Android Community |
- Glance Android Concept Phone Made for Skinny Jeans
- UNO for Android Updated with HD Graphics for tablets
- Samsung Fascinate 3G on TELUS getting 2.3 Gingerbread
- Samsung Roadmap leaks with launch dates, ICS and Nexus Prime?
- Samsung Epic Touch 4G Coming September 9th?
- Motorola XT531 gets FCC approval
- Android Community App of the Week: Reckless Getaway [Video]
- Heavy Gunner Review – Still Sweet
- HTC Thunderbolt gets a new Gingerbread build leaked
- Samsung Nexus Prime hanging out at Verizon HQ?
| Glance Android Concept Phone Made for Skinny Jeans Posted: 19 Aug 2011 08:22 PM PDT If you’re not one of those people who has the biggest pockets in the world so wide and deep that they’re able to keep an Acer Iconia Tab A100 in them without a problem, we’ve got the phone for you. This is a conceptual design, meaning that it’s certainly not based in reality at the moment, and given what it’s got going for it, we’re looking at a few years at least before something like this can become a reality. The greatest and most obvious feature here is the thinness of most of the device.
Approximately as thin as half a Samsung Galaxy S II at its thinnest point with a much thicker base so that not only can it slide into your pocket and be held up at the top, you can stand the device up on its base and have it held upright with its own weight. This device is hypothetically got a few impressive specs going for it, including a 4-inch OLED screen with scratch resistant glass, a bottom 2-inch OLED screen, 3.5 mm headphone jack (also in base), and dual speakers for stereo sound. There’s also a mini (not micro) USB for some reason or another, and one camera on the front and one camera on the back with flash (no megapixels listed.)
Along with the obviously quite unique shape of this device, the fact that the glass on the front curves up near the base allows for a unique area for buttons, here utilized for what seems like the standard four Android menu buttons, but where the search button would normally sit is a Twitter button instead. The bottom of the device, under the larger side of the device, under the base that is, the second OLED display shows several items here, Twitter notifications, Mail notifications, time, date, and battery level. This piece of the concept is very similar to the classically strange Samsung Continuum – another dual-display whose second tiny screen has similar functionality.
Now this device, again, is just a concept and of course there’s no plan to produce it any time in the near future, but give designer Alan Gerardo Farías props for making some unique stuff right here. [via Yanko Design] )
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| UNO for Android Updated with HD Graphics for tablets Posted: 19 Aug 2011 04:29 PM PDT Remember as a child playing UNO and screaming it out at the end when you finally win? I do, and today Gameloft has updated the popular card game UNO on the Android Market to support even more devices as well as tablets. UNO was always one of the few card games I actually enjoyed, that and poker. Gameloft has fixed up the graphics claiming they are HD and now we should be ready to go for tablets.
You can’t go wrong with UNO. Everyone loves the game right? It’s a classic that is for sure. Gameloft has some new rules, online gameplay and tournament mode integrated into the Android version and really makes you test your skills when you play online. I know this isn’t anything new and exciting, plus the app has been around for a while. I didn’t think it would be all that fun but I gave it a download on my Android 3.1 Honeycomb tablet just to see the new HD graphics and the game does look pretty good. Brought me back to the good ol times and should do the same for a few of our readers so give it a try. [via Android Market] )
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| Samsung Fascinate 3G on TELUS getting 2.3 Gingerbread Posted: 19 Aug 2011 04:11 PM PDT Who likes updates? Today we have the Samsung Fascinate over on TELUS all set to receive Android 2.3 Gingerbread, they’ll bring the tasty gingerbread and you bring the milk. It’s nice to see Samsung continuing to update older devices because for a while there no one had much faith in the Korean Manufacturer to actually push updates out in a timely manor.
Yup, this is the Samsung Fascinate 3G+ for TELUS and Android 2.3 Gingerbread should be hitting in an OTA update any day now. As always you can manually check for updates if you are like me and don’t want to wait for it. Just go to into settings and hit that check for updates button and it should pull right down and be ready to go. Most of you should know what comes with Android 2.3 by now so we wont really get into that, but you’ll love the new user interface changes. Sadly this is just Android 2.3.3 instead of 2.3.4 but that shouldn’t be much of a concern for Fascinate users. I always back up my apps and settings just in case anything goes wrong with an update, just a thought. Head over to the TELUS support page if you have any questions on the update. [via Phandroid] )
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| Samsung Roadmap leaks with launch dates, ICS and Nexus Prime? Posted: 19 Aug 2011 03:41 PM PDT We have heard a few reports over the past few days regarding some odd sized devices coming from Samsung. We first saw these specs and this roadmap last week and Samsung later denied it, but now we have the same specs showing up again and with launch dates too. I have a feeling this might just be the real deal.
Launch dates are prone to changes but I’m liking what I’m seeing either way. They are listed in weeks and we are currently in week 33 (W33). The only thing I don’t like is the Ice Cream Sandwich smartphone listed is still 15 weeks away according to the leak. That makes a possible October launch sound not to possible now doesn’t it? -GT-I8150 (W40) Android 2.3.3, 3.7-inch 480×800 display, HSDPA network support, 4GB of memory, 1.4GHz processor, 5 megapixel camera with 720p HD recording. According to these reports we should be seeing the new Samsung Galaxy Tab 7 with an AMOLED display and Android 3.2 Honeycomb very shortly but sadly I don’t see anything about the Galaxy Tab 8.9 inch many are still waiting for. The most impressive and important one is at the bottom, the GT-I9250. This could very well be the Samsung Nexus Prime. We have seen reports about the AMOLED display being ready to go in larger sizes, as well as plenty of leaks that Samsung will rock the Nexus Prime and currently trying to get Verizon to carry it. All of this is really exciting and I can’t wait to see more. We originally heard ICS would launch around the holidays but recent rumors are saying October to compete with the iPhone 5. Then we see something like that last phone rumored for week 48 and that lines up better with initial ICS reports of a holiday release. Either way I just want to see these bad boys out in the wild already. Can you say Nexus! [via GSMArena] )
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| Samsung Epic Touch 4G Coming September 9th? Posted: 19 Aug 2011 03:20 PM PDT Some new sources are now claiming we will see the Samsung Epic Touch 4G hit the market over on the now network in yellow as soon as September 9th. The Epic Touch 4G will be the Samsung Galaxy S II for the WiMax carrier and the 4G in the name is a pretty good indication it will have those fast speeds to go along with it. We first heard about the Epic Touch 4G a few weeks ago and now it might only be a few more weeks wait til we actually see it hit the shelves.
What are sources have heard is the Epic Touch 4G will be the first Samsung Galaxy S II for the US market and will go along nicely as a top end device to rival the EVO 3D for the carrier. Sadly the first Samsung Epic is still waiting for the update to Gingerbread while the new bigger brother could launch with it already. I’d be trading up if I were a Epic owner, but that’s just me. From the looks of the report the Samsung superphone will be launching on Friday, September 9th and those WiMax speeds should help keep things moving right along. While the Epic Touch 4G looks nice I think I’m more excited about the Samsung Hercules we recently saw or even that awesome Droid HD but those wont be here as soon as the Epic will. If the Epic Touch 4G does launch on September 9th it just might end up being the first SGSII for the US and sources are claiming that to be case too. Either way that is just a few more weeks away so start getting excited if your EVO 4G is getting old and you’re ready to upgrade. [via XDA] )
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| Motorola XT531 gets FCC approval Posted: 19 Aug 2011 02:29 PM PDT Google’s new hardware division, I mean Motorola, just got its XT531 budget smartphone into the FCC. The XT531 has already been released in Europe as the Fire XT and in Central and South America as the Spice XT. The smaller phone (now that 4-4.3″ is the standard that is) has a pretty impressive spec list for a more economically-friendly phone.
Motorola’s XT531 showed up at the FCC with AT&T’s HSPA bands (850 and 1900 MHz) along with the standard WiFi and Bluetooth radios. For a little more info on the phone we can turn to the international versions, which has already been announced. The phone has only a 3.5″ screen, but runs Gingerbread, and has both a front and rear camera. We don’t have an exact price point for the device, as an American release hasn’t been officially announced. Given some of its less exciting specs though, the XT531 could offer cool features like a front-facing camera, and the latest version of Android for a price that will be a little less hard on your wallet. So we’ll keep an eye out as Motorola continues to pump out the goodies while the Google purchase awaits approval. [via Engadget] )
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| Android Community App of the Week: Reckless Getaway [Video] Posted: 19 Aug 2011 02:28 PM PDT Just released to the market is a new game for Android from the popular developers Polarbit. They’ve made some of the most popular games such as Reckless Racing and the Raging Thunder series and always have awesome graphics and great gameplay. Reckless Getaway you are the wheelman behind the getaway car for a bank robbery with the police hot on your tail. Racing games are fun and its always nice to cross the finish line, but crashing and causing chaos with police and oncoming traffic is even better.
The game is a bit addicting and I’ve been playing it for a while now today. Weaving in and out of traffic while getting power ups and bonuses for jumping police cars this game has no shortage of action or fun. With stellar graphics, engaging gameplay and awesome sound effects so far it has a thumbs up from me. It does cost $2.99 in the market but the fact you wont get bored and it offering 16 or so levels make it worth the price. FEATURES: … and stay Tuned for: I did have a few issues but the game was just released yesterday so I’m sure some updates will be coming shortly. Adjusting the volume in game caused it to occasionally freeze and it did crash on me once or twice but overall that was about the only issue I had. Well that and all the cops kept trying to run me off the road — those jerks. This is me totally destroying a police car — he got PWNED! Just like the description said the physics do brings chaos to another level. You have tons of power-ups and specials you can get. They have jumps all over the place if you figure out where they are. My favorite feature is the jump power-up as I’m constantly trying to jump diesels or oncoming traffic. In my video preview below I land on a trolly for a minute but sadly fell off shortly after. You have two game modes where you can just try and getaway and rush to the finish line, or choose to be reckless and basically destroy everything in your path. I like reckless as it’s just a blast destroying oncoming traffic and police cars and anything else that gets in your way.
Reckless Getaway has plenty of options and controls. You can use on-screen controls or motion if that is your thing. Polarbit has also optimized the game for the Xperia Play controls and should make for a great experience. I went through about 5 levels but kept going back to downtown because there is just so much going on and you never know when a bus is going to fly around a corner and take you out, and the cops on your tail. Like I said above, with stunning graphics, great visuals and sound effects and offering 16 levels this game is worth the $2.99 asking price that is for sure. I’d recommend you give it a try as its totally worth it and plays great on my Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet. Reckless Getaway Hands-on Video Reckless Getaway by polarbit is available now in the Android Market for just $2.99 so get it while its hot. Feel free to click or scan the QR code below to head over and download this awesome game.
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| Heavy Gunner Review – Still Sweet Posted: 19 Aug 2011 02:22 PM PDT There are only so many games right this moment on the entire mobile platform that allow you to murder aliens. Even smaller than this group of games is a selection of games that allow you to do so with one futuristic chain gun, much less two, even rarer is a game that allows you to spin in a turret around using your tablet / smartphone’s internal sensors, shooting then with two separately-aimable guns like you’re playing Lucky and Wild! If you don’t know what that arcade game is, please, please find out.
Heavy Gunner is a game that only has one sort of gameplay, basically as all good mobile games should. You’ve got two controllers, both of them virtual joysticks that control giant guns. In the hands-on demo you’re about to see, we’re using the basic chain guns because they’re the easiest to understand instantly. Later you can get some Ender’s Game Doctor Device-type missiles, big missiles, small guns, all manner of weaponry as the game progresses. You’re always on a turret and the controls are always the same.
The waves of enemies increase in difficulty, amount, and diversity. You’ll be addicted to this game instantly should you be a fan of any gunner game in history for the most part, and once you’ve got a hang of the controls, you’ll have one whole heck of a lot of fun. Drawbacks: the swivel controls using your device’s G-sensor, proximity, and etc doesn’t always work perfectly, but it certainly does work. Now NOTE: Unlike many of the reviews we do here on Android Community, this game has been out for some time. In fact it’s quite a few months ago that this app was released, and in mobile gaming, that’s FOREVER! But this game is still sweet, and it still gets updates, as again, all great games should. This game remains competitive and awesome after several months and that means its a keeper. Go grab it on the Android Market now for a good time with big guns.
ALSO note that this game CAN be played in 3D, but since it looks just as awesome outside of the 3D environment, this review is in 2D. Just for fun, here’s Lucky and Wild, without which we’d never have Heavy Gunner. Or maybe we would. Noone can be sure!
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| HTC Thunderbolt gets a new Gingerbread build leaked Posted: 19 Aug 2011 01:26 PM PDT HTC’s Thunderbolt was cutting edge when it launched as the first phone to use Verizon’s blazing 4G LTE network. Unfortunately it also launched a version behind with Froyo, and still hasn’t received an official update from Verizon. Luckily, as is tradition, test builds have been leaked and the vert latest RUU (HTC’s flashable ROM format) is available at XDA.
A couple weeks ago, we heard talked about the Thunderbolt’s Gingerbread update being delayed from its originally scheduled (and already passed) time frame of Q2. Whatever the delay has been, Verizon’s still at work and their latest build is available for those of you who like beta. The Thunderbolt is one of Verizon’s 4G devices, able to speed through data on their LTE network. We were really impressed with HTC’s build quality and the shear speed of LTE. With the Droid Bionic bringing the imminent union of super fast internet and dual-core speed, the Thunderbolt’s shine could be fading. Hopefully the update, when its ready, will help Thunderbolt owners stave off jealousy. The update is being worked on by devs as I type, to root and package the ROM for download. When it is available, remember we can’t speak for the stability of the build, and as always make sure you backup your current ROM and be fully aware of the risks and what you’re doing before flashing. [via XDA] )
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| Samsung Nexus Prime hanging out at Verizon HQ? Posted: 19 Aug 2011 11:13 AM PDT Some new developments on the Nexus Prime are appearing again today. If the tips are to be believed the Samsung Nexus Prime may end up being the first Nexus device over at Verizon Wireless. While this would be amazing news and make plenty of people happy all we are hearing is that Samsung is shopping the phone around at Verizon Wireless HQ trying to get them to take a bite.
Between the Droid Bionic, the upcoming Droid HD and plenty of other leaked devices as of late Verizon is looking really good right about now. If they add the Samsung Nexus Prime with its rumored specs of a 4.5″ AMOLED HD high resolution 720p display and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich to the line-up, other carriers should start to worry. While we have heard something similar about the Nexus Prime being shopped around we don’t have anything official and neither does anyone else. I’m still hoping someone at Verizon is sneaky enough to snap a photo of the highly anticipated smartphone and send it to my inbox. I do see an issue as the next pure Google device such as the Nexus Prime would most likely be unlockable and highly customizable like recently released phones like the Nexus One or S and this could be an issue for Verizon. Having a beast of a smartphone possibly running with 4G LTE being unlocked and rooted for users to tether and do as they please might not be something Verizon wants to see. Passing on the Nexus Prime would not be the smartest move though so hopefully they snatch it up and get it released already. If Verizon does get the Samsung Nexus Prime would that be enough for you to kick your current carrier to the curb? Even if it doesn’t come with 4G LTE too? [via TechnoBuffalo] )
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