Android Central

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• Jelly Bean factory images now available for the Verizon Galaxy Nexus
• ASUS Transformer Primes in Sweden getting Jelly Bean update
• Water-resistant, LTE-connected Sony Xperia V tipped for December launch
• Replacement Google: In case the real thing goes on strike
• How to tell if your Samsung phone is vulnerable to today's USSD hack
• How we'd improve the Nexus Q
• Ice Cream Sandwich finally coming to the Motorola Atrix 2 - but first, a soak test!
• Now playing: 10-Pin Shuffle
• Barnes & Noble brings its own streaming video this fall
• Can't believe all you former BlackBerry users left this behind
• Indestructible brings free multiplayer demolition derby to Android
• Sony Xperia acro S now available unlocked in the U.S.
• Deal of the Day: Incipio SILICRYLIC DualPro SHINE Hard Case for HTC One X
• Major security vulnerability in some Samsung phones could trigger factory reset via web page
• Samsung reportedly developing its own mobile browser, just as it always has done
• Samsung Galaxy Note coming to UK on Oct. 1
• 'Martian pink' Samsung Galaxy S3 is official, headed to South Korea
• Nexus 7 and Google Play Books now available in Japan
• Adobe's HTML5 Edge development suite goes live today
• Who needs a car head unit when you have a Galaxy S3?

Jelly Bean factory images now available for the Verizon Galaxy Nexus Posted: 25 Sep 2012 03:40 PM PDT A few days back Verizon finally got the LTE Galaxy Nexus updated to Jelly Bean, and that means new factory images to play with. Google has updated the Nexus factory image page to include build JRO03O, which is unadulterated, pure Android and frankly sexy as hell. Ask anyone who just got the update -- Jelly Bean brings the Galaxy Nexus right up to the front of the smartphone pack, even with the "dated" hardware of the year-old Galaxy Nexus. So, what does all this factory image stuff mean? Don't worry, it's nothing you have to fool with if you don't want to. It's a set of disk images that are flashable directly to the Galaxy Nexus hardware, to bring the phone back to a fully updated factory state. Think of it as a fail safe incase things get so screwed up that the path back is gone. It's great for hackers and flashers, but it's also a good thing to have on hand for regular folks as well. If you ever need them, there's people in the Verizon Nexus forums who enjoy nothing better than flashing phones, and they're ready to guide you. Hit the source link for the download. Source: Google

ASUS Transformer Primes in Sweden getting Jelly Bean update Posted: 25 Sep 2012 03:19 PM PDT ASUS Sweden has taken to Facebook and let everyone know that users of the Transformer Prime in Sweden should be seeing an OTA update to Jelly Bean available. While there is no word on other areas, this is a good sign that ASUS is prepared to roll the update out en masse shortly. My own source "close to the matter" says we should see it in the U.S. in early October should everything go well in Sweden. Along with the obvious perks of Jelly Bean, ASUS wants to remind everyone that they will be losing Adobe Flash official support, and that the Jelly Bean update will remove Wifi-Direct from the Prime. On that note, they also say no users will be forced to accept this update. If you're rooted and ROM'ed, ignore all this and be ready for better custom work from your favorite developer. If you're not, you can check for the update from the device settings -- let us know if you see it! Source: ASUS. Thanks everyone who sent this in!

Water-resistant, LTE-connected Sony Xperia V tipped for December launch Posted: 25 Sep 2012 02:49 PM PDT As Sony prepares to launch the Xperia T in the UK this week, eyes are already on the T's quirky sibling, the Xperia V. Unveiled alongside the Xperia T at IFA last month, the V boasts water resistance and LTE connectivity, in addition to similar internals to the Sony flagship. The screen's been shrunk down to a 4.3-inch panel, although the resolution remains the same, at 1280x720. Today a Swedish retailer has given us our first tentative Xperia V release date and price point. Dustin.se is now listing the Xperia V as available for pre-order, with a price tag of SEK 4299 (around $650) and a release date of Dec. 3. That's a long time to wait for Sony fans, who'll have plenty to tempt them in the fourth quarter. We'll be crossing our fingers for an earlier release, as it's not every day you see LTE, a 720p screen and water resistance in a single handset. Tempted by a high-end waterproof device like this? Shout out in the comments. Source: Dustin.se, via: XperiaBlog

Replacement Google: In case the real thing goes on strike Posted: 25 Sep 2012 01:54 PM PDT We won't spoil the surprise. Hit the source link below and get searchin'.  Source: Replacement Google; via @CharlesApple

How to tell if your Samsung phone is vulnerable to today's USSD hack Posted: 25 Sep 2012 01:35 PM PDT A quick way to tell if your Samsung phone is at risk, and what to do if it is  There's a lot of confusion as to exactly which Samsung phones are affected by today's big scary USSD vulnerability, which could cause some phones to factory reset themselves upon visiting a malicious web page. Some Galaxy S2 and S3-class phones are susceptible, others less so. In some cases it depends if you're running the latest firmware or not. In others, there's no patched firmware available yet. Samsung will surely be hard at work rolling out fixes for devices that remain susceptible, but in the meantime we've got a quick, easy to tell if your phone is at risk, without taking the plunge and running the malicious code itself. Find out more after the break. read more

How we'd improve the Nexus Q Posted: 25 Sep 2012 01:05 PM PDT The Google Nexus Q is the coolest sphere sitting atop our entertainment center. OK, so it's the only sphere we've got. And despite how cool it looks, and its great build quality, it really doesn't do all that much, especially when you consider its $299 price tag. Of course, that was before Google decided to shelve the Nexus Q, ceasing sales and giving away a free sphere to anyone who preordered. Now it sits in a state of limbo as Google works "on making it even better." Maybe it'll return. Maybe it won't. We're holding out hope. So how would we improve the Nexus Q? We've got a few ideas. read more

Ice Cream Sandwich finally coming to the Motorola Atrix 2 - but first, a soak test! Posted: 25 Sep 2012 12:50 PM PDT Update: We've confirmed that this, indeed, is the Ice Cream Sandwich soak test. Huzzah! Good news, everyone! Maybe. There apparently is a soak test going out for the Motorola Atrix 2 this afternoon. Is it the long-awaited Ice Cream Sandwich update? Dunno, and Motorola's site still just says "Further plans coming soon." We'll keep our fingers crossed, though. Here's the text of the message: Thanks for signing up for the Atrix 2 software test. Our apologies for the delay in starting this test! The software will begin to be pushed out later this afternoon; however, it may take several hours for all targeted devices to receive the update.   We're eager to hear your feedback. Please share your experience on the private community provided, and via the survey I will send out after you've had some time to work with the software. To ensure we hear you, please follow these guidelines: Please post all your feedback in our private community (link below). This also where you'll find help during the soak. Please do not call or contact Motorola, AT&T or your carrier support for help during the soak. Those teams are not yet ready to support this software. I'm not able to check private messages on the forums during soaks, so if you need immediate help that's not a good route to take. Post in the community instead. If you have any problems accessing the private community, please click here for help. Please do not post questions publicly, on our site or elsewhere. Please start your visit to the private community here. You'll find additional important information in the Welcome message as soon as you sign in. (Note that you will not be able to post in the public communities during the soak test.) Thanks so much for your participation! We really appreciate your time and insights. Keep your ears to the ground, folks. More: Atrix 2 forums; Thanks, anon

Now playing: 10-Pin Shuffle Posted: 25 Sep 2012 12:06 PM PDT I'm a sucker for bowling games. Always have been. (It's part of the reason I've kept the Zune HD around for so long.) This week I've been playing 10-Pin Shuffle, which as the name implies is a shuffle-bowling game. The app itself is free, but it's limited to just one poker-style game until you cough up a few bucks via an in-app purchase. Game play is simple enough -- flick the puck forward. It's also plenty smooth, and the graphics are decent. Not great, but good enough for some quick play. Give the free version a shot before paying, though, and see if this one's up your ally. Also available on Amazon and Nook.

Barnes & Noble brings its own streaming video this fall Posted: 25 Sep 2012 09:49 AM PDT Those of you rocking a Nook Tablet will have more video options in the weeks and months ahead. Barnes & Noble this morning announced Nook Video, which will stream, erm, video from HBO, Sony, STARZ, Viacom, Warner Bros. and Disney to the Android-based e-reader. That brings it a little more in tune with the likes of Amazon's Kindle Fire, which long has taken advantage of streaming video Also, you'll be able to link your purchases of physical DVD and Blue-ray discs to your Nook via UltraViolet, making the deal that much sweeter. Customers in the U.S. will get Nook Video this fall; those in the UK have to wait until the holiday season. Source: Barnes & Noble

Can't believe all you former BlackBerry users left this behind Posted: 25 Sep 2012 09:27 AM PDT More: CrackBerry at BBJam

Indestructible brings free multiplayer demolition derby to Android Posted: 25 Sep 2012 08:55 AM PDT Glu has just launched a free-to-play multiplayer game on Google Play called Indestructible. It puts players in the driver's seat of some dangerous vehicles, and pits them against others online. More often than not, they're just cars with all manner of dozer blades, laser cannons, and armor plating riveted to them, but you'll also see armored personnel carriers, hovercraft, and semi trailers. game modes include the good old-fashioned deathmatch, capture the flag, and a collection game type called recover the charge. As you play through, you earn experience points, level up, upgrade skills, and unlock new gear for your various cars.  Those of you that are worried that this is a pay-to-win scenario, don't be. I hopped into a game last night, and came out on top even though I was using the bare-bones entry-level vehicle. Some of the upgrades are really sweet, and the four-player action ran nice and smooth on my Nexus 7.

Sony Xperia acro S now available unlocked in the U.S. Posted: 25 Sep 2012 07:50 AM PDT The Xperia acro S has been hanging out in the Sony online store for a few weeks marked as coming soon, and today it goes on sale for $599.99 unlocked.  Just as a reminder, the Xperia acro S is a solid mid-range phone with respectable (if not top-of-the-line) specs.  4.3-inch 1280 x 720 display 1.5 GHz dual-core Qualcomm processor and 1 GB of RAM Android Ice Cream Sandwich 11.9 mm thin 12.1 megapixel camera with LED flash Waterproof coating You can get a quick glimpse of the device over here in our hands-on time at IFA, or dive into the official product page. The Xperia acro S definitely looks like a high-grade piece of equipment, but how many people will realistically be buying it unlocked? How much longer will it be until we hear some carrier announcements? Would any of you be interested in picking this one up if it was subsidized?  Anyone with the coin can pick up the Sony Xperia acro S online here with black and white models available.

Deal of the Day: Incipio SILICRYLIC DualPro SHINE Hard Case for HTC One X Posted: 25 Sep 2012 06:52 AM PDT The September 25 ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day is the Incipio SILICRYLIC DualPro SHINE Hard Case for HTC One X. Featuring a high quality polycarbonate plastic exterior embedded in a shock absorbing silicone core, this case provides sturdy protection without sacrificing style. There's also access to the camera, ports and buttons of the One X while the case is on. The Incipio SILICRYLIC DualPro SHINE Hard Case is available for just $19.00, 46% off today only. Backed by our 60-day return policy and fast shipping! Never miss a deal. Sign up for Daily Deal alerts

Major security vulnerability in some Samsung phones could trigger factory reset via web page Posted: 25 Sep 2012 05:40 AM PDT Updated: Clarifications on which phones are affected, and the nature of the vulnerability. A major security vulnerability has been discovered in some TouchWiz-based Samsung smartphones, including the Galaxy S2 and certain Galaxy S3 models on older firmware. The bug was first demonstrated days ago by security researcher Ravi Borgaonkar at the Ekoparty security conference. It involves the use of a single line of code in a malicious web page to immediately trigger a factory reset without prompting the user, or allowing them to cancel the process. Even more serious is the possibility that this could be paired with a similar glitch to render the user's SIM card inoperable. And as the malicious code is in URI form, it can also be delivered via NFC or QR code. Our Verizon Galaxy S3 was not reset by the malicious code embedded in a web page, though we were able to trigger a reset using similar code tied to a hyperlink. Mobile dev Justin Case tells us the issue is fixed in the latest AT&T and international Galaxy S3 firmwares, though devices that have not been updated may remain vulnerable. Others have reported that devices like the Galaxy Ace and Galaxy Beam are also affected. As far as we can tell, though, the bug does not affect Samsung phones running stock Android, like the Galaxy Nexus. The vulnerability is the result of the way the native Samsung dialer app handles USSD codes and telephone links. USSD codes are special combinations of characters that can be entered in the keypad to perform certain functions, like enabling call forwarding, or accessing hidden menus on the device. On Samsung phones, there's also a USSD code for factory resetting the phone (and presumably another for nuking your SIM). This, combined with the fact that the dialer automatically runs telephone links that are passed to it by other apps, results in a particularly nasty issue for anyone unfortunate enough to run by a malicious web page. There are, of course, other applications of this glitch -- for example, the ability to automatically run numbers through the dialer could be used to call premium-rate phone numbers. But the fact that just visiting a web site could factory reset your phone, wipe your internal storage and nuke your SIM is a very serious issue. So we'd advise you update your software if you're running an S3, and if you're not, we'd recommend using a third-party dialer like Dialer One until all this has blown over. We've reached out to Samsung for comment on this issue, and we'll keep you updated with any information they provide. Source: @Paul Olvia; via SlashGear, @backlon, @teamandirc

Samsung reportedly developing its own mobile browser, just as it always has done Posted: 25 Sep 2012 04:31 AM PDT The Internet's in a bit of a tizzy this morning over reports from a Korean news that Samsung has begun development of its own WebKit-based mobile browser, to be used in future smartphones. ETNews reports that Samsung's browser will be offered as an alternative to Google Chrome on mobile. WebKit, of course, is the open-source software at the core of many mobile and desktop browsers, including Chrome, the native Android browser, and Safari. Today's report says Samsung has recruited several "WebKit professionals" in order to accelerate its browser efforts. The project is said to be based out of the Samsung Information Systems America R&D Center in Silicon Valley. While this would be a fairly noteworthy development, it's not as big a deal as you might think. Google has been pushing Chrome as the default browser for Android for a while now, and it comes pre-loaded on upcoming phones like the RAZR M and RAZR HD, as well as Samsung's own Galaxy Camera. Samsung's already shown that it wants to foster its own ecosystem rather than relying on Google's. Competing Samsung and Google services are numerous -- Music Hub versus Play Music, Video Hub versus Play Videos and TV, Samsung Apps versus Play Store. So with Google taking the initiative to push Chrome center stage, a reaction from Samsung was only natural. But today's news is only a natural progression of the work Samsung's been doing on its own native Android browser for the past several years. If you examine the bundled browser on a Samsung phone, you'll find it's quite far from the stock Android browser. Samsung was the first to introduce tiled rendering on Android in the Galaxy S2, and on the Galaxy S3 it offered its own unique tab control and power saving options. Other Android OEMs have done the same, so in a way they all have their own mobile browsers. And with Chrome replacing the stock browser as the default on Android handsets, we wouldn't be terribly surprised to see the likes of HTC and LG follow a similar path. It's possible Samsung might be developing its browser from the ground up, based upon WebKit, though today's article is light on technical details like this. What we think is more likely is that we'll find Samsung's own S Browser, based upon the speedy stock Jelly Bean browser, made available alongside Chrome on future Samsung Android handsets. And really, that's not all that different from the way things work right now. Source: ETNews, via SamMobile

Samsung Galaxy Note coming to UK on Oct. 1 Posted: 25 Sep 2012 04:08 AM PDT Samsung has announced that its latest smartphone/tablet hybrid, the Galaxy Note 2, will land on British shores next Monday, Oct. 1. Like the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 10.1 before it, the Note 2 will be available first at the Samsung brand store at the Westfield shopping center in Stratford, London, as well as major UK networks, and independent retailers. That roughly fits with what we were hearing yesterday from Phones4U, which expects to fulfill Note 2 orders from Oct 2. The Galaxy Note 2 will become the first major non-Nexus Android device to hit store shelves with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. And with a 1.6GHz quad-core Exynos CPU and 2GB of RAM, it's no slouch in terms of hardware specs either. Like its predecessor, the Note 2 comes with a Wacom-based Samsung "S Pen," which this time around has been redesigned for easier grip and better on-screen action. For more on the Galaxy Note 2, check out our hands-on coverage from IFA. Samsung informs us that the Note 2 will be available in both marble white and titanium grey colors, so it looks like there'll be no waiting around for secondary color options, as was the case around Galaxy S3 launch time. Anyone picking up a launch day Galaxy Note 2 in the UK? Hit the comments and let us know. We've got today's press release in full after the break. read more

'Martian pink' Samsung Galaxy S3 is official, headed to South Korea Posted: 25 Sep 2012 02:21 AM PDT New color launches in South Korea, as sales figures suggest six percent of the country's population now own a Galaxy S3 It was leaked last week, but now it's official -- the Samsung Galaxy S3 will be launching in South Korea in a new "Martian pink" color. Currently, Samsung plans to make available just 100,000 of the pink S3s across South Korea's three main mobile operators. On its official Korean blog, the company quoted an official as saying (roughly translated) -- "The Martian pink Galaxy S III is refined and sensuous. With its distinctive style, we expect a great response from the younger generation and women." Samsung also notes that it's surpassed 3 million Galaxy S3 sales in its home territory, which is all the more impressive considering the country's population of just under 50 million. By our calculations, that suggests that six percent of all South Koreans now own a Galaxy S3. Internationally, sales of the phone stand at 20 million, and that's expected to rise to 30 million before the end of the year. Samsung's accustomed to strong sales of its handsets in Korea. Back in January it emerged that some 5 million Galaxy S2 phones had been sold in the country, the equivalent of 10 percent of the population. Samsung hasn't announced any plans to launch the new Martian pink S3 outside of South Korea, but given its track record with the pink Galaxy S2 and Galaxy Note, we wouldn't be surprised to see this a Martian pink invasion of Europe taking place in a few months' time. Source: Samsung (Korean, Translated)

Nexus 7 and Google Play Books now available in Japan Posted: 25 Sep 2012 01:51 AM PDT Google has a treat today for all Android fans in Japan. The Google Nexus 7 is now available in the country, and brings with it Google Play Books for the ride. Available from the Play Store for 19,800 Yen ($250) for the 16GB variant, it's good to see the same great pricing expanding across the world with the device. Despite rumors of an upcoming launch in India before the years end, this marks the first expansion into the Asian market following the Australian, North American and European launch markets.  Google has even given the Nexus 7 its own Japanese launch page, which you can find by hitting the source link below.  Source: @GoogleNexus, Google Japan

Adobe's HTML5 Edge development suite goes live today Posted: 24 Sep 2012 07:42 PM PDT Adobe has kicked off their Edge development tool suite today with the release of Edge Animate and PhoneGap -- tools designed to develop HTML5 and wean the Internet off of Flash, as well as package things up for smartphones.  While this is exciting news for developers, its significance shouldn't be lost on the rest of us. I've been lamenting for weeks that Flash on the Internet won't ever die until easy to use and robust tools are provided, both to ease development time and costs as well as drive the platform (meaning pure HTML5 on the web) forward. The reason we ever needed Flash players on our computers or smartphones was because it was so easy to use it became the de facto web standard for interactive animations. Just because the Flash player for mobile was going the way of the dodo, didn't mean the existing content developers would abandon its use. Tools like the Edge suite are what it's going to take. In addition to the full IDE for creating the content, Adobe has released a few other tools to assist web developers. Edge Inspect is a cross platform debugger, Edge WebFonts bundles over 500 free fonts (including two new fonts from Adobe) and the one we're pretty interested in -- PhoneGap. PhoneGap is a cloud based utility that can take HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript created with tools like Edge Animate and bundle it all up in an application for iOS, Android, Windows Phone, webOS, BlackBerry OS, Bada, or Symbian. If you're a developer, be sure to head to Adobe's site, as Edge Animate is being offered for free as a promotion, and free beats $499 any day of the week. It looks like the gap left when Adobe killed off mobile Flash Player should be filling up nicely in short order. Quick -- someone tell Facebook. Source: Adobe

Who needs a car head unit when you have a Galaxy S3? Posted: 24 Sep 2012 06:06 PM PDT Looking for something to replace that lackluster 8-Track, cassette, or CD player that came with your car? Instead of using some goofy adapter or FM transmitter, why not replace the entire unit with a Samsung Galaxy S III? That was the train of thought for Steve, aka youtube user philstuffs. He had an old JVC head unit that just wasn't cutting it. So instead of spend the money on a stand-alone head unit for his vehicle, he used his trusty SGS3. He modified a standard car charger so the phone charges when the car is on and he hooked up the audio-out from his phone to the amplifier in his trunk. Simple and effective. Before you get on his case for the phone not being centered, he knows this. He states in his youtube video description that he still needs to come up with a "prettier facia" and is even thinking about using fiberglass.  What I want to know is: How does he take the phone with him when he leaves the vehicle? From the looks of it, that facia he cooked up is removable, and he can unhook his SGS3 and be on his way. Not the most practical solution. Maybe his final design will be more practical and user friendly. Would you replace your entire head unit with your smartphone? How do you listen to music from your phone in your car? Let us know in the comments. Video after the break. read more

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Android Community

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• Google Play Books gets updated, now comes with Maps integration and more
• Indestructible now available, is like a mobile version of Twisted Metal
• HTC Droid Incredible X rumored to be Google’s “Nexus 5″
• Some Samsung handsets vulnerable to factory wipe hack
• Opera Mini updates with Smart Page for social and news updates
• Apex Launcher updates with new features, fixes force-closing issues
• Samsung Galaxy Nexus 2 camera image samples leak
• Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour coming this Fall
• Apple wants an extra $707 million in damages from Samsung
• T-Mobile updating network and speeding up 4G

Google Play Books gets updated, now comes with Maps integration and more Posted: 25 Sep 2012 11:21 AM PDT Today, Google updated its ereading app, Google Play Books, with a handful of new big features. The app now comes with Google Maps integration, translation support, and some advanced annotation tools. If you’ve been thinking about giving Google’s ereading app a try, there’s no better time to do so than now. With Google Maps integration, Google Play Books will allow you to highlight unfamiliar locations and find out more about them right in the app. An info card with a Google Map will pop up, and you’ll have the option to get even more information by searching Google or Wikipedia. This is great for those reading a book that mentions a lot of foreign geographic locations. Google also put in translation support, which means if you’re making your way through a book in a different language, you can easily highlight certain words or sentences, and translate them to any number of different languages. Students will no doubt get a kick out of this the next time they’re required to read a foreign book for one of their classes. There’s also annotation support with today’s update. If you come across a word or a sentence that you find interesting, you can highlight it and come back to it later if need be. You can also take notes in the margins to help you better understand the material in a certain book. The best part is, notes and highlights get saved to the cloud, so they’ll automatically sync with all of your devices. Google Play Books is a free download and the updated version is available now in the Google Play store. So…when are we getting audio books? [via SlashGear]

Indestructible now available, is like a mobile version of Twisted Metal Posted: 25 Sep 2012 10:56 AM PDT If you’re a fan of the Twisted Metal series on the PlayStation (and who isn’t?), you might find Glu Mobile‘s latest Android game to be a delight. It’s called Indestructibles and it features vehicles with big guns attached to them. What more could you want? You just might want to grab this new game if you’re yearning for some Twisted Metal-like gaming on your Android device. In the game, there’s absolutely zero racing involved; there’s only vehicles with weapons that go around shooting at other vehicles with weapons. You can play against three other people in real-time multiplayer mode and choose from several different game types, such as capture the flag, death match, and recover the charge. On top of Glu Mobile claims to be “stunning high-quality graphics” and an “advanced physics engine”, Indestructibles comes with three arenas to battle in, and they’re all set in a post-apocalyptic world. It’s the perfect game with just the right amount of nonsense mixed in with the perfect amount of fun (then again, you can never have too much fun). As usual with other Glu Mobile games, Indestructible is a completely free game, but users can buy in-game items using real money to give them a competitive edge against their opponents. However, be warned that taking the entirely-free route is difficult and it takes forever to get anywhere in the game. There’s also in-game ads, so don’t be surprised if you’re about shoot one of your opponents and a Galaxy S III ad pops up. However, if you’re looking for a miniature version of Twisted Medal that fits in your pocket, look no further than Indestructibles. Indestructibles is available now in the Google Play store.

HTC Droid Incredible X rumored to be Google’s “Nexus 5″ Posted: 25 Sep 2012 10:24 AM PDT We’ve recently heard buzz on both the HTC Droid Incredible X and what might be Google’s next flagship phone. It’s certainly almost time for a new Nexus device, so it’s no wonder we’re hearing about it so much all of a sudden. The most recent rumor circulating around is that HTC‘s upcoming Droid Incredible X could be the next Nexus device. The Droid Incredible X is a rumored 5-inch phablet that is said to be Google’s next flagship phone, which might be called the Nexus 5. The name would make sense, because it would be Google’s 5th Nexus device (previous devices being the Nexus One, Nexus S, Galaxy Nexus, and Nexus 7), and the name Nexus 5 would go along great with the Incredible X’s 5-inch display — the latter being the more believable reason since Google named its 7-inch tablet the Nexus 7. Of course, HTC might not be the only Nexus partner this time around. Samsung is also rumored to bring an immediate successor of the Galaxy Nexus to the market, thanks to some leaked photo samples from the rumored Galaxy Nexus 2 that we heard about yesterday. LG and Sony are also said to be interested in joining the Nexus party. The Droid Incredible X will feature a 5-inch 1080p display running a Snapdragon S4 Pro processor. It’s also said to come with a 12 MP rear camera and a 2 MP front-facing camera, with 64 GB of internal storage. If Google did end up picking the Incredible X as their next flagship smartphone, it would be the first time a phablet would be chosen as a Nexus device. Obviously — as with any rumor — take all this with a grain of salt. The Nexus rumors are hard to follow as it is, so there may definitely be some fiction within all these rumors. However, it’s about that time for a new Nexus smartphone to hit the market, so we shouldn’t be waiting too long to find out what Google comes up with. Story Timeline Schmidt: no Google Nexus Two plans Google Nexus 4G Details [BREAKING - Next Generation Ice Cream Sandwich Device] Google Nexus Prime concept design looks amazing, and accurate Google Nexus Q Hands-on Google Nexus 7 and Jelly Bean Review Reports point to Google Nexus 10 in the works Google Nexus rumors suggest phones from Samsung, LG, and Sony this year [via AndroidGuys]

Some Samsung handsets vulnerable to factory wipe hack Posted: 25 Sep 2012 09:43 AM PDT It looks like there’s bad news on the Samsung front today, as it’s been discovered by security researchers that a single line of malicious code can factory wipe a handful of Samsung smartphones. This means that clicking on a link can automatically trigger your phone to wipe itself with no warning and no way to stop it. The exploit was detailed at the Ekoparty security conference using a simple USSD code. It can be sent from a website or be pushed to the phone with NFC, as well as be triggered by a QR code. The exploit seems to be only affecting devices running Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface. The list of phones that have been confirmed vulnerable so far by various users include the Galaxy S III, Galaxy Beam, S Advance, Galaxy Ace, and the Galaxy S II. Although the user can see the factory wipe taking place, hitting back on the phone or pushing any other button will not stop the reset. TeamAndIRC confirmed on Twitter that the exploit doesn’t work on AT&T’s Galaxy S III, as well as the European model of the S III. They say the firmware was patched last week before the hack showed up. It’s said that the hack can wipe the SIM card as well, rendering it completely useless from there on out. It's also possible to push Samsung devices straight to a website running the malicious code using a WAP-push SMS message. To protect yourself from experiencing the hack, it would be best to disable automatic site loading in your QR and/or NFC reader apps. Obviously, don’t click on links that you don’t trust, period. We have yet to hear from Samsung with an official comment. [via SlashGear]

Opera Mini updates with Smart Page for social and news updates Posted: 24 Sep 2012 02:57 PM PDT Android users are given the excellent luxury of choosing whatever browser they want, and they have many to choose from, including Dolphin, Chrome, Firefox, and Opera. Over the weekend, Opera Mini was updated and it now includes a new feature called “Smart Page” that aggregates social media updates and news from your most frequently visited websites. Smart Page works by creating feeds for your favorite websites and suggesting others based on your surfing habits. We’re not sure exactly how your surfing habits are recorded and whether or not they’re used for other purposes besides the Smart Page feature, but getting suggestions on websites based on what you’ve been searching could be useful for some users. Opera Mini also updated with the usual speed improvements and bugfixes. However, their pre-processing system that they’ve had implemented on their servers for a while claim to lower loading times for websites, and they’ve made improvements to it in this update, but our guess is that some of the other browsers out on the market are still superior when it comes to loading speeds — Opera has never been a front runner when it comes to this. While the Smart Page feature isn’t ground-breaking by any means, Opera is going in the right direction at least. Other mobile browsers like Dolphin or Google Chrome are still the popular favorite, so Opera is going to have to do something pretty substantial in order to win a majority of Android users. Opera Mini 7.5 is a free download and it’s available now in the Google Play store. Story Timeline Opera Introduces New Android Widget Tools Opera Mobile & Mini Browsers get updated for Android, Reviewed on Xoom Opera Mini Spreads to Verizon Feature Phones, Androids Scorn Opera Mini updates to version 7 with hardware acceleration Opera Mobile beta gets mobile extension support

Apex Launcher updates with new features, fixes force-closing issues Posted: 24 Sep 2012 02:07 PM PDT Apex Launcher updated today to version 1.3, bringing with it some new features, including a brand-new force-closing feature where the launcher would force close every time it opened. Okay, that’s not really a feature, but it was a problem that arose in the 1.3 update. Apex Launcher has since been updated to 1.3.1 to fix this issue. Apex Launcher has long been the go-to launcher for many Android users, and its constant support from the developers make it a good choice if you’re looking for something that keeps up with the times. This new Apex Launcher update comes with a plethora of new features, improvements, and enhancements, like automatic re-sizing of widgets and the option to switch to the tablet UI. A lot of the changes and new features are Jelly Bean-based, so if you’re stuck on Ice Cream Sandwich, getting the latest Apex Launcher update will allow you to experience some of the hyped Jelly Bean features that everyone is talking about. It’s also a great app if you’re simply looking for a change on your boring Android home screen. Apex Launcher is available in the Google Play store as a free download. You can also purchase the Pro version for $3.99. The Pro version includes a few exclusive features, like multiple configurable drawer tabs and more gestures than the free version. [via Android Police]

Samsung Galaxy Nexus 2 camera image samples leak Posted: 24 Sep 2012 01:58 PM PDT Google’s Nexus series is bound for a refresh soon, and rumors have already been churning. The Optimus Nexus is just one rumored device that may be the next phone in the Nexus lineup, but there’s also the Galaxy Nexus 2 by Samsung. Alleged image samples from the Galaxy Nexus 2 camera have supposedly been leaked. A couple of images that have been uploaded to Picasa have some interesting information in the EXIF data. A device named GT-i9260 shows up under “Model”. For anyone familiar with how Samsung codenames their devices, the Galaxy Nexus has the codename GT-i9250, which could easily mean that GT-i9260 is the immediate successor to the Galaxy Nexus. The photos are nothing to write home about since they don’t really show off the camera’s abilities, but it does say a lot about where the Galaxy Nexus 2 is in the manufacturing process. The photos confirm that a successor to the Galaxy Nexus is at least real. Whether or not its a finished product or just a prototype, though, is a mystery. Recent rumors have pegged the Galaxy Nexus 2 to get upgrades across the board with an improved camera, a bigger battery, double the RAM (2GB), and a faster processor that will either be dual- or quad-core. However, it’s said that the rumored phone will stick with the same 4.65-inch HD Super AMOLED display as the Galaxy Nexus. [via SlashGear]

Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour coming this Fall Posted: 24 Sep 2012 01:01 PM PDT Gameloft‘s Modern Combat series is an epic first-person shooter that has some awesome 3D graphics that are simply stunning for a mobile game. When we saw Modern Combat 3, we had no idea how the developers could ever top it, but it looks like they’re attempting to do that, with their upcoming sequel, Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour. Details about the upcoming game were leaked out today. A trailer and a few images were shown at a private Gameloft press event at this year’s Tokyo Game Show. The trailer features a news report that discusses the kidnapping of fictional US president Burke. There’s also a quick bio of Edward Page, who is an ex-US Ranger and member of the K.P.R. Alliance who was featured in the previous installment of Modern Combat. He’s been pinpointed as the suspect in MC4. We then see a few seconds of gameplay showing a city square with two helicopters crossing paths, with a voiceover saying, “Walk away with blood on your hands.” We’re sure this game will be a doozy and hopefully we’ll get even more details on it soon before it launches, like better screenshots and higher-quality trailer. The end of the trailer shows that Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour will be available on Android and iOS sometime in the “Autumn”, which could either mean tomorrow or even a couple months from now. Either way, all first-person shooter junkies should be on the lookout for this new sequel to hit any time now. Story Timeline Gameloft's Modern Combat 2 available on the Android Market Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation Coming Soon to Android [Video] Gameloft's Modern Combat 3 trailer takes the war home Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation is now available for Android [via Pocket Gamer]

Apple wants an extra $707 million in damages from Samsung Posted: 24 Sep 2012 12:29 PM PDT As if a whopping $1 billion isn’t enough for Apple, the Cupertino-based company is asking Samsung for almost 75% more in damages on top of the $1 billion. In a motion filed on Friday, Apple requested that Judge Lucy Koh require Samsung to pay an additional $707 million in damages against Apple. This would bring the total amount that Samsung would owe to over $1.7 billion. On top of the additional charges that Apple wants to bring upon Samsung, they have requested that a permanent sales ban be put on 26 Samsung smartphones and tablets, which is detailed in its entirety in the 43-page motion document. Don’t feel obligated to read through all 43 pages; we’re sure Apple is just being greedy at this point. In response to Apple’s motion, Samsung has requested a new trial with a different jury or — if not that — then at least a reduction in the proposed damage costs made my Apple. Then again, even if Samsung is rewarded all of the reductions that it asked for, it’ll only total up to around $35 million off, which is chump change compared to the $1.05 billion they already owe Apple. The two companies are scheduled to face off again in court on December 6, where a final decision will be made. At that point, we’ll hear what the judge has to say about Apple’s request for more money from damages. Whether or not Apple gets their way this time around, Samsung will still have to cough up a pretty penny — $1 billion definitely isn’t pocket change. Story Timeline Samsung: Apple lawsuits didn't change the Galaxy S III Judge Koh asks Apple if they're "smoking crack" in Samsung lawsuit Apple and Samsung both infringe on each other's patents, Korean court rules Apple vs Samsung verdict reached - expect appeals Samsung found guilty across the board - fined over 1 billion dollars Samsung CEO: Lawsuits won't hinder our ability to produce the best products [via SlashGear]

T-Mobile updating network and speeding up 4G Posted: 24 Sep 2012 11:52 AM PDT T-Mobile loves its unlimited plans and they’re one of the few carriers that still have them around. However, while providing unlimited data is certainly a boon, T-Mobile is currently working on improving and restructuring their network, making their 4G speeds even faster and providing coverage in more places. The carrier is promising the fastest speeds yet (not counting LTE), thanks to an enhanced 1900 MHz 4G HSPA+ spectrum from AT&T. To lure in those that are sick of not having unlimited data, T-Mobile can’t only say they provide true unlimited data, but they have to prove they can provide it with efficiency and aplomb. They’re hoping these upgrades will do the trick. The upgrade is a significant chunk of T-Mobile’s $4 billion plan to improve and restructure their network across the US. And what’s perhaps even more important, is that all unlocked international devices (as well as AT&T devices) will work on T-Mobile’s network now, which means a lot more devices can get T-Mobile’s 4G HSPA+ speeds that are mighty quick. It’s said that Las Vegas is one of the first cities to get T-mobile’s improved network updates — with 75% of the city’s coverage already being worked on. T-Mobile plans to go to other Western cities like Seattle and Los Angeles, while also hitting up the East coast in cities like Washington D.C. and the New York metro area within the coming months. Story Timeline T-Mobile 4G LTE trials starting this summer, LTE rollout early 2013 Verizon and T-Mobile agree to swap 4G spectrum T-Mobile launches true unlimited data plans September 5th T-Mobile explains what it will do with Isis NFC capabilities T-Mobile announces John Legere as new CEO [via SlashGear]

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