Android Community |
- Motorola DROID 4 poses for the camera along side the XYBOARD tablets
- Galaxy Nexus desktop, HDMI and car docks shown in videos
- Australia gets Androidland, we get green with envy
- Acer Iconia Tab A200 tablet is official, Ice Cream Sandwich coming in January
- Carrier IQ, Samsung and HTC get hit with class-action lawsuits
- Galaxy Nexus takes a second trip around the FCC with AT&T bands
- Verizon buys up AWS spectrum for LTE, partners with cable companies
- Docomo Next Media smartphone pairs with Casio Bluetooth 4.0 smartwatch
- Android app for detecting Carrier IQ launches
- Samsung Galaxy Tab ban extended in Australia
- Dolphin HD updated to version 7.2, shows minor improvements
- Sony Tablet P taken apart by FCC
- Gingerbread surpasses 50% distribution on Android devices
- Verizon confirms “XyBoard” branding for new Motorola XOOMs
- Galaxy Nexus arrives in Germany and on Vodafone UK, Verizon twiddles its thumbs
- ASUS Transformer Prime vs iPad 2: Benchmark Wars
- Startup deploys Google Wallet vending machines in SF, NYC, DC and Chicago
- Ice Cream Sandwich tweak: disable the home screen search bar
- Senator begins Carrier IQ investigation, demands answers by December 14th
- Verizon Galaxy Nexus leaks again, bloatware is easily disabled
| Motorola DROID 4 poses for the camera along side the XYBOARD tablets Posted: 02 Dec 2011 10:15 AM PST Motorola and Verizon aren’t wasting any time this holiday season and are about to unleash another full lineup of DROID’s on the world. We know they are coming but lately more pictures have popped out of both the DROID 4 with its 5 row QWERTY keyboard, and the new DROID XYBOARD tablets (Xoom 2). Today we get a closer look at all of these devices, especially the slightly newer DROID 4.
The DROID 4 was first spotted back in October and latest rumors suggest a December 8th launch — hopefully along side the Galaxy Nexus. We know plenty about the awesome DROID 4 already and it will be the first DROID QWERTY slider to pack 4G LTE. Pair that with a 5 row edge-lit keyboard for easy typing this could be the best QWERTY smartphone yet — for those that like that sort of thing. We are still hopeful for a early December launch for the D4 and it’s dual-core processor but will update when we hear anything official. Then we have that oddly named set of tablets known as the XYBOARD. If you were still on the fence as to whether or not that was the official name after last nights report then maybe the image below clearly showing “XYBOARD 10″ will make you feel at ease. I’m not so sure I like the name and sadly they only have dual-core processors and Android 3.2 Honeycomb but we should see ICS land on these tablets shortly after launch.
Pretty? Ugly? Good name or bad name? What do you guys think? Oh and take a look at the images at the source link below. Are those “blur” icons on the XYBOARD tablet? — sadness. Anyways We’d love to hear all your thoughts in the comment section below.   [via CNET] )
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| Galaxy Nexus desktop, HDMI and car docks shown in videos Posted: 02 Dec 2011 10:03 AM PST Real nerds love docks. They make it so much easier to safely use a navigation app in a car, and instantly smarten up any desktop. Google and Samsung gave us a brief look at the desk and car docks for the Galaxy Nexus during the Hong Kong unveiling event, but now UK retailer MobilFun has given them a proper hands-on. They’re nothing mind-blowing, but it’s good to see that Samsung is going forward with the plans anyway.
There’s four docks on offer. The first is the standard car dock, which apes HTC’s design from the original Nexus One dock with wrap-around plastic and charging via the Galaxy Nexus’ electrical contacts. Next comes the basic desktop dock, which again uses the electrical contacts to charge and sync with a computer. A battery charger dock will hold the Galaxy Nexus up while charging a spare battery. And finally the HDMI dock holds the phone in Portrait mode while adding a mini-HDMI port for HDTV viewing. Check each of them out in the demonstration videos below: There’s no information on availability for any of the accessories, but they’ll probably be hitting the UK soon enough. Who knows when or if Samsung/Verizon will bring them to the US. In any case, Verizon’s LTE model may need redesigned accessories to accommodate its extra bulk. Here’s hoping that the Galaxy Nexus itself and its various docks make it to a retailer near you soon.            Device Info
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 [via Phandroid] )
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| Australia gets Androidland, we get green with envy Posted: 02 Dec 2011 09:40 AM PST It’s been hard to be a down under Android fan lately, what with Apple’s relentless hounding of Samsung design patents bouncing up and down the judiciary ladder. But there’s at least one perk: wireless carrier Telstra has created the first Android-themed retail store, Androidland in Melbourne. Naturally various Android phones and tablets are on display, but more interesting is the Android marketing that positively saturates the space. And of course, there’s nary an iProduct in sight.
It’s kind of shocking how much neon green is on display. Tchotchkes and toys are for sale in addition to gadgets – if you’re in Melbourne and want to pick up some of the limited edition Android figures you’ve seen in Android Community reviews, this is probably the place to start. Others can get in on the action as well, with Angry Birds plush toys and various accessories for sale. Check out the video below for a look inside: Manufacturers on display include Samsung, HTC, Sony Ericsson, Motorola and LG, though naturally only phones on Telstra’s network are featured. Google partnered with the carrier to create the experience inside Telstra’s primary retail center. Interactive kiosks with HDTVs running Androidify and Google Earth dominate the central display. Naturally you can pick up snacks – Cupcakes, Froyo, and Gingerbread. Ice Cream Sandwiches should be coming in any day now. [via The Next Web] )
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| Acer Iconia Tab A200 tablet is official, Ice Cream Sandwich coming in January Posted: 02 Dec 2011 08:37 AM PST We’ve seen Acer’s modest update to the A500 in some spy shots and at the FCC, but now it’s officially official. The manufacturer announced the new Iconia Tab A200 in a press release, highlighting its dual-core Tegra 2 architecture and full-sized 10-inch frame. No pricing or availability info was released, but you can expect to see the tablet in retailers in various markets before Christmas.
With Ice Cream Sandwich dominating Android headlines, prospective buyers will want to know what software the A200 is running. Knowing this, Acer immediately promised an ICS update in January, though the tablet will ship with an Acer-customized version of Honeycomb. On the hardware side, you get the aformentioned Tegra 2 dual-core processor, a full gig of RAM and a 2-megapixel front-facing camera. Storage wasn’t mentioned, but 16GB seems likely. The back panel comes in red or gray flavors. While there’s no price as of yet, the A200 is likely to replace the A100 at the $400 level. The specs are a little skimpy for those waiting on the quad-core Tegra 3-powered Transformer Prime. But if you’re looking for screaming processing power at a discount, it might be best to wait – we’ve seen evidence of a high-end tablet from Acer in the future. The unannounced A700 model may have a Tegra 3 processor paired to a jaw-dropping 1920 x 1200 full HD screen. We’ll be keeping an eye out on release info for the former and confirmation on the latter in the next few weeks. )
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| Carrier IQ, Samsung and HTC get hit with class-action lawsuits Posted: 02 Dec 2011 08:10 AM PST The moment the full extent of Carrier IQ’s possible privacy violations came to light, I swear I could hear a dozen attorneys packing their briefcases and lacing up their running shoes. The fastest represent Erin Janek, who’s suing HTC and Carrier IQ for violating the Federal Wiretap Act in St. Louis. Paid Content reports that a second lawsuit is being filed against Samsung and Carrier IQ in Chicago.
Carrier IQ, purveyor of controversial logging software to carriers (not device makers), has been in increasingly hot water for the last two weeks. After threatening a security researcher with legal action for exposing their extremely intensive logging software, the company denied that its product recorded keystrokes, visited websites, call logs and other personal information. Trevor Eckhart proved them wrong in a damning video, spurring hundreds of tech websites to investigate the presence of Carrier IQ software on Android, BlackBerry and iPhone devices across The Now Network, AT&T, T-Mobile and numerous international carriers. Carrier IQ and its partners claim that while data is sent across wireless networks, it isn’t recorded or stored, a claim that has yet to be demonstrably proven. Consumers aren’t the only ones balking. Senator Al Franken sent Carrier IQ a letter demanding answers on possible violations of several federal laws, including the same wiretap law. Carrier IQ’s initial responses have been tepid, repeating the line that they don’t keep the information taken. The software is designed to allow carriers to identify and fix network problems, but the inherent privacy violations in its operational nature are drawing scorn from consumer and privacy advocates around the world. You can test your own device for Carrier IQ software with this handy app. [via Business Insider] )
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| Galaxy Nexus takes a second trip around the FCC with AT&T bands Posted: 02 Dec 2011 07:38 AM PST Verizon may be dragging their feet with the Galaxy Nexus (in fact, they may be dragging them so much that they’re buried up to their knees) but if a recent FCC filing is anything to go by, other carriers aren’t. The Ice Cream Sandwich phone made another appearance at the FCC this week, sporting AT&T’s HSPA+ wireless band. Is this a precursor to an on-contract Galaxy Nexus for Big Blue?
Not necessarily. Devices make it through the FCC all the time without ever seeing the light of day at U.S. retailers. Those who like their smartphones XXL-sized will remember that the Samsung Galaxy Note came through the FCC shortly after it was announced, with AT&T bands no less, but still isn’t available in the States. Verizon’s LTE model was certified in November, and while it’s certainly coming some time this decade, it still hasn’t been cleared for either a release date or a pre-order. That said, AT&T needs a little more punch in their Android lineup, with Verizon currently claiming top dog status with the DROID RAZR and HTC Rezound. Quickly bringing the Galaxy Nexus to market could only help its chances with Android power users who are increasingly angry at Verizon’s lack of communication. Keep in mind that the international version of the Nexus works on both AT&T and T-Mobile, but you’ll need to pay full price at an import shop to get your hands on one. Device Info
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[via Wireless Goodness] )
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| Verizon buys up AWS spectrum for LTE, partners with cable companies Posted: 02 Dec 2011 06:52 AM PST Verizon hasn’t been shy about its aggressive expansion of LTE into nearly every major market in the US. In addition to upgrading and expanding their own equipment, they’ve now purchased even more LTE wireless spectrum across the country, to the tune of $3.6 billion. The new licenses cover approximately 256 million people in the country, and should allow Verizon to continue to dominate 4G services in the US, in breadth if not in speed.
The wireless carrier bought the spectrum from various cable companies: Comcast, Time Warner and Bright House Networks. The terms of the deal allow the companies to share access to the newly available spectrum, meaning that Verizon’s wireless service may soon be bundled with television and home Internet in markets where they don’t already compete. Theoretically, the cable companies could even sell rebranded cell phone service using Verizon’s network. Who wants a Time Warner Cable Galaxy S II? What does this mean for the wireless industry? For starters, it’s going to be hard to catch Verizon when it comes to 4G service. AT&T is the only other company that offers LTE in the United States, and at the moment it’s only available in 14 US cities at the moment, compared to nearly 200 on Verizon. AT&T has only a handful of LTE devices, with just three smartphones available, compared to dozens of smartphones (all running Android), tablets and WiFi hotspots on Verizon. The latest expansion will make it harder for AT&T to secure new markets, at least in the immediate future. The contract will need FCC approval before it’s finalized. [via SlashGear] )
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| Docomo Next Media smartphone pairs with Casio Bluetooth 4.0 smartwatch Posted: 02 Dec 2011 06:16 AM PST Geeks in Japan that like the Docomo network will have a new smartphone that they can get hand so soon called the Next Media PP N-01D. This smartphone runs Android, has a large 4-inch WVGA AMOLED touchscreen to view, and even offers wireless charging. The smartphone is also able to survive spills and dust as well. The most interesting feature is that the phone can pair with a new Casio watch.
The watch is the Medias PP-Shock GB-6900 and it pairs with the smartphone using Bluetooth 4.0. Once paired that watch is like a remote display for your caller ID information s well as email. The user can also decline calls from the watch face. This is cool if you are the sort that likes to leave the smartphone in your pocket. The watch has some other cool features too such as a location capability to find your smartphone if you lose it and it will act as a digital leash too and alarm if you walk away from your device. The phone has a 1.4GHz processor, GPS, WiFi, and Bluetooth. It will work globally and has integrated TV tuner. The smartphone uses an inductive charge plate that charges the phone and allows for wireless transfers of photo and video to your computer. The phone will hit December 9 and the watch won’t hit until next year with a price said to be $235. [via SlashGear] )
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| Android app for detecting Carrier IQ launches Posted: 02 Dec 2011 03:04 AM PST If you are one of the Android using masses that worries Carrier IQ is tracking what you do on your smartphone you will want this new app. The app has launched and is called Voodoo Carrier IQ Detector. The app does exactly what the name implies and will run and figure out if your smartphone has the Carrier IQ software running on it.
Apparently right now there are a few caveats to the app, namely it admits in the app that the results are not all that reliable yet. The reason reliability isn’t there is that the app is only just released and apparently only partially finished. The image you see here is taken from a Galaxy Nexus we have in our possession. Google has said that Carrier IQ isn't on the Nexus and while the reliability of the app is suspect right now, it shows no indication of the maligned software installed. If you are the developer sort, the source code for this app has been made open source so you can help refine and improve the app. [via SlashGear] )
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| Samsung Galaxy Tab ban extended in Australia Posted: 01 Dec 2011 08:57 PM PST We had just received word two days ago that Samsung had prevailed over Apple from the Australian court ruling’s temporary ban. So much for that. It turns out court orders have banned the tablet another week from sale, more specifically until December 9th. The case remains open because the High Court of Australia was forced to extend the ban until it heard Apple’s special leave application.
It seems as if Apple is just prolonging the ban even though their leave application will be turned down; and if I were in their shoes I suppose I would do the same. Apple has probably thrown a ridiculous about of money towards this case and it would be foolish not to get the most out of it. The extension is most likely to delay Samsung’s tablet sales – and this late into the holiday season that means a lot. I’m just ready to know the final outcome, and of course here at Android Community we’re rooting for Samsung! So many tablets have similar dimensions to the Apple iPad these days, and if they plan on going after all of them then they’ll just look silly. It’s obvious they picked Samsung to pick on because of their tablet’s success. [via The Sydney Morning Herald] )
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| Dolphin HD updated to version 7.2, shows minor improvements Posted: 01 Dec 2011 07:55 PM PST The ever so popular browser Dolphin HD has just recently received an update. Though improvements were minor, they will appeal to many. Backup data written to the SD is now encrypted, the option to disable the Toggle Webzine button was added, and by popular demand they’ve brought back the double-tap to exit feature.
Once used to it, the double tap to exit feature is quite nice. It’s gesture is rather quick once you want to go straight back to your home screen. Yeah, you can always just move your finger down to the home soft key, but at least try it out if you haven’t. I’ve already set it back up and it’s quite nice. It may even pull me away from the stock browser completely. In recent news you may have seen the major privacy concerns from Carrier IQ software. You can bet the dev’s at Dolphin want to make sure they don’t follow suit with privacy vulnerabilities, even though they would be on a much smaller scale than Carrier IQ. Backup data encryption is a feature that should have been there all along, but at least now we’ve got it. [via AndroidPolice] )
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| Sony Tablet P taken apart by FCC Posted: 01 Dec 2011 06:56 PM PST The Sony Tablet P dual-screen tablet recently received an official FCC tear down – right on schedule before it makes its way over to the US. I’ve never seen the insides of a dual-screen tablet, but then again there aren’t that many to go by. From the photos included in the below gallery, it’s obvious the wireless components are laid out in the lower clamshell.
To be honest, most of the pictures center around the wireless components and the rest show us the exterior we’ve already known. The battery is actually quite large at 3080mAh, and it looks to be built into the device. Like the ASUS Eee Pad MeMo, it’s quite a unique tablet. If priced properly, I see it doing fairly well. I’m actually surprised this clamshell hasn’t already made it to the US yet, as it had been demoed previously alongside the Tablet S. We have a hands-on video with both devices from back in August you should definitely check out. Whether or not Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) will launch on this device is still unknown, but if Sony waits much longer then they may need to so they don’t get left behind.             [via WirelessGoodness] )
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| Gingerbread surpasses 50% distribution on Android devices Posted: 01 Dec 2011 06:32 PM PST It’s been nearly a year since Google made Android 2.3 Gingerbread available to the public, and it’s taken nearly that long for it to dominate the Android space. Google’s posted the November numbers for the various distributions of Android, and Gingerbread has surpassed the 50% mark for the first time. The various versions of Gingerbread now run on 50.6% of all Android phones and tablet, up from 43.9% last month.
Froyo is still on more than a third of active Android devices, however. Android 2.2 accounts for 35.3 of all devices. On the plus side, 2.1 Eclair, now almost two years old, is only being used by slightly more than 10% of phones and tablets. Honeycomb is still at a measely 2.4% of all Android devices, but it’s restricted to tablets, and was not available in an open-source form until a few weeks ago.
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich doesn’t show up on the latest chart, despite being available on the Galaxy Nexus in a few select markets. But its’ got a lot of growing to do, and will probably do so very fast: unlike Honeycomb, it’s been open source from the get go, and device manufacturers will begin to implement it into new hardware very soon. Makers of inexpensive Android tablets in China are already starting to test alpha hardware running ICS. And the open source code opens the door for custom ROM makers, many of whom have already released early versions for existing phones and tablets. Between the already huge Android smartphone market and the growing tablet market, ICS could be the Android OS with the fastest adoption rate ever. We’ll see in the coming months. )
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| Verizon confirms “XyBoard” branding for new Motorola XOOMs Posted: 01 Dec 2011 06:15 PM PST We though “XOOM 2” was a pretty good name for a the tablet that replaces the original Honeycomb device, but apparently Verizon disagrees. The rumored “XyBoard” name for the Motorola XOOM 2 and its smaller Media Edition seems to be the final name, according to Cnet. Verizon confirmed that two tablets with Droid XyBoard branding will launch before the end of the year, both with LTE radios inside.
The XOOM 2 has already been released in the UK, minus the lamentable Verizon branding. Wifi versions of the tablet weigh in at £325 for the 10-inch version and £299 for the 8.2-inch version, before value added tax. While there’s still no word on US pricing, but a Verizon leak puts them at $429 for the 16GB Media Edition all the way up to $729 for the full-sized 64GB version. The new tablets will have dual-core 1.2Ghz processors and a full gig of RAM each, and both should retain the original XOOM’s 1280 x 800 display. If you’re particularly attached to the XOOM name, or just repelled by “XyBoard”, there may be hope for a more suitable branded WiFi-only version. the “DROID” monikor is exclusive to Verizon, and it’s unlikely that they’d allow Motorola to sell a “DROID XyBoard” without saddling it with Verizon service. Based on that, we may see a WiFi-only XOOM 2 in the months following Verizon’s release. We can only hope. Device Info
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[via Droid-Life] )
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| Galaxy Nexus arrives in Germany and on Vodafone UK, Verizon twiddles its thumbs Posted: 01 Dec 2011 05:17 PM PST Good news, folks: there’s one more place you can get the Galaxy Nexus that isn’t America. Engadget reports that retailers across Germany have jumped the gun and started selling the Galaxy Nexus early. Availability is still a little shaky – it looks like some outlets are offering the unlocked GSM version and some aren’t, though Media Mart is reportedly a reliable place to find it.
Prices vary from €529- €629 (about $713-$847), but it’s not clear if that’s simply retailer variation or a different price for the 16GB and 32GB models. None of the local carriers in Germany are offering subsidized versions, but if you live in the UK you’ve got an embarrassment of riches in that area. Vodafone is now offering the Galaxy Nexus on contract, being the fourth carrier to do so, behind O2, Orange and T-Mobile. In the UK you can now purchase the phone from all major carriers or “unlocked”. Meanwhile in Google’s home country, Android fans continue to stew over Verizon’s total lack of communication concerning the first Ice Cream Sandwich phone. Though leaks and rumors are rampant (lately December 8th and 11th is favored) there’s still been no official word on a release or even a pre-order. Livid customers are beginning to flood Verizon with Twitter and Facebook messages, demanding a release and expressing their frustration every time the company sends out a marketing message. Observe:
If you’re sick of waiting, have about eight hundred dollars and want to use AT&T or T-Mobile, you could always order an import model from Expansys. Because at this point, Verizon clearly does not want your business. Device Info
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| ASUS Transformer Prime vs iPad 2: Benchmark Wars Posted: 01 Dec 2011 04:28 PM PST Well folks, someone had to do this and it might as well be us right? Today we present you with a few results from the battle of the cores with the ASUS Transformer Prime quad-core tablet vs the iPad 2. Now when comparing devices there is tons to talk about but we’ll be keeping this short and focusing on a few benchmarks. These were some of the best tests available to test both devices. With different platforms, hardware, and operating systems this can only be so accurate — but we figured you’d like to take a look so here’s the results.
Being Android Community we didn’t put the iPad front and center in our image above but if you look closely you’ll see it sandwiched between a few Transformers. We have a few different results below but first up is SunSpider, an internet browser-based JavaScript benchmark which tests how well your internet is going to work based on the machine more than your connection. Then we have BrowserMark and last is GLBenchmark 2.1 which is one of the only apps that works on both iOS and Android outside of the browser. Before we get started if you’d like to see more of the new quad-core ASUS Prime here is our extended hands-on. We’ve worked with SunSpider plenty in the past and with this browser benchmark lower is better, here’s our results:
We are also comparing these tests with the original ASUS Transformer dual-core Tegra 2 tablet just for good measure. Here you’ll notice it takes last place with the iPad 2 holding its own pretty well. Then obviously, the Prime with those four cores comes in at the top. It might not be a huge margin but we’ll let you guys decide. Same thing applies to BrowserMark where the newest of the pack reigns supremacy and the older Transformer hanging out at the end of the pack.
Now before you all start commenting — the iPad is running on the absolute latest iOS 5 from Apple and these Android tablets are on the latest version of Android 3.2 Honeycomb. Obviously iOS 5 is brand new and was just recently released and we’ll be sure to take a closer look once the Transformer Prime gets Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich — Google’s latest creation. So while these are as accurate as we could test for now we definitely want to look through this again when we get that tasty ICS on board with this quad-core beast. Last we ran GLBenchmark 2.1 which tests the actual GPU processing cores inside these devices and is completed outside of the browser. Here the iPad 2 actually trumped both the original, and the new quad-core Transformer Prime for whatever reason. The NVIDIA Tegra 3 actually has 5 cores and the graphics are without a doubt better than what is currently available in the iPad 2. The upcoming Tegra 3 games we’ve seen look simply incredible to say the least. Again this isn’t the easiest of tests in terms of actual comparison or accuracy on such different operating and hardware levels but here’s the results for the last round.
While these tests are a good indicator they are by no means perfect. Either way we’ll just let you guys the readers decide what you think. Don’t shoot the messenger here. The last test the iPad 2 completely destroys the ASUS Transformer and even puts a beatdown on the Prime. Remember that the iPad 2 does have a lower resolution so that could also come in to effect with the GL results. Don’t worry though guys we’ll be doing some actual browser comparisons and maybe even testing a few of the same games to see how everything does and be sure to clue you in on the details. One more time here is our Transformer Prime hands-on and just for fun is a video below showing you some of that neat hardware and included keyboard dock for the Prime. Expect a few more tests and comparisons over the coming days and we’ll be sure to post an in-depth review soon. If you have any tests or comparisons you’d like to see don’t hesitate to request it in the comment section below.      Device Info
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| Startup deploys Google Wallet vending machines in SF, NYC, DC and Chicago Posted: 01 Dec 2011 04:20 PM PST I’ll be honest, I’ve never been that swayed by NFC. Carrying a few ounces of wallet isn’t really a burden, and using a smartphone to pay isn’t so much easier than using a debit card. But as a guy who almost never carries cash, this gets me excited: a San Francisco startup is equipping vending machines with NFC receivers, specifically made for Google Wallet. All Things D reports that the first test markets for the new machines will be San Francisco, New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C.
Google Wallet is getting a lot of press lately. In addition to more and more NFC-equipped Android phones, even in the United States, Google is rolling its Checkout service into the newer Wallet. Independent bands and artists that want to sell music using the extensive tools in Google Music get paid via Wallet, and more and more online retailers are accepting the service. NFC itself is seeing some wider use as well, between Ice Cream Sandwich’s new Android Beam feature and a search function built into the latest version of the PayPal app. Unfortunately, NFC is still rolling out pretty slowly in the States. While a few gas station chains have adopted the service to complement their older RFID systems, a Wallet-enabled retailer is still pretty hard to come by. Hopefully the technology will see more and wider adoption if consumers can get more comfortable with the vending machines. [via SlashGear] )
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| Ice Cream Sandwich tweak: disable the home screen search bar Posted: 01 Dec 2011 03:57 PM PST The new launcher for Ice Cream Sandwich is definitely one of its finer UI points, but at least one feature has minimalism fans seeing red. The Google Search bar gets its own reserved spot at the top of the launcher, now that physical buttons are optional and the Search button isn’t included by default. This is the sort of stuff that the XDA-Developers boys live and breathe, so naturally they found a way to get rid of it for a clean and more customizable home screen.
The hack is a simple one for any root user – just use the app disable feature we mentioned earlier to turn off the Google Search app. That’s Settings > Apps > All > Google Search, and tap “Disable”. The downside is that the Google Search app ceases to function, so the immediate utility is kind of shot. But armed with this information, modders should be able to disable the search bar selectively soon enough, just like they’ve been able to re-insert the Search button into the navigation area. Before you ask: no, there’s no new information concerning the Galaxy Nexus coming to America. But more and more information on Verizon’s LTE model is leaking out, including fully baked retail units. We should be seeing some kind of announcement very soon. We hope. In the meantime you can try one of the many Ice Cream Sandwich and CyanogenMod 9 ROMs that have sprung up for dozens of devices. Device Info
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| Senator begins Carrier IQ investigation, demands answers by December 14th Posted: 01 Dec 2011 02:57 PM PST Most of us have some pressing questions for Carrier IQ concerning the massive potential privacy violations inherent in their reporting software. But most of us don’t have the authority of Congress riding behind them. Al Franken (D, Minnesota) does, and what’s more he’s the chairman of the Senate subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and Law. So when he sends a letter to Carrier IQ outlining 11 different questions that need answering by December 14th, you know the situation just got bumped up a few levels.
Controversy has surrounded Carrier IQ over the last couple of weeks, first concerning the software that may record a host of personal information such as web history, app use and keystrokes, then around Carrier IQ’s legal strong-arm tactics against Trevor Eckhart, the security researcher who first exposed it, and finally just which carriers and which phones use the system. As far as the US goes, Verizon has stated that they don’t use Carrier IQ at all, The Now Network and AT&T admit to its use but claims that they do not retain personal information, and T-Mobile has not official y responded. The software is present on some Android phones, all iOS phones before iOS 5, and some BlackBerry phones. Senator Franken’s questions are pretty direct: Does Carrier IQ log users’ locations? Calls? Emails? Web history? He’s particularly interested in where and to whom the data goes after it leaves users’ phones, and what Carrier IQ or its customers do with it after they receive it. He also wants to know if the company will allow users to disable its services (nope), and asks if it complies with the Electronics Communications Privacy Act, the Stored Communications Act, and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. You can check out his complete message here (PDF link). If you’d like a more active role in this mess, be sure to contact your senators and representative and ask them to support Senator Franken, or send their own letters to Carrier IQ. [via Gizmodo] )
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| Verizon Galaxy Nexus leaks again, bloatware is easily disabled Posted: 01 Dec 2011 02:00 PM PST Well folks, it appears the Galaxy Nexus over on Verizon has leaked again today and we now have a few more pictures for everyone to enjoy. Thanks to one of our friendly Android Community readers we now have a few shots of the Verizon bloatware (only a few apps) and proof that they can easily be disabled right on the device just like any app in Ice Cream Sandwich. Below are the photos showing the Verizon Galaxy Nexus including data usage, and the bloatware actually disabled.
The Verizon 4G LTE Galaxy Nexus was also leaked in a few pictures and videos yesterday. Tie that in with the pictures coming out today and the new Visual Voicemail app specifically for the Verizon Galaxy Nexus I’d say this phone is coming soon — although your guess is still as good as mine. Verizon has made a few changes to the data usage monitoring present in Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and you can see that in the leaked images below as well. I know the Gnex being a Google experience device many weren’t happy to see that Verizon was still loading up some VZW bloatware applications, even though it was only a few. It is nice to see that those few items can be easily disabled right from the application manager and will disappear from your app tray. For those worried about bloatware it seems no root will be required to keep this beautiful Google device completely stock as Google intended. Latest rumors are pointing to a December 11th release. We can only wait and hope right?     — Thanks Anonymous! Device Info
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