Tuesday 1 May 2012

Android Community

Android Community


Android 4.0.4 update rolling out to some Verizon Galaxy Nexus units

Posted: 01 May 2012 10:02 AM PDT

It’s been over four months since an update came in for Verizon’s Galaxy Nexus, which is still running Android 4.0.2 while version 4.0.4 sits on the open source repository. Or at least most of Verizon’s Nexus units are: more than a few have rooted and are running custom ROMs, and this morning a few lucky customers received the genuine article in an over-the-air download. It looks like the 4.0.4 rollout on Verizon might finally be beginning in earnest.

The 30MB update brings in a few changes, most notably an updated radio to help with the low signal blues experienced by many Verizon Galaxy Nexus owners (including your truly). A few visual tweaks were added as well, including some quick volume toggles on the power menu. The standard speed tweaks and bug fixes accompany tweaked auto-brightness, slightly faster camera performance and an updated News & Weather widget.

Verizon customers should check their settings menu for a manual update if you’re running stock software. We don’t know how widespread the update is or if it’s a regional rollout, so don’t be surprised if you get the same old same old. Impatient types who are comfortable with some easy mods can install the leaked version of the official 4.0.4 build, though at this point we can’t verify if it’s exactly the same. Let us know in the comments if you’ve got the update, and if you’d like to help your fellow readers, post your city and state as well.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : GALAXY Nexus 4G [Verizon]
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : Verizon
    Announced Date : December 14, 2011
    Release Date : December 15, 2011
    Also Known As : Nexus Prime
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.65 Inch
  • Resolution : 1280x720
  • Screen Type : Super AMOLED
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.33 Inch
  • Width : 2.67 Inch
  • Depth : 0.37 Inch
  • Weight : 150 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 1850 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : 150 hours
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.0.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.264 / AVC
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU : OMAP 4460
    CPU Clock Speed : 1200 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1000 MB
    Internal Storage : 32 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 5 MP
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • CDMA
    CDMA Band:
  • 900
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 3.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :


Samsung Galaxy Note just $499 unlocked at Newegg [Deal]

Posted: 01 May 2012 10:02 AM PDT

Whoa! This might qualify for the deal of the day. What we have here is the fully unlocked international version of the extremely popular phablet we know as the Samsung Galaxy Note (N7000) on sale for the low low price of only $499. While it’s cheaper on contract, to buy it outright it was previously priced at $649, so you might wanna hurry.

This is the unlocked international version with the dedicated hardware button shown above, not the AT&T 4G LTE model in the US. That $499 gets you an impressive 5.3″ Super AMOLED HD 1280 x 800 resolution display that looks incredible, a powerful dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, and a supremely impressive phone – as long as you can get over the size. If you’ve been eying the Note you already know of its stature.

The unlocked version will work on AT&T and T-Mobile, and other GSM carriers although don’t expect blazing 4G speeds from anyone. Recently we’ve seen the price drop to as low as $549 but today the popular and highly reputable Newegg.com has the Note for only $499. With Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out in the wild, and as of late CyanogenMod 9 support this is a great buy — check it out!

Galaxy Note Newegg Link – Thanks Jim

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 :


Huawei Prism hits T-Mobile on May 6th

Posted: 01 May 2012 09:35 AM PDT

With the HTC One S and soon the Samsung Galaxy Note hitting T-Mobile, Magenta needs some low-end hardware to round out its lineup. Luckily, Huawei is more than happy to provide. According to internal documents spotted by TmoNews, the “T-Mobile Prism 3G” (looks like they’re cutting Huawei out of the branding again) will land on the network on May 6th, this coming Sunday. This one’s aimed right at the entry level.

If you’re looking for a phone to wow your friends or kick back and watch a full-length movie, the Prism 3G isn’t it. But if you just need something with basic functionality – or maybe something to give your kids – it might fit the bill. The 3.5-inch screen has a respectable 480×320 display, though unfortunately processor and RAM aren’t mentioned. You do get a 3.2 megapixel rear camera (no front-facing cam) and a 2GB MicroSD card.

The Prism 3G runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and probably always will. The “3G” title means that it won’t have access to HSPA+ speeds, either – the service that T-Mobile has been calling “4G” for the better part of a year now. It looks like the Prism will come in red and grey colors. There’s no mention of price, but given the specs I’d estimate it to be either free on contract or under $50.


Latest Galaxy S III leak matches service manual

Posted: 01 May 2012 08:48 AM PDT

Yes, yes, we know: another Galaxy S III “leaked photo”. But this time we’re actually pretty confident that you’re looking at the real deal here. The reasons are threefold: one, this pic is courtesy of SamMobile, a dedicated Samsung site that’s been reserved and accurate before. Two, it’s sitting in what looks like a squared-off “dummy” case, not unlike the one seen in that leaked video from Vietnam. And three, the shape of the buttons and the bezel matches both the leaked manual outline and the preview image that Samsung posted to Facebook.

Visually, the device looks pretty much like we’d heard: a large screen somewhere in the range of the Galaxy Nexus’ 4.65-inch Super AMOLED, with the typical Samsung controls flanking a more angular and flared home button. The software shot shows the Samsung-customized UI that was so flagrantly absent from this latest fake, as well as the “GT-I9300″ model number and Android 4.0.4. According to the source, both the phone and the software are specific to the Brazilian market.

If you’re still skeptical, we wouldn’t blame you – the Samsung Galaxy S III has inspired more speculation, leaks and downright fakes than the latest iPhone. But you won’t have to wait long to put your suspicious mind to rest: Samsung will officially reveal “the next Galaxy” on Thursday, May 3rd. Naturally, Android Community will be there live to cover it.


IDC: Samsung beating Apple in smartphones too

Posted: 01 May 2012 08:27 AM PDT

For mobile smartphone dominance, there’s only two horses fighting for first: Apple and Samsung. After iSuppli estimated that Samsung now ships more total phones than the previous leader Nokia, IDC now claims that the South Korean company has ousted Apple from its perch atop smartphone shipments as well. They estimate that Samsung shipped 42.2 million smartphones in the first quarter of 2012, to Apple’s 35.1 million iPhones. Technically Samsung also sells Windows Phone devices, but it’s fair to say that they sold more Galaxy-brand Android phones in the last four months than Apple sold iPhones.

Each analyst firm reaches their numbers separately; the results from IDC and iSuppli disagree on total smartphone shipments, with Apple just barely beating out Samsung in the latter. Both firms agree that Samsung is selling more total phones than any other company in the world, reaching upwards of 90 million in the first quarter of 2012. With Android outpacing iOS in both numbers and growth in almost all major markets, the second quarter results should show Samsung well above Apple in all categories.

Nokia and RIM have hung on to the third and fourth position in the smartphone category, with 8.2% and 6.7% of the market share respectively. HTC rounds out the top five with 6.9 million phones shipped (Windows and Android) and 4.8% of the market. Samsung has 29.1% of the market at present to Apple’s 24.2%. The other 40% or so is made up by companies with smaller than a twentieth share of the smartphone market.

[via Cnet]


AR app lets the Avengers assemble… in Wal-Mart

Posted: 01 May 2012 07:50 AM PDT

Fantastic feats of strength and bravery. Epic showdowns between good and evil. Skin-tight catsuits. These are not things you’ll see in your typical Wal-Mart (with the possible exception of that last one). But if you download the SuperHero AR app from the Google Play Store you might just see all of this, at least through the camera of your Android smartphone.

Wal-Mart is putting out its own Avengers marketing initiative ahead of the Friday mega-premiere, and part of it is placing the iconic superheroes in augmented reality advertising throughout their stores. The app scans displays set up in stores and plays an augmented reality 3D video featuring Thor, Iron Man, Hawkeye, the Hulk, Black Widow or Captain America, along with Loki and some generic movie henchman. You can select your favorite Avenger from the six or just play some of the included mini-games.

Unfortunately, it looks like the app doesn’t quite live up to its own blockbuster aspirations.  In  addition to a huge 300MB download, the majority of reviews give it a single star, claiming that it’s slow and doesn’t work well with the in-store displays. Many are reporting that the app just won’t launch at all. Oh well – you can always catch up on your superhero lore with Marvel’s official comic app, or check out the new Avengers VS X-Men for some different augmented reality goodies.


Galaxy Note CyanogenMod 9 build adds S-Pen support

Posted: 01 May 2012 07:00 AM PDT

What’s the point of having a gigantic, stylus-enabled superphone if you can’t own at Draw Something? Owners of the Samsung Galaxy Note who are also fans of the popular custom ROM CyanogenMod need no longer ask this question. The latest version of the ROM adds a few more features, including support for Samsung’s S-Pen, an active digitizer stylus that uses Wacom technology for accuracy and precision. You can download the ported ROM from this XDA thread – sorry, AT&T users, it’s only for the international Galaxy Note for now.

At the time of writing, the updated ROM is “mostly” functional. Most of the notable features from CyanogenMod 9 and Ice Cream Sandwich itself are present, plus S-Pen functionality. But the Movie Studio app still doesn’t work, CyanogenMod’s custom DSP manager is broken, and the speakerphone is acting strangely. Team Hacksung, which is building this ported software from CyanogenMod’s open source code, is working on ironing out the issues.

Those of you who really like the S-Pen and Samsung’s custom applications that take advantage of it might want to wait for the official Ice Cream Sandwich update. As Samsung has demonstrated, they’re planning a host of new apps that take advantage of the S-Pen SDK and bundling them into the upcoming update. Of course you could always take the middle road and flash a leaked version of the official ROM, for either the international Galaxy Note or AT&T’s US version.

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 :

[via androidcentral]


HTC One X Tegra 3 and Snapdragon versions benchmarked

Posted: 01 May 2012 06:43 AM PDT

Plenty of US Android fans were somewhat miffed when HTC announced that the AT&T version of the flagship One X would be getting a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4, instead of the more flamboyant NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core. As we’ve seen ourselves when comparing the One X with the smaller One S, the Snapdragon is no slouch. But to finally set the record straight, one YouTube user put both versions of the One X in a head-to-head benchmark battle. The results may surprise you.

He started off by putting both his international One X (Tegra 3) and an AT&T demo One X (Snapdragon S4) through the ubiquitous Quadrant benchmark. The Tegra 3 version scored 4988 while the Snapdragon model got 4794. This is a difference of about 4% – not bad for a step down to dual core. On the Linpack Multithread test, the Snapdragon model actually beat out the Tegra 3 by a factor of about 50%, in both speed and floating-point calculations.  In Nenamark 2, a pure graphics test, the Snapdragon’s Adreno graphics beat out the visually oriented Tegra 3 with a score of 57.9 frames per second to 48.2.

Benchmarks should never be taken as a be-all, end-all indication of everyday performance, and given the mixed results on three very different tests it’s hard to declare a winner here. But I think it’s safe to say that AT&T One X users wont’ be disappointed by the dual-core Snapdragon S4 – with the added benefit of getting an LTE connection, which the Tegra 3 is currently incompatible with. AT&T’s One X launches on May 6th.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : One X [AT&T]
    Manufactuer : HTC
    Carrier : AT&T
    Announced Date : February 26, 2012
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.7 Inch
  • Resolution : 720x1280
  • Screen Type : S-LCD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.31 Inch
  • Width : 2.75 Inch
  • Depth : 0.36 Inch
  • Weight : 131 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 1800 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
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 : 1000 MB
    Internal Storage : 16 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    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
    CDMA Band:
  • 850
  • 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 DroidMatters]


Jawbone BIG JAMBOX Review Round-up

Posted: 30 Apr 2012 09:29 PM PDT

The little box with big sound is back with the all new BIG JAMBOX. If you’ve ever heard of the Jawbone JAMBOX you’ll be happy to hear the newer, louder, and better BIG JAMBOX is finally here and we have all the details. The original was an awesome smartphone companion for music fidelity or even conference calls, and their newest addition is even better. Read on past the break to see if it’s worth the higher price tag.

The original JAMBOX portable speaker system was loud and could "fill up any room with unbelievable sound," but with the BIG Jawbone looks to fill up your backyard, the beach, or your pool party with the same unbelievable sound. While the JAMBOX was portable and a great addition to any messenger bag the BIG JAMBOX still retains the same option. At 10 x 3.1 x 3.6 inches and 2.7lbs it's certainly bigger than the first JAMBOX, and remains battery powered rather than requiring a wall socket – leaving portability an option. Sadly you can only charge it with the included AC Adapter — no USB power here.

Being lightweight coming in at only 2.7 lbs the build quality is still quite stellar according to SlashGear. The BIG is wrapped in perforated steel but with a comfortable mesh finish, coming in one of three patterns: dotted, on the red model, waved, on the white, or honeycombed, on the graphite.

Just like the original we have wired, or wireless connectivity via Bluetooth (33 ft range). Then the BIG also has the standard volume up/down and call buttons on top, but are also accompanied by play/pause, and previous/next. Around to the side on the right we have a power and pairing button, along with a 3.5mm line-in port, a microUSB port and lastly the port for charging. Speaking of charging, the built-in rechargeable lithium­‐ion battery provides up to 15 hours of continuous playback and 500 hours of standby time on a single charge.

According to our sister site SlashGear the BIG is everything the original was, and more. Just as the name suggests:

The original JAMBOX was a great portable speaker, but fell short of bass and overall power when faced with larger rooms. That's not a problem the BIG JAMBOX encounters: as the name suggests, it's simply a bigger sound.

With an airtight enclosure featuring proprietary neodymium drivers and two opposing passive bass radiators you can ensure quality sound — not to mention DSP and equalization for optimal sound no matter the content. Now you can make conference calls of any audio level, or attach the BIG to your HDTV for additional quality, high-powered sound. Check out the hands-on video below, then head to our sister site for the full SlashGear BIG JAMBOX Review.

The folks from Engadget said the BIG JAMBOX “is excellent at pushing out gobs of volume and very good sound for its size.” and you can see their full review here.

ABC News’ Joanna Stern calls it one of the best mobile speakers on the market, and it looks like most reviews are saying the same thing.

Lastly The Verge gives the all new BIG JAMBOX a positive review as well. Stating the new speaker is “Big on sound, big on price, but still small in stature.” They also claim it offers the best balance of design, sound, and portability. Read their review here.

The all new BIG JAMBOX will be available May 15th at Best Buy, AT&T, and Jawbone.com for $299. Don’t forget the official Jawbone Companion app for Android available here in the Google Play Store.

big-jambox-1NOOK-Simple-Touch-GlowLight-SlashGear- big-jambox-2NOOK-Simple-Touch-GlowLight-SlashGear- big-jambox-3NOOK-Simple-Touch-GlowLight-SlashGear- Screen Shot 2012-04-30 at 8.30.57 PM Screen Shot 2012-04-30 at 9.26.20 PM White Wave_in hands_LR Big_Family_stacked_white_LR Big_RedDot_cutaway_white_LR Screenshot_2012-04-29-15-25-54 Screenshot_2012-04-29-15-25-59 Screenshot_2012-04-29-15-26-14 Screenshot_2012-04-29-15-26-22


Zelda-themed live wallpaper is cooler than the Master Sword

Posted: 30 Apr 2012 08:39 PM PDT

Generations of gamers have come to know and love Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda series, and the latest entry on the Wii is no exception. But The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword has inspired more than the usual fanart: developer Abusive Studios has released a sweet live wallpaper modeled after the Gate of Time. If you’re a Zelda fan you’ll no doubt enjoy it, but the wallpaper is so well done that even those who have never hurled a boomerang will find enough to like. Download it now in the Google Play Store.

The clockwork motion of the live wallpaper is reason enough to be interested, but the sheer amount of customization within is enough to keep the most ardent tinkerer busy for hours. Everything from the colors of the inner wheel to the direction of the rotation to the number of gears can be adjusted to your liking. Performance tweaks like framerates and complexity will let those who are miserly with their battery life save some of it, while performance junkies can set everything to the max.

Still screenshots don’t do this app justice. Check out the video below:

The developer is about as cool as they come: the app is free, but he hasn’t added any sort of advertising or tracking. There’s also a bit of an Easter egg hidden within the wallpaper that ties in with the Zelda theme. We won’t spoil it for you. Just imagine what kind of fun could be had if those rumors of Android integration with the Wii U turn out to be true…

[via Reddit]


Sony Xperia Sola available now in Hong Kong

Posted: 30 Apr 2012 06:09 PM PDT

Desperate to try out some touch-free web browsing on your phone? Then grab a plane ticket, buddy – you’re headed for Hong Kong. Taiwanese online retailer ePrice reports seeing the Xperia Sola in the city, priced at just under $3,000 HKD. That’s the equivalent of $387 US, not that it matters: at this point Sony has only confirmed the phone for Hong Kong and greater China.

The Sola will ship with Gingerbread and be upgradeable to ICS, though Sony’s already updated the Tablet S and has betas available for several other phones. The 3.7-inch 854×480 screen isn’t big, but then it doesn’t have to be: Sony’s implementing new “floating touch” gesture controls using the front-facing camera that will allow you to control the phone without touching it. They’ve also implemented NFC with some free tags packed in.

Other specs aren’t all that inspiring; a 1Ghz single-core processor, 512MB of RAM, 8GB of storage and a 5MP camera put the Sola in the middle of Sony’s current lineup. It’s likely to come to other territories eventually, but your guess is as good as ours as to when. Given Sony’s increasingly rapid schedule of software updates, the Sola may be running ICS if and when it travels west to Europe and the Americas. Since it’s already stopped by the FCC, the latter is a definite possibility.

[via UnwiredView]


ASUS Transformer Prime vs shotgun – guess who wins

Posted: 30 Apr 2012 05:29 PM PDT

The ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime is one of the most powerful Android tablets on the market. But despite its robot-inspired name, it can’t actual perform feats of incredible strength. It’s not more powerful than a locomotive. It can’t leap tall buildings in a single bound. And it certainly isn’t faster than a speeding bullet – if it was, it might have been able to outrun the ones that a few experimental geeks sent blazing towards it.

The guys at Gizmo Slip make a life out of testing gadgets to the extreme. Most of the time, this boils down to temperature and drop tests to see how solid they are. When a gadget fails a drop test and shatters its screen, as in the case of one very unlucky Transformer Prime, they tend to make their own entertainment by completing the destruction. In this case, they did so with the aid of a 9mm pistol and what looks like a 12-gauge shotgun.

The Transformer Prime didn’t hold up so well to three full metal jacket rounds, but was absolutely decimated by a single shell of buckshot. There’s a valuable lesson to be learned here, folks: don’t drop your consumer electronics on the ground and break the screen. But if you do, blow apart what’s left in an interesting way, put it on YouTube, then sit back and wait for the accolades from the rare combinations of redneck and tech geek like yours truly.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Transformer Prime
    Manufactuer : Asus
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : November 09, 2011
    Release Date : December 19, 2011
    Also Known As : Transformer 2
Display
  • Screen Size : 10.10 Inch
  • Resolution : 1280x800
  • Screen Type : IPS+
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 10.35 Inch
  • Width : 7.12 Inch
  • Depth : .33 Inch
  • Weight : 586 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Polymer
  • Battery Capacity : 6579 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.0.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • MP3
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
Hardware
    CPU : Tegra 3
    CPU Clock Speed : 1400 Mhz
    Core : 4
    Ram : 1024 MB
    Internal Storage : 64 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
  • 1080p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 3.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :


Angry Birds Space breaks records with 50 million downloads

Posted: 30 Apr 2012 04:57 PM PDT

Angry Birds Space is popular. That statement is something akin to “rock is hard” on the scale of most obvious things ever said, but a little specificity is useful: Rovio claims that the sequel to the smash hit Angry Birds has been downloaded 50 million times since it was released last month. That makes Angry Birds Space the fastest-growing (“selling” isn’t really appropriate here) mobile game of all time. The stat takes into account downloads on Android and iOS.

Angry Birds Space is certainly deserving of the title. After dozens of Season-themed additions to the original game, we were skeptical that setting the aggravated avians on a sky-high background would shake things up, but the addition of radial gravity and new play mechanics gives the game a completely new feel. Its first update added new ice-themed levels, and gave a preview of a possible Simpsons tie-in.

Better beware, though: fakes of Angry Birds Space have already started appearing. Rovio warned of unlicensed copies of the game that sent personal information to unknown servers. Remember that the Android Market is the safest place to download Angry Birds Space (or any well-known app) for both free and paid versions. Given Rovio’s history, we fully expect many more updates and expansions in the coming weeks and months.


Motorola MOTOLUXE heads north to Canada

Posted: 30 Apr 2012 04:09 PM PDT

I know what Canadians want after hearing that Samsung’s Galaxy phones and tablets would be getting Ice Cream Sandwich updates soon – a big ol’ helping of Gingerbread, courtesy of Motorola! All joking aside, Canada is getting a unique mid-range phone that was previously available only to Europeans: the Motorola MOTOLUXE. this 4-inch fashion phone won’t set the world on fire, but it might make a decent mid-range unlocked pickup for those who want something a little better than entry-level.

The MOTOLUXE uses a 4-inch display to show off 854×480 pixels, with an 800mhz processor and 512MB of RAM powering it. Storage is limited to a single gigabyte, but naturally you can extend it with a MicroSD card, and you’ll want to if you plan on taking pics with the 8 megapixel camera. As indicated above it’s running Android 2.3 with a Motorola-customized interface, and I wouldn’t hold out for Ice Cream Sandwich any time soon. The body features a unique notification light in a recessed part of the case, below the navigation buttons.

Motorola was mum on the subject of price, but when the same phone debuted in the UK it cost the local equivalent of $413 (Canadian) unlocked. Carriers weren’t mentioned either, but the source tells that Virgin Mobile and Bell are the most likely candidates. The Motorola MOTOLUXE should hit Canadian carriers and retailers in the second quarter. For a better look at the phone, check out SlashGear’s hands-on preview.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : MOTOLUXE
    Manufactuer : Motorola
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : January 05, 2012
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 4 Inch
  • Resolution : 480x854
  • Screen Type : LCD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 4.63 Inch
  • Width : 2.38 Inch
  • Depth : 0.39 Inch
  • Weight : 124 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 1400 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : 450 hours
Software
    Android OS:
  • 2.3.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • AMR
  • MID
  • MP3
  • WAV
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
  • WMV
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU :
    CPU Clock Speed : 800 Mhz
    Core : 1
    Ram : 512 MB
    Internal Storage : 1GB GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 8 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
  • Flash
    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:
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

[via MobileSyrup]


DROID Bionic set to receive another software update

Posted: 30 Apr 2012 04:04 PM PDT

Motorola and Verizon’s DROID Bionic is set to receive another update in the coming weeks as Motorola has started sending out their usual “soak test” invites for owners to participate in the testing phase. There’s no telling if this is an incremental update, or Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich at this point. The more updates the better though right?

The last Bionic update back in February was quite large and fixed most of the outstanding bugs with the camera and connectivity so there’s not a lot to go on for this update. We could see even more camera improvements, enhancements to 4G LTE, and fixes for some dialer battery drain users have been reporting with the latest official update. We saw an update rolling around earlier this month, but it never was officially released.

With Motorola not being too helpful on their update plans we’ll literally have to wait and see what this update will be, but most likely will still be a Gingerbread build and not Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, but you never know these days. I know Motorola’s latest updates have really made the Bionic much better, so surely there are still a few users enjoying the phone. As soon as we hear more we’ll be sure and update and in the meantime check out the suggestions of a Bionic 2 and more from the links below.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : DROID Bionic
    Manufactuer : Motorola
    Carrier : Verizon
    Announced Date : August 24, 2011
    Release Date : September 08, 2011
    Also Known As : Targa
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.3 Inch
  • Resolution : 540x960
  • Screen Type : qHD
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 5.00 Inch
  • Width : 2.60 Inch
  • Depth : 0.40 Inch
  • Weight : 159 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 1735 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 2.3.x
    Audio Playback:
  • MP3
    Video Playback:
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU :
    CPU Clock Speed : 1000 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1024 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
  • 720p Video Recording
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Proximity
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
  • CDMA
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
    CDMA Band:
  • 800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11a
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 2.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

[via Droid-Life]


Mystery “Hena” ICS tablet spotted at the FCC

Posted: 30 Apr 2012 02:53 PM PDT

It’s pretty rare that a new electronics manufacturer passes through the fractured desks of the Android Community offices, but when it does happen we tend to take notice. The Hena MID-1107CM is just such a case, and it’s even more interesting because it’s dropped by the FCC for their standard gamut of wireless tests. And even better, the tablet is running Ice Cream Sandwich, something we’re always happy to see.

The hardware itself is fairly typical: a 10.1-inch tablet with a 1024×600 resolution, 1Ghz single-core processor and a gig of RAM. Not exactly cutting edge, but it’ll run Android 4.0 well enough. Other details include a full USB 2.0 port, microSD card slot, HDMI-out and a VGA front-facing camera. The battery apparently lasts about 4.5 hours with some WiFi web surfing – ouch.

This Taiwanese company seems to be the Hena mentioned in the listing; from what I can tell it’s a small-scale OEM that provides cheap electronics to other companies for some easy branding. If you’ve ever seen a Polaroid-brand television, it’s a good bet that it came from a company that’s very similar. There’s no mention of the MID-1107CM anywhere on the website, but if it’s passing through the FCC in the US, someone wants it here. You might be seeing this thing in the Walgreens “electronics section” in a few months’ time.

hena 1 hena 2 hena3

[via Liliputing]


Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7-inch gets clockwork and root

Posted: 30 Apr 2012 02:27 PM PDT

Samsung’s newest tablet in the Galaxy Tab 2 has been getting some attention from developers the past couple of weeks. Over the weekend it received root access and now Clockworkmod recovery is also available. Hopefully next on the list is CyanogenMod 9, then we’ll be set. Details and links are available after the break.

The current methods for recovery and root are being provided for the Galaxy Tab 2 (7-inch) model and not the 10, as we are still waiting for that to officially launch since it was delayed in favor of a quad-core processor. A pretty lengthy root method was released on Friday, then on Saturday ClockworkMod recovery was made available, making things much easier. For details, instructions, and downloads for CWM head to this RootzWiki thread.

Multiple Samsung tablets like the Galaxy Tab 8.9 or the larger 10.1 enjoy plenty of custom ROM’s like CyanogenMod 9 so most likely the new Tab 2 (7) will get the same treatment shortly. For now you can root it and enjoy the freedom to do as you’d like as developers dive into the custom ROM’s. As usual proceed to root at your own risk, and make sure to follow the directions provided. Enjoy!

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : Galaxy Tab 2 (7")
    Manufactuer : Samsung
    Carrier : NA
    Announced Date : February 13, 2012
    Release Date : April 22, 2012
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 7 Inch
  • Resolution : 1024x600
  • Screen Type : TFT PLS
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 7.6 Inch
  • Width : 4.8 Inch
  • Depth : 0.41 Inch
  • Weight : 344 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Polymer
  • Battery Capacity : 4000 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 4.0.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • MP3
  • WAV
    Video Playback:
  • h.264 / AVC
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
  • WMV
Hardware
    CPU : OMAP 4
    CPU Clock Speed : 1000 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 1000 MB
    Internal Storage : 8GB GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 3 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Sensors:
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 3.0
    Location Features:
  • GPS
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

[via Liliputing]


Huawei MediaPad ICS update available for download

Posted: 30 Apr 2012 01:28 PM PDT

Huawei’s first quality Android tablet was their MediaPad, also known as the T-Mobile Springboard here stateside. While it was the first 7-inch tablet to come with Android 3.2 Honeycomb, it wasn’t the first to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich although they’ve beat most to the upgrade. Huawei has recently released the ICS update for the MediaPad and now it’s available for download.

Released back in November was the Springboard, and we’ve seen a few ICS leaks but T-Mobile themselves have yet to upgrade the tablet. Huawei’s own MediaPad however has seen better treatment. Back in January Huawei started shipping the same MediaPad with Android 4.0 ICS pre-installed. For some reason the update for existing owners took a little while, and is now finally available.

If you have the Springboard you’ll probably have to wait for T-Mobile or some XDA developers to help you out, for everyone else this can be downloaded today at Huaweidevice.com under downloads. The MediaPad runs on a stock build of Android so this should run plenty smooth and stable for those interested. Hit the download link provided above and let us know how it goes.

Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : SpringBoard
    Manufactuer : Huawei
    Carrier : T-Mobile
    Announced Date : November 09, 2011
    Release Date : TBA
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 7 Inch
  • Resolution : 800x1280
  • Screen Type : NA
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 7.48 Inch
  • Width : 5.08 Inch
  • Depth : 0.41 Inch
  • Weight : 400 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Polymer
  • Battery Capacity : 4100 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : NA
Software
    Android OS:
  • 3.2.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • AAC+
  • MP3
  • WMA
    Video Playback:
  • h.263
  • h.264 / AVC
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
Hardware
    CPU : MSM8260
    CPU Clock Speed : 1200 Mhz
    Core : 2
    Ram : 768 MB
    Internal Storage : 16 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 5 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    Camera Features:
  • Auto focus
    QWERTY :
Cellular Network
    Network Technology:
  • GSM
    GSM Band:
  • 850
  • 900
  • 1800
  • 1900
Device Connectivity
    Wi-Fi:
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
    Bluetooth:
  • Bluetooth 2.0
    Location Features:
  • Compass
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

[via Liliputing]


Verizon Sony Ericsson Xperia Play update headed to gamers soon

Posted: 30 Apr 2012 12:16 PM PDT

Verizon has just outed the details on an impending update to the not so popular Sony Ericsson Xperia Play. The update will bring the gaming smartphone to Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread (no ICS here) and will fix a few bugs and even add a screenshot feature. More details are available from the Verizon update document below.

Verizon is slowly updating all their phones while we sadly all still are waiting for an update for the Verizon Galaxy Nexus to Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich, although sources have told us an updated build was recently submitted and should be arriving soon. Sony themselves have released ICS for the Xperia (link below), only that build won’t work with Verizon’s model.

While the Verizon Play awaits ICS this update does bring it to the plenty old Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread. Along with the update users can expect to see a screenshot feature, Verizon video on demand, a new method for delivering games, and more. Sony has fixed some charging issues and added camera enhancements but that appears to be it. All the details are provided in the document from the gallery below for those interested, and hopefully ICS will be coming next.

androidcommunity_xperiaplay_second007 Screen Shot 2012-04-30 at 11.40.35 AM
Device Specifications and Information
Device Info
    Device Name : XPERIA Play
    Manufactuer : Sony
    Carrier : Verizon
    Announced Date : February 13, 2011
    Release Date : April 01, 2011
    Also Known As :
Display
  • Screen Size : 4.00 Inch
  • Resolution : 480x854
  • Screen Type : TFT
Dimension & Weight
  • Height : 4.69 Inch
  • Width : 2.44 Inch
  • Depth : 0.63 Inch
  • Weight : 175 Grams
Battery & Power
    Battery Type:
  • Lithium Ion
  • Battery Capacity : 1500 mAh
  • Talk Time : NA
  • Stand By Time : 425 hours
Software
    Android OS:
  • 2.3.x
    Audio Playback:
  • AAC
  • MP3
    Video Playback:
  • MPEG-4 (MP4)
    Messaging:
  • SMS
  • MMS
Hardware
    CPU : Snapdragon
    CPU Clock Speed : 1000 Mhz
    Core : 1
    Ram : 512 MB
    Internal Storage : .4 GB
    Front Facing Camera :
    Camera Resolution : 5 MP
    External Storage:
  • MicroSD
  • MicroSDHC
    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 2.0
    Location Features:
  • GPS
  • Cellular location
  • Wi-Fi location
    FM Radio :
    NFC :

[via Droid-Life]


Verizon details new unlimited talk and text prepaid plan for $80

Posted: 30 Apr 2012 11:37 AM PDT

This morning Verizon has announced another new price and offering for the prepaid plan folks. The new plan is 3G only and is a prepaid, contract free, and is offering unlimited talk and text, along with 1GB of data for a low price of just $80 a month. It might not be the best deal around but it’s not bad considering data alone starts at $30 for Verizon’s regular plans.

Now as a quick note this new unlimited talk/text and 1GB of data plan is for 3G smartphones only. As in most of Verizon’s recently released devices that are all 4G LTE cannot participate from what we understand. Basically leaving older Android phones, like the Samsung Illusion or DROID Incredible 2 to the deal.

The new prepaid unlimited plan should be available for those interested starting tomorrow, although with it only being available for 3G I’m not sure who this is designed for but I’m sure some have the need. Additionally Verizon has also announced new hotspot plans starting at 250MB a week for $15, or 3GB a month for $30, and they go up from there.

[via Mobile Burn]


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