might take a picture.”

Getting out of the bathroom but staying on the topic of privacy and the other issue that people seems worried about is facial recognition. Looking back, Google recently said they would not be approving any facial recognition Glassware apps right now. Otherwise, while some seemed concerned about using Glass to capture and share images — some are helping that happen.

A few recently launched apps have arrived by way of Facebook and Twitter, both of which allow for easy sharing of images. Well, easy sharing provided your Glass happens to have network connectivity at the moment. In the end, this is a new technology and concerns should probably be expected.

It seems the real question should be how long it will take before these concerns begin to settle and work themselves out. In the meantime, Page also spoke about how he loves using Google Glass and that the company has “gone through some pains” when it comes to safeguarding people’s privacy.

SOURCE: Yahoo Finance (AP)

GamePop console gains iOS game support, will continue running Android

Posted: 07 Jun 2013 07:10 AM PDT

BlueStacks has announced a new feature for the GamePop game system. The GamePop console was announced a short while back and was immediately thought of as a competitor to other Android game consoles such as the OUYA and GameStick. Of course, in addition to this new feature, the GamePop already had a unique selling point in that it is a subscription based service. Anyway, this latest GamePop announcement is game related and about how it will be able to play iOS games.

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In other words, the Android running GamePop game system will be able to play quite a few Android games as well as some from iOS. Previous details coming from BlueStacks had the console launching with about 500 Android titles. So far there hasn’t been any number announced for iOS titles, however BlueStacks has announced a partnership with Subatomic Studios.

The catch with the iOS game support, these will need to be ports and that means BlueStacks will have to partner with the developers. Or in other words, the GamePop system is not going to give you full access to the iOS App Store. The porting process appears to be fairly simple for developers. In fact, it looks as if the main item that needs to be addressed will be the in-app payment system and that needing to be switched from Apple to Google or Amazon.

More important for the users though, it doesn’t seem as if this will even be noticeable. The way it was described is that the system itself will use something called Looking Glass. This setup will create a virtual iOS device at the API level and that will handle all the control inputs. Basically, users should be able to load-up and begin an Android or iOS game without any difference. Otherwise, taking a step back from this new feature and touching on the subscription.

The GamePop system will allow the user to play an unlimited amount of games per month provided they continue paying the monthly fee. As far as the console itself, that will set you back $129, however if you pre-order a GamePop before the end of June you can get the console and a controller for free.

VIA: 9to5Mac

HTC One trade-up program arrives with T-Mobile

Posted: 07 Jun 2013 06:32 AM PDT

HTC has had several trade-up offers available for the One smartphone in recent months and it looks like they have since launched another. Except unlike the previous trade-up offers, this one is limited to a specific carrier. That carrier is T-Mobile but it should be made clear that this is only available for a very limited amount of time.

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Details coming from HTC show the One will have to be purchased from T-Mobile no later than June 9th. For those without a calendar handy, that is this coming Sunday. That being said, aside from purchasing the One with T-Mobile you will then have to visit the HTC website to create and save a quote. From here you then have a bit of time to wrap up the remaining step.

That final step involves mailing in your trade-in device with proof of purchase for your One. You have until June 30th to complete this step. Otherwise, this offer will get you up to $300 depending on the handset you are trading. For those worried, you will get a guaranteed minimum of $100, which means that if nothing else, your initial downpayment will be covered.

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Remember, T-Mobile has the HTC One priced with a downpayment of $99.99 and then 24 additional monthly payments of $20. Bottom line here, assuming you have a handset to trade and had been considering picking up an HTC One with T-Mobile — now seems like as good a time as any to move forward with a purchase.

Otherwise, aside from the purchase of the handset, T-Mobile now has the Simple Choice plan available which begins at $50 per month. That price point is for an individual account and includes unlimited talk, text and data as well as 500MB of high-speed data. In addition, those looking for extra high-speed data have the option to add 2GB for $10 per month or Unlimited for $20 per month.

VIA: phoneArena

SOURCE: HTC

GALAXY S 4 ‘Quick Snooze’ TV ad highlights more neat features

Posted: 06 Jun 2013 05:06 PM PDT

Earlier this week Samsung released another commercial in their ongoing attack of GALAXY S 4 TV ad spots, highlighting many key features of their new flagship smartphone. Today they’ve released yet another that continues the trend of showing impressive features, while also being pretty cute and touching too. With a father holding his baby and falling asleep, check out their ‘Quick Snooze’ ad below.

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This latest commercial is just one of many from Samsung. It’s very short, sweet, loving, and to the point. Again showing that they are no longer needing to attack Apple in every ad, since in a way they’ve already won with their record setting Galaxy S III, and instead we now have commercials like this.

For those who don’t know. The GALAXY S 4 has a new eye-tracking technology that will scroll down a webpage as it recognizes your eyes are and the bottom of the page, or quickly pause and resume a video in case your eyes wander. You’ll never miss another part of your video with Samsung’s Smart Stay and Smart pause features. The video below highlights this impressive technology in a very simply way. Take a peek.

Instead of crazy commercials this actually shows a simple feature that can enhance the users daily activities, even if you’re falling asleep when you should be watching the baby. A cute baby might I add. Samsung’s aiming for our hearts with these commercials, and it’s sort of working. I immediately went awww when I saw it, then decided to turn the feature back on with my own device. Sadly it doesn’t work quite as good as advertised, but in their own dedicated video app it’s rather quick.

Do you use any of the eye tracking features on the GALAXY S 4? If smart pause worked that fast on YouTube I’d be happy.

Superman Man of Steel game flies onto Android June 14th

Posted: 06 Jun 2013 03:45 PM PDT

In what appears to be a growing trend lately, Warner Bro Games will be releasing a nice little mobile game for Android and iOS to go along with their summer blockbuster movie Man of Steel. I might not be too excited about the game, but the movie sure looks fantastic. The movie hits theaters on June 14th (I’ll be going the night before) and the game is destined for our devices on the same day.

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We’ve seen a lot of low quality games arrive at the same time as their movie counterparts lately, and this looks to be no different. Honestly the graphics are average at best, and the gameplay probably will be around the same. We could be wrong though, and will try it out either way and give you our thoughts in a quick review.

After giving the gameplay trailer a quick watch (below) you’ll see that it’s very similar to most games lately. You’ll be doing a lot of swipes and flings of the finger for what they call “bone crushing combos” and much much more. Take a peek at the just released trailer.

Watching the clip it does appear that the game will at least follow the movie in some fashion, so it makes sense for them not to release it until the same day it hits the big screen. I don’t know about you guys but I refuse to watch any of the recently released trailers so I can enjoy the film on the big screen in all its glory.

We’re hearing this will run you $2.99 on launch day. Interested? Hit the various links below for similar or upcoming games.

Samsung GALAXY S 4 wireless charger will run you $90

Posted: 06 Jun 2013 02:55 PM PDT

When Samsung announced their flagship GALAXY S 4 up on stage in New York City they quickly mentioned wireless charging. Many of us have and are enjoying their new smartphone, but until today that Wireless Charging dock and replacement battery covers weren’t available. Starting today you can now get wireless, but it’ll cost you about $90 bucks.

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We’re all for wireless charging on smartphones. Nokia Lumia phones do it. HTC’s DROID DNA has wireless charging out of the box, but sadly the GALAXY S 4 doesn’t. Instead they’d like you to buy an additional replacement battery door for $39 instead. One that will make the device slightly thicker and enable wireless QI charging.

Starting today Samsung is selling both their replacement battery doors, and the required Samsung Wireless Charging Pad in their official online store. Sadly the replacement battery covers are $39 and the Pad is $49. Pretty expensive to get up and running. If you’ve already got a Qi-certified charger however, just grabbing a new battery door should do just fine.

However for those needing to get both products now to get fully wireless, we have the links below. It’s worth noting that the Charging Pad is Qi-certified so it will also work with future devices or any other devices you may own that feature wireless charging. That should help with the $49 price tag. For those interesting in either of these new options hit the links below.

SOURCE: Samsung battery cover, Charging Pad

Deus Ex: The Fall coming soon to Android and iOS

Posted: 06 Jun 2013 02:24 PM PDT

If you’re a fan of the extremely popular Deus Ex game franchise you’ll be happy to know they have a mobile game in the works. Partnering with Square Enix, Deus Ex: The Fall is coming soon to Android. The game will be hitting the iPhone and iPad this summer, and eventually the same will arrive for Android. We have a few more details and quick video below.

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Sadly it looks like the developers are focusing heavy on iOS, and are forgetting about the number one mobile OS in the world. That being Android. The initial announcement only mentions iPhone and iPad, but after some digging we’ve learned they’ll also be releasing an Android compatible version of their new mobile game at some point.

The Deus Ex franchise hasn’t done everything right, and we know many PC gamers won’t be happy to see this on mobile. However, it could end up being a pretty impressive game for all us tablet owners, NVIDIA’s SHIELD, and more. Apparently the game will be a sequel the a book called Deus Ex: Icarus Effect, and will actually carry on where the book left off. Based in 2027 you’ll be playing a British SAS mercenary. Without further talking, here’s the quick video with some iPad gameplay.

According to the clip above all you Deus Ex fans will be happy to know they’ve kept many things that made previous titles popular. Being able to see through walls, customize your character, and added tons of attack moves and more. Mobile gaming is on the rise, and popular titles like ShadowGun will give this a fight, but we can’t wait to see more. Hopefully additional details will arrive next week at E3.

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VIA: Ubergizmo
SOURCE: Deus Ex

LG Optimus Zone and Optimus Exceed arrive for Verizon prepaid

Posted: 06 Jun 2013 01:59 PM PDT

Earlier rumors were suggesting Verizon Wireless was going to add the LG Optimus Zone to the prepaid lineup and as of today, it look like that handset has come available. The Optimus Zone is also known as the Optimus L3, an entry level handset. As for the other device, that will be the Optimus Exceed, which is a rebranded version of the LG Lucid. Similar to the Optimus Zone, the Optimus Exceed is an entry-level device.

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Both are low priced and those considering a purchase would need to shell out $79.99 for the Zone or $129.99 for the Exceed. These handsets should each be available in retail outlets and will be arriving for online sales soon. With the pricing and availability out of the way, how about we talk specs. The LG Optimus Zone (pictured above) is running Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread. Yes, Gingerbread.

Otherwise, the handset will have a 3.2-inch QVGA display, 800MHz processor, 4GB of internal storage, 1540 mAh battery and a 3.2 megapixel rear-facing camera. The handset will also have the basics such as WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0 and GPS. Shifting over to the Optimus Exceed and we find slightly better specs, but still nothing more than entry-level. If nothing else, at least the Exceed isn’t running Gingerbread.

The Optimus Exceed will launch with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and hardware to include a 4-inch display, dual-core 1.2GHz processor, 1GB of RAM and a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera. This handset will also have Gorilla Glass protection for the display. Also worth mentioning, both of these handsets are limited to 3G speeds.

All said and done, we understand price is an option at times, however in this case it seems like the Exceed at $129.99 will be the much better option. Finally, there is a bit of good news for those picking up a prepaid Verizon handset. Back in mid-May Big Red doubled the data allowances which meant you could get 2GB for $60 per month or 4GB for $70 per month. In addition both of these plans include unlimited talk and text.

VIA: phoneScoop

Samsung Galaxy S III launching with Boost Mobile on June 12

Posted: 06 Jun 2013 01:29 PM PDT

Boost Mobile has announced the availability date for the Samsung Galaxy S III. The handset will be available for purchase beginning on June 12th and it will be priced at $399.99. The handset will bring 4G LTE support, which for Boost customers means 88 markets across the US.

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When outside a Boost Mobile LTE market the handset will fall back to 3G speeds. Otherwise, those making the purchase can expect to find a 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED display, dual-core 1.5GHz processor, 1.9 megapixel front-facing camera and an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera that is capable of recording 1080p video.

The Boost Mobile Galaxy S III will be running Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean with TouchWiz and sporting other features such as gestures for quick access to the camera as well as Smart Sleep, video picture-in-picture multi-tasking and support for the TecTiles by way of NFC. Aside from getting a contract-free Galaxy S III, those choosing to go with Boost Mobile can also grab the handset on one of the shrinking payment plans.

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The Boost Mobile plan begins at $55 per month for unlimited talk, text and picture messaging. The plan also includes unlimited web. The shrinking payments part comes with six on-time payments. Each time you make those six on-time payments you will see your monthly rate drop by $5 with the eventual low price reaching $40 per month.

While we have the Boost Mobile availability date, another carrier is also expected to release the Galaxy S III. That other carrier is Virgin Mobile, however they have yet to come forward with a specific release date or price. As of now the Virgin Mobile launch is set for sometime during the month of June.

Facebook Home update brings back app dock, adds more features

Posted: 06 Jun 2013 01:04 PM PDT

Today the guys over at Facebook have just pushed out an update for their Android app, and it brings with it tons of new features and a few improvements to Home. To be specific, Facebook Home didn’t get an update. The regular Facebook app has been updated which enables more features for all, and a few specific to Facebook Home. Their failed launcher is getting slightly improved and we have the details below.

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Last month Facebook promised to update Home and make it more usable for the masses, instead of tying us into the world of Facebook only. For example, making a simple call (since we are using a phone and all) wasn’t too easy without our usual Android dock on bottom missing. This update supposedly returns the standard Android dock (they are calling it the Favorites dock) as well as a few other new features.

So far we seem to be having issues here, and we’re not alone. Not only has this update killed support for almost every device that tries to install Facebook Home, but this new feature also appears to be missing. At least from our freshly updated version on the Galaxy Note II. Facebook added Galaxy S 4 and HTC One support in May, both which as of today are now again listed as not supported. This calls for a #FacebookFail Twitter hashtag.

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The image above comes right from the Facebook Play Store listing. Showing that the new feature today (app dock) is present and you can now add things like the Phone app and Browser down below for instant use, sadly we can’t get that feature after updating. Something’s messed up here, but surely another update will arrive shortly to fix this little issue.

Aside from the newly added dock, which we can't even try, Facebook has also added privacy settings for what you share with Home. They now allow multiple images to be shared in a single message, and Facebook as a whole received some stability improvements and better memory management.

So far things aren’t looking good for Facebook Home but if you’d like to give it a try hit the links below.

Source: Facebook Home, Facebook

Falcon Pro 2.0 adds multi-account support, new color theme [Hands-On]

Posted: 06 Jun 2013 12:30 PM PDT

Falcon Pro v2.0 was released in beta form a short while back and it looks like there must not have been many issues. Or in other words, Falcon Pro v2.0 has since ditched the beta tag and come available for any and all. The app is available by way of the Google Play Store where has arrived with some new features, a new color, a new look and more.

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This update is free for those who have previously purchased the app and otherwise, new users will need to shell out $1.96 to become a Falcon Pro user. Diving into the new features and perhaps the biggest addition is the multiple account support. Those looking to get started with multiple accounts will need to tap the menu icon in the upper left hand corner and from that point — tap on your current account and click the “Add Account” option.

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From here you simply need to follow the prompt and login using your other Twitter account username and password. Otherwise, another notable addition will be the new flat design UI and the additional theme. This latest theme is available in black and it bring the total up to three with the others being white and grey. You can change your themes by heading to the Settings and then tapping Display and Theme. All three colors can be seen in the images sitting below.

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Otherwise, Falcon Pro v2.0 has also arrived with an option to swipe between columns and some transition animations. The one catch with those two items — they require Android 3.0 or later. Finally, there was also some unspecified bug fixes and improvements included. All said and done, another nice update has arrived for Falcon Pro users. If nothing else, this could be enough to convince those who were holding out due to the lack of multiple account support.

Looking back, this is just one of a few notable Falcon Pro updates that has arrived in recent history. Back in early May there was an update that added some new features and customization options and back in late April Falcon Pro users were given an offline mode.

SOURCE: Google Play Store

Sony XPERIA ZL hands-on: would a Nexus experience help?

Posted: 06 Jun 2013 12:29 PM PDT

Today we’re taking a look at the latest smartphone from the folks at Sony. That being their impressive XPERIA ZL flagship device. It has been available to buy unlocked in the U.S. for a little while already, but we wanted to take a closer look at the hardware and software in a quick unboxing, while also pondering the idea of an XPERIA Nexus edition. Take a peek below at the video and plenty of hands-on pictures.

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Sony’s XPERIA ZL is a very close sibling to their main device for the year, the XPERIA Z, only they’ve dropped the waterproof features and all glass design, trimmed the overall design and bezels, and made it a bit more industrial looking with a textured back. We have the same quality internals, which are slightly behind the current top-tier curve, and a skinned version of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

With a 5-inch 1080p HD display and Sony’s Bravia 2 engine the screen is gorgeous. A Qualcomm S4 Pro 1.5 GHz quad-core chip keeps Android speedy, and that 13 megapixel camera is pretty impressive from our previous hands-on with the device. However, Sony’s user experience shouldn’t be new to anyone that’s used their devices as of late. They don’t do much to change Android in general, but just tweak the overall look and feel. And that’s part of our focus today.

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As you can see above the hardware is quite excellent. Sony has a different approach to their design guidelines than the rest of the mobile world lately, and it’s pretty good. While we’re not a fan of the reflective plastics on the sides, or the squishy and cheap feeling power button, the rest of the phone is durable and feels well made. the squared off design isn’t too comfortable to hold, but isn’t as bad as some we’ve used in the past. The video below we lightly compare it to another 5-inch smartphone, the GALAXY S 4, just for good measure.

Lately we’ve been hearing a few rumors that could end up being good for Sony. Those being that the Xperia Z and possible the ZL and more are coming to the US. Starting with T-Mobile first, and others will soon follow, like AT&T with 4G LTE. Then we’ve also heard a small rumor that Sony is working with Google on an XPERIA Z Nexus Edition, or Google edition as Samsung calls it. Yes they have their AOSP project where they allow stock Android for some of their devices, but why not just release all completely stock?

With Sony struggling to break into the U.S. market this could finally be the summer and year they do. If they could drop a quality device like the Xperia Z or ZL with stock Android and undercut Samsung and HTC’s pricing, they could do well. Sadly their unlocked models currently on Sony.com are well over $600, and might not win many hearts over for that price.

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With “Google Edition” handsets being the next big thing (it seems) Sony should take a close look at doing the same thing. With TouchWiz we have clear benefits and tweaks to Android for the user. Airview, Air gesture, dual-shot camera, Smart scroll eye-tracking and more. HTC has Sense UI with an enhanced camera, Blinkfeed, Beats audio integration and more. Sony tweaks the camera UI and options a bit, but for the most part just delivers a boring and skinned version of stock Android.

We’re wondering if a completely stock Nexus experience from Sony could help them moving forward. Their devices are well built, perform great, but the software just doesn’t seem to be anything special. For now enjoy plenty more pictures of the XPERIA ZL below and stay tuned for our review coming soon.

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Paranoid Android HALO first public beta drops

Posted: 06 Jun 2013 11:44 AM PDT

Paranoid Android HALO unified notifications were first shown back in early-May. Since that point there has been some alpha releases, however as of today it looks like things have shifted to beta. In fact, the first public beta of Paranoid Android HALO has been released and it is said to have been completely rewritten from scratch.

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The rewriting was done in an effort to “fight against the occasional jank.” But in reality, what that really means is that the beta should be much smoother as compared to those earlier alpha releases. Basically if you had been playing with an alpha release — now seems like as good a time as any to begin flashing the beta release. Details coming from the Paranoid Android team note the public beta as being “way smoother” with one exception.

It seems a heavy load of multi-tasking apps starting up will cause some strain. Aside from being rewritten, there were some other changes and improvements with this beta release. The team has said there are some new gestures to dismiss notifications and to hide HALO on the spot. Furthermore, HALO should now work for every app that you have installed on your device.

Otherwise, it was said that “apps going back home or refusing to open up in floating state should be fixed once and for all.” With that, those looking to do some flashing and playing will be able to grab this latest beta release on the goo.im website. While we plan to do some playing ourselves, we spent some time in the Paranoid Android Google+ comments to try and get a grip on what we can expect to see.

Anyway, as one would expect there are some issues and quirks still. Finally, for those not quite as familiar with HALO, think of it as Facebook Chat Heads, but for all your apps. The Paranoid Android team released a video highlighting the feature a little while back and while that was a “very early look” it should be give you a good idea of how this all works.

SOURCE: Google+ Paranoid Android