Fingerprint Digital releases 5 mobile apps for kids

 Fingerprint Digital makes a learning and entertainment platform for kids has announced the release of 5 mobile app for kids. The company released the first five apps under the “Fingerprint” brand name and will appeal to kids in the 3-8 year old age group. The mobile apps are being developed to work with the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices. Fingerprint Digital has a very impressive team setup from companies like LeapFrog, LucasArts and PlayFirst and they plan to launch the first ever “social learning and play network”.

The “Fingerprint” mobile apps are being launched in connected with the testing of “Mom-Comm” which allows parents to be more engaged with their kids during playing and learning activities. The company has also announced the giveaway of the first $1 million worth of apps they have developed. All the Fingerprint apps include specific sets of features that make it easier for parents to communicate and share with their children. Other features include game play snapshots for parents, recommendation engines for new games available and a rewards system that helps the child stay interested in learning and always wanting to learn more.



The mobile apps cost $2.99 and are available for the giveaway free download at the App Store. Updates and more games will become available for the Mom-Comm network in the next coming months. The five mobile apps developed are listed below.

The Big Kid Life Fire Fighter app is for ages 4-7 and allows kids to use a special backpack to put out “fire monsters” while practicing with numbers, shapes and symbols. The Big Kid Life Vet app is for ages 3-6 and teaches a child about letter, numbers and colors all while they try to find out what is wrong with their pet. The Big Kid Life Fairy Princess app is for ages 4-7 and helps kids develop reading skills as they get through 15 adventures, while creating their own story at the same time. Play Maker is an app for ages 4-8 and helps kids learn math and spelling skills. This app also lets kids create their own “Fingerprint” character. The DoReMi 1-2-3 app is for ages 4-8 and kids are interacting with “moo-sicial” cows, boat rowing pandas and twinkling stars all while learning about musical tones and melodies. This app also helps to increase brain development in kids.

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Galaxy Nexus from Verizon shown off at Samsung Experience store in NYC

This weekend it seems a few lucky New Yorkers were able to enjoy some hands-on time with the new Samsung Galaxy Nexus from Verizon Wireless. The Samsung Experience Store in NYC had four of these LTE powered smartphones running Android 4.0.1 Ice Cream Sandwich on display for fans and buyers alike to experience first hand.

Reports are coming in from all over regarding this extra special experience. We are calling it special because this device has yet to be announced with an official release date, but seeing it in the open like this you can only wonder. This is most likely a solid confirmation that Verizon is all set and should be announcing this device any day now. The Verizon model was recently updated to Android 4.1 fixing a few bugs and getting ready for prime-time although models on display in NYC had not yet received said update.
With all the leaked videos and update information linked to above, as well as a few pictures showing Verizon’s preloaded apps earlier this week this device is just begging to be released into the wild so everyone can enjoy. It should be coming any time now so hold your horses guys. Apparently models on display in NYC while being branded with Verizon “4G LTE” actually had no SIM cards and the back covers glued down so passerby’s were unable to test 4G LTE speeds or truly experience the phones although WiFi was available. We’ve already seen pictures showing Verizon’s model being slightly thicker and darker but these latest images from the booth in NYC truly show how minor the changes actually are.
Since not everyone is lucky enough to live near NYC to enjoy the photos or device I’ll go ahead and link you to our GSM Galaxy Nexus hands-on in case you’ve missed it. The hands-on video is also below for your viewing pleasure while we all sit back and twiddle our thumbs and wait for Verizon to break their Gnex silence. I have a feeling Monday will be a good day for all who’ve been waiting for the Nexus on Verizon.

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LG Nitro HD 4G LTE goes on sale today at AT&T

The LG Nitro HD joins the white Skyrocket SGS 2 as the second LTE-capable phone that releases today on AT&T. The Nitro HD packs quite the punch with a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 8MP rear HD camera, 4G LTE radios, 20GB of internal storage, 4.5-inch HD 1280 x 720 display and a 1830 mAh battery. If you’re not too impressed with the Samsung Galaxy line, you should definitely consider getting this LG phone. Get ready to shed between $149.99 to $249.99, depending on where you live, with a two year contract.
Let us know if you’re planning to grab a Nitro HD.
via AT&T

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New Display Technology Allows User To FEEL Virtual Textures – Coming Soon To Smartphones And Tablets

Good gawd. Now here is a technology I wasn’t aware even existed. A company called Senseg has manufactured a new type of touchscreen that will actually allow you to feel a variety of virtual surfaces on your fingertip. This is a whole lot different from haptic feedback which uses moving parts to vibrate a device — this actually changes surface friction under your finger to correspond with the texture being displayed on screen. Damn near revolutionary.

Immediately I’m thinking of all the ways this could be implemented anywhere from braille for the blind, gaming, to more “adult” apps (you know you were thinking it). You’re looking at true innovation at its finest. The technology could start hitting smartphone and tablets as early as next year and seriously, we all know which OS dominates that market.
Seriously, Google. I’ll make this simple for you. Buy it. Patent it. Deploy it in Jelly Bean. Profit.

[Via Cnet]

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Samsung, Intel and Sprint Announcing New Smartphone At CES 2012?

Some big announcements could be made at CES 2012 in January according to AndroidandMe who has it on good authority that Samsung Mobile will release the first Intel powered Android phone and it could be making its way to Sprint. Let’s try and piece everything together.
It’s been rumored that Samsung could be getting out of the PC business but has reportedly extended their partnership with Intel. Strange, what would a renewed partnership with Intel bring? You guessed it — smartphones.
We told you guys a few weeks back that Intel was waiting on Ice Cream Sandwich before arriving on the scene with an Android smartphone and today, PCWorld is reporting that Intel already has Android 4.0 up and running on a device powered by their Atom processor (also known as Medfield) and is currently working with manufacturers to get everything optimized on those devices.
Intel’s CEO, Paul Otellini, is scheduled to give a keynote at CES 2012 and has been touting to AllThingsD, their Atom processor’s superiority over ARM’s chips in graphics, javascript and browser performance. Not so much in the battery department (no surprise there) where they came in around 3rd and 4th.
Intel wont be the only ones dropping bombs at CES. Sprint too, is gearing up for a big announcement January 10th at CES and what else could it be but another one of their famous “industry first” keynotes announcing an Intel powered smartphone running on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich? I know it sounds crazy — crazy like a FOX.
Exciting things in store for next year and you can rest assured knowing the entire Phandroid team will be on hand at CES 2012 bringing you guys all the latest in just a little more than 40 days. I’m ready, packed and moist.
[AndroidandMe | PCWorld | AllThingsD]

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Paper Zombie Lets You Cut, Shoot and Blow Up Brain Eaters – Now Available In The Market

I know we’re a little past Halloween but cuttin’ up some zombies is good anytime of the year. Paper Zombie is a new to the Android Market and boasts 300,000+ downloads on iOS. Now Android users get a chance to see what the hype is about in this cute and gruesome hack and slash. Gameplay is more or less reminiscent of something like Fruit Ninja where you swipe your screen to decapitate zombies and even have a few added weapons at your disposal like firebombs, chainsaws and shotguns.

I wouldn’t say there’s too much here in terms of depth but Paper Zombie is a great way to kill some time (and zombies) while waiting for your root canal or to keep you from dozing off in class. If you want to see the game in action a video trailer also provided for you down below. You can download Paper Zombie for free right now in the Android Market.

[Market Link]

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Lookout Mobile Security Releases Carrier IQ Detector – You May Not Like What You Find

Carrier IQ. We all hate it. But not every device has it. Like the clap, sometimes you just want to know if you’re infected. Well, Lookout Mobile Security has heard your cries and has released a tool to diagnose your phone and best of all, it doesn’t require root. Simply called Carrier IQ Detector, this app will let you know if every swipe you make is being watched. Carrier IQ Detector is completely free and although it doesn’t remove Carrier IQ from your device, it can either give you peace of mind or make you even more paranoid. Let’s get some comments going to see who’s infected — you know, with Carrier IQ.
[Market Link]

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US judge denies Apple injunction – Samsung sales are safe for now

It’s a good evening for Truth, Justice and the American Way, even if those on the receiving end are Korean. Reuters reports that late Friday the judge on the docket in Apple’s suit against Samsung in the United States threw out the case, stating that an injunction on Samsung’s devices would not prevent serious damage to Apple’s sales. It’s the most significant development yet in a case that’s been going on since April of this year.

In the U.S., Apple claimed that the Samsung Galaxy S, Galaxy S II and Galaxy Tab 10.1 violated its design patents, bearing a resemblance to the iPhone and iPad, respectively. In November a judge ruled that Samsung’s tablet might indeed violate the patents, but expressed doubt that such was a justification for granting a sales injunction. District Judge Lucy Koh made good on those statements today, saying, “”It is not clear that an injunction on Samsung’s accused devices would prevent Apple from being irreparably harmed.”
This isn’t the end of Apple’s litigious crusade. The Cupertino company will almost certainly appeal, though at this level of the U.S. civil court system it’s entirely possible that the appeal will be denied. Apple has a stable of patent firepower, and if this case fails completely they’re likely to fire back at Samsung with another in a few months, as they are already doing with rival Android manufacturer HTC. Apple has been particularly litigious against Samsung worldwide, particularly in Germany and Australia. Down under Apple won a preliminary injunction against the Galaxy Tab 10.1, which is scheduled to lift on December 9th, baring a successful appeal. The injunction against the same model is still in place in Germany, though Samsung has released a revised Galaxy Tab 10.1N… which Apple promplty filed a lawsuit against.

It is to be hoped that a failure in the U.S. District court system, if indeed it comes to that, will influence Apple or at least other court systems to treat the company’s frivolous and vague design patents with more skepticism. Just today Apple’s requirements for a non-violating device were made public, including “a non-rectangular shape without rounded corners” and “a thicker profile”. Though Apple’s legal crusade against Android manufacturers (and notably not against Google) is likely to continue, the decisions handed down in the U.S. and Australia indicate that judicial systems worldwide are beginning to see the company’s flawed idea of a competitive market as just that: flawed.

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ASUS Transformer Prime may be at your local GameStop this weekend

Of all places, I bet you wouldn’t expect to see the highly anticipated ASUS Transformer Prime debuting in your local GameStop this weekend. However, there is a catch – it will be on display and not for sale.This will be a great time to give this tablet a test-drive to make sure it’s worth getting for either yourself or as a gift during the holiday season. We can’t imagine you’d be disappointed in the least, but it’s always best to get a personal hands-on before forking over that much money on anything.

Remember, this is the first tablet to sport NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 Quad-Core processor so try pushing it to the limit. As far as reviews go, Chris Burns wrote an excellent one of the device just today – so be sure to check it out. Just like the first ASUS Transformer, the lower dock assembly will be sold separately. Whether or not that will be included within the in-store display is unknown, but they work superbly well together so I don’t see why they wouldn’t.
The best way to find out if your GameStop will be getting any in is to call your local store directly. I’m sure they will know when/what shipments come in. I imagine more popular stores will receive them first, but since this device will exclusively be available in GameStop before other places they could be populated throughout all of them. And if you’re wondering how the Transformer Prime compares to other devices, SlashGear has conducted a great benchmark comparison.
[via Android and Me]

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