Posted: 20 Mar 2012 03:51 PM PDT 
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Posted: 20 Mar 2012 02:40 PM PDT  HTC and Sprint are getting together a few weeks from now in New York to show us something. We'll be there -- anytime there's a chance at seeing Android phones, an open bar, or catered hor d'oeuvres we're gonna show up. The real question, the one we all want to know, is what exactly will they be showing us? The last time Sprint held a big shin-dig they showed us the Kyocera Echo. Everyone remembers that one, and most had a less-than-positive thing or two to say about it. But that's behind us, and we're pretty sure we'll be seeing something from the HTC One line this time around. That leaves us three distinct choices: The HTC One VAlready rumored to be headed to Virgin Mobile (who uses the Sprint network), there would be little in the way of tooling to get this one on Sprint. It's a new generation of a budget device, with mediocre internals but awesome looking software. It's a phone built to appeal to the masses, but not so much to a dyed-in-the-wool Android enthusiast. The HTC One SSpecs are beyond decent. A new S4 Snapdragon, a sexy magic MAO/ceramic/magic finish on a metal unibody, SAMOLED screen, and not built for giants. Plenty of folks want to get their hands on this one (this author included -- please sell it unlockable HTC). The HTC One XThe beast. 4.7 inches of raw power (either the same S4 Snapdragon or the mighty Tegra 3), 720p display, and NFC. It's the phone a lot of folks would design if they had a chance. It's also the phone most folks would want Sprint to sell. All three run Sense 4.0 on top of the Ice Cream Sandwich core. HTC promises that we'll love Sense 4.0, and what we've seen so far makes us believe them. They all will have Beats Audio, and some sort of new camera voodoo that we're champing at the bit to play with. All three are great looking phones in their own right, at least on paper. We'll have to wait and see just what Sprint and HTC announce in New York, but that won't stop us from having an opinion. Let us know in the poll what you want to see on April 4. 
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Posted: 20 Mar 2012 01:41 PM PDT  Here we go, folks! Sprint and HTC are sending out invites to a little get-together on April 4 in New York City. We're invited to "experience their latest collaboration." Sprint CEO Dan Hesse will be there, as well HTC President Jason Mackenzie. And, you know, we'll be there, too. So now it's a party. More: HTC One Series forums 
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Posted: 20 Mar 2012 01:41 PM PDT Here we go, folks! Sprint and HTC are sending out invites to a little get-together on April 4 in New York City. We're invited to "experience their latest collaboration." Sprint CEO Dan Hesse will be there, as well HTC President Jason Mackenzie. And, you know, we'll be there, too. So now it's a party. More: HTC One Series forums 
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Posted: 20 Mar 2012 12:17 PM PDT  It's pretty easy, actually, and it goes back to our method of manually applying a stock update. You're going to need a few things (and chances are you've got them already):
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Posted: 20 Mar 2012 10:37 AM PDT  The photos show the familiar rounded myTouch design, with four capacitive buttons and a lightly skinned Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Around the back there's a microSD card slot, a Tmo SIM card loaded and a big ol' Huawei-branded battery. The device in today's pics is lacks a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, though a Huawei-made myTouch slider has appeared in earlier leaked renders. Hit the source link for the full set of pics, and let us know whether you're happy to see see Huawei taking over myTouch duties from HTC and LG over in the comments. Source: TmoNews 
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Posted: 20 Mar 2012 10:30 AM PDT 
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Posted: 20 Mar 2012 10:14 AM PDT With a multitude of keyboards available for Android, there is a clear consensus that not everyone likes the same type of keyboards. Some prefer stock, some prefer something a little different. If you fall in the crowd who likes something a little different then MessageEase may be what you're looking for. MessageEase has a rather unique layout, consisting of only nine keys. The concept behind it is that it helps minimize finger reach and maximizes efficiency when typing single-handed or with a single finger. The layout itself is user customizable by shape, size, color so you can adjust it for whatever works best for you. MessageEase is available in the Google Play Store now for free. If the video above isn't enough info, you can jump past the break for the full press release announcement and download link. read more 
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Posted: 20 Mar 2012 09:15 AM PDT  The venerable Samsung Droid Charge is about to get another software update. And included in version FP1, along with a bevy of bugfixes, is the new Verizon Remote Diagnostics application we've already seen added to the LG Revolution. That's the one that -- with your permission -- would allow Verizon customer service to temporarily take over your phone "for troubleshooting, device training and application demonstrations." Again, we (and Verizon) stress that nobody's taking over your phone without your permissions, and Verizon already has told us that this isn't a background monitoring tool. Other additions in this software update include:
Plus, VZ Navigator has been updated, Google Play Books, the Play Store and Gmail apps have been updated (that really should be done outside of a software update, folks), the browser now defaults to google.com, and desk dock crashes are said to have been resolved. 
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Posted: 20 Mar 2012 08:15 AM PDT  Two words that should never go together -- "charging" and "proprietary." But that might be what we see in the Samsung Galaxy S3 (or Galaxy S III, if you prefer), if a Korean publication is correct. DDaily is reporting that the SGSIII might well have a proprietary inductive charging system -- a la on the now-defunct Palm line of phones (and modded onto a number of Android devices) -- included as the stock back. (Or it might be optional. DDaily's not sure.) It also would have some sort of magic that would let it charge without actually touching the charging pad. (Woe is the child, pet or insect who steps foot between them.) Hey, sounds great. Wireless charging (or at least charging via plugless contacts) should become the norm. But anytime we hear the word "proprietary" included with "charging," the hairs on the back of our neck start to stand up. Charging should never be proprietary. We've finally gotten all the manufacturers on board with microUSB (even if they do cheat sometimes -- say, in the case of the Nook Color's extra-long microUSB plug, or that not all manufacturers' chargers play nicely with each other's phones). We don't need a wireless charging war. Anyhoo, we're still a long way out here, and there's a better than average chance that things will shift by the time anything's announced. 
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Posted: 20 Mar 2012 07:57 AM PDT  On paper, the Xperia S is a tantalizing piece of kit -- buyers get a 4.3-inch 720p screen, a fast dual-core CPU and a best-in-class camera for less money than many competing devices. And unlike 2012 flagships from Samsung and HTC, the Xperia S actually exists, and you can go out and buy one today. The catch? It’s running Android 2.3 out of the box, and it could be months before the phone’s updated to the latest version of Google’s OS. So join us after the break as we take a closer look at the Xperia S, and decide whether there’s a place for a high-end device running Gingerbread in Spring 2012.
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Posted: 20 Mar 2012 07:44 AM PDT For today's ShopAndroid.com Daily Giveaway we'll be featuring the Samsung Vehicle Navigation Mount for Galaxy Nexus, Body Glove Snap-On Case for HTC Droid Incredible, Qmadix Snap-On Cover w/ Holster for Droid 4, and the Mobi Crystal Case for Xperia Play. After checking out our hands-on videos with these accessories, leave a comment below letting us know which item you'd like to win. One lucky winner will be randomly selected and announced next Monday. Samsung Vehicle Navigation Mount for Galaxy NexusThe Galaxy Nexus Vehicle Navigation Mount lets you take the brilliance of your device with you when you travel, and the custom fitted cradle holds the Galaxy Nexus securely during long rides. Simply attach the cradle to your windshield or dashboard and adjust the multi-angle neck for perfect viewing. read more 
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Posted: 20 Mar 2012 06:37 AM PDT
This Hard Case from Mobi Products is designed specifically for the Motorola DROID 4 to offer substantial protection against drops while keeping a slim profile. The case has cut outs for all of the Droid 4's features while leaving the screen exposed for full functionality. Available in black, blue, red, purple, and pink. Get yours while supplies last! | ||||||||||
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Posted: 20 Mar 2012 06:26 AM PDT
All About Android is one of TWiT's newer shows featuring Eileen Rivera, Jason Howell and Ron Richards. If you're an Android fan and haven't yet checked it out, we highly recommend doing so, especially because Phil was the guest this week.
To watch or download the episode, please hit the links below.
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Posted: 20 Mar 2012 05:48 AM PDT
Drawing is a really funny thing. Most people fall into one of two categories: excellent or incredibly terrible. What better way to expose people and complicate the matters further than by forcing you to use your chubby fingers to draw crude, cave painting-like images with a friend, and then try to guess what the other person drew? Well, that seems to be the thinking at OMGPOP, because they made a little game called Draw Something that does just that, and it's all the rage these days.
The premise is ridiculously simple: pick a word from a list of three, try and draw it using different colors and brushes, then send it along to your friend and see if they can guess the correct word. Guessing is aided by the fact that your letter selection isn't infinite; on the contrary, you're only given a small handful of letters that aren't in your word, so as long as you can discern what you need, you'll be fine.
The three words you're given to choose from get increasingly more difficult, but the reward is also increased if your partner correctly guesses the word, too. There's a built-in incentive for trying to accumulate coins as fast as you can; coins can buy you precious bombs that eliminate letters not used in your word, or can buy you new colors to add to your palette.
You've got two options to create an account: login with your Facebook account or create a username. If you opt for the former, you can invite any of your friends from your friends list that is playing and start up a game. If you opt for the latter, you've got to add people by their username. In the sad event you don't have any friends to play with, you can also be matched with a random opponent, too, so you can still get your draw on. Either way, you can play against your friends on Android, or on iOS. Nice.
For a game with so simple a concept, Draw Something really strikes a chord with me (and everyone else, apparently). It's probably the social aspect, but there's something oddly rewarding about guessing correctly even though the drawing looked like something a pre-schooler would do. At any rate, it's fun as can be, so you might as well give it a shot. Missing, however, are notifications for when it's your turn. Booo.
Draw Something is 99 cents in the Google Play Store. We've got download links after the break.
Looking to play against other Android Central members? Share your username here!
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Posted: 20 Mar 2012 04:59 AM PDT
One of the more awesome things about custom ROMs in general is the myriad possibilities for distribution. And, more specifically, apps like ROM Manager have made downloading and updating so simple that we do it without a second thought. But with as large as the CM community has become, the download crush becomes more profound every day. As such, the CM team is giving torrents another go for the CM7.2-RC1 release.
If you've been living under a rock the past several years, torrents are a distribution method in which files are split and shared by "seeders," with no one central download location.Yes, torrents (or torrentz, if you're one of the cool kids) often are used to share copyrighted material, so you often hear about them with a negative connotation. (We're not fans of stealing, either.) But this is a prime example of a legitimate use. And the more people who download and in turn seed the CM ROMs, the faster everyone else gets to download. Very much in the spirit of the custom ROM community, eh?
And, yes, there are torrent apps for Android, so you can still download directly to your device. (We like aTorrent, and there are others, too.) Hit up the link below for the full list of CyanogenMod 7.2-Release Candidate 1 torrents, and make sure you get the right one from your phone.
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Posted: 20 Mar 2012 12:24 AM PDT
Smart phones are expensive. More-so if you buy them off contract and unlocked, but even subsidized with a new agreement the high-end phones are going to cost you about three-fiddy after taxes and that's a whole lot of money. When you spend that much money, you want to try to take very good care of something lest you break it, and for many of us that means a case of some sort. On the other side, it's awful nice to use a hot new Android phone without a case. The Galaxy S II or the Bionic are super thin and beg to be felt in the hand. It's a difficult decision.
I use a case sometimes. I have one that I will slap on a phone if I'm headed outdoors doing something that sounds like it would tear up a phone, but most of the time I just slip my phone into my pocket and roll the dice. So far, so good.
What about you folks? Let us know in the poll.
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Posted: 19 Mar 2012 09:39 PM PDT
Tripit easily is our favorite app for frequent travelers, and it's just gotten an pretty significant update for tablets as well as phones.
On the larger screens, there's a new layout that includes interactive maps and multiscreen views. Trips and points accounts all share space on the main screen. There also are larger (and scrollable!) widgets available if you're running Android 3.0 and up.
On the phone side, the points accounts section has been redesigned -- your account details, status and activity all have their own collapsible sections -- and the app refreshes faster while using less data.
All in all, a good update to an indispensable application for frequent travelers. We've got download links after the break if you need 'em.
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Posted: 19 Mar 2012 09:00 PM PDT
Rockstar has announced the availability of L.A. Noire: Touch Edition built specifically for tablet play via OnLive Desktop. If you're not familiar, have a look at our hands-on with OnLive, and see how it streams programs installed in a Windows 7 desktop environment to your tablet or smartphone. L.A. Noire is no exception, and what you'll be playing on your tablet is a natively installed Windows game, with controls optimized for the touch interface.
Rockstar has optimized the award winning game to make controls and menus designed for tablet use, and it appears they have done a very nice job. It's the first time a game of this scope and complexity has been re-built this way, and it a good indicator of things to come. If you already have L.A. Noire, or L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition through OnLive, your game has already been updated with touch support. If you haven't tried it yet, you can rent or buy it through the OnLive Game System for as little as $5.99 /£3.99.
Of course you'll need the Android OnLive client, which is completely free and runs on any Android device with Gingerbread or higher installed. You can find the download link after the break.
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Posted: 19 Mar 2012 08:27 PM PDT
Aussies using Optus can pre-order the HTC One X online today. According to Optus, folks who order early enough will have a One X with it's quad-core Tegra 3 in their hands as soon as April 2. The price varies according to the plan, with a $59 monthly plan having a cost of zero per month and the $19 monthly plan costing an extra $17 monthly for the handset. This puts it on par with the Galaxy Nexus, and looks to be the norm for high-end handsets on contract.
The One X promises to deliver an all-new experience with it's high-end internals, HTC Sense 4.0, Beats Audio, and a remarkable new camera setup. For a sneak peek at what to expect have a look at our hands-on from Barcelona during Mobile World Congress 2012.
If you're looking to get one of the hottest new devices on Optus, have a look and get out your credit cards!
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Posted: 19 Mar 2012 05:23 PM PDT
You might have heard we were having a little contest of sorts, where we got together with NVIDIA and gave away not one, not two, but three ASUS Transformer Prime tablets, complete with the keyboard docks. We picked out the three winners, and here they are:
Congrats winners! Be sure to keep an eye on your inboxes for information, and be sure to try Shadowgun on that sweet, sweet piece of equipment heading your way.
Response was overwhelming, partly because everyone involved is so freaking awesome, and partly because the Transformer Prime is a really cool piece of Tegra 3 4-PLUS-1 quad-core-powered monster Android technology. Now let's all congratulate the winners, and be on the lookout for more contests and fabulous prizes coming from Android Central.
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