Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans

Motorola Wants To Give Their Users A Stock Android Experience – Verizon, Not So Much

Posted: 16 Oct 2012 06:58 PM PDT

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Back when Google formally announced they were going to purchase Motorola Mobility for $12.5 last year, many in the Android circles were optimistic that this would mean the complete end of Motoblur/Blur/MotoUI (whatever they’re calling it these days) user interface. As we’ve all seen, that wasn’t the case at all. I guess people underestimated Google’s promise that they’d keep Motorola operating independently (despite seeding its executive offices with former Googlers).

So, what gives? Why does Motorola hold onto Blur with no signs of letting go? Well, apparently this could have less to do with Motorola and a whole lot more to do with Verizon (surprise, surprise). Speaking with a handful of reporters, Motorola Senior Vice President Rick Osterloh answered questions on exactly why the company just wont give the people what they want, and release a completely stock Android experience in all their devices. His answer? It’s Verizon’s fault.

“Going forward, we're going to try to be as close to the base as we can be, because we think that's the right thing for users. We think users also want fast upgrades and upgrades for their phones over the long haul, so we're going to be focus on that as well. It's a little bit different than what a lot of OEMs are doing and certainly what Motorola did in the past, but going forward that's going to be our strategy.”

Shipping pure AOSP software in all their devices should be cake, especially with Google taking the manufacturer under its wing. When asked exactly what the problem was, Mr. Osterloh pointed the fingers at the carriers saying,

“We are going to have to do some customization. Our partners sometimes want customizations. Our interest is to make [our UI] as close to Android as possible and generally we negotiate somewhere in the middle.”

Sounds about right to us. Remember, OEM’s like Motorola, HTC, and the like have to shop around their devices to the big carriers in hopes that they will snatched up. Sometimes, carriers like having small tweaks — just about anything different from their competitors that can give them that edge. Moving into 2013, and we saw some talk of this during the Motorola RAZR M, RAZR HD event, Motorola is taking updates a lot more serious this time around. Of course like all good things, even updates are left into the hands of the carriers. Just remember the next time you’re quick to lash out against an OEM on their Facebook pages, Twitter, etc — there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes than you might think.

[TheVerge]

 

Refund Challenge: Chaos Rings by Square Enix [Video]

Posted: 16 Oct 2012 05:23 PM PDT

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Alright, we’re back with another Phandroid 15 Minute Challenge. This is a series we’ve created similar to speed dating, except instead of women, we get acquainted with some of the slightly more expensive apps from the Google Play Store before committing (really, testing out apps is way easier than meeting actual women). Since I’ve always considered myself the frugal type, and these apps are coming out of my pocket — they really need to have that special something to keep me from taking advantage of the Google Play Store’s 15 minute return window.

The Challenger: Chaos Rings by Square Enix

Today’s encounter involves a shockingly expensive $13 title from Square Enix called Chaos Rings. Yes, you may remember some bad headlines involving a poor decision by Squenix’s mobile publishing branch to block out rooted Android users from playing this particular title. This didn’t fare too well with the modding community, but Square was quick to make amends, finally undoing the block today. But that’s neither here, nor there. What you’ve come to find out is if Chaos Rings has the charm to stay installed on your Android device. That answer is a wallet wrenching… yes.

The Verdict

Yes, it’s a bit expensive. But traditional turn-based JRPG’s are few and far between in the Google Play Store. Ever since Square Enix jumped onto the Android scene, I had been crossing my fingers for a more mature styled RPG (Final Fantasy 3 is all well and dandy, just the art style kinda bugs me). Looks like Chaos Rings was an answer to my prayers and where I’d normally spend around $20 – $30 for a title like this on my PSP, $13 sounds more like a steal. Factor in the added value of not having to lug around my PS Vita, and you have a console quality experience that fits inside your pocket, and is always with you. I know a $13 title wont exactly be for everyone, but if you’re sick of playing casual games like Angry Running Doodle Jumpers, Chaos Rings could be exactly what you’ve been looking for.

[Play Store Link]

 

 

 

Best Buy Gearing Up To Release Budget Android Tablet Under Insignia Brand Priced At Around $250

Posted: 16 Oct 2012 04:58 PM PDT

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Seems the race is on to see who can release the most rock bottom, low-priced Android tablet for the masses in time for Santa to touch down this December. Best Buy is the latest retailer to dive head first into the crowded tablet market. The retailer mentioned a few days ago that they were gearing up to release a device to be sold under their Insignia brand dubbed the “Flex.”

Now it’s being whispered the Insignia Flex will hit the low-priced sweet pricing, selling for around $240 to $260. This pits the tablet in a head-to-head, no holds barred, battle royale free-for-all against heavyweights like the (rumored) Apple iPad Mini, Google’s Nexus 7, and the Amazon Kindle Fire HD.

Other than a dual-core 1GHz processor, 9.7-inch display, Ice Cream Sandwich and ample battery life, not much else was revealed on the hardware of the tab, so don’t go expecting much. Best Buy’s Insignia brand has long catered to Best Buy customers on a budget, under cutting the competition with cheaper televisions, speakers, and other electronic devices.

You can expect the Insignia Flex to launch on November 11th according to sources over at Reuters, but with options like the Nexus 7 giving consumers what they really want (a powerful Android tab on a budget), we can’t help but wonder who will be duped into buying one of these? I can smell Black Friday coming already…

Jabra Solemate Review

Posted: 16 Oct 2012 03:08 PM PDT

Before we begin this review I must disclose that I am not an audiophile. Whether that removes value (because I don’t know audio to a science) or adds value (because I’m sure to be as far from elitist as possible) is up to you. That said, let’s get into it.

As someone who has suffered from the unfortunate limitations of laptop sound I was excited to learn I’d be reviewing the Jabra Solemate. Let’s face it — there are only a few select laptops, smartphones, tablets, et al. with speakers powerful enough to deliver respectable sound, and those devices tend to cost you some moolah (with a majority of the costs being driven by other components).

With that, the need for a portable speaker is ideal for a ton of people, and I believe Jabra has come to town with an offering that challenges the mighty Jawbone in a very significant way.

Sound

Let’s jump into sound first — after all, the audio is what’s most important in such a device. The Jabra Solemate features three front-facing speakers with the middle unit delivering a good punch of bass.

This device was made with a clear goal of delivering LOUD sound and booming bass in mind. The three speakers will be more than capable of drowning out other noise in a moderately small, crowded room. Without any parties or other gatherings to attend I didn’t have an opportunity to use this thing around more people, but if you’re looking to entertain a room of people that needs to be bigger then the size of your average den you should probably invest in something with more range.

On a noisy avenue with roaring cars I couldn’t really hear my music too well, and while I had to look like one of those old school sidewalk boombox cronies to test this out I caused no considerable amount of disturbance. Perhaps this device is more suitable for use in an off-road environment where minor or no traffic is an issue.

But while being loud is important, being clear and precise is also another important factor. The Jabra Solemate handled most of my music pretty well without the need for excessive EQ. I was able to pick up a lot of instruments (the main thing being some nice, groovy bass lines) and subtle notes that I’d not been able to before, and that’s always a good thing.

At the same time, a good portion of my music also didn’t scale very much. Whether this has to do with the way the tracks were mixed or limitations of the Solemate I can’t say, but every song is different so you have to expect some degree of inconsistency.

And let’s not get “very much” confused with “very well.” My music scaled almost as well as compared to listening through mid-ranged headphones like Sennheiser’s HDR 120. Both of these devices deliver, and you have to remember that neither promise to be high-end equipment like professional studio monitors so I was quite happy with performance.

The only real issue I have with the sound quality of this device comes with increased volume. Bass can get really distorted when you have the volume cranked up. It’s generally good to keep your audio at moderate levels anyway so this doesn’t affect me, though I understand the need to get those decibels as high as you can in certain situations.

I found that keeping the Solemate’s volume at a certain range of medium-medium high and adjusting the volume at the source of the audio was a more rewarding balance, though subtle changes will be necessary depending on what you’re listening to.

As this device can playback audio wirelessly (more on the connectivity features in a bit) it’s important to address any potential loss of quality. I found little-to-no difference between playing my music over Bluetooth or via the standard 3.5mm jack. There does seem to be a very, VERY short delay of playback over Bluetooth relative to when playback on the source device begins, but you aren’t missing a millisecond of audio, nor will there be any audio syncing/latency issues with video.

In all, these won’t impress those who need the best sound possible delivered to their ears but the Solemate’s hardware will please those of us who are used to bad or average audio to begin with. The bass at higher volume levels can make things muddy or distorted, but that’s to be expected in bass-heavy songs which haven’t been mixed well and users can eradicate the issue by adjusting both sources of volume accordingly.

Features

The next most important factor is the feature-set. The Jabra Solemate holds its own with a well-rounded list of features. Bluetooth? Check. 3.5mm jack connector? Check. Awesome voice that tells you your battery life in an ultra smooth tone? Check, check, check. The list isn’t long, but for what you need this thing to do it’s plenty enough.

The Solemate features speakerphone capabilities with its built-in omni-directional microphone, and for some select handsets it can even function as a voice dialer using the middle button positioned at the top.

It worked fine for my Galaxy Nexus, though I personally still prefer to dial using my hands. Compatibility will vary from phone to phone, but at the very minimum most phones should recognize the Solemate as a speakerphone no problem.

Unfortunately speakerphone performance was very inconsistent. In some calls my friends and family had no problem hearing me, but others would force me to repeat what I’m saying two or even three times because they weren’t able to hear me that well. I could hear others fine but the other end of things seems to be a major problem area.

Bluetooth connectivity is the major seller here, of course, as the main selling point of these wireless speakers are to be… well, wireless. We have standard Bluetooth 3.0 radios inside, and I found the connection process to be a blissful and pain-free experience. I was up and running on my laptop, phone, and tablet in no time.

One of my favorite features is the device’s ability to be connected to multiple audio sources at the same time. I was able to watch a YouTube video on my laptop, then use the Solemate to take a phone call once a call actually came in. The phone overrode my laptop, then gave the reigns back to my laptop after the call ended. This seamless hand-off was a real deal-maker for me, and even with questionable speakerphone quality it should be for you, as well.

The Solemate also features your standard 3.5mm auxiliary jack for those who want to use it with devices which don’t have Bluetooth. What’s more is that the unit comes with its own 3.5mm cable — we’ll get more into that on the presentation side of things.

Inside is a rechargeable battery of unknown size, though Jabra rates it for 8-10 hours of continuous playback. I can attest to that claim on a full charge (sometimes I go a little longer), though expect it to fall a tad short of that mark with more charges over time. We’re sure Jabra will help you with that, but as I haven’t had any issues with the unit this isn’t a warranty review.

Charge times seem fairly reasonable as I was able to go from completely dead to completely full in just under 2 hours. You will be happy to know the device will also function while it’s being charged so there doesn’t have to be a gap in playback as long as you can find your way to an outlet or powered USB port.

Presentation and Build

While Jawbone decided to go the safe route with the design of its Jambox, Jabra’s Solemate makes things a lot more interesting. In fact, the device’s name was no doubt inspired by its design. The Solemate is built to look like tennis shoes in several areas.

For starters, the back of the device is outfitted with a finger loop. The bottom of the device looks like the sole of a shoe, though the ridges are a bit more overstated than your average shoe.

Even the 3.5mm headphone cable included with the device (which can be stored into the bottom of the device) pays homage to the all-important shoe as its wiring is encased with a shoestring-like material.

This design philosophy results in a great look, but it also serves a higher purpose. The Solemate is designed to be a rugged device that you can take anywhere. It’s dust proof and water resistant, so taking it to places like camping or to a day on the beach should be no issue. We imagine it can take quite the beating, though it’s never a good idea to try and hurt the device no matter how durable it’s meant to be.

While I have yet to come across the opportunity to use this thing in harsh conditions I can’t tell you enough how rock solid it feels. It’s not a flimsy piece of plastic encasing speakers and wireless components, and for that we thank Jabra.

It’s not something that you’re going to be able to put into your pocket, but it’s a device that’s big enough to be loud, powerful, and durable, while at the same time being small enough to throw into a bag. And should you want to leave the house with it and you happen to be devoid of a bag the Solemate comes with a pretty decent carrying bag of its own.

Verdict

Those looking for a cute little device that can easily be tossed into their pockets need not apply, but if you are looking for some very solid sound in a durable and reasonably-sized package the Solemate is the way to go.

The Solemate holds its own in the way of connectivity, features and battery life, no doubt. Audio is usually the main draw, though, and it delivers a very respectable package for the price, speakerphone aside.

For sheer audio there are more capable options out there, including Jawbone’s BIG Jambox and Bose’s Soundlink, but both of those will cost you $300 while the feature-packed Solemate will run you just $200. If your budget just can’t come to terms with the former two then there really is no other option you should be considering.

A Jabra Solemate unit was provided by Jabra for this review.

Competitive Intelligence: iPad Mini to be revealed October 23rd, Microsoft Surface priced [POLL]

Posted: 16 Oct 2012 02:22 PM PDT

It’s hard for us not to notice what’s going on in the grand scheme of things when it comes to mobile — after all, we do share space with Windows and iOS sites under the same umbrella Phandroid enjoys.

Imagine our surprise, then, when two major announcements were made in the mobile landscape on the same day — Apple will unveil the iPad Mini October 23rd and Microsoft has announced pricing for the Microsoft Surface RT tablet.

The former story is nothing new — the bitten fruit company has been rumored to announce the sub-8 inch iPad Mini on October 23rd for a couple of weeks now. We even took a look at some possible pricing options Apple will debut the tablet with. While nothing’s certain until it’s official it’s believed Apple will challenge the top-end of that $250-$300 spectrum.

But wait, there’s more! A new challenger has appeared (insert coin here) as Microsoft has finally officially priced its Microsoft Surface RT tablet. Remember that an “RT” tablet is pretty much like Windows 8 Light — you won’t get the ability to run full X86_64 apps since it’s designed to be an ARM-based operating system. Since that covers the same sort of ground that Android and iOS does then the Pro variant of the Surface tablets can’t be compared.

Onto the pricing, though — the cheapest configuration will cost you $500. Compared to the $200-$250 price range the Kindle Fire and Nexus 7 devices start at that seems a bit expensive. I wouldn’t blame you if you said it just flat out wasn’t worth that much, especially with the looks of Microsoft’s ecosystem for tablet-specific apps at this moment in time.

Still, there are some out there who are still pondering the tablet space. Some even have purchase decisions to make. This holiday season will see a much more balanced slate of… well, slates being introduced and we have to cope with the fact that even some of you, our loyal readers, are interested in seeing what the competition will have in store.

So let’s weigh it all on the imaginary scale sitting in front of you.  iPad Mini doesn’t seem to be a popular option around these parts — we gathered that from the responses you see on this article from yesterday. But considering most of us compute on Windows machines we’re aware it’s possible that there’s not really any animosity toward Microsoft or disdain for its products. Maybe a little, but nowhere near the reaction anything with a half-bitten apple will garner.

Then there’s good old Android, and as such it’s imperative to remember that there are fine options to be had on either side of the pricing pole. Will the 7 inch wonders known as the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire make you gravitate toward them or does something like a Galaxy Note 10.1 or an ASUS Pad Infinity fit your bill more effectively?

Think about the technological orgy for the holiday season we’ve just discussed above, and transfer those thoughts into a quick poll selection below. Be sure to let us know what you think about this triple threat of tablet devices and who you’ve decided to send your dollars to (and for whatever reason) in the comments section below! [via WinSource, iSource]

VOTE 2012: Obama vs. Romney… the Android Outcome

Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:35 PM PDT

It’s an election year and tonight Democrat Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney will duke it out in their 2nd debate tonight, on the way to deciding the next President of the United States of America. We won’t pick sides ourselves, but we want to know: if only Android users could vote, which candidate would win the election?

That’s the exact question VOTE 2012 by VoteBot.com intends to answer.

It’s simple:

  • Download the app
  • Pick your candidate
  • Enter a comment and additional info (optional)
  • See the results!

While the app will display the complete breakdown with filterable results, you’ll have to visit the website to see the full range of comments offered by voters/participatns. Comments are tied to a selectable user name and device ID, but keep it clean or your comments/votes will be permanently deleted! And for those curious,your device ID is used ONLY to ensure each person can vote once and only once (but you can change your vote and edit your comment/info).

Can VOTE 2012 accurately predict the outcome of the election? Four years ago, VOTE 2008 launched and accurately predicted Obama would be victorious over John McCain. One could argue that the results are misleading: afterall, demographics of Android users don’t perfectly reflect the demographics of the voting public? Probably. Since they own a smartphone and were able to track down the app in the first place, they’re likely more wealthy and either more tech savvy or politically inclined than the average user.

But still, Android users make up over 50% of the American smartphone users, so the app has a pretty good shot at being somewhat predictive/accurate. And for the sake of interest, users can filter results to see differences by State, Gender, Income, Education, and more. Keep in mind this is only available for download in the United States, for fairly obvious reasons.

VOTE 2012 isn’t meant to be scientific… it’s meant to be a fun and engaging way to extend the political discussion while playfully predicting the winner. Whether you’re die-hard Obama, rooting for Romney, dislike both, or think they’re equally awesome, chances are you have some sort of opinion. We hope you’ll download VOTE 2012 by VoteBot.com and share your opinion!

While the app (and comments below) are sure to generate their fair share of across the aisle arguments, we hope you can ALL agree that we want the same outcome: a better America. So for that, we hope you’ll at least join together in rating the app 5-stars on the Google Play Store and urging other people to vote, both in this VOTE 2012 app and in the actual election.

The LG Intuition and QuickMemo Keep Your Life In Order and Express It In Fun New Ways [Sponsored]

Posted: 16 Oct 2012 11:34 AM PDT

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With so many Android devices hitting the market nowadays, it’s rare you’ll find one that breaks away from the mold, introducing something truly unique. The LG Intuition for Verizon Wireless is just such a device and besides boasting a fully capable spec sheet — 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, 8MP camera capable of recording 1080p full HD video, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich along with NFC (perfect for Android Beam), Verizon Wireless 4G LTE connectivity — the Intuition features an industry first 5-inch XGA-IPS True HD display with unique 4:3 aspect ratio.

Now, while that may sound a little weird on paper (or look strange in pictures), it’s this unique aspect ratio that makes the LG Intuition the perfect device for browsing the web, reading books, or watching video, as well as jotting down quick notes. LG has conveniently baked their exclusive QuickMemo application right into the OS, allowing for easy and seamless taking and sharing of notes whether for work or play. Because QuickMemo works perfect with the human body’s built-in stylus — your finger — you’ll never have to worry about losing or fiddling around with a tiny stylus ever again. Oh, and the XGA-IPS display provides unmatched clarity and vibrant, true-to-life colors (none of that over-saturated stuff found on other devices). It really needs to be seen in person to be fully appreciated.

So, whether you’re a student on-the-move, a parent or business person on-the-go, the LG Intuition for Verizon Wireless is a bag full of tricks combining the screen real estate you love in a tablet, while keeping the portability of a smartphone. You can find pricing and more information on the LG Intuition by visiting LG.com/Intuition.

Why knowing your dominant eye will be important for Project Glass

Posted: 16 Oct 2012 11:23 AM PDT

We all know that people are born either right handed or left handed, with some lucky individuals earning the title of ambidextrous, but did you know that right and left eye dominance varies from person to person, as well? As is the case with handedness, nature tends to favor the right, but a good one-third of the population is left eye dominant. But don’t just assume your visual preference will match that of your hands, as right-handed individuals are not always born leaning on the same half of their visual field.

So you might be wondering where I’m going with all of this talk of ocular dominance. Well, consider a recent patent filing by Google. While many have been going about their lives completely ignorant of which eye takes the lead, Google has been developing a mirrored version of Project Glass for folks that favor vision on the left. The current build is designed for those that have stronger vision in their right eye, and it isn’t clear if any production-level left-oriented prototypes exist (or if they will be available when the limited run of Project Glass launches for those that registered at Google I/O).


OK, so now how do we know which eye we favor? Here’s a quick and simple test to determine your ocular dominance (Edgar provides a demonstration at the end of the above video):

  1. Extend your arms in front of you and form a diamond between the forefingers and thumbs of both hands.
  2. Frame a distant object in the space between your hands and focus your vision on it.
  3. Slowly draw your hands back toward you eyes.
  4. The opening created by your hands should move toward your dominant eye.

And that’s about as easy as it gets to determine which side your vision naturally favors. We can’t say for sure without proper hands-on time, but it seems choosing the right style of Glass frames could definitely have an effect on the overall experience. Google obviously deemed having both options available as important, and it makes sense. If you are going to even partially obscure the vision of one eye with a floating user interface, better to put the extra burden on the stronger of the two.

So informal poll: raise your hand if your the results of your dominant eye test weren’t what you expected. Or just let us know in the comments below!

Pinger brings free texting and calling to Android

Posted: 16 Oct 2012 09:16 AM PDT

The prospect of “free” calling and texting has always been something of interest for many people, but most methods are either too convoluted or just plain misleading. For true free calling and texting you still need a source of data, but as long as you can provide that you won’t have to deal with the excessive costs which come with the need of texting limits and voice minutes. Pinger provides just that and its Android application has finally been added to the Google Play Store.

Pinger will issue users a phone number in order for their friends and family to identify and contact them with. From there, the Pinger app is used to connect you with friends and family even if they don’t have a Pinger account.

In fact, they could be on those dastardly landlines many of us have ditched and you can still call them and vice versa. The full service works between the United States and Canada, though we understand there are 35 more countries where free text messages can be exchanged.

The downside to Pinger is that MMS is only properly supported between two Pinger users, but perhaps that can be changed in future updates. Pinger also gives you a voicemail inbox in case you want to allow your friends and family to leave you messages should you become unreachable.

Many of us probably wouldn’t ditch our current smartphone plans to go this route. For starters, the need for data connectivity is going to be something of concern for people — not every inch of the planet can get high speed data, or just data to begin with. There’s also the unfortunate fact that there aren’t many carriers that will give you a data-only plan for your smartphone in this day and age.

The more feasible route for someone who doesn’t mind the risks of unreliable data connectivity is to get a 4G hotspot broadcaster and an unlocked phone. A lot of plans start at $30 for a minimal amount of data, but can get as pricey as $100+ if you start needing double digit bandwidth.

There are some catches to keep in mind on the Pinger side of things, though. For starters, SMS is totally free — there’s no limit to the amount of bits you can send to your friends as long as it’s all text. Incoming calls are free, too. But if you want to place outgoing calls you will have to mind a limit. First-time Pinger users get 20 free outgoing minutes, and users have the option of earning more minutes or buying them. We understand the cost of buying outgoing minutes won’t break the bank, though.

This is a perfect solution for people like me who don’t use their phones to place or even receive calls often. Myself and many others prefer to communicate without using voice, and should the rare desire or need to place a call present itself then costs are sure to be minimal. While I personally won’t be ditching the full extent of my wireless plan to go with Pinger it’s something that I will definitely think about in the future.

But even if you don’t bite on the ability to cut down on your phone bill you can still use Pinger as an alternative phone number. Think of it as Google Voice in that regard, a service I know many people use to help separate their lives. The free download can be had in the Google Play Store. Read on for full press details.

Pinger Launches New Free Texting and Calling Service For Android Devices

 

Maker of Textfree, the #1 Free Texting App, Adds Free Voice Communication for Android

 

San Jose, California — October 16, 2012 — Pinger, the company disrupting the global communications space by making texting and calling free, today announced its new Android application, called "Pinger." Pinger users can text and call for free to any phone in the U.S. and Canada, including smartphones, landlines and basic mobile phones. Pinger is free and available in the Google Play Store.

 

Pinger users receive a free, local phone number they can then use to text or place calls to any phone number, giving them a second, fully-functional phone line. Pinger supports inbound and outbound calls, as well as free texting to 35 countries. All incoming calls are free, and users can earn free outbound minutes by watching videos and downloading apps. Users can also purchase minutes at an inexpensive rate from the Google Play Store.

 

"What makes Pinger truly unique is its ability to make texting and calling free to any phone number, not just other smartphones," said Greg Woock, co-founder and CEO of Pinger.  "We started out by making texting free, and now, by making calling free for Android users in the U.S. and Canada, we're another step closer to achieving our goal of making global communications free."

 

The company has an established community of over eight million active users on the Android and iOS platforms. The company's existing Android phone app, Textfree, is one of the top free apps in the Google Play store. It is consistently ranked in the top 130 free applications out of the more than 400,000 apps that are currently available in the store. Textfree allows users to communicate for free via SMS and picture messaging. The new Pinger app combines free calling and an ingenious new interface with the free texting capabilities of Textfree. Both Textfree and Pinger are ad-supported.

 

Pinger simplifies the communications process, incorporating useful and intuitive features including:

·         Text and call anyone on any phone or carrier—including smartphones, landlines and basic mobile phones in the U.S. and Canada

·         Adds a free second line to their existing Android phone

·         The unique photo-based interface means that there's no need to swap between screens or apps to check missed calls, listen to a voicemail or send a message. The Pinger phone app organizes communication with each contact—text, voice and picture messages—into a single screen

·         Group addressing—communicate with groups faster and easier

·         Anyone using Pinger Android is on the global Pinger network.  Communicate with friends and family anywhere in the world on Android, iOS or even the web.  Users communicating with others on the Pinger network get longer texts, hi-res picture messages, higher-quality calls and instant open notifications

 

In the U.S. alone, Pinger's eight million active users send more than two billion text messages and use 75 million voice minutes a month. Pinger is the seventh largest U.S. carrier by SMS volume. According to comScore, the company's apps are installed in 21% of U.S. iOS devices, putting Pinger among the Top 5 most installed U.S. apps of all time on iOS.

 

Textfree users on Android can seamlessly transition to the new voice features by simply downloading the "Pinger" app from the Google Play Store, allowing them to maintain their current Textfree phone number with these added services.

 

Pinger can be downloaded here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pinger.ppa

 

About Pinger

Pinger, together with millions of users, is building the planet's first free, global communications network. Our mission is to ensure everyone can freely text and talk with the people they care about most. Pinger simplifies network complexity with an intuitive, picture-based interface that brings together different types of communication in one place, from any device. At Pinger, we strive to make the costly completely free—and the complex surprisingly simple. Connect with us atwww.pinger.com.

Sprint Galaxy Note 2 launching October 25th for $300

Posted: 16 Oct 2012 07:10 AM PDT

Well we can lay rumors about Galaxy Note 2 launch details for at least one US wireless carrier to rest. Ahead of the October 25th unveiling Sprint has announced it would be offering its version of the Galaxy Note 2 (which should be identical to all the rest save for the cellular innards) starting October 25h, 2012. That’s a Thursday, by the way, and they’ll be looking to take $300 out of your pockets for the privilege of walking out of the store with the device.

It’s the same phone we’ve come to know and love that’s already out and about in Korea and Europe, and it features a 5.5 inch display, a 1.6GHz quad-core Exynos processor, 2GB of RAM, an 8 megapixel camera, a 1.9 megapixel front camera, a 3,100 mAh battery, 4G LTE, Android 4.1.1, and more.

The star of the show outside of those juicy internals will be the S-Pen, Samsmung’s digital pressure-sensitive stylus that will work in conjunction with a Wacom digitizer. GSM radios will also be present, and while Sprint advertises it’s for the SAFE program to allow people to use their own device with whichever company they’re with there’s a chance this can also be used as a global phone.

Sprint’s offering the device in either Marble White or Titanium Grey, but there don’t appear to be multiple SKUs in terms of storage. In fact, Sprint’s press release doesn’t even mention the storage capacity for the device so we’re still digging for information on what that’ll be. At $300 we’re hoping for 32GB, but it’s never safe to flat out assume.

In the meantime you have about nine days to get your wallets in order, and you’ll want to look for pre-sale opportunities from third party retailers like Best Buy or Radio Shack as Sprint hasn’t announced they’d be offering the option to pay your dues ahead of time.

If you prefer to get it through Sprint then be sure to do whatever you can to clear your schedule and get down to your local corporate store or order online on what’s sure to be a great Thursday morning. Read on for full press details

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), October 16, 2012 – Sprint (NYSE:S), the only national carrier with Truly UnlimitedSM4G LTE data, text and calling to any mobile, today announced an availability date for Samsung Galaxy Note® II. Beginning Oct. 25, it can be purchased for $299.99 with a new line or eligible upgrade and two-year service agreement (excludes taxes and surcharges) for either color option – Marble White or Titanium Gray.

Manufactured by Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC (Samsung Mobile), the No.1 mobile phone provider in the United States, Galaxy Note II will boast several firsts for Sprint – first to launch with Android™ 4.1.1, Jelly Bean; first smartphone display larger than 5 inches; and first device to launch with a quad-core processor.

With the latest HD Super AMOLED™ screen technology powering the device's 5.5-inch 720p display, images are bigger, clearer and brighter than ever. Performance and power are built-in on Galaxy Note II with Samsung's Exynos™ 1.6GHz quad-core processor, a long-lasting battery, blazing fast 4G /LTE network speeds, and international voice and data capable compatibility with GSM/UMTS/CDMA networks.

Galaxy Note II comes with a built-in S Pen™ that is longer, thicker and ergonomically designed for the perfect grip. Its advanced features also provide enhanced capabilities to capture ideas and inspirations instantly and to combine handwriting with any digital content directly on the screen. Galaxy Note II features an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera with HD video recording. The camera's powerful features include Buddy Photo Share, Burst Shot and Best Photo, which were introduced on Galaxy S III in June.

With the diverse mix of mobile devices being used in the workplace, companies must be assured about the security of corporate data and applications available on the devices. Earlier this year, Sprint introduced a designation for select smartphones, including Galaxy Note II, that deliver enhanced security, device management and Exchange Active Sync capabilities to business customers, Sprint Professional Grade.

Following the same business-friendly path, Galaxy Note II is a SAFE™ (Samsung for Enterprise) device, providing the ability to securely sync corporate email, calendars, contacts and sensitive information. SAFE provides a comprehensive approach to making Android devices more secure and manageable for business users. With a thorough quality assurance process in place to test and confirm the Note II enterprise capabilities, SAFE systematically meets the rapidly evolving needs of IT and the growing number of businesses allowing employees to "bring your own device" (BYOD) to work.

Enjoy Data without Limits

Samsung Galaxy Note II 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). With Sprint's Everything Data and other plans that include Truly Unlimited data, Sprint is continuing its history of data leadership by making it easy for its customers to use data in all the ways that are useful to them, such as news, email, music, TV and GPS navigation, without worrying about data overages on their monthly bill.

Sprint 4G LTE is available in 24 citiesi and is expected to be in more than 100 additional cities in coming months. Sprint introduced its all-new 4G LTE network in July 2012 and expects to have largely completed the nationwide build-out by the end of 2013. For the most up-to-date details on Sprint's 4G LTE portfolio and rollout, visit www.sprint.com/4GLTE.

Sprint will host the 12th annual Open Solutions Conference Oct. 24-25 at the San Jose, Calif., Convention Center, offering developers, ecosystem partners and executive attendees an up-close view into the latest app developing tools and capabilities, keynote presentations from Sprint CEO Dan Hesse and other industry leaders, breakout sessions, coding sessions, event sponsor exhibits, and business-critical networking opportunities. Registration is open at http://developer.sprint.com/OSC2012.

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 56 million customers at the end of the second quarter of 2012 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The American Customer Satisfaction Index rated Sprint No. 1 among all national carriers in customer satisfaction and most improved, across all 47 industries, during the last four years. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in its 2011 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation's greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

Android, Google Wallet, Google Play and Android Beam are trademarks of Google, Inc.

Samsung, GALAXY, GALAXY Note, S Pen, SAFE and Super AMOLED are all trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Other company names, product names and marks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners and may be trademarks or registered trademarks. 4G used in connection with the Samsung GALAXY Victory 4G LTE refers to the fact that the device is capable of operating on Sprint's 4G LTE network. TO THE FULL EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., SAMSUNG TELECOMMUNICATIONS AMERICA, LLC, AND THEIR AFFILIATES (COLLECTIVELY REFERRED TO HEREIN AS THE "SAMSUNG ENTITIES") EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, INTEROPERABILITY OR NON-INFRINGEMENT, WITH RESPECT TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECURITY PROTECTION, SAFE™ APPROVED DEVICES AND SAFE™ APPROVED APPLICATIONS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE SAMSUNG ENTITIES BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER WITH RESPECT TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECURITY PROTECTION, SAFE™ APPROVED DEVICES OR SAFE™ APPROVED APPLICATIONS. In addition, information technology security protection will be affected by features or functionality associated with, among other things the email platform, master data management, and virtual private network solutions selected by the software provider, solution provider or user. Choice of an email, master data management, and virtual private network solution is at the sole discretion of the software provider, solution provider or user and any associated effect on information technology security protection is solely the responsibility of the software provider, solution provider or user. For complete statement of limited warranty, please refer to www.samsung.com/us/safe, available on the Web and where Samsung smartphone and GALAXY Tab™ devices are sold.

i Atlanta, Ga.; Athens, Ga.; Baltimore; Barnstable-Hyannis/Mid-Cape, Mass.; Calhoun, Ga.; Carrollton, Ga.; Gainesville, Ga.; Dallas; Fort Worth, Texas; Granbury-Hood County, Texas; Houston; Huntsville, Texas; Lawrence, Kan.; Kansas City, Mo.-Kan.; Manhattan/Junction City, Kan.; Newnan, Ga.; Rome, Ga.; San Antonio, Texas; Sedalia, Mo.; St. Joseph, Mo.; Topeka, Kan.; Waco, Texas; Waukegan-Lake County, Ill.; and Wichita, Kan.

ASUS announces the PadFone 2: 4.7-inch smartphone with 10.1-inch tablet dock

Posted: 16 Oct 2012 06:12 AM PDT

In  a dual launch event spanning two continents, ASUS unveiled the followup to the PadFone, the phone/tablet combo that launched only a few months back. The new ASUS PadFone 2 improves on the original, growing the screen size to 4.7 inches while reducing the phone’s overall thickness to 9mm. The Super IPS+ display carries a 720p HD resolution and 550 nits of brightness, while a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 processor works in tandem with 2GB of RAM to provide plenty of power. A 13MP camera, LTE capability, and a 2140mAh battery round out the handset portion of the device.

As for the tablet, the screen size remains the same at 10.1 inches but the dock slims up and drops a few grams thanks to a smaller 5000mAh battery. The phone portion now docks via a 13-pin connector and without the trapdoor of the original. Combined, the two can reach up to 36 hours of talk time.

The PadFone 2 will hit Europe and Asia before the end of the year. Availability in other countries has not been discussed.

Live Life Intuitively with ASUS PadFone™ 2

Quad-core smartphone with incredible battery life and a thinner, lighter PadFone 2 Station deliver the ultimate mobile flexibility.

Milan, Italy (October 16, 2012) – ASUS, a global leader in the new digital era, today announces the PadFone™ 2. Building upon the successful PadFone combination of an Android smartphone and dockable tablet for incredible mobile flexibility, PadFone 2 consists of a higher-specification quad-core smartphone and a completely redesigned tablet.

ASUS Chairman Jonney Shih unveiled PadFone 2 in front of the world’s media at a press conference in Milan, Italy. “Our relentless drive to innovate through Design Thinking has empowered us to create PadFone 2. It’s beautiful, it’s fast, it’s seamless and, best of all, it’s intuitive,” said Mr. Shih.

PadFone 2 is a fully featured 4.7″ Android™ smartphone with industry-leading specifications that docks with the unique PadFone 2 Station to become a lightweight, but fully featured, 10.1″ tablet. Apps are seamlessly optimized on-the-fly to support both tablet and phone modes, with an instant transition between smartphone and tablet screen sizes.

Enlarge and Charge

ASUS’ world-renowned Design Thinking philosophy has significantly reduced PadFone 2 Station’s thickness and weight. At just 649g, the combined weight of both PadFone 2 and PadFone 2 Station is now lighter than most tablets on the market, and the dock mechanism has been redesigned to require just one swift step to use. PadFone 2 has also been subtly refined to increase its screen size to 4.7″, while reducing its thickness and weight to just 9mm at its thickest point and 135g, respectively.
Battery life is astounding, too. The higher-capacity PadFone 2 2140mAh battery provides up to 16 hours 3G talk-time and 13 hours Wi-Fi web browsing, while PadFone 2 Station’s 5000mAh battery gives up to 36 hours 3G talk-time. PadFone 2 Station’s internal battery also has enough capacity to recharge the docked PadFone 2 three times over.

Super Phone, Super Performance

A 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM ensures incredible PadFone 2 performance in both smartphone and tablet modes. The new 4.7″ 1280 x 720 HD Super IPS+ display uses scratch-resistant Corning® Fit Glass and delivers sharp, detailed images with accurate colors, ultra-wide viewing angles and 550 nits brightness for stunning outdoor visibility.
A new 13-megapixel high-performance camera captures incredibly detailed images with no shutter lag. Burst mode can capture up to 100 shots at a blisteringly quick six shots per second, while simultaneously recording 1080p HD video at 30fps, or 720p HD video at 60fps. Low-light performance is also enhanced by the wide f/2.4 aperture and a dedicated image signal processor. Both PadFone 2 and PadFone 2 Station feature superlative sound quality too, thanks to ASUS SonicMaster technology and audio tuning by Waves, recipient of a Technical GRAMMY Award®.

Easy to Share, Easy to Save

With capacities up to 64GB and 50GB of ASUS WebStorage provided free for two years, PadFone 2 offers endless possibilities for storing data. Data syncing between devices is also a thing of the past, since PadFone 2 storage is used by PadFone 2 Station when the two are connected. Shared mobile data connectivity between smartphone and tablet also means just one data plan is needed for both devices, while support for up to 42Mbit/s DC-HSPA+ and 100Mbit/s LTE delivers super-fast web browsing and downloads.

User-friendly enhancements

PadFone 2 also features a new version of the SuperNote app that instantly converts handwritten notes made in multiple languages into editable text. Its Instant Translation tool also translates any word, phrase or sentence in an email, web page or app at a touch, without the need for a third-party translation tool.

Availability

PadFone 2 will be launched before the end of December in Europe (Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden) and Asia (Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, U.A.E). Availability in other countries will be announced at a later date.

Android Overload: Jelly Bean Officially Headed To LG Optimus G, Vu, and Vu 2, Hands-On with Archos Gamepad, and More

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 09:43 PM PDT

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Greetings, Phandroids. We’re officially wrapping up our work day here at the Phandroid offices, but before we leave you, we thought we’d give you a few more late night treats to have you snacking through the night. Because so many Android-related articles come past our desks, it’s impossible to feature them all on our front page. Thankfully, we’ve created the Android Overload for you guys to keep up-to-date with all the Android happenings around the world. So dig in and if you find an interesting article/s, leave your thoughts below. Night, guys.

  • LG officially announces Android 4.2 Jelly Bean update headed towards LG Optimus G this December; LG Optimus Vu and LG Optimus Vu 2 early next year. [LG]
  • Team Win Recovery Project updated to version 2.3 for a variety of devices. [XDA Developers]
  • Hands-on with Android emulators and button mapping on the upcoming Archos Gamepad. [ARMDevices.net]
  • Gmail (web) now lets you search through your emails, Calendar and Google Drive docs with a unified search. [Google Search Experiments]
  • Star Command coming to Android “hopefully” by the end of the year. 13 minutes gameplay footage with dev team has me drooling. [Joystiq]
  • Google TV receiving enhanced voice controls. Access content, genre, and channel searches by voice. [TNW]
  • Updated Google Play Developer Console now available for all Android developers. [Android-Developers]
  • LG Uplus introduces set top box with integrated Google TV inside. [GoogleTVBlog]
  • Study by the GSM Association suggests Americans are paying too much for LTE vs European rates. [Electronista]
  • Life Fitness announces Android compatible fitness machines. Connect your smartphone to access music, calendar events, and more. [AusDroid]
  • Xiaomi founder interview reveals no plans for MIUI tablet, talks about smartphone success. [TechInAsia]
Posted by at 8:23 AM

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