Android Phone Fans |
- Verizon’s Galaxy S3 Bootloader Finally Unlocked – Let The Fun Begin
- Android’s Pattern Unlock Easily Cracked Without Root, And Only A Little ADB
- Samsung: Over 10 Million Galaxy Notes Sold Worldwide
- Ubi aims to be an always-on voice-activated system for your home [KICKSTARTER]
- Google+ update allows teens to join and create Hangouts on Mobile
- Info on more than 1 million transit stops now in Google Maps, update coming soon
- Third Humble Bundle for Android now available
- Jelly Bean for Samsung Galaxy S3 shown on video
- Verizon Wireless adding and expanding LTE in over 70 markets
- No 13MP camera for Droid RAZR HD? Plans for MAXX edition also called into question
- SwiftKey updated with new themes, continuous voice typing
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 available August 16 in the US, starts at $499
- Kyocera Rise hits Sprint August 19 for $20, Virgin Mobile on August 31
- FCC filing adds fuel to speculation on bigger Kindle Fire
- Verizon launching Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 on August 17 for $349
Verizon’s Galaxy S3 Bootloader Finally Unlocked – Let The Fun Begin Posted: 15 Aug 2012 06:31 PM PDT
And that’s a wrap. After a few months/weeks of trying to crack the Verizon branded Samsung Galaxy S3, developers over on XDA are finally ready to take home that bounty. For the less tech savvy, this means GS3′s users on Verizon’s network can finally experience the wonderful world of flashing ROMs and kernels on a once locked down device. But this new found freedom comes with a catch: once the unsecure bootloader has been flashed to a device using this method, a user will no longer be able to install official updates sent from Verizon. Instead, they’ll have flash back to a stock state or risk bricking their device forever. Pretty much standard fine print for anyone living the ROM life and as the kids say, YOLO. The process is said to be fairly simple for Ubuntu or Mac users (thanks to terminal emulator), with a Windows version of the process available by installing Ubuntu. |
Android’s Pattern Unlock Easily Cracked Without Root, And Only A Little ADB Posted: 15 Aug 2012 05:49 PM PDT
A word of warning for all you Android hackers and modders out there. It’s common place when messing around with custom ROMs and whatnot to check a little option inside our device’s Setting app enabling “USB debugging.” Many times this is mandatory when attempting to root a device through the use of some good old fashioned ADB, and is more or less a feature developers use when working on Android apps. Well, starting today, you might wanna remind yourself to leave that checked “off” when not in use. According to XDA developer M.Sabra, if left enabled, someone with a little know how in the ways of ADB could easily bypass the Android pattern unlock, gain access to your device and subsequently, all the personal information therein. Funny how the FBI couldn’t figure this one out. Steps for the workaround are relatively easy and straight forward, requiring only a few lines of code to either edit some of the pattern lock values to zero, or remove the “gesture.key” function entirely. And here’s the kicker — absolutely no root is necessary for any of these steps to work. Directions on how to get around pattern unlock can be found via the source below, and are provided as a reference for the absent minded that have locked themselves out of their own devices — not those with ill intent. Let this go to show you, there’s no such thing as full-proof security. |
Samsung: Over 10 Million Galaxy Notes Sold Worldwide Posted: 15 Aug 2012 04:36 PM PDT
Despite naysayers predicting a flop, it turns out the 5.3-inch Galaxy Note was a success with consumers all around the world, with Samsung selling more than 10 million units world wide since the device’s debut last October. If that number sounds impressive to you, don’t forget that its cousin, the Galaxy S3, managed to sell 10 million units in less than 2 months — but that might have something to do with the device being made available on every carrier as opposed to only AT&T (here in the states). Samsung hasn’t always churned out chart toppers, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 only managed to break 1.4 million units after being available for the past 2 years. And for those wondering, the iPhone 4S sold 4 million units during the its first 2 days of availability. Here’s to hoping Samsung hits one out of the ballpark with the Galaxy Note 2, giving it the phablet the same treatment as the S3, launching the device around the globe and across multiple carriers (especially here in the US). |
Ubi aims to be an always-on voice-activated system for your home [KICKSTARTER] Posted: 15 Aug 2012 03:18 PM PDT A new project has hit Kickstarter and it’s one that I definitely want to back. Its name is Ubi, and that, apparently, is short for Ubiquitous computer. It’s ubiquitous because of its “always listening” trait. What is it listening for? Your commands, of course. The device can be plugged into a wall outlet (it’s a direct connection so the plug acts as a mount) and it will answer several commands you issue. One use case they used was asking it how many teaspoons are in an ounce while you’re cooking. But Ubi has the ability to go far beyond delivering answers to common questions. With a host of sensors embedded in the device Ubi can monitor things like changes in light. This can be useful for being notified on your phone if anyone has turned on the light in a certain room. A back-mounted LED on the device can change colors to notify you of different reminders and tasks, and can pulsate depending on what’s going on. You can use Ubi as a baby monitor, too, so you can hear if your baby needs attention. Home automation is something that would be perfect for this sort of system. There are a ton of use cases to be had, and all of it will be possible thanks to the system being completely open for developers. Take a look at their Kickstarter for more information, including a video of what could become the next huge thing in tech. Who’s pledging? |
Google+ update allows teens to join and create Hangouts on Mobile Posted: 15 Aug 2012 01:48 PM PDT Google is updating Google+ to add some new features for Hangouts. For starters, teenagers can now join and create Hangouts from mobile. We’re sure they restricted the feature for concerns of safety and privacy before, but I guess they’ve come to realize they shouldn’t restrict people based on age unless their parents want to. We’re not sure if Google has implemented parental controls, but if you have a child with a Google+ account be sure to check up on that. Other changes include the ability to do Hangouts on Air via mobile, floating timestamps in photo view, a new shortcut for creating a post, and the ability to report abuse under Events. With all these wonderful features it’s a shame more people haven’t migrated over to Google+, but Google’s steadfast approach is not going unappreciated by the likes of me. Find it in the Google Play Store. |
Info on more than 1 million transit stops now in Google Maps, update coming soon Posted: 15 Aug 2012 01:31 PM PDT Google has made some exciting announcements regarding Google Maps. For starters, they’ve revealed that the service now has information for over 1 million transit stops around the world. Yay! But with that great news also comes word of an impending update for the Google Maps application that everyone will want to get their hands on. They’ve made changes to transit line layers so you can differentiate between train, bus, trams, or subways. This’ll help make sure users aren’t looking at the wrong lines for areas that overlap. They’ve also made the following changes:
Unfortunately, the app is not yet in the Google Play Store but Google says it will definitely be out sometime today. We’ll be looking out for version 6.10 once it does arrive. Head to Google’s lat long blog for more information. |
Third Humble Bundle for Android now available Posted: 15 Aug 2012 12:24 PM PDT The Humble Bundle collections have been a blast for us Android users, and now the third one is ready to bring you even more fun. The idea behind the Humble Bundle is that you’re given a pack of games that you can buy — games that aren’t crap, mind you — for whatever price you want. Whether it be $1 or $100, you can get up to 5 games to play on your Android device. Whatever you donate is split three ways: some of it goes to charity, some to the developers, and some to the Humble Bundle team. And the best part is that you can decide which party gets how much. The third Humble Bundle features the hit game Fieldrunners, and you’re also getting Uplink (one of my personal favorites), Bit.Trip Beat, and Space Chem. You also get a chance to get Spirits, but you must pay more than the average donation amount in order to get it. The promotion is up for two weeks so be sure to get on over to the Humble Bundle website to get started. |
Jelly Bean for Samsung Galaxy S3 shown on video Posted: 15 Aug 2012 11:50 AM PDT One lucky users seems to have gotten a build of Jelly Bean 4.0 on their Samsung Galaxy S3. A video popped up on YouTube of the guy showing it in all its glory. The 10 minute video doesn’t indicate that anything is different in Touchwiz, but you get the obvious Jelly Bean changes such as Google Now, Project Butter, expanded notifications, and more. The build we’re looking at is i9300XADLG4, and while we’re sure this isn’t final it sure looks like Samsung is making good progress on bringing jelly goodness to the masses. Go ahead and watch the video above if you’re interested. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!] |
Verizon Wireless adding and expanding LTE in over 70 markets Posted: 15 Aug 2012 11:08 AM PDT The 4G LTE network Verizon prides itself on is getting even bigger tomorrow. Big Red has announced that they will be expanding and adding coverage in Wisconsin, Kansas, Iowa, South Dakota, Illinois, and a lot more. The full list is as follows:
AT&T and Sprint have been working vigorously to catch up, but it seems like Verizon adds at least 15 markets for everyone 1 market they launch. It’ll be interesting to see if Sprint, in particular, can stay on track to meet their goal of covering 97% of their network with LTE by the end of 2013. As for you users, be sure to check for that 4G icon in the corner of your phone if your market is on the list.
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No 13MP camera for Droid RAZR HD? Plans for MAXX edition also called into question Posted: 15 Aug 2012 09:38 AM PDT Two rumors surrounding the long-in-gestation Motorola DROID RAZR HD have surfaced today calling into question past information gleaned about the device. For quite some time it has been believed that the phone would launch with a 13MP camera, but now sources speaking PhoneArena claim that the Droid RAZR HD’s image sensor will max out at 8MP. They also reveal that the phone’s battery won’t be quite as large as the Droid RAZR MAXX’s, and that a MAXX edition of the Droid RAZR HD is currently not planned. A battery capacity of 2530mAh was given. Also confirmed was the presence of a Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor clocked to 1.5GHz, a 4.6-inch HD display with ColorBoost, and microSD support. All signs still point to an October/November launch with Ice Cream Sandwich as the operating system out of the box. [via PhoneArena] |
SwiftKey updated with new themes, continuous voice typing Posted: 15 Aug 2012 09:09 AM PDT SwiftKey has a new update available to bring the predictive text keyboard to version 3.0.1. The latest version adds two new themes, support for Jelly Bean’s continuous voice typing, as well as bug fixes and support for new languages. New skins include a blue-tinged Sky theme and Fuchsia, while new languages include Malay and Urdu. Bug fixes enhance support for SwiftKey when using Chrome, GTalk, or a Samsung Galaxy S3. The biggest update are the changes to voice input, which can be accessed by long-pressing the comma key. The new version is available from Google Play and other sources now and comes as a free upgrade for those who have already purchased the keyboard app. Those interested in taking it for a spin can try it free for a month. [via SwiftKey] |
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 available August 16 in the US, starts at $499 Posted: 15 Aug 2012 08:13 AM PDT Ladies and gentlemen, get your S-Pens ready. Samsung has just dropped the official availability details for the Galaxy Note 10.1, and you won’t have to wait long to get one. The tablet-sized take on the company’s Galaxy Note will be available tomorrow, August 16th, starting at a price of $499 for a 16GB WiFi-only model. 32GB of storage comes at a price of $549. The Note 10.1 is an ICS slate with a 10.1-inch TFT LCD display, quad-core Exynos processor, and 5MP rear camera.It’s main selling point is the enhanced input capabilities of the tab’s digital stylus, which makes things like note taking and drawing a breeze. It’s been a long wait since the Galaxy Note 10.1 was first unveiled at Mobile World Congress in February, but judging by the changes that have been made to the tablet since then it was well worth it.
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Kyocera Rise hits Sprint August 19 for $20, Virgin Mobile on August 31 Posted: 15 Aug 2012 07:30 AM PDT Sprint is adding a new entry-level handset to their lineup this weekend with the launch of the Kyocera Rise. The Rise is an Ice Cream Sandwich smartphone featuring a 1GHz single-core chipset, 3.5-inch HVGA display, and 3.2MP camera with LED flash while tapping into Sprint ID to offer users a customizable experience. The phone joins the Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE for an August 19th release and will be priced at $20 on contract. Fun fact: both devices feature a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Virgin Mobile will get the Rise later this month on August 19th with the price set at $99. [via Sprint] |
FCC filing adds fuel to speculation on bigger Kindle Fire Posted: 15 Aug 2012 06:57 AM PDT Rumors of a tablet in the 10-inch range coming from Amazon have existed since before the launch of the Kindle Fire last year. It was thought Amazon would enter the market with multiple size options, but this idea was later abandoned only to be resurrected after the 7-inch model was met with great success. A newly uncovered FCC filing might finally lend some confirmation to the device’s existence and even hint a potential launch. Most of the filing’s contents are sealed off due to confidentiality agreements, and the one non-descript rectangular object represented by a line drawing doesn’t reveal much other than the potential size of the device. The filing is registered to Harpers LLC, a front company that appears to be representing Amazon in this case, providing a buffer between the retailer and the FCC report in order to keep things on the down low. It’s a bit too late for that. The actual size is unconfirmed, but given the proportions of the tablet represented in the drawings, it’s a safe assumption that we are looking at something around 10 inches and with a 4:3 aspect ratio. The filing provides another clue, as well. The confidentiality agreement ends in December, suggesting a launch this fall. [via The Digital Reader] |
Verizon launching Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 on August 17 for $349 Posted: 15 Aug 2012 06:37 AM PDT If you are shopping for a tablet to add to that Verizon Share Anything plan, a new option will soon be available. Today Verizon announced that it will add the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 to its product portfolio beginning August 17th. The Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 is a 7-inch slate with a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 3.2MP rear camera and VGA front-facing camera, and 4G LTE support. It will launch with Ice Cream Sandwich on board. Now seems like an appropriate time to remind everyone that Verizon is no longer subsidizing the cost of tablets, so you can expect to pay full price if the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 is in your future. The good news is that full price is only $349. Or perhaps that isn’t such great news considering a Nexus 7 would only set you back $199.
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