Droid Life

Samsung Sends Out "Save the Date" for Galaxy Note 2 Event

Kellen — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 09:51:06 +0000

OK, so the "save the date" doesn't actually say "Galaxy Note 2" on it, but with that big S Pen showing, we'd be ultra-confused if it were for anything else. So there you have it, Samsung is throwing some sort of party in NYC on October 24 to unveil the "Next Big Thing," again. Samsung already announced that the device would arrive in the U.S. by mid-November, so we're assuming this is simply a kick-off party for the phone. Since they originally announced the Note 2 at IFA in Berlin, it makes sense that Samsung would do something Stateside as well. Hopefully, we'll hear launch dates.

Jelly Bean Update for ASUS Transformer Infinity Delayed Until Next Week

Tim — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 09:35:05 +0000

Yesterday, we reported that ASUS would be rolling Jelly Bean out to Transformer Infinity tablets some time within the next 72 hours. Unfortunately, they will have to delay the update until next week. According to a post by Gary Key (an Asus representative) on XDA, there were some applications that required a keyboard firmware update before they can allow Jelly Bean to roll out. We'll keep you posted, Infinity owners. Via: XDA Cheers Dane!

Rovio's Bad Piggies Takes Off for Android, Fly Little Piggy!

Tim — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 09:10:21 +0000

Rovio's Bad Piggies hit Google Play this morning. So far, it's kind of fun. The objective is to reach the end of the levels by building contraptions with a set amount of supplies you are given such as boxes, wings, and other misc. tools. The game is more fun than I had anticipated, but the pig's laughter is very nauseating. There are two versions, one which is standard definition and one that is "HD" for tablets. Both versions are free at the moment, but I will say, advertisements are there and they are annoying. Hopefully a paid version is soon to follow. Download the game and let us know what you think of Rovio's newest creation. Play Link: Bad Piggies HD | Bad Piggies [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjZPIIlC9TM[/youtube]

Jelly Bean Update Rolling Out to Transformer Prime Owners This Morning

Tim — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 08:28:51 +0000

Now that's what I call a turn around time. Yesterday, we reported that ASUS' Gary Key took to XDA to let owners of the Transformer Prime and Transformer Infinity tablet know that they could expect to see a Jelly Bean update within 48-72 hours. Less than 24 hours later, we have Jelly Bean. Prime owners, go update and we'll update all of you Infinity owners as soon as we hear it has gone live. Cheers Andrew, Nick, Angel, Bill, and Steve!

Rumor: Google to Introduce $99 Nexus 7 by End of Year

Kellen — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 08:14:36 +0000

In a new report out of DigiTimes, that Asus has already denied, the publication claims that Google and Asus are teaming up to create a new Nexus 7 tablet priced at $99. The device is said to be thinner and will use new display panels. There will reportedly be a second model as well, priced at $199. According to sources, Google wants to maintain growing sales, but knowing that Apple has an iPad Mini on the horizon, they feel that they need to do something drastic. So how about some thoughts? The first thing I would worry about is the tablet itself. Does a $99 tablet mean lousy display, less internal storage, and a weak processor? If so, then no thanks. If $99 means a thinner tablet with the exact same specs as the current Nexus 7, then yeah, let's do it. One thing we would like to see is an upgraded display. While the Nexus 7 has a good display, companies like Barnes and Noble and Amazon all launched new HD tablets that put the N7's to shame. We're all for affordable tech products, but at the same time, we still enjoy innovation and new technologies. Continuing to find ways to reduce price without introducing new features seems a bit backwards. Let's hope that doesn't happen. Thoughts on a $99 tablet? Great thing, good thing, or not-so-hot thing? Via: DigiTimes

Chrome for Android Now Works on Intel x86 Devices

Kellen — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 17:33:19 +0000

Chrome for Android has been updated today, to make it compatible with Intel x86 devices. The most notable Intel device to hit the streets is the Motorola RAZR i, but it likely won't be long before there are more than a handful of them. Intel is interested in becoming a major player in the mobile space, so don't take this slow start as a sign of things to come. There doesn't appear to be any other new additions to the Chrome update. Via: Google

YouTube for Android Updated, New UI Arrives for Froyo and Gingerbread Users

Tim — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 15:55:20 +0000

YouTube lovers, Google pushed out an update today that brings some little things to the already awesome application for Android. For Froyo (who's still on Froyo?) and Gingerbread users, you can now experience the new UI which ICS and Jelly Bean users have been digging for a bit now. On top of that, you can also add videos to your YouTube TV queue and there are more channels to pick from in the Channel Store. Also, I have noticed there is a new "Recommended by YouTube" video at the top of my subscription list on the homepage. I do not care for this, but whatever. I'm guessing it's YouTube's way of trying to push their partners.

What's in this version: * New UI and Preloading now available on Froyo and Gingerbread devices * New Watch experience * Add videos to your YouTube TV queue * More channels to pick from on the Channel Store

Play Link Cheers Elwin!

Madfinger Teases ShadowGun Deadzone Multiplayer Addition As We Still Await Release Details

Tim — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 15:14:16 +0000

We won't get into how long we've been waiting for the multiplayer "Deadzone" version of SHADOWGUN, but do know that we played it all the way back at CES in January and we were told that we could expect a launch in Q1 of this year. As you may have realized, Q1 was really long ago and we're now sitting in Q4, still awaiting release information. Today, Madfinger took to their Facebook page and uploaded the above image which has us all pretty hyped. From just this image, we can see there has been a lot of character and weapon additions to the one we previewed at CES. If you click on and enlarge the image, you can definitely get a good look at these characters and tell that Madfinger means some serious business when it comes to Deadzone. So, it's back to waiting I suppose. We'll keep you posted if anymore information comes our way. Via: Facebook

Wednesday Poll: Preferred Mobile Processor?

Kellen — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 14:30:15 +0000

With news of Texas Instruments pulling their OMAP line of mobile processors out of the game, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to find out the preferred processor for your smartphones and tablets. Clearly, the strongest player in 2012 has been Qualcomm and their Snapdragon S4 that has been thrown in just about every LTE device. NVIDIA with their Tegra 3 and Samsung with their Exynos have lagged behind a touch because of LTE, but things are about to change on that front. We also have Intel as a new player that will eventually make some noise. Is there a chipset in particular that you prefer? Are you thrilled with the efficiency and power of the Snapdragon S4, especially when paired with LTE? What about the gaming and graphics processing beast, the Tegra 3? Or are you more interested in finally getting the quad-core Exynos processor and LTE in something like the Galaxy Note 2? And processor gurus, we would love for you to geek out on this one in the comments. [poll id="206"]

FileBeam for Android, Transfer Files From Dropbox to a Friend's Account With NFC

Tim — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 14:10:23 +0000

Here's a neat app we just uncovered thanks to a reader submission. It's called FileBeam and it utilizes our device's NFC technology to transfer files straight from our Dropbox accounts right to a friend or colleague's Dropbox account. Once you've logged into your Dropbox account through the API, you can then select which file/folder to transfer, then simply tap the two phones together as you normally would, and boom, the file is available on the second device holder's account. If you utilize NFC often on your phone, then give this a shot. And hey, if you weren't using it much before, maybe this will help you use it more. Play Link [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=immQCwNjeEE[/youtube] Cheers Fernando!

How to: Apply Icon Packs With a 3rd Party Launcher [Beginners' Guide]

Tim — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 13:28:32 +0000

One of the cool things we can do with our Android devices straight out of the box is download a custom launcher and then apply icon packs that will drastically change the way an application's icon appears. Take the above screenshot for example - I have Nova Launcher installed and have Kovdev's Tersus icon pack applied. It gives each icon a uniformed square and minimal look. It's clean, pretty, and super easy to do. There's a few steps to this process. First, you will need a 3rd party launcher such as Nova or Apex. As a note, most icon packs only support either Nova, Apex, Go Launcher, ADW, LauncherPro, and a few others. When downloading an icon pack from Google Play, you can check its compatibility in the description. Download a third party launcher of your choice and let's get started on applying an icon pack.

Downloading and applying icon packs:

During this post, we'll be using Nova Launcher which is our favorite. You can download it here on Google Play. 1. Find the icon pack you want to install on Google Play.

You can see a long list of them here, but we always recommend Kovdev's work. It's clean and there are plenty of options to choose from.

2. Download and install the pack you have chosen. 3. From the homescreen, locate the Settings menu of the launcher you are using.

Since we're using Nova, this may be slightly different from the launcher you're using. The Settings menu is located in the top right of the app drawer while it is open. Check pictures above for clarity.

4. Hit "Look and Feel." 5. Under "Icon Theme," choose the icon pack you have downloaded. It will then automatically apply all of the existing icons and matching apps together. And that's it. It's a simple and easy way to customize your device to the way you want.

Applying a single icon from a pack:

But Tim, what if I don't want a full pack? I just want a single icon applied, how do I do that? Fantastic question and here is how to do it! 1. Decide which icon you want to customize. 2. Move it to a homescreen. 3. Longpress on said icon.

Again, we are using Nova, so the instructions may differ given which launcher you are using.

4. Hit "Edit." 5. Then press on the application's icon. 6. You will see a menu. Hit "Icon Pack."

From here, you will see each icon that resides in the pack. You can choose whichever icon you want to use for that app on a homescreen. It will not change the app's icon in the app drawer, but only on a homescreen where you applied it.

7. Once selected, hit "OK." If you have any questions, let us know down below. *The rest of the Android Beginners’ Guide is a one-stop shop for all of those new to Android.

Contest: Win a Klasden Levanaus Backpack From Spigen and Droid Life [RAW] (Updated: Winner Picked)

Kellen — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 12:38:25 +0000

The Reader Appreciation Week momentum isn't stopping yet, folks. Let's give another amazing item away! How does a $90 Klasden Levanaus backpack from Spigen sound? Let me just say, that I have the blue version of this bag and absolutely love it. In fact, it's now my overnight bag, work bag, and everything-in-between bag. It has more pockets than I can count, a swanky faux fir inside, fits perfectly on your back with its extra padding, and comes in a variety of stylish colors. When traveling, I'm able to pack my 15" Macbook Pro, a change of clothes, toiletries, a 2nd or 3rd phone, chargers, flip flops, tablet, headphones, and snacks into this sucker. It seriously is a great bag. To see the rest of the colors, check out Spigen's site. They are also on Amazon. Who wants this beautiful bag in red?

Contest

Update: Our winner is Brandon J., who plans to put his 13" Macbook, headphones, iPad, and cables into the bag. Congrats! Prize: 1 (one) Klasden Levanaus Backpack in Red How to enter: 1. Be sure to "Like" this post on Facebook. (Button on left side of post.) 2. Feel free to +1 it on Google+ as well. 3. In the comments, give us a rundown of the gadgets you would use to fill this bag. 4. If you haven't yet, be sure to subscribe to our feed. Winner: Today at 4:00PM PT, we will choose a winner from the comments.

Google Play Sale on Books, Movies, Music, and More Also Goes Live

Tim — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 12:00:34 +0000

As we move along through this Wednesday of deals, Google Play has also made their sale on mainstream music, movies, magazines, and books live. By hitting up the Play store, you can catch some pretty great deals on content that would usually go on sale for much more under any other circumstance. What's also nice is that these aren't crappy titles either. There are good movies such as Superbad, Super 8, and Battle: LA for $3.99+ along with pretty good music as well, like Snoop Dogg (or Snoop Lion) and Coldplay for $3.99, and much more. Go grab these deals while they're still hot!

Music Sale | Movie Sale | Books Sale | Magazine Sale | Apps Sale

"When Do You Think We'll be Able to do That Thing?" Asks iSheep in Latest Samsung Spots

Kellen — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 11:20:27 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c-LZ_hraQo[/youtube]

Oh Samsung, such a clever bunch. After releasing a full 90 second spot that pokes fun at Apple fans waiting in line for the iPhone 5, they return today with two shorter spots. They cover topics from the longer commercial, only this time they take some extra jabs, like by having a mom confirm with her Galaxy S3 owning son that "this is the line for apps" as if that's all the iPhone is good for. Another girl watches NFC sharing in action and then wonders when iPhone owners wil be "able to do that thing?" Not for a while I'm afraid, dear iPhone owners. Maybe next year.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKh68YfQYkE[/youtube]

PassWallet Released for Android, Lets You Manage Loyalty Cards and More Just Like Passbook

Tim — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 11:00:41 +0000

We have to admit, Apple's Passbook is a cool idea. One app to manage all of your loyalty cards, airline passes, Subway cards, and everything else that would usually take up space in your wallet. Naturally, given the awesomeness that is the Android developer community, we have our very own version now called PassWallet. With PassWallet, you can import your Passbook information straight to your Android device via web, or manage new digital coupons and event tickets straight from the web. The service is even compatible with sites such as Fandango, Walgreens, and Ticketmaster. The app is in early stages so you can expect future updates to bring more features and performance enhancements. Give it a try and let us know what you think. Play Link [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHc6gWfyJac[/youtube] Cheers LionStone!

Barnes & Noble Announces Nook HD, Nook HD+, and Simple Touch Tablets

Tim — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 10:35:06 +0000

This morning, Barnes & Noble released their newest lineup of Nook tablets, not to be out shined by Amazon's Kindle lineup. Leading the pack is their new Nook HD+ and Nook HD slates, which sport full HD displays and some pretty impressive specs to boot. The Nook HD+ sports a 9" display at 1920 x 1280 resolution, 256 ppi, and is powered by a 1.5GHz OMAP 4470 processor, while the Nook HD is a 7" 1440 x 900, 243 ppi, with the same chipset. To maintain competitiveness. the newest Nook devices are also being sold for the same reasonable prices, but with a twist. For 16GB, the Nook HD+ runs $269 and for 32GB it receives a minor bump up to $299. As for the Nook HD, the 8GB variant can be purchased for the industry standard of $199 and $229 for the 16GB brother, which will surely have some people second guessing a Nexus 7 or Kindle Fire HD purchase. As an added bonus, each of these HD tablets sport a micro-SD card slot for even more storage. The devices are already up for pre-order and buyers can expect to see the tablets arrive at their doorsteps this November. Nook HD Gallery:

Nook HD+ Gallery:

Hands-on with the Nook HD and HD+ from The Verge: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_2_Q5PSFdU[/youtube] Via: Barnes & Noble

Google Play Store's $0.25 App Promotion Officially Goes Live

Kellen — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 10:04:14 +0000

In case you missed our running list of $0.25 apps from this morning and do not feel like clicking on each of the individual links, you can now access the official landing page for the promotion and buy them all with ease. It looks like we covered most of these, but there is chance that Google will continue to update this page throughout the week for their 25 Billion Apps promo, so be sure to book mark it. Play Link

Contest: Win a Toshiba Excite 10 From NVIDIA and Droid Life! [RAW] (Update: Winner Picked)

Kellen — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 09:50:22 +0000

Day 3 of Reader Appreciation Week is here! On day 1, we gave away a Nexus 7. Yesterday, we gave away an HTC One X. Today, well, let's go big (as in screen size) and hook someone up with a Toshiba Excite 10. While we may not have given the Excite 10 a ton of love as it arrived during a time when 10" tablets were flooding the market and rarely stood out from one another, it's safe to say that this device is no slouch. Thanks to its Tegra 3 quad-core processor, 1GB RAM, 10.1" Autobrite Gorilla Glass display, dual cameras, and variety of ports (including a full sized SD card slot), it matches up nicely to most tablets in the industry on paper. Who wants one?

Contest

Update: We have our winner! Thanks to everyone that has entered. We still have two days left of goodies! Prize: 1 (one) Toshiba Excite 10 tablet How to enter: 1. ~~In the comments, tell us what your favorite Android device of all time is, and why.~~ ~~2. Feel free to share the contest post on your favorite social network.~~ ~~3. Here is a Tweet that we would love to see you share:~~

Follow @droid_life and @NVIDIATegra to win a Toshiba Excite 10 tablet! http://bit.ly/UVQrQ2 #android #contest #raw

4. Also, follow us on Twitter, Google+, and Facebook if you aren't already. Winner: Tomorrow (9/27) at 9:00AM PT, we will randomly choose a winner from the comments. A big "Thanks!" again goes out to NVIDIA for putting up so many amazing prizes this week, including the Toshiba Excite 10. Be sure to check out the Tegra Zone for all of your gaming needs. Good luck!

ASUS Announces Transformer Prime and Transformer Infinity Jelly Bean Updates - Available Within 72 Hours

Tim — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 08:45:28 +0000

ASUS' Gary Key took to XDA of all places to announce the plans to roll out Jelly Bean to Transformer Prime (TF201) and Transformer Infinity (TF700) tablets. According to Gary, the updates will be live for US and Canadian owners within the next 72 hours, so get your tablets charged up and ready. Via: XDA Cheers Greg!

Texas Instruments Gives up on OMAP Platform for Phones, Looking to Shift Focus

Eric — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 08:26:50 +0000

Today, Texas Instruments has come out and announced that they will be looking to "shift focus" away from their mobile processor business. In a market that has become increasingly dominated by Qualcomm, NVIDIA and Samsung, Texas Instruments has not found the wiggle room to keep their business going. This could mean that we won't see their new OMAP5 processor either.

While the OMAP Platform may have powered some of our most beloved phones like most of Motorola's DROID line, the Galaxy Nexus, and the Kindle Fire, we won't be seeing much out of them anymore. They do plan to continue to support current devices for the time being, but will mostly focus their efforts on a broader and more stable market, like cars.

The good news for us is that we are still getting great chips like the Snapdragon S4 and Tegra 3 in our mobile devices. At the same time though, we always love competition, and this means one less player is in the game.

Sad to see TI go?

Via: Reuters

Samsung: Factory Wipe Security Hole Already Patched on Galaxy S3

Kellen — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 07:51:40 +0000

Samsung issued a statement early this morning to address the USSD security hole that was presented at a security conference last week. For those of you who missed the story yesterday, this security exploit could set your Galaxy S3 or earlier Samsung phone (possibly other Android phones as well) into a factory reset with no way of stopping it. Basically, a line of HTML code was capable of automatically launching a code through the dialer which would trigger the wipe. Thankfully, Samsung patched this hole some time ago through an OTA update. Here is what Samsung had to say:

We would like to assure our customers that the recent security issue concerning the GALAXY S III has already been resolved through a software update. We recommend all GALAXY S III customers to download the latest software update, which can be done quickly and easily via the Over-The-Air (OTA) service.

If you haven't as of this morning, we also highly recommend that you apply the newest update for your Galaxy S3. Well, unless you unlocked its bootloader and are running some custom version of Android, because then you wouldn't be affected. Via: TechCrunch

Google Play Hits 25 Billion Downloads, Time for an Awesome Sale to Celebrate (Updated)

Eric — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 07:34:00 +0000

Every now and again we hear that Google has passed a major milestone in app downloads for Google Play. When that happens, we are usually treated to some sort of magnificent deal in the Play store. Last year at the 10 billion mark, they hit us with a great week-long sale to celebrate. Now that Google has passed the 25 billion mark, they plan on letting us in on even more awesome discounts over the next five days.

Every day will have a set of $.25 applications for us to download "from top developers," but Google isn't stopping there. There will be discounts on movies, music, books, and magazines as well. If you saved the $25 credit from your Nexus 7, now would definitely be the time to use it. The discounts aren't live just yet but we'll keep you updated as soon as we hear more.

Update: Some of the apps are already live, if you can't wait any longer.

Granny Smith (one of our favorite games of the year)
Angry Birds Space
Draw Something
NFL Kicker 13
Asphalt 7: Heat
Ocean HD
OfficeSuite Pro 6
Tasks
Let's Create! Pottery
Symphony of Eternity
Sudoku
Clouds and Sheep Premium
London Bus Checker

Update 2: Here is the landing page for the promotion. No need to click each link.

Seeing any others?

Via: Official Android Blog

Cheers bignadad and teng taing for the apps!

Contest: Two Droid Life Limited Edition "Community" T-Shirts Up for Grabs! (Update: Winners Picked)

Kellen — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 16:59:38 +0000

To finish day 2 of Reader Appreciation Week, two DL readers are going to walk away with our most recent limited edition t-shirt, which we dubbed "Community." It's a take on a now-famous Experimental Jetset shirt design, but geared towards the amazing community that joins us here every day. You can no longer purchase this design, just like all of our designs, so this is somewhat of a collector's item, if you will.

Contest

Update: We have our two winners and they have been emailed. Thanks for entering everybody! Prizes: 2 (two) DL "Community" t-shirts in size large How to enter: 1. ~~If you aren't already, follow us on Google+, Facebook, or Twitter.~~ ~~2. In the comments, tell us the best movie you saw in the last 6 months.~~ Winners: We will choose our two winners tomorrow morning at 8:00AM PT. Good luck!

Factory Image JRO03O Released for Verizon's Galaxy Nexus

Kellen — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 15:31:14 +0000

With the official Jelly Bean (Android 4.1.1) update out for Verizon's Galaxy Nexus (toro) as build JRO03O, we were wondering how long it would take for the factory image to be released. The answer to that is, today. If you cruise over to the Nexus Factory Images page, then into the "mysid" section, you will find the download for JRO03O. While Google will likely keep this file there as long as they can, it's never a bad idea to keep these stored in a safe place. You might need them in a pinch to revive your Galaxy Nexus from a day of tinkering. Download: mysid-jro03o-factory.tgz For instructions on how to flash a factory image, be sure to bookmark this post. The Android team also released new JRO03R binaries for the ROM developers in the building.

California Bill Signed by Governor to Allow Google's Self-Driving Cars to Hit the Road

Tim — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 15:12:38 +0000

Above is a picture of one of Google's self-driving cars that is part of their fleet based in Nevada. Starting today, you might be seeing more of them on California roads thanks to a bill signing that took place in Mountain View with Google's Sergey Brin and California's Governor Jerry Brown. With the bill signed, Google will be allowed to test their autonomous vehicles on whichever road they choose as long as there is someone in the driver's seat ready to take control if the occasion calls for it. As of now, California's DMV has been given a deadline of January 2015 to create rules and regulations regarding self-driving cars. That's some pretty exciting stuff. Via: The Verge

Managing Notifications in Jelly Bean [Beginners' Guide]

Tim — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 14:44:36 +0000

When Google introduced Jelly Bean at this year's Google I/O event in San Francisco, one of the features that struck as us as really cool was Jelly Bean's new notifications. With Jelly Bean, some applications are able to show interactive notifications and also expandable notifications that allow you to take certain actions straight from the notification bar. For now, only certain applications support expandable notifications. But if anything is for certain, it's that Google will be adding more and more of these interactive notifications as time goes by. Here's a quick rundown of the specific apps that support the new system and what they look like.

Gmail | Google Music | Google+

When an email from Gmail is received, it will display as a regular looking notification, but you can choose to preview a small portion of the email by two-finger sliding down on the notification. Also, if you have multiple unread messages in your inbox such as I do above, you will see the first few subject lines and senders in your notifications area. You can also two finger slide up to collapse the notifications or slide them away to either the right or left to dismiss it. With Google Music, when not in the actual app and you have music playing, you can control the app from the notification bar. You're given a skip, backwards, and play/pause button as well as album art and track info. If you collapse this notification, you will only be given options for pausing/playing and skipping music. No backtracking. On Google+, when you're tagged in someone's post, it's sent straight to your device for a "+1." You can also choose to share things straight from your notification bar if you so choose. But do note, these notifications will only appear if you have Google+ installed and are signed into the application.

Missed Calls | Taking screenshots | Swipe Away Notifications

If you miss a call, Google has enabled you to take action straight from your notification bar. From the notification, you can either call back that poor soul or even send them a text. Another neat notification appears when you take a screenshot. In the notification bar, it will show you a small thumbnail of the image and allow you to share it through an app straight form the notification area when it's expanded. When collapsed, you'll just have to click on it and it will take you to the gallery and you can share it or edit it from there. Last but not least, is the ability to swipe away notifications. Any notification for an app that isn't currently running (for example, you can't swipe away the Google Music app if it's running) you can simply swipe it away to either the left or right of your screen. That way, instead of having to dismiss all notifications, you can do them individually. This was introduced in Ice Cream Sandwich, so many of you should be familiar with it. And that is our brief guide to notifications in Jelly Bean. If you have any questions or comments, let us know down below. *The rest of the Android Beginners’ Guide is a one-stop shop for all of those new to Android.

Nexus 7 Launches Today in Japan, The Best Android Tablet Expands to More People

Eric — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 12:44:42 +0000

We have said a few times before that if you are looking to get an Android tablet right now, the Nexus 7 is the way to go. Pure Google Experience, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and a low price point are just a few of the awesome headlines for this device. Today, Google is launching their creation in Japan, and hoping to tap into a new market.

At an event today, Google's Eric Schmidt said he was excited for the launch in Japan. That market has the third largest number of Google Play installs in the world, certainly a big market for the Nexus 7. It remains to be seen if the 7" tablet will take hold in Japan but if it's past launches are any indication, it should do just fine.

Via: The Verge

Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour Trailer Goes Live, Looks Pretty Intense

Tim — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 12:39:06 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAEHLePiCOM[/youtube]

A new trailer for Gameloft's Modern Combat 4 has gone live and it's definitely leaving us wanting a lot more. As we can see from the types of vehicles in the trailer, it's most certainly taking place in the future and gives off a certain Black Ops 2 vibe, which is completely okay in my book. The Modern Combat series is certainly setting the bar for FPS war games on Android, which means we get to take a break from Dead Trigger. The game is due out in the Fall of 2012, so we'll just have to hang in there and await an official release date.

Contest: 10 Different Spigen Cases for the Galaxy S3 Up for Grabs [RAW] (Update: Winners Picked)

Kellen — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 11:56:32 +0000

As we roll deep into day 2 of Reader Appreciation Week, we thought it was time to hand out some cases from one of our favorites, Spigen SGP. We have cases for the Galaxy Nexus and HTC One X to giveaway later, but today, it's the Galaxy S3 that's getting the love. There are a variety of case types to be had, ranging from flip covers to leather pouches to minimal plastics to TPUs. We've got it all covered here.

Contest

Update: Our 10 winners have been picked and emailed! Check your inbox! :) Prizes: We have 10 cases total. All of the specific colors and types are pictured above and listed below, along with links to the cases for those of you who need to see different pictures or views of them

Crumena Leather Pouch: White, Brown, and Black
Illuzion Faux Leather Case: Yellow
Ultra Thin Air: Black
Modello TPU: Purple and Black
Ultra Flip Case: White, Yellow, Green

How to enter: 1. ~~In the comments, tell us how many Android devices you own and what they are.~~ ~~2. Also, tell us which specific case and color you would like.~~ Winners: Today at 3PM PT, will choose all 10 winners. And how about a big shoutout to Spigen SGP for hooking us up with all sorts of goodies this week. We have more cases from them on the way, but they were also generous enough to toss out one of their Klasden Levanus backpacks as a prize. For those not familiar, know that my travel bag is now a Klasden. It's a great backpack.

Question of the Day: What Tethering App are You Using With Jelly Bean?

Kellen — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 11:08:05 +0000

Now that most of the Galaxy Nexus owners in the building are all running official Jelly Bean (Android 4.1), the reports of "FoxFi no longer works!" are starting to flood in. We aren't exactly sure what changed in Jelly Bean to cause some tethering apps to quit working, FoxFi being the most notable, but that's the card we were dealt. So rather than spending the next 3 days testing each and every tethering app, we thought we would turn directly to the DL community, a group of people that probably tether a heck of a lot more than us home office dwellers, and ask which app they picked up? We gave you a wireless tethering option that doesn't require root from SVTP, but it's also $15. ClockworkMod Tether should work just fine, but it's a USB tethering service rather than wireless. Barnacle is a free wireless option, but it requires root. What tethering app are you currently using? Anything in particular standing out as being reasonably priced and stable? Please share your recommendations in the comments.

ASUS to Push Jelly Bean Out to Transformer Prime Tablets in Sweden, Still No U.S. Love

Tim — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 10:37:29 +0000

This morning, ASUS Sweden took to their Facebook page to announce that Transformer Prime owners would begin to see the Jelly Bean update for their devices as early as today. As you might have already guessed, we're not in Sweden, but this is a good sign that owners here in the U.S. can expect to see JB sometime shortly as well. As always, ASUS continues to set the bar for timely updates to their long list of Android-powered products. Via: Android Police

Contest: Win a HTC One X From NVIDIA and Droid Life [RAW] (Updated: Winner Picked)

Kellen — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 10:00:14 +0000

Day 2 of the 2nd Annual Droid Life Reader Appreciation Week is here! Yesterday, we handed out a 16GB Nexus 7, but today, it's all about the phone side of things instead of tablets. How does an unlocked quad-core HTC One X sound? As one of our favorite phones of all time, we couldn't be more excited to give this away to one lucky DL reader. Its power and beauty are matched by few if any phones even though it has been on the market for 7 or 8 months. If you haven't read our glowing review of it, I suggest that you do. Before we begin though, we wanted to give another big shout out to NVIDIA for putting up some amazing prizes this week including the One X. You won't find a better gaming experience on any phone thanks to its Tegra 3 quad-core processor and big beautiful screen. If you haven't yet, be sure to check out the Tegra Zone for all of your gaming needs. OK, lets give this bad boy away!

Contest

Update: Our winner is...@TCM_89 who loves him some AirDroid. Congrats! Prize: 1 (one) HTC One X [Unlocked] phone *Note - This is an unlocked phone, meaning you can simply slap an AT&T SIM card in and have it run on their HSPA network without problems. It may also work on T-Mobile, but likely not on HSPA. How to enter: 1. Follow @NVIDIATegra and @droid_life on Twitter. 2. Tweet the following message:

Win a HTC One X phone by following @droid_life and @NVIDIATegra! - http://bit.ly/SvQTVS #android #contest #raw

3. In the comments, tell us what your favorite non-Google app of all time is. 4. U.S. entries only. Winner: Tomorrow (9/26) at 9:00AM PT, we will select a winner, notify them, and update this post. Good luck everyone!

iPhone Owners Waiting on Google Maps App, the Wait is Over - It's Not Coming

Tim — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 09:40:30 +0000

In a recent outing, Google's Eric Schmidt made one thing very clear - Google has no Maps application in the works for iOS devices. According to Schmidt, the decision was entirely Apple's and he still feels that they should have stuck with Google's app. Both Google and Apple were in constant communication on the matter, but in the long run, Apple decided to go with a homegrown alternative instead.

We think it would have been better if they had kept ours. But what do I know? What were we going to do, force them not to change their mind? It's their call.

Schmidt went on to clarify that Google did want them as a partner, but with the tensions between the two companies at an all time high, it just wasn't meant to be. While in Japan to announce the availability of the Nexus 7, Schmidt took a moment to show off some of the more unique features of their Maps application. By moving the tablet around, instead of using your fingers, you get the sense of "looking around" and he quickly added, "Take that Apple." Of course, he said it jokingly. Via: Reuters Cheers Craig!

Jelly Bean Notifications for Non Jelly Bean Devices - In the Words of Sauce Boss, "Smart"

Tim — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 09:02:12 +0000

When Jelly Bean hit the streets, one of the features that had Android fans chirping was expandable notifications and other interactive things you could do from the bar. Of course, it is an exclusive Jelly Bean feature so anyone running anything less than 4.1 can't enjoy the goodies. Not anymore. With Jelly Bean Notifications+, anyone running 2.2+ can experience the wonders of interactive notifications. As a bonus, it isn't just stock notifications. There have been other improvements such as the ability to reply to SMS messages straight from the notifications and you can also add in Twitter feeds, Facebook timeline news, and even RSS feeds. Wowzers. The application comes with a 10 day trial and if you still like it, the price is $2.50. Not a bad price to pay if you know your device won't be seeing JB anytime soon. Play Link [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8C3878PEp0[/youtube]

TouchWiz Has a Major Security Flaw that Allows Factory Resets With Just One Click (Updated)

Eric — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 08:05:01 +0000

Concerning news this morning for any Samsung owner who is running TouchWiz on their phone. A little slice of HTML code was found that when clicked, can reset the Galaxy SII instantly to factory settings. The factory reset could also be triggered by a QR code or via NFC. The culprit seems to be the TouchWiz skin that Samsung has stuck by on top of Android. When this malicious code is triggered through a device, it pops up the dialer which then automatically activates a factory reset code, causing the phone to wipe itslef with no option for stoppage.

So far, The Verge has been able to replicate the exploit on the Galaxy SII and the AT&T version of the Galaxy SIII. Samsung is apparently "looking into" the exploit but there doesn't seem to be a way to fix this quite yet. The only advice we have is don't install any fishy-looking applications, click any weird HTML links, scan random QR codes, or touch NFC tags that you haven't set up yourself until we hear more word. We'll keep you updated if we hear more.

Update: Reports are coming in now that this is an Android issue that was patched long ago, but may still affect handsets not running the most current versions of Android. In theory, this vulnerability could be exploited on any older version of Android, probably pre-Ice Cream Sandwich. Thankfully, a number of updates to a handful of devices over the last few weeks likely closed up this gap, including ones to the Galaxy S3.

Via: The Verge

Google Play Books "Turns the Page" With Update - Adds Dictionary, Notes, and More

Tim — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 16:19:14 +0000

If reading on your Android device is something you do from time to time, then it may have become a bit easier today, thanks to an update that Google pushed out to Play Books. The update adds a few features that basically makes it a brand new app. When you open the app after the update, you'll find additions such as a quick translation tool, a dictionary feature, the ability to highlight and take notes, and even Places, which shows you a certain location on Google Maps when it's mentioned on the page. Go pick up the update and let us know what you think. Play Link Via: Android Blog

Android Open Kang Project's Build 3 Released, Go Get Your Custom ROM On

Tim — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 15:45:10 +0000

Just moments ago, the AOKP team released Build 3 of their popular ROM for the consumption of the masses. A changelog is yet to be posted, but once it is, we'll update the post. The team has added a few newly supported devices such as the crespo4g, i9100, i9100g, i9300, and toroplus. Unfortunately, users of wingray/stingray devices will no longer receive builds due to lack of a maintainer. Update: Here is the changelog.

SMS QuickReply

Stopwatch & Countdown in the Clock app (CM)

Expert Calculator functions (Graph, Matrices, etc.) (CM)

IME Switcher & Vib/Ring toggle as NavRing target

We fixed some serious bugs (you can set custom ringtones now), and made a few other fixes & improvements as usual.

Download Here Via: AOKP Cheers Trevin!

Second Look: XGEAR Fantom Tempered Glass Screen Protector for Galaxy Nexus [Contest Too] [RAW]

Kellen — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 15:17:05 +0000

Today, we're taking a second look at XGEAR's tempered glass screen protector for the Galaxy Nexus, called the Fantom. We first took a look at these back in July when XGEAR was getting close to being on final samples and definitely noticed a couple of issues which they have told us have since been addressed. So as part of Reader Appreciation Week, we wanted to talk about our new impressions and then hand a couple of these $30 tempered glass protectors out to the best Android community on the planet.

Second Impressions

For those new to tempered glass, you need to think of this as the ultimate form of protection for a screen. It's glass, rather than a flimsy film, so it's harder, more scratch and crack resistant, and feels nice to the touch. In fact, I actually like tempered glass more for the touch sensitivity than anything else. Regular PET screen protectors feel awful to the touch, but tempered glass simply feels just like if you were touching your screen. With that out of the way, let's talk about this new version. First of all, the phone wakes up just fine while on a call. The proximity sensor is no longer blocked allowing the phone to function properly. Touch sensitivity is also very good and the protector actually appears to be slightly thinner than it did in the past, but I doubt that to be the case. It does fit very well on top of the device though, and would almost be unnoticeable if it weren't for the cutouts for the notification light, front camera, and sensors. I'm also no longer noticing a rainbow effect in the middle of the protector while it's on the device. I am, however, still noticing the grid that was showing up on the previous release. It's not a deal breaker, but when the beauty of the Galaxy Nexus screen is one of the selling points, this grid does bring it down a notch. The XGEAR team explained to me that the grid has to do with a special UV coating which helps preserve the protector. Overall, I'm impressed by the changes that have been made and would definitely recommend that you consider the Fantom tempered glass protector if you are looking for extra protection. At $30, it's the only option available. Buy.

Contest

Update: Our two winners (1 and 2) have been emailed! Be sure to check your inboxes. Stay tuned for the next contest! Again, since it's Reader Appreciation Week (RAW), let's give two of these away and save a couple of you $30. Prize: Two (2) Fantom tempered glass protectors from XGEAR for the Galaxy Nexus How to enter: 1. In the comments, tell us what it will take to get you to part with your Galaxy Nexus. 2. If you haven't already, be sure to follow us on Google+. 3. Also, feel free to share this post with your G-Nex friends on Google+. Winner: Tomorrow at 8:00AM PT, we will randomly choose two winners from the comments.

Video: New Neflix UI on Android Officially Arrives

Kellen — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 14:30:05 +0000

On Friday, we uncovered the new UI for Netflix on Android, days before it was to go live for the world. Today, Netflix made the new phone UI official, and even created a video to talk about the added functionality, look, and new feature set. Once your device is showing the new UI, you'll be able to quickly resume unfinished shows, double tap to watch new shows in an instant, search from anywhere in the app, and filter by more categories. This new look matches up nicely to the tablet UI while also bringing the app into 2012 and out of 2009 styling. As far as we know, there isn't an update that will trigger the new look. All you need to do is install the app and it should start showing up. Play Link [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoTGW8QMuPA[/youtube] Via: Neflix

Motorola RAZR M Receives a Tear Down, Moto Has Made it Easy

Tim — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 14:00:36 +0000

It's customary to see tear down videos of new devices hit the web shortly after their release. The new DROID RAZR M from Motorola is no different. In this video from DirectFix, owners are shown how to fix their own LCD displays instead of sending it in for a replacement. Independence? Yeah, that's what America is all about. Like we hinted in the title, you can see that Moto has made taking this sucker apart super easy for hardware tinkerers out there. They've placed the screws right on the sides for you, so tearing it apart will be no hassle at all if this is something that interests you. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34v1UmdvFP8[/youtube] Cheers Robert!

Monday Poll: Which of Verizon's New Phones Interests You the Most?

Kellen — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 13:42:45 +0000

Since we talked about Verizon's epic Q4 2012 roadmap in a post earlier today, which ended by asking for your personal preference in the devices mentioned, we thought we may as well make it official with a poll. HTC has the DROID Incredible X in the works, Samsung the Galaxy Note 2, Motorola the RAZR HD and RAZR MAXX HD, and LG the Spectrum 2. But beyond those, there are Windows Phone 8 devices, a new slider from Samsung, and others on the horizon. If you would pick one, what would it be? [poll id="205"]

Giveaway: Win One of Two Limited Edition Droid Life Hoodies [RAW] (Updated: Winners Picked)

Tim — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 12:46:17 +0000

Let's keep Reader Appreciation Week (RAW) rolling with two of these limited edition Droid Life hoodies. If you recall, this hoodie was released during Ice Cream Sandwich's peak and is one of the "cuter" designs we have had. Feel like sporting one on your next outing outside and showing some DL love? Here's how to win one.

Update:

We have our winners! We have nwd1911 and Paladaxar. Enjoy em, fellas.

Prize:

Two people will walk away with a size "Large" limited edition hoodie.

How to enter:

1. ~~If you aren't already, follow Droid Life on Google+, Facebook, or Twitter if you so choose.~~ ~~2. Down in the comments section, tell us what Android device is your favorite.~~

Winners:

Our two winners will be chosen from the comments below later today at 3PM PT. Best of luck and may the odds be ever in your favor.

Verizon's Epic Q4 Roadmap, Which Will be Your Next Smartphone?

Kellen — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 12:10:45 +0000

Over the last week or so, the holiday lineup on Verizon has really started to take shape. Most companies took to press events at the end of August and beginning of September to announce their Q4 devices for Big Red, while others have remained slightly silent. Thanks to a handful of leaks and rumors though, we have been given a clear enough picture that we can at least start to talk about it. Verizon may have introduced questionable shared data plans, however, they still have the biggest LTE network in the land, and are also about to take back the "best device lineup in the land" crown as well. Q4 of 2012 is going to be a time to remember in the history of smartphones. How are you going to decide which phone to get? Let's walk through the expected lineup, with potential dates, and see if we can't help.

HTC DROID Incredible X

HTC is possibly creating the most impressive smartphone we have ever seen, if rumors are to be believed. Industry pundits have decided to call it the DROID Incredible X, and are expecting it to have a 5" 1080p display (480ppi), Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor, 1.5GB RAM, NFC, LTE, and an ultra-thin red-accented body. No one has seen the phone other than in a set of blurry cam shots, but even those should be enough to get the juices flowing. This phone is expected to hit stores in November.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Samsung made the Galaxy Note 2 official for all 5 of the major carriers here in the U.S. This phone will sport a 5.5" HD Super AMOLED display (non-PenTile), 1.6GHz Exynos quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage, microSD slot for up to 64GB of external storage, 3100mAh battery, and will run Jelly Bean (Android 4.1). It's the successor to the original Galaxy Note, a device that created an entirely new smartphone segment in the market place. Who says oversized phones aren't in demand? This phone will launch by mid-November.

Motorola DROID RAZR HD and RAZR MAXX HD

Motorola unveiled their new RAZR family at an event in early September, but at the time, would only give us a launch date for one of the devices, the RAZR M. While we are huge fans of the RAZR M, the stars of the show were the new RAZR HD and RAZR MAXX HD. With their 4.7" HD Super AMOLED displays, 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processors, 1GB RAM, 16GB internal storage, expandable microSD slots, 8MP cameras, and Jelly Bean software, they are Motorola's most powerful and appealing phones to date. The biggest selling point for both phones may end up being battery life though, with the RAZR HD holding 2530mAh of juice and the MAXX HD somewhere around 3300mAh. These phones will launch "before the holidays."

New Nexus?

We would be surprised if Verizon ever gets another Nexus device from Google. In fact, after the pissing matches that have gone on between Big Red and Google over updates and carrier control, this probably won't happen. If it were to happen though, it would happen in Q4 and could be a device from Samsung, LG, Sony or maybe even HTC.

LG Spectrum 2

Last week, LG announced the Optimus G, one of the more impressive Android devices ever created. The Spectrum 2, is not that phone. The Spectrum 2 is the U.S. variant of the LG Optimus LTE2, which is actually a pretty decent phone on paper. It runs a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, has 1GB RAM, a 4.7" HD True IPS+ display, LTE, NFC, and will run Ice Cream Sandwich. This phone is no slouch, but when compared to the big names like the Incredible X, Galaxy Note 2, and new RAZR HDs, it's probably going to get lost in the shuffle. This phone will reportedly arrive in October.

Samsung Stratosphere 2

The new Stratosphere 2 is the phone for those that can't live without a physical keyboard. It should run a Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor, have a Super AMOLED Plus display (not HD), and connect to Verizon's 4G LTE network. It won't be high-end, but the keyboard should be decent and the phone will more than likely be powerful enough to satisfy as a mid-range device. This phone will reportedly arrive any day now.

DROID RAZR M, Incredible 4G LTE, Intuition and Samsung Galaxy S3

If you can't wait for any of the previously mentioned phones, don't forget that Verizon already has a couple of phones out that are worth a look. The DROID RAZR M (our review) and its "edge-to-edge" display was one of our favorites of the last year. The Samsung Galaxy S3 (our review) has been out for a couple of months and will still be better than some of the phones that have yet to launch. The Incredible 4G LTE (our review) is probably our least favorite of Verizon's recent releases, but it's small and affordable if that's what you are looking for. The LG Intuition, we recommend that you pass on.

Nokia Lumia 920 and HTC Windows Phone 8X

If Android isn't in the cards, then I suggest you wait for the new Windows Phone 8 offerings from Nokia and HTC. The new Nokia Lumia 920 has hardware that matches up to almost any high-end Android phone, one of the coolest accessory lineups ever, and will be a welcomed change on the design front. The HTC 8X is up there in specs too and has a unique look, but has a slightly smaller foot print than the Lumia. Each phone will impress you in its own way. Even as an Android fanboy, I'm dying to get my hands on these new Windows phones. These phones will reportedly arrive in November.

iPhone 5

Yep, the new iPhone 5 is already available. If you hate Android and aren't interested in what Microsoft is doing, then this is probably the option for you. If you still like Android, going to this phone would probably be a downgrade.

____________________________________________________

If had to rank these as of now, it would probably look something like this:

HTC DROID Incredible X
Samsung Galaxy Note 2
Motorola RAZR MAXX HD
Nokia Lumia 920
New Nexus (which probably won't happen)

So now that you know what's coming, which phone is topping your list?

MOTOACTV Golf Update Live Again, Grab It if You Missed It the First Time

Tim — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 11:33:32 +0000

Previously, Motorola released an update for MOTOACTV that included golf functionality, but it was only available for a limited time. Over the weekend, we received an email from a reader who plugged in his device and was prompted for the update to build number 1.7.12 N8. This is a quick note to all ACTV users who missed the update, that you should go check and see if your's is also prompted to update. Let us know down below if you've had any luck. Cheers Flipapotimus!

Photo Taken With Samsung Galaxy Nexus 2 (GT-i9260)?

Kellen — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 10:54:13 +0000

The GT-i9260 could potentially be the Samsung Galaxy Nexus 2. Since the original Galaxy Nexus rolls with the model number GT-i9250, it would make sense that the next version of it would jump up in numbering sequence. To add to that thought, remember that Samsung almost always keeps follow-up phones on a similar model number scheme, much like we have seen with the Galaxy S (i9000) to S2 (i9100) to S3 (i9300). So if the the GT-i9260 is the new Galaxy Nexus, then the first photos taken with it have been uploaded to Picasa. No real information is given other than the f/2.65 aperture and 4mm focal length. The pictures are most definitely not taken at full resolution, so it's tough to tell if this will be an upgraded 8MP camera or not. In one of the photos, we do have someone using a Samsung laptop and the mention of Bluetooth on a spreadsheet, but that could be a coincidence and not phone related. In the past though, Picasa has been a great source to find the first mentions of unreleased phones. Other than random rumors, we know nothing about this phone. Most are expecting it to look almost identical to the original Galaxy Nexus, but with an upgraded 4.65" display, more RAM, and a better processor. If there is indeed a Galaxy Nexus 2, are you interested? Via: Picasa | DroidDog

Apex Launcher and Nova Launcher Receive Updates, Jelly Bean Enhancements and More

Tim — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 10:32:04 +0000

For anyone that uses the Apex or Nova third party launchers, you can go pick up their updates in Google Play this morning. For Nova, there are a ton of fixes and it also adds in some Jelly Bean goodies and "Project Butter" improvements. As for Apex, it's pretty much the same. Lots of fixes, Jelly Bean improvements, but it also adds the ability to force the tablet UI on your homescreens. As a note, there are reports that the Apex Launcher update has something wrong with it and is force closing a lot. You can rest assured that the developer is working on a fix and will release an update as soon as humanly possible.

Nova Launcher | Apex Launcher

Cheers Joseph!

Contest: Win a Nexus 7 16GB From NVIDIA and Droid Life [RAW] (Updated: Winner Picked)

Kellen — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 09:55:07 +0000

And here we go! To kick off the 2nd Annual Droid Life Reader Appreciation Week, we thought that there would be no better way to do it than by handing out a Google Nexus 7 tablet with 16GB of storage. Thanks to our friends at NVIDIA, this is the $250 version of the tablet that we highly recommend over the 8GB, since you'll need the extra storage space while you dominate HD Tegra Zone games with the Tegra 3 4-PLUS-1 processor inside. We reviewed the Nexus 7 back in July and still consider it the best Android tablet on the market. Its combination of size, power, specs, and price make it almost unbeatable for any Android enthusiast or casual tablet user.

Contest

Update: Our winner has been chosen! Congrats chronoquestion! Prize: 1 (one) Google Nexus 7 16GB tablet How to enter: 1. Follow @NVIDIATegra and @droid_life on Twitter. 2. Tweet the following message:

Win a Nexus 7 16GB tablet from @NVIDIATegra and @droid_life. Details here - http://goo.gl/JP5bI #android #contest #raw

3. In the comments, tell us what the most recent Android game you downloaded was. 4. U.S. entries only. Winner: Tomorrow (9/25) at 9:00AM PT, we will select a winner, notify them, and update this post. Good luck everyone!

Samsung Starts Upgrading International Galaxy SIII to Jelly Bean Today, Announces Other Devices Too

Eric — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 09:40:56 +0000

What better way to start your week than with some Jelly Bean upgrades? Samsung announced today that the rollout of Android 4.1 to the International version of the Galaxy S3 is starting. Google Now, Project Butter and the rest of the goodies in Jelly Bean will soon be smothered with TouchWiz and sent out to devices across Europe. No word on the upgrades for this side of the pond, but we're keeping our fingers crossed.

Samsung also announced all of the devices that they plan on upgrading at some point and it's a fairly extensive list. The Galaxy SII and SII Skyrocket, Galaxy Note, Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 and Tab 2 10.1 and the Galaxy Note 10.1 will all be getting Jelly Bean at some point. Again, no mention of a timeframe for these upgrades, just that they will be coming at some point.

Anxious to see Samsung's version of Jelly Bean? Or do you hate the TouchWiz?

Via: The Verge

Motorola RAZR HD Goes on Sale, Unfortunately It's in South America

Tim — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 09:08:03 +0000

For anyone looking to score Motorola's new RAZR HD, you can finally pick one up. Hope you don't mind waiting for it to go through US customs though. The device is currently being sold through a Brazilian retailer for approximately $500, which seems to be a pretty good deal, yeah? If you're thinking of importing the device and hoping it to work on a CDMA network though, I wouldn't bet on it. Although, you're better off waiting for its official US release sometime "before the holidays." Buy Here Cheers Eric!

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Droid Life Reader Appreciation Week!

Kellen — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 08:56:06 +0000

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Droid Life Reader Appreciation Week!

As many of you may remember from last year's inaugural event, this is the one time of year that we like to simply say "Thanks!" to the DL community for being the best on the internet. Others will claim to be the biggest or most comprehensive, but no one comes close to the millions of passionate, intelligent, and friendly crew of Android enthusiasts that hang out here on a daily and monthly basis. You are all truly the greatest, and make doing this job a joy each and every day. So yeah, this is Reader Appreciation Week, a 5-day bonanza of Android-related giveaways. Last year, we handed out 3 tablets, a bunch of apps, some DL swag, Android collectibles, and a case here and there. It was a blast. But you know what? This is year 2, so we turned it up another notch. In fact, we turned it up a couple of notches. The Droid Life community has a chance to walk away with 5 different Tegra 3 powered devices (4 tablets and 1 phone) from NVIDIA, more cases from Spigen and Seidio than you can count, XGEAR tempered glass protectors, exclusive DL hoodies and t-shirts, and so much more. The photo above doesn't even include it all and is more a less a sampling of the stuff sitting around my office. It's going to be wild!

Schedule of Events:

Since we have 5-mega prizes (the tablets and phone), we'll give one of them away each day in the signature giveaway of sorts. These will be full 24-hour contests so that everyone has a chance to enter. The rest of the stuff (cases, shirts, screen protectors, and apps) will be tossed out sporadically with short windows for entry. Since we have so many things to give away, it'll be like rapid fire throughout much of the week. Basically what I'm saying is that you shouldn't leave Droid Life for the next 5 days or you may miss out on a chance to win an amazing prize or two.

Entering Contests:

Our contests tend to be built around social media. Since we like to spread Android love through Twitter, Facebook, and Google+, many of these contests can only be entered through those outlets. We'll still have some that are comment-only for those that aren't into the social thing. Each contest post will describe the mode of entry, but also be aware that some contests will simply be announced through Twitter, Facebook or Google+ and may never make it to the front page of DL. To make sure that you have the best chance at entering each contest, we highly recommend that you:

We will also be tagging posts with [RAW] or #RAW so that you can pick out the Reader Appreciation Week coverage as it unfolds.

Sponsors:

Before we begin, we wanted to recognize the many sponsors that stepped up this year to make this the biggest 1-week giveaway you will find anywhere on the internet. Big thanks to the folks at NVIDIA (as always) for putting up five Tegra 3 devices and for being such a great Android player. Another big shout out to Spigen SGP and the countless cases and goodies they have provided to DL to giveaway over the last few months, to Seidio for the bundle of fun, and to XGEAR for re-doing their tempered glass protectors and allowing us to hand them out. Everyone ready? The first contest kicks off in about an hour!

Sprint's 4G LTE Hits Parts of Kansas, Illinois, and Massachusetts

Tim — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 08:30:30 +0000

With many new devices launching on Sprint's network that support 4G LTE, the company is making a good push to have the service be made available to as many customers as possible. Just a couple of weeks ago, they announced that 100 cities in the U.S. would soon see the upgrade and here we are today, with few new ones to announce. Cities being lit up:

Lawrence, Kan.
Topeka, Kan.
Wichita, Kan.
Waukegan-Lake County, Ill.
Barnstable-Hyannis/Mid-Cape, Mass.

To see what cities are still coming up, check our earlier post here and see if your area is getting it too.

Sprint Nextel Corporation has posted the following release to its Newsroom website:

Truly Unlimited Sprint 4G LTE Blazes into More Cities - Brings Power, Simplicity and Value
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), September 24, 2012 - Sprint (NYSE:S) today announced availability of 4G LTE to customers in Lawrence, Kan.; Topeka, Kan.; Wichita, Kan.; Waukegan-Lake County, Ill.; and Barnstable-Hyannis/Mid-Cape, Mass. Sprint’s wireless customers in these metro areas will benefit from the speed, value and simplicity of the Sprint 4G LTE experience. Through its exceptional selection of smartphones and a Truly UnlimitedSM data plan, Sprint offers an unbeatable package for wireless users. “In addition to the 19 cities we have already launched, we recently announced that Sprint 4G LTE will be available in more than 100 cities in the coming months,” said Bob Azzi, senior vice president-Network, Sprint. “Today’s news moves us even further toward achieving that goal. We strive to deliver a top-notch network experience combined with winning devices and unlimited nationwide data plans – all of which are designed to support the ways our customers use their mobile devices today and tomorrow.” A strong, robust wireless network is increasingly important as wireless users want to access emails quickly, upload photos/videos to friends and family, and routinely check in with social networks – all on their smartphone. Keeping up with current wireless data usage and looking into the future, Sprint is building an all-new 3G and 4G LTE network as part of a strategy known as Network Vision. This network build-out is expected to improve all aspects of the wireless experience for customers. Today, some customers in parts of Chicago, Los Angeles and New York are experiencing better 3G service thanks to the start of the Network Vision program in those areas. Additionally, customers in areas of Baltimore, Boston and Washington, D.C., have been enjoying enhanced 3G performance. As Network Vision continues to rollout across the country, Sprint customers will see significant improvement in their 3G network experience, including expanded coverage, improved network reliability, better voice quality, and faster 3G data speeds. Sprint understands the value of a Truly Unlimited experience. Sprint offers a portfolio of 4G LTE-capable devices, which includes powerhouse smartphones such as Samsung Galaxy S® III, Motorola PHOTON™ Q™ 4G LTE and the new iPhone™ 5. Customers can sign up for an Everything Data plan with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM, which includes unlimited Web, texting and calling to and from any mobile in America while on the Sprint Network, starting at just $79.99 per month for smartphones – a savings of $20 per month versus Verizon’s comparable plan with unlimited talk, text and 2GB Web (excludes taxes and surcharges). Customers value Truly Unlimited data, because it’s simple and straightforward – no metering, no throttling or overages, and no need to share minutes or data, all while on the Sprint network. Additionally, the 2012 American Customer Satisfaction Index ranked Sprint No. 1 among all national carriers in customer satisfaction and most improved, across all 47 industries, during the last four years. With today’s announcement, Sprint 4G LTE is available in 24 citiesi and is expected to be in more than 100 additional cities in coming months. Sprint introduced its all-new 4G LTE network in July 2012 and expects to have largely completed the nationwide build-out by the end of 2013. For the most up-to-date details on Sprint’s 4G LTE portfolio and rollout, visit www.sprint.com/4GLTE.

Android Series 3 Collectibles on Sale Now!

Kellen — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 08:03:44 +0000

Go go go! Update: Sold out already. Update 2: Were showing as sold out, now they are back. Check the link. Update 3: Once these last few sell out, the second batch will go up tonight at 11PM ET (8PM PT). Buy.

Rumor: HTC Creating the Nexus 5, a Variant of Its 1080p Phone

Kellen — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 07:35:57 +0000

(Concept design of the HTC "dlx")

As we inch closer to the end of 2012, the number of rumors surrounding the next Nexus phone from Google are going to overwhelm you. Some will be garbage, one or two here and there may be right on point, but for the most part, you should take them all as strictly rumor. Last week it was LG who was going to create a Nexus based off of its Optimus G phone, and today, it's going to be HTC who creates one based off of its 1080p "dlx" (DROID Incredible X) phone. According to this report our of GSMArena, the anonymous tipster who received the information from a "very reliable source within HTC," said that the phone will sport a 5" 1080p display, Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor, 2500mAh battery, an ultra slim body, up to 64GB of internal storage, LTE connectivity, and carry the name Nexus 5 (clearly a play on the Nexus 7 tablet name). But since it's a Nexus, and Google tends to release some sort of new version of Android with each new device, we could see Android 4.1.2 as well. Android 4.1.2 (still Jelly Bean) is said to include "bugfixes, Project Butter improvements, extra lockscreen functionality as well as other minor tweaks." While this is nothing more than a rumor and fun to talk about, I would be beyond happy if HTC took the "dlx" and made it into a Nexus. To this day, I still love the One X, but that's because I put a stock Jelly Bean ROM on it. HTC uses some of the better materials of any OEM in its phones and takes design very seriously. Very few phones feel as well made as this year's from HTC. Sound possible? Via: GSMArena Cheers John!

Motorola Updates Ice Cream Sandwich Timeline - Bionic and Xyboard 8.2 Officially Pushed to Q4

Kellen — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 09:07:37 +0000

Yesterday, we pointed out a conversation that Motorola's Punit Soni was having with DROID Bionic owners over the fact that the Ice Cream Sandwich update for the device has not arrived on time. Soni made it clear that the new group of Moto leaders was going to do everything in their power to not only make sure situations like this do not happen in the future, but also wanted people to know that they are working to fix the problem now. One of the first plans of attack was to get a new deadline for the Bionic, something he followed through on this morning. As many of you are well aware, the original deadline for the device was set at "early Q3," but things have now officially shifted to Q4 of this year. The DROID Xyboard 8.2 joins it, even though the Xyboard 10.1 received Android 4.0 back in mid-August and the devices are almost identical aside from screen size. For Soni's sake and the rest of the new executive team at Motorola, I hope they can at least meet Q4 - and hopefully early Q4 - or it's going to be a rocky start. Via: Motorola Cheers Lambo!

Google Play Opens a Twitter, Promises Tweets on Special Promotions and Deals

Tim — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 18:07:55 +0000

Google has opened an official Twitter account for Google Play. According to their first tweet, you can expect to see tweets of special deals and promotions that are running in Google Play. Awesome. Follow Google Play Cheers Kover!

This Week in the Life of DROID: 9/21/2012

Tim — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 15:35:31 +0000

What a week it has been. Naturally, many of this week's tech/mobile news circled around the launch of Apple's newest iPhone 5. All hail iPhone 5. Anyways, what we did come out with is LG's new Optimus G, official Jelly Bean update for Verizon's Galaxy Nexus, and Motorola/Intel's new RAZR i. If you missed any of this week's awesomeness, here are the highlights:

Have a great weekend!

Motorola's Punit Soni: Bionic Owners Have "Gotten a Raw Deal," New Motorola Will Try to "Fix Things"

Kellen — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 13:52:08 +0000

Punit Soni has only been the VP of Product at Motorola for a few weeks and already has taken to Google+ to interact personally with current customers to try to fix some of the company's past mistakes. One of the topics he is actively involved in includes the DROID Bionic and the fact that it still has not received its Ice Cream Sandwich update. As you all know, Motorola previously promised to the world that the update would be here in "early Q3," however, we are now days away from the end of Q3 and the update is no where in sight. Soni admits that Bionic owners have "gotten a raw deal" thus far and that a new plan is being formed, but also wants it to be clear that with the new Motorola team at the top, they are doing everything they can to eliminate situations like this from ever happening:

We have a plan for Bionic. I am currently solidifying things to ensure we can publish it, commit and follow up. I think you guys have gotten a raw deal and we could do way better. But you are one of the top few things I worry about when I look at Upgrades.

The Google+ thread of his that we have linked below continues on for quite some time and is filled with Soni's responses to all sorts of customers. One comment of his that stood out was the thought that his team now knows to "take your complaints seriously" and that in the future, they will be transparent and stand next to upgrade timelines:

Again..I totally understand how you feel. And this should never happen. I am not going to throw out the argument "we just got here". We are taking responsibility for this. And we will engage with you, listen carefully to your concerns and most importantly, try to FIX things. So we are doing that. My team knows to take your complaints seriously, we are working hard to update the Upgrades timeline pages to reflect the right data, and then we WILL stand next to those timings and will meet them. As far as what is in our control, we will be transparent and we will commit to your happiness. Keep the feedback coming.

I suggest you take up Soni on his offer to provide more feedback. With a new CEO and other execs at the top from Google, Motorola is wanting to change to be better after years of pain. It all starts with listening to passionate consumers like you. Via: Google+ Cheers Lambo!

Verizon's Developer Edition Galaxy S3 Finally Up for Sale, Starting at $599 for 16GB

Tim — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 13:45:28 +0000

I recall news of developer edition Galaxy S3 devices that would soon go on sale for Verizon customers more than two months ago in July. Has it been that long already? If you've been waiting to jump on one of these unlockable developer edition devices that will allow you to mod and tinker to your heart's content, get your credit cards ready. For 16GB, the price is set at $599.99, and an additional $50 for the 32GB variant. What's even worse, from what we can see, you can only buy the Pebble Blue version. What Samsung, no white hotness for us tinkerers? Order Here Via: Phandroid Cheers ItsaSamsung!

Droid Life Q&A Sessions: Volume 5 Answers

Kellen — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 13:05:55 +0000

As is customary in Q & A session weeks, we have the answers to help take us into the weekend. The questions were great as always, including the one about fingernails. The focus from many of you, is clearly on the incredible lineup of phones that is about to become available on Verizon. You have some tough choices ahead if you are in the market for a new phone. Let's talk about them.

1. With all the phones that are coming out now, which phone on Verizon is the most appealing? Which device is most worthy of being someone's daily driver?

K: The 5" HTC phone is the one that everyone should be waiting for. We may not see another Nexus on Verizon again, so if you want to stick with Big Red, you are going to have to consider a skinned phone. The Galaxy Note 2 will also be a great choice if you passed on the Galaxy S3, however, the HTC phone could be something special. T: If it were me, I would probably wait for the DROID RAZR HD MAXX. It might become the best device for everything an Android lover would want. Great specs, great battery, and awesome hardware. E: I got some hands on time with the RAZR M the other day and I absolutely love that device. It feels perfectly sized in my hands and built out of some quality material. It's pretty snappy too. I do have a love affair with HTC's One series so I want to wait and see what this Droid Incredible X is all about before I go looking for a new device.

2. So, if you could/had to, what carrier would you switch to from Verizon?

K: I keep a second line on AT&T already, so I'd probably just move over to them permanently if I had to. While their service is spotty in every city I travel, I like having the option to slap my SIM into an unlocked phone of any type and having it work. Their LTE is also rolling out quite fast these days. T: I would switch to AT&T. In comparison to T-Mobile and Sprint, in my area AT&T has the better coverage and has their 4G LTE. E: I'd probably switch to T-Mobile if I had to. I could use unlocked phones and still have pretty decent HSPA+ coverage. They just re-announced an unlimited plan that's only 80 bucks a month too, so it's pretty enticing for cheap college kids like myself. R: AT&T or T-Mobile.

3. How come none of us care about LG? Even with the Optimus G with the best specs of any phone ever, I don't want it, why?

K: I blame the Chocolate, eNV, and Voyager for ruining everyone's opinion of LG. The Optimus G will be a hit globally, just probably not in the States. I do like LG's new focus on creating innovative software features though, rather that caring only about specs. R: Because their software looks like a bad copy of TouchWiz and hardware matters less than it did two years ago. T: LG has put out a few devices in the past that have basically marked them as a poor device manufacturer. The build quality was cheap, software was awful, and I think that stigma just sort of sticks with buyers. The Optimus G does have some great specs, but is it enough to bring LG back from the metaphorical "dead?" Time will tell. E: Because their history of devices has been horrible (Lucid, Spectrum, Intuition) they need to change our minds before we can care about their phones.

4. How does Windows 8 Phone look to you lately? Is it great for innovation, and do you see it as a viable competitor in the smartphone wars?

E: I would love to get my hands on the HTC 8X and see how it feels. I think WP8 has a lot going for it in style and sophistication but a lot of Android users are here because of the flexibility we have on our phones. Apple and Windows seem to be running under the mantra that "mobile users don't know what they want" so iOS and WP8 feed it to them, we'll see down the road if people think that's true. K: I'll be picking up a Lumia 920 in some form, either via review unit or buying one myself. I really like Windows Phone and am dying to see what Windows Phone 8 is like. Plus, the specs and feature-set that Nokia included in this phone are as good as any Android phone. Always good to know your competition. R: All they've shown us so far is the new Start screen. If it has better notifications, better multitasking, and better apps then I think it will fair better.

5. How long do you think it will be before we see something from Motorola that will really make us say, "That's very Google" or "Google Inspired and Designed"?

K: Next year. I'm actually really excited to see what Motorola does in 2013. The RAZR HD was the last of Sanjay Jha's phones, so we could see something completely new next time around. In fact, they have a special design and innovation team now that's sole goal, is to create something the world has never seen. It should be fun. R: When it has ads on the lock screen. We haven't really seen Google-only design in anything except the Nexus Q. If they make a phone that has that design language I'll buy it now. E: I'm still under the assumption that there will be at least 5 Nexus phones this fall, and I think one of them is going to be a Motorola device. What I'm really crossing my fingers for is a revival of the OG Droid but as a Nexus. I think Google would love having that diversity in their Nexus line up.

(Throwback photo!)

6. How do you think Android will evolve in 2013?

R: A lot in Android can still be simplified and improved. I'm hoping the design language stays the same. Maybe add full cards for multitasking. E: More User Interface polish. Jelly Bean is already sexy as all get out, but I think Google has more up their sleeve. T: Well, if anything I would hope to see more performance increases and possibly a better camera experience. More focus on homescreens and the notification area, along with many more improvements to the Google Play store. K: Google Now will take over your life. Google has clearly realized that this service has endless possibilities. Google already wants you to sign into all of their services, so if they can make Google Now pull from them all, they essentially get you to continue to use them all.

7. Besides being pure Google, is the Galaxy Nexus still a good buy?

K: It's still my favorite phone to date. I've handled just about every new Android phone that has dropped in the last year, but when I get done reviewing them, I usually can't wait to get back onto my Galaxy Nexus. Bad camera and all, the form factor to me is perfect. Nothing feels as good in hand as the G-Nex. T: The device is almost a year old and with that, you're going to have a few devices coming out later this year that will basically put it to bed. If you want to root and do all of the tinkering, then go for it. If you want a reliable device that will work when you need it to, then I would probably pass based on the fact that the Galaxy SIII has great battery life and is pretty dependable. E: I would only suggest it to someone who wouldn't be afraid of unlocking it and hacking away. Stock it's an OK phone but if you unlock it you can make up for many of the flaws that it still has. R: As long as you don't use your phone to take pictures, yes.

8. Hands down, best/worst reviewed Android phones and tablets ever that you have used?

K: The DROID Charge was absolutely the worst phone I've reviewed in some time. When people get the impression that Samsung makes "cheap" products, it's because of phones like that. Worst tablet has got to be that 3D disaster that LG released on T-Mobile in 2011. It was so cheap and gimmicky, that you needed to wear red and blue 1985 glasses to see 3D content on it. I think 4 people bought it. R: The original 10 inch Galaxy Tab was pretty bad. Worst phone was probably the Eris (though I love that form factor). E: Best reviewed would be the HTC One X. My friend had the unfortunate luck of getting a bottom-dollar 7" Android 2.3 tablet from his mother. I think the company was "American"? Or something of that sort. It was god-awful and I wanted to put the poor device out of it's misery. T: The Photon Q. I despise that phone. Clunky body, crappy software, and an unusable camera. To me, worst device I have ever reviewed.

9. In a quick one-two liner, tell us why Android is better than iOS to you.

K: iOS is beyond stale. Android continues to evolve and change the industry still to this day. R: Android has a better design language and has continually made major improvements while iOS has slowly iterated on itself without changing the design for 5 years. T: Software. Customization. Hardware options. Preference. Choice. Freedom. America.

10. Newton/RG3/Luck ranking after 3 years each in the league?

E: I think Luck will have a better future going forward (all Indianapolis bias aside). RG3 will follow the same path as Newton, and if you saw the Panthers get stomped by the Giants last night you can see that teams can prepare for rushing QBs and gimmicky option offense. You can't prepare for a QB who can sit in the pocket and pick your defense apart. K: Luck, Newton and then RG3. How many quarterbacks in history have been ultra-athletic and survived or became elite? I'd say very few, so the odds are in Luck's favor as a traditional QB. Newton is a freak of nature though, so he could end up as one of the greats of all time, as painful as it is for me to admit that. RG3 will join Vince Young in a couple of years. Actually, he's a wild card, but his whining after 2 games about cheap shots in the league isn't giving off a good vibe. T: Is that a player in hockey or something? *The rest of our Q & A sessions are all available at this link.

Friday Poll: New Jelly Bean Users, Favorite Feature so Far?

Tim — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 12:08:01 +0000

It's been a good day for Verizon Galaxy Nexus owners, as some of you are playing with brand new software. Sure, the wait was long, but you have to admit that Jelly Bean is worth it. We would love to hear some intial feedback as to what your favorite Jelly Bean feature is so far. Is it the introduction of Google Now? The new expandable notifications? And as a two part, we know many of the rooted Nexus owners have been on Jelly Bean for months, so feel free to add in your expert opinion on the matter as well. For me, I still have mad love for Google Now. To this day, it still impresses anyone I feel like showing it off to. [poll id="204"]

Asus Padfone 2 Full Specs Revealed - Quad-core Processor, 4.7-Inch Super IPS+ Display, 13MP Camera and More

Kellen — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 11:18:05 +0000

A picture of what appears to be the backside of a retail box that was posted over at Chinese site mobile01, is being reported as the spec list for the Asus Padfone 2. Now, we know that Asus is going to unveil this device on October 16, but so far, most of the specs remained a mystery. Unless of course, this picture is legit. So what do we have? The packaging above is showing LTE and HSPA+, a Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz, 2140mAh battery, 4.7" Super IPS+ HD display, 2GB RAM, 13MP rear camera, 1.2MP front camera, and a thickness of 9mm. It sounds a lot like the LG Optimus G, but since it's a Padfone, it will certainly come with a tablet skeleton for docking. With the Padfone, it's all about hybrid multi-functionality. This is the type of device that I wish would make its way to the U.S. Unfortunately, carriers aren't interested in a phone that docks into a tablet, since they would rather sell you both a tablet and a phone. They also don't want you sharing a data plan between a tablet and a phone unless you pay extra to have that tablet on your plan. The Padfone in theory is amazing for consumers, and that's the reason U.S. carriers have shunned it thus far. So, this thing sounds like a beast in the making. Is anyone interested in importing one, once it launches? Via: Mobile01 | Blog of Mobile

Qualcomm Releases Updated Vellamo Benchmark Tool With New Beautiful UI

Kellen — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 11:00:14 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctMKja-XTqw[/youtube]

Qualcomm released a major update to their Vellamo benchmark Android app last night and it looks stunning. Aside from the UI changing to a 2012-esque styling, they updated the browser benchmarks and added tests for WebGL, network testing, and also for HTML video. If you haven't benchmarked your phone in a while, now would be a good time to. Play Link

How to: Resize Widgets on Jelly Bean [Beginners' Guide]

Tim — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 10:55:47 +0000

Some time ago, back when Honeycomb 3.1 was released, Google enabled the re-sizing of some widgets on Android. It wasn't very good and many widgets were unsupported. But as time goes by, the feature has grown and has become one of the many reasons Android shines over other operating systems. If you use a 3rd party launcher, then re-sizing widgets is probably second nature by now, but for those who use the stock launcher, we'll go over how to place a widget and then re-size it to fit your screen or whatever space you want it to fill. Let's get to it.

Re-sizing widgets:

You can't resize all widgets, but many of the widgets that come "stock" on Android can be re-sized. For example, widgets that can be changed are Gmail, Calendar, Browser Bookmarks, Google Voice, etc. You'll just have to go through and see if the widget you want to re-size supports it. 1. Choose a widget you want to re-size from the app/widget drawer.

Above, we have used the Bookmarks widget for the Browser application.

2. Long press and drag the widget to a homescreen. 3. Press the widget until you feel your device vibrate and then release it. 4. You will see four dots popup and a line bordering the widget's area. 5. Drag the dots to their desired position for what size you would like then release. 6. Once done, hit the back button. You just re-sized a widget. Now go, re-size them all and enjoy some Jelly Bean goodness. *The rest of the Android Beginners’ Guide is a one-stop shop for all of those new to Android.

Pink Samsung Galaxy S3 Spotted in Korea, Paris Hilton is First in Line

Tim — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 09:45:38 +0000

According to images leaked to the web, Samsung will be releasing a bright pink version of their Galaxy SIII in Korea next week. Sexy. So far, Samsung has been working hard to expand their color offerings and just recently released four additional colors to go along with the original pebble blue and white variants. There is no official word from Sammy on if the pink version will land in the States yet and it's usually dependent on the region, but fingers crossed some girls can get their hands on this beautiful device in time for the holidays. In fact, Samsung should send us some seeing as how it matches Droid Life's colors pretty well. Digging the pink? Via: GSMArena

Verizon Roadmap: DROID Incredible X in November, Spectrum 2 in October, Lumia 920 and More

Kellen — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 09:06:06 +0000

A purported Verizon roadmap obtained by the folks at PhoneArena may give us a look at the smartphone rollout schedule for the next couple of months. It's filled with Android devices, some of which you'll care about, others you may not. If anything, it appears as if Verizon isn't about to slow down now that the iPhone 5 is out. No sir, we are going to see top Android phones, the new Windows Phone 8 devices, and even a new Blackberry 10 phone. It's a good time to be a Verizon customer.

HTC DROID Incredible X

The HTC "dlx" (yes that's DLX not DiX) will apparently roll with the name DROID Incredible X when in launches some time in November. I'm not going to lie, I think the name is ridiculous, but I get what they are doing. Take the HTC One X which Verizon foolishly passed on initially, then decide now that they want one after seeing it's success, know that they have to make it an Incredible if they do carry it, so let's call it the DROID Incredible X! We had previously heard that the device would be "DROID" branded, so this makes sense. We also know that the device will potentially run a new Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor, have 1.5GB of RAM, and a 5" 1080p display with 480ppi. This is the phone that has me more excited than any other phone of 2012. Well, besides the next Nexus.

LG Spectrum 2

We have been covering the LG Spectrum 2 for months now, but it may finally launch in October. As you may recall, this is essentially the Optimus LTE2 and is a solid phone with mostly beefed up specs. It has a dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 processor, NFC, LTE, a 4.7" HD IPS+ display, and 16GB of internal storage. The only thing to remember here, is that this is not the new Optimus G. Not that it'll be a bad phone, but I'd be worried about purchasing this when LG is likely to focus all of their efforts on the G over this. Ask any original Spectrum owner what they think about LG and their software update time lines and you aren't going to hear many good things.

Samsung Stratosphere 2

We have also been talking about the Samsung Stratosphere 2 for a couple of months and are surprised that it hasn't been released already. For keyboard lovers, this may end up being one of your last options. It should get a beefed up Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor, a Super AMOLED Plus display, and again, have an actual physical keyboard for you to tap away on. The original Stratosphere was a low-end phone to say the least - this one should be decent. Today's roadmap claims that we should see it any day now.

Nokia Lumia 920 and HTC Windows Phone 8X

I'll be perfectly honest, I'm super excited for these two new Windows Phone 8 devices from HTC and Nokia. I test drove a Lumia 900 for a weekend and loved the operating system. Unfortunately for the operating system, the phone itself was garbage. But even after Nokia put out a subpar device in the 900, the 920 looks to be amazing with new optics, a Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor, 4.5" HD display, NFC, LTE, 32GB of internal storage, and a big 2000mAh battery. The HTC Windows Phone 8X looks to be on par with the Lumia 920. It has a slightly smaller screen and less internal storage, but it does have HTC's ImageSense chip, which means the camera will be awesome. We are looking at November for these two.

Blackberry 10

Blackberry 10! Apparently, this roadmap has this device penciled in for a Q1 2013 launch at the earliest. Some pics of a purported Blackberry 10 device popped up all over the place this week in case you were looking to catch a glimpse of it. Who knows if it'll be worth talking about, but if anything, it'll be nice to see RIM join the party that everyone else has been at since 2009. Excited? So in November, you'll have to choose between the Galaxy Note 2 and the Incredible X. Which one will it be? Via: PhoneArena

Official: Jelly Bean (JRO03O) Update for the Verizon Galaxy Nexus Approved and Rolling Out

Kellen — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 08:00:41 +0000

It's official. The Jelly Bean (JRO03O) update for Verizon's Galaxy Nexus has been approved and should be available to everyone shortly. If it hasn't popped up on your device yet, we recommend that you check with WiFi turned on, as the pop-up screen for the update says that it is only available via WiFi until October 1. Support docs also mention that this is a WiFi update. If it's still not showing up with WiFi on, try the Framework clearing trick that has worked for many in the past. Framework trick:

1. From your phone, head into Settings>Apps>All. 2. Search for Google Services Framework. 3. Once found, tap on it and choose “Force stop.” 4. Then choose “Clear data.” 5. Back out of Apps to your About page in Settings and check for the System update.

If that doesn't work either, there is a manual way to update it, which we have posted here. As you can see from the support docs, this is indeed the Jelly Bean that you have all been waiting for. Google Now, new Voice Search, better notifications, a better keyboard, smoother transitions, more intelligent widgets, sharing photos and videos over NFC, and improved camera functionality is all included. If you want to watch a full Jelly Bean overview, check out the one we ran through on the Nexus 7. The update is 146MB in size.

Jelly Update Finally Rolling Out to Verizon Galaxy Nexus? (Updated: It's Official)

Kellen — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 07:09:15 +0000

Is the Jelly Bean (Android 4.1.1) update actually rolling out to Verizon's Galaxy Nexus at this time? According to the dozen or so emails in our inbox from readers who are claiming to have received it, we are starting to wonder if it is. The Build is JRO03O, which is the same build that popped up as a test build a few weeks back. You still can download it directly from Google if you'd like. Verizon hasn't mentioned that the update is rolling out, so we'll have to ask you to check your phones and let us know. My Galaxy Nexus is already running JRO03O, so there is no update to be had on my end. If you would like to try to force the update, try this set of instructions:

1. From your phone, head into Settings>Apps>All. 2. Search for Google Services Framework. 3. Once found, tap on it and choose “Force stop.” 4. Then choose “Clear data.” 5. Back out of Apps to your About page in Settings and check for the System update.

Update: The pop-up for the update mentions something about the update being "Via Wi-Fi only until Oct 1." So, if you want to check for the update, I would suggest having WiFi on 1st, and if it still doesn't show up, trying the instructions above with WiFi on. Interesting that they would do something like this, but again, today is iPhone 5 launch day and they probably aren't interested in the tiny G-Nex world hammering on their LTE towers.

Update 2: It's official, the instructions for the update are up:

Update: It's official! Let me know in the comments! Cheers Rory, Kevin, Will, Shawn, Justin, @rick_trujillo75, @POTIN1 and more!

Bombshells: Hell's Belles - Think Tom Cruise in Top Gun but with Big Boobs

Tim — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 17:00:55 +0000

From Glu Mobile comes a game that will have any folks born to fly super excited. It's called Bombshells: Hell's Belles. You choose one of three characters, all of whom are girls that sport barbie-like features in extremely tight-fitting clothes, and then you fly around in fighter jets and blow up the opposing forces called "T.O.O.L." If I didn't know any better, this game is a metaphor for what it's like for a group of girls to go to a nightclub in New Jersey. The controls are great and the graphics, for a game that is free, are legit. As I just mentioned the game is free on Google Play, but you can purchase additional (more powerful) weapons if you'd like in the app. But let me say this, you don't have to buy anything to beat it. Trust me. Now I need to go watch Top Gun. Goose!!! Play Link [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKNCCv2lG24[/youtube]

MLB At Bat Lowered to $3.99 as Season Starts Dwindling Down to Playoffs

Tim — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 16:30:02 +0000

I don't know about all of you, but my San Francisco Giants are killing it in their division, which means we can almost taste the playoffs this year. And as the season starts coming to its close, the official MLB At Bat application has been lowered down from a full $10 to the price of just $3.99. For those who have been waiting for the right time to strike on this app, this might be it. With the paid version you can watch highlights, in-progress videos, and much more, making the $4 worth it if following some pitch-by-pitch text field isn't good enough. How's your team doing? Play Link ($3.99)

Verizon CFO: "Unlimited" is Just a Word and It's Going by the Wayside

Kellen — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 15:39:28 +0000

Verizon's CFO Fran "ShamWow" Shammo sat down for a chat at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia Conference today to talk about the state of Verizon's financial business. This is the first time we have heard from Shammo since his company launched Shared Everything data plans, so naturally, we were dying to hear what he had to say about them. According to Shammo, more people than they expected have moved onto shared data plans. He said that he believes that the first batch of adopters made the move to shared because they think they can optimize their plan and save a little money. The interesting note to this point, is the fact that they were expecting to see some dilution as people save money, but in reality, there was even less than they expected. Basically, that means that the shared data plans that they spent an entire year fine-tuning, are certainly fine-tuned to make money. The second topic that stood out to us was his mention of the number of people moving from unlimited data to shared data plans. Again, Verizon was surprised at the number of people making this move. Shammo believes that unlimited is just a word, that people don't care about unlimited data and that they all assume that they use more data than they actually do. He is under the impression that people are realizing the benefits of shared rather than unlimited, hence the reason for them to make the change. My reaction - these people don't have a choice, but to switch to shared data. Sure, Verizon has told us that we can buy phones at full price if we want to keep unlimited, but very few will actually do that. Instead, people will continue to buy subsidized phones, which then forces them off of their unlimited plans and onto shared. You can't tell me that Verizon is surprised at this move, they knew this is what would happen. I'm not buying for a second that people are generally requesting shared over unlimited. I don't know how many ways we need to break this down, but for today's data-driven world, shared data benefits very few. The last topic had to do with the plans themselves and how Verizon will continue to make money off of them in the future. Shammo essentially admits that the plans are perfect. Since users are attaching more devices than they had planned, they are seeing them have to buy up in data bundles already, something only making his job even easier and the company more revenue. I think you all know how I feel about shared data plans, and this interview essentially reaffirms my desire to never switch to one. Your thoughts? Via: Verizon | Engadget

Meet Professor Skully McRivethead, Another Series 3 Android Collectible

Kellen — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 15:10:55 +0000

Now that we know when the Series 3 Android collectibles will arrive (on Monday), we can get back to enjoying each new design that Andrew Bell has been revealing. Today's is called Professor Skully McRivethead. I'm not about to try and understand the inspiration for this design, but I'm diggin' it. To see it in a 360-degree view, hit up the interactive image below. Via: Dyzplastic

Report: Half of Verizon's Phone Activations are Android, Feature Phones Crushing Windows Phone and Blackberry

Kellen — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 14:30:50 +0000

A recent survey conducted by CIRP, asked consumers who activated smartphones from June through August which type of phone they used and from what carrier. The operating system breakdown looked something like this: 48% Android, 28% iPhone, 17% feature phone, 4% Blackberry, and 1% Windows Phone. The shocking number there is that of feature phones, which is more than triple Windows Phone and Blackberry share combined. Yikes. I'm actually hoping that Windows Phone starts to catch on, as the operating system is a joy to use. It's also good for competitive and driving innovation. As far as a carrier breakdown goes, Android was the top dog at Verizon by a mile, with feature phones and iPhones battling it out for 2nd place. AT&T was the opposite, and is clearly still a pro-iPhone carrier after having an exclusive deal for years. It's tough to predict if their iPhone vs. Android numbers will start to level out now that they are carrying better Android phones and because Verizon and Sprint are selling the iPhone. Only time will tell. No matter what, Android is still sticking around as the domestic and global leader. There are far too many options at each price point for it to slow down any time soon. Via: AllThingsD

Eric Schmidt Giving Talk at Cornell, Watch it Here

Tim — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 14:03:32 +0000

Right now, Eric Schmidt is giving a talk over at Cornell. You can watch in on the video right below. Don't know if there will be much Android talk, but Eric always has some funny things to say about the business.

How to: Quickly Share Photos on Android [Beginners' Guide]

Tim — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 13:40:34 +0000

Why else would we be taking tons of pictures if not to share them with the people we love? Today's smartphones are coming equipped with powerful cameras that can capture some stunning images with the quick press of a button. The one above is certainly not "stunning" but it's cute nonetheless. In this post, we'll be going over how to share pictures you've taken to social networks, through email, and other means.

Taking a photo and sharing it through MMS:

"Just send me a picture of it!" We've heard that before. Sometimes, instead of fully explaining something, people just do better with a picture. So, let's go over taking a picture and sending it through your text messaging application. 1. Using the Camera app, snap your picture. 2. Tap on the thumbnail that is created of the picture you just took. 3. In the top right, hit the "Share" icon. *Looks like 3 dots connected with lines* 4. This will drop down the different ways you can share the photo.

You'll see options for emailing it, sending it through MMS, and any other apps like Instagram and Facebook if you have those installed.

5. Hit "Messaging." 6. Select which contact you want to send the picture to, and hit "Send." Ready to take over Instagram now? Let's do this!

Sharing photos to Instagram and other Social Networks:

Now let's talk about sharing the "lolz" with your friends on Social Networks. Apps like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and a ton more allow you to instantly upload photos from your Android device. Here's how to do it. 1. Find a photo you want to share in the Gallery app.

This is where all of your pictures are kept.

2. Click on the image. 3. Hit the "Share" button. 4. Select which application you want to share the photo with.

I have chosen Instagram in my example.

5. Write whatever description you want to add and hit "Upload." It's that easy! Now everyone on your Friends List can see your awesome photos. *The rest of the Android Beginners’ Guide is a one-stop shop for all of those new to Android.

Facebook Application and Facebook Messenger for Android Seeing Upgrades

Eric — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 13:15:10 +0000

It looks like Facebook's policy of applications engineers being forced to use the Android application to see how bad it was is working. Head over to Google Play today and you will find two sizable updates to the Facebook for Android application and Facebook Messenger as well.

In the original app you'll find a laundry list of enhancements and all of them are welcome:

New button in upper right of News Feed quickly show who's available to message
New design for conversations in Messages
When sending messages, see who's active so you and your friends know how soon to expect a reply
Improvements to make the app more secure and reliable, including bug fixes for errors during multi-photo selections, device restarts and push notifications

Overall the application just feels snappier in general. It's still far from perfect and not the best Facebook app out there but this is a good step in the right direction. Pair this with the improvements to Facebook Messenger, including a slide-out contact menu and a more traditional looking messaging thread. Do you still use these two applications daily or have you moved onto to other social networks?

Facebook for Android | Facebook Messenger

The State of Android [Opinion]

Ron — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 12:45:44 +0000

Back in January of this year I reviewed the state of Android manufacturers up to that point. In January Samsung was the only major Android OEM that was making any money on Android phones. HTC had posted its first quarterly profit decline in two years while Motorola continued its financial decline amidst regulatory approval of Google's then-proposed, now-approved purchase of the manufacturer. How is the ecosystem doing nine months into the year? This is the year that Google was supposed to double down on tablets. That promise, made way back in March, was fulfilled in some ways by the Nexus 7. Instead of going head to head with Apple or preparing for Microsoft's entry into the consumer tablet space with Surface, Google pointed their efforts at fighting back against the Kindle Fire. While the iPad has continued to dominate the market, the only other tablet to show any sizable adoption (aside from the TouchPad) has been the Kindle Fire. Amazon claims (without any sales numbers) that the Kindle Fire has 22% of the tablet market while Apple claims that the iPad has 68% of the market, leaving 10% remaining for Nexus 7, TouchPad, Galaxy Tab, Xyboard, Flyer owners. While Google is expected to sell 8 million Nexus 7s by the end of the year (compared to around 5.5 million Kindle Fire sales), Amazon just launched a refreshed Kindle Fire and two Kindle Fire HD models. When shoppers visit Amazon.com to get holiday shopping done, they won't be presented with a Nexus 7, but a Kindle Fire HD. Hopefully Google will be able to push Nexus 7 sales, but even if they're able to match Amazon's sales they'll have done nothing to counter sales of Apple's iPad. Add in the possible success of Microsoft's Surface (or a number of other OEM's Windows 8 offerings) and Apple's expected entry into the 7-inch tablet space and Google will still be facing an uphill battle. While Amazon may be getting Android into the hands of users, Google can't be happy that Amazon's version of Android has been winning in the marketplace instead of theirs. The Nexus 7 hasn't been Google's only move to control their version of Android. Google recently forced Acer to cancel the announcement of a device running Aliyun, a forked version of Android, because doing so would violate the terms of the Open Handset Alliance (OHA). Members of the Open Handset Alliance have agreed to not ship non-compatible Android devices, instead trying to build a unified, compatible Android ecosystem. To be clear, Acer can leave the OHA at any time to pursue Aliyun development, but if Acer wants to keep shipping devices with access to Google's apps and ecosystem then they can only ship devices with compatible versions of Android. Shortly before Samsung's unsurprising loss to Apple in this year's (maybe this decade's) biggest mobile lawsuit, Motorola filed a new patent lawsuit against Apple. While Motorola and Google were originally scheduled to go to court back in June, Judge Posner threw the case out because neither Motorola or Apple could identify the damages they had suffered from each other's infringement. Motorola is arguing that all of Apple's devices (save the then unannounced iPhone 5) have violated some seven of Motorola's patents. While Google has promised to only use patents in defense of Android, this move seems unequivocally offensive in nature. So far Google has avoided a lawsuit directly with Apple, but Google's purchase of Motorola and subsequent filing against Apple opens up the door to more direct litigation between the developers of the world's top two mobile operating systems. Apparently Google has decided that the best way for them to defend Android in the court room is to litigate against Apple directly instead of using OEMs like HTC to fight its battles for it. While I would prefer to see cross-licensing agreements between Apple and Google, it seems as though these lawsuits will be going on for years. So what has really changed in the last nine months? Samsung is still the largest Android OEM with HTC struggling to keep up with sales and Motorola rereleasing last year's phones. Meanwhile, lower tier Android OEMs like LG are releasing bricks. Amazon is still dominating a tablet market that Google has failed to enter successfully. The release of the Nexus 7, despite being superior to the refreshed Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD, appears to be too little, too late. Google is still struggling to regain control of their ecosystem while partners like HTC run to Microsoft to try to get some sales in the US and Ice Cream Sandwich slowly rolls out to more devices in the wake of Jellybean. Android is still a huge force in the phone marketplace, but it seems more and more likely that Samsung and Motorola (Google) will be the only real players in time. The mobile space is still very young; as Merlin Mann is fond of saying, every day someone is born who hasn't seen the Flintstones. AT&T and Verizon are just now reaching the point where 50% of their customers have smartphones; even fewer people have tablets. Like every industry, however, not everyone can win. Android may end up being a major player in the tablet space, but it may end up being Amazon's version of Android if Google doesn't step up their game against the iPad. Android is still a resounding success in mobile both in the US and worldwide, but Google's OEM's can't all succeed with Android. We can expect the mobile space to continue to shift and change over the next few years as some companies that were nothing become household names while other once powerful companies fall by the wayside. Android still has plenty of room to grow and improve and plenty of time to compete with Apple in the tablet space, but there are no assurances that companies like HTC will still be a major player in the Android ecosystem or that Google will control Android on tablets.

Velocispider is an Arcade Throwback With Genetically Altered Dinosaurs and Lasers

Eric — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 12:20:52 +0000

"Part Spider, Part Velociraptor, it's Velocispider" is how the description of Velocispider starts. It's pretty straight forward as far as that goes, but all Velocispider wants to do it save its eggs. An evil CEO of the Robot Seafood Company has taken a taste for Velocispider eggs and you must fend off waves and waves of enemies coming to get them.

Older gamers will feel the throwback to the Galaga days of arcade glory. There are 20 levels for you to fight against with each one getting more and more difficult until you won't want to play anymore. For $1.02 you can get this fun shooter in the Google Play Store now.

Play Link

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YM6FtmhiVe0[/youtube]

Asus Sends Out Invitations for Padfone 2 Unveiling on October 16

Tim — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 11:40:53 +0000

This morning, ASUS has sent out invitations to the press and industry affiliates for them to book their flights over to Taipei, Taiwan and Milan, Italy for the unveiling of the Padfone 2. Unlike some companies, ASUS isn't trying make this a secret and even has a corner of the device on display in the invitation. Except for that image above, there are no confirmed specs or even really that many rumored specs to speak of. The only small piece of info out there was a benchmark that showed a Snapdragon S4 processor and 2GB of RAM. But, that's just a benchmark and isn't much to go on. Much like the original Padfone, we can most likely plan on this not making its way to the States due to carriers showing little interest in this hybrid phone/tablet device. Even more unsettling is that I won't be able to attend since it's all the way in Taiwan and Italy. Come on, ASUS. Sad face.

Reminder: Lots of Cities Across the Nation Seeing New Verizon 4G LTE This Week

Tim — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 11:00:41 +0000

Just as we reported last week, Verizon is turning on some new 4G LTE sites today and also expanding on some markets starting tomorrow. Here is the most up-to-date list of markets that have already seen the new 4G LTE speeds or will be seeing them tomorrow. Areas seeing the change:

Coffeyville, KS
Expansion in Pittsburgh, PA areas
Emporia, KS
Lawrence, KS
Bremerton And Silverdale, Washington
Rolla, MO
Hays, KS
Kansas City, KS/MO areas
Tampa Bay, FL
Fort Myers, FL
Tallahassee, FL
Buffalo, NY
Cheyenne, WY
Greeley, CO
Aspen, CO
Tifton, GA
Ellijay, GA
Americus, GA
Pueblo, CO
Marion County, OH
Asheville, NC
Northwest Indiana
Bremerton, CO
Silverdale, CO
American Falls, ID
Jackson County, MI
Billings and Helena, MT
Longmont, CO
Mattoon, IL
Moultrie, GA
Statesboro, GA
Merced, CA
Southern Arizona
Bemidji, Minnesota

We'll see how long it takes for our 4G LTE to be bogged down thanks to tomorrow's notable phone launch.

Android Friends, Be Kind to All of the New iPhone 5 Users Tomorrow - They May be Lost and in Need of a Maps App

Kellen — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 10:19:14 +0000

Android friends and family, tomorrow is a big day. It's time to start preparing. In case you didn't realize it yet, September 21 is the day that millions of new phone owners across the globe will have trouble finding their way to work, to the nearest gas station, to their lunch or dinner reservation, and as you can see in the picture above, surviving through take-off at their local airport. Tomorrow, is iPhone 5 launch day. When doors open at your city's Apple store in the morning and UPS drivers take to the streets with shipments of iPhone 5s, the number of confused and lost pedestrians, transit riders, bikers and car drivers will have increased by some 2 million people. So when I say that the Android crew needs to prepare, I'm suggesting that you put a shortcut to your Google Maps app on your home screen or quick launch bar. Think of tomorrow (and for the foreseeable future) as an opportunity to help out a foe in need. After all, your Google Maps app with turn-by-turn navigation is free, so why not share it with those less fortunate smartphone owners. They may need confirmation that when traveling over the Hoover Dam, that they will succeed in crossing it.

They may need to ask for your help in telling the difference between the next Burger King or monastery or public building.

They may need to see underneath those clouds.

They may be confused as to why the Cayman Islands no longer have roads.

Is that a beacon from God?

And finally, those new iPhone 5 owners are going want to know if it's OK for them to drive their car into a body of water and onto that new set of streets.

So again, keep your Google Maps app handy. There are going to be a lot of iPhone 5 owners wandering around bodies of water trying to find Chinese restaurants, avoiding interstates and bridges, wondering why that building that was constructed 10 years ago is now under construction, why their home town doesn't exist, and showing up to transit stops that closed years ago, that are going to need your help. To follow along in the never-ending fun that is Apple's new Maps app for iOS 6, follow this Tumblr.

Puppet War Hits Google Play - Destroy Them All Before They Take Over the World

Tim — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 09:55:10 +0000

If you're in need of a completely silly, yet totally bad-a** game this morning, check out Puppet War. Much like Dead Trigger, you roam a level with a weapon of choice (there are many that can be unlocked by completing levels) and kill evil puppets that are trying to take over the world. You play as a janitor so you won't be too pleased with your first weapon which happens to be a mop. Luckily, by round two you have a Desert Eagle to blow their heads off with. It's a fun game and for free, go check it out. Play Link [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JrdlqlE54Q[/youtube]

New Android Floor Rug Available From Dead Zebra

Kellen — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 09:27:01 +0000

Is your apartment missing that extra piece of Android swag that would take it over the top? Maybe this new Bubble Bot Android Foundry floor rug would complete the masterpiece. It comes in a 33-35" diameter, is hand-finished in the U.S., has a non-slip bottom made of recycled materials, and is "easy to clean." The smaller rug runs $135 which may seem steep, but again, it's hand-finished right here in the U.S. of A. Buy (35" Rug $135) If you want to go really big, they have 1 (one) 72" rug for $550.

The Bard's Tale for Android, a Most Foul Yet Humorous Game

Tim — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 09:04:07 +0000

This morning, a new game called The Bard's Tale is available on Google Play that will either offend you with its indecent scantly dressed barmaids (for some that's a plus) or will have you on your side laughing with its silly Scottish accented main character. The game revolves around the Bard, who is somewhat of a hero and beast slayer. But like all heroes, he enjoys himself a fine ale and the warm company of an attractive woman. The controls for the game on a touchscreen are pretty jammed if you aren't playing on a tablet. There are lots of different actions the Bard can do such as attack, block, move, summon creatures, and more - so you'll find yourself trying to see through the not-so-transparent controls during most of the game. Other than the cramped controls, the game has a really fun story, has good looking video game girls with large you-know-whats, and combines slashing monsters with swords and humorous magical adventures. That's a win in my book. If $6 doesn't sound completely unreasonable, give it a try maybe? Play Link ($5.95) [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MkQmrK_Mnk[/youtube]

Dick's Sporting Goods App Now Available on Android

Kellen — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 08:32:52 +0000

Better late than never, right? That's sort of all I could think when Dick's let us know this morning that they had released an official Dick's Sporting Goods app to Android. It doesn't look bad, though. In fact, it's pretty feature-packed for the most part. You can load up your ScoreCard, scan rewards, track points, get news on the latest products, see this week's ad, search for near by locations, and of course, shop for your new gear. Not a bad first effort, even if it does seem like an app that should have been out a year or two ago. Play Link

Netflix Bringing New Tablet-esque UI to Android Phones? If so, It Looks Awesome

Tim — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 08:17:22 +0000

We received the above screenies this morning and from the looks of it, Netflix is testing out a new user interface (similar to the tablet version) for Android phones. I downloaded Netflix onto my device to check, but I still have the old UI. The tipster mentioned that after his app was turned into this without receiving an update from Google Play, that it later turned back into the regular phone UI which consists of more greys and yellowish colors. Again, this new look somewhat reminds us of the Android tablet layout where you have instant access to recently watched shows and the same color scheme of the dark grays and highly saturated images. I love using Netflix on the Nexus 7, so if my phone's app starts running smoother and looks prettier, maybe I can start using it more too. Anyone else see this on their Netflix app last night? Cheers Jesse and Clifford!

Google Now Servers Apparently Down, That Means Only Jelly Bean Users Should Care (Updated: It's Back Up!)

Kellen — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 21:23:07 +0000

Update: Google Now appears to have returned. All good for you? According to our inbox, many of you realized that Google Now servers are down and may be affecting your main Gmail account that is attached to it. Basically, if you are running Jelly Bean, you cannot connect to Google Now. I'm sure the world will not be ending and that Google is on it, so in the mean time, feel free to see how many times you can beat Granny Smith before service is restored. Google accounts that are not connected to Google Now do not seem to be affected. In fact, the two other Gmail accounts on my device are working just fine. For those running Jelly Bean ROMs, a Nexus 7, or a Galaxy Nexus, you are the targets of this post. Let us know if and when your service is back up. We'll update this post as we have more info or when your Google Now fun is no longer interrupted.

ITC to Investigate Apple for Patent Infringment, Motorola Looks to Ban iPhones, iPads, and Mac Computers

Tim — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 16:15:14 +0000

Yesterday, the International Trade Commission voted to open up an investigation against Apple for patent infringement that was filed by Motorola. According to Moto, there are seven patents that most of Apple's hardware product lineup are infringing. Devices that could end up on the butcher's block are the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod Touch, and all models of the iPad. The iPhone 5 would have also made the dispute had it been announced earlier when the filing took place. Google's Motorola isn't looking to ban just Apple's mobile division though, as they claim iMessage is too, an offender, allowing Moto to also go after the Mac Pro, iMac, Mac mini, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air. Moto's end goal is to eventually ban the import of all of these devices. If a case like this was won, it would mean a huge loss for Apple and we're guessing there would be some serious payout and software revisions needing to be made that would make Samsung's loss to Apple peanuts in comparison. If this one goes to court and the ITC finds that Motorola/Google has a case, we'll be following this one very closely. Via: Arstechnica Cheers Raven!

Facebook Currently Testing Out Photo Sync on Android Users, Go Try It Yourself

Tim — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 15:45:56 +0000

Facebook is working with Android testers on a new feature called Photo Sync. The idea is simple, snap pictures on your Android device and they're instantly uploaded to a private album which you can then choose to make public and share with your friends. The test is open to anyone running the newest Facebook app on their device, so if you're curious about it, you can go ahead and enable it. Want to learn more about Photo Sync and find out how to turn it on? Go here. Via: The Verge

Tip: Single-handed Zooming With Google Maps 6.12

Kellen — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 15:11:14 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ntvK2RuxBk[/youtube]

Google just published the 6.12 update for Google Maps that includes better syncing of places and directions between PC and phone, but that isn't all that came with the update. They also introduced a new way to zoom without using two fingers or two hands. It's called single-handed zooming and is accomplished by tapping once and then holding your finger to the screen on the second tap. Once you have held on the second tap, you can slide your finger up or down to zoom in and out. Neat.

Series 3 Android Collectibles on Sale September 24

Kellen — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 14:51:43 +0000

Finally, the info we have all been waiting for! The Series 3 Android collectibles that we have been following religiously over the last few weeks will go on sale Monday, September 24 at 11:00AM ET. The Dead Zebra shop will have some, but if they sell out (and they likely will), you'll have to take to searching through a number of online toy shops for stock. Initial orders should ship by 9/26. Oh, and there is a the "Clear" collectible that we first posted a picture of during ComicCon. His head pops off in case you wanted to toss around the mini-green collectible for a few minutes.

Via: Dyzplastic

DROID Bionic Lapdocks Available Today Through DailySteals for $60

Kellen — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 14:33:06 +0000

If for some reason, you still find yourself in need of a Motorola Lapdock and own a DROID Bionic, then look no further than today's deal over at DailySteals. Since Motorola has essentially killed the Lapdock now that former CEO Sanjay Jha is no longer in control, you'll probably find fire sales like this all over the internet. In fact, Verizon is willing to part with them for $50 if you can find a store with any in stock. I personally cannot stand the Lapdock. I own both the Bionic and RAZR versions and have found them to be completely unusable for long periods of time. The idea may have been good on paper, but the execution, like many Motorola products over the last couple of years, was terrible. But again, if for some reason you can't move on in life without having owned a Lapdock, today is your day. Buy. Cheers to everyone who sent this!

Video: Hands-on and Software Highlights on the LG Optimus G

Kellen — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 13:58:32 +0000

LG held a brief Optimus G event today in New York and our buddy Kover was able to stop by to get some hands-on time with it. In the 6-minute video below, one of the LG reps on hand takes us through some of the fancy new features that LG is hoping will help sell this device, similarly to how Samsung pushed sharing instead of specs with the Galaxy S3. I can't help but admit that I'm impressed by what LG has done here, even if the look of the skin is a little too cheesy for my liking. But hey, that can be hidden for the most part with a third party launcher. As far as first impressions go, Kover said that even though we tend to talk about all new phones being "smooth and fluid," this phone brings it to a whole new level. Even with a heavy dose of "eye-candy animations, the phone doesn't hiccup."

Video

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-baCm8Yeiw[/youtube]

Gallery

Matias Duarte Recognized as One of the World's Top Designers, Says There's Much More Work to be Done on Android

Tim — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 13:38:34 +0000

Last week, Google's Senior Director of Android User Experience, Matias Duarte was named one of the Top 50 designers that is shaping our world's future. Up there with the creative director from Apple, designers from Twitter, Facebook, and other major companies, Duarte is one of the best. He posted a 'thank you' on his Google+ page and someone decided that it would be a good time to remind him that Android still isn't perfect. Being a classy man whom we've had the privilege to stand next to and share a beer with at Google I/O, replied to the comment on his page, stating that there is always more work to be done and he's only one third of where he would like to be with Android as a whole.

It's true, we still have a lot of work to do. Personally I feel like I've gotten only about a third of the way to where I want to be with regards to consistency, responsiveness, and polish. Better get back to work!

You couldn't ask for much more than that. Jelly Bean has ushered in a new era of smoothness and responsiveness that early Android users may not have thought was possible. If Jelly Bean is only a third of what this man and his team are capable of, then consider me a Matias fanboy all the way. Via: Fast Company, Google+

American Airlines Plans to Equip 17,000 Flight Attendants with Galaxy Notes

Eric — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 12:26:53 +0000

American Airlines is already giving in-flight entertainment with Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1s for customers, but now they are looking to upgrade their flight attendants as well. They've been testing the program out since spring and AA plans to move forward and get all of their flight attendants the Galaxy Note "tablet" to help out with passenger information and seating.

After testing "many devices" the Galaxy Note was decided upon for giving a lot of screen space and functionality while still only taking up one hand and being able to fit into a pocket. Information on earlier flights, seating arrangements and plane delays will all come up on these Notes and make information easily accessible to attendants and passengers. AA promises "a whole suite of applications" to come down the road to integrate the devices even more.

[youtube]![/youtube]

Google Maps Update Includes Better Search Syncing From Browser to Phone (Updated)

Kellen — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 11:26:53 +0000

A Google Maps update will be arriving shortly on your Android device. Once updated, your location searches from your PC browser will sync seamlessly with your mobile device at a faster pace, so that you can find info you've searched for in the past or even moments ago. All you have to do is sign into Google Maps and make sure your web history is enabled to get these new search and directions histories. To see more history with this new feature set, you can go into the "Search" or "Directions" tab under My Places. Under these sections, previous places and businesses that you searched for will show up as suggestions to save you time and energy. For those not on Google Now, you can also set "Home" and "Work" locations so that you can quickly find directions from whichever dark alley you have wandered down. I mention Google Now because it suggests directions to work or home automatically, but this should make the feature essentially available to everyone. Update: The update is live in the Play store! They also tossed in a cool new single-handed zoom. Double tap with a finger, hold and drag your finger.

Via: Google Lat Long (It's live now!)

LG Optimus G Could Hit the U.S. in November, Similar to the LG Optimus Nexus?

Tim — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 10:53:15 +0000

That name has a good ring to it. LG Optimus Nexus. According to the Associated Press, LG's newest device the Optimus G, will be hitting the States this November. So far it is only rumored to come to both AT&T and Sprint, but with no word yet for Verizon. The newest rumor to pop up from Android and Me backs up a previous rumor suggesting that LG may also be working on one of the new Nexus devices and could be titled the Optimus Nexus. As of now there's no evidence to support the claim, but with LG putting out specs such as the ones in this newest device, it might be nice to see LG give a Nexus device a shot. The Optimus G has a 13MP camera, sports Qualcomm's Snapdragon S4 Pro (which is a beast), and that 4.7-inch WXGA True HD IPS+ display. LG and the name "Optimus Nexus" was tossed out as a possibility back in August, along with devices from Sony and Samsung, so this rumor matches up nicely to that. From what we know on the device, would you be down to try an LG Nexus with the specs mentioned above? Via: Android and Me

UniFlash for Android Users on Windows - Wipe, Flash, and Everything in Between

Tim — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 10:25:46 +0000

With more Android users becoming confident and trying to flash custom ROMs and kernels, it's nice to have an "easy button" for some of these processes. Say "what's up?" to UniFlash. UniFlash is software developed by a user over at XDA that is installed on Windows machines, which can complete almost any task involving root/flashing/installing etc. for any device running Android. With an easy to navigate interface, this might be a beginner or experimenter's new best friend. To get started, you will need to either have a device with an unlockable bootloader and/or S-Off capabilities. If you have that, all you need then is a custom recovery such as Clockwork Mod. Have that too? Then you're ready to get started. The software automatically recognizes your type of device and right off the bat, you can backup your device, install new software or anything else you want to tinker around with. To download and try out UniFlash, check out the original XDA thread here. Via: XDA, Life Hacker

Samsung's Newest TV Commercial, Poking Fun at the iSheep Again

Tim — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 09:42:55 +0000

We should have known that Samsung would produce another commercial having some fun with all of the folks who stand in those lines, holding up against the cold, waiting for the new iPhone from Apple. iOS fans have every right to be excited though - 4G LTE, bigger screen, and faster processor. But as Samsung would like to point out, those things have been around for a while and then some. Watch the video and have a laugh. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf5-Prx19ZM[/youtube]

Video: LG Takes Us on a 6-Minute Tour of the Optimus G

Kellen — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 09:00:53 +0000

We just left the LG Optimus G event in NYC and will have video and photos from it up shortly, but for now, we recommend that you watch this video that LG has put together. While this phone boasts some of the most impressive specs on the planet, LG didn't want to stop there. They created an entirely new UX with interactive features that help you "cross-task." In the video, you'll get to see the Optimus G and its quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor wipe the the floor with the competition in a Quadrant benchmark. After that, you get to see live zooming in videos, Q-Slide transparency multi-tasking, QuickMemo for capturing a note from any screen, and the phone's ability to play a video on a TV while completing another task on the phone. I've been harsh on LG in the past, but they are really creating some innovative new features with their latest Android skin.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBMjoZkAg78[/youtube]

U.S. Cellular Posts Galaxy Note 2 at $299 on Contract, Could We Expect the Same From Verizon?

Tim — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 08:29:41 +0000

Pre-orders have gone live for the Galaxy Note 2 on U.S. Cellular which could give us an idea at how much carriers will be charging for the device while opting in for a contract. On a new two year agreement, U.S. Cellular is looking for you to pay $299 out of pocket for the 5.5" monster, so could we expect the same from Verizon? The device's retail is set at $800, so unfortunately, it wouldn't surprise us. U.S. Cellular also did this same pre-order scenario with the Galaxy SIII and Verizon did have the same price on contract. So, $300 on a new two year. Sound good to you? Via: US Cellular

AT&T 4G LTE Goes Live in Portland, Seattle, Detroit and Five Others

Kellen — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 07:48:52 +0000

AT&T lit up 4G LTE in 8 new markets this week: Portland, OR; Seattle, WA; Detroit, MI; Honolulu, HI; Pittsburgh, PA; Sacramento, CA; Memphis, TN; and Birmingham, AL. That brings their total to some 72 markets and shows that they are pushing as hard as they can to try and catch up to Verizon. Obviously I'm excited about the Portland go-live, but even more so am I excited over the speeds I'm seeing. Remember when Verizon's network was shiny and new and unbelievably fast? Yeah, AT&T's is living through that stage right now, and it's awesome.

In the Least Surprising News on the Planet, Verizon's Galaxy Note 2 Will Reportedly Have a Locked Bootloader

Kellen — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 07:15:08 +0000

Surprised that the Verizon version of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 will reportedly have a locked bootloader? You shouldn't be. In fact, going forward, you should assume that every Verizon smartphone will have a locked bootloader. That's who they are and they aren't about to change it. Big Red thinks that you could potentially harm their network or the experience on their network for others by unlocking your bootloader and installing unapproved software on your device. They have also made deals with content providers to keep bloatware on your device, would rather you not tether at will with your unlimited data plan, and aren't interested in you bringing your phone back for an exchange after bricking it. Whether any of that stuff is true or matters is not up to you and I, it's just the way it is, unfortunately. If the Galaxy Note 2 is going to be your next phone and full custom ROMs are the only way you think you can live life, then you should consider ditching Verizon and going with the same device from one of the other major carriers. If that's not an option, then pray to some deity that a similar bootloader unlock exploit will arrive as it did for Verizon's Galaxy S3. Via: BriefMobile

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Coming to All 5 Major U.S. Carriers by Mid-November

Kellen — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 05:58:03 +0000

Samsung has announced that the Galaxy Note 2 will indeed launch, as expected, on all 5 major U.S. carriers: Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and US Cellular. While they are leaving specific dates and pricing up to individual carriers, the press release below does mention that they should be out by mid-November. We get the feeling that it will be a staggered launch between carriers, but Verizon customers should be excited to learn that they aren't getting passed up like they did with last year's Note. What's sort of surprising and awesome at the same time, is the fact that the U.S. Note 2 will run Samsung's 1.6GHz quad-core Exynos processor and LTE, something we did not see with the Galaxy S3. The device will also sport 2GB of RAM, 16GB internal storage, a microSD slot for up to 64GB of external storage, a 5.5" HD Super AMOLED display, 3100mAh battery, and is the first from Samsung to launch with Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean). Aside from the power, one of the other key selling features here is the newly revamped S Pen that gives you ultimate creative and efficient control. New features like Air View (hovering the pen like a mouse), Quick Command and Easy Clip make creating and sharing content a breeze. Samsung also included many of our favorite features from the Galaxy S3, such as Share Shot, S Beam, Popup Video, Burst Shot, and Allshare. Oh, and check out the snazzy new Flip Cover colors that Samsung will have available (below). We spent some time with the international Galaxy Note 2 last week and came away impressed. Ready for some Note 2 action?

Samsung Mobile Introducing Galaxy Note^® II in Time for the Holidays with AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and U.S. Cellular

Redesigned S Pen and apps, sharing capabilities and quad-core Exynos™ processor enhances productivity, creativity and performance
DALLAS — September 19, 2012 — Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC (Samsung Mobile) – the No.1 mobile phone provider in the United States¹ – will launch the Galaxy Note^® II in the U.S. with five major carriers by mid-November. Exact pricing and retail availability will be announced by each of the carriers. Optimized for the fastest 4G LTE* and HSPA+ 42 networks, the Galaxy Note II combines some of the best capabilities of the Galaxy S^® III with an enhanced S Pen and new S Pen apps, the processing power to multitask like a PC, with a larger screen yet in a thinner, lighter form factor. The Galaxy Note II enables consumers that want a larger format device to create, collaborate and now share original content faster and easier than before. “The original Galaxy Note^® created a new category of smartphones by combining the best of a smartphone with the best of a tablet. In less than a year, Samsung sold more than 10 million globally demonstrating the category is taking hold,” said Dale Sohn, president of Samsung Telecommunications America. “The new Galaxy Note II is a significant leap forward for the category. Power & Performance Galaxy Note II marks the U.S. debut of Samsung’s Exynos™ 1.6 GHz quad-core processor optimized for LTE networks. It has 2GB of internal RAM; and comes with 16 GB of onboard file storage and supports up to 64GB of additional memory with a microSD® card. Collectively, these deliver easy multitasking, lightning fast screen transitions, powerful browser performance and minimal app load time. The Galaxy Note II is the first Samsung smartphone to launch with Android^™ 4.1 Jelly Bean, which brings stunning graphical capabilities and an upgraded Google Now service, including new features such as contextual search. It is also a SAFE-designated device, which means it has additional security features to safe-guard sensitive data and communications. The Galaxy Note II has a 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED™ touchscreen with 16:9 aspect ratio, the standard for true HD video viewing, and comes with a 3,100 mAh battery, which is 24 percent larger than the original Galaxy Note. Despite the much larger battery, the device weighs slightly less than the original Galaxy Note. As a result of a narrower bezel on all four sides of the screen, the screen is larger but the overall device is narrower. The Galaxy Note II is available in Marble White and Titanium Gray color options. Create & Collaborate
At the heart of the Galaxy Note II and the ability to create and collaborate is the S Pen™, which has been ergonomically redesigned to provide a more precise and natural writing and drawing experience. The new S Pen can sense 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity, four times more than the original S Pen.
When the new S Pen is removed from the Galaxy Note II, it automatically launches the S Pen menu, which opens a new home screen that allows one-touch access to most used S-Pen applications. Keeping track of the S Pen is simple now too because a visual and audible alarm appears if the user forgets to put the S Pen back inside the device. The S Pen’s advanced features provides the ability to capture ideas, inspiration and information instantly, and to combine handwriting with any digital content directly on the screen, such as adding new calendar appointments by writing the event details directly on the day of the week, signing or adding handwritten notes to an email. Selecting and cropping text, images or other content on the Galaxy Note II with the S Pen is very similar to a traditional “click-mouse” experience. When the S Pen’s side button is pressed down, the S Pen recognizes that users want to clip or edit the selected content on the screen. Users can draw precise lines around the content to be cropped out, highlighted or copied into another application. Key applications of the S Pen include:

Easy Clip feature allows users to instantly outline and crop any content on the screen in any shape to save, share or paste. Once done cropping the image, users can freely edit the cropped content through coloring, shading, or their own personal handwriting.

Air View allows users to hover with the S Pen over an email, calendar entry, image gallery or video to preview the content without having to open it or wait for screen transitions. This feature also enables users to preview Web site content without opening the full site. Air View provides a title description for unrecognizable icons in various applications.

Quick Command, the S Pen quickly activates applications and services people use most often. The command pad appears with one upward swipe on the screen with the S Pen button pressed down. Users can send an email, make a call or search a location with pre-registered and customized S Pen strokes marks made on the command pad.

Idea Sketch - allows users to easily add illustrations by handwriting keywords on the S Note. It provides illustration images that match the handwritten keywords. It’s a fancy illustration match function that will allow users to express, organize and visualize ideas in a more innovative and creative way. Users can even customize and add in their own illustrations library.

Photo Notes which allows you to create handwritten notes on the back of digital photos.

Multitask & Share The Galaxy Note II takes multitasking to the next level by enabling consumers to launch multiple windows on one screen, including high definition video. Multitasking features include:

Popup Note lets users open an S Note instantly as a pop-up window to jot down a quick note during a phone call, checking email or watching a video.

Popup Video extends the concept of ‘Popup Play.’ While watching a video, with the touch of a button, the video will become a floating window on the display. The video will continue to play and it can be re-sized or repositioned to any part of the GALAXY Note II’s screen. This versatility means that users are free to load other applications beneath it to browse online or work in other apps such as email, calendar or text messaging.

Popup Browser launches a new browser window when a user clicks on a link embedded in an email.

The Galaxy Note II contains many of the popular, real-life content sharing features introduced in June on the Samsung Galaxy S™ III including:

S Beam – Tap back of Galaxy Note II against another S-Beam-enabled device to share large video files, documents or S Notes in seconds without using data service.

Share Shot - Seamlessly share pictures taken with Galaxy Note II’s 8 megapixel camera to other phones from up to 200 feet away.

Burst Shot/Best Shot – Capture rapid-fire still pictures with zero shutter lag; choose picture with optimal colors, lighting and clarity from Best Shot image recommendations.

AllShare Cast™ and GroupCast™ have been expanded on the Galaxy Note II. Share premium video content, mobile games and movies and TV shows from Samsung Media Hub wirelessly with Samsung Smart TVs, laptops, tablets and other consumer electronics.

Customize & Accessorize

Protective Flip Cover – Samsung’s unique flip cover enhances the look of the Galaxy Note II with a premium leather front and glossy backing, while providing privacy and protection. The Protective Flip Cover comes in seven vibrant colors to customize the Galaxy Note II, including Titanium Gray, Marble White, Blue, Pink, Mint, Lime Green, and Orange.

S Pen with Eraser – This ergonomic, full-featured S Pen features a button for gestures and an eraser tip for easy corrections. This updated version of Samsung’s original S Pen truly mimics the feel of a pen or pencil.

For more information: Visit us at www.facebook.com/samsungmobileusa ¹Samsung Mobile is the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the United States, based upon reported shipments, according to Strategy Analytics, North America Handset Vendor Marketshare, Q2 2012. Samsung Electronics Company is the No. 1 smartphone provider worldwide, based upon reported shipments, according to Strategy Analytics Global Smartphone Vendor Market Share by Region: Q2 2012. *4G LTE when used in relation to the Galaxy Note II refers to the fact that the device can operate on the relevant carrier’s LTE network Samsung, Galaxy, Note, Exynos, AllShare, S Pen and HD Super AMOLED are all trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Other company names, product names and marks mentioned herein are property of their respective owners and may be trademarks or registered trademarks. About Samsung Mobile Samsung Mobile (Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC), a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsungwireless.com. About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (Samsung) is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2011 consolidated sales of US$143.1 billion. Employing approximately 206,000 people in 197 offices across 72 countries, the company operates two separate organizations to coordinate its nine independent business units: Digital Media & Communications, comprising Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, and Digital Imaging; and Device Solutions, consisting of Memory, System LSI and LED. Recognized for its industry-leading performance across a range of economic, environmental and social criteria, Samsung Electronics was named the world’s most sustainable technology company in the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Index. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

Contest: It's National Cheeseburger Day - Tell Us Your Favorite Burger, Win a Nexus 7 8GB (Update: Winner Picked)

Kellen — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 16:57:37 +0000

In case you didn't know, today is National Cheeseburger Day. To someone like me, a self-proclaimed cheeseburger guru, this is one of the greatest "holidays" of the year, because it means that I'm on my way to gorging myself on the finest burgers that Portland has to offer. But being that I'm in the tech industry and travel quite often to cities across this beautiful country, I'm always on the hunt for the best burger in the next city that I visit. So in the most selfish of ways, I'm using the DL community to find out where your favorite burger spots are, so that if I end up visiting a town near you, I'll have a list of spots to check out. But to make it worth your while, I figured we'd give away a Nexus 7 8GB to one of the lucky readers that leaves a comment. Sound good?

Contest

Winner: We have our winner! His name is Mike Kilar and he showed us that you don't have to go anywhere besides your very own kitchen to have a great cheeseburger. He has included a picture as well! Congrats, Mike! Thanks to the over 3000+ comments/entries we received. We'll go to as many of these spots as possible!

Prize: 1 (one) Nexus 7 8GB tablet How to enter: ~~1. Tell me what your favorite burger is, from what town and restaurant, and why it was the best ever. 2. Feel free to follow us on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook if you aren't already.~~ Winner: We will choose a winner randomly tomorrow at 12:00PM PT. Good luck!

Chameleon Launcher Finally Hits Google Play, Go Grab it For $10

Tim — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 15:15:20 +0000

The day has come, Chameleon Launcher has finally landed on Google Play for Android tablets. We've been following the project for some time, even back when it was a little ol' Kickstarter idea. Now, it's on Google Play for $10.26! For those that may scream, "Overpriced!" we wouldn't necessarily disagree, but then again, if a completely re-imagined launcher alternative is what you're looking for, this is a great application. It's main focus is on personalization through widgets and colors. We've had the donation version for about a month now and it's been getting better and better. If you end up taking the plunge, let us know what you think down below. It's still nice to have options. Play Link ($10.26)

Cry-on Series 3 Android Collectible, Shake the Paint Can!

Kellen — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:45:36 +0000

Andrew Bell took a minute today to show off another Series 3 Android Collectible, the Cry-on. It's basically an Android Krylon spray paint can that when shaken, might motivate you into tagging your office wall. OK, so there isn't actual paint inside, but it certainly sounds and looks like it. Another fantastic bot in what appears to be the best collection yet/ In even better news, the shipments of Series 3 collectibles have cleared customs and arrived at the "magical toy cave." That means we are days away from them shipping to retailers and then onto your doorsteps. Who's ready?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1MR6zy6hj4[/youtube]

Via: Dyzplastic

HTC's Trade Up Program Will Get You Up to $300 for Trading in Old Phones After Buying a New HTC

Kellen — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:20:49 +0000

HTC is so excited about their current and future lineup of phones that it wants to reward you for purchasing one of them. To do that, they have launched a new trade in program called "HTC Trade Up," which can land you up to $300 depending on what your old phone is. It works a lot like trade-in programs from Verizon or Samsung, in that HTC wants you to buy one of their new phones and will then make an offer on your old phone. For example, if I were to buy an HTC One X or Rezound and trade in my Verizon Galaxy S3 with 32GB of storage, they would send me $290. That's not a bad deal, right? Via: HTC Trade Up Cheers Rashad!

Google Play Offers Up Free Guys With Kids Episode, Thanks Google

Tim — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Something new that we haven't seen yet is Google offering up free TV episodes through Google Play. A reader sent us a link to a free episode of Guys With Kids, which is a new comedy from producer Jimmy Fallon. It's the pilot episode, so it seems that Google and the publisher could be using free episodes to get you to watch more of the series. Works for me. Go get your free Guys With Kids episode by following the link below. Play Link Cheers Ben!

Android's Q3 Smartphone Market Share Numbers Posted, 68% Sticking with Google

Tim — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:15:17 +0000

According to research firm IDC, Google's Android OS has been bringing in some exceptional numbers during this year's Q3. As reported by the Huffington Post, Android held a monstrous 68% of the world's smartphone market share, followed by Apple at 17%. During Q3, a total of 104.8 million devices were sold which is quite the jump from last year's Q3 figures. Following Google and Apple is RIM at 4.8%, Symbian at 4.4%, and Microsoft at 3.5%. Of course, analysts will be keeping their eyes glued to Apple's numbers as the iPhone 5 begins to become available for consumers. Via: Huffington Post Cheers Barski!

$25 Google Play Credit With Nexus 7 Promo Ends September 30

Kellen — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 12:30:14 +0000

Currently, if you buy a Nexus 7 from Google, you are treated to $25 of Google Play credit to spend as you please. Basically, you are paying less than $199 for the tablet, since you get a free $25 to drop on games, books, movies, etc. You better hurry if you want to get in on this promo though, as Google has pegged September 30 as the end date for it. Via: Twitter

CM10 Downloader on Google Play - Get the Newest CM Builds Right to Your Device

Tim — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 12:00:38 +0000

For those who need the newest builds of CyanogenMod 10, go grab this from Google Play right now. What CM10 Downloader will do for you is let you know that your version is out of date and then download the newest CM nightly right then and there. Boom. Along with giving you the full changelog, it also links to Google Apps files and much more. Perfect for the addicted flasher in all of us. Play Link Via: XDA Cheers Paolino!

Bloomberg Radio+ Hits Google Play, "24/7 Access to the Smartest Names in Finance & Economics"

Tim — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 11:25:07 +0000

There's something about talk radio that just gets people going. Finally, Bloomberg has an official radio app for Android and it actually looks pretty well done. With Bloomberg Radio, you have access to Manhattan's #1 radio station and a ton of other features. Important interviews, customizable stock tickers, and even the ability to download shows for offline listening. Features:

Bloomberg Radio live 24-hours a day
Bloomberg shows and interviews available on demand
Offline listening. Save/download shows and interviews
Latest market data on companies
Charts as they are referenced during a show or interview
Bios of guests
Customizable scrolling ticker

Grab it while it's hot! Play Link

LG: Optimus G Hitting U.S. Shores in November

Kellen — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 10:40:41 +0000

In case you were wondering, the LG Optimus G will arrive on U.S. soil some time in November. No carrier partners have been announced for the beastly phone, but since it's an LTE device, that at least narrows it down to Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint, doesn't it? We are hoping to find out for sure tomorrow, when LG and Qualcomm take the stage in NYC to talk about the device. Via: The Verge | Associated Press

Did HTC Just Tease a 1080p Device or a Windows 8 Phone for September 19? (Updated)

Kellen — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 10:26:12 +0000

We all know that HTC has an event planned for September 19 (tomorrow) in New York, but through Twitter, they just gave us the first real clue as to what we can expect. Let's see if we can decode it together. First, the "19.9" simply means September 19, the date of tomorrow's event. The 10:08 time on the corner of the device, we were initially thinking could be transformed to be 10:80. Since it looks like a clock and 10:80 isn't an actual time, this could be there way of representing it. Not likely. Since they use 10:08 in all of their device photos, I'd instead lean towards it not hinting at a 1080p device and is the actual clock, which leads us into the next clue. They used the message "When beautiful hardware meets stunning software," however, that doesn't tell us much other than to expect a device that looks and runs beautifully. Or is that referring to Windows Phone 8 which many refer to as one of the most beautiful operating systems around? The minimal look of the 10:08 clock certainly resembles Windows Phone more than it does Android. The fourth piece to this puzzle is the actual device on display. Is that a tablet or a phone? We all know that HTC is working on a 1080p phone codenamed the "dlx," but since this gives off more of a Windows Phone 8 impression, I'm not sure this is it. To Tim and I, this actually looks more like a tablet, but then again, maybe this corner picture isn't of the actual device and is simply a render that they felt like using? Update: If you need any more confirmation that this will be a Windows Phone unveiling, then look no further than the official Windows Phone Twitter account which just so happened to mention HTC's "cryptic" Tweet. You tell us. I'm starting to lean towards this being Windows Phone 8 stuff and nothing more. Via: Twitter

Twitter, Amazon MP3, and Foursquare Apps Receive Updates, Oh My!

Tim — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 10:15:54 +0000

There's some big app updates out there today. Over on Google Play, you can go pick up the newest versions of Twitter, Foursquare, and Amazon MP3. Twitter takes the cake for update of the day, adding pinch to zoom for photos, photo streams, and new profiles with header images. As for Foursquare, you can manage your connected apps now through the settings menu. Yep, big things. To finish it off, we have Amazon MP3 that which has just added the ability for users in the U.K., Germany, and France to take part in the service. Go get your updates.

Twitter | Amazon MP3 | Foursquare

Pocket for Android Receives Update, Includes "Listen" Feature

Kellen — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 09:50:11 +0000

Pocket, formerly Read It Later, received an update on Android this morning that includes a new feature called "Listen." This new feature allows for speech-to-text playback of your saved articles, in case you don't feel like straining your eyes after a long day's work. Thanks to the Android platform simplifying the process dramatically, the developers of Pocket were able to create this app during one of their "Friday hack days," a short competition that their team does for fun. While using "Listen," you can choose from a variety of languages that are installed on your device, fast forward or rewind the article, and even speed up or slow down the pace. Oh, we should also point out that this is an Android exclusive since iOS doesn't have a text-to-speech API for developers to use. Play Link [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48JvR1k5Kao[/youtube]

Schosche Rhythm Monitor, Workout Tool Made Specifically for Your Android Device

Tim — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 09:30:59 +0000

If you're looking for a good workout partner, then you may want to check out Scosche's RHYTHM monitor. Usually, we wouldn't pay too much attention to a fitness tool, but much like Motorola's ACTV line, this monitor is made specifically for Android phones and tablets, as well as iOS devices. The monitor connects wirelessly to your phone via Bluetooth and relays real-time data such as heart rate, calories burned, distance traveled and a whole lot more through a tailored Android app. Along with giving you data from your workouts, it can also control your device's music player and help you find just the right track to get you pumped up. The monitor runs $99, which when compared to Nike's FuelBand or the MOTOACTV, isn't terrible since Scosche also provides a web-based interface much like their competitors. Down below we've linked to their site if you want to learn more. Happy workouts! More Info | Play Link [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ9vlgxqhkM[/youtube]

Video: Local Fox News Thinks the iPhone 5 has Laser Keyboard and Holographic Images

Tim — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 09:00:30 +0000

Are you reading this while in line at your local Apple store waiting for the sixth installment of the iPhone dubbed the iPhone 5? If so, I'm hoping you're not waiting for the iPhone that Fox News apparently thinks Apple is releasing. According to this video, the iPhone 5 is "sleeker, has a laser keyboard, holographic images, and other cool new features." To top it off, you can grab this new iPhone for just $200! Is it that hard to at least make sure it doesn't have a laser keyboard? Maybe they're confusing these specs with the rumored features of the iPhone 5S? *Smh* [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6668cxupH98[/youtube]

Motorola and Intel Announce the RAZR i, Powered by a 2.0GHz Atom Processor

Kellen — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 08:21:19 +0000

Motorola and Intel announced the first phone of their partnership this morning in London, dubbed the RAZR i. The RAZR i looks almost identical to the RAZR M that was announced a couple of weeks ago, but the insides are quite a bit different. This is the first mainstream device to run one of Intel's Atom processors, which has been clocked at 2.0GHz. While it's only single-core, it should be incredibly efficient and powerful enough to get any task done without hesitation. Battery life is also said to be "40% more powerful than the competition," whatever that means. As far as differences go, the only other major change from the RAZR M is the dedicated camera button that Intel and Motorola decided to include. As you may recall from CES and Intel's many presentations of their Atom processor ("Medfield" at the time), the instant-launch camera that can do multi-shot photos in a split second was one of the major selling features. Other than that, it has a 4.3" Super AMOLED "edge-to-edge" display, runs Motorola's custom skin atop Android 4.0, and is headed to Europe and Latin America in October. No word on a U.S. release at all for this phone, so if you wanted an Intel-powered device from Motorola, you may have to wait for the next one or import the RAZR i from a UK dealer.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC6X9azWHuw[/youtube]

Introducing the Powerful Motorola RAZR™ i with Intel Inside® and an Edge-to-Edge Display

Say hello to the full-screen phone
LONDON – Sept. 18, 2012 – Motorola Mobility in partnership with Intel Corporation introduced the powerful Motorola RAZR™ i with Intel Inside®: the new full-screen smartphone that fits in the palm of your hand. Its Super AMOLED Advanced 4.3-inch display spans from edge-to-edge with virtually no border - giving you more screen with less phone. RAZR i is the first smartphone that can achieve speeds of 2.0 GHz thanks to a fast Intel® Atom™ processor. Jump from a game to a text and over to a playlist, then off to browse the Web - all without stopping and on a long-lasting battery that is 40 percent more powerful than the competition¹. The power of Intel Inside means you also get an instant-launch 8-megapixel camera that can load in less than a second². Just use the dedicated camera key so you get the shot you want. When there’s action involved, multi-shot mode lets you snap 10 pictures in less than a second. And with the illuminated sensor located on the back and High Dynamic Range (HDR) capabilities, you’ll get a great shot, even in challenging lighting conditions. “Together with Intel, we’re redefining what people can expect from a mobile device. A camera that launches in an instant, Web pages that load blazingly fast and a device that’s the perfect balance of screen size and fit in hand,” said Jim Wicks, senior vice president, Consumer Experience Design, Motorola Mobility. “RAZR i delivers just that when you put an Intel-fast processor in a beautifully designed phone and add in extra long battery life.” “Motorola RAZR i with Intel Inside naturally blends together the value propositions of high performance Intel Architecture and great battery life, Motorola Mobility device innovation and the Android™ platform,” said Erik Reid, general manager, Intel’s Mobile and Communications Group. “Intel’s goal is to provide compelling technology options that translate into great user benefits and experiences. RAZR i is a great proofpoint in the collaboration and we’re thrilled to be working with Motorola to bring this edge-to-edge experience enhanced with Intel Inside to people around the world.” Powered by Android™ 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich (upgradeable to Jelly Bean), RAZR i puts the Google universe in your hand. Google Play™ gives you access to more than 600,000 apps and games, millions of books and thousands of movies. Get where you need to go with Google Maps for Android™ with free turn-by-turn directions and voice guidance. And when your hands are full, use Voice Actions for Android™ on RAZR i to compose a text, get directions, make a call, play a song...or simply Google something. RAZR i also features near field communication (NFC) technology so you can send contacts, links, maps and more directly to compatible phones with Android Beam™. Just hold the phones together and tap the screen. Designed with premium protective materials, RAZR i is built to go everywhere. A diamond cut aircraft-grade aluminum⁴ frame surrounds the display, which is made of Corning® Gorilla® Glass, to deflect both scratches and scrapes. On the back, RAZR i is made DuPont™ KEVLAR® strong³. Spilled coffee? Caught in the rain? Don’t worry. RAZR i is protected with a splash-guard coating—even on the electrical boards inside. RAZR i already has a long battery - and when you set up the SMARTACTIONS™ battery savings rule your phone will automatically adjust to squeeze more out of each charge. Whether you want to maximize your last ounce of power, or prevent your phone from ringing during a meeting, SMARTACTIONS will automatically trigger specific actions. Motorola’s exclusive Guide Me app comes preloaded with interactive, swipe-by-swipe tutorials for tons of features – no instruction manual required. Also unique to Motorola, the interactive Circles Widget allows quick access to notifications, weather, time and more. Availability and pricing Motorola RAZR i will be available in black beginning in October in select European and Latin American markets including the U.K., France, Germany, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico with more to be announced. A stand out white version will also be coming to select markets. Pricing and availability will vary by country, so please visit www.motorola.com/razri for the latest information. For more information and multimedia assets for Motorola RAZR i, please visit our press kit athttp://mediacenter.motorola.com About Intel Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) is a world leader in computing innovation. The company designs and builds the essential technologies that serve as the foundation for the world’s computing devices. Additional information about Intel is available at newsroom.intel.com and blogs.intel.com.
About Motorola Mobility Motorola Mobility, owned by Google, fuses innovative technology with human insights to create experiences that simplify, connect and enrich people's lives. Our portfolio includes converged mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets; wireless accessories; end-to-end video and data delivery; and management solutions, including set-tops and data-access devices. For more information, visit motorola.com/mobility.

Google Play Inks Deal With 20th Century Fox, Offers Prometheus 3 Weeks Ahead of DVD Release

Kellen — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 08:00:27 +0000

The movies and TV lineup for Google Play received a bump in the right direction this morning when Google announced that they would start selling/renting 600 titles from Twentieth Century Fox. TV shows like Family Guy, Glee, and Modern Family all make the cut along with movies like Black Swan, X-Men and Ice Age. Oh, and remember Prometheus? To help kickstart this new deal, you will be able to buy Prometheus 3 weeks ahead of its Blu-ray, DVD and video-on-demand release. +1 to that news. Time to put the Nexus Q to work. Via: Google

LG Ready to Launch the Optimus G for Korea With New UX Next Week, Rest of the Globe in October

Kellen — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 19:16:46 +0000

It has been a while since LG produced a smartphone that one should get excited over after reading a press release, but that's exactly what we have with the Optimus G, their newest flagship device. Launching next week in Korea, and the rest of the globe in October, this phone on paper, can't be matched by any other smartphone in the world. With its Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor, 13MP camera, 4.7" True HD display, 2GB RAM, 32GB internal storage, LTE, and new battery tech, this phone should make you drool a little. We have talked about super phones loosely over the last couple of years, however, this is probably the first true "super" phone. What's interesting, is that LG isn't necessarily bragging up the specs, even though they should. Instead, they are focusing on software and the brand new UI they have created. LG is referring to it as an "engaging" UX. They are focusing on its ability to "cross-task" rather than simply multi-task. Basically, that means that you can accomplish tasks simultaneously without having to compromise other tasks. According to the press release, new features called QSlide, Live Zoom, Dual-Screen Dual-PLay, QuickMemo, and Screen Zoom are at the heart of it all. If you aren't picking up the theme here, then let me explain. This new UX allows you to split your screen to accomplish multiple things and zoom in during video or on other tasks to accomplish everything easier. They also improved camera experience, created a Crystal Reflection finish for the back of the device, and again, put in the newest tech possible to make the Optimus G nothing short of a beast. LG has an event Wednesday morning in NYC at 8AM ET (5AM PT) which Kover will be at. We are fully expecting to see this device on display, which also means we'll have hands-on time with it. Come on, tell me you are at least somewhat excited for this phone?

LG TO CHANGE MARKET DYNAMICS WITH OPTIMUS G BY FOCUSING ON DIFFERENTIATED USER EXPERIENCE

LG’s New Flagship LTE Device Offers Superior User Experience for “Living Without Boundaries”
SEOUL, Sep. 18, 2012 –- Today LG announced the launch of the Optimus G, a new premium flagship device offering a unique User Experience (UX) supported by innovative hardware performance. The powerful hardware included in the Optimus G allows for the possibility of such a creative and engaging UX which will enable Optimus G users to “live without boundaries.” With a powerful quad-core processor, Snapdragon™ S4 Pro, as its base and industry best technologies for enhanced viewing and longer battery life, LG adds the finishing touches on the Optimus G with a beautiful sleek design and innovative UX features. The offerings in the Optimus G will provide users an experience currently unavailable on any other smartphone. “The Optimus G is a groundbreaking premium device not only in the history of LG but also in the smartphone industry,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “With the Optimus G, users will be able to experience unsurpassed UX features that will allow them to perform tasks that really enhance their daily lives.” New Form of Cross-Tasking and Engaging UX With reliable and speedy performance, LG’s Optimus G doesn’t solely enable multi-tasking but “cross-tasking” of activities without limitations. If multi-tasking applies to running various applications at the same time, cross-tasking applies to complex tasks that can be completed simultaneously without having to compromise other tasks. Some new UX features that will be included into the Optimus G to showcase its cross-tasking and engaging capabilities are:

QSlide Function shows two different screens simultaneously on one display. As it doesn’t just show a part of the screen but the entire screen of both functions, the user can complete two tasks concurrently -– such as sending a text message or searching the web while watching a video;

Live Zooming enhances the video-watching experience as users can zoom in up to five times while the video is being streamed for a close-up of one’s child while watching a recorded video from a school recital;

Dual Screen Dual Play not only allows mirroring between the smartphone and a TV, it also has the ability to display different content on each screen wirelessly. For example, a slide presentation can be displayed on the TV while the Optimus G shows the accompanying speaking notes;

QuickMemo allows users to write, draw, or jot a memo with their finger directly on the captured screen for sharing instantly with others as an attachment or a URL. The QuickMemo can also be used as an overlay feature -- like jotting down a number using the QuickMemo and directly dialing the number while the number is on the top layer;

Screen Zooming allows for the zooming in and out of lists in music player, email, text messages and photo gallery. It also offers the ability to change the font size and screen layout;

Application Link launches preset applications (email, calendar, weather, etc.) when the alarm is turned off -– making preparation time in the morning go a little faster with all the information on your screen;

Icon Personalizer allows users the ability to customize icons by editing size and adding images so the most frequently used apps can be most easily accessible.

In addition, smart and fun camera features in Optimus G will allow for capturing and seizing those special moments in our lives. Utilizing the industry’s highest resolution camera at 13MP, users will have the opportunity to capture their favorite scenes with:

Smart Shutter senses camera vibration or the movement of the subject and adjusts the shutter speed for the best shot;

Time Catch Shot enables the user to choose the best among various shots taken before the shutter button is pressed;

Cheese Shutter takes photos easily with voice activation command just by saying cheese, kimchi, smile or even LG;

Low Light Shot Noise Reduction employs a light monitoring system and activates when the camera is used in a low-light situation for the least amount of noise.

Design Masterpiece with Timeless Value Inheriting LG’s design DNA and heritage, the blend of delicate design and technology placed the emphasis on simplicity with a completely black unibody form in the Optimus G. For this unique look, LG developed and patented the Crystal Reflection finish, which is applied to the back of the Optimus G for a luxurious look and feel. Crystal Reflection gives the Optimus G’s back cover the ability to display different patterns depending on the viewing angle and lighting. Also, the intricate polarized pattern, which sparkles under the sleek surface, creates a three-dimensional illusion that is eye-catching and exquisitely reminiscent of a jewel. And finally, laser cutting gives the Optimus G a clean finish with metallic highlights. Unparalleled Technologies for Ultimate UX The elegant yet sleek design and the imaginative UX experience displayed in the new Optimus G were possible thanks to a collection of technologies from industry-leading developers in their field. As the first quad-core smartphone with LTE connectivity capabilities, Optimus G complements the enhanced UX features with unsurpassed speed and power from Qualcomm’s Snapdragon™ S4 Pro Quad-Core processor. The state-of-the-art display technologies such as the Zerogap Touch and True HD IPSPlus Display from LG Innotek and LG Display harmonize to offer the slimmest, sharpest and clearest viewing experience yet. The new battery from LG Chem has a longer life of 800 cycles, a significant improvement over existing mobile phone batteries. An ultra high-resolution, compact 13MP camera is employed in the Optimus G to offer the sharpest photos without pixelation –- even when creating extra-large prints. LG Optimus G will go on sale in Korea starting next week followed by key global markets in October. Key Specifications: • Chipset: 1.5GHz Krait CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon™ S4 Pro processor Quad-Core and LTE • Operating System: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich • Network: 2G / 3G / LTE • Display: 4.7-inch WXGA True HD IPSPlus (1280 x 768 pixels) / 15:9 ratio • Memory: 32GB • RAM: 2GB DDR • Camera: 13.0MP or 8.0MP rear / 1.3MP front • Battery: 2,100mAh (570Wh/L) / Talk time: 15 hours / Standby: 335 hours • Size: 131.9 x 68.9 x 8.45mm • Weight: 145g • Other: Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, USB2.0 HS, A-GPS, MHL and DLNA, NFC
# # #

Quick Look: Spigen GLAS Tempered Glass Screen Protector for Samsung Galaxy S3 [Contest Too] (Update: Winner Picked)

Kellen — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 17:32:24 +0000

Here we go with another tempered glass screen protector solution for your Samsung Galaxy S3, although this time it's made by the folks over at Spigen SGP. As many of you know after checking out my quick first looks at the XGEAR tempered glass protectors for the GS3 and Galaxy Nexus, tempered glass is the ultimate form of smartphone display protection. Spigen's version is called GLAS Premium and is 8-9H in surface hardness, which means it is three times stronger than regular PET film. It also should resist scratches from just about anything, including knives and keys. It has an oleophobic coating to resist against smudges and fingerprints. The touch screen should remain ultra sensitive, and the edges have been rounded ever-so-slightly to make it much easier on the hand. Spigen trimmed it around the edges, so that almost all cases will be able to fit with this screen protector on your device, took into account the proximity sensor issues that many experienced with XGEAR's original glass protectors, and even tossed in different colored Home button inserts to help with pressing after the protector has been applied.

Initial Impressions

I appreciate the fact that Spigen cut the protector short around the edges so that you can still apply most cases for extra protection. I'm also glad that they worked around the proximity sensor issue that was happening during phone calls on the original XGEAR version. I'm enjoying the slightly rounded edges so that it doesn't feel too sharp in hand and also the home button inserts that make pressing "Home" much easier. I've looked at a couple of reviews who mention that touch sensitivity is not optimal, however, I haven't run into any issues. In fact, I pressed as lightly as I could throughout an entire email, browsing session, and normal phone use and it reacted to everything I threw at it. Over time, if the adhesive were to give way, I could see there being an issue, but so far, it works perfectly. Lastly, you won't find the grid of dots on this Spigen version like I did on the original XGEAR versions. At $34.99 you may consider this to be too expensive, but there aren't many other options. If you want a tempered glass screen protector on your device, you can either go with Spigen's or XGEAR's ($29.99). From what I have read, XGEAR has made changes to fix some of the issues that plagued theirs initially, however, Spigen appears to have added some extra tweaks to make this slightly more appealing (lack of grid, room for more cases, and button inserts). Update: After a full day's use, I have had absolutely no touch issues with this protector from Spigen. In fact, it's as good as it was the minute I applied it to the device. We'll see how it holds up over the matter of a week or so, but so far, I'm enjoying the protection. At this time, we are only seeing a white version available, so blue GS3 owners are out of luck. Buy. ($34.99) [More info]

Gallery

Video

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FGkTH57eKU[/youtube]

_______________________________________

Contest

Update: We have our winner! Their name is nyr2k2 and their story is as follows:

My car had blown a tire on the interstate on my way home from work one day. I got out to survey the damage, and decided that since my rim was now bent I should call AAA and get a tow. Reaching into my pocket, my phone slipped out of my hand, flew toward the other side of the car, and came to rest teetering precariously on a sewage drain cover. The phone was literally wobbling side to side, where the vibration from a passing car could easily have pushed it past the tipping point. Fortunately I grabbed the phone in time, but damn, it was harrowing.

Thanks for entering everyone! Prize: 1 (one) Spigen GLAS tempered glass screen protector for the Galaxy S3. How to enter: 1. ~~In the comments, tell us about the scariest time that you dropped your phone.~~ ~~2. Feel free to follow us on Twitter, Google+ and Facebook.~~ Winner: Tomorrow at 12:00 PM PT, we will choose a winner randomly from the comments. Good luck!

Asus Pushing Out Updates to TF700 and TF300 Tablets, Bug Fixes and More

Tim — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 15:46:01 +0000

It may not be Jelly Bean for the Infinity, but users can begin to download updates for both the Transformer Infinity (TF700) and Transformer Pad (TF300). For the TF700, it looks like ASUS is bumping up the firmware for the camera and have also simplified the boot animation. Once we get a full changelog, we can update the post. For the TF300, ASUS has already rolled out Jelly Bean so this is more of a maintenance update with some bug fixes and improved performance. Well, guess I'll throw this out there - where's Jelly Bean for the Prime? I'm still waiting, ASUS. Via: XDA Cheers Ben, Nick, SteveG1253, and Joelseph!

Barista Bot and Intergalactic Series 3 Android Collectibles Revealed

Kellen — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 15:20:51 +0000

Two new Series 3 Android collectibles were revealed over the last couple of days - Intergalactic and Barista Bot. The Intergalactic collectible is a take on the outfits worn by the Beastie Boys in their big hit titled "Intergalactic," while the Barista Bot is a silly take on the Andrew Bell's time as a barista at his sister's coffee shop. This series keeps getting better by the day. Hopefully we get an official release date in the next few days.

(Click and drag across each to see the full 360-degree views)

Via: Dyzplastic [2]

All in One WiFi Hotspot and USB Tether by SVTP, an Alternative to FoxFi

Tim — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 14:27:42 +0000

We received a tip about a WiFi and USB tethering application made by SVTP, which as Android users, we love. For those who tend to have troubles with FoxFi, you may want to give this one a try. There are two versions: free and professional. The difference between the two is quite large actually, seeing as how the paid version is a whopping $15. That price tag may seem a bit outrageous, but for software that just works and allows for free tethering, it's up to you whether you think that price is worth it. Best piece of advice I could give is to try out the free version first to see if it works best for you. The free version allows for two days of free tethering, then you are limited to just 5 minutes of tethering once per day. Kind of a downer, but sometimes that's all you need. Plus, a one-time $15 fee is better in the big scheme of things than the $30 per month most carriers charge. Try it out and let us know if you like it over FoxFi. Play Link ($14.99) Cheers Stew!

Ice Cream Sandwich for Verizon's Galaxy Tab 10.1 LTE Rolling Out Now

Kellen — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 13:47:40 +0000

Over the weekend, we first reported that Samsung and Verizon had approved the Ice Cream Sandwich update for the Galaxy Tab 10.1 LTE. Only one of our readers had received the update as of yesterday, but according to Big Red, it should be rolling out in phases to everyone. Here are the highlights according to VZW:

The upgrade features the Browser Desktop View for Internet browsing and Data Usage widget, allowing users to monitor data usage. Ice Cream Sandwich also offers an updated Quick Panel for quick access to frequently used settings. Additional Ice Cream Sandwich highlights include a redesigned gallery app with Photo Editor and Email Composer to send quick emails.

Did you receive this update yet? Does anyone own this tablet? (Only half kidding.) Via: Verizon Cheers Micah and Kerry!

Full Trailer for Bad Piggies Released, What Does This Have to do With Angry Birds?

Tim — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 12:55:25 +0000

We've been looking forward to seeing some gameplay of Rovio's newest creation, Bad Piggies for quite some time. It is a sequel (for lack of better word) to Angry Birds, based around those pesky pigs. Today, the first gameplay trailer is out and boy, am I disappointed. Take that top image as a good example of what you're about to watch. Silly gameplay and silly everything else. From what we can gather, the point is to build flying contraptions, which to my knowledge, has really nothing to do with Angry Birds or stealing their eggs. The game is set for release on September 27, so I guess we'll just have to wait and see what Rovio's intentions are with this title. Thoughts? Via: Yahoo

Mysterious 5 Inch HTC Device Shown in Press Render, Might Be Called 'One X 5' (Updated: Concept Art)

Eric — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 12:17:49 +0000

These days, you have to even take press renders with a grain of salt, but could this be the final rendering of the 5 inch HTC phone/tablet hybrid we have been hearing rumors about lately? We must say, the black and red is looking pretty good on this device, and would hopefully point it squarely in Verizon's direction. And we also have a tentative name for this beast of a phone: the One X 5.

Update: The image above is a concept image by Flickr user Dannix. It's not real, meaning the name won't be HTC One X 5. Well, unless he's just calling this a "concept" to keep HTC's legal department off his case. We're leaning towards it simply being a pretty picture. The artist also created a concept for the next HTC Flyer device which looks fancy, but again, is also just a concept.

1080p screen, quad-core Snapdragon S4 processor and LTE packed inside the awesome build quality that the One series already has - what else do you want from a phone? This certainly looks like the pictures of the "dlx" device that we first uncovered in a benchmark a couple of months back. A rumor over the weekend suggested that it may also contain 1.5GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, a non-removable battery, and a display with 480 ppi.

HTC has a press event lined up for Wednesday, could we see this device being announced or will HTC make us wait a little bit longer?

Via: Engadget

Kindle Fire HD Bootloaders Locked Tight, XDA Developers Begin Plan of Attack

Tim — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 11:59:39 +0000

Over the weekend, word got out through testers and developers that the new Kindle Fire HD lineup was going to be locked up tight by Amazon. According to kinfauns, who is a contributor over at XDA, the Kindle Fire's bootloaders are signed and designed for HS (high security) devices. Oh, gee, well that just sounds lovely. So much for those who were hoping to remove Amazon's custom Android skin in favor of stock Jelly Bean. Of course, it's well known developers love a good challenge. You can expect work to start as soon as shipments start arriving at doorsteps. We'll keep you posted on any progress made. Via: XDA

Google Acquires Makers of Snapseed, Looks to Offer Better Photo Goodies on Google+

Tim — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 11:30:07 +0000

This morning, Google's Vic Gundotra took to his Google+ account to announce the company's newest purchase, Nik Software. The software company is known best for their Snapseed application which is one of the more popular image editing apps found on Macs and iOS platforms. It has also won iPad App of the Year in 2011 and can be best compared to Instagram, where using filters and other tools can turn your boring photos into something people may want to tolerate. No specifics on the purchase have been announced, such as price or purpose, but along with the announcement of acquisition, Vic also threw out some big Google+ numbers. According to the newest crunching of numbers, there are over 500+ million Google+ accounts open, with 100 million of those being active users. With Vic tying the both together, we get the sense that Google will be utilizing Nik's expertise in enhancing photo sharing and editing on Google+ and other platforms. Cool, right? Via: TechCrunch, Google+

TSF Shell Receives Update to 1.7.0 - New Menus, Quick Folder Actions, Better Icon Designer, and More

Kellen — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 10:57:23 +0000

TSF Shell Pro, aka the most expensive launcher in history that most people still have yet to adopt because it's the most expensive launcher in history, received a sizable update over the weekend to version 1.7.0. If you purchased this mostly innovative home replacement solution, after updating you'll find new menus on app shortcuts, an upgraded icon designer, quick app adds to folders, a better tablet experience, the ability to add custom album art, and less bugs. For the price, I can see how many would still want to shy away from this app, however, it really is one of the more powerful home replacements you'll find to this day. And with each update, the TSF UI team continues to impress.

Changelog:

1.Quick Shortcut adder 2.New Long-press menu 3.TSF ICON DESIGNER V0.5(Customize the icon title style) 4.New icon menu options(Icon selector/Rename/Alignment/Uninstall..) 5.New extra screen menu 6.Optimized performances on the table devices 7.Maximum screen density up to 2.3 8.Customzie the album cover(TSF Music widget V1.3.1) 9.Known bugs fixed

Play Link [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ia0uaql99Kc[/youtube]

Droid Life Q&A Session: Volume 5

Kellen — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 10:09:08 +0000

The last few weeks have been jam-packed with announcements from almost every major mobile tech player you can think of. We were introduced to new RAZRs from Motorola, the first Windows 8 phones from Nokia, a new iPhone, and new Kindles. This week, the fun isn't stopping as Motorola and Intel will take the stage in London tomorrow to unveil their first product. Then LG and Qualcomm will get on stage together in NYC followed by HTC a day later. The back-to-school Fall blast is officially underway, and we couldn't be more excited. So what better way to keep things rolling than with the 5th edition of our DL Q&A sessions? For those new to this feature, think of it as your opportunity to ask the DL staff anything that comes to mind. It could be about all of the smartphone madness that we have covered over the last couple of weeks, what we are expecting from this week, or what we had for dinner last night. It's an open atmosphere. At the end of the week, we'll grab a handful of questions and let the team take to answering them. Ready? Drop in the comments and let us know what's on your mind.

Official CM10 Nightlies Available for 4G and WiFi Motorola XOOM Models, Never Say Die

Eric — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 10:00:25 +0000

The Motorola XOOM, the original Android tablet, launched Honeycomb as an operating system a while back. Today, the CyanogenMod team is gracing the two models of the device with nightlies for Jelly Bean. This proves that in this fast-paced mobile market, you can still build a quality piece of hardware that can get support for a while down the road.

CM10 is slowly making its way onto more and more devices so it might not be long until we see an official build out for the XOOM. If you are looking to download the Android 4.1 goodness for your tablet right now, hit the links below and get to flashing.

4G XOOM | WiFi XOOM

Motorola RAZR HD Launching in October in Germany, U.S. too?

Kellen — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 09:20:09 +0000

When Motorola and Verizon announced the new DROID RAZR HD and RAZR MAXX HD, they wouldn't tell us when it would arrive other than "before the holidays." Such a vague time frame could mean October or late-November, right? According to a press release for the RAZR HD launch in Germany, October is looking likelier than ever. In fact, the RAZR HD will launch in October in Germany, so if Verizon were to kick their unbelievably slow testing time in gear, maybe we'll see the device stateside at or around the same time. We can't imagine that Motorola and Verizon would have gone through the trouble of a major press event in NYC, only to let Germany steal their fire. If the RAZR HD was on your radar, you may want to focus in on October. Via: Motorola Cheers Matt!

AOKP Jelly Bean Build 2 Released for Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 7, and Others

Kellen — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 08:54:54 +0000

Just under a month ago, the AOKP team released their first stable build of Jelly Bean. As expected, it was a hit. But one of the draws to AOKP over the last year, has been the massive list of extra features that were initially missing from build 1. Well, they aren't missing any longer as build 2 was released last night and includes one of the larger feature-packed changelogs we have seen in some time. Some of the highlights would be better LED controls, a "Kill all" button in recent tasks, a weather panel in the statusbar, and call answering by using the Home button. The list is massive, so jump below to check it all out. New features:

General

Kill all button in Recents panel

Backlight settings

Tablet UI on any device

DPI switcher

Custom Vibrations for Phone Calls

ADB over network

National Data Roaming option

Volume music controls

LED Brightness control

Charging LED

Boot animation preview

Allow full theming of Contacts & Mms

Allow to set color of Digital Clock Widget

Power menu options (airplane, screenshot, navbar toggle)

Ability to answer calls with hardware Home button (Winter is coming!)

NavBar

Custom Ring targets

Allow up to 7 Nav buttons on some devices

Statusbar

IME Toggler

Hide ADB icon

Allow disabling of volume adjust sound

Hide signal bars

WeatherPanel

WiFi & Cell signal text

Lockscreen

Allow rotation on any device

Added back Info-Lines (Weather, Calendar)

Menu unlock

Alternative music layout

Camera

Timer snapshot

Volume zoom

720p recording support for grouper (front)

MMS

Display full date & time

To flash the latest build, you will need to find your specific device's file at one of the links below. Once found, drop it and the latest Gapps package on your device's internal storage. Boot into recovery, create a backup, wipe data and cache, and flash both files. *For some reason, all of the build links on the AOKP site appear to be broken, so we linked to another site that is hosting all of the new builds as well. Links: All Builds [More] | Galaxy Nexus LTE | Nexus 7 | Gapps Cheers Mike!

This Full Page Galaxy S3 vs. iPhone 5 Ad is Hilarious in so Many Ways

Kellen — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 08:24:56 +0000

If you missed this full page newspaper ad that Samsung posted this weekend, then let me quickly catch you up. As you can see, it takes a quick cheap shot at Apple with the "genius" line before moving on to a list of specs and features that are created to make it look like the new iPhone 5 doesn't even compare to the Galaxy S3. Tech blogs from across the world saw this ad over the weekend and completely freaked out, saying it was biased and so far from the truth because iPhone features were left out, and blah blah, blah blah. Isn't that the point of an ad? People are acting like this is the first advertisement in the history of advertising to bend the truth or over-sensationalize one product so that it looks better than another. Was Samsung supposed to perfectly match things up spec for spec and feature for feature? Of course not, the ad firm that created this was trying to show that the Galaxy S3 can do so much more. If you want a spec for spec battle, go read a tech blog, not an ad. Were they not supposed to take the "genius" shot at Apple? Well, it wouldn't be even slightly entertaining if they didn't. Was Samsung not supposed to tell you that waiting for this other phone is silly when one that's better is already out? Come on, tech writers of the world. Where are the Apple ad critics every time a Siri commercial misleads millions of TV viewers? And I digress. Remember, Samsung is trying to sell you the Galaxy S3 with a couple of catchy punch lines and the feature list for their newest flagship device. It's an ad, it's not supposed to be unbiased or politically correct. It's an ADVERTISEMENT. Oh, and they did toss in a "Above listed features representative, not all inclusive" note at the bottom. Also on a related note, one of the publications that was having a hard time with this ad wanted to point out that Samsung didn't list the fact that the iPhone 5 has Twitter and Facebook integration, something that no Android phone has. /smh.

Via: Business Insider

Samsung Will Reportedly Unveil the New Galaxy S4 in February, You Don't Say!

Kellen — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 07:51:38 +0000

Let the games begin! Only three months after Samsung released the Galaxy S3 into our lives, we have the first Galaxy S4 rumor to mock. According to today's rumor which is straight from company officials who wish to remain nameless, Samsung will unveil the next generation flagship Galaxy in February at Mobile World Congress. The device will have a 5" display, LTE, and a quad-core processor. It will run Android, look similar to previous Galaxy devices with its rounded-corner rectangular shape, and compete directly with Apple. Really? Anyone that has casually spent the last year or so in tech could have come up with this rumor and not even had to peg "company officials" on the end. The Galaxy S2 was launched at MWC and contained a slightly bigger screen than its predecessor. The Galaxy S3 was supposed to be announced at MWC, but Samsung wanted to wait to announce it until the phone was actually ready to ship. It also had a slightly bigger screen over its predecessor along with LTE and a quad-core chip. So now the S4 is going to follow the same path, get out of town! First, all of this is about as obvious as you can get. Sure, it will likely sport an Exynos chip, LTE, and a similar design. Will the screen see a bump in size? Maybe, but maybe not. Samsung has a Note line of phones for the 5"+ market. Will we see it at MWC in February? I sort of doubt it. Samsung seems to have settled into the late Spring-early Summer release time frame. They'll certainly have a presence at MWC, but that would only be 9 months into the life of the current Galaxy S3 and only a short couple of months after the Note 2 - it just doesn't make a lot of sense. So you'll see this rumor everywhere today, but let's try not to get too excited about it. A bunch of obvious info targeted at an even more obvious date. Via: Korea Times

Kindle Fire HD Gets iFixit Teardown, Scores High on Ease of Repairability

Eric — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 07:33:37 +0000

No new piece of tech goes mainstream until the guys over at iFixit have torn it open and showed us all of what's inside. The new Kindle Fire HD is the most recent device to fall to the repair tools and got pulled open promptly. Amazon took a cue from Google in the ease of repairability, the Fire HD matched the Nexus 7 on repairability with a 7 out of 10.

Amazon found a way to keep their tablet easily fixable while making the overall device slimmer than the Nexus 7. The only problem is that the LCD and front glass panel are fused together and would be a little expensive to get that piece fixed. Other than that the Fire HD passed iFixit's inspection. Hit the source link below if you want to see the inner parts laid bare.

Via: iFixit

Defective Verizon Galaxy Nexus Devices to Receive OTA Update to Address Signal Issues

Kellen — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 13:10:46 +0000

A few weeks ago, we reported that a number of replacement Galaxy Nexus devices were having major signal issues. If you were to get stuck with one of these, you likely couldn't hold a 4G connection for more than a few minutes before it would drop. To call it a "frustrating" situation is a gross understatement. Some of our readers went through a half a dozen replacement devices before finally receiving one that did not have this issue. Many are under the impression that version I515.10 of the device is to blame. Best Buy is under the impression that a software update will rollout to these devices over the next couple of days to address the problem. It doesn't sound like this is Jelly Bean (Android 4.1), but more of a bug fixer instead, since Samsung has apparently figured out the problem. If you happen to swing by a Best Buy this weekend to buy a Galaxy Nexus, you may want to inquire about this update. We are hearing that many of the affected devices have an "Updated" sticker on the box.

Cheers J!

HTC's Verizon Bound 1080p Phone Rumored to Have Quad-core Snapdragon S4, 1.5GB RAM, and 480ppi Display

Kellen — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 12:50:06 +0000

The HTC "dlx" or better known to most as the upcoming 1080p 5" device, may sport a quad-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 1.5GB of RAM, 16GB internal storage, a non-removable battery, and a pixel density of 480ppi, according to HTCSource. This rumor also suggests that the phone may end up being DROID-branded on Verizon, since the source of this information claims that the phone has a "red techno" background and the now-famous "DROID" notification sound. The phone we have seen in pictures (above) is also said to be the device we have all been waiting for. There is a chance that we could see this phone next week at HTC's NYC event. Does this sound like your dream device? Via: HTCSource

Update for Verizon's Galaxy S3 Rolling Out Now, Dumbs Down On-device Search

Kellen — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 12:33:41 +0000

The VRALG7 update for the Samsung Galaxy S3 on Verizon that we first reported on Thursday, is available now to all handsets. To pull the update, all you have to do is head into Settings>About device>Software update and tap the "Check New" button. The update fixes the "No SIM" issue that many of you were experiencing, improves Backup Assistant, makes NFC functionality more reliable, and includes Verizon's Remote Diagnostics Tool. Oh, we are also noticing that on-device search has now been broken, thanks to the never-ending patent battle between Samsung and Apple. If you try to search on your device for a contact or app, you are only greeted with internet results. Yeah, that's a bit unfortunate. Cheers Craig, Stephen and J Cole!

Here is the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 for Verizon, Carrier Branded Home Button Included

Kellen — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 12:08:16 +0000

You are looking at the first images of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 that is headed to Verizon. Yep, it looks exactly like the international Galaxy Note 2 that we played with earlier this week, but that is to be expected. After Samsung released the Galaxy S3 in one form factor across the globe, we sort of figured they would do the same with the new Note. Well, there is one difference from the international version, and that would be the carrier branding we are seeing on the back and...wait for it...on the physical home button. As you can see pictured below, Verizon has decided that the physical home button is the perfect spot for their name to be blasted across. I'm actually a little speechless on this one. I can only hope that this is some test unit and that retail units won't have a "Verizon" home button, but that would probably be silly of me. I guess the giant "Verizon 4G LTE" on the back of a 5.5" device just wasn't enough. Now, every time you press "Home" you get a reminder of who your daddy is. What do you think? Will the Verizon logo make retail units?

Cheers Sean!

This Week in the Life of DROID: 9/14/2012

Tim — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 16:30:30 +0000

It's been a big week for mobile. Apple has announced their new iPhone and of course, they're so amazed at how many pre-orders there have been. Shocker. As for the Android side of things, next week is looking great. HTC and LG have device announcements taking place so that should be good times. If you missed any of this week's action, here are the highlights.

Have a great weekend, everybody!

LG Optimus G Spotted in First Korean Commerical, Doesn't Show Off Much

Eric — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 15:50:05 +0000

There wasn't much doubt that LG was going to announce the Optimus G on September 19, but now we would almost bet on it. The device was just spotted on LG's Korean Youtube page in its first commercial spot. It doesn't really say much unless your fluent in Korean, but the phone is shown off a few times.

LG seems to have taken a cue from Samsung and their recent commercials in this spot. Showing off what the phone does in your life rather than specs and numbers. Not that the specs aren't going to be good, with a rumored quad-core S4 Snapdragon powering this device we could get excited for it. Are you looking forward to see what the Optimus G has in store?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJEmcq5vjks[/youtube]

Via: Android Community

Samsung Loses to Apple in Court Again, This Time with the International Trade Commission

Eric — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 15:10:34 +0000

Things have not been looking up for Samsung in court recently. Today, we have another Friday ruling against the company going into the weekend that doesn't look so hot. Samsung filed against Apple with the International Trade Commission with patents having to do with 3G technologies.

ITC Judge James Gildea ruled against Samsung on the 4 patents that Apple was charged with infringing upon. Samsung wanted bans in the US, but that isn't going to happen anymore. This is nowhere near as big as the earlier verdict that Samsung lost, but it seems they just can't catch a break these days.

Via: Reuters

Last Fish for Android, Artsy Black and White Animations That Look Smooth

Tim — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 14:30:42 +0000

Over on Google Play, I came across an artsy black and white game that I've taken quite a liking too. What helped me was that it was also rated quite well which never hurts. The game is called Last Fish and it takes place in the darkest of waters. You're fish that must fight to find food, avoid shadows, and be on the look out for nasty goo. It uses some pretty good tilt controls which actual adds character to the game without the need of on-screen controls that would most likely get in the way. For a dollar, it's a solid purchase. Play Link ($0.99) [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g02dLC5ht4[/youtube]

Galaxy Note 2 Launching on AT&T October 21?

Kellen — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 13:45:04 +0000

Could we see the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 on October 21? According to today's rumor out of BGR, AT&T is at least planning to sell it on that day. I know that many of you are looking for a release date from Verizon, but we likely won't have one for another few weeks. We had heard that this oversized phone may see a staggered launch in the States, so don't be surprised if AT&T gets it first and the rest of the carriers follow closely behind. We spent some time with the new Note earlier this week and came away impressed. If you thought that a bigger than big phone would fulfill your every desire, then this is the one to look at. Well, until HTC drops at 1080p phone on us. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wvGM8wF43g[/youtube] Via: BGR Cheers Taylor!

Video: Documentray Style Film Shot with Google Glass at New York Fashion Week

Tim — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 13:00:29 +0000

Last week, we wrote a piece on how Diane von Furstenberg, a fashion designer was to utilize Google Glass to create a video on what it's like to be part of the process that is New York's Fashion Week. Today, the video is up and may we say it's pretty cool. The quality is HD at 720p and I think it's a pretty good step at turning some heads in favor of making this technology mainstream for everyone to utilize. Stick around towards the end of the video to see Sergey Brin in the front row! Let us know what you think down below. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30Pjl31cyDY[/youtube] Via: Engadget

How to: Setting Up a Third Party Keyboard on Android [Beginners' Guide]

Tim — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 12:30:14 +0000

One of the features that we tend to overlook is the ability to install custom 3rd party keyboards on our Android phones. They allow for different methods of inputting text such as swiping, pecking, speed pecking, or simply speaking into our device. The means of installing the keyboards are somewhat questionable at times so allow us to quickly walk you through it.

Installing a 3rd party keyboard:

The best place to score a new keyboard is from Google Play. There's many to choose from, but for this guide we'll use one of the more popular ones called SwiftKey 3. 1. Open Google Play. 2. Search "SwiftKey." 3. Once you've located the app, install it onto your device.

SwiftKey offers a great interface for enabling the keyboard from inside the application. The above image shows these steps.

4. Once you've followed their setup guide, you'll now be running a 3rd party keyboard. We used SwiftKey due to the fact that everyone tends to really enjoy it. It has a great look and its auto-correct is unbeatable. Now onto changing between keyboards.

Enabling a 3rd party keyboard:

Sometimes, the keyboards you install won't have a built-in enabling feature. For this, we'll walk you through how to enable a 3rd party keyboard from the Settings menu. 1. From a homescreen, open up the main Settings menu. 2. Under Personal, select "Language and input." 3. Under this menu, you will find every keyboard application you have installed. 4. Check the box for which keyboard you would like to enable.

A box will appear warning you that installing a 3rd party keyboard could be potentially risky.

5. Select "OK." You've now enabled the keyboard. Depending on the device, you'll see a button for "Default." This button determines which keyboard your phone uses. Hit it and select the keyboard you wish to use. Now you're up and running with your new keyboard.

Changing between keyboards:

Once you have multiple keyboards installed, you'll want to easily be able to switch between them as you so choose. Either follow the directions above by going through the main Settings menu or follow this method below to enable different keyboards from inside your messaging applications. 1. While inside an app that allows for text input, pull down on your notification bar. 2. Select "Select input method." 3. Choose which keyboard/input method you would like to choose. That's the easiest way to go through them. *The rest of the Android Beginners’ Guide is a one-stop shop for all of those new to Android.

LG and Qualcomm Holding Event on September 19, Ready for a Snapdragon S4 Quad-core?

Kellen — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 12:00:03 +0000

At the end of August, and just before the start of IFA in Berlin, LG announced the Optimus G. At the time, I referred to it as a "beast" because of its insane specs and the fact that the phone is the first to sport Qualcomm's new quad-core Snapdragon S4 with an Adreno 320 GPU. Beyond the processor, it also has a 4.7" True HD IPS display with 320ppi and will look equally as good as the new iPhone 5 display because it's full sRGB. Not only will it look brilliant, but is the first to use LG's G2 Touch Hybrid technology which means the display itself is ultra thin and cuts down on reflections. We're talking a serious phone here, folks. So when LG invited us to their September 19 event in NYC where they have partnered up with Qualcomm, we immediately thought, "Optimus G for the U.S.?" We don't have confirmation on that being the case or anything, but what else could it be? Qualcomm wouldn't be headlining another dual-core Snapdragon S4 phone event, right? We'll know for sure next week when our man Kover is on the scene. Who isn't excited to see this?

Google Wallet No Longer Working at All on Verizon Galaxy Nexus (Updated)

Kellen — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 11:14:49 +0000

For months now, if you were using a Galaxy Nexus LTE, there were ways for you to cirumvent Verizon's ridiculous block on Google Wallet. All it took was either a browser trick, a sideloaded .apk, or a custom ROM with the app built in. It was pretty simple, for the most part. As of today, it appears as if Verizon and Google have found a new way to block the app from working on your phone, one that kills off most of the previously working workarounds. More than a handful of users tipped us off to a new pop-up (pictured above) that mentions something about the Wallet app no longer being "supported." It then asks that you tap an "Update" button to get the latest version from the Play Store. Of course, once you tap "Update" and head into the store, you are greeted with a message that says that your device is not compatible. I can't imagine that the lovely developer community won't find a workaround, but for now, you'll have to sit tight and deal with one of the more frustrating situations we have ever come across in Android. Thanks for keeping it "open!" Update: Thanks to the wonderful DL community, you can jump right into the comments and get yourself a new and working .apk. Cheers James, Jon, Craig, Andrew, and Daniel!

Order a 16GB Nexus 7 From eBay and Get a Free Case and Free Shipping for $249

Eric — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 10:43:21 +0000

There is nothing better in the Android tablet game right now than the Nexus 7. Small, powerful and not expensive, Google really did a good job with this thing and if you are looking to pick one up today's deal might be the right time for you to do so.

The deal today comes to us from eBay which offers a 16GB Nexus 7, an official ASUS case to go with it and free shipping to boot. Unfortunately these cases will most likely not have the magnetic sleep/wake function that the Nexus 7 makes use of, but it will at least keep your tablet safe. Since it is the 16GB version the price tag runs $249 which is still a very good deal if you want to get a Jelly Bean tablet in your hands.

Buy

Cheers Brandon!

When is My Android Phone Getting Jelly Bean (Android 4.1)? [Verizon]

Kellen — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 10:00:38 +0000

The Jelly Bean update situation on Verizon is a tricky one. I say that because most Android phone manufacturers have yet to even update most of their phones to Ice Cream Sandwich. So how can we start talking about Jelly Bean updates? Well, we know that many of you are always looking for the most current information on this subject and thought we may as well create the official page for it just like we did with Android 4.0. Once word starts trickling out from Motorola, Samsung and the rest of the major players, we will update this post. I'd say that this is definitely one that you should bookmark. You will also find a shortcut to it in the sidebar.

Samsung

Galaxy Nexus: Update approved and began rolling out September 21.
Galaxy S3: Update approved and began rolling out December 14.
Galaxy Tab 10.1: Assuming that this will make the cut - no time frame given.
Galaxy Note 2: Already running Android 4.1.

Motorola

RAZR M: Update approved and began rolling out November 9.
RAZR HD: Update approved and began rolling out December 3.
RAZR MAXX HD: Update approved and began rolling out December 3.
RAZR: Update approved and began rolling out March 7.
RAZR MAXX: Update approved and began rolling out March 7.
Bionic: Update approved and began rolling out April 15.
DROID 4: Update approved and began rolling out March 19.
XOOM 4G LTE: Update approved and began rolling out August 8.
XYBOARD 8.2 and 10.1: Update approved and began rolling out November 19, 2013.

LG

Intuition: Assuming that this will make the cut - no time frame given.
Spectrum: Assuming that this will make the cut - no time frame given.
Spectrum 2: Assuming that this will make the cut - no time frame given

HTC

Incredible 4G LTE: Assuming that this will make the cut - no time frame given.
Rezound: Assuming that this will make the cut - no time frame given.
DROID DNA: Update approved and began rolling out December 6, 2013.

*As you can see, we left a lot of phones off of this list. We basically went back a year and took all of the higher-end phones that we think will get the Jelly Bean update. Almost all of these are already on ICS and are likely candidates to see another major update to Android 4.1. If other phones make the cut or some of these don't, we will add them to or remove from the list.

Amazon's Free App of the Day is Tetris, Go Relive Your Childhood

Tim — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 09:17:44 +0000

If you happen to still have the Amazon Appstore installed on your device, then you may want to hurry and go pick up today's free app of the day. For those who feel the need to become extremely frustrated at blocks, it's Tetris! Need I say anymore? It's a game that everyone has played and no matter how awesome you think you are at it, you still can't beat this guy. Amazon Link [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Alw5hs0chj0[/youtube] Cheers Bruce!

Contest: Win a Kindle Fire HD 7" From DL and xScope Browser (Updated: Winner Picked)

Kellen — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 08:35:29 +0000

Since today is release day for the brand new Kindle Fire HD 7", we have partnered with xScope browser to give one away to a DL community member! For those new to the game, you may not have heard of xScope. But trust me when I say that when Android was first getting its start, this was our go-to 3rd party browser. It had some incredibly innovative features like single finger pinch-to-zoom, but was also light and fast enough that few could compete with it. Over the last month or so, Gary (the developer) released a new version with Holo styling, more gestures (including the single finger zoom), and one of the more robust browsing experiences around. Definitely check it out. Play Links: xScope Browser

________________________________

Contest

Update: Our winner has been chosen! Josh says that his favorite browser is the stock browser because he can't run Chrome on his original DROID X. Congrats to Josh! Unfortunately, he still won't be able to run Chrome on his Kindle Fire HD either. Prize: One (1) Kindle Fire HD 7" How to enter: 1. In the comments, tell us what your favorite Android browser is and why. Specific feature you like? 2. Feel free to follow us on Google+ as well. 3. U.S. residents only. Winner: On Monday morning at 9:00AM PT, we will choose a winner randomly from the comments. Good luck!

DROID RAZR M Available From Amazon for $50

Kellen — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 07:49:52 +0000

If Verizon's $99 starting price point for the DROID RAZR M still didn't seem like a good enough deal, you may want to check out Amazon Wireless. If you are a new customer or you feel like adding a new line, you can pick up our favorite Motorola device in years (our review), for $50 on contract. If you are already a Big Red customer and have an upgrade available, you can grab this edge-to-edge wonder for $70. Update: Well s**t, it looks like they are flagged as "backordered." Amazon Links: RAZR M (white) | RAZR M (black)

Kindle Fire HD 7" and 2nd Generation Kindle Fire Available Now

Kellen — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 06:50:00 +0000

The brand new Kindle Fire HD 7" and the 2nd generation Kindle Fire are now available. Announced last week at an event in Los Angeles, Amazon initially only opened up pre-orders for these two devices with a launch date of September 14. Since it's now September 14, the switch appears to have been flipped, with pre-orders becoming a thing of the past. If you don't feel like waiting for the Fire HD 8.9" or Paperwhite, then hit up the links below and get to ordering. At $199 for the 7" HD model, you are looking at one of the better deals in all of tech. Amazon's UI may take some getting used to if you are coming from a traditional Android device, but that screen, new WiFi tech, Whispersync, and Amazon ecosystem are tough to deny. Link: Kindle Fire HD 7″ WiFi (16GB for $199, 32GB for $249) - Available September 14 Link: Kindle Fire 2 WiFi (8GB for $159) – Available September 14

Ice Cream Sandwich Update Finally Approved for Verizon's Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

Kellen — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 19:25:52 +0000

Along with word that Verizon's Galaxy S3 is about to receive its first update, we are pleased to announce that the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 with 4G LTE on Big Red is also set to receive an update. How does Ice Cream Sandwich, sound? We know that many of you have been waiting patiently for this update, especially after seeing he WiFi version received it a couple of weeks ago. The update brings you to Android 4.0.4, includes pinch-to-zoom from your home screen, Google Plus integration, an update Quick Panel, data monitoring, a redesigned gallery app with photo editor, all new camera capabilities, and WiFi direct support. It's a big one, folks.

No word yet on when this update will start to rollout, but we'd assume that it could happen any day. When Verizon approves these things, we tend to see them in a matter of days. Let us know if it pops up on your device! The update is 248MB in size. More info.

Verizon's Samsung Galaxy S3 Receiving First Update - "No SIM" Error Resolved

Kellen — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 19:14:28 +0000

The first update for Verizon's version of the Samsung Galaxy S3 has been approved as build VRALG7. Many of you will be excited to learn that one of the issues addressed is the "No SIM" error message that continued to pop up time and time again on your devices. We know that more than a few of you were dealing with this nagging issue, as we have seen the various forum posts and petition that were targeted at getting it resolved. Also along for the ride in this update is Big Red's Remote Diagnostics Tool, something we had yet to see appear on a flagship-level device. Sure, it was included in an update for the DROID4, LG Revolution, and DROID Charge, but nothing of the Galaxy S3's stature. For those not familiar, the Remote Diagnostics tool allows Verizon to have remote access to your phone during customer support calls. While they can't use the tool without your permission, you can't help but feel a bit uneasy over something with this power hovering in the background of your phone. The rest of the update makesBackup Assistant more stable, improves data connectivity when using S Beam, and fixes Samsung TecTile issues with NFC. Normally when we see Verizon approve an update, it starts to rollout to users in a matter of days. As you soon as you see something, be sure to let us know. The update is 30.7MB in size. More info.

Isis Mobile Payment System Delayed, Update on Progress Coming in October

Kellen — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 16:58:29 +0000

Isis, the NFC mobile payment system created by Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T, will not launch this summer and has been delayed. The payment system was initially supposed to arrive in testing markets - Salt Lake City and Austin - this month, but because they haven't checked everything off of their "punch list," we will have to wait longer. Their marketing head, Ryan Hughes, said that their focus has been on making sure that when they launch, that they "do it properly and do it right." He wouldn't provide a reason for the delay, but did mention that they were not experiencing any major issues. He also mentioned that he doesn't believe that Isis will struggle without the new iPhone 5. While that may be true to a point, it certainly would have been much more highly adopted had Apple decided to toss an NFC chip in their newest smartphone. Additional "market momentum news" is going to come in October. Hopefully we have good news then. Via: CNET

Android Series 3 "Nexus" Collectible Comes With Its Own Mini Nexus, How Cute

Kellen — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 15:50:03 +0000

Andrew Bell continues to share the new Series 3 Android Collectibles over at the Dyzplastic blog, with today's being the "Nexus" collectible. With its smokey dark translucent body, you can apparently get optimal play by placing him next to a light source. Oh, he also comes equipped with his own mini-Nexus phone that you can see in his right hand. Still no exact date for release, but I can't wait to see the rest.

(Click and drag the image below to spin.)

Via: Dyzplastic Cheers Scott!

iPhone 5 on Verizon Can't do Simultaneous Voice and Data, Something Android Phones Have No Problem With

Kellen — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 15:35:40 +0000

Just a heads up for those of you thinking about jumping ship and picking up the next iPhone. According to a Verizon spokesperson, the new iPhone 5 cannot do simultaneous voice and data, something all LTE Android phones seem to have no problem with. We aren't exactly sure why it can't, but it certainly doesn't make this new single 3G+LTE chip of Apple's seem all that magical any longer. Here is the statement from Big Red:

"The iPhone 5 was designed to allow customers to place a voice call on the Verizon Wireless network, while letting customers access the Internet over the WiFi."

As a reminder, simultaneous voice and data means that you can place a phone call and then also use your phone's data connection at the same time. For example, if you were to place a call to your significant other who then reminds you that it's your anniversary, you can stay on the line with her while also pulling up Open Table to book a reservation for the dinner that you forgot about. (Yes, I totally stole that example from an ancient AT&T ad.) Or while you are sitting in your hotel on a conference call, you can book your afternoon tee-time or catch up on the latest Android news here at Droid Life. ~~Simultaneous voice and data will apparently work just fine on the AT&T iPhone 5~~. Or not so much? And of course, all of Verizon's Android phones are capable of performing such a task. In fact, a couple can do simultaneous voice and data over a 3G connection as well. Via: The Verge Cheers scrub175!

How to: Add Multiple Google Accounts to Your Android Device [Beginners' Guide]

Tim — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 14:23:21 +0000

Like many others, I have a few Google accounts. One which was my personal before I came to Droid Life and of course my business one that I use now. With Google allowing me to sync multiple accounts on one device, it allows me to receive emails from both accounts and also use services under different accounts as well such as Picasa, Google Play, and more. Sometimes, you're not the only one that uses your Android device. For example, if you have an Android tablet like the Nexus 7, maybe your children like to use it or your girlfriend. For times like these, it's great that Google allows you to have multiple Google accounts tied to a single device. While your account can remain professional and business-centric, your other Google account can have all of the nonsense games and applications that one may download from Google Play. Down below, we'll go over how to set up multiple Google accounts on your Android device and you can start utilizing all of your accounts at once like a champion.

How to add multiple accounts:

1. From the main homescreen, open up your main Settings menu. 2. Under "Accounts," select "Add account."

From this next page, you will choose which type of account you will add. Depending on what apps you have installed will determine which options you have. If you have nothing installed yet, you'll be given options for Google, Corporate, and Email.

3. For this example, select "Google." 4. If it is an already existing Google account, simply add in your username and password. 5. By selecting "New", your device will have you create a new Google account for use on your Android device. Now that you have another Google account set up on your device, you can use it for another user on Google Play or whatever else you may need it for.

Alternative method:

The quickest way to add another Google account is from the Google Play application. 1. From anywhere in Google Play, hit the settings menu. 2. Select "Accounts." 3. The window will display the main account associated to the device and underneath will show "Add account." 4. Select "Add account." 5. From here, enter in the username and password to the Google account you wish to add to the device. Once signed in, you're free to roam the Play store with multiple accounts on the device. *The rest of the Android Beginners’ Guide is a one-stop shop for all of those new to Android.

Motorola Releases First RAZR HD MAXX Commercial, Phone Still Won't be Available Until Before the Holidays

Kellen — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 13:10:46 +0000

When Motorola announced their new family of RAZRs - RAZR M, RAZR HD, and RAZR MAXX HD - we were a bit disappointed to learn that the HD variants wouldn't be available for a while. In fact, Motorola and Verizon would only say that we would see the RAZR HD and MAXX HD some time "before the holidays." That could mean the day before Thanksgiving for all we know. Actually, that probably is the week they'll launch them, being the busiest shopping weekend of the year and all. So with that in mind, we were a bit surprised to see the first commercial for the RAZR MAXX HD pop up on Motorola's YouTube channel yesterday. Of course, all it says at the end is "coming soon." They do touch on the number one feature that smartphone owners seem to request time and time again though, and that's battery life. I cannot wait to get a hold of one and put it through some tests. There is nothing like having 2-day battery life on a phone. I did find it interesting to see them referring to the device as having an "HD edge-to-edge" display, knowing that it doesn't come close to being as edge-to-edge as say, the RAZR M (our review). I doubt this means that a hardware change is coming, but since the display comes close enough, they'll probably turn this into a new marketing gimmick, just like they did with the kevlar. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuQouOVOaTg[/youtube]

Daily Steals Offloading Brand New Motorola XOOM 4G LTE Tablets for $250

Tim — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 12:40:58 +0000

When will supplies of this tablet run out? It seems that at least once or twice a month they go on these flash sale sites and they never disappear. This time, it's a bit different though. Over at Daily Steals, they have brand new (not refurbished) Motorola XOOM tablets for $250. They are 32GB in size, but the real kicker is that these are the 4G LTE versions and not the WiFi-only variants. When first released, they were $700+ at Verizon. If you've been looking for a good tablet that is built like a tank, then check out the XOOM. It's still expected to receive Jelly Bean and is the original Android OG tablet. History right here. Buy Cheers John, Robert, Cory, and Matt!

Tegra 3 Powered HTC One X+ Shows Up at FCC, Looking Towards AT&T

Eric — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 12:00:51 +0000

The HTC One X was one of our favorite phones of the year so far and the company is looking to make it even better. The device above passed through the FCC today under the model number PM63100 which if rumors and benchmarks are believed to be true, will be the HTC One X+.

From the prior benchmarks we know that this device is running the newest quad-core Tegra 3 chipset clocked in at a crazy fast 1.7GHz. Throw in some LTE and the One X's great SLCD2 screen and you will have one powerful phone, a device that will suck battery like none other. Unfortunately for Verizon owners, the LTE bands in this device indicate an AT&T release but who knows? If rumors are true and a 1080p phone from HTC is headed to Big Red, you won't mind if you miss the One X+, will you?

Would you like to see this device on Verizon? Or the 5" 1080p HTC device instead?

Via: Engadget

Steve Wozniak: "I wish everybody would just agree to exchange all the patents"

Eric — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 11:30:25 +0000

One of the few figureheads left of the old Apple Guard is Steve Wozniak, one of the co-founders of Apple itself. Whereas Steve Jobs promised to go to "thermonuclear war" against Android, Woz has always been a little more even keel. In a recent interview where he was hoping that the iPhone 5 would take better pictures than his Galaxy S3, he was asked about the patent dispute going on between Apple and Samsung.

“I hate it," he said. “I don’t think the decision of California will hold. And I don’t agree with it -- very small things I don’t really call that innovative." Interesting words coming from someone so high up in Apple's hierarchy. The Woz went on to say that he wants patents to be exchanged so everyone can build their best technologies. I think most of us here would agree with these statements.

Do you think Wozniak's opinions on the subject will change how Apple pursues things from now on? Or will Apple hunt down anything they think stands in their way?

Via: Bloomberg

Apple Sues Online Polish Deli Over Their Name, "A.pl"

Tim — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 11:03:20 +0000

In a new low, Apple is taking a Polish online deli business to court over their website's name. Their site resides at "a.pl" - "pl" being Poland's country-wide domain. Apple argues that the name is too similar to their own and that consumers are getting confused when entering the site. Seriously, how could one tell the difference between a honey baked ham and a 27" iMac. According to Polish news sites, the trial could last several years to finally be resolved. Why it would take so long for the Polish courts to throw such a redonkulous claim out the window is beyond me. Feel free to sound off down below. Via: PC Mag

Verizon to Expand 4G LTE Across Midwest and Other Parts of U.S.

Tim — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 10:32:32 +0000

Verizon continues to pump out the 4G LTE. Over the next couple of weeks, more cities in the the U.S. will begin to experience the awesomeness that is 4G LTE on their compatible devices. Some of these sites may have already gone live, but Verizon doesn't give any official dates except for a vague "next couple of weeks" or "later this month." Areas seeing the change:

Coffeyville, KS
Expansion in Pittsburgh, PA areas
Emporia, KS
Lawrence, KS
Bremerton And Silverdale, Washington
Rolla, MO
Hays, KS
Kansas City, KS/MO areas
Tampa Bay, FL
Fort Myers, FL
Tallahassee, FL
Buffalo, NY

Verizon's 4G LTE network is currently available to 75% of America's population in more than 370 markets.

Throwback Thursday: Win a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 from DL and NVIDIA (Update: Winner Picked)

Tim — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 10:00:01 +0000

We have partnered up with NVIDIA once again to bring you a Throwback Thursday giveaway! Today, we're offering a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet. The tablet was recently updated to Ice Cream Sandwich so it will surely be able to handle any of the tasks you might throw its way. But enough with the talk, let's get down to it.

Contest:

Prize: Up for grabs is a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 16GB WiFi tablet. It's powered by a Tegra 2 processor, perfect for on the go gaming and all of your other tablet needs such as watching movies and editing documents. Update: We have our winner! The tablet goes to "PlzSirIWantSomeMore" who says his cat ate his last one. Yikes. Thanks to everyone who entered and for making this another successful Throwback Thursday! How to Enter: 1. ~~Follow Droid Life and NVIDIATegra on Twitter.~~ ~~2. Tweet out the following message:~~

Oh boy, @droid_life and @NVIDIATegra are giving away a Galaxy Tab - Enter here for your chance to win: http://goo.gl/iSEHz

3. Comment down below with why you need to win this tablet. It doesn't need to be epic, just a simple reason why you want it. Winner: We will choose our winner randomly from the comments section below today at 3PM PST. We will notify winner by email so make sure to comment with a valid email address. Good luck!

Thanks to NVIDIA for fronting the Galaxy Tab 10.1.

Download: RAZR M Exclusive Wallpaper Not Found on the Device

Kellen — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 09:34:42 +0000

If you head into a Verizon store today and buy a DROID RAZR M, part of the package will include a special paper from Motorola with an NFC chip inside. If you touch your NFC-equipped RAZR M to that paper, you are redirected to a website that features an "exclusive" wallpaper that you won't find on the device itself. Since we are kind souls, we have the wallpaper for you above. Not bad, right? Should you run into issues grabbing it from the embed above, you can also snag it here. The rest of the RAZR M wallpapers can be found here.

Omega StatusBar Allows for Custom Looks With No Root Required

Tim — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 09:00:21 +0000

If anyone recalls, back in the day the only way to customize our top notification bars was to root and apply a ROM with a custom theme. That made the process fun, but for those who didn't know how to root and flash zips, they were left out in the cold and lonely world of stock Android. And frankly, Froyo was kind of ugly. Anyone looking for a custom look without needing root should check out Omega StatusBar. With Omega, your stock bar is replaced by a solid black strip with a more minimal look. Just a clock, battery, and data icon. What you do next is up to you. You can add more goodies or even use the theme manager to make it look however you see fit. There's a ton of themes that can been downloaded from Google Play to allow for colors, different icons, and more. For someone who doesn't want to go through any trouble with rooting, but still wants a custom look, check it out in Google Play. Play Link (H/T Android and Me)

DROID RAZR M Available Today From Verizon for $99

Kellen — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 08:27:26 +0000

Today is the day! The Motorola DROID RAZR M is available for $99 on new 2-year contract. I know I seem to be far too excited over a $99 mid-range smartphone, but this is easily Moto's best work in years. It's a small package with a big vibrant display, excellent performance, and stellar battery life. While I'm not necessarily a fan of the kevlar back or the below-average camera, everything else about this phone is top notch. The size, though small compared to the Galaxy S3, is a welcomed change since Motorola managed to keep the display at 4.3", which they are claiming to be "edge-to-edge." If you missed my DROID RAZR M review that went live earlier this week, be sure to check it out. I can't say enough good things about this phone. Full specs here. Buy.

Having Trouble With Your Asus Bootloader Unlocking Tool? Send it in to Asus

Eric — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 07:53:22 +0000

Fortunately for all of us here, ASUS not only makes awesome hardware in their tablets, but they were also one of the first manufacturers to start voluntarily unlocking their bootloaders. Unfortunately, the tool has not been working for a while now, users who try and unlock are met with this message:

An unknown error occurs, which may be a network connection issue. Please wait and try again later

It has been going on long enough for Transformer Prime owners to make their voices heard to ASUS. However, ASUS says the only way to fix this problem is to send it into the company and let them take care of the whole thing. There has been a "special repair process set up for the affected tablets" but who knows how long it will take ASUS to work through all these.

Have you run into this problem with your Prime?

Via: XDA

Jimmy Kimmel Asks iPhone Owners What They Think of the iPhone 5, Which is Actually a 4S

Kellen — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 07:51:04 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdIWKytq_q4[/youtube]

What happens when you ask iPhone owners for their thoughts on the new iPhone 5, but show them an iPhone 4S? Magic. Pure comedic magic. Cheers Dontel, teng taing, Charlie and everyone else!

What do You Want to See in the Next Nexus Phone?

Kellen — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 16:06:15 +0000

With Apple's big event out of the way, our focus should now return to what we may see in November or December of this year from Google. Yes, I'm talking about the next Nexus phone. Rumors have led us to believe that LG, Samsung and Sony will all produce a Nexus phone. If Google sticks to their schedule from the last couple of years, we could see these devices by mid-November or early December. That's only a couple of months away. It was about this time last year that early rumors surfaced for the Galaxy Nexus, so it's probably safe to say that we could start hearing Nexus talk again any day. Until that happens, it's time to toss out your predictions or must-have lists. Many of you won't buy another phone unless it's a Nexus, so let's talk about what it would have to be in order for you to bite. Do you want Samsung to produce a Galaxy Nexus 2 with the same form factor, but new processor, camera, and other insides? Can LG win you over at all any more? Their new Optimus G is supposed to be a beast, so what if they turn that into a Nexus? And Sony, can they take their stylish hardware and steal your vote by putting stock Android on it? Let's do this - you tell me who of those three you would rather purchase from, and then run down a list of specs that you would need to see. I'll drop mine in the comments to kick it off.

Playboard for Android, a Cool App to Help You Find Other Cool Apps

Tim — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 15:09:10 +0000

There's something about finding new apps that makes me happy. Whether it's a new game or awesome utility app, they are the glue that keeps us stuck to our devices. Playboard is a new way of finding apps that you will like and a way for keeping track of apps you will in the future. With Playboard, you can search through user popular apps, trending apps, and "just-in apps." If searching randomly through isn't your style, you can customize your board with categories and channels you like the most to make sure you're finding the best apps possible. Go check it out and let us know if you find anything good. We're always on the hunt for the next big thing. Play Link

Video: Apple "Puppets" Getting Inferior Product in iPhone 5 According to This Galaxy Note Owner

Kellen — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 14:39:39 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u28sTUxk3jw[/youtube]

First of all, this video is NSFW because of language. So before you click play, know that you have been warned. With that said, this guy wants the Apple "Puppets" to know that it's time to wake up and that it's "ANDROID FUH LIFE, FUH LIFE!" His 6:45 rant about the new iPhone 5 and how it compares to his Samsung "Beastung" Galaxy Note is priceless. Who knew that the iPhone 4S would be such a good fishing camera? "Living in America!"

Dear Apple, the iPhone 5 is Not the "World's Thinnest Smartphone"

Tim — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 14:03:39 +0000

At 7.6mm thin, the iPhone 5 comes in as Apple's thinnest iPhone offering to date. Interestingly enough, today Apple's Phil Schiller made the claim that it is the world's thinnest smartphone, but it looks Apple didn't even bother to take a look at what the competitors have put out in the past year or so. In fact, there is one device in particular that is much thinner than the iPhone 5. The original DROID RAZR for Verizon by Motorola comes in at a 7.1mm, which is a quite noticeable difference. So, is this Apple just not fact checking or are they trying to tell me the RAZR wasn't a smartphone? Either way, case solved. Update: Since there are a few in the building who would like to point out that the RAZR's hump makes it thicker, we may as well toss the Huawei P1 Ascend (6.7mm), ZTE Athena (6.2mm), and the Oppo Finder (6.65mm) into the conversation. Cheers Kyle and Chris!

Initial Reactions to the iPhone 5...

Kellen — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 13:09:48 +0000

Reactions? We know you have them after hanging with us during Apple's iPhone 5 event. The announcement has had an hour or so to soak in, so after reading our initial thoughts below, be sure to drop yours as well. Did anything impress or surprise you? Are you dying for Google to announce the new Nexus, now?

Kellen:

I'm confused, did Apple announce the iPhone 4, 4S or 5 today? At this point in Apple's history, it's tough to tell anything they do apart. Each time we get a new product, we all walk away saying, "Wait, where is the redesign?" They'll tell you that what they are showing you has been completely redesigned, but even commenters in our live chat were having difficulty telling the new 5 apart from the 4S on stage. Basically what I'm saying, is that Apple has their formula, and unless you buy into it, you aren't ever going to come away all that impressed. They fine-tune, they don't reinvent or re-create or any other fancy word they may use. Clearly it's a winning formula, but it's one that feels more stale today than it ever has. The big bold numbers in slides, inflated stats, and wordplay aren't changing. Every time Tim Cook and his crew takes the stage, you can predict what they are about to say, show, and reveal. I'm sure this phone will be a massive hit, but even to an Android guy, I expected more this time around.

Tim:

Well Apple, you've done it again. Thankfully, it looks like the media is finally starting to cut through the B.S. and is realizing these devices are getting less and less cool as the years go by. What's even more amazing is that my Facebook feed is filled with less, "OMG, the new iPhone is awesome!" Is it possible that consumers are starting to see a trend and are actually unimpressed with what Apple is producing these days? Apple's new iPhone 5 is the definition of a boring product in comparison to previous works. It has a bigger display! Whoopty doo. It has 4G LTE! What top of the line Android device doesn't? If you're going to stick to iOS as an operating system, then by all means, this is all going to be awesome for you. If you're serious about getting a real smartphone that has had all of these features and then some, go get yourself a good Android phone. I've been let down, Apple. These of course are just my initial reactions and I'm sure my opinions will change as much as I change my clothes. Often.

Eric:

For a company that likes to tell their users what they should have in a mobile device, Apple has really painted themselves into a corner with the iPhone. The iPhone 5 is not really that striking, or exciting. It's lighter and thinner and has a few more technologies that Android phones have had for a while now. Where is the new? Apple rolled out iOS 6 again today, as if we didn't see it months earlier, and even that wasn't a big upgrade either. Apple is taking the word "redesign" to the next level and relying on their fans to buy the next version of the iPhone just because it's an iPhone. It will indeed "just work" but the mantra is soon become "it's just an iPhone." When it was first released it was revolutionary, now it just seems reactionary. Nevertheless, it will sell well and 4-inch screens are now 'in-style' but Apple's announcement today was on par with the 4S announcement last year: disappointing.

Ron:

The iPhone 5 was everything I expected and nothing I hoped for. It matches the competition without really innovating in any way. I'm not sure if Apple isn't innovating anymore because someone else will come up with something, or if Apple is trying to ride this out instead of innovate on top of its cash cow like it did with the iPhone killing iPod sales. At the same time, I'm not sure what to expect from Google in the coming weeks. It's becoming more and more difficult for companies to really innovate with software and hardware as everything comes into parity. In short, while Apple was pretty boring today, I'm not sure I'm really excited for anything from Google either. Please Google, dare to surprise me.

Chrome for Android Receives an Update in the Play Store, Bugfixes and Changes Within

Eric — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 12:11:50 +0000

If you head over to the Play Store you will find an update for Chrome waiting for you with something unusual: a changelog. Usually Google likes to leave us guessing until later when we have to track down changes but this time they are being upfront about what they are fixing.

Location preference has now been moved to the system level of your device to make things a bit more streamlined. And if you are a big YouTube user you will be happy, "video controls now work in full screen mode and videos continue playing after a screen lock/unlock." There are some more fixes under the hood that are sure to improve the browser overall. Head over to Google Play now to get your update on.

Play Link

Via: Google

Chart: iPhone 5 vs. Galaxy S3 vs. One X vs. RAZR HD

Kellen — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 11:52:55 +0000

Apple is wrapping up their iPhone 5 announcement as I type this, but so that you can see how this new phone of theirs stacks up to the top dogs in Android, I thought a chart would be a good way to display it. As you can see, Android devices have been doing what the iPhone 5 introduced today, for months now. But truthfully, Android devices have moved in a completely separate direction and the iPhone is driving down its own path. Android phones are big, the iPhone remains smaller. Android enthusiasts care a lot about specs and seem to want OEMs to push the envelope, while Apple is more into fine tuning and making incremental updates. Comparing them is sort of silly, but that's what we do in the tech world. And while a chart only tells one side of the story, the paper side, it's still worth a look.

Live Chat - Apple's iPhone 5 Event

Kellen — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 09:30:29 +0000

Look, we fully understand that we aren't an iPhone or Apple site, but the iPhone 5 is the only story in tech today. Every other company is probably using it as a holiday of sorts because they would be foolish to try and announce something that would compete with this moment. So since they are the competitor and we like to see what kinds of silly things they claim to invent, we thought we would run a live chat. No, not a live blog since we aren't there or covering as press, but a "chat" because we like to hang out with the DL community and talk about hot topics. Let's keep it clean, yet fun. Join us below.

Google VP: We Weren't Investing in the Patent Ecosystem Like We Should Have Been

Tim — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 08:34:44 +0000

In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Google's VP of corporate development admits that Google never thought to heavily invest in patents, even of their own technology. What's funny is that he does somewhat make a joke that they never thought to "patent round corners." With someone high up on the chain speaking like this though, you know Google has their business pants on now and they will certainly be protecting their intellectual property and taking the proper steps to securing their future as a tech heavyweight. Via: Bloomberg

Please Put Out Something Cool Today, Apple [Opinion]

Tim — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 07:56:26 +0000

With Apple's new iPhone event taking place in just a few hours, this may be coming too late for it to change anything, but that isn't really the point. I've been really pondering lately what Apple could do with the iPhone 5 to make even me excited, a jaded Android user who doesn't get stoked about 4" displays, 4G LTE, or even quad-core processors anymore. NFC technology? Yeah, I've had that since the Nexus S and still hardly ever use it. But as many would argue, the iPhone 5 will still somehow be magical and sell millions and millions of units becoming the new "industry standard" for every OEM and your friends to compare every new and old device to. This is why I hope Apple can actually put out something even myself can get excited about. Even though I wouldn't go out and buy one, I would at least know that Apple has set the bar "higher" for every other device maker to step up standards in the quality and design department. Better displays, better materials, and whatever else they feel they need to "steal" from Apple to make people want to buy their phones. It's not that I think Apple is truly innovative or is doing things better, but I think it's just that the other OEMs are stuck in this cycle of comparing everything Apple does to their own. The clearest and most recent example of this was Motorola comparing their newest RAZR lineup to last year's iPhone model. What was the point of that? As a lover of all things mobile, it's easy to see that an awesome iPhone means better Android devices in the future.

Global Android Activations Hit 500 Million on the Eve of the New iPhone

Kellen — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 21:30:29 +0000

Hours before Apple's Tim Cook will take the stage to announce the new iPhone and a handful of other products, Google's Hugo Barra took to Google+ to announce that Android activations have now topped the 500 million mark globally. Last week, Eric Schmidt announced that the number had reached 480 million, but in a world dominated by our favorite open sourced mobile operating system, it only took another 6 days to reach one heck of a milestone. It seems like just yesterday we were talking about a couple of hundred thousand activations per day and the first 100 million. So much for all of those predictions over the years suggesting that Android's reign wouldn't last. It appears to me that we are only getting started. Daily Android activations are still hovering around 1.3 million. The Jelly Bean statue has also returned. Via: Google+

Does Anything About Tomorrow's iPhone 5 Event Interest You?

Kellen — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 15:50:42 +0000

When iOS 6 was announced, we ran a post called "Which iOS 6 Features From Android Will Reinvent Smartphones This Morning?" The responses were hilarious, but since this is hardware, we can't really go down that road again. Instead, we thought we would simply ask, "Does anything about the iPhone 5 announcement interest you?" Are you going to chuckle when Apple calls a 4" display the "sweet spot"? What if the iPhone 5 really is nothing more than a longer iPhone 4S with an oddly two-toned backside? Any chance they reinvent the widget so that they "just work"? How many faked stats will we see on stage? How bad are you going to feel for iPhone accessory junkies that are going to have to re-buy every overpriced dock and speaker that they invested in over the last 5 years because of a new dock connector? Is a nano-SIM actually worth a mention during a press event? In all seriousness, I am actually interested to see what they do with LTE. Will Apple debut a new battery or processor combo that will give an LTE phone longer than normal battery life? How good will this new 4" display be? NFC or no NFC? Care or don't care? Let us know.

Sergey Brin and Google Glass Stop by to Talk With the Wall Street Journal

Kellen — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 15:20:53 +0000

Since Google I/O, we haven't heard much about Google Glass, the eyewear computing project that Google co-founder Sergey Brin is heading. The most recent sighting was at New York Fashion Week, but no new details of availability or functionality came out of it. We did learn a couple of new things about the future of Glass today, thanks to a sit down between Brin and the Wall Street Journal. During the interview, Sergey let the interviewer wear Google Glass and activate it by saying "OK Glass," which popped up a menu that would all you to take a picture, record a video, place a phone call, send a message, or use Google Maps. According to this piece, Google Maps and phone calls/messages are only in a prototype stage and not yet working on most models. That's a bit unfortunate, as it still seems like pictures are the only thing Google Glass is capable of doing to date. If pictures are your thing though, you can take one by saying "Take a picture" or have it take one every 10 seconds with a time lapse feature. There is also some sort of 360-degree panoramic video experience that shows up in the video below. There isn't a mention of the app or how they got there, but we are certainly interested. Still interested in Google Glass?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GLj_f6cTUU[/youtube]

Via: WSJ

Motorola DROID RAZR M Review

Kellen — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 14:30:56 +0000

The DROID RAZR M by Motorola was introduced last week as a mid-range device with, for the most part, top tier specs on Verizon. It sports an "edge-to-edge" display, dual-core processor, and Ice Cream Sandwich in one of the smaller packages we have seen in some time. Motorola was trying to give this phone something new by keeping the display itself big, but shrinking down the phone to make it much more manageable in one hand. They succeeded and then some. I may as well admit it now, that I'm a big fan of this phone even if the display is only qHD. Let's talk about it.

The Good:

Form Factor: Even if Motorola doesn't sell 10 million RAZR Ms, they have a winner in my book. Their vision of an edge-to-edge display is something I am 100% on-board with. When you pick up the RAZR M, you immediately notice how small it feels when compared to other devices like the Galaxy S3, but once you turn the screen on, none of that will matter. Since there is very little bezel, and Moto managed to toss in a 4.3" display while keeping the overall package small, it doesn't feel like you are holding a tank or two-handed device. It's easy to navigate this phone with one hand. After making this my daily phone for the last 4 or 5 days, it has been difficult to pick up anything else without saying, "Damn these other phones are huge." I also like it that the RAZR M doesn't feel like Moto flattened or squashed the device just for the sake of saying, "Look how thin this is, even if it is the widest device on Earth!" Yes, I'm talking about the original RAZR.
Specs: Aside from the RAZR M having a qHD display, the rest of its insides are top notch on paper. The 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 is efficient and powerful. The 8GB of on-board storage with expandable microSD slot gives you all of the space you could ask for. The 1GB of RAM doesn't match the 2GB in the Galaxy S3, but should be enough for almost any average user. The 8MP camera sucks, but hey, at least it's 8MP? It also has a 4G LTE radio so that it can connect to Verizon's ever-growing network. The RAZR M doesn't break ground on the spec front, but it also isn't falling behind.
Battery Life: The 2000mAh battery inside the RAZR M coupled with a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor seems like a match made in heaven. Well, almost anything does with this processor, however, this phone seems insanely good with this combo. I have two screenshots to talk about below that have led me to this conclusion. The first one on the left is the RAZR M after I took it through a standard day of checking emails, Twitter, snapping a few photos, making a few phone calls, listening to some music, keeping WiFi off, and not doing anything that would completely hammer on battery life (like gaming or video streaming). As you can see, a full day of use was not an issue. The screenshot on the right is day of travel and over an hour straight of Granny Smith domination with Google Music playing in the background while on a plane. I still had 33% left and probably could have made it through the rest of the day if I needed to. Now, with my Galaxy Nexus, should I have played over an hour of any game with music streaming in the background, I would have been dying to find the nearest outlet so that I could toss some juice into it. This phone is incredibly efficient.

Display: I've been hard on qHD displays for almost 2 years now, but I've got to admit that this qHD display on the RAZR M isn't bothering me like others have in the past. It could be that Motorola selected the perfect set of wallpapers to show off color pops that distract me from picking out pixels or maybe, the fact that there isn't blurring and ghosting at every turn like on the Incredible 4G and other qHD devices, that has me feeling good. Viewing angles are great, it gets plenty bright, and the size really does feel nice for such a small framed phone. Colors are vibrant since it's an AMOLED and sensitivity is as good as any display I have touched in a while.

Performance: The RAZR M has been a pleasure to use because Motorola has apparently fine-tuned their custom OEM skin since the Atrix HD, which runs a similar build. There are stutters or hiccups here and there, but for the most part, this phone flies, thanks to the Snapdragon S4 processor inside. We aren't usually that big on benchmarks, but to visually give you an idea as to how this phone stacks up to the competition, we thought we would include a couple (Yes, it topped the list in Quadrant.). For a $99 phone, you can't help but be impressed. It's not perfect, but the few hiccups I saw can all be fixed by software updates in the future, which new Motorola CEO Dennis Woodside told us would be here before the end of the year.

Price: If you don't have $200 to spend on a phone, you should buy the RAZR M. At $99, it almost seems like you are robbing someone. The Incredible 4G, which doesn't even stack up to this phone on any level other than the camera, is $149. Motorola's new direction involves pricing phones in areas that can reach massive amounts of consumers, something the price point for the RAZR M clearly demonstrates. It's a bargain-bin price for one of the better phones of 2012.
4G LTE: LTE is standard in all Verizon smartphones these days, so it's no surprise that the RAZR M has been taking full advantage of the network while I've had it in my possession. Unlike some of Verizon's previously released LTE phones, this one has no problem holding a signal. I've spent time in airports, between cities, on trains and in low coverage areas over the last few days and rarely ran into a lack of signal. If I left a coverage area, connection was quickly restored moments after returning to one. You see DL readers rave about Motorola radios in the comments on posts throughout each day, and there is a reason for it.
Blur: During my Atrix HD review, I had mostly positive things to say about the direction of Blur. In fact, I still think this is the best version of Blur yet. With that said, Motorola needs to find a style or layout and stick to it for a while. This version of Blur is completely different than the ICS Blur we saw hit the original RAZR. We like innovation, but let's try to find something we can build off of without having to completely flip the switch and start over. Likes: In this new build, you can swipe left and find a new notifications panel which I really like. It's a much better way to display this info than through the pull down menu. After that, you can swipe right to get to other home screens which don't exist right off the bat. You have to add them by either choosing from a Moto pre-set layout or a blank screen. I can't help but also admit that I really like how close this is to stock Android. Dislikes: I am sad to see them already eliminate the quick preview windows that were included in the Atrix HD's build, though. For certain apps like Phone or Contacts, you could swipe up on the icon and see a preview of information. It was handy, to say the least, but it's now gone in this new version of Blur.

Jelly Bean Soon: During the announcement of the RAZR M, Motorola announced that Jelly Bean would be available as an update before the end of the year. If you looked at a calendar, that only gives them a little over 3 months. They must feel confident in the process because it took them 8 or 9 months to get Ice Cream Sandwich out.
Developer Edition: Motorola is trying to win over customers again after pissing them off for the last 2 years. In order to do that, they feel that they need to win back the developer community, by releasing "developer edition" phones. While these are a great gesture and idea in principal, very few will likely buy these as they can only be purchased off contract at full retail and likely without much of a warranty. Thanks for the option, I guess.
On-screen Navigation Keys: Motorola is one of the few Android OEMs to adopt on-screen navigation keys, something that Google first introduced with the Galaxy Nexus last year. It's no surprise that Moto has gone this route, since they are owned by Google and all, but since we have seen other manufacturers continue to use hardware buttons, we need to give Moto props. On-screen navigation keys will allow for a better Jelly Bean experience while also allowing for a smaller device profile and more screen real estate.

The Not-so-Good:

Style: Look, I'm a fan of the front of this device along with the industrial accents on the sides, but Motorola, it's time to do away with the cheesy kevlar backing. Every time I flip this phone over, I cringe. The kevlar really serves no purpose other than as a talking point during sales pitches. This phone, for the most part, looks like a step in a new design direction for Moto, until you get to the back. It was a fun gimmick while it lasted, but let's go ahead and turn the page to something new, shall we?
Display: OK, as much as I can handle the display on the RAZR M, it still is a qHD PenTile display. If you use Motorola's wallpapers, you may come away thinking this is one of the better displays ever made, however, if you change it up and throw on something a little more subtle and less vibrant, you will immediately see text becoming less clear with pixels shining through. And no, it didn't take a blown up macro shot for me to be able to see this, I am simply showing you this picture so that you can see the display technology at work. I wouldn't consider this display to be a deal breaker, but just know that even if it is "edge-to-edge," that it's not as good many others on the market. Then again, you are only paying$99 for it.

Camera: I have been disappointed with the 8MP camera in the RAZR M. It seems to adjust lighting at freakish rates even when it doesn't need to, leading to below average stills. Pictures with controlled lighting also rarely seem to come out as clear as you would expect. I was able to capture some decent outside shots in the sun, but anything inside turned out noisy and plain bad. I figure the camera is probably the same sensor that we saw in the original RAZR, however, it doesn't come close to performing like it.

Bootloader: The bootloader on the RAZR M that you will buy from Verizon for $99 is going to be locked down. This means hacking is going to be a pain in the rear, unless you want to fork out $549 and buy the developer edition directly from Motorola. Verizon will continue to come up with excuses as to why they are locking down their phones from the "hackers and tinkerers" that even Motorola has realized are important, and we will continue to tell them how wrong they are. Verizon, you are wrong, again.
Bloatware: My official bloatware count reached 23 on the RAZR M. Now that Verizon has partnered with Amazon, their suite of apps easily adds 6 or 7 to Big Red's ever-growing list. They also aren't letting you uninstall these anymore, so if you want them gone from your app drawer, you have to go into Settings>Apps>All and disable them. This new Amazon partnership is definitely a step in the wrong direction in the battle of bloatware.

Unboxing and First Look:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46xabo_OtEo[/youtube]

Gallery:

The Verdict:

As I mentioned earlier, I'm a huge fan of the DROID RAZR M. The form factor with the edge-to-edge display has been a treat. You still get a big beautiful screen, but without the extra baggage that normally comes with one. At $99, the price seems more-than-reasonable, especially when you consider that it packs many of the same specs that high-end phones are launching with these days. The RAZR M is a great option for those who have been frustrated by the mega-phone movement.

Samsung: Jelly Bean Update Coming to International Galaxy S3 in October

Kellen — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 13:47:08 +0000

If you own the international Samsung Galaxy S3, then you should see an official update to Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) in October. Samsung reportedly confirmed the details to CNET UK. This shouldn't come as much of a surprise as we have seen multiple leaked builds pop up over the last month. It's been clear that Samsung is working hard to get their 2012 flagship device to the current build of Android as quickly as possible. Unfortunately for U.S. variants of the device, we have no time frame for release. Carriers always like to take their sweet time approving updates, so it could be November or December before any of us sees it. And I hate to say this, but Verizon's version is going to be last. Big Red still hasn't approved Jelly Bean for the Galaxy Nexus, so there is no way in hell that they are going to jump past other carriers and be the first. You best bet is going to be to root and throw on one of the newly leaked JB ROMs. Via: CNET

Google Chrome's Other Device Feature [Beginners' Guide]

Tim — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 13:00:29 +0000

My life revolves around the web. From the time I start work to the time I drag myself outside to walk my dogs, I am constantly surfing, reading, and all of the other descriptive words I could use to get the point across that I use the Internet a whole lot. One thing I learned back before Chrome's syncing feature was that I could email or text myself links to pages that I needed while I was on the go. Addresses, restaurants, and things of that nature. Sure, it may not have been the best way or easiest by any means, but it worked. With the introduction of Chrome for Android, accessing websites from my mobile that I already had open on my desktop is now just a couple of clicks away. It saves me a lot of time and sanity when I'm on the go. For example, if I was looking up a cool spot to eat for lunch and then leave the house, but forget the name or address, I can open up Chrome and access the same exact page from my mobile that I was looking at on the desktop. The applications for the feature go way beyond that, but you get the idea.

Using the service:

If you're new to Chrome and are still learning about its vast features, here's how to access the "Other devices" page from your mobile and desktop Chrome applications. As a note, you must be signed into the same Google account on your mobile and desktop Chrome browsers for the apps to properly sync together. From your mobile Chrome browser: The top image I have used are the steps you take to access tabs that are open on your desktop and other mobile devices. While you're browsing any page, just hit the settings key and select "Other devices." From this page, it will list which devices and computers you are signed in to with your Google account that have tabs open. Beyond just tabs, you can also access any bookmarked pages you have as well by hitting the star icon, same with popular sites you frequent. From your desktop Chrome browser: The same goes for when you're on your desktop as well. If you have tabs open on your mobile devices that you need access to, simply open a new tab on your desktop and in the bottom right corner you will see "Other devices." Once you hit that, you can see the other devices associated with your Google account that have tabs open such as tablets, phones, and even other computers.

If you haven't tried out Google's Chrome for Android yet, you really should give it a shot. You'll find that it is far superior in functionality and features than the stock Android or other 3rd party browser. Play Link *The rest of the Android Beginners’ Guide is a one-stop shop for all of those new to Android.

Verizon Releases Mobile Security App, Wipe and Track Your Phone for $2 a Month

Tim — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 12:10:47 +0000

In case there weren't enough mobile security apps in Google Play already, Verizon released a self-branded device scanner and tracker of their own. The app combines software from McAfee and Asurion to keep your phone as safe as possible. With the ability to do full device scans, mobile tracking, and website checking, it's not a bad app if you spend time on shady sites or download lots of 3rd party applications. The app comes with two versions - free and paid. For $1.99/month you get the addition mobile wipe feature and GPS tracking. If you're looking for an app that does all of this for free, you can always check out Lookout or another big name in mobile security on Google Play. Play Link Via: Verizon

Developer Successfully Ports Official T-Mobile Jelly Bean Build to Verizon Galaxy S3

Tim — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 11:35:43 +0000

Is there anything those developers can't do? Well, besides truly unlock the DROID X's bootloader? Let us all take a second and be thankful that device is water under the bridge. Recently, a developer successfully ported a leaked TouchWiz Jelly Bean build from the T-Mobile Galaxy S3 to the Galaxy S3 on Verizon. With working 4G data, camera, and almost everything else, if you're the hacking and modding type, then this could definitely be your daily driver until Verizon and Samsung are ready to make their version available to the masses. Your device will need to be unlocked and rooted, but the methods for installation aren't very difficult past that point. If you would like to download and see instructions for installation, simply follow the via link down below. Via: XDA Cheers Marcus!

Android Series 3 Collectibles Almost Ready for Retailers, Here is a 360-Degree Preview of 8-Ball Hustler

Kellen — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 10:59:28 +0000

The Series 3 Android Collectibles have seen their share of delays, but during those periods, improvements were made that should help this be the best set yet (Ball-jointed arms, anyone?). We have good news, though! According to the series' makers, shipments of the final product will be arriving in California today, and will then cruise through customs on their way to distribution. Once that has happened, they will ship out to retailers and hopefully onto your doorsteps a few days later. It could be another couple of weeks depending on long it takes to get through customs, but we are almost there! To celebrate, we get a full 360-degree look at one of the series collectibles, the 8-Ball Hustler. We actually posted the first look at this collectible in the wild after ComicCon, but this gives you the full monty.

(Click and drag the Android to spin.)

Via: Dyzplastic

Google Play Teams with Boingo to Bring Sponsored WiFi Hotspots to More Than 4,000 Locations

Tim — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 10:15:55 +0000

Starting now until the end of September, Google Play is teaming up with Boingo to bring free WiFi hotspots to more than 4,000 locations across the United States. The sponsored WiFi will bring free content to users and more interaction with potential customers which is what product vendors crave. Basically, it's a win win for consumers such as you and me. The locations are very widespread - major US airports such as JFK, O' Hare, shopping malls, cafes, New York subway stations, etc. Let us know down below if you've seen any of this new sponsored WiFi. Thanks for the free Internet, Google.

FREE BOINGO WI-FI AT LOCATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY SPONSORED BY GOOGLE PLAY
Sponsored Wi-Fi Available Starting This Week at More Than 4,000 Hotspots LOS ANGELES – Sept. 11, 2012 – Boingo Wireless (NASDAQ: WIFI), the Wi-Fi industry’s leading provider of software and services worldwide, announced today that millions of people will have access to free Wi-Fi at more than 4,000 hotspots thanks to Google Play. The Wi-Fi hotspots are part of Boingo’s Cloud Nine Media platform, a global advertising network that enables brand advertisers to reach a captive audience through Wi-Fi sponsorships. Starting this week, Wi-Fi users with Android phones and tablets, as well as Windows and Macintosh laptops, will be offered complimentary Wi-Fi at thousands of high-traffic locations in dozens of cities nationwide, courtesy of cloud-based digital entertainment destination, Google Play. Sponsored Wi-Fi locations include 15 airports, such as New York’s John F. Kennedy, Chicago O’Hare and Seattle-Tacoma, Boingo-enabled Manhattan subway stations, and thousands of hotels, shopping malls, cafés and recreational areas. Consumers taking advantage of the free Boingo Wi-Fi sponsored by Google Play can get free content, check out the latest releases and stay entertained with instant access to their favorite music, movies, books, apps and more. “Google Play is the first to take part in our newly expanded Wi-Fi sponsorship network, which reaches millions of consumers each month with place-based brand engagements,” said Dawn Callahan, vice president of consumer marketing for Boingo Wireless. “Sponsorships like this give users the free Wi-Fi they crave, advertisers the consumer interaction they need, and venues the revenue to offset the costs associated with providing a high-bandwidth Wi-Fi experience.” The free Boingo Wi-Fi lasts through the end of September. With the recent acquisition of Cloud Nine Media, Boingo Wireless now offers brands a global advertising network that includes more than 70 leading airports, the New York City subway, shopping centers, stadiums and thousands of hotels, restaurants and recreational areas, reaching more than 1.5 billion people annually.

CyanogenMod Announces the M-Series Builds, Not Quite a Nightly, but Not Quite a Release Candidate

Eric — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 09:35:28 +0000

It takes a certain type of Android user to flash the latest nightly to your phone whenever you see it. You're living on the cutting edge, expecting bugs while keeping your phone as up-to-date as possible. However, some people like a bit more stability to their lives. CyanogenMod is looking to split the difference here with the new M-series builds.

On their blog post, the CM team said "These builds should be stable enough for daily use, and we encourage feedback and bug reports." It's important to note that these builds are tagged as "experimental" and that you still might run into some bugs, but not as much as a nightly. The Verizon Galaxy Nexus has its first M1 build ready for download now, but if you're looking for the full list of M1 devices, hit the source link below and find your device.

Via: CyanogenMod

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Hands-on and First Impressions

Kellen — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 08:59:26 +0000

I was unable to attend Samsung's IFA press event in Berlin a couple of weeks back where they unveiled the international Galaxy Note 2, but thankfully, they gave me some hands-on time with it this week to share with the DL community. They still aren't ready to announce U.S. info, however, there have been enough leaks over the last week or so to give us some sort of an idea as to what the future holds. Until we get to that point though, we can at least talk about the international variant, the form factor, some of the new software tweaks that have been included, and the fact that the display is no longer PenTile.

Form Factor

When I look at or hold the Galaxy Note 2, I think of it as a giant Galaxy S3. It has the same styling, button arrangement, and color scheme - it just rocks out with a bigger 5.5" display. When holding, you most definitely need two hands to use it. But you should know that going in. It's light enough without feeling cheap, is probably still pocketable for most people, and really is one of the more unique ideas in mobile. The biggest hurdle here, is deciding if this big of a phone is needed in your life. 10 million people decided that the original Note was worthy, and since this phone is improved by miles over that device, I'd say at least that many will jump to this one as well. Will you?

Software

All of our favorite features from the Galaxy S3 have been carried over to the Note 2 - the sharing, camera software, and speed. But beyond the Share Shot and Pop-up Play, Samsung really focused on making the S Pen experience more fluid and feature-rich. Navigating with the S Pen is as easy as drawing quick symbols and a new hover technology essentially turns it into a mouse. You'll see some of these new goodies in the video down below. Oh, the Note 2 will also ship with Jelly Bean and Samsung's latest TouchWiz.

Bye Bye PenTile

In my meeting with Samsung, there was one little side note that really stood out to me and it had to do with the Note 2's display. They mentioned that this display is the next generation of their Super AMOLED tech, meaning it's improved even over the Galaxy S3 display. They aren't ready to call it an "HD Super AMOLED Plus" yet, but they did mention that it is not a PenTile display and that there are no shared pixels. Samsung said that it isn't quite a full RGB Stripe, hence the reason for leaving off the "Plus." I didn't have my camera with me or I would have snapped a macro, so we'll have to take their word for it. Great news though, right?

Overall

My time with the device was limited, but I can see how the 5.5" form factor could be appealing to some. The new S Pen is actually useful these days, gaming or watching movies would be a blast, and the idea of not having to carry a tablet ever again is an intriguing one. I'll have more time in the near future with the Note 2 to form full opinions, but so far, I've been trying to talk myself into why I need a device this big.

Gallery

Video

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wvGM8wF43g[/youtube]

Motorola and Intel Post Teaser for September 18 Event in London, All About "Edge-to-Edge"

Kellen — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 08:20:01 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3cMPejVrb8[/youtube]

On September 17 in London, Motorola and Intel are going to unveil the first Android smartphone that they built together. We don't have confirmation of this (well, one news outlet did), but we are fully expecting it to be the RAZR M with an Intel Medfield chip instead of the Snapdragon S4 that we are getting here in the States. The "edge-to-edge" display was the major selling point for the device here, so to see them throw those terms out again for this London event only makes sense. This teaser says nothing but "edge-to-edge" every few seconds. The device could potentially look like this, with a grey exterior instead of the black and white color schemes we were introduced to last week.

Google Now Fixes Bug That Kept Us from Seeing Football Scores This Weekend

Eric — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 07:45:24 +0000

If you are like me and looked down at your phone a few moments ago, you might have noticed that Google Now had a notification telling you that your favorite NFL team won or lost their game in the past few days. Google rolled out NFL teams to the Sports card a few weeks back but come Sunday, no scores would show up.

An XDA thread that has been brewing over the past few days said that Google knew about the problem and was investigating it and it seems like that was true. You now can get recaps and highlights for your teams from the cards in Google Now since it seems like Google has fixed this bug.

How many of you are still in the Droid Life Eliminator challenge after this week?

Samsung Galaxy S3 Drops to $99 From Amazon for New Customers

Kellen — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 07:10:44 +0000

This morning, Amazon dropped the price of the Samsung Galaxy S3 16GB to $99 for new customers. They mentioned that this is a "limited" time only thing, so that could mean the deal will only be up for a couple of days or through the weekend. For upgrades or new lines, the prices vary depending on the carrier, but on Verizon we are showing $149 and $139 respectively. For those who are looking to branch off from a parents' account or start up service with another carrier, this is the type of deal that should help you make up your mind. Amazon Links: Verizon [Blue 16GB] [White 16GB] | More Links: AT&T [Blue 16GB] [White 16GB] [Red 16GB] | Sprint [Blue 16GB]

App Publisher Makes Google Play the Place to Be for Hip Hop Mixtapes

Tim — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 16:13:30 +0000

For fun, Kellex and myself share mixtapes to each other for some of the hip hop artists we both enjoy. With the release of Big Sean's Detroit, I found an application in the Trending section of Google Play that allowed me to download an app with the full album inside, then select to move it to my device's SD card. After looking deeper, I found that the publisher has a very extensive list of well-known and not so well-known mixtapes from today's more popular rappers. You'll find mixtapes from Lil' Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, Rick Ross, Gucci Mane, and a ton more. Again, if hip hop isn't your thing, then you should probably ignore this. Hit the play link below to see his full list of tapes. As a reminder, mixtapes are produced by artists to be distributed for free of charge. No worries of piracy here. If you're looking for good ones to start with, I would suggest Rick Ross' Ashes to Ashes or Wiz Kahlifa's Cabin Fever. Go enjoy some music. Play Link

Monday Poll: How Many Apps are Installed on Your Phone?

Kellen — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 15:10:49 +0000

We ran a similar poll to this back in February, but we have seen a number of high-quality apps hit the Play Store over the last couple of months and wanted to ask again. With internal storage space growing on phones and expandable storage inclusion depending on the manufacturer, we are wondering how some of you app hogs are dealing and managing space? Are you having to limit the number because apps are growing in size or are you finding it difficult to fill up? What percentage of those 50+ apps do you use on a regular basis? Anything new that you would recommend we all check out? Tell us your app life story. [poll id="203"]

How to: Edit Contacts on Android [Beginners' Guide]

Tim — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 14:43:07 +0000

One of the more heavily received requests for the Beginners' Guide we have gotten is for a quick guide to editing contacts on an Android device. Unfortunately, we realize it may not be as straight forward as one would hope, so hopefully this little guide can lead you in the right direction. Let's get to editing some contacts.

Contacts in Android:

Android contacts can contain more information that you probably realize. They can hold the name of a person or organization, multiple phone numbers and email addresses, physical addresses, nicknames for contacts, events, relationship to you or others, instant message info, and more. The best part about them though, is the fact that they are always stored through your Gmail account in the cloud, so that if you were to lose your phone or pick up a new one, the info you have stored will always be retrievable.

Instructions:

1. Once you've opened your app drawer, locate the "Contacts" or "People" application shortcut. 2. Locate the one you wish to edit and tap on it. 3. Depending on your device, either hit the on-device settings key or the on-screen settings key (three dots). 4. Select "Edit." 6. From the edit page, you can edit the contact how ever you see fit.

As I mentioned earlier, you can add multiple phone numbers and email addresses, organization names, and group contacts. If you want more options, you need to select the "Add another field" button. This will let you get into physical addresses, nicknames, instant messaging info, and more.

7. Hit "Save" or "Done" when you've finished editing and you're good to go. *The rest of the Android Beginners’ Guide is a one-stop shop for all of those new to Android.

Google Wallet Discontinues Prepaid Card Program, Refunds to be Made Available October 17

Tim — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 12:49:51 +0000

Starting October 17, users of Google Wallet will no longer find a prepaid card option in the Wallet application. Since the successful roll out of debit and credit card usage through Google Wallet, Google sees the prepaid option as unnecessary and users will no longer be able to add funds to the card beginning September 17, one month before the official discontinuation date. If you have a remaining balance on a Google prepaid card after October 17, you can request a refund here to make sure you receive all of your money back. Google has set up a separate FAQ for any concerned or curious users that use the service. Via: Google Cheers Adam!

Ice Cream Sandwich Arrives for Thunderbolt in Form of LiquidSmooth ROM

Eric — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 11:50:31 +0000

If you were a little upset when HTC missed their self-imposed deadline of August for the ICS upgrade for the Thunderbolt, we may have some good news for you. LiquidSmooth has pushed out another milestone update for their ROM bringing a lot of bug fixes and general ICS-goodness to the aging Thunderbolt.

If you are looking for an AOSP-based ROM for the Thunderbolt this will be right up your alley. The developers have kept everything clean and smooth while still offering customizations like navigation bar colors and lockscreen customization. The list of features this ROM goes on and on so if you want to beat HTC to the upgrade punch hit the source link below.

XDA Thread for LiquidSmooth Cheers Ryan!

Google Drive Updated - Comment on Documents, View Presentations, and More

Tim — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 11:10:54 +0000

Today, Google has pushed out an update to Drive for Android. Included in the update is the ability to comment on user documents (finally), view presentations including speaker notes, full-screen mode and the ability to swipe between slides, and table support. Google is also hoping to get people excited for future updates as well. It looks like native editing and real-time collaboration should be hitting the app sometime soon according to a blog post from Google's Drive team. Excited? We are. Play Link [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tthVEzX-UI[/youtube] Via: Google Cheers Adam and BurnBabyBurn!

Google Glass Makes Fashion Runway Debut, Looks to Make Funny Looking Glasses Cool?

Tim — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 10:30:15 +0000

It's funny to think back about how many people said Google Glass looked silly. Not so much the design itself, but how it made a human being look. Dumb. Nerdy. Geeky. Whatever you want to call that look above, I'll take it. Recently, fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg added the high-tech eye wear to her 2013 spring collection runway show and also used the devices backstage to record video of the event to make a film that gives an inside look at putting on a show such as this. With Google Glass still not becoming available to even developers until next year, this is a pretty awesome way to get non-Android fanboys into technology such as this. Can't say I feel the same for the other sunglasses pictured above. Plus one, Furstenberg. Via: Electronista

LG Intuition Available Today From Verizon for $199

Kellen — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 10:00:21 +0000

Talk over the last day has been all about Samsung's Galaxy Note 2 that will reportedly arrive on all U.S. carriers, including Verizon. But let's not forget, that there is another tablet-phone hybrid in the game that is available today. The LG Intuition (known as the Optimus Vu abroad) can be purchased from Big Red for $199 on new 2-year contract. With its 5" display (4:3 ratio), 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 1GB RAM, 8MP rear camera, and Ice Cream Sandwich, this device doesn't sound awful on paper. Before deciding to purchase one, we definitely recommend that you get one in your hands, though. It's big, folks. Like, awkward in your hands, big. We spent a few minutes with it in May at CTIA and came away confused. I personally, can't imagine carrying this around as my daily device, but if a purse or "messenger" bag is always attached to you, this may be something to look at. Actually, you should probably wait until the Note 2 is out so that you can compare the two. Via: Verizon

Sprint to Light Up Additional 100 4G LTE Markets in Coming Months, Just in Time for New iPhone

Tim — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 09:30:03 +0000

Today, Sprint has announced that in the coming months, they will launch an additional 100 4G LTE markets. What perfect timing for everyone. There's nothing like an upcoming 4G LTE capable iPhone announcement to help kick a carrier into high gear on the rollout of its fledgling 4G LTE service. Thinking of staying far removed from shared data, but need LTE? Sprint wants you to know that they will eventually cover you, if you live in the southeast and midwest parts of the country. The huge list of cities below are the areas that Sprint is currently working on. Still no Portland, OR. The 4G LTE Network build is under way in the following areas:

Aguadilla-Isabela-San Sebastian, Puerto Rico
Albermarle, N.C.
Anderson, Ind.
Asheville, N.C.
Athens, Tenn.
Athens, Texas
Austin, Texas
Barnstable Town (Hyannis/Midcape), Mass.
Baton Rouge, La.
Bethesda-Rockville-Frederick, Md.
Boston
Cambridge-Newton-Framingham, Mass.
Charlotte, N.C.
Chattanooga, Tenn.
Chicago
Clarksville, Tenn.
Cleveland, Tenn.
Coamo, Puerto Rico
College Station, Texas
Columbia, Tenn.
Columbus, Ind.
Cookeville, Tenn.
Crossville, Tenn.
Daytona Beach-Deltona-Ormond Beach, Fla.
Elkhart-Goshen, Ind.
Fayetteville, N.C.
Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach-Deerfield Beach, Fla.
Gainesville, Fla.
Gary, Ind.
Goldsboro, N.C.
Greenville, N.C.
Greeneville, Tenn.
Guayama, Puerto Rico
Hammond, La.
Harriman, Tenn.
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, N.C.
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, La.
Hutchinson, Kan.
Indianapolis-Carmel, Ind.
Jacksonville, Fla.
Johnson City, Tenn.
Jonesboro, Ark.
Kankakee-Bradley-Bourbonnais, Ill.
Kerrville, Texas
Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood, Texas
Kingsport-Bristol, Tenn.
Kinston, N.C.
Knoxville, Tenn.
Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla.
Lancaster, S.C.
Lawrence, Kan.
Lincolnton, N.C.
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, Calif.
Lumberton, N.C.
McPherson, Kan.
Memphis, Tenn.
Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, Fla.
Morgan City, La.
Morristown, Tenn.
Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
Muncie, Ind.
Nashville, Tenn.
New Orleans
New York-White Plains-Wayne, N.Y.
Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport News, Va.
Ocala, Fla.
Ocean Pines, Md.
Palatka, Fla.
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, Fla.
Peabody/Lawrence-Methuen/Gloucester, Mass.
Philadelphia
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Roanoke Rapids, N.C.
Rochelle, Ill.
Rockford, Ill.
Rocky Mount, N.C.
Salina, Kan.
Salisbury, Md.
Salisbury, N.C.
San German-Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Sebastian-Vero Beach, Fla.
Sevierville, Tenn.
Shelby, N.C.
Southern Pines-Pinehurst, N.C.
Springfield, Mass.
Statesville-Mooresville, N.C.
St. Thomas, USVI
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla.
Topeka, Kan.
Tullahoma, Tenn.
Tupelo, Miss.
Warrensburg, Mo.
Washington, D.C.-Arlington-Alexandria, Va.
Waukegan-Lake County, Ill.
West Palm Beach-Boca Raton-Boynton Beach, Fla.
Wichita, Kan.
Wichita Falls, Texas
Wilson, N.C.
Worcester-Fitchburg-Leominster, Mass.
Yauco, Puerto Rico

Via: Sprint

Developer Hackery Leads to 720p Video Recording on Nexus 7

Tim — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 09:00:14 +0000

For those looking to fully utilize that little front-facing camera on your Nexus 7, developers over at XDA released a flashable zip file to allow for 720p video recording. This is for users rooted and running a custom recovery. By editing a media_profiles.xml file, they have allowed for 480p and 720p HD recording. To install, once you download the zip file and place on the device's storage, just boot into recovery and flash from there. For downloads and instructions on installation, follow the via down below. 720p Test: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAq47ogkWKc[/youtube] Via: XDA

DROID RAZR M Wallpaper Pack App Hits Play Store

Kellen — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 08:15:32 +0000

The wallpapers from the DROID RAZR M (our unboxing) have been packaged up and released as an app to the Play Store for your downloading pleasure. I must say, that the wallpapers included with this phone are some of the more beautifully designed that we have seen in some time. It's pretty obvious that they were created in order to show off the vibrant Super AMOLED display of the device, something they do a great job of. If rainbows and ladybugs aren't your thing, you do have 3 or 4 DROID-inspired walls as well. Play Link

Motorola Creates Universal Desktop Dock Called the Flip Stand, Should Work With All Phones and Tablets

Kellen — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 07:45:54 +0000

After years of making device-specific multimedia and desktop docks for phones and tablets, Motorola may have finally figured out that all of that work isn't worth it. With the DROID RAZR M, they are introducing the Flip Stand, a simple dock that not only works with Moto phones and tablets, but should work with every other device you throw at it, as well. If you do use a Motorola phone with it, there may be some extra benefits over say, a Samsung device. Since Moto builds in desktop software, this dock is smart enough to recognize that and remember your settings. The "flip" part of the name comes from a hinge that flips down for when you want it to hold your phone and then flips back up so that you get more room for a bigger device such as a tablet. At $29.99, it may be worth a look. Buy. [Amazon] Cheers Timothy!

HTC Could Win Ban Against New iPad and New iPhone Based on LTE Patents

Eric — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 07:24:16 +0000

Surprise, surprise, there is another patent battle going on. This time Apple and HTC are arguing over patents in the International Trade Commission. In this trial, HTC is claiming that Apple is infringing upon patents having to do with LTE technology, patents that were secured for the HTC Thunderbolt. They now say that these patents are used in the new iPad and will be used in the new iPhone.

ITC Judge Thomas Pender said the case might end up with an import ban unless Apple can invalidate the two patents in question, which he also said is not very easy. We just got a statement from Samsung last week saying they would sue over an LTE iPhone, is this going to give Android some wins in the court room?

Via: Bloomberg

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Headed to Verizon as SCH-I605?

Kellen — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 13:56:16 +0000

Remember how frustrated you were when Verizon passed on the original Samsung Galaxy Note? You likely won't have to entertain that feeling again, as reports of a version of the new Galaxy Note 2 with Verizon radios and branding has surfaced today, along with a screenshot. The model number for the device will be SCH-I605, which matches up nicely to previously released Samsung devices on Verizon. The device will also reportedly run a quad-core Exynos processor and work on Big Red's 4G LTE network. Everything else inside should remain identical to what we saw unveiled at IFA last month. You should see the 5.5" HD Super AMOLED display, 2GB RAM, 8MP rear camera, 1.9MP front camera, 3100mAh battery, 16/32GB internal storage, microSD slot for expandable storage, and Jelly Bean (Android 4.1). Samsung appears to be attempting to push this device the exact same way that they did with the Galaxy S3. It should hit all carriers in the U.S. with the same form factor, an approach we can't say enough good things about. Ready for the Note 2? [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DcgZum8M1o[/youtube] Via: BriefMobile

This Week in the Life of DROID: 9/7/2012

Tim — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 16:30:47 +0000

These are the types of weeks we live for. We had big companies announcing big products and there was something for everyone. Looking for a new smartphone? Motorola announced three new RAZRs that would certainly fit into anyone's lifestyle. Maybe shopping for a new tablet? Amazon has six new slates that look very professional. Here are the week's highlights if you missed anything.

Have a great weekend!

How to: Create Folders in Android [Beginners' Guide]

Kellen — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 15:52:18 +0000

When the Android team initially introduced us to Ice Cream Sandwich, one of the first features they showed off was the ability to quickly create folders of apps. The method is exactly the same in Jelly Bean, so even if you are still running Android 4.0, nothing on this front will change once you go to Android 4.1. And trust me, that's a good thing because it doesn't get any easier than this.

Instructions (Most Android phones, not including the Galaxy S3):

1. To initiate a folder, you need to have two apps. 2. To begin, grab one of those apps by long pressing and drag it over the top of the other. 3. Once you hover one over the other, a circle should appear around the bottom app. 4. With the circle showing, let go of the app you are holding onto. 5. This should create a circle (folder) with two apps in it.

*The top picture illustrates steps 1-5.

6. To access that circle (folder), simply tap on it and a mini-window appears with your apps in it. 7. You can drag and drop additional apps inside it if you'd like. 8. You can also rename your folder by opening it, tapping in the text area, and then typing a name.

Instructions (Samsung phones, including the Galaxy S3):

1. Some Samsung phones have eliminated the quick drag and drop folder method. 2. In order to create a folder, you can press Menu>Add Folder from a home screen.

*Or you can grab an app from inside the app drawer and look for an "Add Folder" option at the bottom of the screen. If that shows, drag your app there to have a folder created on your home screen.

3. Once your folder has been created, you can drag and drop additional apps just like we did above. *The rest of the Android Beginners’ Guide is a one-stop shop for all of those new to Android.

Wikipad Hits GameStop on October 31 for $500, Pre-Orders Start Tomorrow

Tim — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 14:45:29 +0000

Attention mobile gamers, does this thing look awesome? Well, it should! It's called the Wikipad and it's set to launch at GameStop on October 31 for $500. But don't let that price tag scare you away, this thing was built with mobile gaming in mind. As you can see, the tablet itself comes with a dock (lack of better word) with built in buttons and thumbsticks. Along the bottom we have some monster speakers for cranking out all the sound fx you could hope for, but that's just the beginning. The tablet comes with some fantastic hardware specs as well. The display is a 10.1" LCD (1280x800) protected with Gorilla Glass, powered by a Tegra 3 quad-core processor running at 1.4GHz, running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Along the backside of the device, you'll find an 8MP camera as well as a 2MP shooter on the front. Basically, it's a souped up tablet for the more game-focused consumer. What do you think? Awesome? Not so much? For $500, we'll see how fast/slow they fly off the shelves. Via: Engadget, Wikipad

Motorola DROID RAZR M Unboxing and First Look

Kellen — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 14:17:27 +0000

Motorola announced the DROID RAZR M on Wednesday in a press event that took place in NYC. We all watched the event live and then talked about it throughout a number of posts. But today, a unit arrived for me to dive into in a more intimate setting. So since we are out of the hustle and bustle of a press event, we thought we should do a brief unboxing and then a quick look at Blur, the outside, and all of that jazz. I'm not sure if you'll be able to tell from the video or not, but so far, I'm actually liking this lil' guy. The screen is definitely edge-to-edge for the most part, colors are popping off the display (even if it is qHD), it's fast thanks to the Snapdragon S4 processor, and this new Blur is as close to stock as we've seen from any OEM skin. It has some quirks that I'm interested to watch play out. I'm also interested to see what battery life is like. It shouldn't take long it figure most of that out. Pre-orders are live now, with devices arriving in stores on September 13. Enjoy.

Gallery:

Unboxing and First Look:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46xabo_OtEo[/youtube]

DROID RAZR M Does Not Have the Annoying Ongoing WiFi Notification, Yay!

Kellen — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 13:35:29 +0000

I hate to admit this, but one of the first things I noticed on the DROID RAZR M that just showed up at my door, was the fact that it did not have that annoying ongoing WiFi notification reminder that we made a big stink over on the Galaxy S3 and Incredible 4G LTE. The device will continue to remind you that WiFi networks are near if you have WiFi turned on, but aren't connected, however, if you turn WiFi off - no ongoing notification. Hallelujah! We aren't sure who to give props to on this one, but I'm leaning towards Motorola. Since Samsung and HTC both caved in to what we are assuming were Verizon's demands, we'll give the thumbs up to the folks behind the RAZR line. Nice work, Moto. Unboxing and first look at the device from my perspective will be up shortly.

Friday Game Roundup: HueBrix, Burger, and Stunt Bunnies

Tim — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 12:04:37 +0000

Today we found a few games that deserve some attention and instead of breaking it into a few separate posts, we thought it would be a good idea to make one simple app roundup. Down below we'll give you a quick introduction into the games with their Google Play links and any trailers or screenshots we take while playing. We're hoping this will be a good way for some of you to find some new games you'll enjoy HueBrix (free and $1): This game is nice take on a classic. You're shown a puzzle board and given "X" amount of blocks to fill it up with. The paid version ($1) has over 400 levels to play and for being just simple block animations, the game looks and plays like a champ. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StTUrOy0mBE[/youtube] Burger (free): I swear this game is in direct affiliation with Burger King. The goal is to build as many custom order burgers as you can in a certain amount of time. The only issue I have, is that every burger I make looks like a Whopper and makes me extremely hungry. If you have a full stomach and won't be tempted to go grab an early lunch, check it out on Google Play.

Stunt Bunnies (free): You're a jetpack-equipped bunny whose job is to save falling circus bunnies. What's not to love? As bunnies fall across your screen, you touch below them to fly to their rescue, but make sure not to let any fall to their death. You can collect multiple bunnies at once and collect powerups for future rounds. The game is free and sports some very high quality animations. Definitely worth a look.

Hopefully some of these games will tickle your fancy. If you have a sweet game you want us to feature, shoot me an email - timotato @ droid-life dot com. Happy gaming!

Galaxy S3 16GB on Verizon Drops to $139 From Amazon

Kellen — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 11:02:05 +0000

Still trying to decide if you want to make the jump to a Samsung Galaxy S3? Amazon appears to have dropped the 16GB model to $139 for new accounts and $149 for upgrades, in case you were looking for a little extra motivation. That's $60 and $50 less than what Verizon is selling it directly at. Even though it has been out for a couple of months now, the GS3 is the most complete smartphone on the market today. In fact, it may stay as the top dog for some time, until HTC drops their 1080p super phone on us later this year. Buy. Via: Slick Deals Cheers Scott!

EyeEm Photo Filter App, Combines Fantastic UI with People's Pretty Pictures

Tim — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 10:25:48 +0000

The amount of photo sharing/photo filter apps on Google Play is at an all time high. Among the masses, we have found EyeEm. Much like Instagram, you take a picture using your phone then you choose to add a filter to the photo. Once done editing the image, you choose tags for it. This is where EyeEm differs a bit. What you see in your feed is directly related to the type of photos you add and the tags you use for them. For example, I took a picture of Thor and marked it as "relaxing." What came in my feed were more pictures marked as "relaxing." It's a neat idea and the interface is really well managed, but has a ton of other features. Give it a try if photo filters is your type of thing and let us know what you think. Play Link Cheers Picolas!

Video: Watch the Entire Amazon Kindle Fire HD Event

Kellen — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 09:40:29 +0000

Since yesterday's Amazon event wasn't streamed live, most of you participated in our live blog (which Ron did an amazing job during). If you missed that or simply want to go back and catch every single detail that Jeff Bezos belted out about the new Kindle Fire HD models, the Paperwhite, and all of their new software enhancements, then Amazon has gone ahead and uploaded the entire thing to YouTube for you to watch.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYi1jZXz9Kg[/youtube]

Motorola Adds RAZR M and RAZR HD "Developer Editions" to Bootloader Unlock Program

Kellen — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 09:09:42 +0000

On Wednesday, Motorola announced developer editions for the RAZR M and RAZR HD on Verizon. Those devices, are now officially a part of Moto's Bootloader Unlock program. Previously, only the Photon Q on Sprint was listed as a "supported device," but moments ago, these two RAZRs joined the party. If you plan on picking up a developer edition of either of these devices, be sure to check out our guide on how to use the Bootloader Unlock to unlock your phone. We walked through the entire process with a Photon Q a few weeks ago. It's simple, but there are some quirks that you may run into which we address. The RAZR M Developer Edition is available for pre-order today at $549 - the RAZR HD will be a month or so. Via: Motorola

HTC 1080p Phone 6435LVW Stops by Bluetooth SIG This Week

Kellen — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 08:50:45 +0000

HTC's 1080p phone, codenamed "dlx," cruised through Bluetooth SIG this week while on its way to grabbing every certification it needs to before being announced. Not much else can be established from this listing, but it does help confirm that the phone is still real and headed to Verizon. The "VW" at the end of the model number HTC6435LVW gives us that clue. At this point, the big question remains, "Will HTC unveil this on September 19 in NYC?" They have an event planned, but have been short on details. Will it be the device that Mr. Blurry Cam took 3 shots of this weekend? Will we get everything that was included in that early benchmark that we discovered - 1080p resolution, 5" display, quad-core Snapdragon S4 processor, and 4G LTE? For me, this is the device of 2012 that I am most looking forward to. Well, until some new Nexus details start leaking out, that is. Via: Bluetooth SIG Cheers Anonymous!

Entirety of Amazon's New Kindle Fire Lineup Is Ad-Supported (Update)

Tim — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 08:13:39 +0000

As more hands-on time is being spent with the newest Android-powered Kindle Fire tablets from Amazon, we're learning much more about how Amazon is able to sell the hardware for so cheap. The newest piece of info we've learned, whether you think is good or bad, is that all three of the new Kindle Fires (Fire, HD7, HD8.9) will be ad-supported. Much like on the older e-reader from last year, Amazon will display "special offers" on the lockscreen of the device while it is not in use. Although the idea of ads being on a device you paid for may seem a tad ridiculous, keep in mind that Amazon is selling these tablets at an extremely low price point. It's reported that the ads won't be very intrusive or spammy. More than likely, they will range from sales on books and movies or other content that Amazon offers. Note: According to a response from Amazon's customer support team, Engadget was able to snag the following tidbit, ensuring us that there will be a future announcement explaining how to opt out of the offers. Excellent.

"Special Offers appear directly on your Kindle Fire. Offers appear on your lock screen, and you can also view offers from the Home screen by tapping Offers. By delivering these offers to your Kindle Fire, Amazon is able to sell it for a lower price. "I understand that you would like to opt out of the special offer and willing to pay extra for opting out special offer. Options for unsubscribing special offer will be announced soon. "To ensure the utmost attention, I've also passed your message on to the appropriate people in our company. We value customer feedback such as yours as it helps us continue to improve the service and selection we provide."

Update 2: According to new reports out of CNET, Amazon has confirmed that the sponsored ads are there to stay and are non-removable. End of story. Sorry, folks. You okay with the idea of an ad-supported device? Via: The Verge

Android Users Catching Up with iOS in Willingness to Pay for Apps

Eric — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 18:30:28 +0000

A study put out today shows that the discrepancy between iOS and Android users on the topic of spending money on applications has drastically shrank over the past year. The guys over at SwiftKey partnered with a few websites to take a poll to see how users on each OS buy applications. Last year 39% of iOS users owned 20 or more paid apps with 3% having none. Android was the opposite with 12% having none and a measly 10% having over 20.

This year, that large difference has evened out a little bit. Android's numbers have jumped to 19% of users having over 20 paid apps and no paid apps down to 6%. iOS has dropped dramatically down to 26% with the rate of no apps growing at the same time. Google has certainly been a bit more forceful in how apps should look since ICS was released, but there could be other reasons for this growth as well. The quality of apps on the platform has definitely improved. Plus, many developers are pricing their apps at lower introductory price points to get you into the game, where they then sell you additional features through in-app purchases.

What do you think? Do you pay for a good amount of apps on your phone?

Via: SwiftKey

Activision's Call of Duty Black Ops Zombies Now Supports All Android Devices

Tim — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 17:50:30 +0000

If you've been waiting for Call of Duty Black Ops Zombies to end that silly Xperia exclusive agreement, today is the day. Finally, owners of any Android device can go pick up Black Ops Zombies for the same price of $6.99 on Google Play. I don't think much else needs to be said - it's zombies! Go grab it and let us know how you're liking it. Play Link ($6.99)

Black Metal Man - The Only "Tro0 Bro0tal Kvlt" Metal Game

Tim — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 17:00:50 +0000

I enjoy lots of different music genres. Lately, I have been listening to more radio-friendly music, but back when I played music for a living, I played Metal. The more fast tempoed, brutal, heavy, the better. If you're into that type of music too, then allow me to introduce you to the Black Metal Man. This game is awesome. It's a platform game where you're a black metal fan, whose goal is to collect as many pentagrams and upside down crosses as possible. You travel through the mystic Norwegian forests, while riding the lightning and avoiding sticks of dynamite. As corny as this game may seem for metal fans, it actually has a fantastic soundtrack of real metal music and stays true to real fans of the genre. Face paint and all. Pick it up and let me know what your favorite metal band is. As for me, it's Gojira all day and everyday. Play Link ($0.99) [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA-X2W_7L5Y[/youtube]

Next Day Thoughts on the New Family of DROID RAZRs [Opinion]

Kellen — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 16:10:53 +0000

Today may have been all about ~~forked Android~~ new Kindle Fires, but for whatever reason, I'm still thinking about the event that went down yesterday, from Motorola. There were all sorts of interesting story lines to pay attention to. We had the first ever product announcement by new CEO Dennis Woodside, some of us hoping for a surprise or two, and then a mention that this was a "new Motorola" that would return to caring about customers. It was a lot to process, but I came away with some opinions and wanted to share.

"New" Motorola

Even if Dennis Woodside had not been on stage talking about a "new" Motorola, we all could have guessed that this was indeed a new beginning for a company desperately in need of one. Motorola is now Google-owned and has a former Google exec running the show, along with a number of hand-picked big wigs. There is no way, that going forward, there won't be a Google influence on this company even if Google will continue to try to tell you that there won't be. After all, Eric Schmidt opened the damn thing, talked about Google for 5 minutes, and then brought Woodside on stage. Following his intro, Woodside then mentioned Google more times that I could even keep track of. But being "new" is something I think that we all can appreciate. Former CEO Sanjay Jha seemed to care about two or three things that no one else on the planet cared about: locking down phones, enterprise garbage, creating a Blur database, and attempting to re-invent the wheel. It's clear that with Woodside in control, it's about getting devices in as many hands as possible and actually listening to customers. In order to do that, Motorola is creating devices that appeal to everyone, built with quality materials, at affordable prices, that are hackable (if you want them to be), and last a long time on a single charge.

The Devices

We were introduced to the RAZR M, RAZR HD, and RAZR MAXX HD yesterday, three phones we essentially already knew everything about. Well, we didn't know for sure that a MAXX HD was on the way, but when it was announced, it didn't exactly surprise anyone. All three phones look fairly impressive. They all sport the latest in high-end specs, are built with high-quality materials, and will likely hold a signal better than any other phone on Verizon's network. But did any of it blow our minds? If we look at the competition, it's tough to jump up and say, "Hell yes it did!" The Galaxy S3 has all of the specs in the RAZR HD, but with double the RAM and it has been out for a couple of months now. The RAZR HD, well, it won't be out until this winter when a new Nexus or two will arrive, along with HTC's 1080p phone, and who knows what else. The RAZR M is an interesting product, though. It's affordable, has great specs, and an edge-to-edge display that helps it fit into a smaller package. If only Motorola could have taken the edge-to-edge approach to the RAZR HD, then maybe we'd be talking about something truly innovative. So while I haven't had my hands on any of these phones yet, after watching the press event, I'm simply left shrugging my shoulders at them. Style-wise they look OK, if you like the look of the original RAZR. I know that I can't ever go back to qHD, so the RAZR M isn't for me. The RAZR HD could be an option, but it won't be out for a couple of months and by then, we'll have so many amazing options that I'm trying to figure out if it will even be in the equation?

Developer Editions

One of the highlights to the event was the announcement that Motorola is going to care about the "tinkerers and hackers" in the Android game. They will release developer edition phones with unlockable bootloaders, since the whole hacking scene is part of the draw for many to Android. The only problem is, you can't buy one of these at a subsidized price and will instead have to fork out anywhere from $550 to $650 for one. I appreciate there being options like this, but not everyone has $700 lying around or is willing to save up that kind of cash to spend on their next phone. Plus, at that kind of price, I can't imagine there will be enough in the wild to create much of a developer scene. The majority of RAZR HD owners will likely buy the phone on contract at $199 and then hope that someone can root it and eventually figure out how to get recovery on there for custom ROM flashing. Nothing will change from the scene today, but this way, Motorola and Verizon can say, "We gave you an option." Just seems half-assed at this point. If they really want to support developers, then they should release a bootloader unlock tool for all of their phones and then make it clear that if you unlock, you void your warranty. Keep track of MEIDs that are unlocked and refuse to support warranty claims that were willing to roll the dice. That's giving people a choice.

Odds and Ends

Jelly Bean Updates: Woodside understands that the update process is broken. He talked about Jelly Bean updates coming before the end of the year for most of their phones. He also introduced a $100 credit for those that bought phones this year that won't be upgraded to Jelly Bean. They want you to be current and are giving you an incentive to stay with Motorola.
Battery Life: I really do love Motorola's focus on battery life. Even though we are entering an era where processors are efficient enough to give you good battery life anyway, we should get even more life out of a single charge thanks to the magic that Moto is tossing into phones. The batteries are thinner, bigger, and last a hell of a lot longer. I'm still not sure why we need a RAZR HD and a RAZR MAXX HD, though. Just make one phone and call it good.
End of Sanjay's Moto: I can't help but think that these phones were the last from former CEO Sanjay Jha. I wouldn't be surprised if the 2013 Moto phones look and feel nothing like what we were introduced to yesterday. Since phones take months and months to plan and create, this is what Woodside and the new crew were left with, so they are trying to make the most out of them. Next year, it should get really good.

At the end of the day, I'm still excited to give these new RAZRs a spin. Official opinions can't ever be formed after watching a live press event over YouTube. But beyond the products, I think what I'm more excited to see, is what Dennis Woodside and his crew can do with this company that we have all wanted to love for the last two years, but were unable to after watching them make horrible decision after horrible decision. Moto should have a bright future, we just need to get out of 2012 to see it.

Beach Buggy Blitz Hits Tegra Zone and Google Play, Packed Full of Karting Madness

Eric — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 15:20:15 +0000

The latest game to hit Google Play and the Tegra Zone is Beach Buggy Blitz, a "casual driving adventure game" that sets you and your buggy loose on a mysterious tropical island. From there you get to drive around where you want, collecting coins and trying not to hit all of the distractions scattered around. The coins you collect let you buy other buggies and power-ups to help along your explorations and make the game worth coming back to. If you have a Tegra powered device you can get the THD edition with extras that the regular edition doesn't include. Unfortunately for the moment the game only works with Tegra devices - support for other devices will be added soon. If you feel like getting your buggy on your Nexus 7 or other Tegra device, hit the link below.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFm3xJZFfYY[/youtube]

Play Link

Chinese Makers of Goophone Intend to Sue Apple Upon Release of iPhone 5

Tim — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 14:20:03 +0000

In a piece of news that is just too wild to believe, the makers of the new Goophone I5, an Android powered device that is in the shape of the upcoming iPhone 5, intends to sue Apple for patent infringement upon release of the iPhone 5 in China. Designed from leaked specs on the iPhone 5, the Goophone has already been patented in China and the company will do all it can to make sure Apple doesn't steal any of their hard work. You're kidding, right? Anyone remember GooApple 3G? It was the original Android powered iPhone device that was actually pretty awesome. Either way, if this company actually intends to sue Apple, that case probably won't last long. Apple's lawyers would most likely have a field day with these copycats. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thMLuT46MQE[/youtube] Via: Yahoo News

Thursday Poll: Interested in Any of the New Kindle Devices?

Tim — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 14:00:04 +0000

It's been a big day for tablet lovers. Amazon has announced a total of six new Kindle devices and we're curious to see if anyone here is going to pick one up. The options are certainly all over the board and there's bound to be one to suit the needs of anybody looking to jump into the tablet market. If you need a bigger display with 4G LTE, there's the Fire HD w/ LTE or if you're just looking for a basic e-reader there's the new Paperwhite. Let us know which one has caught your eye. [poll id="202"]

Seven Inch Kindle Fire HD: First Impressions

Ron — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 13:15:16 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXFCkLi-yqU[/youtube] After today's announcements I got to spend a little time playing with the new 7 inch Kindle Fire HD. Amazon has upped their game by releasing an updating Kindle Fire, and more importantly, two Kindle Fire HDs. Read on for my first impressions of the Kindle Fire HD. While Amazon says they've made some major improvements to the Kindle Fire, I didn't see a lot of improvements in the UI or the response time. The UI itself is almost identical to the original Fire, including the consistent presence of lag from the home screen. Jumping between sections like Books or Videos takes a few seconds, making the overall experience feel cheap. It's possible that the 8.9 inch version of the Kindle Fire HD will perform better, but there isn't much of a difference between the processors in each model (the 7 inch model runs the TI OMAP 4460 while the 8.9 inch model runs the 4470). One big improvement over the previous Kindle Fire is the screen. Bezos wasn't exaggerating when he noted the crispness and clarity of the display. While there was a noticeable amount of glare, it wasn't anything out of the ordinary for a tablet device. According to Amazon Kindle Vice President Dave Limp, the Fire HD lineup is running a heavily customized version of Android 4.o. While he didn't mention specific numbers, Limp confirmed that Amazon does indeed make a profit on Kindle hardware (though that profit must be minuscule). Amazon made it clear in the event today that they're competing with Apple now with the Kindle Fire HD. This is a big step for Amazon. Competing in the low end doesn't carry nearly as many risks as competing in the high end, something Google and its partners have learned the hard way. It's possible that Amazon will be able to take more of the tablet market with their low price points and the attractive new data plan, but that sort of achievement will probably require a much better performing device than the one I saw today.

Kindle Fire HD (All Sizes), Kindle Fire 2, and Kindle Paperwhite Available for Purchase Now

Kellen — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 13:05:44 +0000

If you were impressed by today's Kindle announcements, then it's time to place your order. Most are available starting September 14, with the Kindle Fire HD models coming a bit later on November 20. Why not pre-order, though?

Kindle Fire Family

Link: Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 4G LTE (32GB for $499, 64GB for $599) - Available November 20 Link: Kindle Fire HD 8.9" WiFi (16GB for $299, 32GB for $369) - Available November 20 Link: Kindle Fire HD 7" WiFi (16GB for $199, 32GB for $249) - Available September 14 Link: Kindle Fire 2 WiFi (8GB for $159) - Available September 14

Kindle Paperwhite

Link: Paperwhite 3G ($179) - Available October 1 Link: Paperwhite WiFi ($119) - Available October 1

Amazon Changing the Game With 4G LTE Powered Kindle Fire HD and Its $50 Per Year Data Package

Kellen — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 12:42:01 +0000

Amazon put on quite the show today in California, announcing multiple Kindle devices, one of which may change the game. The 8.9" Kindle Fire HD with 32GB of storage and 4G LTE at $499 is something we need to talk about for a minute. And we need to talk about it because of this ridiculously cheap data package that Amazon is willing to sell to those that buy the device. For $50 per year (not month, year), owners of the 4G LTE Kindle Fire HD can use up to 250MB of data each month. They have partnered with AT&T for the LTE connection, but since the device has a 10-band modem inside, you can fall back to the fastest 3G connection available should you leave to an area that doesn't have LTE. If you need more data than that, then you can go directly to AT&T and buy bigger 3GB ($30) and 5GB ($50) plans at whatever price AT&T charges these days. Along with this affordable data plan, owners of the Fire HD will also get 20GB of Amazon Cloud storage and a $10 Appstore credit. Amazon is willing to point out that this will save users over $400 per year when compared to those that own a similarly priced iPad with an LTE data package. Is anyone else's mind blown like mine is? We are talking dirt cheap data in a time when carriers want to clean out your wallet for even a minimal amount of data. Verizon and AT&T are pushing shared data plans because they understand that data is a goldmine, yet here we are with Amazon, practically giving it away.

Sprint Galaxy Nexus Set to Receive Jelly Bean Update Today, Where You at Verizon?

Eric — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 12:29:47 +0000

Sprint has updated it's support document page for their Galaxy Nexus today and what do you know, Jelly Bean is on the way soon. That's right, the last carrier to get the Galaxy Nexus now has an official Android 4.1 update rolling out to it. The newest build number is JRO03R for those that are curious.

This is an LTE version of Google's latest flagship that is very similar to the one on Verizon, so that leads us to the question: when do we get our update? We have all heard about Verizon's strict "testing" of each OTA before it reaches consumer hands, but how long are we going to have to wait before we get official Jelly Bean? Apparently that test build of JRO03O that popped up last week wasn't good enough?

Via: Sprint

Cheers Mike, Tim, and everyone else!

Gallery: Kindle Fire HD 8.9, Kindle Fire HD 7, and Kindle Fire 2

Kellen — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 12:14:58 +0000

Amazon finally posted all of the press images of the new Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD, so we wanted to share. This will give you the cleanest looks of these new devices that you have seen yet. You can see the hefty bezel for easy handling, the HD camera front and center, and the slightly tweaked form factors between the three.

Kindle Fire HD 8.9"

Kindle Fire HD 7"

Kindle Fire 2

Amazon Announces the New Kindle Fire for $159, Plus the Kindle Fire HD in Two Sizes Starting at $199

Kellen — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 11:15:25 +0000

Amazon just announced the new Kindle Fire for $159, plus the Kindle Fire HD, at their event in Los Angeles. The new Kindle Fire still rocks a 7" display, has a new faster processor, double the RAM, 40% faster performance, and longer battery life. It ships on September 14. The Kindle Fire HD comes with either a 7" or 8.9" display with 254ppi, and a 1920x1200 resolution. It's 8.8mm thick, runs an OMAP4 4470 processor, at least 16GB of storage, HD front facing camera, dual stereo speakers with Dolby Digital Plus sound, HDMI out, Bluetooth, and dual band WiFi. The 7" HD model with 16GB will be priced at $199 an ships September 14. The 8.9" HD with 16GB will be priced at $299 and ships November 20. There will also be a 32GB version with 4G LTE connectivity (10 bands) for $499. The interesting part about this, is that they you can spend $50 for the year and get 250MB of data to use each month, plus 20GB of cloud storage and a $10 Appstore credit. As Ron so eloquently put it in the live blog, that's "bonkers." On the software side of things, Amazon built in WhisperSync, which allows you to switch between reading a book and listening to it. It will save your spot, so that you can pick up where you left off. Same thing for games. Say you play 30 levels on one game and then switch devices. WhisperSync will pull from the Amazon Cloud which stores your game progress, so that you can continue playing without having to start over. They also tossed in a custom Skype app and a custom Facebook app. To follow all of the details as they come out, be sure to tune into our live blog.

Live From Amazon's Kindle Fire Event

Kellen — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 10:00:15 +0000

The wild first week of September continues today, with Amazon up as the next tech giant to announce something big. We are expecting it to be a new Kindle Fire (or two), along with a new e-Reader and potentially, a phone. The phone part is completely a mystery and may not happen, but the new Kindle Fire is most definitely coming. After all, Amazon announced that they had sold out of the original, so they will need something to fill that void. From what we can tell, there is no live stream of the event. Our man Ron is on the scene though, so we'll have a live blog and as much coverage as we can bring you. Ready for the new Kindles?

Dilbert Making a Good Case For Buying an Android Phone Over the New iPhone

Kellen — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 09:30:57 +0000

This chuckle-worthy Dilbert comic ran over the weekend. Enjoy. Cheers Shane and sockid!

Facebook's $1 Billion Instagram Acquisition is Complete, Looks to "Improve Mobile Experience"

Tim — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 09:00:05 +0000

Today, both Facebook and Instagram confirmed that the $1 billion deal between the two has officially come to a close. Instagram is now a child of Facebook. According to Facebook, Instagram will remain unchanged and will continue to support their community. Although, with Instagram's team moving into the Facebook offices, they will now have access to their engineers and developers to help grow the service. A Facebook rep was quoted as saying, "we also can't wait to work with the talented Instagram team to improve the mobile experience." Now, I don't know if they mean FB's team will help Instagram's team or the other way around. If you ask me, keep those Facebook app developers away from my Instagram! No need to go breaking something that doesn't need fixing. If it's the other way around, then please Instagram team, help Facebook make a decent app. They need all the help they can get. Happy Facegram or Instabook Day! Via: Engadget

Samsung's Galaxy S3 Sales Reach 20 Million in Only 100 Days Since May Launch

Tim — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 08:25:14 +0000

This morning, Samsung has announced that the Galaxy S3 has become their quickest selling device of all time, reaching 20 million in sales in just 100 days since its launch in May of this year. JK Shin, President and Head of IT and Mobile Communication at Samsung has sent out a heartfelt thank you to the millions of Galaxy S3 owners:

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to customers who have chosen the GALAXY S III. We will never stop providing the latest smart mobile technologies to help users live a life extraordinary.

Now all they have to do is get us some Jelly Bean love and we'll send a thank you right back. Via: Samsung

Hootsuite Acquires Seesmic, This Guy Couldn't be Happier

Kellen — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 07:50:48 +0000

This morning, Seesmic announced that it had been acquired by fellow Twitter client, Hootsuite. Seesmic has always been a pioneer in the Android Twitter game. At one time, they were the go-to client. To see them join forces with Hootsuite, my favorite Twitter client of the last 4 or 5 years, this should only mean that amazing updates and features will be on the way. Hootsuite has mentioned that they have experienced recent "hyper-growth," which apparently means that others are seeing the light. Here is the statement from Seesmic:

We are thrilled to announce today that Seesmic has been acquired by HootSuite. Seesmic and HootSuite have long shared a vision for the future of social media management and after years of friendly competition, have developed a mutual respect for one another. We care deeply about you, our users, and believe that this is the best possible outcome in what has been an exciting run together. We would like to thank everyone involved with Seesmic since its launch, it has been an incredible ride and we are very thankful for all the support and passion you shared with us. Like Seesmic, Hootsuite offers a suite of social media management tools, with even more options for small business and enterprise customers. Initially, support for both products will continue, however we will soon be bringing everyone into one great platform. We’re working on ways to make the transition as smooth as possible so keep an eye out for updates.

And a brief statement from Hootsuite CEO Ryan Holmes:

“I have always had a lot of respect for Seesmic’s CEO, Loïc Le Meur and the role Seesmic has played in advancing social business. We are thrilled to welcome Seesmic’s users into the HootSuite family.”

For those new to Hootsuite, think of it as the ultimate power Twitter tool. It was column-based long before all of these new Holo themed Twitter clients that continue to pop up on a weekly basis, yet seem to be missing every useful feature on Earth. You can use it in browser on a PC, but then carry over your work to an Android device without missing a beat. It allows for multiple users in an organization (basically a team setting), can give you analytics, and lets you manage multiple Twitter profiles. I'm telling you, it's awesome. Current Seesmic users will continue to have access to the app for now, but eventually, you will either have to merge in with Hootsuite or find another Twitter client. Via: Seesmic

Android Distribution Numbers Updated for September, Like Watching a Race Between Turtles

Kellen — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 07:30:15 +0000

It's the first week of the month, and that means that new Android distribution numbers are released. Hooray! Woohoo! . In all semi-seriousness, we did see a jump of 5% for Ice Cream Sandwich from 15.8% to 20.8%, thanks to devices receiving updates across a number of carriers. Jelly Bean also jumped, though slightly to 1.2% (from 0.8%). Gingerbread, as you can imagine, started to decrease as phones made the jump from Android 2.3 to 4.0. And yeah, that's pretty much that. Via: Android

Verizon Memo Hints at Future Google Experience Phones and Tablets, Will We See Another VZW Nexus?

Kellen — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 18:18:41 +0000

A Verizon memo with tomorrow's date on it that ended up in our inbox, talks about a new pairing of Amazon apps with future devices. If you looked closely at the Galaxy Stellar or our video of the RAZR HD today, you may have noticed that the IMDb, Amazon marketplace, and Audible apps are all preloaded. This is the partnership that I'm referring to. According to this memo, all "newly launched Android devices" will have this suite of apps, well, unless they are "Google Experience devices or tablets." Let me say that again - unless they are Google experience devices or tablets. What exactly am I getting at? Well, a "Google Experience" device is either a 100% stock Android device or one that Google has worked directly with the OEM on. Basically, I'm saying that this is potentially referring to a Nexus. When you hear the words "Google Experience," you can usually swap them out and put in "Nexus" and get the same result (XOOM also fits the description even though it wasn't a Nexus). So if we read into this memo, there are a couple of scenarios they could be referring to. The first, is that Verizon already has plans to launch either another Nexus phone or a Nexus tablet in the future. The second, is that they are simply informing their employees that if they were to have a Google Experience device in the future, that it wouldn't have these apps preloaded. I sort of doubt that they would drop such a bomb like this in a September memo, but hey, crazier things have happened. After all, there are rumors floating about that suggest that a 3G Nexus 7 is in the works. Who knows, maybe that story should have read, "Nexus 7 4G LTE tablet in the works"? Or maybe one of the multiple Nexus OEMs is planning to release a carrier-branded version to help drive sales? What do you guys think, will we ever see another Verizon-branded Nexus? If so, who would you want it to be from - LG, Samsung or Sony?

Adobe's Photoshop Touch Updated - Support for Higher Resolution Images, New Effects, and More

Tim — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Today, Adobe pushed out an update to Photoshop Touch that brings some very classy features and bug fixes. For starters, there are two new effects called Shred and Colorize for you to utilize, two new languages (Russian and Portuguese), and the ability to edit images up to 12MP while still retaining the high quality of image. If you've purchased the $10 app before, then go ahead and update. If you're just now learning of its existence, then go check it out and get your Photoshop skills on. Play Link [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7P09raPIHQ[/youtube]

Rumor: Amazon to Unveil First Smartphone at Tomorrow's Kindle Event

Kellen — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 16:47:45 +0000

According to multiple sources that spoke to The Verge, Amazon may unveil its first ever smartphone alongside its new Kindle Fire at an event tomorrow. Their sources claim that the smartphone will run a forked version of Android, similar to what the Kindle Fire runs, however, it may be based off of Ice Cream Sandwich this time around, rather than Gingerbread. "Forked" means that it won't carry any of Google's suite of apps, so in place of Google Maps for instance, Amazon will go with Nokia Maps. They are also claiming that this device is unfinished, so if it is on display tomorrow, Amazon may be short on details. With Apple on the verge of unveiling their new iPhone, Motorola unveiling 3 today, Nokia dropping new Lumias this morning, and HTC getting ready for something as well, it would make sense for Amazon to at least let their massive customer base know that they have something in the works. After the success of the Kindle Fire, you can imagine that there is a market for a smartphone made by them, especially if it is is unlocked and falls in at an incredibly reasonable price. Ron will be in attendance tomorrow to bring us the goods. Would a smartphone powered by Amazon's UI interest you? Via: The Verge

Motorola Confirms the Obvious, the RAZR M Will Pack an Intel Processor in Europe

Kellen — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 16:30:01 +0000

When the Motorola throws another event later this month in London, they will unveil a version of the RAZR M, only without the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor inside, according to Pocket-Lint. Instead, this will be Moto's first Intel-powered device. Let me just say, that this should surprise no one. In fact, if you were in our live blog earlier or any of the early RAZR M posts, I mentioned this to be the case several times. After all, when Motorola announced its partnership with Intel, they told us to expect phones before the end of 2012. Also, the invite for the London event not only includes Intel's logo, but mentions that they want to "take you to the edge." Since the RAZR M is Moto's "edge-to-edge" device, something we brought to light over the weekend, it would make sense that they would simply swap out chipsets while keeping the same form factor. Oh, and let's not forget that we saw the Motorola-Intel device pictured some 7 months ago. The only question remains, "Will it pack Intel's Medfield processor or something new?" Probably Medfield. The new Intel goodies, aka Clover Trail (dual-core processor), will likely be here next year. Remember, this phone has been in the works for some time. Via: Pocket-Lint

Video: Motorola Takes Us on the Ultimate DROID RAZR M Tour

Kellen — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 15:50:26 +0000

Earlier today, Motorola released a couple over overview-type videos for both the DROID RAZR M and DROID RAZR HD. This afternoon, they kicked it up a notch for the RAZR M by releasing an additional 21 videos that will take you from novice to expert in minutes. Through these videos, you'll find out all of the intricacies of the newest MotoBlur as you learn how to navigation your home screens, use widgets, setup folders, take HD video, utilize SmartActions, and browse with Google Chrome. You'll also notice a new "Flip Stand" that Motorola plans to release as a simple option for both smartphone and tablet owners in need of a desktop dock.

Get to know your phone:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJOGk8se2DE[/youtube]

Set up home screens:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVVIo4jHZyU[/youtube]

Home screen folders:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpK-G0Hq-Uk[/youtube]

Using widgets:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku7iocU1hmQ[/youtube]

Set up SmartActions:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKlqBvOVdBM[/youtube]

Notification window:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsUzbu9mzGI[/youtube]

Browse with Google Chrome:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvUNvG019X8[/youtube]

Navigate with Google Maps:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFBYnM9WltA[/youtube]

Capture and share pictures and HD video:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQfZL89g-Q8[/youtube]

Taking and sharing screenshots:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmSOpKPiExo[/youtube]

Use Google Voice Actions:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6QTBMRP4L0[/youtube]

Use voice typing:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlprEoIDo98[/youtube]

Set up Face Unlock:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qvSq_sb80Y[/youtube]

Opening SIM and SD card slots:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn97Od7CSQw[/youtube]

Using Google Play:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAU73X3hQhU[/youtube]

Music on Google Play:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZEskL8CiWY[/youtube]

Using Google+:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA1eDsa63dw[/youtube]

Sharing with NFC:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEAlkcfLvBE[/youtube]

How to read NFC tags:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZ0NarGX2IA[/youtube]

Using the Flip Stand:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1wul7rulgw[/youtube]

Using a vehicle navigation dock:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXmDO_mitwM[/youtube]

DROID RAZR M Pre-orders are Live!

Kellen — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 15:15:50 +0000

It's live, the DROID RAZR M, if you want one. It will only run you $99 on a new 2-year contract or $549 at full retail. Described as having an "edge-to-edge" display, this is one of the more impressive devices at that price, at least on paper. It rocks out with a 4.3" Super AMOLED Advanced display, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 4G LTE, NFC, 8MP camera, and runs Ice Cream Sandwich (Jelly Bean soon). Not a bad effort from Moto. Pre-order.

Motorola to Offer $100 Credit to Owners of Devices Not Eligible for Jelly Bean Update (Update)

Tim — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 14:50:44 +0000

In a act of generosity, Motorola is going to offer a $100 credit towards the purchase of a new RAZR device if your current Moto phone is ineligible for an upgrade to Jelly Bean. Naturally, there is bound to be some small print along with that, specifying as to what devices are eligible for the credit, but we're still awaiting those specific details. From what we gather, any device released in 2011 that is unable to receive the update to Jelly Bean should be eligible for the credit. We'll keep you posted on the details when they are released. Update: Motorola's landing page is now live for the device exchange and $100 credit program. Here's some details:

If we don't upgrade your phone to Jelly Bean, we don't want you to miss out. Buy a select new Motorola smartphone, trade in your old phone, and we'll give you $100 back. So you always enjoy the best from us.

It sounds like your phone has to be from 2011, although that's not entirely clear. If your phone does qualify, you will buy your new phone, then trade in your old one and they will send you $100. From what we can tell, it's not an instant discount. To learn more about it, head here. Are you the owner of a 2011 Moto device that isn't getting Jelly Bean? Cheers Jared!

Official Quora App Hits Google Play, It's Twitter Meets Yahoo Answers?

Tim — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 14:40:44 +0000

As someone who knew absolutely nothing about Quora before hearing about the application, I had to go out and do some research to figure out what the heck it was. Turns out, there's a service out there that allows users to post questions for professionals and friends to answer. Along with questions, you can choose to follow certain topics and areas of interest. As seen above, I have started to follow most things Android and Google related. The application connects seamlessly with your Facebook and Twitter account, so connecting with friends to answer and ask questions is really easy.

Find an answer right away with fast, voice-enabled search
Add Quora to your phone search for integrated results
Stay up-to-date with rich push notifications
Install the widget to see a feed of the best answers on Quora right now
Share interesting Quora content with friends on any social service you use

Play Link Grab it and let us know what you think. As for me, it's getting hard to keep track of all this social media stuff.

Wednesday Poll: Are You Buying Any of Motorola's New RAZR Devices?

Kellen — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 14:00:32 +0000

Now that the DROID RAZR HD, RAZR MAXX HD, and RAZR M are official, we have to as, "Are you buying one of them?" We know that many of you have been patiently waiting for Motorola to drop these phones, in hopes that they were game changes. Whether they are or not is still to be debated, but after looking at the mixed reactions to them in the comments of a variety of posts, we'd love to get a feel for the numbers, when it comes to you considering one. Are any of these your next smartphone? [poll id="201"]

Gallery: DROID RAZR HD, RAZR MAXX HD, and DROID RAZR M [Video Too]

Kellen — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 13:26:26 +0000

Motorola's DROID RAZR HD and DROID RAZR M event is over, but that doesn't mean we are done talking about them for the day. In fact, since there are two variations to the RAZR HD (MAXX HD), plus the RAZR M as its own little beast, we thought a gallery would be the best way to show them to you. We also have some hands-on footage from the event along with some in-person photos. The designs look like most of Motorola's work from the last year, but in opinion, with a bit of extra polish. The 4.7" HD display on the RAZR HD also looks fantastic in the short clip below. Enjoy.

Quick First Look:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulIu-9Jqv1A[/youtube]

Hands-on Gallery:

Press Photos:

µTorrent Beta Hits Google Play, Not That We Endorse This Kind of Thing

Tim — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 13:11:43 +0000

Torrent lovers rejoice, the official µTorrent beta has hit Google Play for Android devices. The app is "currently free," so it seems that when the app leaves beta we could see a price tag along with it. With µTorrent, you can search for any torrent on the web and then download it straight to your device's storage. Music, movies, pictures, or anything you can imagine. Just don't go being evil about it. Let us know what you think of the beta down below. Play Link

Motorola Releases Developer Editions for the RAZR M and RAZR HD, RAZR M Can be Pre-ordered Today for $549

Kellen — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 12:32:25 +0000

During today's Motorola event in NYC, new CEO Dennis Woodside stood on stage and referenced the "tinkerers and hackers" and how the "new" Motorola wants to renew their commitment to customers. In order to do that, he mentioned that "developer editions" of the phones they announced would be available. He wasn't lying. The DROID RAZR M Developer Edition is already up for pre-order if you want to spend $549. The DROID RAZR HD Developer Edition on the other hand, is not available yet, but you can sign up to be notified of future changes to it. We wouldn't be surprised if it came in at $649. We are assuming that they will have limited warranties and will only be available at full retail, but hey, at least it's an option. You wanted a Motorola phone that runs on Verizon's network that has an unlockable bootloader, right? These are going to be your choices, even if you have to come to terms with paying a hefty fee. Even I'll admit that these are going to be tempting. This hardware, running stock Android 4.1? How fun would that be?

Links: RAZR M Developer Edition | RAZR HD Cheers @P3Droid!

Video: Motorola Gives Us Video Tours of the RAZR M and RAZR HD

Eric — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 12:15:17 +0000

Motorola has dropped a few videos on their Youtube page to help us all get acquainted with the newest members of their mobile family: the RAZR M and RAZR HD. Besides touting the RAZR HD as the "all-day phone" and the RAZR M as "the full screen phone" Motorola also shows off a few of the software enhancements that you can expect on these new devices, when you eventually get your hands on them.

DROID RAZR HD

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2zDApeDXJc[/youtube]

DROID RAZR M

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2uWYrID1y4[/youtube]

Software Enhancements

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A7vAcmQHvw[/youtube]

Motorola and Verizon Announce the DROID RAZR HD, RAZR MAXX HD, and RAZR M

Kellen — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 11:57:22 +0000

Motorola and Verizon announced three new phones today at a press event in NYC - DROID RAZR HD, DROID RAZR MAXX HD, and DROID RAZR M. The two HD models will be available some time before the holidays while the RAZR M will be up for pre-order today at 5PM ET and in stores on September 13. The DROID RAZR HD and MAXX HD sport 4.7" HD Super AMOLED displays, 1.5GHz dual-core processors, 8MP rear cameras, NFC chips, and incredible battery life. The MAXX HD will give you 13 hours of continuous video playback, 21 hours of talk time, and web browsing for up to 8 hours. These are the new flagship devices that will take Motorola into 2013. The RAZR M on the other hand will retail for $99 on new 2-year contract and can be pre-ordered in just a few short hours. It sports an almost edge-to-edge 4.3" Super AMOLED Advanced display, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, NFC chip, and should pack a long battery life as well. It's a solid phone, but at such a low price, it's a winner in our books, on paper. All of these phones will have white counterparts it appears. Well, at least the RAZR HD and RAZR M. More cover on the way!

Gallery:

Press Release:

VERIZON WIRELESS AND MOTOROLA ADD THREE NEW AND EXCLUSIVE 4G LTE DROID RAZR^™ SMARTPHONES
All the Power, Battery Life and Cool Design of DROID RAZR^™ with the Speed of 4G LTE Three Times Over BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. – Verizon Wireless and Motorola Mobility today announced that they are adding three new and exclusive smartphones, DROID RAZR^™M, DROID RAZR^™ HD and DROID RAZR^™ MAXX^™ HD, to the DROID RAZR^™ by Motorola family on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network. All three devices offer the power and reliability that customers have come to expect from Motorola and Verizon Wireless. DROID devices give customers speed, power and revolutionary technology, while the RAZR design delivers a thin, compact device built with strong, top-of-the-line materials and long-lasting battery life. The new smartphones are powered by the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network, giving customers the capability to simultaneously talk and browse the Web and also access the blazingly fast speeds that cover more than 75 percent of the U.S. population. With three brand new options, this lineup has something for everyone. DROID RAZR M: The Full-Screen Phone DROID RAZR M is an unbelievably compact smartphone that puts the world in the palm of your hand with an edge-to-edge 4.3-inch Super AMOLED^™ Advanced display. Customers will be amazed with the DROID RAZR M’s design, which is significantly shorter and narrower than the original DROID RAZR, yet includes the same size display, making it the most compact 4.3-inch 4G LTE smartphone. DROID RAZR M also features powerful Web browsing capabilities by combining Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network with the speeds of Chrome^™ for Android^™ mobile browser for an unrivaled mobile Web experience. The DROID RAZR M’s SMARTACTIONS^™ feature maximizes battery efficiency with every charge, allowing customers to browse the Web and watch videos without worrying about draining their device’s battery. DROID RAZR HD: Performance and Power Building on the DROID RAZR legacy, the new DROID RAZR HD expands the innovation with a new 4.7-inch Super AMOLED HD display that allows movies, photos, magazines and even websites to appear with vivid clarity. DROID RAZR HD provides customers with 78 percent more pixels for a more vibrant display and features 40 percent greater battery capacity than the original DROID RAZR. The viewdini app is at its best with the HD display and 4G LTE speeds to watch movies, television shows and other video content. Viewdini brings the power of Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network to the screen by streamlining access to videos from a wide range of content providers, including cable operators, websites and other popular video sources. The viewdini app can be downloaded from Google Play. DROID RAZR MAXX HD: Long Live the Battery Packed with the same leading features as DROID RAZR HD, the DROID RAZR MAXX HD raises the industry standard for battery life with 32 hours of normal use. The DROID RAZR MAXX HD is remarkably thin, yet packs sufficient battery power for 13 hours of straight video playback, enough to watch a movie trilogy without needing a charge. Customers also have enough battery life to talk the day away with up to 21 hours of continuous talk time or browse the Web on 4G LTE for up to a full eight hours. A Trilogy of Premium Design, Speed and Features:

4G LTE – customers can expect fast download speeds of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G LTE coverage areas.

Interactive Circles Widget allows quick access to notifications, weather, time and more

Quick Settings can be accessed directly from the home screen so customers can easily manage their volume profile, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth^®, GPS and more

Enhanced Help Guides provide interactive tutorials, help topics and tips to become a DROID RAZR expert

Global Ready so customers can have voice and data service in more than 205 countries

Business ready with enterprise grade security and data encryption, remote wipe, complex password support, IPsec multi-headed VPN client and Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync^® support

1.5 GHz dual-core processor and 1 GB RAM

Mobile Hotspot – Share a 4G LTE connection with up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices

8-megapixel camera with LED flash and 1080p HD recording

Front-facing camera for video chatting

NFC-enabled so customers can send contacts, links, maps and more directly to compatible phones with Android Beam^™

Corning^® Gorilla^® Glass display, DuPont^™ KEVLAR^® fiber and water-repellent nanocoating

microSD^™card slot with support for up to 32 GB

The new DROID RAZRs run Android^™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (upgradeable to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean by end of 2012) and come with the best of Google Mobile Services, including:

Chrome^™ for Android^™, giving a personalized Web experience

Google Play^™, apps and games, millions of books and songs, thousands of movies and TV shows

Google Maps^™ for Android (Beta) for voice-guided, turn-by-turn directions

Voice Actions for Android^™, letting customers control their phones with their voice

Google+^™, which can automatically upload photos to a private album online

YouTube^™, watch videos in stunning HD, Preload subscribed channels or individual videos and the YouTube app will automatically download videos over Wi-Fi while the phone is charging – making them ready to watch in an instant

Pricing and Availability:

DROID RAZR M will be available for pre-order starting today, September 5^th, at 5 p.m. ET at http://www.verizonwireless.com/droidrazrm and will be available on September 13^th in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online athttp://www.verizonwireless.com for the introductory price of $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted. The DROID RAZR M will be available in either Black or White.

DROID RAZR HD and DROID RAZR MAXX HD will be available before the holidays. The DROID RAZR HD will be available in either Black or White and the DROID RAZR MAXX HD will be available in Black.

Customers who purchase a DROID RAZR M, DROID RAZR HD or DROID RAZR MAXX HD will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless data plan. Share Everything Plans allow customers to add smartphones to their account for $40 monthly access. For additional information, customers should go to www.verizonwireless.com/shareeverything

About Verizon Wireless Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 94.2 million retail customers, including 88.8 million retail postpaid customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 78,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visitwww.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia. About Motorola Mobility Motorola Mobility, owned by Google, fuses innovative technology with human insights to create experiences that simplify, connect and enrich people's lives. Our portfolio includes converged mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets; wireless accessories; end-to-end video and data delivery; and management solutions, including set-tops and data-access devices. For more information, visit motorola.com/mobility. MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC. Android, Chrome, Google+, Google Maps, Google Play and YouTube are trademarks of Google Inc. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. KEVLAR® is a registered trademark of DuPont used under license by Motorola Mobility LLC. Corning and Gorilla are registered trademarks of Corning, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. © 2012 Motorola Mobility LLC. All rights reserved.

First Look at Motorola's New Lineup of Phones

Kellen — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 11:25:03 +0000

In the promo video going on at the Motorola event, this screen popped up, revealing the new lineup of Motorola phones. The DROID RAZR HD, RAZR M and what we think is a Developer Edition. Update: It's not the developer edition in that picture, it's the MAXX HD. Live blog here.

Eric Schmidt: 1.3 Million Android Activations a Day, 480 Million in Total

Tim — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 11:23:42 +0000

Today at Motorola's press conference, Eric Schmidt surprised everyone with his presence and laid out some numbers for all you Android fans out there. As of today, 1.3 million Android devices are activated daily, 70,000 of those are Android tablets totaling at a whopping 480 million. As we've seen, these numbers continue to grow and become even more impressive. With Nexus 7 tablets flying off the shelves and a new lineup of DROID devices coming out, it's only going to enlarge. Watch the live event here.

Live From Motorola's RAZR HD Event in NYC

Kellen — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 10:20:05 +0000

The Motorola and Verizon event is about to kickoff in NYC at 2PM ET (11AM PT). We are fully expecting them to announce the DROID RAZR HD and the RAZR M, the latter being the rumored "edge-to-edge" device that was the talk of the town over the weekend. No word yet on price, but if you browse through a number of posts from the last couple of months, you can get a feel for the specs that are involved in both phones. Moto always puts on a good show, but this is the first with new CEO Dennis Woodside at the helm. It should be interesting to see his influence and approach to an event like this, especially after years of getting used to Sanjay Jha's on-stage antics. We have a man on the scene to take it all in and get us some hands-on time, but the rest of us can at least watch the live portion thanks to a live stream that we have included below. We also have a live blog going, if color commentary is your thing. Ready?

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VkIpT3-kBM[/youtube]

Solar Power Live Wallpaper Brings Colorful Beauty to the Sun

Kellen — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 10:05:38 +0000

Quality and beautiful live wallpapers do not come along all that often. When they do though, we make sure to share them with you because still to this day, they are one of the most unique features of Android. Today's hot new addition is called Solar Power, and damn is it pretty and feature packed. The basic idea here, is that you get to turn the sun into the most stunning sun ever created and then watch it hover at different angles all over your home screen. You can change the color, adjust glare intensity and flare agitation, make it interactive to the touch, change the orbit speed, and most importantly, how it is viewed on your phone. I've been engulfed in this thing for the last 20 minutes and am wanting to go back for more to get this thing tweaked perfectly. A great option for live wallpaper fanatics. Play Links: Free | Paid ($0.99) [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r4jEUexPi4[/youtube]

Verizon's Accessory Page for the DROID RAZR M Goes Live Ahead of Schedule

Tim — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 09:33:34 +0000

Just a wee bit ahead of an official announcement that is taking place in an hour, Verizon's landing page for accessories compatible with the new DROID RAZR M has gone live. So far, there are no cases or anything branded for the RAZR M, but it does make the device very much "official." Listed is a Logitech Mini Boombox, headphones, a Bluetooth headset, and a Bluetooth speaker. If you've been thinking about picking up a RAZR M, go get your accessories ahead of schedule. Accessory Page Via: Phone Arena

T-Mobile Celebrates 10 Years of Innovation, Offers New Unlimited 4G Data Plan

Tim — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 09:15:34 +0000

10 years ago, T-Mobile opened up shop here in the United States. During this time, T-Mo has been a leader in carrier innovation and as we head into the future, they're making sure that doesn't change. Starting today, T-Mobile has a new data plan called Unlimited Nationwide 4G. The plan has zero caps, overages, and even comes with discounts on certain devices when signing up for a new two year agreement. As for rates, to get unlimited everything on T-Mobile with a subsidized phone will be $89.99 a month and without a device you're looking at $69.99 a month. Not a bad deal if 4G LTE isn't a necessity and you live in a good coverage area for HSPA+. To learn more about the new plan, you can check out their new landing page here.

T-Mobile Celebrates 10 Years of Innovation with Launch of Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data Plans From the iconic Sidekick® to industry’s only national Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan, T-Mobile continues to reinvent the mobile experience
Bellevue, Wash. — Sep. 5, 2012 2012-09-05 10:57:18 T-Mobile USA, Inc. marked the 10th anniversary of its T-Mobile brand in the United States by making its new Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan available in stores today. The plan underscores T-Mobile’s longstanding focus on delivering customer value and service excellence through constant innovation. “Since our inception, we’ve always strived to shake up the industry with plans, network capabilities, and innovative products and services for our customers,” said Brad Duea, senior vice president, product management, T-Mobile USA. “Today’s release of our Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan continues our tradition of bold moves that enhance the customer experience and change the way wireless is done.” T-Mobile USA established its nationwide brand in September 2002 and has been quietly innovating ever since, beginning with Sidekick®, the first all-in-one wireless device with an unlimited data plan for consumers. The company is now one of the largest employers and best-kept secrets in the Seattle area, built on a legacy of wireless industry firsts, including these:

First Personal Coverage Check (2005) – Provided consumers with transparent view of network coverage where they live and work

First Wi-Fi Calling Service in U.S. (2007) – Allowed voice calling over Wi-Fi

First Android phone – T-Mobile G1™ with Google™ (2008) – Kicked off wave of subsequent Android offerings

First U.S. carrier to launch an HSPA+ network (2009) – Today, T-Mobile’s fast and dependable nationwide 4G network is available in 229 markets, reaching well over 220 million people

First to break from Subsidy Model (2009) – T-Mobile’s Even More plans and later Value Plans allow customers to pay for their devices over time or to bring their own devices to T-Mobile

Today marks another first: T-Mobile becomes the only carrier with a nationwide 4G network to offer unlimited nationwide 4G data. Featuring no data caps, no speed limits and no overages, as well as fast, dependable nationwide 4G coverage, T-Mobile’s new Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan offers the ultimate worry-free experience for data-hungry smartphone customers. The Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan is available at T-Mobile retail stores, on http://www.T-Mobile.com/unlimited-data-plan, and through select dealers and national retail stores. To help customers quickly take full advantage of all the cool things smartphones can do — without limits or overages — T-Mobile customers who activate a new two-year contract on an Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan will be able to benefit from a sale on select 4G smartphones, including the HTC One S with $0.00 down payment, after $50 mail-in rebate card.1 For more information on the Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan and accompanying device sale, visit www.t-mobile.com/unlimited-data-plan. For more information about T-Mobile’s decade of innovation, see the timeline and supporting fact sheet. 1 $449.99 total. Remaining balance paid in 20 monthly installments of $20. 0% APR on approved credit. About T-Mobile USA Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA, Inc. is the U.S. wireless operation of Deutsche Telekom AG (OTCQX: DTEGY). By the end of the second quarter of 2012, approximately 130 million mobile customers were served by the mobile communication segments of the Deutsche Telekom group — 33.2 million by T-Mobile USA — all via a common technology platform based on GSM and UMTS and additionally HSPA+ 21/HSPA+ 42. T-Mobile USA’s innovative wireless products and services help empower people to connect to those who matter most. Multiple independent research studies continue to rank T-Mobile USA among the highest in numerous regions throughout the U.S. in wireless customer care and call quality. For more information, please visit http://www.T-Mobile.com. T-Mobile is a federally registered trademark of Deutsche Telekom AG. For further information on Deutsche Telekom, please visit .

Google Grabs Patent Detailing Multiple User Face Unlock, Readying it for Primetime

Eric — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 08:40:16 +0000

The not-so-secret of Google's next step for Android got another leak today. Google has won a patent that allows Android to differentiate between users on a device by using Face Unlock. Using this alongside the multi-user framework, that is already in place just not working yet, would allow for one user to pick it up and use Face Unlock to access their profile and user data while another person's face would take them to a different set of user data.

When finding patents like this we don't even know if Google plans on using them, but this one seems to be critical to something they are already working on. We are just wondering in which version of Android are we going to see it first?

Via: Engadget

DROID RAZR M and RAZR HD Press Photos Leak

Kellen — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 07:55:02 +0000

Here are the official press shots for the DROID RAZR M (left) and DROID RAZR HD (right). "But, but, where is the edge-to-edge device?" We told you over the weekend that everyone was blowing this "edge-to-edge" rumor out of proportion and that this supposed tipster was referring to nothing more than the RAZR M, something you should have seen in the various leaked photos of the device over the last couple of weeks. Because it does indeed have a somewhat edge-to-edge display, unfortunately for tech enthusiasts, that display is only qHD. On the other hand, we have the RAZR HD, which will be a much bigger device than the RAZR M, even if it doesn't appear that way in this picture. You have seen it as well. It's the big dog in this fight. Both devices are expected to be unveiled in about 2 hours. Our live blog will be up here, shortly. Via: Twitter

Mysterious 5" HTC Device Shows Its Face, is Beyond Blurry

Kellen — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 07:24:10 +0000

Remember that massive HTC device from the weekend with the red accented side panels? This is apparently an incredibly blurry look at the front side of it. We speculated at the time that it may be the 1080p phone headed to Verizon as the "dlx." An array of Asian sites sees it differently though, and is referring to it as the Endeavor C2 or HTC One X+. The One X+ is was previously rumored to be running the new Tegra 3 chip that can be clocked up to 1.7GHz, however, the dlx has already been benchmarked running a new Snapdragon S4 chip. Yeah, that basically means we are confused. Other than this other codename, there isn't much to be gathered from the image above. Like I said, it's beyond blurry. The screen does appear to be massive though, and almost edge-to-edge. There are definitely hardware soft keys on it and a front facing camera. The red accent at the top leads us to believe this is the same phone that was pictured the other day. So, what do we think? Sexy? Too blurry? You tell me. Via: TechOrz Cheers Charlie!

NFL Game Rewind for Tablets - Watch All Post-Air Grid Iron Action For a Hefty Fee

Tim — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 15:30:22 +0000

If your schedule doesn't allow you to watch NFL games live, then this new NFL Game Rewind application may be just the thing for you. Made specifically for tablets, Game Rewind allows paid subscription holders to watch full on-demand games of their favorite teams. The service is great, but comes with a huge price tag. For full season access including playoffs and Super Bowl action, you're looking at a full $70. Ouch. If money is not an issue, then the application does offer plenty of features to make it worth it. The app comes with full "Coaches Film" (22 different viewing angles of selected games), instant replays of the game's highlighted plays and drives, topped off with full analysis of every game. For a football and tablet lovers, it doesn't get much sweeter than this. Play Link (Paid subscription needed)

Motorola Will Stream the RAZR HD and RAZR M Event for All to See

Kellen — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 14:47:30 +0000

Motorola knows how excited that many of you are to hear about their next lineup of phones and has provided us with a link to a live stream of tomorrow's event in NYC. We'll have our man Kover on the ground to get us the goodies up close, but to watch it all unfold together, we'll have a live blog up with the video included. We are all expecting Moto to announce the RAZR HD and RAZR M, but that doesn't mean there won't be surprises. This link will go live tomorrow, but again, we'll have a live blog up a few minutes before so that we can all watch it together. The event starts at 2PM ET. Our live blog will be up here (not live yet).

Tuesday Poll: September Tech Announcement You are Most Excited About?

Kellen — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 14:29:14 +0000

We are only 4 days into September and a number of the biggest tech companies in the world have announced press events where they are expected to announce their latest game changing products. Motorola is up tomorrow to finally unveil the RAZR HD and RAZR M, followed by Nokia and their first Windows 8 phones. Then Amazon will take the stage Thursday to show off the new Kindle Fire. Next week, Apple will drop the iPhone 5, with HTC showing off their new goodies on September 19. It should be the most exciting month of the year for tech enthusiasts. We get new Android, Apple, Amazon, and Windows products all at the same time. If you had been saving up for your next gadget buy, you are about to be overwhelmed with choices. Which are you most looking forward to? Moto's first HD phone on Verizon? HTC potentially announcing a 1080p phone? The new Kindle Fire that will go head-to-head with the Nexus 7? Or maybe Apple's new i*hone? [poll id="200"]

HTC Also Acknowledges That ICS for the Incredible 2 is Late

Kellen — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 13:36:33 +0000

This shouldn't surprise you reading after HTC's acknowledgement that they had missed their own deadline for releasing Ice Cream Sandwich to the Thunderbolt, but we wanted to make sure Incredible 2 owners were also kept in the loop. And for those few Inc 2 readers that have yet to upgrade to the next big thing, you will be waiting longer for Android 4.0. On Friday, HTC also made it known that they are actively working with Verizon to get ICS out to the Incredible 2. They will notify us as soon as they are nearing completion. Via: Facebook Cheers Nikolas!

First Look at "Starter Mode" Widgets on the Samsung Galaxy Stellar

Kellen — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 13:12:59 +0000

Verizon and Samsung announced the Galaxy Stellar this morning, a device which includes a "Starter Mode" for first time Android users. It's an interesting move by Samsung, you know, trying their hardest to dumb down a phone in order to make it appealing and easily understandable to new smartphone owners. Thankfully, it's really just a set of widgets that can be loaded up by hitting Menu>Settings>Mode Change>Starter Mode. Once a Galaxy Stellar owner gets used to Android though, these starter widgets can be removed in favor of a "Standrad Mode." Until then, this is what they will be greeted with. So what kinds of widgets do we get in "Starter Mode?"

Favorite Contacts: You have seen it before, but on the Galaxy Stellar, it's put front and center. A quick tap lets you add your favorite contacts. Once added, another tap gives you a pop up to decide if you want to call or text the person.
Quick Dialer: We aren't sure what is wrong with the phone icon that takes you to the dialer, but if you want to dial someone's number from your home screen, you can do that with this widget.
Favorite Settings: This widget allows you to setup shortcuts to change or check on your favorite settings. You can quickly adjust brightness, check battery status, change your ringtone, and adjust volume if you'd like.
Favorite Apps: This is similar to the "Settings" app in that it allows you to pick your favorite apps and set them as shortcuts in a folder type setting. What I'm not understanding, is why an app shortcut on your home screen that you pulled from your app drawer is any different. Well, actually it's not, but if a new user doesn't know how to add apps from their app drawer, this widget will be easy enough to understand.

Cheers ___!

Reminder: Join the Droid Life NFL Eliminator and Win a Phone of Choice

Kellen — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 12:40:41 +0000

Since Friday was the start of a holiday weekend, we wanted to make sure that you all saw our newest contest, the 3rd annual Droid Life NFL Eliminator Challenge. We are giving away a free phone to the winner, in case that helps you decide whether or not you want to join. Even if you aren't a football fan, you can participate in this by simply picking a single winner each week without much thought. It doesn't get any easier than this. If you outlast the competition, you get to pick out a brand new phone up to $650 in value. It doesn't have to be something that came out recently either, because by the time this is over with, we should be past the holiday season and onto some incredible new phones. So, are you ready to join? Join the group: Droid Life Eliminator Password: droidlife Simple rules for those new to eliminator chalenges: 1. Join the league up above. Create an entry for yourself. Get ready to pick winners. 2. Since this is an eliminator challenge, you only have to pick 1 winner each week. 3. Remember though, that you only get to use a team one time and cannot pick them to win again. 4. If you choose correctly each week, you continue to advance. 5. If you choose incorrectly, you are out. There are no mulligans in football or this league. 6. If that didn’t make sense, check out the full “How to Play” rules here. 7. If we run into a tiebreaker, we will decide a winner based on these rules. We will try our best to remind those participating to make their picks each week. The best way to see those reminders is by following us on Twitter.

McPixel for Android, an Awesome Yet Surprisingly Disturbing Game

Tim — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 12:21:36 +0000

Sometimes you come across a game that leaves you confused and even scared. McPixel is one of these games. The objective is easy - make sure the bomb doesn't explode, but it's the means you take to make sure the explosion doesn't happen is what is disgusting. Each level is a puzzle. You click on items inside the level and depending on what you choose, McPixel will either do something extremely nasty (stick a bone up a cows behind) or solve the puzzle and the bomb won't go off. It's actually really hard to explain how gross this guy can get, so watch the trailer and determine if you're willing to enter the sick mind of McPixel. Play Link: Free | Pro [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFr1sFARkzo[/youtube]

Spirits for Android, Brings Back the Spirit of Those Cute Lemmings

Tim — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 11:45:06 +0000

With Google's End of Summer sale going down, it's been a way for me to find some new games and apps to waste my time on and to share with all of you. One of the games on sale is Spirits. I have seen it around, but with a $3 price tag, I was hesitant to give it a try. With the sale price set to a single dollar, I jumped on it. Fantastic decision. Spirits is a smart and beautiful game with the main objective being to get all of the spirits to a certain point on the map. You use spirits to add features to the map to help you get there. For example, you can use a spirit as a branch to avoid spikes or use one as a blower to shoot you up and over to the whirlwind. It's a great title and for only a single dollar, it's a great choice if you're stuck at the bus stop. Play Link ($0.99) [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsiwROHN35c[/youtube]

HTC Holding Event on September 19, Got Any Guesses?

Kellen — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 11:42:50 +0000

HTC is sending out "Save the Date" notices to the media this morning, letting us know that we can "see what's next" on September 19 in NYC. Other than the date and an odd-looking icon and symbol at the bottom of the invite, there are no other clues. Or am I the only one that thinks the half circle and blue dot look like a play on Google Now? For those with a Galaxy Nexus running Jelly Bean, you know that you can swipe up from the home button, revealing a half circle with a Google Now circle directly above it. Just a thought. Assuming they do announce new hardware at this event, it's time for you all to take your best guess at what we may see. Will it be the oft-leaked 5" 1080p device codenamed "dlx"? Could it be that silly looking ~~iMac rip-off~~ tablet we saw from last week? What about the red-accented device pictured here? Maybe it'll be Windows 8 phones? Invites to Android blogs would sort of shut that thought down. Anything else? And how about the timing? Apple is holding their iPhone 5 event the week before and usually announces that availability will happen the following week or two. HTC's event is happening in the middle of all of that craziness. Smart move?

Just Before iPhone 5 Launches, Galaxy SIII Becomes Most Sold Smartphone in the U.S.

Eric — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 11:00:38 +0000

Since it has launched, the iPhone 4S has been the top selling smartphone in America across pretty much all of the major carriers. However, Samsung has slipped in and stole that title and won a battle for Android this month. The Galaxy SIII is now the top selling smartphone in the U.S., moving up to the first spot on Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile. AT&T users still prefer the 4S for some reason.

This is a bit of good news for Samsung in hopes that we will all forget last month and the verdict that slammed Samsung in the media across the world. This may not last long though once the iPhone 5 actually launches, but we will see.

The last few months of the year are looking to have some serious smartphones launched. Who do you think will come out on top?

Via: BGR

CyanogenMod Adds Quick Message Features, SMS Pop-ups and More

Tim — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 10:15:58 +0000

If you're a user of CyanogenMod's newest builds, then you may have noticed the addition of some new features for text message addicts. For starters, there is a new option for a pop-up box to appear when an SMS message is received for quick replies and viewing on top of apps, something that will surely increase productivity. On top of that, you can also "quick reply" from the notification pulldown, an extension to the official feature that was introduced with Jelly Bean. Features:

Display pop-up Quick Message dialog when message received
Multi-message support with swipe between messages
Reply to individual messages
Mark individual messages as 'Read' or dismiss them all
'Wake and unlock' device on message received

For access to the new features, download the CM nightly builds here. Via: Google+ Cheers Jbartcaps!

Apple Invites Press to September 12 Event, Next iPhone Likely

Kellen — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 09:25:26 +0000

Apple sent out invites to the press this morning for an event that will take place on September 12. This event is expected to be for the unveiling of the next iPhone or "new" iPhone or as the image above hints at, the iPhone 5. For those in the Android game, this doesn't mean that the end of the world is near. Sure, Apple will sell a record amount of them, but it's still the same tired old app jukebox operating system that most of us decided long ago, was not our cup of tea. It should have LTE, but probably not NFC. The screen could measure 4" and there may be a slightly tweaked form factor or color scheme. The funny thing is, we get all of that in a new Android device on a monthly basis. In the mean time, expect there to be a boat load of Android announcements over the next week as companies rush to release products before the new iPhone hits store shelves. Motorola is up tomorrow, Amazon is up on Thursday, and we wouldn't be surprised if someone else joined in on the fun. Via: Engadget

Rovio Makes Bad Piggies Official, Launching on Android September 27

Tim — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 08:45:26 +0000

It's official. News of the century. This morning, Rovio has announced that the spin off of Angry Birds called, Bad Piggies, will launch on multiple platforms including Android on September 27. I have a good feeling about this game. I am hoping that instead of sending the pigs smashing through things, that we get to build structures that can withstand a bird barrage. That would be a nice change of pace. Via: Rovio

Asus Said to be Building 3G Capable Nexus 7, Ready for Launch in 6 Weeks?

Tim — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 08:27:47 +0000

According to the folks at MoDaCo, they have an inside source that has let them in on Asus' plan to make a Nexus 7 tablet with 3G capabilities. From what the rumor states, there was no say of 4G LTE quite yet. The only other piece of info given is that the tablet would be ready for launch in a matter of just six weeks. We could see how making a 3G capable Nexus 7 is a good idea, but then we would see the price come up thanks to the addition of the new radios. Maybe an extra $50 to $100? On a separate note, the Nexus 7 8GB version just sold out on Google Play over the weekend, but we don't think it is at all related to an upcoming 3G version. Would you buy a 3G Nexus 7? With WiFi hotspots almost everywhere and with the cost of data only going up, is it worth it to have a data connection on your tablet? Via: MoDaCo

HTC Rezound Drops to $80 From Verizon

Kellen — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 07:45:01 +0000

Verizon dropped the price of the HTC Rezound this weekend to $79.99 on new 2-year contract. This is easily the cheapest price point that we have seen Big Red hit, but we shouldn't be surprised since they just announced two new phones this morning and are planning to unveil more tomorrow at Motorola's NYC event. What's a bit wild, is the fact that the Verizon is selling it cheaper than even Amazon is, something we rarely see. Buy. Cheers Sam!

Verizon and Samsung Announce the Galaxy Stellar, the Ultimate Starter Smartphone

Kellen — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 07:28:41 +0000

Samsung and Verizon have teamed up to offer the Galaxy Stellar, an Android-powered smartphone for those new to the game, that may need a little extra help or simplicity. The Galaxy Stellar will be available online starting September 6 for free after a $50 mail-in-rebate. This phone will carry two modes (dual-interface) to give those new to Android a way to easily handle the power inside a smartphone. For those that don't need their hand held, there is a Standard Mode that acts and feels just like normal Android (with Samsung's TouchWiz interface on top of it). For those that need some extra assistance, they will be able to operate in Starter Mode. Starter Mode simplifies the home screen with preset widgets such as favorite apps, favorite contacts, and settings. It also features a quick dialer icon that allows users to make phone calls directly from the home screen. It's like a feature phone packed into a smartphone. On the spec side of things, the Galaxy Stellar packs a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 4" WVGA display (800x480), 3.2MP rear camera, 1.3MP front camera, a micro SD slot for expandable storage, and connects to Verizon's 4G LTE network. If you were looking for an Android phone that wants to help you ease into the smartphone world, this may be a decent option.

VERIZON WIRELESS LAUNCHES FEATURE-PACKED SAMSUNG GALAXY STELLAR^™ SMARTPHONE

Features 4G LTE Connectivity, Dual-Interface Options and B2B Enterprise Solutions

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and DALLAS – Verizon Wireless and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) announced today that they will offer the exclusive Samsung Galaxy Stellar^™ starting Sept. 6 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com. The easy-to-use 4G LTE enabled Samsung Galaxy Stellar is designed to be compact so it fits easily in a customer’s hand and makes the first-time smartphone experience simple. The Stellar features a dual interface option so customers can choose between Starter Mode or Standard Mode. Starter Mode features a simplified home screen display with preset widgets such as Favorite Apps, Favorite Contacts and Favorite Settings for quick and easy access to frequently used apps and settings. Starter Mode also features a quick dialer icon that allows customers to make phone calls directly from the home screen. Standard Mode provides customers with a more conventional layout and gives customers the traditional Android^™ experience. The Stellar also includes a Help app that features guided tours and tips for changing settings and more, so customers can master their devices. Samsung Galaxy Stellar customers can take advantage of blazingly fast 4G LTE connectivity to access an array of convenient and multimedia rich apps. A suite of Amazon apps is included that offers customers easy ways to discover content such as watching movie trailers on the IMDB app, downloading audio books with the Audible app, and one-click ordering with the Amazon shopping app. The Stellar also offers a variety of premium TV and film content for rent or purchase through the Samsung Media Hub. The Galaxy Stellar is a SAFE^™ (Samsung Approved For Enterprise) approved device featuring on-device AES 256-bit encryption, enhanced support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync^® and support for industry-leading Virtual Private Network (VPN) and Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to make working on the go secure. Additional features:

4G LTE – customers can expect fast download speeds of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G LTE coverage areas
4-inch WVGA display (800 x 480)
Android^™ 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich – support for Google Mobile^™ Services including Gmail^™, YouTube^™, Google Talk^™, Google Maps^™ and access to more than 600,000 apps available to download from Google Play
Suite of Amazon apps includes Kindle, Shopping, MP3, Zappos, IMDB and Audible
1.2 dual-core GHz Snapdragon^™ application processor
Front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera for video chat and 3.2-megapixel rear-facing camera with auto focus
Backup Assistant Plus – media management and online storage service designed to help customers store and access media content such as music, videos, pictures, documents and contacts.
Wi-Fi connectivity (802.11 a/b/g/n)
microSD^™ card slot with support for up to 32 GB

Business features: Samsung's SAFE enterprise mobility solutions provide flexibility and connectivity for mobile workforces, ensuring that users are able to operate more efficiently while on–the-move.

Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync^® (EAS) – communicate directly with your Microsoft Exchange Server enabling push email, calendar and contacts
Virtual Private Network (VPN) and Mobile Device Management (MDM) Support from Industry-Leading Solutions Providers – supports industry-standard VPN protocols to help users efficiently tap into VPN networks and MDM capabilities that allow IT departments to effectively safeguard employees’ mobile devices and corporate data.
On Device Encryption –SAFE helps prevent unauthorized access to mobile data by leveraging the AES 256-bit encryption standard, encrypting all data, including app-specific internal data and internal/external memory.

Pricing and availability:

· The Samsung Galaxy Stellar will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com starting Sept. 6 for free after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.
· Customers purchasing the Galaxy Stellar will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless data plan. Share Everything Plans allow customers to add the Stellar to their account for $40 monthly access. For additional information, customers should go to www.verizonwireless.com/shareeverything
· For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go towww.verizonwireless.com.

About Verizon Wireless Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 94.2 million retail customers, including 88.8 million retail postpaid customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 78,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia. About Samsung Mobile Samsung Mobile (Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC), a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsungwireless.com. Samsung, Stellar and SAFE are trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

LG and Verizon Announce the Intuition for $199, Launches September 6 Online

Kellen — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 07:16:04 +0000

Verizon and LG finally made the Intuition official this morning, giving it an online launch date of September 6, with in-store availability coming the following week on September 10. The device will run $199 on new 2-year contract and have the ability to connect to Big Red's ever-growing 4G LTE network. For those that haven't followed the story of the Intuition (known as the Optimus Vu overseas), simply think of it as a phone/tablet hybrid. With a 5" HD display, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 8MP camera, 1.3MP front camera, NFC chip, and Ice Cream Sandwich, it's got everything you could ever ask for in a phone on the spec front. The only thing you have to sell to yourself is the odd 4:3 aspect ratio on the display, and the fact that it's unbelievably awkward to hold. Is it a phone or a tablet? The device also includes a Rubberdium pen, a suite of office apps, is business-ready, and is currently the option if a 5" device is something you have been dying to have. If you would like to see the phone in action, be sure to check out our first look from CTIA in May.

Verizon Wireless And LG Bring Tablet Productivity And Smartphone Functionality With The Intuition™ By LG

4G LTE Connectivity and a Tablet-Like Experience on Vivid 5-Inch True HD Display

BASKING RIDGE and ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, NJ — Verizon Wireless and LG Electronics USA today announced the Intuition by LG, a next-generation device that offers the full functionality of a smartphone and a tablet all in one slim, pocket friendly device. The Intuition by LG, exclusively for Verizon Wireless, will be available online at www.verizonwireless.com starting Sept. 6 and will be in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores beginning Sept. 10 for $199.99 with a new two-year customer agreement. The Intuition’s innovative design and features let customers record their most creative ideas while also staying productive, all in one device. Customers will also have access to the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network, which covers more than 75 percent of the U.S. population and will soon be available in more than 400 markets nationwide. LG’s 5-inch display with high-definition detail gives customers a premium viewing experience with exceptionally sharp detail, and the 4:3 aspect ratio makes it ideal for reading e-books, watching videos, Web browsing and reviewing presentations. The Intuition features the Polaris^® Office app, allowing customers to view, create, edit and share documents, spreadsheets and presentations right on the Intuition’s large display and can even organize files by category or folder. The QuickMemo™ app can be used with a single press of a button and allows customers to draw or write messages with the included Rubberdium^™ pen or with their finger on just about any screen. Add a personalized handwritten note to pictures, maps, websites and easily share with friends through text messages, social media, email and more. Customers can even pick different colors and pen types to help further customize their notes. The Intuition also features the LG Tag+ app and two reprogrammable NFC (Near Field Communications) stickers that can be used to create and switch between different phone modes with a single tap. For example, the stickers can be posted onto an office door or bedroom nightstand and customers simply tap the NFC sticker with their phone to activate a mode and tap it again to return to their original settings. The different modes are customizable and include Car Mode, Office Mode, Sleep Mode and User Mode. Settings like Bluetooth^®, GPS, Wi-Fi and more can be turned on or off by tapping the back of the Intuition on an LG Tag+ sticker. Additional Features:

5-inch display with high-definition detail
- 4:3 aspect ratio to fully use the screen size and eliminate dead space
- 650 NIT display provides excellent legibility and sharp details even in direct sunlight
The Notebook app turns the Intuition into a virtual notepad for creating documents which, can include text, drawings, images, annotations, video and voice clips
Business ready with enterprise grade security, corporate data encryption with Data-at-Rest Encryption (DARE), secure multi-headed VPN for corporate network connections, remote wipe capability and more
Suite of Amazon apps includes Kindle, Shopping, MP3, Zappos, IMDB and Audible so customers can watch movie trailers, download audio books, shopping and more
8-megapixel camera with LED flash and 1080p HD video recording
1.3 megapixel front-facing camera for video chatting
Enhanced camera features include voice commands to take a picture, continuous shot to take 6 shots with one tap and panorama shot to merge horizontal shots.
Android^™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
1.5 GHz dual-core processor and 1 GB RAM
Mobile Hotspot – Share a 4G LTE connection with up to 10 Wi-Fi-enabled devices
Bluetooth^® Version 3.0 + HS
SmartShare – Share media wirelessly to DLNA^®-enabled devices

Pricing and Availability:

Intuition by LG will be available online at www.verizonwireless.com starting Sept. 6 and will be in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores starting Sept. 10 for $199.99 with a new two-year customer agreement.
As an online only promotion, customers who purchase Intuition by LG at www.verizonwireless.combetween Sept. 6 and Sept. 10 will also receive a LG Tone Stereo Bluetooth^® headset at no additional cost
Customers purchasing the Intuition by LG will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless data plan. Share Everything Plans allow customers to add Intuition by LG to their account for $40 monthly access. For additional information, customers should go towww.verizonwireless.com/shareeverything
For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

About Verizon Wireless Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 94.2 million retail customers, including 88.8 million retail postpaid customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 78,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia. About LG Electronics USA LG Electronics USA, Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc., a $49 billion global force and technology leader in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications. In the United States, LG Electronics sells a range of stylish and innovative mobile phones, home entertainment products, home appliances, and air conditioning systems and energy solutions, all under LG’s “Life’s Good” marketing theme. LG Electronics is a 2012 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year. For more information, please visit www.lg.com.

Mysterious HTC Device Pictured With Verizon-Red Accents, is This the 1080p 5" Device?

Kellen — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 08:52:52 +0000

Care to take a guess as to what this phone is? It popped up over at Chinese forum Phone HK, and appears to be an HTC device with the red accents that Verizon loves to use. That's speculation of course, but we do know that Big Red and HTC have teamed up to produce a phone with a 1080p full HD display codenamed "dlx." Is this it? Very few details were included with the post of these pictures, however, we can gather a couple of details if we look closely. First, those do not appear to be on-screen navigation keys. That sort of leads us off of it being the 1080p phone since that had a resolution (1794x1080 that hinted at missing pixels from on-screen navigation keys. Well, as a commenter pointed out, unless the benchmark was done and that nasty black bar with the menu appeared on screen and is to blame for the odd resolution. We are seeing HTC and Beats logos though, along with a rear placed FCC-type sticker that hints at a non-removable battery. The red accents, again, give off the impression that this could be a Verizon device, but the EVO line has also had its share of red over the years. The rest, is a complete mystery. Aside from speculation, I think it's safe to say that this is a beautiful device. I'm diggin' the red panels on the side, accents throughout, and the form factor. It's looks similar to the One X, but maybe even flatter. Thoughts?

Via: PhoneHK | The Verge

Motorola to Unveil Phone With "Edge-to-Edge" Display Next Week

Kellen — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 08:32:37 +0000

According to a report out of Bloomberg, Motorola is expected to release a phone with a "edge-to-edge" display during their event next week in NYC. Most people are assuming that they are referring to some super secret version of the DROID RAZR HD, but I find it hard to believe that it will be that phone. We have seen two different test models of the RAZR HD in XT925 and XT926 through pictures and video already, neither of which has an edge-to-edge display. The closest thing we have seen to that from Motorola is the DROID RAZR M, which does have very little bezel and is as close to being edge-to-edge as anything we have seen. And not that the RAZR M is some sort of a disappointment, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. If Motorola had some super-secret edge-to-edge display device that the world has yet to see and also hasn't cruised through the FCC, this would be the first time in their history that they were able to pull off such a feat. Even the Galaxy S3, which was hidden in dummy boxes and had multiple variants floating around to try and confuse media, was eventually outed before it was released. Maybe Motorola will surprise us all? I'm not getting my hopes up. Via: Bloomberg

This Week in the Life of DROID: 8/31/2012

Tim — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 15:20:10 +0000

Seeing as how it's a three day weekend, we are going to cut out just a wee bit early this Friday. We hope you all have a fantastic weekend and spend it with the ones you love. Careful not to drop your phone in the pool! If you missed any of this week's excitement, here are the highlights:

See you all Tuesday!

[Contest] Phosphor's Epic Masterpiece Horn Released for Android - Win a Nexus 7 Tablet to Celebrate (Update: Winners Picked!)

Tim — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 15:10:24 +0000

Previewed back at Google I/O, Phosphor Game's Horn has finally arrived for Android. If you didn't know, Phosphor is the same team that brought us Dark Meadow, which is another epic piece of mobile gaming. Thankfully, Horn is no different. To get an idea of just how epic this game is, the additional download after the 8MB apk is installed is a whopping 1.8GB of data. If you're on a tiered plan, you might want to find a WiFi spot for this one. Horn is set in a beautiful world. You play as a blacksmith's apprentice who has awoken to find his homeland has been turned upside down and the only creatures you run into are gigantic robotic monsters. Of course, not many of these creatures are friendly and you must defend yourself and destroy the monsters. A little into the game, it becomes clear that these monsters are in fact, people who have been transformed into these abominations from a terrible curse and only you have the power to save them. It's been a great experience to play so far and I highly recommend it if that $7 price tag doesn't scare you away. Either way, let's get to why you're really here. Contest rules and instructions on how to enter are down below. Play Link ($6.99)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDsP-T5iMkc[/youtube]

Contest:

To celebrate the release of Horn for Android, we're partnering up with NVIDIA's Tegra team to give away one of three Nexus 7 tablets to three lucky winners. Powered by NVIDIA's quad-core Tegra 3 processor, mobile gaming is brought to a whole new level with stunning graphics and exceptional speeds on the Nexus 7. Want to win one of your own? Update - Winners Picked: Wow! What a huge turnout! With almost 3,000 entries counted, we have our three winners. BbyDol, Scottyb112, and onDroid. They will have 24 hours to claim their prizes. Thanks to everyone for making this a very successful giveaway! How to enter: 1. ~~To enter, follow @droid_life and @NVIDIATegra on Twitter.~~ ~~2. Tweet out the following message:~~

Win 1 of 3 Nexus 7 tablets from @droid_life and @NVIDIATegra to celebrate Horn's release onto Android - http://goo.gl/CxbrX

3. In the comments below, tell us why you love gaming on your mobile device? Winner: We will choose our three winners from the comments below tomorrow at 3PM PST (8/31/2012). Good luck!

Thanks goes out to NVIDIA for offering up the three Nexus 7 tablets.

Activision Anthology Hits Google Play - Check Out This Blast From the Past

Tim — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:40:00 +0000

What better way to head into the holiday weekend than with the Activision Anthology? For those of you who remember video games before 60 frames per second, Xbox, and PlayStation, then this is going to make your day. For the first time, you can download the classics such as Pitfall, Formula and River Raid onto a single application for your Android device. It works like this - after downloading the initial Anthology app for free from Google Play, you can play Kaboom! which is included and then purchase four different game packs for $3 a pop or the entire 45 game collection for $7. But it doesn't end there. Activision has thrown in some cool features such as leaderboards/achievements, full digital 3D art of the game boxes and cartridges, and even tips and tricks on how to beat the games from their original designers. If you're a lover of the classics, then this is a no brainer. Check it out and let us know which classic title is your favorite. Play Link

HTC: We're Aware We Missed the Deadline For ICS on the Thunderbolt

Tim — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:00:20 +0000

Many Thunderbolt owners may be asking themselves today, "Where's my Ice Cream Sandwich? I could have sworn HTC said it would come this month." Well, unfortunately HTC has basically confirmed that they will indeed miss the August update deadline for ICS. Funny enough, HTC pokes that they are working with Verizon to get the software out to users as soon as possible. Sorry Thunderbolt owners. We'll keep you posted. Via: Facebook Cheers Grandpope!

Samsung's Galaxy Stellar 4G LTE to Launch Sept 6 According to Leaked VZW Document

Tim — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 13:20:30 +0000

According to a newly leaked image from Engadget, Samsung's Galaxy Stellar is expected to launch September 6 for the price of $99. As you may have gathered from earlier posts, the Stellar is Sammy's budget offering for folks looking to take advantage of VZW's 4G LTE, but still have money left over in their wallet. The Stellar is powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, runs Ice Cream Sandwich, and has a 3.2MP back-facing camera for your snapshot needs. Don't forget the Stellar is coming equipped with the mystery that is "Starter Mode" and pre-loaded with Amazon Apps. Sound fun? Via: Engadget

Gameloft Celebrates Labor Day With Three Big Name Games Only $.99 in the Play Store

Eric — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 12:40:55 +0000

For most of us, the end of today means the beginning of the 3 day Labor Day weekend. Any extended break from work or school is exciting, but Gameloft is looking to make your Labor Day a bit better with a sale in the Play Store. This weekend only you can get 3 of their top games, N.O.V.A 3, Gangstar Rio: City of Saints or Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation all for only $.99.

Let's not get into the fact that all 3 of these games look eerily similar and just focus that these are some of the best games that Android has to offer at a pretty decent price. If you have been eyeing any of these games but warded off by the high price, now is the time to pick them up.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdF0EvDwH-Y[/youtube]

Modern Combat 3 | Gangstar Rio | N.O.V.A. 3

Samsung and Dropbox Reach Deal For 50GB of Storage on Note 2 and Galaxy Camera

Eric — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 12:00:49 +0000

Once again, Dropbox has teamed up with an OEM to offer a large amount of storage just for purchasing a device. This time, Samsung has promised future owners of the Galaxy Note II and Galaxy Camera will get 50GB of storage at their disposal. This is especially enticing for owners of the camera having a huge space to immediately put all of your photos.

Only question is now: which of the carriers will actually let this deal stand? We have seen Verizon be extremely resistant to offers like this in the past, maybe we'll see a change this time around?

Via: Engadget

Sprint Starts Marketing Campaign to Encourage You to "Say No to Sharing"

Eric — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 11:15:55 +0000

We are not exactly fans of Shared Data plans that AT&T and Verizon have adopted lately, but the other carriers, Sprint and T-Mobile, are not impressed either. Sprint has long been touting they have one of the last true unlimited data plans in the country and to hammer home that fact they are breaking out a new advertising campaign to remind you that you don't have to share. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GD5baNX7Q4c[/youtube] In a press release, Caralene Robinson of Sprint said, “the concept of sharing a monthly data allowance across a family or group of users increases the likelihood for a surprise monthly bill due to data overage charges." We're not entirely sure of the science behind that statement, but sharing data might call for some unnecessary overages down the road. They are softly nudging you away from conforming with these new plans while pointing out the strengths of their unlimited plans. What they don't mention is how many LTE cities they have up and running right now, which is under 15. Personally I'm partial to dividing up the data based on most dental work, what do you think?

Reminder: Don't Forget to Enter for Your Chance to Win One of Three Nexus 7's

Tim — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 10:35:08 +0000

Attention shoppers, on aisle five we're having a giveaway of three Nexus 7 tablets to three lucky people. We've teamed up with NVIDIA to celebrate the launch of Horn onto Android and what better to do that then with free tablets. For your chance to win, click that giant link below.

Enter Here

How to: Change Lock Screen Settings on Android [Beginners' Guide]

Kellen — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 10:00:29 +0000

The lock screen on your Android phone will forever be your most visited screen. Every single time you turn your phone on or wake it up, you have to do something at the lock screen. For some, a simple slide of the lock icon will unlock your phone, but for others, a level of security is required. This is a quick tutorial on how to change to the various lock screens, so that you can keep your phone secure.

Instructions:

1. From your home screen, enter into Settings>Security>Screen lock. 2. From here, you can choose a lock screen option. Slide: The least secure. With this option, you can slide the lock to the right to unlock your phone, to the left to jump straight into the camera, and up (on Jelly Bean devices) to access Google Now. One of the major benefits over the others, is that it allows you to check your notifications without having to unlock your device. None of the others will allow you to do that. Face Unlock: This lock screen allows you to unlock your device by having it recognize your face. It's not the most practical option, but it is fun to show off to your friends. If it has trouble recognizing you, you can choose a backup option such as a Pattern or PIN unlock. Pattern: This lock screen allows you to set up a pattern that is required in order to unlock your device. PIN: This is exactly as it sounds, you get to set up a pin number to be entered to unlock your device. Your pin has to be at least 4 digits long. Password: Like the PIN method, you instead enter a password which can contain both letters and numbers. *The rest of the Android Beginners’ Guide is a one-stop shop for all of those new to Android.

Contest: Annual Droid Life NFL Eliminator Challenge is Open, Chance to Win a Phone of Your Choice

Kellen — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 09:15:34 +0000

Yeah, I'd say I'm ready for some football. Just like we did last year and the year before, it's time for the annual Droid Life NFL Eliminator Challenge. In last year's contest, we upped the stakes by giving a way a phone of choice to the winner. Since that seemed to go over well, and our winner walked away with a brand new DROID RAZR MAXX, we're sticking to that formula. For 2012, if you win this challenge, you get to choose a brand new phone from any carrier in the U.S. up to $650 in value. Ready? Join the group: Droid Life Eliminator Password: droidlife Simple rules for those new to eliminator chalenges: 1. Join the league up above. Create an entry for yourself. Get ready to pick winners. 2. Since this is an eliminator challenge, you only have to pick 1 winner each week. 3. Remember though, that you only get to use a team one time and cannot pick them to win again. 4. If you choose correctly each week, you continue to advance. 5. If you choose incorrectly, you are out. There are no mulligans in football or this league. 6. If that didn’t make sense, check out the full “How to Play” rules here. 7. If we run into a tiebreaker, we will decide a winner based on these rules. We’ll try to remind folks to make their picks each week, but cannot guarantee that we’ll remember. If we do though, it will be on Twitter, so be sure to follow us there. Week 1 starts next week, with the first game being between the Cowboys and Giants on September 5. Good luck!

Video: Samsung Posts Fully Detailed Hands-on with Galaxy Note 2

Tim — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 08:43:02 +0000

If you can't get enough of Samsung's new Galaxy Note II, Samsung Mobile has gone ahead and posted their first official hands-on video with the device. In the video, the device's hardware and software take center stage as every bit of this device is gone over in full detail by a well-versed Samsung employee. The video does run a hefty 13 and a half minutes, but hey, if you want to know everything there is to know about this device, then this is all you need. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DcgZum8M1o[/youtube]

Rockstar Game's Max Payne for Android Marked Down to $0.99 [Win]

Tim — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 08:20:57 +0000

Mobile game lovers, to celebrate the Labor Day weekend, Rockstar Games has lowered the price of Max Payne to just $0.99. At that price, who can't help but get into some crime fighting, gun blasting, street justice action? Wish I could say the same about GTAIII, but that one is still $5. Either way, good deal right here. Play Link Cheers Chris!

PayPal Receives UI Makeover With Version 4.0

Kellen — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 16:45:20 +0000

PayPal for Android receive a massive UI overhaul today when it was bumped up to version 4.0. Sending payments, receiving cash from friends, and shopping on-the-go never looked so pretty. You can see that the designers followed parts of the newest Android design and theme guidelines, but went with an orange tint in favor of the ICS blue. Overall, it looks a heck of a lot better than it did in version 3.0, is easier to navigate through, and should make managing your online funds a breeze. Besides the stylish new look, they also added in these features:

View your total, available, and pending PayPal balances
Take a picture of your credit or debit card to easily add it to your account
Find local merchants who are using our new PayPal Here service
Enhanced support for Ice Cream Sandwich
Bug fixes

Play Link Cheers Josh!

Samsung: If Apple Releases an LTE iPhone, We're Ready to Sue

Tim — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 15:15:28 +0000

And the plot thickens. According to a report out of Korea Times, Samsung has confirmed that if Apple releases an LTE-enabled iPhone next month, the Korean electronics giant will slap them with a lawsuit immediately here in the States. Taken from analysis over at iRunway, Samsung currently holds 10% of all LTE patents granted so far and has waited for Apple to release an LTE iPhone for just this reason - deciding not to go after Apple's less popular LTE-enabled iPad device. The "hit them where it hurts" approach. As many would expect, there is no way Apple isn't going to release an LTE iPhone this year. It's simply become the standard that consumers look for when purchasing a new smartphone. Plus let's face it, if Apple doesn't release LTE on the next iPhone, then they will have basically screwed themselves anyways. So, will Apple release the device and then gather their legal team once more for another showdown? With unveiling of the iPhone 5 in a matter of weeks, we shall see soon enough. Via: BGR, Korea Times

Cell Broadcast Settings Menu Came With Jelly Bean for Verizon's Galaxy Nexus

Kellen — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:57:48 +0000

After digging into settings menus in the Jelly Bean update that was released this week for Verizon's Galaxy Nexus, a handful of readers noticed that a new "Cell Broadcast settings" area was now included. This new area appears to give you control over emergency alerts that could push through to your handset. For example, a child abduction notification could appear on your phone should one happen near you. I'm assuming that a notification of some sort would also pop up if say a hurricane were blowing through, if an earthquake just went down, or if some sort of terrorist activity that threaten lives was happening. You can even set your phone up to speak them out loud as they appear on your device. We hadn't noticed these on any other phone before, even a GSM Galaxy Nexus running Jelly Bean, and wanted to share. We aren't sure if this is something that is only showing because this is a test build or if this is indeed going to be a new standard in Android going forward. Pretty neat, though, right? To access the menu, head into Settings>Wireless & networks>Cell broadcasts. Cheers Steven and 4n1m4l!

Angry Gran 2 Released to Play Store, Travels the World with Her Deadly Newspaper

Eric — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:42:47 +0000

Sometimes the best mobile games make absolutely no sense. Why is this Grandma so angry? Why is she taking it out on everyone that she sees? We may never know the answers but Angry Gran 2 releases this elderly assassin into the world, having you travel to different locations while beating up people for the money in their pockets.

The gameplay is simple enough, hold your finger on the screen to charge your attacks and then wallop on the nearest object that passes. Miss the swing and you'll injure your back and be out of commission for a few moments. Gameplay is easy enough and it's certainly fun enough to keep you busy for a bus ride or between meetings. Hit the link below for the download, just don't try any of this at home.

Play Link

Google's Larry Page and Apple's Tim Cook Talking Nuclear Patent Disarmament?

Eric — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 13:11:32 +0000

After the shock of last week's verdict against Samsung in the case against Apple, the Android scene as a whole has been a little uneasy. No one wants the same outcome to happen to their favored company and everyone seems to be waiting to see what happens next. Reports from Reuters however say that Apple and Google have been having talks behind the scenes, maybe making headway in the stand off we are at now.

Google CEO Larry Page and Apple CEO Tim Cook picked up the phone last week and are discussing things relating to patents. According to this report, in-person meetings are potentially in the works, between the two giants. For now, neither company will comment on these rumors, but this could be big if the two companies did come to some sort of agreement.

Is it too good to be true?

Via: Reuters

Cheers everyone who sent this in!

Amazon Appstore Updated - International Users Supported and New User Interface

Tim — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 12:45:50 +0000

If you're an avid Amazon Appstore user who loves picking up their daily free applications, then you may have noticed some major changes today. Starting this morning, Amazon has enabled international users to take part in the Appstore for Android and have even given the entire app a nice and shiny renovation for the launch. Another key addition in the update is ability to finally remove apps from the "My Apps" list by long pressing them. Thank you, Amazon. Other fixes include a "battery drain" bug that some users noticed and some other misc. fixes and improvements. Via: Amazon Appstore Cheers Chris and Justin!

HBO GO for Android Updated With Jelly Bean Support and Bug Fixes (Update)

Tim — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 12:00:59 +0000

Well, not that this is the best timing ever seeing as how True Blood season five just ended, but better late than never I guess. HBO GO for Android has been updated to support Jelly Bean devices in Google Play. Once installed, you'll be watching your favorite HBO movies and Eastbound and Down in no time. Play Link Update: Well, HBO has removed the Jelly Bean support line from the changelog in Google Play so maybe we're back to waiting. We'll keep you posted. Cheers Chavez6!

Is This the New Kindle Fire?

Kellen — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:25:13 +0000

You may be looking at the brand new Kindle Fire. According to a report out of The Verge, this is the device (or one of) that Amazon will unveil next Thursday. There aren't many details to accompany the image above, but you can see that the custom Amazon skin is present and that a front camera is housed at the top. Other than those two things, the rest is a mystery. It's probably safe to assume that even if they do deliver both 7" and 10" tablets, that they'll remain at reasonable price levels. Now that the original Kindle Fire is sold out, Amazon is going to have to fill the $199 space in the tablet industry that they created. The real question then becomes, "How much will they charge for a larger model?" Any guesses? Via: The Verge

Celebrate National Marshmallow Toasting Day the Android Way

Eric — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 10:45:13 +0000

Did you know that August 30 is National Marshmallow Toasting Day? Well, you do now! Before you head off to the store to pick up your marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate, you should take a look at this awesome Android-ified wallpaper to commemorate today. It comes to us from Android Foundry and has many different resolutions whether you want to use this on your phone or your computer. Hit the source link below for the downloads.

What do you say, golden brown or burnt to a crisp?

Via: Android Foundry

"Recommended For You" Section Appears in Google Play Store

Kellen — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 10:30:28 +0000

Hey, look! Recommended apps in the Google Play store! At some point in the last 24 hours, Google activated a new section to help you find apps that are liked by your friends, popular in your area, or that are popular with users similar to you. Once in the "Recommended Apps" section, which can be visited by entering the main Apps section and scrolling down a bit, you can either tap to install or click the "Don't show me this app anymore" button, aka the circle with a line through it. It's a welcomed move by Google. The Play store can be overwhelming now that it has thousands of apps, so anything to help make the experience more user-friendly is a plus. Depending on how well they recommend, this may remove the need for the other dozen or so "Recommended Apps" apps. Feel free to cruise around in this new section and let us know if you find anything fun. Cheers Archit!

DROID RAZR M Hangs Out on Video, Shows Off Its Giant Chin

Kellen — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 09:40:18 +0000

The DROID RAZR M is sure getting its fair share of play these days, but that's expected since it will likely be announced next week at Motorola's NYC event. In today's footage, we get actual video of the device, giving us a great view of that almost edge-to-edge display. For a smaller device, this thing doesn't look half bad. Well, if you can get over the giant chin at the bottom of it. While I'm a big fan of thin phones, I'm not a big fan of squashing and flattening (which leads to giant chins) in order to achieve said thin status. It's tough to tell from such a short video, but it seems to be speedy while jumping through menus. With a Snapdragon S4 inside, that should be expected, however, if Motorola's Blur hasn't been fine tuned, you never know what the experience will be like. Just look at the Atrix HD. Take a look at the boot animation below and the drop us some candid thoughts in the comments. Via: Engadget

Amazon's Kindle Fire Completely Sold Out, Holds 22% of US Tablet Market

Tim — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 09:10:32 +0000

This morning, Amazon announced that their Kindle Fire tablet holds a massive 22% of the U.S. tablet market share and that the Fire is now completely sold out. Bummer. But don't worry, Amazon has a press conference set for September 6, which more than likely, will be to unveil their newest Kindle lineup. Amazon's CEO certainly seems excited about their future offerings:

Kindle Fire is sold out, but we have an exciting roadmap ahead—we will continue to offer our customers the best hardware, the best prices, the best customer service, the best cross-platform interoperability, and the best content ecosystem.

The Kindle Fire was released less than a year ago. To come out as the #1 selling Android tablet and to hold a big stake in the entire U.S. market is quite impressive. There's no doubt that Amazon's next offering(s) will surely live up to high expectations. Via: Amazon

Miss Samsung's IFA Presentation and Galaxy Note II Unveiling? Watch it Here

Tim — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 08:34:58 +0000

We know not everyone is free to watch an hour and a half long presentation at work, so if you happened to miss Samsung's unveiling of the new Galaxy Note II, Galaxy Camera, and their new line of Windows 8 products, feel free to sit back and take part in the magic right here.

Rovio: Something "PIG" is Coming - An Angry Birds Spin-off?

Tim — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 07:54:44 +0000

So, it looks like Rovio is finally coming out with a Angry Birds spin-off. Took 'em long enough. According to their Facebook and newest trailer, something pig is coming. The Facebook page is titled "Bad Piggies," but who knows if that title will stick when the game is finally revealed. I for one got very tired of Angry Birds, so I am hoping Bad Piggies can breathe some new life into this cash cow of theirs. Excited? [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNX-dEsf-sk[/youtube] Via: Bad Piggies Facebook

Samsung: Jelly Bean Update Coming to the Galaxy S3 "Very Soon"

Kellen — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 17:15:22 +0000

During Samsung's keynote today at IFA, they confirmed that the Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) update for the Galaxy S3 will be arriving "very soon." Since they announced the Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy Camera as running Jelly Bean out of the box, we would assume that they have basically finalized it for the GS3 as well. "Soon" certainly makes a lot of sense. The thing to remember, is that the update may be finished, but there are carriers involved that will need to give their final approval. I hate to be a downer, but Verizon's will likely be last to the party. As a carrier known for ~~being incredibly slow~~ to take their time on updates, it wouldn't surprise me to see the international variant receive the update first, followed by T-Mobile, AT&T and Sprint before Verizon customers can enjoy the fun that is Jelly Bean. After all, the Galaxy Nexus LTE still doesn't have the update, and it's a damn Nexus. Via: Engadget Cheers Andrew!

Google Search "Now" Updated - Movie Show Times, Manual Sports Team Additions, and Public Alerts Included

Tim — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 16:46:32 +0000

Google pushed an update out to Google Search today, which includes new Google Now goodies for Jelly Bean users. The update adds an option to manually sticky your favorite sports team's card right to your feed for live updates. Previously, you had to search for your favorite sports teams and hope that Google Now was smart enough to add them to your feed. They tossed in movie listings, but so far, are not showing up in a beautiful card and essentially look like what you would get with an iOS Google Search. Also found in the update are Public Alerts - examples given are earthquakes and storm warnings. Go grab the newest update and let us know if you're still loving Google Now. To enable these new options, open Google Now, tap Menu>Settings>Google Now and visit each of the sections. Some of them need to be manually turned on. Play Link Cheers Sam!

Refurbished Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 on Woot, Selling for Just $180

Eric — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 15:58:20 +0000

We know, we have told you over and over again that if you are looking for an Android tablet right now, the Nexus 7 is the way to go. But if the bottom-line price is an important issue, then today's Woot! deal will be hard to ignore. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 is on sale today only for $179.99 for a refurbished model. That gets you a 7" tablet with a 1GHz dual-core processor and Samsung's TouchWiz on top of Ice Cream Sandwich packed inside. There is 8GB of on-board storage that can be expanded with a microSD card.

Not the best tablet in the market today, but again, this is a deal. And if the refurbished tag is giving you second thoughts, let me say from personal experience that I bought my WiFi XOOM refurbished from Woot! and it is still going strong to this day. Does this deal interest you or would you save for something else? Buy. Cheers Cory!

HTC Releases Kernel Source for the Rezound's ICS Build 3.14.605.12

Kellen — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 15:10:12 +0000

Good news, HTC Rezound owners. The kernel source for the latest Ice Cream Sandwich update, build 3.14.605.12, the one you received on your devices at the end of July, has been released! This certainly should help in development going forward. For those that aren't developers, well, this probably doesn't matter much to you until a developer does something with it. Via: HTCdev Cheers Po1soNNN and Doktor!

No, Samsung Did Not Pay Apple Their $1.05 Billion in Damages in Nickels

Tim — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 15:00:38 +0000

According to our inbox, more than a few of you came across this headline earlier today. Apparently, the story is that Samsung has decided to skip all of that appeal nonsense in their trial with Apple and just get the $1.05 billion payment over with. Due to there being no specifics on payment method, this silly story claims that Samsung delivered 30 shipping trucks filled with 5 cent pieces to Apple HQ in Cupertino. According to Paper Blog, Samsung's chairman was even quoted as saying:

You can use your coins to buy refreshments at the little machine for life or melt the coins to make computers, that’s not my problem, I already paid them and fulfilled the law. A total of 20 billion coins, delivery hope to finish this week.

Now, I am hoping none of you actually believed this to be true. Before Samsung sends even a single penny to Apple they will have gone through a flurry of court appeals and whatever else they plan to do. In the meantime, this story was good for a couple of laughs. Via: PaperBlog Cheers Jeff, Blutodawg, Daniel, Andrew, and Richard!

Granny Smith for Android - Send Granny Flying for Those Apples

Tim — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 14:37:16 +0000

From the same team that happened to make one of Android's more popular titles called Sprinkle, comes Granny Smith. Granny Smith, quite possible could be one of the more silly, fun, and addicting games I have played in a while. For just $1, you send Granny flying down hill after hill smashing through glass, homes, and caves to reach the apples before some chubby bandit gets them. Depending on how many of the apples you get, determines whether you move on to the next level. The controls are smooth, the graphics are cute in a cartoon-ish sort of way, and the overall play again factor is extremely high. Go check it out and let us know what you think. Play Link ($0.99) [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXQg2ymGU30[/youtube]

Beats Rumored to Be Planning Their Own Smartphone and Beats-Ecosystem

Eric — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 13:50:05 +0000

When HTC first acquired Beats by Dre, it was seen as a fantastic move that had a lot of upside for both the mobile device industry and the niche of high-quality headphones. Unfortunately for both companies, the money spent never exactly made the project take off, which led to HTC selling back a lot of their stake in Beats recently. But now, it seems that Beats is ready to make some moves on its own. Rumors state that the headphone manufacturer is planning a Beats-themed smartphone sometime soon.

Obviously, the phone itself would be made by HTC since they are still business partners, but the rumored phone will not bear any HTC logos. It will however, feature a custom Beats user interface which we are assuming will be built over Android. Not content to stop there, Beats wants to jump into the music service by making an iTunes competitor and also a system that connects your new phone, TV, tablet and computer so that they can share streaming music between all of them. A juicy rumor for sure.

Does Beats have the clout to enter into the music game where Apple dominates, Google is trying to make headway and everyone else lags behind?

Via: BGR

Flashable Jelly Bean JRO03O Zip Now Available for Galaxy Nexus LTE

Kellen — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 13:05:48 +0000

As most of our Galaxy Nexus LTE owners know, a test Jelly Bean build was found last night and released this morning for you all to enjoy. If you didn't feel like factory imaging back to stock Android 4.0.4 (IMM76K), so that you could then update to IMM76Q and then eventually onto JRO03O (Android 4.1), you were much more patient than I. That patience has paid off, as a .zip that should take you onto JRO03O from any ROM has been released by @P3Droid. Download: update_jro03o.zip [mirror] Instructions:

*If you only want the new radios from this Jelly Bean build, you can find them here.

1. Download the file from above onto your phone's storage. 2. Reboot into recovery and make a backup. 3. You should probably wipe data and cache at this point. 4. Then "install zip from sdcard" and find the file you just downloaded. 5. Watch it install, reboot, and enjoy. If you run into any issues, be sure to let us know in the comments. And again, be sure to make a backup first. *The build is stock, but has been rooted.

Fan Gets Custom Fiery Galaxy S3 From Samsung, Makes Us Very Jealous

Tim — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 12:30:56 +0000

Well that's just not fair. After requesting then being denied a free Galaxy S3 from one of Samsung's Facebook pages, a Sammy fan has in his possession one of the only custom SGSIII devices ever created. The story goes, a very kind message went out to Samsung along with a drawing of a very cute fire-breathing dragon. Samsung, naturally, had to deny the fan's request given that if they sent out a free phone to one person, they would have to give free phones to everybody. For some reason, the story, along with Samsung's reply attached with a picture of a kangaroo on a unicycle, went viral on the web. In appreciation of the viral hit, Samsung created a custom SGSIII device for Mr. Shane, incorporating his picture of the dragon. Awe, that's cute, Samsung.

Either way, we wish we could have one. :( Cheers EvanTheGamer!

Everything You Need to Know About Samsung's Galaxy Camera

Kellen — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 11:49:03 +0000

Samsung just wrapped up their IFA Unpacked event, and confirmed the existence of the new Galaxy Camera. It really is a 16MP smart camera powered by a 1.4GHz quad-core processor, with a 4.8" HD display than runs Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean). Basically, this camera destroys most of your phones when it comes to specs. The real sell here though, is that it's connected via 4G, 3G, or WiFi so that you can take high-quality pictures with the 16MP 1/2.3” BSI CMOS sensor, while on the go. And rather than having to wait to get home or visit a PC before being able to share with the world, it runs Android, so you can do it all on the fly. It has an automatic cloud backup system, 35 photo editing tools, and a content manager to organize your media by face, into folders, etc. It's not a DLSR, but man, this thing sounds impressive. The device should arrive some time in October. Below we have the specs, an infographic, press release, and additional pictures of the device.

Specs:

Infographic:

Gallery:

Press Release:

Samsung presents 'Camera, Reborn.' - the GALAXY Camera

The new device combines leading-edge camera capabilities with Android™ 4.1 Jelly Bean and wireless network connectivity, letting users shoot, edit and share images easily anywhere, at any time
BERLIN, Germany - August 29, 2012 - Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, has today announced the launch of the GALAXY Camera. Developed to fit the changing ways we communicate, the GALAXY Camera combines high performance photography with the latest Android™ 4.1 platform, so called Jelly Bean, and wireless network connectivity, creating a brand new type of device. Samsung GALAXY Camera fits perfectly for those who wish to shoot, edit and share high quality photographs and video easily and spontaneously from anywhere, at any time. “The GALAXY Camera opens a new visual communication era and shifts a paradigm in communication. With the growth of social networks and the prevalence of smartphones and tablets, people today communicate faster than words. As we increasingly articulate our experiences through pictures and videos the GALAXY Camera has been created to lead the way in this new era of visual communication. Communication becomes more vivid and lively with high-quality images and instant sharing anywhere, anytime,” said JK Shin, President of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics. Andy Rubin, Senior Vice President of Mobile and Digital Content at Google, congratulated the Samsung team on their launch. “When we first started work on Android, we envisioned building a smart camera that would take digital photography to the next level. The GALAXY Camera is an innovative product that speaks to the openness and flexibility of the Android platform.” The GALAXY Camera makes outstanding photography on the go. Users never again have to sacrifice picture quality if they want to edit and share their photos instantly. It easily outperforms any smartphone camera. The GALAXY Camera, boasting a 21x super long zoom lens and a super-bright 16M BSI CMOS sensor, delivers pictures in brilliant quality. The device also features ‘Smart Pro’ technology, a series of modes that make professional-looking photography easy for anyone to achieve. What truly revolutionizes this photography experience is Android™ 4.1 Jelly Bean and wireless connectivity, which opens up the device to applications for photo-editing, sharing, and much more. Users will experience all of GALAXY Camera’s great features on a market-leading HD Super Clear LCD. With stunning clarity, incredible ease-of-use and unparalleled connectivity, the GALAXY Camera is the next step in imaging innovation. Shoot stunning quality images The GALAXY Camera’s ‘Smart Pro’ feature makes it easy to recreate advanced photographic setups in just a few simple steps for stunning artistic results. Using the easy-to-navigate menu system, users can choose from a series of preset scenario options which will automatically adjust the camera’s settings in order to capture the perfect photo. For example, the ‘Rich Tone’ setting delivers images with greater intensity – particularly effective for reducing overexposure in bright surroundings, while the ‘Light Trace’ setting automatically controls shutter speed for atmospheric night scenes full of light trails. The GALAXY Camera’s 21x super long zoom can be controlled by either button or touchscreen, rendering long-distance pictures in a quality that users will be proud to share, while OIS ensures that images stay clear and crisp. The camera’s 16 Megapixel 1/2.3” BSI CMOS sensor captures images in brilliant color and resolution, while the 23mm aperture lens delivers impressive wide-angle shots incomparable to smartphone pictures.< Enjoy your photos and video on a world-leading display The GALAXY Camera boasts large and vivid enough camera display - a 4.8”(121.2mm) HD Super Clear LCD screen, which makes it a pleasure to shoot, share and edit images from the palm of the hand. Another advantage of smartphone technology is the Voice Control option which allows the user to control a number of functions such as ‘Zoom in’ and ‘Shoot’ through voice. All these features are housed in a beautifully designed, ergonomic body with the GALAXY Camera’s minimal, organic design complementing its easy-to-use professional features. Edit and perfect images on your device The GALAXY Camera includes a comprehensive set of 35 powerful photo editing features through the ‘Photo Wizard’, allowing users to make professional quality edits on the go. The new features take advantage of the ultrafast quad-core processor and HD Super Clear LCD, giving access to a feature like Auto Face Calibration so edits can be made in precise detail and with ease. The ‘Movie Wizard’ also allows users to create and edit expert-quality videos easily from the touch screen. The GALAXY Camera also features ‘Smart Content Manager’, an innovative on-device organization tool which intelligently creates folders, tags faces, and even suggests which pictures to delete when they don’t come out as desired. Thanks to the combination of wireless connectivity and Android™ 4.1 Jelly Bean OS, the internet capabilities of the GALAXY Camera are equal to those of the latest smartphone so that users can get even more enjoyment out of their device. In addition to the pre-installed applications from Samsung, users can browse the web and enjoy any applications from Google Play or Samsung Apps stores. If users are not sure which app to download, ‘S Suggest’ will help them recommend a new photo editing app or fun game to download. Share your images anywhere, anytime The camera’s convenient ‘Auto Cloud Backup’ feature will automatically save precious photos into the cloud via Samsung’s AllShare the instant they are taken. The GALAXY Camera also allows users to share photos at the same time as they shoot them with ‘Share Shot.’ As well as sharing to social networks and cloud services, users can also connect to a range of GALAXY devices including the GALAXY SIII and GALAXY Note II for effortless and automatic sharing of pictures across the GALAXY family. The new device enables connection to 3G or 4G, allowing photo sharing and browsing anywhere. The GALAXY Camera also functions on Wi-Fi with Dual Band and Channel Bonding for extra speed. Connectivity is supported by a quad-core processor that enables fast web-browsing and multi-tasking, as well as high-speed image processing without a significant impact on battery life. The GALAXY Camera comes in two connectivity options: a 3G and Wi-Fi version or a 4G and Wi-Fi version. Samsung GALAXY Camera will be on display at the Samsung booth #20 at IFA 2012, Aug 31 through Sep 5. About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2011 consolidated sales of US$143.1 billion. Employing approximately 206,000 people in 197 offices across 72 countries, the company operates two separate organizations to coordinate its nine independent business units: Digital Media & Communications, comprising Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, and Digital Imaging; and Device Solutions, consisting of Memory, System LSI and LED. Recognized for its industry-leading performance across a range of economic, environmental and social criteria, Samsung Electronics was named the world’s most sustainable technology company in the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Index. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

Android-Powered Archos GamePad Looks Incredibly Awesome, For an Archos Device

Tim — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 11:17:23 +0000

Today, device maker Archos has announced their newest upcoming product, the GamePad. The GamePad, which features a 7" display, physical control buttons and analog sticks, may just be the greatest Android gaming device to hit the market. With access to Google Play, users can finally play all of those first-person shooters with ease and no more onscreen controls. Powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, a quad-core GPU and Ice Cream Sandwich, the GamePad includes automatic game recognition and mapping tools, so no worries on having to set up specific button layouts. The Archos GamePad will hit Euro markets at the end of October for the price 150€. No word on an American launch yet. So, is this the future of Android gaming?

ARCHOS combines physical gaming controls with a full Android-powered tablet to create the GamePad
Denver, CO – August 29, 2012 - ARCHOS, an award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, is proud to announce their first gaming tablet. This new type of tablet, the GamePad, combines gaming controls with AndroidTM for a full tablet and gaming experience in one. Gamers will not only have access to all their favorite games, they will also have access to email, Internet, apps and more through one device. The GamePad features a 7-inch, capacitive screen, physical control buttons and analog sticks. This Google certified tablet has full access to Google PlayTM for the tens of thousands of games available, runs a dual-core processor @ 1.5 GHz combined with a Mali 400mp quad-core GPU. In addition, the GamePad includes automatic game recognition and mapping tools – patented technology to ensure control compatibility with every advanced Android game. Until now, tablets provided gamers with touch controls that lacked response and compatibility for their advanced games, providing a disappointing gaming experience. As one of the main tablet uses, there is a strong need for a tablet that does more for gaming. Thanks to the complete touch and physical controls of the ARCHOS GamePad, Gamers can enhance their experience starting at the end of October 2012 for less than 150€. “When Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, was first released they included game controller support within the framework and that is when we decided to build the GamePad,” says Henri Crohas, ARCHOS Founder and CEO. Some leading game developers have already embraced the physical controller support that was introduced with ICS rendering their apps compatible with the physical controls of the GamePad or with game controllers plugged into tablets or phones. However many games originally did not include physical control mapping, which is why ARCHOS developed their mapping and game recognition tool; a patented technology that allows any virtual controls to be mapped the GamePad’s physical control buttons. “Thanks to the mapping and automatic game recognition systems included on the GamePad, we already have over a thousand android games compatible with the ARCHOS GamePad’s physical controls, including back catalog titles that originally didn’t include physical controls,” continued Crohas.

Samsung Makes the Galaxy Note 2 Official, Coming to the U.S. Later in 2012

Tim — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:38:52 +0000

It's official - Samsung's Galaxy Note II has been announced at IFA. The device, which may remind you of the Galaxy SIII from a design point of view, packs some pretty nice specs. For starters, it features a 5.5" HD Super AMOLED display at a resolution of 1280x720, runs Google's Jelly Bean OS, and is powered by Samsung's quad-core 1.6 GHz Exynos processor with 2GB of RAM. As a plus, it comes with HSPA+ and 4G LTE connectivity for compatibility with as many carriers as possible. Along with the device itself, Samsung has re-done their S-Pen, giving it new life with redesigned software and features. Along its backside, the device houses an 8MP camera and a 1.9MP camera along the front for HD recording. Inside the device is a massive 3,100 mAh battery for long life.

Launch is set for sometime in October for most European, Asian, and Middle East markets. As for America, Samsung had this to say:

Samsung Mobile is planning a U.S. version of Galaxy Note II, which will be available later in 2012. Building on the success of the original Galaxy Note, we’re confident that the Galaxy Note II continues to redefine what consumers should expect from their smartphone and delivers a powerful, innovative and unique experience. Exact timing and retail channel availability is not being announced at this time, we will continue to share information as it becomes available.

So, any takers?

Sprint Expands Their 4G LTE Network, Adds Four Brand New Markets in the U.S.

Tim — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:35:23 +0000

Today, Sprint is flipping the switch on four new 4G LTE markets. The company has been slowly but surely expanding its 4G reach across America and has even introduced a newly outfitted 3G service in Baltimore, Boston, and Washington D.C. As for the four new LTE markets, they are as follows:

Baltimore, Md
Gainesville, Ga
Manhattan/Junction City, Kan
Sedalia, Mo

This may seem like baby steps in comparison to Verizon's 4G roll out, but hey, there's nothing wrong with baby steps. According to Sprint, by the end of 2013 they plan to have completed their "build-out" and will then work on enhancements to the network from them on.

Sprint continues nationwide 4G LTE expansion, adding four more cities to broaden its coverage
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), August 29, 2012 - Sprint (NYSE:S) today introduced its 4G LTE high-speed data network to customers in Baltimore, Md., Gainesville, Ga., Manhattan/Junction City, Kan., and Sedalia, Mo. Additionally, Sprint customers in Baltimore, Boston and Washington, D.C., are beginning to enjoy the benefits of Sprint’s all-new 3G service – which is expected to deliver an exceptionally clear signal, better in-building coverage and fewer dropped/blocked calls. Sprint was the first national wireless carrier to introduce 4G service in 2008, and today’s 3G/4G network improvements mark another step forward in the company’s overall network strategy, known as Network Vision. According to a CTIA survey of wireless customers, wireless data traffic increased 123 percent from 2010 to 2011. Network Vision is specifically designed to meet the growing 3G and 4G LTE network demands of wireless subscribers. People want to use their smartphones, tablets and wireless hotspots where they live, work and play. “Our customers are enjoying new applications and devices that increase the demand for mobile data,” said Bob Azzi, senior vice president-Network, Sprint. “The network build-out – that today is playing out in four new cities – will provide nothing less than a state-of-the art network platform for the next generation of customers. Customers across the country will begin to experience better 3G service on their devices and will be able to take advantage of 4G LTE on cutting-edge devices as we continue to launch more cities.” In Baltimore, customers will begin to see 4G LTE signals in the Inner Harbor, Fells Point, Federal Hill and Pikesville areas – with more sites being turned on in the days and weeks ahead. With the addition of 4G LTE and the upgrades to 3G service, the Sprint network in these areas can handle more voice and data traffic. Today’s network upgrades are expected to make sending text messages, surfing the Web, sharing photos, and streaming music and videos easier, faster and more reliable. As consumers all over the country are becoming more dependent on their smartphones, network quality is becoming more important. In addition to Baltimore, Sprint is aggressively improving the 3G experience city by city. Today, customers in Boston and Washington, D.C., should also notice improved 3G cell coverage, reduced roaming and faster data speeds. The work to build Sprint’s all-new network will continue in other markets across the country. Sherman-Dennison, Texas, is expected to see 4G LTE service in the weeks ahead. In today’s competitive wireless market, the value of unlimited has never been more apparent. Sprint’s Everything Data plan with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM includes unlimited data, texting and calling to and from any mobile phone in America while on the Sprint network, starting at just $79.99 per month for smartphones (pricing excludes taxes and surcharges). During the past several years, Sprint has been working hard to deliver the best customer experience. The 2012 American Customer Satisfaction Index ranked Sprint No. 1 among all national carriers in customer satisfaction and most improved, across all 47 industries, during the last four years. Building an all-new network is the linchpin to make Sprint the company customers want to do business with. Sprint 4G LTE made its debut in 15 cities on July 15, and the company plans to introduce more markets to the network in 2012. By the end of 2013, Sprint expects to have largely completed the build-out of its all-new 4G LTE and 3G nationwide network. For the most up-to-date details on Sprint’s 4G LTE portfolio and rollout, please visit www.sprint.com/4GLTE. About Sprint Nextel Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 56 million customers at the end of the second quarter of 2012 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The American Customer Satisfaction Index rated Sprint No. 1 among all national carriers in customer satisfaction and most improved, across all 47 industries, during the last four years. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in its 2011 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation’s greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

Watch Samsung's Unpacked Event Live

Tim — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:04:19 +0000

For those who couldn't make it to Europe, Samsung is streaming their Unpacked Event live this morning. Watch the feed down below.

Sony Announces New Lineup - Three Xperia Phones and One Xperia Tablet

Tim — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:00:15 +0000

Today, Sony made a big splash at IFA with the announcement of four new devices for their Xperia holiday lineup. There are three new smartphones and the first ever Xperia tablet. In terms of specs, the Xperia T takes the cake with a monstrous 4.6" HD "Reality" display, 13MP camera, 1.5"GHz dual-core processor, and is completely PlayStation certified. Following the T, is the Xperia V. It too offers the same 1.5GHz chip, 13MP camera, and PS-certified gaming. Its only difference is the 4.3" HD Reality display instead of a 4.6". Following both the T and V, is the Xperia J. The J is a more affordable and mid-range Xperia device. It features a 4.0” FWVGA Display, 5MP backside camera, and comes in at just 9.2mm thick. No word on a processor or 4G LTE connectivity as of yet. Last, but certainly not least, is Sony's new Xperia S tablet. It has a 9.4" HD display, is powered by NVIDIA's quad-core Tegra 3 chip, has a protective splash-proof coating, 64GB of storage, and runs Ice Cream Sandwich. For the full list of specs and release times, check below.

Xperia T:

4.6” HD Reality Display powered by the Mobile BRAVIA® Engine for razor sharp clarity
13MP fast capture camera that goes from sleep mode to snap in just over a second
Full 1080p HD video recording capabilities and a 720p HD front camera for the highest quality content
Easy connectivity with ‘One-touch’ function enabled by NFC
PlayStation™ Certified
Latest generation 1.5GHz dual core processor for improved battery life, fast performance and ultra sharp graphics
Android version 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich). Will be upgraded to Android version 4.1 (Jelly Bean) following launch. Detailed timing to follow
MHL connectivity for viewing content on a big screen without the need for a charger
Use Xperia TV Dock with MHL to HDMI converter and charging connector to enjoy photos and videos on an HDMI enabled TV
In some markets Xperia T will be known as Xperia TX
Available in Black, Silver and White colours
Launching globally over next few weeks

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJErcswfto0[/youtube]

Xperia V:

4.3” HD Reality Display powered by the Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2 for razor sharp clarity
13 MP fast capture camera with full HD video recording.
Latest generation 1.5GHz dual core processor for improved battery life, fast performance and ultra sharp graphics
LTE for the fastest data download speeds (in markets where technology is available)
Easy connectivity with One-touch ‘One-touch’ enabled by NFC
Clear audio+ for the highest level of sound quality
PlayStation™ Certified
Android version 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich). Will be upgraded to Android version 4.1 (Jelly Bean) following launch. Detailed timing to follow
Highest levels of dust and water resistance in a smartphone (IP55/57+) ensure protection from the effects of immersion up to 1m for 30 minutes
MHL connectivity for viewing content on a big screen without the need for a charger
Available in Black, Pink and White colours
Launching globally Q4 2012

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sabceviTlEE[/youtube]

Xperia J:

9.2mm slim stylish design
Large 4.0” FWVGA Display
Social media updates with illumination
5MP AF camera
Front chat camera
Available in Black, Gold, White and Pink colours
Launching globally Q4 2012

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs5p4r7J4sI[/youtube]

Xperia Tablet S:

Slim new aluminium body and splash-proof design
9.4” HD display with OptiContrast™ Panel with low-friction coating
NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 quad-core processor and Android 4.0.3 operating system
Android version 4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
Various experiences with original applications and Sony’s network services
Optimized accessories (sold separately) to enhance experiences in every scene
Available from the beginning of September 2012

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mkhSQtanAE[/youtube]

Hoping to find one of these new devices in your possession sometime shortly after they are made available? I will say, that Xperia T sounds like a pretty cool phone. Via: Sony

Google Maps Updated to Version 6.11.1, Hopefully It Fixes HTC Rezound Reboot Issues

Kellen — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 09:18:50 +0000

A Google Maps update to version 6.11.1 just went live in the Play store. It's not clear yet if anything major was included, but we know that HTC Rezound owners have patiently been waiting for a fix after the last update. For those not familiar, the last Maps update was causing Rezounds and other HTC devices to reboot immediately after launching the app. To say it was an unfortunate situation is an understatement. The only way to fix the issue was to uninstall that last update and use an older build of Maps. Hopefully, this takes care of it. If you own a Rezound, be sure to update and let us know how your device behaves afterwards. Update: According to the comments, this update does indeed fix the reboot issue for Rezound owners. Update 2: An official post with details for the update is now up. It sounds like biking directions and biking turn-by-turn navigation were also included along with the reboot fix. Also, once an official changelog is posted, we will update this post. Play Link

Samsung to Unveil Galaxy Camera - Jelly Bean, 16MP Sensor, and Exynos Chip

Tim — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 09:09:33 +0000

I don't believe my eyes. You're looking at the Galaxy Camera that is said to be announced by Samsung today at IFA. The un-official specs so far will blow away almost any device you currently own, which makes this an extremely desirable device for both phone lovers and camera lovers. So far, it's said to come shipped with Jelly Bean, Samsung's new 1.4GHz Exynos processor, a monster 16MP sensor and 21x zoom lens, and a 4.8" HD SLCD display along its backside. This trend of putting Android in a camera's body was brought to life recently with Nikon's new Coolpix S800c, but we didn't know that Android's largest OEM had any plans of following suit. Not only are they going to enter the Android-powered camera market, it looks as though they are meaning to dominate it.

What do you think? Does this thing look freakin' awesome or what? Via: PocketNow

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Leaks Ahead of Official Announcement - 5.5" Display, Jelly Bean, 2GB RAM All Confirmed

Kellen — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 08:44:15 +0000

Samsung will announce the Galaxy Note 2 later today at IFA, but thanks to a leak, we now have official pics and specs for the device. According to PocketNow, the device will sport a 1.6GHz quad-core processor (likely an Exynos), 2GB RAM, 16-32-64GB internal storage options, an expandable microSD slot, 5.5" HD Super AMOLED display (1280x720), 8MP rear camera, 1.9MP front camera, 3100mAh battery, and will run Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) out of the box. The device will ship to Europe in October with HSPA+ and LTE radios inside. It will be available in two colors: Marble White and Titanium Grey. Other new features to set this apart from the previous Note have to do with the S Pen. The new S Pen is going to be slightly thicker, longer, and has been designed to be more ergonomic. It will allow you to preview content without having to open it, by simply hovering over things like emails, images and videos. Lastly, the Note 2 will have a screen recorder application, so that you can show off demos of activities on the device. Sounds solid. Are you buying (assuming it comes to the U.S. at some point)?

Via: PocketNow

Leaked Press Image Shows Off White Motorola DROID RAZR M

Tim — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 08:20:40 +0000

We pretty much know everything there is to know about Verizon's upcoming DROID RAZR M. It has a 4.3" qHD display, is powered by a 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 chip, 1GB of RAM and Ice Cream Sandwich. Until recently, we knew it would make its debut in two colors (black and white), but no images were seen of the white variant. Not the case anymore. Above is the white RAZR M that will be announced by Motorola on September 5 in NYC. Liking the look so far? Via: Engadget

Download: New Jelly Bean Radios FF02/FG02 for Verizon Galaxy Nexus

Kellen — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 07:45:19 +0000

When Jelly Bean was first outed this morning for Verizon's Galaxy Nexus, most people immediately asked, "Are there new radios?" Indeed there are. And they are already available as a flashable .zip file that should work over the top of just about any other radio. So far, everyone that I have seen has had success in flashing this file. The new radios are FF02/FG02. Download: 411_radios.zip [mirror] To flash this, you will need to be root or at least have a custom recovery installed. From that recovery, "install zip from sd card" and make magic happen. Via: RootzWiki

Newest Google Nexus 7 TV Ad Takes Dreamers to the Moon

Kellen — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 07:00:19 +0000

The last Google Nexus 7 ad, the one with the father and son camping in their backyard, was nothing short of brilliant. The new spot that was released this morning, somehow manages to be equally as good. The focus is again on cute kids and their imaginations, but even more so with family, ease of use (1-handed for cooking lessons), video chatting (with grandma), and last but not least, Google Voice Search. Take that, annoying Apple Siri ads. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2XmymhCdHU[/youtube]

Download: Jelly Bean (JRO03O) Update for Verizon Galaxy Nexus

Kellen — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 06:22:28 +0000

The Jelly Bean (JRO03O) update that popped up on a Verizon Galaxy Nexus last night is now available for download. If you want to flash it though, there are a couple of things you should know. First, you need to make sure your stock G-Nex is running IMM76Q. Second, this is a test build and apparently not the official build that users will see. So if neither of those things bother you, then you should jump all over this. It's being reported that this JB build contains both a new bootloader and, wait for it, new radios (FF02 CDMA/FG02 LTE). That may make it worth it, right there. Download: Google Link [mirror] Instructions: The easiest way to do this, is to get yourself back to stock IMM76K. That may mean that you will need to flash factory images and wipe everything. From there, install ClockworkMod Recovery, download the IMM76Q file and flash it using "install zip from sd card." After that, download the new Jelly Bean (JRO03O) file to your phone and flash it in CWM Recovery just like you did with IMM76Q. (This is a fantastic resource.) Also, you could wait until someone turns this into a flashable .zip for any ROM. Update: Radios from the update have been posted here. Via: XDA Cheers El Madhatter, oldblue910, Jason and Manny!

HTC's Newest Tablet Appears in Series of Pictures, It's an Interesting Take on a Slate

Kellen — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 21:37:06 +0000

So HTC, to date, has struggled mightily in the tablet game. In fact, they basically took the last year or so off to re-think their strategy after producing some of the more disappointing big-screened Android devices ever (Flyer and Jetstream). That time away has apparently given them enough ideas and has led to the device in the 7 pictures that just leaked on Twitter and that we have featured in this post. It's a nameless tablet that appears to have a massive screen, giant chin bezel, front and back cameras (fixated on the bottom of the device), is incredibly thin, and runs a version of HTC's Sense. It also looks like it will have a dock that turns the device into an iMac knock-off. After cruising over these pictures a number of times, we can't actually decide what OS this is running. The only OS-type of picture we have is that of an email client, which looks like iOS, not Android. We all know that it can't be running iOS, so that either leaves Windows or Android, however, we'd be jumping ahead of ourselves if we claimed it to be either one definitively. Then again, Microsoft apparently denied HTC the chance to produce a Windows 8 tablet, so maybe it is Android after all? Update: Tablet UI picture has been added, it's definitely running Android. What do you guys think? Cool, odd, or don't care?

Via: Twitter

Is the Jelly Bean Update for Verizon's Galaxy Nexus Popping Up on Devices as JRO03O?

Kellen — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 21:12:34 +0000

Oooh, now this is the stuff we like to see on a Tuesday night. According to an XDA member (same guy that received the IMM76Q update first), a notification for the Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) update on his Verizon Galaxy Nexus appeared this evening. The build number is JRO03O, which would be the newest version of Android to date, and is 146.6MB in size. As you all know, Verizon has yet to announce the availability of this update, even though this is a Nexus device. We were certainly hoping that it wouldn't be far off after they took their sweet time with the 4.0.4 update, but this is even sooner than I think most expected. Big Red has yet to post official documents for the update, so there is a chance that this is simply the latest test build that one lucky G-Nex owner was able to receive. We'll be following this story closely. Update: As I mentioned earlier, this is the same guy that first received the IMM76Q update, which means he likely has some sort of a test device. So by no means does this mean that you should be hammering your "System updates" button, but should instead be holding on as the fabulous developer community works with him to get a .zip together or at least a URL so that we can all join in on the fun. Update 2: The file has been found. You can grab it from here. Via: XDA Cheers Jarrod!

Astro File Manager Receives UI Overhaul With Quicker Navigation, Access to Google Drive and Dropbox

Kellen — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 16:45:26 +0000

Astro File Manager, one of the most popular file browsers on Android, received a major overhaul today. Actually, this is almost beyond being just an overhaul - this is like the introduction of a whole new app. First, the UI is completely different. It's built off of ICS guidelines, includes panel swiping to reveal menus, storage locations, settings, and other shortcuts. You can quickly browse through recently used or added files, search by filetype, and even save those same searches for later use. Beyond the UI changes, the Astro team also included support for Dropbox and Google Drive. You can now access your files and folders from two of the more popular cloud storage service options on the planet. Update: According to the Play store listing, this update is only for Jelly Bean users. Sorry, ICS users. All I can say is, "Well done, Astro." Play Link

Motorola Sending Invites Out for Possible XOOM WiFi Jelly Bean Fixer Update

Tim — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 16:26:42 +0000

Motorola's Feedback Network has begun to send out friendly invites to members of their community. The invites are for owners of the Motorola XOOM WiFi that recently received the official Jelly Bean update. Since it hasn't been too long since that update rolled out to owners, we are assuming that this is just a minor update and it is to fix any possible bugs that went out with Jelly Bean.

Hi, Thanks for joining the Motorola Feedback Network. We are inviting owners of the Motorola Wi-Fi Xoom (U.S. only) to participate in an early preview of a new software release, and provide feedback. If you are not currently using a Motorola Wi-Fi Xoom, please excuse and ignore this email. Click this link -- retraced -- to take the enrollment survey if you wish to take part. Note that you must be a member in good standing of the Motorola Owners' Forums to be included. The registration window could close without notice so please respond as quickly as possible. This is a confidential test under the terms of the Motorola Feedback Network. Do not post any details or information about this on any public sites. Thanks -- please understand that start times are always fluid. We ask for your patience if you register but don't hear from us right away. Matt Motorola Owners’ Forums Motorola Feedback Network

If you're a Feedback member, you better go get yourself signed up. Cheers B and B!

Here are the Isis Approved Devices From Each Carrier, Service Launching in September

Kellen — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 15:56:55 +0000

This morning, T-Mobile announced that a new update for the Galaxy S2 would include support for Isis, the mobile wallet app that they have teamed with AT&T and Verizon to create. For months, Isis news had cooled, but today is apparently the day for it all to come out. Bloomberg is reporting that Isis' CEO has said that they are planning for a launch in their first markets, Austin, TX and Salt Lake City, next month. This is technically a delay, but the slow rollout has to do with a change in approach from having carriers process payments to putting that side of the business on the credit card companies. In related news, we have a list of devices on each carrier that MasterCard has given Isis approval to. The list isn't extensive, but then again, NFC equipped phones haven't exactly started flooding the market yet as mobile payment systems like this have taken their sweet time. For Verizon, we get the Incredible 4G and Galaxy S3. The Galaxy Nexus is not listed. Soooooo, if Verizon won't allow Google Wallet to work on it and MasterCard won't give it Isis approval, where does that leave us?

Verizon:

DROID Incredible 4G LTE
Samsung Galaxy S3

AT&T:

Samsung Galaxy S3
HTC One X

T-Mobile:

HTC Amaze 4G
Samsung Galaxy S3
Samsung Galaxy S2

Now all we need is for this trial period in SLC and Austin to take place so that the rest of the country can get in on the fun. Via: MasterCard | Bloomberg | NFC Phones

Ice Cream Sandwich Update Begins to Roll Out to Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 WiFi Tablets

Tim — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 15:33:08 +0000

This morning, owners of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 were waking up to a pleasant surprise. Ice Cream Sandwich! Back in June, Samsung mentioned that Ice Cream Sandwich would be coming to their Galaxy Tab line, but it's almost September and it's finally here for the 8.9 variant. Better late than never I suppose. Galaxy Tab 8.9 owners, you get your update yet? Cheers everyone who sent this in!

August 2012 Rumor Round-up: Motorola Event, Galaxy Note 2, Next Nexus, HTC 1080p Phone, and More

Kellen — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 14:04:18 +0000

It has been over a month since we last did a rumor round-up, but since things are going to get wild starting tomorrow and then on through the month of September, we thought it was the perfect time to bring this series back. Motorola has big plans for next week, Samsung has a Note 2 on the way, there are Nexus rumors with manufacturer names attached, HTC still has a 1080p phone out there, and LG has a number of devices in the works. Again, it's going to be busy.

Motorola Event

On September 5, Motorola and Verizon are going to unveil their next couple of 4G LTE products. While they haven't officially come out and said it, there are enough signs pointing to it being a party dedicated to the DROID RAZR HD and the DROID RAZR M. According to benchmarks that were outed months ago and an FCC filing, along with a number of other leaks, the RAZR HD will sport an HD display (possibly 4.6"), 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 1GB of RAM, 2530mAh battery, NFC, and Ice Cream Sandwich. It should be a flagship, however, we aren't sure exactly when it will be available. Verizon and Motorola are known for announcing phones, but not making them available for months. The RAZR M is a mid-range device that will sell for $149 on 2-year contract and come in both white and black. It will definitely be announced on September 5, and could be available within a week thereafter. It will rock out with a 4.3" qHD display, 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, NFC chip, 1GB RAM, and Ice Cream Sandwich. It's an interesting move by Motorola, to announce two new phones just days before Apple unveils the new iPhone. Will they be successful? That's a great question.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Samsung will announce the Galaxy Note 2 tomorrow, August 29, in Berlin (teaser video). The device is rumored to carry a 5.5" HD Super AMOLED display, a 1.4GHz Exynos quad-core processor, 8MP camera, come in two colors, run on 4G LTE networks, and potentially run Jelly Bean out of the box. We get the feeling that this will have a major global rollout similar to the Galaxy S3, but are sort of expecting only European release dates to be mentioned tomorrow. Samsung sold 10 million Note's over the last year, so clearly they realize that they have a winner on their hands. Hopefully, we finally see one on Verizon instead of the LG device we'll be talking about in a minute.

HTC "dlx" the 1080p Phone

HTC's has a 1080p phone with a 5" display on the way, but it's definitely stayed behind the scenes better than most phones of late. In fact, we first found a benchmark for it back in early July, yet have seen or heard very little about the phone since. According to this benchmark, it will have a 1080p display (the first for a smartphone), probably run on a new Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor, and will undoubtedly have a 4G LTE chip inside. Rumors originally pegged it for a September or late-Q3 release, but again, things have gone quiet on the "dlx" front. And that's unfortunate, as this is the one phone that I cannot wait to see become official. After owning a One X, I can easily say that HTC is doing some of the most amazing things with Android hardware on the planet.

Next Nexus Devices

We have a month or two to go before we see a new Nexus phone, but all signs point to there being more than one. In fact, the latest rumor pegs Sony, LG, and Samsung as the OEMs who will create them. The names could potentially be the Sony Xperia Nexus, LG Optimus Nexus, and Samsung Galaxy Nexus 2. Will we see any of them on Verizon? Well, I'd actually be surprised. The Galaxy Nexus on Verizon has been somewhat of a success, but I doubt that Google views it that way. They have been vocal about their displeasure in the slow update process that comes with the carrier-branded package. Google also seems to love GSM rather than the difficulties that come with supporting CDMA, something else that goes against Verizon's territory. I don't want to crush dreams, but if you want a new Nexus device going forward, you may want to think about going prepaid or doing a month-to-month plan with T-Mobile or AT&T.

LG's Multiple Offerings

LG doesn't want the rest of the Android world having all of the fun, and has decided to put out two new phones some time in the near future. The LG Intuition is a renamed Optimus Vu and a 5" behemoth of a device that has failed to impress most in the international game. Their other phone will likely be the Spectrum 2, which you can find across the globe as the Optimus LTE2. Neither are probably going to "Wow!" anyone like HTC's 1080p phone will, nor can they stand up to the Galaxy Note 2, but we're never one to hate on having options.

iPhone 5 or the "new iPhone"

I thought about leaving this off, but according to the Apple rumormill, a press event for the new iPhone will go down in two weeks. Most of us couldn't care less, but it's a part of this tech world, and you should all be aware. Will its arrival affect the rest of these Android devices that we mentioned? Of course it will on a sales level, which is why we are seeing companies like Motorola throw events the week prior. We may see one massive wave of phones in the next month, all from companies hoping to grab the attention of those that have been holding out for this new iPhone. I do not envy them. And that's your August!

Apple and Motorola Hit it Off in Germany, Agree to Licencing Deal

Tim — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 13:41:24 +0000

In a bizarre, yet welcomed change of pace, Apple and Motorola seemed to have come to terms and have struck a licensing deal in the country of Germany. Yesterday, a court filing from Motorola states the two have agreed to license some of the standards-essential patents in question. Even more surprisingly, Apple has agreed to the admission that they are liable for past damages relating to the patents. Wowzers. From what is known now, no cash figures have been announced for royalties or a possible payment from Apple. If you've been looking for an end to the courtroom drama, this is always a step in the right direction and it may even affect Apple's licensing deals here in the U.S. as well. Time will tell. Via: Engadget Cheers Nick S!

How to: Disable Application Notifications in Jelly Bean [Beginners' Guide]

Tim — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 12:19:18 +0000

We have all been there. You download an application from Google Play, then all of a sudden it's sending you notifications every ten minutes and annoys you to no end. Thankfully, with the introduction of Jelly Bean, Google has enabled the ability to disable any given application's notifications entirely. If you have a pesky app doing this and you want it to stop, follow these simple instructions.

Quick Way:

1. When the application's notification appears in your notification bar, long press on the offending notification. 2. A dialog box will appear called "App Info." 3. After selecting App Info, it will take you to the Application's Info page under Settings. 4. Under the "Force Stop" button, you will see an option for "Show Notifications." 5. Un-check the box and it will ask you if you're sure. 6. Once un-checked, you will no longer see that app's notifications. That's the fastest way to disable notifications for an application.

Long Way:

1. From your homescreen, go into the Settings menu.

Press the Menu button and then Settings. On some devices without a Menu button, you can pull down your Notification menu and select the Settings icon.

2. Under the menu of "Device," select "Apps." 3. Select which app you would like the notifications to be disabled. 4. Under the "Force Stop" button, you will see an option for "Show Notifications." 5. Un-check the box and it will ask you if you're sure. Yes, we are sure. 6. To go back and re-enable the notifications, just make sure the box is checked in the future. You will now no longer receive unwanted notifications. *Android Beginners Guide is a way for people new to Android to get to learn how Android works. We will be posting many tips and tricks on how to optimize your usage of the Android operating system.

Motorola Wants You to Attend Their September 5 RAZR HD Event

Kellen — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 11:32:52 +0000

Next week, on September 5, the world is expecting Motorola to announce their next two Android devices for Verizon: the DROID RAZR HD and the DROID RAZR M. The unveiling will happen at a press event in NYC, which normally means, for press only. Not this time, though. Motorola wants 25 of their biggest fans that live in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut to attend and experience the presentation for themselves.

Here are the contest details:

The contest is live on Motorola’s Facebook Page and entries will be accepted until Wednesday August 29, 2012 at 11:59 AM ET
Contest is open to all legal residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut
To enter, users can visit the Motorola Facebook page, click the “You. On Display.” tab, and follow the directions to upload a photograph depicting what Motorola means to them along with a caption explaining the photograph in fifty (50) words or less.

Sound easy enough? You have until tomorrow at midnight ET to enter. And who knows, you may just run into Droid Life while you are there!

Video: Jury Foreman in Apple vs. Samsung Opens Up About Reaching Verdict

Kellen — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 10:42:50 +0000

Well, folks, here is the guy in charge of explaining how the jury came to its verdict in the Samsung vs. Apple patent case that just wrapped. His name is Vel Hogan, a man with a "tech background" who owns his own patent. After watching this video, you'll feel uncomfortable and probably finish with your head tilted to the side with an inquisitive look on your face. I think it's clear that this man's "Ah ha!" moment, that he references around the 2:40 mark, helped an entire jury decide to rule in favor of Apple. And I'm not saying that Samsung isn't at fault here, but one man who may not have the ultimate grasp on patent law, convinced several people to lean one way. Throughout the video, he also talks about the $1 billion in damages total and how they reached that number, mentions the fact that no one on the jury owns an iPhone, that there was an "overwhelming" amount of evidence against Samsung, and that he didn't feel that Apple had "home field advantage." It's worth a look. I would also love to hear your thoughts. Cheers Jeff and EC8CH!

Microsoft's Official SkyDrive Application Made Available for Android

Tim — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 10:16:12 +0000

Starting right meow, Microsoft's official SkyDrive application is available on Google Play for Android devices. If you're unfamiliar with SkyDrive, think of it as Dropbox or Box, but made by Microsoft. Once signed in to your Microsoft account, you'll be given access to 7GB of cloud storage and it also allows for instant upload for easy access of files on multiple devices or computers. Play Link It's the first day of release, so we're going to hang in there until Microsoft pushes out some other features that will make it more desirable. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G49DiAEyUdw[/youtube]

Newly Redesigned Firefox for Android Tablets Released

Kellen — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 09:46:11 +0000

Firefox users, it's time to upgrade your Android tablet version to the latest and greatest that is now available on the Google Play store. According to the Firefox team, all of the "dramatic improvements" that made the phone experience so delightful, are now available on this new tablet build. Everything should be noticeably quicker, including page load times, panning, zooming, and web app performance. Anyone using Firefox as their daily Android browser? If so, sell me on why. Play Link

Samsung Announces New Colors For the Galaxy S3 - Amber Brown, Garnet Red, Sapphire Black, and Titanium Grey

Tim — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 09:30:31 +0000

This morning, Samsung makes official four new colors for the Galaxy S3. Previously, we had already known about the red and black versions, but it looks like Sammy has had another two that the public was never aware of. As of now, the four new colors are Amber Brown, Garnet Red, Sapphire Black, and Titanium Grey. Of course, each color was hand selected by Samsung to match the overall "Inspired by Nature" theme and comes with its very own back story. Garnet Red: "Rare and special, the gemstone Almandite Garnet was worn as an amulet by the ancient Egyptians who believed the stone contained protective powers. Garnet Red holds the delicateness and elegance of Almandite Garnet, in line with the GALAXY S III’s soft curves and smooth lines." Amber Brown: "Inspired by the mysterious and unique gem, which was believed to sustain the secrets of the earth inside it. The deep, rich colour of Amber Brown redefines the classic colour and emphasizes the beauty of the advanced organic design of the GALAXY S III." Sapphire Black: "A colour that adds the mysterious power of dark stones to the refined, deep sophistication of the colour black, Sapphire Black is inspired by the stones used by the ancient people of India and Persia for protection, with the belief they strengthened one’s willpower." Titanium Grey: "Inspired by the colour grey as a symbol for intelligence, insight and curiosity, all of which are embodied within the design of the GALAXY S III. Titanium Grey expresses the feeling of modernity and wisdom bringing a futuristic element to the handset."

So far, we are still awaiting details as to which color will go to which country and Samsung states that color availability will depend solely on country and carrier/retailer. Personally, I think the Titanium Grey variant is incredibly sexy. Which new color is your favorite? Via: Samsung Tomorrow

T-Mobile's Galaxy S2 the First to Receive ISIS NFC Mobile Payment App?

Kellen — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 09:00:38 +0000

Is Isis, the mobile payment joint venture between Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile, finally ready for prime time? According to a changelog for a new software update that is headed to T-Mobile's Galaxy S2, it may very well be. For those not familiar, Isis is an NFC-based mobile payment system that 3 of the 4 major U.S. wireless carriers (Sprint excluded) partnered up to create. It's essentially the reason that Google Wallet won't work on any of your phones. In this changelog for the Galaxy S2, we see an improvement listed as "ISIS/NFC update." This could mean a couple of things - that the app will be included in the update or that T-Mobile is simply prepping the phone to be able to use the Isis app. Either way, this is move we should all be excited to see. The last we heard, Isis was still in or about to go into testing in Austin, TX and Salt Lake City, UT. The time frame for those markets to have all of the fun, was "summer." Ready for Isis? Or should I phrase that, "Are you ready to finally take advantage of that NFC chip and ditch your wallet?" Via: T-Mobile | Android Police

"The Playground is Open" - Google's Nexus 7 Takes a Seat on the Homepage

Tim — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 08:25:09 +0000

Google's homepage is the start to millions of people's adventures everyday. Any possible piece of information can usually be found just by typing a few words, but today, the most important piece of information is available right from the homepage. When visiting Google.com, you will notice the phrase, "The playground is open" with the head of a Nexus 7 tablet just below it. Naturally, the linked text showing the price of $199 takes you right to the Play store for you to purchase a new tablet. That's enough to spike anybody's curiosity. Good thinking, Google. Check it out.

LG Announces a Beast Phone in the Optimus G - Quad-core Snapdragon, 4.7" Display, 2GB of RAM, and LTE

Kellen — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 08:06:05 +0000

If LG is ever going to make a splash in the Android game, it's going to need to do something crazy, something that can blow people's minds. With the announcement of the Optimus G, they may be well on their way. Sporting a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 processor (APQ8064), there is no doubt that this is the most powerful smartphone in the world at this time. This processor alone, should be up to 40% more efficient and powerful than any other quad-core processor on the market. The GPU inside (Adreno 320) should also be the best in the business. But they didn't stop there. They also included a 4.7" True IPS HD display with G2 Touch Hybrid technology (320ppi). That essentially means that the LCD is thin enough, that the display appears to be as close as you can get to the front protective glass. Much like on the HTC One X, it should seem as if you are actually touching items on the display - that's how close everything should be. The bezel is only 3mm thick, but apparently can't be seen when the display is off, making it "invisible." The device itself is just over 8mm thick. They also tossed in a 13MP rear camera, 1.3MP front camera, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, 2100mAH battery, NFC chip, and 4G LTE. The Optimus G will arrive as early as September in Korea, but may not land in other countries for a while. No U.S. date has been given. Is this the phone that brings LG back?

LG UNVEILS WORLD’S FIRST LTE SMARTPHONE WITH SNAPDRAGON QUAD-CORE

Newest Premium Device from LG Sets High Benchmark for Performance and Usability
SEOUL, August, 28, 2012 -– LG Electronics (LG) revealed its newest premium mobile device with the announcement of the Optimus G, a high-end smartphone that offers powerful performance, an elegant and sleek design, and an innovative user experience. As the first LTE device featuring Qualcomm’s Snapdragon™ S4 Pro Quad-Core processor, Optimus G will set the foundation for every future premium smartphone from LG. Best-of-Best Technologies To offer the best smartphone to consumers, LG gathered industry-leading partners and technologies to develop the Optimus G. In collaboration with Qualcomm, LG developed the Optimus G with the goal to be the first LTE smartphone with the Snapdragon™ S4 Pro CPU. LG also joined hands with vertically-integrated sister companies LG Chem, LG Display and LG Innotek for the ultimate battery capacity, viewing and user experience. Next Generation Quad-Core with LTE The Optimus G will be the first commercial and global smartphone to offer the Snapdragon S4 Pro (APQ8064) processor with a Quad-Core Krait CPU, LTE supported capabilities, and the newest generation Adreno™ 320 GPU. The Snapdragon S4 Pro runs at 1.5GHz and features Asynchronous Symmetric Multiprocessing (aSMP), which enables each core to power up and down independently, for maximum performance with better battery life. Furthermore, the Adreno 320 is over three times faster than the Adreno 225 found in previous Snapdragon processors for an enhanced gaming experience with faster frame rates, smoother play and support for higher HD resolution displays. Cutting-edge Display and Outstanding Battery Efficiency With help from LG Display, the Optimus G sports a beautiful 4.7-inch WXGA True HD IPS⁺ Display with 320ppi high pixel density (1280x768 pixels) and Stripe RGB IPS Panel with 15:9 aspect ratio. LG Display pushed the boundaries of its technology to offer True HD IPS⁺ Display, which is sharper and crisper with color accuracy of sRGB 100 percent to show natural and life-like images. Moreover, the Optimus G will be the first smartphone to be equipped with LG Innotek and LG Display’s newly developed G2 Touch Hybrid Display for touchscreen panels (TSP). The G2 Touch Hybrid Display is thinner than current TSPs and offers the slimmest panel display with no diffused reflection for clearer and sharper visibility, even outdoors. Thanks to the new technology, the thickness of the screen panel has been reduced and the screen itself is much stronger to withstand damage from impact. Lastly, LG Chem developed a high-density 2,100mAh battery that provides more power capacity and prolonged charging cycles. The new battery technology extended the battery lifespan to 800 cycles at 80 percent charging capabilities, much greater than the lifespan of 500 cycles in regular phone batteries. Enhanced UX for Productivity and Entertainment Whether users need functionality or fun in their daily lives, the Optimus G has it all, including a high-resolution 13.0MP camera and unique and differentiated user experience (UX) features, such as:

Live Zooming allows zooming in and out while viewing a video;

Dual Screen Dual Play, not only allows mirroring between the smartphone and a TV, it also has the ability to display different content on each screen. For example, a slide presentation can be displayed on the TV while the Optimus G shows the accompanying speaking notes;

QMemoTM, first seen in the Optimus Vu:, allows users to write, draw, or jot a memo directly on the captured screen with their finger for sharing instantly with others as an attachment or a URL;

Time Catch Shot allows users to select and save the best shot among the images taken just before the shutter button is depressed;

Cheese Shutter takes a photo when a voice command is spoken.

The added UX features are anticipated to provide instant and intuitive productivity to complete tasks beyond simple multitasking. Innovative and Modern Look LG maintained its differentiated design philosophy with the Optimus G. The Optimus G is encased in an eye-catching slim body epitomizing timeless beauty that perfectly demonstrates LG’s design philosophy. Premium glass is utilizied on the back cover with a polarized glass pattern that offers a clean, modern look. The G2 Touch Hybrid Display contributed significantly to the design of the Optimus G as it reduced the thickness of the device enabling Optimus G to fit more comfortably in the hand. And the jet black front display flows smoothly into the body for a seamless look with no gaps. “We are confident that users will have a superior experience with everything that we’re offering in the Optimus G,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “Optimus G isn’t just another high-performance phone with the latest bells and whistles. It’s a collaboration of some of the best component makers on the planet coming together for a singular cause, to develop a smartphone that stands out in a sea of me-too devices.” NTT DOCOMO will be the first to unveil a Japanese edition of the Optimus G. The global version of the device will be launched in Korea in September, followed by other markets worldwide. Key Specifications:

Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro Processor with 1.5GHz Quad-Core CPU, Adreno 320 GPU with 4G LTE

Operating System: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

Network: 2G / 3G / 4G LTE

Display: 4.7-inch WXGA True HD IPS⁺ (1280x768 pixels) / 15:9 ratio

Memory: 32GB

RAM: 2GB DDR

Cameras: 13.0MP rear / 1.3MP front

Battery: 2,100 mAh

Size: 131.9 x 68.9 x 8.45mm

Weight: 145g

Other: Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, USB2.0 HS, A-GPS, MHL, DLNA, NFC

# # #

How to: Take Screenshots and Share Them on an Android Device [Beginners' Guide]

Kellen — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 16:44:49 +0000

For those new to Android, and the target audience of this guide, you may not know this, but taking screenshots on an Android device used to be quite the task. In fact, if you didn't own a Samsung device, you had to root your phone and install a 3rd party app that would take them, or set up the Android SDK. Most of us could never figure out why the Android team wouldn't make this ability widely available, but now that Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly bean are seeing wider adoption, we no longer have to worry about it. So since most of you are buying devices that run one of these two versions of Android, let's talk about how you can take screenshots and them share them quickly with your friends.

Instructions (Most Android Devices Running Android 4.0+):

*This includes most tablets as well, including the Nexus 7.

1. Head to the screen that you would like to take a screenshot of. 2. Press and hold Power+Volume Down at the same time for 3-5 seconds. 3. Your phone should make a camera shutter noise and show you a preview of a screenshot. 4. Congrats, you just took a screenshot that is available in your gallery. 5. To quickly share it, you'll find a notification for that screenshot in your notification bar. 6a. Pull down your notification bar and tap on the Share icon. 6b. If not on Jelly Bean, you'll have to tap on the notification to get to the image, then the Share icon. 7. Now, choose the service that you would like to share the picture with. *Note - Most HTC devices will let you preview the image from your notification bar, but will not let you share directly from that preview, even if you have tapped on it. It's a massive pain in the rear, but you have to exit the preview and go through your gallery, find the picture, tap on it, and then share it.

Instructions (Most Samsung Devices):

*This does not include the Galaxy Nexus or Nexus S. Use the top instructions for that device.

1. On almost any Samsung device, open the screen that you would like a screenshot of. 2. Press Power+Home for 3-5 seconds until a screenshot preview shows on your screen. 3. Congrats, you just took a screenshot! 4. To share, tap on the notification for it in your notification pulldown menu. 5. Tap o the Share icon and share it with the service of your choice.

Alternate Instructions (Galaxy S3):

*Samsung built in a motion activity that lets you take screenshots by simply swiping across your screen, rather than having to simultaneously press buttons. I'm not a fan of it and find it incredibly finicky, however, you may have better luck.

1. Visit the screen that you would like to take a screenshot of. 2. Place your hand perpendicular to your phone with the side of your pink on one edge of the display. 3. Slide your hand across the screen. 4. If successful, your phone should make a camera shutter noise and the screen will animate. 5. Your screenshot will be saved to your gallery. *The rest of the Android Beginners' Guide is a one-stop shop for all of those new to Android.

Motorola DROID RAZR M Details Leak, It Really is a Mid-range Device With Decent Specs

Kellen — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 16:16:45 +0000

Here is the phone that Motorola plans to unveil on September 5 in New York. Well, we hope this isn't it. It's called the DROID RAZR M. According to full specs and details that leaked out today, this phone is exactly as we expected it to be, with a 4.3" qHD Super AMOLED display with ColorBoost, 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, 1GB RAM, 8MP rear camera, 3MP front camera, 4G LTE, on-screen navigation keys, NFC, Gorilla Glass 2, and Ice Cream Sandwich. Now, last year, this would have been an elite phone, but we already know that this phone will run $149 on 2-year contract and come in both white and black. Motorola is definitely positioning it in the mid-range level, we just don't know why, especially with the Razr HD coming along at a similar time. It looks a heck of a lot like this rumored Intel-powered Motorola device we saw months ago, however, this is not even close to being powered by an Intel chip. Thoughts on the RAZR M? How about that edge-to-edge screen? Not bad. Via: Engadget

Google's Very Own Punit Soni Appointed as VP of Product at Motorola Mobility

Tim — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 15:41:59 +0000

A well-known Googler named Punit Soni, whose passion lies deep in the Android and Google Apps ecosystem, has been appointed as the new VP of Product over at Motorola Mobility. According to Mr. Soni's own LinkedIn, his responsibilities will go a little something like this:

Responsible for all things software at Motorola Mobility I am a general manager responsible for all aspects of the product development including crafting strategy, building teams and executing to go to market.

Given Google's purchase of Motorola's mobile sector a couple of months ago, this is the type of change we have been looking for. Definitely an important step in Motorola's return as a strong competitor in the smartphone race. Feel like following Punit's journey as the new VP? Follow him on Google+! Via: The Verge

If You Think You Know Your Music, Then Check Out SongPop for Android

Tim — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 14:55:29 +0000

I love testing my knowledge of different things, especially that of music. If you do too, and feel like challenging your friends, then you may want to check out SongPop. Imagine, Draw Something or Words with Friends, but with music. Thankfully, it isn't just music that you'll hear on today's radio either. The music spans the 80's, different love songs, modern hip-hop, and other different genres. The app plays you 10 seconds of different tracks and you have to correctly guess either the artist or the song name before your opponent does. Besides the occasional annoying ad, for free it's a great deal. Check it out, challenge your friends, and enjoy the music. Play Link

Sears Offering Up Free Keyboard Dock With Purchase of ASUS Transformer Pad

Tim — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 14:10:39 +0000

Looking for a tablet? Maybe one that rocks Jelly Bean? Maybe one that incorporates a sweet keyboard dock? Good news then. For a very limited time, Sears is hosting a deal on the ASUS Transformer Pad (TF300). When you buy the tablet for $400, they'll throw in the matching keyboard dock for free, which usually runs a cool $150. Not a bad deal at all if you're looking for a quad-core, JB-rockin', multi-tasking super tablet. Buy. Via: Droid Dog

Apple Looks to Ban Eight Samsung Devices That Don't Really Matter Anymore

Tim — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 13:05:24 +0000

Effects of the jury's verdict from last week's decision are beginning to show themselves. For starters, Apple has filed a notice with the courts as to which of Samsung's infringing devices they want banned from being sold in the U.S. The list contains some devices that are no longer sold through any carriers, but some of them can still be found and are somewhat popular. A few of the S2 devices on AT&T and Sprint did sell well apparently, but in comparison to the DROID Charge, it's hard to say what a ban on all of these devices would do. Devices on the chopping block:

Galaxy S 4G
Galaxy S2 (AT&T)
Galaxy S2 (Skyrocket)
Galaxy S2 (T-Mobile)
Galaxy S2 Epic 4G
Galaxy S Showcase
Droid Charge
Galaxy Prevail

Like we mentioned, do any of you think that the ban on these devices will really affect anybody? With the Galaxy S3 available on all of these carriers, no one should actually be thinking about picking up the older SGS2 variants. And as for the DROID Charge, Apple, you can have it. Sorry, Charge owners. Via: The Verge

Motorola Included a Root Check in the RAZR, RAZR MAXX, and DROID4 With Ice Cream Sandwich

Kellen — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 12:20:16 +0000

See that little "qe 1/1" listed on the screenshot above of my DROID RAZR booted into recovery? According to @P3Droid and a variety of testers, this is a root checker of sorts that Motorola has built into the boot and recovery .img files of their current crop of devices, including the RAZR, RAZR MAXX and DROID 4. If you see "qe 0/0" you are running a device that has never been rooted. If you see "qe 0/1" you are running a device that was at one time rooted, but currently is not. If you see "qe 1/1" like in the picture above, you are running a device that is currently rooted. At this point, it's tough to tell if this is a big deal or not. In theory, it could mean that if you return your phone because of a warranty concern, that Motorola or Verizon could simply boot into recovery and check this to see if you are or have been rooted, and then potentially deny you of a replacement phone. We don't know that they will actually do that, but you have to wonder what else their motives for including a root checker would be. P3 is also under the impression that when the Bionic is updated to Ice Cream Sandwich, it will also receive this new root checker. At this time, there is no way to trick or reset it. I'm sure you have some colorful comments in response to this news and we would love to have it down in the comments.

Cheers Brandon and @P3Droid!

Samsung Galaxy Note II Specs Leaked - Exynos 4412 Chip, 4G LTE, and Jelly Bean

Tim — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 11:45:13 +0000

According to a leaked spec sheet, the Galaxy Note II from Samsung is going to launch with some very impressive specs. For starters, it will come shipped with Jelly Bean, be powered by the new quad-core Exynos 4412 processor at 1.4GHz, and will support 4G LTE networks. Other notable features include an 8MP camera, a large 5.5" Super AOMLED display with a resolution of 1280x720 (Wait, no 1080p like HTC's?), and will even come in a couple of different colors. With the unveiling taking place in just a couple of days at this year's IFA in Europe, all of these leaked spec sheets and rumors can finally end and we can get to more important things such as, "When can I get one?" Via: SamMobile

Samsung Stratosphere 2 and LG Spectrum 2 Also on the Way to Verizon

Kellen — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 11:15:13 +0000

According to Verizon's Equipment Guide, they are planning to introduce follow-ups to two of their late-2011, early-2012 devices. The Samsung Stratosphere, aka the first 4G LTE slider, will get a refresh and be released as the Stratosphere 2 (SCH-I415). We aren't seeing much for specs that would impress, but are assuming it'll sport a Snapdragon S4. What 4G LTE phone doesn't these days, right? Otherwise, we know it'll have a 4" Super AMOLED display, and carry the exact same form factor as its predecessor. The LG Spectrum is the other device that apparently still has a refresh in the works, known as the Spectrum 2 (VS930). As with the Stratosphere 2, we know almost nothing other than the model number from this Equipment Guide shot. Thankfully, we have been tracking this phone on benchmark sites and in other leaks for months now and are pretty sure that this will be similar to the LG Optimus LTE2. It should sport a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 1GB of RAM, an HD display, and an 8MP camera. It should be a solid offering. It's starting to appear as if Verizon is 100% invested in the Snapdragon S4 processor as it is efficient enough to do wonders with LTE radios and battery life. All of last year's phone running anything less are getting phased out. We know that Motorola has two devices on the way to replace the original RAZR and MAXX, both that run the S4, along with the LG Intuition. And as you all know already, the Galaxy S3 runs the S4.

Any takers?

Verizon's LG Intuition Press Shots Leak - Don't Worry, It's Still Huge

Tim — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 10:36:39 +0000

More images of the LG Intuition (previously known as the Optimus Vu) have leaked onto the web. From previous posts, we are still expecting a release on Verizon sometime this quarter and we also know the device will launch for $199 on a new two year agreement and have a full retail price of $549. In the mean time, let's have some speculation fun. See the date on the widget? "9/15/2012" Oh my, is that the release date? We shall have to wait and see. With the Intuition being Big Red's first huge display-rockin' device, any thoughts on how popular it will be? Would love to hear your thoughts on this monster. Via: Droid Dog

Monday Poll: Thoughts on the Initial Ruling in the Samsung Vs. Apple Trial?

Tim — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 09:56:23 +0000

According to a jury's recent verdict, Samsung was found to have copied Apple's designs and infringe on their patents, a ruling that could eventually lead to them ponying up some serious dough to the tune of roughly $1.05 billion. Seeing damning emails from their mobile Chief, slides comparing and contrasting every aspect of the iPhone to the Galaxy S, and being forced to withhold important info from the trial all appear to be enough to have given round 1 to Apple. Without bringing the appeal process into the picture for now, how do you feel about the initial outcome and decision? Was it made clear enough that Samsung did in fact intend to infringe and copy Apple? Was the jury a bit harsh on a company only looking to make a successful product? Does Samsung stand a chance in an appeals court? Let us know your full thoughts down below. [poll id="199"]

Jelly Bean Ported to OG DROID, This Thing Won't Die

Tim — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 09:05:25 +0000

Developers continue to pump out love for the "OG" Droid. Recently, a developer over at XDA decided to go all out and push a complete build of Jelly Bean to Motorola's most popular Android device. According to a reader that has flashed the build, it seems to be a very functional ROM and only the camera tends to be slow or non-working. If you happen to have your unlocked and rooted Droid sitting around, then why not show it some love with the newest version of Android? To find downloads and instructions, follow the via down below. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_PqUbeSyO4&feature=share&list=UUJnR4Q6-YS8MmsICwKpZubQ[/youtube] Via: XDA Cheers Aravind!

Google Releases Statement on Samsung Vs. Apple, Says the Patents Involved Don't Relate to Core Android

Eric — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 08:25:25 +0000

We have all had a few days to read and react to the verdict that was handed down last Friday against Samsung in the trial against Apple. It was a landslide victory for Apple and a huge loss for Samsung (pending appeals, of course), but Google has released a memo over the weekend saying that this ruling doesn't necessarily mean a loss for Android.

Most of these don't relate to the core Android operating system, and several are being re-examined by the US Patent Office. The mobile industry is moving fast and all players - including newcomers - are building upon ideas that have been around for decades. We work with our partners to give consumers innovative and affordable products, and we don't want anything to limit that.

Google is correct in this statement, saying that the verdict was an indictment of Samsung as a company, not Android as a whole. Still, it's a little disconcerting to see Google release a statement so non-supportive of their biggest Android OEM. Then again, they did tell Samsung that their designs looked too much like Apple's and recommended that they change them. Do you want to see Google fighting for their Android OEMs more or do you think they're doing all they can? Via: BBC

Samsung Stratosphere to Receive First Update - Includes Face Unlock and Other ICS Features, is Not ICS Though

Kellen — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 07:58:38 +0000

The Samsung Stratosphere is set to receive its first update since being released on Verizon almost a year ago. The update is labeled FF1, is 53.8MB in size, and includes a number of features that will add to the user experience. The biggest is probably the new face unlock that security feature that we have become familiar with thanks to Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0), however, this update is not Ice Cream Sandwich. The device will still be running Gingerbread (Android 2.3). They also tweaked the incoming call screen, gave more sorting options in the app drawer, included a photo editor, and allow for stills to be taken during video recording. Other than those major UI changes, Verizon and Samsung patched security (probably a root exploit), improved navigation audio, added video chatting in Google Talk, and improved touch screen response. Again, it's the first update for the device, so as you can expect, it's a pretty sizable one. No official word has been given for a timeline for rollout to users, but we usually see it within a matter of days once Verizon has posted up support docs like these.

More info.

Nexus 7 Ready for Shipment to Parts of Europe - Hurry While They're In Stock

Eric — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 07:44:13 +0000

When Google finally started getting the Nexus 7 into customer's hands, people realized that this was something special. Especially at such the low price point, the Nexus 7 was a hit and Google is planning to sell a lot more devices by the end of the year. These sales will be a bit easier now that the ASUS-made tablet is available in Spain, Germany and France.

If you are overseas, the prices will run you €199 and €249 which is a bit more costly than it is currently in America ($248 and $311). Even still, you are getting a lot of tablet for a pretty low price and you would be hard pressed to find anything better in the tablet market at the moment. Our only advice is to order soon before they run out of stock again.

Via: Engadget

Android Recovery [Opinion]

Ron — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 07:33:56 +0000

Android used to be the go to option for OEMs fleeing Windows Mobile in search of relevancy in the mobile space, but lately it seems that unless you're Samsung or Apple you simply cannot make money in mobile. Samsung has been the only Android manufacturer to consistently make money quarter after quarter for the past year. Motorola's profits plummeted quarter after quarter until Google bought the entire company. HTC has managed to sell a sizable number of devices, but has fallen from being the top Android manufacturer to an equal of LG and Sony. While no Android OEMs pay Google to use Android, most pay Microsoft licensing fees. What is making Samsung successful while other OEMs continue to struggle? Samsung has built up the Galaxy brand over the past three years to make their products stand out from the crowd. From the Galaxy S, SII, and SIII to the sundry Galaxy Tabs, Samsung has built up their own brand of Android devices that consumers recognize and look forward to. While every other manufacturer announced their products at Mobile World Congress this year, Samsung held their own event for the Galaxy S III to ensure that they were the center of attention and built up their own hype for their products, not just new products in general. HTC and Sony, on the other hand, released their new One and Xperia series alongside a myriad of other products from other companies, which pushed the media to compare each product against each other instead of reviewing them on their own merits. While HTC was the clear winner of the show, their ad campaign was minuscule. Much, much more importantly, the One X and One S were only available on AT&T and T-Mobile, respectively. One thing that Samsung has been able to do since the original Galaxy S has been to make it available everywhere. The Galaxy S, SII, and SIII have all been available in various incarnations on every carrier, even in the United States. Because of this, Samsung has been able to consolidate advertising and build its own brand without having to focus on one subset of the American consumer. While Samsung's first success, the Galaxy S, went by different names on different carriers, they were able to generalize the Captivate, Fascinate, Continuum, Vibrant, Stratosphere, and Epic 4G under the Galaxy brand. Meanwhile, Motorola, HTC, Sony, and LG have been releasing one-off devices for each carrier. This limited availability doesn't help build brand awareness across carriers and regions. Sure, Motorola is almost exclusively the holder of the DROID brand (with an intrusion from HTC and Samsung from time to time), but the only brand that they tried to really expand was wasted with a Verizon exclusive. Imagine if the RAZR hadn't existed as the RAZR, and instead Motorola released the RAZR MAXX as the RAZR on all four carriers. Between 4G connectivity on the applicable carriers, insane battery life, and a popular name, Motorola could have had a hit on their hands. The RAZR brand is still a popular name to consumers. It seems as though almost everyone had one. Being able to rely on a brand that people already know and like makes selling your product so much easier. Had Motorola sold the product on every carrier they may have still had crazy murderous DROID advertisements, but Motorola could have made their own advertisement to remind people of the first RAZR to sell the new generation. What if HTC had released the One X on every carrier with the same name and design and skipped the One S and One V? With one product everywhere, advertising is clear because you don't have to sell a specific version of a product, you just sell the one product. Show what the phone can do and tell people they can get it on their carrier. Samsung doesn't have to be the only Android manufacturer making money on Android. HTC, Motorola, Sony, and others can certainly break into the market, but it's going to take one flagship device on every carrier that is heavily pushed by every carrier. Building up that kind of a relationship with a carrier takes time and money, but I would rather see more Android OEMs winning in the mobile space with one device instead of them releasing multiple devices on random carriers and hoping a subset of the population buys them. I understand that it's hard work to make those deals, but that's what needs to get done for these manufacturers to stay in the game. I'm hoping that companies like HTC and Motorola make a comeback; I'm tired of Apple versus Samsung. Following yesterday's verdict, I saw a lot of chatter on Twitter advising OEMs to take a look at Android because Samsung was ruled to have copied Apple and violated their patents and trade dress. The problem is, TouchWiz and Android are not the same thing (thank goodness!). Even more importantly, Windows Phone still has the same major issues with notifications, lack of apps, and multitasking that I outlined months ago. I still believe that OEMs should be using Android to push their way into the market, but they need to be much more aggressive with the carriers by pushing one product across the board. HTC did this once before with the Touch Pro2; it is not an impossible task. Now is not the time for Android OEMs to look at a platform that cannot multitask well, has a terrible notification system, and a horrible app ecosystem. Now is the time for Android OEMs to get their best devices everywhere so that people can actually buy them.

In the Case of Apple Vs. Samsung, Samsung Found "Guilty" (Updating)

Tim — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 15:55:19 +0000

Bad day for Samsung. The Samsung vs. Apple jury has just finished deliberating and the verdict is out in San Jose. Unfortunately, it looks like Samsung has been found guilty of deliberate patent infringement time and time again on many devices spanning multiple carriers. As you may guess, this was never going to be just a simple 'guilty' or 'non guilty' outcome. There was a 700 question form for jurors to answer and as I type this, the verdict is still being read and discussed in court. What we know so far is that Samsung is going to have a rough road ahead with this loss. This post will be updated as more details are made available. You can expect a full breakdown next Monday as all of the trial's information and verdict are compiled for easy digestion. Update: In good news, Samsung's Galaxy Tab was found not to infringe on the iPad's design. That's a big one. Update 2: In terms of damages, Apple has just been awarded $1.05 billion. Ouch. Update 3: So far, Samsung's claims against Apple are being met with a wall of "No." Update 4: That's it for now. All of Apple's patents valid. Samsung devices infringe on many of them. Samsung must pay big money. We'll keep you posted! For live coverage, you can follow the Verge's livecast here.

Agent Dash Adds a Dash More Secret Agent Than Your Average Temple Run Game

Eric — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 15:40:23 +0000

When you were playing the very addictive game, Temple Run, maybe you thought "well why don't I just use my gadget watch to grapple out of here?" or "where is my jetpack?" Well, the game Agent Dash is appealing to your inner MI-6 agent that's just waiting to get out.

You have to "don the tux and run for queen and country" as you complete levels destroying secret bases in the name of your country's safety. The game is much like Temple Run in that you swipe up, down, left and right to avoid objects as you go down the level but the developer, Full Fat, has kicked up the graphics a notch and added lots of guns and gadgets for you to use.

The game is free for download from the Play Store now, so if you want to feel like 007 get to Dashing.

Play Link

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdTjDjaGn54[/youtube]

Throwback Thursday: Win a Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 WiFi Tablet (Update: Winner Picked)

Tim — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 15:25:46 +0000

Sometimes, you just need take it back a bit. Introducing our new Throwback Thursday contest where we've partnered up with NVIDIA to offer up some older, but still fantastic prizes. Today, up for grabs we have a Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 WiFi 16GB. To today's specs, it's still a great tablet featuring a dual-core Tegra 2 processor, 1GB of RAM, and a 8.9" TFT LCD display. With this device, you'll have access to Tegra-enhanced titles on Google Play such as ShadowGun, Dead Trigger, and many more. So, enough with all of this fluff. Let's give some stuff away!

Contest:

Update: We have picked our winner! Jason Pettit wins the Galaxy Tab 8.9! Thanks so much to all that entered! How to enter: 1. Follow us on either Facebook, Twitter, or Google+. 2. Follow NVIDIA Tegra on Twitter. 3. Share the contest through whichever of those social networks you feel like. 4. In the comments, tell us what your favorite movie from the 90s is. Winner: Tomorrow at 3PM Pacific (8/24), we will choose one winner randomly from the comments.

Thanks to NVIDIA for making Throwback Thursday possible.

Grabatron for Android, Time to Destroy Those Puny Humans

Tim — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 15:00:15 +0000

In the newly updated Indie Games section of Google Play, I stumbled upon Grabatron. I've seen it a few times now, but seemed to always pass it by. I decided to check it out and was happily surprised. In the beginning, you take control of an alien spaceship equipped with a huge retractable claw. You can pick up cars, cows, humans, rocks, or anything else you can fit. Once the objects are picked up, you can fling them hundreds of feet to their death or even abduct them for points. It's a blast. As you scroll through the environment, the game gets much harder. Not long after the beginning of your invasion, the military is on to you. It's a constant fight for survival and search for lost alien friends. So far, I've had a ton of fun playing and for free, it's most certainly worthy of your time. Check it out and let us know what you think. Play Link [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BmEVb527bc[/youtube]

Cruzerlite Androidified Cases for the Nexus 7 Up For Sale

Tim — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 14:25:51 +0000

Cases from Cruzerlite for the Nexus 7 tablet are now up and they can be purchased in a wide variety of colors. As for the material they are made of, it's a hard rubbery material that is sure to stand up to a beating. Here's a previous review of Cruzerlite material we did for the Galaxy Nexus. If you can't get enough of Bugdroid and want to keep your Nexus 7 safe for an affordable price, it can't be beat. Buy. ($20)

Cheers Mike!

Droid Life Q&A Session: Volume 4 Answers

Tim — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 13:45:27 +0000

It's Friday and you know what that means - it's time to answer our reader-submitted questions! This week, many of you decided to go a more personal route and we would love nothing more than for all of you to get a greater sense of who we are as individuals. We even decided to throw in a few pictures of our "offices." Thanks for the great questions, everybody. Let's do this!

What do you guys do on the weekends?

T: On weekends, you can find me at my local dog park with my boys or at home playing Call of Duty. If my girlfriend decides it's best for me to leave the house I usually like to go see a movie or find somewhere new to eat. R: Relax with my wife. Lead worship at church. Spend time with family. E: Well I'm still in college so you can imagine that I study, do homework, and participate in extracurricular activities that in no way affect my school work whatsoever. (Right?) K: Weekends are time to unplug, for me. Since it's the summer in Portland, I spend a lot of time at beer festivals, food festivals, and traveling. We only get 3 months of sun up here, so you have to take advantage of it.

Obligatory photo of Loki.

When do you think we'll see the next round of Nexus devices, and more importantly, do you think Verizon will get any of them?

R: We should be seeing new Nexus devices in the coming months, probably around November. I think Verizon may have more Nexus devices in the future, but they'll still be limited by Verizon. Hopefully Google will start releasing software updates that power users can manually update instead of having to wait for Verizon to approve them. K: We'll see at least 1 or 2 this winter. Google has sort of set the winter as their release time frame for Nexus devices. Will we see one on Verizon? I seriously kind of doubt it. Google has been vocal about carrier interference when it comes to updates, so it would surprise me to see Big Red get that chance again. I don't want to say they completely screwed it up, but they kind of screwed it up.

What does the office look like?

R: Whatever coffee shop or bench I happen by. Most of my writing is done on the go. I usually write on my phone to avoid the distractions that a desktop offers. Well, you asked for it. Here is our home office set-ups. Top left is Kellex. Top right is Tato. On bottom is Eric's porch office. Click to enlarge.

Is Brand Loyalty (hardware) helping or hurting Android development?

R: I don't think users' brand loyalty is helping or hurting. The issue in the US is what devices carriers pick up. The GS3 is on every carrier while the One X is only on one. That doesn't help HTC in the least. E: Not at all. If anything I think it is spurring more development. Look at HTC. After a few disappointments they went to win back their fans with the One series and certainly did so. Now I think that it's Motorola's turn. Having that fan base for a certain manufacturer will help to get their butts into gear in making devices that will make their fans happy. K: I'm not sure that anything is hurting Android at this point. It's far and away the most successful smartphone OS in the world and is showing no signs of slowing. The OS also seems to have matured enough that words like "fragmentation" and "incompatible" are going to be in the past.

What have you done with your Nexus Q's?

T: It just sort of sits on my desk unless I feel like hooking it up downstairs to watch a movie from Google Play. Until Google reinvents it, I think I will continue to neglect it. K: It sits in my entertainment center...I've used it a handful of times, once recently to watch The Raid: Redemption. It's a novelty item at this point. Definitely looking forward to what Google can do to revamp it.

What's your guys' favorite guilty pleasure reality TV show?

T: I don't know if it's considered a guilty pleasure, but I enjoy watching True Blood. The character development is just so intriguing. Lolz. E: I am an unabashed lover of New Girl, and Zooey Deschanel in general. R: I don't watch reality TV. My favorite shows are Archer and Community. K: Wow, there are so many! Pawn Stars seems to be one that I constantly go back to though. My better half gets into some Kardashian trouble from time to time, and of course, I'm always around to watch it. I always end up wanting to broseph up with Bruce. That poor man.

With all of the news about Android viruses, do you think we need to put some antivirus software on our phones?

T: No. Just make sure you're installing applications from trusted sources and stop looking at pr0n on your device. R: I don't run any antivirus program on my Windows machine and I definitely don't run anything on my Android phones. That said, I'm a computer consultant by day, so I know what I'm doing online. I don't think there's a huge threat with viruses on Android phones, but if it gives you peace of mind, go for it.

What is your current favorite beer, whiskey, scotch, or other alcoholic beverage?

T: Kellex did me the favor of turning me on to Hendricks gin. Up and with a twist. Oh, and don't forget to lift your pinky finger while you sip it. R: The Knot or Blue Moon. E: Call me boring but I can't turn down some Jack Daniels. K: Whiskey has been Knobb Creek lately. My favorite is Gin though. I usually go with Hendricks or an Oregon local called Organic Nation. As far as beer goes, it varies all of the time. Not a big summer ale guy, as I tend to lean towards the stronger winter ales.

Favorite place to eat out?

T: Well, my favorite fancy place to eat out is a steakhouse back in my hometown of San Francisco. It's called Alexander's. As for up here in Portland, there is one BBQ spot I can't get enough of called Smokehouse 21. Bomb ribs! R: Monaco's Pizza. K: In Portland, it's Tasty N' Sons. Such an amazing restaurant. E: Buffa Louie's is a great local wing place in Bloomington that has fantastic wings and burgers and there is no reason I would ever be biased in that description. (I run their social media.) *All previous Q&A sessions can be found here. **In case you forgot, K is Kellen, T is Tim, E is Eric, and R is Ron.

Angry Birds Space Updated, Those Darn Pigs Stole the Mars Curiosity Rover!

Eric — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 13:10:05 +0000

NASA and Rovio have become best buddies with the launch of Angry Birds Space, and with the latest update, NASA is looking to the Birds to save the Mars Curiosity Rover from those pesky pigs. The update, now live in the Play Store, adds 20 levels of the Birds flying around the Red Planet looking to get the rover back from the evil pigs.

The game also adds volcanos and meteors as things to avoid on your way to smashing up pigs, adding to the already diverse maps in the game. There are even hidden rovers and landers for you to find on the red planet that unlock special levels and help to "discover more about the NASA missions." If you are a die-hard Angry Birds fan, don't miss this new region of space to play in.

Play Link

Cheers barski!

Evernote and Moleskine Team Up for a Snazzy Smart Notebook

Eric — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 12:30:31 +0000

If you are like me, you enjoy the ease of taking notes electronically and having them stored away, but there's something about a good ol' fashion notebook that you just can't replace. For some of the highest quality notebooks out there, Moleskin is hard to beat, and today Evernote has teamed up with Moleskin to combine the best of both worlds in this Smart Notebook.

This is a notebook designed by Moleskin with Evernote in mind. It functions with the Evernote app (only iOS at this point) to where you take pictures of the page in your notebook and Evernote immediately corrects the image's colors and contrast, but it also digitizes your handwriting and files it away automatically for you in your Evernote folder.

The idea sounds pretty fantastic, and they come in a pocket size ($24.95) and a large size ($29.95). They aren't on sale quite yet, but you can pre-order now if you want to get your order in early. The notebooks are expected to be here October 1.

Via: Evernote

Samsung Opens First 'Experience' Retail Store, Comes Out Looking Like Apple's

Tim — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 11:45:10 +0000

Above is a photo of the brand new Samsung "Experience" retail store in Australia. Unsurprisingly, everyone is picking on Samsung for taking many cues straight from Apple's successful retail look. As you can see, there are islands in the store that display Sammy's newest products, just as you would see in Apple's. Along with the looks, Samsung has even gone as far as to have "Samsung Smart Tutors" who are a team of Samsung techies to help you with all of your questions. Come on, didn't you think that was just a little too much? Crazy enough, all employees are required to also wear blue shirts, but that's just because Samsung's company color happens to be blue. I for one look forward to the day an Experience store opens up near me. I can go in there, buy a Galaxy Tab, and then return it stating that I was mistaken and thought I was in an Apple store buying an iPad. What do you think of Sammy's new stores? A little too much or is everyone just nitpicking? Via: Techno Buffalo, AllThingsD

NASA's PhoneSat Program to Launch Android-Powered Mini Satellites into Space

Tim — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 11:00:25 +0000

With the hope of restoring low-cost space exploration, NASA is planning to launch mini satellites into space powered by Nexus One and Nexus S smartphones. The program, called "PhoneSat" aims to launch the “lowest-cost satellites ever flown into space,” which I'm guessing just wasn't possible if they used an iPhone instead. Zing? Two prototype satellites exist as of now, one being version 1.0, powered by the Nexus One and other is version 2.0 powered by the Nexus S. If version 1.0 has a successful launch, the team's hopes is to launch version 2.0 with more equipment attached so they can get some useful data from the probe. Launch is expected later this year for the Nexus One powered satellite and who knows, maybe if all goes well we can land an Android on Mars. Wishful thinking. Via: PC World Cheers David and Jacob!

Apple Vs. Samsung Case in Korea Finds Everyone Guilty, Devices from Both Sides Banned From Sale

Eric — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 10:10:28 +0000

The trial between Apple and Samsung in the United States is still in its final days of deliberation, but a similar case in South Korea just finished up and neither one of the companies was a clear winner. A court in Seoul found that Samsung violated some of Apple's patents, and that Apple violated some of Samsung's patents. How fun.

Samsung must pay $25 million to Apple and Apple has to repay $20 million right back. Some of Samsung's best devices like the Galaxy Nexus, Galaxy SII and the Tab 10.1 are banned, but not their latest model, the Galaxy SIII. Apple likewise has to give up the iPhone 4 and iPad 2 but get to keep the 4S and new iPad. All in all, it's a stalemate, just like the court proceedings were. There's no significance of this ruling on the American trial, but we wouldn't be surprised to see a similar outcome.

Via: WSJ

Galaxy Stellar Headed to Verizon With "Starter Mode" and Pre-loaded With Amazon Apps?

Kellen — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 09:20:18 +0000

The 4G LTE Samsung Galaxy Stellar, what are you? We saw you a few weeks ago on a rebate form, and assumed you were a low to mid-range Android device. The price of $99 in this image appears to confirm that notion, but what's this "Starter mode" all about? And why are you being sold as a device that is preloaded with Amazon Apps rather than the Google Play store? Anyone willing to take a guess at any of this? Could this be one of the first Android devices made by a major manufacturer (in this case the Android manufacturer) to ditch the Google suite of apps and go with Amazon's Appstore? An interesting move if true. I've got to admit, that the story of the Stellar has caught my interest, if nothing more than to find out how Amazon Apps are tied into the golden boy of Android phone making. Thoughts?

Samsung Posts Five Minute Documentary on Designing the Galaxy S3

Tim — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 08:50:30 +0000

Samsung has spared zero expense when giving people an insight into the great lengths that they have gone to design one of the world's most popular smartphones. The Galaxy SIII went through an amazing design process that took designers across the world and back, which resulted in a design that many have fell in love with. Whether we feel that Samsung's love of this phone's design is a bit corny or not, it's still a cool idea to give the public an idea as to what it takes to make a device such as this one. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6zAqnJiTAE[/youtube]

LG Posts Teaser for New Snapdragon Quad-core Powered Phone

Kellen — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 08:23:30 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8wmoZrBoQA[/youtube]

LG appears to be on the verge of releasing the most powerful smartphone on the planet. In a new teaser, they have confirmed that they are working on a phone powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon S4 Pro, better known to most of us as the quad-core variant of the chip we are seeing in handsets today. This chipset sports an Adreno 320 GPU, one that should make all other mobile graphics processing units look silly. We have seen benchmarks of tablets (and phones?) with this processor inside and have been blown away. What we want to know, is if a processor this powerful, is enough to get you to buy an LG phone? Will we see it at IFA next week, along with Samsung's Galaxy Note 2? Via: The Verge

Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE Review

Tim — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 16:01:26 +0000

Motorola's Photon Q has been out for about a week now on Sprint and we are ready to put up our "official" opinions and thoughts on the device. As someone who never owned another QWERTY phone after the OG DROID, it was interesting to say the least to go back to a phone that doesn't feel ultra thin such as the One X and Galaxy S3. The Photon Q looks to take the throne above all other full keyboard-toting devices and does so with relative ease. But of course, the phone is not without its faults though, so let's get right into it.

The Good:

Specs: On paper, the Q looks to draw you in with its enticing specifications. Oh, a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 and 1GB of RAM? 8MP camera that shoots 1080p video? And what about that fancy 4.3" display with Motorola's "ColorBoost" technology? That sounds like something I want to have in my pocket! Alas, this device does sport some high-end device specs. Along with Ice Cream Sandwich, NFC capabilities, and 8GB of on-board storage (expandable to 32GB), the Q can easily handle its own against some of Samsung's or HTC's better offerings, but that's on paper.
Battery: From my time with it, it's one of the better battery experiences I have had. I easily spent a good hour playing Organ Trail the other day and hardly noticed a toll on the device despite a small warmth coming from its backside. The phone features a non-removable 1785 mAh battery, which actually shocks me every time I am reminded at how bulky the device is. You're telling me I have to carry around this brick and it doesn't even come with more juice than a DROID RAZR's 1780 mAh? Some how, Moto has made it work.
Build: Given Motorola's exceptional track record at making hardware that everyone loves, this device is no different. It's a beast. It's a tank. I am certain that upon dropping this off any reasonable surface, that it has a pretty darn good chance of surviving the fall. The backside's hard plastic feels great in hand and none of the buttons come off as being "janky" or "loose." For example, there's nothing more unsettling than a loose power key. All of these feel very sturdy and will easily last a couple years of abuse. Overall, the phone feels great in hand.

Full QWERTY Keyboard: Well, it's a full QWERTY. That's why we're here, right? The keys feel good and they give an excellent "click" sound when pressed. In additional, they each light up extremely bright, so if you're trying to text in the movie theater, you're sure to get a few stares. The keys are spaced perfectly and don't feel cramped like many of the older DROID keyboards did. Down below in the gallery I have a nice picture of the Q sitting next to famed OG DROID. It's a good comparison shot.
Sprint LTE Connectivity: If you live in an area supported by Sprint's 4G LTE network, then that's a major plus. Unfortunately for myself and millions of other Americans, that is not the case. Maybe one day we'll see it in these parts. Until then, it's a 3G-only device.
NFC: The Q does have an NFC chip inside, but weirdly enough, Google Wallet is not supported. When and if it ever will be, I have no idea. I have it added as a plus since I am hoping that since the technology is inside, that down the road the Q will embrace G-Wallet and allow for mobile payments.
Slider: The slider aspect of this device really rocks. You can flick it up and down real fast and rest assured that it isn't going to snap on you. The top part was definitely screwed on tight and I love that aspect. It's a fluid slide and it's nice not to feel any jerks or rubs going on while sliding it.

Bootloader: This bad boy is unlockable! As of just a couple of days ago, Motorola released a web-based tool for you to unlock this device's bootloader. Once unlocked, rooting and adding a custom ROM will be much easier if that's something you're into. For hackers, this is the biggest selling point before all others.

The Not-so-Good:

Display: You won't be seeing any pixel shots here, folks. But I will say this - "It's a trap!" The Photon's 4.3" qHD "ColorBoost" (960 x 540 pixel) display is rather hard to look at after reviewing phones such as the Galaxy SIII and One X. With the bare eye, at certain angles you can see the pixels glaring at you and it's no fun to look at. If a super high-tech display is not something you need though, it will most certainly get the job done for your Angry Birds and YouTube video watching.
Camera: I will let this picture speak for itself. This is a full quality shot taken of my non-moving boxer (Usually he's a spazz). I have left it at full resolution so you can see just how awful my experiences have been. This is the best example I could get of a well-lit shot being practically ruined by the overall "blur" effect that the camera adds.

Blur: Just because it's better than the old version of Blur, doesn't make it any more fun to use. There are a few useful additions it brings such as swiping up on icons and contacts to reveal shortcuts, but overall, it has bogged down my experience and if this wasn't a review unit, a 3rd party launcher would be the first thing I installed from Google Play. For some reason, every time I am dealing with Blur it just seems to be more of a negative than a positive. One thing I will say is that I do enjoy the additional lock screen shortcuts it provides to applications, but there's applications that can do that as well. I know manufacturers want to differentiate themselves from each other, but I wish it was more on a hardware level than a software level.

Performance: On that note, I broke down. I installed Nova Launcher just to see if a different launcher could somehow change this device's overall feel and speed. To my disbelief, even Nova couldn't make the homescreen lag go away. When performing simple tasks such as swiping away cached apps and going from games to camera back to games it performs rather well. But if there's a constant lag just swiping homescreens, that's a problem for me
Gaming: As for gaming, I was hoping to find some titles that took advantage of the QWERTY keyboard. Unfortunately, it seems that most developers are just too used to programming games for on-screen controls. Although, as a bonus, Call of Duty: Blacks Ops Zombies (an Xperia exclusive title) did work on this device. Whether it's because of the keyboard or there was a glitch in the Matrix, it was nice to be able to finally play it.
Sprint's LTE: Seeing as how Sprint's LTE is only available in very few markets, I would say that is not the biggest sell for the device. I wish I could have tested it out.

Unboxing and First Look:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX7-NPCLzX8[/youtube]

Gallery:

The Verdict:

The phone does have its ups and downs, but overall, it's a fine device for most. If you're in need of the full QWERTY experience, I would look no further. The device is priced at a reasonable $199.99 on a new two year agreement. My only real issue is that if you're the type of person that needs their phone to have a decent camera, you may want to look at other offerings such as the Galaxy S3 on the "Now Network." Although, it is hard to resist a Motorola device with an unlockable bootloader.

Verizon's Spectrum Purchase Approved by FCC, Will Use to Beef Up Its LTE Network

Kellen — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 15:20:25 +0000

Today, the FCC approved Verizon's plan to acquire spectrum licenses from SpectrumCo, a joint venture between Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Bright House Networks. Big Red will use the spectrum to help continue the rollout of their 4G LTE network across the country, something they plan to have completely by the end of next year. CEO Dan Mead said specifically that they will "work aggressively to ensure" that this previously unused spectrum is put to use to "quickly benefit customers." This approval also allows them to move forward with their sale of 700MHz lower A and B block spectrum licenses, something Mead claims will help "benefit" other carriers. While this is all great news for Verizon customers, you have to wonder how companies like AT&T and Sprint are ever going to catch up.

VERIZON WIRELESS RECEIVES FCC APPROVAL TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL SPECTRUM FROM CABLE COMPANIES

Company Committed to Using Spectrum for Continued Rollout of 4G LTE and High-Speed Data Services to Customers
BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless today announced that with the recent Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval, the company will move forward with plans to acquire Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) spectrum licenses from SpectrumCo, a joint venture between Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks, and from Cox Communications, as well as to complete transactions with Leap Wireless, Savary Island Wireless and T-Mobile. Verizon Wireless will use the spectrum it is acquiring in these transactions in conjunction with its 700 MHz upper C band spectrum to deploy additional LTE capacity. “This purchase represents a milestone in the industry and we appreciate the FCC’s diligent work to review and approve the transaction,” said Dan Mead, president and chief executive officer of Verizon Wireless. “We will work aggressively to ensure that we put this previously unused spectrum to use quickly to benefit customers.” The approval of these transactions also means Verizon Wireless can move forward with its previously announced plan to sell its 700 MHz lower A and B block spectrum licenses. Mead added, “We expect a very robust sales process as more than 65 parties have requested and received information about the spectrum we are selling. Selling the A and B licenses will allow this spectrum to be used to the benefit of other carriers and their customers.” Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network is available today in over 370 markets covering nearly 75 percent of the U.S. population. The higher-speed network is important as the company works to meet the increasing needs of customers who are using smartphones, tablets and more, to manage their lives and run their businesses. The FCC estimates that the industry demand for mobile data by 2015 will be 25 to 50 times greater than it was in 2010 as customers move toward more data-intensive devices that allow them to video chat, stream live video, download movies or large work files and more, on smartphones and tablets. Verizon Wireless remains committed to helping America lead the world in broadband infrastructure that will ultimately give consumers more choice, convenience and innovation. About Verizon Wireless Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 94.2 million retail customers, including 88.8 million retail postpaid customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 78,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library atwww.verizonwireless.com/multimedia

Nexus 7 Toolkits Designed for Mac Appear, Makes Flashing a Little Bit Easier

Eric — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 14:00:49 +0000

I can speak from personal experience here in saying that flashing and rooting Android devices is always a little bit tricky for Mac users. The majority of instructions found on XDA or RootzWiki are written for Windows users, and most toolkits are as well. Today however, things have gotten a bit easier for owners of Macs and Nexus 7s.

These toolkits are a bit light on the features so far, but you can root/unroot, unlock/relock the bootloader and install ClockworkMod Recovery with these scripts. A fantastic start and it will sure to be welcome from Mac users. Head over to XDA at the link below for downloads and a place to leave feedback if you need to.

Via: XDA

Amazon Holding Press Event on September 6, New Kindles Incoming?

Kellen — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 13:14:30 +0000

On Thursday, September 6, Amazon is holding a press event to introduce something. The invite itself doesn't give off any hints, but with the rumors of new Kindle tablets on the horizon, one would guess that we may get a new slate or two. Could we see a 10" device or will it be a beefed up 7-incher to battle the Nexus 7? Tough to tell, but we'll be there to bring it to you.

Facebook's Android App So Awful They're Now "Dogfooding" it to Employees

Tim — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 13:10:42 +0000

According to Business Insider, execs at Facebook are no longer tolerating the "sub-par" excuse for an application that is known as Facebook for Android. As we all know, it's bad. Slow doesn't even begin to describe it. But I for one had no idea it was this bad. While the iPhone's version has just gone native, allowing for greater performance than ever before, we as Android users have been driven to just use our mobile web browsers to update our statuses. Come on, Zuck! Apparently, Facebook developers are in some cases being forced to leave their beloved iOS-driven devices for that of an Android. Only then, by truly seeing how awful the app is in daily usage, will the developers fix the issues surrounding the application. I for one am all for this treatment of developers. You pay their rent and give them fantastic benefits as employees, now make them deliver a good application. Via: Business Insider Cheers Nick!

Verizon Ranked Highest in Network Quality by J.D. Power and Associates

Eric — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 12:35:38 +0000

Verizon may have the biggest 4G LTE network of any of the carriers out there now, but today, J.D. Power and Associates is recognizing them for their network quality as well. In a press release published today, Verizon has ranked the highest in network quality in almost all of the regions of the United States. They also scored above industry average in all of the regions.

It is really good to see that Verizon is not just worried about the size of their network, but focusing on keeping dropped calls low and call quality high. Now if only they let us use this shiny new network instead of forcing us to turn on WiFi whenever we can.

J.D. POWER AND ASSOCIATES RANKS VERIZON WIRELESS HIGHEST IN NETWORK QUALITY Nation’s Largest Wireless Provider Ranked Highest in 5 Regions, Above Industry Average in All 6 Regions in Latest Study BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Once again, Verizon Wireless leads the way in network quality, ranking highest in five regions covering 43 states and the District of Columbia in the latest J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Wireless Network Quality Performance Study℠, Volume 2. The company also performed significantly above the industry average in all six regions nationwide. J.D. Power and Associates measures network quality in terms of voice, text and data usage, including the growing number of 4G LTE data users, among the major U.S. wireless service providers. Verizon Wireless ranked highest in:

Northeast Region, which covers Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Mid-Atlantic Region, which covers Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

Southeast Region, which covers Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

West Region, which covers Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Southwest Region, which covers Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

In the North Central Region, which covers Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin, Verizon Wireless scored above the industry average and ranked higher than three national wireless carriers in the study. “This latest study once again speaks loudly and clearly to the outstanding performance of the Verizon Wireless network in terms of customer satisfaction,” said Nicola Palmer, chief technical officer of Verizon Wireless. “With our 4G LTE high-speed network’s blazing fast speeds and superior nationwide coverage, Verizon Wireless remains committed to providing its customers with the best networks, devices and innovative services.” Approximately 27,000 wireless subscribers were surveyed by J.D. Power and Associates between January and June 2012 about their experiences with wireless voice, text messaging and data usage based on factors that impact overall carrier performance, including dropped calls, calls not connected on first try, calls with audio problems, failed or late voicemails, lost calls, message transmission failures, late text messages, mobile Web connection errors, excessively slow mobile Web loading, and email connection errors. Verizon Wireless has invested more than $70 billion since it was formed – more than $6 billion on average every year – to increase the coverage and capacity of its premier nationwide network and to add new services. Verizon Wireless leads the way with America’s largest 4G LTE network, covering more than 75 percent of the U.S. population. Currently available to customers in 371 markets across the country, the company’s 4G LTE network, which offers speeds up to 10 times faster than before, supports a wide array of 4G LTE-enabled devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S^® III and DROID INCREDIBLE 4G LTE by HTC.

Gameloft Releases Cosmic Colony to the Play Store, Think SIM City in Space

Eric — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 12:00:36 +0000

Gameloft released another game to the Google Play Store that looks to add to their wide portfolio of titles on Android. Cosmic Colony puts you in charge of a city in the far reaches of space and lets you build up your world so you can explore your surroundings. Search your planet or even fly to the nearest rock in space to look for things to do, manifest destiny never looked so fun.

And of course, there are the pesky space pirates to watch out for. They will try and ruin your city along with other random natural occurrences like you would find in SIM City. The game also has a social aspect where you can visit your friend's colonies and see how your space city stacks up against theirs. The game is free for download from the Play Store below, just try not to get lost in space.

Play Link

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryXJskVlUxg[/youtube]

HTC DROID Incredible 4G LTE Review

Kellen — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 11:25:35 +0000

The DROID Incredible 4G LTE sort of came at a bad time, just like the Motorola Atrix HD. Both phones were released far too close to the phone of the year, the Samsung Galaxy S3. And just like the Atrix HD, I have had this phone for over a month now, but when the GS3 was released, the Inc 4G immediately took a back seat until things cooled off a bit. Actually, "back seat" is the perfect way to describe this phone. It took a back seat to not only the Galaxy S3, but also the entire HTC One series that was released earlier in the year. It didn't receive the coveted "One" tag, nor did it receive any of the high-end specs of that series. Hell, maybe we should go with "stepchild" instead of "back seat?" Anyways, let's talk about it.

The Good:

Battery: One of the few highlights to the Incredible 4G has been battery life. With only a 1700mAh battery inside, I was initially worried that it wouldn't be able to get me through much of a day, especially while running on 4G LTE. To my surprise, this phone lasted all day and then some. As you can see in the screenshots, with steady usage on nothing but LTE, I had around 46% left after having been up and running for almost 16 hours. You can probably thank the Snapdragon S4 inside that is the most efficient processor on the planet, right now. It's not the same processor that powers the Galaxy S3, but is instead a 1.2GHz version that could have been underpowered to help extend things like battery life.

Camera: The 8MP camera on the Incredible 4G is really good. It's incredibly fast, sports a f/2.2 aperture, and 28mm lens. You click and it shoots. If the lighting is great, you may not even notice that you just took a picture - that's how fast it is. Unfortunately, it doesn't contain the ImageSense chip that came with the One Series, so options like burst mode are not included. Still, you should be able to take some beautiful stills with this camera. If there are two massive highlights for this phone, it's in battery life and the camera.

Price: At $149, the Incredible 4G is priced reasonably well. It could easily go for $99 with its lower-end specs and small frame, but it does have NFC, 4G LTE, and enough goodies to help justify the $149 mark. I'd personally buy it through a dealer who would likely have it for $99 or less. In fact, Amazon is selling it for around $49 as of today.
NFC: Yep, this phone has NFC. While Verizon refuses to let it use Google Wallet, you can at least beam links, contacts, and apps to your friends who also have NFC phones. NFC should be standard in all smartphones going forward, especially with more mobile payment options on the way, so we have to give props to Verizon and HTC for adding it in, even though this is a mid-tier device.

The Not-so-Good:

WiFi Notification: Before we get into this section, we need to start off by calling out Verizon (again) for the most obnoxious ongoing notification of all time. We aren't sure if this is a hint for you to get off of their network or because you may have a new Share Everything plan, but the "Tap to turn Wi-Fi on" notification that cannot be removed is easily the most annoying change on any phone in the last year. Seriously Verizon, we get it, we know how to turn WiFi on and off. And even if we didn't, you should still give us a way to remove this notification, because at some point, we are going to know how and not want this massive notification taking up precious screen space.

Specs: Normally we start every review off with specs, because well, most phones have great specs. This phone, does not. It sports a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor that we have been told is "different" than the Snapdragon S4 in the Galaxy S3 and many other phones. We don't know what "different" means, but it certainly doesn't mean "upgrade." It also rocks out with a low-end 4" qHD Super LCD display, VGA front camera, and around 8GB of internal storage. I'm calling this a "not-so-good" because the Incredible was at one time a top tier phone, but has since been shoved into the mid-range game.
Display: The display on the Incredible 4G is not good. It's a Super LCD, so the pixel arrangement is what you would want, however at a qHD resolution and incredibly low pixel density, this thing isn't impressing anyone. Take a look at the picture below and you'll know what I mean. The colors are also off, with whites looking almost yellow at times. I'd call the 4" display too small for my liking. I'm sure the iPhone 5 will launch with a 4" display and the fankids will claim it's the sweet spot, but for an Android guy who has been using 4.5" and above displays for months, this thing feels tiny.

Violent Haptic Feedback: The haptic feedback on this phone is crazy violent. When you press one of the soft keys, you can actually hear parts moving around. It almost vibrates out of your hand if you don't hold it tightly enough. OK, that last part was a bit of an exaggeration, but not much of one. When this thing vibrates, you can tell that this is one of the more cheaply made phones in some time. Tone it down, HTC!
Build: This bullet is sort of a continuation of the end of the haptic feedback section in that this phone feels remarkably cheap. It creaks, makes odd noises, and scuffs easier than most phones. When the camera focuses, you can actually hear a mini-popping noise, which is scary.
Sense 4.0: I really do not like Sense 4.0 any longer. When it was first introduced on the One X, it was a breath of fresh air over previous Sense versions, however, it's grown to annoy me just like most skins. The 3D animations and sluggishness are not fun to deal with. Now that Google has turned stock Android into a minimal and incredibly beautiful operating system, skins like this just seem like a downgrade. If you buy this phone, please install a 3rd party launcher immediately, to help hide most of Sense. If you would like to see a full overview of Sense 4.0, check out this video.

Bloatware: Our official bloatware count comes to 13, a number we gathered thanks to a special "Verizon" tab in the app drawer. It's a lot less than we have seen on other phones in the past, but with most of them being permanent fixtures unless you disable them, it's flag-worthy.
Keyboard: The Sense keyboard needs a major overhaul. It's slow, only vibrates with every other key press, and has a row of arrows on the bottom that I have never used one time in my life. It also doesn't auto-add spaces when you choose word predictions, something that drives me insane. If you force yourself into using this keyboard, at least go into keyboard settings and turn on its swipe/trace feature, as it works fairly well.

Hardware Soft Keys: HTC tried to do the right thing when it eliminated the Menu button from its navigation keys, but since developers have been slow to adopt this standard in their apps, you are often left with a black bar across the bottom of your screen with a single button to access menu options. They fixed this issue in the One X with a software update, but have not provided a fix for the Incredible 4G. On a screen that only measures 4-inches, you need all of the screen real estate available at all times.
Size: This phone is too small for my liking. Coming from big phone after big phone, it was a struggle to use something this small. Typing on it, browsing the web, and multi-tasking were painful at times because of the small icons and screen size. If you have dainty little hands, you may love this size - I just, do not.

Unboxing and First Look:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3srgtc8Hd0[/youtube]

Gallery:

The Verdict:

With no reason to beat around the bush, I'll just come out and say it directly - this phone is a mid to low-tier Android device that you shouldn't waste your time with. Verizon chose to pass on the One Series and instead gave HTC fans this. It's specs aren't enough to make it a powerhouse, and the build quality is so iffy and cheap, that I'd be afraid to attach 2 years of my life to it. It's $149 from Verizon, but you can pick up the Galaxy S3 for $50 more and hang out with the Android device of the year. It's battery life is great, as is the camera, but those aren't big enough selling points to mask all of its downfalls.

Verizon Expected to Announce the Motorola DROID M in the Coming Weeks, a Mid-range Phone for $149

Kellen — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 10:55:20 +0000

Verizon and Motorola are gearing up to announce the DROID M, a mid-range device that you can see pictured above. The device was previously only known by the name XT907, but we also referred to it as the RAZR Mini. It passed through the FCC not long ago, and should sport a qHD display, 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 4G LTE and NFC. The device will come in both black and white and sell for $149 on 2-year contract. BGR is reporting that it will have an HD display, but I think their source is confusing this phone with the actual RAZR HD. They will more than likely unveil both devices in New York on September 5. Via: BGR

Google Hosting Live Q&A Today Centered Around Google Wallet's Features and Future

Tim — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 09:10:43 +0000

Today, Google is hosting a special live Q&A session surrounding Google Wallet. They will talk about the features already found in Google Wallet and also what people can expect from the mobile payments platform down the road. The public is asked to submit their own questions for the Google team to answer during the session as well. The event goes live at 10AM PST or 1PM EST. Watch it here. Cheers Brian!

Facebook Update - Create Events, Upload Flow, and Emoji Support in Messages

Tim — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 08:42:58 +0000

Oh my, a Facebook update. This morning, FB pushed out an update to their Android app that brings a few extra features that some users might find useful and fun. Starting now, users can create and manage an event right from their mobile, uploading photos is made easier with the new Upload Flow interface (shown above), and emoji support has come to messages. Thank goodness. Better go get it while it's hot. :) Play Link Cheers Tim!

Pandora Radio for Android Updated, UI Overhaul and Much More

Tim — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 08:24:05 +0000

Lovers of music can go pick up the newest version of Pandora that recently hit Google Play. Inside the update, you will see a lovely UI overhaul, which should allow for much easier navigation throughout the app. Along with the overall new look, finding information on the artists and songs you love should be better than ever. With the ability to see artist bios, song lyrics (so you can sing along in the shower), and find similar artists, this is easily the best Pandora update yet. Although, I have found one issue. I myself am not a premium subscriber and those pesky banner ads pop up literally every 30 seconds during song play. That's a pain. Either way, go check it out and let us know what you think. Do you use Pandora or another music streamer such as Spotify or Slacker? Play Link Cheers Chris and Tim!

Google Music Receives Update - Jelly Bean Expandable Notifications, Better Google TV Support Included

Kellen — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 17:29:27 +0000

Google Music received an update this evening. Inside you'll find expandable notifications if running a device with Jelly Bean, which we have pictured above. Remember, it takes two fingers and you can swipe some notifications up and down in Android 4.1. For Music, you basically get bigger album art and a track back control when expanded. They also tossed in better support for Google TV and a bunch of bug fixes. Part of me thinks there are other goodies tucked inside, but it will take some tinkering to find them. Play Link Cheers zepfloyd!

Run Fatty Run for Android, Side Scrolling Fun Yet Somewhat Offensive?

Tim — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 16:01:59 +0000

In a world where the government must take extreme measures to fight the war on obesity, citizens of large mass are forced to run for their lives from tigers. Crazy, I know. You play as one overweight person who dares to outrun the tiger, but in doing so, maybe you'll become healthy. Naturally, you get tired from running so much so food is your ally during the levels. It's an interesting game to say the least and my only suggestion would be to try it out then refund your dollar if you don't care for it. It's always nice to try something a little out of the ordinary though. Play Link ($0.99) [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5J6Cg__Xso[/youtube]

Wednesday Poll: Which Type of 4G is Better?

Kellen — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 15:36:40 +0000

Seems like a silly question, right? "Which type of 4G is better?" The idea comes from a poll run by investment firm Piper Jaffray, a firm known for covering almost nothing other that Apple products. So what does this poll mean coming from them? Well, in their poll of 3,000 people (is that all?), they came to the conclusion that almost 47% of U.S. citizens do not feel as if they need 4G or 4G LTE. As you all know, the iPhone is not a 4G LTE device, nor is it really a "4G" device, unless you are listening to AT&T's software lies. Basically what I'm saying, is that their poll is kind of a joke. For all we know, they could have polled 3,000 iPhone owners, who clearly do not care about 4G since they bought iPhones, knowing that they aren't 4G phones. In return, I thought I'd ask our readers, a group of people that from what we can tell over the last couple of years, care a heck of a lot about 4G. And then if the results lean the completely opposite way, we can write ridiculous headlines like "75% of U.S. Citizens Can't Live Without 4G!" [poll id="198"]

Moto Unlock Tool Not Coming to Older Devices Like the Bionic or DROID 3

Kellen — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 14:10:52 +0000

To no one's surprise, Motorola mentioned on Twitter today that older devices such as the DROID Bionic, DROID 3, and DROID X2, will not be a part of the unlocking program that they launched at the end of last week. At least they are currently not in the plan. The only devices on the list of participants, includes the newly launched Photon Q (which we unlocked), the European RAZR Developer Edition, and the XOOM. They didn't mention anything about the DROID RAZR, but it would surprise the hell out of me to see anything but new devices receive the unlock treatment. At this point, you should probably focus your attention on getting the RAZR HD unlocked. Via: Twitter

Ad Hawk Lets You Identify Exactly Whose Paying for Those Political Commercials

Tim — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 13:38:11 +0000

Ever wonder who exactly is paying for and sponsoring that political campaign commercial that's on your TV? Ad Hawk for Android does exactly that. Working somewhat like Shazam, it listens to the ad being played, then returns all of the information it can on the makers and supporters of the commercial. Being campaign time here in the US, it's best to stay well-informed on who's paying the big bucks to influence your vote. Check it out and let us know what you think. If you feel like talking politics in the comments, keep it civil. Play Link Here is more info on how it works: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SG7_DOVpBw[/youtube]

Nikon's Coolpix S800c Android Camera to Launch Next Month for $350

Tim — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 12:55:49 +0000

Nikon's highly anticipated Android-powered smartcamera has officially arrived. The Nikon Coolpix S800c can be purchased for $350 and actually packs quite a punch. With built in GPS, a 10x optical zoom lens, 16 megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, 3.5-inch OLED WVGA touchscreen, 1080p movie capture mode and Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), it's an Android fanboy's photography dream. With launch taking place next month, it's going to be awesome to see how Android will affect the camera's battery life, how we'll use media sharing applications through the camera, and pairing it with our smartphones. You can grab it in white or black for $350.

Via: Engadget

Verizon's Optimus Vu Dubbed LG Intuition, Priced at $199 on Contract

Kellen — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 12:20:19 +0000

It's no secret that Verizon has plans to introduce LG's big ol' Optimus Vu here in the States. After all, it already cruised through the FCC, showed up in the wild in an entire gallery of pictures, and was outed as arriving this quarter in an LG press release. Today, we received additional info to add to that pile of evidence. According to our sources, the Optimus Vu will change to the LG Intuition when Verizon announces it in the coming weeks. Once available, you will be able to pick one up for $199 on new 2-year contract or $549 at full retail. With its 5" display, this will be the first mega-phone to be released on Verizon, you know, since they skipped out on the Galaxy Note. After this phone, the world is sort of expecting HTC to bring it all home with their own 5" device, only it will sport a 1080p display, something the Intuition can't match. Cheers ___!

Humble Bundle #3 Adds Four More Games, Including Osmos and Anomaly: Warzone Earth

Kellen — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 11:27:42 +0000

The folks behind the Humble Bundle just pinged us because they have included 4 additional games in the current bundle #3 that was launched last week. Thanks to an ultra-successful campaign that eclipsed $500K in sales and 80,000 purchases, they thought this was a great way to reward everyone. The new games are Osmos, Anomaly: Warzone Earth, World of Goo, and EDGE. All of this titles were featured in previous bundles, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you haven't had a chance to grab them yet. So here is how you get them:

If you already purchased Humble Bundle #3, then you can go download these 4 additional games today. They should already be listed in your downloads page.
If you have yet to purchase Bundle #3, then all you have to do is set your purchase price to higher than the average and you get it all, including the 5 original games.

Go get 'em! Via: Humble Bundle

Quick Look: Hands-on With the Archos 101 XS Tablet

Tim — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 11:09:48 +0000

Watch out, folks. Archos is looking to make a blast in the Android tablet market with their new Gen10 lineup of devices. The first to debut is the 101 XS. While it's a 10.1" tablet, featuring Ice Cream Sandwich and a pretty beefed up OMAP 4470 processor, it looks to be a direct competitor to ASUS' Transformer line. I've been playing around with it in my day to day routine for almost a week now and have a pretty solid opinion on some of the tablet's highs and lows.

Thoughts:

As far as overall specs, the 10.1" display features a 1280x800 resolution, a 1.5GHz dual-core OMAP chip, 1GB of RAM, and 16GB of on-board storage which is expandable to 64GB. The main feature Archos is pushing with the device is the accompanied "Coverboard." It is a magnetic full keyboard/screen cover that definitely differentiates this device from any other tablet on the market. Sure, others may have keyboard docks, but the only thing making this one different is the fact that it attaches through the magic of magnets. Archos claims the tablet will receive a Jelly Bean update sometime in Q4, which is fine since market availability in the US doesn't begin until November. The price is set at $400, and this does include both tablet and coverboard. To help you ease into that price, Archos threw in a copy of OfficeSuite Pro ($15 value) to let you know just how handy this thing can be when editing Word, Excel, and other documents.

Gallery:

Hands-On:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFDA5St9nbc[/youtube]

Conclusion:

So, should you go ahead and spend $400 on this thing? I would have to say "No." With the selection of Android tablets becoming evermore vast, people looking for a decent and cheaper Android tablet should probably go ahead and check out one of ASUS' offerings. Better build quality and much better software. During my time spent with this device, I tried to think of who or what type of user would benefit from this tablet. To this day, I still haven't answered that question to a degree I am comfortable with. Props to Archos for trying something new, but I just find myself unimpressed with the hardware at that price point.

HTC Incredible 2 Receives Leaked ICS RUU, Could the Official OTA Be Sometime Soon?

Eric — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 10:35:52 +0000

Remember the HTC DROID Incredible 2? No, not the Incredible 4G LTE, I get them confused as well. Good news for the owners of the Inc 2, a leaked RUU of an Ice Cream Sandwich build has leaked and is available for flashing now if you want to check it out. The update brings the phone to Android 4.0.4, but unfortunately only upgrades Sense to 3.6.

The ROM is mostly stock except for pre-loaded root and busybox, removal of HTC spyware and removal of HTC linkify which was the cause of Apple's lawsuit against HTC. Instructions and the download are at the source link below if you are dying to get started, just promise us you will make a backup beforehand.

If you're waiting anxiously for our Incredible 4G LTE review, it should be revealed sometime tomorrow!

Via: XDA

Gameloft Releases Gameplay Trailer for Wild Blood, Coming "Very Soon"

Tim — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 09:55:56 +0000

Today, Gameloft finally released the first gameplay trailer for Wild Blood and it looks pretty solid. The story looks to center around an ancient and powerful warrior whose main purpose is to destroy tons and tons of baddies. There are huge boss characters, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem given your seemingly vast knowledge of the sword and magic. It will be interesting to see how well devices handle the game's graphics since there seems to be a lot of action and textures going on all at once. Still no official launch date set by Gameloft, but instead of "Soon" we have "Very Soon." That should count for something. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn6vv16Vq_I[/youtube]

XOOM 3G Available for $199 Today From DailySteals

Kellen — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 09:09:00 +0000

Another week, another deal on the Motorola XOOM. This time though, it's the 3G version that you can connect to Verizon's network, should you need to. It's not the 4G LTE enabled version, and probably never will be since those upgrades ended months ago. But no matter what, $199 for a 32GB dual-core tablet is still a pretty good deal. While I would recommend that you skip these every single day of the week and buy a Nexus 7, some of you may prefer the larger 10" screen (and in this cases 10x heavier) size. The device itself has been "factory recertified." Via: DailySteals Cheers to everyone who sent this in!

Organ Trail: Director's Cut, the Best 8-Bit Zombie Experience Available on the Market

Tim — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 08:35:23 +0000

It's hard not to get excited about Organ Trail. I have been passing by it in Google Play for a few days and I finally checked out the trailer this morning. Holy moly, this game looks awesome. Think of it as the original Oregon Trail, but with hordes of the undead. You and your amigos set out in a post apocalyptic world in your Family Truckster (Family Vacation reference) and try to survive as you travel across the country. Find supplies, fight off zombified nature, kill endless amounts of zombies, protect yourself from bandits, and most of all, try not to cry when you have to put your friends down for good. The game is $3, so check out the trailer if you're worrisome about making that type of financial commitment. It's worth it. Play Link [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLW3TPOiqiQ[/youtube]

Department of Justice Seizes Three Well Known Android Piracy Sites

Tim — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 08:06:58 +0000

The above image is what will greet you upon arrival to three very well-known and popular Android app piracy sites. In a presser from the Department of Justice, this is only the beginning. The three sites seized by the DoJ are applanet.net, appbucket.net and snappzmarket.com. They will remain in the custody of the federal government until swift, yet deserved justice has been served. During the investigation, FBI agents downloaded thousands of pirated apps and issued nine separate search warrants spanning six districts in this country alone. As we all know, piracy is an issue that developers face, especially on an open platform such as Android. We should thank these crime fighters for assuring developers that their work won't become victimized now or in the future. Support the developers, folks! Via: PC World, DoJ

Unlocked AT&T Galaxy S3 Available for $499 From 1SaleADay

Kellen — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 21:39:06 +0000

The folks at 1SaleADay are selling a 16GB unlocked version of AT&T's Samsung Galaxy S3 at $499 for the next 24 hours. If you bought it at full retail from AT&T, it would run you $549, so you are saving $50. It's brand new, in retail packaging, and you get choose either the blue or white variant. Not a bad deal if you aren't interested in extending a contract, but still want one of the best phones on the planet. Via: 1SaleADay Cheers Damian!

T-Mobile Announces a Truly Unlimited Nationwide "4G" Data Plan, Available September 5

Kellen — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 21:27:43 +0000

In a time where carriers want nothing more than to charge you an arm and a leg to use their ultra fast data networks, struggling T-Mobile is willing to go the other route and offer you unlimited data for cheap. Announced tonight, T-Mobile is launching a truly unlimited data plan on September 5. This data plan features no data caps, no speed limits or bill shock, and offers the "ultimate worry-free experience." This new unlimited data plan will cost $20 per month when added to a Value plan, and $30 when added to a Classic voice and text plan. For example, a single line Value plan with unlimited talk and text and unlimited data would cost you $69.99. A Classic voice and text plan with unlimited talk and text, paired with an unlimited data plan would run you $89.99. T-Mobile may not have a 4G LTE network, but they do have a solid HSPA+ network that is capable of some impressive speeds, while not destroying batteries in minutes. Talk about an option.

T-Mobile Unleashes Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data

Starting Sept. 5, T-Mobile will be the only carrier with a nationwide 4G network to offer unlimited nationwide 4G data
2012-08-22 00:21:07 T-Mobile USA, Inc., today announced an industry first — a truly Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan. Featuring no data caps, speed limits or bill shock, as well as fast, dependable nationwide 4G coverage, T-Mobile’s new Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan offers the ultimate worry-free experience. The new plan is designed to satisfy both data-hungry customers who want to experience all their smartphones are capable of and those wanting the peace of mind of never having to keep track of their data usage. Today’s smartphones offer amazing experiences, and consumers are increasingly relying on them for everything from navigation, entertainment and shopping to just staying connected. With the introduction of the Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan, T-Mobile^® is the only U.S. carrier to empower customers to do what they want, when they want, with their smartphones by making fast, nationwide 4G data accessible for everyone — without limits and at a great value. “We’re big believers in customer-driven innovation, and our Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan is the answer to customers who are frustrated by the cost, complexity and congested networks of our competitors,” said Kevin McLaughlin, vice president, marketing, T-Mobile USA. “Consumers want the freedom of unlimited 4G data. Our bold move to be the only wireless carrier to offer an Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan reinforces our value leadership and capitalizes on the strength of our nationwide 4G network.” For customers seeking an unlimited experience on their smartphones, T-Mobile offers several ways for new and existing customers to take advantage of its Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan. New customers can purchase any smartphone in T-Mobile’s robust lineup of innovative devices or bring their own compatible smartphone and have access to a worry-free unlimited data experience on T-Mobile’s fast nationwide 4G network. Current T-Mobile customers on Classic or Value plans can simply upgrade their existing service by adding an Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan. The Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan will cost $20 per month when added to a Value voice and text plan or $30 per month when added to a Classic voice and text plan. For example, a single line Value plan with unlimited talk and text combined with unlimited nationwide 4G data will cost $69.99 or a single line Classic plan with unlimited talk, unlimited text and unlimited nationwide 4G data will cost $89.99. Available starting Sept. 5, T-Mobile’s Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan will provide smartphone customers with uncompromised, dependable access to data on the blazing-fast speeds of T-Mobile’s nationwide 4G network. The Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan will be available at T-Mobile retail stores, on http://www.T-Mobile.com/unlimited-data-plan and through select dealers and national retail stores.

Details on Patents in Question Finally Revealed On Motorola's Suit Against Apple

Tim — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 16:40:36 +0000

Last week, news broke that Motorola would be taking Apple, the world's most valuable company to court over patents. Why would it be over anything else? The exact patents in question were unknown, but finally the ITC has made the documents public and everyone has since been able to go through with their combs to see what exactly has Motorola's panties in a twist. According to a report from Unwired View, the case will revolve around 7 patents which are listed here below:

Patent No. 5,883,580 “Geographic-temporal significant messaging”
Patent No. 5,922,047 “Apparatus, method and system for multimedia control and communication”
Patent No. 6,425,002 “Apparatus and method for handling dispatching messages for various applications of a communication device”
Patent No. 6,493,673 “Markup language for interactive services and methods thereof”
Patent No. 6,983,370 “System for providing continuity between messaging clients and method therefor”
Patent No. 7,007,064 “Method and apparatus for obtaining and managing wirelessly communicated content”
Patent No. 7,383,983 “System and method for managing content between devices in various domains”

At this point, no one knows what to expect from the case or if these patents can give Goo-Moto the edge over Apple in a huge series of cases that all of these companies are currently in. No dates are set for hearings, but we will certainly keep you up to date on this one. Maybe for Christmas, Santa can come and put a stop to all of this once and for all. Via: Unwired View

HTC Thunderbolt Official Ice Cream Sandwich Build Leaks, Ready for ROM Flashers to Entertain

Kellen — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 15:55:09 +0000

Thunderbolt owners! An official Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0.3) build has been released in ROM form for you to take for a spin. Thanks to Team BAMF, you can taste the sweet update ahead of Verizon's approval. The build number is 7.00.605.2, which bumps the device up to Sense 3.6 and an experience most Thunderbolt owners will be pleasantly surprised with. The separate "Quick Settings" tab that HTC includes is top notch. The Settings menu has also been completely revamped to match ICS styling. The ROM itself is stock (deodexed), but does include root. HTC's "spyware" has also been removed. You can grab the file from the source link below. So until HTC and Verizon finalize everything in order to meet their self-imposed August deadline, this should hold you over. And feel free to the flip the bird to Woz. Via: BAMF Cheers Josh!

AOKP Developers Add In Their Own Jelly Bean Easter Egg Goodies

Tim — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 15:40:28 +0000

Oh, those crazy developers. If you have flashed the newest build of AOKP, then just like the official Jelly Bean build from Google, you can find some amusing Easter Egg fun. Under Settings, tap rapidly on "AOKP verison" which will bring up a flashy picture of a majestic unicorn. Long press on the unicorn and boom, tons of floating multi-colored unicorn heads for you to play around with. Good work, fellas. Cheers Bryan!

Motorola Atrix HD Review

Kellen — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 15:00:06 +0000

I have had the Motorola Atrix HD in my possession since early July, but since the Galaxy S3 launched at a similar time, it had to be put aside for a while. Now that things in the Android world have cooled off, it seemed like a great time to revisit the third edition of AT&T's semi-successful Atrix line. By no means do Motorola or AT&T expect this phone to blow minds and take over the game, however, there are some interesting new features that stick out that we felt were necessary to talk about, knowing that Motorola and Verizon have something special planned for September 5.

The Good:

Specs: The specs for the Atrix HD are impressive for the most part. It sports a 1.5GHz dual-core processor (assuming it's a Snapdragon S4), 4G LTE, a 4.5" HD ColorBoost LCD display, 1GB RAM, 8GB internal storage, expandable storage to 32GB, and it runs Ice Cream Sandwich. On paper, it should be one of Motorola's most powerful and impressive devices to date. Unfortunately, I can't brag about how great the performance is, something I'll touch on down below.
Display: This is by far, the best display we have seen from Motorola in a couple of years. It's HD, not PenTile, has a crazy high 330ppi, and looks fantastic with this ColorBoost technology. There are no shared pixels, something you can see in the macro shot below. I also compared it at full brightness to the Galaxy Nexus and the Galaxy S3 to show you the difference in tech. Bright colors seem to really pop on the LCD HD of the Atrix, a descriptive term we usually reserve for Super AMOLED displays. When looking at something with much more naturally coloring though, the device to me, seems to tone it back down.

Build: Motorola has always built some of the higher quality phones on the market. The Atrix HD is no different, in fact, it feels just like the DROID RAZR which was another solid phone. Buttons are all placed well (lock switch on the side, thank you!), the soft-touch kevlar backing is their best yet, and there aren't any creaky noises when using it, unlike the Incredible 4G LTE. I wouldn't say that this design is going to win any awards, as it has become sort of tired, but again, it feels just as good as any other Moto phone.
Camera: The 8MP camera on the Atrix HD is solid. Depending on the lighting, some of the photos I took appear a bit washed out, but for the most part, I thought they came out looking decent. In low light, things get a tad grainy, but on what smart phone do they not? The shutter itself is incredibly fast. Motorola gives you their standard set of options, however, it does appear to be missing a macro option, which is disappointing. Overall though, the camera in the Atrix was as good, if not better than those that were in any of Motorola's previous phones.

Newest MotoBlur: In the latest version of MotoBlur (skin on top of Android), Motorola has changed it up quite a bit. It still looks mostly like stock Ice Cream Sandwich aside from the new way that Moto has chosen to organize home screens. When you first boot the phone up, you only have one home screen to play with. If you want more, you swipe to the right and are greeted with a page that asks what kind of page you would like to create. From here, you will find pre-set pages to choose from or you can simply go with a blank one. It's a move I'm a big fan of. Gone are the days when Motorola would load up 7 home screens with spam and bloatware that could potentially overwhelm customers - in is the minimal goodness. Motorola also created interactive icons with previews. If you check out this post, you'll understand what we mean and why we are fans. Blur has quickly become one of our favorite Android skins after being in the doghouse for so long.

Price: At $99 on a 2-year contract, AT&T priced this phone right. It has almost all of the goodies you could ask for in a new smartphone, including a beautiful HD screen. It should get you through two years without slowing down into a massive pile of junk. And I wouldn't be surprised if this phone was discounted to FREE before too long, especially now that the HTC One X, a superior phone, is sitting at the same $99 price point.
Storage: Motorola only tossed in 8GB of internal storage, but they also gave you a microSD slot so that you can add removable storage, should you need more. Google and their Nexus devices have gone away from the microSD slot movement, so we are always pleased when we see other OEMs stick to them. This day and age, you can fill up storage pretty quickly with high-res photos, HD videos, and music collections.
On-screen Navigation Buttons: Thank you, Motorola! We have loved on-screen navigation buttons ever since Google introduced them with the Galaxy Nexus last year, so to see other OEMs finally start to make them standard, makes us happy. Sure, they tend to take up a few pixels while navigating around, but they hide during important screen usage, aka while watching videos. They also helped shorten up the chin on this device when compared to something like the DROID RAZR.

The Not-so-Good:

Performance: As I mentioned earlier, the Atrix HD has all of the specs to be able to perform with the best of them. Unfortunately, during my time with it, it failed to live up to my expectations. The Snapdragon S4 is the processor that has taken over the world this year because of its power and efficiency, however, I notice stuttering and jitters on this phone all of the time. Swiping between screens is fluid for the most part, but even when swiping through pages in the app drawer, I noticed a jerky experience. It's also slow to load apps, switch tasks, and sometimes requires multiple presses on icons before anything will happen because it's processing other things in the background. In 2012, with the amount of power at a smartphone maker's fingertips, there should be no lag. The Atrix HD did not pass the test.
Battery Life: The battery life on the Atrix HD has been all over the board. It sports a 1780mAh battery, so it's not the 3300mAh beast that is in the RAZR MAXX. On my first couple of charges, I was unable to get through an entire day, as you can see in the screenshot below. After setting the phone down for a month and picking it back up yesterday, I've noticed a slight improvement, but nothing to write home about. In fact, the phone completely died overnight, even though I left it with about 40-50% of a charge. When it comes to a smartphone, I want one that manages power much better than this.

Design: This design is old and tired. It was interesting and sort of cutting edge with the DROID RAZR on Verizon, last year, but it's not impressing anyone this year. HTC and Samsung continue to impress with their phone designs skills - Motorola, not so much.
Keyboards: Both keyboards on the Atrix HD are two of the worst I have ever used. It comes loaded with a slightly tweaked stock Android keyboard (basically has been elongated) and Swype, both of which struggle at all times. The stock keyboard can't keep up with quick typing, plus the elongated buttons make it a challenge if you are coming from another phone. Swype on the other hand, works well if you like to swipe words, however, as always, it can't keep up with quick typers. I personally, would ditch both and invest in Swiftkey immediately, should I ever find myself stuck with the Atrix HD.

No NFC: If you were hoping to get into the NFC and mobile payments game with your next smartphone, skip the Atrix HD, as it does not contain an NFC chip. It's unfortunate, especially as we near the end of 2012 and mobile payments are bound to be our future. They had to cut somewhere to keep the price down, right?

Unboxing and Quick Look:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88vFFdHcfL8[/youtube]

Gallery:

The Verdict:

The Atrix HD is a solid mid-range phone. At $99, it's priced right, however, with the HTC One X now selling for that same $99, it would be hard for me to recommend this to anyone on AT&T. The One X remains one of the top 5 Android phones on the planet, while the Atrix HD was never going to hit that status. Again, it's a fairly polished phone, but there are others at this price point that can beat it.

Analysts: Google's Nexus 7 Sales Could Reach 8 Million By the End of 2012

Tim — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:21:59 +0000

Taken from the number of sales of the displays used in the device, it looks like Google will be looking at a grand total of 8 million Nexus 7 tablets sold by the end of 2012. According to what Google had previously expected to sell since the July launch, that's more than double the previous estimates. Google spokespeople have yet to confirm these projections, but once the sales numbers are posted, folks are likely to be happily surprised at the popularity of the Jelly Bean-powered device. I know I could speak for most readers here that it's easily been one of the most popular Android devices ever launched. With fantastic build quality, Jelly Bean, and that unbeatable $200-$250 price tag, it can't be beat. Via: Computer World Cheers Sameer!

Verizon Reportedly Blocks Vacations in September Because of iPhone 5 Launch, Poor Motorola

Kellen — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 13:32:10 +0000

According to TechCrunch, Verizon has blocked employees from taking vacations between September 21 and September 30 because the next iPhone will launch during that time. Their source didn't specifically mention that the iPhone was indeed launching on the 21st, but since everyone is expecting Apple to announce the phone on September 12, a launch of a week later matches up to previous releases. So why do we care? Well, because Motorola has told us all to save September 5 on our calendars because they would like to announce something as well. Thanks to Moto employees on photo sharing and benchmark sites, the FCC, and video tutorial leaks, we are essentially expecting it to be for the DROID RAZR HD, a top tier phone, and the XT907 (Mini?), a mid-tier phone similar to the Atrix HD and original DROID RAZR. Am I alone in asking, "What the hell are you thinking, Motorola?" Don't get me wrong, Moto will have the attention of the world on September 5 because the smartphone industry is beyond boring right now. But the next week, most of the world is going to forget about whatever it is that they just announced thanks to the new iPhone. Assuming Moto does the standard Android release and announces it 2 months before allowing it to be sold in stores, maybe it will eventually show up in October and iPhone sales will have cooled off? Not likely? I definitely do not envy any of the Android manufacturers who are going to try to make a buck in the 4th quarter of 2012. Apple has positioned themselves to completely destroy the game again. Well, maybe HTC's 1080p phone, codenamed dlx (also headed to Verizon), will arrive and steal the show? Ugh. Thankfully, I'm not in the business of trying to sell Android phones in the same quarter as a new iPhone. I'm simply in the business of enjoying all things Android and sharing it with all of you.

Question of the Day: What's the Worst Gadget You've Ever Purchased?

Tim — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 12:53:55 +0000

With Wozniak's recent confession that the HTC Thunderbolt was one of the worst purchases he's ever made, we're out to find the same thing from all of you. With a wide variety of tech goodies out there, it's quite possible to have purchased a flop that you completely regret. Was it a computer, camera, phone, tablet? As for us, Kellex still shakes his head at the purchase of a Motorola XOOM LTE - "No updates ever, it weighs a ton, has an awful screen, and I have probably used it for all of 8 hours total." As for me, I regret buying an old $80 PDA back when I was in eighth grade that I had absolutely no use for. I think I got it just to look cool. Mission failed. What's the worst gadget you've ever purchased?

Video: Hands-on with Sprint's Motorola Photon Q

Tim — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 12:20:55 +0000

This morning, I got close and personal with Sprint's new Motorola Photon Q. It is not a full un-boxing since we did that yesterday to unlock the bootloader, but this is a very brief overview of the device that should surely keep you busy until our full review is done. The spec rundown features a "ColorBoost" (540x960) TFT LCD 4.3" display, Snapdragon S4 1.5GHz dual-core chip, 1GB of RAM, 4.5GB of on-board storage expandable to 32GB, 8MP camera, Ice Cream Sandwich, NFC, Splash Guard technology, and a full QWERTY keyboard. Let's get to it. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX7-NPCLzX8[/youtube]

Steve Wozniak: The HTC Thunderbolt Was One of the Worst Gadgets I Ever Purchased

Eric — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 11:50:22 +0000

Bear with me here, because the mention of someone from Apple doesn't necessarily mean a flame war immediately. Gizmodo recently asked their readers what the worst technology gadget they had ever purchased was, and if you dig through the comments you can find Apple honcho Steve Wozniak weighing in that the HTC Thunderbolt was right at the top of his list.

Unfortunately, he did not go into much detail, but take a poll from the TBolt owners we have reading the site and they can be sure to tell you. Bad LTE signals all over the place, random reboots, update failures and that isn't even touching on the horrible stock battery life.

Would you agree with Woz that the Thunderbolt was that bad? Or have you had worse?

Via: Gizmodo

Google Play Gift Cards are Now Official - Available at RadioShack, Target, and GameStop

Kellen — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 11:14:58 +0000

Thank, Buddha. Finally, Google has announced that Google Play gift cards are official. While I understand the importance of them, it still baffles me to think that we spent a week talking about...gift cards. But hey, kids need to shop too, right? This would be the way for those without credit cards to ball out in the Play store. They will be available at GameStop, RadioShack, and Target in the very near future, if they are not already. Walmart.com should have them by next month. You will be able to purchase them in $10, $15, $25 and $50 denominations. All of the dirty details can be found at the Google Play gift card landing page. Instructions for using them here.

CyanogenMod Shows Off New Streamlined Boot Animation Destined for CM10

Eric — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 11:00:20 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogp9f4_yEoU[/youtube]

If you loaded up any unofficial builds of CM10 on your phone yet, you may have noticed that when it first boots it still has Cid and the CM9 logo plastered on it. The CyanogenMod team is moving towards complete CM10 development and therefore wanted to update the boot animation to reflect this.

The animation is definitely slimmed down and simplified over the CyanogenMod animations that we have seen in earlier versions. Boring for some, but the animation does look more professional and almost ready for primetime. The code is still waiting to be signed off on by the team before being implemented. What do you think?

Via: Google+

Next Nexus Phones Coming From LG, Sony, and Samsung?

Kellen — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 10:32:56 +0000

According to a report out of Android Noodles, a document showing the winter roadmap for Japan's Docomo, lists out three (3) different Nexus devices. The three manufacturers on their list are Samsung, LG, and Sony. The report mentions a 3-column table that references the three devices, however, no picture or further proof was provided. What we do know, is that a report out of the Wall Street Journal back in May suggested that Google wanted to have more than one Nexus partner this year and had opened up the program to at least 5 different OEMs. So if Docomo has three Nexus devices on their winter roadmap, and Asus already released the Nexus 7, we are certainly on our way to matching that previous report. Also, we saw a Samsung device by the model number GT-I9260 with "Nexus" attached to it, this morning. At this point, we can only consider this rumor until more hard evidence comes out. We have seen LG mentioned in Nexus conversations for some time now, so maybe this is a sign that they are finally getting their shot. Sony, on the other hand, is a bit surprising, but then again, they are a company that needs to make something happen aside from their tired old Xperia line of phones. The names mentioned in this report for each device are Samsung Galaxy Nexus II, LG Optimus Nexus, and Sony Xperia Nexus. Believable? Disappointing? Via: Android Noodles

Amazon Goldbox Deals: SanDisk Class 10 32GB and 64GB microSD Cards for $24 and $50

Kellen — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 09:35:29 +0000

For those of you who picked up a Galaxy S3 over the last couple of months, but has yet to grab a 64GB high-speed microSD card for it, you may want to cruise through Amazon's Goldbox deals of the day. SanDisk and a variety of their storage solutions are featured, but to most of you, the highlights will be their microSD cards. You can pick up a 64GB Class 10 card for $49.99 or a 32GB Class 10 card for $23.99. Those, my friends, would be considered impressive deals. If microSD cards aren't your thing, and you have other backup needs, SanDisk has you covered. You can grab solid state hard drives or regular sized SD cards on the cheap as well. Amazon Links: 32GB Class 10 microSD | 64GB Class 10 microSD More Links: All SanDisk Goldbox Deals

PopCap to Launch Plants vs. Zombies Sequel in 2013

Kellen — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 09:10:50 +0000

Plants vs. Zombies, one of the more entertaining mobile games of the last few years, will have a sequel some time in the first half of 2013, according to the game's creators. This morning, PopCap announced that the "underground growth" of the new PvZ is expected to launch by "late spring 2013." They plan to introduce a bevy of new features, settings, situations, "designed to delight the franchise's tens of millions of fans." Personally, I can't wait. Plants vs. Zombies was one of those games that Android enthusiasts had to wait what seemed like an extraordinary amount of time to get. Hopefully this time around, they launch on a variety of platforms.

POPCAP'S PLANTS VS. ZOMBIES™ SEQUEL SET TO SPRING IN FIRST HALF OF 2013

Plants vs. Zombies Sequel Will Feature Hordes of New Plant and Zombie Types and Mulch More
SEATTLE, Washington – August 20, 2012 - PopCap Games, maker of some of the world's most popular video game franchises and a division of EA, today announced that the underground growth of the sequel to Plants vs. Zombies™, one of the world's most popular video games, is germinating and advancing with rigor. The sequel to Plants vs. Zombies is expected to launch by late spring 2013, and will include a bevy of new features, settings, and situations, designed to delight the franchise's tens of millions of fans around the world. No other details of the highly anticipated new installment in the franchise are available at this time, beyond the following comments from some of the game's denizens. "Spring is crullest curlie ungood time, and plantz grow dull roots," noted an unidentified spokesperson. "So, we are meating you for brainz at yore house. No worry to skedule schedlue plan... we're freee anytime. We'll find you." "There was a time we relished a bracing, hearty blend of zombies, in the morning," said Sonny F. Lower, a representative of the Flora Forever Foundation. "But first, a brisk shower and some strategic pruning are required. Tomorrow is near!" Known for its quirky, one-of-a-kind blend of art, humor, polish and attention to detail, PopCap has been a mainstay of casual, mobile and social gaming for more than a decade. More than a billion people around the world have played PopCap's video games, including the award-winning, blockbuster franchises Plants vs. Zombies, Bejeweled®, Zuma®, Peggle® and Bookworm®. The breadth of PopCap's audience is similarly impressive, as its games appeal equally to both genders and all ages. About PopCap PopCap Games is the leading global developer, publisher and operator of casual video games: fun, easy-to-learn, captivating games that appeal to all ages across PC, mobile, social and other platforms. Based in Seattle, Washington, PopCap was founded in 2000, was acquired by Electronic Arts in 2011, and has a worldwide staff of more than 600 people in Seattle, San Francisco, Vancouver, B.C., Dublin, Seoul, Shanghai and Tokyo. PopCap's games have been downloaded over 1.5 billion times by consumers worldwide, and its flagship franchise, Bejeweled®, has sold more than 50 million units.

Is the GT-I9260 Really the Next Nexus From Google and Samsung?

Kellen — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 08:18:09 +0000

The spreadsheet you are looking at popped up over at SamMobile last night, leading everyone to believe that Google and Samsung have already created the next "Nexus" device with model number GT-I9260. As you may recall, the original Galaxy Nexus (GSM) was GT-I9250, so I9260 does seems like a logical number to follow it up with. After that though, we have a bunch of questions that we'll toss out at you to hopefully help us all understand this situation. First, let's talk about specs. As you can see, it's a minor bump from the current G-Nex. The jump to 1.5GHz over 1.2GHz is pretty minimal and probably unnoticeable to anyone who were to use it. The rear camera is bumped to 8MP, the front to 1.9MP, and a microSD card slot could accompany it. Now, onto the first set of questions. Since when does Google allow microSD slots in Nexus devices? It didn't in the Nexus S and publicly announced why they chose not to use one in the Galaxy Nexus. We know that people like expandable storage, but is Google really going to give in on something they seem to stand firmly behind? Hell, even the Nexus 7 doesn't have expandable storage. Next, about those screen specs. First, the original Galaxy Nexus was not just a "Super AMOLED," it was an "HD Super AMOLED." So to see what everyone is claiming to be some official leaked spec sheet get that wrong, but also call it a "Super AMOLED HD" for the Galaxy S3 and new Nexus, leaves me a bit skeptical. The official term is "HD Super AMOLED" with "HD" at the front. If they are trying to say that this will be a "Plus" version, we'd welcome it, but again, this just doesn't seem to match up. Moving on... Let's say that they choose to make a new Nexus that is nothing more than a minor spec bump. Remember that they essentially did this with the Nexus S. The Nexus S was by no means a game-changer when it was released. It sported an older Hummingbird processor, a dated 5MP camera, WVGA display, and no expandable storage. The only real new features for the device were its contoured display, NFC chip, and Gingerbread (Android 2.3). So it certainly is possible that Google and Samsung could release a slightly better version of the Galaxy Nexus. If they do, what does that mean for the multi-Nexus program that was rumored, months ago? All I can say is that the multi-Nexus program better still be happening. While I love me some Galaxy Nexus, I'd be disappointed to see Samsung produce the third Nexus phone in a row that was nothing more than a slight bump over the previous year's model. Give me choices, give me a beast Nexus. Or has Google decided to move out of the high-end phone market and instead release a phone that could be considered "mid-range" that can be sold at a ridiculously low price? With the Nexus 7 taking over the low-range tablet market, what if Google wants to try to do the same with the phone market? We all know that they would prefer to sell unlocked phones directly through their own store at reasonable prices - slightly bumping specs on a phone from a year ago is a way to continue to do that. Your thoughts? Via: SamMobile

How to: Unlock the Motorola Photon Q Bootloader

Kellen — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 16:05:14 +0000

On Friday, as I was tearing up Vegas, Motorola released a tool to be used to unlock the bootloader of the Photon Q, their most recently released smartphone. While I know that many of you were hoping this new tool would support the DROID RAZR, Bionic, and other previously released Motorola devices, that doesn't appear to be the case, for now. So until that happens, we thought the least we could do is walk through the process on the Photon Q, to give you some sort of an idea as to how this works. It's pretty simple, but even I ran into a couple of minor issues.

Instructions:

*Reminder: This will void your warranty. *Hey buddy, this will void your warranty, so understand that before doing anything. * This will also wipe your phone completely clean. So if you don't want to lose everything on your device, don't do this.

1. Head to Motorola's bootloader site, click "Proceed" past step 1 and register an account. 2. You need to download the Android SDK and set it up. 3. Then download the newest Motorola drivers for your computer and install them. 4. Plug in your Photon Q and let it install drivers for the device. 5. Once it has done that, head into your SDK/Platform-tools folder. 6. You need to download fastboot.exe if it isn't already in your Platform-tools folder. [Download] 7. Open a command prompt from within your SDK/Platform-tools folder.

*Hold down SHIFT and Right Click - "Open command prompt..."

8. Type in:

adb reboot bootloader

9. Once your phone reboots into the bootloader, type in:

fastboot oem get_unlock_data

10. Your command prompt should display a device ID to be entered at Motorola's site.

11. The tricky part here, is that you have to piece together all 4 lines to enter in the "Verify device..." box.

*My command prompt was hating life and would not allow me to simply copy and paste. Plus, you cannot include the word "INFO" that starts each line off. So you have to piece together the 4 lines without the word "INFO" and then paste them into the "Verify device is unlockable box."

12. Once you have pasted and clicked the "Verify device..." box, you should see a "Request Unlock Key" button.

13. Press the "Request Unlock Key" button and they will email you an unlock key. 14. Once the email arrives, leave it open as you are about to need it. 15. With your phone still plugged in and sitting at fastboot, it's time to unlock. 16. In the command prompt, type in:

fastboot oem unlock UNIQUE_KEY *Type in your emailed unlock key where it says "UNIQUE_KEY"

17. Your phone's bootloader will now be unlocked. You should see these two screens:

18. Your phone will reboot and your bootloader will no longer be locked. 19. Congrats. Now go flash an AOSP ROM. Cheers Motorola!

Apple's Lawyers: Samsung's Galaxy Nexus is a Copycat Product

Tim — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 16:01:47 +0000

When will the madness come to an end? In a new plea to the courts, separate from the case happening down in San Jose between Samsung and Apple, Apple's lawyers are looking for an appeals court to go through with the ban on the Galaxy Nexus. Apple states that the Galaxy Nexus was purely a "copycat product" in an attempt to steal smartphone market share. As you may re-call, Apple did win a previous injunction on the device, but thankfully Google was able to fix the unified search issue that was in question. Apple's game plan will be to show that the Galaxy Nexus did indeed steal some share from the iPhone and caused millions of dollars in damages, but Samsung's lawyers believe that will be very difficult, given the Galaxy Nexus' "miniscule" sales numbers. According to Bloomberg, a trial is set to take place March 2014. It looks like we'll be waiting a while for all of this to end. Apple, where do you get off? Via: CNET | Bloomberg

Quick Look: Spigen Ultra Thin Air and Modello Galaxy S3 Cases [Contest Too] (Update: Winners Picked)

Kellen — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 14:42:15 +0000

On our never ending quest to bring you looks at as many of the top Samsung Galaxy S3 cases as we can, the next stop is back with our friends Spigen SGP, and their Modello and Ultra Thin Air cases. Both cases are affordable, come in a variety of colors, and will give you some protection without feeling like your phone is hidden behind a brick.

Modello

The Modello case from Spigen is their take on a TPU case. It's essentially a rubber case that fits tightly around the entire device, even up onto the front a tad, to give it face down protection. Spigen's, to me, has a much more textured feel than other TPU cases in the industry, something I liked while holding it. It didn't just feel like a glossy rubber case - it felt like they spent time making it feel and fit perfectly. There are cutouts for the camera, flash, speaker, volume rocker, lock switch, headphone jack, microUSB port, and microphones. Again, it fits perfectly, but one thing I really love is the fact that it barely touches on the front of the display. Too many TPU cases cover up the front side of the device, something I can't stand. Spigen's does a great job at giving you just enough protection without taking over. At $15, you can't really go wrong with this case, especially if TPU is how you roll. The case comes in 7 different colors: black, brown, red, blue, purple, green, and grey. Buy. ($14.99)

Ultra Thin Air

The Ultra Thin Air is Spigen's attempt at creating the ultimate minimal case that offers a bit of protection, but still highlights the design of the device. It's made of a polycarbonate material that was custom formed to fit as perfectly as possible to the Galaxy S3. Now, in the past with Ultra Thin Air cases, I was obsessed. In fact, the Ultra Thin Air for the One X is probably in my top 3 cases of all time. The Galaxy S3 version on the other hand, not so much. This case was too slippery for my liking. I also managed to damage the cutout for the lock switch within one day of use. I don't necessarily think that is going to be normal, but I had to mention it. I've also noticed that on the silver and gold backs, that there is this slightly washed out spot in the middle. You can actually see it in the picture of the back below. So while I love the idea of the Ultra Thin Air, I'm not sure that the Galaxy S3 version is up to previous standards. It will run you $19.99, but that also includes a screen protector. I'd suggest going with maybe the black or white, as the black for the One X was not slippery and was a dream. You may want to avoid the gold and silver though, as they are the two I handled and based this review off. It comes in 8 different colors: black, silver, red, gold, mint green, white, pink and orange. Buy. ($19.99)

_____________________________________

Contest

We have 6 cases total to give away - 3 Ultra Thin Airs and 3 Modellos. Update: We have picked our six winners and emails have been sent out. Go check your inbox! How to enter: ~~1. In the comments, tell us how many Android devices you have owned and what they are. 2. Also, tell us which case you would like to win and in what color.~~

*Color options: Modello: purple, black, or grey. Ultra Thin Air: gold, white or pink.

3. Feel free to share the contest page with your social network of choice. 4. Tomorrow at 10AM, we will choose winners randomly from the comments. Good luck!

Samurai Rush - Kill Those That Kidnapped Your Family and Destroyed Your Village

Tim — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 14:27:15 +0000

Samurai Rush is a game found on Google Play that brings some really fun elements to the side scrolling genre. You play as a samurai warrior - your village was destroyed and many were slain or taken to be slaves. With nothing but revenge on your mind, you set out to take on a ton of baddies and skilled bosses. As you run closer to enemies, you have different ways and directions to attack from, so it's a constant move up/down swing left/right type of game. The animations are really swell and for free, you can't go wrong. For me, the controls took some getting used to and it was kind of confusing to tell where enemies would attack from, but once you get the hang of when and where to swing, it becomes pretty fun. Play Link [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DhiUJoq1K8[/youtube]

Android Open Kang Project's First Official Jelly Bean Build Released, Flashers Rejoice (Update)

Tim — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 13:03:08 +0000

Well, the time has come. The AOKP team has released their first official Jelly Bean build and already, they're off to a great start. Users can expect to see all of the well-known features such as notification bar mods, lockscreen tweaks, and a lot more custom hax. To find downloads and get more info on the build, follow the via down below.

Features you will see (but not limited to) in this build: Notification Toggles Lockscreen tweaks (no custom targets yet) Navigation bar modifications Custom kernel performance options LED colors Notification wallpapers Phone ringer modifications (Flip call to silent, silent/vibrate when headphones are in) Plus more!

Update: Builds are starting to pup up and users can now download JB AOKP for the Nexus S and Nexus 7. Still awaiting on the toro Galaxy Nexus build. Update 2: The Galaxy Nexus LTE (toro) build is up. [Download] We'll be sure to get it booted up and have a nice little run down of the build as soon as we get it downloaded. Via: AOKP, Google+

MIUI Jelly Bean ROM Released for Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 7

Kellen — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 12:32:25 +0000

MIUI, one of our all-time favorite ROMs, was updated this weekend to Jelly Bean and then released for a couple of our favorite devices of all time. The Galaxy Nexus (both LTE and GSM) and Nexus 7 each received a build that apparently has little to no issues or bugs. The changelog itself is massive, however, it doesn't dive into many new features per se. The upgrade from ICS to JB appears to be more of a bug fixer than anything. Screenies: Download Links: Galaxy Nexus LTE | Nexus 7 Instructions: 1. Download the ROM to your device's internal storage. 2. Reboot into recovery and create a backup. 3. Wipe data and cache. 4. Choose the .zip file through recovery and flash it. *Thoughts - It's definitely still MIUI, just as you have grown to expect. Google Now is included since it's Jelly Bean. I've noticed a notification bar bug already, along with a lengthy drop from 4G to 3G. Overall, the build is really polished and looks stellar, but it'll take some time before I can tell if it's incredibly stable or not. Via: MIUI Android [Changelog] Cheers Jason!

Avast! Mobile Security Updated to Version 2.0 - Includes New Widget and SiteCorrect

Tim — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 12:16:26 +0000

Avast! Mobile Security received a major update today which contains a gang of new features for those of you who love keeping your devices extra safe. Some of the additions include a new Network Meter for measuring incoming and outgoing data, a brand new widget for quick device scanning, and a brand new web interface for GPS tracking, remote device wiping.

What's in this version: • Web-based control for Anti-Theft • Network Meter • SiteCorrect - autocorrect of mistyped URLs • Scanning of incoming messages • Real-time protection (on-exec scanning) of apps • Improved user interface for tablets • avast! Widget • The shield control UI to fine-tune on-access security setup • Grayscale notification icon configurable from settings

If you're looking for mobile security, it doesn't get much more extensive than this. Play Link [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVzou1P68I8[/youtube] Cheers Li-Lun Wang!

Droid Life Q&A Session: Volume 4

Tim — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 11:30:33 +0000

It's been far too long since our last Q&A session, so here we are. Since our last entry, we've seen pigs fly (Motorola starting to unlock bootloaders), Verizon's Galaxy S3 had its bootloader unlocked, and tons of other Android awesomeness. If you aren’t familiar with our Q&A sessions, think of them as your opportunity to ask the Droid Life staff anything. How we've been keeping cool in this summer heat, what we're hoping to see at CES 2013, or even ask us to kindly show off more pictures/video of our beloved pets. As always, please feel free to shoot your Android questions in too. We love helping out our readers. Check back on Friday to see if your question gets answered.

Images of the Android Powered Nikon P7700 Leak, Running Stock Gingerbread?

Tim — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 11:00:37 +0000

The Android-powered camera from Nikon has been receiving plenty of hype as of late. Awesomely enough, some leaked images from Nikon Rumors of the camera have hit the web and gives us a good look at what to expect from Nikon. Stock Gingerbread? When we first heard it would be running Android, we figured they would be throwing over a skin that would basically make the device purely a camera experience, but from this picture, it looks like you're going to be able to do plenty of other stuff. We see a browser icon, contacts, calendar, and email icon. Strange.

Since this is leaked, we'll leave the jury out on this one until Nikon's official announcement which is penciled in for this Wednesday (August 22). Either way, it looks kinda cool. Your thoughts? Via: The Verge

Samsung and Apple's Phone Call is Last Effort to Reconcile Before it's Up to a Jury

Tim — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 10:35:47 +0000

Today, a phone call of epic proportion is set to take place between the CEO's for both Apple and Samsung. Tim Cook and Kwon Oh Hyun will try to make an effort to see if either side can come to terms before Judge Koh and a jury decide their fates. In terms of what is being discussed, in the end, it is a huge sum of cash. Apple is currently seeking $2.75 billion in damages and Samsung looks to pocket nearly $400 million in royalties from misused patents. According to Judge Koh, jury deliberations could begin as soon as tomorrow, but could take quite some time. The way we see it, the sooner the better. This trial has gone on way too long. Do you have any thoughts on what you would like to see as an outcome? Via: Bloomberg

Verizon Approves Ice Cream Sandwich for the DROID XYBOARD 10.1, Here are the Details

Kellen — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 10:00:40 +0000

Last night, Motorola approved Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0.4) for the WiFi XYBOARD models, leaving out the "DROID" XYBOARD variants. This morning, Verizon gave the update for the "DROID" versions the green light and has posted the changelog for it. The build number is 11.11.27 and is 336.4MB in size. From the pictures, this appears to be very similar in styling to the ICS builds we have seen for the DROID RAZR and DROID 4, but of course, in a blown up ratio to meet the tablet standard. A new lock screen with quick app shortcuts is included, you get folders, more control in your apps drawer, and a data usage monitor. We are not seeing information an ICS update for the XYBOARD 8.2. When these support docs go live, we tend to see the updates within a matter of days. Be sure to let us know if it pops up!

More.

Android Ice Cube Trays Now Available for Pre-order for $12

Kellen — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 09:50:06 +0000

Remember those chilly little Android ice cube trays that we mentioned last week? They are up for pre-order as of today, for $12. The trays are dishwasher safe, made of flexible food-grade silicon, and can hold up to 8 "bots" per tray. If one tray isn't enough, you can buy two for $20 and save a couple of bucks. The store listing says that they should ship by August 22. Links: Ice Cube Tray | Store Cheers Scott!

Halfbrick's Jetpack Joyride Finally Comes to Android, But You'll Need the Amazon Appstore to Get it

Tim — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 09:20:20 +0000

It's about time. Halfbrick Studios (makers of Fruit Ninja and other delicious titles) has brought Jetpack Joyride to Android. The game has seen large success on iOS and there's a good reason why. It features fantastic controls and gameplay that never gets boring. You play as a character that steals a Top Secret jet pack and obviously, you go for a joyride. While flying around you can hit power-ups which can turn you into a big mechanized machine, a jet-powered dragon, and tons of other fun stuff. It's available for free, but the only downer is that you'll need the Amazon Appstore installed to use it. Bummer. Appstore Link [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzxi8nid9BQ[/youtube] Cheers JDHas!

Blogging and Android: The Tools I Can't Live Without [My Life Scoop]

Kellen — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 08:55:30 +0000

In the last post of my series over at Intel's My Life Scoop site, I went away from simply talking about apps and Android. Since MLS is a tech site that wants tips and tricks for life, I decided to focus a bit more on the profession that I'm so lucky to be a part of, and that's "blogging" or online journalism. It's basically a walk-through of my daily setup of tools, gadgets, and travel gear. Whether I'm sitting at my desk or on-the-go to a mobile event, this is the stuff that helps keep Droid Life up and running so that you won't miss any of the major stories that come across the wire. In the post, I talk about how Chrome can power an entire business from anywhere in the globe. I also discuss the phone(s) that I use on a daily basis. If you didn't know already, it's still a Galaxy Nexus (both GSM and LTE) probably 80% of the time. Even with the sub-par camera and the release of mega-powerhouses like the One X and Galaxy S3, I still find reasons to go back to a Nexus. You will even find out the camera I use to take pictures of phones with, the bags I use during travel, and some of the other fun accessories that I can't live without. To check out the entire post, head over to My Life Scoop. In case you missed the first two of my MLS posts, you can find them below:

Ice Cream Sandwich Update Now Available for Motorola XYBOARD WiFi 10.1 and 8.2

Tim — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 08:21:08 +0000

As a fresh way to kick off the week, Motorola has announced that an Ice Cream Sandwich update is available for both models of the XYBOARD WiFi tablets. As you would imagine, the jump from Honeycomb to ICS is rather massive, so the changelog is quite extensive. Some of the more intriguing features users will notice is the re-vamped notification area, re-sizeable widgets, and face unlock. If you happen to own of these tablets, install the update and let us know how you're liking ICS down below. Via: Motorola, Droid Dog

Google Experimenting with Bringing AOSP to the Sony Xperia S

Ron — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 08:10:58 +0000

For years there has been a battle between AOSP fans and manufacturers to hack vanilla Android (or something close to it like CyanogenMod) onto devices instead of the manufacturer's version of Android. The difficulty with this battle is that it takes a tremendous amount of work to get another ROM working on a device. A developer cannot simply take AOSP Android and load it onto a device because stock Android is actually designed to run on a specific device (currently the Nexus S, Galaxy Nexus, or Nexus 7). Jean-Baptiste Queru, the technical head of the Android Open Source Project, wants to experiment with how AOSP works. Starting with the Xperia S, Queru has invited the community to experiment with porting AOSP to the device. "In theory, AOSP is designed such that it should be possible to plug in the files related to additional hardware targets," said Queru in a Google Groups post. "In practice, that has never happened." According to Queru, "The short-term goal is to investigate the difference between theory and practice, on a favorable real-world example, and to see whether the result is worth the effort. The long-term goal is to try to eliminate whatever hurdles we find, both the expected and the unexpected ones." Members of the CyanogenMod team have already stepped up to help with the project and rumor has it that Sony may be working to open source the drivers needed for the project. This experiment immediately had me thinking about the possibility of Google expanding the Nexus lineup with manufacturers that are willing to work with Google to support AOSP. Perhaps Google's rumored expansion of the Nexus lineup will look something like this, where flagship devices are released with the OEM's take on Android and the option to install stock Android straight from Google or to buy the device stock from Google. The question is, why would Google pursue this vision? Queru claims this is just an experiment to see if it is worth the effort to port AOSP to other devices, but I can't help wondering if Google plans to use this experiment to further expand the number of devices running their version of Android. Will this be how Google begins to expand the Nexus program? Via: Google Groups | The Verge | NeoWin

Samsung Releases Teaser for August 29 IFA Unpacked Event, All But Confirms Galaxy Note 2?

Kellen — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 20:35:53 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P3divJBqlI[/youtube]

Samsung released a teaser for their August 29 Unpacked event at IFA this evening. The video all but confirms that we will be seeing the next version of the Galaxy Note, dubbed by many as the Galaxy Note 2. In the short clip, we get to see the S Pen in action, up close and personal on a touch screen. The focus is on being creative, inspiring, and the thought that anyone can do. So what does that mean for the Note 2? I'd say, we'll see one of the most impressive displays ever put into a mobile device. Cheers Timmy!

Google Play Store Gift Cards Already Available and on Display at Some Target Stores

Kellen — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 10:22:06 +0000

Google Play gift cards, oh what an odd story you are. It's nice to know that you can already be purchased at stores though, because seeing gift cards as highlights of the Android world multiple times a day is beyond confusing. They are gift cards, people. With that said, some Target stores are already displaying and allowing you to purchase them. So if you need a gift card, think about stopping into your local red-dotted store.

Cheers Todd!

DROID RAZR HD Tutorial Videos Leak

Kellen — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 09:51:53 +0000

A YouTuber by the name prevowii posted up four videos this morning for the DROID RAZR HD that we are assuming came from a setup app in a ROM. Each video walks you through subjects like making calls, setting up email, etc. That's not really what we care about though, is it? The big picture here is that this is one of the first times we have seen this device in such a clear manner. With a September 5 event on the horizon from Motorola and Verizon, are we starting to assume that this device will undoubtedly be announced there? What you'll see in these videos is an Ice Cream Sandwich and Blur build that closely resembles that on the Atrix HD.

Make Calls/Texts:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5OTCOYfrGw[/youtube]

Email Setup:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=be741kkPfb0[/youtube]

Using You Device:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBW1x6vi7gA[/youtube]

Setup WiFi:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDKsQOeWWLo[/youtube]

Battery Saving:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_afHF_gITDk[/youtube] Thoughts on the RAZR HD? Is it all that you had dreamed of? Cheers to everyone who sent these in!

Jelly Bean Rolling Out to ASUS Transformer Pad (TF300)

Tim — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 07:52:38 +0000

According to a reader, it looks as though Jelly Bean is ready and rolling out the Asus Transformer Pad (TF300). I'm still waiting to have it be pushed to mine, but I can't wait to test out Jelly Bean on a Tegra 3 chip. With the TF300 getting it first, we can expect to see it ready for the TF201 (Prime) and the TF700 (Infinity) rather soon. Asus has been top notch with the updates this year. Check to see if your update is ready to come out of the oven and post your results down below. Cheers Nick!

DROID 4 Owners - Your Ice Cream Sandwich Update Is Ready to be Pulled

Eric — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 07:28:11 +0000

Motorola continues to impress their fans going into the weekend with this latest news. The DROID 4 had its build of Ice Cream Sandwich approved earlier this week and we have been waiting to see when it would officially roll out for all owners. The build is the same as the previous leak, .217, and brings the device up to Android 4.0.4.

If you have been waiting for the update head over to System > About Phone > System Updates to see if the update has rolled out to your area yet.

Cheers T!

This Week in the Life of DROID: 8/17/2012

Tim — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 15:50:43 +0000

Well, in comparison to Motorola's release of a bootloader unlocking tool, all of this week's other news seems sort of lacking. We had some courtroom fun in the Samsung vs. Apple case, DROID Charge and DROID 4 seeing updates, and gift cards are finally coming to Google Play. Here are the highlights in case you missed anything.

Have a fantastic weekend, everybody!

Official WWE Application Lands on Google Play, All the Smackdown You Will Ever Need

Eric — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 15:10:59 +0000

Are you a huge WWE wrestling fan? Do you count the days between Monday night RAW and Friday night Smackdown? Have you ever given your boss the Attitude Adjustment for making you come into work on Saturday? Today is your lucky day then, the official WWE application just landed in the Play Store. A search for "WWE" brings up thousands of fan-made applications but the real deal is now here and brings you all the wrestling you could ever want.

The app features full Superstar pages for all of your favorite wrestlers and a video archive that is bigger than the Big Show. "Thousands" of videos, new and old, all there to keep you busy during the time between RAW and Smackdown. The app even has a companion mode that is activated when you're watching the show live on Television. If you keep up with the WWE you have to check it out.

Play Link

Cheers Jack and Shaemus!

Contest: Win a Nexus 7 8GB Just for the Hell of It (Update: Winner Picked)

Kellen — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 15:10:35 +0000

You know what we realized today? That we have yet to give away a Nexus 7. Almost can't believe it took this long. So, as we head into the weekend, we thought it was a great day to reward one of our fabulous Droid Life community members with the hottest tablet on the planet. Stay tuned though, as we have so many amazing contests and prizes lined up for you to win over the next few weeks. In fact, our 2nd annual Reader Appreciation Week is just around the corner. As you may have guessed, it will be bigger and badder than ever. For now though, it's Nexus 7 8GB time!

Contest

1 Nexus 7 8GB up for grabs. Winner will be picked today at 3PM Pacific. Update: We have our winner! Stephan Buckley whose favorite app is Pod Kicker. Thanks to the nearly 2800 entries we received! You guys and girls rock! How to enter: 1. ~~Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+.~~ ~~2. Share the contest through whichever of those social networks you feel like.~~ ~~3. In the comments, tell us your favorite new app of the last month.~~ Winner: At 3PM Pacific (today), we will choose one winner randomly from the comments. Good luck, everyone!

Motorola Tells Us to Save the Date on September 5, Possible RAZR HD Unveiling?

Eric — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 14:27:24 +0000

Well, Motorola certainly went all-out this Friday. Hot off the stunning announcment of a bootloader unlocking tool, the revitalized company is telling us to mark September 5 on our calendars with the message "Motorola. On Display." Anyone ready for the RAZR HD to be announced? The "display" reference would certainly hint towards that, so keep your fingers crossed.

Not only do we expect Motorola's newest device, but this is the company's first press conference since being acquired by Google. Maybe they will have some tricks up their sleeves to make a splash to get back into the game.

Unlocking the bootloaders was certainly a start, what else would you like to see from Motorola?

Motorola Launches "Unlock My Device" Site - Bootloader Freedom Has Come At Last (Update)

Tim — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 13:43:34 +0000

Double check your calendars - is it April 1st? It's not? Then there's been a massive rip in the space time continuum as Motorola has officially published the new "Unlock My Device" page. On the site, Motorola device owners can finally unlock their device's bootloaders and install 3rd party software. Naturally, there are about one million warnings and hoops to jump through, but it has finally come. To unlock your device, you will need the Android SDK and Motorola's Drivers. Once you have those things set up on your computer, it's merely a "follow the instrcutions" type of deal. Interestingly enough, when trying to find out which devices are supported by the Unlock Tool, it took us to an "Access Denied" page here. Fantastic news going into the weekend. We'll keep checking to see if we can get any more information regarding which devices can now be unlocked using the tool. Update: Motorola has updated their list of supported devices. There is two phones and two tablets that are currently able to have their bootloaders unlocked.

Photon Q
RAZR developer edition
XOOM - Verizon
XOOM WiFi

We will continue to wait for Motorola to expand on this list. Via: Motorola Cheers Kixofmyg0t!

Reminder: Samsung's Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 Now Available Through Verizon with 4G LTE

Tim — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 13:20:13 +0000

As Verizon announced on Wednesday, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) tablet can be purchased through Big Red with 4G LTE connectivity starting today. For $349, you can add this to your ongoing tablet collection and attach it to your Share Everything plan for $10 per month. That price though is an off-contract cost as Verizon no longer offers subsidized pricing on tablets since the introduction of their shared data plans. The device rocks a 7″ screen, runs Ice Cream Sandwich with TouchWiz, has a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 3.2MP rear camera, VGA front camera, and 8GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 64GB through an SD card slot. Thoughts?

Gallery:

More Info

XBMC Nightlies Available for Download, Still Pretty Rough Around the Edges

Eric — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 12:40:04 +0000

Things are heating up with XBMC in the Android arena. XBMC, if you haven't heard, is a popular cross-media player that developers are working hard on getting ported successfully to Android. Nightly downloads are up and available as long as your phone falls into the list of NEON or non-NEON devices listed under the XDA thread.

Installers beware, this is a nightly so there is a laundry list of bugs that have been reported with this application so far. Since XBMC is geared towards larger devices, the battery drain on Android is significant and the application uses a lot of your phone's resources, expect your device to be running pretty hot. If you can brave the list of bugs and get the nightly working on your phone then hit the source link below and find the apk that works for your device.

Via: XDA

Feel Like Leaving AT&T or Verizon? Sprint Has $400 Waiting for You

Eric — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 12:00:12 +0000

We all complain about our cell carriers every now and then, but if this leaked flyer from Sprint is to believed, the Now Network is daring you to act on those words. The guys over at Phone Arena have come across a document that says if you transfer at least 3 lines over to Sprint from AT&T or Verizon you will qualify for a $400 rebate.

You can sign on with the Everything Data Share plan or the Simply Everything plan, one of the last true unlimited data plans in the business. The only catches to this rumored deal is that modems, tablets and accessories do not count, and one of the phone lines has to be transfered directly from another carrier.

$400 is a lot to throw around but not really enough to cover early termination fees. Still though, this is something to consider if you're fed up with your carrier and at the end of your contract. Would you give this a serious look?

Via: Phone Arena

Friday Poll: Freemium or Paid App Model?

Kellen — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 11:20:16 +0000

Whenever Dead Trigger gets a mention, we can't help but think about the launch controversy that initially accompanied it. Madfinger, the makers of the game, charged users for the game up front and then also hawked in-app purchases of guns and add-ons to help you cruise through levels easier. If you checked out the comments and reviews for the game during its first couple of weeks, you were bound to be overwhelmed by negativity. Thankfully, they made the game free after a short period of time, but kept the in-app add-ons. Normally, app developers either go the freemium route (free app + in-app add-ons) or simply make you pay for it up front with no additional costs to follow. Madfinger threw everyone for a loop, but eventually came around to one of the standard models. And that brings us to today's poll. What would you rather deal with - freemium apps or paid apps with no additional add-ons? [poll id="197"]

Wind-up Knight for Android, 3D Side-Scrolling Cuteness at its Finest

Tim — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 10:40:54 +0000

In need of a new game this Friday? As suggested by Google in their Editor's Choice section of Google Play, comes Wind-up Knight. Upon playing I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the graphics and touchscreen controls. As a bonus the game is completely free and contains 50+ levels to fight through. You play as a robotic knight for the good king who's main goal is to save a princess. Shocker. The game plays like a really good 3D version of classic Mario. For free, you can't go wrong. Play Link [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6q92tRL04IU[/youtube]

Chameleon Launcher Beta Updated, Custom Wallpapers and Plenty More Inside

Tim — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 09:25:26 +0000

If you happen to be a part of the Chameleon launcher beta, then you'll be happy to know that a new update was published last night to Google Play. Inside there are a ton of bug fixes along with some added features. Taking center stage is the ability to use custom wallpapers (finally), no longer needing your Google Play password for verification, and they have also laid the groundwork for many more widgets to come in future updates. They haven't given specifics on which widgets we can expect to see, but we look forward to it. Here is the full (huge) changelog:

Here are some of the things we’ve fixed/improved:

Added ability to use custom wallpapers.

Internet connection is no longer required when starting Chameleon.

Users no longer need to enter their Google Play password during verification.

Fixed issue where App Tray icons would sometimes be duplicated when getting App info.

Improvements to Home Screen Manager interface.

Improvements to Widget and Wallpaper icon graphics.

Implemented additional Widget APIs in preparation for upcoming Widgets.

Here are some of the things we are still working on:

GMail widget sometimes not working as expected.

There aren’t enough widgets (no more widgets in this update, but subsequent updates will include more widgets).

Widgets appearing blank (widget is still there, but no content is displayed).

Widgets being drawn twice in the same area (text doubling).

Chameleon can take a long time to start.

Chameleon restarts when connecting/disconnecting from dock.

Chameleon not working with ROM “X” (our current focus is on maximizing compatibility with official Android versions and tablets).

Play Link Our first walk through: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMIEw3mjkAY[/youtube] Via: Chameleon

Madfinger's Dead Trigger Update Goes Live, Early Buyers Receive Good Compensation

Tim — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 08:45:50 +0000

Madfinger pushed an update for Dead Trigger this morning. If you happen to be one of the many people who bought the game for a dollar before it was made free due to "unbelievably high piracy rates," you're going to love this update. For those that purchased, there is a brand new alien gun, new Story missions, new items such as a laser turret and mini-mortars, and free gold + Casino chips. Not bad. What's in this version:

2 new Arenas: STADIUM OF DEAD & DEADLY CORRIDORS
Reward for everyone who purchased DEAD TRIGGER before the game became for free
New story missions
New weapon: ALIEN GUN
New items: LASER TURRET & MINI-MORTAR
Improved gameplay of protect missions
New tutorial for beginners
Improved MINIGUN and COLT-M4
Increased reward in the Arenas
More chance to win at the Casino
Auto-aim works better when more enemies nearby
Better ammo drops for everyone who use more than one weapon

Thanks goes out to Madfinger for not leaving us early adopters out in the cold. Now, time to go slay zombies with alien technology. Play Link Cheers Kevin!

More Galaxy Note 2 Pictures Leaked, Home Button is Here to Stay (Update)

Tim — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 08:05:51 +0000

Thanks to a tipster of Know Your Mobile, this is the first full frontal shot of the mysterious Galaxy Note 2 from Samsung. Just days ago, we wrote up another leaked image of the device's bezel and it looks exactly the same, even that huge home button along the bottom. Unfortunately, it looks like Samsung is sticking with that darn button. Along with the picture, the tipster has confirmed a 5.5" display size, one of Sammy's Super AMOLED displays (no specifics), their new 1.5GHz quad-core Exynos chip inside, 2GB of RAM, and Jelly Bean. Official unveiling of the device is to take place later this month at IFA in Europe. Update: Just as we posted this, another picture has leaked! Update 2: As with any other leak of this type, let's try to remain hopeful, but also skeptical. That's the nature of the Internet. In a world of a shady tipsters and fantastic Photoshop work, let's take these as just a small stepping stone until official reveal at IFA later this month. Thanks, folks.

What are your thoughts? Anyone else hoping they ditch the home button before August 29? Via: Know Your Mobile, Phandroid

Black Samsung Galaxy S3 to Launch in Early October According to UK Retailer Clove

Tim — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 07:18:15 +0000

While we still remain in the dark about info regarding a black Galaxy SIII from Samsung, U.K.'s Clove mobile retailer has gone ahead and set up a landing page for the device. According to Clove, the device will come in a single unlocked 64GB size and launch sometime in early October. The retailer hasn't listed any pricing for the device yet, but we can expect that to show up closer to a release date. Are you planning to import one to the States? Via: Clove

1-Click Bootloader Unlock App Now Available for the Verizon Galaxy S3 in the Play Store (Updated)

Kellen — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 17:47:02 +0000

Last night, a tool was released that allows for the Verizon Galaxy S3 to run an unsecure bootloader. It was victory for all, even those that don't have a GS3. The champagne could be heard popping across the country, well, except for from those who don't run Mac or Linux on their desktops. Windows users were left out for the time being, but as you would have to expect these days, another simpler method was in the works. That new method, comes in the form of a 1-click app that is available for free in the Google Play store. All you have to do is root your Galaxy S3 first, then load this app up and click the massive "Unlock" button. That is seriously all you have to do. Devs are looking into a re-lock methods, so stay tuned for those. Update: The app has received an update allowing for users to re-lock their bootloader if need be. Get on it. Play Link

Via: RootzWiki Cheers zakry!

These Android Ice Cube Trays Will Turn Your Daiquiri Up a Notch

Kellen — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 16:33:04 +0000

Earlier this week we featured an official Android neon lamp that you were supposed to purchase and then use in your home bar instead of that tired old Pabst Blue Ribbon light. Today, we have your next bar accessory that should turn any cocktail into the most robotic booze you have ever tasted. It'll tickle your lips, it's so Androidified. Yep, we're talking ice cube trays. How much better will your raspberry vodka spritzer taste with Android cubes in it? You tell me. Unfortunately for those that have little patience, these are marked as "Coming soon!" so you can't actually buy them yet. We'll be sure to keep an eye on them and let you know when they do become available.

Via: Android Foundry Cheers Scott!

Mini DROID RAZR XT907 Cruises Through FCC With Verizon 4G LTE

Kellen — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 16:23:05 +0000

The Motorola XT907, which we have decided to call the "Mini RAZR," cruised through the FCC today, sporting Verizon's 4G LTE bands and NFC. We first saw this device pictured through a Chinese part site just over a month ago. Once you go look at that picture, you'll know why we are calling it the "Mini" and expect it to be a mid-range phone. Not much else is known about the device, but thanks to a UAProf for a another Moto phone by the model number XT905, we have a pretty good idea. The display is qHD, and has on-screen navigation keys. It likely runs on a Snapdragon S4 processor and may come in white, similarly to the Atrix HD. If these specs end up being legit, I'm trying to figure out what on Earth Motorola is thinking. It's just a DROID RAZR, but with NFC and on-screen keys. Do we really need another RAZR variant? Via: FCC | Engadget

TSF Shell Pro and Its $17 Price Tag Receives Major Update to V1.6.0

Kellen — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 15:03:43 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4m-xXYmTbU[/youtube]

Remember TSF Shell Pro, the $17 home replacement app that we looked at back in February? It's still around, and today, received its second massive update that includes a set of significant upgrades. At initial release, TSF Shell was all about flashy animations and show, but it lacked a lot of the customizable features that we enjoy in launchers like Nova or Apex. In this new update, many of our worries are now taken care of. TSF now has full HD icon and theme support, gestures, more custom desktop settings, new widgets, and a new way to multi-select. I haven't used it in a couple of months, but after this update, I'm thinking about giving it another shot. Here is the full changelog:

1. HD icon/theme support 2. Powerful Gestures(Toggle notification/Toggle menu/Run app/Run shortcut/Switch screen...) 3. More Desktop Custom Settings(folder/infinite scroll/sliding dock...) 4. Unread badges for icons 5. New decoration widge released(3D AirShip Widget/Pendant Widget) 6. New multi-selection 7. Left/Right Preference settings 8. Fix most of bugs 9. Optimization of a lot of details

Play Link

How to: Set Up Lock Screen Owner Info on Jelly Bean [Beginners' Guide]

Tim — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 14:43:46 +0000

You always want to make sure your Android device is secure. But what happens when you accidentally leave your phone somewhere and someone picks it up? In some cases, they're likely to turn it on to see if there is contact information available. Luckily, Android offers a fantastic option for placing owner's information right on the lock screen for this circumstance. Let's go ahead and set it up, that way the next time someone finds your phone, you'll get it back safe and sound.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings menu on your device.

Press the Menu button and then Settings. On some devices without a Menu button, you can pull down your Notification menu and select the Settings icon.

2. Under "Personal," select the "Security" menu. 3. Below "Screen Security," select the option for "Owner Info." 4. Check the box for "Show owner info on lock screen." 5. Enter the information you would like to be provided on the lock screen. For example:

"John Doe - (123) 456-7890 - email@email.com"

6. Once your info is added, back out of that menu. 7. Make sure it's set up properly by turning off your screen. Turn it back on and you will see your info on the lock screen. You have now enabled Owner Info on your device. *Android Beginners Guide is a way for people new to Android to get to learn how Android works. We will be posting many tips and tricks on how to optimize your usage of the Android operating system.

Google Enables Smart App "Delta" Updates in Google Play

Tim — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 14:00:51 +0000

A few hours ago, one of our readers noticed that his app updates were happening at a much quicker pace, making us wonder if the new "delta" app updates were live. Previewed back at this year's Google I/O, smart app updates, otherwise known as "delta" updates were shown off as a way for developers to make the appliction updating process even easier. Instead of users having to download the entire application that includes the update, you only need to download the newest code inside the app. Genius. For example, when games like Dead Trigger get updated, you have to re-download 100MB worth of data. With smart app updates, that 100MB can be turned into just 5-10MB, saving tons of data for everyone. As you will see in the video below, Instagram updates after downloading only 2MB or so of the full 13MB file and then installs. You will notice this feature from now on in Google Play. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_FWqplK74A[/youtube] Also: Android Police Cheers Abesh!

CyanogenMod Posts Update to Galaxy SIII Build Using New Unlocked Bootloader

Eric — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 13:16:28 +0000

The kexec development to get custom kernels onto the locked-down Galaxy SIII was nothing short of valiant, but since yesterday things have changed. An insecure bootloader can be flashed to the device now making things much easier. To reflect this change, the CyanogenMod team has released an alpha build of CM10 that has to be paired with the new bootloader.

This build has better 4G connection than had been reported in the earlier builds along with a few other bugfixes and changes. The link below has the downloads for both the CM10 file and the bootloader in case you missed it.

Via: Google+

Cheers Jigga_Z!

Flash Downloader Lets You Download Flash in Case You Missed the Deadline

Kellen — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 12:47:40 +0000

If you missed the deadline to download Adobe Flash to your Android device, or yours runs Jelly Bean, then Flash Downloader is an option for you to get official Flash installed. It's a Google Play app that when opened, initiates the download of a Flash .apk from Adobe's servers. It doesn't get much cleaner than this. Play Link Via: Twitter

AOKP Gives State of the Union, Official Jelly Bean Build Coming 'Soon'

Eric — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 12:05:25 +0000

Things have been a little quiet on the AOKP front, but yesterday the group took to Google+ to assure their fans that they have not disappeared and that things were coming on the horizon. First things first, the team addressed the issue of their next official build of AOKP, based on Jelly Bean:

First, a ‘build’ is coming. We’re getting very close to an official, non-nightly JB build. Just throwing that out there with no ETA to let you know that it is a real thing that will happen, pretty soon.

"Pretty soon" sounds good to us, so we will sit tight and wait using their nightlies until things get more official. Secondly, the team announced a new IRC channel, #aokp-support, for any problems that you may have with the ROM. Even better still, the AOKP team says that there is a reworking of their website underway. It is promised to make the whole experience better and more streamlined.

Lastly, there is a call for device maintainers after their new build comes out. If you're a developer looking to get in on the AOKP team and help to maintain and code for a certain device, the team has a checklist of what you need in their post.

Are you still running AOKP or have you moved on to another ROM for your daily driver?

Via: Google+

Judge Koh to Apple's Lawyers: "You're Smoking Crack"

Tim — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 11:27:15 +0000

That was a fun title to write. Today, Judge Koh was handed a 75-page document from Apple that details rebuttal witnesses for when Samsung has closed their arguments. Judge Koh, apparently becoming more and more unpleasant during the trial, was handed the document then nearly shouted, "when unless you're smoking crack you know these witnesses aren't going to be called!" You go, girl! Apple's attorney, probably shaking, stepped forward and replied with, "First, your honor, I'm not smoking crack. I can promise you that." Classic. This trial only gets better and better. Via: The Verge

Discover Makes Use of Google Wallet's New APIs, A Step in the Right Direction?

Eric — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 11:00:24 +0000

To say that Google Wallet has had a rough beginning would be a bit of an understatement. However, Google is looking to reboot the service and get more people using NFC transactions with their Android devices. A few weeks ago, Google launched a system allowing you to use any card number with Google Wallet, along with a few new APIs for companies to use. Discover has taken advantage of the "Save to Wallet" API and now wants you to add your card and start spending.

The process is as easy as heading to Discover's website, signing into your Discover and then Google Account and that's it, your card is added. You can now rack up points by using the card through NFC and Discover was even nice enough to allow Google to use an image of their card on Google Wallet so you can identify which card you are using. Hopefully we will see more companies jumping on the Google Wallet train and making the switch this easy.

Via: Google Commerce

Instagram Updated to Version 3.0, New Photo Map and Infinite Scrolling

Tim — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 10:21:42 +0000

Instagram users, today is your day. Version 3.0 has been released for Android, bringing with it plenty of new features that users have been waiting for and one that is completely new. The biggest addition in the update is called Photo Map. If you geo-tag your photos, you can browse through your photos on a map, showing where the pictures were taken. It's a neat new way of browsing the past especially since you can also see other's maps too. The other new feature that we've been dying for is infinite scrolling. No more "Load More" buttons at the bottom of the screen. Simply keep on scrolling. You can go pick up the newest update in Google Play now. And while you're at it, you should go ahead and follow @droidlife. We'll be posting plenty of Android fun stuff! Play Link

From the Creator of BlindType, Comes a New Keyboard App Called Fleksy

Tim — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 10:05:08 +0000

BlindType has had a long history in Android. Introduced to the public exactly two years ago in August of 2010, it was quickly snatched up by Google, then implemented into what we now know as the Ice Cream Sandwich keyboard. Well, the creators still aren't done innovating quite yet. Recently released for iOS and coming later for Android, is Fleksy. Fleksy is a new replacement keyboard, designed for the blind and partially sighted users. But don't worry, if you're able-sighted, use of the app can benefit you as well. The goal as stated by the developers is to make typing fast and easy. One of the ways this will be made possible is to allow for users to type wherever they want, with no actual keyboard on the screen. One of the more remarkable features is that when typing a word, you don't even have to get a single character correct. Magically, Fleksy knows what you're trying to type and auto-corrects it for you. Another nifty looking feature is a swipe to delete action that they show off in the video below. It's going to be pretty awesome from what we see in the video, so fingers crossed it makes its way to Android sooner rather than later! [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuLFcZ0O05M[/youtube] Via: TechCrunch

Phosphor Game's Horn Launches for Mobile Devices, Coming to Android "Soon"

Tim — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 09:40:16 +0000

This is starting to become a theme for the good Android games. This morning, the anticipated new game Horn from Phosphor Games (the makers of Dark Meadow) was released onto iTunes, but no love yet for Android. The game was previewed at Google I/O and looks genuinely awesome. The game is a third-person action adventure title where players roam around a "console-like" world all with touch controls. You play as Horn, the town's young blacksmith. You wake up to find that the town is under a terrible curse that turns all living things into monsters. Naturally, you're the only person that can lift the curse. Guess we'll just have to wait for "soon" to come so we can get our hands on the game for a full review. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysL-18H6Dzo[/youtube]

HTC Posts Kernel Source Code for DROID Incredible 4G LTE to HTCDev.com

Eric — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 09:10:46 +0000

HTC's latest version of the DROID Incredible line didn't impress many people, namely because it couldn't stand up against the One X and even the One S. Nevertheless, some people did stick with the Inc 4G LTE and those customers are going to be happy with today's news. HTC has taken to their developer website HTCDev and posted the kernel information for the device, available for download right now. This should spur some better development for the device, so if you do any work on the Incredible 4G LTE hit the source link and get your download on.

HTCDev

Xiaomi Unveils "Mi-Two" Android Superphone, Could Launch for Just $310

Tim — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 08:30:46 +0000

Anyone remember the Mi-One? It was the first attempt from Xiaomi, makers of the MIUI custom ROM and launcher into the Chinese hardware game. It had a few good specs, but it never found its way over to the US by any means. Well, it turns out that Xiaomi is ready for round two, but their new device, entitled the Mi-Two will be one of the world's most powerful Android devices ever built. With the official spec sheet being detailed this morning, there are few devices that compare, at least on paper. Housing Qualcomm's brand new Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core chip clocked at 1.5GHz, running Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean, and featuring a 4.3" 720p IPS display from Sharp, this phone is a true beast of beasts. Specs:

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean with MIUI launcher
1.5 GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro with Adreno 320 GPU (APQ8064)
4.3-inch 720p IPS display by Sharp
8 megapixel 27 mm F2.0 BSI rear camera, 2 megapixel 28mm front camera
2 GB LPDDR2 RAM and 16 GB storage
2,000 mAh battery, with optional 3,000 mAh battery also available
DC-HSPA+ WCDMA 850, 1900, 2100 alongside quad band GSM
Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi Display, MHL HDMI, USB OTG

With pricing said to be at just $310, how could this device not become a hit? As for importing, we're sure you can. But is there any network that can support it? With all of those bands packed inside, we can't imagine that the device would be completely incapable of running on a couple of America's Edge networks. Let's hope they release an unlocked version of some kind that isn't made for the Chinese market. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1g3iiANy5Y[/youtube] Via: Android and Me

New Transit-inspired Version of Google Maps for Android is Available

Kellen — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 07:55:11 +0000

Version 6.1.0 of Google Maps for Android is now available. Announced yesterday, this new build includes a transit page makeover, new transit options in the pulldown (not showing for me yet), more detailed My Places pages, and a Location History option. It also appears as if the standard icon for Maps in the app has been updated, but that doesn't change functionality by any means. Another solid update. Play Link

Google Play Gift Cards on the Horizon, $10 and $25 Options

Kellen — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 07:29:43 +0000

A new Google Play store version 3.8.15 started trickling out to handsets yesterday, bringing with it some hidden gems that point to the introduction of gift cards. As you can see in the screenshots above, you will soon have a new option in your Action bar menu for "Redeem" that leads you to an input page for gift card numbers. There is no telling when the Android team will make this all official and activate it, but with pictures of the actual gift cards popping up (pictured below) and $25 and $10 denominations, it certainly seems like it could be at any time. Also included in this new Play store is a tab for "My Wishlist." If you have a growing list of apps, books, movies, or devices that you can't afford now, but will some day, this will be the place to keep them organized. You can download the new 3.8.15 Play store here. Thoughts on gift cards? Have your dreams been answered?

Via: Android Police | Android Central

Unsecure Bootloader Can Now be Flashed to Verizon's Galaxy S3

Kellen — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:23:19 +0000

And the news of the day goes to...XDA developers who managed to flash an unsecure bootloader to the Verizon Galaxy S3. Developer AdamOutler posted up a file for Mac and Linux that will root your GS3 and apply the unsecure bootloader, leaving your device open for you to do as you please. I cannot even express in words how big of an achievement this is for the community of Galaxy S3 owners that were beyond upset with Verizon's choice to lock the bootloader of this device.

*Warning (straight from Adam) - "Let me make this clear. If Samsung updates your device's bootloaders, using this tool could potentially brick your device. Once you apply this, never accept a factory update without first flashing the Odin Packages in the Original Post of this thread. As a general rule, you want to be the last guy to apply any Samsung update. Run custom."

Let me say what he said one more time, so that we are clear. After applying this unsecure bootloader, you will not want to accept an update from Samsung or Verizon again or you could brick your device. You'll have to stay with custom ROMs for the foreseeable future, to be safe. With that said, are you ready for freedom?

Instructions:

*Mac or Linux only.

1. Download the file at the source link below and open it. 2. Connect your device, select "Root with DebugFSRoot" and then "Do It." 3. Select "Flash Unsecure Aboot" and then "Do It." 4. Use Odin or CWM to flash kernels to your device. *Windows users, you'll have to be patient and wait for someone to create a similar tool. Via: Download | XDA [2] Cheers Mike and Jason!

Wednesday Poll: Do You Live in a Verizon 4G LTE Market?

Kellen — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 15:45:50 +0000

This morning, Verizon announced that as of tomorrow, 75% of the country will be covered by their 4G LTE network. That got us thinking, "What about the Droid Life community?" We have done maps of the community before, to see what areas you all reign from, but we haven't ever asked if you get to take advantage of Big Red's ultra-fast network. As this rollout continues to come close to 100% of the country, we thought we'd ask to see what percentage we sit at. So tell us, are you enjoying 4G LTE? If so, for how long? [poll id="196"]

How to: Add a Contact to Your Google Account on Jelly Bean [Beginners' Guide]

Tim — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 15:15:19 +0000

When setting up your Google account on an Android device, it will port all of your already saved numbers to that device. But what if you want to add a new contact to your account after the fact? There are a couple of ways to go about this, so let's get started.

Standard Method:

1. From your homescreen, open your app drawer. 2. Locate the People application and open it.

This is where you can find and edit all of the contacts that are synced to your Google account.

3. In the bottom right hand corner, there is a little head with a plus symbol. That is the Add Contact icon. Select it. 4. Fill out the new contact's name and any information you want associated with that contact (email, phone number, address, pictures, etc.). 5. Hit "Save." You have now added a contact to your Google account that will remain there until you delete it.

Alternative Method:

One of the other ways to add a contact to your account is straight from the Dialer/Phone app. Here is how to accomplish that task. 1. Once you have a number entered into the Phone app, hit the settings key. 2. Select "Add to contacts." 3. At the bottom of your display, select "CREATE NEW CONTACT." 4. Fill out any additional information and hit "Save." *Android Beginners Guide is a way for people new to Android to get to learn how Android works. We will be posting many tips and tricks on how to optimize your usage of the Android operating system.

Ubi Kickstarter Begins, Always On Voice Activated Internet Device for Your Home

Tim — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 14:35:17 +0000

Say, "Hello" to Ubi. Ubi is short for ubiquitous computer because Ubi is always on and always listening. It is a truly hands-free device for your home that plugs right into an outlet on the wall, then connects straight to your home's WiFi network. So, what can you do with Ubi? Ubi can do voice-based searches on the Internet, act as a personal assistant, control a home's climate, be a baby monitor, and also act as a notifier for when receiving emails and other notifications. The team is hoping to have Ubi ready and shipped out by January of 2013, but needs your help to make it happen. Check it out on Kickstarter and let us know if Ubi is something that interests you. It definitely has our attention as long as it doesn't go all HAL on us and telling humans what we can and cannot do. Via: Kickstarter Cheers Leor and Dominick!

Order a 16GB Nexus 7 From Staples and Save $15 Plus Free Shipping

Kellen — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 14:09:18 +0000

Ten minutes ago, I got all excited over the fact that if you order(ed) a Nexus 7 16GB from Staples today, you could save $15 off using a special coupon code, but also get free shipping since you would be spending over $45. Unfortunately, as I was in the middle of writing this, I noticed that they appear to have gone from "In Stock" to "Out of Stock" in minutes. I would assume that they will replenish stock of the device before too long, so I still thought I would share. Who knows, they could get another shipment in before the weekend is over and this code may continue to be valid. If you have yet to pick up an N7, you may want to jot this one down and continue to check back. Buy. (Coupon code: 99618) Cheers Chris!

Google+ App Updated, Teens Can Create Hangouts from Mobile and Other Goodies

Tim — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 13:35:30 +0000

Google's social network Google+, just received an update that is now live on Google Play. The update includes some added features for Hangout users including the ability to join a 'Hangout on Air' from your mobile and teens can now create their own mobile Hangout sessions. Reportedly, people under a certain age were unable to create a Hangout before this update. Did not know that. Full changelog down below.

What's in this version:

Teens can now create and join Hangouts from mobile

Join Hangouts on Air from mobile

Floating timestamp in photos view

Shortcuts for post creation

Ability to report abuse in Events

As of late, I find myself using G+ less and less. It's quickly becoming my red-headed step child social network. Same for you too? Play Link Cheers Christopher!

Galaxy Nexus LTE Update IMM76Q Sneaks Into Some Replacement Phones, is Not a Good Thing

Kellen — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 13:10:02 +0000

Remember the mysterious IMM76Q update that showed up on a developer Galaxy Nexus LTE a couple of weeks ago? According to a handful of readers, this update has been pre-loaded onto a batch of replacement G-Nex devices, and this isn't a good thing. One of our readers went through 3 replacement devices over the last week, all of which ran this new IMM76Q software. He said that his phone has been unable to hold a 4G connection for more than a few minutes at a time. ~~It could have something to do with new radios in the update, as the baseband has changed to I515.10 V.FC04, from the I515.09 that came with IMM76K~~. (Edit: As some have pointed out, the .10 refers to the hardware version, not software. It's a mystery then as to why IMM76Q is destroying connectivity.) He is also noticing that the on-device search seems to have been dumbed down and no longer returns results for apps or contacts, something we were afraid would come with the next update thanks to ongoing battles with Apple.

We aren't sure exactly why only replacement devices are coming pre-loaded with this update. We also do not think that all replacements have IMM76Q, but if you get stuck in a batch of replacements that have been, you may be in for a rough ride. We are hearing that some stores have marked the devices with "Updated" stickers and are sending them back in some cases because of the number of issues that users have experienced. In fact, one of our readers took his device in to be looked at, and once the rep saw the "Updated" sticker, immediately knew the issues at hand. Update: As many readers have pointed out, this could have to do with the .10 version of the device, or just replacements in general. I'll just say this - hopefully none of you have to get a replacement any time soon, as our comments on this thread alone are filled with users who have had nothing but problems with them. If you have received a replacement Galaxy Nexus from Verizon over the last couple of weeks, how has your device been acting? Is it running IMM76Q? Cheers Tim!

Alleged Galaxy Note 2 Bezel Pictured, 5.5" and Dedicated Home Button?

Tim — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 12:30:52 +0000

Above is said to be the bezel for the upcoming Galaxy Note 2 that is to be introduced later this month. From looking at this person's dust slippers, we can see that they must be inside one of Samsung's hardware factories, lending some credibility to the image. From corner to corner, the display comes in at roughly 14cm, equaling to about 5.5" in length. Another interesting addition is a slot for what we're guessing is a big "Home" button. Yikes. Unveiling of the device is set to take place on August 29 over in Europe. Guess we'll know exactly what we're getting in just two weeks. Any predictions for what we can expect in the spec department? New Exynos quad-core processor and HD Super AMOLED+ display? Let us know what you want. Via: Engadget

Google Maps Now has Schedules for More Than 1 Million Transit Stops, App Update Coming Today

Kellen — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 11:50:54 +0000

Google announced today that you can find schedules for more than 1 million transit stops across the globe through Google Maps. Along with this announcement, they mentioned that an update to the Android Maps app (version 6.10) will arrive today, bringing with it a more polished UI for viewing said transit schedules. A new Transit layer accompanies the new schedule look as well, so that you can filter by bus, train, tram or subway. Lastly, they added more info to My Places, location history, and included area borders during searches:

Now, whenever you search for a city or postal code, the borders of that region are highlighted.
Under My Places you’ll notice we’ve added new tabs, which will help you access all your information from a single place; from your saved maps for use offline to your starred places and Custom Maps created on your desktop.
If you enable Location History, you’ll be able to browse the places you’ve been on a daily basis with an updated Location History dashboard.

The update doesn't appear to be live yet, but once it goes, we'll update this post and let you know.

Via: Google Lat Long

Video: Official TouchWiz'd Jelly Bean Leaked, Up and Running on Samsung Galaxy SIII

Tim — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 11:43:33 +0000

An official build of Jelly Bean for the international Samsung Galaxy S3 variant has leaked and a user has posted up a beautiful video going over the build in great detail. Although, you may want to brush up on some of your high school Spanish notes. From what we see so far in the video, Samsung has allowed for only a little of Jelly Bean to show through in terms of UI and have stuck to their TouchWiz UI look. Fortunately, they did include many of the Jelly Bean core features that ROM users have come to love. For example, we note they have implemented the new Notification system that allows for more interactive controls on an individual notification and they have also added a brightness dial right on the pulldown bar. Google Now is most definitely on board, and you better believe there's some Project Butter in there too. Jelly Bean roll out is rumored to begin August 29 for the the Galaxy S3, although Verizon's version does not have an ETA of delivery yet. Sorry, folks. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33DoSZuS1ao[/youtube] Via: AndroidMX

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Launches Tomorrow in the U.S.

Kellen — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 11:30:56 +0000

Last week, Samsung announced that the Galaxy Note 10.1, after some retooling, was ready for prime time in the U.S. Today, during an event in NYC, they announced that it will be available starting tomorrow, August 16, for $499 (16GB) and $549 (32GB). Retail partners for the launch of the device include Best Buy, Amazon, Tiger Direct, HH Gregg, CDW, BrandSmart, Conn’s and Fry’s. The device introduces a handful of unique features, namely its multiscreen functionality that allows you to utilize two different apps side-by-side at the same time. The other big selling feature is the S Pen and the few apps that can take advantage of its creative nature. On the spec front, you find many tablets as powerful. The Note 10.1 sports a 10.1" display, 1.4GHz quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, dual cameras, and runs Ice Cream Sandwich with Touchwiz.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbgBxr4H59A[/youtube]

Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1 Has Arrived

Game-Changing Device Hits U.S. Store Shelves Tomorrow
New York, August 15, 2012 – Samsung Electronics America Inc., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today announced its highly anticipated GALAXY Note 10.1 for the U.S. market. The device will be available for purchase tomorrow - August 16th, 2012 - across the U.S.at authorized retailers. At a launch event in New York City, Samsung will be joined by fashion designer Zac Posen, who has created looks for the most elite stars, and acclaimed writer, producer, director Baz Luhrmann (William Shakespeare's Romeo+Juliet, Moulin Rouge and the forthcoming The Great Gatsby). Each will provide a window into their own creative process, and how the Galaxy Note 10.1 will unleash new levels of inspiration in their work. The GALAXY Note 10.1 extends the GALAXY Note category, building on the success of last year’s worldwide hit smartphone – and delivering the functionality and precision of a pen and paper by combining the S Pen with a 10.1-inch large display. Adobe’s premium creative application, Photoshop® Touch is preloaded and optimized for Samsung’s S Pen to deliver unprecedented precision and control. The device also introduces the game changing Multiscreen feature, which allows users to actually operate two different apps side-by-side, simultaneously, on the same screen. Thanks to a 1.4GHz quad-core processor and 2 GB RAM, the Galaxy Note 10.1 can handle it all without missing a beat. “Our goal with the Samsung GALAXY Note 10.1 was simple – redefine the tablet experience,” said Tim Baxter, President, Samsung Electronics America. “The S Pen offers both active content creation as well as passive content consumption, while the Multiscreen capability finally enables true multitasking. For the user, the resulting experience is completely new and quite unexpected.” True Multitasking with Multiscreen Feature With GALAXY Note 10.1’s Multiscreen feature, users can effortlessly utilize two different applications side-by-side simultaneously for true and easy multitasking. Users can view Web pages or videos, or launch other applications while writing or sketching ideas with the S Pen on the other half of the screen – no need to toggle back and forth between apps. Further, users can even capture and crop images from an app on one side, and drag them to an app on the side – for enhanced creativity and productivity. Apps supported for Multiscreen are S Note, Internet Browser, Video Player, Email, Gallery and Polaris Office . The Galaxy Note 10.1 thus meets the increasing needs of a growing mobile workforce, from interfacing with customers to creative sharing. The GALAXY Note 10.1 also offers the Pop up Play feature first introduced on the GALAXY S III Smartphone. With it, users can play back videos in a floating window that can be overlaid anywhere on the screen, providing a “picture in picture” experience. New for the GALAXY Note 10.1 is the ability to adjust the size of the video window. In addition, GALAXY Note 10.1 offers a mini-apps tray that can launch a selection of mini-app on top of others apps and freely moved around the screen. These include Alarm, S Note, Music Player, Email, Calculator, World Clock. S Pen & S Note Make it Personal Featuring an advanced S Pen with 1,024 levels of sensitivity, GALAXY Note 10.1 is designed for natural and intuitive content creation. The S Pen is embedded directly into a slot in the device and when removed, activates a taskbar with quick access to optimized S Pen apps such as S Note, Adobe® Photoshop® Touch and Polaris Office. Alternatively, users can easily set their preferred application to be launched instantly. The S Note application is a unique tool that gives users the ability to combine notes and sketches with other digital content in ready-to-use templates. Shape Match converts hand-drawn shapes such a square and lines into clean and perfect versions – perfect for creating charts.formula Match can actually solve formulas hand-written with the S Pen. S Note is also integrated with knowledge search engines so that users can search for content, obtain information, and easily drag and drop content onto S Notes without having to switch between screens. Adobe Photoshop Touch – Edit Photos Like Never Before Adobe® Photoshop® Touch, normally a $9.99 purchase, is preloaded on the GALAXY Note 10.1. Further, since it is optimized for S Pen, users are able to control brush size and opacity by just adjusting the pressure of the pen on the screen. “Samsung’s GALAXY Note 10.1, with its pressure-sensitive S Pen, truly unleashes the power of Adobe Photoshop Touch and provides a great tool for creative expression,” said Winston Hendrickson, vice president products, Creative Media Solutions, Adobe. “More than ever, people around the world want to create, wherever and whenever inspiration strikes. We’re excited to be working with Samsung and look forward to seeing what they with the S Pen and Photoshop Touch.” Users can also use popular Photoshop features such as layers, selection tools, adjustments, and filters to create mind-blowing images, or use the high quality GALAXY Note 10.1 camera to fill an area on a layer with the unique camera fill feature. With Photoshop Touch, it’s also a snap to add or remove people or objects from a photo, or blend two photos together. To get users started quickly, in-depth step-by-step tutorials are provided to help users learn techniques the pros use for great-looking results. Photoshop Touch is integrated with Adobe Creative Cloud providing users free access to powerful file syncing and sharing features and 2GB of storage space. Files can be synched to the Creative Cloud and opened in Photoshop on the desktop or laptop for further refinement. The Ultimate ebook Experience Samsung is adding even more value through a range of partners. Kno, a pioneer in education software, will offer its e-textbook platform preloaded on the GALAXY Note 10.1. With it, k-12 or higher education students can say goodbye to heavy backpacks filled with books and instead, download any of thousands of interactive textbooks. Even better, with the new Social Sharing feature announced today, they can utilize the S Pen to highlight and annotate the texts, and share those annotations with other students and teachers in the context of their book. The popular NOOK® free reading app from Barnes & Noble will also be preloaded on the GALAXY Note as well as a customized NOOK for Android™ Widget allowing quick and easy access to titles directly from the desktop. A range of other partners are involved as well, delivering a complete solution. To allow seamless collaboration with others, the GALAXY Note 10.1 offers a free two-year subscription to Dropbox, giving users 50 GB of storage space – a $100 value.** Samsung Smart Remote, powered by Peel, utilizes the built-in IR emitter in the GALAXY Note 10.1 to transform the device into a sophisticated universal remote control that can control an entire home entertainment system and even recommend programs. Finally, Polaris Office lets provides robust word processing, spreadsheet and presentation capabilities, while S Pen support makes it a snap to mark up and annotate documents. Superior Hardware Performance and Connectivity GALAXY Note 10.1 is designed with advanced hardware technology, including a 1.4GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of internal RAM. Seamless multi-tasking, high-standard graphics, and blazing-fast performance without any lag are essential features of GALAXY Note 10.1. The device also includes a 5-megapixel main camera and a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera. The GALAXY Note 10.1 carries over several features first introduced with the hit GALAXY S III smartphone, making it an ideal companion tablet for owners of that devices. ShareShot which makes it a snap to automatically share photos in real time between the GALAXY Note 10.1 and the GALAXY S III. Smart Stay, first introduced with the GALAXY S III, uses the camera in the GALAXY Note 10.1 to prevent the device from going into standby mode while it detects a user in front of the device. Finally, with AllShare® Play, users can share content with a large group in real-time by connecting GALAXY Note 10.1 to Samsung HD TVs, phones, mobile tablets, laptops, and other consumer electronic devices on the same network. With Group Cast, users can also share and collaborate on documents, presentations, or images in real time, without loading the files separately. Available Aug 16th Across the U.S. GALAXY Note 10.1 will be available beginning Aug 16th nationwide at partners including Best Buy, Amazon, Tiger Direct, HH Gregg, CDW, BrandSmart, Conn’s and Fry’s. In a special promotion, Samsung will also be making the Galaxy Tab 10.1 available at BBY’s Union Square store in NYC beginning at noon EST today, Aug 15th. The device will be available in choice of white or dark gray, and in 16 GB or 32 GB memory configurations, for $499 or $549 SRP, respectively. Available accessories include replacement S Pen, S Pen Holder Kit, Book Cover in Grey or White, Travel Charger, USB Connection Kit to allow usage of thumb drives or USB peripherals, HDMI adapter and Universal Desktop Dock. For multimedia content and more detailed information, please visit www.samsungmobilepress.com. About Samsung Electronics America Headquartered in Ridgefield Park, NJ, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., markets a broad range of award-winning, digital consumer electronics and home appliance products, including HDTVs, home theater systems, MP3 players, digital imaging products, refrigerators and washing machines. A recognized innovation leader in consumer electronics design and technology, Samsung is the HDTV market leader in the U.S. Please visit www.samsung.com for information.

Humble Bundle #3 is Live - 4 Games at a Price You Decide, Bonus if You Pay Enough

Kellen — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 10:54:48 +0000

The Humble Bundle has returned this morning for a third time, giving gaming enthusiasts a chance to pick up four games at a price they can set themselves. As is always the case, you get to specify where your money goes when buying these games. You can choose to help fund a charity (Child's Play or the EFF), give back to the developers of the games, or toss in a tip to the Humble Bundle crew. You can spend a dollar if you'd like, or you can jump up the price to whatever you feel is necessary. If you pay more than the average price, you'll get access to a 5th game. The Humble Bundle #3 games are Fieldrunners, Bit.Trip Beat, SpaceChem, Uplink, and Spriits. Here are the full details:

For two weeks, fans can pay whatever price they want to support the developers and receive the following games for Android, Windows, Mac, and Linux:

the retro-inspired music rhythm game BIT.TRIP BEAT from Gaijin Games, making its Android and Linux debut

renowned tower defense title Fieldrunners from Subatomic Studios, making its Linux debut

the maddeningly addictive puzzle game SpaceChem from Zachtronics Industries

the cyberpunk hacking puzzle-adventure Uplink from Introversion Software, making its Android debut

If a buyer decides to pay more than the average price at the time of their visit to the site, then they will also receive:

Spirits from Spaces of Play, a darling puzzle platformer making its Windows, Android, and Linux debut

Purchasing a bundle for $1.00 or more will also unlock a Steam key for all the games. Additionally, all the games are made available on the Ubuntu Software Center.

Ready? Buy. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBg-MYObmas[/youtube]

SwiftKey 3 Updated, Brings Voice Input for ICS and JB Along with Two New Themes

Tim — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 10:30:23 +0000

Just in time for the beginning of the end, SwiftKey 3 has been updated to include some Summer fun. Inside the newest version you will find two new themes which are shown off above, voice input for Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean, along with a new feature called Smart Space. Smart Space fixes typos even if you miss spaces as you quickly type. To get a look at the full changelog, we have it below. New in SwiftKey 3:

ICS & Jelly Bean voice input
Smart Space - fixes typos even if you miss spaces as you type
New look - two beautiful new themes for your keyboard
Easier layout - larger space bar, quick punctuation key and other tweaks
New languages - seven new languages for our international friends
Improved prediction - the words you want, more of the time

Play Link [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hQT-o8ch0o[/youtube] Via: SwiftKey

Verizon Adds 34 New 4G LTE Markets Tomorrow, Bringing Total to 371 Markets

Tim — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 10:00:38 +0000

As we reported on last week, Verizon plans to officially flip the switch on 34 new 4G LTE markets tomorrow (August 16), as well as expand their speeds into 38 others. For those keeping count, that brings the total of Verizon 4G LTE markets to an astonishing 371 markets in the United States, covering more than 75% of the population. At this pace, Verizon will easily reach their goal of 400 markets in total by the end of the year. Many of the below cities listed are already seeing 4G LTE, but tomorrow marks the day that Verizon makes it "official." New Markets:

Hot Springs, Ark.
Redding, Calif.
Valdosta and Waycross, Ga.
Centralia and Danville, Ill.
Parsons, Salina and Topeka, Kan.
Alexandria and Monroe, La.
Pittsfield, Mass.
Battle Creek and Muskegon, Mich.
Mankato and Worthington, Minn.
Joplin and Sedalia, Mo.
Bismarck, Grand Forks and Minot, N.D.
Chillicothe, Ohio
Reading, Pa.
Aberdeen, S.D.
Laredo, Odessa and Texarkana, Texas
Brattleboro and White River Junction, Vt.
Charlottesville, Va.
Longview, Wash.
Eau Claire, La Crosse and Manitowoc, Wis.

Expanding Markets:

Los Angeles and Santa Barbara/Santa Maria, Calif.
Orlando, Fla.
Macon/Warner Robins, Ga.
Bloomington, Champaign/Urbana, Decatur/Effingham and Springfield, Ill.
Elkhart, Ind.
Des Moines, Iowa City and Sioux City, Iowa
Dodge City, Garden City and Great Bend, Kan.
Lexington and Louisville, Ky.
New Orleans, La.
Boston, Mass.
Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn.
Missoula, Mont.
Las Vegas, Nev.
Manchester/Nashua, N.H.
Las Cruces, N.M.
New York, N.Y.
Cincinnati, Ohio
Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C.
Sioux Falls, S.D.
Chattanooga, Tenn.
Salt Lake City/Ogden, Utah
Roanoke, Va.
Charleston, W.Va.
Green Bay, Wis.
Little Rock, Ark.
Batesville, Ark.
Tallahassee, Fla.
Thomasville, Ga.
Burley, Idaho
Twin Falls, Idaho
DeKalb, Ill.
St. George, Utah.

Enjoy your 4G LTE!

VERIZON WIRELESS 4G LTE NETWORK AVAILABLE TO MORE THAN 75 PERCENT OF THE U.S. POPULATION

Addition of 34 New Markets on August 16 Brings Verizon Wireless 4G LTE to More Than 370 Markets
BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon Wireless, owner of America’s largest 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, today announced that its 4G LTE network will cover more than 75 percent of the U.S. population when it introduces the network in 34 new markets and expands in 38 other markets on Aug. 16. With Thursday’s market launches and expansions, the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network will be available to customers in 371 markets across the country. “Our 4G LTE network is currently in more markets than all other U.S. wireless providers combined, and our team is continuing to expand the network so that more customers across the nation can take advantage of 4G LTE speed and capabilities,” said Nicola Palmer, chief technical officer of Verizon Wireless. “We are ahead of schedule with our 4G LTE market roll out and will provide 4G LTE network coverage to more than 400 markets in the near future.” Products, Services and Plans The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network enables customers to upload images on their social channels, download documents, connect with family and friends and more, all at speeds up to 10 times faster than before. The company gives customers the largest selection of 4G LTE devices offered by any wireless provider. Devices range from tablets and mobile hotspots to the latest smartphones and more, including the Samsung Galaxy S^® III and the DROID INCREDIBLE 4G LTE by HTC. Details on available devices can be found at www.verizonwireless.com/4GLTE and information on plans and pricing is available at www.verizonwireless.com/plans. Verizon Wireless customers can take advantage of HomeFusion^™ Broadband, a solution that leverages the power and speed of the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network to deliver high-speed, in-home Internet access for residential broadband, particularly in areas where Internet options are limited or are not currently available. Verizon Wireless also offers in-store and online Wireless Workshops that provide customers with the information they need to maximize their wireless experience on smartphones and tablets. For customers new to 4G LTE or looking to purchase a 4G LTE device, Verizon Wireless is now offering a 4G LTE workshop online and in select stores about the power and benefits of the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network as well as the basic and advanced features of 4G LTE devices. New and Expanded Markets The new markets launching on Thursday include: Hot Springs, Ark.; Redding, Calif.; Valdosta and Waycross, Ga.; Centralia and Danville, Ill.; Parsons, Salina and Topeka, Kan.; Alexandria and Monroe, La.; Pittsfield, Mass.; Battle Creek and Muskegon, Mich.; Mankato and Worthington, Minn.; Joplin and Sedalia, Mo.; Bismarck, Grand Forks and Minot, N.D.; Chillicothe, Ohio; Reading, Pa.; Aberdeen, S.D.; Laredo, Odessa and Texarkana, Texas; Brattleboro and White River Junction, Vt.; Charlottesville, Va.; Longview, Wash.; and Eau Claire, La Crosse and Manitowoc, Wis. The company will also expand its 4G LTE network in 38 markets on the same day. The expanded areas include: Los Angeles and Santa Barbara/Santa Maria, Calif.; Orlando, Fla.; Macon/Warner Robins, Ga.; Bloomington, Champaign/Urbana, Decatur/Effingham and Springfield, Ill.; Elkhart, Ind.; Des Moines, Iowa City and Sioux City, Iowa; Dodge City, Garden City and Great Bend, Kan.; Lexington and Louisville, Ky.; New Orleans, La.; Boston, Mass.; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn.; Missoula, Mont.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Manchester/Nashua, N.H.; Las Cruces, N.M.; New York, N.Y.; Cincinnati, Ohio; Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; and Salt Lake City/Ogden, Utah; Roanoke, Va.; Charleston, W.Va.; and Green Bay, Wis. Additional areas include: Little Rock, Ark., expanding into Batesville, Ark.; Tallahassee, Fla., expanding into Thomasville, Ga.; Burley, Idaho, expanding into Twin Falls, Idaho; Chicago, Ill., expanding into DeKalb, Ill.; and Cedar City, Utah, expanding into St. George, Utah. Speed and Coverage In real-world, fully loaded network environments, 4G LTE users should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink. When customers travel outside of 4G LTE coverage areas, devices automatically connect to Verizon Wireless’ 3G network, where available, enabling customers to stay connected from coast to coast. Verizon Wireless’ 3G network is the most reliable high-speed data network in the country and allows customers in 3G coverage areas who purchase 4G LTE devices today to take advantage of 4G LTE speeds when the faster network becomes available in their area or when they travel to areas already covered by Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network. Visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte for a full list of 4G LTE markets and additional information on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network. For street-level detail of coverage and more, please visitwww.verizonwireless.com/4GLTE.

Rumor: No RAZR MAXX HD Coming, Only an 8MP Camera in the RAZR HD

Kellen — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 09:25:06 +0000

According the latest RAZR HD rumors, the device may not be all it has been cracked up to be. Word out of Phone Arena suggests that the device won't have the 13MP camera that has been included in device talks for months now, and will instead carry an 8MP shooter. They are also hearing that the RAZR MAXX HD rumor, which was started over the weekend, is false. Can't say we are surprised by that, having questioned it on Sautrday as well. Motorola apparently feels as if the 2530mAh battery inside the RAZR HD will be enough, something we would tend to agree with thanks to the incredibly efficient Snapdragon S4 processor inside. Other than that, nothing else is new out of this report. This past weekend's rumor stated that the device may not launch until October, something also mentioned in this new report. The RAZR and RAZR MAXX will hit "EOL" (end of life) status in October, so this sort of makes sense. I still think it is going to be difficult for Motorola to sell many of these should it launch post-iPhone 5. So according to the two most recent rumor reports, we have no mega-battery, no 13MP shooter and no launch until October. It will have the same stunning ColorBoost HD display as the Atrix HD, but is there anything else pulling you in? If all of these rumors are true, I'm starting to wonder how this device will be any better than the Galaxy S3, a smartphone that has been out for over a month already. Thoughts on the RAZR HD now? Via: PhoneArena

DROID Charge Update to Build FP5 is Rolling Out Now

Kellen — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 09:25:05 +0000

The FP5 update for the DROID Charge should be available to all owners of the device, right now. As you may recall from our two reports on this update, it's incredibly minor. In fact, we still aren't sure what it changes. The changelog for the update is nothing more than a copy and paste job of the FP1 update that was released back in March. To pull the update, head into Settings>About phone>System updates. The update itself is only 19.3MB in size.

Cheers Matt and Nathan!

ROM Manager Updated, "Restore ROM Manager" Feature Could Save You Later

Tim — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 09:00:05 +0000

Sometimes, you flash a new ROM and come to find out, it doesn't have Google Apps coupled with it and ROM Manager was also left out. So, what's a flasher to do? Thankfully, Koush has fixed this from being an issue down the road. With the new "Restore ROM Manager" feature, ClockworldMod Recovery checks before reboot whether ROM Manager is installed on your device under system/apps. As long as you have that settings box checked, whether you wipe all of your data or not, ROM Manager will be there to greet you upon reboot. Definitely a saving feature for the habitual ROM flasher. Via: Google+

Dropbox Previews Upcoming Android Build, Nexus 7 UI Enhancements and More

Tim — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 08:20:31 +0000

The Dropbox team released a beta build of an upcoming update to their forums for users to try out and give feedback on. Mostly, the team is looking to make sure the app's UI is streamlined for the Nexus 7 and features work without a hitch on Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean. Full changelog is below.

We've just given our Android app a tune-up! Here's some of the stuff we've added:

Video thumbnails

Better video playback on ICS and Jelly Bean

UI improvements for Nexus 7 tablets

Open Dropbox files directly from other apps (ACTION_GET_CONTENT for the Android geeks :-P)

Other bug fixes

To try out the beta build yourself, download and sideload it down below. Download: Dropbox.apk Via: Phandroid

Verizon Adds Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 to Tablet Lineup, Available August 17 for $349

Kellen — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 08:05:26 +0000

Verizon announced this morning that they will begin to carry a 4G LTE powered Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) as of this Friday, August 17. For $349, you can add this to your ongoing tablet collection and attach it to your Share Everything plan for just $10 extra per month. The price is an off-contract price, as Verizon killed off subsidized tablet pricing once their shared data plans went live back in early July. This tablet is not necessarily new and has been available as a WiFi-only model for months, but we know that there are users out there who can't live without 4G LTE at all times. The device rocks a 7" screen, runs Ice Cream Sandwich with TouchWiz, has a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 3.2MP rear camera, VGA front camera, and 8GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 64GB through an SD card slot. This is by all means, a mid to low-range tablet, hence the $349 price tag. Unfortunately for Samsung and Verizon, this tablet can't match up to the Nexus 7, so unless 4G LTE is a must for you in a big slate, it's going to be tough for us to recommend you run out this Friday and pick one up.

Gallery:

Press Release:

VERIZON WIRELESS ADDS SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB 2^®7.0 TO EXPANSIVE TABLET PORTFOLIO

Affordable 7-inch Tablet with Access to Rich Multimedia on America’s Largest 4G LTE Network
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and DALLAS – Verizon Wireless and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) today announced the latest addition to the Samsung Galaxy Tab portfolio, the Samsung Galaxy Tab^® 2 (7.0), available beginning Aug. 17 in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com. Galaxy Tab 2 customers will have access to the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network which covers more than 75 percent of the U.S. population and will soon be available in more than 400 markets nationwide. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) features power and portability with its 4G LTE connectivity and 7-inch display making mobile entertainment easy. The Galaxy Tab 2 runs Android^™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and comes loaded with multimedia-rich apps like Netflix and Samsung’s Media Hub for watching movies and TV shows while on the go or on the couch. Customers can also take advantage of the compact design and use the Amazon Kindle app to keep their favorite books with them at all times. The Peel Smart Remote app turns the Galaxy Tab 2 into a universal remote, helping customers easily find their favorite shows, while eliminating the need for multiple remote controls. The Galaxy Tab 2 is also a SAFE^™ (Samsung Approved For Enterprise) device featuring on-device AES-256 bit encryption, enhanced support for Microsoft^® Exchange ActiveSync^®, and support for industry-leading Virtual Private Network (VPN) and Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions. Additionally, the Galaxy Tab 2 can maximize productivity with the Polaris^® Office application to easily create and edit documents. The app is optimized for tablets and has support for various file types like Microsoft Word, Excel^®, PowerPoint^®, Adobe^® PDF, Zip files and more. Additional features

4G LTE – Customers can expect fast download speeds of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G Mobile Broadband coverage areas

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich – Support for Google Mobile^™ Services including Gmail^™, YouTube^™, Google Talk^™, Google Search^™, Google Maps^™ and access to more than 600,000 apps available to download from Google^™ Play Store

3.2-megapixel rear-facing camera and VGA front-facing camera for video chat

1.2 GHz dual-core application processor

Bluetooth^® 4.0 technology

Multiple video file formats supported, including DivX and XviD support

Wi-Fi^® Connectivity (802.11 b/g/n)

8 GB internal memory with support for up to 64 GB microSD^™ card

Business features Samsung’s SAFE mobility solutions provide flexibility and connectivity for mobile workforces, ensuring that customers are able to operate more efficiently on the move.

Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) – Customers communicate directly with Microsoft Exchange Server enabling push email, calendar and contacts

VPN and MDM support from Industry-Leading Solutions Providers – Supports industry-standard VPN protocols to help customers efficiently tap into VPN networks, and MDM capabilities that allow IT departments to effectively safeguard employees’ mobile devices and corporate data

On Device Encryption – SAFE helps prevent unauthorized access to mobile data by leveraging the AES 256-bit encryption standard, encrypting all data, including app-specific internal data and internal/external memory

Price and availability

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0) will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com starting Aug. 17 for $349.99.

Customers purchasing the Galaxy Tab 2 will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless data plan. Share Everything Plans allow customers to add the Galaxy Tab 2 to their account for $10 monthly access. For additional information, customers should go to: www.verizonwireless.com/shareeverything.

For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go towww.verizonwireless.com.

About Verizon Wireless Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 94.2 million retail customers, including 88.8 million retail postpaid customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 78,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia. About Samsung Mobile Samsung Mobile (Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC), a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsungwireless.com.

Official Pinterest App Finally Arrives on Android

Kellen — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 21:21:21 +0000

Ladies! (And some dudes "who own businesses.") (Did Tim really just sign up?) It has arrived! Pinterest for Android is finally in the building in an official capacity. Your cupcake photos can be seen from anywhere in the world, as long as you have your mobile device in hand. The only requirement that we are seeing is a minimum OS version of Android 2.2 (Froyo). Since 2.2 and above makes up for 95% of Android users, I'd say that almost all of you won't have a problem meeting that. It also should work great on tablets, especially our favorite, the Nexus 7. If your only Android device is a Kindle Fire, you'll have access to the app later this week through the Amazon Appstore. Go pin some sh*t! Play Link

Cheers Amanda!

LG's Newest Google TVs are Over 40% Off at Amazon, Rest of Their Lineup Too

Kellen — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 18:46:49 +0000

If you are in the market for a new smart TV, you may want to check out LG's current 2012 lineup that was introduced at this year's CES. As you may have heard, the TV industry isn't exactly crushing it as some would have expected, causing manufacturers to drop prices significantly. There is no better example of this industry-wide change than through the prices that Amazon is putting up, right now. You can grab most of LG's 2012 lineup of smart TVs for over 40% off, including their two Google TV models. While these GTV-enhanced sets aren't quite as impressive as their flagship line (only 120Hz and not as thin of a bezel), at $1499 for the 55" and $999 for the $47", I'm not sure you will find a better deal. They still offer 1080p, 3D, and come with 6 pairs of 3D glasses. With that said, if you do want their top of the line series, meaning 240Hz and an ultra-thin bezel, you can get yourself into either a 55" or 47" at the same prices as the Google TV models. Google TV Links: 55" Google TV ($1499.00) | 47" Google TV ($999.00) Non-Google TV Links: 55" LM7600 ($1499.00) | 47" LM7600 ($999.00) Via: Phandroid