October 2011 Archives

Oct

Qualcomm Releases FastCV, The First Mobile-Optimized Computer Vision Library

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Dev, News

In an effort to help advance computer vision on mobile devices, Qualcomm has released the first mobile-optimized CV library, aptly named FastCV. While this news may not be groundbreaking for end-users, it's a pretty big deal for developers, as this library can be used in mobile development to help improve things like face detection and recognition, text tracking and recognition, gesture recognition, as well as open a whole new world for augmented reality applications.

The initial release of FastCV supports Android development, with "expanded platform support" coming soon. So, if you're a dev looking to incorporate some CV into your ...

Oct

Fandango Movies For Tablets Hits The Market, Lets You Get The Deetz On The Latest Flicks From Your Honeycomb Device

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Applications, News

There's no doubt that Fandango is one of the best apps for finding out what movies are playing in the local theatre, reading reviews, watching trailers, and even buying tickets. If you're just not into watching trailers or checking out movie details on you phone, though, then you should check out Fandango's newest app: Fandango Movies for Tablets.

Like you would expect, Fandango for tablets makes good use of the much larger screen and offers all the same features that you're already accustomed to using on the phone version. This includes browsing movies, access to trailers and exclusive ...

Oct

ice-cream-sandwich-launch-announcement-confirmed-by-android-developers-youtube-channel

[Getting To Know Android 4.0, Part 2] Google Talk Gets A Facelift

Posted by Ron Amadeo in Features, Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0, News

Last Updated: November 11th, 2011

Google Talk is one of my favorite parts about Android. If you have other Googly friends, between Android, Gmail, and G+, they are almost always available. In Android 2.3.4, Google Talk got a big upgrade in the form of voice and video chat.

There will be many similarities to the to the Ice Cream Sandwich version of Gmail, which was the subject of Part 1 of this series. So go read about it or risk falling behind the rest of the class. Just like that article, Gingerbread is on the left, Ice Cream Sandwich is on the right. The ...

Oct

[Updated x2] Security Advisory: A.I.Type Keyboard Sends All Your Keystrokes To Their Servers In Plain-Text - Sometimes You Can't Trust The Cloud

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Applications, News

Last Updated: November 8th, 2011

One of the features that really differentiates Android from other mobile operating systems is the ability to install a custom keyboard that works for you. I constantly keep jumping between a variety of keyboards as new updates come out (right now I've settled on SwiftKey due to its unparalleled prediction technology), but when some of our readers pointed out A.I.type Keyboard's "psychic" word completion, I had to check it out.

However, what I found in A.I. Keyboard's Market description prevented me from even installing it - all smart predictions happen in the cloud, which means everything you type ...

Oct

Lookout Security Updated, Now Includes Honeycomb And Ice Cream Sandwich Support

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Applications, News

Lookout, one of my favorite mobile security apps, received an update today that brings a feature I've wanted since I got my Tab 10.1: tablet support (which, in this case, also includes support for ICS devices). Aside from the malware scanner and backup functionality, one of the most alluring features of Lookout is its find-my-device capability -- a highly useful feature if your device is ever lost or stolen, and a must-have on any tablet.

Since this update was designed with tablet support baked in, it will work on both Wi-Fi only devices and those with cellular data connectivity, providing ...

Oct

Sprint Posts Q3 2011 Earnings Report - Biggest Jump In Wireless Subscribers In Five Years, Still Reported A Net Loss Of $301 Million

Posted by Cameron Summerson in News, Sprint

Sprint just released its Q3 earnings report, and while it's nothing to boast about, it does offer some encouraging numbers for the Now Network. Its operating revenue is up to $8.3 billion -- a slight jump up from this time last year. It also saw a major jump in wireless subscribers, adding 1.3 million new customers -- a five year high for the company. Out of the 1.3 million, 304,000 were post-paid, 485,000 were pre-paid, and 835,000 were wholesale. Sprint lost about 44,000 post-paid customers in Q3, which is a major improvement over last quarter when it lost a whopping ...

Oct

[Deal Alert] Unlocked Samsung Galaxy SII On eBay For $489 (That's About $110 Off)

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Deals, Galaxy S II

Last month we saw an unlocked version of Samsung's Galaxy SII at Mobile Daily Steals for a cool $100 off its original price. If you were hoping to get an ever so slightly deeper discount on Samsung's hottest smartphone to date (still waiting on the Galaxy Nexus), your chance has arrived. For the next 24 hours, a "limited quantity" of SIIs are available on eBay for just $489.99.

If somehow you've forgotten, or haven't been paying attention, here are some of the SII's specs:

Android 2.3 Gingerbread
4.3" WVGA Super AMOLED Plus Display
8MP rear shooter and 2MP front shooter

...

Oct

No Ice Cream Sandwich For The Nexus One, Says Google

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0, News, Nexus One (Passion)

Go ahead and file this one under the we're not surprised tab: Google's Hugo Barra told the Telegraph that the Nexus One won't be getting updated to Android 4.0, as the hardware is just too old. Honestly, we didn't expect the Big G to support the original Nexus forever, so this shouldn't really come as a shocker to anyone.

With that said, we know that tons of unofficial ports (read: custom ROMs) will be available shortly after the ICS source is dropped, once again breathing life into an otherwise dying device. Just one more reason we all love the Android ...

Oct

Samsung Teases Us With More Videos Of The Ultimate Mobile, Business, Creative, And Social Device - The Phonetabulous Galaxy Note

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Galaxy Note, Samsung, Videos

The Galaxy Note, Samsung's upcoming 5.3" flagship "phablet" many of you are so excited about, got a 30-second video spotlight yesterday, teasing us with its giant screen, powerful editing features, and creative uses of the stylus. Did you really think Samsung was going to stop there? Nope, not Samsung - today the company released four more detailed videos, each taking a deeper look at different Galaxy Note's sides - business, creative, social, and on-the-go.

Suddenly, I kind of want it even more. How about you?

...

Oct

[Updated: Permissions Explained] Deal Of The Day: OfficeSuite Pro 5 Is Free At The Amazon Appstore Today (Normally $15)

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Applications, Deals, News

Last Updated: October 27th, 2011

I don't usually post Amazon Appstore apps outside of our social media accounts, but today I felt compelled. There are a few options when it comes to office replacement apps that can read and write all your docs, presentations, and spreadsheets - most of them costing over $10. I've been eyeing OfficeSuite for a while, but never really bothered to try it out.

Well, I just did because OfficeSuite Pro 5 is free at the Amazon Appstore today, and after playing with it, I have to say it's the best office app for Android I've tried so far (at ...

Oct

[Updated: Release Date] Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation Gets A Sweet Launch Trailer - This Time You Will Be The Last Line Of Defense

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Games, News

It looks like Gameloft has done it again, cooking up an awesome new game for Android. The makers of such hits as BackStab, and the N.O.V.A. series, released today the first official launch trailer for their new game - Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation.

The Modern Combat series is one of the "most acclaimed FPS games on Android," bringing polished, action-packed, first person gameplay to the palm of your hand. The series aims to immerse the player in a "modern war experience," taking you to detailed, polished environments, and providing you with plenty of challenges, along with enough weapons to ...

Oct

T-Mobile Announces Samsung's Exhibit II 4G - An 'Affordable 4G Smartphone'

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Exhibit 2 4G, News, T-Mobile

Tonight, Samsung Mobile and T-Mobile announced the Exhibit II 4G, a new 4G smartphone aimed at the budget-conscious subscriber. The Exhibit II 4G will be the first no-annual-contract 4G smartphone sold at most Walmart stores, and is set for an October 27th release.

The budget smartphone will also come to T-Mobile retail stores November 2nd, offered at the low price of $29.99 after a $50.00 mail-in rebate with a two-year agreement and qualifying plan. The Exhibit II 4G will also be available for $199.99 off contract.

Here are some of the specs the Exhibit II 4G will be offering this ...

Oct

Apple Granted Slide-To-Unlock Patent, Bearing On Android Yet To Be Seen

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, Legal, News

Well, it happened - the slide-to-unlock patent Apple has been requesting was granted this morning by the US Patent & Trademark Office, meaning almost any device in America using a sliding unlock mechanism is now infringing on Apple's patent unless otherwise ruled.

While the timing may seem a bit suspicious, Apple originally filed for the patent in 2005. Have a look at this excerpt from the granted patent document:

A device with a touch-sensitive display may be unlocked via gestures performed on the touch-sensitive display. The device is unlocked if contact with the display corresponds to a predefined gesture for

...

Oct

Sprint Plans To Deploy LTE-Advanced In The First Half of 2013, Has Plans For Voice Over LTE, Says Iyad Tarazi

Posted by Liam Spradlin in 4G, News, Sprint

There's been a lot of buzz over Sprint's LTE plans lately, but the company's vice president of network development and engineering, Iyad Tarazi has just added more fuel to the fire, indicating that Sprint plans to deploy LTE-Advanced in a 10x10 configuration by the first half of 2013, using its 800MHz spectrum, offering download speeds of around 12-15 MB/s.

Meanwhile, Sprint's deployment of LTE on their 1900MHz spectrum is still on track for commercial launch by mid-2012. By the end of 2013, the company plans on having LTE coverage more expansive than their current CDMA network, covering 250-277 million POPs....

Oct

GO Dev Teams Releases GO Locker To The Market - A Lockscreen Replacement To Compliment GO Launcher EX

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Applications, News

If you're a GO Launcher EX user and the recently updated WidgetLocker isn't your thing, then you may want to check out GO Locker to get your lockscreen mod fix. The initial release hit the Market earlier today -- I took a few minutes to play with it, and, while it's not as polished as WidgetLocker, it's still a very nice option. The fact that it integrates directly into GO Launcher EX is quite nice, too; of course, this could also be a negative since it can't be used as a standalone app.