Thursday 5 April 2012

Android Community

Android Community


Google Project Glass parody video shows you a new way to hurt yourself

Posted: 05 Apr 2012 11:12 AM PDT

Big news took the technology world by storm yesterday when Google released a teaser video of their upcoming Project Glass. The smart glasses that combine Android and Voice actions into real-life glasses. This wearable augmented reality platform is interesting to say the least, and a new parody video was just released that was so awesome we had to share. First you’ll want to watch the original Google video right here.

Obviously wearing glasses that have a futuristic HUD (heads up display) and something sharing information and popups right in your line of sight poses some risks or unknown dangers. Google’s video had small, quick, and manageable popups but the video shows below is another story entirely. You could say this parody video has producer Tom Scott calling out Google’s bluff.

Google Glasses: A New Way to Hurt Yourself

Now we don’t know much about Google’s Project Glass, but from what we’ve gathered in the official photos the lens doesn’t actually cover your line of sight — making this video more of a goofy parody than anything. A lot comes into play with something of this caliber. Such as battery life, eye tracking or facial recognition and more but until we get further details from the Project X team at Google we’ll just be left guessing.

As Chris Davies said in this post on our sister site SlashGear, “My Wallet is Open, Google, now hand over Project Glass” and I’d have to agree.


Instagram receives another update – fixes for picture size and HTC devices

Posted: 05 Apr 2012 10:46 AM PDT

Instagram has only been available for Android a couple of days and has seen huge numbers of success already with millions of downloads. It’s also getting its fair share of criticism at the same time. Today they’ve updated the app for the second time since launching two days ago and with it comes some much needed changes that were causing problems for Android users.

One of the biggest complaints for Android users was that some were having problems choosing pictures already taken from the gallery and running them through Instagrams filters and tweaks, then multiple users were having resolution issues. Pictures were too small, and some were being output small. Instagram has quickly issued a large update today that should resolve any problems most users have experienced.

HTC devices like the HTC One X also aren’t compatible with Instagram yet, but they’ve claimed to fix some compatibility and search issues with HTC phones. Last but not least are more camera improvements that should solve those pesky crashes. With so many Android phones available with all ranges of cameras surely this was a task that will probably take another update or two.

Head to the Play Store on your device to update or follow along to the Google Play Store by clicking here.


CyanogenMod shows off their new mascot and brand image

Posted: 05 Apr 2012 10:13 AM PDT

Yesterday we showed you some images of what we were hearing was the new CyanogenMod mascot to replace the old Andy bugdroid. Apparently those designs were only a few of many and now we have the final verdict. The image below is one of two new images to represent CyanogenMod as a brand, and a mature OS. Meet Cid.

I’m sure you all loved the skateboarding Android we’ve come to love, and the CM7 boot animation was my favorite to date but with all things, change is inevitable. Over on the CyanogenMod Blog they discuss the changes and their reasoning behind it. This is Cid and it stands for CyanogenMod ID. They’ve taken the bugdroid and made it a humanoid instead. Some might say this looks too human, but I sort of like it.

During the blog post the team mentions they want CM to be seen as more than just a “stock Android on a zillion devices.” Instead they want it to be seen for what it is — and that is a mature and evolving Android OS that is on the bleeding edge of Android development. Creating a new logo or mascot that will represent CM as a brand and OS that doesn’t reply on Google’s own creation seems like a great idea, and I understand what they are aiming for here.

As CyanogenMod continues to grow, especially CM9 you can expect to see more of this new Cid in roms, maybe on a boot animation and more — unless this is just a late April fools joke. So what say you readers. Do you love the new mascot, or hate it? Check out more Cid creations by clicking here.

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Bluestacks App Player hacked for root and Google Play Store access

Posted: 05 Apr 2012 09:59 AM PDT

The Bluetstacks Android app player is already a pretty cool little service: after its recent upgrade to Beta status, it can handle just about any Android app on a Windows PC. The beta can sync apps from your Android phone or tablet, or download them directly from third-party apps stores, but like Steve Austin, it can be so much more. Like any Android “device”, if you want to make it better, stronger, faster, then you’ve got to root that sucker. XDA member xRepinsSporx did just that, and he’s kindly showed the world how to follow suit. And yes, you can install the Google Play Store.

It’s a not a mod for the faint of heart:  you’ll need to be pretty familiar with the Windows registry and Android’s ADB program, for starters. Then you download some modified files from the forum post, modify your registry, push the SuperUser app to the correct location via ADB, and run a few checks. On the plus side, it’s not as if you can do any real damage here – if youi run into any trouble, uninstall Bluestacks, clear out any lingering files and download it again.

By comparison getting the Google Play Store onto an unmodified Bluestacks install is relatively simple. Download a file explorer, copy the Google Play Vending app files and a few others to the virtual drive in Bluestacks, and adjust a few of their permissions. Bingo, you’re ready to download 300,000+ apps without syncing anything at all. This seems like a great way to try out some new apps without clogging up your Android device – let us know if you’ve been able to do it successfully in the comments section.

[via Android Police]


Motorola RAZR MAXX priced in the UK

Posted: 05 Apr 2012 09:27 AM PDT

Love Motorola’s design sense, but can’t stand to have a phone that lasts less than three days on a single charge? Then the DROID RAZR MAXX is for you. Unless you’re one of the 6 billion or so people outside of Verizon’s US-only coverage area – then you’ll have to wait for the international GSM version, the RAZR MAXX. Moto confirmed that the phone would be coming to Europe and the Middle East on Tuesday, and now UK retailer Clove has posted the pre-order page. Prepare to pay up if you want the extra longevity.

The RAZR MAXX is listed at £359.00, almost forty pounds more than the regular RAZR. After UK taxes it’s £430, roughly equivalent to $680. That’s pretty close to what Verizon is selling the DROID RAZR MAXX for without a contract, but they’re selling the original DROID RAZR at the same price, when equipped with an identical 16GB SD card. The takeaway here is that you’re paying either for an incredibly slim device, or for one that’s more average but gets amazing battery life. Motorola seems to be taking a completely different track when it comes to the international version of the MAXX.

The RAZR MAXX will be available sometime in May, though neither Motorola nor Clove gave an exact date. Clove’s usually pretty exacting when it comes to initial releases, so you can expect to see similar prices elsewhere when compared to the original RAZR. Moto hasn’t stated so yet, but the RAZR MAXX should get access to an unlocked bootloader through MotoDev, unlike its Verizon-bound cousins.


Plume Twitter client updated with ICS interface

Posted: 05 Apr 2012 08:33 AM PDT

Twitter clients are a dime a dozen for Android, but Plume (previously known as Toiteur) is one of the best. Its simple bot capable interface has won it a lot of fans… but its lack of Ice Cream Sandwich-friendly menus hasn’t. That changes today, as developer LevelUp Studio released a new version of Plume that incorporates all of the design elements that are becoming a standard for Android going forward. The standard Plume for Twitter app is still free, with in-stream ads, and the premium version costs $4.99.

Plume’s interface is deceptively simple: it’s got the standard “stream” view that’s so common among Twitter clients, and you swipe left or right to move between your established columns. (Tablets can display three columns at a time, but only in landscape mode.) The popular views are available, including the “fire hose”, direct messages, retweets and @ relies, and so on. As someone who uses Twitter’s List function regularly, I’ve found that Plume supports it the best among all the apps I’ve tried, easily adding your subscribed lists to their own column.

The primary changes are that popular menu functions have been translated to the Action Bar, like all of Google’s standard Android apps on Ice Cream Sandwich. Plume’s widget options are pretty great, too, allowing you to easily switch between your main feed, @ replies and private messages. The widget also plays nice with Ice Cream Sandwich’s widget resize capability, on both smartphones and tablets. Give it a try if you’re unimpressed with Twitter’s official client or TweetDeck.


US Cellular begins selling the LTE-equipped Samsung Galaxy S Aviator

Posted: 05 Apr 2012 07:44 AM PDT

Users of regional carier US Cellular, rejoice! You now have an option for an LTE smartphone, in addition to the Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet. The Galaxy S Aviator is now available from the wireless provider for $199.99. less a $100 rebate. If you happen to live in one of the few areas that US Cellular actually offers LTE service in addition to 3G, you can pick it up for $99. The phone will go on sale on US Cellular’s website and retailers today.

The Galaxy S Aviator is essentially a re-skinned version of the familiar Samsung DROID CHARGE. It’s a 4.3-inch Gingerbread phone that would have been at home on any carrier about nine months ago, but now feels a little dated – especially considering that it takes three c-notes to walk out the door with one in most of US Cellular’s coverage area. The screen is a Samsung Super AMOLED with a resolution of 800×480. The processor is a 1Ghz single-core, which should be enough to handle Gingerbread 2.3.6 with TouchWiz. Don’t hold out for an Ice Cream Sandwich update any time soon.

The phone packs an 8-megapixel 720p camera, 2GB of internal memory and a MicroSD card slot. A 1600mAh battery should last a while, but you might want to keep those streaming videos and downloads waiting until you can hop on a WiFi network. US Cellular’s LTE network is just starting, which is more than we can say for the likes of T-Mobile and others – here’s hoping they get more robust smartphone options soon.


HTC One X and One S now shipping in the UK

Posted: 05 Apr 2012 07:26 AM PDT

Alright Brits, you’re always complaining about haw America gets all the good stuff first – movies, gadgets, Netflix, sandwiches that don’t suck. With HTC’s One series, you can now lord your mobile superiority over the former colonies. The HTC One X and One S are now officially on sale in the UK, both in their unlocked, full-priced versions and subsidized from carriers. Take your pick of Three, Orange, O2, Vodaphone and T-Mobile UK, almost all of which will give you either phone for free with a contract, though the price of the monthly plans will differ accordingly.

If you plan to buy either phone outright, prepare to pony up some pounds. The flagship HTC One X will run you £479.99, the equivalent of $760, and the One S will go for £449.99, about $710, though some discounts have it cheaper at the moment. That’s pricey even by United Kingdom standards, but the phones themselves are hard to argue with: check out our review of the One X and One S to see why. Both phones are already available in some European countries.

Americans will have to wait a few weeks at the very least to see either phone. The One X is coming to AT&T and the Now Network in slightly different versions, with the latter rechristened as the HTC EVO 4G LTE. Both get a CPU swap from Nvidia’s Tegra 3 to the Snapdragon S4, and the EVO gets a reduced 16GB of storage in exchange for an SD card slot and a kickstand. T-Mobile will get the smaller One S, presumably in much the same form as its European version. Though none of the carriers will say when the phones will go on sale, the EVO will be up for pre-order in may.

[via SlashGear]


ASUS Padfone pre-orders start in Taiwan, going on sale April 20th

Posted: 05 Apr 2012 06:44 AM PDT

If there’s one device that’s caught the imaginations of those looking for a real shift in the mobile space, it’s the ASUS Padfone. This docking ICS phone/tablet/netbook combo has wowed onlookers since the concept was introduced last summer. ASUS showed off a production device at Mobile World Congress and vowed to ship in April, and it looks like they’re sticking to that for their home territory of Taiwan. Residents can begin placing pre-orders for the Ice Cream Sandwich phone tomorrow, and it’s set to ship on April 20th.

ASUS hadn’t been very forthcoming about prices for the phone and its various accessories up to this point. Now we’ve finally got some hard numbers, though you’ll have to translate them from the New Taiwan Dollar. The phone itself is a rather typical NT$17,990 ($610). The docking accessories aren’t being sold separately at the moment, but the price of the phone, tablet dock and Bluetooth earpiece/stylus together are NT$24,980 ($847). You can throw the keyboard dock in for a complete set at the price of NT$28,901 ($980) and those who preorder get a free swappable battery. All in all it’s not a terrible price, considering how much hardware is there – if you think of it as a typical high-end smartphone ($650) plus an Android tablet ($400) plus a netbook ($300) plus a Bluetooth headset ($50) it comes out as a steal.

ASUS hasn’t mentioned when or if it intends to ship the device outside of Taiwan, but with a world-friendly HSPA+ radio, expansion to other Asian territories and eventually Europe seems like a safe bet. Unfortunately, the Padfone’s American prospects aren’t so shining: ASUS has yet to build the relationships with carriers that are a necessary evil for wide hardware release in the US. They could always sell it unlocked, as Sony has been in the habit of doing, and we hope that they do so. Soon.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Padfone
    Manufactuer : Asus
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : June 01, 2011
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.3 Inch
  • Resolution : 540x960
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.04 Inch
  • Width : 2.57 Inch
  • Depth : 0.36 Inch
  • Weight : 129 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 1520 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : 440 hours
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.0.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU : S4
    CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1024 MB
    Internal Storage : 64 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 720p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • 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 4.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

[via Engadget]


Samsung Galaxy S III press image appears, claims May 22 is the day

Posted: 04 Apr 2012 10:14 PM PDT

The Samsung Galaxy S III is one of the most anticipated smartphones of the year, that goes without question. We’ve seen various leaks and tons of fakes claiming to be the real deal. While this could very well be as fake as the rest it at least appears to possibly be real. Being spotted in a press invite and listing for the second time now, May 22nd for the unveiling.

Now obviously the image doesn’t reveal much as far as design, but most press invites don’t. It’s an interesting design that is for sure, and that’s only if it’s real to begin with. Talk about curves right? Uncovered by the folks at Phandroid this could possibly be the real deal, but it’s doubtful.

First off press invites never go out two months in advanced, never. Then looking at the design while I could see this being Samsung’s next flagship as they try to differentiate themselves from the competition, and the Galaxy S II, this just seems a little much. At the same time the Galaxy Nexus leaks showed us a crazy curved design that was exaggerated too so the same situation could apply here. The slit up the side seems odd and uncomfortable — and if it’s for a stylus or S-pen I’ll be angry.

This is a very interesting leak that is for sure. Either someone made a clever and believable press invite image, or this is indeed the real deal. We’ve seen May 22nd tossed around more than once too, so we should take that into consideration too. What do you guys think? Real deal or too crazy to be legit? Sound off below.


Google CEO’s favorite tablets: Motorola and Samsung

Posted: 04 Apr 2012 07:03 PM PDT

Today lifetime Googler Larry Page took over the Chief Executive Officer position at Google. It’s been a long time coming for the 39-year old engineer turned entrepreneur – he’s adopting the duties from Eric Schmidt, Page and Sergey Brin’s business partner, who is keeping his executive chairman duties. When Businessweek asked Page about which Android tablet he prefers, the executive made an answer that shouldn’t surprise anyone: he’s a fan of Motorola and Samsung’s designs.

Quote Page:

I really like using my Samsung tablet. I previously used the Motorola Xoom for a while and liked that. I think that those are great experiences, but they're going to get a lot better. I think that we're at the pretty early stages of this.

The Motorola XOOM should come as no surprise – after all, it was the developer device for Honeycomb and the first “real” Android tablet. Page didn’t specify which of the five current Samsung Galaxy Tabs he’s using (original, 7.0 Plus, 7.7, 8.9 and 10.1 – and that isn’t counting regional and carrier versions) but statistically it’s probably the Galaxy Tab 10.1. Page’s answer is somewhat surprising, since Samsung’s tablets all currently have a heavily modified TouchWiz interface running on them, and none have official Ice Cream Sandwich updates.

This shouldn’t be taken as any sort of indication of Google’s intentions; they’ve had very close dealings with both companies via the original DROID, XOOM, Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus projects. They’re not exclusively tied to either – when Android was starting out, HTC was their go-to partner, and now ASUS seems to be the next in line. When asked about the rumored Nexus Tablet, Page declined to comment.

[via SlashGear]


DROID RAZR soak test rolls out – psyche, it’s just Gingerbread

Posted: 04 Apr 2012 06:26 PM PDT

If you’re a Motorola DROID RAZR or DROID RAZR MAXX owner who watched the Android news last week, you’ve probably been waiting all day for a certain frozen treat. Sorry, RAZR owners: the Ice Cream Sandwich update that an internal Best Buy document leaked seems to be a complete dud. And that update that Motorola sent out to members of its official forum? It’s just another Gingerbread update, version 6.12.181 to be specific. Talk about a bummer. Oh well – adventurous users can always flash the leaked Ice Cream Sandwich update instead.

The new soak test includes a few new features including slightly better battery life, a more precise storage display in the Setting menu, and a new MotoCast widget. Try to contain you boundless enthusiasm. Other changes include tweaks and bugfixes for better wireless performance, browsing and security. Selected Motorola forum users will be able to download the update starting tomorrow. Given Motorola’s update schedule, you can expect to see 6.12.181 roll out to all users before the end of the month.

This lack of an update also casts doubt on the HTC Rezound Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade mentioned in the same Best Buy leak. While it may still be set for Friday, April 6th, it doesn’t seem likely – though it must be said that HTC has a much better reputation when it comes to timely updates. Motorola still hasn’t gone on record for when the DROID RAZR and DROID RAZR MAXX will be getting Ice Cream Sandwich, but with a leaked version already out there (complete with WebTop 3.0) it can’t be too much longer.

We hope.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : DROID RAZR
    Manufactuer : Motorola
    Carrier : Verizon
    Announced Date : October 18, 2011
    Release Date : November 03, 2011
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.3 Inch
  • Resolution :
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED Advanced qHD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.15 Inch
  • Width : 2.71 Inch
  • Depth : 0.27 Inch
  • Weight : 127 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 1780 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : 8.9 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 : 16.384 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
    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 :

[via Android Police]


Google inks deal with Paramount, 500 new Movies coming to Android

Posted: 04 Apr 2012 05:07 PM PDT

If you are in the market to rent or watch movies on your Android smartphone or tablet we have some great news today. When Google said they’ve been hard at work developing content deals with multiple providers in both the music and movie industry they weren’t kidding around. Today over on the Google Blog they announced a new deal with Paramount.

Google and Paramount have completed a licensing agreement that will allow their content to be rented on the Google Play Store. This deal will start off with an additional 500 movies from Paramount pictures being added to the Play Store and we expect plenty more to soon follow. Some of those include classic hits like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off in SD and HD, and even newer movies like Hugo or Transformers.

This shows that Google is serious with provided quality content to Android and Google users. With 5 of the 6 major labels on board, not to mention 10 independent film crews the list has reached over 9000 available titles and more are coming soon. With Google Music taking off, movie rentals growing by the day (or hour) and Android continuing to reach millions of users pockets this is clearly just the beginning.

According to Google many of the movies are available today for rent, and the rest will be added to the Google Play Store soon. So get your nearest phone or tablet, find some popcorn and head to Google Play Movies to get started today.

[via SlashGear]


Archos 101 G9 Turbo review

Posted: 04 Apr 2012 04:54 PM PDT

Archos has always had a focus on video-optimized and flexible hardware, since long before their “tablets” started shipping with Android. With the current generation of mobile hardware, they can add even more media prowess to their utilitarian designs – in at least one case, even without a major overhaul. The 101 G9 Turbo edition gets its elongated title from the boosted 1.5Ghz dual-core processor. Some relatively quick coding from Archos’ software department has also given later models Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box, with Google certification – in other words, it’s exactly what you want when you hear the words “Android tablet”, at least from a software standpoint. Is it enough to overcome more well-publicized competitors?

Hardware

Archos is kind of like the Jeep of portable media player manufacturers. You’d have a hard time calling any of their current products “pretty”, though “tough” isn’t exactly the right word either – the 101 G9 is made from rather ordinary glass and plastic. A better word would be “utilitarian”, a philosophy that extends throughout the hardware. On the left side of the tablet you’ll find a plethora of ports: mini-HDMI, MicroUSB, MicroSD (unlabelled, and right below the MicroUSB port), a standard headphone port, and a plastic dummy peice that slides out to reveal a full-sized USB port. In Europe this plastic piece can be replaced with a separate 3G modem, but no carrier on this side of the pond officially supports it. Even so, you can plug in a flash drive or external hard drive to augment the tablet’s 8GB of storage.

Controls are simple and unfortunately less than ergonomic. The power button hides between the ports on the left side while the tiny volume buttons sit along on the right. Neither are ideally placed – when holding the tablet in either hand I tended to accidentally tap them with my palm. The front of the tablet is bare aside from a lot of grey bezel and a 720p front-facing camera, the only one on the device. On the back of the tablet is a large and very loud speaker, the plastic USB port cover and… a kickstand.

I love kickstands on mobile devices. And while this isn’t the first I’ve seen, I’m always happy to use them. The small plastic stand folds out at about a 35 degree angle, and stays put when fully extended or retracted. That said, it’s only truly useful when watching video or using the 101 G9 Turbo in “desktop mode” with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. The reason for this is its placement, almost on left edge of the device. When extended, the tablet will rock back any time you touch something on the opposite side of the screen – like, for example, the essential Search and Voice buttons on the launcher, or the primary button in the Google Play Store. A center placement might have solved this issue.

Software

This is Android as it’s meant to be experienced: pure Ice Cream Sandwich, with no overlays, bloat, bells or whistles. Even with the advancements in the likes of TouchWiz and Sense, there’s nothing that beats unadorned Android for speed, stability and flexibility, at least in the opinion of this reviewer. Yes, there are extra apps included, but none of them are unwelcome (which is more than I can say for ridiculous carrier fare like AT&T Navigation). What games are here are fun, and even if you don’t want them, you can remove them completely.

But hold your horses: in among the likes of Evernote and Nook are Archos’ custom Music and Video apps, two programs that you’ll want to keep around. Not only are they surprisingly well-made, they’re considerably faster than Google’s alternatives, though they don’t integrate with the Google Play Store. Music comes pre-packaged with about two dozen free and popular songs, while the Video app has a collection of movie trailers. If you’ve got a bunch of hi-definition, DRM-free video files sitting around (I won’t ask where you got them) Archos’ video app can play 1080p h264 vids without a hitch, though of course you’ll have to use and HDMI cable to make the most of it.

Media and Performance

Considering Archos’ history and the additions of the Turbo model, this section will be of the most interest to those considering the upgrade over the standard 101 G9, which also gets an Ice Cream Sandwich software update. And considering that the tablet is running the latest and certainly greatest version of Android, the 1.5Ghz TI OMAP 4460 and 1GB of RAM are much appreciated (this is the the same combo as the Galaxy Nexus, but clocked a little higher). It’s not a speed demon by any means: the Quadrant score is just below 2400, a little lower than I’d expect. But based on my experiences in the pack-in games and with Grand Theft Auto, it should be fine for all but the most demanding of gamers.

Through the standard Android interface and especially when playing video, the 101 G9 shines. Full Google certification means that you’ve got access to the likes of Gmail, YouTube and the Google Play Store, along with the nearly limitless media options this provides. The one thing I found myself wishing for was access to Video On Demand, which of course isn’t available as an app – but thanks to the Flash Player I was able to watch a few episodes via the Android browser.

The combination of a loud speaker and kickstand would make the 101 a perfect video tablet – if it weren’t for the somewhat lacking screen. Even at full brightness it’s duller than most and there’s a good bit of light leakage, which isn’t helped by the glossy nature (something that’s admittedly shared with all modern touchscreens). That said, the utility of the kickstand, the 10.1-inch 1280×800 screen and the excellent video decoding of the included Video app go a long way towards making up for this.

The full-sized USB port is great if you’ve got a large collection of videos that you want to quickly access via the tablet. For the bigger USB drives you’ll need an adapter – there’s only a few millimeters between the port and the tablet housing to accommodate an external gadget. And for a tablet with so many USB options (including trickle charging) it’s disappointing to see the MTP standard used instead of the more reliable USB mass storage.

Battery and Value

The 101 G9 lasted didn’t last quite as long as I’d hoped a device this large would: got between 7 and 8 hours of web browsing and music on a charge, which of course went down when I added gaming and video. That’s more than enough to get through the average plane flight, no matter what you’re doing, but I’ve come to expect more longevity from a WiFi only tablet.

The 8GB version comes in at $329.99, which I feel is a little pricey. But for the 250GB version (which houses a traditional hard drive instead of flash storage) at $389.99, it wins the price wars by virtue of being the only contestant in that capacity class. If you need monster storage space without adding any external hardware (and don’t mind slightly diminished performance in some areas) it’s a good deal. Keep in mind that both versions are frequently on sale at various retailers. The smaller Archos 80 G9 is considerably less expensive, though the screen goes down to 1024×768.

Wrap-up 

Archos tablets are strange beasts, cousins to the ASUS Transformer tablets in their focus on capability over style. They’re also cheaper, though not by much in the case of the 101 G9 Turbo. The component upgrades are enough to make it worth the extra money versus their older counterparts, but the build quality, screen brightness and battery life may make it worth the extra dough to step up to a more premium manufacturer.

There are two exceptions: one, those who love watching video, and lots of it, from a lot of different places. Archos’ integrated video player is second to none, and its options for storage expansion can’t be beat. The second exception is someone who absolutely must have vanilla Android, and the latest version at that – and doesn’t want to modify their tablet to get it. Though the 101 G9 has only been out for a few weeks, it received its first maintenance update from Archos while I was using it.

Long story short: there are prettier, thinner, and cheaper machines out there, but none of them offer the combination of hardware features and blessedly clean software that the Archos 101 G89 Turbo does. If you want pretty, get a Galaxy Tab (or, you know, an iPad). If you want a machine that specializes in video and doesn’t get in the way of Android, give some serious consideration to Archos.

IMG_6680 IMG_6683 IMG_6690 IMG_6705 IMG_6707 IMG_6714 IMG_6723 IMG_6729 IMG_6735 IMG_6890 IMG_6899 IMG_6902 IMG_6908 IMG_6913 IMG_6922 Screenshot_2012-04-03-23-13-04 Screenshot_2012-04-03-23-13-53 Screenshot_2012-04-03-23-15-21 Screenshot_2012-04-04-17-53-36 Screenshot_2012-04-04-18-02-02 Screenshot_2012-04-03-23-15-07


AT&T Galaxy Note Android 4.0 ICS hands-on

Posted: 04 Apr 2012 04:29 PM PDT

Say hello to the AT&T 4G LTE Galaxy Note running on Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich. The official AT&T build was leaked late last night and we decided to give it a run on our own phablet. This 5.3″ Super AMOLED packing smartphone running on ICS is awesome. While we don’t have everything Samsung has planned in this build, everything runs pretty rock solid and you can see for yourself in our video after the break.

This is an official build of Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich for the AT&T 4G LTE Galaxy Note, this will not work with the HSPA+ international version. More details for downloading yourself will be available below. So far for just a leaked build everything is extremely impressive. Other than a force close at first boot, everything’s ran smooth as butter. Obviously the Samsung TouchWiz UX changes make ICS not as visible, but you can definetaly tell and feel the difference.

While this doesn’t have the Samsung Suite of new apps that are supposed to benefit the S-Pen stylus it does have some new widgets, Samsung Planner was renamed “calender” as that makes more sense, and we have 5-6 brand new widgets that take full advantage of the 5.3″ screen. Those are all on top of the other new features in Ice Cream Sandwich.

Thanks to the folks over at RootzWiki we were able to give this a full video hands-on rundown, and we love it. The Note might not be for you because of the size, but if that doesn’t bother you it looks even more attractive with ICS. Everything appears to be working here. That includes Face Unlock as you saw above, camera, front camera, 4G LTE, browser, audio, voice and video calls and more. This seems as complete as ever and a fully stable and operational build of Ice Cream Sandwich. What we call a daily driver.

The camera works great and face unlock is extremely quick for those interested in that gimmick security feature. As you can see from the screenshot in the gallery below AT&T 4G LTE seems to be plenty fast with this latest leak. Getting speeds upwards of 20 MB/s here in Vegas. As far as general performance you can see from the video below yourself just how smooth and quick it runs. It took Samsung a few months to iron everything out, optimize the S-Pen and larger widgets for ICS, and it appears they’ve delivered on a pretty solid build.

The official Android 4.0 ICS for the AT&T Galaxy Note isn’t rolling out yet to users but it’s still on track for Q2, so we should be seeing it shortly. If you like what you see above or are just anxious to get the tasty frozen ICS on your own phablet then here is how.

Instructions:

Head to RootzWiki for the download here
-Download the file to a Windows PC (Windows only for now)
-Plug in the note and install USB drivers
-Power off and boot to flash mode (Volume down+power) then confirm with volume up
-Run the RootzWiki one-click flash and let it finish.

You’ll then be on Android 4.0.3 ICS and enjoying all the goodness it brings on all 5.3″ of AMOLED beauty on the Galaxy Note. Here are a few more pics and screenshots, then let us know what you think if you try this yourself.

P1090055 P1090059 P1090057 P1090056 P1090062 P1090061 P1090065 notekey noteinfo noteics notefront noteface notespeed notesettings notemore


HTC’s EVO 4G LTE is the CDMA One X

Posted: 04 Apr 2012 04:03 PM PDT

Americans will have at least one more option when it comes to HTC’s brand new flagship. The HTC Evo 4G LTE was announced for The Now Network today, presumably by a spokesman who then needed to take a breath. It’s nearly identical to AT&T’s upcoming One X, with a few styling changes to reflect the network and – wait for it – a kickstand. It’ll also be one of the first LTE devices available on the carrier, though the capability won’t be useful until they open their first markets. That also means that it’ll be rocking Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4, since the Tegra 3 is not currently compatible with LTE networks.

Just in case you need a refresher on the One X’s specifications, and haven’t read our review: this monster phone comes with a 4.7-inch 720p IPS screen, a 1.5Ghz dual-core processor, and 1GB of RAM. The operating system is Android 4.0 with the now-familiar Sense 4.0 user interface, with Beats Audio added in for good measure. On the EVO 4G LTE 16GB of storage is standard, unlike the 32Gb versions, though you get a MicroSD card slot to play with. the 8Mp F/2.0 rear camera is intact, as is the 2000mAh battery.

You’ll have to wait a while to get a hold of the EVO 4G LTE: pre-orders don’t even start up until May 7th, more than a month away. There’s no word on when the phone will actually be released, but when it does it’ll cost $199.99. We don’t know how much AT&T will be asking for the One X, but odds are pretty good that it’ll be more expensive – they’ve got less to lose, and don’t need to get people excited about an upcoming LTE network. With a version of HTC’s swanky new One series soon to be available on every other major American network, Verizon Android fans are feeling a little left out in the cold.


Google Play Store inverted with a black, blue, or green color theme

Posted: 04 Apr 2012 12:52 PM PDT

Who loves the new Google Play Store, previously known as the Android Market but would like the change the look and feel? We’ve posted inverted color themes before but today is a lot different. What we have is inverted colors for the Google Play Store in black, blue, pink, cyan and many others. If you like to tweak the look of your Android, these are a great place to start in terms of the Play Store.

These inverted themes are usually really popular for various reasons, not to mention black can conserve battery life. The themes linked to below appear to work with the brand new, latest version 3.5.15 of the Google Play Store — but only in black. All the other colors seem to only be updated for the older version 3.4.7 of the Android Market. So if you’d like to black out and invert the colors of the Google Play Store market you can with any of the links below. If you’d like a different color you’ll need to be running a slightly older version of the market. If pink is your thing then hit the links below.

As usual this is replacing the standard Android Market. We highly suggest you make a backup of the current version before continuing as we cannot guarantee you wont run into issues. According to the RootzWiki thread things appear to be working great, but it’s better safe than sorry. Make sure to read all the details and instructions from the Rootz link below. They have multiple install instructions for those that run into issues. Give the market a makeover and feel free to let us know what you think.

[via RootzWiki]


Google updates Gmail, Google Books, and Street View on Android

Posted: 04 Apr 2012 12:22 PM PDT

Google just pushed out a trio of updates for Android today. Bringing new features and improvements to the wildly popular Gmail, Google Play Books (not sure how you “play” books), as well as added more feature to Street View for Google Maps. One major improvement is they’ve brought all the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich features in Gmail to Honeycomb tablets.

The biggest update is most likely for Gmail since it’s also the most popular of the three applications. They’ve brought all the changes we love in Ice Cream Sandwich to Honeycomb tablets. That is good news for those with Honeycomb tablets that wont see updates (we’re talking to you LG.) Google also added some support for API’s for 3rd party developers to help out on older Android 2.2 devices as well. Hopefully this also solves some of those Gmail problems we reported last week too.

Google Books saw a small update but it’s mainly geared for older android 2.2 and 2.3 devices. They now have animated page turning and a new and improved user interface while reading books, so that is nice. Then they’ve also updated Google Maps Street View. Users now have access to street view in South Korea and Russia, and those using Android 4.0 ICS have access to the action bar now too.

Overall these updates aren’t anything major, but those with Honeycomb or older devices will all benefit from the new changes in today’s Google app updates. They are all available now on the Google Play Store so get to updating and enjoy.


eVGA Precision X overclocking app heads to Android this week

Posted: 04 Apr 2012 11:57 AM PDT

Who loves Android but is also a diehard PC enthusiast that loves getting the latest and greatest GPU for their gaming PC? If you are one of them then we have good news from the folks over at eVGA. They’ve just shared some sneak peak pictures of their new eVGA Precision X overclocking tool for Android. Now you’ll be cranking those shaders up with an Android smartphone while getting ready for Crysis 3.

Now there is a small catch here, but it was to be expected. You’ll need Bluetooth on your PC in order to use Precision X for Android as that is how they communicate with one another. At first thought you may be thinking why would I use my phone with a limited range of Bluetooth when I can just do this task right on my PC? I’ll tell you why. With Precision for Android you can increase shaders, tweak voltage, or increase that fan speed in real-time during benchmarks or while gaming without ever leaving the screen.

If you’re like me you probably are already pushing the limits in benchmarks and don’t have room for increases, but to help find that sweet spot without tons of trial and error this app will be extremely useful. If you don’t have Bluetooth you can always get a cheap dongle for a few dollars at your nearest Fry’s Electronics and be good to go. Along with the awesome user interface and overclocking features Precision X also has the same multiple profile system, just like the full-featured desktop version.

According to eVGA their new Precision X for Android will be available within a week from today — so any time now. Get ready to do some overclocking and don’t go too crazy on the memory or you’ll see some white artifacts creeping up on you. It’s time I update my water-cooled GTX 480 and that Danger Den block to a GTX 680 right?

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[via eVGA]


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