Thursday, December 1, 2011

Google Android News Android Forums

Google Android News Android Forums

AT&T Teases With Hands-On Video Of Upcoming LG Nitro HD

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 05:03 PM PST

Oh now what do we have here?? You remember when we mentioned the uber-sexy Nitro HD by LG? Well AT&T just couldn’t contain themselves again and decided to swoon us even further by releasing a hands-on video of the device. You can see that attractive 720p screen, the super-fluid dual-core 1.5Ghz processor and overall sleek design in action. Remember kids, the phone will be released on Sunday, December 4th for $249.99 on contract.

Don’t wait any longer and check out the video. Go on– you know you want to.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Xperia Play Exclusive (For Now): FIFA 12 Free For a Limited Time

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 02:13 PM PST

EA SPORTS and Sony Ericsson announced today that FIFA 12 is avaliable exclusively to the Xperia Play. Even better than that, for a limited time, Xperia Play owners can grab this game for free from the game widget. This game has pulled many of the enhancements from the console versions and come with a wide variety of teams. It also allows you to play in real-world stadiums with “authentic commentaries.”

FIFA 12 is an exclusive to Sony Ericsson devices until February of next year. After this point we should see it in the Android Market, so that other people can experience this game. For the time being, those of you with Xperia Play phones, you can access your free, exclusive game via the games widget. Hit the break below if you are interested in reading the presser. 

 

London – December 1st, 2011 –

EA SPORTS™ FIFA 12, the latest edition of the world's most popular sports videogame franchise, launches today as an Android exclusive on Sony Ericsson's flagship gaming smartphone Xperia™ PLAY.
FIFA 12 lets fans take control of football superstars like Wayne Rooney and Kaka, and delivers one the most authentic sporting experiences on mobile, with features including Leagues and Cups, Quick Match and Daily Challenge.

The game, developed for Android by EA Mobile™, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) will debut on XperiaTM PLAY fully-optimized for gameplay using the PlayStation® Certified smartphone's unique gamepad. FIFA 12 will also be available exclusively on the wider Xperia™  range, including the company's acclaimed Xperia™ arc S, Xperia™ arc, Xperia™ ray, Xperia™ neo and Xperia™ pro smartphones.

Fans can expect improved gameplay depth, authentic commentaries, updated teams from the world's top leagues, and all new replay systems and stadium designs to enhance the FIFA experience.

"Our vision is to create the most authentic FIFA experience that fosters one of the largest football communities on the planet," said Glenn Roland, VP, EA Interactive, New Platforms and OEM. "By introducing FIFA to Xperia devices we're able to give fans yet another compelling opportunity to play no matter where they are, anytime, anywhere."

FIFA 12 joins a strong roster of titles the publisher has brought to Xperia™ PLAY in 2011, including leading franchises like Battlefield and Need For Speed™. A number of these titles are currently available for free download as part of Sony Ericsson's 'Get In The Game' limited-time Xperia™ PLAY promotion. FIFA Soccer 12 itself will be available as part of this promotion until early 2012.

"This year, we've partnered with EA to bring some of its best titles to Xperia™ PLAY for an unmatched mobile gaming experience," said Tim Harrison, Head of Content & Strategy at Sony Ericsson. "FIFA is a huge franchise that appeals to football fans around the world and a real highlight in a successful autumn and Holiday season of bringing great content to Xperia™ PLAY."

All information and details about the promotion on Xperia™ PLAY is available at: www.sonyericsson.com/eapromo

FIFA 12 is distributed under the title FIFA Soccer 12 in North America.

Verizon Delivers Promised 2.2.3 Security Update For The OG Droid

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 12:21 PM PST

Admit it, for a second there your dislecia kicked in and you thought that was a 2.3.x Gingerbread update didn’t you?  Sorry to disappoint OG Droid owners, but hey, there’s always the dev community to fall back on.  However, an update is an update and if it’s going to improve a device’s performance, we’ll take it.  Recall a few weeks back when Vz promised a security update was coming?  Well, it’s here and you can benefit from a few less bugs crawling around.  Build number FRK76 brings to light 2.2.3 and addresses a  ”rogue/unauthorized certificates” issue which occurred through the native web browser.  Other than that, there is nothing new hear and the update will ultimately be transparent to you.

 

 

 

Verizon Releases Samsung Fascinate i500.EH03 Update, Includes Gingerbread Treat

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 11:21 AM PST

Samsung just keeps continuing to show some love to owners of its devices. First the DROID Charge got a major update, now it’s another phone set for an update. The Fascinate is finally set to taste some of that sweet, sweet Gingerbread 2.3 goodness. Verizon has just announced the i500.EH03 build which includes a host of updates and improvements in addition to Android 2.3. You’ll find improved widgets and updated calendar options among the noteworthy features of the new build. The hefty 95.7MB file should be available anytime now for those of you still rocking the Fascinate, so be sure to check out the full change log at the source below and download the update. Oh and do tell us how it works out for you in the Comments section.

Add Another Rumored Galaxy Nexus Release Date to the Board – December 11th

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 10:36 AM PST

Stacy here, bringing you the latest in the Verizon Galaxy Nexus release date nonsense. So I guess some Best Buy screen shot showed up in the rumor mill today, showing an “in stock” date of December 11th (what’s this like the 36th one now?) . No this isn’t official and no I don’t recommend camping out in Best Buy’s parking lot the night before.

After talking with a local Best Buy manager I learned that while sometimes these dates actually end up yielding product, that doesn’t mean that they will begin sales on that day. Also, this is a screenshot for ONE store, meaning every Best Buy’s inventory screen throughout the country could potentially show different stock arrival dates. Besides, even if they did arrive on the 11th, deliveries don’t always happen in the morning, therefore the 12th could potentially be the release date. So until we get official word from Verizon themselves, I would hold off on making any real plans to buy this phone, and trust me, you will know when it’s official because we will post ‘confirmed’ in big block letters in our article’s tittle letting everyone know when it’s time to rejoice. Hopefully by then I will have a good head start and will be halfway to my local Verizon store to pick mine up before you do. :-D (I kid, I kid)

Until then, take this with a grain of salt cause it may in fact be a fake, possibly, but not probably. You see, the dimensions are a bit off from Google’s official specs that are posted on the US variant’s webpage, but of course we all know how Best Buy likes to make critical errors when entering device information, so who knows. Just thought we should pass these details along.

Patent Wars: Australian Court Overturns Samsung Tablet Ban, Apple Wants to Ban Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1N in Germany

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 09:24 AM PST

Are you sick and tired of reading about the patent wars between Apple and Samsung yet? Well it appears that Samsung has won one legal battle against Apple in Australia. Samsung won its appeal lawsuit against Apple in the land down under, and overturned a ban on selling the Galaxy Tab 10.1. An appeals court said that the original judge in a lower court made a mistake that approved Apple’s request for an injunction against the tablet. The three-judge panel believed that the original court “erred in principle” and was quoted to say:

"We cannot see how Samsung's conduct in refusing the offer of an early trial could properly be weighed."

Nam Ki Yung, a spokesman for Samsung, also remarked:

 "The ruling clearly affirms that Apple's legal claims lack merit."

However, Apple isn’t backing down without a fight. They are still accusing Samsung of copying their products. Bloomberg received an email from an Apple spokesperson that wrote:

"This kind of blatant copying is wrong and, as we've said many times before, we need to protect Apple's intellectual property when companies steal our ideas,"

So it appears that, as of right now, Samsung has won a victory in Australia, but things appear different on the German front. Even with Samsung’s modifications to their original Galaxy Tab 10.1, the Galaxy Tab 10.1N, still appears too similar to the iPad for Apple’s liking. Too similar in fact, that Apple has requested yet another injunction to stop sales of the tablet in Germany. The hearing for said injunction is scheduled for December 22nd, according to Down Jones Newswires.

So the patent wars continue to well, continue. It does appear however, that even with Apple’s slew of preliminary victories, that Samsung is starting to win some cases of their own. As the Apple versus Samsung battle continues, things are surely to heat up.

Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket in White will be available on December 4

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 08:15 AM PST

Last week we got word that a white version of the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket will be available in time for the holidays. No date was given at the time, but Samsung just contacted us, and we are happy to let you know that you will be able to pick one up at AT&T this Sunday, December 4. Not a bad looking phone in white.  More pics after the break.

AT&T may now consider Deutsche Telekom joint venture instead of T-Mobile merger

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 07:42 AM PST

With the possibility of AT&T’s T-Mobile accusation hanging by a thread, recent reports are saying that AT&T might opt try for a joint venture with T-Mobile’s parent company, Deutsche Telekom, instead. Although the deal is far from final, it seems like a more reasonable proposition given the many roadblocks faced during the planned merger. AT&T had to recently withdraw its merger application from the FCC to focus solely on the lawsuit brought forth by the Department of Justice that gets underway in February. A 109 page document was issued by the FCC citing all the ways in which they were not in favor of the merger, not to mention the fact that AT&T failed to convince them that the accusation would create new jobs.

It appears to be a long road ahead for AT&T and the consistent merger headache should be a sign that a joint venture may be in their best interest. Actually, what’s really wrong with the business plan they have managed to maintain for all these years so far? I mean come on, they already earned the nickname Ma Bell!

North Carolina State University Uses “Woodpecker” To Peck Holes In Security Of Android Smartphones

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 06:40 AM PST

Researchers at North Carolina State University revealed some major findings regarding Android devices. Using a tool called “Woodpecker” that was developed the researchers, they found noteworthy vulnerabilities on HTC, Samsung and Motorola smartphones. The specific phones studied were the HTC Legend, EVO 4G, and Wildfire S; the Motorola Droid and Droid X; the Samsung Epic 4G; and the Google Nexus One and Nexus S. Woodpecker analyzed the pre-loaded pieces of software on each phone, probing for capacity leaks– sensitive application and operating system privileges left exposed to other applications in ways that would allow them to be accessed by a malicious app without requesting permission from the device user. The researchers were “surprised to find out these stock phone images [on the devices tested] do not properly enforce [Android's] permission-based security model”.

Basically the capacity leaks fell into two categories, explicit and implicit. Explicit leaks allows applications to exploit a public interface or service of another app without making a permission request. Implicit leaks allows other applications to inherit permissions from another application signed with the same digital certificate (this allows applications from the same developer to automatically interact with each other). They found that while implicit leaks were not as serious a problem, explicit leaks were. Sensitive information such as geo-location, address book, SMS messages, etc.– were leaked on the pre-installed apps. Moreover the researchers found “an untrusted app on these affected phones can manage to wipe out the user data on the phones, send out SMS messages (e.g., to premium numbers), record user conversation, or obtain user geo-locations—all without asking for any permission”. This study is definitely eye-opening, but not surprising as there are examples of some HTC phones and Motorola DROIDs being vulnerable.

So what do you as an Android owner take from this study? First pay close attention to the permissions that each and everyone of your applications of your smartphone or tablet may have. Remember gang, we have a nice little tip sheet for how to spot questionable applications and verify permissions in order to keep your Android protected. Second– Android manufacturers (and even Google) will need to take software security much more seriously. Hopefully the new generation of Android devices will alleviate our fears and concerns for these software holes found in the Android OS.

Surprise! Ice Cream Sandwich Hides Space Age App Launcher Screen-Saver

Posted: 01 Dec 2011 06:30 AM PST

I’m not sure how many of you have been following all the buzz surrounding the Galaxy Nexus and ICS, or for that matter still following (the lack of a US launch is getting old), but from time to time some new and interesting tidbits pop up here and there. No, not to sound like a broken record, but, I have no information on the GN’s release date. I do however, have news of a little hidden ICS treat just waiting for you once Verizon decides to release its nasty death grip.

A new video has surfaced showing that Google’s Nyan Droid surprise is not the only secret addition to be found inside the phone. Apparently there is this Stars Wars-like screen-saver called, Android Dreams, that can be accessed through the Launcher Pro app that spews forth all your app icons as seen in the video below. By the looks of it, you can press once on your device’s screen to slow down the spew – allowing enough time for you to select (tap) which app you want to open. It was originally thought to be some kind of hidden launcher but in reality it’s an interactive live wallpaper of sorts. In order to activate said treat, one must download the Launcher Pro app from the market and use its “activity shortcut” to find such Google-ness. Here, just check out the video after the jump and you will see what I’m talking about, sometimes a video aid is the best way to explain these kinds of things.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Pretty cool, no? Tell us your thoughts?

 

 
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