Android Phone Fans |
- Samsung Galaxy S3 full firmware now available, time for all those ROMs and feature to start spreading
- Facebook acquires Karma, let’s see if something good comes around
- Sony Tablet P’s Android 4.0 update to roll out May 24th
- China finally approves Google’s purchase of Motorola, but with one condition
- Chili’s offers free Android phone with online purchase [Deals]
- Apple files for injunction against Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the US
- GameStop launches bring-your-own-device cellular service
- Is the import ban on One X and Evo 4G LTE spreading to other HTC devices?
- T-Mobile’s Samsung Galaxy S III rears its LTE-less head at FCC, could it have Exynos inside?
- Amazon prepping a 10-inch Kindle Fire?
| Posted: 19 May 2012 05:55 PM PDT
Simply put, this is a gold mine for custom ROM developers. They will be able to take advantage of all software features, like Smart Stay and S-Voice. Devs are working on it as we speak, so let the fun begin. We will also be able to extract all those .apk files. People have already extracted S-Voice and it is working with other devices. It does seem to have its fair share of issues, though. It should mostly work with other Samsung smartphones. Users can download it here if they are feeling adventurous. If you want to download all 786 MB of Galaxy S3 glory, just head over to the XDA Developers thread and have at it! At least to look around until we start seeing it being ported to all other devices. [Source: XDA Developers Via: Android Police]
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| Facebook acquires Karma, let’s see if something good comes around Posted: 19 May 2012 02:15 PM PDT
Simply put, Karma allows users to connect to Facebook via their app and send people gifts. Why would Facebook want this service? Surely, Facebook could further integrate this service to create more revenue from gift sales. Karma states that the app will continue to run as usual, but now with a stronger backbone. It seems like the Social Network is trying to get its hands anywhere they can, so we would not be surprised to see Facebook purchasing more services soon. Meanwhile, people are getting upset at the Giant. Interesting concept: We can cry and kick all we want, but we can’t stop using Facebook. And it is spreading its wings to other areas of the inter webs now.
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| Sony Tablet P’s Android 4.0 update to roll out May 24th Posted: 19 May 2012 01:52 PM PDT
The Sony Tablet S had its update as promised, soon after Sony issued a press release in Japan. A global roll-out of the Ice Cream Sandwich was seen, and we can assume the same for the Tablet P. There might be some delays if you happen to have the AT&T version, though. The update has to go through the carrier before it hits your device. Any device without Ice Cream Sandwich is considered outdated for most Android fans. Therefore, it is good to see that manufacturers are updating their products, even if a bit late. If you have been carrying this foldable tablet, let us know when/if the update hits your device!
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| China finally approves Google’s purchase of Motorola, but with one condition Posted: 19 May 2012 01:29 PM PDT
China has asked Google to keep Android free to other manufacturers for at least five years. This is to ensure that Google is not trying to monopolize the Android OS by only allowing Motorola to use the software freely. Google and Motorola have both stated that there will be no major changes after the acquisition. Both companies will continue to run as they have been, and the main reason for this acquisition is Motorola’s large patent portfolio. According to Google, these patents will aid the Search Giant in protecting Android and its manufacturers from the patent wars. With this victory, Google is now able to finalize the deal and it is expected to be closed next week. Only time will tell what changes we might see, but let’s hope good conclusions come out of this acquisition. [Source: The Wall Street Journal Via: The Verge]
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| Chili’s offers free Android phone with online purchase [Deals] Posted: 19 May 2012 11:00 AM PDT If you like to eat at Chili’s, today might be good day to place an order. The chain is offering a free Android phone (alas, with a new 2-year agreement required) if you spend $25 or more while placing an order online. They have also launched a mobile app, but it’s only available once you get the new phone, at which time they’ll text you the download link. [Chili's via Android Central]
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| Apple files for injunction against Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in the US Posted: 19 May 2012 10:47 AM PDT This hasn’t been the best of weeks for the Android community. First, we had the import ban on the HTC One X and the Evo 4G LTE, then came the news of a ban on Motorola devices, and finally earlier today we were left wondering if the HTC ban is spreading to other devices after the “unforeseen issue” at T-Mobile with the Amaze 4G. To top it all off, Apple is now filing for injunction against Samsung in relation to the two companies’ legal tussle over the original Galaxy Tab 10.1. The news comes just a couple of days before the May 21 and 22nd meetings between the two companies, which the court ordered to make them come to a settlement. If you want to know what caused this latest legal trouble, it’s related to that funny old design patent that Apple holds on a thin rectangular black screen, with the black bezel (also known as the iPad).
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| GameStop launches bring-your-own-device cellular service Posted: 19 May 2012 10:25 AM PDT Well, no one saw this coming: GameStop has launched a cellular service in the form of an AT&T MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator). Customers will have to bring their own devices, capable of working on AT&T’s bandwidth frequency, and will have pay-as-you-go plans from $5 to $55 upwards to choose from. Details are a little unclear right now: TechCrunch says the $55 offer includes unlimited voice with limited data, which drops to $20 on a pay-as-you-go plan, while Engadget says all their plans are strictly pay-as-you-go, and that unlimited voice, text and 500 MB will cost $55. As I followed the source links on both their pages, it took me to a GameStop page which required required a username/password combo. As such, we’ll have to wait to get the full information on this. [TechCrunch via Engadget]
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| Is the import ban on One X and Evo 4G LTE spreading to other HTC devices? Posted: 19 May 2012 08:33 AM PDT If the import ban on the HTC One X and the Evo 4G LTE wasn’t already a bitter pill to swallow for HTC, it looks like they’re in a bit more trouble than earlier anticipated. TmoNews were tipped off earlier today that customers who were looking to purchase a new Amaze 4G were being told that the device is unable due to “unforeseen issues”, and the Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G was being offered as an alternative. While there’s no arguing that the patent issue itself is the main problem, and that Apple has taken advantage of that, HTC must still take some blame for the ban. They knew months ago of the ruling, and they said they would remove the infringing features. It seems like they were trying to push their luck. Surely they didn’t just... forget?
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| T-Mobile’s Samsung Galaxy S III rears its LTE-less head at FCC, could it have Exynos inside? Posted: 19 May 2012 08:04 AM PDT Well, the good news is that creating various carrier variants isn’t slowing down the Samsung Galaxy S III’s launch in the US by too much. However, the bad news for those looking to use the phone on T-Mobile’s network is that you might have to do without LTE. While it’s a bit understandable considering T-Mo won’t have an up and running 4G LTE network until 2013, I’m sure there would have been a few people who would have wished it was at least capable of LTE, so that they don’t require a new device next year. On a side-note, we had all pretty much taken it for granted that the US variants of the Galaxy S III would have Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 processor, thanks to the onboard LTE. That probably means that T-Mobile’s variant comes with Samsung’s own quad core Exynos instead. If that were to be the case, would you be interested in T-Mobile’s Samsung Galaxy S III? Or is LTE a must-have? [via TmoNews]
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| Amazon prepping a 10-inch Kindle Fire? Posted: 19 May 2012 07:41 AM PDT A 10-inch Kindle Fire has been rumored for a long, long time. It was even believed that the first generation Amazon tablet would come in both the 7-inch and 10-inch flavors, until Amazon scrapped the larger version to focus on one device, and on keeping the price down. It worked brilliantly for the company, with the Fire believed to hold over 50% of the Android tablet marketshare. However, Digitimes has reported that there might be a 10-inch version coming after all, and might as early as the 3rd quarter of the year. Amazon, it says, wants to go head-to-head with the other larger Android tablets and the Apple iPad, and as with the original Fire, is looking to undercut the competition by pricing the device at about $300. How many of you would be interested in a 10-inch Fire? Personally, I could never opt for an Android device outside Google’s ecosystem, but with an attractive price and good hardware, I could be tempted. [via Wired]
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