Android Central |
- Google+ for Android update now rolling out - UI changes and bug fixes aplenty
- Rezound announcement, Vivid LTE [From the Forums]
- Nyan Droid Live Wallpaper in the Market
- Redux for Google TV brings quality, curated content right to your living room
- Android Theme Review: Ice Cream Sandwich CM7 Theme
- Samsung Galaxy Note European carriers and release dates
- T-Mobile myTouch and myTouch Q to be available Nov. 2
- Samsung Galaxy W now available on Three UK
- HTC Rezound (aka Vigor) gets a pre-production hands-on
- Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S review
- European Xoom wifi receiving an update to Android 3.2
- Barnes & Noble has 'very special announcement' next week; we'll be there!
- LG finally ready to release Optimus Gingerbread update to Europe
- Last chance to enter the Mobile Nations Halloween contest!
- Deal of the Day: Otterbox Commuter Case for the Photon 4G, Inspire 4G and EVO Shift 4G
- Verizon's original Samsung Galaxy Tab set to finally receive Gingerbread
- AT&T gets its first LTE smartphones -- the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket and HTC Vivid
- Sony Internet TV's Google TV 2.0 update pushing out now!
- HTC ships nearly twice as many phones in Q3; profits up 68 percent
- Mobile Nations Monday Brief: October 31, 2011
- Hailing a cab in London with your Android phone? About time!
- Dear Walmart: This is not the EVO Design 4G
- The Week in Android News
| Google+ for Android update now rolling out - UI changes and bug fixes aplenty Posted: 31 Oct 2011 03:59 PM PDT Google+ is getting some love tonight. The latest version has just been pushed to the Android Market and should be showing up for most folks. If not, you'll just have to sit tight for a little while longer. This release -- created during the Ice Cream Sandwich developement brings a few changes to the table. Most notably the UI and styling of the app is more in tune with how Android 4.0 looks and for those who loaded up the previously leaked version -- it will look familiar but others changes can be found within as well such as:
All in all, a nice update that will hopefully correct a lot of concerns some have had. You can fire up the Android Market or grab it from the link below, where you'll also find some more screenshots Source: Ben Eidelston
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| Rezound announcement, Vivid LTE [From the Forums] Posted: 31 Oct 2011 03:04 PM PDT It's all Hallows Eve and we here at Android Central all hope you have a safe and happy Hallowe'en. That said, after you've raided all the candy you can get your hands on make sure you check out the latest here posts on the blogs and in the Android Central Forums.
If you're not already a member of the Android Central Forums, you can register your account today.
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| Nyan Droid Live Wallpaper in the Market Posted: 31 Oct 2011 02:28 PM PDT Looks like we're really going there. Just remember, what has been seen can never be unseen. Download links are after the break.
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| Redux for Google TV brings quality, curated content right to your living room Posted: 31 Oct 2011 01:54 PM PDT With all the Google TV news the past few days, we wanted to let you guys know about Redux. Back at Google I/O Redux was featured by Google as something Google TV was all about -- quality content you can view right in your living room via Google TV. Their HTML 5 app has been in the GTV spotlight (Google's app picks for the Google TV platform) for a while, and to be ready for the Honeycomb rollout, they already have their Android app ready in the Market. That's cool -- Redux is ready for you, but what exactly is Redux? hit the break to find out, and get information where you can check it out right now. More: Redux
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| Android Theme Review: Ice Cream Sandwich CM7 Theme Posted: 31 Oct 2011 01:02 PM PDT
Ed. note: This theme requires use of the Theme Chooser. When Google finally unveiled Ice Cream Sandwich to the world, we all knew it was going to be the new hotness. How much it changed things, though, I'm not sure anyone could have really predicted. Fortunately, it didn't matter. Once the event was over, I knew I wanted it, period. Thanks to one enterprising developer, there's a wicked theme for CM7 that gives you all the aesthetic polish of ICS on your current-gen, non-ICS phone. It's done by the same guy who made Tangerine and Arctic Green (to name a few), and as good as those were, Ice Cream Sandwich CM7 Theme rules the roost in terms of look and quality. For starters, all of the system apps we've come to know and love have had their icons updated to their Ice Cream Sandwich counterparts. That means Calendar, Camera, and the like have fresh, new looks, while Gmail is finally the icon we've become accustomed to from Honeycomb. The notification bar and its respective icons have been all TRON'd out, as they're sporting the new blue color that was first introduced in Honeycomb and is being carried over into Ice Cream Sandwich. The text in the pulldown bar (such as your carrier, the date, and the word 'Notifications') are similarly colored. Text on your actual notifications is a bright white, which stands out nicely compared to the darkness of the pulldown and makes everything easy to read. Instead of a 'Clear' button, there's just a blue X, but its purpose is obvious. It also looks much sleeker than the button of Android's yesteryear. The dialer is sporting Roboto Light (or something close to it) and looks all the better for it. The numbers are in blue and the letters are in grey, but it all comes together nicely. Check boxes inside menus have also been rendered blue, with a subtle glow to them. (No, it doesn't pulse.) Anything highlighted is the same blue, and the force field that appears when a list hits the top of bottom of the screen is colored the same, too. For anyone else who can't wait for Ice Cream Sandwich to officially drop (and has a rooted phone running CM7), I'd pick this theme up, posthaste. It's clean, works like a charm, and best of all, it's free. Plus, if you use LauncherPro Plus, there's an additional app you can download that themes your widgets to look all Ice Cream Sandwichy, too. We've got a few pictures and download links after the break.
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| Samsung Galaxy Note European carriers and release dates Posted: 31 Oct 2011 11:48 AM PDT Samsung recently gave more details on the availability of the Galaxy Note across Europe. The device launched over the weekend in Germany, and will roll out across the UK and mainland Europe between now and Nov. 25 on a variety of carriers. Here's your country-by-country breakdown:
Check out our hands-on feature for more Galaxy Note-based goodness.
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| T-Mobile myTouch and myTouch Q to be available Nov. 2 Posted: 31 Oct 2011 11:32 AM PDT Having been previously announced as arriving 'in time for the holidays', T-Mobile has now given more firm dates for the T-Mobile myTouch and myTouch Q availablity. Planned roll-out will start happening on the T-Mobile website come Nov. 2, with Nationwide availability happening on November 9th, No matter which device you pick, each will cost $79.99 after a $50 mail-in-rebate, with a two-year service agreement and qualifying classic voice and data plan. Shared specs include Android 2.3, a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 5MP camera with 720p video. Source: T-Mobile Facebook
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| Samsung Galaxy W now available on Three UK Posted: 31 Oct 2011 11:28 AM PDT British network Three has announced that it's now stocking the Samsung Galaxy W, Sammy's latest mid-range offering, with a 1.4 GHz chip and a 3.7-inch Super LCD display. On the software side of things, you've got Android 2.3 Gingerbread, along with Samsung's TouchWiz 4.0 UX. Three customers can pick up the Galaxy W for free on 24-month contracts of £22 or more per month, or on Pay As You Go for £249.99 (~£400) up-front. Source: Three UK
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| HTC Rezound (aka Vigor) gets a pre-production hands-on Posted: 31 Oct 2011 11:02 AM PDT
So here's our first look the HTC Rezound -- aka the HTC Vigor -- on Verizon, which we're fully expecting to see officially unveiled Thursday in New York. (We'll be there, by the way.) JohnBoy shows us what we pretty much expected -- it's an HTC device with a fairly cool looking battery cover, Android 2.3.4, Sense 3.5, 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 8MP rear camera, 2MP front-facing camera, 1GB of RAM, Wifi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 3.0. The differentiator here, of course, is that it's a Beats Audio device, so you'll be able to rock out on that sweet ELO or whatever it is the kids are listening to these days. Source: Droid Forums; via HTC Rezound forums
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| Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc S review Posted: 31 Oct 2011 10:01 AM PDT The past 11 months have seen Sony Ericsson recover from the disappointments and frustrations of its early Android efforts, releasing a solid line-up of well-designed Gingerbread-based phones in a range of different form factors. SE’s market share might be dwarfed by rival Android manufacturers like HTC and Samsung, but there’s no doubting the quality of its 2011 Xperia series.
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| European Xoom wifi receiving an update to Android 3.2 Posted: 31 Oct 2011 09:17 AM PDT
Albeit a little behind the times, the European versions of the Motorola Xoom Wifi are now beginning to receive a software update that includes an update to version 3.2 of Honeycomb. Users in Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK should be seeing the update notifications start to appear on their devices. Besides just updating to 3.2, Motorola have thrown in their own MOTOPRINT wifi printing application, the full version of Quickoffice and a couple of enterprise tools. Full release notes after the break. Source: Motorola Europe
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| Barnes & Noble has 'very special announcement' next week; we'll be there! Posted: 31 Oct 2011 08:50 AM PDT Barnes & Noble's whipping up some breakfast on Nov. 7, and it looks like we've got some new hardware in store, too. At the very least, we're promised a "very special announcement." The odds are on seeing a new Nook Color -- and this just a week before the uber-hyped Amazon Kindle Fire starts shipping. Will what we get be able to extinguish the Kind Fire's, erm, fire? We'll find out next week.
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| LG finally ready to release Optimus Gingerbread update to Europe Posted: 31 Oct 2011 08:44 AM PDT
The long wait is finally, almost, at an end for users of LG's Optimus line as they have today released details of the European rollout of their much awaited Gingerbread update for the "three premium smartphones" in the lineup. It's important to remember that the dates provided by LG, refer specifically to unlocked, unbranded versions of the devices. Those bought from carriers may have to wait a little while longer. The good news though, is that for the Optimus 2X, the update starts from November 1. The Optimus 3D, and the Optimus Black will follow shortly after, followed by a global rollout. No specific dates have been provided though for outside of Europe. The dates are:
Thanks powerbart! More: LG Facebook page
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| Last chance to enter the Mobile Nations Halloween contest! Posted: 31 Oct 2011 08:15 AM PDT
The witching hour is upon us, and that means time is winding down to enter the Mobile Nations Halloween contest. Be it sexy, like this, or scary, like what you see above, we want to see you in your Halloween finest. What will you win? Let's just say it'll definitely be worth your while. We've got full details after the break. Now send your pics to halloween@mobilenations.com. Good luck!
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| Deal of the Day: Otterbox Commuter Case for the Photon 4G, Inspire 4G and EVO Shift 4G Posted: 31 Oct 2011 08:13 AM PDT
We've got a triple treat for the Oct. 31 Deal of the Day -- the OtterBox Commuter Series case for the Motorola Photon 4G, HTC Inspire 4G and HTC EVO Shift 4G. The OtterBox case is synonymous with protection, with three layers to keep scratches, dings and dents well away from your phone. There's a self-ahering clear plastic film to cover the screen, a durable silicone mid-layer, and a one-piece custom polycarbonate shell. And you'll still have access to all of the ports and buttons. The OtterBox Commuter Series Case is available for all three phones today only for just $19.95 -- that's 43 percent off! [Photon 4G | Inspire 4G/Desire HD | EVO Shift 4G]
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| Verizon's original Samsung Galaxy Tab set to finally receive Gingerbread Posted: 31 Oct 2011 07:56 AM PDT Verizon has announced that the Gingerbread update is coming soon for the Samsung Galaxy Tab. The original Tab is often forgotten with the onslaught of tablets that have been released afterwards, but it remains a favorite among many Android fans. This news is great for Tab owners on Verizon who have been wondering if they would ever see another software update for the device. The update is to Android 2.3.5 and will bring:
The update is currently listed as 'Coming Soon' on Verizon's website, so as soon as we hear it go live you'll know too. For more, check out our Samsung Galaxy Tab Forum. Source: Verizon
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| AT&T gets its first LTE smartphones -- the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket and HTC Vivid Posted: 31 Oct 2011 07:04 AM PDT Samsung and AT&T this morning announced the carrier's first LTE smartphones -- the Android 2.3.5-powered Galaxy S II Skyrocket and HTC Vivid.
It'll be available Nov. 6 for $249.99 with a two-year contract. The HTC Vivid is rocking a 4.5-inch qHD display at 540x960. It's got a 1.2 GHz processor, 8MP rear camera with 1080p video recording, 16GB of on-board storage and a microSD card slot. It'll be available for $199 on contract. AT&T's LTE network is in its infancy, having gone live in just five cities so far -- Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. But with the launch of the Skyrocket, AT&T's expanding its LTE markets to Boston; Washington, D.C.; Baltimore and Athens, Ga. AT&T's got two data plans from which to choose: 200MB for $15 a month (an additional 200MB costs another $15), or 2GB for $25 a month, with a extra 1GB costing another $10. You can add 4GB of mobile hotspot data for an addition $45 a month. Source: AT&T
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| Sony Internet TV's Google TV 2.0 update pushing out now! Posted: 31 Oct 2011 06:43 AM PDT Just as Google foretold, the Android 3.1 update (aka Google TV 2.0) has begun pushing out to Sony Internet TV boxes and televisions. As you'll recall, this is the update that brings:
Will it finally launch the era of Android-connected television? We'll just have to see, and we'll still have to wait a few months for new hardware. (And owners of the Logitech Revue will have to wait until later for their update. Sigh.) Thanks, Ricky!
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| HTC ships nearly twice as many phones in Q3; profits up 68 percent Posted: 31 Oct 2011 06:19 AM PDT It's good to be HTC, no? The Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer released its Q3 2011 earnings this week. It shipped some 13.2 million phones, nearly double that of Q3 2010 and some 9 percent higher than the second quarter of 2011. After-tax profits were up 68 percent over a year ago to $18.68 billion. A couple of areas HTC continues to focus on, it said in its earnings release, are China, and LTE. It's expecting further growth in LTE handsets in the United States (Verizon's got LTE now, and AT&T's in the midst of rolling it out), as well as Japan, Korea and Hong Kong. HTC also reaffirmed its commitment to the entry-level market, citing the HTC Wildfire as a top-seller. And speaking of growing, HTC has 2,000 stores in China, and a factory in Taoyuan will be completed early next year and could increase production by 40 million phones a year. So, yeah. It's good to be HTC. Source: HTC
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| Mobile Nations Monday Brief: October 31, 2011 Posted: 31 Oct 2011 05:43 AM PDT
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| Hailing a cab in London with your Android phone? About time! Posted: 31 Oct 2011 04:42 AM PDT For anyone who ever lives in, or has ever visited London, you'll know that hailing a cab can sometimes be tough. It's never quite as easy as it looks on TV, and sometimes can be quite treacherous. Now though, a group of enterprising London cab drivers are ready to launch a new service which makes it as easy as two taps on your smartphone. The service, known as "Hailo" goes live tomorrow in the Android Market for free, and will allow its users to call nearby taxis without taking their lives into their own hands. So far 2,000 drivers have signed up to be part of the service. The app will locate you via the phones GPS system, and any free drivers nearby will be able to accept the fare. You will then be able to see the drivers name, vehicle registration, how far away they are, and even pay a fare with your credit card. Source: The Independent
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| Dear Walmart: This is not the EVO Design 4G Posted: 30 Oct 2011 07:00 PM PDT | ||||||||
| Posted: 30 Oct 2011 06:54 PM PDT Mobile Nations. Hands on with the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Oh yes -- yet another fun week in Android has come to an end, so let's take a look at some of what you may have missed. General News
Hardware News
Tablet News
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