Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Android Central

Android Central

This week's sidebar poll: Are you gifting an Android device to someone this holiday season?

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 05:07 PM PST

Nexus 7

'Tis the season in most of the western world, where we're spending time with our loved ones celebrating the year-end holiday. It's also the time when we traditionally exchange gifts, so that is the focus of our poll this week.

Google is knocking it out of the park price-wise with their Nexus devices, and OEMs are offering phones and tablets that do some amazing things. I know a lot of people would love to see a new phone or tablet with their name on it this month, but we're asking the folks doing the giving -- are giving someone an Android device this holiday season?

Hit the poll in the sidebar to the right or after the break, and let us know if you're handing out some sweet Android hardware, have everything covered without it, or just plain can't get one from Google. We'll let it simmer for a week then tally up the numbers.

Speaking of numbers, last week we asked who has seen a Google Play Gift Card in the wild. The vote was a mixed bag.

Poll

Looks like we're not the only one not seeing them in the store. Keep vigilant, or just enter to won one in our Stocking Stuffer contest.

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The 2012 Android Central Awards - voting is now open!

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 04:32 PM PST

2012 Android Central Awards

Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the 2012 Android Central Awards. You've been listening to us go on and on and on and on (and on!) this year about Android smartphones and tablets and apps. Now it's your turn to have the definitive say in what's the best of the best from 2012 and have bragging rights going into 2013.

For the hardware side of things, we pared down the suggestions to what we think will be the most popular choices. But if we missed your favorite smartphone or tablet, no worries. Just give us your write-in candidate in the "Other" choice in each question. Apps of the year are completely up to you.

Voting for the 2012 Android Central Awards will remain open until 5 p.m. EST Dec. 21. We'll tally up the winners over the holiday break, then announce them shortly after the new year, so stay tuned for that. (And for those of you who rock the forums on a daily basis, be sure to vote in our Community Awards.)

Enough preamble.

Official Twitter app updated with photo filters

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 03:36 PM PST

Twitter filters

The official Twitter for Android app just got a heck of an update, bringing a full set of photo filters built-in to the client. We all heard this would happen before the end of the year, but few expected anything this soon. The included filters are vignette, black & white, warm, cool, vintage, cinematic, happy, and gritty; also included are standard editing features like cropping and zooming.

Created by Aviary, the filters and tools promise to help you share the world around you in the style that's become popular with smartphone users. You can also preview your photos in a nice grid layout, and your photos are viewable directly from your timeline. 

It's looking to be a great update for folks who like to share photos on Twitter, and should balance out the loss of Instagram sharing we saw last week. Hit the break for a short video from Twitter and some screen shots, and grab the app at the link above.

Source: Twitter

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T-Mobile pushing update to the HTC One S, but you might not need it

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 03:02 PM PST

HTC One S

T-Mobile today started to push a 31-megabyte update to the HTC One S. If you don't get it, though, it might not be a big deal. The new version, 2.35.531.10 is only for devices that are on 1.53.531.16 or 1.84.531.4, according to T-Mobile's support site. If you're on 2.235.531.7, as a lot of you are after the update a couple months ago, you're still considered up to date and won't need this version.

If you did get today's update and have found yourself at Android 4.0.4, you can expect fixes for data connection delays and signal fluctuations, Wifi issues, crashes and restarts, e-mail links not opening, screen lag and skipping music.

And if you're still holding out hope for some Jelly Bean action, a little more patience is required.

Source: T-Mobile; More: HTC One S forums;
Thanks, Quincy!

T-Mobile 1900MHz HSPA+ now live in Seattle, Atlanta and Minneapolis

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 02:48 PM PST

T-Mobile SIM

With all of the big T-Mobile news that hit last week, one story that may have been buried was the carrier's continued rollout of 1900MHz HSPA+ markets. We like when carriers can give us a good idea of where exactly service improvements are happening, rather than a general "market." T-Mo has just put out a release indicating the granular areas around these three new markets that have the service available today:

  • Atlanta, including the surrounding cities of: Roswell, Alpharetta, Marietta, Covington and Conyers
  • Seattle, including the surrounding areas of: Lynwood, Bothell, Mill Creek, Edmonds, Redmond, Kirkland, Woodinville, Bellevue, Issaquah, Sammamish, Kenmore, Mercer Island, North Bend, SeaTac, Burien, Tukwila, Renton, and Lake Stevens
  • Minneapolis, including the nearby cities of: St. Paul and St. Cloud
    Additional Bay Area cites include: Fairfield, Monterey, Napa, Petaluma, Salinas, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa and Vallejo

That brings the total of 1900MHz HSPA+ markets up to 18 nationwide, with more on the way. T-Mobile says it is currently working on the upgrades in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, the New York metro area, Philadelphia, and San Diego. It makes sense that the carrier would be rolling out to the most densely populated areas first to get the most bang for their buck.

Source: T-Mobile

Pandora launches fully in Australia and New Zealand

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 02:34 PM PST

Pandora

Pandora has been trialing its service in Australia and New Zealand via a web-only trial, and now it has launched the service fully in both countries. Users down under can now sign up and have fully-functional Pandora accounts, including the apps on both Android and iOS. Pandora says that 75-percent of its traffic in the U.S. comes from mobile apps, so this is a big deal to be offering complete access to the new countries as well.

Australia and New Zealand are the first countries outside of the U.S. to have full access to Pandora, and hopefully the deals can be made to let the rollout continue to other countries also. Eager Aussies can grab a download of the app at the Google Play Store link above.

Source: TechCrunch; Pandora

Android Central Stocking Stuffers Week 1 winners

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 02:11 PM PST

Android CentralWe're into the second week of our month long Stuff Your Stocking contest here at Android Central, and that means that we've got a handful of winners to announce.

Last week we had random drawings from the forums, and we've tallied things up, consulted the random number generator, and picked winners for each day's contest. Each winner will need to check their inbox for all the details, but there's a $10 Google Play gift card with your name on it. I imagine everyone wants to know who those winners are, so let's get on with it!

A big holiday congrats goes out to each of you from all of us here at Android Central, and we know you'll find something great in Google Play to spend your gift cards on. Plus, you're automatically entered to win a Nexus 4 from us!

Don't forget that this week (we still have 23 gift cards that need a home) to enter you'll need to subscribe to our Youtube channel and leave a comment on a video. Read the full details here. Good luck, congrats to last week's winners, and thanks everyone for entering!

New at ShopAndroid.com: Andru 1A USB Charger in green, black or white

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 12:53 PM PST

Andru charger

If you're still on the hunt for a cool stocking stuffer this Christmas, ShopAndroid.com now has all three colors of the Andru 1A USB charger in stock. That's the traditional Android green, black, and white, available for $24.95 each. So put that beautiful Bugdroid to work and let it charge your favorite device. Get your now at ShopAndroid.com.

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Payment processor Bango bringing carrier billing to Google Play

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 11:40 AM PST

Google Play Logo

Bango, a mobile payments and analytics company, works with carriers (and other companies) as a middle-man to help set up payment systems and has now started offering Google Play billing as well. Carrier billing for items on Google Play is something that many carriers around the world are looking to get involved with. It's not always practical (or profitable) at the start to get it set up, however. Effectively outsourcing the payment processing and setup to another company makes sense for many companies out there trying to get into this game.

The first carrier on board with Bango for their mobile payments is Telstra in Australia. Given some of the big names that Bango currently does business with, we could see more carriers rolling out Google Play carrier billing with them soon. You can check out the full press release after the break.

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Android revamps in-app purchasing

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 11:02 AM PST

In-app purchases

The Android developer blog has just unwrapped a nice little present for developers -- Version 3 of in-app purchasing. This is mostly back-end stuff that us civilians might not notice, but that doesn't make them any less important. Here's what's new:

  • Streamlined code. Google says what used to take several hundred lines of code can be done in as few as 50 now. 
  • A more robust architecture.
  • Local caching, so API calls happen faster. That means part of the legwork is being done on your phone, without the need to call into Google Play.
  • And "the ability to consume managed purchases and query for product information."

OK, so that's all good for us, the user, too. Google says Version 3 will work on Android 2.2 and up, which means 90 percent of active devices should be good to go.

Source: Android Developers blog

HTC One X+ (AT&T) Review

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 09:44 AM PST

HTC One X+ (AT&T)

HTC’s fourth-quarter refresh of the One X is good, but is it good enough to keep you from waiting for the next tier of hardware?

When first holding an HTC One X+ (or any One device, for that matter) in your hand, it's hard to believe that the company has had such abysmal sales figures the past several quaters. It arguably has one of the best screens on the market, paired with an upgraded Tegra 3 processor and bumped up internal storage of 64GB. On top of all that, the device is downright gorgeous. It really does seem like it checks all the boxes.

The One X+ seems every bit a capable high-end device as its competition, much the same way as the original One X from earlier this year. Should it be considered as your next device? Read on and you may have a better idea if it's the right choice for you.

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Gmail is down, and there's not a damn thing you can do about it [Updated]

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 09:00 AM PST

Gmail

Have you ever felt so helpless before in all your life?

Update: GMAIL IS BACK! GMAIL IS BACK. PRAISE LLOYD ALMIGHTY, GMAIL IS BACK.

Update 2: OMG IT MIGHT BE DOWN AGAIN. HOLD ME.

Update 3: Looks like anything connected to Google is failing. Ads. Google Play Store. Basically, it's Judgment Day, people.

Playing around with clip on lenses: Part 1

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 07:26 AM PST

Android Central

Magnetic clip on lenses aren't new. They've been around for a while, often marketed as an accessory for the iPhone. Our buddies over at Windows Phone Central started playing around with some on the new Nokia Lumia 920, but we couldn't sit back and let them have all the fun, could we? 

A quick trip to eBay later and a pair of clip on lenses were on their way. They're a pretty inexpensive accessory, the 2 that I ordered cost me around £10 ($16) for the pair. As with real camera lenses, there seems to be plenty of choice out there over what to get, but I went with a Fisheye and a Wide Angle. I'm planning a week of goofing around with these and my LG Nexus 4, so part 2 of the post will drop next week. This week, a look at the lenses themselves. Next week, the results. Let's take a look.

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Monday Brief: T-Mobile gets the iPhone, BlackBerry 10's Hub, the Nokia Lumia 620, and more!

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 05:28 AM PST


Mobile Nations



Another week, more LTE locations for AT&T

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 04:48 AM PST

AT&T LTE

AT&T's march toward a network full of 4G LTE data continues, with three four new cities announced (so far) this morning. They are:

  • Wilkes-Barre, Penn.
  • Nashua, N.H.
  • Grand Rapids, Mich.
  • Auburn-Opelika, Ala.

So, that's three more to go along with the dozens we've seen go live in the last few months. If you're still waiting, hang in there. The ball's a-rollin'. And if you've got an LTE-capable device, keep your eye on that data indicator.

Source: AT&T

Start your week with the Greatest Android Podcast in the World!

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 04:43 AM PST

Android Central Podcast

It's Monday. Again. Dammit. But we're starting you off right this week. If you missed Thursday night's live broadcast of the Greatest Android Podcast in the World, you missed a mouthful. Three mouthfuls, actually, as Phil and Jerry were joined by none other than Ashley Esqueda to catch up with the week that was, and the week that will be. Plus, some great e-mails and voicemails.

The Android Central Podcast is your weekly peek into the world of Android, where we break down the news that really matters, and explain what's just a bunch of hype. You don't want to miss it. Check out the Android Central Podcast.

Nook Video UK launch announced with UltraViolet support

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 02:00 AM PST

Android Central

Good news for Nook HD and HD+ early adopters in the UK -- Barnes & Noble has announced the launch of its Nook Video service for British Nook owners. The move brings B&N's tablets up to speed with the latest Amazon, Google and Apple tablets, all of which offer their own on-board video services.

The move is made possible through new, expanded UK licensing deals with content owners such as BBC Worldwide, HBO, NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, STARZ, and Warner Bros. Entertainment, Barnes & Noble says. Individual TV shows and movies highlighted by B&N in today's press release include --

Sherlock, Call the Midwife, Game of Thrones®, True Blood®, Ted, The Bourne Legacy, The Amazing Spider-Man™, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Men in Black 3, Spartacus, Party Down, The Dark Knight Rises, Inception, Happy Feet Two.

Both high and standard-definition video content is available through Nook Video, with streaming and downloading supported on the service. Downloads are linked to the Nook Cloud service, allowing them to be played on other supporting devices.

What's more, Nook Video will also tie into the UltraViolet video system, allowing those who've purchased Blu-ray or DVD versions of titles to view a digital copy of this content on their Nook tablets.

You'll find more details in the presser after the break. If you've picked up a Nook HD or HD+ tablet in the UK recently, let us know how you're getting on in the comments.

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Sony Xperia E + E Dual get priced in Europe

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 01:24 AM PST

Android CentralWhen Sony announced the Xperia E in both single and dual-SIM flavors last week, it said the device would be affordable, however so far pricing info has been difficult to track down. Today that changes, as price details for the Xperia E and Xperia E Dual have emerged in a press release from Sony Mobile Germany.

Sony's priced the new entry-level Xperia at €159 (£128) with single SIM support, or €169 (£136) for the dual-SIM variant. Other Xperia E specs include a 3.5-inch HVGA screen, a 1GHz CPU and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean on the single-SIM version (the Xperia E Dual will ship with ICS and get an upgrade later.)

One of the first Sony phones to ship with Jelly Bean, the Xperia E is due to go on sale during the first quarter of 2013.

Source: XperiaBlog

Samsung demos their Premium Suite upgrade headed to the Samsung Galaxy S3

Posted: 09 Dec 2012 06:13 PM PST

Update: Samsung has now shown part 2 of the Premium Suite update, and you can find everything after the break. 

Just as we saw when Android 4.1.2 rolled out to international Samsung Galaxy S3's starting with Poland, the Premium Suite upgrade adds quite a few features and enhancements for Galaxy S3 owners. To show off those goods, Samsung has now posted up part one of a series of demo videos that highlight the changes headed our way. In short, it's a mixture of stuff from the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 as well as the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1. Here's what you can expect:

 Contextual Awareness

  • Page Buddy: Your phone will smartly predict what you intend to do according to your actions. For example, when you plug in your earphones, the device automatically opens up a page with the music player.
  • Contextual Menu:  When you list up apps, you can now choose to see the most frequently used ones first. Especially convenient when you’re looking through apps  to find files to attach.
  • Contextual Tag:  When you take a picture on the phone, you can tag the weather, date, and place immediately.

Enhanced Features

  • Multi Window: You can open two different apps at the same time into two different windows on the mobile screen.
  • Auto Share Shot Pairing using NFC: By setting the camera to ‘Auto Share Shot’ mode, you can quickly share your photos and videos by simply tapping their GALAXY S III with other NFC and S-Beam enabled devices
  • Reader Mode: You can easily control the size of the text on your browser! Also, you can just click the webpage to share it!
  • Facebook Lock Ticker: The easiest way to see your Facebook News Feeds – set your phone to show it on your lock screen.

It's a pretty awesome pack to have arrive on an already great device but alas, the typical disclaimer applies here. Samsung notes that availability and timing of the Premium Suite upgrade will vary depending on the country and mobile carrier.

Source: Samsung Tomorrow

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Nexus 4 gets LTE capabilities in certain (limited) AT&T markets

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 01:32 PM PST

One of the biggest gripes that people had with the recently launched Nexus 4 was its lack of 4G LTE capability. However, as some tech geeks discovered a few weeks ago, the Nexus 4 does indeed have a 4G antenna since it is based on LG’s Optimus G (which has 4G capabilities). Recently it was thought that this antenna could only be enabled in Canada on Telus and Roger’s networks, since they are the only networks that are built to use LTE Band 4 (which runs on the 1700MHz and 2100MHz wireless spectrum). Turns out however, that AT&T also has several US markets in which it owns LTE Band 4 spectrum. Those markets include Phoenix, Raleigh, San Juan, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Oklahoma City, Dallas, Chicago, Charlotte, Athens, GA and College Station, TX.

Now, just because AT&T owns the Band 4 spectrum in these cities doesn’t necessarily mean it’s deployed and accessible, but in some cases, users have been able to connect in these areas and get in on some great data speeds. The thought of being able to run your shiny new Nexus 4 on a 4G LTE network here in the states is an exciting thought indeed! If you live in one of the above cities and want to try to get your Nexus 4 hooked up to some LTE goodness, you may want to bookmark our source link below. The XDA hacker hasn’t yet revealed instructions on how to get the Nexus 4 connected to AT&T’s 4G network, but something tells us that he’ll be spilling the beans soon, so bookmark the page and check back often.

Source: XDA Developers
Via: AndroidPolice

LG sells ‘modest’ amount of its L-series devices moving 10 million phones worldwide

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 01:15 PM PST

LG announced today that the company has moved 10 million L-series phones worldwide comprising of the LG Optimus L3, L5, L7, and L9. While that figure may sound good, LG in fact has simply called it ‘modest.’ In business speak, that sounds as if LG didn’t quite meet sales forecasts. It’s a little confusing as they use the word ‘modest’ in the same sentence as the word ‘milestone.’ Regardless, it looks as if they have in fact reached that 10 million milestone. Their goal is to move 35 million smartphones by the end of the 2012 and without any sales figures regarding the Nexus 4, not to mention the perceived shortage; they may fall short.

 

source:  Newswire

Stocking Stuffer Idea: AndyTags NFC Stickers for automating and simplifying tasks

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 12:01 PM PST

If you’re looking for a stocking stuffer or gift idea, then take a look at AndyTags NFC Stickers. Since most of the newer phones are sporting Near Field Communications (NFC), they make a great gift. What can you do with NFC tags? Well we did a review of NFC Tag Launcher earlier in the year so check that out, but essentially you can use them to automate tasks like to quickly turn settings on or off or open apps. For example, lets say you’re heading to bed, you can program a sticker to switch your phone to silent mode. Just put the sticker on your nightstand and touch your NFC-enabled phone to the sticker and bingo, your phone is now in silent mode. You can also use them to open certain apps as well. Let’s say you like to listen to Slacker in your car. You can program a sticker to tell your phone to open Slacker. Just keep the sticker in your car and when you get in, you can touch the sticker with your phone and Slacker will be opened. You can even program the same sticker to turn on Bluetooth at the same time. If you find that you always text your spouse when you’re on the way home, you can even automate that. The possibilities are endless.

AndyTags are fully programmable and it’s so easy to do. Just use an app such as NFC Tag Launcher to set the parameters and it will program the tag for you. You never have to program it again unless you want to change the parameters. AndyTags come in all sorts of colors and they look cool with the bugdroid that is synonymous with Android. Now AndyTags work with the majority of phones available today, but if you own a Nexus 4 and a Nexus 10 you have to buy the NTAG203 version since Google decided to go with Broadcom for the hardware for both of those devices. These tags work with all other devices, but the one limitation is they have less memory. It’s probably enough, but if you plan on saving a lot of data to the tags, it could be an issue. If you don’t own a Nexus 4 or 10, you might want to consider using their Mifare classic tags, which have more memory. Not to confuse things, the Mifare tags can actually be used with the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10, they just can’t be programmed by those devices. That means if you have another device, like a Nexus 7, you could essentially program them and still use them. I know, it’s a little complicated, but you can read more about this issue here.

I mentioned NFC Tag Launcher as an app you can use to program your tags, but there are a number of other apps. AndyTags makes it easy for you to decide which one will work the best for you with their mini reviews on the site. They know NFC better than anyone so they have done the work of testing all these apps to save you time. Their recommendations are what they believe to be the best ones available today and they will continue to update the page.

AndyTags go for $2.99 each, but you will want to buy more than one, and at the same time get a better deal. You can grab the Mifare classic tags (not compatible with the Nexus 4 or Nexus 10) for $9.99 for 5, $14.99 for 15, or $24.99 for 20. They come in your choice of blue, red, green, pink, or orange. They even offer a set of all 5 colors for $9.99, 2 sets for $14.99, or 4 sets for $24.99. The NTAG203 tags are compatible with the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 (as well as all other devices) and will cost the same as the Mifare classic series, but your colors are limited to either ICS blue or gray. If you plan on sticking your tags to metal surfaces, they do offer a version of the Mifare classic with an anti-metal backing for a little extra.

So there you have it. I think they make a perfect gift for anyone who likes to simplify their lives and at the same time enjoys cool stuff. They even make the perfect gift for yourself. I can personally attest to it since I have been using them for a few weeks now, and they work great. I especially love to use them when iPhone users are around!! Head over to AndyTags to get your order in and tell them Talk Android sent ya.

 

McAfee revamps mobile security app with new App Lock feature

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 10:53 AM PST



 

McAfee is one of the more popular antivirus protections available to PC users, and with the malware on Android devices, they’ve stepped in to provide their trusted protection on smartphones and tablets, too. Recently, McAfee updated their Android application with a refreshed user interface and an innovative new App Lock feature. McAfee claims that since apps like Twitter and Gmail don’t require a password each time you open the app, it’s a possible security threat on your device. App Lock protects against this threat by requiring a pin number each time you want to use one of these applications, protecting you from someone digging through your phone for personal information or even just some nosy friends. This feature can also be used to protect children from having access to certain apps on your device, like the browser or your banking app.

McAfee offers a free trial of the app on Google Play, and offers the paid version at $29.99. Hit the break for the press release and download links.

QR Code generator

Play Store Download Link

Enhanced McAfee Mobile Security App Provides Ultimate Privacy Protection and Refreshed User Experience

SANTA CLARA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–McAfee today announced the release of an enhanced version of McAfee® Mobile Security featuring App Lock, an innovative new app privacy technology, as well as a completely refreshed user interface. The enriched and all-inclusive security solution provides Android smartphone and tablet users with the power to ensure that the personal information living inside their mobile apps remains personal and protected.

"From photos to emails to credit card numbers, our mobile apps hold invaluable data that is often left unprotected and vulnerable"

Some of the most commonly used apps on the Android platform such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Gmail don't necessarily require a log-in each time they're launched. App Lock, which is now a part of McAfee's app protection arsenal, safeguards against this privacy danger. It allows Android users to protect installed apps against misuse by locking them with the same PIN that's tied to their McAfee Mobile Security account. McAfee is the first to include this feature as an integrated part of a comprehensive mobile app privacy solution.

"From photos to emails to credit card numbers, our mobile apps hold invaluable data that is often left unprotected and vulnerable," said Ari Jaaksi, senior vice president and general manager, mobile engineering and operations at McAfee. "App Lock allows consumers to block nosy friends, thieves and hackers from invading their privacy and stealing personal information. And for parents whose children have access to their phones, it can be used to control which apps the little ones can access."

McAfee Mobile Security is the most comprehensive mobile security solution available to Android users. In addition to App Lock, the update includes features designed to streamline the user experience and improve protection efficiency. A redesigned user interface provides a consistent experience across all McAfee consumer solutions and a simple-to-use color-coded system that makes it even easier to scan for threats. In addition to providing even more efficient battery usage and a compressed file size, McAfee has also recently boosted malware detection capabilities by 300 percent with more than 3 million apps as part of its Global Threat Intelligence Network.

McAfee Mobile Security

McAfee Mobile Security is an all-inclusive mobile security solution that offers protection against:

  • Viruses and Malware: Provides real-time protection from the latest viruses and malware by scanning for malicious code in files, memory cards, applications, Internet downloads and text messages. It also blocks risky websites to protect against phishing and scams.
  • Theft and Loss: Backs up and restores data remotely through an easy-to-use web portal. It also locates a lost or stolen device on a map, remotely locks it to prevent misuse and continues to track a device, even if the SIM is replaced.
  • Privacy Breaches: Reviews and reports on the privacy access levels of an app and checks against McAfee® TrustedSource™ URL reputation database to report risky apps and blocks unwanted calls and texts. With the newly added App Lock features, it also provides an added layer of customizable security to protect against the use of an app by unwanted persons.
  • Web Scams: Protects against web threats by blocking risky links within SMS, email, and social networking sites. It also safeguards against potential phishing sites, browser exploits, and malicious quick response (QR) codes.

McAfee has nearly a decade of mobile security experience and has protected more than 150 million devices with McAfee mobile solutions worldwide. In a test performed by AV-Test in March 2012, McAfee Mobile Security was just one of three solutions that detected malware 100 percent of the time.

Availability

A free trial of McAfee Mobile Security software is available on Google Play, and is available for purchase at $29.99 US. Current McAfee Mobile Security subscribers can simply update their app to the new version to enjoy the new features. McAfee Mobile Security functionality is also available in McAfee All Access, which provides protection across your PCs, Macs and mobile devices.

For more information on McAfee's consumer mobile security offerings, please visit www.mcafee.com/us/mms.

About McAfee

McAfee, a wholly owned subsidiary of Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC), empowers businesses, the public sector and home users, to safely experience the benefits of the Internet. The company delivers proactive and proven security solutions and services for systems, networks, and mobile devices around the world. With its Security Connected strategy, innovative approach to hardware-enhanced security, and unique Global Threat Intelligence network, McAfee is relentlessly focused on keeping its customers safe. http://www.mcafee.com

[Deal Alert] 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD for $250

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 10:51 AM PST

Those that may be holding off on a pretty sweet deal on the Kindle Fire HD may want to pull the trigger today. Today only, Amazon has the 8.9″ tablet as their ‘Deal of the Day.’ That deal will land you $50 off if you enter coupon code ‘FIREHD89′ at checkout to score the deal which will make the price of the 16GB version $250. The deal is limited to one per person and will be available through today, or until stock runs out whichever happens to come first. Anyone been holding off and possibly jumping on this deal? 

source:  Amazon

Next Launcher Is Released To The Masses, Gives Another Taste Of 3D Homescreens

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 09:15 AM PST

 

We all know how popular and awesome GO Launcher already is– but the maker now has a new launcher up its sleeves for the masses to try out called Next Launcher. It’s a 3D-based launcher which has full 3D elements and 3D effects, while featuring items like an unlimited screen layout, stereoscopic screen preview and of course, those fancy 3D widgets that compliment the 3D screen. Essentially– Next Launcher is GO Launcher in full 3D— and who doesn’t want to see a cool 3D launcher to cover up their awful skin on their Android device?

The new launcher is up for all  Android 2.2+ devices, but will run you about 16 bucks— which might be a bit hefty for some. Still– the launcher is intriguing enough, so if you’re willing overlook the steep price and give it a try, head on down to the Play Store today and give it a try.

 

Play Store Download Link

And Then The Bootloader Was Unlocked: Verizon Galaxy Note II Is One Step Closer To Custom Glory

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 08:37 AM PST

 

Time to pop the champagne bottles and have a celebration if you’re an owner of the Verizon Galaxy Note II— the bootloader looks to have been officially unlocked. Thanks to the tireless work of a few hard-working individuals, they have cracked what is the hardest part of the Galaxy Note II’s shell– despite Big Red’s strong insistence on keeping its devices “safe and secure”. The way the Galaxy Note II’s bootloader was cracked is quite ingenious too actually– all that was needed to do was to trick the Galaxy Note II into thinking it’s a device that’s 0.7-inches smaller and eventually flashing a PIT file in order to revert back to the Galaxy Note II’s original identity after the phone has been unlocked. The method has only been tested on one device as of this time, but with more time and usage of this method— we should see this unlock exploit work on most, if not all Verizon Galaxy Note II variants.

So we have root and now we have an unlocked bootloader. All we need now is those ROMs to eventually start a’flowin’! Hopefully you Galaxy Note II owners don’t have to wait too much longer for some of that custom ROM goodness.

source: Adam Outen+

Samsung Wants To Remind Us That “Something New” Is On The Way, Will Give Up The Deets In January 2013

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 07:53 AM PST

We think we may have an idea of what Sammy may have set for CES 2013, but it’s gone ahead and decided to tease us anyways that we should have a lot to look forward to next month. It recently released a teaser video indicating that it has “something new” up its sleeve. Of “something new” is a bit vague and can be a wide-open number of possibilities, but still– you can’t help but get giddy at the thought of even cooler devices on the way.

You can see the full teaser vid once you hit the break.

 

Click here to view the embedded video.

 

source: Samsung Tomorrow

Samsung releases second video showcasing additional features of the Galaxy S III premium suite upgrade

Posted: 10 Dec 2012 07:24 AM PST

Last week Samsung released a video highlighting many of the features that will be on the upcoming premium suite upgrade for the Galaxy S III. There’s still more features as they just released part two. This one shows you Paper Artist, Low Light Shot, Best Face, Easy Mode, Sound Balance, Setup Wizard, and Camera Easy Snap. Just hit the break to check it out.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Apple and Google pair up to purchase surfeit of Kodak patents

Posted: 09 Dec 2012 03:21 PM PST

While Apple may have not directly sued Google in relation to its many mobile patents, the two haven’t necessarily been the best of buddies in the courtroom. It seems as though that may be about to change, at least temporarily. New reports have surfaced claiming that the two will indeed join forces to purchase 1,100 of Kodak’s highly sought after imaging patents. It’s expected that both Silicon Valley companies will have to conjure up around $500 million to acquire the array of patents.

The deal should help ease tensions between the two, as both parties would have equal rights to Kodak’s protected imaging-related technology IPs. While this may sound unrealistic, this type of joint venture could prove to be most beneficial to the consumer, considering both companies would be legally allowed to include various tidbits of revolutionary technology in new products. The joint funds would also help Kodak recover from bankruptcy, effectively keeping one of the most innovative imaging and photographic equipment companies afloat during these troubling times.

It’s entirely possible that the deal may not be the final bid for either side, as Google or Apple could each make a bid of their own to buy the patents individually. However, this is one of those strange times where you actually hope the two frenemies can get along in the spirit of innovation.

Source: Bloomberg
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