Posted: 26 Feb 2012 11:04 AM PST A press release doesn’t really do justice to a device like the Samsung Galaxy Beam – you’ve got to see it with your won eyes to do it justice. And while we can’t personally fly you to Barcelona for the debut of Samsung’s Android smartphone-pico projector mash up, we can do the next best thing and give you some live impressions of the device. Samsung was nice enough to show off the Galaxy Beam – under some pretty ideal conditions, of course – and we were on-hand to check it out.  First of all, the Galaxy Beam doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to its integrated projector – the little phone’s add-on is surprisingly bright and feature-packed. 15 lumens isn’t anywhere near what you’d get with a dedicated machine, of course, but it’s more than impressive from a device that’s not much bigger than a standard smartphone. Point the Beam towards a flat surface – preferably one that’s dark and neutrally colored – and you get a display that’s big at up to 50 inches, but not overly sharp at 640×480 pixels. A manual adjustment ring helps to quickly focus the image.  Samsung claims that the lamp on the inside will last a full 20,000 hours, i.e., much longer than the two-year life of your contract. But as cool a feature as the projector is, you’ll have to settle for a decidedly mid-range phone elsewhere. 4.0-inch LCD screen, Gingerbread, 1Ghz dual-core processor and a yellow-on-black color scheme – all are decidedly under the high standards of most Android enthusiasts. On the plus side, the rubberized backing should keep the projector safe ,and the 2000mAh battery should keep it running for few hours at least.  Though there’s no mention of a time or date, Samsung assures us it’ll be ready with a bevvy of accessories for the Galaxy Beam, most notably a portable stand. They also told us that an upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich is already in the works. Remember to check our Mobile World Congress portal for the skinny on all the new hardware.            |
Posted: 26 Feb 2012 10:50 AM PST While Sony might not have the massive 7-phone lineup that LG brought to Mobile World Congress, it isn’t content with just one, so it brought the Xperia P to keep the little Xperia U company. Previously known as the “Nypon”, the Xperia P fits nicely in between the high-end S and the new U to fill out the first trio of devices announced since Sony’s absorption of Sony Ericsson. Sony just announced the phone during its Mobile World Congress press conference, so details are a little light, but it looks like it’s running a screen somewhere in the 3.7-4.0 inch range.  And what a screen: Sony claims that its new “White Magic” display offers twice the brightness of a traditional panel while preserving visibility in direct sunlight. Other charms include NFC with a set of Sony-branded fobs, HDMI-out via a media dock, ans three colors of brushed-aluminum backing. It preserves the see-through navigation style found on its big brother the S, and it looks like the phone is running Sony’s customized Ice Cream Sandwich interface. Huzzah! Unlike the March-bound Xperia S and Xperia U, the Xperia P isn’t expected to hit the market until the second quarter at the very least. Pricing hasn’t been mentioned, but ut should fall naturally in between the other two. We’ll have a hands-on look at the Xperia P later in the show, so keep checking the Android Community MWC 2012 portal for the latest.     [via SlashGear] |
Posted: 26 Feb 2012 10:31 AM PST Digging the style in Sony’s Xperia S superphone, but need something that doesn’t poke out of your breast pocket? Then the Xperia U might be right up your alley. Sony officially announced the diminutive 3.5-inch phone today at Mobile World Congress. The smaller phone keeps the squared-off style and see-through navigation/alert area of the Xperia S, but seems to be saddled with the now-outdated Sony Ericsson branding, even though Sony announced that the two companies have now been officially integrated. Sony says that the final branding will be Sony-only.  Sony was quick to point out that the “Chin” section (that bit of plastic below the transparent buttons) can be removed and replaced to your liking, not dissimilar from the older Nokia interchangeable faceplates. You can even get hot pink, if the spirit moves you. Sony’s proprietary Bravia graphics engine will boost video playback, and that’ll be a welcome feature, since the 5-megapixel rear camera takes 720p video. That transparent bar changes colors to fit the mood in certain applications, like the photo gallery. The processor is an impressive 1Ghz dual-core. The first provider to offer the Xperia U will be UK’s Three, which intends to make it available “soon”. There’s no word on pricing, but you can expect it to be well below the sticker price for Sony’s top-of-the-line S model. Stay tuned to the MWC 2012 portal – we’ll have hands-on look at this little guy shortly. |
Posted: 26 Feb 2012 10:20 AM PST It’s not all specifications and benchmarks – sometimes you’ve got to throw a little style into the mix. Such is the case with LG’s L-series, the Optimus L3, L5 and L7. These phones take their stylistic cues from the collaboration between LG and Prada, and it shows – their deem, glossy black and angular corners scream “fashion phone” more than any other current Android competitor. But can they hold their own as, well, phones? Read our hands-on form Barcelona to find out.  All three phones feature roughly equal shapes: a hard rectangle with a slightly beveled back ,and a center home button flanked by capacitive buttons, Samsung-style. Starting on the low end, the L3 is the baby of the family, with its 3.2-inch screen running LG’s current Gingerbread build (and given their attitude towards low-end phones so far, it’s likely to stay that way). The L3′s phone is recessed behind its glass casing, giving a presentation that’s not quite as impressive as its bigger brothers.  Stepping up to the L5, you get a 4-inch screen and Ice Cream Sandwich running at launch, though it’s still got a lighter LG custom interface. Sharp edges are still present, but thanks to a larger body the phone is easier to keep a hold of. The processor runs at a pokey 800mhz on its single core, abd you can certainly tell from the response in the interface. The back has a slightly rubberized texture from the soft plastic, and we saw it in both black and white flavors.  The L7 is the big daddy of the three, with a 4.3-inch screen to make it match the median of Android phones sold today. It gets a full 1GHz processor, though it’s still single core, and Ice Cream Sandwich when it launches sometime in Q2. The battery is at the low end of 4.3-inch devices at 1500mAh. The back has a unique texute that accents an 8.7mm thin body – not the slimmest we’ve ever seen, but attractively proportioned to be sure. All three phones should be hitting Korea sometime this summer, with international releases to follow. Americans can expect to see revised versions on local carriers, as it’s unlikely that any single provider will pick up the entire line. For more breaking news, keep that MWC 2012 portal tab open.            |
Posted: 26 Feb 2012 10:01 AM PST Let the battle of the phablets begin. LG was the first out of the gate with a competitor to Samsung’s oversized Galaxy Note, revealing the Optimus Vu in its own press presentation long before this week’s Mobile World Congress. But they’ve brought it along to demonstrate next to the other high-end offerings, and who are we to protest? The phone’s unique 5.0-inch, 4:3 aspect ratio screen is certainly large, but it remains to be seen whether it is indeed in charge. Judge for yourself from our hands-on below.  LG seemed at least as excited about the Vu’s LTE capability as its large screen, reminding us that it will be LTE-enabled wherever it’s sold. Other hardware considerations include a 1.5Ghz dual-core Qualcomm processor, 1GB of RAM and Gingerbread – with Ice Cream Sandwich promised no more than three months after launch. The back of the device is textured like worn leather, and Android’s standard 4-button layout sits on the bottom of the front face. The sides are surprisingly sharp at the corners, more like the Prada series of phones than LG’s main line.  But you don’t care about all that: how ’bout that screen? Even though the Optimus Vu’s LCD panel is slightly smaller than the Galaxy Note’s at 5.0 inches, it’s considerably wider thanks to the more square aspect ratio. Typing on the Note is a bit of a chore, but on the Vu it’s downright frustrating: be prepared to devote both hands to this device whenever you pull it out of your pocket. The screen itself is as bright and clear as we’ve ever seen from a mobile LCD, and complimented nicely by LG’s bright UI. The resolution matches early tablets like the iPad and HP TouchPad at 1024×768 – in a screen a quarter of the size.  All in all the Optimus Vu is an interesting addition to this growing form factor, though it’ll take some extended use to decide which “phone” is prefferable. We’ll have a little while to think it over, since the Vu isn’t expected to hit the market in early March in LG’s home turf of South Korea and somewhat later elsewhere. For breaking coverage of all the new devices at Mobile World Congress, keep an eye on the MWC 2012 portal page.            |
Posted: 26 Feb 2012 09:34 AM PST It’s been about a year since we saw any major new hardware sporting the glasses-free lenticular 3D display technology, but LG seems to have been pleased enough with the Optimus 3D to give it another go. The Optimus 3D Max (AKA the Optimus 3D Cube in some markets) keeps the originals’ 3D screen and dual cameras, while adding a larger 4.3-inch panel ,1.2Ghz dual-core Snapdragon processor and upgrading the cameras to 5 megapixels. Here’s out hands-on look from LG’s Mobile World Congress event.  Naturally with a bigger body and screen, the 3D Max gives a different feel from its predecessor, but thanks to some good engineering on LG’s part, it actually feels lighter and thinner. A lot of the bulk of the original is gone, cramming the 3D capability into something more like a standard high-end Android phone. That said, if you’ve seen the Optimus 3D (or the Evo 3D, HTC’s take on the technology) you know what to expect: the effect goes “in” to the phone’s screen, making it look kind of like a diorama behind glass. It’s an interesting effect, to be sure, but it’s not for everyone. The brighter display (LG calls it “NOVA”) helps isolate some of the dim and ghosting problems seen before.  On the back you get the eye-popping stereo cameras, though unfortunately we couldn’t do a proper run-down of this feature on the crowded show floor. The flat back curves out on the bottom, Galaxy S-style, though not uncomfortably so. Buyers will have to settle for Gingerbread, unlike some of the more high-end LG offerings like the Optimus 4X HD, but thankfully LG has included all four standard Android buttons instead of their usual three. LG’s proprietary UI is along for the ride with some 3D enhancements.  All in all it’s a worthy update to the original Optimus 3D, and those who have fallen in love with lenticular 3D (and we know you’re out there) will appreciate the Optimus 3D Max – especially since it’s currently the leader in a pack of one. There’s no word on when or where this phone will be available, but late summer seems like a possibility. Keep your browser’s non-existent dials tuned to Android Community’s Mobile World Congress portal for more breaking coverage.       |
Posted: 26 Feb 2012 09:15 AM PST After much speculation, LG has finally unveiled its new lineup at Mobile World Congress, and the Optimus 4X HD is right at the front. The new flagship is set to replace the Optimus LTE at the highest end of LG’s smartphone offerings, and naturally we took the trek to Barcelona to check it out. The 4.7-inch, quad-core, ICS, 720p monster of a phone has got a lot to love, and significantly boosts LG’s place in the high-end race. Check out some hands-on photos and impressions below.  The first thing you’ll notice about the Optimus 4X HD is that LG has done away with its former user interface (affectionately known around here as “I Can’t Believe It’s Not TouchWiz”) for a lighter and more subtle version. It’s still a pretty radical departure from Android proper, and you’ve got to check the Settings menu to make sure that it is indeed Android 4.0, but thanks to the hardware and software combo it’s surprisingly fast. A more readable and lighter theme helps navigate as well.  From the hardware perspective, the outside is a little dull – there’s certainly no high-fashion accents like on the lower-end L-series revealed at the same time. The massive 4.7-inch IPS LCD is at least as bright as we’ve seen with other LG high-end phones like the Spectrum, and considerably sharper than Samsung’s 720p panels (though not quite as vivid). Below the screen you’ll find ICS’s navigation buttons transposed onto capacitive touch panels – no Search or Menu button in sight.  At 8.9mm thin, LG is matching a lot of the phones we’re seeing today (like Huawei’s Ascend D Quad) without going for broke in the ultra-thin department. That should allow for some decent battery life, even with the Nvidia Tegra 3 processor and 1GB of RAM. The 4X HD is the only one of LG’s new lineup to feature Nvidia silicon – the others are all using Qualcomm. We should have some hands-on video for you soon, so check back later – or just keep refreshing the MWC 2012 portal for this and other LG smartphones.        |
Posted: 26 Feb 2012 08:21 AM PST After months of teasing, Huawei’s finally pulled the wraps off of its new high-end flagship, the Ascend D Quad. The company intends to play with the big boys by cramming a quad-core processor and a 4.5-inch 720p screen into a svelte 8.9mm Android smartphone – with Ice Cream Sandwich on the side. But what’s most interesting isn’t necessarily the phone itself: inside you’ll find Huawei’s own Arm-based quad-core processor, the K3V2. According to Huawei, this new design is both faster and more efficient than Nvidia’s Tegra 3, which we were expecting to see – we’ll wait until some real-world benchmarks to draw our own conclusions.  Like Motorola’s flagship RAZR, the D Quad is getting a long-lasting brother in the Ascend D Quad XL. As the name implies, it features a larger battery, bumping the stock 1800mAh up to 2500mAh, matching larger phones like the Samsung Galaxy Note but still nowhere near the RAZR MAXX’s 3300mAh. The larger phone will have otherwise identical specifications, aside from a 10.1mm-thick chassis. Huawei claims that the combination of a larger battery and their own proprietary power management software will give the Ascend D Quad XL 2-3 days of active use. Elsewhere on the phone you get an 8MP rear and 1.3MP front-facing camera, Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound and a currently undefined combination of on-board and SD storage. Looking at the photos it’s clear that Huawei is keeping its hands-off approach to Android with a mostly stock version of ICS, though physical navigation buttons remain, like the leaked HTC phones we expect to see later today. The Ascend D Quad and D Quad XL will go on sale in North and South America, Europe, China, Asia-Pacific, Australia and the Middle East in the second quarter of 2012. Keep an eye on our MWC 2012 portal for some hands-on coverage later in the conference.     |
Posted: 26 Feb 2012 07:06 AM PST We’d heard rumblings of larger form factors in Samsung’s brand new Galaxy Note family before, but this would seem to seal the deal. A Swedish blogger caught a glimpse of some covered ads prior to Samsung’s Mobile World Congress event showing nothing less than the Galaxy Note 10.1, a combination of the ten-inch tablet form factor and Samsung’s new pen input hardware and software. There’s little to go on at this point beyond the name and a brief, tempting glance at the corner of the device, but there’s plenty that can be inferred.  First of all, you can see some pen action on the screen in the second photograph – clearly Samsung’s Note apps are making the jump to the tablet, and presumably the open SDK will make the jump as well. Given the larger body the S-pen will probably be closer to an actual pen in dimension, since even the slinkiest tablet has at least some space left over inside. Oh, and given that Samsung is already showing off both 7 and 10.1-inch versions of the Galaxy Tab 2, the Galaxy Note 10.1 will almost certainly run Ice Cream Sandwich at launch – whenever that is.  Samsung’s got a pre-show event later today where they’ll probably be showing off their latest and greatest – with one notable exception. The Galaxy Note 10.1 should make an appearance,along with the already-announced Galaxy Beam and Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1). We’re still holding out hope for an 11.6-inch monster with some fantastic processor and resolution specs, but that too may have to wait. In the meantime, keep our Mobile World Congress portal close at hand for all the latest announcements and hands-on looks at new hardware. [via SlashGear] |
Posted: 26 Feb 2012 06:46 AM PST Well folks, we made the long flight across seas and have finally landed here in Barcelona, Spain. I thought it was supposed to be sort of winter but with the sun shining bright and a nice 65º breeze things are looking good already. With good weather we expect a good show and have plenty of details and hands-on coming up shortly.  Just like last year if you look really close at the middle of the picture above you’ll spot it… Android Community! Yup, that’s how we roll. We are expecting a pretty terrific show this year and have some awesome news coming up shortly from Samsung, LG, and HTC just to name a few. We already have seen plenty of leaks of the latter two but have a feeling they might pull out some stops and surprise us. We also saw a few reports of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 being around here somewhere so stay tuned. You won’t want to miss all the action as we bring it to you live. We’ve hit the ground running here at the Fira — the cities main exhibition area and will be busy all night and day. Check out our Mobile World Congress 2012 portal for all the news. Get in the mood and get some Spanish food cooking. Maybe some Escalivada, or Patatas Bravas (fried potatoes with a spicy mayo sauce) and have a great week! |
Posted: 25 Feb 2012 09:01 PM PST We’ve heard a lot about integrating docked desktop modes into Android this past week, but here’s a smartphone that packs its own external display. The Galaxy Beam isn’t Samsung’s first pico projector-phone combination, but it’s the first running Android, so it’s on our radar. The Gingerbread phone packs a 15-lumen lamp capable of displaying up to a 50-inch image into a body that’s not too much larger than a standard phone, though the other specifications aren’t anything to write home about. The Samsung Galaxy Beam was announced via press release prior to Mobile World Congress, which doesn’t officially begin until Monday.  Aside from the projector, the Beam packs a 4-inch, 800×480 LCD (not Super AMOLED) display, a 1Ghz dual-core processor and 8GB of internal memory, plus an open MicroSD card slot. Unfortunately connectivity is limited to HSPA. For cameras you get a 5MP rear and 1.3MP front-facing cam – not bad, considering how much extra hardware needs to be crammed in there. The yellow-accented body is 12.5mm thick, again, impressive considering the integrated hardware. A 2000mAh battery is slightly larger than normal, but who knows how long it’ll last in projector mode. Gingerbread is the order of the day, with Samsung’s standard flanked home button configuration for navigation purposes. There isn’t a whole lot of information on how the projector mode will work – Samsung isn’t even saying what resolution it has, beyond “high definition”. We’ll be sure to check out the Galaxy Beam at Samsung’s booth on the show floor later this week. For that and other news, keep a tab tuned to our Mobile World Congress portal.       |
Posted: 25 Feb 2012 08:40 PM PST Samsung’s first volley of Mobile World Congress press includes and update to their Galaxy Tab flagship, given the rather uninspired moniker Galaxy Tab 2. It’ll be one of the first Sammy tablets to run the Ice Cream Sandwich-TouchWiz combination in when it hits world markets in March, but beyond that, it isn’t much changed from the model we’ve come to know over the last eight months. From a design perspective, the front-facing speakers and branding mimic Germany’s Galaxy Tab 10.1N – no doubt to throw off the scent for Apple’s legal bulldogs.  Inside you get a 1Ghz dual-core processor of indeterminate make, 1GB of RAM and 16-32GB of storage space. The screen is the same 1280×800 LCD that the current model uses. The tablet’s skinny dimensions are kept intact, with a profile of just 9.7mm. It looks like Samsung has integrated come negative feedback from the original and included a MicroSD card slot, though it’s empty out of the box. Cameras are limited to 3MP on the back and VGA on the front. The company is pushing the HSPA+ model, but WiFi only and other variants will certainly be making their way onto shelves at some point. This decidedly isn’t the 11.6-inch model we were expecting to see, nor is it the Galaxy Note 10.1 we’ve seen hints of. It looks like Samsung is refreshing its line of standard tablets (starting with the Galaxy Tab 2 7-inch we saw last week) so expect to see 8.9 and 7.7 varieties in a few weeks or months. This is the first of many unveils for Mobile World Congress, so make sure to check our MWC 2012 portal for more press and hands-on looks at new hardware.     |
Posted: 25 Feb 2012 02:03 PM PST So, Temple Run. Easily one of the most-anticipated Android games in the world right now. Android owners have been waiting patiently (though judging by the comments on our previous stories, not too patiently) for months. And according to the game’s official Facebook page, they’re going to have to wait a little longer. The deveoper posted that the game is taking longer than expected to complete, though it’s still coming along. The post says that it’ll give Facebook followers at least a week’s notice before the game is released – which means that if the notice came later today, Temple Run still wouldn’t be coming until March 3rd. At the absolute earliest.  For the uninitiated, Temple Run is an iOS game by developer Imangi Studios. In a nod to the original Indiana Jones, the player must control an adventurer fleeing from a temple, pursued by hoards of demonic monkeys. Various touch gestures allow you to manipulate your character, jumping, dodging, turning or ducking as necessary. It’s a bit like a 3D version of Bit Trip Runner. The developers announced back in November that the game was headed to Android, but as development draws to a close eager fans have been disappointed time and again with vague delays. Imangi takes care to note that any game pretending to be Temple Run on the Android Market or elsewhere is a fake, until their full app is released. That’s not without precedent: like many popular iOS converts, copies and fakes have been appearing in the Market with depressing regularity. The game is in the final Beta stages and should be wrapping up soon – but not before next Saturday. Keep it civil in the comments section, folks. |
Posted: 25 Feb 2012 01:04 PM PST The HTC One X, formerly the Edge/Endeavor, has been one of the most exposed “secret projects” in recent memory. With all the renders, specs, names, and photos leaked, we though there’s be nothing left to know by the time HTC unveils it tomorrow in Barcelona. Not so: FullGSM got their hands on what appears to be the full product sheep. Aside from what appear to be press shots, there’s nothing really new – except for a “dual shutter” camera, the purpose of which is to take full 8MP stills while recording video at the same time.  The rest of the specifications are what we’ve already seen: a Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor running at 1.5Ghz, a 4.7-inch 720p screen (though the panel is listed as “Super LCD2″, not AMOLED as some previous leaks said) with a full gigabyte of RAM, 32GB of internal storage (26GB of which is user-accessible, with no MicroSD card slot) and a slim profile of just 9.29mm at its thickest point. The One X also comes with NFC capabilities and a super-sized 25GB of DropBox access. Naturally it’s running Ice Cream Sandwich with HTC’s update Sense UI 4.0, though like the other leaked HTC phones we’ve seen, the One X uses the more conventional capacitive navigation button instead of Galaxy Nexus-style on screen controls. According to the photos, black and white versions will be available, but there’s’ no timeframe or price. This leak looks pretty definitive, but we’ll still have to wait for HTC’s event tomorrow to be sure – it ain’t over till the fat lady sings. For all the breaking stories, keep an eye on Android Community’s MWC 2012 portal. Only a few more hours to go…    [via SlashGear] |
Monday, March 12, 2012
Update - 68
Update - 67
Posted: 26 Feb 2012 03:38 AM PST  HTC plans to announce something exciting at MWC today – the long rumored HTC One X and HTC One S, also known as Endeavor and Ville, respectively. In fact, the Taiwanese have been literally counting the days to their Sunday announcement. But, as it so often happens, somebody had to come along and ruin the fun for HTC. Yesterday, Marco Polo, an Italian shopping site, briefly listed One X and One S for sale, complete with specifications and images. Actually, as The Verge reports, the two devices were posted under their previous circulated codenames, Endeavor and Ville, which adds to the confusion that built up over the last weeks. But the cherry on top comes from a Greek tech site that posted images and full-specs of One X, leaked from what seems to be an official HTC release. HTC One X SpecsThe biggest news: HTC One X will run on the Tegra 3 4-Plus-1 architecture from Nvidia, with 1.5 GHz clock-speeds. Other specs include Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, 1 GB of RAM, and an 8 MP camera. These specs fall nicely into place with the specs leaked on the Italian shopping site and reported by The Verge. Here's a full list of specs, courtesy of FullGsm.gr:
HTC One S and One V also comingFor HTC One S, we don't have yet the full spec sheet, but judging from the Italian leak, the One S will be quite similar to One X, except:
We also expect news about the One V, a smaller, cheaper device, heavily oriented towards music lovers, to become public soon, too. The One V will probably sport a dual-core 1Ghz processor, a 3.7-inch screen, and 1GB or RAM. The device will feature its Beats Audio integration prominently (HTC is a partial owner of the Dr. Dre-styled brand). More details as they comeHTC will launch the One S, One V, and One X later today. Our guys are on the MWC floor, ready to fill us in with the latest news, so make sure to check back soon!YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
This article, HTC One X and HTC One S Specs Leaked Before Big Announcement , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source. |
Posted: 26 Feb 2012 01:56 AM PST  Have you ever wanted to dabble in network security testing? How about to test the security of your own network? The Android Operating System is the perfect platform for mobile pentesting applications. What is pentesting, you may wonder? Pentesting stands for penetration testing, and is the practice of testing a computer system, network or web applications for potential vulnerabilities that can be exploited. Sounds cool, right? Read on. This article is technical in nature, and only serves as an information guide for people curious to maximize the utility of their Android device. If you choose to pentest with your Android device, keep it legal, and only do it on networks that you own, or have permission to access. It is public knowledge that Android is based on a Linux kernel which allows for a large amount of modification. In fact, Linux is already commonly used for network pentesting and has been for many years now. In order for pentesting to work, the Android device would definitely need to be rooted, but with the right software, any Android device could be a lethal hacking tool. There doesn’t seem to be any exception to the statement that every Android device has WiFi. After you root an Android device, you have as much software-based access to the device as is currently available, so that means you can do whatever you want with the wireless interfaces of the device. At least a few developers are publically known to be working on modifications for Android devices that would enable the functionality I’m speaking of. An example of one pentesting platform that showed promise is Zimperium’s ‘Anti’. Anti offers OS detection, WiFi monitoring, exploitation of vulnerabilities, etc. Unfortunately Anti uses a token system that would just plain drain the average wallet.  There are other tools focused on wardriving, cracking, and analyzing wireless networks available for Android phones but it seems there is a lack of full on free applications with which to actually exploit vulnerabilities of target machines. This issue could be solved by making new programs for Android phones with these functions, installing a new OS in dual boot using SGS2 Dual-Boot Setup or another tool, or by porting already existing Linux programs to the Android OS. Porting existing programs seems to be the best option. One reason for this is that you would not have to learn new tools if you have experience with pentesting on a laptop or desktop computer. Another reason is that if you use a program that is already well suited for its task, you only have minor problems to worry about (unlike building from scratch). Lastly, Android is already Linux based and there is very little that stands in your way if you wanted to make Linux command line tools designed to run on Android.  Nmap is one tool that would be essential in such a toolset. Nmap is an application with a command line interface(CLI) and an optional GUI that scans a potential target for network vulnerabilities. Due to Nmap’s CLI, as soon as it’s prerequisites are met on the device, Nmap should work just fine.  Another tool that would be useful to port would be Aircrack-ng. Aircrack-ng is commonly used for cracking wireless network passwords. It does this by monitoring wireless communications and using the information it gathers from the captured packets. Aircrack is primarily a command line program and could be quite simple to port. Aircrack-ng would simply need to be allowed to access the device’s wireless hardware and have all prerequisites installed.  Kismet now works on Android 4.0 - still unstable, but it's a start THC Hydra could also come in handy. THC Hydra is a command line based tool for network login hacking with an optional GUI. THC Hydra can crack passwords using bruteforce or it can try to see if the password is in a wordlist. This tool could prove useful when attempting to get access to a server located somewhere on the internet. Hydra is an essential inclusion in a pentester’s arsenal. Yet another tool to include is John the Ripper. John the Ripper is another login cracking tool which would be very useful for privilege escalation on a computer you already have access to but need higher access priveleges for what you wish to do. John the Ripper is command line based and as with the others should not be difficult to install on an Android device.  The last thing I will include in this list, and probably the most important, is a fast and easy way to make scripts on your device. This could be of use whenever a new program needs writing wherever the user may be. An already existing Android app that allows for this is C4Droid. C4Droid is a C/C++ compiler designed for Android. C4Droid is $1.50 on the Android Market.All of these tools, when developed, could easily make Android devices into the next great hacking tool. Any thoughts? YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
This article, Can Android Be Used As a Pentesting Platform? , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source. |
Posted: 26 Feb 2012 01:50 AM PST  With the Galaxy S2 still going strong (over 10 million units sold in the last four months), we understand why Samsung isn't hurrying to out its successor, the Samsung Galaxy S3 (or S III, as the official branding goes). But for true Android fans, the wait for Koreans' new flagship device is agonizing.The S2 is a wonderful piece of hardware, so our expectations for the next generation of the Galaxy S are lofty. Thankfully, more and more rumors indicate that the S3 will definitely be worth the wait. BGR claims that the new Galaxy S3 will treat our eyes with some serious eye candy. According to their sources, the new S3 will boast a magnificent 4.8-inch display, probably a Super AMOLED Plus HD screen. In other words, if you love the display of the S2, you'll absolutely adore the S3. Another juicy detail concerns the design of the phone. We already knew that the S3 would be super-thin, with one source claiming a 7 mm profile (the thinnest S2 is 8.49 mm "thick"). Now, BGR tells us that the Galaxy S3 will have a ceramic back cover, instead of glossy plastic, like the previous iterations of the series. The ceramic cover may improve the grip and appearance of the new device, but may also add to its weight. But again, if the 7 mm thickness rumor is true, Samsung can afford to add a few grams with a more solid back plate. The new information completes the picture of the Galaxy S3. To recap, here are the presumed specs that we know so far:
Stay tuned for more information! YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
This article, New Details Emerge on Samsung Galaxy S3: Ceramic Back, 4.8-inch HD Screen & More , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source. |
Posted: 26 Feb 2012 01:23 AM PST  Have you ever caught yourself reading a book, coming across a word, and being unable to continue reading because you feel the absolute need to know the word’s definition right now? Alternatively, you can be a writer who wants a synonym to that word you’ve used dozens of times since you started this chapter. Maybe you’re a student who keeps hearing your teacher use a word that you’ve never heard of before? Regardless of who you are and what you’re doing, WordWeb Dictionary is here to answer your word definition needs. This app may have been available on the iTunes App store for a while now, but WordWeb Dictionary has just arrived on the Android Market. Regarded highly for its comprehensive English dictionary and thesaurus, this app lets users view definitions of both words and phrases, complete with examples of usage, pronunciation, synonyms, sentence structures and related words online and offline. WordWeb Dictionary also provides easy navigation between words in alphabetical order, pattern-based search, real-time suggestions, the ability to bookmark favorite words, and even integrated support for browsing Wikipedia, Wiktionary, Answers.com, and Google for more references. If you’re feeling bored, you can entertain yourself by looking through meanings of random words and bolstering your vocabulary.  When you run this app for the first time, you’ll need to download the 26 MB database file, but that’s a small price to pay for the abundance of words this app gives you access to. That’s 285,000 words, phrases and derived forms, 225,000 word sense definitions, 70,000 usage examples, 85,000 text pronunciations, and even access to synonyms, similar, and related words. The database also covers North American, British, Australian, and International English. If those numbers aren’t impressive, the best part is that WordWeb Dictionary is free and you don’t need a connection to the Internet to have access to WordWeb Dictionary’s database. After you download it, the power of looking up words is at your fingertips. WordWeb Dictionary also has useful functions, like intelligent word entry that suggests possible correct spellings as you type, as well as listing words that sound the same or are often confused. That’s very useful when you only remember the first few letters of a certain word but can’t recall the rest of it. Start bolstering your vocabulary today and get WordWeb Dictionary for free from the Android Market. You’ll need Android OS v2.2 or higher to run the app. What dictionary app do you use on your Android device? YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
This article, Find Word Definitions with Official WordWeb Dictionary App , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source. |
Posted: 25 Feb 2012 10:08 PM PST  Android is already the top smartphone operating system in the world, and is taking over the tablet market, too. As an Android lover, I couldn't be happier about it. Oh wait, maybe I could be… What if the little green robot would make the jump to an entire new class of devices? No, I am not thinking about computers, although Google certainly thinks about that possibility.I am talking about something bigger and way more exciting. Something like a pair of HUD glasses, an intelligent washing machine, a smart mirror, or even a connected car. What if Android could breathe life in all the "dumb" objects that we use every day, to make them smarter and more useful? On smartphones and tablets, Android makes our lives better already. Just imagine what impact it could have in a world of smart devices, all connected to each other. Android everywhere is not the stuff of sci-fi. It's happening right now. Sooner that you think, Android may take over the world. Here's a list of amazing objects, from wristwatches to cars, that already run Android. If you think that we missed something, give us a shout. 1. WatchesMost little boys (and plenty of grown-up ones) dream about having Dick Tracy's watch. And why wouldn't they? What's more awesome than to have a smart gadget on your wrist? The first modern smart watches were repurposed iPod Nanos, but as usual, Android took the concept to the next level. From Swiss-made luxury pieces to rugged wristband-mounted computers that happen to show the time, Android is coming to a watch near you.The MOTO ACTV is so advanced that Motorola doesn't even call it a watch. The "fitness device" incorporates a GPS tracker, MP3 player, and heart rate monitor. Here are a few specs:
Here's another example, from Wimm Labs:  Wimm Labs sells tiny Android devices, about the size of postal stamp, which can be mounted as watches, on bike clips, on pendants, and even on keychains. In fact, there are few places where you can't put them. The company's flagship product is the Wimm One, "a wrist-based companion for people who desire more control over their smart devices and notifications". In other words, you can pair your watch with your Android smartphone to get messages and notifications on your wrist. You can even install apps on it. 2. Smart glassesGoogle has an awesome new product in the pipeline, a pair of smart glasses, reportedly coming later this year. For now, all we have is rumors, but that's enough to get an idea about how will these ground-breaking glasses will work. What we know so far:
 Speaking of Android smart glasses, you can already trick out your ski goggles with Mod Live, a tiny Android-powered HUD that displays coordinates, altitude, or temperature, on a tiny screen mounted on the goggles. 3. Home AppliancesI think we all agree that washing machines and fridges are really not that exciting. Perhaps, a touch of Android could make them more interesting?Smart appliances running Android are already here. Samsung and LG (who else) have a few interesting products available, including a fridge with a built-in touchscreen display running Android or a washing machine that can connect to your smartphone and tell you how long you have to wait for the washing cycle to end. Besides the obvious apps (cooking recipes, food inventory, dieting, remote control), these smart appliances can also connect to the net, so you can read your mail or check out your Twitter feed before grabbing your milk.  Although not as spectacular as other devices on this list, smart home appliances running Android have the potential to massively improve our lives. Let's face it – our world moves forward thanks to modern technology. Why would we neglect home appliances? 4. CarsSpeaking of moving forward, carmakers have long been criticized for not updating in-car technology for the 21th century. But slowly, things are changing.A number of automakers, upstream suppliers, and aftermarket providers have created Android-based infotainment systems. One of the best efforts belongs to struggling Swedish automaker Saab (formerly owned by GM). Saab's iQon includes all the tricks you would expect from an infotainment system, plus a voice controlled navigation system, a full-fledged browser, and an app store. Moreover, iQon has access to the internal sensors of the car, which are made available to developers via an API. Unfortunately, Saab doesn't have the level of clout required to make in-car Android known to millions of drivers. But do you know who has it? Ford. Just like Saab, Ford has worked to make it easy for developers to create apps that can access the inner sensors of a car (don't worry, they won't be able to brick your car). Ford's OpenXC project combines Android with the Arduino open source hardware platform to tackle the problem posed by building short lifespan technology (Android is barely three years old) into a product that is designed to be used for 15 years or longer. With an OpenXC module installed on your car, any Android app will be able to access sensor information (speed, position, gas level, even steering wheel angle) and do all sorts of interesting things with them. From mapping your itinerary on your Android smartphone to making driving recommendations based on your driving style, the horizon is wide open. 5. HomesHome automation systems (HAS) have been around for a while. Costing from $5000 for a basic system to $300,000 for the more extravagant setups, automation systems are increasingly popular, especially for newly built homes. Typical systems control heating and cooling, lighting, and alarms, but there is little you can't automate in a home – appliances, sprinklers, pools, home theaters, etc.Current HAS rely heavily on proprietary wireless protocols and expensive hardware. Announced last year, Google's Android @ Home platform promise to offer a different way to implement home automation. By pairing an Android device with an Arduino module (a cheap, open source microcontroller), Android @ Home will make it easy for developers to automate things like light bulbs and door locks. We can only imagine a future in which you ask your home to prepare your bath or to update you on the latest news. Android @ Home will make it possible. 6. CamerasSome may argue that the 8 MP camera of a Samsung Galaxy S2 is better than many point-and-shoot cameras out there. But that won't stop camera manufacturers like Polaroid from adding Android to their offerings. Polaroid's SC1630 smart camera is a hybrid between an Android phone and a point-and-shoot. In fact, when you look at the device from the rear, it's easy to mistake it for a "regular" smartphone. Well, if you can make abstraction of the 3X optical zoom module. Here are some specs:
7. Smart TVsMaking television smarter is a hot trend this year, and Android is, for many manufacturers, the smart TV operating system of choice. Smart TVs connect to the Internet and can run apps, have built-in webcams for Skyping, and can connect wirelessly to your laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Just consider them really big computers that you can operate with a remote control.One of the hottest smart TVs of the moment is Lenovo's first foray into the TV business, the 55-inch K91 smart TV, running Android 4.0. Showcased at CES in January, Lenovo's device truly deserves its "smart TV" moniker. Why? Let's see:
8. DECT phonesIf you're tablet and smartphone are not enough to feed your Android addiction, maybe you can get your fix with the $169 Archos 35 Smart Home Phone. The gadget can pair with your Android smartphone to sync contacts and apps, which you will be able to run on the "handset". Other nifty features are the video chat app, the email access, and built-in web browser. The Archos 35 brings the DECT phone right into the mobile age. Who knows, smart DECT phones might even slow down the landlines' inevitable drift into obsolescence. 9. Game consolesFor most of us, our Android smartphone is our gaming device. However, you can get a real portable gaming console that runs on Android 2.2 and plays just about any game. How's that possible? Well, the JXD S7100 gaming tablet (coming at you straight from Shenzhen, China) includes an emulator that lets you play classic titles, such as Mario Kart 64, King of Fighters ’97, or Tomb Raider. Just don't ask about the copyright, though…The exterior design of the JXD S7100 looks like a PSP clone with a touch of Apple, but the guts of the device are downright impressive:
 10. Mirrors (you read that right)Have you ever dreamt of checking your Facebook status while brushing your teeth in the morning? What, you haven't? Anyway, the Cybertecture smart mirror will let you do just that. Seeing it in action, you can't help thinking that it's the future. Basically, the gadget is an interactive display running Android, which happens to double as a mirror. You can check your Facebook status, read the news, even emails, all from your bathroom.The smart mirror comes with a smart (of course) scale to monitor your weight and body fat index, which you can see on the mirror, along with some neat graphs that show how your diet is working. Somehow disappointingly, the Cybertecture is controlled with a remote control, and not through touch. Even more disappointingly, it will set you back a cool $7700. Which Android Devices Do You Like the Most?Wow, that was quite a ride. Android is already built in a variety of devices, and, as we speak, more and more companies and individuals are working to add it to more aspects of our lives.Which unconventional Android devices do you like the most? What are you most excited about? Did we miss something? Let us know. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
This article, Android Everywhere: 10 Types of Devices That Android Is Making Better , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source. |
Posted: 25 Feb 2012 08:14 AM PST  For many Android enthusiasts, a purebred Android tablet is the stuff of dreams. Until now, Google's Nexus program, which showcases Android in its purest form, included three amazing smartphones, with the latest flagship in the series being the Galaxy Nexus. However, when it comes to a tablet receiving the Nexus treatment, all we got was rumors.But there is hope. Pieces are starting to fall into place for the Nexus tablet. Last December, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt told an Italian newspaper that the Mountain View-based giant would market a tablet of the "highest quality" over the next six months. Boy, we were happy! A few weeks later, Digitimes (a Taiwanese outlet with deep connections inside the Asian manufacturing sector) fed the rumor mill by suggesting that the Google tablet will be a direct competitor to the Kindle Fire, and not to the iPad, as many have expected. The leak slates the launch of the Nexus tablet (as everyone seems to call it) sometimes in March-April. Moreover, the 7-incher would be priced at an affordable $199, just like the Kindle Fire (and now just like the 8GB Nook Tablet). Digitimes has a mixed record when it comes to predicting upcoming products, so we all took the report with the proverbial grain of salt. But this time, the Taiwanese seem to have been on to something. Report: 7-inch Nexus Tablet to Enter Production in AprilOn Thursday, CNET cited industry analyst Richard Shim, who claims that the Google Nexus tablet will indeed be a 7-incher and is likely to enter fabrication in April. Other useful details include the resolution of the reported device (1280×800) and an estimated production run of 1.5-2 million units. Just for comparison, Motorola has sold about 1 million Xooms and Xyboards last year, while on the other end of the scale, Amazon moved 4 million Kindle Fires just in the last quarter of 2011.Judging from the initial production run, Google is moderately optimistic about the performance of the upcoming Nexus tablet. Two million is a respectable figure, but not that high when you compare it to the numbers that Apple works with, or even with the initial production run of the Kindle Fire, which was four million. Kindle Fire-quality or Better?Shim avoided telling if the Nexus tablet will be a premium device or something in the likes of the Kindle Fire. Eric Schmidt did announce a high-quality tablet in December, but that may have been just marketing talk.For now, we know that the Nexus tablets is likely to have display with a resolution of 1280 x 800, which makes it better than the Kindle Fire's 1024 x 600. Note: the Galaxy Tab 7.7 also boasts a 1280 X 800 AMOLED screen, but in a 7.7 inch factor. Needless to say, it’s unlikely that Google will opt for this particular display technology, as it would make the device prohibitively expensive, and therefore never a viable competitor to Kindle’s Fire. That being said, we just can't judge the overall quality of a product based solely on its screen technology or resolution.  If Google wants to tackle Amazon head on, it will need to keep the price of the Nexus tablet close to the $199 psychological price floor. Although the Fire was disappointing in terms of build quality, teardowns have shown that Amazon is selling the 7-inch e-reader/tablet at a loss. Google may try the same strategy with the Nexus; after all, the search business is going gangbuster. But we think that Google can do a better tablet than the Kindle, and keep the $199 price tag. ASUS will sell its seven inch quad-core MeMo370T for $249, soon, so at $200, we should at least get some decent specs. In addition, Google is in a better position than Amazon to reach the high-quality/low price sweet spot. Not only does Google have better collaboration with manufacturers (see the line of Nexus smartphones), but it may actually pull it off by itself. Will the Nexus Tablet Be Google's First Product?Google has a long and fruitful history of collaborating with manufacturers such as Samsung and HTC, which both participated in the Nexus smartphone program. Google also worked extensively with Motorola to create the Xoom, which was the first tablet to run Android 3.2 Honeycomb.The question now is this: will Google make their own tablet (via Motorola) or will it work with traditional partners? The Motorola-Google deal is coming through very soon, and rumors have already pegged Google executive Dennis Woodside as the next CEO of Big M.  In the past, Google has insisted that Motorola will be run as a separate company and that it will not be given preferential treatment or special privileges over Samsung, HTC, and other Android partners. But it's obvious that the Motorola buyout will finally give Google significantly more control over the hardware side. It makes perfect sense for Google to release the Nexus tablet under the Motorola brand – better integration, better control, and less hassle with the partners. And, with Google having worked with Motorola before, on the Xoom tablet, it makes sense. Why would the bosses at Mountain View choose another manufacturer now, when they have all the tools they need, in their own backyard? The bottom line: although we can't exclude other options, we strongly believe that Google's first Nexus tablet will also be Google's first Motorola device. When We Can Expect the Nexus TabletWith manufacturing starting in April, the Nexus will probably come sometimes towards the end of June. As AndroidAndMe notes, Google has moved its main household event, Google I/O, from May to late June. This would be the ideal occasion to showcase a ground-breaking product like the Nexus tablet.A mid-year launch would also coincide with the rumored announcement of Android 5.0 Jelly Bean. Remember that Google now controls both the software and the hardware side. Who knows, it may pull an announce-and-launch event, just like Apple operates. In other words, we may actually get to taste Jelly Bean on a Nexus tablet, in as little as four months. But again, the Jelly Bean rumor is not very reliable – all we have is one source, the same anonymous tipsters of Digitimes. Fragmentation is a major issue for Google, and a premature announcement of a new Android version may confuse (even enrage) some users. After all, ICS is still barely a faint blimp on the radar – just about 1% of all Android devices run Ice Cream Sandwich. We think that Google knows that and that they'll try to slow things down a little. What Do You Think?The first Nexus tablet is definitely high (first?) on our Android wish list. The perspective of getting the full Google experience (pure Android + optimized hardware) in an affordable package is extremely exciting. Just a few more months to wait…How about you? Do you think that Google will announce Jelly Bean in June, as well? Can the Nexus derail the Kindle Fire? And what excites you the most about the Nexus tablet? YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
This article, Nexus Tablet Roundup – What We Know So Far , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source. |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)