Friday 10 December 2010

Android Community

Android Community


Wirefly Brings Android Home For The Holidays With Big Sale

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 10:54 AM PST

If you’re looking for that special Android gift for someone, look no further than Wirefly this holiday season. 30 free smartphones the entire month of December including these awesome Androids: Droid Incredible, Sony Ericsson Xperia XT, HTC Aria, and many more.

Free is a good price and includes new accounts and upgrades with 2 yr. contracts. Merry Android Christmas!

[Via PCMag]

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80 Percent of Verizon Phones sold are Android, BlackBerry devices in steep decline

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 10:21 AM PST

What better way to see Android’s cannibalization of RIM’s BlackBerry than a graph of Verizon’s smartphone sales over the 20 months? All Things Digital points to data compiled by ITG Investment Research analyst Matthew Goodman that visually details the decrease in BlackBerry sales as the market becomes more sophisticated and varied.


According to the data, 80 percent of smartphone sales were Android devices in which 46 percent were DROID branded. RIM sure has a growing issue on its hands as new devices compete with the business space in mobile sales.

[Via All Things Digital]

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Windows Phone 7 Launcher On Android

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 09:17 AM PST

The good people over at the xda-developers not only have developed WP7  themes for Android, but also a new launcher from XDA forum member seraph1024. Perfect for those that like the looks of WP7, but want their Android fix. It seems that it does not work with stock Samsung phones. However, I got the app to work on a rooted Samsung Galaxy S. Just go to the Android Market and search for “Windows Phone Android Lite”. There is a paid version too, if you would like to tip your hat to the developer, but as of right now, the applications are exactly the same. Check out a list of features after the break.

Lite version include:

  • Pin to front page tiles
  • remove from front page
  • uninstall apps
  • dark and lite themes
  • 4 accent colors (Blue, Green, Red and Orange)
  • limited system messages

[Via XDA]

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Google Nexus S unboxing & hands-on [Video]

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 08:59 AM PST

Google’s new Nexus S isn’t expected to hit the US market until December 16, but the Android Community review unit has just dropped onto the test bench. Google’s second own-brand device, the Nexus S will eventually be used to push NFC when the short-range wireless technology gains sufficient momentum, but is initially the launch platform for Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

As we discovered in our earlier hands-on preview, the Nexus S feels a lot like Samsung’s Galaxy S family of phones. We’re fans of the Nexus One’s part-metal construction, and though the Nexus S feels – with its bowed fascia – slimmer in the hand, it also feels less resilient. Like the Galaxy S – in fact most glossy-finish devices – it also picks up fingerprints quickly, though a quick wipe and they’re gone.

Gingerbread’s speed increase on the 1GHz Hummingbird CPU is noticeable from the off, with the Nexus S booting up quickly and menus panning and scrolling with no lag. One significant usability issue is the change in button order – the Nexus S swaps the search and home buttons around from their positions on the Nexus One – though Gingerbread’s improved text-management tools mean we haven’t really missed the trackball yet. Tapping a word and using the drag-bars to highlight different portions of text, or moving the cursor around the screen are each straightforward.

We can’t argue with Samsung’s Super AMOLED screen, and while it lacks the sheer pixel density of the iPhone’s Retina Display, the bright, saturated colors and crisp text – as well as the extra half-inch – make it a solid alternative to Apple’s panel and a noticeable step up from the Nexus One. It’s also responsive, with no touchscreen lag so far.

Things might change as we load up the Nexus S with apps, and there are obviously some holes in the spec sheet. Given the first Nexus phone pushed the hardware envelope so successfully, it’s a surprise to see this new version launch with a mere 5-megapixel camera and no HDMI connectivity; the microSD card slot is another odd omission, with Samsung and Google seemingly following in the footsteps of Apple and Microsoft’s arbitrary smartphone limitations. NFC does up the geek-cred, but right now there’s not much we can do with it bar say that Google got there ahead of the iPhone.

We’ll be putting the Google Nexus S through its paces over the next few days, ahead of the full SlashGear review, and seeing if this second-gen model lives up to the game-changing Nexus One.

You may need to turn up the volume in the video – I was losing my voice today.

nexus_S_1_slashgear nexus_S_2_slashgear nexus_S_3_slashgear nexus_S_4_slashgear nexus_S_5_slashgear nexus_S_6_slashgear nexus_S_7_slashgear )


“Exploding” DROID 2 more likely damaged after a drop tips Motorola insider

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 07:40 AM PST

Reports of a Motorola DROID 2 allegedly exploding and injuring a users’s ear may not be all they seem, with an internal Motorola source suggesting that the damage may in fact have been caused by dropping the handset. According to Gearlog‘s source at the manufacturer, “the guy didn’t notice the glass had cracked [...] so when he put it to his ear, he cut himself.”

The employee went on to suggest that “the only things that could explode in a phone would have resulted in a phone that did not work, yet this phone worked. And there was no explosive damage to the device (things inside blown outward, etc).” Motorola is promising to investigate things further – including the “loud pop” that Aron Embry claimed alerted him to the problem.

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Angry Birds “Bad Piggy Bank” in-app payments announced

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 07:26 AM PST

Angry Birds developer Rovio has announced a new in-app payment system that will debut on Android, charging upgrades – such as to remove the adverts in the free title, or to buy the upcoming “Mighty Eagle” update – directly to a user’s cellphone bill rather than demanding credit card details. “Bad Piggy Bank” will also be made available to other Android app developers, according to Rovio's Peter Vesterbacka, potentially filling a gap for in-app payments on the Android platform.

The roll-out will begin with Finnish carrier Elisa, before a global roll-out in 2011; it requires carrier agreements so as to process the payments on a user’s cellphone account. Meanwhile Vestabacka also revealed that Angry Birds has seen a total of 50m downloads to-date, a fifth of which have been on Android.

[via TechCrunch]

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Howard Stern content coming to XM Radio app

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 05:55 AM PST

I can still remember the big hubbub that went on when Howard Stern moved from normal radio and took his show exclusively to satellite radio. The amount of money that Sirius paid Stern to make the move was obscene, but the payment surely resulted in hoards subscribers.

I am sure there were lots of Stern fans that were really bummed when they learned the Howard Stern show would not be broadcast on the XM App for Android devices. Apparently, Stern has come around to the idea and his show will come to the app after all.

What made the change for Stern is unknown, but I am sure it had to do with the massive amount of money the contract renewal Stern recently made came with. Stern fans now have good reason to continue paying for satellite radio.

[Via Phandroid]

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Epic has no immediate plans to bring Infinity Blade to Android gamers

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 05:46 AM PST

If you have seen the screen shots and read any reviews of the iPhone and iPad hack and slash game called Infinity Blade for iOS devices, you know that the game is supposed to be sick. If you have been hoping that a Christmas miracle would happen and the game would land soon for Android devices, that apparently isn’t going to happen.

Epic told Ars Technica in an interview that it has no immediate plans to bring the game to Android. Epic’s Mark Rein said, “So we have the engine up and running on Android, and we’re supplying it to licensees. We don’t have any immediate plans in terms of our own games for it yet. Our concerns are probably the same as John Carmack’s. Lots of good hardware, but it’s all over the map, and the rest of the issues he pretty much addresses. It will get there, I’m sure, but our technology can be licensed and used on Android. It’s just not as big a focus for us as iOS.”

That’s too bad really, but it sounds like the game would have issues on some Android devices since the hardware is so varied. Gamers can hope that the game or at least some game based on the same engine that looks so good will come to Android gamers.

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Dell confirms AT&T-locked Streak Froyo update in Jan 2011

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 03:57 AM PST

Dell has confirmed that the AT&T-locked Dell Streak won’t get an Android 2.2 Froyo update until January 2011, lending legitimacy to the leaked emails tipping a January 12 release. According to the official Dell blog, “customers in the United States who own AT&T SIM-locked versions of the phone will hopefully begin seeing the Froyo update sometime next month.”

The delay in pushing out the release – which upgrades the Streak from its original Android 1.6 OS – is not fully explained, but Dell certainly implies it is to do with AT&T’s involvement in the carrier-locked handset. The update for unlocked Streaks began rolling out last month.

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Ballistic HC case for HTC Evo smartphone launches

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 03:25 AM PST

If you are a user of the HTC Evo smartphone and you want a case that will protect your sweet smartphone from just about anything this side of a tank running over it, Ballistic has announced that it is offering its Ballistic HC series case for the Evo right now.

The sweet case is very rugged and robust with a five-layer protection system that will protect your device from drops, scratches, and impacts. The case also protects from dust. The case has an optional outer layer for even more protection and ships with an integrated screen protector and a durable holster.

Ballistic says that the cases will start to ship on December 13 and they are offered in three colors. The colors include red/black, black, and gray/black. I like the red/black design the best. The cases sell for $49.99 each. You can check out the video below to get more of an idea how the case will protect your Evo.

ballhtc-1 ballhtc-2 ballhtc-3

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Google NFC Hotpot stickers will pull Places into your Gingerbread phone

Posted: 10 Dec 2010 12:54 AM PST

Google has revealed the first stage of its plans to promote NFC, as found in the Nexus S and support for which has been added in Android 2.3 Gingerbread. The search giant will be leveraging its new Hotpot mobile review system with NFC-enabled window stickers for businesses to display, part of new Google Places Business Kits.

The kits will have various leaflets and guides suggesting how businesses can increase the number of reviews they have online, but most interestingly they’ll have an NFC sticker to display by the door. Touching a Nexus S – or another NFC-enabled phone running 2.3, once they’re more common – to the sticker will send business information to the handset. Google will kick things off with a trial in Portland, Oregon.

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Notion Ink doubts surface: questions first, pre-orders later [Updated]

Posted: 09 Dec 2010 11:59 PM PST

Concerns are growing over start-up Notion Ink, with the company yet to show hardware of its Adam tablet – which went up for pre-order yesterday – and issues over payment processing and potential return and restocking fees. Despite months of marketing, the Adam tablet went up for order without any hardware demonstration, and while we’d like to see a potential game-changer enter the marketplace, that also makes us cautious.

AndroidPolice dug through the returns policy and turned up some very high restocking fees and strict conditions; Notion Ink says it will respond, but until it does we’d recommend keeping your money in your pocket.

Update: Notion Ink has responded this morning; more information at SlashGear.

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LG Optimus One Series Will Receive Android 2.3

Posted: 09 Dec 2010 02:07 PM PST

After quite the outrage over their made up 1GHz processor requirement being the reason the Optimus series will not see Gingerbread, LG has retracted their statement and now have committed to bring Gingerbread to the entry level devices.

The outrage, which took place on the company’s Facebook page, first stated that we will not be seeing the update for the devices, after customers called the company out they retracted their statements and now we know the devices will, in fact, be getting Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

All of the LG Optimus models (Vortex, Optimus T, Optimus S, Optimus M, and Optimus U) will be getting Gingerbread.

[Via Engadget]

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Gmail for Android Tweaked, Users May Now Set Up Priority Message Alerts

Posted: 09 Dec 2010 01:48 PM PST

Google sent out an announcement today saying they’d be updating their Gmail application for the Android platform adding several features that make this update totally sweet. Gmail version 2.3.2 for Android improves first and foremost the priority inbox feature, allowing now a separate window for all priority messages and lets users set up rings, vibrates, and all manner of alerts for when incoming priority messages arrive. This new Priority Inbox view also features the markers you’re used to seeing in your desktop version of Gmail, your ability to change a conversation’s importance as simple as two clicks.

Once you’ve got a message in your inbox, Google’s made it easier to choose Reply, Reply All, and Forward, allowing you to make these decisions quicker than before by erasing a step. Finally, Gmail now allows you to reply from any webmail address instead of just the one you received the message to. Use any webmail address synced to your desktop Gmail account instead of just your default to reply to messages. All devices running Android 2.2 Froyo and forward (though, good luck having something more advanced than this when I write this message, unless you’ve got some sweet hacks and a taste for cookies) – the app update is available at the Android Market right this moment. See more updates on Google’s Mobile Blog.

[Via Google Mobile Blog]

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AntiSpamSMS App to Block All Non-Whitelisted Contacts

Posted: 09 Dec 2010 12:20 PM PST

If you’re the sort of person who gets and sends texts all day long, and you’ve gotten into some bad circles that’ve led to you getting bashed over the head with spam texts when you know good and well you never signed up for that junk, you might very well be in luck. XDA Forum member airplanez has whipped up an app by the name of AntiSpamSMS which you can pick up for free in the Android Marketplace today, donating a dollar to him via purchasing the app if you find it useful (no difference from the free version, just a nice gesture.) Take a peek!

Once you download this app you’ll have the option of viewing it in Korean or in English (it came set for English when I / we downloaded it a few minutes ago.) Everything seems great, super simple, easy to implement. Has the following features:

English Locale Support
Usable Regex.
Allow My Contacts
Block Not My Contacts
Block No Phone Number
Block Inconsistency Number
SMS/Block Notify(sound, vibration)
Backup/Restore Setting
Remove Symbol,Country Code
Case Insensitive option

Find it in the Android Marketplace under AntiSpamSMS.

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[Via XDA Developers Forum]

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Playstation Phone Zeus Z1 Benchmarked in Clear Video (Prototype)

Posted: 09 Dec 2010 11:55 AM PST

You all know by now there’s such a thing as a Playstation phone on the way, codenamed Zeus Z1 it is, very amazing it seems to be. It’s running Qualcomm’s Neocore benchmark app in the video you’re about to see, and oh my goodness it’s managing 24.4 frames per second on average. But wait a second… that’s not all that fast at all, is it now? Consider if you will the following though: this is more than likely an early build, the final software and hardware more than likely coming down the line.

Take a peek at the video courtesy of Engadget and keep your fingers crossed for a faster machine in the future closer to the release:

[Via Engadget]

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LG and VMWare To Produce Dual OS Android Phone

Posted: 09 Dec 2010 11:40 AM PST

VMWare has put out a press release announcing a partnership with LG to produce dual-OS smartphones for the corporate world. VMWare is a specialist in virtualization, which allows for two operating systems to run together on a single platform. One of their most familiar products is VMWare Fusion that allows Windows to run on MAC. The press release goes on to say that the intent is to allow for a personal and corporate phone to run on the same platform, while maintaining control of company information.

Android is the  likely candidate to run on top of the virtualization layer because of it’s ease of development. Expect to see the release of the first dual-OS devices in 2011. The corporate world can rejoice that the days of carrying two mobile phones appear to be coming to an end and that they just may be able to make their own decisions about the mobile device they carry. They’ll be able to have their cake and eat it too.

[Via VMWare, NetworkWorld]

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