Fake Netflix app is an account-stealing Trojan

Unfortunately, Android users need to be increasingly vigilant when it comes to non-Market apps and hacks. Nowhere is this more true than unofficial versions of the Netflix app. Security firm Symantec has documented a fake version of the video streaming app that steals users’ log in data in a nasty Trojan exploit.


Netflix recently expanded its video streaming app to all Android devices from 2.2 Froyo and above. Unfortunately, that still leaves almost 15% of Android phones and tablets out of the loop, and various custom versions of the Netflix app have been circulating to try and circumvent the limitation. There’s also the apps for formerly unsupported devices that can be found on user forums all over the Internet. With all these app versions (not to mention unsatisfied Netflix customers) floating around,  it’s no surprise that an enterprising hacker has devised a new vector for password theft.

The app is a pretty good approximation of the Netflix log in screen – you can see the differences in Symantec’s illustration above. What’s even more dangerous is the fact that many people share log ins and  passwords across multiple sites, making this sort of scam a minefield for identity theft. (You don’t do that, right?) Remember: if your phone uses Android 2.2 or higher, there’s no reason NOT to download Netflix from the Android Market. And as always, never download and install an APK from a source that you don’t fully trust.
[via Cnet]

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QuickOffice 5 gets previewed at CTIA with new sharing features

Let’s be honest: office suites on touchscreen devices are never exactly ideal, but QuickOffice is about as good as it gets. The popular document creator has racked up hundreds of thousands of purchases (an impressive feat at $15 and $20), and it’s being included on more and more devices straight from the manufacturer. The developers were on hand at CTIA to give Droid-Life the skinny on the upcoming version five.

There’s a host of improvements included in the new version, especially the tablet-optimized QuickOffice Pro HD. All versions are getting a spit and polish on the user interface, and the new Evernote sharing feature is sure to turn some heads. QuickOffice still works with existing services like Google Docs, MobileMe and Dropbox. New options for Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook are also on the table.
You’ll have to wait a little while to get your hands on the new release. Version 5 will debut in the Android Market in mid-November at the current prices. Updates to iOS should come at about the same time, but there’s no word on new Symbian or WebOS versions – we know there’s a lot of HP TouchPad users reading this. Keep an eye on Android Community for a full breakdown when QuickOffice 5 lands.

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PowerAMP version 2.0 Beta is ready to download

PowerAMP, the audiophile’s Android music app of choice, has gained quite a following since it debuted almost a year ago. Users love the fully customizable equalizer and folder-based library structure. Now the first beta for version 2 is out, and paid-up PowerAMP faithful and new users alike can download it here.

What’s immediately visible is an upgraded primary theme, complete with transitions, blur effects and other goodies. According to the indie developer, Honeycomb tablets will be seeing their own custom user interface in the next version release. An improved landscape mode, enhanced sound quality, better transitions between screens, and a new lock screen interface (though it apparently isn’t playing nice with my custom DROID X ROM). There’s a bevvy of new user-selectable options to try out – pure gold to the average Android and audio tweaker. Head over to the official forum to see a list of changes.
Of course this is an early beta release, so there are some rough patches too. Users are reporting album art display issues, Bluetooth playback gaps, playlist importing problems, and a lot of other small problems. If you’re a long-time PowerAMP user who’s comfortable with his or her music experience, you might want to wait for a more stable release. Then again, if you’re a long-time Power AMP user, you’re probably the kind of person who’d leap on a beta release. Head on over to the link above to download and install the non-Market APK. New users get the standard 15-day trial mode, while those who have purchased the app can enter their license key for full access.

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ALL Verizon phones are just a penny through this weekend at Amazon

Did you avoid springing on a $79 HTC Rhyme? Still haven’t picked up that $50 Thunderbolt? Well good things come to those who wait, my friend, and today everyone can take their karmic patience all the way to the bank. Amazon Wireless is hosting a huge Penny Pincher sale, and every single Verizon Android device is included. They’re all just one single, solitary penny until 12:00 AM Pacific Time on Monday night/Tuesday morning.

Naturally all these deals come saddled with a new two year Verizon contract – you’ve got to pay the piper. And while plenty of top-tier phones are included, Verizon’s myriad tablet offerings aren’t. If you’re determined to ruin a good deal with poor choices, you could also pick up a “featurephone” like the Samsung Gusto, or choose from a solid half-dozen BlackBerry phones – watch out for those service outages. The only thing you won’t find on the list is any iPhones. Sorry, Apple fans, you know they keep a tight leash on retailers.
Highlights on the superphone side of things include the Motorola DROID BIONIC, the HTC Thunderbolt and the Samsung DROID Charge. If you don’t live in a 4G LTE coverage area, you might want to check out the DROID 3, DROID X2, Sony XPERIA Play or LG Revolution. Looking for something a little smaller? Try the DROID PRO, the HTC Rhyme or the Pantech Breakout. The choice is yours, but don’t spend too much time making it; with these prices Amazon’s stock may not hold out until the Monday night deadline.
[via SlashGear]

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Samsung Galaxy W headed to T-Mobile as the Exhibit II 4G

Samsung recently unveiled a few mid-range phones to complete their lineup, one in particular is the Galaxy W. We first saw it on video back in August but new details are starting to leak and we can expect to see the new Samsung Galaxy W hit T-Mobile as the Exhibit II 4G. More details can be seen below on this new phone coming soon.

What we have here is a pretty well rounded mid-range offering. The original T-Mobile Exhibit 4G was decent and this looks to start off right where it ended. The Galaxy W (aka Exhibit II 4G) should come with a 3.7″ AMOLED display, a 1.4 GHz single-core processor, 5 megapixel camera on the rear with 1.3 MP on the front, and run on T-Mobiles 4G HSPA+ network. Basically this is a great phone that should come in at a decent price and fit nicely between the original Galaxy S and the new Galaxy S II.
The Galaxy W is codenamed the “Ancora” and was just spotted on the recently leaked T-Mobile roadmap showing a launch date of November 2nd for just $99. While roadmaps aren’t completely official and are subject to change most likely we can expect to see the new Samsung Exhibit II 4G with its 1.4 GHz processor hit T-Mobile early next month, and at a great price. We will update once we hear more.

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Google Plus adds hashtags and real-time search [Video]

Google+ is in the news today. In a rare appearance by engineering SVP Vic Gundotra himself, today’s Google Plus update will introduce real-time search and full working hashtag support, much like how Twitter currently is. The new update is said to be rolling out in stages today and I’ve just tried it with no such luck but we can expect to see it available for everyone shortly. Real-time search is a big one here as shown in the video when you search for say, Androids, you get full results as well as a notification when something new is posted and can simply click to see the latest Android news (or come to Android Community of course).

The real-time search and hashtag support will bring plenty of additions to Google+ and I’m excited to see how this changes things. Searches will update automatically and very fast, and hashtags will be clickable. Now all my posts can have #androids and #androidcommunity in them so be sure to search for them, and do it often. For now check out the video from Vic himself on the latest updates.


With Google Plus being more and more mobile as things progress it will become more a part of our daily social lives, or at least that is what Google is hoping for. With an improved version for Android in 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich this is just one more thing that will make Google Plus great. The Google Search API’s are available for developers and maybe sometime soon Google will bridge Google Talk and the Huddle or Messenger feature of Google Plus. Just like Vic says in the video, these updates are currently rolling out in stages and should be available shortly today. I’ve still not been able to use a hashtag but they should be live for everyone soon.
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T-Mobile HTC Amaze 4G vs Galaxy S II [Video]

Today is the day, the HTC Amaze 4G and Samsung Galaxy S II are both available right now at T-Mobile. Before you run down to your nearest T-Mobile store or head to the online shop and pick one up, we figured you’d like a little hardware comparison video showing off the goods both phones have to offer. Today I present you with a quick little Amaze 4G vs Galaxy S II hardware comparison video, check it and all the pictures out below.

We have covered both of these phones plenty in the recent past and before you watch the comparison video  If you are considering either of these phones then you most likely already know plenty about them. We have 1.5 GHz dual-core processors in both along with 1GB of RAM, 16GB internal storage, 8 MP rear and 2 MP front cameras. Basically they are pretty similar in regards to the internals. Its the hardware on the outside that is different. The looks, feel, size, and then the software of course. Both are running Android 2.3 Gingerbread and feature a few slight UI changes by their respectable creators. For now lets just check out the video shall we?
HTC Amaze 4G vs Samsung Galaxy S II video


With two powerhouse top tier smartphones such as these, this will most likely come down to user preference. Some might love the Sense UI or amazingly great build quality of HTC with the Amaze 4G, others might be interested in having a super sleek and lightweight phone from the Galaxy S II. Two large factors are the AMOLED display in the SGSII, vs the higher resolution qHD Super LCD in the Amaze 4G. Then you have battery life and performance, benchmarks and more. I go over all of this in extreme detail in both of the device reviews linked to above so feel free to read over them and see all the pictures to help you decide.

Happily provided is the video above as well as a few pictures in the gallery below. Instead of getting into details about the battery life or benchmark results I’ll just once again urge you to check out our full reviews. Benchmarks don’t mean everything and both phones perform extremely well for daily use and I’d be happy with either one over on T-Mobile.
The choice is yours, what phone would you rather buy from T-Mobile today — the Galaxy S II or the Amaze 4G?

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Acer Iconia Smart S300 4.8″ smartphone clears the FCC, gets a teardown

The Acer Iconia Smart has just cleared the FCC and is headed our way soon. Spotted at the FCC getting a little teardown we now get to see a few of the internals of this huge 4.8″ phone-tablet hybrid from Acer. It was first announced back in February and we even have some hands-on video from MWC2011 of the device, it’s a unique smartphone that is for sure. Back in May it was delayed and the last we heard it was slated for a September release. At least it’s finally hitting the FCC, we can expect a release shortly I’m assuming.

Like mentioned above, last we heard the Iconia Smart was headed to market this September, sadly that time has passed and we are now hopeful for a October launch especially because its cleared the FCC. For those that didn’t check out the hands-on video above (you should) this phone features a 1024 x 600 resolution 4.8″ display, Android 2.3 Gingerbread but would be awesome with Ice Cream Sandwich. It was announced with a single-core 1 GHz Snapdragon processor but this late in the game I’m really hoping for something better and possibly two cores. The teardown reveals the same CPU so it looks like we wont get any such luck with a dual-core. It does however have an 8 megapixel rear camera with a nice 2 MP front for video chat and an awesome aspect ratio that is great for browsing the web.

Bonus: Acer Iconia Smart 4.8″ Smartphone hands-on video


So far we have no further details on a US launch, or what carriers may see this device here in the U.S. but we are hopeful that Acer will announce something soon. It may not be the thinnest, nor the fastest smartphone arround but it’s definitely unique that is for sure. I’d love to get my hands on this smartphone just to see what it’s all about. In the meantime check out the teardown over at wirelessgoodness.
Would you buy this 4.8″ 1024 x 600 resolution smartphone? Or is the processor not fast enough in this high powered dual-core world our smartphones now live in? Let us know in the comment section below.
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LG’s dual-screen Doubleplay / Flip II leaks in new promo shots

The beautiful thing about Android is that its software flexibility allows manufacturers to try out all sorts of interesting form factors. We spotted a new one in the Flip II, which we know is headed for T-Mobile thanks to a leaked roadmap. New press shots show the phone in its dual-screen glory and sporting a new manufacturer designation, the LG Doubleplay.

Unlike the Kyocera Echo, the Doubleplay’s secondary screen is a smaller one sitting on the slide-out keyboard. From the photos it looks like it’s about 1.5 inches diagonally, with perhaps a 240 x 180 resolution (just a guess based on the 480 x 320 main display). So far we’ve only seen what look like app shortcuts on the smaller screen, flanked by a thumb-friendly split keyboard. While an Echo-style dual screen APK is certainly possible, it isn’t all that likely, as the hardware looks decidedly mid-range. If you look closely on the photo above, you can see a 5-megapixel rear camera, and the software appears to be 2.3 Gingerbread with some LG customizations.
The T-Mobile branded version of the Doubleplay is called the Flip II, though that phone has a more muted color scheme. According to the latest leaked plans from the carrier, it’ll be available on November 2nd for $149.99 on a 2-year contract. The device will feature HSPA+ bands for T-Mobile’s “4G” network. Expect an official announcement soon, as other devices like the LG myTouch and myTouch Q have already had official press debuts.
[via Android Guys]

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