Sunday, April 22, 2012

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans

Rumor: HTC EVO Design 4G coming to Boost Mobile by quarter’s end

Posted: 21 Apr 2012 04:14 PM PDT

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High-end Android devices are mostly snatched by the 4 major carriers. This usually leads to regional carrier subscribers having to conform to using low-to-mid-end devices. But with Android smartphones constantly improving, some good alternatives have been showing up for those who prefer affordability. And if this rumor happens to be true, Boost Mobile could be getting the HTC EVO Design 4G by the end of the quarter.

Granted, it is not the best phone out there. But it sure would be a great option compared to what is usually offered by carriers like Boost Mobile. As of now, the LG Marquee is Boost’s better offering for Android devices. The HTC EVO Design 4G has much better specs, so it should be the best choice for Boost Mobile users if it does end up being offered.

The EVO Design 4G comes with a 1.2 GHz single core processor, 768 MB of RAM and a qHD display. Boost’s version should be the same, but it is said to come with Android 4.0 out of the box. Whether the Sprint version will get the Ice Cream Sandwich update or not by then is still unknown. But this would be a good treat for Boost Mobile subscribers.

Let’s sit back and see if this happens. It will probably not be too expensive, and having no contract is always nice. Would any of you go for an HTC EVO Design 4G with Android 4.0 on Boost Mobile?

[Source: Pocket Now Via: Engadget]

Samsung teases us with a bit of Samsung Galaxy S III goodness

Posted: 21 Apr 2012 02:18 PM PDT

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Most of us are biting our nails, eagerly waiting for the release of the next Samsung Galaxy S device. Whether it is called the Samsung Galaxy S III, Galaxy S II Plus or Galaxy S Awesome, it will more than likely rock. Samsung knows how much we love the leaks, rumors and teases, so they have decided to give us one of their own.

Samsung Denmark’s Facebook has recently posted the above image. Which has what we believe to be the Galaxy S III under a veil. Only the external shape is noticeable, so the device’s design is still a mystery. We have seen leaked images and videos, but those devices do not sport the device’s final design. Samsung has really been keeping this one well hidden.

Something we did find weird is the image’s date and time. We know that this device should be unveiled at Samsung’s May 3rd London event. But the timing on this teaser seems to be a bit off. It says it will be at hour 20:00 (8 pm), but the invitation states that the even starts at hour 19:00. Maybe that will be when the event ends, and it is all announced (maybe along with a new tablet). It could also just be the time difference, especially since this Facebook page is location-specific.

Regardless, this is not really great news, but it is a good tease (as mentioned in the title). If you would like to take a peek under the covers, you could also check out the images and video that have been leaked out. Those will provide a much deeper look into what is to come.

Source: Facebook Via: Talk Android]

Samsung could also be unveiling a new tablet during its May 3rd London event

Posted: 21 Apr 2012 01:44 PM PDT

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As it goes with Samsung Galaxy S devices, the rumor and leak mill has been going at full throttle for months. Rumors have come and gone, but everything started looking brighter after London’s May 3rd invitations started being sent. Soon afterwards, images and videos started leaking out. Albeit without the final design. Surely, Galaxy S III (or whatever it will be called) will be quite the sensation. But according to the latest rumors, it is not coming alone.

CNET’s sources are stating that Samsung will also unveil a 10.1-inch tablet during this event. This will probably be unlike the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, which is rumored to be delayed for a quad-core processor upgrade. Instead, this seems to be a dual-core tablet.

This is still a rumor, and should be taken with the usual dose of salt. No other details are known. And after being contacted, Samsung told CNET that they knew nothing (of course). But if this happens to be true, we could have yet another Galaxy Tab coming to our nearest stores.

[Source: CNET Via: Electronista]

My new favorite weather app: Weatherwise [App Review]

Posted: 21 Apr 2012 01:15 PM PDT

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The little peek at the "Share to Google Drive" wasn’t the only good stuff that was on show during yesterday’s Android Developers’ Friday Apps Review. One of the three apps discussed, Weatherwise, really caught my attention.

What does it do?

As you’d expect, it provides the weather forecast for the locations of your choice. There’s quite a bit of information available, including a week’s forecast and a detailed 24-hour forecast.

What sets it apart?

First and foremost: the graphics. The animation is really beautiful, with several varying conditions (the developer said around 20) ranging from a thunderstorm to a nice, quite sunset. It also has a neat little parallax effect, so if you move the phone a bit, you see the bushes moving more than the tree at the back.

The developer is also monetizing it using in-app purchases of themes (there are five available currently, priced at $0.99 each). What that means is no annoying ads to spoil the experience (as is the case with 1Weather, another beautiful app).

The widgets are pretty decent, too, certainly a lot better than 1Weather’s (IMHO). You have two to choose from: a 4X4 and a 4X1 option.

What improvements I’d like to see?

First off, and this is, as mentioned in the Hangout, the most requested feature: a live wallpaper. This is a gorgeous app, and I’d love to have the option (though I barely ever use live wallpapers).

Without that, you only really appreciate the looks when you first install it, and when you show it off to friends. Once the beauty wears off, you only want to quickly glance at the forecast when you open the app.

Secondly, and this is something Reto Meier pointed out to the team in the Hangout, the buttons need to be a bit bigger. I have had issues opening the 23-hour detailed information at times.

And finally, I’d like to see the widgets display the time also. I use Beautiful Widgets, and I love the time + weather combo. I’m not going to replace that widget with Weatherwise’s.

Verizon Galaxy Nexus to cost $200 starting April 23rd?

Posted: 21 Apr 2012 01:14 PM PDT

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Nexus devices are the holy grail of the Android community. No matter how many amazing devices keep being released, many prefer the promise of timely updates (though such is not always the case). And if you have been itching to get your hands on a Verizon Galaxy Nexus, it will come as great news that it could be getting a major price reduction soon.

Our friends at Droid-Life managed to get a leaked MAP list that states that Verizon’s Nexus device will receive a $100 price reduction on April 23rd. That is this coming Monday. For a price of $200 with a 2-year contract, this might not be a bad deal at all.

This might also come as bad news to those that recently got the device (like me). But what can we do, right? If you happen to be planning to purchase this device soon, you might want to wait until monday, though. We would say $100 less is quite the incentive to let your hands itch a bit more.

There have also been rumors of a 16 GB version coming to Verizon. Such state that is would only go for $200. With the 32 GB Galaxy Nexus now going for $200, though, the smaller brother could come with a much more enticing price tag. That is, if the device is ever released.

For the meanwhile, this long awaited price reduction could be just around the corner. Let’s wait and see if this leak proves to be true. Is anyone signing up for one? Did you purchase one recently?

[Via: Droid-Life]

HTC J is now official, coming to Japan during the summer

Posted: 21 Apr 2012 12:48 PM PDT

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The device was a mystery until a couple of days ago. The official HTC Japanese website let the info leak through its hands. It was quickly pulled from the site, but only to be officially announced the day after.

The device is now scheduled for release during the summer (2012) for the Japanese Market. Sadly, it will probably not be reaching other countries. Based on its specs, though, it seems like it could just be another version of the HTC One S in a much different package.

HTC J Specifications

  • Android 4.0 with HTC Sense 4
  • 4.3-inch qHD OLED display
  • 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor
  • 1 GB of RAM
  • 8 MP rear-facing camera / 1.3 MP front-facing camera
  • 4G WiMAX connectivity
  • Beats Audio

Our fellow Japanese Android fans can look forward to this one. Pricing information is not yet available, but it will be released for Japanese carrier KDDI. As for us, we will have to go for the other HTC One S versions.

[Source: HTC Japan Via: The Verge]

It’s good to be a CEO: Sanjay Jha’s pay package for 2011 was about $47 million

Posted: 21 Apr 2012 12:00 PM PDT

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The title pretty much says it all. Few other points from the regulatory finding:

  • His 2011 compensation package is nearly four times of what he got in 2010.
  • The reasoning specified was the "successful partition of Motorola into two companies last year to form Motorola Mobilities and Motorola Solutions."
  • Jha’s package includes options awards, increased from the $13 million in 2010.
  • Motorola had a $80 million net loss in Q4 2011 alone. Motorola Mobility’s Q1 2012 results will be provided on May 1.

[via Reuters]

Get the LG Optimus M+ for $129 from MetroPCS

Posted: 21 Apr 2012 10:42 AM PDT

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Want a cheap, off-contract phone, and live within the MetroPCS coverage area? Then the Optimus M+ might interest you quite a bit. For $129, you get the Gingerbread phone with a 3.5-inch HVGA screen, 5-megapixel rear-facing camera, 800MHz processor, 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity, GPS, Bluetooth 3.0 and a microSD memory card slot.

Not too shabby for the price, and personally I like the presence of such options. These phones aren’t there to give users the experience of cutting-edge Android capabilities: they are there to put an end to dumbphones.

[MetroPCS via IntoMobile]

GSM Galaxy Nexus receives minor update to fix signal issues

Posted: 21 Apr 2012 10:09 AM PDT

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Users of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus’ GSM variant have had a pretty rough time so far: firstly, updates haven’t come through as quickly as we’ve come to expect from a Nexus device. And when they did come through, as is the case with the 4.0.4 update, they seemed to cause more problems than solve.

Thankfully, Google’s finally addressed the signal issue that the 4.0.4 update caused. The update doesn’t seem to do much else, and the Android version doesn’t change. But it does let the smartphone be what it should, most importantly, be: a phone.

[via Android Central]

Samsung Galaxy Note headed towards T-Mobile?

Posted: 21 Apr 2012 08:24 AM PDT

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A few documents unearthed by TMoNews seems to point towards a possible variant of Samsung’s Galaxy Note phablet on the Magenta network. What makes them think so?

  • The model (SGH-T879) was initially claimed to be a variant of the SGH-i717, the AT&T Galaxy Note, in the Bluetooth SIG and WiFi Alliance documents. This has however been removed.
  • Although the SGH-T8x9 is normally reserved for tablets, the Bluetooth documents call the device a phone. It’s a grey area, but explicitly detailing it as a phone makes me lean towards the Note, too.
  • The user agent is similar to that from the AT&T Galaxy Note.
  • The model number SGH-Txx9 are used by T-Mobile’s Samsung devices.

As is written in TMoNews’ post, there’s no guarantee that this is the Galaxy Note and not a tablet, but the mention of "smartphone" in the official documents, coupled with the 800X1280 resolution, points towards the Note more than anything else.

Pre-order AT&T’s HTC One X from RadioShack for $149.99 April 22nd onwards

Posted: 21 Apr 2012 07:21 AM PDT

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Android Central managed to get a little scoop about the AT&T’s HTC One X variant earlier this morning, reporting that pre-orders from RadioShack will open on April 22 with the phone priced at $149.99. You’ll have to wait another two weeks to get it in stores, where you’ll also find a few accessories to go with it.

The One X is the first HTC phone I’ve been genuinely excited about for a long, long time (probably since the Desire HD/myTouch 4G came out with the second generation Snapdragon inside). Despite a few issues here and there, the One X has had some pretty good reviews. And finally, after having been released in virtually every major international market, the device is coming Stateside.

Besides the discounted price, purchasing through RadioShack will also get you seven free downloads of Coldplay songs.

Google Drive spotted during Android Developers’ Hangout (and I was right there!)

Posted: 21 Apr 2012 05:05 AM PDT

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We’ve been hearing that Google’s file syncing service, Drive, will be released "next week" for some time now. And although there have been a few proofs shared around regarding it’s existence, such as the robots.txt file and a screenshot of the Mac app, nothing was quite as conclusive as what was spotted yesterday.

As many of you on Google+ might know, every Friday the Android Developer Relations team holds a hangout session to review some apps and games. And during the review of one of the apps, Reto Meier demonstrated its sharing capabilities. What he didn’t realize, though, was that he had just shown the existence of Drive’s Android app. The YouTube video for the Hangout was taken down for a while after The Verge broke the news, but its back up now, without any changes to it. It’s unlisted, so you can’t find it by searching.

I’ve embedded the video below. Skip to about 32:30 to get right to it. Coincidentally, I was part of the Hangout as my own app was one of those that was reviewed (I’m the one with the white headphones). If you’d like to see them review my app, it begins at about a minute mark.

Facebook For Android Updated – Version 1.9 Adds New Messaging Features And Shortcut Spam

Posted: 20 Apr 2012 08:43 PM PDT

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Facebook was updated in the Google Play Store today, and while it adds a new hand-dandy messaging feature, another one might rub a few users the wrong way. First up, is a new way to message your friends by adding them to existing group convos, or creating completely new ones. That should help those chatty Facebook users out there.

Next up is the addition of new Messenger and Camera icon/shortcuts that will auto-magically populate your app drawer after updating. Fun for the casual Android user, but pain in the butt for those of us who don’t look so favorably upon app icon spam. You can find the updated Facebook version 1.9 right now in the Google Play Store.

[Play Store Link]
Posted by at 7:55 AM

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