Update - 303

Smart Actions, Moving from a 3G device to a 4G device [From the Forums] Posted: 26 Mar 2012 04:19 PM PDT A new week and fresh content to roll through. Get yourself caught up on the blogs and then once you're done, head on into the Android Central forums and check out what's new. PS: You might want to check this out before you do, it can make browsing the forums all that much better: HTC Vivid Forums - Ice Cream Headache HTC Rezound Forums - Be careful if you move to a 3G phone then move back to 4G Samsung Galaxy Note Forums - UK Note Battery in US Note Phone? Droid RAZR MAXX Forums - Smart Actions VIP Caller won't work... Droid Incredible Forums - Suspicious 'TimothyMilla' mystery app? If you're not already a member of the Android Central forums, you can register your account today.

HTCSense.com sync service shutting down from April 30 to make way for new cloud services Posted: 26 Mar 2012 04:16 PM PDT The message above is currently displayed on HTCSense.com, informing visitors that HTC's online sync service will be shutting down from April 30. This gives HTCSense.com users just over a month to log in and download any contacts, text messages or other personal data on their account. The message is also being sent out by email to HTCSense.com account holders. HTC says the move away from HTCSense.com is part of the transition to "new and improved" online services it's working on. With carriers preparing to launch the One X in Europe in just over a week, we'd guess that phone may be the first to see whatever HTC's cooking up. In addition to the purge of personal data, HTC tells us that the online security and backup services are currently unavailable too, and that users should head to Google Play to download a replacement. Security apps like Lookout offer similar services, for a price. In the meantime, we'll have to wait and see what HTC's future cloud plans entail. And we'll be hoping that the new service is a little more reliable than HTCSense.com. In our experience the service, which first launched on the Desire HD in late 2010, was temperamental at the best of times. More: HTCSense.com

FYI: The Droid Charge is still the Droid Charge Posted: 26 Mar 2012 03:53 PM PDT Fear not, Samsung owners -- your Droid Charge is still a Droid Charge. An e-mail sent this afternoon and Verizon's own website seem to contradict that, calling it the "4G LTE CHARGE by Samsung." But Verizon has assured us that "there has been no change to the product's name." Phew. read more

Three UK taking HTC One X upgrade orders from existing subscribers Posted: 26 Mar 2012 03:14 PM PDT Three UK might not be taking orders for the HTC One X from new customers just yet, but if you're due an upgrade from them, you may be in luck. It seems the network is already allowing existing customers to secure themselves a One X on launch day, assuming they're eligible for an upgrade. So if your contract with Three is up for a renewal, check the upgrades area and you should be able to select the One X in grey or white. Orders placed over the past few days are reportedly due for delivery on April 5, which as we all know is the reported launch date for the HTC One series. As we reported a few weeks back, the HTC One X will be sold on every major network in the UK. Vodafone UK is currently taking pre-orders, while O2 has said it expects to stock the device from April 5. T-Mobile and Orange both specify an April release window. Thanks to AC reader +Andrew Jones-McGuire for letting us know!

Contest Winners: ShopAndroid Daily winners and Perfect Keyboard Pro! Posted: 26 Mar 2012 02:47 PM PDT If you're a registered member here at Android Central then you know our forums always have a contest happening. And if you're not registered, well -- now is as good a time as any. This week's winners are as posted after the break, and if you were chosen watch your email as we'll be following up shortly. Stay tuned for more upcoming contests folks. (And Transformer Prime winners will be announced later today.) Congrats to this week's winners! read more

AT&T HTC One X benchmarked again Posted: 26 Mar 2012 02:28 PM PDT The AT&T version of the HTC One X has been hitting the benchmark apps the past couple of days, and a friend of a friend of a friend was kind enough to send in a few results. On Sunday we saw a few benchmark results from our forums appear, and with one of them, the Vellamo browser benchmark, being built by Qualcomm there was some speculation that it would naturally score higher. We have to agree with that, as any company would want to stack the deck if at all possible -- that's how this sort of thing goes. Now we have results from AndEbench, Antutu, and CF-Bench to compare. You can see them after the break, but the important thing is that they all appear exactly as we expect them to. New high-spec processor scores higher than last generation's high-spec processor. Tossing out the Vellamo results (they may or may not be biased, so they have to be dismissed), we can see that the Qualcomm S4 is still a great performer, but not the score-doubling monster that Qualcomm's browser benchmark makes it out to be. I'm still not impressed by benchmarks. They depend far too much on software (especially in Android because of the Dalvik machine) and are easy to manipulate -- either by users or the folks writing the benchmark apps. Will the AT&T version of the One X be a good phone? I'm pretty sure it will be. Will it be as good at the International version with NVIDIA's Tegra 3? Maybe, we'll have to put them side-by-side and compare before we give the final word. As for the specs-on-paper battle, I'm staying out of it because I'm not a big enough hardware-geek to know or care. I'll leave that to the experts, and judge the phones on how they work in my hands. Hit the break to see all the results. Thanks, Anon! read more

Google amps up Play Store visibility, adds link to Google toolbars Posted: 26 Mar 2012 02:02 PM PDT Looks like Google is getting more serious about their Google Play Store advertising. If you're browsing pages through Google you'll now start to see a Google Play Store link in the toolbar. Interestingly enough though it's not appearing on Google's homepage, only on the various other links such as Google+, Documents, Maps and Gmail will you see the new advertising. Though, one does have to wonder -- is it advertising or is that some folks are still confused over the switch? Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Samsung Rugby Smart review Posted: 26 Mar 2012 12:55 PM PDT The Samsung Rugby Smart is not a "superphone." It doesn't pretend to be one, isn't marketed as one, and we're not about to call it one. What it is is a very solid offering from AT&T and Samsung that fills the rugged, life-proof niche.  We've seen plenty of rugged phones get released that run Android, but so far most have been less that stellar offerings. That's where the Rugby Smart shines, as it's a good Android smartphone that can take a bit of abuse. Hit the break and read more, and see some abuse for yourself. A very solid-feeling, and solid-looking phone. The Rugby Smart won't wow a seasoned Android veteran with its specifications, but it's tops in durability. Dustproof, dirtproof, shock resistant, temperature resistant, and waterproof. It does it all while still being a decent performer. A phone launching in 2012 and still running Gingerbread will always get a ding here. The Qualcomm Scorpion CPU won't play the latest 3D games as well as some others, though it runs most things decently. When minimum hardware specs increase, this phone may be left behind with 2011 internals. Know what you're looking for. If you need a rugged life-proof phone, this is the one to get. It's head and shoulders above other ruggedized phones, and you'll enjoy having a real smartphone that won't be ruined by how you treat it. If that's not what you need, maybe look up the chain a little at the Galaxy S II or Skyrocket. Inside this review More info Video walkthrough Hardware review Software review Camera tests Rugby Smart specs Android Central forums   read more

Scrubs the game cures boredom, switches to freemium model Posted: 26 Mar 2012 12:25 PM PDT Scrubs the TV series is long gone now but the Android game lives on. The game itself was released way back in 2011 and has actually been rather popular among fans and now, it has adopted a 'freemium' model. The main gameplay takes the form of a Hidden Object Game, using familiar locations from the series, including the nurse's station and the staff room. You'll also stumble across various unlockable mini-games from stitching body parts to racing wheelchairs. Your task will be to solve an exciting mystery and your investigation will ensure a captivating plot that will keep you guessing right until the end. Personally, I love the comic book styling of the game and playing it, actually makes me want to break out some of the old episodes I have kicking around on DVD. If you're a fan of Scrubs and want to relive some of the old glory, you'll find the download link past the break. read more

Huawei Ascend P1 pegged for April release in China Posted: 26 Mar 2012 11:56 AM PDT Back during CES 2012 we spent sometime with Huawei's flagship device, the Ascend P1. Shortly after that, there was speculation it would land in China available in late March but it seems that date may have now been pushed to mid-April with other regions getting the device later on. As a reminder, here is what folks will be waiting for: 4.3-inch Super AMOLED qHD (960 x 540) 1.5 GHz dual-core processor Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) 8MP rear camera with 1080p recording 1.3MP front-facing camera with 720p recording Bluetooth 3.0 1GB RAM 4GB ROM Quadband (GSM/GPRS/EDGE) Pentaband (UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA) In our hands-on with the device, it was remarkably fast and the screen was brilliantly crisp. However, with the date reportedly slipping it's hard to say now when the Ascend P1 will hit the US and by the time it does, it'll be going up against a multitude of other handsets arriving. Source: Unwiredview

Ustream app hits 2.5 million downloads, version 2.0 is released Posted: 26 Mar 2012 11:16 AM PDT The folks from Ustream are celebrating today with their app having now hit 2.5 Million downloads. To ensure everyone else can get in on the celebrations, they've gone ahead and released Ustream v2.0 to the masses bringing along some improvements and requested features including a fresh new UI and more: Quick Broadcast widget - Go live right on the spot using the new Quick Broadcast widget. You can easily place it on your Android home screen, and simply tap it whenever you see something interesting. It will go live instantly, broadcasting to an unlimited audience using the camera of your device. Please sign in and select your channel before your first broadcast. Premium Membership, Ad-Free, In-App Billing support - The Ustream Android app has always been free to download for the community. To maintain its development, the app is supported by unobtrusive banner ads appearing at the bottom of some screens. Enjoy Ad-Free experience at any time by purchasing Premium Membership – either in the app using Google Wallet or on the Ustream website. Your Membership benefits will work on all your Android (and even iOS) devices, but you get even more at ustream.tv. Korean localization - In addition to English and Japanese, the Ustream Android app supports Korean language starting from version 2.0. The ad-free option is pretty sweet if you're going to be going with a premium membership. That means if you're using the Ustream app to listen to the world's greatest Android podcast each Thursday night, you'll not have to deal with audio ads nor any ads in the app itself now. The update to v2.0 is available on the Google Play Store and you'll find the download beyond the break. read more

Nvidia CEO hints Kepler GPU is headed for mobile Posted: 26 Mar 2012 09:22 AM PDT Nvidia launched a next-gen desktop graphics card last week called the GTX 680, and its heart, the Kepler GPU, is bound for the mobile world according to a congratulatory e-mail from CEO Jen-Hsun Huang to employees. Today is just the beginning of Kepler. Because of its super energy-efficient architecture, we will extend GPUs into datacenters, to super thin notebooks, to superphones. Not to mention bring joy and delight to millions of gamers around the world.  read more

ShopAndroid Daily Giveaway #36: Galaxy Nexus Cradle w/ Spare Battery Slot, Xperia Play OtterBox Commuter & more Posted: 26 Mar 2012 08:58 AM PDT We're kicking off another week of Android accessory giveaway's, and today we'll be checking out the Galaxy Nexus Mobi Desktop Cradle, OtterBox Commuter Case for Xperia Play, SURFACE Case for Droid Incredible, and the CONVERT Combo for Droid X/X2. If you'd like to get your hands on one of these featured items, just leave a comment below stating which accessory you'd like to win for your Android device. We'll select one lucky winner by random and announce them next Monday. Mobi Desktop Cradle w/ Spare Battery Slot for Verizon Galaxy Nexus The Mobi Products Cradle with spare battery slot for Verizon Galaxy Nexus lets you easily charge your smartphone and a spare battery at the same time. Easily synchronize and charge your Verizon Galaxy Nexus with any USB-enabled computer. If you want to use the cradle's spare battery charger, just plug in the bundled AC adapter. read more

'HTC Wind' sighted - a dual-SIM One S lookalike for China Posted: 26 Mar 2012 08:54 AM PDT An as yet unannounced HTC phone for the Chinese market has found its way onto Taiwanese forum ePrice. The T328w is said to launch as the "HTC Wind", offering mid-range hardware and dual-SIM support. This is a feature which is particularly useful in developing countries, as users often move in and out of different networks' coverage areas. Internally, you've got respectable list of specs -- a 1GHz single-core CPU, 512MB of RAM, a 4-inch Super LCD WVGA screen and a 5MP rear camera with LED flash. On the software side, the Wind delivers Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and version "4a" of HTC Sense -- presumably some derivative of what's launching on the One X and One S in the weeks ahead. Price-wise, you're looking at 1999 Chinese yuan, which is around $315, so you're getting a reasonable amount of smartphone for your money. It's unlikely we'll see this device launched in the U.S. or internationally, though the Wind's 900/2100MHz HSPA bands mean it'd work in Europe. In any case, the HTC Wind looks like a solid budget smartphone. Source: ePrice; via: Unwired View

Carbon for Android gets a video sneak peek Posted: 26 Mar 2012 07:48 AM PDT I'm still looking for my perfect Twitter client. This might well be it. Carbon for Android -- a longtime favorite on webOS and more recently on Windows Phone -- now has a video sneak preview to go along with the stills we saw a couple months ago. And it's looking downright gorgeous. (And note the cameo appearance from webOS Nation's own Derek Kessler!) Source; +Carbon for Android

Update: Microsoft decides to make good after getting smoked in its own game Posted: 26 Mar 2012 07:28 AM PDT Update: And just as we suspected, Microsoft's decided to do the right thing. Ben Rudolph (aka @BenThePCGuy) just tweeted the following: Hey @sahaskatta , @Microsoftstore & I want to make things right. So I've got a laptop & phone (& apology) for you. Email me! Wish it hadn't taken a public shaming, though. Original: We've always watched Microsoft's "Smoked by Windows Phone" competition with a bit of amusement. On one hand, Microsoft hit a stroke of marketing genius here. (And lord knows it's had enough experiences in the opposite direction.) Put a Windows Phone up against anything else to see which can perform a specific task more quickly, and film it for posterity. We've used Windows Phone. It absolutely can do some specific tasks pretty darn quickly -- often enough more quickly than other phones, and catching folks getting "Smoked" is YouTube gold. But it's also always been a bit of a techie carnival sideshow, albeit a popular one, as we saw for ourselves at Mobile World Congress. (No, I didn't actually get smoked, because I didn't belly up to that midway game.) That brings us to today's tale. Skatter Tech's Sahas Katta writes that his Galaxy Nexus, armed with a couple weather widgets on the home screen, indeed was able to beat Windows Phone at its own game -- "bring up the weather of two different cities," Katta says. He had an ace in the hole: An option mod that bypasses the Ice Cream Sandwich lock screen and goes straight to the home screen when he presses the power button. The Windows Phone competition didn't have that, and finished "a split second later." So Katta and his Galaxy Nexus won, right? Nope. the Santa Clara (Calif.) Microsoft store decided, after some gnashing of teeth, followed by some quick thinking, that it had to be to cities in different states. Oh. Good bye $1,000 custom laptop, hello "Smoked" pic of shame. We're willing to bet Microsoft makes good here after this PR gaffe, and that some store employees might have seen better days. And let's hope Microsoft does it on camera, and posts it alongside its other "Smoked" videos. Source: Skatter Tech, via WPCentral; more: Smoked by Windows Phone

Reminder: Google IO 2012 registration kicks off tomorrow morning Posted: 26 Mar 2012 07:18 AM PDT Heads up -- registration for Google IO 2012 will begin tomorrow, March 27, at 7 a.m. PDT. And if previous years are any indication, it'll probably end well before 8 a.m. Last year's tickets sold out in under an hour, so if you want to take part in Google's big developer conference in San Francisco this June, you'll need punctuality, luck and a few hundred bucks to spare. A general attendee ticket will set you back $900 -- up from $450 last year --, while academics (students and faculty) will be able to purchase tickets for $300 -- up from $150. Google's got a few rules to follow, too -- only one ticket can be purchased per person, and it's up to Google to approve any ticket transfers. You'll also need access to Google+ and Google Wallet to register. There's no shortage of rumors surrounding possible hardware that Google and its partners may be showing off (and perhaps giving away), but IO is about more than the swag. It's the place to meet developers and Googlers, and learn about the future direction of Android and other Google products, as well as how they all work under the hood. There's also the big official party, a giant wall of candy and bugdroids around every corner. The conference runs from on June 27-29 at Moscone West in SOMA. We'll be there, of course, so keep watching our Google IO landing page for more developments as the event approaches. More: Android Central at Google IO

U.S. Army deploys their own Android app store Posted: 26 Mar 2012 07:15 AM PDT The U.S. Army recently launched a "prototype" (i.e. beta) version of their own civilian-facing mobile app store for Android and iOS. The Army Software Marketplace offers over a dozen training applications to be used on smartphones or tablets, with plenty more on the way. You can browse through apps on their mobile website, or download the Marketplace as a packaged app. App entries come complete with screenshots, descriptions, and download links, though there's no section to submit reviews. CIO Lt. Gen. Susan Lawrence explained the Army's approach to creating this app. "The Apps Marketplace is at the center of Army efforts to radically reduce the time to deliver applications across the force. This prototype is a first step in establishing and exercising new submission and approval processes that will eventually enable Army members, organizations and third-party developers to release applications for Army-wide distribution." read more

Deal of the Day: OtterBox Commuter Series Case for Motorola DROID 4 Posted: 26 Mar 2012 06:37 AM PDT The March 26 ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day is the OtterBox Commuter Series Case for Motorola DROID 4. Safeguarding the screen from scratches and the corners from bumps and shocks, the Commuter case offers a unique design with reliable strength.  Included is a self-adhering clear protective film to safeguard your Motorola DROID 4 touch screen. The OtterBox Commuter Series Case is now available for $23.95, 31% off the regular price today only. Get yours while supplies last!

Motorola RAZR MAXX XT910 launches in China Posted: 26 Mar 2012 06:27 AM PDT Motorola has announced that the RAZR MAXX XT910 -- that's the international version of the Droid RAZR MAXX -- has gone on sale today across China. As you'll remember from our review, the RAZR MAXX is essentially the same phone as the original RAZR, right down to the software build numbers. The key difference is it's packing a ginormous 3300mAh battery. And as 4G services haven't yet launched in China, there'll be no LTE radio in this version, meaning battery life should be even better than the Verizon 4G model. (Moto's boasting up to 21 hours of talk time on a single charge.) China recently overtook the U.S. as the world's largest smartphone market, so the launch of any leading smartphone over there is a big deal. We're still eager to see this model launched in other territories, though. Moto brought the RAZR to the UK and Europe late last year, but it's yet to reveal any European plans for the MAXX. Chinese buyers can pick up the Motorola RAZR MAXX at "authorized Motorola resellers" from today. Source: Motorola Media Center

Monday Brief: BB10 Dev Alpha Prototypes, webOS printers, new iPhone rumors, and more! Posted: 26 Mar 2012 05:29 AM PDT Mobile Nations Podcast Feed Mobile Nations on iTunes Mobile Nations YouTube Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G review Sony Xperia S review Galaxy Note ICS update and 'premium suite' teased in official video BlackBerry 10 Jam attendees will receive "BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha" developer prototype device Should RIM support BBM on competing platforms? MLB.com At Bat 2012 for BlackBerry now available Open webOS hardware abstraction layer Nyx released HP merging printing group into Personal Systems Group Fast, good, or cheap - or why you can't build a smartphone The new iPad (2012) review The new iPad (2012) round-table New iPhone (iPhone 5,1) coming fall 2012 with LTE, similar sized screen iPad help and discussion forum AT&T Nokia Lumia 900 set for April 9th release with demo units in stores now Hands on with the official Audible app for Windows Phone Report: Nokia paying AT&T for exclusive employee use of the Lumia 900

HTC One X and S go up for pre-order at Vodafone UK Posted: 26 Mar 2012 05:03 AM PDT As the HTC One X's European release approaches, we're seeing Euro carriers ramp up their promotion of the device. Vodafone UK is now listing the One X in white and grey, and offering both for free on two-year contracts of £41 or more per month. That'll get you the phone, 900 minutes, unlimited texts and 1GB of data. If you're looking for a lower monthly bill, it's also possible to bag a One X for as little as £26 per month, though you'll pay £299 up-front for the privilege. The One X's little brother, the HTC One S, is also up for pre-order, and free from £36 per month (that's with 600 minutes, unlimited texts and 1GB). There's no word on Pay As You Go prices, as Voda typically limits its PAYG offerings to low-end devices. While rival networks aren't revealing their price plans for the One X or One S just yet, Three, O2, Orange and T-Mobile all offer registration links, where customers can sign up for more info as it's available. Retailer listings suggest the One X will sell for just under £500 SIM-free, while the One S is expected to cost around £450. Source: Vodafone UK

Motorola Xoom 2 now available in the UAE Posted: 26 Mar 2012 04:41 AM PDT Motorola has announced that the Xoom 2, in 10.1" form, is now available for purchase in the United Arab Emirates.  This follows the release in Israel and Brazil earlier this month.  No specifics on pricing were given, but it should be available from selected carriers in the country.  It's launching with  Android 3.2 Honeycomb, and it should see and Ice Cream Sandwich update in Q3.  Press release is after the break. Source: Motorola read more

Ice Cream Sandwich for the AT&T Galaxy S II Skyrocket leaks out Posted: 25 Mar 2012 10:10 PM PDT If you're hanging onto a Galaxy S II Skyrocket and wishing it had some Ice Cream Sandwich love on it, you're in luck. A new leak has now appeared and is available for download for those of you out there who are willing to give it a shot. The build date for this one is listed as March 14th, 2012 with the build.pro file confirming some form of officialness to it: ro.build.description=SGH-I727-user 4.0.3 IML74K 107 release-keys ro.build.fingerprint=samsung/SGH-I727/SGH-I727:4.0.3/IML74K/107:user/release-keys ro.build.characteristics=default Update: False alarm for the T-Mobile SGSII (T989). Look for a working method in short order, but for now fall back. For the adventurous, it is noted to also work on the T-Mobile Galaxy S II variation as well but like all things, you'll have to use caution when loading this thing up. The potential for things to go wrong is there, so keep that in mind. For the moment, Windows users only can make use of the file but hopefully that'll be sorted for Mac and Linux folks soon. Hit the source link for the download. Source: RootzWiki

SAWS | The Puridium War can't get here soon enough Posted: 25 Mar 2012 05:08 PM PDT We're not gonna muck this up with a bunch of words. Just watch. And wait for April, apparently, for SAWS | The Puridium War. Mechs. High-def Mechs. Or, as the dev puts it: The year is 2210, and the world has begun to rebuild after an exploded near-earth asteroid rained down shards of blue all around the globe. Scientists discovered that the crystals that almost destroyed us all, held the secret to clean energy. Puridium, as it was named, emitted pure un-radiated energy when struck with just the right frequencies, and a new age of man was born. Unfortunately, we weren’t the only things interested in the Puridium. The DEVOUR are creature that started to show up all over the world, hunting and seeking out Puridium. They feed off of the crystals, and will stop at nothing to obtain it, and now we have a planet painted blue with it. You are PFC Lucas 11 of SAWS Battalion E25, and you have taken an oath to defend humanity from the DEVOUR. As a member of the Special Assault Weapons Squad, you will be piloting the latest generation assault suit equipped with some of the most destructive mobile weapons ever created. Do. Want. Source: Mobilwerx.com