HTCDev.com Adds Unlock Support for T-Mobile MyTouch 4G Slide, HTC EVO View 4G

Those of you who aren’t keen on using community-developed tools to unlock their HTC devices’ bootloaders have been graced with a great program by HTC. They officially allow you to unlock your bootloader in a safe way, though it may void your warranty as they will know which phones have been unlocked through their tool.
Two new devices join the party today as T-Mobile’s MyTouch 4G Slide and the HTC EVO View 4G (Sprint’s version of the HTC Flyer) are now able to be unlocked. Be sure you know the risks of unlocking your bootloader and it would help if you had a good idea of why you want to unlock it before you go ahead and do that. Head to HTCDev.com to get started. [via The Verge]

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Android Open Kang Project hits Milestone 1 for Verizon’s Galaxy Nexus

There are a few ROMs and kernels out there for Verizon’s Galaxy Nexus already, but the one that clearly stood apart from the rest was AOKP by Roman of RootzWiki. Thus far, his build has been the most stable and speedy while still having all the bells and whistles. Through a ROM Control quicklink within the settings, rooted users can customize their phone with ease and reliability; no need to boot into recovery. And most importantly, this ROM has just reached its first “Milestone”. A milestone release aims at fixing all the current bugs, and offers an option for users that don’t feel like flashing another .ZIP through ClockworkMod every other day.

I have been using Roman’s AOKP build for a couple days now, and his latest release has scored me 9 hours and 18 minutes with 54% battery life to spare. With the poor network signal I get in my area – this is a vast improvement. Also new in this release is the ability to finally sync Facebook contacts. This feature isn’t currently available in the stock version, but could be in the next release. Also added were a few much needed modifications to the auto-brightness.

Though it was previously available in an earlier release, a Search navigation menu icon is also available to toggle in ROM Control – as is the Voice Search option when longpressed. It does clutter up the bottom once you’re used to the three menu buttons, but also adds back a much used feature by many making it an essential option. What features do you wish the Galaxy Nexus shipped with? Without Facebook sync it would have been monotonous entering in all of my contacts, so rooting was essential.
[via RootzWiki]

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Andy Rubin Reveals Android Activations For December 24th and 25th

We told you guys earlier today about smartphone activations jumping 353% from the previous year but many were left wondering, “Just how many of those were Android devices?” Well, I found this report from Localytics who breaks it down by country and OS but if you’re looking for a specific number — our very own Andy Rubin helped further answer this burning question with a tweet he sent out only moments ago.
Apparently, there were 3.7 million Android activations just on December 24th and 25th alone. Pretty impressive numbers if you ask me. This leaves me wondering — did you guys get a shiny new Android device for Christmas? If so, which one?
[Twitter | Localytics]

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Security hole found in all GSM networks by hacker

During a hacking convention in Berlin conducted by Germany’s Security Research Labs, a hacker discovered a security hole within the GSM mobile network. In Mr. Karsten Nohl’s own words:

We can do it to hundreds of thousands of phones in a short timeframe. None of the networks protects users very well. Mobile network is by far the weakest part of the mobile ecosystem, even when compared to a lot attacked Android or iOS devices.

This is quite disappointing. Though many of us choose to have a tier of texting or data – nearly 100% of us have some sort of voice plan incorporated. In case you don’t know which carriers use GSM networking technology, they include AT&T, T-Mobile, the select states with Cellular One, and many others: Yes this means you guys on Big Red and The Now Network are in the clear!
To make matters worse, compromised phones would be completely under the hacker’s control. Text messages or phone calls can be carried out easily and at any time. And until GSM carriers patch the security vulnerability, subscribers are all at risk. Fortunately, it will only take some updating of outdated software. There is no timeframe advertised to the public, but I’m sure it will be first on their “To-Do” lists (if not done already). We should all thank Mr. Nohl and those at the conference for discovering this vulnerability and restoring security to the airwaves.

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LG Prada Phone 3.0 Now Available In Korea – Hitting Europe In January

No, the image you see above is not in black in white — it’s actually in full color. That’s LG’s newest smartphone, the “Prada Phone by LG.” First thing I’m sure you’ve noticed the device is its minimalist “Prada themed” black and white UI, a clear departure from the manufacturer’s pseudo TouchWiz found on devices like the Nitro HD. Because, you know… nothing says “class” like black and white.
The device has just launched in its homeland of South Korea and besides its sexy good looks, the LG Prada Phone 3.0 features a 4.3-inch 800×480 IPS display, 1GHz dual-core processor, 8MP rear/1.3MP front facing cameras, 8GB of internal memory and runs on Android 2.3.7 Gingerbread. LG did mention that the device would see an Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade sometime during Q2 of next year.
While only available in Korea, the device is expected to hit other regions like Europe sometime in January. The LG Prada Phone 3.0 retails for 899,800 KRW which translates roughly to about $776 — but that’s the price you pay for luxury. I’d be willing to bet this will be the only phone Bond uses in his next action blockbuster. Full press release can be found below.

PRADA PHONE BY LG 3.0 BEGINS WORLDWIDE ROLLOUT
Much Awaited Designer Smartphone Arrives in South Korea Today, Europe and Asia in January
Seoul, 28 December 2011: LG Electronics (LG) made its highly anticipated PRADA phone by LG 3.0 available to the public today in South Korea. The phone is now available to Korean customers and scheduled for the release in most European countries and other parts of Asia in January.
The phone, its existence announced only last month in Seoul during the joint signing ceremony, was unveiled for the first time at a showcase event in London two weeks ago. The stylish new device has been attracting significant attention for being the only smartphone with premium branding on the market currently.
The PRADA phone by LG 3.0 is the third handset from the PRADA and LG collaboration following the highly successful PRADA phone by LG 1.0 and 2.0 phones. The latest offering continues in the same tradition combining PRADA’s trademark chic simplicity with LG’s leading technology, including one of the brightest 800-nit NOVA display and a PRADA themed UI for truly unique mobile experience.
Following PRADA’s renowned design philosophy, the handset features a full glossy touchscreen on the front and PRADA’s signature Saffiano pattern on the back. Impressively thin at only 8.5mm, minimal hardkeys and a classic black finish complete the phone’s sleek look.
With 1.0GHz Dual-Core/Dual Channel architecture, the PRADA phone by LG 3.0 is as effective as it is stylish. The phone runs on Android Gingerbread OS with an update to Android Ice Cream Sandwich scheduled for the second quarter of 2012.
For more details on this unique collaboration, please visit the official site of PRADA Phone by LG 3.0 at www.pradaphonebylg3.com.
Key Specs:
- Operating System: Android 2.3 Gingerbread
- Memory: User 8GB maximum (varies depending on carrier requirements)
- Display Size: 4.3 inches
- Resolution: WVGA (800 x 480)
- Display Brightness: 800 nit
- Camera: 8MP
- Processor: 1.0GHz Dual-Core / Dual Channel
- Battery: 1540mAh

[Press Release | UnwiredView via Engadget]

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Update Rolling Out to the Original ASUS Eee Pad Transformer

With its followup a bit hard to come by after its December release, the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer is in the midst of yet another update. No, it isn’t an upgrade to Android 4.0. The new software instead aims to fix a number of minor bugs and further tweak the performance of the dual-core tablet. The update can be pulled down to the Transformer via ASUS’ home-brewed update app.
[via AndroidCentral]

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Samsung Aims to Sell 150 Million Smartphones in 2012

Korea Economic Daily is raising their sales forecast for Samsung by 15 percent, bringing total projected handset sales to 374 million. Of those handsets, 150 million are expected to be smartphones. To put the figure into perspective, Samsung was projected to move 300 million units this year, a figure that was easily surpassed thanks to strong sales of their Android-based Galaxy S lineup. Samsung continues to close the gap with the world’s current leading handset manufacturer, Nokia. The Finnish handset maker is projected to sell around 399 million mobile phones.
[via SammyHub]

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Try CyanogenMod 9′s custom launcher, 4.0.3 and root required

Are you a super modder who imported the Galaxy Nexus on day one, then rooted it and installed your own custom version of Plan 9? Well then, this mod is probably a little bit beneath you. But if you’re slightly less crazy, you’ll definitely want to try out the custom Trebuchet launcher, CyanogenMod’s tweaked version of the Ice Cream Sandwich home screen application. It brings a suite of new options to Ice Cream Sandwich’s standard launcher, the likes of which will delight those addicted to home screen customization for sure. Check out this XDA thread to get started.

Now for the bad news: you need to be running the latest Android Ice Cream Sandwich build in order for it to function, version 4.0.3. Only a few Nexus S phones currently run that, since Google suspended the update, though there’s plenty of custom ROMs built from AOSP code that have the latest version. You also need to be rooted, and install the app to the /system folder via either ADB or something like Root Explorer. If all that seems a little much, just wait for the first beta builds of CyanogenMod 9 – odds are that if you’re reading this, you’ve got a phone that’s on their official list.
For Galaxy Nexus and other ICS users who want a little less extreme customization, check out Nova Launcher. It’s also a modified version of Ice Cream Sandwich’s smartphone homescreen, but it’s a lot more friendly as far as versions go. You can install it as a regular non-Market app, or push it to your /system folder for a few more bells and whistles. It even works on tablet ROMs, or at least on the one I’ve tried so far.
[via Phandroid]

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Due to Christmas Smartphones Activations Up By 353% from December Norm

This Christmas the smartphone was the must-have gift and Flurry has the analytics data to back it up. According to their research, an average 1.5 million Android and iOS devices were activated daily between December 1st and 20th. For December 25th the number rose to an estimated 6.8 million, a 353 percent increase. The number is more than double the 2.8 million devices activated on Christmas in 2010.
After all of those Android and iOS devices were activated their new owners got to downloading apps right away with a record number 242 million apps downloaded between the two operating systems. The figure equates to a 125 percent increase from the December norm and eclipses last Christmas’ 150 million app downloads. Flurry didn’t provide data on the split between the two platforms for either activations or app downloads.
[via TechCrunch]

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