Android Community

Google cancels Monday’s Android event due to Hurricane Sandy
Xbox Smartglass lands on Android
New DMCA rulings on rooting leave us scratching our heads
Google Nexus wireless charger pictured

Google cancels Monday’s Android event due to Hurricane Sandy

Posted: 27 Oct 2012 10:55 AM PDT

Google was set to host an Android event on Monday in New York City where we’d be seeing multiple new devices from the Mountain View company, but we have some bad news this afternoon. We can confirm that Google has indeed canceled their Android event scheduled for Monday, October 29th due to Hurricane Sandy.

In case you haven’t been watching the news (other than Android Community news) New York City Governor Friday issued a state of emergency for the surrounding area based on the incoming storm. There’s been multiple evacuation points and Google’s event was going to be taking place right on a waterfront pier.

Google’s Android event had plenty of excitement around it. With the LG Nexus 4, a brand new Samsung Nexus 10 tablet, as well as a new 32GB 3G flavor Nexus 7 were all set to be announced. Then we were going to get our first official look at Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, and tons of other exciting news from the folks at Google. Sadly it looks like that won’t be happening on Monday, but better safe than sorry.

Google’s canceled their event in New York City, and at this point they’ve not rescheduled or supplied any further details on the situation. Many were expecting their devices to be available and on-sale the same day — but now everything is up in the air. We’ll be sure to report back as soon as we hear more, and stay tuned because Google will probably be announcing a new date and location shortly. For all those on the East Coast, stay safe and keep dry.

Xbox Smartglass lands on Android

Posted: 26 Oct 2012 07:05 PM PDT

Today may be mostly about the launch of Windows 8 for Microsoft, but there’s also some big news for Android users to be found hiding within all the hullabaloo. Microsoft has launched Xbox Smartglass for Android phones, meaning that today you can use your Android handset as something of a second controller for your console. Before you can experience all of the features of Xbox Smartglass though, you’ll need to connect your device to your console, which is done over your home Wi-Fi connection.

Once you’ve done that, you can use your Android phone as a remote control when you’re playing videos on your Xbox 360, with Microsoft giving you the ability to stop, start, pause, fast forward, and rewind video using your handset. You can also use Smartglass to navigate you content libraries on your console using your device, so the feeling that Smartglass turns your phone into another 360 controller is definitely present.

However, don’t let that dissuade you from downloading the app, as you can also use Smartglass to check our your gameplay stats, including a breakdown of your Gamerscore and achievements. You can also view your avatar on you mobile device, as well as updating social information for your Xbox Live profile. Essentially, Xbox Smartglass lets you view and edit your Live profile, without actually letting you play your games.

It’s a cool little app to be sure, and we’re excited to see what’s in store for the future of Smartglass, especially on tablets. There’s a lot Microsoft can do with Smartglass, so here’s hoping that Microsoft continues to support it and improve it as time goes on. At the very least, let’s hope that Smartglass doesn’t end up like a certain other Xbox 360 peripheral (cough Kinect cough). If you’re interested in checking out Xbox Smartglass, you can get the app now from the Google Play Store [download link].

[via SlashGear]

New DMCA rulings on rooting leave us scratching our heads

Posted: 26 Oct 2012 01:46 PM PDT

Ah, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. There have been plenty of confusing rulings and laws centering around the DMCA ever since it was introduced back in 1998, and we’re sad to say that things aren’t getting any less mind-boggling. The Librarian of Congress handed down its latest exemptions to the DMCA this week, and it’s safe to say that we have no idea what anyone was thinking with this new set of rules.

First off, rooting your phone remains legal (so long as you aren’t rooting to do anything illegal), but rooting a tablet isn’t allowed under this new set of exemptions. The Librarian of Congress says that rooting your tablet is a no-no because the definition of a tablet is still too broad, though you’ll be allowed to root your tablet if you’re given permission from the manufacturer. We think we have a pretty good grasp on what a tablet is, but it seems that this is something the Librarian of Congress is struggling with.

The rules for rooting a phone remain mostly the same, but the rules for unlocking a phone are going to change in a pretty big way. Once these exemptions go into effect on October 28, users will only be able to unlock phones purchased before or within 90 days of the effective date. That places the cut-off date right at the end of January 2013, so you won’t be able to unlock any phone you purchased after the end of January without permission from your carrier.

Under these new exemptions, users will be able to rip DVDs if they’re planning on using portions of the video for comment or criticism in documentaries, non-commercial videos, “in nonfiction multimedia e-books offering film analysis,” or for educational purposes where close examination of film is required. We wouldn’t expect those exceptions to go away, but strangely, users aren’t allowed to rip a DVD so they can watch their movie on their tablet, the vast majority of which lack a DVD drive. The ruling on rooting tablets was certainly confusing, but as far as nonsensical rules go, we’re thinking this one takes the cake.

As stated above, these exemptions go into effect in just two days on October 28, and will remain in place until the Librarian of Congress revisits them in 2015. We have to tell you the truth here: we’re left bewildered by some of these new exemptions, but that’s the DMCA for you. To think, paying customers have to deal with all of this crap just so companies can tell investors that they’re doing something to stop piracy. It’s a strange, strange system, but can we really expect any less from companies that consider users as licensees instead of actual customers?

[via SlashGear; via Ars Technica]

Google Nexus wireless charger pictured

Posted: 26 Oct 2012 01:25 PM PDT

Google’s Android event is scheduled for Monday, October 29th, but we’re still seeing loads of leaks and tips come in before the big day. Earlier today we got our first look at the Samsung Nexus 10, and now we’re getting another look at one more thing Google could be announcing come Monday. Meet the Nexus Wireless Charging Pad!

Lately we’ve seen a few fakes appear in the world of “leaks” so we should all take this picture with a pretty decent size grain of salt — but then again it could very well be real. The folks from TechnoBuffalo reported this as the real deal, basically confirming wireless charging rumors, but nothing has been confirmed.

What we see above is essentially a wireless charging pad for the LG Nexus 4, or possibly the entire upcoming Nexus line. That means the LG Nexus 4 and possibly the Samsung Nexus 10 will both work with the wireless inductive charging pad. This technology is nothing new, and has slowly been a possibility but we’ve not seen it take off yet like many had expected.

This will be an optional accessory most likely, and it still requires a power cable to be plugged in but we’re not seeing that in this suspect image. The picture does have some fuzzy out of focus edges, and why it curves in like an orb on bottom has us questioning if it’s real. The LG Nexus 4 doesn’t have a removable back so we can’t see Google offering new back covers along with this accessory. Some FCC reports suggested the Nexus had wireless charging included but for now we can’t be certain. What we do know however, is all will be revealed come Monday by Google themselves so stay tuned right here at Android Community!