Android Community |
- Android Market version 3.2.0 from Ice Cream Sandwich leaks
- Samsung Galaxy S III details leak, 1.8 GHz dual-core, 2GB ram, more
- Verizon adds 22 new 4G LTE cities on November 17th
- My BMW remote control app coming to Android
- Samsung Galaxy Wi-Fi 5-inch and 3.6-inch confirmed for the UK
- Verizon slashes HTC Thunderbolt to $49 for existing customers
- Motorola and Verizon event set for October 18th – new XOOM, Droid RAZR possible
- Motorola readies ET1 7-inch rugged business tablet
- CyanogenMod 7.1 released, HP Touchpad version coming in a few weeks
- Verizon gets Samsung Stratosphere with LTE and QWERTY keyboard
- China blocks access to Android Market and Gmail App
- Galaxy Tab Plus hits pre-order starting at $399
- Nexus Prime’s extra screen space is for Android navigation buttons
- T-Mobile announces Springboard and Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablets, available this year
- Android Community Weekly: October 9, 2011
| Android Market version 3.2.0 from Ice Cream Sandwich leaks Posted: 10 Oct 2011 10:59 AM PDT Well folks, if everything that happened last week regarding Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and the Galaxy Nexus wasn’t enough, we now have what appears to be the brand new Android Market version 3.2.0 right from ICS. There is some trickery involved at getting this on your Android device, but it appears to function fine although we don’t see many changes.
With all the leaked 4.0 screenshots and everything else that was revealed it was only a matter of time til we received the market. I’m sure more will be leaking over the week too. You can also download the new Google Music or Google+ 2.0 apps from Ice Cream Sandwich by clicking here. This isn’t the usual easy to download and just simply install over the previous version type of deal so it may take a little trickery to get it up and running — so do this at your own risk. *You can try to install this .apk over top of your current market, but it may not work. If it won't, then you will need to be rooted and follow the instructions below. 1. Download the file (Phonesky.apk) to your SD card. Give it a try and you should have the latest Android Market, the same instructions should also work on all Android tablets too. You may run into some permission issues and will have to change a few things using root explorer if that is the case so head on down to the source link for full details. Basically this is one of those things you can try if you’re feeling on the edge, but a better, easier solution should appear any day now. [via Droid-Life] )
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| Samsung Galaxy S III details leak, 1.8 GHz dual-core, 2GB ram, more Posted: 10 Oct 2011 10:35 AM PDT Who wants some juicy details of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S III? For now we’ll just say take this with a grain of salt although it looks pretty exciting, and somewhat legit too. We heard some details leak from a very flaky source last month, so seeing what could be an actual internal document here makes me feel much better. Head on below for all the juicy details on this 1.8 GHz dual-core powerhouse smartphone.
According to what sources say is an internal document from Samsung (below) we have a 4.65″ Super AMOLED Plus HD display (similar to what we should see in the Nexus), then the good stuff is a 1.8GHz Exynos 4212 processor (no quad-core sadly), 2GB of RAM, and a huge 12MP camera. Does that sound awesome to any of you guys? As if the Galaxy S II wasn’t ahead of the rest already right. Clearly slated for 2012 we can also see Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich as the operating system, but that is what we all should be expecting anyways.
Is this the evolution of the Galaxy S III, or come 2012 will they have their quad-core processors ready to take on NVIDIA’s Kal-El. A few interesting notes from the leak also mention that while running ICS it will retain the usual 4 Android capacitive touch buttons, something I find a bit odd. They also mention the design will see a change to avoid further legal issues, among other things. We can expect the Galaxy S III to be even thinner than the II, and faster of course. Do take notice of a few typo’s and the original Galaxy S is listed as an Exynos chip when in fact it was a Hummingbird processor. This could be a neatly faked document and as always we take these sort of leaks with a grain of salt. It is fun to speculate and dream though right guys? [via Phandroid] )
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| Verizon adds 22 new 4G LTE cities on November 17th Posted: 10 Oct 2011 09:49 AM PDT Verizon’s LTE network is already the largest true 4g network in the country (sorry, AT&T and T-Mobile, HSPA+ doesn’t really count) and now it’s getting a little bigger. The carrier issued a press release highlighting its latest rollout plans, including more than twenty new LTE markets for November 17th. Verizon is focusing its efforts on intermediate cities like Little Rock, Arkansas and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, now that most of the largest cities in the country are well-covered.
With the November expansions, Verizon’s 4G network will be active in 178 cities across the country. In addition to planned expansions on October 20th and November 17th, they’ll be upgrading existing equipment and coverage in major markets like Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Check the list below to see if your city is included in the rollout (one asterisk means the LTE network will go live on October 20th, while two is for November 17th):
In addition to the new and upgraded markets, Verizon noted that they’ll be expanding their LTE coverage to more rural areas soon. Currently Verizon and other major carriers rent or lease towers and equiment from local companies to expand and maintain their networks in hard-to-reach areas. The “LTE Rural America” program will partner with these companies to upgrade existing towers for rural Americans (like yours truly, who’s still suffering under 3G MiFi speeds as his only reliable source of Internet access). Rural partners adding LTE equipment include Appalachian Wireless, Bluegrass Cellular, Carolina West/Clear Stream, Cellcom, Chariton Valley, Convergence Technologies, Cross Telephone, Custer Telephone Cooperative, Pioneer Cellular, S and R Communications, Strata Networks and Thumb Cellular. Verizon was also quick to point out their current line-up of 13 LTE devices – which may be getting a significant bump soon. )
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| My BMW remote control app coming to Android Posted: 10 Oct 2011 08:54 AM PDT Beamer-owning iPhone users have been able to play with all the nifty remote gadgets and tracking of the My BMW app for a little over a month now. Today news breaks that the app is on its way to the Android Market, so that you could – just as an example – unlock your $150,000 760Li with your HTC Hero. You know, if you wanted to. Right now the app is slated for an “Autumn” release.
The My BMW Remote app includes a host of features, the most interesting of which is the Vehicle Finder. This handy tool works just like one of the many parking locator apps you’ll find in the Market, but instead of setting a GPS point when you hop out of your car, it zones in on the GPS tracker in the car itself. The standard unlock, start and navigation functions are included, as well as the ability to remotely flash your BMW’s headlights and horn. This is known as the “scare the crap out of your friends who stuck you with designated driver duty” button. The app ties in with the My BMW service, currently available as an upgrade for most models. The Bavarian automaker was tight-lipped as to a firm release date, but expect the app in the Android Market before year’s end. For those of you without a BMW, remember that you can add much of the same functionality to any car with the Viper SmartStart upgrade kit. And look at that – the BMW folks are still rocking the Nexus One. You stay classy, Germany. )
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| Samsung Galaxy Wi-Fi 5-inch and 3.6-inch confirmed for the UK Posted: 10 Oct 2011 08:44 AM PDT If you’re not into the whole “smartphone” scene but still want a media player with more brains than you can shake an iPod Touch at, you’re in luck (at least if you live in the United Kingdom). Samsung has officially announced the new Galaxy Wi-Fi in that market, an Android-based PMP cousin to the Galaxy line of phones and tablets. A 5-inch version is on sale now, while a smaller 3.65-inch version will make its way to retailers soon.
Both devices feature a 1GHz processor, Android 2.3 Gingerbread, access to the Android Market and Wifi b/g/n radios. Naturally they support more codecs than standard Android phones, with MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV and DivX video and MP3, WMA, WAV, OGG, ACC, FLAC audio playback built-in. According to Samsung, the Galaxy Wi-Fi can handle 720p playback at 30 frames per second. Bluetooth 3.0, an accelerometer and a remote control feature for Samsung Smart TVs round out their spec list. Disappointingly, both 800 x 480 screens are LCD panels, not AMOLED. The 5-inch version has a 3.2 megapixel camera while the 3.65inch version uses a 2-megapixel shooter. Both devices have a standard VGA front camera for video chatting. The larger brother gets an impressive 2500 mAh battery while the smaller has to settle for a more typical 1500 mAh version. UK residents can pick up the Samsung Galaxy Wi-Fi 5-inch now for £199 and £219 in 8 and 16 gigabytes, respectively. The 3.65-inch version will be £149 and £169, and you can get either in black or white. Currently there are no details for a United States release of the new models. )
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| Verizon slashes HTC Thunderbolt to $49 for existing customers Posted: 10 Oct 2011 07:45 AM PDT Do you not have enough lightning in your life? Is your phone’s outdated 3G connection bumming you out? Are you a Verizon customer with at least $50 in your bank account? Do you have poor impulse control? If all these things describe you, then by all means, jump on over to Verizon’s Thunderbolt page to take advantage of rock-bottom pricing on HTC’s (current) king of the 4G airwaves.
The carrier is offering the HTC Thunderbolt for just $49.99 for existing customers, provided that they’re eligible for a two-year contract renewal. Even better, Verizon is throwing in an extended battery for free and gratis – a very sweet deal if you intend to make use of that juice-hungry 4G radio. In a strange move, new customers aren’t eligible for the included $100 rebate, bringing their total cost up to $150. So why wouldn’t you jump on this amazing opportunity? First, as Android Community readers know, there’s always something new around the corner, and that fact is likely what spurred this generosity in the first place. There’s the rumored Samsung Nexus Prime, which totally is/absolutely isn’t a Verizon exclusive. There’s the HTC Vigor, AKA the Rezound, AKA the Incredible HD, with a truly incredible 720p display. And then there’s the new Motorola event scheduled for next week, which coincidentally enough, has been announced on the same day. All that aside, $50 for a new Thunderbolt is a pretty sweet deal. It’s hard to go wrong with HTC’s hardware, and with a vibrant developer community already pumping out ROMs for the phone, there’s plenty for modders to play with too. Head over to Verizon’s Thunderbolt page to pick one up, and remember to log in with your Verizon account to see the $49 price tag. [via Droid-Life] )
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| Motorola and Verizon event set for October 18th – new XOOM, Droid RAZR possible Posted: 10 Oct 2011 07:24 AM PDT We’ve just learned of an upcoming event featuring the smiling faces of both Motorola Mobility and Verizon, set for next Tuesday, October 18th in New York City. Details are scarce, but given the large number of recent leaks, there are a few very specific possibilities for new devices. The tagline “Faster. Thinner. Smarter. Stronger.” is a big clue – rumors that Daft Punk will be on the scene are completely speculative at this point.
So, what’s on deck for Motorola? It could be any number of devices. A big event like this is likely to feature the biggest and brightest in Motorola’s upcoming lineup, and for tablets that means just one thing: new XOOMs. The XOOM 2 and XOOM Media Edition have had extensive leaks already and are strong possibilities for an unveiling, and the kid-friendly XOOM Family Edition could be on hand for a chaser. As for phones, with all the recent rumors and leaks there’s really no telling. The DROID RAZR is a strong contender considering the “Thinner” text, especially since Motorola hasn’t seriously pushed that particular branding angle in a while. Equally possible is the Atrix 2 (final Verizon name is up in the air), sequel to the AT&T original with a BIONIC-style laptop dock and a beefed-up display pumping out 960 x 540 pixels. And any one of the concept devices revealed back in June might finally be coming to market. All bets are off until next Tuesday. Android Community will be bringing you all the news as it happens. UPDATE: Check out Motorola’s promo video for face-melting implications and jump cuts.
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| Motorola readies ET1 7-inch rugged business tablet Posted: 10 Oct 2011 06:56 AM PDT Android still isn’t considered especially business-friendly (that title still rests with the increasingly humble Blackberry) and most “business tablets” come with either a full version of Windows, Windows CE or a custom operating system. Motorola is aiming to change that with the ET1, a rugged business tablet designed specifically for point-of-sale operations and other things done while listening to Bachman Turner Overdrive. Compared to Cisco’s Cius tablet, it could be a winner.
The 7-inch tablet isn’t likely to fulfill the wishes of the Android enthusiast crowd, but then it isn’t really meant to. It includes a rather standard 1024 x 700 panel behind protective Gorilla Glass, front and rear cameras, and a swappable 4620 mAh battery, all powered by a 1GHz processor and a full gigabyte of RAM. It’s not the lightest tablet out there at 1.4 pounds, but it’s rated to survive multiple drops at anywhere between -4 and 158 degrees Fahrenheit. As of now only a WiFi model is being offered, but mobile broadband variants are scheduled for the future. Motorola is aiming to keep the pice “below $1000″ with discounts for bulk enterprise orders. Android 2.3 Gingerbread rests on the ET1′s rugged silicon, but keep in mind, this device isn’t meant for media consumption and web surfing like most Honeycomb tablets. Motorola is including some industry-focused software tweaks, like multi-user log-ins, point-of-sale tools, and built-in encryption for the 8GB of on-board storage. Remote access allows IT managers to wipe devices that have been lost or stolen. The ET1 is expected to make its way into enterprise hands in the fourth quarter – calendar, not fiscal. )
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| CyanogenMod 7.1 released, HP Touchpad version coming in a few weeks Posted: 10 Oct 2011 06:31 AM PDT Rejoice, custom ROM users, because the grandaddy of ‘em all has just updated. CyanogenMod, easily one of the most-used custom Android ROMs around, has released its latest version with support for new devices and a shopping list of feature updates. Even more exciting, those of you who picked up an HP Touchpad during the $99 fire sale (and I suppose those poor souls who paid the full retail price) might soon be able to enjoy a taste of Gingerbread on your cheap tablets.
CyanogenMod 7.1 is based on the latest version of Gingerbread and now officially supports almost 70 devices. Notable newcomers since the 7.0 release include the Samsung Galaxy S and S II, the HTC Desire S and Incredible S, the “T-Mobile” LG G2x, Motorola Cliq, and the the full line of Sony’s XPERIA phones. The last item is due in no small part to help from the FreeXperia team and Sony Ericsson themselves, who’ve teamed up in a Triforce of open-source power. New goodies for the 7.1 release include enhanced Bluetooth support for mice and tethering, app launching gestures, new lockscreen widgets, a rewritten LED notification system, and a new screenshot function, as well as a few device-specific modifications. If your phone or tablet isn’t on the list, don’t worry, the CyanogenMod team is adding devices all the time. The HTC Sensation, Vision, LG Optimus 3D and yes, the HP Touchpad are all in beta right now, and should be added to the gold releases starting “in a few weeks”. Cyanogen and his team are famously tight-lipped when it comes to releases or deadlines, but this is the first we’ve heard that the abandoned tablet will be added to the official list of supported devices, a la the Nook Color. Gold versions for CyanogenMod 7.1 are available right now – check the download page to get yours. )
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| Verizon gets Samsung Stratosphere with LTE and QWERTY keyboard Posted: 10 Oct 2011 05:19 AM PDT Verizon has announced a new smartphone that is a first for the carrier. The new smartphone is called the Stratosphere and it has some very cool features. One of the biggest features is that the smartphone has 4G LTE service inside. The smartphone is aimed at the business user that sends lots of texts and emails. Its other big feature is a slide out QWERTY keyboard.
The phone will hit Verizon stores on October 13. It packs in a 4-inch Super AMOLED screen and has special B2B connectivity services from Cisco. The smartphone will also support business communications like VPN, encryption, and mobile device management. The OS on the smartphone is Android 2.3. It has 4G hotspot capability as well. Other features include a Samsung 1GHz Cortex A8 hummingbird processor. The front camera is a 1.3MP unit with the rear having 5MP and video recording capability. The device supports DLNA for sending content to other devices and has Bluetooth 3.0. It supports lots of video file formats and has 802.11 b/g/n. The phone will cost $149.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and a new contract.    )
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| China blocks access to Android Market and Gmail App Posted: 10 Oct 2011 04:52 AM PDT
Gmail is commonly a target of attack by hackers suspected of living in China. MocoNews reports that right now the Gmail app is blocked in China along with access to the market alone. Apparently, the block has been going on for 36 hours now at mobile and broadband providers around the country. The Gmail app isn’t working, but Chinese users are reportedly still able to access the Google Gmail accounts online. So far, there has been no official statement on why the blocks are in place. It’s not clear at this point if the blockage is an accident or if it was put in place on purpose. )
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| Galaxy Tab Plus hits pre-order starting at $399 Posted: 10 Oct 2011 01:44 AM PDT If you looked at the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus that was unveiled last week and thought the tablet might be for you if the price is good you weren’t alone. Samsung offered us all the specs the tablet has inside, but left us hanging on pricing for the new Tab. The 7.0 Plus has now turned up at J&R for pre-order according to Galaxytablife and the price is not bad at all.
The 16GB storage version of the Tab Plus is priced at $399.99 and the 32GB version is priced at $499.99. Both of the tablets are the same other than the storage capacity. Both have a 7-inch 1024 x 600 resolution screen. They also both have HSPA+ internet connectivity. The rear camera is a 3MP unit and the front is a 2MP unit. The processor used is a 1.2GHz dual-core and the tablet has 1GB of RAM. Both run Honeycomb and have the TouchWiz interface over the top. The price isn't bad and the only thing we don’t know right now is exactly when these pre-order tablets will ship. [via SlashGear] )
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| Nexus Prime’s extra screen space is for Android navigation buttons Posted: 09 Oct 2011 10:59 PM PDT
If you’ve ever used a Honeycomb tablet’ you know that they eschew any sort of physical control buttons, including a home button. Instead, the standard home, back and menu buttons reside on the status bar, and follow the user around as he or she rotates the screen. The next version of Android, Ice Cream Sandwich, will combine elements from Gingerbread and Honeycomb for a universal OS, one of which will be the navigation buttons. You can check out these virtual buttons on the leaked Nexus Prime video from last week. While the mock-up graphic certainly makes sense, it doesn’t make the wait for the Nexus Prime or Ice Cream Sandwich any easier to bear. Samsung and Google delayed what was probably the unveiling of the new phone and OS from Tuesday, October 11th to an unspecified date, giving technology followers the world over a little breathing room after the untimely death of Steve Jobs. Rumors of an October 27th date persist, but have not been confirmed. )
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| T-Mobile announces Springboard and Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablets, available this year Posted: 09 Oct 2011 10:40 PM PDT It looks like the leaked T-Mobile roadmap from last week is progressing right on track. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the “T-Mobile Springboard”, which is almost certainly the Huawei “Tallsome” tablet we espied a while back, are both coming to the carrier before the holidays. T-Mobile wasn’t forthcoming with an exact release date or price on either, but we’ve got a pretty good idea.
First, the familiar Galaxy Tab 10.1. If you’ve kept up with Samsung’s current-generation tablet line, you know the drill: an ultra-thin, ultra-light Honeycomb tablet that takes all comes and then some. Not much has changed in this version, save the addition of T-Mobile’s “4G” radio bands. You still get the familiar 1GHz Tegra 2 processor, a full gigabyte of RAM, and a 1280x 800 LCD screen. T-Mobile declined to mention how much storage it’ll have, which probably means the default 16GB. According to the leaked roadmap (which is, of course, subject to change) the Galaxy Tab 10.1 will make its grand entrance on October 26th for $399. The Springboard is the latest of T-Mobile’s subsidized devices from a lesser-known OEM to forgo manufacturer branding. Its 7-inch screen is describes as “HD” from the carrier, which hopefully means 1280 x 720. T-Mobile is emphasizing the tablet’s affordability, which lines up with the leaked $199 price tag. It will have an impressive (for a tablet) 5 megapixel camera with 720p video recording along with an unspecified 1.2GHz dual-core processor, GPS, 4G and Honeycomb 3.2. The Springboard should be available at retail on November 2nd. $199 for a 4G Honeycomb tablet is hard to argue with, if you’re in the mood for a 7-inch screen and a new 2-year contract. )
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| Android Community Weekly: October 9, 2011 Posted: 09 Oct 2011 03:30 PM PDT Within the past week we’ve come across countless specs and myths concerning the Samsung Nexus Prime, the passing of the great Steve Jobs, and had some hands-on time with multiple devices. Steve Jobs passed Wednesday October 5, 2011. The co-founder of Apple had shaped and set the bar in every aspect of computing and innovation imaginable. This revolutionary pioneer will be greatly missed.
Not even a day after the release of Apple’s iPhone 4S, Samsung gave us the first official “preview” of the Nexus Prime. Soon after the first live photo of the Nexus Prime hit the net, a spy-video surfaced giving us a much better idea of what to expect in Ice Cream Sandwich and the device itself. Most noticeable is the extra screen real estate from the absence of any type of soft-touch buttons on the face of the device. A crafty artist mocked up an amazing picture of what we should expect the phone to look like upon release, and hopefully it fits the profile precisely. Saturday, the Nexus Prime hit the FCC with both AT&T and T-Mobile bands, yet we all expect this phone to debut on Verizon. Could it hit multiple carriers at once? Or just follow suit with a similar time-release as the Nexus S? Even though we were hoping to find out for sure this coming Tuesday at the Samsung Mobile UNPACKED: Google Episode event, it was unfortunately postponed until further notice. Michael Crider completed the first hands-on this week with the HTC Rhyme. Unlike most other smartphones, the Rhyme comes with custom earbuds, a desk charging dock, and Charm extension. Soon after, he released a much more extensive review – be sure to check it out! Also given some hands-on/unboxing treatment this week was the Samsung Galaxy S II (T-Mobile), HTC Amaze 4G and HTC Jetstream. T-Mobile’s Galaxy S II was soon benchmarked against the Galaxy S II on AT&T; T-Mobile’s was consistently the clear winner. Both are available now for $199.99 each. The HP TouchPad is coming closer to a public release of Android OS, yet a dual-boot download for the alpha version became available Wednesday. HP is still researching how a handful of their products shipped with Android native to the device, and state this should have never happened… (obviously). Android applications may finally be possible to run on the iPad from Myriad’s Alien Dalvik 2.0. We will certainly see more of this interesting application next week during CTIA Tuesday. Finally, a comprehensive table of the iPhone 4S vs. the Android competition was created to better view comparisons of specific device hardware. Be sure to stay tuned for up to date coverage of CTIA Tuesday, October 11, 2011! )
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China is well known for blocking and censoring anything that the government doesn’t like or thinks will harm the population. China sensors so much content on the web that it has come to be known as the Great Firewall of china. According to reports, China is now censoring access to other things like the Gmail app and the Android Market for Android devices.
A consistent part of the ever-changing 
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