Monday, August 20, 2012

Android Central

Android Central

Motorola Xoom speaker docks on the cheap at Woot!

Posted: 19 Aug 2012 02:18 PM PDT

Xoom speaker dock

DoctorWu spotted a pair of Motorola Xoom docking stations nestled in Woot!'s sellout pages, and if you're using one of the original Android tablets it might be worth a look. The speaker dock features integrated speakers and an HDMI port, charges through pogo pins, and puts your Xoom at just the right angle for watching a video. It's available for just $17. The standard dock has pogo pin charging and a line out jack for external speakers or headphones, and checks in at just $8. Both offers expire August 21 at 9AM CT.

Either or both of these sound like a great deal, and your Xoom will love you more for it. Hit the source link for more info and ordering.

Source: Woot!; via Android Central forums

Here are your five lucky Android neon light winners

Posted: 19 Aug 2012 01:10 PM PDT

Step into the light

Remember when we were giving away five of those killer neon desk lamps shaped like bugdroid last week? Today's the day we announce the winners of what's probably the coolest thing you'll have in your house. After much deliberation the king of the Sea-Monkeys I keep in a Mason jar on the window sill has given me our winners, and here they are. Not really, we use a random number generator, but how cool would it be to have a talking Sea-Monkey king like the one on the box? Anyways, here's your winners.

Congrats ladies and/or gents, keep an eye on the inbox of the e-mail account you used to register for Android Central, because Michelle will be contacting you shortly about redeeming your prize. Let's all congratulate these fine folks, and get ready for the next contest from your pals at AC.

From the Editor's Desk: Discussions with devs; CM10 nightlies; Kate Upton, where were you?

Posted: 19 Aug 2012 10:24 AM PDT

Phil Nickinson

No rest for the weary, so here are a few quick hits to start the week:

  • Developers rock: A late-night quip on Google+ about how there are some good Android apps with horrible scrolling has turned into a pretty awesome discussion about how things work. My point is that scrolling is one of those basic things that most of us (at least those of us who don't code for fun or money) take for granted, but it's also more difficult to do well than you'd think. The developers of Carbon and Tweet Lanes weigh in. (And you get some insight into what's taking Carbon so long to be release, if you're curious.) Check out the whole thread here.
  • CM10 nightlies: Remember me? The guy too busy to put anything custom on his Galaxy Nexus, a process that takes all of 10 minutes? Well, I just slapped the first CyanogenMod 10 onto the Verizon Galaxy S3. Only took three flashes back to stock (thanks, Odin!). Guess I'm a little out of practice. I've used the New TouchWiz for a month or so now. It's been a while since I've run a CM ROM. The biggest thing I'm missing thus far is a good camera app. Samsung's just has far more features. (So do all the manufacturers' camera apps, actually.) It's only been a day, but overall, I"m liking what I'm seeing.
  • Google Play gift cards: Finally! This is a big deal, folks. Because the music labels and movie and television studios presumably are involved, this couldn't have been simple as ginning up some redeemable codes and putting them in stores. Let's just hope things don't go sour after someone thought it was a good idea to share how to redeem codes that you're not supposed to yet have in the first place. Unzipping a Google Play apk to see what's what is one thing. Telling folks how to purchase things with money they're not yet supposed to have access to to is another thing entirely and crosses a line.
  • The other Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 event: Apparently our invitation to the second GNote 10.1 event was lost in the mail. Don't get us wrong, it was a fine press event. I just think Samsung missed a golden opportunity to have some bloggers teach those models and celebrities a thing or two. That and Kate Upton kept texting, asking us where we were.
  • The NFL returns: Preseason sucks, but, man, I can taste it.

TTFN. It's back to work I go.

Sony Xperia SL gets official - 1.7GHz Snapdragon S3, coming in four colours

Posted: 19 Aug 2012 10:23 AM PDT

Android Central

After numerous leaks, Sony's Xperia SL (LT26ii) -- a refreshed version of the Xperia S -- is now listed as "coming soon" on the company's website. The site listing confirms earlier rumors that the phone's Snapdragon S3 CPU has been clocked to 1.7GHz (up from 1.5GHz), and that two new colors, grey and pink, will be available in addition to the Xperia S's black and white. On the software side, the Xperia SL comes with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box, so you won't need to worry about applying any updates when you first start the phone up.

We imagine the Xperia SL will be joined by a wide range of other Sony Xperia phones at the company's IFA press conference on Aug. 29. Naturally, we'll be live in Berlin to bring you full coverage.

Source: Sony, via: Engadget

Huawei P1 to be 'enhanced' as it arrives on UK shores

Posted: 19 Aug 2012 08:58 AM PDT

Android Central

We have only just got first UK availability of the Huawei Ascend P1 -- read our full review here -- but according to the fellas at Coolsmartphone it might just be about to get some improvements.

By the time it gets into UK Android fan hands, the P1 will definitely qualify as a mid-range handset. A dual-core device living in a quad-core world, but it doesn't mean it isn't a perfectly capable smartphone. Apparently the UK version is to be given a more "premium" feel -- whatever that entails -- and the battery will actually be an 1800mAh powerplant. Not the 1670mAh we saw in our review unit and in the one listed for sale at Clove Technology. Considering we already spoke pretty highly of battery life on the P1, an additional bit of juice can be no bad thing. 

Source: Coolsmartphone

Sprint Motorola Photon Q available today for $199

Posted: 19 Aug 2012 05:49 AM PDT

Sprint Motorola Photon Q

Just a quick heads up that the Sprint Motorola Photon Q is available today for $199 with a two-year contract. If you've yet to do so (slacker), be sure to check out our hands-on with the Photon Q (we'll have a more thorough review this week), but already it's shaping up to be a solid slider from Moto, with Ice Cream Sandwich and a new UI.

It's also important to remember that this is a world phone, so you business types who have been longing for something with a keyboard that'll work outside the states have something new to consider. And it's also worth noting that the Photon Q is the first to take advantage of Motorola's new bootloader unlocking tool -- a tool of which we've already availed ourselves -- so you hacker types can have your way with it, too.

So ... who's buying?

Snapshot: Verizon Galaxy S3 captures lightning strikes [from the forums]

Posted: 18 Aug 2012 06:20 PM PDT

Lightning Strikes.

That the Samsung Galaxy S3 has a great camera is hardly a secret. But just how fast is that burst mode? Android Forums member BasPilot says he took nearly 2,000 pics of a recent storm in burst mode and got 25 or so good ones. Never mind the percentage on that one. Any good photog knows to just keep shooting. (This is the digital age, after all.)

Even better is that BasPilot's sharing a few of his captures in the forums. Hit the link below to check 'em out.

More: Caught Lightning in Action

read more
Posted by at 5:46 AM 0 comments

Google Android News Android Forums

Google Android News Android Forums

DROID RAZR HD Video Tutorials Leak Ahead of Next Month’s Unveiling

Posted: 19 Aug 2012 02:14 PM PDT

We will probably get to see a lot more of the Motorola DROID RAZR HD on September 5th, but new tutorial videos have been posted by a YouTube user named revowii. These four video tutorials show you how to make calls and send texts, setup an email account, device basics, and setting up WiFi. They seem legitimate as they appear to be from Motorola. Not surprisingly, the DROID RAZR HD will sport the same Ice Cream Sandwich UI as the Atrix HD and Photon Q 4G LTE. Hit the break to check them out.

Using Your Device

Click here to view the embedded video.

 

Make Calls and Send Texts

Click here to view the embedded video.

 

Setup Email

Click here to view the embedded video.

 

Setup WiFi

Click here to view the embedded video.

 

Are you excited after watching these videos? Want to know more? We’ll be there on September 5th to report all the juicy details.

 

Source: Droid-Life

 

New info on Heroes of Order & Chaos MOBA game from Gameloft, scheduled for October release

Posted: 19 Aug 2012 12:42 PM PDT

Gameloft revealed details about their forthcoming multi-player online battle arena (MOBA) game Heroes of Order & Chaos. Heroes will be a free-to-play online game in the tradition of typical MOBA games. Players will join together in teams of 3-5 players to battle other teams with the same goal – destroy the enemy's base. Players will be able to control NPC characters as they push through the arena, destroy towers, collect loot, and help the player power up. The arena will have three major "lanes," a river and landmarks.

Gameloft has promised a roster of thirty heroes will be available for players to use, with six heroes available per week. The heroes available in any given week will rotate, but players will be able to buy "off-season" heroes.

Because players will be using smartphones and tablets, Gameloft had to give some thought to creating new control schemes for players. A virtual thumbstick will be available for the left hand and used to control the player's character. The right hand will have access to an attack button and hotkeys for other actions that will line the right hand edge of the screen. Gameloft also introduced some new features to address controller-less devices like an auto-attack option and lock on target. These will let players continue their attacks while checking things like the mini-map.

Heroes of Order & Chaos is scheduled to be released on October 11, 2012, for both iOS and Android devices.

source: IGN

360 Degree Images of the Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G Appear

Posted: 19 Aug 2012 12:28 PM PDT

Recently the Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G became official thanks to a leaked T-Mobile internal training doc. Well, Samsung went ahead and posted somewhat of a 360 degree view of the up-and-coming 4G smartphone. The images don’t yield any real surprises, in fact, the device looks pretty standard at best. Actually, the more I look at it, the more I see a phone that resembles the Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G (currently in T-Mobiles lineup). In terms of specs and a release date, we still don’t have anything concrete, but we will let you know as soon as we have more information.

source: TmoNews

Google Play Gift Cards Could Land In Stores On August 26th

Posted: 19 Aug 2012 12:15 PM PDT

We recently reported that Google Play gift cards would soon be available, and today we have more information to back this up. According to this internal image from Target, we could see the gift cards arriving by August 26th. From the looks of it, Target’s current gift card displays should have two open pegs in anticipation of this launch date.

So, are you itching to get your hands on one of these guys? I can tell you right now, as soon as they’re available I’m getting one just to keep in my wallet!

source: Android Police

$250 Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 Student Edition Bundle Available Today

Posted: 18 Aug 2012 10:17 PM PDT

Samsung is now offering the Student Edition Bundle of the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 for $250 in a handful of stores, including Best Buy, Amazon, Costco, and others. The price is a good deal, saving $100 versus buying all the parts separately.

The bundle will be available from now until September 1st, and it includes an 8GB Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 in limited edition white, a keyboard dock, and a USB adapter that supports plugging in USB thumb drives and other peripherals. Polaris Office will also come pre-installed, which will come in handy for students.

Google’s Nexus 7 is also a great low-cost student option if you don’t need a microSD slot or a rear camera like the Galaxy Tab has. The Galaxy also has an IR blaster, and for only $50 more than the Nexus 7, the Student Bundle is a great choice.

Hit the break for Samsung’s press release.

SAMSUNG Brings the Galaxy Tab 2 Back to School with Student Edition Bundle adding Keyboard Dock and USB Adapter at no Extra Cost

For Two Weeks Only Beginning 8/19, Bundle delivering $100 in added value to be available at participating retailers

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J., August 17, 2012 – Samsung Electronics America Inc., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today announces that its Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 device will be available in a special Student Edition, beginning 8/19 and for two weeks only. The Special Edition includes a Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 in a unique white color, a keyboard dock and USB adapter in the box – a retail value of $350 – for an SRP of just $249.99.

Students will realize substantial benefits from the bundle, which will add a physical keyboard to the device as well as a USB adapter that supports plugging in USB thumb drives as well as peripherals such USB mice. With these accessories and the preloaded Polaris Office, the Galaxy Tab 2 is perfect for typing research reports or even creating presentations. In addition, the multimedia features on the Galaxy Tab 2 are perfect for enjoying movies and music.

"The education market is a significant priority for Samsung, and we are very pleased to deliver a bundle that is sure to be appealing to just about any student at a very competitive price point," explained Travis Merrill, Director of Marketing, Galaxy Tab, Samsung Electronics America. "A busy student can achieve a PC-like setup in the dorm room, yet still pop the Galaxy Tab 2 out of the dock and slip it into a pocket for usage while on the go. It truly is the smarter way to learn."

The special packaging for the new bundle also includes an insert with a series of recommended cool educational apps from Google Play.

Galaxy Tab 2 – Powerful, Smart, Easy to Use

The Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 is a powerful dual-core tablet running Android 4.0. The devices features an integrated IR blaster for universal remote capabilities, as well as an easily accessible memory card slot for convenient loading of multimedia files in a range of supported file formats.

The tablet also offers endless content access in a sleek design that can maximize the home entertainment experience. The Smart Remote App and built-in IR Blaster turns the Tab 2 into a universal smart remote, helping users easily find their favorite shows. Users can choose from over 450,000 apps, surf millions of web pages with Adobe Flash™ support, and access favorite movies and TV shows from Google Play or Media Hub.

In addition, the Galaxy Tab 2 is fully Google certified for complete access to Google Play and is competitively priced at $249.99, so students don't need to compromise when selecting a tablet.

The bundle will be available while supplies last, from 8/19 through 9/1. Participating retailers include Best Buy, Amazon, Tiger Direct, Costco and Fry's.

Could This Galaxy S III Look-a-like be the New Galaxy Media Player?

Posted: 18 Aug 2012 09:20 PM PDT

If this isn’t Samsung’s newest Galaxy Media Player then honestly, we don’t know what it is. It looks as if it’s sharing the bezel and overall design of the Galaxy S III while also sharing most of the same widgets and applications. The new media player will rock an eye-popping 5.8 inch screen – a full inch larger than the Galaxy S III (measured diagonally).  However, it will sport only a qHD (960 x 540) TFT LCD display, so images won’t appear as crisp as on the Galaxy S III. As far as muscle, we’re looking at a 1GHz dual-core processor, which is plenty for most people, especially when compared to other competition out there.

One feature of note is the stereo speakers found on the player which will make it more usable in noisier environments.  Other disappointments include the fairly lackluster 3.0 megapixel camera and the fact that it comes with Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich.  However, this shouldn’t hinder most buyers who are in the market for such a device.  Unlike the Galaxy S III, this new Galaxy media player will in fact come in black from the onset rather than waiting a few months after launch.  The player hasn’t been officially announced yet so obviously launch specifics aren’t known at this time.

source:  sammobile

 

 

 

 

 
Posted by at 5:37 AM 0 comments

Android Community

Android Community

ASUS Transformer Pad 300 getting Android 4.1 Jelly Bean today

Posted: 18 Aug 2012 11:44 AM PDT

Great news for all the Transformer owners this weekend. ASUS has officially started the update rollout of Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean for the ASUS Transformer Pad TF300. We are still waiting for it to arrive for our tablet here, but we’ve received multiple reports confirming the update is in fact live. Get ready for that Jelly Bean.

From the multiple tips we’ve received this afternoon (thanks guys) to the folks over at XDA Developers this is in fact available now. ASUS said it was coming, but it’s already here. It appears that multiple users across the US have already been updated as of late last night to Jelly Bean.

ASUS worked closely with Google on the Nexus 7 tablet so it only makes sense they’d be the first to update to the new and improved OS, not to mention ASUS has been on the top of their game with updates as of late. They were extremely quick to Ice Cream Sandwich, and now the same is happening with Jelly Bean. ASUS has confirmed Android 4.1 for the Transformer Prime, Infinity 700 series soon, as well as the TF300 getting it today. Most likely the original will still get updated too, but is last on their list.

According to the official ASUS Facebook page, the update is rolling out today for North America, but that doesn’t include Canada. Android 4.1 Jelly Bean brings all the awesome new notification features, Google Now, and everything else we loved in our Nexus 7 Jelly Bean Review. The update should be arriving for all you TF300 users as we speak, so I’d be checking for updates right about now. Enjoy and let us know how you like that Jelly Bean running on the Tegra 3 quad-core.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Transformer Pad 300
    Manufactuer : Asus
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : February 27, 2012
    Release Date : April 22, 2012
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 10.1 Inch
  • Resolution : 1280x800
  • Screen Type : IPS LCD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 10.35 Inch
  • Width : 7.12 Inch
  • Depth : 0.39 Inch
  • Weight : 635 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Polymer
  • Battery Capacity : mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.0.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU : Tegra 3
    CPU Clock Speed : 1400 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 1024 MB
    Internal Storage : 16 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • 1080p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
    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:
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :
Posted by at 12:12 AM 0 comments
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