Aaron Gingrich

Aaron is a geek who has always had a passion for technology. When not working or writing, he can be found spending time with his family, playing a game, or watching a movie.

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Feb

309

Book Giveaway #14: Use Your Web Developing Skills To Create Android Apps With "Building Android Apps With HTML, CSS, And JavaScript"

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in Contests / Giveaways, Dev

You're already a web developer, master of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. You have a great idea for an Android App, but your particular skill set doesn't help you create that app. Or does it? O'Reilly media just released a 176-page 2nd edition of "Building Android Apps with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript" by Jonathan Stark and Brian Jepson that explains how to do just that.

Making Native Apps With Standards-Based Web Tools

It’s true: if you know HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, you already have the tools you need to develop Android applications. Now updated for HTML5, the second edition

...

Feb

[Weekend Poll] Are You Using A Custom Launcher?

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in Applications, Polls

This is the latest in our Weekend Poll series. For last week's, see Do You Use Live Wallpapers?

We've said it many times before, and I'll say it again: one of the best things about Android is how customizable the entire experience is. One of the easiest and most comprehensive ways to customize your device - aside from rooting and ROMing, that is - is to use a custom launcher such as ADWLauncher EX, GO Launcher EX, and Launcher Pro. Even stock, these apps can revamp your device's appearance and basic behavior, and coupled with the bevy ...

Feb

Google Brings In The Muscle: Meet Bouncer, The Market's Anti-Malware Machine - And It's Already At Work

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in Applications, Apps/Games, News

As Android has grown from a small hobbyists OS to the mainstream-conquering behemoth it is today, so has the amount of malware directed towards it. A large chunk of the problem comes from malicious apps that make it into the Android Market - often times, duplicates of popular apps with a few strings of code thrown in that allow the app to transmit personal information or hijack the device.

Makers of anti-virus apps claim that there's more malware in the market than ever, painting the picture of a wild west-esque place that's ever-more attractive to the scum of the app ...

Feb

White HTC Sensation To Launch March 1 In Europe With Ice Cream Sandwich In Tow

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in HTC, Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0, News, Sensation / Sensation 4G (Pyramid)

The Sensation is one of HTC's most popular handsets overseas, and despite being launched nearly a year ago (May 19,2011), the company just announced a new "Ice White" version. While there are no differences in hardware, the outside will obviously be white (à la Amaze 4G). More importantly, though: it will launch on March 1, and run Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) out of the gate.

That's a pretty big deal for two reasons: first, because as we discussed yesterday, Sense 4.0 (which HTC will slap over top of ICS) pretty much sucks. Second, because that would ...

Jan

Samsung's Big Super Bowl Product Reveal Is A 90-Second Commercial For The Galaxy Note

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in Galaxy Note, News, Samsung

Yesterday afternoon, @SamsungMobileUS revealed that the company would be launching a "device so revolutionary only an ad in America's biggest game [the Super Bowl] can do it justice." Many on Twitter and across the web assumed it would be the Galaxy S III or a new tablet; while it was doubtful in light of recent rumors that it would be the SGSIII, the new tablet idea was at least feasible.

As it turns out, Samsung is "revealing" the U.S. Galaxy Note - so to the technophiles, there's nothing new to see here, really. In hindsight, it's a bit of a ...

Jan

[Weekend Poll] Do You Use Live Wallpapers?

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in Applications, Polls

This is the latest in our Weekend Poll series. For last week's, see Do You Use An Antivirus App On Your Android Device?

That Android supports live wallpapers (LWPs) is a cool feature, no doubt about it. But to many people, it's no more than an impractical novelty - something that looks cool but kills performance and battery life. Still, they remain popular on the Market, presumably among more casual owners who don't notice (or care) about the performance hit, or just don't know better... or perhaps even hardcore users don't mind the trade-off.

So, which camp do you fall ...

Jan

232

[Updated: Here Are The Winners!] Book Giveaway #13: Kick Your Developing Game Up A Notch: We're Giving Away 5 Copies Of "Application Security For The Android Platform"

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in Contests / Giveaways, Dev

Last Updated: February 5th, 2012

Thanks to our two-dozen (or so) previous book giveaways, you probably now know how to develop for Android. If so, it's probably time to kick your game up to the next level by mastering application security. Luckily for you, O'Reilly Media recently published a new book on the topic, titled "Application Security for the Android Platform: Processes, Permissions, and Other Safeguards." Written by Jeff Six, the book is a concise (112 page) treatise on the subject.

This contest is now over. Here are our winners, selected at random:

hectormoi
Gracjan
James Ebby
rolltidedad
Antonio Chillaron Barahona

Congratulations, guys

...

Jan

Shadowgun Updated With Improved Effects, New (Free) "The Leftover" Expansion Brings 4 New Levels Amongst Other Goodies

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in Apps/Games, Games, News

Madfinger Games has just rolled out an update to their uber-hit third-person shooter Shadowgun, and this time around they have included more than just some bug fixes. The most significant aspect of the update is a new free expansion called "The Leftover" - check out the trailer:

The Leftover "directly follows the events of the original SHADOWGUN" and features:

4 new levels
New enemy creature
New gun
New type of gaming interaction
New soundtrack

The update brings some new effects and features to the original campaign, as well:

Camera shakes and bullet trails
Player can now roll
Tuned difficulty,

...

Jan

[Update: $199 ($100 Off) On Amazon] Deal Alert: Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX Just $230 ($70 Off) With Contract At Wirefly

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in Deals, Droid RAZR MAXX, Verizon Wireless

As promised, the ultra-impressive DROID RAZR MAXX went on sale today, but for a premium price of $300 with a new two-year contract at Verizon. Not so, says Wirefly, who is charging just $230 for the thin-yet-juiced phone.

What's so special about the MAXX? It's nearly the same as the DROID RAZR, but with one major difference: it's nearly 2mm thicker (for a total thickness of a still-svelte 9mm) to accommodate a whopping 3,300 mAh battery (versus 1,780 in the non-MAXX version).

Definitely sounds like a winner, especially for power users and road warriors. Hit up the ...

Jan

[Deal Alert] Verizon Galaxy Nexus Just $99.99 For New Customers At Amazon Wireless

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in Deals, Galaxy Nexus / Nexus Prime, Verizon Wireless

Google's latest wunderphone, the Galaxy Nexus, normally runs a pricey $300 on contract when purchased through Verizon. Luckily, competition brings down prices - sometimes dramatically - and it's on sale now at Amazon for just $99.99 with free 2-day shipping for incoming Verizon customers (it's still $259.99 for those who are upgrading). Quite the discount, and 100 bones for such a mind-blowing device is quite the steal indeed.

In comparison, Wirefly is selling the GNexus for $230 for both new and upgrading customers. Thus, if you're heading to Verizon as a new customer, best to go through Amazon. Those ...