Sunday, February 3, 2013

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans

Android Overload: Galaxy Note 2 deal, Nexus 10 back in stock, leaks and more

Posted: 02 Feb 2013 05:59 PM PST

We hope you are having a good weekend! If not, you can always make it a bit better by checking out the Android stories that didn’t make it to our homepage. There’s a lot of goodies in here, so take a look and nerd out with us.

Share to Google Talk on Android with GTalkShare [VIDEO]

Posted: 02 Feb 2013 04:31 PM PST

Google Talk seems to be one of Google’s abandoned step children. We have been begging for file transfers, group chats and many other features, but no major update comes around. Not being able to share to Google Talk on Android is one of Google’s most notorious faults, though, and that is what we are going to touch on right now.

Developer 360Dev has a very nifty solution for all of us looking to share directly to Google Talk – GTalkShare. It has been around for a while, but it really should have more downloads. I mean, this is Google’s official IM service, how can the guys at Mountain View not give us some sharing love?

GTalkShare does exactly what the title entails – it allows you to share to your Google Talk contacts straight from Android’s native sharing function. Upon opening the app, one is prompted to select which Google account to use. You must allow the app access to your Google Talk account, so no need to sign in or any of that.

After that, simply go to any app, hit the share button and tap on GTalkShare. Then select your recipient and share away! It’s really that simple. Sure, it doesn’t have the most beautiful UI or the smoothest experience, but it works as intended.

So there you go, guys. Head to the Google Play Store and download this app! Do you struggle with this lacking feature, as well? Do you have another solution? Let us know in the comments!

More Motorola X Phone rumors surface – amazing battery, great camera and more

Posted: 02 Feb 2013 02:07 PM PST

Rumors of the Motorola X Phone are heating up and we have some new possible details for you today. Some of these seem a bit iffy, some sound exciting and some are just unbelievable. It seems no matter how we look at this phone, we have no idea what Google and Motorola are trying to do here. Let’s just jump into today’s murmurings, shall we?

Phone Arena’s sources claim to have the inside scoop on the X Phone’s details. Allegedly, some of his friends have been testing this bad boy and we are looking at some great improvements laid out in the table.

For starters, Google is said to be working with Motorola to focus on better battery life and superior durability. According to the insider, the device will have a kevlar back (of course) and a hefty battery (like the RAZR Maxx). It is also stated that it will have a 4.8-inch display, a quad-core processor and… wait for it… a microSD slot and up to 128 GB of internal storage! That is some serious storage, and we seriously doubt this will happen, but we’ll see.

We are not sure what is going on here. If this is true, Google is going back to its old ways, as Google has permanently moved away from expandable storage. Then again, this is not meant to be a Nexus device – even if it is said it will be sold via the Play Store, have stock Android and be built in collaboration with Google.

The last rumored addition, and probably the most exciting, is an improved camera. More specifically, it is said to come with a Sony Exmor sensor (Apple devices are powered with these sensors). We know many of you have been begging Google to improve camera quality, so this might very well be the first step.

Like always, you should take this with a grain of salt. Even trusted sources have been wrong in the past, and it is way too early for us to really bet on any of this. If you are patient enough, you can go ahead and speculate in the comments, let us know what you think, and wait until Google I/O to see if any of this is true.

[PhoneArena]

Android Overload: Apple takes top smartphone vendor title from Samsung, Google valued at over a quarter trillion dollars, and more [VIDEO]

Posted: 01 Feb 2013 08:59 PM PST

This image has no alt text

The Android Overload is where we feature the biggest news stories from throughout the day (see above video), as well as stash all of the stories/articles/news bits that didn't make it onto our front page. But just because they weren't featured doesn't mean they aren't worth taking a look at. In fact, there's almost always a little something here for everyone. So, take a look around and let us know if you find anything of interest.

  • Sony Xperia Z gets priced in the UK. £529 straight up. [GSMArena]
  • ASUS Memo Pad 10 press shots leaked. Basically, a Transformer Pad in a new shell. [UnwiredView]
  • Sony Xperia E gets torn down at the FCC, Sony’s entry level Android device. [WirelessGoodness]
  • Samsung no longer #1. Apple takes the crown for Q4 2012 (but not for long). [TNW
  • HD Widgets updated with support for Colourform theme. [Google Play]
  • Google shares hit all time high of $775.32. [AllThingsD]
  • TWRP updated to 2.4.1.0 Adds new features. [TeamWin]
  • ASUS sells 1 million Padfone 2 units globally. [Digitimes]
  • NVIDIA finding it hard to sell the Tegra 4 to handset manufacturers. Other than Toshiba, anyway. [Digitimes]
  • Chrome Beta for Android updated in the Play Store. [Google Play]
  • Intel will show off their dual-core processors at Mobile World Congress. [Intel]
  • PlayJam GameStick’s Kickstarter campaign is over. Reaches $647,000+ in funding. [DroidGamers]
  • Star Trek companion app now available in the Play Store. [Google Play]
  • Twitter hits $9.9 billion in valuation. [Fortune]
  • Flipboard updated in the Play Store. Now allows for saving images to gallery. [Google Play]
  • Archos 70 Titanium and Archos 101 Titanium hit the FCC. [Liliputing]
Posted by at 8:53 AM 0 comments

Android Central

Android Central

AOSP updated to revision 1.2, build JOP40G

Posted: 02 Feb 2013 04:22 PM PST

AOSP

The AOSP has been tagged as 4.2.1 r1.2, and the small change log lists a few interesting bug fixes. Version JOP40G will have some power management fixes as well as a tweak to the way an EXT4 partition handles file creation. These fixes are not device specific, so they will affect the Nexus 10, Nexus 7, and Nexus 4. We imagine the Galaxy Nexus will also see the benefits of this build.

In a nutshell -- some folks had issues where their device would shut off when removed from the charger, and these changes should address those. No word on when to expect an update, or if one is planned for this tag. There's plenty of bugs to squash in 4.2.1, and like we have seen with every other build of AOSP these things take a little time -- often longer than we would like. Maybe OEMs holding off and not delivering the bleeding edge for their phones isn't such a bad idea, right?

Source: AOSP; via Android Police

Apps of the Week: NFL '12, Ulysse Speedometer, Aquarium Calculator and more!

Posted: 02 Feb 2013 01:18 PM PST

Apps of the Week

It's the first apps of the week roundup of February, and we tried our best to get some great picks for you this week. We've got a couple of useful tools and some fun games to try out, with a couple others sprinkled in as well. Check them out after the break and see how we did this week.

read more

Beta version of Tesla Model S app comes to the Play Store

Posted: 02 Feb 2013 11:49 AM PST

Android Central

After being iOS-only for some time, Tesla owners can now control their car with an Android app as well. One perk of having an all-electric car designed for a consumer electronics-focused market is great integration of systems, and there's no better way to show it off than with an app that controls your car. The Tesla Model S Android app lets you check your remaining range or charge state, control heat or A/C before you get into the car, open/close the roof and unlock/lock the doors from a distance.

The app has just been released and holds a "Beta" tag, citing occasional UI glitches, but we're just happy to see it released publicly. If you're lucky enough to have your hands (and a good chunk of your bank account) on a Tesla Model S, you'll want to head to the Play Store and grab this app right away.

Foursquare for Business hits Google Play, manage your locations from your Android device

Posted: 02 Feb 2013 04:26 AM PST

Android Central

Until now, business owners utilizing Foursquare have been required to manage their locations via the Foursquare website. Now though, Foursquare for Business has hit the Google Play Store, providing the opportunity to manage those locations on the go. 

From within, business owners can post photo updates, share updates via Facebook and Twitter, view recent checkins at their locations, learn more about their customers and drive new business by way of Foursquare specials. It's a very specific app with a specific purpose, but it's great news that Foursquare has realized the power of being able to access your business specific information on the go. Further more, it looks to have been extremely well done, so if you're a business owner on Foursquare, hit the Play Store link at the top to grab yourselves a copy. 
Posted by at 6:57 AM 0 comments

Google Android News Android Forums

Google Android News Android Forums

Xperia T Jelly Bean update rolls out to some devices

Posted: 01 Feb 2013 10:15 PM PST

Well that didn’t take long. Just yesterday we saw Sony prepping some Jelly Bean updates for Xperia T devices, and today they’ve officially started rolling out. The update that’s been hitting devices matches what was on the original website, so it looks legit. As of right now, the update is confirmed live in just the Netherlands, but it’s bound to pop up on other parts of the globe. Let us know in the comments if you’re getting your taste of Jelly Bean on your device.

source: Xperia Blog

HTC giving away free Playstation Mobile games to Sense 4+ users

Posted: 01 Feb 2013 10:11 PM PST

Are you a fan of using Playstation Mobile on your certified HTC device? You’re about to get pretty excited. HTC is giving away free Playstation mobile games to users with devices running Sense 4.0 or above, and Android 4.1. This includes several HTC devices, but unfortunately leaves out AT&T and T-Mobile users that are still waiting on their Jelly Bean update. It’s hard to blame HTC for that, though, as they’ve updated their other versions of many of their devices.

They’re running a different free game every week until the end of February. This is pretty similar to Sony’s giveaway that’s going on right now. All you have to do is set up your account and download away. Happy gaming!

source: HTC

Paramount releases Star Trek Into Darkness app to hype up movie’s release

Posted: 01 Feb 2013 10:02 PM PST

Paramount has released a Star Trek application for free in the Play Store as a companion app to their new movie. It adds a lot of user engagement to the upcoming movie by offering bonus material for users that go on “scavenger hunts” within the app, some of which involve photographing movie posters or billboards to unlock new content or using sound recognition while watching movie trailers. It’s a pretty cool app that’s definitely one-of-a-kind. If you’re a die-hard Trekkie or just excited for the new movie, hit the source below to download the app.

QR Code generator

Play Store Download Link

Leaked Qualcomm roadmap suggests Spring release for Key Lime Pie

Posted: 01 Feb 2013 09:53 PM PST

Anytime a company releases some big, well-kept secret, you know it’s going to fly to every corner of the internet in roughly 6 seconds. Qualcomm made this mistake earlier today, with their leaked roadmap referring to a Spring release for “Key Lime Pie” several times. Oops. They tried to clean it up pretty quickly by using lawyers to demand the copyrighted materials be pulled from the internet, but the cat’s out of the bag, and there’s no better way to confirm a rumor than by panicking about it. Oops again. Of course, this back up everyone’s suspicion that Google will unveil the latest flavor of Android at Google I/O in May, as well as revealing that mysterious X-Phone. Just a few more months to wait, folks.

source: CNet

Southeast Asia to receive Intel-powered phones in near future, starting with Acer Liquid C1 in Thailand

Posted: 01 Feb 2013 07:20 PM PST

Intel is trying their hardest to break into the smartphone market lately, though not the American market. Next up for the chip maker is the Acer Liquid C1 that’s planning to be launched in Thailand first, then launch in other nearby markets, hopefully within three months according to a certain senior Intel executive. The C1 runs on Intel’s Lexington platform with an Atom Z240 CPU and boasts a 4.3 inch screen, 2,000 mAh battery, and Android 4.0. Not ground breaking, but coming it at about $335, it’s expected. It does also feature HSPA+ connectivity, which was a smart move on Intel and Acer’s part. The C1 marks the ninth phone in nine months powered by one of Intel’s processors.

Since that area is a new, growing smartphone market, it makes sense that Intel would want to start trying to sway early adopters to their phones, and it’s beneficial for partners like Acer to jump on board. We won’t see any immediate results from this, but it’s definitely going to be interesting to see how Intel-powered phones pan out across the globe, and whether or not they can shake up the already competitive Android playing field.

source: ZDNet

ASUS MemoPad 10 press images surface, pricing leaked

Posted: 01 Feb 2013 03:48 PM PST

ASUS’ rumored MemoPad 10 has been revealed today in a set of leaked press photos, outing the as-of-yet unannounced tablet. According to recent leaks, the MemoPad 10 is expected to feature a 10.1-inch 1,280 x 800 IPS LCD panel, a quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 CPU and 1GB of RAM. Also included is 16GB of on board storage, a MicroSD slot for further memory expansion, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, a 5-megapixel rear camera and a 1.2-megapixel font facing shooter.

Interestingly, the same leak suggests the device will make its debut in Europe for a price of €300, equal to around $410 US. Unlike the Transformer Pad TF300, there’s no docking station to go along with the device. Additionally, the MemoPad 10 is expected to weigh less than the previous generation tablet, while opting for a more robust 10.5mm thick body.

There’s still no word on a release date or general availability, though were sure ASUS won’t be waiting too much longer to give us the full low-down.

Google/Motorola “X” Smartphone To Feature Great Battery Life And Kevlar Backing, Reminds Us Of Previous Motorola Phones In The Process

Posted: 01 Feb 2013 02:33 PM PST

 

It’s been a while since we’ve heard anything about Googlorola’s mysterious “X” smartphone, so it’s fitting that we’ve gotten some new juicy details about the device. According to the wunderguru Sniggly, there are already working models of the upcoming handset somewhere out there in the wild as part of the smartphone’s extensive testing process. It appears that Google is pulling no stops as it is intent on making a phone that features great battery life and is durable— something that most smartphones of today lack, but Motorola clearly emphasizes with its long line of smartphones featuring Kevlar backings and great battery lives. In addition, the phone is rumored to have a screen size around 4.8-inches, a quad-core processor, and a microSD card slot with the possibility that the internal storage is rumored to go up to a 128 GB version. Oh and those of you afraid of this upcoming device having a crummy camera can fear no more as Motorola/Google are expected to feature a much better camera sensor… perhaps even one of those new Sony Exmor sensors that the tech world has been raving about.

We still have a long ways to go before the device is expected to be announced– but boy you just can’t help but get giddy at the expected May 15th announcement date– especially for you Verizon customers.

source: PhoneArena
Posted by at 6:42 AM 0 comments
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