Friday 27 January 2012

Android Community

Android Community


World of Midgard MMORPG makes you saw “WoW”

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 11:17 AM PST

Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (or MMORPGs, to the cool kids) are some of the most popular interactive titles on the planet. And the king of the hill in that contested arena is Blizzard’s World of Warcraft, with millions of active players ponying up for access to the virtual fantasy world every month. There’s no real comparison on the mobile platform at the moment, but developer Veraxon Entertainment aims to change that. Their project World of Midgard aims to bring a “familiar” experience to Android phones and tablets, and it’s in a closed beta right now.

Students of mythology will recognize Midgard as the rough term for “Earth” in Norse lore, and World of Midgard uses the Viking pantheon to populate its levels and dungeons. There’s a surprising amount of story going on even this early in development – the 30-page lorebook is already available on the Kindle. Orcs, dwarves, elves and other playable races make various allusions to WoW, as do their classes and skills. At the moment the game is in a combat-only mode, with no crafting and very little loot. Kill monsters, get experience – that’s how it goes in the MMORPG world.

You’ll need to be approved for early access to the closed beta, but that doesn’t seem to be all that difficult. Support is fleeting for now – it’s entirely possible that your phone/tablet/ROM won’t be compatible with the online game at all, and there’s not a lot that can be done about it. iOS versions are also released, with cross-compatibility. The game has been in active development for most of last year, and Veraxon hopes to release a final version of World of Midgard… eventually. The third version of the beta was released yesterday to testers.

[via DroidGamers]


Samsung GT-9300 and GT-9800 appear online – Galaxy S III and something new

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 10:08 AM PST

Rumors continue  to run wild about the Galaxy S III. The phone is inevitable – Samsung’s made no bones about the update in a general sense – but a few tight leaks and speculation is almost all we have for hard information so far. The latest trickle of information is a listing spotted on Samsung’s Global Download Center: an entry for the product model number “GT-I9300″ is seen chilling next to the other models in the support site. For refference, the GT-I9000 is the oriignal Galaxy S, while the Galaxy S II covers the 9100-9200 families.

Also spotted was the Gt-I9800, which we’re honestly kind of baffled about. The second device was seen in a filing for WiFi certification. There’s no context and no info available on this phone, if that’s what it is. The screenshot could be something as simple as a typo, for all we know – we’ve also seen the GSIII labelled as the GT-I9500. We could fill your head with dreams of a special ultra-powered Galaxy S II with a 4K screen, 5Ghz processor, 10GB of RAM and infinite holographic storage. But that would be incredibly irresponsible of us. Wouldn’t it. The truth is there’s just nothing to say about the GT-9800 – except that it’s probably got WiFi.

The Galaxy S III was expected to be unveiled at Mobile World Congress in February (where the Galaxy S II debuted last year), but lately rumors indicate that Samsung will wait until later in 2012 to do so. The reasoning could be twofold: one, to wait for US carriers to get a chance to catch up and release the phone closer to its international debut, and two, to have a more recent competitor when Apple releases its iPhone 5. Or possibly the iPhone 4S Pro. They’re not big on actually improving hardware in Cupertino. In any case, we’ll be on hand at MWC to catch any and all announcements that are actually made.

Galaxy-S3-Support-Center samsung-i9800

[via SamMobile]


ZTE V66 tablet for Verizon spotted in Bluetooth filing

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 09:26 AM PST

We’ve seen ZTE next-generation 7-inch tablet before, but only as a rounded rectangle courtesy of the FCC. Now Unwired View spotted the ZTE V66 running through the certification gauntlet at Bluetooth SIG. There isn’t much more to report on the Verizon-bound device, except that it’s certainly got Bluetooth. But the spcial interest group was kind enough to throw up a thumbnail of the tablet’s front press shot, which you can see blown up below. While no dates are mentioned, the presence of a finished photo indicates that the tablet is ready for release soon – though not necessarily on Verizon.

The previous leak indicated that the ZTE V66 (likely a codename that will get changed later) will have a 1.2Ghz dual-core processor and a full gig of RAM, paired to an admirably high-res 1200×800 7-inch screen. Honeycomb will have to do as far as software goes, and the photo from Bluetooth SIG certainly reinforces that. Verizon’s 4G LTE connection is packed inside, making the V66 one of only two Verizon LTE 7-inchers we know of – the other being the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7.

There’s no word on price or availability but ZTE tends to try and undercut its competitors on the tablet side of things. That being the case, and with the Galaxy Tab 7.7 sure to pack a high MSRP thanks to its Super AMOLED display, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the V66 come in around the $300-350 mark. Since the ZTE hardware is also Bluetooth-certified for Europe, it’s likely we’ll get some hands-on time with it in Barcelona next month at Mobile World Congress.


Can’t touch this: Koush’s ClockworkMod Recovery Touch gets a tease

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 08:59 AM PST

If you’ve ever installed a custom Android ROM, odds are extremely good that you’ve used the popular ClockworkMod recovery to do so. The pre-boot environment works well for what it does, but the low-power resources necessitated that users control it with a series of button presses. Now that almost all physical buttons and trackballs have become passe for Android, and even capacative buttons are on their way out thanks to Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich, creator Koushik “Koush” Dutta is working on finally bringing touchscreen controls to ClockworkMod. He teased an early version of the new software on his Google+ account, but did not offer a download.

Koush isn’t the first to experiment with touchscreen-capable custom recoveries. Various lesser-known recoveries are touch-enabled, and there’s even a version of ClockworkMod modified with on-screen controls. But Koush controls the “official” release, and his versions of CWM stand as the most widely-used custom recovery on Android, and an official update would soon find its way onto hundreds of thousands of devices in the hands of eager modders.

The developer didn’t give a timeframe for when downloads would be made available. Then again, he’s a busy man: Koush is part of the CyanogenMod team, updates the core ClockworkMod Recovery and new ClockworkMod Tether apps, and is taking the lead on a possible CyanogenMod App Store for rooted and/or banned apps. If you’re desperate for more intuitive control of your recovery, you can try the above mod or an unnoficial touch version of TeamWin’s recovery. As always, mod at your own risk – no self-respecting Android power user has his or her warranty intact for more than a few hours.


RIM’s new CEO says that all Android phones are the same, kettles are also black

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 08:14 AM PST

On the off-chance that there are any RIM investors reading this story, hoping against hope that the company would try something drastic (like using Android) to reverse its worldwide downward slide… you might want to give your portfolio manager a call. After months of almost universally gloomy news for the Blackberry manufacturer, they installed a new CEO this week, Thorsten Heins. When asked by Crackberry if the company would consider switching to an Android-based software system and abandon their often delayed and underwhelming BlackBerry OS, Heins said “"there is just no room for differentiation because [Android phones] are all the same."

For a little context: this comes from a company whose first touchscreen product (in 2008, no less) failed so miserably that its sequel abandoned its one unique feature. Whose Nokia-esque line of numbered families get incremental updates that are nigh indistinguishable from one another. Whose first radical change to their core hardware model, the Torch, adopted the portrait slider format that had been in wide use for the better part of a decade. Who can’t give away their sole tablet product (which still lacks a native email client, by the way) despite quasi-support for Android apps.

We usually don’t pay attention to Blackberry here at Android Community – just like the rest of the world as of late. But it seems like a no-brainer for them to dump their overloaded software framework and build on Android to come into this decade. As HTC, Samsung, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and others have proven, it’s entirely possible to create your own separate look and feel on Android, while still staying compatible with updates and hundreds of thousands of apps. RIM could easily integrate Blackberry’s legendary business-friendly encryption, email and messaging apps – heck, they’re probably doing the latter already.

Feel free to continue along your current path, RIM – it’s not like you’re trying to compete or anything.


HTC Sense 4.0 details emerge before Mobile World Congress

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 07:37 AM PST

Like it or not, custom manufacturer skins are here to stay. That said some are better than others, and HTC’s Sense UI has emerged as one of the more mature and usable options, even garnering its fair share of fans. HTC is expected to reveal the fourth version of Sense with new hardware at Mobile World Congress next month, but PocketNow allegedly got a look at the changes before prime time. They came away impressed, and noted some radical – and in many cases welcome – changes.

First and foremost: the homescreen can finally function in landscape mode without any hacking or tweaking. This is a feature that is bafflingly absent form almost all stock phones (save QWERTY sliders) and is often inserted by modders and aftermarket ROM developers.  Sliders and icons go with a slate gray look instead of the current glossy black, and the sometimes obtrusive icons are augmented and in some areas replaced with text. The task switcher is similar to the card system found on stock Ice Cream Sandwich, but uses a 3D effect like the current Sense carousel.

The lockscreen gets a makeover with a more straightforward notification system, reportedly aping the iPhone 4 and 4S. (Careful, HTC – Apple’s lawyers are running amok, and will certainly be looking for easy targets.) PocketNow reports that HTC plans for all of its devices to use capacitive physical buttons, not on-screen buttons as was assumed to be standard for Ice Cream Sandwich phones. Some hardware will move to a three-button layout even so. A new guest mode allows you to lock all private data and apps to allow a friend or acquaintance to borrow your phone for a quick call or search.

Sense’s other affected programs like email and the web browser get incremental updates, and the later notably has a reader mode saved page function. Beats will be a universal feature with support for plugins from third-party apps, and DropBox is included with some integration with the rest of Sense’s custom applications. Take all of this as rumor at the moment: none of it is official in any way. We should be able to confirm or deny all of the above information in Barcelona in late February.


Rogers’ LG Optimus Pad is now free on contract

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 07:09 AM PST

Free phones, even free smartphones, are nothing new in contract-laden world of wireless providers. But a free tablet? Now that’s downright novel. Canadian cellular carrier Rogers just slashed the price down to nuthin, nil and nada for the LG Optimus Pad, the Honeycomb tablet first made available on Rogers in May of last year. If you buy the tablet ouutright it’ll still cost you $549.99 CAD, or $499.99/$449.99 for a month-to-month or one-year contract, respectively.

We’re no fans of locked-in wireless contracts, but I must admit, a free tablet with an always-on connection is tempting. While I wouldn’t dream of paying an extra $100 on top of a WiFi model and saddling myself with a two-year contract (not to mention pricey early termination fees) the Optimus Pad has some respectable specs even for a device of the previous generation. The 8.9-inch screen packs in a 720p display, and a Tegra 2 processor will handle HD video and all but the most demanding of modern games. 32GB of storage is double the standard (even for much, much more expensive competitors) though there’s no option for MicroSD cards. US readers: the Optimus Pad is almost identical to T-Mobile’s G-Slate.

Don’t get used to this kind of pricing – the freebie deal is almost certainly meant to clean out inventory before the arrival of the Optimus Pad LTE. The updated tablet is confirmed to come with an IPS screen, 8MP camera, a MicroSD card slot and a 1.5Ghz dual-core processor from Qualcomm. Of course it also supports LTE wireless networks. The Optimus Pad LTE will come equipped with Honeycomb 3.2 – the original’s still on 3.0 as far as we can tell – but since it’s a ways out from release, there’s no word on when or if it wil get Ice Cream Sandwich.

So, Canadian readers, does the low price on the LG Optimus Pad tempt you? If it does, don’t be a putz – go for the two-year contract, not the three-year one.

[via MobileSyrup]


Motorola XYBOARD WiFi tablets available for purchase

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 06:39 AM PST

If you’re anything like the writers and editors here at Android Community, you’re in no hurry to be saddled with yet another monthly contract – even for the luxury of an LTE-enabled tablet. That was one of the the things that made the quite solid Motorola DROID XYBOARD tablets on Verizon much less desirable than they might otherwise have been. After a few weeks of pre-orders, Motorola has made both the XYBOARD 10.1 and XYBOARD 8.2 available for purchase on their website in WiFi-only forms. They’re absent the DROID branding, which is an exclusive marketing tool for Verizon’s partner hardware.

The XYBOARD 8.2 starts at $399.99 and the 10.1 at $499,99, both for the 16GB versions. That’s a little more than we’d like to see them go for, but they compete directly with the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 and 10.1, respectively, while offering more expansion and hardware choices. Both use the same 1280×800 screen resolution, dual-core 1.2Ghz processors, 1GB of RAM each, 5MP cameras and (currently) Honeycomb 3.2. Moto is already promising an ICS update at an indeterminate time. The tablet software is customized by Motorola, but not to an excessive degree.

There are a couple of interesting extras that come on the XYBOARDs which you won’t find standard on competing models: both have an integrated infrared port and universal remote software, plus an HDMI port. Those who intend to stay mobile should probably opt for the 10.1, as its 7000mAh battery soundly beats the 3800mAh one in the 8.2. In our reviews, we concluded that both tablets were solid entrants from Motorola that were unfortunately saddled by wireless pricing. While the WiFi-only prices aren’t incredible (especially in the light of the $500 Transformer Prime) they’re a lot easier to swallow.


Sony XPERIA S to have anti-stain and fast charging features

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 09:00 PM PST

We may have gone hands-on with the Sony XPERIA S at CES, but who would have known the device had a few hidden features? The XPERIA S will likely come with a stain-proof exterior. Stain-proof defined means the device will be dirt repellant, and UV Active. We assume the next generation of Samsung smartphones are considering a waterproof coating in their final design. Which would you prefer?


Next up, Sony Ericsson’s product manager states that it will come with fast charging capabilities. This ‘ability’ will allow one 10 minute charge to offer 1 hour of usage. That’s not bad at all, considering how quickly a standard smartphone’s battery drains when under heavy use.

That means you should see a complete charge in under an hour. You can be sure that once we have the XPERIA S in our hands, we’ll be putting these two new features to the test. It may even come with a few other surprises, hopefully Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). To see more on the XPERIA S, be sure to check out a hands-on over at SlashGear!

[via XPERIA Blog]


HTC pledges to follow a ‘Hero Device’ strategy for 2012

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 08:16 PM PST

It always confuses me when manufacturers release half-baked devices to the public. A great combination of working hardware/software will not only helps sustain a companies good name, but also generate repeat customers. HTC followed a similar ideology years back, and is returning in 2012 with their “Hero Device” gameplan.


This strategy means less overall phone models manufactured, and more focus on high quality devices. Their first of the year are slated to show up at the start of Q2. HTC UK chief Phil Robertson specifically stated that they’ll be following this business model, so there’s no reason not to expect it. To Mobile Magazine, he said:

"We had a fantastic year, with 65% growth year on year in the UK. But in Q4 we delivered a lot more products than in the past. Now we want to create more of a 'hero' approach. We make great phones, but it is hard to do that when the portfolio is spread too much." – Robertson

If hardware manufacturers only knew how much we appreciate this type of insight! Knowing that right after I purchase a device, that “the next big thing” isn’t going to show up two weeks later – and that they have tried their best to deliver the best customer experience possible. That is exactly what happened between the DROID BIONIC, Motorola DROID RAZR and even the new DROID RAZR Maxx. If you didn’t hold out until the latter, then you have every right to feel a bit agitated.

[via SlashGear]


Samsung 2011 Q4 earnings: $42 billion in sales, $4.7bn profit, 40% was from mobile

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 05:22 PM PST

Another earnings call is going on as we speak. Samsung is busy adding up all their sales, counting their pennies (or million dollar bills) and are posting their reports for Q4 2011. With a strong year over year, and quarter of quarter we are seeing some impressive numbers. Many of which comes directly from their smartphone sales.

Samsung does a lot more than just mobile so their numbers will be much different than most in the Android world but we’ll go ahead and dig through them anyways. They mention an extremely strong quarter thanks to high sales of the Galaxy S II and the Galaxy Nexus just to name a few highlights. Samsung is claiming $4.7 billion in profits for Q4, almost 2 billion more than last year. A large part thanks to the over 300 million smartphones they sold.

With all the semiconductor sales and TV panels from Samsung they did mention that while sales were good, a large portion of profits were exclusively from mobile sales. Reporting around half of their sales ($21 billion) and 40% of their profit coming directly from mobile alone. Most of which is Android-powered smartphones — although they did sell a few WP7 devices too from what I’ve heard.

With numbers like these it’s no wonder Apple has been attacking them on all fronts. When someone sells 300 million smartphones you start to take notice. One important note is the fact that Samsung’s own Younghee Lee specifically mentioned that while Q1 2012 will decline in mobile, they expect another solid quarter with two upcoming Samsung devices for the US. That being the AT&T Galaxy Note, and the Galaxy Tab 7.7 LTE. We’ve heard plenty about the 7.7″ Galaxy Tab, but it appears they’ve just confirmed we’ll be seeing it this quarter.

samsungq4earningsslide3 samsungq4earningsslide2 SGSII-Tmo-all1

[via Samsung(pdf)]


Google Music Manager update brings full library and puchased music downloads

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 04:35 PM PST

Yes! Finally Google has updated their new Music Manager for Google Music to allow users to download right from their cloud. Originally you could upload all your music but that was it. Now instead of downloading them one at a time we can retrieve the entire library right out of the air and download it to your device or computer — including purchased tracks from the Android Market.

This was by far my biggest complaint when Google Music first officially launched and they added Music to the Android Market. Being able to now upload and download one by one, or all of my music from their cloud services is what was needed to make this complete. Between this, Adele, and all the George Carlin one could ask for all from Google Music I’m now completely safe to toss this old iPod of mine in the trash.

So now when you purchase a new song on your Android phone or tablet, you can easily get on your computer or laptop and download the entire file right to your PC. That music will still be accessible and remain in the cloud. Available from the wide array of supported devices for access from anywhere. Make sure to upload your entire library to Google Music’s cloud services. Then if you happen to have a computer crash you can easily download the entire library to your new system. Thanks Google!

For all the details, new information, or help guides head over to the official Google Music support page. That will answer any remaining questions you may have. Now enjoy that music and go buy some Indie Rock!

[via +Android]


Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX only $230 from Wirefly [Deal]

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 02:58 PM PST

Just as Verizon announced, the new DROID RAZR MAXX went on sale today and can be yours for the low low price of $299. That will get you an impressive smartphone that is just like its older brother, but with a huge 3,300 mAh battery. Today Wirefly has decided to top Verizon and are offering the phone on launch day for $70 dollars less — just $229.

This phone full of juice can be yours for only $229 with a new 2-year contract over on Wirefly rather than paying full price from Verizon. They’ve done this in the past but usually not on launch day. Making this a pretty good deal for potential buyers. Wirefly pulled this same move when the Galaxy Nexus launched and offered it for the same price, so we have a feeling this trend will continue with others moving forward.

The RAZR MAXX offers a 4.3″ qHD AMOLED display, a powerful 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, 32GB of internal storage (16GB is microSD), an 8 megapixel shooter on the rear with LED flash and a front camera for those needing to chat. The most important part here is the new RAZR MAXX comes with a huge 3,300 mAh battery that should last forever. The original RAZR only has a 1,780 mAh battery for comparison. If this interests you, and the price is right hit the link below and get started today.

Wirefly

2012-01-26-08h03_56_thumb IMG_4406-540x360
Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : DROID RAZR MAXX
    Manufactuer : Motorola
    Carrier : Verizon
    Announced Date : January 13, 2011
    Release Date : January 26, 2011
    Also Known As : RAZR MAXX, DROID RAZR MAXX
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.3 Inch
  • Resolution :
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED Advanced qHD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.15 Inch
  • Width : 2.27 Inch
  • Depth : Inch
  • Weight : Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 3300 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : 380 hours
Software
    Android OS:
  • 2.3.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU : OMAP 4430
    CPU Clock Speed : 1200 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1000 MB
    Internal Storage : GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution :8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • CDMA
    CDMA Band:
  • 800
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1700
  • 1900
  • 2100
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 :


Grand Theft Auto III updated with Transformer Prime support, video tweaks — we go hands-on

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 02:34 PM PST

Surely many of you have already seen or played Grand Theft Auto III. Be it back in the day on your Xbox or even recently on a few Android smartphones and tablets as of late. What you haven’t seen is GTAIII on the NVIDIA quad-core powered ASUS Transformer Prime Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich tablet. We decided to give it a try so check it out below.

The update arrived just last night, fixing a few bugs and adding support for the Prime and the NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor. They’ve also added tons of new features such as haptic vibration feedback for a more immersive gameplay experience, gamepad and Xperia play control enhancements, and now the option to move game to SD card for those low on space.

The two biggest parts of the update (aside from Prime support) is video and display setting tweaks. Rockstar games added resolution options, visual effects high/med/low, dynamic shadows, and frame lighting options. Not to mention draw distance for phones or tablets that aren’t up to par to play this game. The second being support for Gamestop and others wireless controllers.

I must admit the game is loads of fun on a tablet. I’d previously played on my phone but on the Transformer Prime it was just awesome. Impressive graphics that look sharp and stunning and no lag whatsoever. The game was fluid and I didn’t have any issues on the Prime. The new haptic feedback seems to randomly fire off occasionally (even when not getting shot at or hitting light poles) so that could use a fix in the next update.

From the screenshot above you can clearly see me running on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich using the Prime’s built in screenshot feature. Not to mention the awesome place to stand for the photo shoot — Thanks Liberty City Police! If you’ve not tried GTA III for mobile yet I’d highly recommend it. Especially now they’ve added all these new features and support for quad-core tablets.

Watch out for fakes and make sure you get the real deal from the Android Market by clicking the official link below. Good luck and keep those guns a blazing.

Market Link

P1080706 Screenshot_2012-01-26-14-06-53 Screenshot_2012-01-26-14-09-03 Screenshot_2012-01-26-13-47-37 Screenshot_2012-01-26-13-49-40


Google tells devs how to kick the Android menu button to the curb in ICS

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 02:01 PM PST

Ice Cream Sandwich removes the ubiquitous Android Menu bottom from its comfy place below the screen and casts it adrift on the sea of interface, where it floats around the screen like Tom Hanks and a volleyball. This change has given grief to a lot of developers (not to mention users): Is the Menu section hiding out in the navigation bar? Slumming it up top near search buttons and titles? Fret not, devs: the latest post to the Android Developer Blog gives some guidance on exactly how to handle the new system.

First of all, it’s not a “Menu button’ anymore. It’s an action overflow: functions should only be placed in a menu if hey can’t be reasonably handled elsewhere in the interface. Depending upon your app, what it’s designed to do and what device you intend it to be used on, that could cover a whole lot or not very much at all. Take a look at Google’s example: for every app that needs a search function, a search bar is present on the top. Don’t need search, or any of the other standard bar functions? The action bar disappears - in which case, the menu button action overflow reverts to its position in the navigation bar. Unless you’re using a tablet, when it slides on over to the notification area. Unless you just build a button into the app itself. Or not.

Herein lies the problem with radical interface  changes: you have to retain people to use something that they’re already comfortable using. I’m not saying that removing the menu button was a mistake – on my custom Galaxy Nexus ROM, I have the option of a permanent menu button and leave it disabled. But users need time to acclimate to the new system. A lot of time, thanks to the multiple versions of Android still being sold on devices at retail. (Deleting the Search button was a mistake.) Developers, if you’re having trouble adjusting to the new system, not to mention making sure that your Ice Cream Sandwich apps are backwards-compatible, be sure to give Google’s blog post a gander.


SwitchMe brings multiple user profiles to (rooted) Android phones and tablets

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 01:28 PM PST

There’s one thing that I’ve heard requested more than anything when it comes to Android tablets: support fur desktop-style user profiles. It’s rare that more than one person uses a smartphone, but tablets were practically made for sharing, especially in the communal area of the family coffee table. While Google graciously allows you to connect more than one Gmail account to a single device, true separation (as in apps, passwords, and settings) is impossible. Enter SwitchMe, the first enabler of a truly multi-user device. The app is free in the Android Market, but requires a $1.98 license key for more than two profiles.

The idea is pretty simple: install SwitchMe on your main profile, then use it to define more profiles and manually reboot into them. The only thing you’ll be missing while in a secondary profile is storage space: the apps and cache from multiple profiles don’t cross over, and are isolated onto different sections of flash storage. This could make things tight, especially if your phone or tablet has less that 8GB of space available and/or you store a lot of games, music or video.

SwitchMe is definitely for advanced users: root access is necessary to set up the different storage areas, and even the developer Fahrbot Mobile  recommends performing a Nandroid backup before using it. Ouch. That said, for the tech-savvy among you who wants to share your device with your kids or significant other, this seems like a pretty in-depth solution that’s much cheaper than buying a second chuck of Android hardware. Just clean off all your gigantic game files before trying it out and you’ll be set.

[via Android Police]


Official Steam app in closed beta, available now

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 01:00 PM PST

While we saw at least one impressive attempt at an unofficial Steam app, big daddy Valve has now stepped up and offered an official Steam client for Android. The ubiquitous PC game store-cloud client is incredibly popular among gamers, who have had to settle for access to the desktop web version before now. The Steam app is in beta and available as a free download on the Android Market, but unfortunately, your Steam account needs to be part of the batch of beta users in order to log in.

Most of the features of the Windows and OS X desktop Steam program are present in the mobile app – except, you know, the actual games. The expansive community settings built into the platform, including friends, chats, groups, clans and portals. Chatting with your Steam friends is apparently as simple as any mobile chat application. Of course, one of the most attractive parts of Steam is its almost constant collection of discounted games. With the app, users can buy new and discounted games directly from their phones. Technically this was possible before, but it’s a heck of a lot easier with a custom-built interface.

There’s a big let-down though – without an official Steam beta invite, you’re not getting into the app. Most Android phones can’t even see the app in the Market, though if you visit the web version you can install it remotely. Nowhere on the page is this restriction mentioned. By all accounts, the app is pretty feature complete, so we can hope for a release soon enough. Until then, get comfortable panning around the Steam Powered web site with your browser.

[via Gaming Blend]


Verizon MAP leaks showing DROID 4, RAZR, and Bionic all getting prices slashed

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 12:57 PM PST

Another document has leaked from Big Red showing Verizon’s latest MAP (minimum advertised price) plans for many of their current and upcoming devices. It looks like starting today, January 26th many of the popular DROID models such as the RAZR and Bionic will receive discounts in their price. Right on time for the new DROID RAZR MAXX that launched today to be at the top spot.

One interesting part from the leaked document shown below is the mention and pricing of the upcoming and still unreleased DROID 4. It has leaked plenty and we even got some hands-on time at CES with the new slider but now this latest map is showing a few dates and the price being slashed by $100. Showing the DROID 4 being discounted starting today from $299 down to $199 and being that price for the next 6 months. Now obviously the device isn’t available yet but this could mean it was delayed and will still launch at $299. Or they’ll release it at the lower price point — but we don’t know for sure.

Then the popular RAZR in all colors including white are seeing a small slash in their pricing to $279 down from $299. Making the new DROID RAZR MAXX and its 3,300 mAh battery the king of the hill — in more ways than one. This has just been leaked so your best bet is to call up your local store and inquire about pricing on these devices. Check out our RAZR MAXX hands-on below too.

droid_4-540x337 verizon-new-map-droid-4-409x650

[via Droid-Life]


HTC Rezound update incoming with audio improvements and more

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 12:35 PM PST

The HTC Rezound is set to receive its first major over the air update soon, according to the folks over at Verizon. If you’ve been enjoying that audio bliss from the integrated Beats Audio I can happily tell you it’s about to get better — not to mention other bug fixes and possibly even some better signal strength too.

This is the first major update to land for the new HTC Rezound and is around 52MB in size. Right out of the gate they mention fixing signal issues and adding stability. They’ve also updated the signal indicator with support for 5 bars rather than 4. This will most likely just give the illusion of a better connection. Then they’ve addressed timeout issues while using Wifi, and fixed stalls during mobile hotspot use when multiple users are connected.

After reports of random reboots and issues in that area HTC has also addressed overall performance and stability. Stating they’ve solved a few bugs with force closures in the People application, as well as those random reboots some users reported. While we still patiently await Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich this update will have to hold us over til the main treat arrives.

Full details are in the change log image and via below.

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[via Verizon]


Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX hands-on and unboxing

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 12:05 PM PST

Verizon’s long-haul update to the Motorola DROID RAZR is available in stores today: the DROID RAZR MAXX. If you’ve seen (or unfortunately, own) the DROID RAZR, there’s only one major difference: a slightly larger body that accommodates a huge 3300mAh battery. Verizon was kind enough to send us a review unit, which we promptly unboxed for your viewing pleasure and consideration. Same song, second verse:

It’s actually kind of remarkable how little the RAZR MAXX changes things from the original. Obviously, the 8.9mm thickness is a nit more realistic than the shockingly thin RAZR, but it’s still a pretty sleek device – compare this with the original Motorola DROID BIONIC, and the difference is still shocking. The 4.3-inch AMOLED display dominates the front fascia, with a surprisingly large bezel and four standard Android buttons.

Around the back you’ve got the slightly rubbery texture of the DROID RAZR MAXX’s Kevlar backing. There’s still no way to remove the battery, but with a claimed 20+ hour runtime, Verizon hopes you won’t have to. The right side holds the volume up and down buttons next to the power button, with the left side reserved for an access door to the 16GB MicroSD card and LTE SIM card. On top you get a MicroUSB charging port, HDMI port and headphone jack.

The phone feels just as solid as the RAZR, with one crucial difference: thanks to a little extra heft, it actually feels better in your hand. Where the RAZR would almost chafe because you fingers had to apply extra grip, the MAXX settles into your palm more like an ordinary phone. It’s a small detail, but given the choice between the two I’d take the MAXX for making phone calls. At least that’s my initial conclusion.

Sorry to sound like a broken record, but on the software side of things the DROID RAZR MAXX is identical – nay, indistinguishable – from the DROID RAZR. You still get Motorola’s skinned version of Android 2.3.5, which Moto and Verizon promise to upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich eventually. Even the model in the “About phone” section still lists the device as the DROID RAZR. Response is fast and snappy, thanks to a dual-core 1.2Ghz processor and a full gigabyte of RAM. And of course, access to Verizon’s 4G LTE network is included.

As a phone alone, the $300 DROID RAZR MAXX is a solid contender, thanks mostly to the extended runtime. You can bet we’ll be putting that capacious battery through its paces very soon. The only sour note for the RAZR MAXX is that it came so soon after the DROID RAZR – soon enough that moving the former up or the latter back as far as release date goes could have made early adopters eligible for a return. As it stands, all those who went out to buy the DROID RAZR on day one will have to wait at least two years to buy another phone, which might get on their nerves whenever that battery is running low.

It’s a nice phone to be sure, and for many will be more desirable than its skinny brother. We’ll have a full review up soon. in the meantime, enjoy our unboxing video below:

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Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : DROID RAZR MAXX
    Manufactuer : Motorola
    Carrier : Verizon
    Announced Date : January 13, 2011
    Release Date : January 26, 2011
    Also Known As : RAZR MAXX, DROID RAZR MAXX
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.3 Inch
  • Resolution :
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED Advanced qHD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.15 Inch
  • Width : 2.27 Inch
  • Depth : Inch
  • Weight : Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 3300 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : 380 hours
Software
    Android OS:
  • 2.3.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU : OMAP 4430
    CPU Clock Speed : 1200 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1000 MB
    Internal Storage : GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution :8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • CDMA
    CDMA Band:
  • 800
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1700
  • 1900
  • 2100
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 :


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