Monday 9 April 2012

Android Community

Android Community


Facebook buys Instagram for a cool billion, service to remain intact

Posted: 09 Apr 2012 10:19 AM PDT

Instagram has only been available for a week on Android, and it looks like it’s already going to get a major upheaval. Facebook reported that they bought the company this morning. For a billion dollars. That’s Billion with a “B”. The mobile-only photo sharing service has tens of millions of users on iOS and Android, and its Android population is growing by leaps and bounds.

The acquisition was announced by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who said that the current service will not be significantly altered. Obviously Facebook will be looking to integrate the photo sharing service with their own social network, but exactly how that’ going to take place is still a mystery. The incredible purchase price should give some clue as to how much potential profit is there – or at least, is thought to be there.

Instagram will continue to operate as it has in the short term, which means that Android users should be able to continue to sign up for the service and use it without interruption. There’s an interesting social dynamic to this story: how will Instagram’s core users, already disillusioned with the influx of Android users, deal with the fact that their “exclusive” service of 15 million people is now owned by one of the largest Internet companies in the world?


Opera Mobile beta gets mobile extension support

Posted: 09 Apr 2012 09:54 AM PDT

Mobile browsers are a dime a dozen on Android – not even that, since most are actually free. But outside Dolphin Browser HD and Mozilla’s Firefox Mobile, not many allow you to expand the browser’s capabilities with extensions like desktop browsers can. Browser old-timer Opera has just published an experimental release of Opera Mobile (not to be confused with Opera Mini) with support for browser extensions, as well as publishing APIs and guidelines for would-be developers. You can download the experimental build at Opera’s developer blog.

The most interesting thing about the extension support is that Opera’s claiming that extensions can run on both the desktop an Mobile versions of Opera with the same code. It’s not quite as simple as that – even Opera notes that extensions using Speed Dial and pop-up windows won’t work properly – but for developers who have put a year’s worth of work into their Opera desktop code, it’s a mighty tempting feature. For those devs who don’t have Android phones, Opera has kindly supplied an emulator specifically for the browser. Opera hasn’t committed to including extensions in the main release – this is just an experiment at the moment.

Below: a guy talking about mobile browser extensions with a Norwegian accent!

Will extension support help Opera rise above the crowd? Hard to say. A year ago the ability to add extensions to Dolphin was a major advantage, but these days most of the functions I used the extensions for are either built into the browser itself or part of Android. Firefox has never been fast enough on mobile for me to seriously consider it, and adding extensions would only slow it down. The most important aspect with any platform remains the software – let’s see what crops up for the browser in the next few months.

[via Android Police]


BlackBerry Playbook to lose Android side-loading for fear of piracy

Posted: 09 Apr 2012 09:06 AM PDT

Well, so much for that. Just a couple of months after formally introducing the capability to use Android apps on their BlackBerry Plabook tablet, Research In Motion has announced plans to disable the updated OS’ capability to install Android apps outside of the BlackBerry App World. AllThingsD reports that the OS 2.1 update will disable the side-loading feature, though RIM is working on a solution for developers to get their apps on tablets. Their reasoning? That good old standby justification for crippling hardware and software: piracy.

“Piracy is a huge problem for Android devs,” said RIM Vice President of Developer Relations via Twitter, “and we don't want to duplicate the chaotic cesspool of Android Market.” Harsh words, but strangely so coming from a company whose share in the smartphone market is inching towards single digits and whose only tablet product has been, without exaggeration, a flop. RIM was literally giving away free Playbooks to Android developers who promised to port their apps to the tablet (minus any mention of “Android”, of course) just two months ago, and now they seem hesitant to let former Android users explore the full potential of the device.

The 2.1 version of the PlayBook OS doesn’t currently have a set release date, so RIM’s got a chance to reverse their decision if they get a sudden attack of customer empathy. Ported apps will still be available on the BlackBerry App World. We know there’s a lot of developers that read Android Community. A show of hands, then: who’s upset about Android piracy… so upset that they’d like all Android phones and tablets, everywhere, to lose the ability to side-load apps? We await your thoughts in the comments section.

[via Androinica]


Samsung Galaxy Note gets a Berry Pink edition in South Korea

Posted: 09 Apr 2012 08:08 AM PDT

Samsung loves their pink phones. If you’re anywhere in Asia you can probably pick up a pink Galaxy S II at your local Qi-Shiyi, but alas, that option has been sadly missing from the Galaxy Note. Not anymore: a new “Berry Pink” version on the extra-large smartphone was unveiled in Samsung’s home territory of South Korea yesterday. If you simply must have the right hue to match your lip gloss, toenails and/or Tazer, this is the one for you. Sammy says that the pink version will go on sale on April 17th, presumably for the same price as the more sedate colors. The pink version was previously spotted at CeBIT.

Aside from a hue that’s apparently a “sensuous expression of emotion”, the Galaxy Note retains its charming specs. Come for the 5.3-inch Super AMOLED 720p display and matching S-Pen stylus, stay for the 1.4Ghz dual-core processor and 16GB of storage space, and possibly get frustrated at the Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS that the phone is still running. The pink theme extends to the capacitive navigation buttons and the S-Pen. For your won you also get a matching book-style cover.

The pink versions of Samsung phones are usually pretty well distributed around greater Asia, but unaccountably fail to make it to Europe or the Americas, much to the consternation of Susan G. Komen. We’ll have to settle for the standard Blue/Black/White options and commiserate on out lack of feminine-themed choices. If you’re waiting on an Ice Cream Sandwich update, keep waiting… but AT&T users can bid adieu to their warranties and flash a leaked ROM if they’re feeling brave.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy Note
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : September 01, 2011
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 5.30 Inch
  • Resolution : 800x1280
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.78 Inch
  • Width : 3.27 Inch
  • Depth : 0.38 Inch
  • Weight : 178 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 2500 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : 390 hours
Software
    Android OS:
  • 2.3.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AMR
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
  • WMV
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU :
    CPU Clock Speed : 1400 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1024 MB
    Internal Storage : 32.768 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:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 3.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
    FM Radio :
    NFC :


Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7-inch priced at $309… on QVC

Posted: 09 Apr 2012 07:28 AM PDT

“Let me tell you something, home shoppers, we have got an amazing deal for you today. This here’s the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, that’s the second version of the Galaxy Tab, with a ginormous 7-inch screen. That’s like an iPad, ladies and gentlemen, but it fits in your purse. Now I’m not supposed to do this, but just for you, today, we’re gonna price this fantastic computer thingy at – what was that, Lucile? Really? Wow folks, you’ve got an amazing deal here. We’re going to price this 7-inch Samsung tablet at a fantastic three hundred and nine dollars. Call us right now – our operators are standing by, and these won’t last long. Pick one up for your grandkids!”

We’ll break from riffing on QVC’s entertaining and usually clueless sales pitch to say that yes, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7-inch version) was briefly listed on QVC’s website. The price was $309.98 for the base 8GB version, and it’s the first time we’ve seen any indication of the updated 7-inch tablet’s price. Last we heard, both the 7-inch and 10-inch Galaxy Tab 2 models were scheduled for sale later this month, delayed for a little extra work on Ice Cream Sandwich and TouchWiz. The 10-inch version is getting a rumored retail price of $399 – $100 less than the Galaxy Tab 10.1, though that’s also for a less capacious 8GB model. The QVC listing has since disappeared.

The Galaxy Tab 2 7-inch was unveiled back in February… to a chorus of “meh”. It’s mild refresh of the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, with Ice Cream Sandwich being its most appealing addition. Otherwise you get the same 7-inch 1024×600 LCD screen, 1.2Ghz processor, and a choice of 8, 16 or 32GB capacities, with an added MicroSD card slot. Given QVC’s list price we can expect the 8GB model to sell for $299 elsewhere. Despite what Auntie Grace says, they don’t always have the best prices out there.

[via PhoneArena]


Lenovo shows IdeaTab S2109 with 4:3 screen and Ice Cream Sandwich

Posted: 09 Apr 2012 07:07 AM PDT

It’s been a while since we heard from Lenovo on the tablet front. but they’ve broken their silence this morning in a big way. Say hello to the IdeaTab S2109, Lenovo’s first tablet (and in fact first anything) to run Ice Cream Sandwich. The 9.7-inch tablet has some otherwise pedestrian specs: though the 9.7-inch screen uses an IPS panel, it’s got a rather dated 1024×768 (4:3 aspect ratio) screen. While Lenovo has officially unveiled the device via a snazzy product video, there’s no word on when you can pick one up or for how much.

With the exception of the screen, the features of the S2109 seem pretty solid: there’s MicroSD, MicroHDMI and MicroUSB, for all your standards-compliant storage, display and charging needs. The tablet is the first we’ve ever seen with four individual speakers plus SRS certified sound, which should make it a beast for music. Lenovo says that it’s a unibody design with a gunmetal (read: gray) finish, though they don’t say what it’s made of – and it looks like plastic. It’s all powered by a TI OMAP processor of unknown design, but for my money the popular 4430 or 4460 seems likely. Throw in a 1.3mp front-facing camera an a quoted 10-hour battery life, and you’ve got something interesting indeed.

The most appealing part of Lenovo’s demonstration is Ice Cream Sandwich, apparently in an almost completely unmodified form. Aside from a quick mention of the Lenovo App Shop, the tablet looks like it’s running vanilla Android 4.0. That’s a far cry from Lenovo’s previous Gingerbread and Honeycomb tablets, both of which had some pretty extreme modifications to the user interface that weren’t always welcome. It’s nice to see Lenovo following the lead of companies like Archos and ASUS in shipping a mostly clean software experience. Wrap it all up in an 8.9mm body, and Lenovo might just have some takers – if the price is right.

[via Notebook Italia]


LG D1L leaked for a May release with ICS and Snapdragon S4 on board

Posted: 09 Apr 2012 06:34 AM PDT

The Optimus 4X HD isn’t the only fancy new superphone in the works from LG, if a report from Korean site DDaily is to be believed. There’s a new phone, codenamed the “D1L”, which was spotted in a recent company roadmap (second from the bottom in the right column). There’s some drool-worthy hardware there to be sure – 4.7-inch 720p screen, a Snapdragon S4 processor and an LTE connection. But none are so noteworthy as the promised inclusion of Ice Cream Sandwich, a software feature that’s all too often absent even months after the open source code was released. The D1L is slated for release in May, though that’s almost certainly its South Korean date.

The LTE connection and the decision to go with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chip architecture go hand in hand. NVIDIA’s quad-core Tegra 3, all the rage at Mobile World Congress two months ago, isn’t compatible with super-fast LTE connections yet. Not that many will mind: our own benchmark tests of the HTC One Series show the dual-core Snapdragon S4 beating the Tegra 3 by a factor of 20% – not bad at all. High-end features like a 720p screen (probably using LG’s excellent IPS panels) are icing on the cake.

The D1L’s specs line up pretty closely to the Optimus 4X HD, with the exception of the chipset and wireless standard. I’m betting the D1L (soon to be renamed something like the Optimus D LTE 4HD SUV) will be offered to LTE carriers in South Korea and North America, while those with HSPA+ standard (most carriers around the world) will get a shot at the Optimus 4X HD. The latter is also rumored to become available in May, and also has a 4.7-inch 720p screen and Ice Cream Sandwich.

[via SlashGear]


Android Community Weekly: April 8th, 2012

Posted: 08 Apr 2012 08:19 PM PDT

It’s been a surprisingly big week for Android, considering there were no major media shows. The beginning of the official sales for HTC’s One family, an exciting concept from Google themselves, and all manner of software updates and rumor greeted the dedicated Android aficionado. If you’ve been busy in the week leading up to Easter or Passover, why not take this opportunity to come down from your Marshmallow Peep high and take in the recent happenings?

For hardware news, it seems that no, we can’t go a single week without a rumor or leaks for the Galaxy S III. The latest is an “official” Samsung invite for a London event on May 22nd. While this is one of the dates that’s been bandied about, the pictured device is so vague that it’s almost certainly fake. In other Samsung news, AT&T may be getting its own version of the Galaxy Nexus, The Galaxy Note 10.1 has been pushed back to June to get a quad-core Exynos processor, and the Galaxy Tab 2 series will release later this month with Ice Cream Sandwich. Rumors of the ASUS-made Nexus Tablet persist, though the unicorn of Android tablets has been pushed back to July, and the Padfone will get its Taiwanese release on April 20th.

The most exciting news is certainly Google’s official unveiling of Project Glass, the augmented reality project that has been leaking out of Google for months. In addition to a concept video and Google co-founder Sergey Brin modelling Project Glass himself, there’s at least one parody video that you need to check out. Elsewhere in the Android world, Sony says that Google TV will finally come to Europe in September, and the Motorola RAZR MAXX (the international version of the DROID RAZR MAXX) is coming to both Europe and the Middle East. HTC’s CDMA version of the One X will be known as the EVO 4G LTE, and we finally got a peek at the AT&T version of the same phone. Those of you on US Cellular finally have an LTE smartphone option: the Samsung Galaxy S Aviator.

There’s lots of Android update news to report. On AT&T both the Pantech Crossover and the Samsung Infuse 4G (FINALLY) get 2.3 Gingerbread. The CDMA version of the Samsung Nexus S 4G finally gets its update to Android 4.0.4, but the same update for the Galaxy Nexus is causing some reception issues. The leaked update for the DROID RAZR and DROID RAZR MAXX has a surprise in the form of a brand-new version of WebTop. Bluestacks’ major update got a major hack, including support for root access and the Google Play Store. News broke of a free GPS dongle for ASUS Transformer Prime owners, which was later confirmed by ASUS itself.

Instagram for Android was finally released, with over a million downloads in a single night. Not everyone was happy with the Android version, least of all iPhone hipsters who now believe that Instagram has lost its cool factor. If you see one of these people, you have my permission to laugh derisively at them. Modders had some fun this week, with a multi-touch update to the Nook Touch, a leaked version of the Google Play Store, and the long-awaited Build 30 of the Android Open Kang Project, including custom apps in the virtual navigation bar. If you’re a fan of Neon Genesis Evangelion, you must check out Sharp’s customized Evangelion phone, which is sadly only for the Japanese market.

It’s been a big week in the labs at Android Community. If you’ve been considering a new smartphone lately, you’ve got to check out our reviews of the HTC One X and HTC One S. You won’t be disappointed. We’ve also got reviews of Archos’ upgraded 101 G9 Turbo, and Mugen Power’s insane 3900mAh extended battery for the Galaxy Nexus LTE. Ther’es also hands-on looks at the new Ice Cream Sandwich leak for the Galaxy Note and SwiftKey’s new Version 3, as well as a review for Instagram. Until tomorrow: stay in school ,don’t do drugs, and always make a Nandroid backup.


Ice Cream Sandwich tablet UI ported to Samsung Galaxy Note

Posted: 08 Apr 2012 07:02 PM PDT

We’ve seen the ubiquitous Galaxy Nexus get a mod that enables the user interface from the tablet flavor of Ice Cream Sandwich, but now it’s come to something a little more useful. A user from RootGalaxyNote.com posted a video of Samsung’s super-sized smartphone running in tablet mode. Obviously the 5.3-inch Samsung Galaxy Note has a lot more reason to run a tablet modification than its smaller brothers. You can download the “imilka” custom tablet ROM here.

The modification allows the Note to run as a full tablet – there’s literally no difference between the software on the phone an a build of the Android Open Source Project code on an Ice Cream Sandwich tablet, with the obvious exception of the virtual pixel density. he interface is a little cramped on the Galaxy Note, but not so much that the average user won’t be able to get around. Of course you can always pull out the S-Pen for some pen-based computing. The modified user interface allows for panels and multi-column views in the apps that support them, including most of Google’s essential apps.

Unfortunately the tablet mode is contained within its own ROM at the moment – there’s no way to apply this to a stock Ice Cream Sandwich build. It’s also limited to the i7000, the international GSM version of the Galaxy Note. But given that this little trick has already been performed on the Galaxy Nexus, it should come in a more generic form (and for more devices) sooner rather than later.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy Note
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : September 01, 2011
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 5.30 Inch
  • Resolution : 800x1280
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.78 Inch
  • Width : 3.27 Inch
  • Depth : 0.38 Inch
  • Weight : 178 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 2500 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : 390 hours
Software
    Android OS:
  • 2.3.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AMR
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
  • WMV
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU :
    CPU Clock Speed : 1400 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1024 MB
    Internal Storage : 32.768 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:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 3.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
    FM Radio :
    NFC :


AOKP ICS Build 30 ready to download now [UPDATE: Build 31 already!]

Posted: 08 Apr 2012 06:32 PM PDT

As previously noted, we’re big fans of the Android Open Kang Project, more colloquially known as AOKP. The much-anticipated Build 30 of the custom Ice Cream Sandwich ROM is available for download now, complete with custom app shortcuts in the navigation bar for Galaxy Nexus users. There are also stable builds for the Samsung Nexus S, Nexus S 4G, Galaxy S, Galaxy Tab 10.1 and 8.9, the HTC Sensation, EVO 4G,  Incredible and Incredible 2, the Motorola XOOM, the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer TF101, the Acer IConia Tab A500, and the HP TouchPad. AOKP is also, without a doubt, the best pink unicorn-themed ROM available.

Build 30 is built on the open-source code from Android 4.0.4, squashing some of the bugs from Build 29. Most devices get a fixed T9 entry pad, along with a bunch of other small fixes. AOKP builds in a lot of mods and features from all around the Android world, including the popular CircleMOD battery meter, a battery bar, settings toggles and weather info built into the notification bar, LED and clock modifications, and more tweaks to the unlock screen and navigation bar than can be listed here. It also includes Nova Launcher by default.

The new custom options in the navigation bar are useful, though they’re still in a very early stage. You can assign up to five buttons, each with a long-press alternate. Some have them built in – the Back button can be held to kill a running app, CyanogenMod-style, the Home button can pull double duty as the recent app menu, and if you add the Search button it can activate Voice Search, as in Gingerbread and Froyo. Custom apps can be given their own icons, though these clash with the rest somewhat ,and can be given a solid color to match.

Unfortunately, the developers recommend a full wipe for everyone, even if you’re coming from AOKP Build 29. Happy flashing.

UPDATE: These guys work fast. Build 31 is already out, with a few minor settings changes and bug fixes. You can read about the changes on AOKP’s official site, and no, you don’t need to wipe if you’re just coming form Build 30. Thanks to Kamil Dańczura on Google+ for the lightning-fast tip!


Samsung names flexible AMOLED tech “YOUM”

Posted: 08 Apr 2012 06:04 PM PDT

Those who don’t keep a religious watch on the comings and goings in the supply side of the technology industry will be surprised to know that Samsung, in addition to selling tens of millions of phones every year, supplies components like processors and screens to their own competitors. Just for example, the processor and the screen in the iPad 3 come from Sammy. But when it comes to display tech, Samsung takes all comers, and one of the more interesting designs to come out of the South Korean company is their flexible Super AMOLED display. It seems they’re renamed the display tech to “YOUM”, for no discernible reason, as well as files trademarks for several more acronyms.

Flexible Super AMOLED, hereafter known as YOUM (as Samsung’s website seems to have confirmed the trademark name), consists of four layers of material: the AMOLED display cells are encased in two pieces of film, and a polariser (probably housing the multi-touch sensor) on top of it. There’s no glass in the design, which gives it a much greater flexibility than the barely curved screens seen on the later Nexus phones, though the concepts we’ve seen thus far are still in rigid cases for the most part.

Because of the lack of glass in the design, Samsung is referring to YOUM as “unbreakable”, though a more accurate term might be “uncrackable”. This is all still at the concept level as far as actual production goes – should Samsung or its manufacturing partners choose to implement YOUM in Android phones or any other consumer-grade electronics, it’ll still be at least a year before we see it in any devices. Still, this sort of flexibly display would allow for much more varied form factors – imagine a smartphone that can roll out its display to tablet size.

[via SamMobile]


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