Wednesday, June 13, 2012

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Google Android News Android Forums

Build your own Android PC with the Via Technologies APC

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 03:32 PM PDT

Do you have $49, a bit of tech savvy and a creative mind? If so then how does building your own Android based PC sound! VIA Technologies‘ Neo-ITX bare-bones Android PC provides you with everything you need to get started, all you need to is provide the power supply, any additional accessories and a case.

The miniature chipboard runs Android 2.3 and comes equipped with a 800MHz processor, 512MB of RAM and 2GB internal storage. Connectivity is covered too with an HDMI port, four USB ports, an ethernet port and VGA output. Naturally, as with any PC, you can connect a keyboard, a mouse, speakers and a microphone.

The APC is currently up for pre-order and is due to ship early in July however due to high demand it is currently sold out. You can always register your e-mail address on the website if you’d like to be notified as to when there’s new stock. Click the link below to get going.

 

Source: VIA Technologies

Redesigned Spotify application arrives on Google Play Store

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 02:50 PM PDT

The more adventurous amongst you will have had a taste of Spotify‘s Ice Cream Sandwich flavoured Android application when the Swedish music maestro launched the redesign for public beta testing back in April. The good news is that from today, the new and improved Spotify is now live in the Google Play Store for everyone to enjoy.

Highlights of the new application include full Ice Cream Sandwich support, hi-res album art, an improved widget and 320kps streaming.  For the full list of improvements and new features, you can check out the press release below. If you like what you see then click the link, there’s even a free 48 hour trial to get you going.

Spotify for Android – now on Google Play

Today we're taking the covers off our latest and greatest Android app. Having undergone a top-to-bottom redesign and with a completely new box of tricks under the hood, we reckon this might be our best mobile app yet.

Available now on Google Play, features include:

Totally new app with full support for Android 4.0
All-new slide-out navigation
Crossfade/gapless playback settings
Widget – control Spotify from the home screen
Folder support – organise and order your playlists
Even more social – check out friends' profile pages and playlists on the go
Artist imagery in high resolution
Related artist view – available for the first time on mobile
'Extreme' sound quality setting for 320kbps listening
Play queue
Last.fm scrobbling
So much faster!

Gustav Södertröm, VP Products at Spotify, said: "For all our Android users, this Spotify update is a huge leap forward. We've rebuilt it from top to bottom, making it faster, slicker and much better looking."

He added: "The feedback we got from the preview we released a few weeks back was really positive. We wanted to give our users something special – we really hope you like it."

As with all Spotify Mobile apps, you'll need a Premium subscription to get your music on the move.

 


Google Play

 

Sensordrone will give your smartphone or tablet a sixth sense and beyond

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 12:13 PM PDT

Kickstarter seems to be the rage these days so here’s another project worth mentioning. Sensorcon has created what’s called Sensordrone, It can fit on your keychain and monitor your environment. It will connect with your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth which will allow you to run hundreds of apps to find out things like air quality, carbon monoxide levels, if there is a gas leak, your child’s temperature, and so much more.

They already have various apps that will use various sensors. For example the capacitance sensor is used as a stud finder, a liquid level monitor, or even a proximity monitor. The pressure sensor can be used as a barometer, a blood pressure monitor, and more. The humidity sensor can help you prevent mold and so much more.

The Sensordrone is compact and made of both plastic and metal. You don’t need to configure a thing. Just run the appropriate app and it works.

It’s not just about the data either. The Sensordrone can help you make decisions. For example, it will tell you the level of carbon monoxide, but it will also give you an Air Quality Index guide to let you know you if it’s below or above average or how close to the threshold it might be.

There’s also automatic sharing. For example if you use it as a breathalyzer and you fail, it will automatically call your pre-assigned designated driver. You can also share any data you receive via Facebook, Twitter, Email, and more. It will even log your data so you can see a history over time.

Sensorcon already met their goal of $25,000 and then some. So far they are at $35,154 with 39 days to go. They already sold out of their $149 package, which guaranteed you a unit in September. You can still jump in for $175 for an October delivery. This is a steal when you consider all the sensors they are including would probably cost about $925 if purchased separately. Check out the video, and for more information hit the source link below.

 

 

source: kickstarter
via: androidpolice 

 

 

 

The Sensordrone can give you data anywhere you go.  Maybe you’ll find a gas leak or a polluted area and want to share that information with your colleagues. Maybe you’ll use it as a breathalyzer after having too many drinks and it will automatically have your phone call a designated driver.  Since the Sensordrone is essentially an extension of your internet connected smartphone or tablet, you can easily share vital data via your preferred web service. This includes Twitter, Facebook, sensor sites like Pachube, and much more.

 

The sensors in Sensordrone don’t just give you data, they guide you to smart decisions. Sensor apps will teach you, help you, and guide you. You’ll be informed enough to demand action. For example, the carbon monoxide sensor will measure carbon monoxide, but combine that with an Air Quality Index guide, and you’ll get much more information than just a number.

Samsung Airs First Galaxy S III TV Spot on Youtube

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 10:45 AM PDT

In an effort to ramp up the hype before landing on U.S. shores, Samsung has just aired the first 30 second TV spot for the Galaxy S III. Running with the “Designed for humans” motto, Sammy aims to emphasize easy compatibility with every day life in the new commercial. They show scenes from happy times at a family wedding to the cheesy tear-jerking scene of proposing to your girlfriend though a glass wall using S Beam. Instead of boasting the device’s performance and specs in this video, they take the time to show how they feel the phone can fit seamlessly in someones life rather than control it – “It Understands you”. It’s actually kind of a nice little little break from all those in-your-face promotions we have been seeing over the years and makes Samsung seem a little empathetic actually.

Check it out for yourself after the break and let us know what you think. Good guy Samsung?

Click here to view the embedded video.

Samsung Pushes First OTA Update for the Galaxy S III, Brings “Improved Stability”

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 08:23 AM PDT

Those of you fortunate enough to already own the Galaxy S III might have woken up to an update ready and waiting to be downloaded. Samsung just pushed out the very first OTA update for the device and its changelog is rather short, citing only “improved stability.” Reports are showing that the update size may vary from 9MB to 31MB+, all depending on your current configuration, and may need to be done in two stages. The update doesn’t seem to provide any noticeable changes but after installed will bring the device up to version I9300BUALF1.DM.

This is pretty early for the first update for a device and it’s nice to see that Samsung is properly maintaining their newest flagship masterpiece. If you received the update and noticed something we haven’t feel free to let us know in the comments below. To manually check for the update, head into About Device > Software Update, and there you should find an update ready for download.

source: SlashGear

C Spire Galaxy S III Announced, Pricing and Availability ‘in the Coming Weeks’

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 07:58 AM PDT

It’s time to make it six U.S. carriers that will offer the Galaxy S III as C Spire just announced that they will be getting in on the action as well. Formerly known as Cellular South, the regional carrier C Spire plans to stock the GSIII but haven’t yet revealed the device’s pricing and availability. The company will reveal those details “in the coming weeks.” No word on whether the carrier will stock the 16GB or 32GB version (or both), but the press release does mention both the pebble blue and marble white versions of the phone.

C Spire plans to launch its 4G network in September across 20 different markets and the Galaxy S III will be the carriers first LTE device. Customers who decide to go with the GSIII will just have to use the carrier’s 3G network until LTE reaches their area. You can check out the full press release after the break.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S III COMING SOON ON NATION’S FIRST PERSONALIZED NETWORK

Iconic 4G LTE smartphone design and premium content sharing experience will be combined with C Spire Wireless’ exclusive suite of personalized services

 

Ridgeland, Miss. (June 12, 2012) – C Spire Wireless announced plans today to introduce the highly anticipated Samsung Galaxy S® III, optimized for peak performance on the nation’s only personalized 4G LTE® network, later this year. Exact pricing and retail availability will be announced in the coming weeks.

“We’re excited that the Galaxy S III will be among the first 4G LTE devices launched on the nation’s only personalized network optimized for the next generation of high-speed data services,” said Kevin Hankins, chief operating officer for C Spire Wireless.

The company’s initial launch of 4G LTE mobile broadband services in 20 Mississippi markets beginning in September will cover 2,700 square miles, a population of 1.2 million and more than 360 cell sites. The new service will provide four out of every 10 consumers and businesses in Mississippi with wireless data speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G, allowing C Spire to be the first provider to make these services widely available in the state.
Powerful Performance

The lightweight and powerful Samsung Galaxy S III weighs 4.7 ounces and is 8.6 millimeters thin, making it lighter and sleeker than other leading smartphones. The brilliant 4.8 inch display extends to an ultra-thin bezel to maximize the viewing area. The Galaxy S III delivers impressive processing power to allow more applications to be accessible simultaneously.

The Galaxy S III includes Android™ 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) with TouchWiz enhancements, a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 1.5 GHz dual core CPU and 2GB of internal RAM to provide high-speed performance enabling efficient and seamless multi-tasking. The dual-core processor offers competitive speeds and performance as leading quad-core processors without sacrificing valuable battery life. The brilliant 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED™ touchscreen display brings content to life, without compromising the device’s true portability. The expansive display is protected by Gorilla Glass® 2.0 to guard against cracks and scratches and provide enhanced touchscreen responsiveness.

The device, which comes in Marble White and Pebble Blue, is powered by a removable 2100 mAh battery for extended use on a single charge. Users can store large libraries of photos, videos and music onboard the Galaxy S III with expandable memory up to 64GB to compliment the standard 16GB onboard storage.

 

Sharing Made Simple

Hankins said Samsung has introduced several new elements of technological innovation and device sharing capabilities on the Galaxy S III. “This device goes far beyond content consumption to content sharing,” he said, adding that Samsung simplifies how users share content and control their device with a single touch, through enhanced gesture technology or the simple eye movements.

The content sharing experience on the Galaxy S III addresses the sharing needs of consumers, whether it’s sharing and editing a presentation with a large group in real-time, sending digital images to several other smartphones at the same time or transferring large files within seconds from one phone to another. Further, these sharing experiences are simple and require little, if any, set-up.

 

Sharing With Multiple Devices

The Galaxy S III introduces the next evolution of Samsung’s content sharing service with AllShare® Play. This service automatically notifies the Galaxy S III to Samsung HDTVs, mobile tablets, laptops and other consumer electronic devices on the same network that are ready to receive video files. Users can also remotely access files from devices on other networks.

 

Sharing with Groups

  • With AllShare Group Cast on the Galaxy S III and a Wi-Fi network, users can share and collaborate on documents, presentations or images in real-time with multiple friends or co-workers’ without loading the file separately.
  • With Share Shot, become the official photographer for a group of friends. There’s no need to send photos and video via email, MMS or a USB drive. Users can quickly and seamlessly share pictures taken with the Galaxy S III’s 8 megapixel camera to other phones from up to 200 feet away. Once the Galaxy S III is synched with chosen devices, the pictures are automatically shared.

 

Sharing Smartphone to Smartphone

  • S-Beam is an industry first, providing fast, easy transfer of large files, such as videos and documents, with a single touch of the Galaxy S III without needing a Wi-Fi connection or cell signal. A 1GB movie file can be shared as quickly as three minutes and a 10MB music file can be transferred in seconds by simply touching another GALAXY S III phone.

 

Smartphone Simplicity

  • The S-Voice™ feature on the Galaxy S III offers much more than just asking and answering questions. S-Voice allows users to control the applications and services used most with words instead of touch. Use S-Voice to turn the volume up or down on the music player, answer or reject incoming calls, shut off or choose to snooze the alarm clock, or take a picture by saying “smile” or “cheese.”
  • Smart Stay puts the “smart” in smartphones. With Smart Stay, the Galaxy S III tracks the user’s eye to ensure the device screen is always on while you’re looking at it. By knowing when you are looking at the screen, it doesn’t dim the backlight or timeout to an idle screen.
  • Motion simplifies and short cuts many common functions including converting a text message to a call by simply raising the phone to the ear, tapping the top of the phone to go to the top of an email and list of emails or contacts, and alerting to missed call or text message.
  • The capabilities of the Galaxy S III’s 8 megapixel camera are far beyond point and shoot. Burst Shot captures still pictures at a rapid-fire pace at three images per second with zero shutter lag; and Best Shot recommends the best picture to keep based on colors, lighting and clarity. The Galaxy S III shoots and plays back 1080p HD quality video with a backside illuminated sensor that improves performance in low light environments, and provides the ability to capture a photo during videoing.
  • Watching video while downloading a large file or service is seamless with Pop Up Play. Pop Up Play allows you to watch any side-loaded video content while operating any application in full-screen, background view at the same time. Video running on Pop Up Play can be moved anywhere on top of the full screen, much like picture-in-picture capabilities on large screen TVs.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S III COMING SOON ON NATION'S FIRST PERSONALIZED NETWORK

Iconic 4G LTE smartphone design and premium content sharing experience will be combined with C Spire Wireless' exclusive suite of personalized services

Ridgeland, Miss. (June 12, 2012) – C Spire Wireless announced plans today to introduce the highly anticipated Samsung Galaxy S® III, optimized for peak performance on the nation's only personalized 4G LTE® network, later this year. Exact pricing and retail availability will be announced in the coming weeks.

"We're excited that the Galaxy S III will be among the first 4G LTE devices launched on the nation's only personalized network optimized for the next generation of high-speed data services," said Kevin Hankins, chief operating officer for C Spire Wireless.

The company's initial launch of 4G LTE mobile broadband services in 20 Mississippi markets beginning in September will cover 2,700 square miles, a population of 1.2 million and more than 360 cell sites. The new service will provide four out of every 10 consumers and businesses in Mississippi with wireless data speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G, allowing C Spire to be the first provider to make these services widely available in the state.

Powerful Performance

The lightweight and powerful Samsung Galaxy S III weighs 4.7 ounces and is 8.6 millimeters thin, making it lighter and sleeker than other leading smartphones. The brilliant 4.8 inch display extends to an ultra-thin bezel to maximize the viewing area. The Galaxy S III delivers impressive processing power to allow more applications to be accessible simultaneously.

The Galaxy S III includes Android™ 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) with TouchWiz enhancements, a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 1.5 GHz dual core CPU and 2GB of internal RAM to provide high-speed performance enabling efficient and seamless multi-tasking. The dual-core processor offers competitive speeds and performance as leading quad-core processors without sacrificing valuable battery life. The brilliant 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED™ touchscreen display brings content to life, without compromising the device's true portability. The expansive display is protected by Gorilla Glass® 2.0 to guard against cracks and scratches and provide enhanced touchscreen responsiveness.

The device, which comes in Marble White and Pebble Blue, is powered by a removable 2100 mAh battery for extended use on a single charge. Users can store large libraries of photos, videos and music onboard the Galaxy S III with expandable memory up to 64GB to compliment the standard 16GB onboard storage.

Sharing Made Simple

Hankins said Samsung has introduced several new elements of technological innovation and device sharing capabilities on the Galaxy S III. "This device goes far beyond content consumption to content sharing," he said, adding that Samsung simplifies how users share content and control their device with a single touch, through enhanced gesture technology or the simple eye movements.

The content sharing experience on the Galaxy S III addresses the sharing needs of consumers, whether it's sharing
and editing a presentation with a large group in real-time, sending digital images to several other smartphones at the same time or transferring large files within seconds from one phone to another. Further, these sharing experiences are simple and require little, if any, set-up.

Sharing With Multiple Devices

The Galaxy S III introduces the next evolution of Samsung's content sharing service with AllShare® Play. This service automatically notifies the Galaxy S III to Samsung HDTVs, mobile tablets, laptops and other consumer electronic devices on the same network that are ready to receive video files. Users can also remotely access files from devices on other networks.

Sharing with Groups

  • With AllShare Group Cast on the Galaxy S III and a Wi-Fi network, users can share and collaborate on documents, presentations or images in real-time with multiple friends or co-workers' without loading the file separately.
  • With Share Shot, become the official photographer for a group of friends. There's no need to send photos and video via email, MMS or a USB drive. Users can quickly and seamlessly share pictures taken with the Galaxy S III's 8 megapixel camera to other phones from up to 200 feet away. Once the Galaxy S III is synched with chosen devices, the pictures are automatically shared.

Sharing Smartphone to Smartphone

  • S-Beam is an industry first, providing fast, easy transfer of large files, such as videos and documents, with a single touch of the Galaxy S III without needing a Wi-Fi connection or cell signal. A 1GB movie file can be shared as quickly as three minutes and a 10MB music file can be transferred in seconds by simply touching another GALAXY S III phone.

Smartphone Simplicity

  • The S-Voice™ feature on the Galaxy S III offers much more than just asking and answering questions. S-Voice allows users to control the applications and services used most with words instead of touch. Use S- Voice to turn the volume up or down on the music player, answer or reject incoming calls, shut off or choose to snooze the alarm clock, or take a picture by saying "smile" or "cheese."
  • Smart Stay puts the "smart" in smartphones. With Smart Stay, the Galaxy S III tracks the user's eye to ensure the device screen is always on while you're looking at it. By knowing when you are looking at the screen, it doesn't dim the backlight or timeout to an idle screen.
  • Motion simplifies and short cuts many common functions including converting a text message to a call by simply raising the phone to the ear, tapping the top of the phone to go to the top of an email and list of emails or contacts, and alerting to missed call or text message.
  • The capabilities of the Galaxy S III's 8 megapixel camera are far beyond point and shoot. Burst Shot captures still pictures at a rapid-fire pace at three images per second with zero shutter lag; and Best Shot recommends the best picture to keep based on colors, lighting and clarity. The Galaxy S III shoots and plays back 1080p HD quality video with a backside illuminated sensor that improves performance in low light environments, and provides the ability to capture a photo during videoing.
  • Watching video while downloading a large file or service is seamless with Pop Up Play. Pop Up Play allows you to watch any side-loaded video content while operating any application in full-screen, background view at the same time. Video running on Pop Up Play can be moved anywhere on top of the full screen, much like picture-in-picture capabilities on large screen TVs.

HTC One X Owners Reporting Another WiFi Issue, This Time Involving The Way The Phone Is Held

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 07:45 AM PDT

Another day, another set of WiFi issues plaguing the HTC One X smartphone. While one significant WiFi issue that plagued the smartphone was resolved, there is apparently a new and more significant WiFi problem affecting some owners of the smartphone. When the smartphone is held in a certain position, the device will lose much (if not all) of its WiFi signal strength. The widespread problem which has been first reported in XDA Forums, seems to affect the HT23 and HT24 models. There are a few solutions that have been identified as well. Users can either exchange their devices if they’re under warranty or if they’re not— they can always open their device and get everything taken care of the hard way. Naturally it’s recommended that owners try to hold off from doing the extreme as HTC is fully aware of this new issue and has its engineering teams working round the clock to get this fixed.

Here’s hoping HTC gets this resolved as soon as possible. Stay tuned with Talk Android as we will continue to provide updates for this developing saga.

source: XDA Forums

ICS Test Build Revealed For Droid Bionic, Real Deal On Its Way?

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 06:43 AM PDT

 

For those of you who actually shelled out for a Droid Bionic, which was a little late to the game after its original announcement, you’ll be happy to know that some signs of an ICS build have surfaced.  Over the weekend it was reported that an ICS test build made its way onto the Cheesecake application which searches Motorola hosted servers for public files often revealing early builds for their devices.  Only armed with the knowledge that the device was supposed to recive ICS sometime in Q3, there have been no previous news or hints at the anticipated update.  As of now, the build is un-flashable as it’s just an engineer’s build.  But, this could be a hint and a sign of great things to come for Bionic owners.  Hang in there folks and stay tuned.  Otherwise, you’ll have to download a custom ICS ROM until the real deal gets here.

source: XDA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Verizon Officially Launches Its Data Share Plan

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 06:35 AM PDT

If you’re a Verizon customer, Judgment Day will officially arrive on June 28th. As we had previously mentioned, Verizon had its sights set on introducing a new plan called the Data Share plan. In this plan, Verizon customers will have unlimited voice minutes, text messaging and shared data for up to 10 Verizon devices. Customers would first select the devices they want on their accounts. Then customers would choose a plan that includes unlimited minutes, unlimited messages and a shared data allowance that begins at 1GB for $50, 2GB for $60, 4GB for $70 and so on.Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Tami Erwin shares some insight on how important this new option is for customers:

"Share Everything Plans are the new standard for wireless service.  They are simple; customers no longer have to think about their voice and message plans, because both are unlimited.  Share Everything Plans are convenient; customers purchase one data plan and they share it with up to 10 mobile devices.  And, they are worry-free; customers can connect their 3G or 4G devices wherever and whenever they want on America's most reliable network."

 

Customers would also have the option of adding 3G/4G tablets to their Data Share plans for an additional $10, though there is no need to sign a contract or long-term commitment. In all reality, the Data Share plan isn’t too bad— especially for couples and families. But if you’re not fortunate enough to be on a family plan and ride solo, then there’s nothing like having the luxury and freedom of unlimited data for Verizon customers— so you may want to hold onto that coveted unlimited data plan for as long as you can.

source: Verizon Wireless PR

iPhone Dethroned as Top Seller at Verizon by the Droid RAZR MAXX

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 06:24 AM PDT

For the first time in a long time, an Android  phone has managed to outsell the Apple iPhone at a major US carrier.  The Droid Razr MAXX outsold the iPhone in the first quarter of 2012.  What does this mean for Android?  Has the mighty iPhone begun to falter?  Not so fast, says analyst Anil Doradla at William Blair.  He points out that Verizon has been “aggressively marketing competing 4G devices”.  This is a fair point, as Verizon has spent a lot of money building out an impressive 4G network and is eager to get customers using it (and paying higher monthly bills).  The iPhone is marketed heavily by Apple, but not as much by the carriers.    Here’s what else Doradla had to say:

Since Apple's iPhone launch in North America, we believe this was the first quarter where the iPhone was not the best‐selling smartphone at a North American mobile operator (where it was available). While Apple continued to maintain its top position at AT&T and Sprint, Motorola's Droid RAZR MAXX was the best‐ selling smartphone at Verizon. Our checks also indicate that at this stage consumers are not pausing in front of the iPhone launch as it is not influencing their purchasing decisions (but we expect it to start impacting over the next couple of months). Despite the "increased competitive landscape from 4G devices (and the iPhone 4S is not 4G)," Doradia is "not worried" as the next iPhone model, a true 4G phone, "will be an important catalyst for the company," he believes.

If I had to guess though, it’s that consumers just wanted a phone with an large screen, impressive battery life, 4G connectivity, a thin body style all backed by a company Google just purchased.  Android phones and the OS itself have rapidly caught up to (and surpassed) the iPhone, so this won’t be the last time we see a story like this.

By the way, the ICS release for the RAZR and RAZR MAXX  is expected very, very soon.

source: Barrons
via: IntoMobile
Posted by at 5:42 AM 0 comments

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Android 4.0.3 update out for T-Mobile's Samsung Galaxy S II
CNET
T-Mobile subscribers who own the Galaxy S II phone can grab the latest Android Ice Cream Sandwich update, but it's only available through Samsung's Kies software. by Lance Whitney Samsung Galaxy S II owners on T-Mobile can update to Android 4.0.3, ...
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Spotify Android App Gets Major Overhaul
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By Angela Moscaritolo Goods news, music-loving Android users: Spotify just launched a brand-new version of its Android app complete with a faster interface, support for Android 4.0, high-res artist images, and more. The refreshed app has been available ...
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Android's fraying tightrope with app developers
ITworld.com
While Miller makes an excellent case, he forgets that ICS only has 7.1 percent of total Android market share, according to Google. Right now, the latest version of Apple's mobile platform, iOS 5, is around 75-80 percent, depending on who you ask.
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Apple brags about big iPhone numbers, but ignores a crucial Android fact
Christian Science Monitor
Well, because it provides a useful contrast with Google's Android OS. Android is exceedingly popular around the world. In fact, Google exec Andy Rubin tweeted this week, "there are over 900000 Android devices activated each day.
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Christian Science Monitor
Dual Core Processors Wasted on Android, Intel Claims
PCWorld (blog)
By John P. Mello Jr., PCWorld Jun 11, 2012 11:01 AM Current versions of Google's Android operating system for smartphones make woeful use of their dual core processors, according to an Intel executive. Poor implementation of threading technology by the ...
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Android hits 900000 activations per day - and Andy Rubin's staying put
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Andy Rubin, the founder of Android (the company) and head of Android (the mobile software division at Google) is not leaving Google. And, simultaneously but unrelated, Android device activations are now running at more than 900000 per day, according to ...
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The Guardian (blog)
Apple fends off Android challenge with maps, Siri
The Bostwana Gazette
The hundreds of improvements in the iOS 6 mobile operating system due out before the end of the year come as Apple seeks to outdistance rivals powered by Google's Android software. Apple chief Tim Cook kicked off the California company's annual WWDC by ...
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Apple iOS 6 vs. Android: Google has some work to do
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The clear competition for Apple in the phone space is Google's Android platform. While Android lagged behind in both design and features for a long time, the last few years have seen the two operating systems coming closer together.
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ExtremeTech
Android ICS compared to iOS 6
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Yes well Apple has now come clean on their latest offering of iOS with iOS 6, which they say brings 200 new features to the iPhone and Apple iPad, and naturally those features are going to be compared to Apple's rival operating system Android, ...
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Spotify Android update hits Google Play today, brings Last.fm ...
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Remember that Android Spotify app we saw way back in April? After a couple of months, it seems that the music streaming service finally has a version for.
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T-Mobile Galaxy S II update to ICS available ... - Android Community
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In T-Mobile's usual fashion they have updated their official support page today for their Samsung Galaxy S II, detailing the upgrade to Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream.
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Spotify Android app update: Now ICS compatible, available for - BGR
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Spotify on Tuesday announced that an overhauled version of its Android application is now available for download in the Google Play marketplace. The up.
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It's official. The Android 4.0 over-the-wire update is now officially available for Samsung Galaxy S2 owners on T-Mobile. If you don't feel like waiting.
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Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Android Community

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Samsung Galaxy S III update rolling out in the UK

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 10:44 AM PDT

Those of you with the new flagship Samsung Galaxy S III smartphone will be happy to know the devices first update is rolling out today. It’s being reported throughout the UK and parts of Europe, and appears to be rather small. You’ll still be on Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich but should have some improved stability.

According to our sister site SlashGear, the update hit earlier this morning and should be rolling out to most Galaxy S III users although we’re getting reports that it’s not arriving for many. As usual you can wait for the over the air update, check for updates on the device yourself, or use Samsung Kies and a PC to manually update to the latest version.

Mainly Samsung is noting that the update will bring “stability improvements,” but we are also seeing brand new radios and a small kernel update so hopefully performance will be improved too. Although it certainly was not lacking during our review. Let us know how the update goes for you and if you notice anything different by dropping us a line below in the comments.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy S III
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : May 03, 2012
    Release Date : May 29, 2012
    Also Known As : The Next Galaxy, SGSIII
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.8 Inch
  • Resolution : 720x1280
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED HD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.37 Inch
  • Width : 2.77 Inch
  • Depth : 0.33 Inch
  • Weight : 133 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 2100 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.0.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU : Exynos 4 Quad
    CPU Clock Speed : 1400 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 1024 MB
    Internal Storage : 32 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

Verizon details Share Everything Plans – throws in free hotspots

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 09:58 AM PDT

Well guys, here they are. We knew they were coming but today the folks from Verizon Wireless have made it official. Announcing their new Share Everything plans with family and device-wide shared data options. First they took away unlimited data, and now they’ll be bumping up the price for most — although I’m sure some users will benefit from the changes. Read on below for full details on how your family can share a single line and data plan.

Verizon will be launching their brand new Share Everything Plans starting June 28th, and along with it the unlimited data option will disappear. It will be replaced by data plans that you can share with additional devices, but starts at 1GB for $50 — not cheap. One benefit here is all their plans will be moving to unlimited calls and texts, and the only limits will be placed on data usage. The other benefit here is you can share your plan with up to 10 additional devices (all for another fee sadly) and if you add a smartphone to the plan you get the hotspot feature for free — which also counts towards your data limit. Here’s the breakdown although you might be confused at first:

Essentially what you do is pick a data plan, starting at 1GB for $50 all the way to 10GB for $100 but I think 4GB for $70 is probably the (dare I say it) best deal. Then you chose what devices you have and add them in. So if you have two smartphones like the DROID RAZR or Galaxy Nexus, that is $40 each, then $70 to share 4GB data with both phones for a grand total of $150 per month. That gets you 4GB of data total, and unlimited everything else. If you want to add a tablet to that 4GB limit that will be an additional $10 a month. It all adds up quickly but for a medium sized family this could be a decent deal.

For me personally nothing on that list will match what I have now, but then I don’t have a family with 4 devices like many do. Verizon has also killed the unlimited data option all together, and from here on out the highest they’ll be offering is 10GB for $100, but you can add an additional 2GB for another $10 monthly. Is anyone confused yet? You can use up to 10 devices on any data plan, but each additional device is another fee, so that is where it racks up quickly. Here’s a quick video:

So what does everyone think? Are these deals worth it for couples or a family? For single device/line users It doesn’t look too great if you ask me, but then we do get unlimited calls and texts now. Drop us your thoughts below.


New Spotify for Android hits Google Play

Posted: 12 Jun 2012 04:45 AM PDT

Spotify has announced that it is pulling the covers off of its new app Spotify for Android. The new app is on Google Play right now and can be downloaded to your device. The new app has full support for Android 4.0 and a new slide out navigation pane. The app also offers cross fade/gapless playback settings for when you want to listen to lots of music with no interruption.

Other features include a widget to control Spotify from the Android home screen and playlist folders support. The app also offers social features that allow you to check out the profile pages and playlists of your friends. Artist imagery is offered in high resolution and the app has related artist view for the first time on mobile devices.

Spotify includes an “extreme” sound quality setting of 320 kbps for high-quality playback and has a play queue. As well as Last.fm scrobbling and promises to be much faster than previous versions.

Gustav Södertröm, VP Products at Spotify, said: "For all our Android users, this Spotify update is a huge leap forward. We've rebuilt it from top to bottom, making it faster, slicker and much better looking."

spot1 spotinfo spotstart P1090137


LG Optimus 4X HD quad-core available in Europe

Posted: 11 Jun 2012 04:55 PM PDT

While we are still waiting for some official details here stateside, if you’re in Europe the new NVIDIA Tegra 3-powered quad-core LG Optimus 4X HD is finally available starting today and has just launched acrossed Europe. It was just announced as officially available in Germany today.

Following the launch in Germany it will be available for those in the UK, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands will be able to pick one up, followed by Eastern Europe, South America, and Asia later on. That list doesn’t have the US anywhere but most likely we’ll be hearing more from LG USA here soon.

This is essentially LG’s new flagship phone complete with a 4.7-inch 720p IPS HD screen, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, NVIDIA’s quad-core Tegra 3 processor, 1GB of RAM, an 8 megapixel camera on the back and a hefty 2,140 mAh battery under the hood. Until we get our hands all over it we’ll reserve judgement against its rivals like the HTC One X or Galaxy S III but for now check out our hands-on from CTIA.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Optimus 4X HD
    Manufactuer : LG
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : February 22, 2012
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As : P880, X3
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.7 Inch
  • Resolution : 1280x720
  • Screen Type : IPS LCD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.21 Inch
  • Width : 2.68 Inch
  • Depth : 0.35 Inch
  • Weight : NA
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 2150 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
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 : Tegra 3
    CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 1000 MB
    Internal Storage : 16 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • A2DP
  • Bluetooth 4.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

[via SlashGear]


AT&T Galaxy S III shipping before June 21st

Posted: 11 Jun 2012 03:27 PM PDT

If you’ve been eying the brand new flagship Samsung Galaxy S III, and also happen to be an AT&T subscriber we have some potentially awesome news for you. While they announced the phone earlier this month and opened up pre-orders like all the others we sadly never got an actual release date. Some new details have appeared stating pre-orders will arrive on or before June 21st.

According to the folks at DroidMatters multiple AT&T Premiere customers that have pre-ordered the Galaxy S III are getting confirmations that the phone will not ship, but arrive on or possibly before June 21st. The image below explains it all and clearly lists the date in red:

June 21st is also the date T-Mobile will be launching their Galaxy S III, and we’ve heard similar dates floating around for Verizon but nothing has been confirmed from them yet. Either way it looks like the end of this month multiple people in the US will be loving their carrier branded Galaxy S III superphones. Hopefully Verizon comes out and officially announces their date next — we’ve been waiting patiently. At the end of the day we are just glad the SGSIII is being launched so quickly and even for the US, instead of coming months and months after the international model in 4 different variations. Well played Samsung!

[via Phandroid]

T-Mobile Galaxy S II update to ICS available tonight – only on a PC

Posted: 11 Jun 2012 02:58 PM PDT

In T-Mobile’s usual fashion they have updated their official support page today for their Samsung Galaxy S II, detailing the upgrade to Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich. At the first of the month they tweeted the update was coming on the 11th, but today its been confirmed. We do have some bad news however. The update won’t be offered over the air with a painless and easy update like most — More details below.

For some reason T-Mobile and Samsung have decided to not offer the update to Android 4.0 ICS for their Galaxy S II as an OTA (over the air) update like almost every other update to ICS. Instead users will only be able to upgrade using Samsung’s Kies software and a computer. While this is a fairly easy process it’s still a shame they’ve made this a requirement.

Most likely the reason behind this is the fact that the “optional” update will wipe out the homescreen and make users set up their devices again. I’d call this a recommended update more than optional, as Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich was a major improvement and all users should want to have it. The update will be available starting tonight from T-Mobile and Samsung at 11 PM EST / 8 PM PST.

Instructions:
– Download Samsung Kies (here)
– Install and open Kies on PC
– Enable USB debugging on phone in settings > menu > apps > development
– Connect phone via USB
– Click and accept the update
– Enjoy

As usual users should back up any important data from their phones or micro-SD card just as a precautionary measure to avoid accidental loss but the update should not wipe devices out. As the support pages mention above the home screen and all icons will be erased but the phones apps, contacts, and data should all remain post update. Let us know how it goes by leaving us a comment below after you’ve done the update and enjoy that Ice Cream Sandwich.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy S II (T-Mobile)
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : T-Mobile
    Announced Date : August 31, 2011
    Release Date : October 12, 2011
    Also Known As : Hercules
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.52 Inch
  • Resolution : 480x800
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED Plus
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.11 Inch
  • Width : 2.71 Inch
  • Depth : 0.37 Inch
  • Weight : 135 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 1850 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : 167 hours
Software
    Android OS:
  • 2.3.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • 3GP
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU : Qualcomm APQ8060
    CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1024 MB
    Internal Storage : 16.384 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 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 :
Posted by at 11:41 PM 0 comments
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