2:09 PM
Simranpal SIngh
Friday, February 18, 2011
Rumor: Froyo Update for Epic 4G Still On for February 21st; Sanyo Zio, Too
Official Google Reader For Android Gets An Update, v 0.9.2 Adds Widget Support
The official Google Reader application for Android has received an update, adding widget support to the ever popular RSS application. The update now brings the app to version 0.9.2 and adds two new home screen widgets. We think the screen shot of the update below says it all. So, hit the break and check it out. Check out the application on our apps database as well and don’t forget to let us know what you think in the comments below. One thing we did find interesting and worth noting is in the new permissions. For some unknown reason, the app would like access to your contacts list.
Contacts Data In Google Accounts:Allows applications to access the contacts and profile information of account(s) stored on this phone.
Permissions:
This application has access to the following:
- Your accounts Manage The Accounts ListAllows an application to perform operations like adding, and removing accounts and deleting their password.Use The Authentication Credentials Of An AccountAllows an application to request authentication tokens.Contacts Data In Google AccountsAllows applications to access the contacts and profile information of account(s) stored on this phone.
- Network communication Full Internet AccessAllows an application to create network sockets.
- System tools Write Sync SettingsAllows an application to modify the sync settings, such as whether sync is enabled for Contacts.
- Your accounts Discover Known AccountsAllows an application to get the list of accounts known by the device.View Configured AccountsAllows applications to see the usernames (email addresses) of the Google account(s) you have configured.
- Network communication View Network StateAllows an application to view the state of all networks.
- System tools Read Sync SettingsAllows an application to read the sync settings, such as whether sync is enabled for Contacts.
Plex Media Center App Now Available For Android In The Market
Plex, a popular media streaming application for the iOS platform has finally made its way over to Android. The application allows you to bridge the gap between your home theater and favorite Android smartphone seamlessly and without effort. Ok, maybe it will take a little effort. The Plex app touts a nice and friendly, yet a clean and attractive UI for Android devices. You can gain quick access to all of your media content at home and the app supports a wide range of various photo, audio and video formats.
The mobile application syncs instantly with your desktop application so you can finish that movie where you left off on your Android device while on the go, should you require it. The developers also promise that remote control integration is “coming soon” and will allow you to control any Plex content running from home remotely or locally through the mobile application.
The app will run you $4.99 but could serve as a sufficient alternative to those who have been waiting patiently for the NetFlix app to arrive. We’ve also seen a number of plugins with the desktop application that allow you to tap into services such as Hulu and NetFlix. So here’s to hoping a number of plugins will be concocted for the mobile app. Let us know what you think in the comments below. Is $4.99 a deal breaker for you?
Redbox launches Android app, allows browsing and renting movies from app
Redbox recently released a new Android app that will allow users to browse movie titles, find nearby Redbox locations using your handset’s GPS, and even reserve movies for pickup straight from the app.
The app is quite robust. When browsing a movie, one can read a short plot summary, running time, rating, and the app indicates whether the movie is available on Blu-Ray or not.
Redbox for Android will surely save time for avid movie geeks, since you can now reserve movies straight from your Android device.
You can grab Redbox for Android in the TalkAndroid ApptlyAndroid database for free.
Let us know in the comments how you are liking the Redbox app for Android so far!
Mapquest for Android gives users free turn-by-turn directions
For those of you who would like to try a navigation app besides Google Maps on your Android device, Mapquest is now available for download in the Android Market.
Mapquest supports voice commands so that you can directly talk to the app and ask for directions. It also has turn-by-turn navigation and live traffic data that refreshes every 5 minutes. Mapquest for Android will probably receive an update in the future that will include the personalized “My Places” feature that the iPhone currently has.You can download Mapquest for Android for free from Android Market. Or, you can hit the break and scan the QR code that the folks over at Mapquest made out of Legos!
HTC Inspire 4G Now $59.99 On Amazon
It’s interesting to note, now that AT&T is no longer the exclusive Apple iPhone holder, it’s taking a more serious approach with the Android OS. Long gone are the days of the Motorola Flip Out and Back Flip, devices that would never steal the thunder from Apple’s iPhone. And now, enters stage right, the serious contenders like the Motorola Atrix 4G and the HTC Inspire 4G. If you’ve wanted an Evo like device for quite some time and you were stuck on AT&T, now is your chance to nab a device comparable to Sprint’s 4G giant. The Inspire 4G is now only $59.99 for new customers signing a 2yr agreement and $69.99 for current AT&T users when you purchase the device from Amazon Wireless.
In addition, Amazon is offering free two-day shipping with the deal. The Inspire 4G resembles it’s European cousin the HTC Desire HD, with a 4.3-inch capacitive screen and buttons, Android 2.2 (Froyo), a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, 768 MB of RAM and an 8 MP camera. If you’re an AT&T customer, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the device. Would you get one? Feel free to plug away in the comments below.Samsung Intercept getting Froyo update on Virgin Mobile – finally!
Well, it’s been sometime since we heard that Virgin was going to make good on getting Android 2.2 updates out for the Samsung Intercept…and that time has now been announced for next month according to a tweet made by @virginmobileus. How is it…’good things come to he who waits..’? Something like that.
Motorola Atrix 4G launching on Feb. 22nd
AT&T is pushing the Motorola Atrix 4G up a few days ahead of schedule and making it available February 22nd rather than the originally stated date of March 6th. Sweetness! Pricing should stay the same at $199.00 on a 2-year contract, and the dock extra of course.
The Motorola Atrix 4G was one of the most highly praised devices this year, and though it seems we’ve been hearing about it for sometime now, the patience is about to pay off!
Here’s another look at the Motorola Atrix 4G hands on to refresh our memories, and possibly make us ready to set aside some cash next week!.
Samsung doesn’t think 3D belongs in smartphones
Apparently, Samsung’s head of product management in the UK mobile division doesn’t think there’s much to having 3D on a smartphone, and so, they aren’t going to bother with it…right now anyway.
We are world leaders in 3D, but we haven’t seen a need for 3D on mobiles as yet … we just don’t see [3D] is needed yet—good luck to the innovators though, it will be interesting to see if it works, and if it does you’ll see a response from Samsung quicklyI can certainly see them pulling a 3D device out their behinds if other 3D smartphones start to take off though. Do you think 3D belongs on smartphones or no point?
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