Tuesday, October 16, 2012

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Google Android News Android Forums

Unapproving shareholders look to block MetroPCS and T-Mobile merger

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 04:05 PM PDT

T-Mobile’s parent company, Deutsche Telekom, was poised to merge with MetroPCS for a purchase price of $1.5 billion, until the shareholders stepped in. MetroPCS, who has been successful with their low-cost LTE service, is currently sitting at around $11.33 per share. Deutsch Telekom’s original offer of $1.5 billion would hand over 74% of the stock, which works out to around $12.48 per share, as well as include a 1-for-2 reverse stock split. The remaining 26% would stay in the shareholders hands.

The current shareholders are feeling a bit undervalued, which you can’t completely blame them since the company was once valued at $10 billion. They feel that the small asking price is a far cry from the $39 billion AT&T dropped for T-mobile itself, and T-Mo doesn’t even offer LTE service. This barricade by stockholders could potentially affect not only the mobile service business, but also increase the value of the MetroPCS stock on the New York Stock Exchange.

Source: Phandroid

Android 4.1.2 update now rolling out to GSM Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S handsets

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 03:56 PM PDT

While the update to Android 4.1.2 may have arrived for Nexus 7 owners last week, the new software is now making its way to specific Nexus handsets. The latest iteration in Jelly Bean is currently rolling out to select GSM Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S smartphones. Users are reporting that only “yakju” variants of the Galaxy Nexus are currently seeing the update, though it’s expected that the “takju” model (the one officially sold through the Google Play Store) will be getting in on the action over the next couple of days.

As expected, version 4.1.2 is a minor update for phones. Other than a slight performance increase, no incredibly significant changes are noticeable. Despite the Nexus 7′s update having unleashed landscape mode, Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S users will continue to be limited to portrait, sans any custom launcher.

If you simply can’t wait for the update to hit your device, you can always head to the source link below to flash the OTA manually.

Source: XDA

AT&T Optimus G available Nov. 2 for $199, pre-orders start tomorrow

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 02:20 PM PDT

LG’s hottest and newest flagship device in the LG Optimus G will be available on AT&T starting November 2nd with pre-orders starting tomorrow. Here’s a small list on what you can expect with this device:

  • Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
  • 4.7-inch 1280 x 768 True HD IPS Display (with Zerogap Touch)
  • 1.5-GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor
  • 2,100mAh battery
  • 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera
  • 4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.0

While LG doesn’t exactly have the best track record with its customers, the Optimus G will definitely be a device to be reckoned with. Preliminary reviews of the device are showing great things, especially when it comes to its IPS display.

Anyone out there willing to give LG another shot with the Optimus G?

source: AT&T

Contest: Win a Nexus 7 courtesy of Security Coverage and TalkAndroid

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 02:14 PM PDT

We recently reviewed Password Genie Data Protection, which is a fantastic app for keeping all your accounts and password information safe. It’s one of the must have apps for every Android user. The makers of Password Genie, Security Coverage would like to reward one of our loyal readers with a brand new 8GB Nexus 7. Who’s going to argue with that? Just complete the following two steps to enter for a chance to win.

  1. Like Password Genie on Facebook.
  2. Head over to our forum post and tell us if you have ever been a victim of password theft (I know I have).

What could be simpler? You have until Thursday, October 18 at 11:59pm EST to complete the tasks at hand. On Friday, October 19 we will post the winner. If you are the lucky winner, you can expect an email to the account associated with your username. Good Luck.

Click here to enter

Microsoft drags Google along in their patent dispute against Motorola Mobility

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 01:59 PM PDT

Microsoft’s current dispute against Motorola Mobility in Germany has taken a turn as they have now dragged Google into the mix. In the past, companies have always taken Google’s Android vendors to court, but never Google themselves. Microsoft has taken that step as the patent in question defines a method for a mobile device to obtain a map from one database, call up resource information such as the location of a hotel from a second database, and overlay the two sets of data.

According to a Microsoft spokesperson, they decided to bring Google into the mix because ”It became necessary to add Google to this particular case because Motorola maintains that it lacks sufficient information about actions occurring on Google’s servers.”

In response, Google’s Deputy General Counsel Allen Lo said in an emailed statement: ”We want to focus on innovation, not litigation, but we’ll vigorously defend against any amended complaint Microsoft files.”

What do you guys think of Microsoft not just taking Motorola to court, but Google themselves as well?

source: rueters

FTC looking at possible antitrust case against Google

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 01:17 PM PDT

After over a year of investigating, members of the FTC are starting to believe that Google has illegally used it’s power as the most dominant search engine. This means that Google is looking at a rather serious anti-trust case. Numerous internet companies have been asking the FTC to repremand Google including Yelp and Nextag. Google has the ability to give other websites low quality rating scores pushing them down the results list and putting their own products at the top. The only way around that would be for companies to buy ads so they will be at the top which of course gets Google more money.

Along with their strength as a search engine, FTC is also taking a look at how Google is handling patents “which are determined to be essential to smartphones”. They are even suspicious that Google may be using patent infringement lawsuits as a way to hamper innovation and strengthen their own product, Android. Many companies that use Android have found them selves in court which has had Google thinking about how they handle patents.

It is suspected that the FTC will decided by the end of the year if Google has broken the law or not. If they do think Google broke the law then the most likely outcome will be a settlement between the search giant and the FTC, if that falls through another long court case is in Google’s future.

Source: Reuters

Featured Play Store Review: YourCity 3D [Live Wallpaper]

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 10:20 AM PDT

YourCity 3D, from inHause Games, just hit the Google Play Store, and if you’re a fan of live wallpapers you’re going to want to check it out. YourCity 3D gives you an aerial tour of a beautiful computer generated city at night that includes bright lights and moving traffic. The cool thing about it, is that no two cities are the same since it will reset automatically every day. It contains no textures or geometry data as they are procedurally generated and completely random.

You can also add a little customization of your own like building names, scrolling displays, and billboard signs. The building names are LED style and reside at the top of the buildings and scrollable displays are shown across buildings. You can choose as many of these names as you want. As to billboards, you can point the app to whatever folder has the pictures you want included. These settings are available just before setting YourCity 3D as your wallpaper, and they are saved in case you want to change to another wallpaper and revert back to it.

YourCity 3D is very attractive and since it’s dark, it will have minimal battery drain. The only negative I did find was that billboards and building names are sometimes not all that viewable on phones, but it’s really not the focal point anyway. It’s the city itself and the aerial views, which will give your phone or tablet a really nice look. inHause did say they are going to make some changes that could improve this issue, but I still think it’s worthy of an install and it’s my go to live wallpaper right now. It’s $1.49 so give it a try. Check out the quick demo video below and hit one of the download links to get started. As always, let me know what you think.

Full list of features

  • Contains no textures or geometry data.
  • All textures and geometry are procedurally generated and completely random.
  • No two cities are the same.
  • City automatically resets daily, so you’ll have a different city every day.
  • Simulated traffic and traffic lights.
  • Decorate your city with animated billboards that are built from pictures and photos on your device.
  • Set your scrolling text displays to show anything of your choosing.
  • Name your buildings.
  • Full 3D hardware acceleration. Supports OpenGL ES 2.0 / 1.1.
  • Optimized for low memory usage and little to no impact on system performance.
  • Supports all Android devices with Android 2.2 and up.
  • Inspired by PixelCity by Shamus Young.
  • Built on LibGDX by Badlogic Games.
Your_City_3D_Live_Wallpaper_01 Your_City_3D_Live_Wallpaper_02 Your_City_3D_Live_Wallpaper_03 Your_City_3D_Live_Wallpaper_04 Your_City_3D_Live_Wallpaper_05 Your_City_3D_Live_Wallpaper_06 Your_City_3D_Live_Wallpaper_07 Your_City_3D_Live_Wallpaper_Splash_Banner Your_City_3D_Live_Wallpaper_TA

Click here to view the embedded video.

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Play Store Download Link

First in series of Modern Combat 4 videos released by Gameloft

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 09:43 AM PDT

Video game producer Gameloft released a new video today for their forthcoming Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour game coming this fall. Gameloft is creating a series of “Developer Diary” videos as part of their promotion efforts. If the first one is any indication, the videos will be a combination of samples of game play and commentary from the developers explaining what changes and improvements are being made since the last title.

For Modern Combat 4, the developers note one major change will be the ability to play as either hero or villain. Gameloft also indicates they have completely redone the animations for the game, both for players and vehicles, through the use of some new technology. This includes the use of ragdoll models for people in the game. The video shows some of the updated motion capture that was completed as part of development. The game will also include a new “tactical system” which is supposed to make moving around easier for players.

The second video in the series will cover multiplayer features of the new game. You can check out the first Developer Diary below.

Click here to view the embedded video.

modern_combat_02 modern_combat_03 modern_combat_4

source: AndroidCentral

Archos GamePad gets a hands on demo video

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 09:33 AM PDT

The Archos GamePad was announced in August and is still an extremely intriguing device. This tablet is clearly made for the gamer in us all. It has buttons on the side so the entire 7 inch 1024 x 600 screen is available for looking at what you’re doing. The dual-core processor and quad-core GPU partnered with the gaming buttons off the touchscreen will make advanced gaming better than ever on Android. Oh did I mention that it could be priced somewhere south of $150? Instead of listening to me ramble about the GamePad, hit the break and check out the video by Charbax who demos the device and explains how the buttons integrate into the Android platform.

Click here to view the embedded video.

LG releases Jelly Bean update schedule for some devices

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 09:03 AM PDT

LG’s Korean site released information today regarding their plans to roll out Jelly Bean updates to some of their devices. It appears the first device to get the official update will be the LG Optimus LTE II starting some time in November. Translating the Korean page is a bit of challenge, but it appears a Jelly Bean update for the LG Optimus G will be pushed out in December. As 2013 opens, LG indicates both the LG Optimus Vu and LG Optimus Vu II will get Jelly Bean updates during the first quarter.

According to Jong-Seok Park, LG’s Vice President of the Electronics Mobile Communications division, the updates will include both Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and some of LG’s own apps and UI modifications. Among the changes that are touted are increased touch screen response speed and enhanced “Q” apps. The changes are expected to create a user experience that is similar to what users get with a Jelly Bean device out of the box.

LG does not indicate whether the time frames and devices listed apply to markets outside Korea.

source: LG Newsroom Korea
Posted by at 5:42 AM 0 comments

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SoftBank’s plan to purchase 70% of Sprint for $20.1b confirmed

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 11:38 AM PDT

We heard all about SoftBank’s desire to purchase a majority stake in Sprint last week, but today, the two companies confirmed the deal. SoftBank will pay out $20.1 billion to take control of a 70% share in Sprint, with $12.1 billion of that going to current Sprint shareholders as consideration for the buyout. The rest of the money – all $8 billion of it – will be given to Sprint as new capital.


Current Sprint CEO Dan Hesse will be keeping his position after the buyout is complete, and Sprint’s headquarters will stay in Overland Park, Kansas. SoftBank has actually opened a subsidiary named HoldCo specifically for this buyout, which will have current Sprint shareholders retaining a 30% stake in the New Sprint. Through HoldCo, SoftBank will own the other 70%.

Not everything with this deal is said and done, however, so SoftBank has put some precautionary clauses in place. If SoftBank can’t complete this acquisition of Sprint, it will give the company $600 million. Likewise, if Sprint accepts a better offer from any other company, it will have to pay SoftBank $600 million, with $75 million going to SoftBank if Sprint’s shareholders reject the buyout offer.

By purchasing 70% of Sprint, SoftBank will be able to give its US operations a significant boost. The deal will also make Sprint, which has been struggling lately, more competitive in the US, as the influx of funding from SoftBank will allow Sprint to beef up its 4G LTE network at a faster pace. Should everything work out as planned, it may not be long before we see Sprint giving the big guys like Verizon a run for their money. You can read more on the buyout by clicking this PDF link.

[via SlashGear]

Photos taken with Nexus 4 camera appear on Google Plus

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 10:43 AM PDT

At this point, we can be pretty confident that Google is planning to reveal a brand new Nexus phone that’s made by LG, but just in case you needed more evidence, it seems that a couple Google and LG employees are more than happy to oblige. Over the weekend, Jason Parks, a Google employee, and Bae Sang-Hoon of LG’s Pyeongtaek Learning Center posted a handful of images to their Google Plus profiles (note: Sang-Hoon has since taken down his pictures). The images themselves are unremarkable, but the EXIF data for the snapshots gives away one particularly juicy detail.


According to the EXIF data, these images were taken with the camera on the Nexus 4. Not only does that tidbit of information indicate that the next Nexus phone is indeed about to be announced, but it basically confirms the name of the device too. It’s possible that “Nexus 4″ is just a work-in-progress codename for the new Nexus phone, but when the device appeared in Carphone Warehouse’s inventory last week, it was also called the Nexus 4.

So, ladies and gentlemen, it appears that “Nexus 4″ is the name of this incoming device. Of course, we’re not willing to say that’s a sure thing just yet, as we don’t have any official word from Google, but this is about as close as we can to get to actual confirmation without Google and LG saying anything. Now all we need is an announcement and we’ll be set.

If the current rumors are to be believed, we won’t be waiting long for that announcement either. We’ve been hearing that Google will unveil the Nexus 4 (or whatever it will be officially called) on October 29, which is exactly two weeks away from today. Stay tuned, because if recent leaks are indication, the next two weeks should be quite interesting.

[via The Verge]

Gameloft releases behind-the-scenes video of Modern Combat 4

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 10:21 AM PDT

One of the most popular mobile games for Android is almost certainly Modern Combat. Gameloft released a teaser video late last month showing off their latest and greatest, Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour, and today they’ve dropped another quick video giving us an awesome behind-the-scenes look at this upcoming shooter for Android.

So far we have to admit, this game looks mightily impressive. We already knew it was going to be pretty epic but today’s first of many videos shows us even more of what to expect. Gameloft is calling this the developer diaries where we’ll get to see detailed gameplay video and more over the coming weeks before release. Take a peek below.

During the video above we see some incredible graphics and gameplay situations for a mobile device. Getting a behind-the-scenes look at some of the content and game creations, and what went into the thought process and developers minds while making this next-gen game. With stunning graphics, an increased polygon count for detailed textures and more we’re certainly seeing one of the best mobile games to date here.

Gameloft even details and mentions the Havok Engine is being used, which is similar to NVIDIA’s PhysX engine for a more realistic experience. This enables the game surroundings to change each time you play based on destruction, grenades, and other level altering situations. Some of those green trees sure reminds me of Crysis — just a thought. Who’s excited for this next-gen game from the folks at Gameloft? Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour should be arriving soon for Android so stay tuned.

Screen Shot 2012-10-15 at 10.03.24 AM Screen Shot 2012-10-15 at 10.03.09 AM Screen Shot 2012-10-15 at 10.02.41 AM


Google Nexus 7 is retailers best selling Android tablet ever

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 08:51 AM PDT

Carphone Warehouse announced that in the short time it has carried the Google Nexus 7, it has quickly become its best-selling Android tablet. This is not them calling it the best-selling Android tablet currently; it is the best-selling one in the history of the retailer. This just shows how the market is moving towards the more affordable, 7-inch tablet models and the power of the Google branding.



Of course, this is just one retailer, so it may not be indicative of the market as a whole. That being said, Carphone Warehouse are the UK's largest independent mobile retailer, so chances are great that the cross-section offered here is pretty valid of the market as a whole, at least in the UK. Besides the Nexus 7, Carphone Warehouse confirmed that it’s been seeing increased demand for smaller, cheaper tablets a whole.

The Kindle Fire HD is launching soon in the UK. This could cause a swing in the market, as the devices offer similar features and come in at around the same price point. Either way, taking over the market from a major retailer is no small feat, especially when you consider the short time the device has been on the market.

Nexus 7 could see its sales grow even more with rumors abounding about a new 32GB version hitting the market and replacing the 16GB version. If this happens, and buyers can grab double the memory for the exact same price, the Nexus 7 could extend it’s choke-hold on the small tablet market even further. We will keep you posted with that, and other Nexus 7 news as it develops.

[via The Telegraph]

LG phones beat Samsung in battery life

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 08:21 AM PDT

LG is claiming battery superiority, and it has just performed tests designed to prove it. LG tested its own Optimus G against a Samsung Galaxy S III. This is an interesting move on LG’s part. Going directly at one of its competitors and coming out ahead with a feature as important as battery life could be quite important for LG.



Both devices sport 2,100 mAh batteries. They put the devices head to head for talking on the phone, and watching and filming videos. According to LG, the Optimus G came out ahead on all fronts. LG’s results show that one could talk on the phone for 15.8 consecutive hours on the Optimus G compared to 9.5 hours on the Galaxy S III. They also found that the Optimus G records videos for 3.8 hours and plays them for 7.9 hours. The Galaxy S III, on the other hand, records for 2.8 hours and plays for 7.3 hours.

LG says the tests were conducted using the same conditions for both devices. Both phones were set to 50% backlight for the entirety of the test and both were on LG’s Uplus network. They also tested both devices for reporters at an event and showed the real-time difference in energy consumption between the two devices.

LG says it did not do this test as an attack against Samsung. Rather, they were attempting to clear up some misconceptions about the battery life of its device. Of course, beating the competition is a convenient bonus.

[via The Korea Herald]

Sony Nexus X mockup images appear

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 07:56 AM PDT

Today several images have leaked of what could be a new Sony smartphone called the Sony Nexus X. All kinds of rumors have circled regarding Nexus devices, but this is the first we’ve heard of this particular device. The photos of the device lack any Xperia branding, which seems a little bit odd. They were leaked on Picasa, and the device is certainly stylish, even if it might not be legit.



Of course this device could easily be a fake, and the lack of Xperia branding certainly makes us a little skeptical. The device itself looks legitimate, but it could be any Android phone with a person on the Internet calling it a Sony Nexus X. The device does say Google and Sony on the back casing, but that does not necessarily tell us that it’s real.

Unfortunately, the photos are all that was posted, and there are only two photos. The person who posted the photos did not list any specifications for the device, so we are left to wonder what is under the hood. The lack of specs also does not any credence to the leak, as one would think the person who posted it would share some specifications on the device in question.

Any leaks like this need to be greeted with a great deal of skepticism. Could this be a real phone? Sure, Sony may well be working on a Nexus device, and this could be that device, but until we hear something more official, it is hard to necessarily believe this as fact. That being said, this device is on our radar, and we will keep your posted as anything new develops on a possible Sony Nexus phone.

[via Xperia Blog]

Microsoft’s Xbox Music service launching Tuesday and coming soon to Android

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 07:28 AM PDT

Microsoft has announced that its new music service is launching on Tuesday for a slew of devices. Sadly, Android is not among the initial device offerings, but Microsoft has confirmed that the Spotify competitor is coming to Android (and iOS) shortly after the initial launch. This means that Android owners can take advantage of the cool stuff Microsoft’s Xbox music service offers very soon.



Microsoft offers a free version of this service, but like Spotify, users looking to use the service on mobile device will have to pay $9.99 per month to get access to it. For owners of an Android and an Xbox 360, it might be worth switching to Xbox Music because it does offer some pretty awesome features, especially if you are using it on an Xbox. As you might expect, Xbox 360 owners need to have a Gold account to make use of the service.

On Xbox, users can watch unlimited music videos with the new service. This is something you will not find on other music services, and could very well be worth the switch. They also have a store available for purchasing tracks not already available. On top of that, Microsoft even implemented an iTunes Match competitor designed to match songs from your library, regardless of where they were purchased.

As you might expect, Microsoft has also implemented a Pandora Radio-like experience for those who want to let some music play and not control it at all times. Overall, Microsoft looks to have some serious advantages over its competition. While they have not confirmed a date for the Android version of the music service, we are certainly looking forward to checking it out when it hits the market.

[via SlashGear]

32GB Nexus 7 tablet could go on sale this week

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 07:01 AM PDT

It looks like Google could be bringing a 32GB version of its Nexus tablet to market as soon as this week. In a tip to ITProPortal from a person close to UK retailer Argos, they revealed that they plan to add the Nexus 7 to its Christmas gift guide, which hits the shelves this week. Shortly after, Spanish retailer Phone House added a preorder page offering the same device for £279 ($361.64).



The report from Argos says that the device will retail for £199.99 (@$259.23). Phone House is asking a full £80 more than the price confirmed by Argos. The Argos report claims that this new 32GB model will replace the 16GB version, so that is why they expect it to go for the same price.

Many retailers have been dropping the price of the 16GB version, which further shows the likelihood of a 32GB version hitting the market just in time for the holidays. Google has not officially confirmed the existence of a 32GB version of the popular tablet. Asus has also not said a word about the official existence of this device.

Only time will tell if the 32GB Nexus 7 is officially hitting the market, but reports from two major retailers happening at around the same time seems like too big of a coincidence. Hopefully, with these reports breaking, Google or Asus will step up and make an official announcement soon. Either way, we will keep you posted on all the latest Nexus 7 as it happens.

Source: Omio and ITProPortal

ALCATEL ONE TOUCH announces modular ONE TOUCH EVO7 tablet

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 06:05 AM PDT

ALCATEL ONE TOUCH just announced a new 7-inch tablet that has 3G data that can be added or removed at a later time. While most tablets have its data built in to the device, the ONE TOUCH EVO7 has a removable module that allows it to get access to 3G data. This module can be purchased with the device or separately at another time.



The tablet has a removable frame, which is designed to cover up the removable 3G module. Users can also grab these frames in a number of different colors to give their tablet a more personalized feel. The announcement shows frames in red, black, and blue. There could be other colors available, but they do not officially mention them.

The ONE TOUCH EVO7 comes with Android 4.0 ICS installed. It has full access to Google Play, so users can choose from all the apps available. It has a 1 GHz processor installed to help get things done.

The device has 1GB of RAM, and that is the only internal memory. It does support microSD, so users can add up to 32GB of memory to the new tablet. Either way, this looks like a pretty cool tablet with an interesting method of offering data. I certainly would not mind seeing other tablet makers use 3G that can be added later.

LG confirms Jelly Bean release schedule for several devices

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 05:43 AM PDT

LG has issued a release regarding its plans for updating many of its devices to Jelly Bean. Owners of some of LG’s Optimus devices will get to enjoy the new features of Jelly Bean, some starting as soon as next month. Users with an LG Optimus LTE II will see their phones update sometime in November, with updates for other devices continuing as time goes on.



The Optimus G will be the next in line to receive a delicious Jelly Bean. It should see the update sometime in December. This should have owners of the device on the edge of their seats in anticipation.

The next phones to receive the update will be the LG Optimus Vu and Optimus Vu II. For these devices, the news is not quite as good, as LG announced that they will get a Jelly Bean update sometime in the first quarter of 2013. Hopefully, this ends up being early in Q1 and not all the way in March. After all, owners of an LG Optimus Vu or Optimus Vu II want those sweet Jelly Beans as much as the rest of us.

Oddly, LG made no mention of the LG Optimus 4X HD. This phone was a flagship device not long ago, and it was only released in August. Seems odd that LG would not update this phone with LG’s Q Slide feature. Besides Q Slide, these Jelly Bean updates will also include UI improvements, and app enhancements.

Android Community Weekly: October 14th, 2012

Posted: 14 Oct 2012 03:41 PM PDT

After last week ending strong on Nexus rumors we all pretty much expected that to continue this week, and that’s exactly what happened. Sure enough we had leak after leak of Nexus rumors, plenty of hardware pics and more so lets get started with what was important to us in the world of Android. Starting with the Nexus of course.

To keep things short and sweet on the LG Nexus 4 — since we’ve seen it all week — the hardware has been in the hands of leaksters for a few weeks now and Friday we got a full out hands-on review of the LG Nexus 4. It was benchmarked and we even got plenty of photo samples of that 8 megapixel camera. Obviously it’s prototype hardware so everything is being taken with a grain of salt — but exciting nevertheless. Reports are suggesting the LG Nexus 4 will be jointly announced by Google and LG on October 29th. We’ll have to wait and see.

This week was finally one that was light on Samsung news. Although we did learn the Galaxy Note II will most likely be dropping from multiple carriers on the 24th following the Samsung announcement event. Then Samsung announced their new and smaller Galaxy S III Mini — although the specs are a bit underwhelming. Then we had tons of news from Motorola, Google and others so lets dig in.

Google announced Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, with a few minor changes and nothing too major. It quickly rolled out to the Nexus 7 the same day. Speaking of the Nexus 7, a 32GB model is indeed coming and was even advertised on a few websites. Lastly from Google, Gmail 4.2 leaked with pinch-to-zoom and other awesome features — which is coming soon.

As far as hardware goes Motorola and Verizon confirmed the DROID RAZR HD and MAXX HD will officially arrive October 18th in store and online. Check out our RAZR HD hands-on for an idea of what to expect. We also enjoyed some time with Huawei‘s new quad-core devices. Check out the Ascend D Quad XL hands-on, then the MediaPad 10 FHD unboxing.

Last but not least Google updated the Google Play store with tons of new features, and we now can remove apps from the “all apps” list — something users have been wanting for a long time. Then the folks from Madfinger Games released the open beta of ShadowGun: Deadzone, and we’d highly recommend you check it out. Stay tuned for multiple reviews, news, and details coming next week. Who’s excited for the LG Nexus 4? Even if we only get 8 and 16GB of storage options?

Have a good weekend folks!
Posted by at 12:54 AM 0 comments
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