Wednesday 21 December 2011

Android Community

Android Community


HTC Sensation Android 4.0 ROM Leaks, teases Sense UI on ICS

Posted: 21 Dec 2011 11:59 AM PST

While developers have been going crazy porting and working on ROM’s for all devices to get a taste of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich today we have something even better. This appears to be a full Android 4.0 ROM for the Sensation XE that was leaked to the public. Developers have already ported this to the regular HTC Sensation and it seems to be working great. This also gives us our first glace at what to expect with HTC’s Sense UI on Ice Cream Sandwich — more of the same sadly.

This ROM comes to us courtesy of XDA Developers and has already become hugely popular in just a few short hours since being released earlier today. Based from the leaked Android 4.0.1 build for the Sensation XE it currently has HTC Sense UI 3.5 but we may see 4.0 from HTC at release. The changes being seen could very well change once final but for now it’s a good start — for those that like Sense of course. I personally love my Vanilla whether it’s Gingerbread, Honeycomb, or Ice Cream Sandwich but that’s just me.

Being an early leak there are a few bugs and users cant set wallpaper from settings, battery life is quite terrible (although tips are available on the first post) and that is all currently being listed but I’m sure there are a few more bugs somewhere. At first glance nothing really looks different. I personally love the visual changes with ICS so I’m a little sad to see them staying so similar here. You’ll notice this does feature Face Unlock, the new ICS font, menu, and more but either way Sense is still Sense.

If getting some semi-official ICS on your Sensation is of any interest make sure you follow all the directions provided by the developers at XDA and proceed with caution. This being an extremely early leak, and for the XE makes the possibility for issues bigger than usual. Many comments are saying it works great so give it a run and let us know what you think.

homeui lockscreenrz settingsl
Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Sensation 4G
    Manufactuer : HTC
    Carrier : T-Mobile
    Announced Date : April 12, 2011
    Release Date : May 19, 2011
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.30 Inch
  • Resolution : 540x960
  • Screen Type : qHD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 4.96 Inch
  • Width : 2.57 Inch
  • Depth : 0.44 Inch
  • Weight : 148 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 1520 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : 350 hours
Software
    Android OS:
  • 2.3.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • 3GP
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
  • WMV
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU : Snapdragon
    CPU Clock Speed : 1200 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 768 MB
    Internal Storage : 4 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution :8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 3.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

[via XDA, via Phandroid]

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MOTO ACTV update brings stopwatch, new clock faces, and 8 hours battery life

Posted: 21 Dec 2011 11:29 AM PST

For those that remember or own the MOTO ACTV we have an exciting update to tell you about today. Motorola is all set to soon release their latest update for the do-it-all fitness Android device and we have all the details. The video below courtesy of Motorola might be a bit boring but shares plenty about this exciting new update and more.

For more details on MOTO ACTV feel free to start by looking over our hands-on video and our complete ACTV Guide from the timeline links below. Motorola states the update will become available December 21st but so far we aren’t seeing it live on the MOTO ACTV forums yet. Either way this device just got even more useful not to mention battery saving features that will help it last through an entire marathon.

The new update that should be available starting sometime today will bring plenty of new features and some of those include: 3 new battery modes with normal, extended, and Marathon mode that will last for around 8 hours. They’ve also added stopwatch — a feature I’m amazed wasn’t in the device at launch, and a suite of different timepiece faces to change the look of your clocks. Again the update is scheduled to hit today but our review device isn’t showing anything but most likely this will be a download right from the MOTO ACTV forums linked to below.

For those rocking out with an ACTV let us know how the update goes and what clock face is your favorite.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : MOTOACTV
    Manufactuer : Motorola
    Carrier :
    Announced Date : October 18, 2011
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 1.6 Inch
  • Resolution :
  • Screen Type : NA
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 1.81 Inch
  • Width : 1.81 Inch
  • Depth : .378 Inch
  • Weight : 35 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
Hardware
    CPU :
    CPU Clock Speed : 600 Mhz
    Core : 1
    Ram : MB
    Internal Storage : 16.00 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : MP
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 3.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

[via MOTO ACTV Forums]

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Google wishes the Android Community a Happy Holidays [Video]

Posted: 21 Dec 2011 10:42 AM PST

Tis the season to be jolly right? Google has just released another awesome video similar to their Halloween edition but this time wishing everyone a Happy Holidays and showing us just how fun it would be to work for Google. I could explain this awesome video, or the fact that all the Motorola XOOM’s are running Ice Cream Sandwich but I’ll just let you enjoy it for yourself.

OK maybe I’ll comment a little bit. First off I’d love to have that Galaxy Nexus desk dock shown in the video — not to mention having Santa calling me. The XOOM with Ice Cream Sandwich would be awesome. It’s already been compiled by developers but an official update is probably coming soon. The best part is they wish us specifically, (Android Community) a Happy Holidays. Fun!

I’m still watching this hoping to see a glimpse or hint at something fun like a Nexus Tablet (shown behind the tablet singers) but sadly I’m having no such luck. This just appears to be a fun holiday filled video from our friends at building 44 — Google HQ. Did anyone notice the Galaxy Tab 10.1 behind the Santa Loot window? Maybe you’ll get one this Christmas.

What does everyone want for Christmas this year? If you could have one Android device what would you choose?

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Huawei promises showstopping smartphone for Mobile World Congress

Posted: 21 Dec 2011 08:27 AM PST

As previously stated, Huawei is making a big push towards high-end smartphones worldwide, and in the United States in particular. In a bit of non-specific PR relayed to GSM Arena, the company promised to unveil “our smartest, fastest and most high-performing smartphone yet” in an event just before the start of Mobile World Congress in February. Consider our interest thoroughly peaked.

Huawei has been making leaps and bounds as an OEM. It’s become one of the top ten phone manufactures, shipping 10.6 million phones worldwide in the third quarter – for comparison, Motorola shipped 11.2 million. That’s total phone,s not smarpthones or Android phones in particular, but it’s hard to deny that they’re gaining momentum quickly. With a growing footprint and capital, they could rise above the crows of Chinese manufacturers and take on the likes of ZTE and LG in 2012.

Huawei’s hardware is pretty respectable too. We lamented the T-Mobile Springboard, AKA the Huawei Mediapad, but only because of a spotty implementation of Honeycomb; the tablet itself is a solid piece of hardware. Early reviews of the Honor/Glory/Mercury are positive, and in some markets it’s the very first device to receive an over-the-air Android 4.0 update. Huawei’s Vision even earned a design award last month.

Android Community will be on hand in Barcelona, covering all the latest smartphones. We’ll be sure to bring you Huawei’s Spanish surprise, whatever it turns out to be.

 

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Sony Ericcson schedules ICS updates for March and April 2012

Posted: 21 Dec 2011 07:52 AM PST

Wondering when your shiny XPERIA phone will get a new lease on life thanks to Ice Cream Sandwich? If Sony Ericsson’s corporate blog is to be believed, it could be as soon as… March. The company said that the Xperia arc S, neo V and ray (the capitalization handicapped models) would be getting the first updates, while the arc, Play, neo, mini, pro, mini pro, and active models would follow in April and May.

A few crucial details about the updates can be gleaned: one, Sony is following in Samsung and HTC’s footseteps by bringing their own proprietary UI layers to Ice Cream Sandwich. I guess they just don’t think it’s as pretty as we do. This is confirmed by the following language: “developers are now busy merging our current Xperia™ software with the new features in Android 4.0.” Second, the updates will use the standard staggered rollout, likely contingent upon carriers in the case of subsidized models.

While of course we’d like to see ICS updates as soon as possible, it’s refreshing to see Sony commit to updating each and every model from the last year. And considering all the headaches surrounding Eclair, Froyo and Gingerbread updates, a minimum of four and maximum of six months wait is relatively speedy. In the meantime, advanced users can try any one of a number of early ports, or simply wait for Sony Ericsson’s first phone with Ice Cream Sandwich, rumored to be the Arc HD “Nozomi”.

[via SlashGear]

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Leaked 4.0.3 radios for Verizon’s Galaxy Nexus improve signal slightly [UPDATE]

Posted: 21 Dec 2011 07:12 AM PST

Amidst yet another outage of Verizon’s data system across large portions of the US, a new radio image for the LTE version of the Galaxy Nexus has become available. This ZIP file contains revised code for the CDMA and 4G LTE radios within the device, and according to some of the responders in the XDA thread, allows for slightly better overall signal reception and much better stability. The phone locks on to a data signal faster and tends to keep it longer, with smoother handoffs between 4G and 3G. After testing out the radio myself, the speed and initial connection seem to be only slightly improved. Unfortunately, I can’t test the 4G at the moment.

Don’t get too excited just yet. Naturally, flashing the radios requires an unlocked phone with a custom recovery, and no small amount of risk on the part of the user. For most Galaxy Nexus owners, I’d recommend waiting for the Android 4.0.3 update, which has probably been delayed because of the signal and battery issues that many have been experiencing. This radio image, or an even newer and hopefully better one, will almost certainly be included as part of the forthcoming update. And it won’t require you to void your warranty.

All bets are off for this little nugget of leaked code. It’s probably a test radio originating from Verizon that got sent out to a public-spirited friend or colleague, but it could just as easily be a version revere engineered and tweaked from the stock radio. If you’re of an experimental mind (guilty!) and you know what you’re doing, go ahead – just remember to use ClockworkMod Recovery’s backup feature beforehand. And since the Galaxy Nexus has only internal storage, you might want to back up the backup, so to speak, to your computer’s hard drive before applying the updated ZIP file.

UPDATE: Looks like the new radios broke my wireless tether functionality. Whoops. Nandroid backup is your friend.

[via Phandroid]

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Low prices boost Android’s tablet market share to 40%

Posted: 21 Dec 2011 06:30 AM PST

The free market, in all its terrible beauty, is Apple’s most friendly enemy. After 18 months of being effectively the only tablet game in town (as a function of sales, anyway) the Cupertino giant’s deathgrip on the slate market is starting to crack. According to IDC, Android’s share of sales in the fourth quarter of 2011 will reach 40.3 percent of all tablet sales. That’s up considerably since the third quarter, which has been variously projected as 20-30%.

The rise is largely coming from relatively cheap Android tablets like the Nook Tablet and Kindle Fire, sitting in the $200-250 range in the United States. Overseas budget tablet makers from China and a few low-priced options like Archos are also seeing heavy demand, and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab line of devices remains one of the most popular high-end options. Asus made a considerable dent in the market with its dock-enabled Eee Pad Transformer, and the quad-core sequel known as the Transformer Prime is just now becoming available in the US and other markets. With Ice Cream Sandwich now available as an open source package, expect to see many more low-priced tablets running Android 4.0′s large-screen interface.

The iPad is still projected to control 59% of the tablet market this quarter. That’s a considerable lead, but not insurmountable – Android smarphones have pushed the iPhone out of the spotlight in the last year, outselling the Apple hardware two to one in some markets. It looks like Android is finally beginning to jump in tablet sales as well, and a repeat of its world-conquering smartphone performance is not out of the question.

Of course, failing actual innovation or competitive pricing, Apple’s legal team has been working overtime trying to halt tablet sales in Germany, Australia and the US. Germany is still upholding an injunction against the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, and Apple has already filed suit against Samsung for the revised 10.1N model. Australia’s courts threw out Apple’s injunction against the same model after an appeals process, and the US denied the injunction, though penalties for design patent infringement may still be enacted. Apple’s also targeted HTC, which is currently facing a possible import ban in the US.

[via eWeek]

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GetJar’s Gold Apps catalog shows you freebies in a phone-friendly interface

Posted: 21 Dec 2011 06:05 AM PST

By now you may have heard of GetJar Gold, the alternative app store’s answer to the “Free App of the Day”. For the holidays there are more than 100 new apps available for free, all of them normally paid, and many were also featured as part of Google’s 10 Billion Apps promotion. If you’re a recent Android convert who missed out on the 10 cent app deals, here’s a chance to get a lot of the same titles, and keep your dime for a down payment on a cup of coffee. In order to showcase all of these free apps at once, they’ve created an HTML5 catalogue catalog, and it’s a great way to quickly add some free applications to your phone or tablet.

Like Google’s promotion the apps are mostly games, including high-profile paid titles like Age of Zombies, Majesty, and Super KO Boxing 2. But there’s also a refreshingly wide variety of utility apps, including the excellent and normally expensive Splashtop Remote Desktop. To facilitate easier navigation on the large catalog page, GetJar has added alphabetical navigation to the first pane. Just tap on a letter to instantly go to its relative horizontal position, then swipe left or right to see more apps. It’s a pretty ingenious method of presenting your wares on a touch interface – while desktop users are pretty locked into the the idea of a vertical scroll, the horizontal swipe is a much more natural motion for phones and tablets.

Of course, you’ll have to deal with the normal pitfalls of third-party app stores. The free “purchases” you make on GetJar will not show up in the Android Market. Instead, you’ll need to install GetJar’s primary application from their website, then browse either the on-device app store, the mobile website or the holiday catalog. Thankfully, you do not need to set up a new account to start using the free apps, but that means that your “purchases” won’t be saved, either – if you uninstall one of the paid apps, you’ll have to pay for it once the price returns to its normal value.

[via Reddit]

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Firefox Android tablet UI comes out of beta

Posted: 21 Dec 2011 05:32 AM PST

As a dedicated user of Firefox on the desktop, I keep a close eye on Mozilla’s Android version of the browser. Unfortunately their efforts on the mobile platform have been somewhat underwhelming so far, with two primary complaints being sluggish performance and a head-scratching interface. The recent release of Firefox 9 on the desktop has been mirrored by the mobile version, and now the updated tablet interface has been pushed out. The Honeycomb-friendly UI will be familiar to anyone who’s spent time in third-party Honeycomb app.

I gave the new version a spin on my Galaxy Tab 8.9 tester unit, and I’m happy to report that it does indeed seem considerably snappier than the last time I tried it on the same device. The primary difference between Firefox and the default Android tablet browser is the way in which it handles tabs, which is to shove them all in a vertical menu on the side of the main content pane. It’s a great way to browse in landscape, as it makes full effect of the horizontal space. Most websites (like Android Community) won’t lose any actual content as you switch between tabs.

However, it’s still pretty clear that Mozilla is largely in the dark when it comes to touch-based interfaces. When entering anything in the URL bar, you’re immediately presented with a set of built-in search engines, instead of a contextual look at your own history or likely Google results. As the keyboard expands, most of the results are obscured. Getting to the Bookmarks menu requires you to open a new tab. And the Firefox Sync function so touted in recent versions remains clunky, requiring you to juggle screens instead of simply logging in to an account. Google’s Chrome-based bookmark sync puts it to shame, and even Dolphin’s new sync feature is easier to set up.

For the moment it’s hard to recommend Firefox to anyone but the most die-hard of Mozilla users, much as I might like to. Despite an admirable tab interface, the rest of the browser seems very much like a desktop application straining to fit itself into a touch-based medium.

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HTC finishes workaround for avoiding Apple patent ruling

Posted: 21 Dec 2011 04:38 AM PST

Generally when a company loses a patent litigation case against Apple, it doesn’t look at the loss as a win. HTC is still saying that the loss to Apple in a recent patent litigation case was a win because the courts only found one instance of infringement out of ten Apple claims. The ruling would have resulted in a ban on the import of some HTC products to the US.

Bloomberg reports that HTC has already neatly skirted the patent ban with a new workaround that is already finished. The import ban wouldn’t have gone into effect until April 2012 so HTC is ready to go with the ban behind it. HTC’s CEO said that the infringing tech was rarely used hinting that the workaround was easy to build.

HTC CEO Peter Chou said, “It's actually quite rarely used.” I wonder if there will be as many patent cases in the mobile phone and tablet world next year as there have been this year. I don't see this sort of legal battle stopping, do you?

[via SlashGear]

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Android apps see in-app purchase swell

Posted: 21 Dec 2011 04:21 AM PST

65-percent of revenues for the top 200 Android apps come from in-app purchases, download store analysts Distimo have discovered, though the potential for making cash from Android software still pales in comparison to iOS. Meanwhile, Android is the place to go for free titles, holding a comfortable lead ahead of its rivals when it comes to freely-distributed software.

iPhone apps in the top 200 make almost four times the revenue – looking at both upfront payment and in-app purchases – of Android’s top apps, while iPad apps make more than twice that of Android. Android holds the second spot for gaming options, too, with 46,045 titles in the US in comparison to the iPhone’s 79,077 and iPad’s 28,638.

Angry Birds was the top app of 2011 for downloads, Distimo found, followed by Facebook and Skype. Google’s own Google Maps came in fifth, despite only being offered in the Android Market.

[via SlashGear]

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Intel gives us a better glimpse at its Android prototype

Posted: 20 Dec 2011 10:48 PM PST

No, this amazingly sleek phone doesn’t exist – yet. It is a prototype that may never surface for the public’s use, but nevertheless it is sporting an Intel chip and Android OS. Finally, Intel intends to make a comeback in 2012 by incorporating their technology into both tablets and smartphones. Technology Review was able to test out both of the prototypes, and they state we should see them officially within the first half of 2012.


The chip’s are still contained within the “Atom” line but referenced as Medfield. But what does Medfield bring to the table? Apparently, they aren’t trying to beat their competitors with raw power – but with better battery life through lower power consumption. Oddly enough, it doesn’t seem to be dual-core.

From a first glance, or even a second – you would think you’re looking at an iPhone 4S. But Technology Review not only stated that it was lighter – but made of plastic and less metal or glass. I guarantee if a manufacturer released a device of those dimensions and styling, they wouldn’t make it out of the door without an Apple lawyer waiting to meet them. Of course, this design was purely made to attract manufacturers to using their SoC for their products – so they still have a chance to steer clear of a legal battle.

[via Technology Review]

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Android 4.0.3 delayed for Galaxy Nexus and Nexus S

Posted: 20 Dec 2011 10:28 PM PST

Google’s highly anticipated Android 4.0.3 update will finally bring Ice Cream Sandwich to the Nexus S, and hopefully fix a few bugs concerning the Galaxy Nexus battery life. It has been a real problem getting a full day of use on a single charge with Verizon’s Galaxy Nexus – even with the extended battery. The update to ICS for the Nexus S has almost been perfected, unofficially of course, so those that are rooted may not see much of a difference. Unfortunately, the update has been flagged for further review.


Earlier we had heard some rumors that the Nexus S ICS update would possibly be delayed, and now it seems we should bet on it. Over on Google’s forums, users are reporting that the update was downloaded to their device – but installation doesn’t pull through. Google reports that it is holding the update hostage to “monitor feedback”.

But what better way to monitor feedback than pushing the update? Not only will they receive a more accurate response – but it will give Nexans what they want; after all, the reason many of us buy into the “Nexus” line is to receive updates promptly from Google – and to receive them first. As for the Galaxy Nexus owners out there (including myself), please fix the battery drain issue and we’ll be happy.

[via SlashGear]

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Android activations grow to 700,000 a day

Posted: 20 Dec 2011 09:24 PM PST

According to Andy Rubin, Android smartphones are now being activated 700,000 times in a single day. In the big scheme of things, that shows amazing growth. The OS is quite popular, but growing from 550,000 daily activations in July to 700K is incredible! It was estimated that we may be at 1 million activations a day by October 20th, but it undoubtedly digressed from the projected path.


So currently, that makes 4.9 million phones activated each week. Overall, Google states that over 200 million Android devices have been activated – so if the trend continues we could see Android surpass the 250 million iOS devices. This not only shows Android is dominating the smartphone market, but that it is continuously becoming more popular. Eventually we will see it peak out, but it’s hard to tell when.

Hopefully, Android owners are statisfied with their devices. If not, this could lead to a very adverse effect in projected market growth. It may take a while for them to bounce back – but with how fast the software is innovatively growing, the end user experience will undoubtedly lead to more repeat Android customers. But if Apple keeps jabbing patent related law suits at Android device manufacturers, we may never see Android surpass them.

[via The Verge]

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T-Mobile rolling out new 3G bands

Posted: 20 Dec 2011 08:45 PM PST

T-Mobile will be following through with their addition of the 1900MHz frequency bands to their network. They’ll be updating their towers from here on out, and this will make many current T-Mobile customers extremely happy; the 1900MHz bands should allow unlocked and imported devices to finally reach 3G speeds.


Sure Edge speeds let you access the internet, but it’s those with an unlocked speedy smartphone on T-Mobile’s network should at least be able to access 3G signal. There’s no idea where they’ll rollout the updates to the network first, so unlocked iPhone users just keep an eye on your device to see if you finally connect to a 3G network. Maybe we can find an update pattern.

Most future devices from T-Mobile will probably come equipped with capabilities for the new bands – but until then unlocked/international devices will be the only ones compatible. Personally, I was expecting an update to 1900MHz from T-Mobile due to their suggested AT&T buyout deal. Since that has fallen through, hopefully they continue with their plans.

[via TalkAndroid]

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Root users: install Google Car Home on your Galaxy Nexus

Posted: 20 Dec 2011 08:13 PM PST

One thing that surprised me when looking through my Galaxy Nexus apps wasn’t the presence of Verizon’s bloatware, it was thew absence of something that’s become a standard on Android phones: Google Car Home. It’s the app that launched when you slide a phone into a car dock, featuring big, easily pressed buttons to help you stay focused on the road. When I looked for it in the Android Market, there was no sign, and navigating via the web version revealed that Google Car Home isn’t yet compatible with either the Galaxy Nexus, Ice Cream Sandwich, or both.

Of course, being an obsessive Android tinkerer I couldn’t simply let things lie. So I downloaded the latest version of Google Car Home on my DROID X, then copied the APK file over to my SD card, and eventually to my computer. Then I copied the APK over to the MTP root folder of my Galaxy Nexus. You can see where this is going. When I tried to install the APK via the Root Explorer file manager, it popped out an error message. So as a last ditch attempt, I activated root permissions and copied the APK file straight into my /system/app folder. Eureka! The app showed up in my drawer immediately, and Google Car Home works just fine, as far as I can tell.

Here’s the Google Car Home APK if you want to skip the roundabout or don’t have a spare Android phone. Just copy it into your /system/app/ folder using a root file explorer. To use the easy method you need to be rooted, but those with stock Ice Cream Sandwich will have to use ADB to manually move the file from your computer into the correct folder. Here’s a guide if you’re new to ADB.

All this is a little disheartening for Verizon Galaxy Nexus users, since the official Samsung car dock for the LTE version doesn’t use the three electrical contacts to automatically enter car mode like the GSM dock does. But the Google Car Home app is still much safer and easier to operate while driving, and features quick links to hands-free voice activation and maps. If you’ve got a Bluetooth-enabled car stereo, you can set Car Home to launch as soon as it makes the Bluetooth connection. And if you’re looking for a good, cheap universal car dock, I’ve had great results with the SGP Kuel S20.

Disclaimer: this app, and the process for installing it, are offered on an as-is basis. Android Community is not responsible if you use it to play Angry Birds in the middle of the highway and end up with some angry people… or worse.

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Cee Lo hides white DROID RAZR in LA, Motorola gives away 6 more

Posted: 20 Dec 2011 06:26 PM PST

Sprite spokesman, American Dad! guest star and occasional R&B singer Cee Lo Green has a white Motorola DROID RAZR, and he wants to give it to you. Not you, personally, but at least one of his Twitter followers, now numbered at about half a million. He’s hidden it somewhere in Los Angeles, and will be tweeting out clues to its precise location on his official account, @CeeLoGreen. You probably shouldn’t check under the big “W” in the Hollywood sign.

For those of us without the inclination to join the madding crowd or the means to go scavenger hunting in LA, Motorola will be giving out another six units via Twitter. Follow @Motorola, do some pimping with the #WhiteRazrXmas tag, cross your fingers, and the company might just pick your for a frosty new smartphone on December 27th. Since the promotion is for a Verizon-branded phone, only residents of the United States can win.

There’s been a lot of giveaways in the world of high-end Android phones as of late. Verizon continued its tradition of GPS hunts with the DROID RAZR, and the @GoogleNexus account gave away Galaxy Nexus phones all over the world as part of its Twitter campaign. (Sadly, my haiku – the only submission for which I was qualified – didn’t make the cut.) You could even try your luck at some Windows Phone 7 hardware, if you wanted to play turncoat and bash Android for a little swag. But for some really neat stuff, you might just want to stick around Android Community for a while…

[via Droid Life]

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Galaxy Nexus gaming performance: ShadowGun and Riptide GP

Posted: 20 Dec 2011 05:51 PM PST

Wondering how the Verizon Galaxy Nexus will handle all the high-end games that are coming out and taking advantage of super-powered Android hardware? Well wonder no more. Chris Burns over at SlashGear took his shiny new Nexus on a gaming bender, trying out two high-profile 3D games that are quickly becoming the standard for Android graphics: third-person shooter ShadowGun and jet ski racer Riptide GP.

The results are impressive, to say the least. Despite the Galaxy Nexus’ 720p resolution, both games run quickly and smoothly at the highest settings. On ShadowGun you can notice minimal slowdown during screen-filling effects, but that’s about it. When playing Riptide, the racing is incredibly smooth and fluid even with the multiple water effects at play. Notice that in both titles, the virtual buttons on the Galaxy Nexus don’t disappear like they do with active videos – this may be a limitation of the APIs in question, or it could be adressed by future releases of either game.

Check out the videos below:

Of course, neither game looks as good as it does on the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime, but that’s to be expected. The quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor combines with a slightly lower system load for Honeycomb as opposed to Ice Cream Sandwich, and Riptide GP has a special version designed specifically to take advantage of the hardware. But there’s no doubt about it: the Galaxy Nexus is one of the best Android smartphones out there for gaming, if not the best at the moment. We’ll see how long it can keep its crown when Tegra 3 smartphones from HTC and others start arriving in Q1 of 2012.

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Celebrate New Years with the Official Times Square Ball Drop App

Posted: 20 Dec 2011 05:31 PM PST

Celebrate New Years Eve in New York City and Times Square live right from your phone this year with the Time Square Official Ball App. Everyone celebrates the new year a little different but I’m sure everyone’s watched the NYC Ball drop a time or two. I used this last year and today the application has been updated with full support for 2012 in just 11 short days. The countdown has already started. Who is ready for 2012?

In 2012 we’ll be seeing tons of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich quad-core phones and tablets — it will be a fun time for the world of Android that is for sure. What better way to celebrate then watching the NYC Ball drop right from your Android smartphone or tablet since we can’t all be lucky enough to live in the Big Apple.

I’ll most likely be out on the streets of the Las Vegas Strip with a warm jacket and a few friends but I’ll be sure and watch this from my shiny new Galaxy Nexus. The official app allows for sharing of photos, sharing your location, watching the ball drop live, reading up on past New Years Eve events and more. A few lucky uploaded photos will appear on the Toshiba super-screen so be sure and upload a few.

For those that love to get into the seasons and the mood this would be the perfect application. Get it today from the market link below and bring in the New Year with ease.

Market Link: Times Square Ball Drop

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NOOK Tablet update killed root and side-loading apps — here’s a fix

Posted: 20 Dec 2011 04:12 PM PST

One of the biggest reasons many Android fans bought the NOOK Tablet aside from the great hardware and eReader capabilities is the fact that we can side-load apps, root, and install 3rd party ROM’s — not to mention eventually stable Ice Cream Sandwich builds. An update that started rolling out yesterday has killed root access, and we no longer have the easy option to side-load Android apps without some serious modification and hacking. Don’t worry our fellow readers, we have a fix.

Current users are on software version 1.4.0 and if you accepted the update you are now running 1.4.1 instead. The obvious and easy answer that we detailed this morning for those that weren’t aware is simple — don’t update and you’ll have no problems. If you’ve already accepted the update and now are wondering how you can side-load Android Apps, gain root access and all those other things this answer is simple too — just roll back to v1.4.0 and you’ll be fine.

Thanks to our trusty friends at XDA Developers we now have a simple method for doing the above. Developer Adam Outler has made a simple solution with what he’s calling a magic SD card. He simply has placed the stock 1.4.0 factory image in a update.zip and has properly set everything up. All you must do is download the file, place it on an SD card, insert and choose a factory restore of the NOOK Tablet.

Warning: Factory restore will wipe all user data, but after finishing you’ll be back to v1.4.0 and can continue with root access and everything else your heart desires.

Thankfully Barnes & Noble didn’t think of something so simple and now we have a quick and easy solution. The download and instructions can be found at the source link below.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : NOOK Tablet
    Manufactuer : Barnes and Noble
    Carrier :
    Announced Date : November 07, 2011
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 7 Inch
  • Resolution : 1024x600
  • Screen Type : VividView IPS
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 8.1 Inch
  • Width : 5 Inch
  • Depth : .48 Inch
  • Weight : 400 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Polymer
  • Battery Capacity : mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 2.3.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • 3GP
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
Hardware
    CPU : OMAP4
    CPU Clock Speed : 1000 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1000 MB
    Internal Storage : 16 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

[via XDA Developers]

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