Sunday, November 4, 2012

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans

Android Overload: leaks, Galaxy S3 sales, Android 4.2 and more

Posted: 03 Nov 2012 06:11 PM PDT

Your Saturday night festivities are starting so let’s make sure you get your fix of Android news before you head out the door! Android Overload covers all the stories that didn’t make it to our main page, but are still important enough to check out. Take a look!

  • Chromium OS ported to Nexus 7 [ChromeSpot]
  • New HTC DROID DNA leaked picture [EVLeaks]
  • HTC working on official Facebook phone [Pocket-Lint]
  • HTC launches dual-SIM Desire SV [HTC]
  • Samsung Galaxy S3 sales reach 30 million devices [Sammy Hub]
  • ZTE Flash render leaked [EVLeaks]
  • Inside Android 4.2′s powerful new security system [Computer World]
  • Samsung Stratosphere 2 leaked image [EVLeaks]

Apple UK updates Samsung statement, but makes sure people don’t see it

Posted: 03 Nov 2012 03:09 PM PDT

Apple did not take its loss against Samsung lightly, in the UK. The Cupertino Giant was forced to post a statement in their UK website, stating that Samsung did not infringe on Apple’s patents. Needless to say Apple still went for homerun and decided to highlight the competition’s shortcomings and Apple’s victories across the world.

UK courts then asked Apple to correct the previously posted statement and publish a Samsung-friendly one. The link also had to be more noticeable, placed under Apple’s homepage at a font size no lower than 11 points. But of course, Apple found another way to make such statement less visible to the general public.

Apple UK went as far as re-coding the site so that people won’t be able to see the statement link without a bit of effort. Apple’s UK website resizes itself depending on screen size and resolution, making the statement harder to get to, regardless of what device you may be using. This is done mostly by resizing the image of the iPad Mini to accomodate the browser’s size.

Code

var HeroResize=AC.Class({initialize:function(b){this._height=null;this._hero=$(b);
AC.Object.synthesize(this);this.__boundResizeHero=this.resizeHero.bindAsEventListener(this);
if(typeof window.ontouchstart===”undefined”){this.resizeHero();Event.observe(window,”resize”,this.__boundResizeHero)
}},setHeight:function(b){this._height=(b<0)?0:b;return this._height},resizeHero:function(){this.setHeight(parseInt(window.innerHeight||(window.document.documentElement.clientHeight||window.document.body.clientHeight),10)-310);
this.hero().style.height=this.height()+"px"}});Event.onDOMReady(function(){var b=new HeroResize("billboard")
});

The code you see above ensures that the bottom 310 pixels of the site stay out of view unless one makes an effort to scroll down. I have tested viewing both sites from multiple monitors and can attest to the fact that the bottom part stays out of view, with the UK site’s iPad Mini picture changing sizes (while the US version stays the same).

The only way I managed to keep the statement in view was to put my 23-inch monitor on portrait orientation and blasting the site full-screen. And this was only because the iPad Mini image couldn’t get any bigger without crossing the side edges.

Apple, you just really have to have the last word, don’t you? Is it that hard to accept a defeat and leave a statement until mid-November? We could not expect any less from Apple and its unfair tactics. Now let’s see if UK authorities will notice this and force Apple to once again make changes to its official site.

[via Reddit]

Thanks, Jake!

Get that VIZIO Co-Star while it’s in stock!

Posted: 03 Nov 2012 12:44 PM PDT


If you are a fan of all things Android like us, you have been dying to get your hands on a VIZIO Co-Star but haven’t been able to catch it in stock. The $100 Google TV box has been flying off the shelves like no other Google TV unit, mostly due to its great price and equally good features.

After going in and out of stock for several months, the VIZIO Co-Star is now available for purchase again. We don’t know if it will be for very long, but it should be a good idea to purchase yours as soon as possible. It has been some time since it’s launch and the hype might be starting to slow down, but it is still a device many of us have been waiting to get.

It is a great deal for $100, especially considering it comes with a capable dual-core processor and OnLive compatibility. It would be great for streaming, Google TV apps and even cloud gaming. You really can’t get a better deal when it comes to a capable, yet affordable Google TV device.

If you want to sign up for one, you can go ahead and purchase it at VIZIO’s website right now. We already did, will you?!

[via GTV Source]

DIY Project: Custom comic book cases for your Android device

Posted: 03 Nov 2012 09:16 AM PDT

This image has no alt text

Alright, Phandroids. We’re nearing the weekend and I thought I’d turn you guys onto a fun, easy, and affordable DIY project to keep your favorite Android protected, and in style. Yes, I know. There are a million cases on the market, but if you really wanted to stand out from the crowd, you could always make your very own one-of-a-kind, custom comic book case featuring your favorite super hero.

A good friend of mine was nice enough to put together this custom Spider-Man case for me and now, I want to show you guys exactly how to do it. You ready to get your hands a little dirty? Alright — here’s exactly what you’re gonna need:

  • Plastic smartphone case (preferably with printed design)
  • Favorite comic book
  • 1 bottle of Modge Podge (either gloss or matte finish)
  • Paint brush
  • Scissors
  • 1 can of finishing spray (either gloss or matte)
  • Smidgen of creativity

All the above items can easily be found at your local arts and crafts store with the exception of the plastic hard case for your Android device. I was lucky enough to find a place online that ships from China and sells in bulk, but you guys can find individual cases on eBay for around $3 a piece (just expect long shipping times).

One more thing: while this tutorial isn’t specifically for the Samsung Galaxy S3, it was for this specific kind of case. I can’t guarantee this will work with other cases, on other devices. The reason being these cases in particular only hold onto the sides of the phone, and even after wrapping the case in a thin layer of comic book paper and glue, they still held onto the device perfectly. Other types of hard cases on other phones may vary (although I’ve seen similar designs for many other phones). When choosing a case, it’s incredibly important to find one with print already on it (cassette tape, vintage camera, etc.). This is so that if you miss a few spots when applying the comic book clippings, it wont be noticeable.

Now that we got all that out of our way, we can start crafting. And don’t worry, you’ll get your masculinity back once you see the final results.

Prep Work

Find a totally badical comic book worthy of plastering all over your device. Spider-Man, X-Men vs Avengers, manga — whatever. Just try and be mindful of the overall color of the scenes featured in the comic. If you plan on making more than one custom case down the road, it can be fun to have a variety of cases featuring specific colors (like blues, blacks, or greens).

Cutting

Handpick a few good frames featuring a badass action scene and cut out entire frames. These will be used as the “background.” Next, cut out your favorite super hero (or villain) doing something awesome. Jumping, flying, kicking someone in the face — that sorta thing. After that, cut out a few action words like, “BAMF! OOMPH! THOCK!”

Glue

Apply a thin layer of Modge Podge over the spots where you’ll be laying down your hand picked frames. Place the frames on top, almost as if they’d appear in a comic book. This is going to be your background. Continue until the entire case is covered. You may have to cut out a few very small pieces to get full coverage. Let dry.

Next, apply another thin layer of Modge Podge over the pasted frames. Apply your comic book hero cutouts, title, action words. Apply another thin layer of Modge Podge over the top and let dry.

Matte or Gloss?

Lastly, apply the finishing spray. Matte if you want a more authentic comic book look, or gloss. Whichever tickles your fancy. Hopefully, you’re pleased with the end result. POW!

So, as you can see, there really isn’t too much to it. With a little bit of time, and some creativity, you too could have your very own custom comic book case. Now you, and your Android phone will be the hit of the party (or something like that). If making these cases isn’t really your thing, you can custom order them from Etsy for $20 each.

[via Etsy]
Posted by at 7:57 AM 0 comments

Google Android News Android Forums

Google Android News Android Forums

Crafty User Successfully Ports Chrome OS Onto Nexus 7 Tablet

Posted: 03 Nov 2012 08:06 AM PDT

 

It’s no secret that that new Samsung Chromebook is one sweet little toy, especially since it features that awesome Chrome OS. But don’t you get the idea that the awesome Chrome OS would be even more awesome on our tablets instead of Jelly Bean? Well that’s what a crafty indie developer Hexxeh believed and took it upon himself to create a fully functional port of Chrome OS onto his Nexus 7 tablet.  Now while the port has its fair share of bugs and is incomplete at this time, you can clearly see in the video below that it does in fact work— and pretty well at that with the Nexus 7 and connected keyboard.

Naturally the port isn’t ready for anyone yet, but the fact that it’s in the wild makes way for big optimism for the cool OS appearing on not just Nexus 7 owners, but tablet owners everywhere. You can check out the video in its entirety below.

 

Click here to view the embedded video.

 

source: Hexxeh
via: Droid-Life

Sprint rumored to be prepping a revamped Galaxy S II in Titanium for $99.99

Posted: 03 Nov 2012 12:32 AM PDT

Rumor has it that Sprint is gearing up to release a refreshed version of Samsung’s Galaxy S II (yes, two). The leaked render shown above reveals an all-touch candybar styled smartphone, reminiscent of last year’s Epic 4G Touch. Interestingly, we also spotted this very same device earlier today in a set of Sprint roadmap leaks, ultimately leading us to believe that this smartphone is indeed coming sometime in the future. Details are still scarce, but we’d expect the ”Titanium”-colored S2 to hit store shelves this holiday season.

Source: Android Central

Samsung Galaxy S III reaches 30 million sales worldwide

Posted: 02 Nov 2012 11:09 PM PDT

Samsung has repeatedly made it clear that its flagship Galaxy S III has proven to be one of the company’s most successful ventures in the mobile space. Even the Korean manufacturer’s oversized Galaxy Note II has managed to make a significant dent in the mobile market.

Just two months ago, sales figures for the GSIII were pegged at 20 million total units. Today however, the company announced that it has moved an astronomical 30 million Galaxy S IIIs worldwide. Undoubtedly, the device will continue to be a prominent player in the market for many months to come, but with the LG Optimus G already available and Google’s very own Nexus 4 looming on the horizon, other non-Sammy options may just be more enticing.

Via: The Verge
Source: Samsung Poland

Google to fix “smishing” vulnerability recently discovered by NCSU researchers

Posted: 02 Nov 2012 07:34 PM PDT

Smishing, or SMS-phishing, is an old scamming technique that baits users into putting in personal information on fake websites by sending bogus text messages. It hasn’t been too common in the past few years, but some researchers at NC State University have found a vulnerability affecting several Android versions that could make phishing popular again. The exploit identified affects Gingerbread, Ice Cream Sandwich, and even Jelly Bean.

The exploit, very simply, allows an affected app to send a convincing, but fake, text message asking for Facebook logins, bank information, etc. Most of the time, these things are more of an annoyance than anything, but they can still be quite dangerous. The research team won’t disclose any specifics of the exploits, but they’ve reached out to Google, and Google has responded that they are working on a fix in “a future Android release.” Until Google gets this patched up, remember to be cautious with the apps you download and the permissions some of those apps are requesting.

source: Engadget

Sprint prepping ZTE Flash to join slew of devices for Nov. 11th launch

Posted: 02 Nov 2012 07:05 PM PDT

Last summer we broke the news about a new ZTE smartphone that appeared to be headed for Sprint. ZTE, one of the top five Android device manufacturers in the world that mainly concentrates on the Chinese market, recently made headlines when members of a US House of Representatives intelligence committee concluded they were one of two companies that could be a threat to the U.S. due to spying activities. That unwanted attention may have played into the decision to drop “ZTE” from the name and market the device as the Sprint Flash.

The ZTE Flash is notable for its 12 megapixel camera which is unusually powerful for a smartphone in the mid-tier range. The device also boasts a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and a 4.5-inch screen, features that will compare quite favorably to other mid-tier phones. Perhaps disappointingly, it does appear the device will ship with Ice Cream Sandwich instead of Jelly Bean. The price for the new Sprint Flash device appears to be set at $130. For buyers who are looking at bang for the buck instead of being on the cutting edge or having a super-powerful device, the Sprint Flash makes a compelling argument.

Along with the marketing materials discovered that indicate the Sprint Flash will be available on November 11th, EVLeaks discovered a nice render of the device that clearly shows the ridge needed to house the camera. The Sprint Flash will join several other devices like the LG Mach and the LG Optimus G slated to be released by Sprint on November 11th.

evleaks_zte_flash_render sprint-flash-zte-leak sprint-flash-zte-leak-2

source: Engadget, @evleaks

How to enable hidden developer settings on Android 4.2

Posted: 02 Nov 2012 06:38 PM PDT

Like Mitt Romney’s move to the center, Google continues its move to make Android more appealing to mainstream consumers. Google has hidden the Developer Settings menu in Android 4.2. Access to these settings is essential for developers and the relatively small percentage of power users looking to try out the latest Android advancements ahead of schedule (Android Sphere for the GNex anyone?) or jump on a popular custom ROM like CyanogenMod. For most smartphone users, however, it’s a menu they’ll likely never access… on purpose.

Android Central has discovered a relatively easy way to bring the menu back.  Go to ”About phone” and tap the “Build number” line seven times. You’ll restore the Developer Settings menu and will get an extra life the next time you play Super Mario Brothers.

Source: Android Central

 
Posted by at 5:59 AM 0 comments

Android Central

Android Central

Another Droid DNA pic leaks

Posted: 03 Nov 2012 05:00 PM PDT

Droid DNA

The fellows at @evleaks have shown off yet another leaked image render of the HTC Droid DNA, the 5-inch beast from HTC we're pretty sure is headed to Verizon. We certainly don't know all the details of this one, but the rumors of a quad-core Snapdragon Pro, 2GB of RAM, and a 50inch 1080p has got plenty of folks on Verizon interested. 

While I still think the J Butterfly is a better name, I can see a lot of people being pretty happy should this one go up for sale around Thanksgiving, like the leaked Verizon MAP document we first showed you suggests. 

Source: @evleaks

Apps of the Week: Bakery Story, Knights of Pen and Paper, Halloween Live Wallpaper and more!

Posted: 03 Nov 2012 02:04 PM PDT

Apps of the Week

Now that the initial flood of Nexus news is over and we're all waiting patiently with our credit cards out ready to spend some money on November 13th, take a few minutes to check out this week's app picks. This week, we have a couple belated Halloween apps, a couple fun games and a few others as well -- all hand picked for your enjoyment. Stick around after the break and see how we did this week.

read more

Android Central international round-up - November 3, 2012

Posted: 03 Nov 2012 01:39 PM PDT

Android Central

It's Nexus week, and over the past seven days we've seen plenty of Google's new Nexus devices -- the Nexus 4 phone, the Nexus 10 tablet and the refreshed 32GB/3G Nexus 7. Nexus 4 and 10 have yet to make their debut -- an international launch is scheduled for Nov. 13 on the Google Play Store -- but we're already starting to see the 32GB Nexus 7 appearing at retailers such as PC World in the UK.

Meanwhile, we learned that O2 will have a month of exclusivity over the Nexus 4 in the UK, though that shouldn't stop anyone wanting to pick it up at the super-low SIM-free price.

In Google Play news, it was announced that Europe will finally be getting Google Play Music around Nexus launch time, and in addition European users will be the first to enjoy Play Music's new track matching service. Elsewhere on Google Play, several countries saw movie purchase options become available for the first time last Monday.

And Apple was forced into an embarrassing climb-down after the UK's Court of Appeals took issue with its interpretation of a legally-mandated statement on its UK website. After losing a legal battle with Samsung, Apple was ordered to place statements on its site, and in ads in prominent UK publications, stating that Samsung didn't copy its patented iPad design. The original statement contained was written in a passive-aggressive tone, and mentioned other court cases in Germany and the U.S. where Samsung was found to have infringed. The court gave Apple 48 hours to correct its statements, and as of today, a revised notice has gone up on apple.com/uk.

In addition, we got our first look at Google's Nexus 4 and Android 4.2, in addition to a quick hardware walkthrough of HTC's One X+. What can we say -- it's been a busy week!

Check below for some of the main international Android stories from the past seven days. If you've got news, you can tip us at the usual address.

Special features:

News:

32GB Nexus 7 'with Android 4.2' advertised in the UK

Posted: 03 Nov 2012 01:30 PM PDT

Android Central

Hold your horses -- the Nexus 7 doesn't have Android 4.2 just yet. But no-one seems to have told UK retailer HMV, which is putting out newspaper ads for the new 32GB version of Google's tablet, suggesting it'll come "with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean."

As Android 4.2 has yet to be finalized and open-sourced, you won't find it on any tablets currently on store shelves, and that includes the newly-released 32GB Nexus 7. But we're sure Google won't waste any time in pushing that 4.2 update out to Nexus 7 tablets just as soon as it's ready. Keep watching as we approach the Nov. 13 launch date for Nexus 4 and Nexus 10!

Carphone Warehouse selling Galaxy S3 Mini from £25 monthly

Posted: 03 Nov 2012 12:58 PM PDT

Galaxy S3 Mini

We've gotten several bits of information on the pricing and availability of that awkwardly mid-range Galaxy S3 Mini before, and now Carphone Warehouse has released its pricing details. Falling in line with previous retailers, Carphone Warehouse will be selling the device SIM-free for "under £300" -- which falls into line with the other retailer's prices of about £298 -- as well as on-contract pricing with tariffs as low as £25 monthly and the device free.

It may have been an appealing low-cost option for folks in Europe, but since the pricing on the Nexus 4 has dropped its hard to see who picks this up over Google's latest superphone offering.

read more

Inside Android 4.2: Notifications and quick settings

Posted: 03 Nov 2012 07:21 AM PDT

Android 4.2 quick-settings

Finally, Google has added quick settings to the notification pulldown in Android 4.2. That's a feature many have wanted in stock Android since, well, forever. Enthusiast ROMs have added them. The manufacturers have added them. You can download apps that add them. And now, Google's added them in the latest version of Jelly Bean.

Only, Google did it different. Whereas quick settings generally serve as toggles in the notification pulldown, Google's gone a different route. Crazy, or crazy like a fox? Let's take a look.

read more

Verizon pledging to match Red Cross text donations up to $1 million

Posted: 03 Nov 2012 04:33 AM PDT

Red Cross Donation

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, there's pretty extensive damage up in the Northeast. If you'd like to help, Verizon has been facilitating $10 donations to the Red Cross from customers by texting REDCROSS to 90999, and is now offering to help out even more. The first $1 million donated by customers will be matched by Verizon directly, and in addition it is offering another $200,000 to various nonprofit organizations in New York and New Jersey to help with the relief efforts.

Consider passing on the latte for a day and donate, be it through Verizon or directly to a charity, and help out some people in need.

More: American Red Cross

read more

Apple admits to 'inaccurate' Samsung statement on its UK site

Posted: 03 Nov 2012 04:25 AM PDT

Android Central

Earlier in the week Apple was rebuked by a UK court of appeal for publishing a "non-compliant" statement about Samsung's Galaxy Tabs not infringing, but willfully copying the iPad. The company was required to correct its statement, and the revised version started appearing in British newspapers yesterday.

Today, inside the 48 hour window required by the court, Apple has updated its UK site to include the following text in a large, 14.6-pixel-high font --

On 25 October 2012, Apple Inc. published a statement on its UK website in relation to Samsung's Galaxy tablet computers. That statement was inaccurate and did not comply with the order of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales. The correct statement is at Samsung/Apple UK judgement.

The presence and content of the message isn't all that surprising, but the large font size required by the court makes the revised statement rather impactful. Despite being at the bottom of the main page at apple.com/uk, it clearly stands out from the rest of the content, something Apple can't be happy about.

This is just the latest development in a long and winding legal battle between Apple and Samsung. In the UK, it was ruled that Samsung's Galaxy Tab didn't copy the iPad, and Apple was ordered to place statements and take out ads to correct the impression that Samsung has copied its tablet. The first version of that statement referenced cases in Germany and the U.S., where courts found in Apple's favor, and following their publication, the appeals court ruled that Apple must correct these statements in at least 11-point font.

The page linked to on Apple's site doesn't stray too far from the content of yesterday's newspaper ads -- just the findings of the court, with no added snark.

In order to comply with the court's ruling, he statement on Apple's site must remain in place for one month.

Source: Apple UK

Android Central 114: Nexus 4, Nexus 10, Android 4.2

Posted: 02 Nov 2012 08:05 PM PDT

Samsung has sold 30 million Galaxy S3's worldwide

Posted: 02 Nov 2012 07:15 PM PDT

Samsung Galaxy S3

We heard just yesterday about the relative success of the Galaxy Note 2, selling 3 million units in just over 30 days. That was quite a feat, but how about this? 30 million Galaxy SII (S3) units sold worldwide since launch. That's a serious number, especially considering that the device hasn't had worldwide availability for that long.

It's surely outpacing anything else out there, including the amazing sales numbers of the Galaxy S2, and we haven't even hit the holiday season yet. We'll likely see tens of millions more Galaxy S3's sold in the coming months.

Source: Samsung Poland (Twitter) Via: The Verge

Getting used to the Note 2 size, Updates are a reason to buy Nexus devices [From the Forums]

Posted: 02 Nov 2012 06:49 PM PDT

From the Forums

Just in case you missed out on some of the Android news today, now is the time to go ahead and get yourself fully caught up. Here on the blogs and in the Android Central Forums there is plenty to talk about. Have some questions? Need some help or just looking to chat Android? You know where to go, check out some of the threads below to get started.

We've got nearly 1 million members helping members and nearly 2 million posts in our Android Forums. Are you one of them? Join today!

Sprint readying refreshed Galaxy S2 in 'Titanium' for $99.99

Posted: 02 Nov 2012 06:25 PM PDT

Titanium Galaxy S2

This render of a color refreshed Samsung Galaxy SII (S2) hitting Sprint has just landed in our inbox, which you can see above. It's not the highest quality picture ever, but it's worth noting that it falls right into line with a leak we saw earlier today that a refreshed Galaxy S2 was hitting Sprint in the coming weeks. Put these two together and we'll bet you'll see this "Titanium" (we'll call it gray) model in Sprint stores for the holidays. A color refresh is fine and dandy, but we'd be interested to see if that's the only change in this model.

Previous information shows a retail price of $99.99, and smart money says there will be some holiday deals associated with that as well.

Thanks, Anonymous!
Posted by at 5:44 AM 0 comments
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