Android Central
Android Central |
- Wifi-only Motorola XYBOARDs now shipping
- Sony Xperia S boasts 'dirt-repellent' coating and 'fast charging'
- What is NFC? [Android A to Z]
- Rezound update, RAZR MAXX impressions [From the Forums]
- New version of Google Music Manager allows easy downloading of purchased tracks
- Google's Android developers want you to say goodbye to the menu button
- Motorola: 18.7 million smartphones, 1 million tablets sold in 2011
- Your Logitech Revue is now a collector's item
- Steam community app available, access limited to beta participants for now
- Tonight on the Greatest Android Podcast in the World
- Mobilicity launching the Samsung Galaxy Nexus on Feb. 6
- Willy Wiener and the Tunnel of Doom in no way is a bad metaphor for sex
- Amazon offering the Galaxy Nexus for a deeply-discounted $100
- BBC News Android app now supports tablets
- HTC EVO 4G and EVO View 4G reportedly reach end-of-life status
- Free Android Wallpaper of the day - Airborne at 39,000 feet
- Want webOS on your Android tablet? HP hopes so
- HTC: Fewer device models in 2012, looking for 'something special'
- Rift MMO launches Android app with in-game items
- Spacetime Studios bringing Dark Legends to Android
- New Philips Soundbar uses Android to stream your content
- Shop Android Deal of the Day: Mobi Products Crystal Case for Verizon Galaxy Nexus
- LG Prada 3.0 comes to Phones4U early, first stock arriving tomorrow
- Google Authenticator / CyanogenMod incompatibility fixed
- AT&T breaks its own Android sales record, but iPhone still rules the roost
| Wifi-only Motorola XYBOARDs now shipping Posted: 26 Jan 2012 04:55 PM PST
With pre-orders for both the Wifi-only Motorola XYBOARD 10.1 and 8.2 having started up a while ago, Motorola has no decided its a good a time as any to actually start shipping the device out. An email was sent out, letting folks know the devices are now up for purchase on the Motorola website with free two-day shipping available as well for orders over $75. That's not a problem for those of looking to get a Motorola XYBOARD though considering the prices are as follows:
We've reviewed both the Motorola XYBOARD 10.1 and the XYBOARD 8.2 already, so if you're considering grab one, make sure you check out the reviews. If you've already decided you're going all in -- then you can hit the source links below to place your orders. Source: Motorola 
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| Sony Xperia S boasts 'dirt-repellent' coating and 'fast charging' Posted: 26 Jan 2012 03:31 PM PST
As launch day approaches, more technical details of Sony's new Xperia S are starting to trickle out. We learned all the key specifications at CES (where we also got some hands-on time with the device), but now two interesting new features of the Sony flagship phone have come to light, according to Swiss tech site PocketPC.ch. Firstly, the site reports that a Sony Ericsson product manager told them the Xperia S has a "dirt-repellent", "UV-active nano-coating". We're not even going to pretend to know what that means, but if it protects the device from scrapes and daily wear-and-tear, we're all in favor. For what it's worth, the presence of an "anti-stain shell" has already been confirmed on the official Sony Ericsson Facebook page. The product manager also reportedly spilled a few details on the new battery tech employed by the Xperia S. The phone is said to use improved lithium-polymer technology that's capable of recharging in half the time taken by earlier models, with ten minutes of charging time apparently being enough to power the device for a whole hour. The Xperia S is due to launch in Europe from the second week of March. Its American counterpart, the AT&T Xperia Ion, will land stateside during the second quarter. Source: PocketPC.ch; via: XperiaBlog 
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| Posted: 26 Jan 2012 03:20 PM PST
What is NFC? NFC stands for Near-Field Communication and is a set of standards (established in 2004) for small, portable devices to establish radio communications with each other. Devices need to be close, usually no more than a few centimeters apart (and often they need to touch), which is why it's a Near-Field way to communicate. The standards cover data exchange formats defined by the NFC Forum (no, not that kind of forum) and are based on the original radio frequency identification (RFID) standards. The forum also certifies devices like tags, cards, and smartphones. The coolest part of all this is that only one of the devices needs to be "smart." Most of us has a credit card of some sort that we can tap against a payment machine, either at the gas pump or a cash register. Both the payment machine and the credit card are NFC devices, but the card only has a string of information electronically written to a tiny chip embedded inside it. And this is useful for other things, like starting and handling more robust communications like Wifi or Bluetooth, but most often it's used with one of these "dumb" chips. These dumb chips can be written with any information, and the smart device determines what happens when communication is established. Of course, what most of us here think of when we hear NFC is Google Wallet. Google Wallet takes things a step further by using your Android phone as both a smart device and a dumb device. When you tap your phone at McDonald's to pay for those McNuggets, it's simply sharing your credit card credentials like any card would. But there's functionality and hardware there to accept payments, track balances, provide security and more. Right now it's only officially available as a test on the Nexus S 4G, but it's been hacked onto other phones with NFC hardware. Soon, we'll see it (and other apps for things like ISIS) as a standard on Android phones. Until then, we'll just have to play with tags and Android Beam. Previously on Android A to Z: What is MWC?; Find more in the Android Dictionary 
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| Rezound update, RAZR MAXX impressions [From the Forums] Posted: 26 Jan 2012 03:15 PM PST
We're blowing through this and tonight -- we'll have another awesome Android Central podcast for you all! While we get our podcast faces on, why don't you all take a stroll through the Android Central forums? Check out some of the threads below:
If you're not already a member of the Android Central forums, you can register your account today. 
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| New version of Google Music Manager allows easy downloading of purchased tracks Posted: 26 Jan 2012 03:00 PM PST
Here at AC, we love Google Music, and some of us have it cranked high all day long while the lovingly sweet sounds of Led Zepplin or Motorhead coax us through the workday. But I digress, and maybe that's only me. We especially love it when changes get made to makes things easier, and today is a good day for easy. Google has updated the Google Music Manager program to allow for easy downloading of songs you have uploaded or purchased from the Android Market. Music Manager is the portion of the service you run on your computer to upload and manage your library, and we have to admit when compared to competitors like iTunes or Zune it's a little sparse. With today's update, you can download all your legitimately *cough* purchased and uploaded music with just a few button clicks. Right click on the Music Manager in your system tray, open the options dialog and choose the "Download" tab. From there you have the option to download your library. If you've downloaded it before, you'll also have an option to only download newly added songs. The tracks are saved in the folder you specify as 320 kbps .mp3 files. Your songs still stay in the cloud, but now you've got a local copy as well. In addition, server side changes now allow you to share the Youtube video for purchased songs with your Google+ circles. Click the dropdown next to the song title to share the video with your circles, and they'll see it in their Google+ timeline. Now if only the rest of the planet could use Google music, it would be perfect. Source: Android Market support; via +Android
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| Google's Android developers want you to say goodbye to the menu button Posted: 26 Jan 2012 02:21 PM PST
Goodbye menu button, hello Action Bar overflow! Today on the Android Developers blog Scott Main, lead technical writer from Google, wrote up a nice piece of prose about how developers should migrate away from the traditional menu-button based way of designing applications. You see, Ice Cream Sandwich allows for the folks designing phones to do away with all those buttons we've grown accustomed to at the bottom of our screen, and replace them with software based buttons built into the OS and apps. It's something we first saw in Honeycomb tablets, where the need for menu buttons was removed by the introduction of the ActionBar class. Google wants developers, and in turn us users, to learn to love the Action Bar. Scott gives examples of how the new Action Bar "overflow" (those three dots that replace a menu button in ICS) can replace what we traditionally needed a menu button for, and even how to build applications to use both methods -- developers don't want to forget all the devices that haven't been updated to Ice Cream Sandwich yet. It's an interesting read for those who keep up with Android application interface guidelines, and a must-read for all you developers out there. Most importantly, Scott stresses that the application UI should have all the important elements right up front for the user to see, and the overflow should be used for things not important enough to be on the screen. He also gives instruction on how to make the legacy menu button not appear if it's not being used, and how to get rid of the whole Action Bar if an application doesn't need it. As developers get their apps updated for ICS and beyond, we'll be able to say goodbye to those three dots we chase all over on "buttonless" phones and tablets. That's a good thing. Source: Android Developers Blog. Thanks, Sebastian! 
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| Motorola: 18.7 million smartphones, 1 million tablets sold in 2011 Posted: 26 Jan 2012 01:41 PM PST
Motorola's just announced it's fourth-quarter and year-end earnings, and we're getting a pretty clear picture of what sold -- and what didn't -- in 2011. Here's the breakdown:
Quarterly speaking, that's a bit of an increase. For Q3 2011, Motorola sold 4.8 million smartphones and 100,000 tablets. But it still pales in comparison to the more than 40 million iPads Apple sold in 2011, never mind iPhones. As far as earnings go, Motorola announced a net revenue of $3.4 billion, but a non-GAAP operating loss of $19 million and an earnings loss of 27 cents per share. Motorola does mention the Google merger in its earnings report, but that's it. No update on progress. And for that reason, Motorola's also not hosting a conference call with the report. Source: Motorola 
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| Your Logitech Revue is now a collector's item Posted: 26 Jan 2012 01:19 PM PST
The Logitech Revue never quite lived up to its potential as the first set-top box to sport Google TV. That much was made clear by Logitech in late 2011 when it was said to have "cost us dearly." And now the Revue has officially been put out to pasture. Logitech posted its Q3 2012 (they're on a weird schedule) today and in doing so it repeated that sales figures were negatively impacted by the Revue -- and that it no longer has any units on hand. Here's the official word from Logitech:
So that's it, boys and girls. The Logitech Revue is done. Finished. Kaput. It is no more. But that's not entirely true, of course. A good many of us still have Revue units, and they still work relatively well, if a little underpowered, and they're actually running the latest version of the Google TV branch of Android. Treat them well. (Or at least try not to fear them too much.) And as for Google TV, it's not done yet, either. We're already seeing the likes of Vizio coming out with new products, and we're willing to bet more are on the way. Sit back, relax, and get ready for Android to take over your TV. Source: Logitech 
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| Steam community app available, access limited to beta participants for now Posted: 26 Jan 2012 12:25 PM PST
If you're a PC or Mac gamer, chances are you've used Steam, Valve Software's leading digital distribution platform for games. Today sees the launch of the official Steam app for Android, a new application that gives you access to the Steam store and community features like Steam chat on-the-go. If you're big on Steam and the Steam community, this could definitely be worth a look. It's worth clarifying that this isn't a fully-fledged Steam client for Android, so you won't be playing Portal 2 on your Galaxy Tab any time soon, unfortunately. All it lets you do is buy PC and Mac games and chat to your Steam friends. While the app itself is freely available on the Android Market (see the link after the jump), you'll need to be part of the Steam Mobile beta group in order to use it, or you'll be rejected at the login screen. This is a little strange given that the app is openly advertised on SteamPowered.com with no mention that a beta invite is required. So keep an eye on this one, folks. All signs point to a possible public launch in the near future. If you are in the beta group, however, you'll find a handy Market link after the break. Source: SteamPowered.com 
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| Tonight on the Greatest Android Podcast in the World Posted: 26 Jan 2012 11:39 AM PST |
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Mobilicity launching the Samsung Galaxy Nexus on Feb. 6
Posted: 26 Jan 2012 11:15 AM PST
Canadian carriers have been rolling out the Samsung Galaxy Nexus for quite a while now but Mobilicity has just added their name to the mix. On their Twitter account they've made it known the Samsung Galaxy Nexus will be available from them on February 6th. No pricing details were released for now but it'll no doubt fall in line with the rest of the carrier offers meaning -- it should arrive for around $600, possibly less if Mobilicity wants to be nice.
Source: Twitter
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Willy Wiener and the Tunnel of Doom in no way is a bad metaphor for sex
Posted: 26 Jan 2012 10:36 AM PST
Amazon offering the Galaxy Nexus for a deeply-discounted $100
Posted: 26 Jan 2012 10:24 AM PST
We here at Android Central refuse to ignore a bargain, espcially one as great as this: Amazon is currently selling the Galaxy Nexus for a mere $99.99, a full $200 less than what you'll pay Verizon. The sale price is for new customers only, and you'll need to sign a two-year contract, of course. If you've held out for the current Android king, this is likely the best price you've seen to date, though the device is finally starting to see some respectable discounts (newegg.com, for example, is currently offering the Nexus for $200).
Given Amazon's name-brand and solid reliability, this deal is just too good to ignore for those who have been waiting patiently to take a bite out of Ice Cream Sandwich. Hit the source link for Amazon's product page.
Source: Amazon
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BBC News Android app now supports tablets
Posted: 26 Jan 2012 09:54 AM PST
The BBC has updated its BBC News app for Android with Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich tablet support. The app now offers a larger, split-screen view for tablets running Android 3.0 and above -- the layout seems very similar to the iPad version, which has been available since mid-2010. This tablet-optimized app is apparently designed for "larger" tablets only, and that 7-inch tablets will still default to the portrait-only smartphone app.
Following the initial release, the Beeb says it's looking to add new functionality like live streaming of the BBC News channel, and homescreen widgets. The BBC blog post also notes that an increasing number of people are accessing its news content on mobile devices --
Growing numbers of people are accessing BBC News on mobiles and tablets. In an average week, the BBC News sites and apps are visited by around 9.7m users worldwide on mobile and tablet devices. That represents about 26% of the total.
The BBC News product development team will be working on further mobile and tablet improvements over the coming year.
The tablet version of the BBC News app is currently available on the Android Market in the UK, and will be rolling out internationally "soon". If you're in the UK, you can pick up the latest version of the BBC News app using the Android Market links after the jump.
Source: BBC
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HTC EVO 4G and EVO View 4G reportedly reach end-of-life status
Posted: 26 Jan 2012 09:30 AM PST
It was a landmark Android device, and it's been an iconic phone for Sprint, but it seems that this past week finally saw the venerable HTC EVO 4G reach end-of-life (EOL) status. According to an internal memo obtained by Sprintfeed, the EVO View 4G, Sprint's version of the HTC Flyer, will also be put out to pasture from Jan. 29. And there's bad news for our friends at CrackBerry, too, as it seems Sprint also plans to stop offering the BlackBerry Playbook from "late January".
While the EVO View (and the Playbook) haven't exactly been runaway successes, we're sure a few of you will have fond memories of the EVO 4G, which first appeared way back in June 2010. Hopefully we'll see these devices replaced by more compelling Android phones and tablets as the year progresses.
Source: Sprintfeed
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Free Android Wallpaper of the day - Airborne at 39,000 feet
Posted: 26 Jan 2012 08:59 AM PST
Today's free Android wallpaper comes to us from reader ishore, who got this nice shot of a sea of clouds at 39,000 feet, taken with a Motorola Droid RAZR.
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Want webOS on your Android tablet? HP hopes so
Posted: 26 Jan 2012 08:42 AM PST
You may or may not have seen HP's plans from last month on open-sourcing webOS. We did, and had a few words to say ourselves. HP has now good on releasing a roadmap for its open-source release and is fully open-sourcing the Enyo application framework. But what does all this mean for the Android crowd? In the short term it means you'll be seeing at least a few webOS apps made available for Android. In the longer term it means you're likely to see a day where the tables are turned and you can install webOS on Android tablets (instead of the other way around).
We'll tackle the apps thing first -- HP this week released the source code for the Enyo application framework. At its core Enyo is based on web tech like everything webOS (whereas the Android framework is based around Java). As an application framework, Enyo is the language webOS developers use to build their apps and serves as an intermediary to raw web code. The user interface trademark of Enyo is the use of sliding panels, both popping in from the sides and stacking up for adjustable multi-column interfaces. In that regard it's not that different from the Fragments concept introduced for app development for Honeycomb.
Going open-source means that developers who have written in Enyo can compile apps to be loaded in a browser or on web app-supporting operating systems with little issue. In fact, it's already happening -- multiple webOS Enyo apps are available through WebKit-based web browsers and at least one, an Instapaper client called Paper Mache, is available now in the Android Market. Of course, there's some tweaking that'll have to be done to make things nice and smooth, but apps like Paper Mache look and behave (minus the lag and jitter) exactly as they do on webOS.
The second major announcement was that HP is dumping their custom kernel and coopting the standard Linux kernel for use in Open webOS. This is the basic principle behind Android's kernel by making the switch webOS will gain support for a wide breadth of hardware. Where there's Cyanogen for the Android Open Source Project we certainly expect the same to happen with webOS. The question is … will anybody want to install it?
Derek Kesser is editor of webOSNation.com.
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HTC: Fewer device models in 2012, looking for 'something special'
Posted: 26 Jan 2012 08:27 AM PST
Last year HTC released a huge amount of Android devices -- something like 387,000, if our math is right. (We kid.) Looks like that'll change in 2012. HTC UK chief Phil Roberson has told Mobile Magazine that this year the Taiwanese manufacturer plans to focus on a smaller number of device models instead of sheer quantity.
"We (HTC) have to get back to focusing on what made us great - amazing hardware and a great customer experience. We ended 2011 with far more products than we started out with. We tried to do too much. So 2012 is about giving our customers something special. We need to make sure we do not go so far down the line that we segment our products by launching lots of different SKUs."
In addition to slowing down on their device launches, HTC has said that it will not focus on tablets so that they can continue their focus on device quality. HTC has not played a large role in the tablet market so far with only a few released such as the HTC Flyer and the HTC EVO View 4G and the wildly overpriced (though that was AT&T's fault) Jetstream.
The quality over quantity is an approach that we can definitely appreciate, and Motorola's said it's going down this path as well. While we are still unsure as to how many devices HTC plans to announce and release this year -- we'll see more in a few week at Mobile World Congress -- but we like the idea of knowing that the device will not find itself obsolete in just a month or two when an upgraded model is released.
Source: MobileToday; via: The Unwired
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Rift MMO launches Android app with in-game items
Posted: 26 Jan 2012 07:55 AM PST
Massively multiplayer game Rift has just launched its first companion app for Android. Not only does it have the usual stuff like chat with in-game friends and event notifications, they've also included mini-games through which you can win proper in-game items. Here's the full feature list.
- Chat with friends and guildmates - Check if your comrades are online, and communicate instantly from anywhere! Send messages from your phone to in-game, or plan your adventures mobile-to-mobile! Push Notifications help your friends call you back to Telara.
- Full guild support - Guild and Officer chat run smoothly on your mobile device, so you never miss a big decision.
- Guild MOTD and Guild Wall - View your Guild Wall and Message of the Day at anytime, anywhere.
- Zone Event notification - Hear the call when Zone Events erupt on your shard, and pick your battles with flexible alert settings.
- Earn in-game loot! - Win real loot through the mobile app with Lootables. Artifacts, crafting items, and planar treasure shoot straight to your character’s mailbox!
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Spacetime Studios bringing Dark Legends to Android
Posted: 26 Jan 2012 07:33 AM PST
Spacetime Studios, creators of Pocket Legends and Star Legends, are returning to Android with their latest creation; Dark Legends. Release for this taste of the undead is currently slated for Q1 2012.
The gameplay of Dark Legends is said to draw the player deeper into the experience. Boasting a combat system that features new mechanics such as charge attacks and the ability to drain enemies.
The game will also be more focused on the narrative aspect, and will offer the ability to complete quick action missions with a single tap. Such missions feature cut-scenes that become linked together to create a storybook where the player experiences the life of a vampire up close and personal.
The game is said to open with your character recently 'raised' and being watched over by the vampire that created them. The existance of vampires has been exposed and the humans are uniting to exterminate them all. You must work with your clan to survive.
The previous games from Spacetime have been downloaded over 7 million times and offer players such a high level of gaming quality. There's no reason to suspect Dark Legends will be any different. It is due to be shown off for the first time at GDC 2012.
via Marketwatch; More: Spacetime Studios
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New Philips Soundbar uses Android to stream your content
Posted: 26 Jan 2012 07:11 AM PST
We're always interested in new ways to use Android in our lives. Recently we've seen washing machines, and home phones bringing Android outside of our smartphones. Philips are taking it a little further and integrating Android into a new Soundbar that uses the OS to stream your content via DLNA.
The CSS5123 Soundbar is a single speaker, bundled with a companion Subwoofer. The aim is to create a virtual 5.1 surround sound effect with just one speaker. The Android part comes in when the Soundbar uses the programming to connect with any DLNA capable device such as your smartphone, tablet or even your desktop PC using the Philips SimplyShare app.
The best part is that it doesn't just allow for music streaming to be played direct through the speaker. Via an integrated Smart Media Player, video content can be streamed and played back through your TV.
Availability is expected in the United States in April, costing $350.
via Gizmag
More: Philips CSS5123 Soundbar spec sheet
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Shop Android Deal of the Day: Mobi Products Crystal Case for Verizon Galaxy Nexus
Posted: 26 Jan 2012 06:50 AM PST
The Jan. 26 Shop Android Deal of the Day is the Mobi Products Crystal Case for the Verizon Galaxy Nexus. The case is specifically designed for the Verizon Galaxy Nexus and will add very little weight or bulk to your device. There are cutouts for the camera, speaker, and screen, and the smooth exterior of the case provides easy insertion and removal from your pocket or purse. And it's available today only for just $4.95 -- that's 75 percent off! Get yours while supplies last!
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LG Prada 3.0 comes to Phones4U early, first stock arriving tomorrow
Posted: 26 Jan 2012 05:48 AM PST
Independent retailer Phones4U has announced that it'll be the first in the UK to sell the new Prada Phone by LG 3.0 (aka LG Prada 3.0), with stock arriving from tomorrow, Jan. 27. The latest collaboration between the Korean manufacturer and the Italian fashion giant has resulted in a thin, high-end Android smartphone with distinctive hardware and software. As we said in our hands-on preview, though, the device's monochrome UI may not be to everyone's tastes.
A quick glance at Phones4U's site reveals that it'll be selling the LG Prada 3.0 with contracts from O2, Vodafone and Orange. The best value seems come from Voda, which offers the phone for free on a £31 per month, 2-year plan, though O2 isn't far behind with a similar deal for £32 per month. If earlier Phones4U exclusives are anything to go by, they'll likely sell you the device in-store without a contract, though you may end up paying a considerable mark-up.
Other British retailers are expected to begin stocking the LG Prada 3.0 from the second week of February, with SIM-free prices of around £430 (~$670). We've got Phones4U's press release after the break.
More: Phones4U
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Google Authenticator / CyanogenMod incompatibility fixed
Posted: 26 Jan 2012 05:21 AM PST
Last night's update to the Google Authenticator app caused headaches for a few CyanogenMod users by force-closing at startup on their devices. However, CM users will be pleased to hear that a fix has been swiftly rolled out by Google just hours after the incompatibility came to light. To grab the fix, simply head on over to the Android Market and hit that "update" button.
Kudos to Google for making a fix available so quickly, especially given the critical nature of the Authenticator app for its users, and the fact that the glitch only affected unofficial custom firmware.
Continue past the break for the usual Android Market linkage.
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AT&T breaks its own Android sales record, but iPhone still rules the roost
Posted: 26 Jan 2012 05:04 AM PST
AT&T released its Q4 2011 earnings this morning, saying it set sales records for Android devices in the three months ending Dec. 31. (It doubled Android sales in Q3 2011, you'll recall.) While it declined to give specific Android numbers, AT&T did say that it sold 9.4 million Android and iOS smartphones, 82 percent its postpaid sales were smartphones, and it activated 7.6 million iPhones. Do the math there, more or less, and you've got a boatload of iPhones, and some Android phones. But we're not one to look broken records in the mouth, and neither is AT&T, we reckon. The company also said it sold twice as many Android devices as it did in Q4 2010.
Source: AT&T
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