Android Central

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• Google mobile search gets page preview and expandable quick links
• Nexus 10 Book Cover review
• Android developers encouraged to update Play Store listings with tablet screenshots
• Droid RAZR M receiving small bugfix update
• Samsung Galaxy S4 European launch to include Need for Speed giveaway, new Hub apps
• Google Fiber expands TV offerings with HBO and Cinemax
• Facebook Home now available internationally
• T-Mobile confirms HTC One launch date of April 24
• Motorola following 'better is better' strategy post Google acquisition
• Dungeon Hunter 4 now availabile in the Play Store
• LG to 'Share the Genius' May 1 in NYC
• Verizon Samsung Galaxy Camera software update imminent
• Verizon Galaxy S4 officially confirmed via Samsung website
• Quick app: Battery Core Live Wallpaper
• The Archos GamePad review
• Deal of the Day: Seidio OBEX Waterproof Combo for Samsung Galaxy S3
• DISH's bid for Sprint is a good one all around
• Logitech's next living room move makes greater use of your Android smartphone
• Rando isn't picture Chatroulette for Android - it's just boring
• Galaxy S4 pops up on AT&T website with April 30 ship date
• Google details Glass specifications - bone conduction audio, 12GB usable storage, full day of 'typical use' battery life
• 'MyGlass' companion app hits Google Play
• Google releases Mirror API documentation and code examples for Google Glass
• Netflix now available on ARM Chromebooks via HTML5 player
• Google Voice app updated to improve SMS delivery

Google mobile search gets page preview and expandable quick links Posted: 16 Apr 2013 03:54 PM PDT   Get more information from websites without leaving Google's search page A couple new features are being rolled out today in Google's mobile search page, both designed to help users get the information they need without having to navigate away from their search results.  'Quick view' allows users to see a snapshot of the website that was returned during a Google search. A pop up image will appear, and the option is given to either continue to the site or close the preview and return to the search results. Currently quick view is only available for English Wikipedia sites, but Google is working to bring this feature to more sites (interested webmasters can register here). Hit the break for more. Source: Google Search blog read more

Nexus 10 Book Cover review Posted: 16 Apr 2013 03:21 PM PDT $30 is cheap insurance against a scratched screen, so let's have a look at the official Nexus 10 Book Cover We saw Google finally release the official Nexus 10 Book Cover last week, and we had to get ourselves one to see if it was worth the wait. The tablet itself has been around for quite a while, and Google took their sweet time before releasing any official accessories. The FedEx man just dropped our off, so let's have a look at it. The Book Cover is very much like the Samsung Flip Covers for the Note series and Galaxy S3. It attaches to the back of the tablet via the removable panel insert, and provides protection over the screen. It's just like a book, hence the name Book Cover. While attaching and removing the cover is a bit jarring -- you get the impressions everything is about to fly into a million pieces -- once it's in place it's solid, and really does protect the screen while leaving things like the cameras (both front and rear) and speakers unobstructed. The cover comes in both dark gray and scarlet. We're reviewing the dark gray one. It's made of a stiff material, covered on the outside with hard, textured vinyl and inside, against the screen, is a soft felt. It seems built pretty well, and should provide protection for the screen on your Nexus 10 for the life of the product. $30 is cheap compared to the cost of a replacement screen, and the Nexus 10 Book Cover will help keep yours looking good and scratch-free. There's a short video and a gallery of some images after the break. Nexus 10 Book Cover on Google Play read more

Android developers encouraged to update Play Store listings with tablet screenshots Posted: 16 Apr 2013 03:08 PM PDT Tablet screenshots will now show in Play Store listings for users browsing on that device The official Android Developers Blog has just put up a post explaining to app developers guidelines for uploading and displaying screenshots of their apps running on tablets. Developers can now specify the difference between screenshots being uploaded for phones, 7-inch and 10-inch tablets, so that when users view the Play Store listing from each of the devices they will see views of the app relevant to that device. With Google's continued focus on tablet design and making apps look great on larger screens, it's important to show users what they're getting while browsing the Play Store. If you're a developer and have tablet-optimized apps, check in your Google Play Developer Console for instructions on how to manage your screenshots. The rest of us will see the benefit of this initiative as more apps are properly designed for tablets. Source: Android Developers Blog

Droid RAZR M receiving small bugfix update Posted: 16 Apr 2013 02:23 PM PDT Improved Wifi performance and a whole host of bugfixes packed into a small update This isn't the big Android 4.2 update you may have been hoping for on your Droid RAZR M, but an 80MB update containing a good number of improvements is hitting devices starting today. The update to software version 98.15.66.XT907.Verizon.en.US brings fixes and improvements across the board: Improved Wi-Fi connectivity Voice volume has been improved at set level Camera improvements in touch-to-focus, notifications and low light performance In-call audio is routed to ear piece while connected to headset has been improved Video streaming pixelation has been improved Support for Mobile Device Management has been improved Media sync with Back Up Assistant Plus has been improved Visual Voicemail connectivity improvements have been made The update will be coming OTA (Over The Air) and can be prompted to download by checking manually in the phone's settings, or received later when pushed to the phone. Have you seen the update pop up on your device yet? Chime in in the forums and let the other members know what to look forward to. Source: Verizon Support; PDF; PDF More: Motorola Droid RAZR M Forums

Samsung Galaxy S4 European launch to include Need for Speed giveaway, new Hub apps Posted: 16 Apr 2013 01:47 PM PDT The first 100,000 customers will get an exclusive version of Need for Speed 'Samsung edition' Samsung has partnered with multiple companies to bring new content to the Samsung Hub for the upcoming Galaxy S4 launch in Europe, scheduled for April 27. EA is providing a version of Need for Speed Most Wanted that not only has been optimized for this particular phone, but includes "in-game Samsung branding." The first 100,000 European customers will be able to download the game for free through the Samsung Hub -- everyone else, including Galaxy Note 2 owners, can still purchase a copy. Michelin will be offering their real-time traffic app 'Traffic' and eatery locator and reviewer 'Restaurant' apps at launch, with with tourist attraction app 'Travel' following this summer. The children's apps 'Nighty Night' and ‘Little Fox Music Box’ by Goodbeans will be Samsung Hub exclusives. Random House Mondadori is bringing 3,400 Spanish language books, which include international best-selling authors, to the Hub as well. The full press release, with complete details from Samsung about these content providers, can be found after the break. read more

Google Fiber expands TV offerings with HBO and Cinemax Posted: 16 Apr 2013 01:44 PM PDT Three new premium channel packages now available for Google Fiber TV customers When Google Fiber first launched, there were some glaring omissions in its TV offerings, but one of the huge ones is being addressed today with the addition of HBO and Cinemax to its lineup. As additional packages added onto your current TV service, you can now grab HBO for $20 per month which includes 7 different HBO channels, and Cinemax at $10 per month for 8 channels. Those wanting the whole deal can get STARZ, Showtime, HBO and Cinemax together as a "premium package" for $40 per month. If you're lucky enough to have access to Google Fiber, head to the source link below and see the details for having one of the new packages added to your service. If you're like most of us and don't have it yet, here's yet another reason to salivate uncontrollably waiting for availability to expand. Source: Google

Facebook Home now available internationally Posted: 16 Apr 2013 01:10 PM PDT The U.S. exclusivity for Facebook Home has been a short one Facebook has announced in conjunction with a talk at D: Dive Into Mobile that Facebook Home is set to be available internationally starting today. Following a brief period of U.S. exclusivity to iron out the bugs, folks around the world should have access to Home provided they have one of the supported devices. For now, those devices seem to still be just the HTC One X, X+, One; Samsung Galaxy S3, S4, Note 2; and of course the HTC First. We can confirm on our own devices that Home is now available in the U.K. at least -- have you found it to show up in the Play Store elsewhere in the world? Let us know in the comments below. And if you're not so sure about what Facebook Home is and how it works, be sure to see some of our great guides to understanding Home. Source: AllThingsD

T-Mobile confirms HTC One launch date of April 24 Posted: 16 Apr 2013 12:59 PM PDT Availabile both in-store and online, pricing remains unchanged at $99 down Responding to a rather random post on Twitter, the official @TmobileHelp Twitter account has confirmed an April 24th launch date for the HTC One on T-Mobile. This lines up directly with the leaks we saw yesterday, which pegged the launch for "select stores" on that date. In a subsequent reply it also confirms that the device will be available both in-store and online at the 24th, which is important. No changes to pricing are given, but we've known for a while now that the HTC One will carry the same $99 down and monthly installments (in this case $20/month for 24 months) as all of T-Mobile's new high-end devices. The total cost of ownership still works out to just $579 -- not bad. Source: @TMobileHelp

Motorola following 'better is better' strategy post Google acquisition Posted: 16 Apr 2013 11:45 AM PDT Motorola phones with Google's influence, running stock Android, to hit in the second half of 2013 Speaking to PCMag, Motorola design chief Jim Wicks has a whole lot of good news for Motorola fans out there. The integrity of Motorola's handset business after an acquisition by Google has been under quite a bit of scrutiny, but Wicks is quick to say that we'll be seeing phones soon that are truly designed by both Motorola and Google. If you'll recall back to previous talks, the companies had "12 to 18 months of products in the pipeline" which needed to be drained before truly new Motorola devices could hit. The strategy for Motorola is going to be quite a bit different from what we've seen before as well. First, Motorola is focusing on providing a stock Android experience with fast updates going forward. He said: "From a software and UI perspective, our strategy is to embrace Android and to make it the best expression of Android and Google in the market. It will be the unadulterated version of Android, and I feel really good about our embracing Android and being the best Android experience." The new Google-ized Motorola is also focusing on a strategy to fight against the "bigger is better" theme that has been a driving factor in Android device sizes, instead going for "better is better". Using the RAZR M as an example, Wicks explained that Motorola wants to make phones that feel "just right" in the hand, rather than just one-up the competition in every single spec and size -- "that's the easy way out" he says.  The final pillar bringing this all together will be a new design and branding message that persists across carriers, rather than individual lines -- think Droid on Verizon and Atrix on AT&T -- that break up Motorola's vision. Although Wicks was quick to point out that the collaboration with Verizon has been a successful one, he says that Motorola is interested in also doing self-branded devices going forward. That is, assuming Verizon, AT&T and Sprint are okay with Motorola attempting to do their own thing. There's nothing about this strategy that we don't like on paper, but we'll have to see how a new Google and Motorola combination can deliver on these ideas. We could be seeing some really interesting products out of Motorola in the coming months. Source: PCMag

Dungeon Hunter 4 now availabile in the Play Store Posted: 16 Apr 2013 11:18 AM PDT The latest in the Dungeon Hunter franchise is now available and free-to-play on Android When Gameloft teased us with a trailer for Dungeon Hunter 4 and said the release was "coming soon", they certainly weren't kidding. The latest iteration in the Dungeon Hunter series is now available in the Play Store, and it's also free to download and play. The game is a hack-and-slash dungeon crawler title, with single player and multiplayer co-op modes available. Building on the previous version, Dungeon Hunter 4 has all new enhanced graphics and gameplay elements that should make it feel like a whole new title. If you're interested in giving the new Dungeon Hunter 4 a shot, you can download it from the Play Store link above. There's a pretty large "additional file" download required to get up and running, so be sure to stick your device on Wifi if you're tight on mobile data for the month.

LG to 'Share the Genius' May 1 in NYC Posted: 16 Apr 2013 10:30 AM PDT A mic on a stage, eh? Not sure what LG's got up its sleeves for May 1 in New York City, but it wouldn't surprise us in the least to see the excellent LG Optimus G Pro make an appearance in its U.S. form, especially with recent rumblings of it hitting AT&T shortly thereafter. (Check out our mini review of the Korean version if you've yet to do so.) "Share the Genius" likely is a nod to the software features on the phone, which LG is more than happy to tell you it had before its Korean neighbor. And "Capture the Spotlight in True Brilliance" fits perfectly with the Optimus G Pro's excellent 5.5-inch 1080p IPS display. So, yeah. Set your calendars, folks.

Verizon Samsung Galaxy Camera software update imminent Posted: 16 Apr 2013 10:20 AM PDT Android powered camera getting new Smart Modes, S-Memo and compatibility with remote viewfinder app Owners of the Verizon Galaxy Camera will be interested in this one, a software update is heading your way. The update pegged as coming 'soon' doesn't bump the Android version, but does add a variety of new features. First up is the addition of Samsung's S-Memo app, more commonly found on smartphones such as the Note 2. S-Memo doesn't appear to have the ability to take photos in-app, but allows the import of anything from the gallery.  The camera app gets the bulk of the updates though, with an extra 4 Smart Modes being added. The new modes are for Dawn, Party Indoors, Snow and Food and takes the grand total of Smart Modes up to 19.  Also included is the ability to make full use of Samsung's Remote Viewfinder application. Remote Viewfinder is available for a range of devices -- even the iPhone -- and lets you control timer, zoom, and a range of other options. If you manage to snag the update in the coming days, be sure to jump into the Galaxy Camera forums and let us know how you're finding it.  Source: Verizon

Verizon Galaxy S4 officially confirmed via Samsung website Posted: 16 Apr 2013 10:07 AM PDT No Verizon logo on the home button, so you can cross that off your list of things to worry about Up until a couple of days ago, we've only had leaks to confirm the existence of Verizon's version of the Samsung Galaxy S4. Today, Samsung has made two new pages live on its official website -- one for the black Verizon model, and one for the white. Carrier branding looks to be more conservative than with the Galaxy Note 2 -- no home button branding in sight. Other than the Verizon logo on back, this version seems to be identical to the other carrier variants. The same specs and hardware features are shared with the entire U.S. Galaxys S family this time around. For the official specifications list, as well as pictures from all angles of both the black and white models, check out the Samsung links at the bottom. If the previous availability leak pans out, we can expect Verizon to start selling their Galaxy S4 on May 30. Sources: Samsung 1, Samsung 2; via Droid Life

Quick app: Battery Core Live Wallpaper Posted: 16 Apr 2013 09:15 AM PDT A neat new live wallpaper that adapts and changes as your phone's battery depletes We've taken a look at several different great live wallpapers out there, and we've stumbled upon another that's worth showing off. It's called Battery Core Live Wallpaper, and it's nice to look at but also functional for monitoring your battery state and usage. Live wallpapers have come a long way as device specs have improved, and this is a nice example of a wallpaper that can be turned on and not be a big resource drain. With a whole bunch of features even in the free version, it's certainly worth a look. Skip down past the break and see a little more of what Battery Core Live Wallpaper has to offer. read more

The Archos GamePad review Posted: 16 Apr 2013 08:10 AM PDT It’s one of those products we want to love on principle alone - but does it measure up to expectations? Imagine a 7-inch Android tablet, and in the housing there’s a built-in game controller, complete with dual joysticks, directional buttons, even shoulder buttons. That’s what you have with the Archos GamePad. Android gamers have long been using controllers of one sort or another with their phones and tablets with varying degrees of success, but the GamePad is the first device to bundle everything together in one unit. Just having the controls there is not enough, though. They have to function well to be useful, and integration into the games we love to play is a big deal. This is where Archos has to succeed, and quite frankly they have failed. Read through and see what I mean. read more

Deal of the Day: Seidio OBEX Waterproof Combo for Samsung Galaxy S3 Posted: 16 Apr 2013 06:56 AM PDT The April 16 ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day is the Seidio OBEX Waterproof Combo for Samsung Galaxy S3. The materials and design of this case ensure that your Galaxy S3 is protected at the highest level possible. While the curvature provides a secure grip and absorbs shock if your device is dropped, the built-in screen protector promotes touch sensitivity and clarity. Includes hard case and holster. The Seidio OBEX Waterproof Combo is available for just $65.00, 28% off today only. Backed by our 60-day return policy and fast shipping. Deal also available in the Canada store Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts!

DISH's bid for Sprint is a good one all around Posted: 16 Apr 2013 06:44 AM PDT More money for Sprint, a potential life-saver for DISH Early Monday morning, satellite TV innovator DISH Network threw a monkeywrench into Softbank’s plans to acquire a 70 percent interest in Sprint. It did so by offering a 13 percent premium over Softbank’s bid, and rather than buy a majority of Sprint, DISH is proposing a full merger. For those of you who really want to understand the thinking that went into this, watch the AllThingsD video interview with DISH chairman Charlie Ergen. It’s a long video, but damn, you have to admire the straight-up answers Ergen gives to the audience.  My take on the whole thing is pretty simple.  DISH Network is part of the old world, just like cable TV, except that it has no easy way to deliver broadband access. Cable companies, at least, have DOCSIS networks. So even if the whole planet starts to cut the cord and adopt an over-the-top Internet TV model, cable companies can still get paid for the plumbing.  Satellite? Not so much. Without adapting a new business model, these guys are dying a slow death. read more

Logitech's next living room move makes greater use of your Android smartphone Posted: 16 Apr 2013 05:39 AM PDT Using your Android smartphone to control your home entertainment system isn't exactly a new concept, especially for Logitech, maker of one of the first Google TV set-top boxes. And today, the company -- which actually is getting out of the remote control business -- announced a pair of new devices that make even greater use of your Android smartphone. As you'd expect, the new lineup -- comprising the Logitech Harmony Ultimate and Logitech Harmony Smart Control -- includes remote controls, but that's just half the story. read more

Rando isn't picture Chatroulette for Android - it's just boring Posted: 16 Apr 2013 03:41 AM PDT Sending an receiving anonymous pictures from random people across the world - how bad could that possibly be? It's completely possible, I suppose, that your experience with Rando will be completely different than mine. After all, this is an Android app that delivers random pictures that someone took in exchange for some of your own. Give a random picture, get a picture. And it's completely reasonable to predict that a photo-sharing service such as this, in which the sender is as anonymous as the receiver, would quickly be inundated by random acts of nudity. (And, face it, that's hardly the worst thing that I've imagined could anonymously show up on my screen.) But, no. I've not been bombarded by anonymous body parts. Or any kind of parts. Or anything remotely interesting, actually. read more

Galaxy S4 pops up on AT&T website with April 30 ship date Posted: 15 Apr 2013 11:23 PM PDT 16GB pricing confirmed at $199 on-contract, $639 off-contract It looks as though the early Staples document that leaked a release date of the Galaxy S4 on AT&T as April 26th was off by just a couple of days. Folks have pointed out to Engadget that they're seeing official pre-order availability and pricing for the S4 on the AT&T website. It's showing up for us as well, with pricing as you'd expect -- $199 and two years of commitment for a 16GB model in either white or black. Those willing to go off-contract will pay the hefty $639, and if for some reason you want just a 1 year contract, you can shave that down to $449. If AT&T is your carrier of choice for the Galaxy S4, the anxious among us can get their pre-orders in today from the source link below. The site indicates free shipping, and people who have gone through with it are receiving estimated arrival dates of May 3rd for the devices. Have you pulled the trigger on this one yet? Sound off in the comments and let us know. Source: AT&T

Google details Glass specifications - bone conduction audio, 12GB usable storage, full day of 'typical use' battery life Posted: 15 Apr 2013 09:14 PM PDT Full device specs round out an evening of Google Glass news We've seen that Google is getting ready to ship out Google Glass Explorer units, the developer preview of the Mirror API, and the Android companion app already this evening, and now it's time for the device specs. Google has released the tech specs of Google Glass, and it should answer some of the questions folks have.  Fit: Adjustable nosepads and durable frame fits any face. Extra nosepads in two sizes. Display: High resolution display is the equivalent of a 25 inch high definition screen from eight feet away. Camera: Photos - 5 MP; Videos - 720p Audio: Bone Conduction Transducer Connectivity: Wifi - 802.11b/g; Bluetooth Storage: 12 GB of usable memory, synced with Google cloud storage. 16 GB Flash total. Battery: One full day of typical use. Some features, like Hangouts and video recording, are more battery intensive. Charger: Included Micro USB cable and charger. While there are thousands of Micro USB chargers out there, Glass is designed and tested with the included charger in mind. Use it and preserve long and prosperous Glass use. Compatibility: Any Bluetooth-capable phone. The MyGlass companion app requires Android 4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich) or higher. MyGlass enables GPS and SMS messaging. We're not really worried about things like CPUs and GPUs, or on-board RAM, and it looks like they have covered what's going to be important. The all day battery life is almost a must have with any wearable computer, so we hope that rings true. Also worth noting that Any phone with Bluetooth is said to be compatible. We'll soon know more about both I imagine. Source: Google

'MyGlass' companion app hits Google Play Posted: 15 Apr 2013 09:11 PM PDT Manage and configure Glass from your phone... if you actually had Glass There's a whole lot of Google Glass news hitting today, and this is a pretty important piece of the puzzle. Google has just published the "MyGlass" companion app in the Play Store, which will be a critical part of using your Glass and phone together. Google makes it clear that the app is really only of use to Glass owners, stating in the description: "If you don't have Glass, then downloading this will be a waste of time.", but that's not going to stop us -- or anyone else intrigued by the idea -- from installing and taking a look it it. The interface is nice and looks just like any other recent Google app, with a grey and white color scheme and simple controls. You can't get much farther than the first few screens without an active pair of Glass nearby, but the process requires accepting some terms and turning on both Bluetooth and Wifi for the pairing process. If you want to poke around with the app in hopeful anticipation of the Glass launch, grab it at the Play Store link above.

Google releases Mirror API documentation and code examples for Google Glass Posted: 15 Apr 2013 06:16 PM PDT Developers can inspect the API and check out some examples -- a great way to get ready for when their pair ships I'm betting you're going to start hearing a lot about Google Glass in the coming days and weeks. Much of it will be from bloggers who couldn't resist the lure to get in early and talk about Glass. You can probably safely ignore them, because the important stuff is going to come from the developers.  As a starting point, Google has released the Mirror API documentation and code examples so those same developers can get their projects ready for the day their pair of Google Glass arrives. They've outlined the major features of the API, provided guidelines to ensure the best user experience, and even put up a sample page where Glass Explorers can try out an example. Quick start tutorials have been provided for developers coding in both Java and Python. Google Glass just might be the next disruptive piece of technology. For it to succeed, consumers will have to adopt it en masse, and the best way to ensure that is to have a robust set of utilities and applications that use it. Google understands this, and we're glad to see them getting ready and providing developers with the tools and information they need. Hopefully, when the consumer edition goes up for sale, we'll all have a reason to buy a pair. Source: Google

Netflix now available on ARM Chromebooks via HTML5 player Posted: 15 Apr 2013 05:52 PM PDT HTML5 "Premium Video Extensions" to replace Silverlight, first implementations now available on Chrome OS Although relying on Silverlight as a video player had many advantages for Netflix, one of the unfortunate side effects was its inability to play on platforms that couldn't support the plugin -- like Chrome OS. With the (not so quickly) approaching deadline for Microsoft's shutdown of Silverlight, the move to HTML5 had to happen at some point, and luckily that move is starting today. With the combination of what Netflix is calling "HTML5 Premium Video Extensions", the player is now available for the latest ARM-based Samsung Chromebook. The player still has some hurdles to overcome because Chrome OS doesn't natively support WebCrypto for streaming protected content, but Netflix has a temporary fix in place. Using two of its three extensions it is able to currently provide and the crypto it needs until Google brings its own into the OS. Provided these early versions work well on Chrome OS, Netflix plans to also extend them to all browsers going forward. Source: Netflix

Google Voice app updated to improve SMS delivery Posted: 15 Apr 2013 05:28 PM PDT It's just a one-item changelog, but we'll take any improvements we can get From the outside looking in, it doesn't seem like Google is giving too much time towards improving the Google Voice app or service, but it certainly makes us hopeful when we see an update arrive in the Play Store. Today's update has a single item on the changelog: "Improved the reliability of SMS delivery". Anyone that has used Google Voice for some amount of time knows that things can be a little shaky sending and receiving texts when in low or slow signal areas (and sometimes even in great signal areas), so hopefully this update addresses some of those issues. As for the future of Google Voice, we can only wonder. In the meantime we know at least some amount of time is being spent over at Google maintaining the app. You can grab a download of this latest version from the Play Store link above. Noticing any improvements with the latest update? Let us know in the comments.

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