Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans

T-Mobile’s Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus Now Receiving Ice Cream Sandwich Via Samsung Kies Software

Posted: 13 Aug 2012 07:05 PM PDT

This image has no alt text

For those that jumped on T-Mobile’s version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus when it first debuted in November, T-Mo is now letting users know via their support forums that the Ice Cream Sandwich update is now available for 7-inch tablet. The optional Android 4.0.5 update is set to officially roll out tomorrow, but don’t expect your tab to notify you of the update — this will not roll out over-the-air and can only be applied using Samsung’s Kies software.

T-Mobile provided a nice, detailed walkthrough with full instructions and can be found via the source link below. If you have any friends or family with the 4G tab, make sure to let them know they have some ice cream waiting for them, lest they miss out.

[T-Mobile Support]

Apple Rests Its Case, Samsung Convinces Judge to Toss International Galaxy S, S2 and Ace From the Lawsuit

Posted: 13 Aug 2012 06:16 PM PDT

This image has no alt text

Looks like we’re one step closer in wrapping up the soap opera that is the Apple vs Samsung patent trial. Apple has finally rested their case today while Samsung gave a last ditch effort to throw out Apple’s side of the case based on Apple’s failure to meet its legal burden. Judge Lucy Koh wasn’t buying it, but Samsung did manage to squeeze in a small win after the judge agreed to throw out a few Samsung devices from being considered as part of their alleged patent infringement.

Oddly enough, the devices no longer being considered as part of the case were a few Samsung devices widely considered to look most similar to the iPhone (thanks to the inclusion of a centered home button) like the Samsung Galaxy Ace, as well as international versions of the Samsung Galaxy S, and Samsung Galaxy S2. However, the remaining 17 devices sold here in the US are still fair game, and consist of the majority of sales that Apple feels entitled to. Still, something tells me Apple will have a harder time arguing the AT&T Samsung Galaxy S Captivate among other modified Galaxy S variants infringed on their design patents.

Apple is looking for around $2.5 billion from Samsung, claiming a figure of roughly 2 million iPads and iPhones Apple missed out on, due to consumers purchasing Samsung devices instead. Samsung is now making their case to the jury, calling a number of witnesses to help them argue that they didn’t, in fact, infringe on any of Apple’s patents and that many of those patents should have never been granted in the first place. Things like Apple’s rubber band effect, as well as 1-finger and scrolling and pinch-to-zoom are all being shown as prior art, and never invented by Apple (just stolen and marketed really well). Let’s hope the jury has just a smidgen of common sense.

[AllThingsD]

Rezound-inspired flash mob looks more like a music video

Posted: 13 Aug 2012 03:52 PM PDT

Verizon posted a video to their YouTube account to commemorate the release of Android 4.0 for the HTC Rezound. In the video, a group of dancers begin following a girl (an actress part of the flash mob) who just got finished purchasing the device.

As it’s a Beats-enabled device she is listening to the music that the mob is dancing to, and the idea is that she isn’t supposed to know that they’re following her for quite some time. The mob gets bigger as the video goes along, and it all ends once she gets a music-halting call from her mom. It’s cool to watch so be sure to hit that play button above.

T-Mobile Springboard getting Android 4.0.4 this Wednesday

Posted: 13 Aug 2012 02:35 PM PDT

While Huawei’s getting ready to bring a masterful device in the Huawei MediaPad 10 FHD to market this month, they’ve still got some older devices that they see fit to upgrade. T-Mobile’s version of the original Huawei MediaPad, the T-Mobile Springboard, looks to be getting Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich this Wednesday.

Magenta will be rolling it out via an over-the-air process, and aside from the features you already know from Ice Cream Sandwich the update will add increased performance, fixes for power issues, improvement of the device’s WiFi signal, better memory allocations to allow the device to receive future updates without a problem (Jelly Bean?), and more.

You know the deal: check for it under About Tablet in the settings menu once August 15th arrives, and be sure to have at least 50% of battery life available to ensure the device doesn’t shut off during the process. [via T-Mobile]

So why hasn’t Google made gift cards for the Play Store yet?

Posted: 13 Aug 2012 12:29 PM PDT

I can’t remember how long we’ve been asking ourselves the following question: why doesn’t Google release gift cards for the Android Market Google Play Store? I can think of many instances where I would have rather bought Google Play Store cards instead of paying for each app individually.

For one, it would be a lot easier to balance my bank account every day as I’d only have to book one purchase for all my downloads.

Secondly, I’ve had the urge to gift apps or money for apps from time to time, and without having to buy a gift card from a major credit card vendor I’d just give people the cash instead (which was likely used on copious amounts of soda).

As big a convenience as it would be for us users, it would be a nice deal for Google, too. The gift card business is huge, and I know from personal experience that my family members would rather issue those instead of thoughtful gifts come Christmas or my birthday. It would drive revenue to the Google Play Store because it would encourage content that they wouldn’t buy otherwise.

We know they have the capability to implement digital gift cards as evidenced by the $25 credit you get when buying the Nexus 7, so what’s the big deal?

I’d venture to guess Google just isn’t interested in going the physical card model as they’re not well-versed in the retail world, but what’s holding them back from pulling an Amazon and offering digital gift cards to those willing and able to buy them?

While I couldn’t tell you the numbers Apple racks up in iTunes Gift Cards, I know from my time in retail that those things fly off the shelves on a daily basis. There’s a huge market out there for them.

By capitalizing on it Google would enjoy even more revenue from paid apps than what they’re already seeing. It’s a win-win situation and it’s high time they took advantage. What say you?

Google buys Frommer’s, a travel guide company

Posted: 13 Aug 2012 12:13 PM PDT

It looks like Google is getting ready to bolster up Places and Zagat with their latest purchase. It’s been announced that they’re purchasing Frommer’s, a company that provides travel guides on more than 4,300 destinations worldwide. While it’s unlikely we’ll see the fruits of their purchase (one which we don’t know the terms for) right away, you can be bet Google will be strengthening their core business with the immense database of information that Frommer’s provides, as well as using its existent technology to make for a better user experience for their Places endeavor. [Wall Street Journal]

Sony Xperia S gets new color: Dark Silver

Posted: 13 Aug 2012 12:05 PM PDT

The Sony Xperia S may not be the newest kid on the block, but Sony’s still behind it 100%. They’ve showed their commitment by announcing a nice new color for the device: Dark Silver. It’s a fancy way of saying “black/carbon”, and despite the need to use fancy color names it does look very nice. The bottom bar, and the back and sides of the device all boast the new color. The only thing I can’t get over is that ugly Xperia logo on the back. It sticks out like a sore thumb in a cast. But it’s there, and if you don’t mind it then you can look forward to the new colorway in the next few weeks. [Sony]

Flipboard update adds improved navigation, enhanced Google Reader support, and more

Posted: 13 Aug 2012 11:24 AM PDT

Flipboard for Android has gotten itself an update in the Google Play Store. It adds improved navigation within individual sections, easier access to feeds and folders from Google Reader, in-app hints, new shopping cart features, and the usual round of bug fixes and improvements. One of the best reading applications has gotten even better, and you can’t be mad at that. Find the new features in the Google Play Store here.

LG Optimus Vu officially headed to America

Posted: 13 Aug 2012 10:54 AM PDT

While we’ve long had suspcion of LG’s plans to bring the LG Optimus Vu to America, it is nice to get some solid confirmation. A press release by the South Korean company today mentioned that the device would be launched in the United States.

The device features a 5 inch HD display, but the aspect ratio is what’s really interesting. LG decided to employ a 4:3 aspect ratio making this a rather “fat” and more square phone than what we’re used to.

While I have my reservations about the comfort of such a device it looks to be a decent offering. The phone will house a 1.5GHz dual-core processor by Qualcomm and makes use of digitized styli ala the Samsung Galaxy Note.

But where’s it going? Well recent FCC filings indicate Verizon is a definite destination, but it’s possible other carriers could be in line. I’m not saying this thing will get the Samsung Galaxy S3 treatment, but it’s possible. Would you buy a phone so… unwieldy? [LG via Unwired View]

Are you a slacker? Win a 3-month premium subscription to Slacker Radio [CONTEST]

Posted: 13 Aug 2012 09:54 AM PDT

There are plenty of options when it comes to streaming radio on an Android phone, but time and time again I find myself coming back to Slacker. Maybe it’s because of the wide selection of tunes, including tracks that I just can’t seem to find anywhere else. Maybe it’s the hand-curated playlists compiled by top DJs and artists from all over. Maybe it’s the small but dedicated team of real music enthusiasts behind the internet radio service. When people ask me for a recommendation on a music app I usually offer up Slacker for a combination of the above reasons.

And while Slacker is pretty great without spending a single penny, ditching ads and gaining the ability to play any song on demand at any time (including offline) makes a premium subscription well worth the $9.99 a month. But thanks to the kind folks at Slacker and your pals here at Phandroid, three lucky readers won’t even have to spend that much to get three months worth of premium access.

So how do you enter for a chance to win? It’s pretty easy. Head on over to Twitter and tell us (@Phandroid) why you should get one of the three subscriptions we are giving away. Tell us you’re a music lover. Tell us you once waited in line for two days to get tickets to see your favorite band, or maybe you hopped in a camper and followed Phish around all summer. Whatever you do, just be sure to include the hashtag #ImaSlacker when tweeting at us. We’ll give you guys 24 hours to enter and choose a winner tomorrow. Pretty simple, right?

So let’s get to it music makers and booty shakers. Convince me that you deserve it and you might just be on your way to unlimited streaming music until you can’t take it anymore.

 

Verizon posts changelog for Motorola Droid 4 Ice Cream Sandwich update

Posted: 13 Aug 2012 09:11 AM PDT

After a soak test was announced last week, Verizon has posted the complete changelog for the Motorola Droid 4′s update to Android 4.0.4. The 364MB update takes the software build number to 6.16.217 and brings along all the trimmings of Ice Cream Sandwich, including such features as Face Unlock and improved multi-tasking. Additional changes beyond the upgrade to a new Android version include a remote diagnostics tool, improved device stability, and global roaming capabilities.

It is unclear if the soak test has actually commenced, and that will need to happen before the update is pushed to the general public. But with the changelog at hand, it shouldn’t be too long before Droid 4 owners can experience a nice Ice Cream Sandwich treat during these hot August days.

[via DroidLife]

HTC Rezound receiving update, appears to activate global roaming capabilties

Posted: 13 Aug 2012 08:36 AM PDT

Reports of a new update for the HTC Rezound surfaced over the weekend despite no official word from Verizon. The update is no small potatoes, either, at 103MB, and appears to activate the long-awaited global roaming capabilities Verizon has teased for the device for quite some time. It is unclear if Verizon has launched the update en masse or if it is simply making its way to a few handsets as part of an initial test. What we do know is that the Android version remains at 4.0.3 and Sense at 3.6, though the software version has moved up to 4.03.605.1.

Verizon promised to activate global roaming in several 4G devices this year, but has been slow moving in completing the task. Many expected the feature to come bundled in the Rezound’s Ice Cream Sandwich update, but Big Red withheld the feature for a future update for whatever reason.

[via AndroidForums]

Official: Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE headed to Sprint August 19, up for pre-order now

Posted: 13 Aug 2012 07:50 AM PDT

Sprint has come clean with the final details for the pending release of the Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE. The handset, which was announced last month, will be available August 19th for $199.99 on a two-year contract. The Android 4.0 smartphone features a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 4.3-inch display, and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard (hence the ‘Q’ in the name). If that sounds like your next phone and want the peace of mind that you can have it as soon as it launches, Sprint is offering pre-orders as of today. Hit up the press release for the details.

Calling All QWERTY Fans! Motorola PHOTON Q 4G LTE from Sprint Available Aug. 19 for $199.99; Pre-Order Begins Today

Offering a device packed with features to provide the ideal work-life balance, Sprint (NYSE: S), the only national wireless carrier offering truly unlimited data for all phones while on the Sprint network1, today announced the Sunday, Aug. 19, availability of the first 4G LTE-enabled smartphone from Sprint with a full QWERTY keyboard and international roaming capabilities, Motorola PHOTON™ Q™ 4G LTE. Motorola PHOTON Q will cost $199.99 (excludes taxes) with a new line of service or eligible upgrade and two-year service agreement.

Motorola PHOTON Q will be available for pre-order beginning today at www.sprint.com/photonq. Customers who pre-order Motorola PHOTON Q will begin receiving their smartphone as early as two days before the device goes on sale - while supplies last.

“At Sprint, we recognize there is a large group of our customers that love the ease of a physical QWERTY keyboard,” said David Owens, vice president - Product Development, Sprint. “By bringing a device like Motorola PHOTON Q into our portfolio, we are able to give these customers the option of a physical keyboard plus international roaming capabilities to stay connected while traveling abroad.”

Motorola PHOTON Q features a slide out PC-like QWERTY keyboard for double-thumb efficiency. Each laser-cut key is outlined in LED lights so users can see what they’re doing, even in the dark. It also has a dedicated number row for maximum typing efficiency and accuracy.

Combined with a large 4.3-inch ColorBoost™ display, Motorola PHOTON Q offers the largest screen currently available on a 4G LTE smartphone with a full QWERTY keyboard. Its 8-megapiexal rear-facing camera with 1080p capture and playback along with an HD front-facing camera produce a high-quality multimedia experience that provides the perfect blend of business and pleasure with blazing speed on the Sprint 4G LTE network2.

Additional key features on Motorola PHOTON Q include:

1.5GHz dual-core processor
Android™ 4.0.4, Ice Cream Sandwich
ULE Platinum Certification, the highest level of environmental performance recognized by sustainable requirements established by UL Environment and Sprint
SMARTACTIONS™, the free Motorola app that helps extend battery life and intelligently automates routine, everyday tasks so that smartphones can do more for consumers
Mirror mode when connected with HDMI cable (sold separately) to view images, files and movies on a larger screen, like your TV at home
Sprint ID, offering an innovative way to personalize an Android-powered smartphone with apps, widgets, ringtones and more all, in a single download
NFC support to share links, apps, YouTube™ clips and more with Android Beam™
Sprint Professional Grade designation making it business ready with full corporate security, including remote wipe, pin lock and data encryption

Motorola PHOTON Q customers can enjoy an unlimited data experience with Sprint Everything Data plans. Sprint’s Everything Data plan with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM includes unlimited web, texting and calling to and from any mobile in America while on the Sprint Network, starting at just $79.99 per month for smartphones - a savings of $20 per month versus Verizon’s comparable plan with unlimited talk, text and 2GB web (excludes taxes and surcharges).

Customers across the country are beginning to benefit from Network Vision - an all-new network from Sprint, which offers enhanced 3G service - with a stronger wireless signal, faster data speeds, expanded coverage and better in-building performance - and 4G LTE, with faster data speeds for data applications.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 WiFi receiving Ice Cream Sandwich in the US

Posted: 13 Aug 2012 07:14 AM PDT

The reports are rolling in that the US version of the Samsung Galaxu Tab 10.1 WiFi is now receiving its update to Ice Cream Sandwich. The news comes only a couple of weeks after the same update hit versions of the Tab 10.1 in Europe. The update brings the slate’s Android version to 4.0.4 and software version to IMM76D and is currently headed out over-the-air, but if it’s not showing up just yet it also appears to be ready for manual installation via Samsun Kies. Go ahead and follow the source link below to jump in on the discussion over at Android Forums.

[via Android Forums | Thanks, Michael and dreadnatty08!

LG Optimus 2X to receive Ice Cream Sandwich after all

Posted: 13 Aug 2012 06:29 AM PDT

When it comes to Android 4.0 and the LG Optimus 2X, signals have been mixed. After initially promising Ice Cream Sandwich for the device, LG seemed to backtrack by posting to the Twitter account of their Canadian branch that the handset would not receive the new Android version. Now the company’s main  branch in Korea is telling us the opposite, informing us that the Optimus 2X’s ICS update is currently in the testing phase.

We’ve said before that there is a chance that some regions won’t see the update while others will, hence the conflicting reports from different local LG contingents, though it’s hard to imagine LG would put the resources towards creating the update only to not send it out to as wide a group of Optimus 2X owners as possible. Regardless, the news should provide some hope for those hoping to see Android 4.0 on the device. When that might actually happen is another matter altogether.

[via AndroidCaotic]
Posted by at 8:16 AM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)