Android Central |
- Official Google Calendar app now available for devices running Android 4.0.3+
- Android 4.1.2 OTA now rolling out for Google Play Galaxy Nexus devices, here's your download link
- Google: Oct. 29 in NYC, the playground is open
- Isis mobile payment system officially launching October 22
- Action Launcher, from the developer of Tweet Lanes
- White House probe finds no evidence of Huawei spying for China, but 'poor security practices' are a concern
- Google shows off server centers and their wonderful series of tubes
- O2 UK blames 'central user database' for recent downtime
- Phones 4u selling brown Samsung Galaxy S3 in the UK
- Who guessed the correct number of jellybeans and won a Nexus 7?
- Deal of the Day: Seidio ACTIVE Case (with kickstand) for Galaxy Nexus
- Angry Birds Star Wars to take on the Kessel Run?
- Reminder: Google prepaid card ends today
- Cab hailing service Hailo launches in the U.S, with its arrival in Boston
- Motorola DROID RAZR M, RAZR i, RAZR HD, Atrix HD get root method
- LG Optimus Vu available unlocked from Expansys for £349
- Buy Google Play credit directly from the Google Play web store
- Samsung reminds us the U.S. Galaxy S3 will get Jelly Bean, can't say when, though
- Sony Xperia T coming to Canada in November
- HTC J Butterfly video round-up
- Google will/won't bring out $99 Nexus tablet this quarter
- 32GB Nexus 7 coming to the UK for £199.99
- LG Optimus G coming to Japan in blue and white on KDDI
- Sony announces Xperia VL for the Japanese market
- HTC J Butterfly with 5-inch 1080P screen makes its way to Japan
| Official Google Calendar app now available for devices running Android 4.0.3+ Posted: 17 Oct 2012 05:23 PM PDT There isn't much of an issue with getting your Google Calendar entries onto an Android device as the services come backed right into the OS. However there are some instances where the Google Calendar may have been replaced by the OEM, for something they felt was a little more in tune with their design. (We're looking at you, S Planner.) Today Google has released the Google Calendar app for everyone to download. It's the same app you would get if you running a Nexus (or vanilla Android) device, but packaged up and placed into the Google Play Store. If you're on OEM skinned device, this is a great option that has all the expected features included withinn as well as some added bonuses --
There are some issues to be aware of, though. As noted in the Google Play Store, HTC devices appear to not play along all that nicely with it. If you're wanting to still give it a go, the link is live right now. Source: Google 
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| Android 4.1.2 OTA now rolling out for Google Play Galaxy Nexus devices, here's your download link Posted: 17 Oct 2012 05:22 PM PDT
The Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean OTA update is now making its way to "takju" Galaxy Nexus phones -- meaning those purchased from Google Play or flashed with the takju firmware. It's the same firmware available via factory images, and the one we saw rolling out to "yakju" -- non-Google Play Store -- phones the other day. Manually updating is the same process as for the Nexus 7 or previous Galaxy Nexus updates. You'll need the file direct from Google (grab it here), adb or fastboot up and running on your computer, and a bit of technical know-how. Rather than re-hash that again here, I'm going to direct everyone to the Galaxy Nexus forums, where this sort of thing is old hat to the hackers-in-residence. As far as changes to the OS, there are few. We assume that changes under the hood made it worthwhile for Google to send out the update, and we've had no complaints. This is the fun part of having a Nexus phone! Discuss in the Galaxy Nexus forums
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| Google: Oct. 29 in NYC, the playground is open Posted: 17 Oct 2012 05:13 PM PDT Fresh in our inbox: An invite to an Oct. 29 event in New York City. "The playground is open," Google says. We'll see you there. And you're coming with us. Google's streaming the event at Youtube.com/Android. 
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| Isis mobile payment system officially launching October 22 Posted: 17 Oct 2012 04:15 PM PDT It looks like we were dead on for the Isis launch date, limited as the rollout may be. Austin, Texas and Salt Lake City, Utah will officially be the first areas to support the Isis starting on October 22. As is there are about 340 Isis-ready merchants in each city. Right now, the only device that we know for sure will support Isis is the Droid Incredible, though Motorola, LG, and Sony have all pledged to create compatible hardware. Supported credit cards are currently limited to American Express, Capital One, and Chase, though I'm sure more will come in due time. Just like Google Wallet, Isis will enable tap-to-pay schemes with NFC-enabled smartphones. It can be used for coupons and loyalty cards too, but paying for stuff is the main thing. The only real difference here is that Isis is a joint venture between Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T. It's something of a strategic necessity if U.S. carriers want a solid foothold in the mobile payment game without having to play by Google's rules. Sure, Google Wallet might have a hefty head start, but with any luck, the competition will spur on speedier development and increase adoption overall. It's still hard to imagine a nearby future where paying for everything (or even anything) on a day-to-day basis with your phone is normal, but I'm sure many of us stand to be early adopters. How often do you use Google Wallet? What would it take for you to switch over to another service? Do you think a carrier-run solution with the support of hardware manufacturers is more likely to gain broad acceptance, or will Google's natural habit of wriggling into ubiquity win out? Anyone in these early markets willing to give Isis a go? Source: @PayWithIsis 
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| Action Launcher, from the developer of Tweet Lanes Posted: 17 Oct 2012 03:51 PM PDT Android launchers -- comprising the basic makeup of homescreens and the app drawer -- hardly are scarce. And they tend to share features, emulating the stock Android launcher while tweaking things and adding features. Action Launcher is from developer Chris Lacy, the driving force behind the Tweet Lanes Twitter client, and it goes in a different direction, though still with some familiar features. We've gotten a good look at a preview version of the launcher. Hit the break for our take. 
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| Posted: 17 Oct 2012 03:30 PM PDT A couple weeks back, a U.S. Congressional report suggested that Huawei, because of influence from the Chinese government, posed a potential espionage risk. The panel strongly encouraged companies to find another vendor for their networking equipment, and that using Huawei's gear put customer data, intellectual property, and national security at risk. Today, information obtained by Reuters suggests that this may not be the case. The White House has had a presidential probe in place for the past 18 months, and it's findings show that there is no clear evidence that Huawei is sending off sensitive data to China, or anyone else. There is still cause for alarm though, as some experts suggest that major security holes make Huawei's equipment more vulnerable to outside attack, and warn that these security holes could have been planted by Huawei as a backdoor for exploitation. Conversely, others seem sure the security issues are a result of "sloppy coding and poor procedures" rather than a direct attempt to sabotage the equipment. In the end, what matters is that companies purchasing expensive networking gear spend time and money to get the equipment fully vetted and the software inspected to ensure its safety. Huawei may not be spying for China, but if their equipment is riddled with holes and bugs it's probably best not to use it. Cyber security is a real issue, and it's always evolving. We can only hope that the good guys evolve as fast as the bad guys do. Source: Reuters 
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| Google shows off server centers and their wonderful series of tubes Posted: 17 Oct 2012 03:03 PM PDT As Android fans, we use a lot of Google services - Gmail, search, maps, YouTube videos, you name it. Ever wonder where all those queries go? Well, recently Google allowed some press into one of their data centers to give the full tour. Beyond that, they've posted an astounding photo gallery from data centers all around the world, showcasing the fine people and extensive facilities that make Google services a reality. They've done it all in such a classy way that even those of us that aren't IT professionals can start to appreciate the complexity, beauty, and scale of the whole operation. Google made a point to highlight their water cooling system, which is more environmentally friendly than air conditioning. Though they still rely on local electrical providers, Google's working towards the use of more renewable energy. Privacy was also a high priority, with their video emphasizing security and their extensive data destruction techniques. Everything is doubly backed up, and done in triplicate with data tapes for the particularly important stuff. Using Google services on a day-to-day basis as a normal consumer makes it all feel fairly nebulous and, y'know, cloud-like, but Google is made of real people in big buildings with lots of machines and miles of wires; pictures like these really drive that point home. Be sure to read the Wired and CBS articles for their impressions of the tour, or check it all out for yourself through Street View. Source: Google 
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| O2 UK blames 'central user database' for recent downtime Posted: 17 Oct 2012 02:00 PM PDT "Proven alternative" to replace problem third-party databaseIf you're an O2 customer in the UK, you may have noticed the two recent bouts of downtime, which prevented a significant number of O2 customers from using the mobile network. Back in July, a network snafu resulted in one third of O2's customers being unable to use their phones for almost a day. Last Friday a similar glitch took ten percent of O2 subscribers offline for several hours. It's an embarrassing episode for O2, which faces tough 4G competition from the newly-formed EE network (formerly Orange and T-Mobile). So in an attempt to reassure (and retain) subscribers, O2's Chief Operating Officer Derek McManus took to the O2 blog to apologize, and outline the corrective steps planned by the company. McManus confirmed that both recent outages were caused by O2's central user database, which is provided by a third-party supplier. In order to avoid further issues with this system, O2 will be switching to a "proven alternative" system, at a cost of £10 million, he says. McManus also promises a renewed focus on O2's "service experience team," which is tasked with ensuring the best network experience for consumers as O2 works towards next year's 4G LTE roll-out. So O2 subscribers can take some comfort from the fact that the system responsible for the recent downtime is being replaced in its entirety. Nevertheless, there's no denying the damage done to O2's reputation and customer goodwill. Source: O2 Blog 
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| Phones 4u selling brown Samsung Galaxy S3 in the UK Posted: 17 Oct 2012 12:48 PM PDT
UK phone retailer Phones 4u has started to carry the Samsung Galaxy S3 in amber brown. It will sell the brown version alongside the stock “marble white” and “pebble blue” versions, but the brown is a web-exclusive, it says. Phones 4u’s S3 is the international quad-core Exynos version, with 16Gb of internal memory. Consumers can get the device for about £49 with a £26-per-month, 2-year contract with Orange. Other options include a 2-year plan with Vodafone for £37 a month, and the device is yours for free. In the US, Verizon announced black and brown flavors of Samsung’s superphone last week, in the dual-core Snapdragon version that the country's telcos have been carrying. We’ve known about the various colors for a while now. Samsung announced the brown, “garnet red”, “sapphire black” and “titanium gray” in late August. In some countries, these have gone on to be carrier or retailer exclusives. 
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| Who guessed the correct number of jellybeans and won a Nexus 7? Posted: 17 Oct 2012 11:37 AM PDT Last week in our Nexus 7 A Week Giveaway, we asked you to take a guess at the number of jellybeans in the picture above. Out of 3000+ entries, there were 15 people who guessed the exact number of jellybeans! Since we aren't giving away 15 tablets this week (sorry!) we put everyone's name on a slip of paper and drew out one at random as our winner. The winning guess of 143 jellybeans and the proud new owner of a Nexus 7 tablet is: 
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| Deal of the Day: Seidio ACTIVE Case (with kickstand) for Galaxy Nexus Posted: 17 Oct 2012 09:26 AM PDT
The Seidio ACTIVE Case (with kickstand) is available for just $17.00 today only. That's 51% off the regular price! Backed by our 60-day return policy and fast shipping. Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts! 
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| Angry Birds Star Wars to take on the Kessel Run? Posted: 17 Oct 2012 09:24 AM PDT Love or hate Angry Birds, the Star Wars nerds among us have to be looking forward to seeing what the tie up between the two brings to the table. We know it's coming, we know when it's coming to be precise, but we're still a little in the dark as to what the gameplay will entail. It'll likely be the Angry Birds style of gameplay we've all become oh so accustomed to over the years, but it's how the Star Wars world integrates into this that intrigues us. This latest trailer gives us perhaps a little clue. After Han Solo is done talking up the Millennium Falcon, what's that we see? A catapult adorned on the top of the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs? Interesting. Source: Rovio (YouTube) 
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| Reminder: Google prepaid card ends today Posted: 17 Oct 2012 09:13 AM PDT We’ve just reached the final expiration date of the Google Wallet prepaid card. Google announced the end of its early payment experiment just last month, and has started phasing out the card today, as promised. It set a relatively near cut-off date of Sept. 17 where people would not be able to add funds to their cards, so that service has been unavailable for a full month already. The card itself expires today, so users won’t be able to use them any longer. Refunds on existing balances can be requested from today, however. The move comes at a time where Google is moving quickly to pack in more compatibility with credit and debit cards in Google Wallet. The prepaid option was a stopgap allowing early adopters to add funds to the Google Wallet app, which previously only supported Citi’s MasterCard. This is only going to affect users in the US, as the app has not been made available to users in other regions. If you haven’t spent what’s left in your balance, Google is allowing users to request a refund of their remaining funds here. 
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| Cab hailing service Hailo launches in the U.S, with its arrival in Boston Posted: 17 Oct 2012 09:04 AM PDT We're big fans of Hailo, the service that lets you hail and pay for a cab using your Android device. It helps make commuting through London less of a struggle, and we like that. Almost a year on from its first inception in the UK, Hailo has since branched out to Dublin and to Toronto. But, from today, the service finally arrives on U.S. shores beginning with Boston. While Chicago and New York City are both currently under active development, it's Boston that gets the nod as the first to experience the service. By partnering with licensed taxi drivers, Hailo offers not only an easy way to flag down a cab, but also offers a guarentee of safety to its users. The app itself is free to download, and if you're in Boston and decide to try this out, hit us up in the comments with your experience. 
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| Motorola DROID RAZR M, RAZR i, RAZR HD, Atrix HD get root method Posted: 17 Oct 2012 08:42 AM PDT Motorola Droid users rejoice! xda-developers forum user Dan (@djrbliss) has managed to root the Motorola DROID RAZR M, Atrix HD, the Photon Q, and the upcoming RAZR HD with an exploit called MotoFail2go. The RAZR i appears to be included, although the developer notes that additional hacking might be needed, involving replacing some of the binaries with x86 versions if your attempts fail. The entire root process looks like a one-click operation, with the exploit requiring you to press some buttons along the way. You’re going to need a Windows PC for this, the latest Morotola USB drivers along with the Motofail2go_windows.zip exploit. As always, back up before you proceed. Source: xda-developers forum 
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| LG Optimus Vu available unlocked from Expansys for £349 Posted: 17 Oct 2012 08:34 AM PDT The LG Optimus Vu has popped up on Expanys for £349 (approximately $564). This is basically the same version that we reviewed, except it has a Tegra 3 processor rather than the Snapdragon S3. AT 5-inches, the Vu is a Galaxy Note and Galaxy Note 2 competitor. It also costs much less than the Note 2, which can also be had from Expansys for £529 (approximately $854). There are reasons for the cheaper price, however. We've mentioned a few aspects of the Vu that we've had issues with, such as the 4:3 aspect ratio, lack of slot for the stylus and lackluster camera performance. Nevertheless, if you've been waiting for an opportunity to purchase an unlocked LG Optimus Vu, Expansys can help you out. Source: Expansys 
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| Buy Google Play credit directly from the Google Play web store Posted: 17 Oct 2012 07:24 AM PDT
Source: Google Play Store; thanks to everyone who sent this in. 
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| Samsung reminds us the U.S. Galaxy S3 will get Jelly Bean, can't say when, though Posted: 17 Oct 2012 07:23 AM PDT New TouchWiz features confirmed for U.S. Galaxy S3 updateIf you were after a vague, unspecified timeframe for your Galaxy S3 Jelly Bean update, look no further than today's announcement from Samsung, which indicates that the update will be rolling out to U.S. S3 models "in the coming months." In a press release today, the manufacturer reveals that the eagerly-anticipated update will land at some point in the future between "the coming weeks" and "the coming years." In any case, at least it's on still its way to the U.S. (The update is, of course, rolling out right now in Europe.) Also revealed is a list of new TouchWiz features in the U.S. S3 Jelly Bean update. We've already covered many of these on the international Galaxy S3 models, but these include new Android 4.1 features like Google Now and "Project Butter," in addition to new TouchWiz additions like blocking mode for added notification and contact control, resizeable Pop-up Play windows and an optional "easy mode" for the launcher. New AllShare functionality will be added too, including wireless mirroring through the AllShare Cast Wireless Hub, and one-touch NFC pairing on supported Bluetooth devices. We've got the full breakdown of new TouchWiz features after the break. More: Hands-on with new TouchWiz features in Jelly Bean Galaxy S3 update 
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| Sony Xperia T coming to Canada in November Posted: 17 Oct 2012 06:47 AM PDT Sony has confirmed that Bell, Rogers, Mobilicity, and Videotron will all have the Sony Xperia T on sale in Canada come November. We've begun putting the international version of the Xperia T through the paces, if you're interested in a closer look, but here's the short version.
The Xperia T will be hitting Canada with all of the usual James Bond branding to coincide with the upcoming Skyfall movie. There's no mention of pricing just yet, but I'm sure we'll find out soon enough. And hey, good on Mobilicity for getting such a swanky phone. I wonder if TELUS is going to get it? They aren't mentioned by name in the press release, but that doesn't necessarily rule them out. Canadians, are any of you interested in the Xperia T? 
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| HTC J Butterfly video round-up Posted: 17 Oct 2012 06:13 AM PDT Japanese carrier AU is set to launch what's arguably the highest-spec'd Android handset we've seen to date, the HTC J Butterfly. With 4G LTE support, a beastly quad-core Snapdragon CPU and a whopping 5-inch 1080p SuperLCD3 (yes, three) display, there's little more you could want from a smartphone. (Well, OK, maybe a bigger battery.) It's unlikely we'll see this exact handset outside of Japan -- although a Verizon version has long been rumored for release later in the year. Nevertheless, hands-on videos are starting to crop up around the web of the original Japanese version, and so we've collected some of the best for your perusal. Check 'em out after the break. 
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| Google will/won't bring out $99 Nexus tablet this quarter Posted: 17 Oct 2012 05:10 AM PDT From (where else), DigiTimes: One supply chain source says it'll be released later in the fourth quarter (which we're now in, by the way). Meanwhile, ASUS, DT reports, says it "has no plans to launch a $99 Nexus." Which is nice, but it's Google that sells this thing, not ASUS. Chances are if we do see a $99 Nexus 7, it'll be carrier subsidized. Which would be ridiculous given the outright price is only twice that. 
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| 32GB Nexus 7 coming to the UK for £199.99 Posted: 17 Oct 2012 04:11 AM PDT It's been rumored for the past few weeks, and now we have confirmation that a 32GB version of Google and ASUS' Nexus 7 tablet will arrive in time for the holidays. UK retailer Argos just released its Christmas gift guide, and we tracked down the listing for the 32GB Nexus 7, which is marked for sale at £199.99. The £199 price point is significant, as this is the current standard retail price for the 16GB Nexus 7 in the UK, adding fuel to speculation that the 32GB will replace the 16GB model entirely. (In the UK, the 8GB Nexus 7 is only sold through the Google Play device store.) The extra storage space should address one of the major concerns with the Nexus 7, as on the basic 8GB model just over 6GB is actually available for users' own media. At just £40 more than the 8GB Nexus, this new 32GB variant should make for a tempting upgrade. No release date information is provided in the Argos gift guide, but we've got to believe it'll be hitting store shelves sooner rather than later. 
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| LG Optimus G coming to Japan in blue and white on KDDI Posted: 17 Oct 2012 03:28 AM PDT The LG Optimus G certainly seems to be making the rounds lately, and now Japanese carrier KDDI has announced the availability of the handset on its network. Overall, its the phone we know from previous launches, complete with the quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, 2GB of RAM, 13MP camera and LTE. The only difference here is the color choices -- white and two-tone blue/black -- in typical Japanese carrier fashion. The Optimus G will go on sale with KDDI on November 2nd. For those of you in the states, we're working furiously on our reviews of the Sprint and AT&T versions of the Optimus G, and have already put up a couple quick hits on the device. Source: KDDI 
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| Sony announces Xperia VL for the Japanese market Posted: 17 Oct 2012 03:05 AM PDT At this point, you almost feel like Sony is coming up on the limit of one and two letter combinations to put after "Xperia". There's at least room for one more, as Sony is adding yet another device to its expansive Xperia line -- the Xperia VL. This device, which is coming to the Japanese market (and likely only that market), seems to have some pretty standard specs on board from what has been released at this point. This Sony "arc" designed device has a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 1GB of RAM, 4.3-inch Reality Display, 13MP camera with new shooting modes, NFC and LTE networking -- all running underneath Android 4.0.4. Sony says the device has "high levels" of dust and water resistance as well, which is often found on many Japanese handsets. Our brilliant deduction and sleuthing makes us think that the VL is simply a reworking of the previously announced Xperia V, which should give you a better indication of the spec level. The Xperia VL is set to launch before the end of the year on KDDI in blue, white and pink varieties. Source: Sony Xperia Product Blog; KDDI 
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| HTC J Butterfly with 5-inch 1080P screen makes its way to Japan Posted: 17 Oct 2012 02:11 AM PDT We've heard a lot of rumors swirling lately about HTC releasing a 5-inch 1080P phone, and it looks like the first proof of this device's existence has just shown up in Japan. The HTC One X's SLCD 2 screen still holds the title in most people's minds as the best smartphone screen on the market, but they seem to have outdone themselves with the SLCD 3 on the J Butterfly. At 5 inches and a full 1080x1920 resolution, this screen produces a staggeringly high 440 ppi (pixels per inch), much higher than any other display we've seen. If HTC's previous screens are any indication, this is going to be a huge step up in display technology going forward. Moving along past the screen, the J Butterfly has a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, 2GB of RAM, LTE, NFC and an 8MP camera. For software, it is running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean with Sense 4+. It comes in a flashy red, more subtle black and white varieties, and will be released in Japan on KDDI in December. Hopefully we'll see this device's counterparts show up outside of Japan soon as well. 
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It seems that Google has enabled an option in the web version of the Play Store that allows users to directly buy Google Play credit. If you're in the web version of the Play Store, scroll to the bottom and you'll see an option that reads "Buy Google Play Credit." You can purchase credit in increments of $5, $10, $15, $25 and $50 and it seems that you can only buy the credit for yourself thus far, so no gifting. No word yet on how many markets, if any, are supported outside the U.S., so if you are elsewhere and are seeing this option, let us know in the comments.
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