October 2011 Archives

Oct

Zimperium Finally Releases 'Anti' For Android, Allows You To Use Penetration Testing Tools On The Go

Posted by John Thompson in App Reviews, Applications, News

Last Updated: October 21st, 2011

The days where penetration testers carry around laptops with them to test the security of networks seem to be numbered, with Zimperium's 'Anti' bringing a lot of those tools over from the PC to Android smartphones.

It's been a long time coming, but Anti is now available to download to your phone for free from the Zimperium website. For some strange reason, you will have to install 'AntiCredit' from the Android Market in order to actually use the application effectively by buying credits, meaning that you will have two apps which, essentially, perform the same function.

After you have downloaded and installed Anti from the web (you will first need to enable the installation of 3rd party applications by going to Settings > Applications > Unknown sources), you are prompted to buy AntiCredits in order to actually use many of the features within the app.

Oct

Bring Your Wallpaper Alive With Bubbleator

Posted by Ian G. Clifton in Applications, Apps/Games

One of my favorite features of Android is being able to have widgets on my device. With just a few widgets, my important information can be a quick glance away. Unfortunately, widgets typically offer a limited set of information (e.g., the last five messages) and the lack of animation on the majority of widgets makes them feel more static than they really are. Even Honeycomb's widgets are fairly limited. Fortunately, Android's live wallpapers allow for a far more engaging experience and the Bubbleator live wallpaper takes advantage of that.

Full disclosure: Bubbleator is made by ARO, and I have recently been hired on as a developer at ARO.

Oct

[Weekend Poll] Will the Amazon Kindle Fire Light Up The Tablet World?

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in Amazon, Polls

This is the latest in our Weekend Poll series. For last week's, see How Many Apps Have You Purchased In The Last Month?

The first of Amazon's two new Android tablets has officially been revealed (the second one is rumored to be coming out towards the end of the year), and features a 7" 1024x600 display, 1GHz dual-core CPU, 8GB of storage, and a heavily modified Android experience with an emphasis on Amazon's cloud services - all for just $200.

Given that the price of similar (but larger) tablets is still in the $400+ neighborhood (unless you want to compare it to the Nook Color or original Galaxy Tab, though both are substantially less powerful), will the lower cost yet powerful specs be enough to make the Fire the de facto standard in the tablet world?

Oct

[Download] Android Skin Pack Disguises Windows 7 As An Android Launcher

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Mods, Off-Topic

Typically, I'm not very interested in theming for Windows, and I resist change to my desktop configuration as much as possible. I was convinced today, however, to give it a try with Android Skin Pack 1.0 from Hamed Danger.

Android Skin Pack 1.0 transforms your desktop, disguising the start menu as a notification bar, and adding a launcher dock at the bottom of your screen (albeit with several more icons than its Android counterpart). The pack also comes with a variety of familiar Android icons, a stylish wallpaper, and even spruces up your computer's boot screen.

The theme is a fun tweak for those PC users who have been yearning for a taste of Android on their desktop, and can be implemented using a handy installer package available for download here, and don't worry - if you get tired of the theme, it can be uninstalled easily, and Windows will revert back to normal.

Oct

[Updated: $99.99 At AT&T] Deal Alert: Samsung Galaxy S II Now Available For $199.99 From AT&T, $149.99 From Amazon Wireless

Posted by Nate Kimmey in AT&T, Deals, Galaxy S II, News, Samsung

AT&T's Galaxy S II variant (appropriately called the Galaxy S II) is now finally available for $199.99 directly from AT&T.

Update: $100 off ($99.99) at AT&T using this deal, though for me, taxes are still $46.75

In case you need a refresher on the specs:

4.3" Super AMOLED Plus display
1.2 GHz dual-core processor
1 GB RAM
8 megapixel camera with 1080 video capture
2 megapixel front-facing camera
Android 2.3.4

If that's not a good enough deal for you, Amazon Wireless has the same device for just $149.99 for both new accounts and upgrades, with the added benefit of free shipping.

Oct

Massive Security Vulnerability In HTC Android Devices (EVO 3D, 4G, Thunderbolt, Others) Exposes Phone Numbers, GPS, SMS, Emails Addresses, Much More

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in EVO 3D (Shooter), EVO 4G (Supersonic), HTC, News, Thunderbolt (Mecha), Videos

Last Updated: January 17th, 2012

I am quite speechless right now. Justin Case and I have spent all day together with Trevor Eckhart (you may remember him as TrevE of DamageControl and Virus ROMs) looking into Trev's findings deep inside HTC's latest software installed on such phones as EVO 3D, EVO 4G, Thunderbolt, and others.

These results are not pretty. In fact, they expose such ridiculously frivolous doings, which HTC has no one else to blame but itself, that the data-leaking Skype vulnerability Justin found earlier this year pales in comparison. Without further ado, let me break things down.

The Vulnerability

Update 10/4/11: HTC posted a public response promising a patch.

Oct

[One-Day Giveaway, Pt 2] Win One Of Three Otterbox Commuter Series 'Strength' Cases For The HTC EVO 3D

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Contests / Giveaways, EVO 3D (Shooter)

Last Updated: October 2nd, 2011

Yesterday, Otterbox hooked us up with the chance to give three readers any case they want for their phone. Today, we have three more cases to give away-- but this go around, it's a bit more specific.

The Goods

Today, we have the Commuter Series Strength Case for the EVO 3D (see our review) to give away to three lucky readers. If you haven't heard about this case, here's the skinny: it was made specifically to support Breast Cancer Awareness. For every case purchased, ten percent of the price is donated to the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade -- so even if you don't win, you can always buy one to support the cause.

Oct

Court Accepts Verizon And T-Mobile Briefs Supporting Samsung, Denies Apple's Request To Respond

Posted by David Ruddock in Android OS, Legal, News, Samsung, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless

When Verizon and T-Mobile filed amicus curiae briefs in favor of Samsung in the company's ongoing patent litigation against Apple in the Federal Court for the Northern District of California, we cheered inside a little. It's always nice to see Android and its handset partners have friends in high places.

However, the question of how the court would respond to these briefs remained - as the decision is an entirely discretionary one. Yesterday, the judge hearing the case accepted both Verizon and T-Mobile's briefs, in full, into consideration regarding Apple's proposed preliminary injunction which would seek to ban the import of certain Samsung Android handsets.

Oct

[Review] Griffin Stylus + Pen + Laser Pointer: You Never Knew Something So Simple Could Be So Useful

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Reviews

I already know what you're thinking: Are they really reviewing a stylus? Aren't all styluses (or styli, if you prefer) the same? Here's the short answer to the latter: No, they're not.

I have a few different styluses, and I can definitely confirm that using each of them is a different experience. Each one has a different feel, texture, and -- what really sets them apart from one another -- weight. For this review I will focus on the Griffin Stylus/Pen/Laser Pointer, but may throw in the occasional reference to my other two styluses -- a Targus stylus and SGP Kuel stylus -- just for comparison.