Monday, July 9, 2012

Android Central

Android Central


Verizon Galaxy S III user manual now available online

Posted: 08 Jul 2012 04:25 PM PDT

Verizon Galaxy S III

Verizon's version of the Samsung Galaxy S III (read our review!), which recently started arriving at the homes of some who had pre-ordered and will be available in stores July 10th, now has its user manual available online. For many of you who know Android in-and-out, it may be repetitious, but it can be very valuable for all of you who have not owned a smartphone prior or who have recently made the switch from another platform. If you are an Android expert but are eagerly awaiting the Galaxy S III, it may help you pass the time as well. If you're interested in reading it, please find a link to the .pdf at the end of the article.  If you want to delve more in-depth into discussions about how the phone is performing and when others are purchasing it, please visit our Verizon Galaxy S III Forum.

Source: Samsung (.pdf warning)

Thanks iceman64!

 



Ever thought of mounting your Samsung Galaxy Note to a PS3 controller?

Posted: 08 Jul 2012 12:11 PM PDT

With a massive screen such as the one on the Samsung Galaxy Note, chances are it's going to be used to play some pretty sweet games. On-screen game controls still take something away from the gaming experience though, and while there are ways to use controllers, it's never the most elegant way of gaming.

One thing we can never accuse the Android community of, is a lack of creativity. What we see here is a bit of a homebrewed effort at creating a portable games console using a Galaxy Note, a PS3 controller, and some bits and pieces. The results are pretty impressive, and just goes to show what a bit of desire and creativity can do. 

Source: Clove



From the Editor's Desk: Welcome back, Nexus

Posted: 08 Jul 2012 09:25 AM PDT

Galaxy Nexus

That headline's been written for a week now, but it's certainly taken on new meaning in the past few days. With the announcement of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and a preview release coming out of Google I/O, I've found myself back on the Galaxy Nexus full-time. That comes after couple months on the HTC One X (mostly loved it) and the Galaxy S III (again, mostly loved it). 

For those of you new to Android, the Galaxy Nexus is the third iteration of the "Pure Google" phone. It's an annual project from Google that gives developers a stable hardware platform on which to work, though it probably won't quite be on the cutting edge of the available technology. (That's true from the time of the original Nexus One, as well as the Nexus S.) It also is the one true "stock" experience, meaning there are no carrier or manufacturer customizations. (Here comes another caveat, though: The Galaxy Nexus on Sprint and Verizon has had a couple apps added.) It's also completely customizable from a modding standpoint, which makes it the Holy Grail for those who like to tinker. The bootloader's unlockable with a single terminal command, and gaining root access is trivial.

Returning to the Nexus has been easy enough; I always enjoyed the stock ICS experience in the first place. Jelly Bean really has made it that much better. Here are a few thoughts on coming back:

read more



Nexus 7 tipped for July 19 launch in UK stores

Posted: 08 Jul 2012 08:06 AM PDT

Android Central

It's expected sometime this month, but the exact launch date of Google and ASUS' Nexus 7 around the world remains something of a mystery. But in the UK, it seems at least one retailer has a firm date in mind -- Currys, part of the Dixons Group, is listing the 16GB, £200 Jelly Bean tablet with an expected launch date of Thursday, July 19. As a pre-order (or "reservation") price, this is always subject to change, but Currys and other Dixons stores have a history of being fairly accurate with this sort of thing. And July 19 also jives quite nicely with the expected Canadian launch date of July 14.

It's worth remembering that Currys and most other major UK retailers are only offering the 16GB, £200 model for sale. Currently, it looks like the newly-launched Google Play devices store is the only place you'll be able to get your hands on the cheaper 8GB variant, which is priced at £159. At the time of writing, Google Play is still listing the both flavors of Nexus 7 as "shipping in 2-3 weeks."

Source: Currys; via: Eurodroid



Sony releases Xperia S Ice Cream Sandwich kernel source

Posted: 08 Jul 2012 07:44 AM PDT

Android Central

Good news for custom ROM developers, as Sony Mobile has just released the kernel source code for its recent Xperia S Android 4.0.4 update, as it's required to do under the open source rules. The open source archive, based on the just-launched v6.1.A.0.452 ICS firmware, weighs in at around 132MB, and will be an essential download for anyone preparing aftermarket firmware for Sony's international flagship phone. Regular users and ROM-flashers won't find much of interest here for the moment. Instead, the benefit of this code should show itself in the weeks ahead, in the form of stable, more functional ICS ROMs for the Xperia S.

Developers can grab the 132MB archive from Sony over at the source link.

Source: Sony Developer World; via: XperiaBlog



ASUS teases multicolored Nexus 7 covers

Posted: 08 Jul 2012 07:35 AM PDT

Android Central

Clad in blacks and grays, the Nexus 7 itself may be an unassuming beast, but it seems manufacturer ASUS is looking to spice things up a bit with its range of covers. The Nexus 7 maker teased a first look at its official accessories for the soon-to-be-released tablet on Twitter, showing some more colorful versions of the grey case that's listed -- though not yet available -- on Google Play. There's no info on pricing or availability just yet, but we're sure Nexus 7 early adopters will be looking to protect their investment with something like this following the tablet's release.

More: Nexus 7 review

Source: @ASUS



Best Buy, Staples and Future Shop Canada now taking pre-orders for the Nexus 7

Posted: 07 Jul 2012 11:14 PM PDT

Nexus 7

At this point, it's no secret that retailers across various regions will be adding the Nexus 7 to  their tablet offerings but now Best Buy, Staples and Future Shop Canada have gone ahead and set up their pre-orders for the first Android 4.1 Jelly Bean tablet. Oddly, it seems retailers are opting to not offer the lower priced 8GB version and instead jumping to the higher priced 16GB version. Whether or not the 8GB version will make an appearance later isn't known but either way, the $259.99 asking price isn't all that bad no matter how you slice it for what you're putting yourself into.

Of course, Google Play ordering is still the better option here considering you can get an additional $25 in apps when ordering direct but when these devices it hit stores, it should help those waiting to get a hands-on before diving in help decide if it's everything they are expecting. Speaking of dates, Best Buy and Future Shops says they'll be arriving in the warehouse on August 10th (bit late?) while Staples says July 14th. We'll be keeping our eye on whom, exactly ends up with them first. In the meantime, have you read our Nexus 7 review yet? If not, what are you waiting for?

Sources: Staples, Best Buy, Future Shop



Sunday, July 8, 2012

Google Alert - android

News10 new results for android
 
Android Malware Botnet Claims Doubted as Researchers Review Evidence
eWeek
Initial reports earlier this week of a new Android malware botnet could now be erroneous, according to follow-up interviews with the security researchers who made the original claims.
See all stories on this topic »
Android OEMs: 1 Wins, 1 Loses
DailyFinance
The life of a Google (NAS: GOOG) Android handset maker isn't always so glamorous. For some, it can mean the key to becoming the largest phone.
See all stories on this topic »
Android: The cable guy analogy
CNET
My Motorola Xyboard isn't the only Android device out there plagued with tardy updates. Read this blog post by Brooke Crothers on Business Tech.
See all stories on this topic »
The 20 Best iOS And Android Apps Of 2012 (So Far)
TechCrunch
Editor's note: Brad Spirrison is the Managing Editor of mobile app discovery services Appolicious, AndroidApps.com (which includes the Appolicious Android App) and AppVee. This is his third year of writing a semi-annual TechCrunch post on top mobile ...
See all stories on this topic »

TechCrunch
Is This the Next Android?
DailyFinance
Do you remember the original goals of the Android platform and Google's (NAS: GOOG) very own Nexus phones? Here's a little reminder from.
See all stories on this topic »
Google's Galaxy Nexus Phone Is Shipping Again After Temporary Ban
Business Insider
Summary. Android is a mobile operating system, owned by Google. Android Inc. was the startup company that developed the initial Android OS. Google acquired the company in July 2005, and many of the original Android Inc. founders work... More » ...
See all stories on this topic »
Nexus 7 guns for the Kindle
LubbockOnline.com
Google makes its Android operating software available for any device manufacturer to use. Amazon and Barnes & Noble took Android and modified it heavily. Namely, they took out the applications that point to Google's services and the advertising it sells.
See all stories on this topic »
Nexus 7 is fast, light, priced right
Jackson Clarion Ledger
Google's brand new Nexus 7 represents a clean slate for Android tablets. It also may be the answer for consumers asking, 'Which tablet should I buy now?' - certainly those conscious of cost and not wedded to a bigger display.
See all stories on this topic »
Amazon Building an iPhone Competitor [REPORT]
Mashable
Amazon is reportedly working on a device to grab a slice of the pie currently dominated by the iPhone and Android smartphones.
See all stories on this topic »
Download Android 4.1 Jelly Bean For Nexus S And Nexus S 4G Custom Port
Geek WIth Laptop
Android enthusiasts around the world can't wait to get their hands on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. This incremental Android OS update was announced a few days back at Google I/O 2012. While it does not pack tons of new features, it does bring some fair ...
See all stories on this topic »

Blogs2 new results for android
 
Google refutes Android botnet spam reports - AME Info
Google has disputed a report by a Microsoft researcher that many Android phones have been infected with a virus that makes them churn out spam, BBC has reported. Last week, Microsoft researcher...
ExcitingAds! AME Info Latest News
FOSS Patents: German court doubts that Android infringes Apple's ...
By Florian Mueller
The first reason for which the UK court believed that Android doesn't infringe this patent is that there isn't a separate touch flag associated with each user interface object. The purpose of an exclusive touch flag is to suppress touches on other ...
FOSS Patents


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