Android Community |
- Motorola phones getting upgrade to ICS in about 6 months
- Samsung Galaxy Note comes to the FCC with AT&T bands… again
- Rumor: Verizon Galaxy Nexus bumped again, no show on December 9th
- 10 Billion App promo day 2: Read It Later, Fruit Ninja and Beautiful Widgets for 10¢ [UPDATE]
- PandaBoard ES updates with new OMAP 4460 processor
- SwiftKey keyboard developer raises $2.4 million from investors
- Google TV 2.0 update lands
- T-Mobile sets out its Android stall
- Google engineer tells us why iOS will remain more fluid than Android OS
- Sony Ericsson XPERIA Arc HD: Spyshot
- Android Market now includes permalinks to user reviews
- ADWLauncher EX gets an Ice Cream flavored update, 10 Billion App discount
- More internal Verizon leaks: December 9th seems solid for Galaxy Nexus
- BlackBerry Playbook gets hacked Android Market support
- T-Mobile G2x Gingerbread update rolling out again — finally
- Verizon Galaxy Nexus stock arrives at Best Buy, can’t sell it yet
- Xperia Play heads to C-Spire, regional carrier ready for gaming
- Grand Theft Auto III Anniversary Edition crashes into Android December 15th
- LG Optimus Pad LTE leaks again
| Motorola phones getting upgrade to ICS in about 6 months Posted: 07 Dec 2011 10:50 AM PST We have heard and seen plenty of reports from all types of manufacturers over the future of their Android line up. Many have stated when updates to the new Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich will arrive and today Motorola has made the process even more clear. They stated the DROID RAZR would see ICS early next year and also unlock bootloaders, but we’ve heard that chime from them before. Today Motorola breaks down the process but I’m not sure how I feel about the news.
Motorola has also recently tweeted devices would see ICS updates within 6 weeks of Google releasing the source code. We now know that meant we would all receive an update and details on when to expect ICS for their devices — not that they’d actual get updated that fast. In a Motorola Blog post we now have a breakdown of the events and a timeline for what to expect. How does around 4-6 months and possibly more sound? CM9 anyone? For those expecting Android 4.0 ICS on their new Bionic or RAZR early next year, you might be waiting a little longer than expected. Here is the breakdown of steps needed to bring an update — according to Motorola:
After looking at past updates and how long devices took to receive Gingerbread this actually all sounds pretty accurate. We are looking at around 4 months at the soonest, and 6+ months at worst. Verizon isn’t the quickest company either when it comes to approving software updates so that could also be a factor here. Many phones are just now getting Android 2.3 Gingerbread while 4.0 is already here, so it is same to assume the same could happen for many with this latest iteration of Android. I’ll be rooting and installing custom ROM’s before I wait that long — but that is just me. [via Motorola] )
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| Samsung Galaxy Note comes to the FCC with AT&T bands… again Posted: 07 Dec 2011 09:59 AM PST Samsung has been heavily promoting the 5.3-inch Galaxy Note over in the UK, but Americans haven’t heard a peep about a possible release since the phone went through the FCC back in September. A second, slightly altered version of the phone has passed through the FCC yet again, this time as the “GT-N7000B” instead of the “GT-I9220″. The bands for AT&T HSPA+ are the same.
Let me make it clear: this is not a confirmation of an AT&T Galaxy Note, or even a US Galaxy Note. Plenty of phones go through the FCC without ever seeing the light of day in America, and for some reason they often do so as a precursor to a Canadian release, where multiple national and local carriers use the same bands at AT&T. The additional time at the FCC could technically indicate an unlocked release, but that really isn’t Samsung’s style, at least in North America. Oh well, at least the Angry Birds got their feathers on one. At this point it looks like the Galaxy Note isn’t going to get a US release for some time, several months at the very least. It’s a shame, too, since a 5.3-inch 720p Super AMOLED screen and 1.4Ghz dual-core processor is good enough to go toe-to-toe with any flagship phone at the moment, assuming you’re OK with a phone that dwarfs everything else on the market. However, there’s some good news concerning the Galaxy Note’s IFA buddy the Galaxy Tab 7.7. The Super AMOLED-packing tablet was recently spotted for preorder. Device Info
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 [via Wireless Goodness] )
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| Rumor: Verizon Galaxy Nexus bumped again, no show on December 9th Posted: 07 Dec 2011 08:46 AM PST Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. Numerous anonymous tipsters are crying that the rumored December 9th release date for Verizon’s long, long, long-awaited Galaxy Nexus is now invalid, and there’s no news on a revised release date. This comes weeks after the flagship Ice Cream Sandwich phone was released in the UK and other markets, and Americans eager for a taste of Android Ice Cream Sandwich are growing furious at Verizon’s tongue-tied non-launch.
To be fair, Verizon still hasn’t committed to any sort of date for the Galaxy Nexus. You’d barely know that they were planning a release at all, since the only official indications they’ve given so far are a blank page and a sentence in a PR report. The LTE version of the phone made surreptitious appearance at a New York Verizon event before being unceremoniously yanked. Despite reports that the phones themselves are appearing in Verizon stores and other locations, There’s no word from Verizon confirming any date, though internal documents had (until today) set December the 9th as the retail launch. Let’s get down to brass tacks here: this is a crappy way to treat your customers. Thousands of people are chomping at the bit to give Verizon money, many of them at the ridiculous full retail price of the phone, and they continue to say nothing, spouting promotions for NFL apps all over Twitter and Facebook. The DROID XYBOARDs and White RAZR were announces yesterday, and no one’s been waiting for those for weeks. The absolute least they could do is give some concrete information on when to expect the Galaxy Nexus. Alas, that appears to be too much to ask. Device Info
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[via Phandroid] )
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| 10 Billion App promo day 2: Read It Later, Fruit Ninja and Beautiful Widgets for 10¢ [UPDATE] Posted: 07 Dec 2011 08:04 AM PST Google’s 10 Billion App celebration is in full swing, and one Reddit user has found most of the second day’s promotional apps already. In addition to apps from yesterday like Minecraft, Asphalt 6 and SwiftKey X, a new crop of apps for the second day includes favorites like Fruit Ninja, Reckless Racing, and Beautiful Widgets for just 10¢. The apps are already at their discounted prices, though they aren’t showing up on the promotional banner yet.
Today’s full list of apps include: Flick Golf, Reckless Racing, AirSync by doubleTwist, Read It Later Pro, Beautiful Widgets, Christmas HD, Fruit Ninja, Star Chart and NFL Rivals. There may be more revealed later today. At this price there’s hardly any reason not to get them all, but Reckless Racing, AirSync, Read It Later, Beautiful Widgets and NFL Rivals are definitely crowd-pleasers. All these apps should stay at their 10¢ price ( £.10 for UK users) for at least twenty-four hours. Google has ten days of deals lined up to celebrate 10 billion Android Market downloads, so there’s eight more bundles of discounted apps to look forward to. At least one will include ADWLauncher EX, currently $3.32. You’ll definitely want to buy it when the price drops, since the latest update brings the interface and back end in line with Ice Cream Sandwich. Update: The promo site has been updated with today’s deals. You can see them all here, including one that Reddit didn’t spot: Berenstain Bears Bedtime Battle. No comment. What apps do you want to see discounted over the next eight days? Let us know in the comments section. )
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| PandaBoard ES updates with new OMAP 4460 processor Posted: 07 Dec 2011 07:37 AM PST There aren’t many in PandaBoard’s target market, but those that are find the gadget extremely useful. PandaBoard is a development system, basically the bare minimum parts required to run an ARM-based operating system like Android, while accepting inputs, displaying output and making network connections. The manufacturer has upgraded its developer-friendly device with a Texas Instruments OMAP 4460 processor in its new PandaBoard ES model.
The processor and other upgrades bring the development board in line with more recent high-end smartphones. For example, the OMAP 4460 is the same processor used in the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, with dual-core architecture and a base clock speed of 1.2Ghz. PandaBoard claims that the new model should be able to hands 1080p video for both playback and recording, and the upgrade brings a low-power Bluetooth module on as well. The PandaBoard ES is shipping worldwide today for an economical $182. So, what can you do with a PandaBoard? Unless you live and breathe command lines and Bash scripts, not much. But creative developers and tinkerers have been putting the hardware to good use, including some pretty impressive Android utilization. One intrepid developer got Ice Cream Sandwich running on a PandaBoard just one day after the source code was made available. )
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| SwiftKey keyboard developer raises $2.4 million from investors Posted: 07 Dec 2011 06:44 AM PST We’ve covered SwiftKey in its various incarnations a lot here on Android Community, and not without good reason. It’s gained notoriety as one of the most popular Android virtual keyboards, no small task when your app duplicates core functionality, even if it is adding in a lot more. Octopus Investments would seem to agree: They’ve invested 1.5 million GBP, about 2.4 million dollars, in the small developer TouchType.
SwiftKey X and its tablet counterpart have remained at the top keyboard replacements for a few determinable reasons. One, the app never stands still: hardly a month goes by without some sort of update, improving SwiftKey’s performance and predictive text. Two, they cover all the bases: a free preview version allows curious Android users to try out the keyboard before dropping a few dollars on the full version. And finally, they’re quite communicative with their customers and fans, allowing alpha and beta access to geeky types (hello!) who always want to try the latest version. SwiftKey X regularly lands on the Editor’s Choice list in the Android Market, and its success made it one of the first apps offered in Google’s 10 Billion Apps promotion. It’s currently available for just $.10/£.10, though that may not last long – head over to the Android Market to get in on the reduced price. The company says it will use the cash infusion to strengthen its executive team and increase its presence in the US and Asia. )
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| Posted: 07 Dec 2011 03:41 AM PST Logitech has killed off the Revue Google TV box after very poor sales and will not be replacing it. The good news is if you already own the Revue the device will still be supported with software updates. Today marks the latest software update for the Revue with Google TV 2.0 landing for the set-top box. Google TV 2.0 has already hit other devices using the software like some Sony smart TVs.
The update is an automatic one and brings Android market access to the box, which is something that many have been waiting for. The update also brings the Revue box to Android 3.1 for the operating system. Some of the issues with Google TV’s first software are addressed with the new update. The UI is easier to use and the search system has improved consistency. The box now has a Quick Search Box that will look though TV content, online video, apps, and bookmarks as well as search the web. The update also brings a TV & Movies app that focuses on that content. If you have the update applied let us know how well it works. )
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| T-Mobile sets out its Android stall Posted: 07 Dec 2011 01:36 AM PST Your smartphone is often the gadget you’re closest to every day, from your nightstand in the morning, your desk at work, your pocket or purse on a night out, and then keeping you entertained when you’re on your way back home again. One size doesn’t fit all: you wouldn’t wear the exact same clothes as your parents, siblings, friends and colleagues, so why should your smartphone be any different? T-Mobile has a choice of eleven 4G Android smartphones (more if you count the different colors) spanning a range of screen sizes, physical design and a choice of on-screen or slide-out QWERTY keyboards.
Throughout the line-up there are some key consistencies. All of the devices have access to the Android Market, Google’s rapidly-growing download store of apps for business, social networking, gaming and more. All prize multitasking, allowing you to leap between apps with just a few taps. And all have a core suite of basic functionality, including email, messaging, internet browsing, music and video playback, and comprehensive mapping with straightforward navigation support. From there it’s a case of picking your phone to suit your lifestyle. Those prizing portability might opt for a more compact display, for a handset that slips unnoticed into a pocket or purse. Those keen on gaming, mobile video or ebook reading might choose one of the super-sized screens on offer, up to 4.52-inches in fact with the Samsung Galaxy S II, and more than an inch more than an iPhone offers. Those keen on photography can find high-resolution cameras with Full HD video recording. Even Adobe may have sworn off Flash for mobile, but until HTML5 takes over it’s still a mainstay of the web. Android devices are set up to handle both, with Flash and HTML5 support in the browser: that’s more sites, more games, more streaming multimedia you can see on your phone today, rather than waiting for the rest of the tech world to catch up tomorrow. Finally, Office-compatible apps for business mean you can satisfy the work world and sate your gaming and multimedia needs on the same handset. When you’re balancing performance and your budget, choice is vital. T-Mobile offers multiple combinations of individual and family plans, with a range of minutes, texts and data bundles to pick from depending on how you – and your family -use your phones. Want to make calls in the cheapest way? T-Mobile offers a 500 minute individual talk plan for $34.99 a month, if you already have your own unlocked phone to slot the carrier’s SIM inside; doubling the minutes with two SIMs to share in your family takes that to $49.98 a month. There’s also an “unlimited” plan with two lines at $49.99 per line for unlimited data, talk and text. Most smartphone users want data, and T-Mobile offers up to 10GB of its 4G access per month. Thanks to the modular talk and data options, those who want to focus on getting online while on the move but don’t make many calls aren’t forced to pay for unlimited talk. Even if you do opt for no limits on talk and texts, T-Mobile’s classic 2GB data plan (with unlimited talk and unlimited texts) is $15 cheaper than an iPhone plan on AT&T and $20 cheaper than Verizon. A two-line family plan with unlimited talk and text, and 2GB of data, is $15 cheaper than AT&T and $10 cheaper than Verizon. If you don’t already have a phone to use, T-Mobile will happily offer you one from their extensive Android line-up. There are two options: picking a phone and a value plan, or picking a subsidized handset and a regular plan. You can get the Samsung Galaxy S II for $529.99 for instance, with the upfront price meaning you’re not seeing the cost of your phone adding to your monthly value plan spend. If you’d prefer not to pay so much upfront, T-Mobile offers 4G Android phones from free with a new agreement, though the monthly plans are more expensive. Speed of smartphones, speed of data: Android on T-Mobile just keeps accelerating. Dual-core processors in Android smartphones have already hit 1.5GHz, and higher speeds are in sight. Faster chips mean smoother browsing, more immersive, console-like gaming, and desktop-levels of flexibility. Handsets like the Samsung Galaxy S II and HTC Amaze 4G support MHL-HDMI display output and Bluetooth peripherals like a full-sized keyboard, allowing you to set up an impromptu mobile office with the big-screen TV in your hotel room. A phone is only as good as the network it’s on, though, and T-Mobile’s 4G network is the largest in the US. Coverage is only half of it, though: it’s also fast. T-Mobile HSPA+ is now capable of up to 42Mbps theoretical speeds, which means real-world 20Mbps downloads and 8Mbps uploads on compatible smartphones. That’s faster than many home and office fixed broadband connections. And, where rival networks have demanded new devices – with a serious thirst for battery life – to suit their attempts at 4G, HSPA+ on T-Mobile has been a more evolutionary roll-out with devices still managing to last all day. )
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| Google engineer tells us why iOS will remain more fluid than Android OS Posted: 06 Dec 2011 09:29 PM PST We may be die-hard Android fans here at Android Community, but we’ve all at least given iOS a chance to shine its light. One of its best features is handling UI actions perfectly, thus leaving the user willing to wait for longer page loads. Over on Google+, Google engineering intern Andrew Munn explained to us precisely why Android OS will never be as fluid as iOS or Windows Phone 7 devices.
What it boils down to is that Android OS renders all graphics continuously – and on the same priority. What differs in iOS and WP7 is that graphics rendering is queued for when it’s needed. This is why when we open many applications at once within Android, we see the device start to slow down as it tries to keep up. In iOS, if an application isn’t done loading and you start touching your screen, it will only finish loading when you release your finger. This also helps keep the device from working to hard on multiple tasks – which eventually drains your battery. Put in Munn’s words:
Personally, I love the way Android OS allows loading simultaneously to UI interaction. I’m pretty good at gauging the device’s capabilities to the point where I’ll know when the system may start to slow down. Also, hardware just keeps getting better and better. There will be a time when Android’s “sluggish threshold” is much harder to reach than currently. [via SlashGear] )
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| Sony Ericsson XPERIA Arc HD: Spyshot Posted: 06 Dec 2011 08:20 PM PST The Sony Ericsson XPERIA Arc HD has surfaced again today in a quick spyshot from what seems to be Hong Kong. We saw just yesterday a leaked press image of the device, and most noticeable is the glowing ring that paths around the bottom. The softkeys are definitely there, but the glow is probably just for looks – and that’s fine by me. From this new image, it’s safe to say the Arc HD will come in both black and white models.
There’s no doubt this is going to be one thin device. It may be rocking Sony’s modified UI over 2.3.5 (Gingerbread) at launch, but since it’s expected to debut during CES 2012 maybe we’ll see a quick upgrade to 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). However, if you take a really close look at the status bar, you can see some icons that look surprisingly similar to those found in ICS on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. It’s a tough call. If you’re unfamiliar with the specs of this future Sony Ericsson handset, let me give you the rundown: It will sport a 1.5GHz dual-core (Snapdragon?) CPU supported by 1GB RAM, a 4.3″ 720p HD display, and a 12MP rear-facing camera. Yes – I’ll say that again – a 12MP rear-facing camera. Due to the continuous recent leaks of the Arc HD, maybe it will see the light of day before the year is up. Who knows? [via AndroidOS.in] )
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| Android Market now includes permalinks to user reviews Posted: 06 Dec 2011 07:36 PM PST When opening the Android Market and navigating to any application on your home PC, you’ll find that you now have the option link to specific user reviews. This is a feature that we honestly wouldn’t have “needed”, but nevertheless it may come in handy. I am no app developer, nor have I ever aspired to become one – but I assume it would be very beneficial to save particular reviews for future tips on improving my application.
Pictured below is an actual screenshot showing you where the permalink can be found on the page; it’s rather small so I hope this helps you out. It doesn’t actually take you away from the application and leave you with a single page dedicated to the review, but rather indexes the selected review to the top of the stack for easy viewing. All in all, it does make sense to have permalinks to user reviews; if such a feature were left out of any general online forum, it would be rather detrimental to quickly share single posts.
Now that this feature is live and publicly available, we’ll see how popular (or static) it becomes. The ability to forward a well thought out review of an application to a friend may help them decide if it’s worth the purchase price. Also, when a fellow blogger would like to quote such a review, we can now direct you right back to the source. True, it’s not entirely needed – but without interconnectedness the internet wouldn’t have done so well. [via Android Central] )
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| ADWLauncher EX gets an Ice Cream flavored update, 10 Billion App discount Posted: 06 Dec 2011 05:19 PM PST There’s a lot of aftermarket Android launchers out there, but very few can claim to have the kind of following that ADWLauncher EX enjoys. A rock-solid foundation, tons of customization options and a robust theme engine makes it one of the most popular launchers on the Market. Of course, with Ice Cream Sandwich‘s enhanced launcher a lot of the current offerings are looking long in the tooth. To that end, developer Anderweb has released a new version, with a ton of new features to bring it up to date.
Most dramatic is a new dock bar system that apes ICS’ “pinned” apps at the bottom of the screen. Most launchers including ADW have had some variation on this feature before, but new placement and visual options make ADW’s feel fresh. Folders have been given an ICS-flavored upgrade, with more visual settings to tweak. Other small visual and under-the-hood changes are present, including support for hardware acceleration on some devices. Notably it now plays nice with tablets running Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich, allowing for easier integration with the bottom action bar. But don’t run out and purchase ADW Launcher EX just yet, if you haven’t already: the developer has announced that he’s participating in Google’s 10 Billion Apps promotion, and the full version will be just 10 cents/pence some time in the upcoming week. So if you can wait to try out the new features, you’ll save yourself a coffee’s worth of cash. Download it in the Market – but not right away! )
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| More internal Verizon leaks: December 9th seems solid for Galaxy Nexus Posted: 06 Dec 2011 03:07 PM PST At this point it’s probably safe to circle Friday on your calendar. Droid-Life has yet another look behind the curtain at Verizon, where an Equipment Guide screenshot verifies the December 9th release date for the Galaxy Nexus. This follows an additional leak from Engadget, which shows the Nexus dropping into retail stores on the ninth, preceded by the DROID 4 on the 8th. It’s all over bar the crying, and the enthusiastic emptying of wallets.
The Wall Street Journal confirmed in a separate story that the Samsung Galaxy Nexus would carry a price tag of $299, which isn’t mentioned in either of the stories above. That’s the price we keep hearing, however, except in the case of a Black Friday deal that was never enacted. Units are also starting to arrive at Verizon retail stores and second-party resellers like Best Buy, including a snazzy white-on-red packaging. If it weren’t for the distressing news that Google Wallet won’t be available, it’d be all good news.
The only question that remains is, why isn’t Verizon hyping up the release of the most important Android phone this year? Aside from the blank sign-up page and a brief appearance in NYC, there’s been almost no PR released about the Galaxy Nexus. Will customers who signed up to be alerted via email have to rush out to retail the morning of to get their phones? Is there going to be any sort of pre-order program at all? It sure doesn’t look like it. It almost seems like Verizon wants to keep this phone out of the spotlight, at least for the time being, and that’s a real disservice both to Verizon’s customers and to a device that deserves the public spotlight. Device Info
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| BlackBerry Playbook gets hacked Android Market support Posted: 06 Dec 2011 02:05 PM PST We don’t cover the BlackBerry Playbook here on Android Community because, well, it’s a BlackBerry. But some recent community mods may change that, at least after a fashion. IntoMobile reports that the latest rage amongst Playbook modders is rooting via a tool called Dingleberry (no comments form the peanut gallery, please). It turns out that if you root the latest version of the Playbook’s Beta software, it’s possible to use the Android emulator software therein to run just about any Android app you like – including the Android Market and other Google apps.
The process isn’t easy, and for the moment it’s restricted to those adventurous enough to risk bricking their $ The process will likely be streamlined after the official release of the Playbook’s 2.0 software early next year, but this sort of thing is never going to be official. The bigger question is, how long will it be before RIM either scraps the Playbook all together or starts again from scratch? Who knows. But in the meantime, welcome to the Android world, Playbook users! Just don’t expect to play Shadowgun on that thing. )
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| T-Mobile G2x Gingerbread update rolling out again — finally Posted: 06 Dec 2011 01:12 PM PST After a long delay it appears LG and T-Mobile are finally ready to push the Android 2.3 Gingerbread update out again for the T-Mobile LG G2x. The update was originally slated for a summer release and finally arrived late July and caused a few more problems rather than fix the current issues and was pulled shortly after.
Many received the OTA update in July but it was first released by LG and wasn’t offered as an over the air update. Later the option to have the phone updated right in T-Mobile stores was available but we aren’t sure many took that route. I had almost forgot about the G2x update but now we are hearing they’ve finally ironed out all the bugs and you can update to the latest Android 2.3 Gingerbread for the G2x from LG.com. Along with Gingerbread the G2x should have improved and accurate battery life, no more random reboots and a slew of other improvements and bug fixes similar to the first round of OTA updates. I’ve been running CM7 on my G2x since nightly build #1 so I can’t comment on the latest update. Feel free to give the new Gingerbread a try and let us know in the comment section below how everything turns out. Device Info
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[via Phandroid] )
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| Verizon Galaxy Nexus stock arrives at Best Buy, can’t sell it yet Posted: 06 Dec 2011 12:44 PM PST We are now hearing from all sorts of different sources and leaks that December 9th is the big (or little) day for the Verizon Galaxy Nexus. With not so much as a peep from Verizon other than a few leaked emails it’s safe to say they’ll be doing a silent rollout or not making a big deal about the device. New leaks have confirmed Best Buy has received the Galaxy Nexus stock today and will also start selling it as soon as Verizon gives them the okay.
Although this is indeed a good sign, the leaked information from Android Central also mentions the release date is still pending. Sounds like a rush job if you ask me. Full retail boxes and accessories for the Galaxy Nexus have already started arriving at Verizon retail stores, add Best Buy to that list and we’ve pretty much confirmed the release date.
At this point I really see no reason why Verizon can’t just announced the device and we still expect some sort of details to be released any minute now. We could see a completely silent rollout with the device just being available online and in retail stores come Friday but I seriously can’t imagine Google not wanting to make a big deal out of the official ICS launch here in the US. Something still doesn’t seem right here but we’ll all just have to continue waiting until it’s either in our hands, or announced by Verizon. I wouldn’t get my hopes up for either but Friday is looking pretty solid right about now. Device Info
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[via Android Central] )
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| Xperia Play heads to C-Spire, regional carrier ready for gaming Posted: 06 Dec 2011 12:17 PM PST Regional carrier C-Spire apparently wants in on the gaming action here in Android and today have announced the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play will be available to C-Spire customers for just $49.99 starting today. Better late than never right? The phone is the same model already available from Verizon, that is also $49 from AT&T so this isn’t anything new — Just a good deal for those C-Spire users.
The Xperia Play we reviewed here is the same model only from Verizon and is the exact same device in terms of specs. We have Android 2.3 Gingerbread, a single-core 1.0 GHz Qualcomm processor, 512MB of RAM and a 5 megapixel camera. The good stuff is the full out SONY Playstation controls once you slide this beast open. A gamers dream for sure! If you head to our Xperia Play Portal you can see and view all the games specific to the Play we’ve previously reviewed. With Sony opening the Playstation suite to others we should be seeing more and more games in the coming months, making the Play a decent choice especially for just $49.99 if you ask me. The Sony Ericsson Xperia Play is available today for C-Spire starting at $49.99 after a $50 MIR and a new 2-year contract so users will be shelling out a crisp $100 bill initially. Get your game on guys! Device Info
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[via Unwired View] )
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| Grand Theft Auto III Anniversary Edition crashes into Android December 15th Posted: 06 Dec 2011 11:58 AM PST Great news for all you gamers out there — Grand Theft Auto III 10 Year Anniversary Edition will be available on Android starting December 15th. I’m extremely excited about that and will be playing this on my Transformer Prime that is for sure. We first reported that GTAIII was coming to Android back in October and today can happily report it will be available next week. Who’s excited?
The image above (thanks to pockethacks) should have all you Android gamers plenty happy about what is coming soon. We have a few in-game screenshots running on an Android tablet below and the graphics are quite decent. I’d love an NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core optimized version of this game, and here one is in the works too. Currently the list of supported devices isn’t huge but it’s mostly higher end dual-core Android devices. Most are Tegra 2 phones then we see a few like the HTC Rezound in there too. Most likely the game will play just fine with all the dual-core devices on the market although they aren’t all being officially listed as compatible. Tablets are seeing the same treatment although the Transformer, Motorola Xoom, Galaxy Tab’s and a few others all have received the green light. If your device is not on the supported list from Rockstar linked to below don’t worry because chances are it’ll work just fine. I’d be checking the Android Market on December 15th if I were you just in case. Today Rockstar Games announced it will be available starting December 15th and will run you just $4.99 in the Android Market. I’ll be sure and get some hands-on time for those that might want to see a few reviews before making the purchase so stay tuned.    )
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| LG Optimus Pad LTE leaks again Posted: 06 Dec 2011 11:33 AM PST LG’s first run in the tablet game didn’t go quite so well but they appear to be back and ready to give it another try with the LG Optimus Pad 2. Many are calling it the Optimus Pad LTE and these latest images seem to confirm that possibility. The original, better known as the T-Mobile G-Slate didn’t sell too well with it high price and need for cheap blue and red 3G glasses.
The new Optimus Pad 2 leaked late last month and today we have a few more photos. Sadly the device is wrapped in some sort of tape to protect the look or possibly the leakster although we clearly see the AT&T 4G LTE boot animation with the image above. The photos don’t reveal anything else for now and we don’t get a view of the rear. We’ve been hearing just like the original the new Pad LTE will offer dual cameras for 3D video but this time it will rock dual 8 megapixel cameras. Along with dual cameras we also expect the same 8.9″ display size rocking a 1280 x 800 resolution NOVA display, 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM and the usual array or ports and micro-SD slot. Latest rumors also suggest Android 3.2 Honeycomb on board and the slate launching late December, with an update to Ice Cream Sandwich to follow in 2012. At the via link below it’s pictured with the Galaxy Tab 8.9 but seems to be a bit bigger, although we don’t expect it to be a 10″ device. Hopefully LG will be announcing more details on their next slate soon as we’d love to see if they’ve made improvements from the original. [via PocketDroid] )
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