Myriad Alien Vue brings Android apps to TV, minus Google

So, Google TV hasn’t done very well so far. But that doesn’t mean that big cable providers aren’t sitting up and paying attention. A bevvy of app-enabled set top boxes from Apple, Google, Roku and others are starting to seriously worry the dinosaurs of the TV industry. So why not just add apps to current receivers? Most of them are basically just low-powered computers running a locked-down Linux derivative, after all. Myriad Group, the folks behind the Alien Dalvik software that allows iOS and other platforms to run Android apps natively, have done just that.

The Alien Vue is a small piece of hardware that emulates Android’s various necessary pieces of hardware and software, specifically designed for TV output. At the moment it’s limited to Google TV apps, but it’s already allowing smartphones and tablets to control input. Basically, it’s an independent system that could be easily added to current-generation set top box hardware for a quick and dirty infusion of Android-powered goodness. HTML5 apps, including mobile versions of websites like YouTube and Facebook, are also supported.
Check out their demo below:




Is this an alternative to Google TV? In a word, no. What it could mean is that cable and satellite providers could easily build out smarter platforms, then add their own apps or partner apps by developing to Android standards. It’s a modified version of Barnes & Noble’s approach to its Nook devices, which run Android underneath a UI and app system designed to promote their own content. While the Alien Vue system would not have access to Google TV’s core functions, it would be a quick and relatively cheap way to keep the freebie cable boxes competitive with their Internet-based counterparts.

Read more »

Archos unveils the 70b Internet Tablet packing Honeycomb for a dirt cheap £180

Tablets are expensive. Americans know this all too well, as many of them are still saddled with mostly unnecessary carrier contracts – see the recent DROID XYBOARD 10.1 and 8.2. That’s what makes devices like the Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet so popular. But it could be worse, yankees: over the pond in the UK, most tablets cost at least as much in pounds. Throw in a nasty conversion rate and Value Added Tax, and the £400 Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus becomes a whopping $750 equivalent. Archos, ever ready to strike at the budget-conscious segment, is preparing its latest 7-inch tablet at a price well below the UK median.

The Archos 70b Internet Tablet will sell for just £179.99, about which works out to about $340 after taxes. Considering that tablets are primarily media consumption devices (which is a polite way of saying “toys”), a lower price is always preferable. For that price, you get a WiFi Honeycomb 3.2 tablet with a 7-inch 1024 x 600 screen, a 1.2Ghz processor and access to the Android Market and Google’s other proprietary apps. 512Mb of RAM means that it should perform much better than the older Archos 70, though that’s still a little pokey for Honeycomb. Storage space isn’t mentioned, so it will probably be available in multiple capacities. Archos’ press release did not mention an Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade, but industrious modders will probably have a version ready soon enough. The 70b Internet Tablet is not to be confused with the previous Archos 70b eReader.

Read more »

Duke Nukem 3D is free for two days, still isn’t really free

When Duke Nukem 3D burst onto the Android Market back in November, fans of classic shoot-em-up gameplay couldn’t be happier. At least until they actually installed the game, and learned that you had to buy parts two and three separately, instantly turning a 99¢ game into a $2.99 one. Three bucks isn’t unreasonable for an Android game, but for a title that’s over fifteen years old, many users found the roundabout payment model a little sketchy. The fact that it also displayed ads (later removed) offended the sensibilities of the Android crowd, who are happy to either pay or deal with ads, but not both.

Today Duke Nukem 3D is free in the Android Market, for today and tomorrow only. That gets you the normally $1 app, but as usual, it’s only the first level (which was free in the original PC shareware version). The other two “episodes” will still cost you another dollar each. Installs have skyrocketed in the last few hours, and it is a great way to try out some classic first person shooter mechanics on your high-end Android device. That said, the app still only has a 3.1 rating; it’s probably still suffering from a flurry of angry early customers and those who are experiencing graphical and gameplay glitches in the port.

Read more »

Nook Tablet update breaks 3rd party app installs

The original Nook Color was a veritable toy box for Android modders, and remains a popular platform for custom ROMs and other Android tablet modifications. Barnes & Noble’s newer Nook Tablet has proven a tougher nut to crack, with a locked bootloader and just 1GB of user-accessible space. But Nook Tablet users with an eye for modding could at least take advantage of a loophole in the modified Gingerbread software, which allowed any app downloaded from the Tablet’s browser to be installed via Android’s built-in installer. The eBook Reader reports that with the latest Nook Tablet firmware release, 1.4.1, Barnes & Noble has closed this loophole, making advanced modification much more difficult for any user who updates.

Considering the locked bootloader, this change in the Nook Tablet’s software is not unexpected. Barnes & Noble is certainly aware of how popular the Nook Color was and is as a modder’s cheap tablet, and have not raised any serious objections thus far. But as pieces of consumer electronics, the Nook Color and Nook Tablet are sold on extremely thin margins with the expectation that users will buy books and other media from Barnes & Nobles and its partners, justifying the low profits on the hardware itself. Every user who buys a Nook without the intention of using it primarily as a reader for Barnes & Noble’s ebooks is undermining their business model. Since advanced users aren’t breaking any laws, the best that the company can hope to do is frustrate their aftermarket efforts.
The solution for those who want to keep modding their tablets is simple: don’t upgrade to version 1.4.1 on the Nook Tablet’s software, at least until another work-around is found. Those who have already updated can flash to the original retail image and work forward from there. Strangely, third-party apps that have already been installed on updated tablets are still working, so users who already modified the Nook Tablet and gotten it to their desired level of functionality will probably be able to wait it out until someone finds another weakness in the device’s software armor.

Read more »

Samsung offering 16 premium games for free to select Galaxy smartphone users

Samsung is offering 16 Android games free of cost to select Galaxy smartphone users via its App store – Samsung Apps. The supported devices include Samsung Galaxy S II, Galaxy Note, Galaxy Ace, Galaxy S, SLCD, Galaxy R, and Galaxy s WiFi 5.0.
Each of these devices support different games according to their hardware, while S2 supports 11 games, Ace only supports one of them. You can check out the full list here and even download them.
Some of the games on offer for free:

• Riptide GP HD
• Air Attack HD
• European War
• Roboto

Read more »

Samsung confirms Ice Cream Sandwich updates coming to Galaxy devices in Q1 2012

Despite the fact that its regional offices had confirmed which of its handsets and tablets would receive Ice Cream Sandwich updates, Samsung has today made a public announcement confirming that the Galaxy S II, Galaxy Note and Galaxy Tab models will receive Android 4.0 updates.
Both the Galaxy S II and Galaxy Note will receive Ice Cream Sandwich updates in the first quarter of 2012, with the Galaxy R and various Galaxy Tab following soon after.
Samsung lists the following devices will be eligible for an upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich:

The ICS-upgradable devices are the GALAXY S II, GALAXY S II LTE, GALAXY Note, GALAXY R, GALAXY Tab 10.1, GALAXY Tab 8.9, GALAXY Tab 7.7, and GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus.

As with many of the other major Android vendors, Samsung has said that it will make individual announcements for each of its other Android smartphones, but notes it will be “according to market situation and carrier’s requirements”.
In October, the update roster was seemingly confirmed by Samsung Italy, which said not only would the Galaxy S II and Galaxy Note get the update, owners of the Galaxy Tab 10.1, Galaxy Tab 8.9, Galaxy Tab 7.7 and Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus would also see the software release come to their tablet device.
Alpha builds of the Android 4.0 update for the Samsung Galaxy S II have already begun to leak but are currently very buggy, so it is not recommended you update your device until Samsung officially launches its updates at the beginning of next year.

Read more »

Kindle Fire Software Update Rolling Out Now – Warning: Breaks Root And Re-root

Kindle Fire owners should be well aware that software version 6.2.1 is rolling out for Amazon’s latest tablet and just as before, root will be completely removed from the device. The only difference is this time around, it will pretty much be impossible to re-root using SuperOneClick utility. Yep, it looks like Amazon has patched up root ability (for now). So what can you do if you’re a rooted Kindle Fire user? Well, aside from avoiding connecting to your WiFi network, not much. Well, you could always read up on the latest method for installing Cyanogen Mod on the tablet will prevents official auto-updates of the Amazon variety.
If you’re curious what new additions software version 6.2.1 brings, there’s reportedly smoother scrolling, password protected WiFi access and the ability to remove recently used items from the carousel. Once again, if you do decide to jump into the rabbit hole that is custom ROMs, make sure you read up good and well before diving in. Anyone rethinking a Kindle Fire purchase if a new root method can’t be found?
[XDA | Liliputing | Via Engadget]

Read more »

December 22nd Release Date for Motorola DROID 4 Pops Up Again

It’s been rumored and leaked that the Motorola’s Droid 4 — the newest 4G LTE equipped version of their QWERTY slider — could be arriving on Verizon as early as the 22nd of this month (just a few more days). Well, adding a little more fuel to that fire, a new leak has surfaced today, further implicating that 22nd launch date. The device shares more than a few similarities with the Droid Razr — well, aside from the whole being thin part.

Given the fact that the Galaxy Nexus suffered numerous “delays” before officially launching, we expect any less from the Droid 4. I wouldn’t think Verizon would want to launch so many devices within such a small time frame but I suppose anything could happen. Especially if they want to capitalize on the busy holiday shopping season.
I know a lot of our readers have been waiting for this device seeing how the Droid (insert number here) line usually sees a Global variant, this could make the Droid 4 the go-to-phone for frequent travelers. Anyone waiting on the “Droid RAZR with keyboard?”
[Via Droid-Life]

Read more »

Verizon Galaxy Nexus Vehicle Dock Lacks 3-Pin Connector – What Gives?

If you were looking to cruise in style and outfit you new brand new Verizon Galaxy Nexus with the official Samsung vehicle dock, you may want to hold that thought. Apparently, the American/Verizon version of the car dock (pictured above) is without the three-pin connectors you see in the UK/GSM version of the dock (pictured below).

Not sure exactly what’s up but if you want the higher quality — and better featured vehicle dock — from the UK, you’re going to have to pay a higher premium, along the lines of £50. If unplugging and replugging your phone isn’t too troublesome for you, the Verizon version of the car dock can be had for $40. Which version will all you “elite” Galaxy Nexus owners out there be purchasing? (Yes, I’m still bitter from a complete lack of Gnex on Sprint). From the sound of it, Verizon GNex users don’t sound too happy with the version of their car dock.
[Amazon (GSM) | Verizon Wireless | Via Engadget]

Read more »