Android Central

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• The case for the 8GB Nexus 4
• Don't buy the 8GB Nexus 4
• FWIW: Samsung Galaxy Nexus removed from the Google Play Store
• Pandora hits version 4.0 with completely new UI
• FYI: The Nexus 4 rocks 42 Mbps
• Rovio releases first Angry Birds Star Wars gameplay trailer
• Nexus 4 vs. iPhone 5 - spec shoot-out
• NFC sharing between Android and Windows Phone 8
• LG Nexus 4 Gallery
• Nexus 10 vs. iPad 4 - spec shoot-out
• Android 4.2 is here, and it has a whole bunch of new features
• Nexus 10 Gallery
• Nexus 10 Specs
• Google Now adds a slew of new trackable features
• Google Play Music coming to Europe on Nexus launch day
• LG Nexus 4 versus the iPhone 5 (and others!) in an epic spec battle
• Google releases Photo Sphere panorama mode promo video
• Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 priced and dated in the UK
• Nexus 10 and Nexus 4 pages show up in Google Play Store
• LG Nexus 4 specs
• The next wave: Google refreshes its Nexus line
• 3G HSPA+ Nexus 7 with 32 GB storage announced for $299
• Google's Nexus event won't be rescheduled
• T-Mobile getting its own 16GB Nexus 4 for $199 on contract
• Nexus 10 is official - coming Nov. 13, starting at $399

The case for the 8GB Nexus 4 Posted: 29 Oct 2012 05:03 PM PDT Why spend an extra $50 and still not have enough space on your smartphone when it comes with Google's cloud?  When you visit Google's Nexus 4 page and click on the "Shop now" link, it takes you straight to the 8GB version. (Go straight from the Play Store and you get 16GB. Go figure.) There's a reason for this, they want you to see you can buy the smartphone with the best specs available for (a whole dollar) under $300. That puts the Nexus 4 squarely into the impulse buy realm, and serves as a notice to other people selling phones for a whole lot more. It's $400 dollars cheaper than the closest competitor, and that means something. Read on. read more

Don't buy the 8GB Nexus 4 Posted: 29 Oct 2012 03:23 PM PDT An 8GB Nexus 4 for $299 sounds great. But you know what's better? Not running out of space for all your crap. When you click on the LG Nexus 4 in the Google Play devices store, you're taken to the 16GB version by default. There's a reason for that. The cheaper 8GB model is a loss leader, something to grab headlines, but not a product Google wants you to buy. And in our opinion, it's not something you should buy if you care about getting the most out of your next phone. The Nexus 4 is a technological beast. With a quad-core Snapdragon S4 inside, 2GB of RAM, a 1280x768 IPS display and the latest version of Android, the fact that you can pick one up for under $300 is just a little mind-blowing. But Google had to skimp somewhere, and like the $200 Nexus 7, Nexus 4's internal storage was sacrificed in order to keep costs down. Read on to find out why you should stump up the extra fifty bucks for the 16GB model. read more

FWIW: Samsung Galaxy Nexus removed from the Google Play Store Posted: 29 Oct 2012 03:16 PM PDT If, for whatever reason, you were hoping Google might keep the Samsung Galaxy Nexus hanging around the Google Play Store at a lower price, we have some bad news for you. After the official announcement of the Nexus 4, Google promptly removed the Samsung Galaxy Nexus from the site, making it no longer available for purchase. If you want one now, you'll have to look toward other providers or start hitting up those daily deal sites where they might start appearing super cheap.

Pandora hits version 4.0 with completely new UI Posted: 29 Oct 2012 02:53 PM PDT Pandora has actually undergone quite a bit of change lately. After making notable changes to the app's UI just over two months ago, Pandora has gone back to the drawing board yet again. The new version 4.0 UI is coming to both Android and iOS with a whole host of changes, although curiously the Android update will be here "in the coming weeks". We've just got the official press shots of the UI to work with here, but it looks really nice. Pandora has gone to a completely "holo" looking design with tabs at the top, and an action bar with an overflow settings key and other action buttons. Extra functionality has been added in the form of new artist pages and improvements in your ability to make a personal music profile for better discovery. As we noted, the update isn't live quite yet. You can hit up the Play Store link above and hopefully we'll be able to download version 4.0 soon. We've also got the press release for the latest update after the break. Source: Pandora read more

FYI: The Nexus 4 rocks 42 Mbps Posted: 29 Oct 2012 02:23 PM PDT There's been some banter in our Nexus 4 forums regarding data on the Nexus 4. For those who were still wondering, the new LG Nexus 4 rocks HSPA+ at 42 Mbps. So if you're in a T-Mobile coverage area that supports those speeds, you should get those speeds. Google's got it listed in its press site specs, though the specs on the Play Store page only list 21 Mbps. (TmoNews says it's confirmed 42 Mbps as well.) As a recap, here's what we're looking at for network specs: Unlocked GSM/UMTS/HSPA+ GSM/EDGE/GPRS (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) 3G (850, 900, 1700, 1900, 2100 MHz) HSPA+ 42 Mbps Source: Google; More: Nexus 4 forums

Rovio releases first Angry Birds Star Wars gameplay trailer Posted: 29 Oct 2012 01:55 PM PDT Angry Birds Star Wars is inching ever-closer to its November 8 launch, and today they've shown a little bit more than their usual cutesy teasers. The first glimpses of Angry Birds Star Wars gameplay shows a cool secondary effect whereby the red bird Luke Skywalker can mow down structures by whirling a lightsaber about while along its collision course. Meanwhile the pink bird Princess Leia can call down laser fire as she makes her descent. AT-AT walkers on Hoth and Tusken raiders on Tatooine also make a short appearance.  As played-out out as both Star Wars and Angry Birds merchandising may be, they're both highly-valuable brands, and it's not a huge surprise to see their creators milking either one for all they're worth.  So, any Angry Birds players digging the new look? What about you, Star Wars fans? Does a Millenium Falcon with a slingshot on top compel you to check out the next Angry Birds?  read more

Nexus 4 vs. iPhone 5 - spec shoot-out Posted: 29 Oct 2012 01:26 PM PDT We've lined up the Samsung Nexus 10 with the latest and greatest tablets out there, but how does the LG Nexus 4 compare to its competition? Of course we line up the Nexus 4 against other big-name Android devices, like the Samsung Galaxy S3 and HTC One X, but the iPhone 5 is probably the more interesting comparison. Windows Phone fans can also see how their Nokia Lumia 920 shapes up, and BlackBerry? Well... We'll have to wait until early next year to find out. The Nexus 4 beats out the iPhone 5 in screen resolution, and only at a slight cost to pixel density. On local storage, the iPhone 5 has a bit of a lead; neither support microSD, and Apple's offering additional 32 GB and 64 Gb denominations. The iPhone 5 also takes the lead in cellular connectivity thanks to LTE. The iPhone 5 is slimmer, lighter, and has a smaller overall footprint, though the LG Nexus 4 has a significantly bigger battery, plus that cool inductive charging technology and NFC.   Android 4.2 Jelly Bean is certainly looking nice, though we'll have to reserve judgment until we really get our hands on it. On paper, the LG Nexus 4 has an uphill battle, but we all know that phones are more than a spec sheet. How all of the device's disparate parts come together will be what really counts, and we'll be finding out .  Is anyone sold on the Nexus 4? What should LG and Google have included that is noticeably absent? How does it shape up against the other Android smartphones out there? via: iMore More: LG Nexus 4 forums

NFC sharing between Android and Windows Phone 8 Posted: 29 Oct 2012 01:08 PM PDT Android has supported NFC (near-field communication) technology since Gingerbread, and Android Beam has enabled easy URL, app and contact sharing since ICS launched last year. But our friends in the Windows Phone world are just now getting their first introduction to NFC in the latest windows Phone 8 release. In addition to a new NFC-enabled wallet, WP8 includes "tap + send" support, which enables Android Beam-like functionality between NFC-enabled Windows phones. But because it's a multi-platform standard, many of these features work just fine between Windows Phone 8 and Android, as you'll see in our demo video below. We tried bouncing web pages and contacts back and forth between a Samsung Galaxy Nexus and an HTC 8X, and were able to do so without a hint of trouble. Unfortunately, NFC file transfers remain off-limits for the time being, so if you want to share photos over NFC, it's strictly Windows-to-Windows or Android-to-Android. Check out our quick video demo below to learn more. More: Windows Phone 8 launch coverage at WPCentral read more

LG Nexus 4 Gallery Posted: 29 Oct 2012 01:02 PM PDT The 4.7-inch Nexus 4 from LG is officially official as of today, packing a Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, 16Gb of storage and 2GB of RAM while running on a fresh version of Jelly Bean - Android 4.2. Check past the break for the image gallery of the LG Nexus 4. read more

Nexus 10 vs. iPad 4 - spec shoot-out Posted: 29 Oct 2012 12:45 PM PDT So, now that the Samsung Nexus 10 has been announced, how does it stack up against the competition? The big tablet to beat right now is the 4th-generation iPad, and as you can tell by the tale of the tape, it's a close race. We also line up the Nexus 10 against the new Microsoft Surface, the BlackBerry PlayBook, and the lower-end Kindle Fire HD 8.9 for good measure.  iOS 6 versus Android 4.2 is a hard comparison to make just yet, but there are a lot of cool new features coming in the latest version of Jelly Bean that stand a good chance of blowing iOS 6 out of the water. Apple's latest mobile operating system only just added panorama photography, while Google's Sphere Photos add a whole new dimension to the idea. The QR code-dependent Passbook might be a bit more widely-accepted than NFC-based Android equivalents, but at least Android still has rock-solid Google Maps and built-in YouTube support. We'll have more on Android 4.2 once we get our hands on it.   The 10-inch 2560 x 1600 display on the N10 soundly beats out the 2048 x 1536 display on the new iPad. There's no cellular version of the Nexus 10 just yet, so the iPad gets a bit of an edge in that department. I'd say The Nexus 10 makes up for it with the inclusion of NFC, though. Video-out options are nice and open standards like DLNA and HDMI, unlike the iPad 4's proprietary AirPlay and wire adapters. Weight and dimensions are nearly the same, though the Nexus 10 is marginally slimmer and lighter. It looks like the iPad 4 has a slightly larger battery (11,666 mAh according to reports last year), though we'll have to wait and see how that trannslates to real-world usage.  Of course, there's also the difference in price; the Nexus 10 is starting at $100 less than the iPad 4, which may be a decider for many shoppers. In any case, that's just a bird's eye view of how the Nexus 10 stacks up on paper. Which spec difference are most striking to you? (Oh, also, don't be shy about letting us know if any of these specs are off.)  Via: iMore

Android 4.2 is here, and it has a whole bunch of new features Posted: 29 Oct 2012 12:16 PM PDT With the huge bunch of Nexus news today, it almost seems as though the latest release of Android, 4.2 Jelly Bean, hasn't gotten too much press. Rest assured, Google still packed a whole bunch of new features into the latest Android release. Photo Sphere: A new way to capture panorama photos, Photo Sphere creates huge multi-shot scrollable images very similar to those found in Google Maps Street View. Gesture Typing: Lots of comparisons being made to the third party Swype keyboard, and rightfully so. You can now type by tracing the words on the keyboard with a single finger. Multiple User Support: A feature that many people have been asking for, Android 4.2 now supports multiple user logins on a single tablet device. Widgets, wallpapers and even game save states are all tied to the unique user logins. Wireless Screen Sharing: Watch YouTube videos, movies and anything that's on your screen to an HDTV with a wireless HDMI adapter. Daydream: Setup your tablet to display photos, news and more while the device is idle or docked. Expandable, Actionable Notifications: First introduced in Android 4.1, improved in Android 4.2. Interact with apps directly from the notification pane. Google Now: A headline feature coming with the first release of Jelly Bean, Google Now is getting revamped with new kinds of cards and improved interactions. We can't wait to get our hands on Android 4.2 and explore these new improvements. Until then, check out our continuing coverage of the Nexus line refresh and join the conversation in our forums. Source: Android More: LG Nexus 4 Forums

Nexus 10 Gallery Posted: 29 Oct 2012 12:09 PM PDT Today Google announced the new Nexus 10 tablet from Samsung that offers both 16GB and 32GB versions on its brilliant 2560 x 1600 10-inch display. Set to launch on November 13 around the globe, the Nexus 10 will come stock with Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean). Check past the break for the complete gallery of Nexus 10 images. read more

Nexus 10 Specs Posted: 29 Oct 2012 11:49 AM PDT Here are the complete specs of the Nexus 10: Display: 10.055” 2560 x 1600 (300 ppi) WQXGA, HD PLS w/ Corning Gorilla Glass 2 Dimensions: 6.99 in (177.6 mm) x 10.39 in (263.9 mm) x 0.35 in (8.9 mm) Weight: 1.33 lbs (603 g) Camera (Main): 5MP, 1080p video Camera (Front): 1.9MP, 720p video Memory: 16 GB or 32 GB Processor: Dual-core A15 Eagle GPU: Mali T604 RAM: 2GB OS: Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) Battery: 9,000 mAh Lithium Polymer Wireless Dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (MIMO+HT40) Dual-side NFC (Android Beam) Micro HDMI 3.5mm headphone jack Bluetooth Sensors Accelerometer, Compass, Ambient light, Gyroscope, Pressure, GPS Standby: up to 500 hours Music playback: up to 90 hours Video playback: up to 9 hours Web browsing: up to 7 hours

Google Now adds a slew of new trackable features Posted: 29 Oct 2012 11:49 AM PDT Google Now just got even more useful, adding a number of new things it can keep an eye out for through your Gmail account. That includes flights (you can see my hop out of NYC was canceled), restaurant reservations, hotel confirmations, events and packages. Basically, it's getting really close to mimicking a lot of what apps like Tripit and Slice can do. Also in the update are some new cards, such as nearby attractions and photo spots, movie openings, concerts and more, Google says. Plus, there are new voice actions for launching apps, scheduling meetings and checking on upcoming appointments. This is all part of the Android 4.2 improvements, as well. Have a look in Google Play and get your upgrade on!

Google Play Music coming to Europe on Nexus launch day Posted: 29 Oct 2012 10:49 AM PDT Warner Music Group artists also coming to Play Music Google has announced that its Google Play Music service will be coming to European shores on Nov. 13, which also happens to be the day Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 arrive internationally. Initially, users in the U.K, France, Germany, Italy and Spain will be able to add up to 20,000 songs, just like U.S. customers, and music purchases will be supported in Europe too. An iTunes Match-style music matching service will be available in Europe at launch, with the U.S. following later. That means there's a viable alternative to manually uploading all your songs. What's more, Warner Music Group artists will be available on Google Play Music too, meaning all the major record labels are now represented on Google's music service. It's great to see the full Google Play Music experience finally arriving in Europe. Looks like international readers will have a lot to look forward to come Nov. 13!

LG Nexus 4 versus the iPhone 5 (and others!) in an epic spec battle Posted: 29 Oct 2012 10:46 AM PDT OK, ladies and germs. You want specs, you got specs. Here we have the new LG Nexus 4 versus the iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S3, HTC One X, iPhone 5, Nokia Lumia 920 and (ha!) the BlackBerry 10. Full version's here if you get tired of squinting.

Google releases Photo Sphere panorama mode promo video Posted: 29 Oct 2012 10:44 AM PDT One of the new features of Android 4.2 and the Nexus 4 is a camera mode called "Photo Sphere". This new camera mode, shown off in a quick promotional video from Google, is a mash-up of the traditional panorama mode offered starting in Android 4.0, and something like a "Gigapan" photo. Basically, the Photo Sphere overlays a UI with a starting point for you to take your first photo. After it is taken, It'll give you another point of reference to take a photo that is overlapping onto the first. Over and over you take pictures that overlap one another until you have a large area covered. It takes some time to render, but you are then presented with a large scrollable panoramic image that will remind you of street view in Google Maps. It's quite an interesting idea, and we can't wait to get our hands on it. More: LG Nexus 4 Forums

Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 priced and dated in the UK Posted: 29 Oct 2012 10:01 AM PDT Google's just updated the Google Play devices store in the UK, with official pricing for the new Nexus 4 phone and Nexus 10 tablet, both of which land in the U.K., U.S. and other territories on Nov. 13. Nexus 4 - £239 for 8GB, £279 for 16GB Nexus 10 - £319 for 16GB, £389 for 32GB Nexus 4 will be available first in the U.S., U.K., Australia, France, Germany, Spain and Canada. Nexus 10 launch territories are U.S., U.K., Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Canada and Japan.

Nexus 10 and Nexus 4 pages show up in Google Play Store Posted: 29 Oct 2012 09:57 AM PDT Eager to get in on the newly-announced Google Nexus 10? How about the Google Nexus 4? You're in luck!  Both the  tablet and the phone just popped up in the Google Play store. All you can really do right now is drool at the pictures and specs, or sign up for e-mail updates, but hey, that should keep most of us busy for the rest of the afternoon.  Just in case you need a reminder, the Wi-Fi-only Nexus 10 is launching November 13 starting at $399 ($499 for the 32 GB version). The specs? 10-inch 2560 x 1600 display Dual-core A15 processor with 2 GB of RAM Android 4.2 Jelly Bean 9000 mAh battery 5 megapixel camera plus 1.9 megapixel camera on the front As for the Nexus 4... 4.7-inch 1280 x 768 display S4 Snapdragon processor Android 4.2 Jelly Bean 2100 mAh battery 8 megapixel camera with 1.3 megapixel camera on the front They're both looking pretty sweet, eh? So, who's in? Is the price right?  More: LG Nexus 4 forums

LG Nexus 4 specs Posted: 29 Oct 2012 09:51 AM PDT Complete specs of the Google Nexus 4 by LG: SCREEN: 4.7" diagonal; 1280 x 768 pixel resolution (320 ppi); WXGA IPS; Corning(R) Gorilla(R) Glass 2 CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon(TM) S4 Pro SIZE: 133.9 x 68.7 x 9.1 mm WEIGHT: 139g CAMERAS: 8 MP (main); 1.3 MP (front) NETWORK: Unlocked GSM/UMTS/HSPA+; GSM/EDGE/GPRS (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); 3G (850, 900, 1700, 1900, 2100 MHz); HSPA+ 21 MEMORY: 16 GB internal storage (actual formatted capacity will be less); 2 GB RAM CONNECTIVITY: Micro USB; SlimPort HDMI; 3.5mm headphone jack WIRELESS: Wireless charging WiFi: 802.11 b/g/n NFC: (Android Beam) BATTERY: 2,100 mAh Lithium polymer OS: Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) SENSORS: Microphone; Accelerometer; Compass; Ambient light; Gyroscope; Barometer; GPS

The next wave: Google refreshes its Nexus line Posted: 29 Oct 2012 09:38 AM PDT There won't be a launch event, but that doesn't mean launches aren't happening. Google today announced a new Nexus phone, along with a new tablet -- and updated a current one. Here's the breakdown of what you need to know: Nexus 4 by LG: There's not a whole lot about this phone we didn't know, but it's now official. You'll be able to get an unlocked Nexus 4 starting Nov. 13. There's an 8GB version for $299, and a 16GB version for $349. There currently are no LTE versions, but it's coming to T-Mo U.S. on contract. UK prices start at £239. Nexus 7 refreshed: This guy's been around for a few months now. The bottom end is now a 16GB version for $199, and 32GB for $249. You can find it in various retailers already. Nexus 10 announced: Samsung's back with a 10-inch Nexus tablet. Pure Google. It's running $399 for a 16GB version, and $499 for a 32GB model. It'll be available Nov. 13 in the U.S., UK, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Canada and Japan. In the UK, prices start at £319. Android 4.2: And, of course, we've got a new update to Android. It's still called Jelly Bean. New features include "photo sphere" for the camera, which basically is a 360-degree panorama. The keyboard's gained gesture typing and improved prediction. There's a new "Daydream" feature for when your device is docked. Tablets get support for multiple users. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

3G HSPA+ Nexus 7 with 32 GB storage announced for $299 Posted: 29 Oct 2012 09:37 AM PDT   We've been seeing lots of signs that a 32 GB model of Google's Nexus 7 was going to be announced, and today it's been officially announced. A nice little surprise in the announcement is that the new Nexus 7 also has 3G of the HSPA+ variety built in, compatible with the Three network in the UK, AT&T in the U.S, and plenty of other networks worldwide.  The U.S. version of the 32 GB Nexus 7 with HSPA+ connectivity will cost $299 and work on AT&T's network, or you can skip the cellular data and save fifty bucks. The UK model will be available for £199 starting at 4:30 PM today. Those in U.S., U.K., Australia, France, Germany, Spain and Canada be able to order unlocked devices right from Google starting November 13. So, who's biting?

Google's Nexus event won't be rescheduled Posted: 29 Oct 2012 09:31 AM PDT This kinda goes without saying, but Google's made it official -- it won't be rescheduling the "Playground" event that was supposed to happen today in New York City. Too bad, but weather happens.

T-Mobile getting its own 16GB Nexus 4 for $199 on contract Posted: 29 Oct 2012 09:28 AM PDT For you folks on T-Mobile looking to save a little bit of cash, you'll be able to pick up a 16-gigabyte Nexus 4 for $199 on contract. You'll be signing away two years of your smartphone life, for a phone you can get outright for just $349, but at least it's an option. It'll be available online starting Nov. 13, and in stores Nov. 14. T-Mobile also announced it'll carry the Nexus 7 tablet.

Nexus 10 is official - coming Nov. 13, starting at $399 Posted: 29 Oct 2012 09:22 AM PDT Hey, look at that. There's the Samsung Nexus 10 tablet, also sporting Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The tablet's rocking a 10-inch 2560x1600 PLS display, as rumored, and is due to launch on Nov. 13 in U.S., U.K., Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Canada and Japan. A 16GB Nexus 10 is yours for $399; 32GB for $499. Google says it's going to be the ultimate tablet for watching movies or reading magazines, with 9 hours of video playback or 500 hours of standby on a single charge. And with the user-switching features of Android 4.2, the company says it's a truly shareable tablet. The Nexus 10 weighs in at 603 grams, and measuring just 8.9mm thick, with a curved, metallic textured back and front-facing stereo speakers. The tablet's powered by Samsung's Exynos 4 SoC, which incorporates a beastly Mali 604 GPU With all the new stuff coming in Android 4.2, and the new Google Play services launching in the weeks ahead, it's an exciting time in the world of Android.

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Android Community

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• LG Nexus 4, Samsung Galaxy Note II included in T-Mobile’s holiday line up
• Google outs more information on Android 4.2 Photo Spheres
• Android 4.2 Jelly Bean detailed
• Google Nexus 10 officially unveiled
• Nexus 4 announced, coming November 13
• Chrono Trigger finally arrives on Android
• Video of LG Nexus 4 with Android 4.2 leaks online
• Walmart jumps on the 32GB Nexus 7 bandwagon
• Most US cell carriers announce plans for hurricane and offers tips for preparedness
• Nexus 7 tablets sold out on Google Play
• AUO’s new 4.46-inch display has worlds narrowest bezel
• 32GB Nexus 7 price confirmed at Office Depot
• Android Community Weekly: October 28th, 2012

LG Nexus 4, Samsung Galaxy Note II included in T-Mobile’s holiday line up Posted: 29 Oct 2012 11:11 AM PDT It was just a little while ago that Google finally announced the LG-made Nexus 4, and T-Mobile has wasted no time getting us a list of devices it will be offering this holiday season. The list features a number of different devices covering both Windows Phone 8 and Android, and as you may have already guessed, the Nexus 4 is one of the stars on the list. T-Mobile takes pride in pointing out that it’s one of Google’s “premier launch partners” for the Nexus 4, so if you’re a T-Mobile customer, you can be one of the first to get your hands on the shiny new handset. Why would you want to do that? Because not only does the Nexus 4 have an impressive list of specs, but it’s also running Android 4.2 out of the box. We’ve talked plenty about Android 4.2 already today, and it’s safe to say that the new version of Jelly Bean is something to get pumped about. From photo spheres to gesture typing, Android 4.2 definitely has a bunch of cool features on offer. T-Mobile says that the Nexus 4, which features a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM under the hood, will be available in select stores and online starting on November 14. It’ll cost you $199.99 on the company’s value plan, which will have you paying $20 a month for 20 months with a two-year agreement and a qualifying voice or data plan. On the flip side, you can get the Nexus 4 for $199.99 on T-Mobile’s classic plan, and again, that requires your signature on a two-year agreement and a qualifying voice or data plan. T-Mobile also reminded us today that the Samsung Galaxy Note II will be available at its stores and online during the holiday season, setting you back $249.99 on its value plan or $369.99 if you opt for the classic plan. Make no mistake, you’ll have your choice of some excellent Android handsets if you’re shopping at T-Mobile, and the price of the Note II on the company’s value plan certainly isn’t anything to stick your nose up at. Will you be going through T-Mobile to get either the Note II or the Nexus 4 this holiday season? Story Timeline Samsung Galaxy Note II review via SlashGear T-Mobile offers Galaxy Note II, but they want $70 more than AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note II Review [T-Mobile] Samsung Galaxy Note II shown off in new TV ad Samsung Galaxy Note vs Galaxy Note II LG Nexus 4 with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean gets premature pre-order LG Nexus 4 leaks again with £389 price tag and two color options Nexus 4 8GB and 16GB models confirmed in new LG manuals Video of LG Nexus 4 with Android 4.2 leaks online Nexus 4 announced, coming November 13

Google outs more information on Android 4.2 Photo Spheres Posted: 29 Oct 2012 10:39 AM PDT So, Google has finally pulled the veil off Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, and somewhat surprisingly, it will arrive packing a bunch of new features. One of the coolest of these new features are photo spheres, which allow you to use your device’s camera to snap pictures all around you and bring them together to make one big 360-degree image. We briefly touched on photo spheres in our quick rundown of the new features in Android 4.2, but now Google’s Hugo Barra has dished all sorts of new details about the rather intriguing addition. Barra is touting this new feature as a way to “create photos that are richer and more immersive than anything that has ever come out of a mobile device,” and frankly, we believe him. The team at Google was inspired by Street View in Google Maps, so if you’ve ever wanted to create Street View-esque images of your own, now’s your chance. Funny Google should mention Street View, since you can upload these photo spheres you take with your device to Google Maps. Barra says that photo spheres are saved as JPEGs, and that “all of the information required to view them is embedded as open XML metadata in the image itself.” This means that aside from uploading these images to Street View, you can also email them and upload them to Google Plus, letting others view them with no problems. All in all, the photo spheres feature sounds like a great addition to Android, and it’s just one of the many additions to Android 4.2. The first devices that will be running Android 4.2 are the new Samsung Nexus 10 and the LG Nexus 4, which will be available in just a couple of weeks. Get excited folks, because Android 4.2 is going to be offering a bunch of new stuff when it arrives next month.

Android 4.2 Jelly Bean detailed Posted: 29 Oct 2012 10:15 AM PDT Google has just announced a handful of new devices including the Samsung Nexus 10 and the LG Nexus 4, and both of them will be running Android 4.2 out of the box. What’s new in Android 4.2? It turns out there’s a lot that’s new with this latest installment of Jelly Bean, so read on to find out what you can expect once you’re using a handset that features the newest version of the Android operating system. Perhaps one of the coolest additions in Android 4.2 is that of photo spheres, a feature that allows you to use the camera on your device to snap images all around you. Those images come together to form these so-called photo spheres, which can then be viewed on your phone or shared to Google Plus. You can even upload them to Google Maps if you feel so inclined, letting people from around the world view your handiwork. Android 4.2 also tosses gesture typing into the mix, which allows you to type by swiping your finger from letter to letter on the keyboard. Once you’ve finished swiping to all of the letters in a word, lifting your finger will make the word appear on-screen and even insert a space for you. Through the use of new tools in Android 4.2, your keyboard will actually predict the rest of your sentences, allowing you to simply select suggested words to finish up your messages. Pretty neat if you ask us. Of course, Android 4.2 also comes with support for multiple user profiles if you’re using a tablet, which is a feature we’ve known about for quite some time. There are plenty of other features to find in Android 4.2, so be sure to check out Google’s full run down of what’s new for more information. Are you excited for the launch of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean? Story Timeline New Nexus phone reportedly arriving this month with Android 4.2 in tow Android 4.2 Rumors: Project Roadrunner, new Google Now and Play Store Android 4.2 to feature dual notification bars for Quick Settings Rumor mill outs DROID RAZR X, Motorola Nexus, and Android 4.2 Key Lime Pie LG Nexus 4 with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean gets premature pre-order Google's Nexus 10 tablet leaks - Android 4.2 and Exynos 5250 1.7 GHz dual-core Video of LG Nexus 4 with Android 4.2 leaks online

Google Nexus 10 officially unveiled Posted: 29 Oct 2012 09:46 AM PDT Google may have been forced to cancel its Android event in New York City today due to the threat of hurricane Sandy, but that isn’t stopping it from making announcements anyway. Google has officially revealed the Samsung-made Nexus 10 tablet, and it seems like most of the rumors and leaks were indeed true. For starters, Google has confirmed that the Nexus 10 will be running Android 4.2 out of the box, so get excited. It will also come equipped with that long-rumored 10-inch WQXGA display running at an impressive 2560 x 1600 resolution. On the inside, we’ll have a A15 dual-core processor clocked at 1.7GHz and working alongside 2GB of RAM, so expect the Nexus 10 to be a speedy little tablet. The Nexus 10 also makes use of a beefy 9,000mAh lithium-ion battery, which Google says can provide 9 hours of video playback and a whopping 500 hours of standby time. The Nexus 10 will come in a couple different variants – one with 16GB of internal memory and the other with 32GB. Both will be Wi-Fi only, and both are equipped with a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera, which Google says can record video in 1080p at 30fps. There will also be a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera to use for video chatting, and all of this is packed into one slim and lightweight package – the Nexus 10 has a thickness of just 8.9mm and weighs 603 grams. The 16GB Nexus 10 will set you back $399, while the 32GB costs $499. Both will be available on Google Play Stores in the US, UK, Australia, France, Spain, Germany, Canada, and Japan starting on November 13 – just over two weeks from today. Keep it tuned to Android Community, because we’ll have more information of Google’s new Nexus line coming up shortly. Story Timeline Reports point to Google Nexus 10 in the works Google's Nexus 10 Tablet Rumored to be from Samsung Google Nexus 10 tablet reportedly launching in first half of 2013 Nexus 10 taking photos - image appears on Picasa Samsung Nexus 10 manual leaks ahead of announcement Google's Vic Gundotra posts photos taken with Nexus 10 tablet Google's Nexus 10 tablet leaks - Android 4.2 and Exynos 5250 1.7 GHz dual-core Google Nexus 10 tablet teased in new video [via Samsung]

Nexus 4 announced, coming November 13 Posted: 29 Oct 2012 09:39 AM PDT The incoming Hurricane Sandy might have forced Google to cancel its Android event in New York City, but that hasn’t stopped the company from announcing its new products anyway. Google and LG officially announced the Nexus 4, which is Google’s new flagship smartphone and the newest iteration in the Nexus family. We’re certainly not surprised by the announcement, but we are relieved that it’s finally here. It’s been a rumored device for a while now, but it’s finally official. The Nexus 4 officially comes packing with a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, and internal storage options of either 8GB or 16GB. The device supports 3G and HSPA+, but sadly there’s no LTE support to be found. You’ll also find an 8MP rear camera with a 1.3MP front-facing camera. No word if it shoots 1080p video, but we’re guessing that it at least shoots 720p. The Nexus 4′s display is a 4.7-inch WXGA True HD IPS Plus screen with a 1280×768 resolution, which gives it a pixel density of 320ppi. Protecting the display itself from destruction is Corning’s Gorilla Glass 2. The Nexus 4 will also include wireless charging as well as NFC capabilities, and will run Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, which was also announced today. The Nexus 4 will be available in the Google Play store starting November 13 for $299 (unlocked) for the 8GB and $349 for the 16GB model in the US. The UK, Canada, Germany, France, Spain and Australia will also be getting the new phone on November 13, and it will be available in Europe, Central and South America, Asia, CIS, and the Middle East at the end of November. The Nexus 4 will also be available at T-Mobile for $199 after signing a new two-year contract. Story Timeline LG Nexus 4, Samsung Galaxy Note II included in T-Mobile's holiday line up

Chrono Trigger finally arrives on Android Posted: 29 Oct 2012 09:21 AM PDT If you haven’t played the JRPG classic Chrono Trigger yet, then we really don’t know what to say. The game has been available on a number of platforms for some time now, and today that long list gained another entry. Chrono Trigger has officially arrived on Android, so it’s time to bust out those devices and get to saving the world. For the uninitiated, Chrono Trigger follows a boy named Crono and his friends Marle and Lucca as they travel through time in an attempt to stop the evil creature Lavos from destroying the world as we know it. Along the way, they recruit new allies from the past, present, and future while uncovering a sinister plot. It might sound boring and overdone at first, but Chrono Trigger is widely considered to be one of the RPGs ever made. Indeed, Chrono Trigger just so happens to be one of our favorite games, so if you’ve yet to check it out, we have to recommend that you give it a shot on Android. The port of the SNES classic will set you back $9.99, which seems a little steep for a mobile game, but many will tell you that Chrono Trigger is worth every penny. If you pick up the Android version, you’ll also be treated to the Dimension Vortex and Lost Sanctum areas, which were added in the Nintendo DS release of the game. Also, remember that this is published by Square Enix, which isn’t exactly known for its inexpensive mobile offerings. Final Fantasy III will set you back $16 on Android, while Chaos Rings sports a $13 price tag. When you consider the high prices of those other games, Chrono Trigger‘s $9.99 price doesn’t seem too bad. If you’re interested, you can download Chrono Trigger now from the Google Play Store [download link].

Video of LG Nexus 4 with Android 4.2 leaks online Posted: 29 Oct 2012 09:01 AM PDT Google may have canceled the Android event today, but with all rumors and leaks coming out, it feels like the event actually happened. Now, a video has come out from Swerdroid featuring a hands on with the LG Nexus 4. The video confirms pretty much everything we already knew about the phone, but it is still nice to see it in motion. The video confirms that the device is running Android 4.2. You can clearly see just how smooth the phone runs with the latest version of Android installed. The video also demonstrates the new Quick Settings menu, which is easy to access with a button in the notifications settings. It launches quickly, and looks like a feature that will be quite useful in daily life. We can also see a button for user profiles in the notifications menu, which indicates that the user profile rumors in Android 4.2 are true, which is a feature many users have been looking for. The video also shows some of the more general UI changes such as the slick-looking new clock. Overall, seeing the new version of the OS running on the LG Nexus 4 is pretty exciting. Hopefully Google will reschedule the canceled Android event soon, so we can get an official announcement and release date for the new Nexus device. Leaks like this are always fun, but we want the device in our hands as soon as possible. Hopefully, once the storm passes Google will hold its event and let us play with the Nexus 4 and Android 4.2. Story Timeline LG confirms existence of LG Nexus 4 New image of LG Nexus 4 surfaces on Twitter (but is it real?) LG Nexus 4 with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean gets premature pre-order LG Nexus 4 leaks again with £389 price tag and two color options Nexus 4 8GB and 16GB models confirmed in new LG manuals Android 4.2 Jelly Bean detailed LG Nexus 4, Samsung Galaxy Note II included in T-Mobile's holiday line up [via SlashGear]

Walmart jumps on the 32GB Nexus 7 bandwagon Posted: 29 Oct 2012 08:17 AM PDT Earlier today, we received pricing confirmation from Office Depot that the 32GB version of the Nexus 7 would go for $249. Well, Walmart has jumped on the bandwagon, listing the 32GB version as “in stock” on its website. They have also dropped the price of the 16Gb version to $199. While Google has not officially announced the 32GB version or the price drop to $199 for the 16GB, Walmart has both ready to ship. We thought Office Depot may have jumped the gun on selling the new version of the Nexus 7, but this Walmart listing seems to confirm that the tablet is, in fact, ready for primetime. It seems that even though Google was forced to cancel the event where it was presumed that they would make the tablet official, retailers seem to be given the go ahead to sell the tablet. Presumably, other retailers will follow along with Walmart and Office Depot soon. Google has actually listed the 8GB and 16GB versions as out of stock. Google Play simply has a form for users to check and see when the tablet will be available again. With retailers listing the tablets for sale, we assume Google will start selling them on Google Play soon as well. Besides the 32GB Nexus 7, Google was also rumored to announce the Nexus 10, and the Nexus 4 from LG. Google has not announced when the event is rescheduled for, but we assume it will be after the hurricane dies down. We will keep you posted on all things Nexus 7 and Google’s upcoming Android event. Story Timeline Nexus 7 32GB appears at Staples for $249 FCC listing confirms of existence of 3G Nexus 7 32GB Nexus 7 price confirmed at Office Depot Nexus 7 tablets sold out on Google Play [via SlashGear]

Most US cell carriers announce plans for hurricane and offers tips for preparedness Posted: 29 Oct 2012 07:19 AM PDT Hurricane Sandy is barreling down on the east coast, and the predictions keep getting worse. All of the major US carriers have addressed the storm, and they all seem to have plans at the ready for dealing with possible power outages. They have spoken on their plans and even offered some helpful tips for storm preparedness. T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T and Verizon have all said they are ready to roll, and given tips for getting ready. With the potential of 10-million people being without power during this storm, having cell communication is going to be critical. Verizon, for example, has increased stock of car chargers at all of its stores, since people may not be able to charge their devices in their homes. T-Mobile has stocked up on additional fuel supplies for repair vehicles to fix any outages that occur. Obviously, storms like this can be unpredictable, but it certainly reassuring to see cell carriers taking the steps required to keep service alive during potential power outages. The carriers even offered some helpful tips for individuals such as keeping your phone charged before power goes out, making a plan for charging if power does go out, utilizing text messages instead of voice calls, and keeping calls short. I would also add plugging your devices into a surge protector. Brownouts can cause damage to devices plugged directly into a wall. The release from T-Mobile is available here, Verizon’s is here, AT&T’s is available here and Sprint’s is here. Each one details the exact plans for the carriers and helpful tips for preparing for potential outages. [via TechCrunch]

Nexus 7 tablets sold out on Google Play Posted: 29 Oct 2012 06:46 AM PDT Earlier today, we reported that Office Depot was selling the 32GB version of the Nexus 7 tablet. Now, it appears as though Google has stopped selling the original 8 and 16GB versions of the tablet on Google Play. Perhaps Google is getting ready to list the new versions of the tablet on Google Play. Of course, it’s also possible that they just ran out of tablets, but it seems unlikely that Google would run out of both models at the same time. Presumably, Google planned on pulling the older versions of the tablet down in preparation for the big event that was supposed to go down today. Unfortunately, Google had to cancel the event because of the hurricane that is barreling towards the east coast. Perhaps they will re-list them at one point, but for now, if you want one of the existing Nexus 7 tablets, you will have to check with your local retailers. If you go to the Nexus 7 page on Google Play, you will be able to enter your email address to be notified when the tablets come back in stock. We’re assuming that the reissue of the tablet will be the new versions with the 32GB tablet, but that remains to be seen. Besides Google running out of them, retailers have also been dropping the price of the 16GB versions of the tablets. We are not sure what is going to happen with the 8GB version of the tablet. Perhaps Google stopped making them and is legitimately out of them, or perhaps they will return at a deep discount. As always, we will keep you posted on all things Nexus 7. Story Timeline Nexus 7 8GB "sold out" on the Google Play Store [Update: Back] Nexus 7 32GB shows up again, could ship October 24th Nexus 7 32GB appears at Staples for $249 Nexus 7 poised to take on the iPad Mini 32GB Nexus 7 price confirmed at Office Depot Walmart jumps on the 32GB Nexus 7 bandwagon [via Cnet]

AUO’s new 4.46-inch display has worlds narrowest bezel Posted: 29 Oct 2012 06:13 AM PDT AUO has shown off a new screen for mobile devices. This 4.46-inch screen features what AUO claims to be the smallest border on any screen. The displays use proprietary technology that uses low-temperature poly-silicon (LTPS) technology. AUO’s technology allows them to build a screen with a tiny 1 mm border. Besides the tiny border, the display also has a 720p resolution. AUO also claims that the minuscule 1 mm border actually makes content on the screen appear larger. AUO is also bragging on its other display technologies, including AMOLED, IGZO, and AHVA. One of the newer technologies is AHVA, which stands for Advanced Hyper-Viewing Angle. As you can probably guess, this allows users to see the screen from wider angle without a loss in quality. So far, AUO has developed AHVA panels ranging in size from three-inches to 15.6-inches. The screens have been used in devices such as digital cameras, smartphones, e-readers, car displays, tablets, and ultrabooks. AUO currently has a 4.97-inch AHVA screen in mass production. AUO is certainly busy with other technologies. AUO has a 4.65-inch AMOLED panel that has a resolution of up to 317 ppi. AUO also talked about a 10-inch panel aimed at tablets using IGZO technology. That screen has a 2560 x 1600 resolution. [via SlashGear]

32GB Nexus 7 price confirmed at Office Depot Posted: 29 Oct 2012 05:42 AM PDT The 32GB Nexus 7 has been in the news quite frequently this month, and we thought that was going to come to an end today with one last official story from Google. However, Google was forced to cancel the event because of the impending hurricane, so we are left to hear more rumors about the 32GB version of the tablet. Thanks, to Office Depot, we now have an official price of $249.99. Over the weekend, Office Depot put the 32GB version on display with a $249.99 price tag on it. The photo from Office Depot also showed the 16GB version of the Nexus 7 for $199.99. There has been plenty of rumors regarding pricing on the 16GB version, and this certainly seems to confirm that. Many buyers are reporting that some Office Depot locations have stock of the 32GB tablet on hand. Your results may differ, but some people have been able to walk into an Office Depot and walk out with a 32GB Nexus 7 over the weekend. It appears as though no hurricane is going to stop Office Depot from selling those 32GB tablets. A rumor that has come up time and time again is that the 32GB version would also have cellular data. Based on this photo, it doesn’t look like that’s the case. It doesn’t explicitly say it doesn’t have cellular data, but chances are great that if it did, that would be printed somewhere visible. At this point, it would appear that 32GB version is still just Wi-Fi enabled. Perhaps Google was going to announce a separate cellular model at today’s event, but we will have to wait and see for that. Story Timeline 32GB Nexus 7 tablet could go on sale this week Nexus 7 32GB appears in Staples Advantage listing $99 Nexus 7 gets another Q4 guesstimate Nexus 7 32GB retailer listings spotted once again Nexus 7 3G appears on retailer site - claims 32GB of storage Nexus 7 32GB appears at Staples for $249 FCC listing confirms of existence of 3G Nexus 7 Nexus 7 tablets sold out on Google Play Walmart jumps on the 32GB Nexus 7 bandwagon [via SlashGear]

Android Community Weekly: October 28th, 2012 Posted: 28 Oct 2012 12:12 PM PDT Another week has gone by, and it went by quickly, but that doesn’t mean that nothing crazy happened. It was a big week for Android news; more rumors of the next Nexus device made their way around, and Google’s major Android event scheduled for tomorrow was suddenly cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy. Read on for more of this past week’s best Android news. Early last week, there was a huge leak of all the devices and updates that Google was expected to announce at its Android event, like the Nexus 4 and Android 4.2. An LG spokesperson confirmed the existence of a LG Nexus phone. Samsung was reported to be ending its LCD relationship with Apple, but the Korean company has since denied the claim. LG’s next upcoming Optimus device, the L9, was announced for T-Mobile coming October 31, and we also reviewed the company’s flagship Optimus device, the Optimus G. On the Amazon front, the company’s web services experienced an outage, which meant that popular websites like Reddit and Pinterest went down. The company also announced that its Kindle Fire HD tablet has been their best-selling product in the company’s history, and issued an OTA update to celebrate. The Galaxy Note II was announced for AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon starting at $299 after a new two-year contract. However, T-Mobile is asking for $369 for the device. We also even reviewed Samsung’s Note II, so if you’re looking for a large phablet device, check out our review to find out more information about it. Speaking of Samsung, the company and LG are rumored to release 1080p smartphones as early as next year. Thanks to Apple’s iPad mini announcement, Google’s Nexus 7 got a lot of attention, and it’s sales aren’t slowing down, but the iPad mini is still a threat, so we talked about some of the things that the Nexus 7 needs to do in order to stay ahead of the iPad mini. That same day, Zynga ended up laying off 5% of its workforce and even completely shut down it’s Boston studio. A reboot of Roller Coaster Tycoon was announced for early 2013, and it’s coming to select Android devices. The popular keyboard app, SwiftKey, announced a Swype competitor called Flow. The FCC this week confirmed that a 3G Nexus 7 model is on the way, and the manual to a larger Nexus 10 rumored tablet leaked later in the week. Plus, the tablet showed up in a short video, only raising our anticipation level even more. We even got a peek at some of the Nexus 10′s specs in a leak, including Android 4.2 and an Exynos 5250 1.7 GHz dual-core CPU. Finally, Apple posted a statement on their website saying that Samsung didn’t copy the iPad, Rockstar Games announced GTA: Vice City for Android, Google added natural geography to Google Maps, Xbox Smartglass launches for Android devices, and the Nexus 4 leaks again with possible 8GB and 16GB models.

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