Android Community |
- Huawei 6.1-inch Ascend Mate phablet priced at $575
- Google Nexus 10 back in stock at the Play Store
- Agenda Calendar update brings 24-hour mode support and other improvements
- Sony C5303 HuaShan confirmed to be the Xperia SP
- Temple Run 2 app update brings performance improvements and bug fixes
- Huawei Ascend P2 Mini tipped for a MWC unveil
- Super Bowl apps, games, and movies roundup
- Qualcomm leak hints at 5.0 Key Lime Pie release date – Mum’s the word
- Samsung GT-B9150 leaks again with 1080p and dual-core Exynos 5
- Archos 70 and 101 Titanium tablets gain FCC approval
- Flipboard update brings save images feature and retweet fixes
- Star Trek: Into Darkness movie companion app hands-on
- HD Widgets Colourform theme hands-on
- Sony Xperia E FCC filing discovered
- Chrome Beta for Android update arrives with bug fixes
| Huawei 6.1-inch Ascend Mate phablet priced at $575 Posted: 02 Feb 2013 11:15 AM PST In case you guys haven’t seen the news, Huawei is taking on the bigger than usual phablet market like the Galaxy Note II, and Samsung’s rumored Galaxy Note III. Their new 6.1-inch Ascend Mate smartphone was shown off at CES, and now we have some official pricing details. Huawei will be offering this handset at $575 contract-free and unlocked.
Samsung’s new 6.3-inch Note III has yet to be announced or leaked, so for now the Ascend Mate is the only device that pushes the 6-inch barrier and is still considered a phone. Huawei’s Ascend D2 was revealed at the same time, but is already available, and now it’s the Mate’s turn. A few shops in China have it up for pre-order and the price isn’t too bad either. In China the new device is being sold for €422, or roughly $575 USD. To recap what that will get you, the Ascend Mate comes with a 6.1-inch 1280 x 720p IPS+ HD Display, and a powerful quad-core processor. Other specs include 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, a large 4,050 mAh battery keeps it running all day too. To round it off we have an 8 megapixel camera on the rear and 2 megapixel up front, and the smartphone runs with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean to keep things smooth and stable. For more details see our Ascend Mate hands-on from CES. In the end, the Ascend Mate will probably never make it stateside but for those who want to import this beast it can be yours for just $575. [via Unwired View] |
| Google Nexus 10 back in stock at the Play Store Posted: 02 Feb 2013 10:47 AM PST It looks like slowly but surely Google’s Nexus devices are returning back to stock in the Google Play Store. Well, the Nexus 10 tablet is at least. The Nexus 4 is still MIA, although it arrived earlier this week at Best Buy and T-Mobile stores. Yesterday the Nexus 10 returned to “in stock” and we urge you to snag one now before they’re all gone.
Earlier this week Google’s 16 and 32GB Nexus 10 came back into stock, but currently it’s still listed as Shipping soon rather than fully in stock. Currently all other hardware is missing in action and not available, so get it while you can. The only problem being the shipping status is still anyone’s guess. Shipping soon could mean anything at this point. We’ve been hearing rumors that Google and Samsung could earlier be improving the Nexus 10, or releasing a new model instead. Rumors have it that they could be pushing their Exynos 5 quad-core processor under the hood, but for now that’s only a rumor. For now this is the only version available so might as well grab one. Google has struggled to keep up with demand, to put it lightly, and we’re unsure just how long the Nexus 10 will remain in stock before running out again. We’ve heard rumors Google didn’t anticipate the demand for their Nexus 4 and 10, but being priced so low it was pretty expected. For those still looking to grab one, head to the Play Store as we speak and snatch one up today. Device Info
Display
Dimension & Weight
Battery & Power
Software
Hardware
 Cellular Network Device Connectivity
 [via Play Store] |
| Agenda Calendar update brings 24-hour mode support and other improvements Posted: 02 Feb 2013 06:01 AM PST The Agenda Calendar app launched for Android back in early-January after a long stretch of being available only for iOS devices. The app launched with a price tag of $1.99 and with support for devices running Android 4.0 or later for use. Given I had in the past flirted with an iPad and had been familiar with Agenda, I quickly spent the two bucks and had it running on my Galaxy S III.
Agenda Calendar didn’t bring much in terms of issues when it launched, however that is not to say it was a perfect app. Of course, we suspect it would be hard to call any app perfect. Anyway, the Savvy Apps team has recently rolled-out an update for Agenda Calendar. This update should probably be classified as being on the minor side, but it does bring a few goodies. The app has gone up to version 1.0.2 and the first item in the changelog is support for 24-hour mode. Touching on this support, Savvy Apps notes that “if Agenda Event Editing is turned OFF, native event creation settings will be used.” The toggle to turn the 24-hour mode on/off can be found in the settings and if you had your device set to display 24-hour time — once Agenda is updated, that toggle should automatically switch to the on position. Other goodies from this update include a fix for four of the most common (and unspecified) crashes and a fix for a major crash issue that was affecting some Android 4.2 users. The remaining items in the changelog include locations now being a tappable field under an event, the default calendar should now be clearly indicated, the visible calendars should now be clearly indicated and the support link now takes users to the correct support website. Like we said, probably not one that would be considered a major update, but one that still brings some worthwhile goodies. That all being said, those with Agenda already installed should launch the Play Store and grab the update. Those who have yet to check it out, assuming you are willing to spend the $1.99, you can find the app using this link. |
| Sony C5303 HuaShan confirmed to be the Xperia SP Posted: 02 Feb 2013 05:27 AM PST Images of the Sony C5303 HuaShan recently leaked. Those images arrived with some specs, however while we knew this was going to be an Xperia branded device, it was not clear which one it would be. That being said, it would appear as if those details have since been revealed. But keep in mind, while we have seen some confirmation, the details have not yet arrived direct from Sony.
Simply put, these details can and may still change before we see an official announcement. The details are coming by way of the Japanese language Blog of Mobile where they are reporting that the Sony C530x HuaShan will launch as the Sony Xperia SP. Further details reveal that Sony is expected to release the Xperia SP in three variants — the C5302, C5303 and C5306 with each offering some minor differences based on region. As for now, it is looking like the specs for the Sony Xperia SP will include a 4-inch (1280 x 720) display, dual-core 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus processor, Adreno 320 graphics, 5 megapixel rear-facing camera, LTE connectivity and Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. An announcement date has yet to be confirmed, but given the timing and the increasing frequency of leaks — it is looking as if that could happen during Mobile World Congress. Otherwise, in addition to the Xperia SP details, Blog of Mobile also revealed some bits on another Xperia handset. The other is the Xperia L, a low-end device. The Xperia L is said to be coming as the C2104 and C2105 and with specs to include a dual-core 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus processor, 1GB of RAM, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and either a 3.5 or 4.0-inch display with a resolution of 480 x 854. Details also suggest the Xperia L will be unveiled at the same time as the Xperia SP. [via TechKiddy] |
| Temple Run 2 app update brings performance improvements and bug fixes Posted: 02 Feb 2013 05:04 AM PST Temple Run 2 launched first for iOS and Android users had to sit back and watch while the game topped the 20 million download mark. Of course, a little bit of a teasing wait seems to only left Android users anxious to download the game and begin playing. In fact, once Temple Run 2 landed in Google Play the combined downloads shot up and achieved a record breaking 50 million downloads in just 13 days.
That being said, that is not to say the app launched perfectly on Android. The app actually launched without support for the back button and an update was quickly rolled-out. And well, it looks like the team at Imangi Studios is now showing support for older devices and devices with lower resolution displays. These goodies come by way of another Temple Run 2 app update. This update brings the app up to version 1.0.1.1 and it remains available for free and by way of the Google Play Store and Amazon Appstore. Detailing what this update includes; Temple Run 2 users can now expect “improved performance on older devices.” A bit general of a statement, however we suspect you will know if this applies to you. Basically, if you had tried to play the game and had issues, you may want to give it another look. Another fix here includes lower resolution devices, specifically this update fixed layout issues on devices with a 320 x 240 resolution. Otherwise, this update also fixed the track pop-in issue, a bug that caused the same objective to be shown more than once and “various” other bugs and “minor” improvements. All said and done, a decent update of fixes. Finally, for those who have yet to play Temple Run 2, now seems like as good a time as any to give it a go. And if you need some further convincing — make sure you check out our previous Temple Run 2 coverage which included a quick hands-on and full review. |
| Huawei Ascend P2 Mini tipped for a MWC unveil Posted: 02 Feb 2013 04:46 AM PST Huawei is expected to unveil the Ascend P2 smartphone during Mobile World Congress. Up until this point, we have seen some rumored specs and even a leaked image. And well, the latest in the Huawei rumor mill is now calling for a second P2 handset. Details are suggesting that Huawei will also announced an Ascend P2 Mini.
The Ascend P2 Mini is said to be coming during MWC alongside the regular sized Ascend P2. We have yet to see any images for the Mini, however what we have seen up until this point suggests that the Ascend P2 Mini will look similar to the regular Ascend P2 — just smaller in size. You can get a look at the Ascend P2 in the previously leaked image below. We have yet to see a full spec list for the Ascend P2 Mini, however the Chinese language MyDrivers site has some listed. What has been revealed thus far includes a 4.0-inch display with a 720p resolution, 1GB of RAM and an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera. The Mini is expected to arrive running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, which is the same as the regular Ascend P2. Looking as compared to the Ascend P2, the big brother handset will be sporting a 4.7-inch display with a 1080p resolution, 2GB of RAM and a 13 megapixel rear-facing camera. Other details on the Ascend P2 include a quad-core 1.8GHz processor and 2200 mAh battery. So far nothing has been detailed in terms of which processor or battery size will be in the Ascend P2 Mini. That all being said, while Huawei is expected to announce the Ascend P2 Mini during MWC, we suspect this will not be the last of the rumors. [via TechKiddy] |
| Super Bowl apps, games, and movies roundup Posted: 01 Feb 2013 04:31 PM PST It’s that time of year again folks. Super Bowl time! Or as many are calling it lately, the Harbowl. Two of the best NFL teams from around the league gather for the ultimate battle. For those looking for Android apps, games, live wallpapers, movies, music and more to get prepared for Bowl Sunday the folks from Google have you covered.
If you’ve been watching ESPN and NFL Network all week like I have you know it’s time to put the allegations away and get to gametime. If you were wondering what some amazing Android apps were that could help you enjoy the big game, we have you covered. Our good friends at Google posted an “Endzone Essentials” post getting everyone in the Android world prepared for the big game. If you were looking for apps, games, live wallpapers, inspirational football movies, or even music (like Beyonce lip syncing for halftime) then Google and their Play Store absolutely has anything and everything you’ll need. To get started on their awesome list and promotional Super Bowl deals you’ll want to click here. From the official NFL 2012 App, NFL Team live wallpapers, awesome movies such as The Longest Yard and more have all been gathered in one neat and easy to find place for football fans. What’s even better is most of them have been lowered to free, or discounted for the big game. Google’s even rounded up classic music, and even a Recipes app to help you make an amazing Avocado dip for friends and family who are coming over to cheer along side you. It’s a pretty decent little collection, so thanks Google. We want to take this moment to ask what everyone’s predictions for the final score and 2012 NFL Super Bowl Champions will be. I’m going on a limb and will say the final score will be 27-28 with the 49ers taking home the Trophy. Oh and the first points scored will be a defensive touchdown. Good luck and enjoy the game guys! [via @GooglePlay] |
| Qualcomm leak hints at 5.0 Key Lime Pie release date – Mum’s the word Posted: 01 Feb 2013 03:59 PM PST Earlier this week a leaked Qualcomm roadmap managed to find its way onto the interwebs, and it was full of useful and potentially damaging information and was quickly pulled. Our friends from AndroidPolice first posted the details, but were shortly thereafter ordered to remove the information. Today some new details have surfaced confirming that along with the Qualcomm information, the slides also reported Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie is coming this spring.
According to multiple reports and people close to the matter, many of the slides had revealing information about both Qualcomm and Google’s plans for the next few months. Those included clear roadmaps detailing Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie, and that the (K-release) of Android would be revealed in the “Spring of 2013″. Now this isn’t really extremely huge or important news, as we basically already had an idea this was coming — it was just never confirmed. The extremely fun and popular Google I/O event each year has been the platform in which Google announces each new iteration of Android, and the same was expected for KLP. Last year they showed off Jelly Bean, and this year we are all expecting Google to show off Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie at Google I/O 2013 on May 15-17th. Quickly after posting the information it was immediately suppressed. We aren’t sure if the takedown notice was regarding the leaked Qualcomm chipset information, or if this had anything to do with the sensitive Google materials also provided in the slides. Either way this was quickly removed and now mum’s the word. I’m hoping we’ll see the Motorola X-Phone, a new Nexus tablet, and Key Lime Pie all that week. Stay tuned for more details. [via CNET] |
| Samsung GT-B9150 leaks again with 1080p and dual-core Exynos 5 Posted: 01 Feb 2013 02:58 PM PST Some interesting reports are hitting the wires regarding another impressive top-tier handset from the folks at Samsung. Interestingly enough, we’re having a little deja-vu as the same model number (GT-B9150) leaked last year as the rumored Samsung Galaxy Q slider. Today however it seems to have received an upgrade to the new Samsung Exynos 5 dual-core processor and more. Lets take a peek shall we?
Reports from PocketNow have surfaced stating this device is in the wild again, and being testing and spotted in a few benchmark results. What was intriguing was not only the model number, but also the processor, screen resolution, and Android version this device seems to be packing. Looks like a high-end powerhouse smartphone could be in the works — just like the Galaxy S IV. Based on the GLBenchmark results the GT-B9150 is running on Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean, is powered by Samsung’s popular 1.7 GHz dual-core Exynos 5 (Cortex-A15) processor, and is rocking some sort of 1920 x 1080p full HD display. Previous reports suggested this was a slider, and we’ve heard crazy reports about an Android powered folding device like the Nintendo 3D. While that second one is doubtful, this could be their new flagship slider. For now we don’t have any details aside from the few random leaks in benchmark results, so we’re in the dark here. It’s worth noting that last years leak showed a 720p display so whatever this device is, it’s still in development and is getting improvements along the way. This could be a tablet, possibly their Galaxy Tab 10, or some high-end smartphone. We’ll report back when we see or hear any further details. [via PocketNow] |
| Archos 70 and 101 Titanium tablets gain FCC approval Posted: 01 Feb 2013 01:35 PM PST Archos unveiled the complete Titanium tablet lineup during CES and it looks like some of the models have begun appearing with the FCC. Specifically, filings for the Archos 70 Titanium and the Archos 101 Titanium have recently been discovered. Keep in mind, we haven’t heard exactly when these two devices are expected to arrive for sale in the US, however these filings do suggest that a release date is drawing closer.
Aside from getting the required approval, these filings did not reveal anything new in terms of specs. Of course, that is because Archos had already made those public. The Titanium tablet line will be sharing some common features to include IPS multi-touch displays, a quad-core GPU and dual-core 1.6GHz processor. This lineup will also have what Archos describes as a “sleek” aluminum body and will be running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean at launch. Otherwise, the size of the display is in the name. The Archos 70 will have a 7-inch display and the Archos 101 will have a 10.1-inch display. We should also point out that these are Google certified tablets which means they will have access to the Google Play Store. Once available, the Archos 70 Titanium is expected to sell for $119 and the Archos 101 Titanium is expected to sell for for $199. Aside from these two models, the Titanium lineup also includes the Archos 80 and Archos 97 with 8.0-inch and 9.7-inch displays respectively. the Archos 97 Titanium was revealed a little before Christmas and was shown to have an IPS display with a resolution of 2048 x 1536. This model is expected to sell for $249. Bottom line here, it looks like the 70 and 101 should be available sooner rather than later and in the meantime, we will keep an eye out and see if the FCC filings for the 80 and 97 turn up. [via Liliputing] |
| Flipboard update brings save images feature and retweet fixes Posted: 01 Feb 2013 01:28 PM PST Today the extremely popular news and magazine app Flipboard has just received a nice new update full of features and bug fixes. Initially launching on the Galaxy S III as an exclusive app, Flipboard has become an extremely popular news app for Android thanks to the simple and beautiful user interface. They added tablet support in December, and now we have a few new neat features worth pointing out.
Starting with yesterdays update users of the popular Flipboard news app will be able to save any and all images direct to their smartphone or tablet. Before you could share and save for later viewing, but now you’ll be able to actually save the images right to your gallery. Simply tap the image or hit the sharing menu button to quickly save that funny image or new smartphone that just leaked. The folks from Flipboard have also been working on improving the overall app size, speed, and performance. This update actually lowers the install size, makes updates faster, and fixed some bugs system wide. Most notably is the retweet button not working for many. They’ve fixed whatever was causing that problem and you can now share the news with the social world with ease. Last but not least the developers simply state the new version 1.9.22 added “more bug fixes” but they weren’t specific on what aside from the retweet issue. So far scrolling and flipping through boards seems a bit more responsive, but that’s about all we’ve noticed. Get the latest Flipboard right this minute from the link below. Enjoy! [via Google Play Store] |
| Star Trek: Into Darkness movie companion app hands-on Posted: 01 Feb 2013 01:12 PM PST J.J. Abrams may be moving onto a different space franchise in 2015, but for now, all eyes are on his upcoming film Star Trek: Into Darkness. The movie doesn’t hit theaters until May 17, but today Paramount Pictures has released the movie companion app. The Star Trek: Into Darkness app exists to get users excited for the movie, having them scan real-world images and trailers to unlock bonuses and earn points.
Specifically speaking, the app will have users doing three main things: traveling to different real world locations, snapping pictures of promotional images (like the movie poster for Into Darkness), and using an “audio scanner” to allow the app to listen to the audio from trailers. Completing these missions earns users points and unlocks Star Trek: Into Darkness content in the app. Paramount claims that users can unlock new Star Trek content by completing missions in the app, and those who complete enough missions will receive special offers that are only available in-app. Essentially, it’s perfect if you’re really excited for Star Trek: Into Darkness, but will have limited appeal to those who don’t care as much. Still, we have to admit that the idea of interacting with the real world to unlock stuff in an app is pretty cool. The app is helped along by Qualcomm‘s Vuforia augmented reality and Gimbal platforms, and you may remember the company bringing this app up during its CES 2013 keynote earlier this year. If you’re a big Star Trek fan and want to track down promotional content to unlock it on your phone, then this app is definitely for you. It’s live on the Google Play Store today [download link] for the very reasonable price of absolutely nothing.         |
| HD Widgets Colourform theme hands-on Posted: 01 Feb 2013 12:52 PM PST This week HD Widgets gets rather colorful in a new set of widgets that take what the app already does extremely well and cuts it all down to a rather Pop Art friendly phase. This release comes as a separate download from the main HD Widgets (now at version 3.8, mind you), and brings you a variety of new backs, fronts, colors, and everything in-between for your fully customizable widget family. HD Widgets just went full tilt simplistic for those that are weary of the skeuomorphism designs of the past – get flat!
The version of the Colourform pack you’re going to be able to download at the time of the publication of this story is a “test pack” and will be available for you to download for free – you’ll have to check in later weeks what the situation is and how it’s changed. For now, it’s all glorious. You’ll be working with 7 new widgets, including a Settings switch, three new 4×1 Settings including Weather Left and Clock Date Split, a new 4×2 Header date, and a couple new 6×2 widgets including Header Settings and Header Weather. The new styles you’re seeing are reflecting off both Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean so you’ll find that they match quite nicely with whatever newer system you’re on. You’ve got a full color range this time around with custom colors galore, including for the first time – black text on white back! Your backgrounds can now be set with your choice of opacity, tile, and texture as well, with “dynamic 4.2 style settings”, as they say, for all! Also included in HD Widgets 3.8 is a new set of Notifications Widgets which can be turned on in the Settings panel. You’ll be able to show your Weather and your Battery with temperature, a brief description of the weather (rain!), and your location. Battery widgets here show how long it’ll be until you’ve got a full unit, time remaining if you’re going to be active, if you plan on keeping your device asleep, how much time it’ll take to charge, and all that good stuff.    Note also that the team behind HD Widgets has made it clear at this point that they’re well on their way to HD Widgets 4, the next massive beast of a release with a small handful of new features to add on as well as “a TON” of widget layouts coming up. HD Widgets has been tipped for release by the end of February – can’t wait! |
| Sony Xperia E FCC filing discovered Posted: 01 Feb 2013 12:45 PM PST Sony originally announced the Xperia E smartphone back in December. At the time Sony was touting this handset as being affordable, however they were not quite as forthcoming in terms of a price or a release date. Anyway, while we have yet to learn of a release date, the handset has recently been granted approval from the FCC.
The filing is showing approval for the GSM 850, 1800 and 1900 bands as well as the WCDMA bands I and VIII. Otherwise, aside from network connectivity, the specs will include a 3.5-inch (320 x 480) display, single-core 1GHz Qualcomm MSM7227A processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, 1500 mAh battery and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. The Xperia E will also have a microSD card slot and 3.2 megapixel rear-facing camera. In addition, while the FCC filing shows the Xperia E in black, Sony had previously said they would be offering it in white and pink as well. Shifting away from thoughts of a US release, we had seen details suggesting that the Xperia E was going to arrive in the UK in February. Bottom line, while the availability seems to still be up in the air, one thing seems clear — the Xperia E should launch with a relatively low price point. In fact, we suspect it will arrive with a low contract-free price point and be free for those willing to sign an agreement. Lastly, while this FCC filing was only for this specific model, Sony is also expected to offer a dual-SIM version of the Xperia E. [via Wireless Goodness] |
| Chrome Beta for Android update arrives with bug fixes Posted: 01 Feb 2013 11:51 AM PST Google has released the latest Chrome Beta for Android app update. And while this one may not be quite as exciting as the previous update that added support for experimental features, it did bring a handful of bug fixes. Along with the details in terms of the fixes, Google has also offered an update in terms of the known issues. That being said, lets dive in with the more exciting of the two — the fixes.
Leading the list was the mention of an updated graphics architecture that should improve fast scrolling on large pages. Other goodies include a fix for previously non-working yahoo.com links, the inability to submit comments on Facebook posts or pictures and where the scroll position was being reset momentarily when double-tapping in the footer/gutter (on some pages). Google concluded the fixes by taking care of the issue that caused the keyboard to sometimes pop-up after the app was closed. Shifting to the known issues, these include a problem for lower resolution/blurry content where it takes time to sharpen during rapid scrolling, a graphic corruption or flicker on some sites (including maps.google.com) and text autosizing breaking formatting on some sites. In addition, Google noted issues about text selection and text input handles appearing at incorrect positions and an increased number of sad tabs/tab crashes. Anyway, despite a number of known issues, the Chrome Beta for Android app has seemed pretty stable in day-to-day use. Well, at least is has for myself. The Chrome Beta app can be found in the Google Play Store and is currently sitting at version 25.0.1364.64 with support for devices running Android 4.0 or later. [via Chrome Releases] |
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