Google’s 10p apps for today – Train Conductor 2: USA, HD Widgets, Flight Track and more

Christmas has literally come early once again, with Google adding another collection of Android apps to its 10p discount listings. Today sees another game and repeats-heavy collection of apps, with a shameful FIVE duplicates from earlier promotional days.
Here’s today’s list of 10p discount apps:

Flick Golf
Slide IT Keyboard
Sketchbook Mobile
Where’s My Water
Christmas HD
HD Widgets
Instant Heart Rate PRO
Flight Track
Train Conductor 2
Shazam Encore

It looks like this one…

…is the best of the bunch on offer today. There’d better be some BIG GUNS lined up for the last couple of days, else this promotion’s going to end with an almighty whimper.

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Google Wallet has security issues Says viaForensics

Google Wallet famously won’t work on the slick Galaxy Nexus, which may bother some folks when that phone finally lands in the US. However, if you are the security-conscious sort that may not be a big deal to you in the wake of a recent report by a security firm called viaForensics that is claiming that the Google Wallet app isn’t secure enough. American Banker reports that viaForensics found that app stores enough data on the phone itself that a well-crafted email from a nefarious sort could fool many users into giving up more credit card details.

ViaForensics reports that the Google Wallet app doesn’t store the entire credit card number, but it stores data on purchases, the last four digits of the credit card number, and transaction history on the phone. The company thinks that malware would be able to get to the data store on the phone. Google responded by saying that viaForensics used a rooted smartphone in its testing and that the app is secure.
However, we have seen malware in the past that could bypass Android security; the malware was called Droid Dream. ViaForensics says that the data stored on the phone also offers details on card balances and payment due dates. The company says that the data it stores should not be stored unencrypted on the handset.
[via SlashGear]

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Android 4.0 hitting Archos G9 tablets in Q1 2012

Both Archos G9 tablets should see Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) in Q1 of next year. A successful update to ICS will not only make Archos look like an even more reliable manufacturer, but also show its customers they want their products to be the best they can be. Android 4.0 will bring a wealth of UI changes and help the G9 series compete with other tablets after the holidays.

Those of you looking to pick up one of the “turbo” editions, you will find them on sale just before Christmas for ~$469. These are already available in Europe, and sport a 1.2GHz TI OMAP dual-core processor and 512MB of RAM. The 10.1 version will have a 1280×800 resolution and 16GB of storage. It’s rather surprising Archos would charge so much for these particular devices, because the specs are almost already outdated. They are even close to Apple’s iPad 2 pricetag.
To take a look at its build and dimensions, go ahead and check out our hands-on from SlashGear. Its a very solid device, and though it won’t receive Android 4.0 until Q1- the included Android 3.2 is still a rock solid OS. Although, I advice waiting for the turbo version if you’re set on purchasing an Archos, they’re bound to perform better in every way.
[via The Verge]

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Apple and HTC wait for trade rulings in patent fight

Apple is not only going after Samsung in numerous markets where patent rulings are concerned, Cupertino, too, has other targets in mind such as HTC as well. A patent fight between Cupertino and the Taiwanese smartphone giant will culminate in this week’s decision from a US trade agency, where a result in Apple’s favor might eventually lead to a ban on imports of select HTC devices. The International Trade Commission commission will be announcing tomorrow as to whether HTC infringed patents owned by Apple.
Of course, who are we to say that the decision might end up otherwise, and life goes on as normal for HTC in the US, while Apple executives seethe and gnash their teeth, wondering why can’t the rest of the world see their point of view? All in all, the commission’s job is to step forward and confirm whether they agree with a judge’s finding that cleared Apple of claims it infringed some HTC patents.Who do you think will emerge the victor between the two?

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HTC Throwing “Chill With Us” Party In Hollywood, CA – Open To The Public!

HTC is throwing another one of their famous meet-up parties in beautiful Hollywood, CA this Wednesday, December 14th at the Lexington Social House. Simply titled, “Chill With Us,” HTC throws these parties just about every year as a way of giving back and having a good time with the fans that helped make them a success. There will be free food, drinks and plenty of schmoozing. Here’s what HTC had to say on their Facebook page:

…on a wintery night and enjoy the very best in sound and sight.
We’ll be hosting a party at the Lexington Social House with bites and cocktails for all.
And, of course, there will be the latest HTC phones on display for those of you with dreams of megapixels dancing in your heads
RSVP in the upper right and plan to bring friends.
Ages 18 and up

Doors open at 7pm. There is no entry fee and all HTC asks is you RSVP on their Facebook page if you plan on attending. I went last year and had an awesome time meeting new Android peeps from around the So Cal area. Anyone plan on making the trip this year?
[Facebook]

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Any Verizon 4G phone marked down $100, but there’s a catch…

This may be some excellent news for those of you looking to pick up a Samsung Galaxy Nexus (or any other Verizon 4G phone for that matter). Verizon has been contacting some of its customers with a $100 instant rebate to any of their 4G phones if their customer was previously the owner of a 3G-only smartphone. Though they’ve been contacting select customers – all Verizon subscribers that fall into this situation are eligible.

The source comes directly from Verizon via Reddit user Prevo. They state that “The discount will apply if you are upgrading to a 4G phone and currently do not have one”. Now those of you interested in signing up for a new line of service with Verizon may not fall into this category; however, carriers are known for sweetening the deal to lure you into a new 2 year contract. So if you’re like me, on Thursday when you roll into your local Verizon retailer, you’ll mention this deal and see if they will honor it for new customers as well.
This will put the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Motorola DROID RAZR both at $199.99 – a great deal indeed. And seeing as how the DROID Bionic was already reduced, this promotion will let you nab one for only $99.99. I’m not sure how long this deal will last, but I certainly presume throughout the holiday season. Many OG DROID users are finally out of a contract, and Verizon is surely eager to keep them on their network.
[via Reddit]

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Pantech P4100 LTE tablet hits FCC and bound toward AT&T

Pantech recently had released the Breakout to Verizon earlier this year, and headed toward AT&T seems to be a tablet to run on their newly found 4G LTE network. The P4100 is only the model number of the device, but in due time we’ll find out its proper name. AT&T hasn’t advertised the P4100 officially, and if you hadn’t carefully been paying attention to the news then you wouldn’t know it existed.

All we’ve seen of the P4100 so far are a couple of NenaMark benchmark tests. The device scored ~42.6 FPS, with a 1024×720 pixel density and 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Adreno 220 CPU. It also sports a 7″ display, but as of now – that’s all we’ve got. However, we do know it will probably ship with Android 3.2 (Honeycomb) onboard; yet, there’s always that chance we may see it with Android 4.0.
AT&T’s LTE network has proved to be right on par with Verizon’s, so this tablet will at least have that on its side. It will accompany the HTC Jetstream as the only other 4G LTE tablet on AT&T’s lineup, so it will be nice to have another 4G option. It will most likely not hit until 2012, but Pantech could go ahead and rush it out before Christmas if the hardware is ready.
[via Wireless Goodness]

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CyanogenMod drops support for Samsung Vibrant citing 911 issues

Here’s an odd one: the CyanogenMod team, makers of the most widely-used custom ROM out there, have completely dropped support for the T-Mobile Galaxy S Vibrant. It’s not a hardware issue, as CyanogenMod supports much older and weaker phones. No, the problem comes from Samsung’s proprietary radio software, which is apparently keeping the custom version of Android from dialing 911.

The issue is particularly vexing since Samsung is usually quite good about releasing open-source code for its devices. And indeed, the Vibrant’s code is available, but the specific bit of code required for full access to the wireless radio is not. Samsung has a pretty good relationship with the modder community, especially after hiring Steve “Cyanogen” Kondik. I’ve got to believe that Mr. Kondik tried to get the relevant data from his employers, to no avail.
The CM team has dropped support for devices before when they hit a way that would make satisfactory development impossible. It’s likely that more modders will take CyanogenMod’s open source code and port it back to the Vibrant, but I wouldn’t recommend using it. You might never need to dial 911 from your cell phone, but going without the functionality is just asking for trouble. The Vibrant’s stock firmware was updated to Gingerbread, so it might be best to stick with that until you get a new phone, as the ROM developers suggest.

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A handy list of active Ice Cream Sandwich ports

While you’re reading this, hundreds of people are hard at work on getting Ice Cream Sandwich onto current Android hardware, long before manufacturers and carriers will be sending out official updates. We’ve covered some of the earliest and most interesting ICS projects on this very site, but there’s just too many to cover every single one. Luckily, we don’t have to: a friendly member of the XDA-Developers forum has put together a list of all the active Ice Cream Sandwich ports on the prolific modder site.

Pretty much every major device released in the last 18 months, and many many more, are represented. The ports themselves are at various stages of completion – naturally the options for the Nexus One, Nexus S, OG DROID and the like will be the most feature-complete, while newer and less popular phones and tablets will get the short end. Note that the list only extends to XDA, and if your device isn’t on there it may be getting love somewhere else, like RootzWiki. Some of the builds are straight from Ice Cream Sandwich’s source code, while others are based on CyanogenMod 9.
As always, be wary when trying out new ROMs. That’s doubly true with a brand new operating system, which still requires a lot of kinks and bugs to be worked out. Keep a Nandroid backup of your “daily driver” account, kiss your warranty goodbye, and have fun. 

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