Android Phone Fans |
- Google Holding Android Event For October 29th In New York – Nexus 4 Unveiling?
- The Stock Google Calendar App Is Now Available In The Play Store For Everyone To Enjoy, Android 4.0.3 and Up
- Would You Let A Random Stranger Use Your Smartphone? [Discussion and Poll]
- Swype update brings dictionary sync and trending words
- ISIS to launch in Austin and Salt Lake City on October 22nd
- Samsung Galaxy S3 now $99 at Amazon Wireless [Deal Alert]
- New Motorola DROID phones, Motorola ATRIX HD, and more get rooted
- Angry Birds Star Wars teaser shows the Millennium Falcon [VIDEO]
- Samsung promises Jelly Bean for US Galaxy S3 handsets ‘in the coming months’
- Play Store now lets you add credit from the web; new web reader available for Play Magazines
- More evidence suggests 32GB Nexus 7 will launch at same price as 16GB model
- HTC Pulls Out All The Stops – Announces J Butterfly with 5-Inch 1080p Display, 2GB RAM, Quad-Core S4 CPU
| Google Holding Android Event For October 29th In New York – Nexus 4 Unveiling? Posted: 17 Oct 2012 05:31 PM PDT Here we go, folks. The hype officially begins. We’ve just received an invite (above) from Google asking us to attend an Android event set for October 29th. We have a good idea what they have in store for the world, or at least a piece of the puzzle. The LG Nexus 4 has been Google’s worst kept secret, showing up in more leaked images than a Kardashian. But could that really be all Google has up their sleeves? It’s interesting to note that there was no mention of a specific manufacturer. Last year’s invite (below) had a Google/Samsung logos branded on it. In fact, there’s not even a hint that this will be a device. Maybe this is Google’s way of announcing a change to the Nexus program, no way to be sure. We’ll keep racking our brains looking for clues. In the meantime, what do you guys think will be announced? What do you hope will be announced? UPDATE: Google first used the term “The playground is open” in their post announcing Android 4.2 Jellybean from Google IO with a “play” on words regarding the wide world of wonders in the Google Play Store. It was later seen by a (much) wider audience when they slapped it as the tagline for an ad on Google.com (seen below) promoting the $199 Nexus 7 Tablet. Does this change your opinion at all on what the event could unveil?
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| Posted: 17 Oct 2012 05:10 PM PDT Well, this interesting. Given the number of Android devices running custom UI from manufacturers, more than often times this means an OEM has replaced a few stock Google apps with Google Calendar being one of the major ones finding itself kicked to the curb. Now, it appears Google may be combating this by introducing their stock Android 4.0.3 Calendar application into the Play Store for everyone to download enjoy, regardless of the make of their Android device. While this wont be anything new for those with Nexus devices, this is a welcomed change for those running TouchWiz, Sense, or Motoblur for the past few years. The Calendar app doesn’t come without its problems however, although most of the bugs are associated with HTC devices. Hit the link below for the download. Now, if Google can only release a stock Messaging, Camera, and Contacts app, I’ll be a happy camper.
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| Would You Let A Random Stranger Use Your Smartphone? [Discussion and Poll] Posted: 17 Oct 2012 03:13 PM PDT I think we’ve all been there at some point. A random stranger in dire straights asks to borrow your $700 smartphone to make a quick call. But really — what do you do? Is it polite to decline? More than often, you help out your fellow man and hope for the best. But what if… What if things turn sour, and that person supposedly looking for help turns out to be nothing more than a thief, taking off with your now unlocked smartphone, and all the vital contents held within? Some brave dudes on YouTube set to find out exactly how people would react in just such a situation, filming their hijinks with hilarious results. You’ll notice in the video, most people attempted to act nonchalant, but you could see by the expression on their face — and the way they always kept one eye on the borrower — what was going on in the back of their head. Thankfully, this was filmed on the BYU campus because lord knows if this was filmed in my hood, things would have gotten messy. Phandroid staffers and friends also weighed in on this question. Here’s what they had to say:
My thoughts? I will ultimately lend it out although I always find it an extremely uncomfortable situation. It’s like someone asking to borrow your car… or woman. I just make sure that I do several leg stretches beforehand, mentioning that I was at the top of my league in long distance track racing. That, or I ask for their ID in exchange. So I guess the next question I have for you, our readers, is — if/when asked, do you lend out your beloved Android smartphone to random strangers in order to make a quick call? If so, are their certain criteria that need to be met? Only in broad daylight? Only in a busy public area? Only when around friends who can quickly dial 911 in the event things go south? For those that have no problem declining someone’s request — how do you go about doing so in a polite manner?
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| Swype update brings dictionary sync and trending words Posted: 17 Oct 2012 02:40 PM PDT Despite Swype for Android’s limited availability due to the company’s desire for OEM deals instead of direct-to-consumer sales, many people have access to it and use it as their primary keyboard. Those people would be happy to know that a new update is available, and with it comes some very neat features that you won’t find on many other keyboards. One of those features is Dictionary Sync and I can’t tell you how much I would appreciate something like this in my keyboard of choice. As the name implies, Dictionary Sync will allow you to sync your saved words to the cloud. Instead of having to restore old data from an APK backup or go through the dreaded process of having to re-enter my words they will now automatically be ready for download should I ever run into the need to reset or replace my device. Perhaps you simply want your words on every device you have — welp, no need to worry about doubling up on the work with these features. And Swype will now even figure out which words are trending and automatically add them to your dictionary. “Gangnam” probably wasn’t in many people’s keyboards, but with this feature it would surely be added with how many people are searching for the viral YouTube video. It does leave some questions regarding piracy, though. Where is the data coming from? Is it from the opt-in dictionary sync feature or are they taking data from everyone’s keystrokes? Android warns users that third party keyboards may collect data about the input it receives (which is fine and totally understandable for a keyboard that needs personalization features), but you start to wonder just how much they’re looking at and what they may be doing with that data. Swype has always appeared to be a trustworthy company and foul play is the last thing I’d suspect, but if the Carrier IQ debacle taught me anything it’s that you never really know until it’s laid out on the table. That’s why we’ve sought comment from Swype on the deeper aspects of this feature and the methods they use to make it possible. Be sure to check periodically as we hope to have an update. Beyond all of that, there is now better support for those who use Japanese and Chinese keyboards, and there are now ten different themes you can use to make your keyboard “fit” with the rest of your OS. The only way to get this one is to go inside the app and download it — us lowly folk without the necessary hardware still can’t get it from the Google Play Store. Read on for full press details.
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| ISIS to launch in Austin and Salt Lake City on October 22nd Posted: 17 Oct 2012 10:29 AM PDT Long-in-gestation mobile payment platform ISIS will officially launch on October 22nd in Austin and salt Lake City, a company spokesperson confirmed to Phandroid today. ISIS is a major payment system backed by the majority of major US wireless providers, and is a big reason why we have yet to see official Google Wallet access on any carrier but Sprint. Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T are all partners with ISIS, and it is expected that as many as 20 ISIS-ready handsets will be on the market by the end of the year. The ISIS Mobile Wallet app recently launched in the Google Play Store and is currently limited to T-Mobile handsets,and it is expected that the trial launching October 22nd will also be limited to the carrier, though ISIS plans to announce more info come that date. Here is the full statement from Jaymee Johnson, head of marketing at ISIS:
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| Samsung Galaxy S3 now $99 at Amazon Wireless [Deal Alert] Posted: 17 Oct 2012 09:06 AM PDT It’s one of the best Android handset of all time, and now it can be yours for only $99 on a new contract with select wireless providers via Amazon Wireless. That’s right, the Samsung Galaxy S3 for $99.99. This limited-time sale puts the Android powerhouse in your pocket for far less than you would normally expect provided you sign up for a new individual or family plan with Verizon or Sprint. The AT&T model is also on sale for $129.99. The promotional pricing covers both blue and white versions of the 16GB GS3, which features a 4.8-inch Super AMOLED HD display and 4G LTE connectivity. Head over to Amazon Wireless to grab one now before this special offer expires!
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| New Motorola DROID phones, Motorola ATRIX HD, and more get rooted Posted: 17 Oct 2012 09:00 AM PDT Nothing seems to feel more satisfying in the world of Android than getting your device rooted and knowing there’s a lot more you can do with it than your OEM or carrier would have you believe. That’s why we were excited to learn that the latest Motorola devices from Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint and more have been rooted for all to enjoy. The Motorola DROID RAZR HD (and likely the Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX HD), Motorola DROID RAZR M, Motorola RAZR i, Motorola Photon Q and Motorola Atrix HD have all gotten root treatment thanks to the wonderful development community surrounding Android. Motorola devices tend to share the same exploits regardless of which carrier they’re on so it’s little surprise that this root method can be applied to all of these devices. Getting root took as long as it did because these new Motorola devices all come with Android 4.0 and higher, and as such Motorola likely plugged up the holes that we were used to on Gingerbread devices. To get started you’ll need to install the latest Motorola drivers to make sure your computer can recognize your device. From there, a .bat file (which means you’ll need a Windows PC) will perform the necessary operations to get root up and going on your device. It isn’t complicated, convoluted or long to do at all, and you’ll be glad you did at the end of it all. Everything you need can be found in this handy dandy zip file, and further help can be had over at XDA should you hit a snag in the process. Get to it! [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
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| Angry Birds Star Wars teaser shows the Millennium Falcon [VIDEO] Posted: 17 Oct 2012 08:03 AM PDT If there’s one commonality that can be found among a crowd of geeks, it’s an unexplainable affinity for the universe that is known as Star Wars. Hell, some people bought the R2-D2 version of the Motorola DROID 2 despite already owning the original. Rovio announced Angry Birds Star Wars would be here November 8th, and our beloved Han Solo made a reference to one of the most memorable lines in the dual trilogy in the game’s latest teaser. He mentions his Millennium Falcon and does well to remind us that it’s the same ship that that made the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs (remember, a unit to measure distance, not time). However many light-years it took to make that trip is still up in the air, but regardless we’re not here for that discussion. Instead, we’re here to talk about the video you see above where Rovio cuts from the short clip to a representation of the Millennium Falcon in the style of Angry Birds’ world! This could mean many things, though without much information on how this game will evolve the core Angry Birds gameplay it’d be foolish to bank on any one possibility. My vote goes to the ability to call the Millennium Falcon and Han Solo in to obliterate clone trooper pigs, but perhaps that’s a bit of a wet dream compared to what we’re really going to get. Let us know what you think in the comments below, and we’ll all be finding out what this exciting title has to offer once it jumps to hyper speed and races to the Google Play Store November 8th.
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| Samsung promises Jelly Bean for US Galaxy S3 handsets ‘in the coming months’ Posted: 17 Oct 2012 07:25 AM PDT As Jelly Bean continues to roll out to Samsung Galaxy S3 handset around the globe, owners of the handset in the US have waited patiently for word on when they can expect the update. Well, good news. Samsung has just issued a press release detailing the status of the software upgrade for the GS3 on Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, and US Cellular. The Korean mobile maker says the update will arrive “in the coming months” and will be available over-the-air and through their Kies companion software when it does launch. Users can expect enhancements to both the Android OS and Samsung’s TouchWiz interface, including Jelly Bean standards such as Google Now and rich notifications as well as updates to Pop Up Play and camera enhancements. If there is one downside, it’s that the final software launch ultimately remains in the hands of the carrier. So Samsung’s promise of a release “in the coming months” ultimately is not theirs to uphold. It means, depending on carrier, users could see the update as soon as next month or possibly (worst case scenario) as late as early next year. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for a quick turnaround time. Check out the press release below for more details.
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| Play Store now lets you add credit from the web; new web reader available for Play Magazines Posted: 17 Oct 2012 06:40 AM PDT It seems we can’t go a week without hearing about key changes to the Google Play Store. Some are insignificant and some mean nothing to a lot of people, but none of it goes unappreciated. The latest change builds on the Play Store balance feature Google introduced with the Nexus 7 $25 credit promo and the Play Store gift cards. If using your credit card on the Google Play Store was never a concern to begin with Google is allowing you to purchase credit in chunks of $5, $10, $15, $25, and $50 on the web version of the Play Store. Like I said when it came to gift cards, this functionality allows some people to more easily balance their bank accounts or maintain a budget. Many people I know have migrated to gift cards for those very reasons so this should please those who would rather skip retail. Another big change that’s been made is the advent of a web reader for Google Play Magazines. Being able to access content on your phones and tablets is fine, but sometimes you want to enjoy your music on your PC just like you already can with music and videos. The web reader features a two-pane system that breaks content up into individual articles, columns, and features to make it easier to get to what’s important to you in a given issue. You can also view two pages per page-turn if you want. This is one of those features that will become increasingly important for members of the Google Play ecosystem for a couple of different reasons. Take myself, for instance — Xbox Music looks like a great music service, but it’s useless to me. I can only enjoy my content on an Xbox 360 or Windows 8 products, and for that reason I will not give Microsoft a dime. If you tell me I can enjoy my content on any device I want then I will be more willing to spend my money with you, and that is exactly what Google continues to do with the Play Store — heck, I might even be willing to purchase more magazines now despite my growing distaste for the ad-ridden monstrosities they’ve become. If you want to give the new feature a shot simply head to an issue or subscription you’ve purchased in the Play Store and click the big, blue “Read” button.
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| More evidence suggests 32GB Nexus 7 will launch at same price as 16GB model Posted: 17 Oct 2012 06:24 AM PDT Last week we learned that Google will likely phase out the 16GB Nexus 7 in favor of a 32GB model, and despite double the storage most signs point the $250 price point remaining the same for the larger storage option. Now we have a look at the 32GB device listed on Staples’ business portal, where it is actually shown as coming in at a few dollars cheaper than the 16GB model. The move makes you wonder if Google plans to do anything with the pricing of the 8GB model, or if perhaps a 16GB option will be offered at the $199 price point. We’ve seen nothing to suggest this to be the case, but it seems a little odd that the company would offer three times the storage for only $50 more, making the $199 model with 8GB seem, dare I say, overpriced in comparison. According to Staples, the new version of the N7 could launch as soon as October 18th, but that seems a little unlikely. A logical launch of the 32GB model could coincide with the unveiling of the next Nexus smartphone, an event that is rumored to occur at the end of this month. [AndroidPolice via Engadget]
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| Posted: 16 Oct 2012 11:29 PM PDT I’m almost at a loss for words here, folks. Just when we thought we wouldn’t see anymore surprises, HTC goes and pulls this. Announced as “coming soon” on their official Japanese site, HTC has pulled out all the stops, releasing their much rumored Android device that will make you turn and slap your momma. They’re calling the HTC J Butterfly (a sequel to the original J that launched a few months ago) and in an industry first, the device comes with earth shattering 5-inch 1080p SLCD3 display. Let’s just let that soak in for a little bit. You guys alright out there? Great. Let’s take a look at the rest of the spec sheet.
And here you thought HTC didn’t have any more fight in ‘em, huh? Officially announced for a December release on Japanese carrier AU/KDDI, don’t expect this anywhere outside of the land of the rising sun. Well, not in its current state anyway. Like the J before it, we’ll see a variation of this device with different aesthetics, hit the rest of the world with HTC specifically mentioning to The Verge that the same display tech would launch in other devices to be announced. We’ll just have to be patient and see what they’ve got planned. For the love of gawd, please don’t let this one be carrier exclusive. [HTC]
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