Android Phone Fans

[Discussion] How many of you like what you see in Chameleon?

2012-05-27T19:32:42Z

While I must admit that I was first intrigued with Chameleon, the custom launcher that is looking to raise funds on Kickstarter, based on what I read about it, the video demonstration has underwhelmed me. In the crudest of ways to describe it, it looks like it helps you create “themed” home screens, so that each screen is dedicated to a purpose, such as work, or reading, or entertainment. And using indicators such as time or the WiFi network connected to or location, it chooses the default home screen.

The issue I have with it is that I have always sorted my home screens according to purpose, which basically leaves only the variable default home screen as a feature that I don’t have. And it comes at a few costs in ability, too, such as you lose the capability to create folders, there’s no guarantee about support for smaller tablet screens (their own words, though they do mention they have tried to keep the UI dynamic), it looks like the only widgets you can have so far are those that they include, and that developers would need to use HTML5 to build custom widgets for Chameleon if they wished to do so.

Maybe I’m missing something, and I’d really like there to be something that makes me want to support it. But, so far, I just can’t seem to think of a great purpose for this. What about you guys?

Video walkthrough details Sony Xperia S ICS update

2012-05-27T18:33:05Z

Looks like the Ice Cream Sandwich update for the Sony Xperia S is right on track. This little video over here has been doing the rounds on the internet today, and though it’s in a foreign language, we can at least see the visual features of the updated software. Have a look, and as always, post your thoughts in the comments.

[via s-ense.net]

Get your camping kits ready, Londoners. First 50 Galaxy S III owners to be given tickets to the Olympics

2012-05-27T18:20:18Z

As if they aren’t fortunate enough to be the first ones to get their hands on the Samsung Galaxy S III, Londoners now have another reason to buy the phone as soon as the stores open: tickets to this summer’s Olympics. Just to be clear, you have to have pre-ordered the device, as these customers have been invited pick up their phones before regular customers are allowed to.

Considering the mess that was the ticket lottery system, this might actually be the easier way to watch one of the events at the Games (though which one hasn’t been specified). Samsung is clearly going on overdrive to promote their phone along with the Olympics, having earlier released a special edition of the Galaxy Note and an advertisement of the phablet that featured David Beckham (who is still heavily tipped to be part of Great Britain’s football/soccer team).

[via Android Central]

[App Review] FaceLock for Apps protects your apps, brings Face Unlock to Gingerbread

2012-05-27T16:49:42Z

Two things make this app stand out: firstly, it brings the Face Unlock capabilities of Ice Cream Sandwich to Gingerbread devices too. That’s impressive, because that means nearly 200 million more phones capable of being protected using the method. The second, which as the name suggests, is the ability to protect individual apps.

These are only my initial thoughts. I’ve been using the app for about half an hour, and will update this post once I have tested it extensively.

And I must admit, when it works, it works well. It’s accurate in several lighting conditions, and more importantly its quick. I tested it out by protecting my Gallery app (I hate it when I give my phone to a friend, and find them going through my photos), and it worked as it says it would.

I do have a few issues though: it seems to be taking quite an extensive amount of memory while running in the background (I spotted it at 24 MB) and more importantly I’ve found my launcher to slow down at times. Only rebooting makes the device usable again. I must add that I’m using a not-so-stable ICS ROM on my phone, so it might be running into problems with that too.

The setup is pretty easy, just open the app and take a few photos in different lighting conditions. A minimum of 7 are required, but they suggest 10-15. I took a few with me wearing my spectacles, too, since the lock didn’t initially identify me when I wore them. That helped, and I wonder if it’s possible to take a few with other people you’re OK with giving access to. You also need to enter a PIN which it uses as a backup.

The free version lets you lock only one app, and you can’t lock the phone itself. However, for $2.5 you can get that feature and lock as many apps as you want. It also locks your settings for you automatically. Give the app a try, and send in your comments.

[Google Play via XDA]

I can confirm: Rice does heal water-damaged cellphones

2012-05-27T14:05:46Z

Seeing your cellphone die is one of the worst things that can happen to you, especially if you were really close to it. It happened to me recently, on a day that seemed like just any other.

It’s ridiculously hot, with the temperature well over 40 degrees centigrade (over 104 degree Fahrenheit), and I’m sweating profusely while returning from college. After spending some time on a call, I notice that the device is heating up, and the screen’s pretty wet. I just wiped it with a tissue, and on reaching home saw the battery’s dead. That was expected, as I never got to juice it up before leaving. Connecting it to the charger, I just went about doing some chores.

When I tried to boot it up after an hour or so, it refused to. I tried again and again, but it just gave me a few vibrates and the LED blinked. I looked around XDA and everywhere else trying to find out what the problem was, but had to soon accept that the phone was water-damaged. The phone’s a T-Mobile myTouch 4G, and I’m in India. There wasn’t even a chance to get it repaired.

I soon came across the old rice tip, which I had read before but just brushed it aside thinking it to be on par with some of the ridiculous alternative therapies we read about. However, since the phone was nothing more than a paper weight, I decided I pretty much had nothing better to do with it. Taking out the battery, I buried it in a rice bowl and kept it away for a few days. The initial plan was to not touch it for 3-4 days, but I could resist after 36 hours.

IT WORKED! My phone booted right up and there’s no glitch whatsoever. And I’m sure if I saw myself in the mirror, this is what I would have seen myself doing.

Rice is now officially my favorite carbohydrate of all time.

DISCLAIMER: it also depends on extent of water damage. A friend of mine decided to go swimming with his Galaxy S2 (don’t ask me why). Rice couldn’t work it’s magic in that case.

Comcast releases Xfinity TV Player, finally allows you to stream content

2012-05-27T01:25:20Z

Comcast subscribers will be glad to learn that the cable company has just released a new app – Xfinity TV Player. This applications allows subscribers to watch on-demand content like HBO and Showtime shows. One can also use Comcast’s video streaming service Streampix, if subscribed.

It is nice to see this coming to Android after a very long wait. Try not to confuse it with the other Comcast app, though. The other one works as a remote for your DVR and is called Xfinity TV, just one word short of the other app.

Comcast subscribers that want to get their video-watching on can simply download the app from the Google Play Store now. It is compatible with all devices running Android 2.3 or higher, so the vast majority of us will be covered.

[Via: The Verge]

Because We May game offers now include 91 available titles

2012-05-27T00:53:37Z

Time to get your gaming on! If you thought Because We May was already awesome, finding out that they have added over 30 more games to the list will make you start clicking and tapping. If you haven’t heard of Because We May, it is movement created by a group of independent developers, offering some of the funnest games for 50% or more off.

The new list includes titles like Patience, Gear Genius, X-Plane 9, Gloomy Dungeons 3D, Spectral Souls and more. It is time for all the gamers out there to take advantage of these great deals. If you need to broaden your game collection, just head over to the Because We May site and see which games you are down to purchase. Hurry up, you only have until June 1st!

[Via: Android Police]

Poll: Do you still want BlackBerry Messenger on Android?

2012-05-27T00:20:30Z

BlackBerry Messenger was one of the coolest messenger services just a few years ago. It is secure, convenient, instant and even lets you know if someone has read your message. BBM was so great that many Android users have been praying and waiting for it to come to our devices. It looked like the app was coming, with rumors and leaks popping up from time to time. It was only a matter of time, but it seems the project has been canceled. The app won’t be coming at all.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that sources close to the matter can attest that the project was in the works. Running under the name of “SMS 2.0,” the project was canned after the new CEO, Thorsten Heins, stepped into the main office. He did not want to license BBM to the competition, and the matter “was not up for discussion.”

But all of this makes us wonder just how much people want this service, still. I know I used to be one of those waiting for it, but I have stopped thinking about the matter for a long time now. We just have so many good options, starting with Google’s very own messaging service – Google Talk.

BlackBerry Messenger has its advantages, but do we need it? Apps like Facebook Messenger, Google Talk, Whats App and ChatOn make great substitutes for BlackBerry Messenger. Facebook Messenger even tells you when someone has seen your message, as well.

It could be that we simply learned to live without it, or it simply isn’t as “ground-braking” as it was before. What do you guys think? Please participate in the poll and let’s see if people would still want BBM on their Android handsets.

Take Our Poll

[Source: The Wall Street Journal Via: Droid Dog]

Hot Deal: Wirefly offering T-Mobile HTC One S for $125 only this weekend

2012-05-26T23:34:55Z

Unless you want to wait around for a month or two until the Galaxy S3 and the Galaxy Note come to T-Mobile, this deal might be a no-brainer. The HTC One S is arguably the best device on Magenta right now, and one has to pocket out $199.99 to purchase it under a 2-year contract. But if you are down to get a new phone now, you might want to check out Wirefly’s Memorial Weekend deal.

The internet retailer is selling the HTC One S for only $124.99 with a 2-year contract. It normally goes for $150, but you can use the coupon code HTCONES25 to get a $25 discount. This one is only available until Monday, so if you are jumping on the ship, you might want to do it by then.

Wirefly HTC One S Link

[Via: Unwired View]

New image and specs of the LG “Cayenne” LS860 emerge – S4 processor and NFC on board

2012-05-26T23:04:02Z

Images and specs of the LG “Cayenne” LS860 hit the internet just some days ago, but it seems Brief Mobile is not stopping there, and they have gotten their hands on more details, as well as an image. The Slideout QWERTY device seems to be much better than we expected.

According to the source, the device will come with a 4-inch 800×480 IPS display, a 1.2 GHz sual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor, NFC, 4G LTE connectivity and 1 GB of RAM. Check out the spec sheet below for all the details:

This is not all Brief Mobile has for us, though. The team also managed to get release information from its source. According to the ninja, the LG “Cayenne” will be released through Sprint during the third quarter of 2012.

The device is still not the best, but it looks like it will be able to hold its own. It carries a very capable processor, and it is a great option for those who like devices with physical keyboards. I still miss a good physical keyboard. Do you?

Rumor: Facebook looking to purchase Opera and launch its own browser

2012-05-26T22:27:23Z

Well Facebook is just buying companies like there is no tomorrow. They have recently purchased Karma, Instagram and Lightbox, and it seems they are not stopping any time soon. According to the latest rumors, Facebook is planning to purchase Opera Software (Opera Browser developer) and launch its very own browser.

The rumor comes from Pocket-Lint’s sources, who claim that the company is planning to compete against Google, Microsoft, Apple and Mozilla in the Browser wars. Opera happens to be a very popular and good browser, which would give Facebook a good head start – Opera currently has around 200 million users through all platforms.

It seems like it would be hard for Facebook to be able to compete against Chrome, though, which has recently become the most popular browser in the world. But could Facebook take a good spot in the browser world if it plays its cards right? We will have to wait and see.

One thing is for sure, Facebook is definitely investing a lot of money. We can see a future where the Social Network Giant is present all over the internet. What do you guys think? Would you go for Facebook Browser on your computer or Android device, instead of Chrome?

[Source: Pocket-Lint]

Sony Ericsson Xperia Play is NOT getting an Android 4.0 update

2012-05-26T21:55:59Z

Sony has posted an update on its Android 4.0 upgrades. More 2011 devices will start getting their Android 4.0 OTA updates starting next week, and everything is going as planned with the Xperia S,P and U. But there is also some sad news in the same blog post – it seems the team has decided to cancel the Android 4.0 update on the Xperia Play.

“In regards to Xperia PLAY, after extensive in house testing with our developer teams and working with our partners, we have concluded that a consistent and stable experience, particularly with gaming, cannot be guaranteed for this smartphone on Ice Cream Sandwich - therefore, we will not make the Android 4.0 upgrade available for Xperia PLAY.

This decision was also verified when we received similar feedback from the developer community; both experienced developers and advanced users, along with game content providers following our ICS beta ROM for unlocked Xperia PLAY smartphones.”

Ouch! It seems rather unfair that lower-end devices will be getting the update and the Xperia Play will be left out of the game. But as we have always said, manufacturers will not update phones if they find that the device can’t handle the software. We are not sure how the Xperia Mini or Active can be better fit for Ice Cream Sandwich, but it must have something to do with the device’s purpose – Gaming.

We suppose it is time to stop waiting, as you won’t be getting your upgrade. You can always go the rooting and ROMing way, though. But if you want Android 4.0 officially, it seems you will have to upgrade your device. Sad day for gamers out there… sad day.

[Source: Sony Via: Eurodroid]

Viewsonic to release a 22-inch Android Tablet – Is that too big?

2012-05-26T21:26:10Z

Bigger is always better, right? Well, such is not always the case; at least not for everyone. But Viewsonic is sure that there is a good market for a 22-inch tablet (or table?), and is planning to announce one at Taipei’s Computex. Viewsonic calls it a “smart business tablet monitor,” which pretty much explains what the company is aiming for with this product.

Users have displayed both love and hate towards the first larger tablets. The best example would be Toshiba’s Excite 13, which has a 13-inch display. Some thought it was a great idea, and would be great for media and entertainment. Others believe it is simply too big – Many believe 10 inches is already too much.

A device this large is no longer “just a larger tablet,” though. A 22-inch device would seem much more like a stationary device, much like a computer. One could have it at conference rooms, or desks. But if it is no longer a portable device, why not just get a computer with a full-blown OS?

There are many instances in which a device this large with a mobile OS would be convenient. Personally, it would be cool to have an Android device like this hanging in the kitchen wall. We could leave each other notes, look for recipes, check out the calendar or even watch Netflix while we cook our delicious meals. It could be easy to use and convenient in terms of space and price.

We do not know all the details yet, but you can be sure we will learn more about it once Computex comes around, next month. But we are curious to see what you guys think. Do you think a 22-inch Android “table” is simply too much? Could you find a use for one?

AT&T Samsung Galaxy S3 strolls through FCC, T-Mobile version ready for June 20th release?

2012-05-26T20:31:26Z

The global version of the Samsung Galaxy S3 will be released in just a few days (May 29th), but US residents will have to wait a bit more. As Chris Chavez recently mentioned: In the US, the carriers have all the power. And our experience with the Samsung Galaxy S2 was not all that smooth, causing us to be a bit wary about the Galaxy S3′s release. Well, it seems things will be much better this time around, as Samsung’s flagship device has just strolled through the FCC.

The FCC report is filed for a Samsung SGH-I747, with HSPA+ and LTE connectivity. The device’s bands are compatible with AT&T, Rogers, Telus and Bell. If all goes smoothly, we should be seeing this device coming to the US and Canada soon.

But if you have been wondering about the other American carriers, we have good news for T-Mobile subscribers. According to TmoNews’ sources, Magenta’s Galaxy S3 is set to be released on June 20th. Not only that, but we also seem to have the Galaxy Note, the white Galaxy S3 and two T-Mobile myTouch devices coming on July 11th.

With some luck, these phones should be arriving at US stores relatively soon. So let’s just sit tight and wait to hear some official details. Are you planning to get one of the Samsung Galaxy S3 US variants?

[Source: FCC Via: Engadget, TmoNews]

Motorola releases Android 4.0 demo videos with new UI

2012-05-26T20:01:22Z

We might not be calling it MotoBlur anymore, but that doesn’t mean that we are going to start liking it better. Manufacturer UIs are rarely cool to the hard-core Android fan, especially with Motorola’s. But the company has just released a few demo videos of its Android 4.0 skin, and to our surprise, it is not looking too bad.

It looks very much like stock (or “vanilla”) Android, but with a few changes. The lockscreen happens to have 4 shortcuts instead of two; the phone and messages app are added. I happen to find this to be a rather cool addition, but you may disagree. Aside from that, the only other noticeable difference is that the icons have been changed.

Everything else looks pretty much like vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich! Android 4.0 already comes with great eye candy, so we are glad to see manufacturers sticking closer to it. The update should be coming to the Motorola DROID RAZR and RAZR Maxx in the coming weeks, so stay tuned! What do you guys say – excited for Motorola’s new approach?