Monday, October 3, 2011

LG Optimus 3D Update with 3D Conversion for Games Rolling Out Now

A while back we learned LG planned to up its 3D ante by providing a software update to their Optimus 3D that would provide tools to bring standard 2D games into the third dimension. That update, build number V10K, is rolling out now to some European Optimus 3D handsets. LG has compiled a list of compatible titles, but most games should be eligible for a run at 3D provided they are built on OpenGL (though a drop in performance may be noticed).
The update is currently only available using LG’s PC update utility, though it should eventually begin moving out over the air. For everyone else there is the XDA link below.
[via XDA]

Leaked screens of BBM for Android surface

One of the things about Blackberry devices that is most liked by users is the Blackberry Messenger service. If you are an Android user that used to have a Blackberry that may well be the only thing you really miss from the Blackberry. Apparently, that BBM service is heading to Android devices and will let you get back on BBM if you want.


TechRadar has landed what are supposedly the first screenshots of the BBM on Android to surface. The port from Blackberry to Android has been rumored in the past, but this is the first time screen shots have surfaced. BBM for Android is expected to land in 2012. The screen shots show the BBM icon on the Android home page of the device in the photos.
The other screen shot shows the contract profile page. The source of the leaked documents also claims that the BBM will work with push notifications on Android. The legitimacy of these screens can’t be verified so we have to be a little suspicious. What do you think? Are these shots real and are you excited to see BBM come to Android?
bbm-android-1 bbm-android-2 [via TechRadar]

ACME Installer demo shows off Android/WebOS dual-boot on HP TouchPad


There are geeks working hard out there to get Android onto the HP TouchPad that failed so brilliantly. The future of WebOS might be murky and the future of updates is something that many that own the TouchPad may be worrying about. With a port that allows Android to run on the TouchPad the little HP tablet would get a second life and more usability for the average geek. A video has landed on YouTube that shows a demo of ACME Installer with dual boot for the TouchPad.


The demo shows a geek with the ACME Installer mounting the TouchPad to a Mac and then moving some needed files over to the tablet. Once the files are over on the TouchPad, the files can be executed. To do this they create a folder called cminstall, copy a zip file over, and use the novacom program to start the ACME installer.
It doesn’t take that long to get Cyanogen 7 running on the tablet and you can swap back to WebOS whenever you want. The addition of the new OS needs only three files including the ACME installer, novacom, and cm-update payload file. The video points out that the demo doesn’t mean the ACME installer is close to release though. The Cyanogenmod was benchmarked not long ago.
Thanks for the tip Tony.




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XOOM 2 and Media Edition tablets spotted in Verizon database

Just last week we brought you news of the next version of Motrola’s XOOM tablet and its smaller 8-inch brother nicknamed “Media Edition”. Now it appears that these two tablets, code-named “Pasteur” and “Fleming” respectively, have appeared in Verizon’s Cellebrite database. Both devices are expected to debut later this year.


Both versions of the XOOM 2 feature up-to-date 4G radios and a modified tapering corner design (the better to ward off Apple’s attack lawyers). Initially it was speculated that the tablets would be running Android Honeycomb 3.2, but with Google’s acquisition of Motorola Mobility in its early stages, they might be fast-tracked to Ice Cream Sandwich before their release. Each uses a 5MP rear and 2MP front camera. No screen information is currently known, but based on some tipped hands-on experience, a standard 1280 x 800 resolution panel seems likely in both.
These tablets are not to be confused with the 7-inch Motorola tablet spotted earlier. That device is speculated for a November release, with the new 10-inch XOOM following in December. Of course, the presence of these XOOMs in Verizon’s database merely means that someone, somewhere is testing out new hardware. As always with tipsters, these estimates are subject to change.

HTC Sense Security Scare – Should you be worried?

So maybe you’ve heard that HTC has a bit of a security issue on it’s hands. Should you be worried? Let us take a moment to explain the situation and asses its severity to you.
Here’s the situation. When you initially set up a Sense enabled phone you’re presented with multiple preference choices. Specifically, your preference on HTC’s right to collect data from your device is the root of the problem, in this case. When you allow HTC to collect data, you give them the right to record things like what apps you use, where and how you use them, your account names, location, and call logs. It’s no secret that apps exist in the market that collect data such as this, but that’s just the problem. It’s no secret because those apps are required to express what permissions they require. In a somewhat similar fashion you voluntarily allow HTC those permissions when you check the box but they aren’t required to be explicitly expressed because Sense is essentially the operating system, rather than just an app. Alright, so despite how all that sounds, that isn’t the problem. The problem is that HTC has failed to sandbox their collected data meaning that currently the data is potentially accessible to other apps without them having to expressly declare permissions for collecting and using it.

Is it the end of the world? For most, probably not. Nevertheless, this was an irresponsible move on HTC’s part, even if it was unintentional. Hopefully they can redeem themselves some by fixing this issue quickly. As a reminder, the security issue only affects Sense ROMS with data collection enabled. So long as you didn’t allow HTC to collect data, then the issue doesn’t affect you. Also  if you are running a custom rom like CyanogenMod then the issue doesn’t affect you. If you have a rooted Sense ROM, you can patch the vulnerability by manually removing
/system/app/HtcLoggers.apk
Again, if you allow HTC data collection and stick to quality apps, this shouldn’t be much of an issue. It’s just disheartening to think some scuzzball developer may be using your location data without consent and sending it to some random server. Purchase reputable apps to help reduce the chance of that happening to you. Lastly, so as to maybe offer you a bit of relief, the data at risk does not include types such as SMS, IMs, or passwords.
We’re all still waiting for an official response from HTC on the matter.
[via androidcentral]

Now Amazon's in the frame to buy webOS

It's now pretty clear that the Amazon Kindle Fire tablet we saw launched through the week is just a placeholder for Amazon's grander slate ambitions, and we're expecting bigger and better from the online retail colossus in the months to come.
But now VentureBeat has given things a new twist by suggesting part of those ambitions may involve snapping up webOS and reworking it for its own needs.

In case you've forgotten, webOS is that much-loved mobile OS running on board the HP Pre3 and TouchPad – loved so much in fact that no-one seems willing to be able to make it work.
Palm developed it, then just about went bust. HP was next to step in, buying out Palm and webOS and promising to change the world. But a couple of months ago it decided to call it quits having not made nearly the impact it had been hoping for. HP hasn't actually confirmed it wants to sell webOS, but enough rumours have been swirling about to assume it's all but a certainty.
A few names have been mentioned in connection with throwing the platform a lifeline, including Samsung, HTC and even Facebook. Now we have Amazon too, it seems.
“A well-placed source tells us that HP is currently looking to rid itself of Palm as soon as possible, and that Amazon is the closest to finalizing the deal, among a handful of contenders,” VentureBeat says.
We should also add that in response HP dished up the usual “we don't comment on rumours” soundbite, while Amazon hasn't responded at all yet.
So we're still in pure rumour territory here, but we'll keep an eye out for new developments.

Bharti Airtel taps China’s ZTE to begin 4G roll-out in India

It may not be long until Indian mobile users have 4G technology at their fingers as Bharti Airtel’s plan to deploy wireless broadband advances.
Bharti, India’s largest operator, has asked Chinese telcom equipment giant ZTE to begin phase one of its 4G network roll-out initially in the Kolkata region only, according to a report from Economics Times in India.
The report cites an official source which explains that, though ZTE will handle the first implementation, it is not guaranteed any other slices of $300 million valued roll-out Bharti has planned. Instead ZTE will face stiff competition – notably from fellow Chinese rival Huawei – to bring 4G to the three other regions Bharti won following last year’s auction.
Though there is no timeline or date specified for the work, it is widely believed that 4G wireless broadband will be available in India from early next year.
Though Bharti declined to respond to Economic Times, ZTE did confirm that it was starting initial work on the roll-out, while the paper also claims high level meetings have “formalised” ZTE’s initial role in proceedings.
Given that 3G mobile technology only arrived in India last year, the news that 4G is on its way is likely to be well received by many in the country. However, issues remain around mobile operator capacity while 3G-compatible smartphone ownership is low, let alone LTE-device ownership.
There is no doubt, however, that wireless Internet has huge potential in India.
India has emerged as a key market for technology and Internet companies keen to tap the country’s vast potential, with Facebook and Google just two of the many to have set up country offices in the past two years. However fixed-line Internet penetration is very low, reaching less than ten percent of its 1.2 billion population, sapping India’s potential to become a true online giant.
Infrastructure is a key issues with many in rural areas unable to access fixed-line Internet. For these people, wireless technology provides new possibilities for connectivity whilst catering to the millions for whom mobile will be their main Internet access point.
It is early days for India’s 4G network and it will be interesting to observe ZTE and Bharti working on the initial roll-out.

New HTC Hub Has Lots of Mango Features (Video)


The HTC Hub for Windows Phone 7 has just been updated for phones that have the new Windows Phone 7.5 Mango upgrade installed. The update brings a lot of new features to the app. Originally, it was kind of useless and many people probably unpinned it from the start screen right away or even uninstalled it all together. This new version has an updated two-column live tile, but also a much quicker and cleaner user interface. The extremely long animated transitions have been removed, and the weather displays have been completely redesigned with more attractive weather animations. Tapping and holding on any of the cities that you've added for monitoring the weather will let you pin any of them to your start screen.

There's also a stocks screen where you can add whichever stocks you want to follow, but again you can tap and hold on any stock ticker name and pin those to the start screen as well. Then there's a news panel where you can add any number of pre-set news feeds that HTC has added. From there you can either pin individual news feeds to your start screen or pin the entire news section of the HTC Hub.


Deal: AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II on sale for at Amazon Wireless for $150


Order AT&T’s Samsung Galaxy S II at Amazon Wireless for $149.99


AT&T’s Samsung Galaxy S II has just become available for sale and if you are looking to save some money, you may want to check out Amazon Wireless. They are currently offering the SGS2 for $149.99 on new accounts and upgrades, you do have to sign a two-year contract though. Here are the specs of this phone as described on their site:
  • Android 2.3.4
  • 1.2 GHz dual-core processor (Samsung Exynos) speeds up everything–from playing games to watching shows to opening files from work
  • 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus multi-touch display (480 x 800 pixels, 16 million color depth)
  • 1024 MB of RAM
  • 8-megapixel auto-focus camera with LED flash, smile detection, geo-tagging, zero shutter lag, and multiple scene modes
  • 2-megapixel forward-facing camera for video chats and self portraits.
  • 16 GB internal memory
If you are like me, anyone else and want to save money when getting the Galaxy S II, we suggest that you pay the Amazon Wireless a visit, they also offer free 2-day shipping and 30-day returns. We included the link to the sale below!
Order AT&T’s Samsung Galaxy S II at Amazon Wireless for $149.99