Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Android Community

Android Community

Playstation Suite headed to HTC One devices

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 10:41 AM PDT

This week has been all about the three’s. That being the E3 gaming convention, and the Galaxy S III. Today however Sony has just confirmed that their popular Playstation Suite of games will be from here out known as Playstation Mobile, and the first non-Sony brand to get access will be HTC. We’ve mentioned this in the past but Sony has just confirmed the details.

We’ve reported that Sony was looking to branch out their licensing options for Playstation certified games to other Android devices, as well as the Playstation SDK but things are now finally on track. Sony’s released a few tablets with their suite of games, and now it’s time for the rest of Android to enjoy it too.

Starting with the HTC One series, particularly the HTC One X. Sony will be allowing the HTC devices to download exclusive Playstation games, even first generation Playstation 1 titles and more. According to the details more OEM’s will be allowed the same access, but for now they are starting with HTC.

This means NVIDIA’s Tegra Zone, and Qualcomm’s GameCommand will soon have to compete with Playstation Mobile in the gaming space. Head to playstation.com for more details.

[via SlashGear]

Google acquires Quickoffice to expand mobile apps

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 09:55 AM PDT

Fresh off of the news yesterday that Google had acquired Meebo for their social services we’ve now just learned that today they’ve finalized another acquisition. Google has snatched up the popular QuickOffice suite. With Google Docs and Drive already running at full steam it appears that Google wants to expand their mobile and cloud office apps.

While Quickoffice already has Android and iOS apps it’s their ability to easily convert between many different office file formats that Google wants. According to Google, Quickoffice features will be combined and integrated into apps in the future. Quickoffice has deep integration with Dropbox, Box.net, and even Google Docs but Pro costs more than a few dollars, so it will be interesting to see what direction Google takes.

Here’s what Google had to say this morning:

“We're happy to announce that we have acquired Quickoffice, a leader in office productivity solutions.
Today, consumers, businesses and schools use Google Apps to get stuff done from anywhere, with anyone and on any device. Quickoffice has an established track record of enabling seamless interoperability with popular file formats, and we'll be working on bringing their powerful technology to our Apps product suite.
Quickoffice has a strong base of users, and we look forward to supporting them while we work on an even more seamless, intuitive and integrated experience.
We're excited to welcome the Quickoffice team and their users to Google.”

Most likely Google will be making many aspects of their own office apps and Quick’s into native products for Android devices, and possibly compile the pro versions for business users and licenses but for now we’ll have to wait and see.

[via SlashGear]

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 tipped with 5.5-inch screen

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 09:40 AM PDT

Samsung may be preparing a successor to the highly popular Galaxy Note according to various tips and reports. While the phablet received mixed reviews and plenty of criticism for its larger than usual size, Samsung has sold over 7 million to date, and are apparently getting ready to launch a new and improved version later this year.

Now we’re obviously going to take this one with a grain of salt (or two) for now. Between the bizarre screen resolution we’re about to mention, and the iffy mockup image we are still on the fence. According to Unwired View Samsung is preparing a new 5.5-inch Galaxy Note 2 complete with a 1680 x 1050 resolution, running on a Super AMOLED Pentile Display. Other specs include 4G LTE, 1.5 GB of RAM, and Samsung’s new Exynos 5250 dual-core processor clocked around 1.7 GHz and of course Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Now the screen resolution is possible, but doubtful. Then the 1.5 GB of RAM is obviously a no go as they’ll most likely opt for 2GB like the recently announced Galaxy S III for the US. We’d expect something launching of this level as late as October to come with Samsung’s quad-core processor instead of a dual. Tips have mentioned it having a similar design as the Galaxy S III (given the mockup above) so we’d expect some sort of similar internal specs too. Hopefully this time around Samsung can manage a 3,000 mAh battery inside. The original Note had amazing battery life, but they totally could have fit a bigger battery under the hood.

Once we get more tips, details, or leaks we’ll update on if the Galaxy Note 2 will be coming in October.

[via UbuntuLife]


Google buys Meebo – looks to improve Google+

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 04:55 PM PDT

While Google isn’t snatching things up at the rate Facebook is, today it has been confirmed that they’ve acquired another company. The social and instant messaging start-up Meebo has been bought by Google and their team has issued a quick statement today in a blog post detailed below.

The folks at Meebo are a cloud-centric instant messaging group that has been in the works since 2005 and focuses heavily on social sharing and chat options. It looks like Google wants to add their expertise to Google+. Hopefully we don’t get just that Meebo Bar, but that is a possibility. Here’s what Meebo had to say:

We are happy to announce that Meebo has entered into an agreement to be acquired by Google!

For more than seven years we've been helping publishers find deeper relationships with their users and to make their sites more social and engaging. Together with Google, we're super jazzed to roll up our sleeves and get cracking on even bigger and better ways to help users and website owners alike.

We've had a blast building Meebo so far and we're really excited to start the next leg of our journey.

Thank you all for coming along for the ride!
Meebo Team

While they don’t specifically mention Google+ we all know that is exactly where this is headed, considering Google has been heavily focused on G+ as of late. Between Google Talk and all the hangout options on Google+ we have plenty of ways to handle chat and more, but Google appears to be aiming even higher in that regard. For now we have no further details, or how much cash Google threw their way to come aboard but I’m sure we’ll know soon enough.

We’ll just have to wait and see how the team from Meebo affects Google+, I’m actually sort of okay with the idea of a toolbar or Meebo action bar. Are you?

[via SlashGear]


AT&T Galaxy S III pre-orders start June 6th – also comes in Red

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 03:34 PM PDT

Well there you go folks. For those worried AT&T might be holding out, we have just received the news from AT&T themselves that their version of the Galaxy S III will also be hitting the streets this month. You didn’t think they’d let Verizon and T-Mobile have all the fun did you? While they appear to only be offering the phone in a 16GB version and not a 32GB, they claim to be also selling a red model.

Earlier today we reported on AT&T’s SGS III sign up page, but now they’ve finally released the full details confirming that the flagship Samsung smartphone will indeed be available for pre-order starting Wednesday, June 6th (just like Verizon) although they still didn’t get us an actual release date when it will be in customers hands.

AT&T’s Galaxy S III will be just like every other US carrier. As in it’ll feature the hardware home button, and replace the Samsung Exynos quad-core for Qualcomm’s 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon in order to offer 4G LTE speeds and 2GB of RAM. Everything else remains exactly the same, which doesn’t need any introduction. AT&T will be offering the 16GB model for $199 (no surprise) and an optional 16GB micro-SD card at $39 for a total of 32 GB for under $238.99. This makes it cheaper than Verizon’s 32GB model at $249, but then you’ve used up that SD slot.

Most likely AT&T’s phone will arrive inside June but that has yet to be decided. They also state the red model won’t be available right away, and is coming later this summer. I can’t wait to see how that looks – and they’ll probably call it Candy Apple Red.

[via AT&T]

T-Mobile HTC One S update rolling out today – OTA only

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 02:45 PM PDT

For those that own the HTC One S over on T-Mobile the latest software update from HTC should be available and rolling out to handsets starting today. After initially launching the device a few problems apparently arose and HTC and T-Mobile have quickly fixed them up and have started the update today.

T-Mobile themselves have detailed the software upgrade over on their support page. The update was originally scheduled for May 31st but was quickly delayed until today, June 4th. For some reason the support page on T-Mobile.com was actually changed this morning and no longer says users can manually pull or download the update, instead it will be available OTA (over the air) only.

Previously the update was listed for manual updates as well as over the air, but now it appears to only be the latter of the two. This means you can’t download it from T-Mobile and checking for updates manually won’t work either (but I’d keep trying.) The update is rolling out in stages and you’ll just have to wait your turn. It should be arriving on most handsets over the next few days but is scheduled to continue til July 7th.

Has your T-Mobile HTC One S received the latest over the air update yet? Did it fix your battery drain or stability issues? Let us know by commenting below.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : One S
    Manufactuer : HTC
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : February 26, 2012
    Release Date : April 25, 2012
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.3 Inch
  • Resolution : 540x960
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.15 Inch
  • Width : 2.56 Inch
  • Depth : 0.31 Inch
  • Weight : 120 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 1650 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.0.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU : Snapdragon S4
    CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1024 MB
    Internal Storage : 16 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
    CDMA Band:
  • 1700
  • 2100
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 3.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

CyanogenMod shows off new CM9 ‘CID’ boot animation

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 02:22 PM PDT

In case you forgot, the team from CyanogenMod recently changed their popular logo and the face of CM with what they are calling CID. This new CyanogenMod ID brand image is here to stay apparently, because today they’ve announced their new boot animation with the changes included. Check it out after the break.

Out goes the Andy BugDroid and in comes the brand new mascot they are calling CID. This attempts to show that CyanogenMod is their own brand, a mature Android OS, and unique. CM wants to be seen as more than just a "stock Android on a zillion devices." Instead they want it to be seen for what it is — and that is a mature and evolving Android OS that is on the bleeding edge of Android development.

The days of skateboard Andy are over and now we’ll have to get used to CID. Whether you like the new mascot or not it is here to stay because this essentially makes it official. Do you like the new mascot? Or wish it stayed the same. Lately there’s been lots of fans of the pink unicorn from the AOKP team — just saying. We can expect all the CM9 nightly builds to have the new boot animation shortly.

[via @Cyanogen]

Amazing Spider-Man for Android coming soon from Gameloft

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 01:22 PM PDT

With the brand new Amazing Spider-Man movie coming soon to a 3D and IMAX theater near you the folks from Gameloft are at it again, getting prepared to release another epic game for Android. This morning Gameloft announced they’ll be releasing the game along side the movie come July 3rd.

After their first version, Spider-Man: Total Mayhem, Gameloft and Marvel have teamed up again to bring this web-slinger to Android phones and tablets. Obviously Spider-Man will be defeating super-villains all game long, but the new version should have impressive visuals as well as awesome and improved 3D graphics. According to DroidGamers the new Amazing Spider-Man game for Android will be very similar to the last, only better of course.

The new game will feature the same open environment where players can explore throughout the city and protect the community from villains and enemies. Gameloft has yet to release any other details but for now we know the game will launch along side of the movie — which hits theaters in the US on July 3rd. Stay tuned for additional information and hopefully a preview trailer soon.

[via PRNewsWire]

AT&T Samsung Galaxy S III sign up page goes live

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 12:51 PM PDT

The Samsung Galaxy S III has been the talk of the town for the past few weeks since initially launching last week in the UK and Europe. This week however, it is all about the US and Samsung apparently is hitting it hard this time around. After we mentioned a few already this morning, AT&T has also started up their landing page for the Galaxy S III.

Samsung has already confirmed the Galaxy S III will be available on five major US carriers starting in June, AT&T hasn’t announced a date but you can now sign up for additional details. T-Mobile will start shipping the Galaxy S III on June 21st, and Verizon is accepting pre-orders starting Wednesday, June 6th so AT&T better hurry and announce something.

While AT&T works out their details and launch date you can sign up to receive an email once the news is available, or just stay tuned here at Android Community or follow us on Twitter at @Androids. Just like the others announced today, AT&T’s Galaxy S III will feature a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor that is 4G LTE capable instead of Samsung’s quad-core. It will still have that beautiful 720p HD 4.8-inch screen, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and just like the other US models be equipped with 2GB of RAM and come in 16 or 32GB versions.

Stay tuned for more details from AT&T and their Galaxy S III.

[via @ATTPremiere]

ASUS Transformer AiO Windows 8 and Android dual-boot tablet hands-on

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 11:43 AM PDT

ASUS has hit the ground running this year at Computex 2012 and surprisingly we have some Android news for you. Today they announced their brand new ASUS Transformer AiO (All-in-One) 18.4-inch Windows 8 computer, that also manages to Transform and dual boot into Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Although that becomes one huge tablet as you can see from our hands-on pictures below.

Last week ASUS released a few teaser videos about what we could expect at Computex. One that hinted at a dual-boot Windows 8 and Android device, and this was what they had in mind. Although I wouldn’t call the design beautiful, or revolutionary, I do welcome the idea and would love to play with one.

Essentially what the Transformer AiO will be is a complete Windows 8 computing experience on a 18.4-inch LED backlit device that comes attached to a rather large dock. The Transformer AiO initially runs Windows 8, but a button push will cause the behemoth to boot into Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and become a tablet. You won't be carrying this 18.4-inch tablet very far, however: the screen acts as a wireless monitor when it's taken away from the docking base. This leads us to believe everything is powered by the hardware inside of the dock — which is still unknown at this point but most likely Intel’s latest Ivy Bridge processor.

The idea is an interesting one that is for sure, and since you won’t be taking it too far most likely this is just for that moment you want the PC experience while sitting on the couch — on Android or Windows 8. You can see from the hands-on pictures by our sister site SlashGear from Computex 2012 below that the tablet in-hand is rather large.

Thoughts?

IMG_0484wtmk-580x386 IMG_0483wtmk IMG_0487wtmk IMG_0486wtmk IMG_0492wtmk asus_transformer_aio_1

[via SlashGear]
Posted by at 11:39 PM 0 comments

Google Alert - android

News10 new results for android
 
Run Android apps on Windows with BlueStacks
ZDNet (blog)
By Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols | June 4, 2012, 2:40pm PDT Summary: Want to run your favorite Android applications on your Windows desktop? BlueStacks has an app for that. Want to run Android apps on Windows? BlueStacks has an app for that.
See all stories on this topic »
Nyko Unveils Android Bluetooth Gamepads, Battery Packs
PC Magazine
They connect to Android tablets over Bluetooth, and according to Nyko, they use a new driver protocol supported by many Android developers and device manufacturers. The PlayPad Pro is a full-sized gamepad, about the same dimensions as an Xbox 360 ...
See all stories on this topic »
Office for iPad and Android: Microsoft's Azure Cloud and Thin Client the key?
ZDNet (blog)
Office has already been deployed on the iPad and Android tablets by the 3rd-party Onlive Desktop service and has been proven to be an effective way of deploying an office suite using virtual desktops. So we know that it works, at least with Onlive's ...
See all stories on this topic »
ZDNet (blog)
Android 4.0 for Droid Razr delayed, Verizon says June 12
CNET
A source at Big Red says Ice Cream Sandwich will begin being pushed to the thin flagship phone starting next week. by Eric Mack Last month I reported that Motorola Droid Razr and Razr Maxx users might get to taste the sweetness of Android 4.0 Ice Cream ...
See all stories on this topic »
Fastcase Launches First Legal Research App for Android
San Francisco Chronicle (press release)
Award-winning iOS app now available for Android phones and tablets. Washington, DC (PRWEB) June 05, 2012 Legal publisher Fastcase today launched the first legal research application for the Android platform. With the free download of the new app, ...
See all stories on this topic »
Instapaper releases Android app
Los Angeles Times
By Michelle Maltais Instapaper, yet another app that's been missing from Android, makes its debut, again minus some features available for iPhones and iPads. Like Instagram, Instapaper doesn't have all the bells and whistles the iOS app does.
See all stories on this topic »
WhosHere Arrives on Android
MarketWatch (press release)
ALEXANDRIA, VA and SAN MATEO, CA, Jun 05, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- WhosHere(R), the first location-based mobile social discovery app, today announced its availability on Android. With more than 850000 Android devices activated every day, ...
See all stories on this topic »
Asus extends Android apps to Windows PCs via BlueStacks partnership
Fiercemobilecontent
Asus is teaming with software firm BlueStacks to bring mobile applications written for Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android operating system to PCs running Microsoft's (NASDAQ:MSFT) Windows. Asus will leverage BlueStacks' App Player for PC software and ...
See all stories on this topic »
New Asus Desktop Converts Into Gargantuan Tablet
LinuxInsider.com
By Richard Adhikari Asus' latest batch of hardware includes the Transformer AiO, a Windows 8 desktop with a screen that can be detached and used as an Android tablet. The device's screen measures 18.4 inches, which makes it a mammoth of a tablet.
See all stories on this topic »
E3 2012: Sony partnering with HTC for 'PlayStation Mobile' Android gaming
Apple Insider
By Josh Ong Sony revealed on Monday at E3 that it is partnering up with Taiwanese handset maker HTC for the first non-Sony devices to feature its newly-renamed "PlayStation Mobile" Android gaming platform. During a keynote presentation at E3 2012 in ...
See all stories on this topic »

Blogs5 new results for android
 
Any.DO expands outside of Android, brings its handy To-Do tools to ...
By Edgar Alvarez
Chances are some members of Team Android won't be too pleased to share the any.DO goods with the iOS squad, but for what it's worth, you'll always be.
Engadget
Android sales fall in U.S. -- iPhone continues to grow
By Dan Graziano
Research firm comScore on Friday released its latest U.S. numbers concerning mobile market share, and Asymco's Horace Dediu noted on Monday that there ma.
BGR: The Three Biggest Letters In Tech
Nyko launches wireless gaming controller for Android devices
By Quentyn Kennemer
Nyko have announced a new line of controllers for Android devices. the Playpad series was designed with input from NVIDIA and has been optimized for Tegra games.
Android Phone Fans
ASUS Transformer AiO Windows 8 and Android dual-boot tablet ...
By Cory Gunther
ASUS has hit the ground running this year at Computex 2012 and surprisingly we have some Android news for you. Today they announced their brand new ASUS.
Android Community
Hands on with Instapaper for Android | VentureBeat
By Sarah Mitroff
When I heard Instapaper unveiled an Android app Monday, I quickly made my way to the Google Play store, forked over $2.99, and downloaded the app, which lets you save long articles to read offline later.
VentureBeat

Web2 new results for android
 
Instapaper - Android Apps on Google Play
A simple tool to save web pages for reading later. Save web pages for later offline reading, optimized for readability on your tablet or phone's screen. Critically ...
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.instapaper...
Instapaper for Android
Find great web pages wherever you are, then read them at home or on the go, even without an internet connection, on your Android powered tablet and phone.
instapaper.mobelux.com/

Tip: Use site restrict in your query to search within a site (site:nytimes.com or site:.edu). Learn more.

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Posted by at 11:22 PM 0 comments

Android Authority

Android Authority

Huawei announces ICS “demo version” rolling out to U8860 Honor, other phones to follow soon

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 03:21 AM PDT

Although we've been expecting Huawei to make a strong push towards the high-end smartphone market niche this year, the charge has been delayed for some reason. Neither the Ascend D Quad, nor the P1 and P1 S have been released in the US, and we don't even have official release dates for the phones.

In the lower end sector, however, Huawei is making efforts to keep customers happy. The U8660 Honor, a mid-ranger available in the US at AT&T, has just received the much awaited Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update, available for download at this link.

Other low-end and mid-range handsets from Huawei will themselves receive ICS upgrades "through Q2 and Q3", including the U8860 Pro, Honor C8860E, Mercury M866, Honor U8860-51 and G300. Neither of these phones have exact update dates next to their names and time frames are ambiguous at best (Q2 ends in June and Q3 in September).

Another thing to be worried about is that Huawei has made available a "demo version of ICS Android 4.0" for the Honor and the exact same version, which "may have limitations", will be coming to the other phones as well. No words on what are those limitations, but if you own an Honor and you're willing to give this "demo" ICS a chance, you can download it and let us know what to expect. The software package "weighs in" at a pretty hefty 258.11 MB, so make sure you have the storage space to go around before downloading.

No words on when (or if) to expect full versions of Android 4.0 on any of the devices mentioned above, so for the time being you’ll have to make do with these “demos” to quench your Ice Cream Sandwich thirst.

No related posts.

This article, Huawei announces ICS “demo version” rolling out to U8860 Honor, other phones to follow soon , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Panasonic Toughpad A1 fights its way through the FCC, to be finally released soon

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 03:15 AM PDT

Usually, when a technology manufacturer unveils a gadget and bothers with any kind of marketing campaign, you can expect the product to be made available for sale in a matter of weeks or months. Moreover, when video teasers pop up, you can almost be sure that you'll see the device start shipping very soon.

That, unfortunately, was not the case with Panasonic's Toughpad A1, a 10-inch ruggedized tablet unveiled way back in November 2011, but left to be forgotten ever since. The "fearless" Toughpad was teased in a very cool YouTube video clip back in the day, but for some reason we haven't heard a thing about it ever since.

And right when we were starting to lose hope and think we'll never see the Toughpad become reality, an FCC filing came our way. Boom, the 10-incher is alive, kicking, and still ready to become the Chuck Norris of Android-based tablets!

While we don't have a release date, a price tag or any kind of official information from Panasonic on the tablet, we can assume that the Toughpad is in line for a summer launch. We can also be certain that the indestructible gadget will come with WiFi and Bluetooth capabilities. Other than that, the FCC confirmation documents don't seem to offer any more details about the Toughpad, but you can check them out yourselves and maybe you'll strike some gold.

We pretty much knew what to expect from Panasonic's Toughpad in terms of tech specs and features since last year, but we would think that the 10-incher has suffered some kind of changes in the meantime. The device was supposed to run Android 3.2 Honeycomb and feature a Marvell 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, a 10.1-inch display with 1024 x 768 pixels resolution, 1 GB of RAM, 16 GB of on-board memory, 5 MP/2MP cameras, and a hefty 4,590 mAh battery.

We would surely like to see the Toughpad sport a nicer screen and pack a snappier processor. Also, we expect it to run ICS and not that raggedy Honeycomb, especially considering that it will supposedly be extravagantly priced ($1,299 was the suspected price tag last fall).

As far as functionality and looks go, the Toughpad teased last year was supposed to come with IP 65 certified water, dust, shock and temperature proofing and with a very bulky figure (966 grams in weight and 0.67 inches thickness). Needless to say that we would love for all the functionality to be there, but for some of that bulkiness to have gone away. We know, however, that you can't have it all, so we don't expect the tablet to have shrunk overnight.

The Toughpad A1 was supposed to come with a smaller brother too, a 7-inch B1 Toughpad, about which we don’t know anything just yet. The 7-incher might get its own FCC approval soon enough, though, so keep in touch!

What do you guys think? Would a "fearless" Toughpad still be something worth looking for? Drop us a line below and let us know!

No related posts.

This article, Panasonic Toughpad A1 fights its way through the FCC, to be finally released soon , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

AT&T’s Daybreak webseries marks a new age for branded content

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 03:04 AM PDT

daybreak
While smartphone advertising has definitely got its share of bad apples (no pun intended this time) in the past, the occasional interesting campaigns rear their beautiful head here and there. On a personal level, I believe Sprint's involvement with Fringe is one the best examples on how to promote technology these days. As it turns out, I may not be the only one who shares this point of view, as AT&T has just released the first episode of Daybreak, an online show that marks a new age for branded content.

Daybreak is produced by Tim Kring (the guy behind hugely popular shows such as Touch and Heroes) and directed by Jon Cassar (best known for directing 24). The web series is in many ways similar to the Bourne series, although there are some who notice Fringe elements sparkled in various places. The show ("airing" on the official Daybreak website, Youtube, and Hulu each Thursday) will span five episodes, each one 10 minutes in length, and will depict the story of Ben Wilkens, an everyman that must overthrow a powerful global conspiracy in order to make sure that humanity will take the next evolutionary step. Sounds interesting, right?

Catch the first chapter below, then make sure to let us know what you guys think about AT&T's campaign in the comment section below!

No related posts.

This article, AT&T’s Daybreak webseries marks a new age for branded content , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Android 4.0 rolling out to LG Optimus LTE in Korea, Optimus Vu and LTE Tag to follow

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 02:55 AM PDT

LG hasn't done the greatest job in providing its customers with (official) updates to the latest and greatest Android version, 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, but, fortunately, things seem to be on the brink of a change.

Just a few days after officially announcing three phones as set to get ICS in June, the first of the trio is already reported as receiving the much awaited and anticipated upgrade. The Optimus LTE, one of LG's most popular smartphones in Korea, is currently getting the OTA update to Android 4.0, as well as a UI bump to the newly released Optimus 3.0 overlay.

The guys at The Verge were the first ones to report on the news, after picking up a tweet from Ken Hong, one of LG's PR reps in Korea, but we're unsure if all Optimus LTE users have had the chance to install the software update or just some of them.

If you're living in Korea and you own an Optimus LTE, but you haven't yet received an update prompt message, you should check for a better network connection or try rebooting your phone one or two times. If that doesn't work either, you should probably give it a few more hours for the OTA update to reach you.

While this news comes as a blessing for the million Optimus LTE users in Korea, we still don't know when or if the update will hit phones in the rest of the world. The LG Nitro HD and Spectrum are the US versions of the Optimus LTE, but the company's officials are still keeping quiet about possible upgrades for the two.

We also don't have any new information about LG's Optimus Vu and Optimus LTE Tag, both phones scheduled for getting the software bumps "starting on June 4", but you should keep in touch with our website over the coming hours and days and we will let you know about any story developments.

Do you think that LG could regain some of its lost popularity with these Ice Cream Sandwich updates? Is it too little too late? Let us know in the comments section below!

No related posts.

This article, Android 4.0 rolling out to LG Optimus LTE in Korea, Optimus Vu and LTE Tag to follow , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Best Android apps for public speakers

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 09:00 PM PDT

Let’s be honest: Public speaking can be a horrifying experience. It makes and breaks people, especially when you’re expected to speak in front of not just your friends but also strangers.

You might be working already, and you’re asked to talk about your ideas in front of people from the lowest ranks to the topmost. Stage fright is absolutely normal and the very prospect of having to present your own words to a crowd can make most people uncomfortable.

Where do you begin formulating your speech? Are you using the right words? How do you look like when you’re talking on stage? How do you dress?

We’ve come to your rescue, and we’ve put together a list of some of the best apps for public speakers. We’ll guide you through making your speech to presenting it, and all you’ll need is the help of your Android device.

TED Air

What’s the first step in making a speech? Being inspired, of course, and what could be more inspiring than listening to some of the most interesting people on earth share their ideas. Listen to prominent figures like Positive Psychology’s Martin Seligman discuss his latest ideas or Mythbuster’s Adam Savage talk about obsession. You can even listen to Bill Gates talk about how state budgets are breaking schools or learn more about the Egyptian revolution with Wael Ghonim.

There’s no end to inspiration with TED Air on your Android device. Using TED Air’s fast and powerful search engine, browse for videos by their tags or look them up by themes. You can enjoy subtitles in over 80 languages with auto-translation or you can opt to have them shown in English by default.

Keeping in the spirit of TED’s tagline, if you find an idea worth spreading, you can easily share a video with friends so they can be inspired, too. You can also save on data fees by downloading the videos you want straight to your device or bookmarking them in TED Air. Be inspired with TED Air on your Android device; download it for free from the Google Play Store.

Evernote

Now that you’re sufficiently inspired, it’s time to get cracking. But, unless you’re a practiced speech writer, your speech is going to start manifesting itself in small bits and pieces.

Not all of us can stay at home or stay attached to our laptops until all the words are out of us.  It’s for this reason some people carry notebooks, but others who prefer to travel lighter use Evernote.

You’ve probably heard of Evernote before; it’s one of the most used apps by Android users. For the unfamiliar, Evernote makes note sharing and synchronizing among your different devices a dream.

Say you start on your speech on your desktop but you need to go to school or to the office. Instead of e-mailing yourself your speech, you can pick it right back up on the Evernote app on your Android device.

You’ll need Evernote’s desktop counterpart to be able to sync your notes, of course, but that’s no problem. Evernote is also available for iOS so you’ll never be without your notes wherever you go. Relocate to a quiet coffee shop to finish your speech or even work at it in class.

Download Evernote for free from the Google Play Store.

Funny Facts Free 8000+

A little humor won’t kill you and sprinkling a little humor on your speech is definitely going to keep your audience’s attention. If you’re talking about serious, heavy stuff, it won’t take long for your audience’s brain to shut itself off.

Insert a well-timed joke or a relevant humorous fact and your audience will definitely stay awake. If you’re worried that your jokes may be overplayed or your audience won’t get your punchline, alter tactics a little and throw in funny facts.

With Funny Facts Free 8000+ on your Android device, you will have no shortage of things to spice up your speech. Look up facts in categories like the human body, nature, science, celebrities, world records, strange laws and of course, sex. Just make sure that the jokes you inject into your speech are not just context-relevant but also age-appropriate.

If you’ve found a fact that you like, bookmark it so you can easily access it next time you’re sitting down and working on your speech.

Dictionary.com

Does it seem that, suddenly, there are not enough words in the English language? Are the words appearing on your virtual page familiar but you can’t quite remember what they mean? Make sure that you’re using the right words in the way you intend with Dictionary.com.

Developed by Dictionary.com, LLC, this app gives you dictionary and thesaurus content right on your Android device. You’ll have access to 375,000 words and definitions. If you feel like you’re repeating the same words, look up over 300,000 synonyms and antonyms.

Not sure if you’re using the word in the right way? Dictionary.com also provides you with example sentences, and if you’re still looking for fun facts, you can even look up word origins and their history.

When you’re reading the speech aloud to yourself, you can make sure that you’re pronouncing the words correctly by using Dictionary.com’s audio and phonetic pronunciation aids.

Want to hang on to a word in case you can somehow wiggle it into a conversation in the future? Tap on the star and favorite that word. You can access all your favorite words right from the app’s homescreen.

ColorNote Notepad Notes

Let’s presume that you’ve gotten the basic flow of your speech down and you’ve read it aloud a few dozen times, it’s time to let go of it. You read that right. Let go of your speech and start practicing without looking at your guide.

This is an important step because you’re never going to get those words to stick to your brain if you don’t test yourself. But, since recalling a huge wall of words can be difficult, use ColorNote Notepad Notes as your guide. You can write down the key points of your speech to guide you through each transition.

ColorNote Notepad Notes can do more than just that. With a built-in calendar, you can add notes to important days. Don’t forget that your big day is coming up soon. You can also mark by which days you should achieve a certain mastery level.

You can also use ColorNote Notepad Notes to remind you if there’s anything you need to pick up or purchase. To make sure you’ll never forget, assign each note its own color. If you’re having trouble finding a note, ColorNote Notepad Notes allows you to sort by Modified Time, Created Time, Alphabetically, by Color, and by Reminder Time.

Mirror

You’ll hear it time and time again. Practice in front of a mirror. People think that this piece of advice is ridiculous but on the contrary, it’s perhaps one of the most important bits of advice you could ask for. How could you expect to speak in front of a crowd when you can’t even face your own reflection?

Mirrors help speakers to get used to being watched, even if it’s by themselves. Eventually, when you’ve shaken off that initial discomfort of seeing someone else in front of you, you can start tailoring your expressions, your posture, and your gestures to be more inviting.

You’ll be able to see if you look too stiff or too silly, flapping your arms around and adjusting your body language accordingly.

But, what if you’re away from home and you want to practice in front of a mirror? Why, turn your Android device into a mirror of course! Mirror lets you check how you look or helps you put on a contact lens, but it also packs features like zoom and exposure controls and awesome image visibility.

Practice wherever you go with Mirror on your Android device. It’s free on the Google Play Store.

Tape-a-Talk Voice Recorder

So, you’re confident with how you might look in front of an audience. Great! We’re almost ready for your big day, but we’re still not quite ready yet. It’s one thing to actually speak in front of a mirror, but have you tried hearing yourself speak? Have you been slurring your words, eating them sometimes, or just plain talking too fast?

The mirror might have helped out your posture, but nothing quite gives the same feedback as recording your voice. Use Tape-a-Talk Voice Recorder next time you’re practicing your speech.

Tap on that red button to start recording and if someone interrupts you while you’re in the middle of your speech, pick it right back up by pausing and starting again when you’re in private. It’s a great way to tell if you’re going too fast or if you’re not actually enunciating enough.

Catch those fillers, like “ah” and “um,” before it’s too late. If you need a second opinion, save your recording and share it with your friends via Dropbox and FTP clients.

StopWatch & Timer

The key to an effective speech is brevity. If you ramble on for too long, not only will your audience lose focus and get bored but you’ll also lose your own focus. Now that you’ve corrected your speed and pronunciation and you’re confident in your body language, it’s time to reel in your words and get them under a specific amount of time.

TED talks generally last less than 20 minutes, but speakers can cover a whole range of topics. Some speakers need to get their whole message out of their mouths and to their audience in less than 15 minutes. A handful need to get their messages in even less. It’s not impossible but it’s a matter of pacing.

Make sure that you’ll always get your message out in under the right time with StopWatch & Timer. This app is clean, simple, and reliable, helping you keep track of time. Set it to your desired time and the app will tick down. Now, start speaking.

You can switch StopWatch & Timer easily between portrait mode and landscape mode. If you want to gradually reel your time in, StopWatch & Timer also supports several timers that you can switch between easily.

Clothing

You’ve got your speech memorized, you’ve injected it with just the right amount of humor and you’ve nailed your speech in less than 10 minutes. What are we missing here? As the days are ticking down to your big day, it’s time to focus on things that also matter. Like your clothes.

If you’re trying to sell an idea in front of a crowd, you’re going to need to look credible. People who dress well inspire confidence in their audience, and also draw away attention from your clothes and instead focus attention on your words.

Clothing is an Android app focused on men, packing different categories like hairstyle, suits, shirts, pants and jeans, jackets, sweatshirts, t-shirts, and sport shoes. You’ll be covered in all aspects of your wardrobe. Check pictures of male models and gather inspiration for your big day’s stylish look.

If your other guy friends are also having trouble dressing themselves for their own public speeches, then share the Clothing app with them on Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, and SMS.

Stylish Girl – Fashion Closet

We haven’t forgotten about our lady readers, of course. Looking good is just as important for women. If you’re planning on going shopping before your big day, then take Stylish Girl – Fashion Closet with you.

This app prides itself in being the ultimate style planner and shopping app, taking into account the clothes in your closet and the clothes you’d love to have. On the app’s homescreen, you can easily access Wardrobe, Outfits, Wish Bag for the clothes you want to have, Suitcase, the Best Deals, your Calendar so you can plot your looks for the month, the Shopping Mall and the Fashion Lounge for the latest looks and trends in fashion.

Featured in a number of fashion blogs, you’ll get a better idea of how to mix and match your clothes. You can catalog your closet and wish items, so you can carry your whole wardrobe right on your Android device.

Check celebrity looks for the latest styles this season and get the hottest news from fashion blogs and magazines. If fashion inspiration strikes you while you’re commuting, have no fear. Take your Android device out, launch Stylish Girl and put together outfits virtually. Share your fashion ideas with your friends through Facebook, Twitter, or e-mail.

Now that you’re ready for your big day, take a deep breath and walk out on that stage proudly! You’ve managed to compose your speech, shake off that stage fright and dress to impress with the help of a handful of applications and your Android device. Good luck!

If you’ve got an app that helped you prepare for your public speech, share it with us in a comment below.

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This article, Best Android apps for public speakers , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Giving your Android device a dose of Windows 8′s Metro UI via Windows 8 GO Launcher Theme

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 03:00 PM PDT

One of the best things that makes the Android OS the prime choice of many users is its flexibility in adapting to the latest trends in technology.  The ability to run custom homescreen launchers is a plus factor because it can transform any Android device into something different that rival OSes can't catch up with.

You have probably heard of the popular GO Launcher EX and Launcher Pro homescreen launchers that offer blazingly fast performance in navigating in and out of your homescreen. This time around app developer Seize Ent has upped the ante of the popular homescreen launcher by adding a little twist in bringing the elusive Metro UI launcher to Android devices.

One of the most beautiful homescreen launchers to date, the Metro UI homescreen launcher, is in fact found in the upcoming Windows 8 OS. Android users can still experience the thrill and feel of the Windows 8 launcher just by installing the GO Launcher theme on their device. The task is quite simple as you don't need need hacking or modifying skills to get that Windows 8 feel on your device.

To install the theme all you need to do is to download the GO Launcher EX application to your Android device. After installing the launcher, you are now ready for the next step. Just download the Windows 8 Go Launcher Theme app from the Google Play Store and GO Launcher will automatically require you to install it. Press the Menu button on your home screen, and click Theme. Browse for the "Windows 8 Go Launcher theme," and hit the Apply button to see the results.

Strictly speaking, it is not really the Metro UI launcher. But, then again, the tiles are all the same size and are arranged in pretty much the same way as in Android or iOS. Nonetheless, its clean and very minimal approach will almost certainly shine to fans of the Windows 8 genre.

Navigating through the homescreen feels like that on either the Gingerbread or Ice Cream Sandwich stock launcher. The only thing notable about the theme is that most of your icons are changed into the equivalent Metro UI icons found in the original Windows 8 OS.

In a nutshell, the Windows 8 Go Launcher Theme from Seize Ent remains pretty much like Android. The only difference has to be the icons for every app you have. You might be expecting the real thing like rectangular and square-shaped app icons that are neatly arranged like Tetris blocks, but you may be disappointed with how it looks. If you really just want a simple alternative look for your Android stock launcher, then the Windows 8 Go Launcher Theme is a must-have. Download it for free on the Google Play Store.

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This article, Giving your Android device a dose of Windows 8′s Metro UI via Windows 8 GO Launcher Theme , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Asus to bundle BlueStacks Android emulator software on its Windows computers

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 01:11 PM PDT

Having secured $7.6 million in funding from several investors a year ago and the financial backing from Qualcomm recently, BlueStacks can finally breathe a sigh of relief after it landed the big break it has been looking for. The start-up company has inked a deal, which CEO Rosen Sharma said will boost the accelerating merger of mobile and PC, with the world's fifth-biggest PC maker AsusTek to have its software come pre-installed in Asus PC computers. The software allows users to run Android apps on their Windows computers in full-screen mode.

BlueStacks has been hard at work in the last year to improve the compatibility of the software with more Android apps. Some notable titles that have been mentioned to run without a glitch include Evernote, Pulse, Talking Tom, and gamer's favorite Fruit Ninja – while other  popular Android apps like Draw Something and Instagram seem to be working fine as well.

The two companies didn't mention the figures of the deal, though a year ago, BlueStacks said that it was looking to push for at least a $10 share from every computer that ships with its software. As for what customers will be getting, the deal includes a free six month access to the bundled Android apps that come with the player. Those who need more can opt for an upgrade to use the premium features.

If you want to see what the fuss is all about, the BlueStacks App player can already be downloaded for free. Because Google Play Store isn't bundled with the player, you'll have the option to sync the apps on your Android phone to your Windows PC by first installing the BlueStacks Cloud Connect app or purchase the apps from other markets within the virtual environment itself. The BlueStacks App player can run on non-touch and touch-enabled computers.

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This article, Asus to bundle BlueStacks Android emulator software on its Windows computers , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

New SwiftKey special feature allows you to text like Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 12:16 PM PDT

Have you ever dreamed of being the queen or king of an imaginary realm while growing up? Sure you have, especially those of you growing up in Great Britain, where monarchy is a political system upon which the region was founded.

Well, starting today, you might get an inch closer to seeing your dream become reality, as you can start texting on your mobile device like Her Majesty the Queen of the Commonwealth. The very popular Swiftkey Android app just got a nifty little update, adding to the languages supported the "English, Queen's version".

The new feature has been added to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, which has taken place over the past weekend celebrating the 60th anniversary of the accession of Her Royal Majesty to the throne.

According to the app's developers, the newly created language will be available on Swiftkey for a limited time only. However, we don't know when the feature will be disappearing from one of Android's best-selling apps in Google Play, so you should enjoy it while you can.

Based on an artificial intelligence software and the analysis of Queen Elizabeth II's speeches ever since 1952, when she became the UK's monarch, the new Swiftkey function will suggest distinctive words and phrases frequently used by Her Royal Majesty.

Surprisingly enough, you shouldn't expect for the app to suggest very pretentious or formal words and expressions, but rather words revealing a "generally optimistic frame of mind". "Confident", "delighted", "glad" and "please" are some of the words most used by The Queen, while if you start writing "My" the auto-suggest feature of SwiftKey will most likely complete the phrase with "Government will".

The Swiftkey X Android app is available for purchase on Google Play for just $2.99. You can also try out the app for free for one month, while if you already have it installed on your device and want to start "royally texting", you'll need to simply refresh your language options.

Tried the new feature on for size yet? Do you feel more distinguished when texting on your Android device? Let us know below!

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This article, New SwiftKey special feature allows you to text like Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Demolition, Inc Android game comes available for non-Tegra devices

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 11:30 AM PDT

Previously released as a game only for Tegra devices, the entertaining destroy-the-world game dubbed Demolition, Inc is now also available for non-Tegra Android phones and tablets. Simply put, this game is almost the same as the one made for Tegra devices and is said to be almost as good in terms of performance, gameplay, except perhaps for the graphics which might be a bit inferior to the graphics in the Tegra version.

For those who have not played this game before, this is an entirely physics-based game with all the goodies that you’ll expect in a sci-fi action game – meaning you’ll get to use cool weponas and tools. You’re primary objective – demolish human cities. By the way, you take the role of a UFO so if that sounds exciting, you’ll most likely enjoy this game.

Adding a unique factor into the game is the fact that everything is not predetermined. This means that during one run, what you’ll do in a particular point in the game might be different the next time you take the game for a spin. Hence, blowing up a building in one game, that building might fall to the right, but then fall to the left the second time you passed through that point in the game.

Other features of Demolition, Inc include fully simulated car and buildings, endless use of combining tools and weapons, various tools and weapons, exciting leves with 6 cities and 30 districts, skills improvement, rampage mode, and online high scores.

Finally, you can grab Demolition Inc on Google Play  for $1.99. If you own a non-Tegra phone or tablet, give the game try and tell us your first impression.

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This article, Demolition, Inc Android game comes available for non-Tegra devices , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.

Sony Xperia Tipo ST21i and Xperia Tipo Dual ST21i2 set to join the budget smartphone war

Posted: 04 Jun 2012 11:24 AM PDT

GSM Arena

You're probably already familiar with Sony's upcoming budget Xperia phone, which is known so far by its model number and codename as the Sony ST21i Tapioca. After it made an appearance on the website of one Indonesian telecommunication regulator, we can finally put a (retail) name to the handset. Prepare to get acquainted with the Sony Xperia Tipo.

Along with the Xperia Tipo, the website reveals that the model may have a cousin in the form of the Xperia Tipo Dual, otherwise known as the ST21i2. Does this mean Sony is working on a smartphone with dual-SIM capability? That's a possibility given how popular this type of phone is in the Asian market. Combined with the right price and the Sony brand, this will give the Japanese company some much needed sales boost in the region.

We expect both phones to come with the same specs, save for the extra SIM card slot for the Xperia Tipo Dual . The Xperia Tipo is expected to come with a thick body and a rather ho-hum set of specs with its 800MHz Qualcomm MSM7227 processor, Adreno 200 GPU, 3.2-inch HVGA display with no BRAVIA engine, and a 3MP rear camera. The saving grace of the phone will be the inclusion of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box.

We still don't have information about the phone's price and availability, but you're welcome to check out the hands-on experience of the Sony Xperia Tipo that we reported a while back.

Do you think Sony is churning out too many Xperia models this year? The strategy didn't really work in HTC's favor last year, but perhaps different timing combined with the same strategy will be successful for Sony.

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This article, Sony Xperia Tipo ST21i and Xperia Tipo Dual ST21i2 set to join the budget smartphone war , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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