Saturday, April 30, 2011

Motorola Atrix update now official



To update your Atrix phone, AT&T advises connecting to a WiFi hotspot or private WiFi network. Users will then receive an OTA update notification. Select “Download” and then “Install Now” once the download has completed. The Atrix will automatically restart. Please note that if not connected via Wi-Fi, users will not be able to start the download.
Should users be unable to update their phones, AT&T advises to verify WiFi connection and then disable WiFi settings under the Wireless and Networks tab. Then re-enable WiFi settings and reboot. Then reconnect and try again. If users need additional assistance, contact AT&T. Thanks to Zack at Droid-Life for the heads up!
 

HBO to GO now in the Android Market




A few weeks back, we reported that HBO to GO would be coming to the Android Market. The we didn’t know when it would be coming to Android, although it was strongly hinted at May 2nd in their commercials. Well, HBO has released it early and the app is now live. Users who subscribe to the PayTV service can download it to most Android devices.



Why no xoom support??? That’s why people buy tablets for things like this… by Trey, April 29, 2011
We say “most” because it appears that users of tablets like the Viewsonic G-Tab, and Motorola XOOM, as well as older Android handsets like the Motorola Droid are complaining that they can’t use the app. Users who operate a rooted or overclocked Android device are also complaining that they can’t access the service as well. But newer Droid models, like the Droid X, and the Samsung Galaxy S are enjoying the service. So it’s probably a good idea to pay attention to the user reviews section to determine if your handset has any trouble.
HBO to Go gives users the option to watch episodes of original HBO programming, as well as feature films available. It’s designed to be a one stop shop for payTV fans looking for a streaming option like those offered by Hulu Plus and Netflix. However, it’s not without it’s shortcomings. In addition to limited device support at this point, Comcast subscribers are foreced to use the XFinity page or Comacasts proprietary apps in order to access the service.

Friday, April 29, 2011

Asus Eee Pad Transformer India launch in June


                                                                                                      




Asus India head Alex Huang has confirmed that company will launch its Honeycomb tablet Eee Pad Transformer in India this June. He added that company has earlier planned to release the tablet in May, but due to the component shortage after Japan Earthquake, the launch has been postponed to June.
Asus Eee Pad Transformer has got decent early reviews and because of the attractive pricing, tablet has been sold out at Amazon and other stores.
Announced at Consumer Electronics Show earlier this year, this Android tablet from Asus comes with a 10.1” capacitive touch-screen, Android 3.0, nVIDIA Tegra 2 processor, an optional docking station turns the Transformer into a full-fledged notebook with a QWERTY keyboard, front (1.2MP) and rear (5MP) digital cameras and a built-in mini-HDMI port.
There is no word on the pricing as of now in the Indian market, but if company keeps in line with US pricing, it can be launched around 20K.

Sprint reports Q1 2011 results, adds 1.1 million subscribers


It's financials time and the word hasn't always been rosy for Sprint of late, but this time the company has some good news to share. In this, the first quarter of 2011, Sprint added 1.1 million total subscribers, 846,000 of those were prepaid, the other 310,000 postpaid. Churn was down too, 4.36 for prepaid and 1.81 percent for postpaid, lowest in five years for the former and lowest ever for the latter. Operating income was $259 million on $8.3 billion in revenue, which is up three percent from this time last year, but factor in taxes, lunar landing rights, and all the other fun stuff and the company posted a net loss of $439 million. CEO Dan Hesse called this "slow but steady progress," and the addition of subscribers "a tough streak to keep going as the bar keeps getting higher." A tough streak indeed, but the launch of phones like the Nexus S 4G might just help keep it alive for another quarter.








HTC Reportedly Bringing a Slightly Better Version of Sensation with NFC




HTC may be looking to jump into the NFC game just as Google and Samsung have if this rumor is to be believed. Bright Side of News is reporting that an anonymous HTC representative mentioned to them a new phone that would follow the HTC Sensation and “should be positioned slightly above” it.
This version is said to have an NFC chip inside, but will feature the same 4.3 inch qHD display that the Sensation does. We’re not exactly sure what “slightly above” means outside of NFC, though – perhaps it’s the HTC Rider or Kingdom that’s said to have 3D features similar to the EVO 3D. Who knows?
[via PocketNow]
 

Quick Look at Today’s Free Amazon App: Fast Food Calorie Counter







While there are a ton of calorie counting apps on the Android Market, it’s kind of nice to see someone producing an app that will tell you what your caloric intake is as result of eating out at popular fast food chains.  This app just might be a trucker’s blessing.  Fast Food Calorie Counter allows you to keep track of calories from places like McDonald’s, Burger King, Domino’s and Dunkin Donuts, just to name a few.  The app supports info from 73 different restaurants and currently holds data for 9,141 menu items.  That should just about cover most of it if you like to eat on the go.  Get full nutritional info like calories, fat, fiber, protein and carbohydrates.  The app would normally run you  $2.99, but is free all day long thanks to our friends at Amazon.  Have a need for an app like this?  Let us know about it in the comments section and then head on over to our apps database for the download or hit up the QR code after the break.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 







Be Wowed By Shadow Galaxy Live Wallpaper For Android



One of the better Live Wallpapers I’ve seen to pass through the market has definitely got to be Shadow Galaxy by developer maxelus.net.  We’ve seen a few Live Wallpapers from this developer before  and it looks like they are showing no signs of slowing down when it comes to innovation.  If you’re a Live Wallpaper buff, then this one has definitely got to make it onto your device and into a “this is freaking cool” folder.  Once activated, your desktop is immediately hurled into outer space where you’ll be lightly swirling through a vortex of galaxies along with distant shadows of bits and pieces of debris and planets everywhere.  It doesn’t get any cooler than this one folks.  The only thing that would make this wallpaper even more of a hit would have been to add some interactive functionality or some settings for speed etc.  Otherwise, this is sure to appeal to everyone and definitely something to show off to your non smartphone buddies.  Hit the break for some more pics of the app and to snag the QR code for the download.  Follow the market link for a video demo of the app in action.  Feel free to plug away in the comments below.   
 
 

Android users sue Google over tracking



When the allegations that Android smartphones were tacking the users location without the user approving it, I think we all knew that suits were coming. The same thing has already happened with the iPhone and Apple has class action suits pending against it right now. Google is now in the same boat with some Android users filling suit.

Two users have reportedly sued Google over claims that the Android device they own was tracking their location without their consent. The two people that filed suit are residents of Oakland County in Michigan and field on April 27 in a Federal court in Detroit. Both of them use HTC Inspire 4G phones. The users both claim “[the Android devices track them] just as if by a tracking device for which a court-ordered warrant would ordinarily be required.”
The plaintiffs are looking to turn the case into a class action and want $50 million in damages and a court order to force Google to eliminate the tracking. A Google spokesman told Bloomberg in an email, “We provide users with notice and control over the collection, sharing and use of location. Any location data that is sent back to Google location servers is anonymized and is not tied or traceable to a specific user.”
[via Bloomberg]
 

The 7 Most Hackable Android Smartphones



 

There are two types of people who want to buy an Android smartphone: those who simply don't want an Apple product, and those who want to trick out their phones fancier than a Honda Civic from the set of The Fast and the Furious.
If you belong in the latter crowd, you may be familiar with at least some aspects of the hardware-modding community. But what of the layman who wants to pimp his phone and hasn't a clue where to begin?
We've gathered a handful of the most mod-worthy Android phones, complete with straightforward instructions on how to fully go "Vin Diesel" on your smartphone. That is to say, we show you how to gain root access — or superuser, full-permissions status — to each phone. That allows for customization far beyond what you can accomplish with a stock device. After root is achieved, the sky's the limit.
Warning: More often than not, rooting or unlocking your phone voids your warranty, which means you'll get no love from your carrier's tech-support line if you accidentally screw it up. You also run the risk of "bricking" your phone — essentially rendering it useless — when performing some of these procedures.
So, proceed at your own risk!



HTC Nexus One

Available now only through Google as a "developer phone," the HTC-manufactured Nexus One was Google's first "pure Android" experience phone. That means there are no clunky user interfaces slapped on by the phone manufacturers. More importantly, the phone comes with an unlockable bootloader, which allows you to load a custom ROM and overclock the phone's CPU.
If you want to root your Nexus One, head on over to Lifehacker for a streamlined, step-by-step guide.

HTC Incredible and HTC Evo 4G

Not more than a few months after the Incredible's debut, the modding team over at Unrevoked released version 3.0 of its eponymous rooting tool. After downloading the Unrevoked3 software, all you have to do is connect your phone to your desktop PC and let the program run. You'll be given root permissions, and the ClockworkMod program will be installed, which lets you load custom ROMs and apps otherwise blocked by HTC.
The Unrevoked site hosts its rooting program for Mac, Windows and Linux users who want to root their Incredible, Evo 4G or one of a slew of other HTC phones.




Samsung Galaxy S

Samsung's Galaxy S line has been massively popular with the general public. More than 10 million Galaxy S handsets were sold as of the end of 2010. Each of the big four U.S. carriers has its own branded version of the Galaxy S phone, which makes for lots of developing across a family of similar devices. That means lots of custom ROMs to be had.
If you want to root your Verizon-carried Samsung Fascinate DroidForums provides a comprehensive guide on how to do it. If you're a T-Mobile Vibrant user, IntoMobile's rooting tutorial is a breeze. The Epic 4G rooting instructions on the XDA-Developers forum for the Sprint users out there. Finally, AT&T Captivate users can find comprehensive instructions on using a program for an easy one-click root.

Motorola Droid

Unlike most of its pesky Motorola brethren, the Droid One comes with an unlocked bootloader, which gives you the ability to flash custom kernels as well as ROMs. Essentially, custom-kernel flashing allows for more control over the device's hardware than would otherwise be possible with a locked bootloader (which Motorola is notorious for including).
For those of you with the first Motorola Droid phone, Lifehacker provides a nicely detailed rooting guide.

Samsung Nexus S

We couldn't forget the successor to the Nexus One. Like its little brother, the Samsung-made Nexus S offers a "pure Android experience," debuting with stock version 2.3 (Gingerbread). And just like the One, the S is easily unlocked and rootable. The recently released version 7.0.2 of the highly popular CyanogenMod ROM — a custom interface that improves hardware performance and offers a nifty set of subtle enhancements — is supported on the Nexus S (among 20-plus other devices).
As the site NexusSHacks.com shows in its instructional video and guide, rooting the S is about as simple as rooting its predecessor.



Sony Ericsson Xperia Phones

While these phones aren't yet released, Sony Ericsson has made headway into making its Xperia line very mod-friendly. Earlier this year, the company released instructions on how to unlock the bootloader on its forthcoming Xperia Arc, Neo, Play and Pro handsets. After launching mod-unfriendly, locked-bootloader phones like the X10, this seems like Sony Ericsson extending an olive branch to the developer community.
While we know the phones aren't out yet, Sony Ericsson's unlocking instructions are available for eager developers' eyes to see on the company's site.