Thursday, October 11, 2012

AndroidGuys

AndroidGuys

LG Nexus 4 expected October 29, according to French newspaper

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 12:05 PM PDT

The ultra-hyped LG Nexus 4 is expected to make its formal debut on October 29, according to French newspaper Le Figaro.  This not only lines up with recent rumor that peg the handset with an October/November launch, but also seems to confirm the newly-discovered name.  The newspaper advises that the smartphone will show up in France in December, but was mum on any U.S. details.  So, with around 2.5 weeks to go before the 29th, we think the leaks and excitement will soon reach a fever pitch.

SEE ALSO:

Le Figaro

 

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HTC bids farewell to tablets in United States

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 10:54 AM PDT

HTC, having failed to make any real impact on tablet sales in the United States, has decided to indefinitely shelve things.  Calling their efforts (Flyer, Jestream) a “great learning experience”, HTC advises that they’ll keep options open and may return at some point, providing they could “make a splash”.  As most of you know, the Nexus 7, Kindle Fire and Nook families account for a sizeable chunk of Android tablets, with Samsung and Asus grabbing decent sales.

“We’re watching that market [tablets] very, very closely.  It was a great learning experience for us, and they definitely met expectations…We’re very much not set on one strategy over another”. -  Jeff Gordon, HTC’s global online communications manager.

Fierce Mobile

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13 apps to mimic the Windows Phone Metro UI on your Android

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 10:06 AM PDT

So you really like the look of Windows Phone and the don’t-call-it-Metro tiles but aren’t in a hurry to give up Android.  What to do?  Dudes, that’s easy – download these apps and mimic the look on your phone or tablet.  We’ve put together a list of 13 Android apps designed to help you create the tile-like home screen experience

Continue reading: 13 apps to mimic the Windows Phone Metro UI on your Android

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Microsoft to release Office for Android in March 2013

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 09:25 AM PDT

Microsoft plans to release an Android version of its Office software suite in the coming months, according to new reports.  Set to arrive in March 2013, the popular document creator will also be offered across Symbian, iOS, and Microsoft Windows Phone.  In addition to the native clients, Microsoft will also be creating new versions of Office Web Apps.

“In addition to Windows, Office will be also available on other operating systems, Windows Phone, Windows RT, Mac OS, Android, iOS and Symbian. Office 365 services and other Office products for mobile (phones and tablets) will be released from March 2013″.

Via The Verge

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Create custom, simple notifications for Android 4.1 with Notif

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 08:50 AM PDT

Looking for a way to create custom notifications and reminders for your Android 4.1 Jelly Bean device? Consider Notif and its four types of notifications for items like reminders, lists, passwords, and more.  The free application lets users build whatever type of interactive notifications they want and even allows for on-going items so you don’t accidentally clear them.  Notif is free to download however the paid version is only 99¢ and adds 200 icons with “lots more to come”.

  1. Default, which just holds a title and one line of content
  2. Big Text, which holds a title, an expanded title, and multiple lines of content
  3. Big Picture, which holds a title, an expanded title, a little bit of content, and an image that you can take or retrieve from your storage
  4. List, which you can add a title, up to 7 items, a summary, and a reduced one-line of content

Download Notif Pro for Android (Google Play)

Download Notif (Google Play)

Via LifeHacker

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Free trial periods come to Google Play subscriptions

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 07:20 AM PDT

Android developers will find that they have yet another tool at their disposal at it pertains to consumer satisfaction and potential revenue opportunities.  Available now, consumers can now take advantage of trials of in-app subscriptions, should a developer feel so inclined to offer them

Continue reading: Free trial periods come to Google Play subscriptions

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Jabra TALK BT Headset review

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 07:09 AM PDT

In the world of BlueTooth headsets, the Jabra TALK is actually achieving mediocrity at its height.  I own several BT units from the Jawbone HD to my LG HBS-700 stereo headset, and the Jabra falls squarely in between.  What you get is enough customizable parts to ensure comfort: two Earhooks, three Eargels, and the ubiquitous micro-USB charger.  Setup and pairing was very easy and after initial activation, you’re up and running in under a minute.

The TALK is largely indistinguishable from other units save for the shiny silver band around its midsection bearing the Jabra branding.  The on/off button is located on the inside of the unit and is hard to manage while wearing, especially when the optional Earhook (as Jabra names them) is in use.  I tried the unit with and without the Earhooks and I could not get the headset to stay inside my ear comfortably as it is just a bit too heavy to stay in when your jaw is moving.  So even with the extra bits, it will be safe to stay with the inner Eargel and the Earhook.

Another strange decision by Jabra was to put the talk/end button just aft of the silver band so when I used it on a regular basis, I kept pushing it mistaking it for the on/off button and hearing the headset telling me the connection status repeatedly.  The volume rocker is on the bottom of the unit and is very east to manipulate once underway.  When the main control button is held down it enables voice activation and will notify me of the remaining battery life occasionally.  Ultimately, for a single ear headset is was very usable but only after I installed the Volume Plus app onto my Samsung Galaxy Nexus as I needed more volume than what was permitted out-of-the-box (but I find that I have needed this app no matter the BT unit I used).

The Good:

  • Small but not too small as to get lost easily
  • Microphone seemed to pick up my voice w/o sounding tinny and hollow
  • Battery life was outstanding in standby and for use
  • Adjusts volume automatically

The Bad:

  • Uninspired design
  • I personally could not use without one of the Earhooks
  • Activation button placed awkwardly
  • I could not find a dedicated Android app for the Jabra TALK in Google Play

 

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Verizon’s 4G LTE network grows to 400 markets well ahead of schedule

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 06:25 AM PDT

Verizon announced yesterday that they will soon see its 4G LTE network expand to reach more than 400 markets, well ahead of schedule.  The original goal was to hit 400 markets by the end of the year so congratulations are certainly in order for the October 18 milestone.  Come next week Verizon’s 4G LTE network will cover more than 245 million people across the country, available to 4 in 5 potential consumers.

"This milestone and the growing success of our 4G LTE network signal that we at Verizon Wireless are keeping our commitment to our customers to provide them with the very best mobile broadband experience in the nation with the breadth and depth of our coverage as well as the quality of our service." – Nicola Palmer, chief technical officer of Verizon Wireless

Verizon

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Might LG E960 be called Nexus 4?

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 06:07 AM PDT

The LG E960 smartphone may ultimately arrive with the name of LG Nexus 4 when it debuts, according to new details hitting the internet today.  The Verge was passed a screen shot of a Carphone Warehouse inventory systems screen that identifies a device as the LG Nexus 4.  Available in black or white color options, it’s the first we’ve seen of such a name

Continue reading: Might LG E960 be called Nexus 4?

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Samsung confirms Galaxy S III Mini plans

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 05:41 AM PDT

Samsung has confirmed that they will be offering a “Mini” version of their incredibly popular Galaxy S III smartphone.  Expected to debut within the next day or so, the phone should be a lower-priced alternative with a smaller 4-inch display.

"There's a lot of demand for a 4-inch screen device in Europe. Some call it an entry-level device, but we call it 'mini,'" Samsung Mobile Communications, JK Shin

Just the specs ma’am

According to newly-procured details, the Galaxy S III mini will bear the model number GT-i8190 and will run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.  Hardware specs are said to include a 4-inch Super AMOLED display, a ST-Ericsson U8420 1Ghz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, and 16GB internal storage. Rounding things out, the smartphone will include a microSD expansion slot, 5-megapixel camera, front-facing camera, NFC support, and a 1,500mAh battery.

It’s not clear just yet whether or not we’ll get a localized version of the handset here in the United States.  Considering the way the Galaxy S III is selling right now it is hard to imagine Samsung will want to muddy waters or confuse consumers.

Mashable | MobileGeeks

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Get this look for your Android smartphone:INFOGRAPHIC

Posted: 10 Oct 2012 05:00 AM PDT

One of our absolute favorite things about Android is the fact that you can bend and tweak the platform to your needs.  Sure, there’s rooting and modding for deep level personalization, but that stuff does not always concern the everyman user.  Some of just like to change the home screen around a bit and create a new user experience.

There’s a wonderful website that we’ve long appreciated called MyColorScreen which aims to shed light on all the great ways you can modify your home screens. To that end, we’ve created a series of posts on AndroidGuys where we will highlight an occasional design and its accompanying apps.  In a nutshell we will show you a new look for your Android handset and tell you which apps you’ll need if you want to mimic the feel. Please note that the following details are but the ingredients to which you can create your own delicious Android dish – results will vary

Continue reading: Get this look for your Android smartphone:INFOGRAPHIC

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More photos of LG E960 “Optimus G Nexus”

Posted: 09 Oct 2012 07:09 PM PDT

Another pair of images have surfaced for the LG E960 “Optimus G Nexus”, this time courtesy of XDA member 4shael.  The two photos are much clearer than the stuff we’ve seen before and show a very curvy LG design that is not all that unlike a Galaxy Nexus.  According to the source, the specs for the device are as follows:

  • CPU: core quad ARMv7 1.5GHz
  • RAM: 2 GB
  • Memory: 8GB (and I haven’t found SD slot)
  • GPU: Adreno 320
  • Android version: JellyBeanMR1
  • Kernel 3.4.0
  • Screen: 768×1184 (320 dpi)
  • Camera: 8 MPx

Continue reading: More photos of LG E960 “Optimus G Nexus”

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