Author: Jared Peters

The CyanogenMod team has officially released some milestone builds for CM 10.1. Dubbed “M3″ builds, these should be a little more stable than the current batch of nightlies. As of right now, the Nexus devices, the US Galaxy S III, the international One X, and a few Galaxy Notes and Galaxy S IIs are the only devices receiving these builds today, but, like always, more devices are sure to follow in the next week or so. Be sure to keep an eye on the CM page for when your device gets added. Happy flashing!

sourc: Get.CM

Come comment on this article: CyanogenMod 10.1 M3 builds now available for a handful of devices

To kick off the big Play Store redesign, Google has launched a little contest to raise awareness about your favorite things in the Play Store. Simply tweet one of your favorite items, it’s link in the Play Store, and the hashtag #favoritethings. You’ll have to be following the Play Store’s Twitter account, obviously, and there’s a separate page where you’ll need to submit your proof to enter the contest, but it’s a pretty simple way to grab some cool prizes.

What prizes are there, exactly? Ten Nexus 10s, seven Nexus 7s, and four Nexus 4s, as well as a hundred $10 Play Store gift cards. Now, before you start tweeting off everything you love about the Play Store (and inevitably losing a few Twitter followers in the process) each person is only allowed one entry, so make sure to pick that one thing that you really consider your favorite. Just don’t take too long to decide, as the contest ends on the 24th. Hit the break below to check out the full rules for the contest.

source: Google

Come comment on this article: Tweet about your favorite things in the Play Store for a chance to win some prizes from Google

If you’ve decided that you aren’t a fan of Google’s color scheming in the latest Play Store redesign, we might have the answer for you. A “blacked out” themed version of the Play Store has surfaced on RootzWiki, and it definitely has a stylish appeal to it, especially if you aren’t a fan of all the white that Google uses.

Installation is simple, but you’ll need to be rooted to be able to flash the file in a custom recovery. For those unfamiliar with the process, you’ll download the packaged zip file on your phone, then reboot to recovery, flash the zip, and reboot. If you’re a little more tech savvy, you can manually push the modded .apk to your device, but recovery flashing does the trick.

In addition to the Play Store, tons of other Google Apps have gotten the sleek, dark redesign, so if the idea sounds interesting to you, hit the link below to check out the other apps.

source: RootzWiki

Come comment on this article: Download black themed Play Store and other Google apps

Oppo is proud to have once built the world’s thinnest smartphone, and even though their current phone’s don’t hold that title, it looks they’re working on taking it back. The latest leak has Oppo’s new R809T phone coming in at  6.13 mm, or 0.24 inches thin. For lack of a better word, that’s ridiculous. Of course, it’s not amazing if you can’t cram in some worthwhile specs in that thin body, and Oppo is said to have a MediaTek quad-core processor with 1 GB under a 720p, 4.5 inch screen. It’s not bleeding edge technology, but impressive nonetheless. It’s set to debut in China for 2500 yuan ($403) off contract on April 26th, but no word if it’ll make it’s way to other countries. We’ll definitely keep you updated if we hear anything else about it.

source: Anqu

via: PhoneArena

Come comment on this article: Oppo working on building the world’s thinnest smartphone, again, set to be released on April 26th

We knew LG’s Optimus G Pro was eventually coming to the US, we just weren’t sure when. Well, the cat’s out of the bag, and sources indicate that AT&T will be picking up the G Pro on May 10th. That puts it right up against the HTC One and the Galaxy S 4, so LG is walking into some very stiff competition with that release date. However, it will be the 5.5 inch version, not the 5 inch version that was released in Japan, so this might attack more of the Note 2′s market instead of the One and S 4.

No word on any other carriers, but I’m sure we’ll hear something sooner or later.

source: Android Central

Come comment on this article: AT&T picking up the LG Optimus G Pro, slated for a May release

Dan Rosenberg’s bootloader unlocking tool for Motorola devices is a pretty fantastic hack. Unfortunately, it does a painful requirement that some Motorola devices can’t get; root access. Many Motorola devices upgraded to Android 4.1.2 simply can’t be rooted. Well, before today, anyway. Dan Rosenberg, once again, has released a little hack to get your Motorola device rooted and prepped for that unlocked bootloader. This method was designed with the Droid RAZR HD in mind, but it will work on many other Motorola devices running 4.1.2.

Like always, rooting your phone does come with upsides and downsides, so be sure to read up on it before you make any hasty decisions. When you’re ready, hit the break below to get the instructions.

You can download the files you’ll need here.

• Extract the entire contents of the zip file.
• If you are using Windows, ensure you have installed the latest Motorola USB drivers available for your phone.
• Ensure USB Debugging mode is enabled on your device.
• If you are using Windows, navigate to the extracted directory and execute “run.bat”. If you are using Linux or OS X, navigate to the extracted directory in a terminal and execute “./run.sh”.

source: DroidRZR

Come comment on this article: Root method for Motorola RAZR HD and other devices running 4.1.2 released

Yesterday, the bootloader was unlocked on some major Motorola phones by Dan Rosenberg; the RAZR (MAXX) HD, RAZR M, and the Atrix HD. Motorola devices are notoriously difficult to unlock, so that was a pretty big deal. Today, that unlock tool was released to users. As a warning, it does void your warranty, and the tool cannot relock the bootloader, only unlock it. Motorola also will probably fix the exploit used in a future software update, so if you want to unlock your device, it’s best to do it sooner rather than later.

To get started, you’ll simply have to have a rooted, supported device, then follow the instructions below, and remember that as of right now, this is irreversible.

Three final warnings before you make your decision:

• You understand that using this tool will permanently, irreversibly void your device’s warranty.
• You understand that it may not be possible to “relock” your device’s bootloader after unlocking using this tool. A side effect of this is that if you lose your device and you are not using disk encryption, a malicious party who acquires your phone may be able to extract all personal data from the device regardless of any lock screen.
• You agree that I am in no way responsible for any damage to your device as a result of using this tool.

Now, for the actual instructions. You’ll need to download the tool here before you get started.

1. Extract the entire contents of the zip file.
2. If you are using Windows, ensure you have installed the latest Motorola USB drivers available for your phone.
3. Ensure your device has been rooted and you have a working installation of “su”.
4. Ensure USB Debugging mode is enabled on your device.
5. If you are using Windows, navigate to the extracted directory and execute “run.bat”. If you are using Linux or OS X, navigate to the extracted directory in a terminal and execute “./run.sh”.

There’s also a disclaimer that this will not work on any OMAP Motorola phones, such as the Droid Bionic or original RAZR. So if you were thinking about being adventurous, it’s probably not a good idea this time.

source: Vulnfactory

Come comment on this article: Motorola unlock tool for RAZR HD, RAZR M and Atrix HD released

Google Fiber, the ridiculously fast 1 gigabit internet/phone/television service provided by our favorite search giant, now has a new city on its list. Austin, Texas will be next in line to receive Google Fiber, joining Kansas City and the Missouri Metro. No official rollout date yet, but you can bet we’ll keep you updated as soon as we hear something. Hit the break for the full press release.

Gig.U Congratulates the City of Austin, TX and Google for Gigabit Expansion

(WASHINGTON) Today, Google announced it will add Austin, Texas to the Google Fiber project, joining Kansas City, Kansas and Missouri as American communities that have the power to bring next generation networks home. Gig.U, a coalition of three-dozen research university communities working together to support educational and economic development by accelerating the deployment of next generation networks, issued the following statement by Executive Director Blair Levin:

Gig.U congratulates Google and the City of Austin for their initiative to bring a world-leading network to one of the world’s great research university communities. This effort will pay enormous dividends for the country, as it will help develop the human capital America needs to lead a global economy that increasingly creates value with big data and big bandwidth. The Austin project, as well as the recent response to the North Carolina Next Generation Network project demonstrates that university communities are increasingly recognized as attractive partners for next generation network deployments because of the innovative spirit and demand profiles of their residents. We look forward to watching and learning from the exciting growth and innovation to come from the Google Fiber projects, and accelerating such efforts in Gig.U communities throughout the country.

Come comment on this article: Austin, Texas added to the list of cities to receive Google Fiber

If you’ve been looking for a tablet to fit into a low budget, ASUS has an answer for you. The MeMo Pad, a 7 inch Jelly Bean powered tablet that’s similar to the Nexus 7, was announced in January, and you can finally get your hands on one for just $149. It only has a 1,024 x 600 display and 1 GHz single-core processor, but hey, it’s cheap. It won’t beat the Nexus 7 anywhere in specs, aside from the micro SD card slot, but it does beat the Nexus 7 in price. And you can even get it in four different colors, which is a plus for some customers.

source: The Verge

Come comment on this article: ASUS MeMo Pad now on sale for $150

If you’ve been keeping an eye out for either of Sony’s latest flagship phones, we’ve got some good news about the Xperia ZL, just a day after hearing that the Xperia Z may hit our shores relatively soon. The Xperia ZL, which is the non-waterproof/dustproof cousin of the Z will be hitting Cincinnati Bell on May 1st for $249 with a two year agreement. It’s taken awhile for either of these devices to land on any US carriers, but even with Samsung and HTC fighting for the attention of consumers, I still think the Xperia ZL will move a few devices. It’s definitely a high end option for someone looking for something a little different.

The XL will come sporting a quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, a 5-inch 1080p screen, and that stunning 13 MP camera. It also still has the LTE and GSM bands to work on any carrier in the States, (Band 4 for T-Mobile LTE and Band 17 for AT&T) but there’s no word on if the device will be sim-locked or not. Hopefully not. Hit the press release below for all the details, and be sure to mark the 1st on your calendar if you’re planning on picking one of these up.

Cincinnati Bell Becomes First U.S. Carrier to Offer Sony Xperia™ ZL Smartphone

World’s Most Compact Premium Smartphone Available from Cincinnati Bell on May 1

CINCINNATI–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Cincinnati Bell, the region’s leading provider of communications services for homes and businesses, today announced it will begin selling the new Sony Xperia™ ZL, a premium smartphone with a razor-sharp 5-inch high-definition Reality Display. The Xperia ZL from Sony will be available from Cincinnati Bell online and in stores by May 1 for $249.99 after mail-in rebate with a two-year equipment agreement.

“We’re excited to add the Sony Xperia ZL to our line of premium smartphones. With this extraordinary device, customers can connect with each other using the best technology Sony has to offer,” said Mike Vanderwoude, senior vice president/general manager, Consumer Markets. “The Xperia ZL on Cincinnati Bell’s 4G wireless network creates an unbeatable combination.”

The Xperia ZL has all of the specifications and premium features expected from a technology innovator like Sony. A razor-sharp 5-inch full HD (1920x1080p) Reality Display brings Sony’s long-standing TV expertise to the smartphone delivering optimized color, contrast and clarity. Intelligent camera capabilities previously only available in Sony digital cameras make taking high-quality images easier than ever, no matter what the conditions.

One-touch connections via NFC (Near field communication) enable consumers to easily share music, photos, and video from their Xperia ZL with other NFC-enabled devices including Sony speakers, headphones and TVs. For example, with the latest NFC-capable BRAVIA TV, simply touch the Xperia ZL to the TV remote control and enjoy photos or browse the Xperia ZL’s interface on the large TV screen. In addition, the Xperia ZL’s infrared capability offers remote control of TV’s and other home entertainment devices.

Xperia ZL Key Features:

• 5-inch 1920x1080p full HD Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine 2
• 13MP camera with Exmor RS for Mobile, HDR video (1080p), Superior Auto and Noise Reduction to effortlessly capture razor-sharp pictures and videos in any conditions
• Battery STAMINA for improved standby time
• NFC-enabled and Infrared capable
• 1.5 GHz asynchronous quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor with 2GB RAM
• Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)
• Compatible network bands: HSPA+ 1,2,4,5,8 and EDGE 850/900/1800/1900

The Sony Xperia ZL will be available for purchase on Cincinnati Bell’s website, www.cincinnatibell.com, and in Cincinnati Bell stores by May 1 for $249.99 after mail-in rebate with a two-year equipment agreement.

About Cincinnati Bell

With headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, Cincinnati Bell (NYSE: CBB) provides integrated communications solutions—including local and long distance voice, data, high-speed Internet, entertainment, and wireless services—that keep residential and business customers in Greater Cincinnati and Dayton connected with each other and with the world. In addition, enterprise customers across the United States rely on Cincinnati Bell for efficient, scalable office communications systems and end-to-end IT solutions. Cincinnati Bell is the majority owner of CyrusOne (NASDAQ: CONE), which provides best-in-class data center colocation services to enterprise customers through its facilities with fully redundant power and cooling solutions that are currently located in the Midwest, Texas, Arizona, London, and Singapore. For more information, please visit www.cincinnatibell.com.

About Sony Mobile Communications

Sony Mobile Communications is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation, a leading global innovator of audio, video, game, communications, key device and information technology products for both the consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, computer entertainment and online businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be the leading electronics and entertainment company in the world. Through its Xperia™ smartphone portfolio, Sony Mobile Communications delivers the best of Sony technology, premium content and services, and easy connectivity to Sony’s world of networked entertainment experiences. For more information: www.sonymobile.com.

Come comment on this article: Sony’s Xperia ZL heading to Cincinnati Bell on May 1st

The FCC has just cleared a Samsung device, the SPH-L500, and it looks like the device is heading to Sprint. It’s packing radios for Sprint’s 3G network, as well as Band 25 LTE and SVLTE (simultaneous voice and data) capabilities.  Oddly enough, the device’s measurements are just a bit smaller than the Galaxy S 4, coming in at about 5.2 inches tall and 2.6 inches wide.

There’s not many details in the filing, aside from the standard WiFi and Bluetooth radios and NFC, so we don’t know specs, screen size, or if this will even be an Android device. Whatever the case may be, we’ll be sure to let you know as soon as we hear anything else.

source: FCC

via: Engadget

Come comment on this article: Samsung SPH-L500 cruises through FCC, headed to Sprint

Facebook is rarely on the right side of the fence when it comes to privacy, so it’s natural to be a little cautious when buying a phone that’s completely run by Facebook. Fortunately, Facebook looks to be trying to clear up some of the scary privacy concerns right out of the gate.

They’ve released a privacy FAQ on Facebook that addresses the major points about the phone, and reassures users that there really isn’t anything to worry about. Basically, Facebook Home can’t get any information from you that the Facebook app can’t. It’s just an application from Google Play, so if you decide you don’t like it anymore, it’s one uninstall button away. While installed, though, it does collect generic Facebook activity, location, Facebook messages, and the apps in your Home app launcher, and that information remains user-identifiable for 90 days. In reality, it really isn’t much different than the Facebook app.

It does change a bit if you’re using the HTC First, though; Facebook can then track apps that generate notifications, but not the content of the notifications. So it has access to a little more information, but not much.

Personally, I think Facebook is being pretty transparent with what data they collect, and they aren’t asking for much more than what a social networking app needs, anyway. Ultimately, though, it’s up to the user to decide if that’s too invasive or not. Hit the source below to read the full FAQ.

source: Facebook

Come comment on this article: Facebook talks privacy concerning Facebook Home

The Galaxy Axiom, US Cellular’s branded version of the Galaxy S III Mini, is beginning to see an OTA update to Android 4.1, complete with Project Butter enhancements and Google Now. You’ll need to be connected to WiFi for the update, and then check for updates in your phone’s About Device settings menu.

This is the second Jelly Bean update we’ve seen to Samsung devices today, so Samsung’s starting off April on a high note. Any Axiom owners that have gotten the update? Let us know in the comments.

source: US Cellular

Come comment on this article: Galaxy Axiom on US Cellular receiving OTA Jelly Bean update

If you’re the owner of a Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus in Austria, you should be receiving a notification shortly to update your tablet to Android 4.1.2. Hopefully that also means that the update is pretty close to being released in other countries, as well. The tablet has already been updated from Android 3.2 to 4.0, so this is definitely a good example of Samsung keeping their older devices relevant through software updates.

source: SamMobile

Come comment on this article: Austrian Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus beginning to receive Android 4.1.2 update

HTC has already been pretty clear that they’re going to put their best marketing foot forward with the HTC One to help boost sales. We’ve seen some commercials for the One, but now we’re hearing that HTC’s marketing campaign will include “Live Experience Tours” in several cities in the US. These stops will include pop up shops to demonstrate the key features of the HTC One, like BlinkFeed, Zoe, and BoomSound. HTC wants to show you that the One is “everything your phone isn’t.” Very arrogant confident marketing slogan.

In addition to the showrooms for the One, BoomSound lounges will begin popping up in locations starting today. The showrooms won’t hit until April 11th, but they’ll be up for around three months, so you’ll have plenty of time to check it out. HTC is also planning a few tie-in shows to their BoomSound lounges and showrooms with some performances by popular artists in certain locations; Pharrell in New York, Grouplove in Chicago and Manchester Orchestra in Los Angeles. HTC is definitely pulling out all the stops to try to kick this phone off right.

Hopefully HTC will see some significant returns from a marketing blitz of this scale, because I’m sure it’s not cheap. Hit the break for the full press release.

HTC CHALLENGES CONSUMER EXPECTATIONS WITH NEW HTC ONE® LIVE EXPERIENCE TOUR

Tour Launches Across the Country to Show Consumers the New HTC One Is “Everything Your Phone Isn’t”

BELLEVUE, Wash. – April 5, 2013 — HTC, a global leader in mobile innovation and design, today introduced the company’s integrated U.S. marketing campaign launching its new flagship smartphone, the new HTC One. The campaign challenges the current mobile phone experience with a bold and playful execution, and offers consumers the opportunity to see, hear and hold the new smartphone before nationwide availability in traditional retail channels. The campaign comes to life as pre-order begins today, following unprecedented demand and the strongest pre-registration interest for any smartphone designed by HTC. The new HTC One will be available nationwide at retail stores through AT&T, Sprint and Best Buy on April 19, and through T-Mobile later this spring.

“We’re establishing the U.S. brand identity for the new HTC One as an innovative, stunning product with a full-metal design and a clear difference in experiences from any previous, or recently announced smartphone” said Erin McGee, vice president, marketing, North America, HTC Corporation. “The new HTC One has already won numerous prestigious awards and accolades, but consumers have yet to see it for themselves. We are changing that, starting today, by delivering unique and highly relevant experiences on city streets, in suburban malls, and at hundreds of movie theaters that brings the product to life through an authentic connection with the consumer.”

Everything Your Phone Isn’t™

Crafted with a distinct zero-gap aluminum unibody, the new HTC One introduces HTC BlinkFeed™, HTC Zoe™ and HTC BoomSound™, key new HTC Sense® innovations that reinvent the mobile experience and set a new standard for smartphones. HTC is taking the breakthrough product directly to consumers with the HTC One Live Experience Tour, bringing each unique innovation to life and prompting consumers to compare the new HTC One to their current phone experience.

The advertising features a similarly evocative theme positioning the new smartphone to consumers as “Everything Your Phone Isn’t”, with several deep integrations that highlight the dynamic experiences of the device. The new advertising campaign will run across a variety of media, including heavy rotation in relevant national TV programming, print, digital media and mobile advertising to include Pandora, Spotify, YouTube and Vevo. In-market geo-targeted advertising will also be incorporated into the HTC One Live Experience Tour.

The HTC One Live Experience Tour will appear in 11 major markets across the U.S. and consists of three distinct executions: the HTC BoomSound Lounge, HTC One Showrooms and HTC One Cinema Experiences.

HTC BoomSound Lounge

The new HTC One introduces — for the first time on a phone — front-facing stereo speakers with a dedicated amplifier, as well as Beats Audio™ integration for rich, authentic sound whether listening to music, watching a video or playing a game.

Opening today, the HTC BoomSound Lounges bring the extraordinary on-device audio experience to life at pop-up listening booths in prominent locations in six major cities across the U.S.: Columbus Circle in New York, Embarcadero Plaza in San Francisco, Hollywood and Highland in Los Angeles, Wrigleyville in Chicago, Franklin Square in Philadelphia, and Perimeter Mall in Atlanta.

In addition to product experiences, the BoomSound Lounges serve as the connection for consumers to exclusive HTC concerts produced by Live Nation. Performances by Pharrell in New York, Grouplove in Chicago and Manchester Orchestra in Los Angeles will be limited to an audience of 1,000 fans, creating an intimate, once-in-a-lifetime experience for attendees. Consumers in those three markets can visit the HTC BoomSound Lounges for the opportunity to receive tickets to the concerts happening in their city. On April 19, all of the BoomSound Lounges across the country will transform into listening and viewing locations for the broadcast of one of the exclusive live concerts.

HTC One Showroom

Starting on April 11, HTC One Showrooms will begin appearing in high-traffic malls across the U.S. where they will live for a minimum of three months to create a playful, dynamic, digital space for consumer interaction and entertainment. The HTC Showrooms are built solely on the experiences of the new HTC One, placed where people spend time shopping, dining and hanging out, and allow engagement at their leisure. HTC Showrooms are popping up in eight U.S. markets featuring interactive experiences and a plethora of new HTC One smartphones for hands-on experiences: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.

“HTC One Showrooms are taking the concept of a pop-up store to different place by creating a large, playful, interactive exhibit where we expect people to be entertained and have a new experience with the HTC One at each visit. It gives them the chance to truly immerse themselves in everything the phone offers at their own pace – and delivers a different experience than a traditional retail setting. We’ve created a mobility-powered playground that is good for our consumers, and for our retail partners as we send informed customers to their doors,” said McGee.

• HTC BlinkFeed: The new experience that transforms the home screen on the new HTC One into a single live stream of personally relevant information is re-created in the HTC Showroom as a larger-than-life interactive phone display that will provide news updates to shoppers.
• HTC Zoe: The ability to shoot high-res photos that come to life and transform the photo gallery into a living gallery will be brought to the HTC Showroom as interactive touch screens representing the on-device photo experience.
• HTC Sense TV™: HTC experts demonstrate how the new HTC One transforms into an interactive program guide and remote control to easily sort through and check all content on TV by selectable categories.
• HTC Live Cinema Experience
• HTC is treating moviegoers to hands-on opportunities with the new HTC One through live product demonstrations in the lobby of select theaters and showing the latest commercial for the new HTC One on the big screen. In the near future, HTC will add entertainment content to the on-screen viewing experience in theaters and also across key online and TV channels.

Availability

The highly anticipated new HTC One will be available globally through more than 185 mobile operators and major retailers in more than 80 regions and countries. In the United States, the new HTC One is available today for pre-order online through AT&T, Sprint, HTC and Best Buy in silver. Nationwide retail availability is as follows:

• AT&T: Available on April 19th in silver and black with 32GB of memory for $199.99, and in sliver with 64 GB of memory for $299.99 with a two-year commitment.
• Sprint: Available on April 19th in silver and black with 32GB of memory for $199.99 with a two-year commitment.
• T-Mobile: Available later this spring in silver with 32GB of memory.
• Best Buy: Available with service from AT&T and Sprint in conjunction with wireless operator availability.

For more information about the new HTC One, visit www.htc.com.

About HTC

Founded in 1997, HTC Corporation (HTC) is the creator of many award-winning mobile devices and industry firsts. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC pushes the boundaries of design and technology to create innovative and personal experiences for consumers around the globe. HTC’s portfolio includes smartphones and tablets powered by the HTC Sense® user experience. HTC is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE: 2498). For more information, please visit www.htc.com.

Come comment on this article: HTC to include “Live Experience Tour” in 11 cities for HTC One marketing campaign

Patent suits involving Motorola and Apple have been relatively quiet lately, but that doesn’t mean they’ve ceased entirely. The latest comes from a German court that has ruled Apple’s infamous slide-to-unlock patent invalid in their case against Motorola. Apple tried to show 14 different amendments to the patent to keep it valid, but the German court disagreed.

While this is technically a win for Motorola, most Android manufacturers have put workarounds in place to avoid infringing on Apple’s slide-to-unlock patent. Had Apple been able to continue using that patent, it wouldn’t have given them any notable advantage over other manufacturers. Still, we can chalk this one up as a win for common sense and call it a day.

source: FOSS Patents

Come comment on this article: German court invalidates Apple’s slide-to-unlock patent in patent suit with Motorola

Now that the dust has settled over Facebook’s big announcement, we can get into the nitty gritty details about Facebook Home. One such detail comes from Qualcomm, makers of the insanely popular Snapdragon processors. Qualcomm has said that they’ve been working with Facebook to improve user experience on Android devices using Facebook Home or the Facebook application, claiming “better overall performance, lower power consumption and improved data efficiency.” Those are three big improvements that you’re never going to hear anyone complain about. Cristiano Amon, executive vice president of Qualcomm, said they’ve been working to make the enhancements available to existing and future Snapdragon-powered devices, so if you’re one of the many who own a Snapdragon device, you’re in luck.

Qualcomm has fine tuned system performance in the CPU, GPU, and 3G/4G modems, so this should make a noticeable difference. Facebook is definitely starting off on the right foot by getting a major player like Qualcomm on board, so hopefully this little experiment goes pretty well. Hit the break below for the full press release.

About Qualcomm Incorporated
Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) is the world leader in 3G, 4G and next-generation wireless technologies. Qualcomm Incorporated includes Qualcomm’s licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of its patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of Qualcomm’s engineering, research and development functions, and substantially all of its products and services businesses, including its semiconductor business, QCT. For more than 25 years, Qualcomm ideas and inventions have driven the evolution of digital communications, linking people everywhere more closely to information, entertainment and each other. For more information, visit Qualcomm’s website, OnQ blog, Twitter and Facebook pages.

Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the ability to successfully design and have manufactured significant quantities of components on a timely and profitable basis, the extent and speed to which Qualcomm Technologies and third parties are able to collaborate, changes in economic conditions of the various markets Qualcomm Technologies serves, as well as the other risks detailed from time to time in Qualcomm Incorporated’s SEC reports, including the report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 25, 2012, and most recent Form 10-Q. Qualcomm Incorporated undertakes no obligation to update, or continue to provide information with respect to, any forward-looking statement or risk factor, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Come comment on this article: Snapdragon powered devices to receive Facebook Home performance enhancements

If you were excited about that purple Galaxy S III we told you about not too long ago, we’ve got a bit more information for you. We originally reported that the device would be available exclusively on Sprint sometime in April, and the latest leaks are pointing to April 12th. It’ll be available for $99, which is in line with the other Galaxy S III models Sprint offers, but does involve a $50 mail-in rebate. Either way, it’s a bargain for one of the best devices of last year, especially in such an eye-catching color.

Who’s planning on picking one of these up when they’re available?

source: Engadget

Come comment on this article: Purple Galaxy S III to hit Sprint on April 12th, $99 with mail-in rebate

 

Live wallpapers are one of the most unique features to Android, and for good reason. Sometimes still pictures get a little boring, so why not spice your home screen up with something flashy and interactive? We’re going to go over a few of the best live wallpapers available for your device in this guide.

As a disclaimer, live wallpapers will likely drain your battery a bit more than a static wallpaper, and some phones can get a bit bogged down by the more intense wallpapers. It’s best to experiment and see which ones work for you to give you a nice balance between form and function. Lets get started.

The Nexus live wallpaper was one of the first live wallpapers introduced by Google. It’s not too over the top, but it’s definitely eye-catching and shows off what the inside of your Android device looks like. Unfortunately, the Nexus live wallpaper doesn’t come preloaded on too many devices anymore, but that’s where this app comes in.

The Nexus Revamped wallpaper stays true to the original Nexus neural network but throws in a ton of extra customization options. You can change the colors and speed of the particles, the color or image of the background, set different reactions for when you touch the wallpaper, etc. Just about anything you want to change about this wallpaper, you can. There’s even a few performance options you can tweak to make it work on just about any phone. The pro version, which is only $1.50 in the Play Store, adds in a few other tweaks, such as turning the live wallpaper static when your battery drops past a certain level, changing particle custom colors, and changing the particle behavior based on your phone’s battery level. If you’re a fan of tweaking your device, this live wallpaper should be right up your alley.

Play Store Download Link

Play Store Download Link (Paid)

The Nexus 4 Dot live wallpaper is a modernized version of the original Nexus LW. It comes preloaded on the Nexus 4, but that doesn’t mean the rest of us shouldn’t be able to enjoy it, right? The wallpaper is made to mimic the glassy finish on the attractive Nexus 4, and does a pretty good job.

Like the Nexus Revamped wallpaper, this app also offers quite a few customization options to make sure your wallpaper matches whatever setup you’re currently using on your home screens. The default black/grey/white color screen looks fantastic, but if you’re in the mood for something a little more colorful, there are plenty of options to pick from. You can also change the speed of the twinkling effect of the shapes, and you can even change the glistening squares to circles. And, if you really want to get into nitty gritty controls, there are options for controlling the FPS of the live wallpaper. Plenty of options make this a great live wallpaper.

The app is free in the Play Store, but has some ads in the settings menus. You won’t have to worry about the ads leaking onto your homescreens, but if they really get in your way, you can use an in-app purchase to permanently remove the ads.

Play Store Download Link

The aniPet Aquarium Live Wallpaper is definitely one of the busier live wallpapers you can use, but if you like eye candy, you’ll definitely want to give this one a go. This wallpaper lets you manage your own virtual aquarium behind your app shortcuts and widgets and is probably the best conversation starter on this list.

The app supports up to 20 fish in your aquarium, with the full version offering 180 different species across 20 categories of fish. There are even customization options for controlling the size of each individual fish, which is some pretty incredible attention to detail. In the paid version of the app, which only costs $2, feeding the fish (which is done by tapping the screen to disperse some fish food, a very neat feature) will cause them to slowly mature and grow up and get larger. Mature fish can even have baby fish, and there’s an option you can turn on where the fish will die if you don’t feed them often enough. If you’ve been wondering if you’re responsible enough to take care of a pet at home, that option is a great way to find out.

This live wallpaper blurs the line between wallpaper and game, but that’s definitely not a bad thing. If you’re itching for something ridiculously customizable and interactive, this LW should be at the top of your list.

Play Store Download Link

Play Store Download Link (Paid)

Sometimes, you don’t want something too flashy on your homescreen. Simplicity can be a good thing, and the Bubble Live Wallpaper fits that category nicely. This live wallpaper features a handful of floating bubbles on the screen (surprise, surprise) which you can tap to pop, or just watch them float around behind your widgets.

Of course, no Android app worth its salt isn’t without a few customization options. Bubble lets you change the theme of your entire wallpaper, from the colors of the background to the colors of the bubbles. If you’re in a really creative mood, you can select a specific picture to put inside your bubbles. You can  even enable rotation to speed up or slow down the bubbles floating on screen, and there’s a few battery saving tweaks, including 3D hardware rendering and adjusting the amount of bubbles on screen.

If you want some wallpaper that’s a bit more serene, I’d suggest giving this app a whirl. It’s ad-supported, so it won’t cost you anything.

Play Store Download Link

Maybe you like the thought of live wallpapers, but you like to keep a personal touch on your homescreens with pictures of your friends, family, or possibly your favorite cat. This is the internet age, and we completely understand the importance of cat pictures, so we’re here to show you Photo FX Live Wallpaper. The developer has also made popular apps like Color Splash FX and Camera Zoom FX, so they’ve had quite a bit of experience with creating quality applications that focus on your photos.

As the name suggests, this live wallpaper consists of displaying slideshows of your personal pictures as your background, complete with different animations, frames, and slideshow options. The pro version of the app adds in 100′s of effects to filter over your photos in the slideshow, as well as different photo slideshow appearances, like collages and photo grids, and even some custom gestures for the wallpaper. Best of all, the pro version of the app only sets you back $2. It’s a pretty nifty, flexible app that consumes surprisingly little battery.

Play Store Download Link

Play Store Download Link (Paid)

The Play Store is full of live wallpapers, so there’s plenty more to pick from than just these. These are just a few that top my list. Are there any of your personal favorites that didn’t make the list? Let us know.

Come comment on this article: Five top live wallpapers for Android [April 2013]

Flipboard, the incredibly popular news app, has gotten a slight update in the Play Store today. The biggest improvement? Support for hover actions. It’s a cool feature, but it’s clearly a preemptive update for the Galaxy S 4′s hover features, although it should work with AirView on the Galaxy Note. It does also add the option to create an account with Facebook login, so that’s a feature everyone can get some use out of.

We’ve already seen Samsung and Flipboard buddy up before now, but this is definitely solidifying their relationship. Of course, the S 4 is likely to be a pretty popular phone, so it does make sense for Flipboard to support it above other less popular phones. Hopefully we’ll see more apps take advantage of the hovering actions in the future. Hit the links below to get your hands on the update.

Play Store Download Link

Come comment on this article: Flipboard gets minor update to support hover actions