Android Central |
- Battery size and thinness, Tired of waiting so I rooted [From the Forums]
- Incipio Feather Ultralight case for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus [accessory review]
- Heads up: No podcast tonight...
- Wordpress for Android v2.1 enters public beta
- Sprint Samsung Galaxy Nexus preorder inventory already sold out
- Path adds camera lenses to their Android app bringing it more in line with their iOS offering
- HTC One X case: As slim and sleek as the phone itself
- Xperia P and U pegged for early May launch in the UK
- 500px arrives for Android - Enjoy some of the world's best photos
- From the Android Forums: AT&T vs. Verizon in Europe
- Panasonic Eluga launches in Europe, £365 off-contract
- 1SaleADay offering Acer ICONIA 7-Inch Tab for only $180
- New at ShopAndroid.com: Andru USB charger
- Sprint TEP going up to $11 for new LTE devices come June 16 - could we see something more?
- ShopAndroid Daily Giveaway #54: Dickies Tool Bag Case, Nexus S 4G CONVERT Combo & more!
- AT&T LTE goes live in Canton, Akron and Lafayette today
- Verizon releases Q1 financials; report highest wireless growth in three years
- White LG Optimus 4X HD surfaces, still has no release date
- Orange and T-Mobile UK Galaxy S II ICS updates confirmed
- Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 demand to outstrip supply
- Deal of the Day: Mobi Products Crystal Case for Samsung Galaxy Note
- Rugged Samsung Galaxy Xcover released in Ireland
- Spotify for Android gets major overhaul, preview version now available
- PlayStation Suite SDK open beta begins
- Late-night poll: Would you switch carriers for a phone?
| Battery size and thinness, Tired of waiting so I rooted [From the Forums] Posted: 19 Apr 2012 04:35 PM PDT We're almost onto Friday and while there is no podcast tonight for you all to sit in on, there is plenty happening in the forums if you're looking to get some Android discussion happening. Get caught up on the blogs and then head on in for some good times.
If you're not already a member of the Android Central forums, you can register your account today. 
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| Incipio Feather Ultralight case for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus [accessory review] Posted: 19 Apr 2012 02:48 PM PDT The Incipio Feather Ultralight case is a perfect mix of good looks and protection for your Samsung Galaxy Nexus -- either the GSM version or the Verizon LTE version. True to its name, the case is made from an ultra-light and ultra-thin polymer, giving form fitting protection with little to no extra bulk. In fact, the Incipio Feather is thin enough to be used with many of the docks currently on the market. Just because its thin doesn't mean it's lacking when it comes to keeping your phone safe. The form-fitting design pays extra attention to the corners, and the controls are all accessible via the precision cut-outs. The inside of the case is designed to keep your Galaxy Nexus from scratching while putting it on and removing it, and the kit ships with a cleaning cloth, a screen protector, and an applicator tool. If you want to protect your investment, yet still want to keep the sleek lines of the Galaxy Nexus, this is a case worth considering. Available in Black, Grey, Blue and Pink there's sure to be a style to suit any taste. Enjoy this review from RaulT18, and look out for more great videos! 
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| Heads up: No podcast tonight... Posted: 19 Apr 2012 02:36 PM PDT Phil is off doing things and Jerry's request to do an Android Central After Dark Live got denied by our insurance company. We'll be back next week though, so be cool! 
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| Wordpress for Android v2.1 enters public beta Posted: 19 Apr 2012 01:45 PM PDT Wordpress for Android has been steadily improving over time, and the latest attempt has just been released into public beta. V2.1 promises some "totally radical stuff" -- their words, not ours. What is this totally radical stuff? To save us hunting for it, the developers have posted a handy changelog, which looks like this --
The developers are really keen for people to test this out, and run those new features through the mill a bit. If you run a Wordpress blog, then hit up the source link below to get your hands on a copy. Source: Wordpress 
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| Sprint Samsung Galaxy Nexus preorder inventory already sold out Posted: 19 Apr 2012 01:40 PM PDT Just in case you never got around to preordering your Samsung Galaxy Nexus on Sprint, you won't really have to worry about it any more. As noted on the Sprint website, they've already sold through their allotted preorder inventory and are advising folks to just pick one up on April 22nd in stores. That is, assuming you can find one. Anyone want to speculate what helped preorder sales? We have a small idea that certainly could have helped a little. Source: Sprint; Thanks, Zachary! 
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| Path adds camera lenses to their Android app bringing it more in line with their iOS offering Posted: 19 Apr 2012 12:38 PM PDT When Path first launched on Android it was, for the most part, on par with that of its iOS version. However, there were some small things left out and then one really big item that you may or may not have noticed, depending on your device history. Lenses otherwise known as filters, were not present in the Android version at launch despite having been available on iOS for quite some time. That all changes today though, the now updated version of Path brings lenses to Android with a selection of seven in total to choose from -- Pro, Ansel, Instant, Diana, Lomo, Country and Lake. The updated version is available now in the Google Play Store of which, you can find the link to after the break. Go on then, what are you waiting for? Start checking them out. Source: Path 
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| HTC One X case: As slim and sleek as the phone itself Posted: 19 Apr 2012 12:23 PM PDT We're in meetings this week with HTC in Seattle. And along with some great candid conversation with the smartphone manufacturer, we've gotten a look at an extra slim case that's in the works for the HTC One X. It's a plastic deal that adds just a tiny bit of thickness to the phone, wrapping around the side of the device. We've seen the orange case on one of the white One X's, and it's a pretty stark contrast. The white phone becomes an orange phone with hints of its former self poking through. Note the cutout for the camera, of course. No word on when and where these will be available, so stay tuned. 
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| Xperia P and U pegged for early May launch in the UK Posted: 19 Apr 2012 11:57 AM PDT Hot on the heels of the Xperia S come Sony's mid-range and entry-level offerings, the Xperia P and Xperia U. We got to see both devices at the announcement event at Mobile World Congress a couple of months back, and if you're interested in picking either up, you should only have another 2-3 weeks left to wait. UK retailer Clove Technology now lists both upcoming Xperia phones for pre-order, with an expected release date during the week commencing May 7. The Xperia P is available in black and silver, and will set you back £330 off-contract, the Xperia U comes in black and white, and sells for £204. Pre-order pricing and release dates are always subject to change, but Clove has a proven track record when it comes to this sort of thing. And given the closeness of the purported release dates, we're inclined to believe them in this instance. For more on the Xperia P and Xperia U, check out our hands-on coverage from MWC. Source: Clove Technology (1, 2) 
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| 500px arrives for Android - Enjoy some of the world's best photos Posted: 19 Apr 2012 11:35 AM PDT Sure, Instragram is fun for casual photo taking and sharing but for those who seek out higher quality photos there is a new site that offers up some of the world's best photos. 500px. Now finally, 500px has released their Android app to the Google Play Store for all. No, it's not for snapping a pic on your device and sharing it with others but it does however; allow you to elegantly showcase your already uploaded photos, create slideshows, browse your friends' photos and your favourites all from within the app itself.
The app is full of features and especially looks great on tablets where you can set it up view photos like a photoframe. If you're into photography or just love to look at great photos, this is indeed one app you'll not want to miss. You'll find the download link past the break, if you're interested in learning more about 500px the site, you can hit the source link below. Source: 500px, Thanks, stbxxl! 
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| From the Android Forums: AT&T vs. Verizon in Europe Posted: 19 Apr 2012 11:02 AM PDT grunt0300 asks in the Android Central forums,
AT&T is a GSM carrier, and that means SIM cards. AT&T also uses mostly compatible 3G bands with the continent, so it's easier -- on the surface. The reality is both AT&T and Verizon lock phones to their network (if you're using an unlocked handset you probably wouldn't be asking this one), meaning they won't work anywhere else. This is simple enough to fix on an AT&T phone, but you'll need to enlist a third party to help, or root and monkey with things a little bit. Verizon is a CDMA carrier, but they do offer world phones that take a SIM card for use outside the U.S. Like an AT&T phone, you'll need to network (or SIM) unlock it to use a pre-paid SIM card in Europe. Of course both carriers will sell you an international plan, complete with expensive rates and restrictions. Verizon will even rent you a world phone for a couple bucks a day if you need one. It's a matter of how much you're willing to spend for the convenience, and to keep your same phone number. You can walk into the carrier's shop, tell them what you need to do, and they will take care of everything for you, and for a fee. Our recommendation is to get the SIM unlock and pick up a pre-paid card from a kiosk or machine at the airport. If you're using a travel agent, they can help, too. In this case, unless you already have a Verizon world phone, AT&T is your best bet. Have a question you need answered? (Preferably about Android, but we're flexible.) Hit up our Contact Page to get in touch! 
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| Panasonic Eluga launches in Europe, £365 off-contract Posted: 19 Apr 2012 10:55 AM PDT As promised, Panasonic's first Android smartphone, the Eluga, has launched in the UK and Europe. The Japanese manufacturer makes its first foray into the world of smartphones with a super-thin 4.3-inch Android device, powered by a 1GHz dual-core TI OMAP chip. And as we discovered during our time with the phone at MWC, it also sports dust and water-resistence, a feature found in many Japanese phones, but less common in the West. Other highlights include a qHD (690x540) OLED display, an 8MP rear camera and Android 2.3 Gingerbread, with a promised upgrade to ICS this summer. Some stores are already stocking the device, with prices starting at around £365 at UK online retailer Expansys. The black version is now shipping, while the silver model is expected in the next week. 
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| 1SaleADay offering Acer ICONIA 7-Inch Tab for only $180 Posted: 19 Apr 2012 09:50 AM PDT If you're looking to get into an Android tablet on the cheap then 1SaleADay may have just what you're looking for. Right now, you can pick a Acer ICONIA 7-Inch Tab for only $180. Spec wise, you're looking at a Android 3.2 tablet powered by a 1Ghz Tegra 2 processor with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage. A 5MP rear facing camera and 2MP front facing camera will help you fill up that 1024 x 600 display and if you're looking to share things, WiFi is on board to help. Need more space? There is a microSD card slot included and right now you can pick up a SanDisk 32GB Class 4 High-Speed MicroSD Card from the same spot for only $15. Any takers? 
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| New at ShopAndroid.com: Andru USB charger Posted: 19 Apr 2012 09:28 AM PDT What better way to charge an Android phone than with the Andru USB charger? With light-up eyes (blue for charging, white for standby), articulated arms, and flexible antennae, this matte-finished USB charger would make a perfect desktop companion while not keeping you all charged up. Checking in at 2.5-inches in height on his stand he's small enough to keep anywhere, and the included microUSB cable works with many popular smartphones. You've got to keep things charged, might as well do it with some style and represent Android. Check it out at ShopAndroid.com today.
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| Sprint TEP going up to $11 for new LTE devices come June 16 - could we see something more? Posted: 19 Apr 2012 09:06 AM PDT We just got wind that Sprint will be increasing the TEP (Total Equipment Protection) fee for LTE devices over $549 starting June 16. The current cost of $8 monthly will be increased to $11, and we fully expect gnashing of teeth and online petitions against this travesty. Welcome to the Internet. But could the June 16 date mean anything else? There's another Sprint LTE phone we're waiting to get greasy with (the HTC EVO 4G LTE of course), and so far all we know about rollout dates is "mid-year". Maybe the date is nothing more than a date, but maybe we'll see the E4GLTE or some switch-flipping by the LTE team, or both. It never hurts to hope, right? Thanks, Anon! 
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| ShopAndroid Daily Giveaway #54: Dickies Tool Bag Case, Nexus S 4G CONVERT Combo & more! Posted: 19 Apr 2012 09:02 AM PDT For today's ShopAndroid.com Daily Giveaway we're featuring the Dickies Tool Bag Horizontal Case, Samsung Nexus S 4G Seidio CONVERT Combo, Body Glove Landmark Horizontal Case, and the Mobi Skin Case for T-Mobile Galaxy S II. Leave a comment below stating which one of these featured items you'd like for your Android device, and you'll be eligible to be the winner of today's giveaway! Check back next week when we announce the winners. Dickies Tool Bag Horizontal CaseThe Dickies Tool Bag Series was made with the hard-working man in mind. This elegant cell phone pouch was made to work as hard as you. It's constructed with material to withstand the wear and tear of daily duties, and features a sturdy belt loop. 
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| AT&T LTE goes live in Canton, Akron and Lafayette today Posted: 19 Apr 2012 08:38 AM PDT Earlier this month, AT&T announced plans to expand its LTE service to several new cities. Three of those cities goes live today: If you're an AT&T customer in any of those cities, congrats on the new LTE service. If you're considering getting a new LTE device on the network, some that will support it are: Samsung Galaxy Note, Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket, LG Nitro HD, HTC Vivid and the Pantech Element. Source: AT&T 
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| Verizon releases Q1 financials; report highest wireless growth in three years Posted: 19 Apr 2012 08:00 AM PDT Verizon has released their first quarter 2012 earnings, and it looks like they're going to need some help carrying all that money. I'm no finance wizard (I can barely keep a checkbook balanced) but there's no need to be when things look this good. Their wireless division reported the highest growth it has had in the past three years, with a 7.7 percent year-over-year increase in service revenues, 8.9 percent y-o-y growth in retail, and a whopping 21.1 percent increase in revenue from data services. That's a lot of cabbage. It stems from the addition of over 500,000 new postpaid customers, bringing the total to 88 million. 47 percent of those customers are using a smartphone, and the number will likely keep growing as Verizon continues its LTE expansion -- which now covers more than two-thirds of the U.S. population in 203 markets. In addition, the wireline services (FIOS cable Internet and phone) also grew by a couple hundred thousand customers, making the picture rosy all around. Of course, running a network isn't cheap so most of this profit and earnings will go back into the company. Hit the break for the press release with all the highlights. 
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| White LG Optimus 4X HD surfaces, still has no release date Posted: 19 Apr 2012 07:36 AM PDT A photo has surfaced of the LG Optimus 4X HD (see our hands-on) that shows that a white version of LG's first quad-core phone. It looks pretty sharp and will no doubt be in demand once this finally hits the shelves. It's too bad that we don't have a release date yet, since this was announced back at Mobile World Congress in February, and we're already starting to see quad-core flagships from other manufacturers. Hopefully we'll get a release date sooner rather than later. For the forgetful, here's the spec sheet for LG's upcoming flagship --
Once we hear anything further about color options or release dates, you'll be the first to know, so stay tuned. Source: Unwired View 
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| Orange and T-Mobile UK Galaxy S II ICS updates confirmed Posted: 19 Apr 2012 07:33 AM PDT As the world awaits Samsung's next big thing, it's worth remembering that some Galaxy S II owners are still waiting on their upgrade to the latest version of Android, Ice Cream Sandwich. While the update has already rolled out for network-branded Galaxy S II's on O2, Three and Vodafone (as well as unbranded phones), Orange and T-Mobile UK have so far lagged behind. But today both carriers provided more info on when users can expect their updates -- Orange expects the update to go out over Kies tomorrow, while Tmo's is scheduled for Sunday, April 22. There's still no word on ICS updates for the many U.S. variants of the Galaxy S II, though recent leaks seem to show progress being made towards stable ICS builds. Source: TechRadar 
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| Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 demand to outstrip supply Posted: 19 Apr 2012 07:13 AM PDT Qualcomm's Snapdragon S4 chip will be powering some of the most anticipated Android devices of the next few months, including the HTC One S and AT&T's HTC One X, not to mention the ASUS Padfone and rumored devices from Sony. But in its recent Q2 earnings call, the chipmaker admitted that supply of the S4 chips may be unable to meet demand until the end of the year, meaning that device manufacturers may have to look elsewhere for alternative silicon. The lack of supply is likely due to difficulties with the 28nm manufacturing process used to build the S4 chips, which have been reported over the past couple of months. Speaking in the earnings call, Qualcomm President and COO Steven Mollenkopf said the company was working with its customers (manufacturers) to swap-in alternative Qualcomm chipsets, though he admitted "we do expect to see some alternative non-Qualcomm chipsets being used to solve that issue as well." While this probably won't impact S4 devices currently on the market, or about to go on sale, it may cause OEMs to think twice about using the chips in devices due to come to market later in the year, particularly where LTE connectivity isn't essential. In the mobile device space, Qualcomm faces competition from the likes of NVIDIA, Texas Instruments and Samsung, not to mention Intel later in the year. via BBC News 
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| Deal of the Day: Mobi Products Crystal Case for Samsung Galaxy Note Posted: 19 Apr 2012 07:04 AM PDT
The Mobi Crystal Case is available for just $4.95 today only, 75% off the regular price. Grab yours today! 
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| Rugged Samsung Galaxy Xcover released in Ireland Posted: 19 Apr 2012 06:33 AM PDT Announced during Summer 2011, the Galaxy Xcover is Samsung's take on a rugged Android smartphone. Since then we haven't seen much of it. But now though the IP67 certified, dirt, dust and water resistant device is available in the Republic of Ireland, for those who need a phone that can take some abuse. With Gingerbread and Touchwiz on board, the Xcover is available now from eMobile, Meteor and Three, and can be had free of charge on a new contract. via Silicon Republic 
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| Spotify for Android gets major overhaul, preview version now available Posted: 19 Apr 2012 06:31 AM PDT Music streaming service Spotify has overhauled its Android app with a brand new look and a slew of new features. Firstly, the app's been redesigned with support for Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and it's clear the developers have borrowed a little of Google's ICS design language for their new app. Facebook-style slide-out navigation is included, replacing the menu key based navigation of old. And high-resolution cover art and high-quality (320kbps) streaming have also been added, along with performance improvements throughout the app. Spotify promises more features, including Last FM scrobbling and folder support, before the new version is finalized. Note that to try out the new app, you'll need to be signed up for a Spotify Premium subscription, and as it's a stand-alone apk file, you'll need to enable unknown sources to install it. For the full list of changes, along with download info, check the source link. Source: Spotify 
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| PlayStation Suite SDK open beta begins Posted: 19 Apr 2012 05:51 AM PDT As promised, Sony has launched the public beta of its PlayStation Suite SDK, following on from the closed beta that's been available to select developers in the US, UK and Japan since last November. The program, which is available online now at playstation.com/pss, allows game developers to create games and apps optimized for the recently-launched PlayStation Vita handheld console, as well as PlayStation-certified Android devices. (These include the Xperia Play, Xperia Arc, Xperia S, Sony Tablets P and S, and others.) The open beta available free of charge to all developers, but after the beta period's up Sony plans on charging a $99 annual fee for access to the finalized SDK. It's also worth mentioning that any games created using the beta SDK won't be available until after the open beta wraps up, though devs are free to test and debug their creations during the beta period. Interested developers can sign up over at the source link -- here's hoping the project results in some great titles for Sony's line-up of Android phones and tablets. Source: PlayStation, SCEI 
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| Late-night poll: Would you switch carriers for a phone? Posted: 18 Apr 2012 11:14 PM PDT We ask a lot of hypothetical questions in our nightly polls. Back when they first started, we decided that the main focus is for us to get to know each other a little better, and that leads to a lot of what-if kind of situations. Like tonight's, where I'm asking if the right phone could make you switch carriers. Imagine the HTC One X, or the "next" Galaxy phone, or another up and comer we haven't heard about yet. One you really, really like. Now imagine that you're told it won't come to the carrier you're currently using. What would you do? Would you pass on it, hoping to have a better selection next time around, or do you pay any ETF, port your number and jump ship? I'm a T-Mobile customer, but I could leave for Sprint or AT&T, which both have excellent coverage around here. But I wouldn't, partially because I like my cheaper monthly costs, and because I like the way T-Mobile treats customers who bring their own phones. I'll happily use whatever device suits me best until it's time to buy a new one. But I can see the draw, because I have considered it once or twice and thought about leaving for AT&T -- over a phone. In the end I didn't, and don't really regret it. What about you guys? Would you leave or stay if you found out your carrier wasn't ever going to get the phone you just had to have? Answer in the poll., and tell us why in the comments. 
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