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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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Aug

Google Takes First Baby Steps In The Fight Against Lodsys

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in News

Lately, it seems like news about patent lawsuits and bullying is worse than most Hollywood gossip. Frankly, most of the suits are about as justified as Hollywood gossip, if not less. Nevertheless, there are bright spots - such as when the big dogs step up alongside developers to help fight back the patent trolls. Such happened yesterday, when it was revealed that Google has joined Apple in the fight against patent troll Lodsys' claims against developers.

^{Artist's rendering of Lodsys.}

For the uninitiated, Lodsys is a company that does nothing but hold patents for the purpose of licensing them. They produce no goods and offer no real services, and their patents are purchased from others - meaning they contribute nothing to the process.

Aug

[Book Giveaway #7] Three Of You Will Master Honeycomb Development With Packt's "Android 3.0 Application Development Cookbook"

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in Contests / Giveaways, Development

Last Updated: August 18th, 2011

We're back at it again, this time with a book that will make you master of the Honeycomb development domain. Having collaborated with O'Reilly, For Dummies, and informIT before, for this giveaway we've partnered up with a fourth publishing company, Packt Publishing.

Android 3.0 Application Development Cookbook

We're giving away three copies of Android 3.0 Application Development Cookbook by Kyle Merrifield Mew, and luckily for you, dear aspiring developer, entering the giveaway is quite simple.

To whet your appetite, the quick-and-dirty points about the book:

Overview of Android 3.0 Application Development Cookbook

Written for Android 3.0 but also applicable to lower versions

Quickly develop applications that take advantage of the very latest mobile technologies, including web apps, sensors, and touch screens

Part of Packt's Cookbook series: Discover tips and tricks for varied and imaginative uses of the latest Android features

How To Win

This contest is now over.

Aug

[Weekend Poll] Tablet Owners: So You Bought An Android Tablet - Is It Worth The Money?

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in Polls, Tablets

Last Updated: September 3rd, 2011

This is the latest in our Weekend Poll series. For last week's, see Amazon Has Now Given Away More Than 100 Apps - Which One Is Your Favorite?

Many discussions have broken out around the Android Police e-offices about tablets and whether they're productive, valuable products. Some team members are of the opinion that they're really just expensive toys, good as a minor luxury but not really worth the high cost. Others have found that they use their tablet quite a lot and find them worth every penny. As an added bonus, what do you mainly use your tablet for - business or pleasure?

Aug

Developer ShiftyJelly: Amazon Appstore "Rotten To The Core"

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in News

Nearly a month ago, we heard from the developer of Apparatus that the "Amazon Appstore is a disaster." To take a look at the other side of the situation, we sat down with Aaron Rubenson, the head of the Amazon Appstore. Now we have another developer, ShiftyJelly, chiming in with an even worse horror story: they were featured as the free app of the day (FAOTD), their app was downloaded 101,491 times, and they made $0 for it.

Their story isn't a fluke, either; Amazon made it abundantly clear that they do not compensate developers for the FAOTD.

Jul

Exclusive: Kyocera Echo Gingerbread Update Coming Starting August 1

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in Android OS, Echo, Exclusives, Gingerbread 2.3, Kyocera, News, Sprint

Last Updated: June 5th, 2012

Today's Sprint Playbook just landed in our inbox, and one thing stands out: the Kyocera Echo will be receiving an update to Android 2.3. The update will be over the air (OTA), and will be rolled out across a four-day period beginning August 1 at a rate of 10%, 25%, 25%, 100%.

The details of the update (as shown in the screencap above):

Eco Mode
EAS enhancements
Swype 3.0
Miscellaneous security patches
Gingerbread Android OS software update

Including improved power management
Improved text input
Minor performance improvements
Manage Applications Control
Download Manager

[Thanks, Captain Anonymous!]

Jul

Official: Sony Ericsson Xperia arc Coming Stateside In August - But No Word On Which Carrier(s)

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in News, Sony Ericsson, Xperia Arc (Anzu, X12)

Last Updated: May 26th, 2012

Sony Ericsson just dropped a press release announcing that the Xperia arc would be available for purchase in the U.S. beginning in August. On the upside, it will be available through Amazon, Newegg, Buy.com, and through Sony directly. On the downside, they give no mention of the device coming to any carrier, and the unsubsidized price is a whopping $600.

Though the arc presents an enticing exterior, the innards aren't so much so:

Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)
Custom UI
1GHz Scorpion CPU (MSM8255, same as the fairly dated Desire HD and myTouch 4G)
512MB RAM
512MB internal storage
4.2" 854x480 TFT display
8.1MP camera

Our own Brian O'Toole managed to get a good amount of hands-on time at CES and came away content.

Jul

Toshiba Thrive Rooted, Superuser Permissions Enabled, ClockworkMod Recovery Flashed

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in Development, News, Thrive / Regza / Antares / AT100

Last Updated: August 3rd, 2011

It has been quite an exciting (and busy) night for Thrive owners and hackers. The community managed to root the device, enable Superuser Permissions, and flash ClockworkMod Recovery. Thus far only a handful of people have taken the plunge, so issues could still arise, but preliminary results are looking good. In their own words:

Mine is the second fully working Thrive with Superuser access, Dalepl was first, and austeregrim bricked his to get shell root so we could get the system dump. NatolX bricked his to prove they have an unlocked bootloader.

...Please note take this at your own risk, this is just a preliminary step, and I happen to know it might only work on the latest OTA for the Thrive (dunno about later Toshiba updates).

Jul

Official: Verizon Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 LTE Goes On Sale July 28 Starting At $530

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in Galaxy Tab 10.1, News, Verizon Wireless

While not entirely unexpected, Verizon and Samsung have pulled a bit of a ninja act with the LTE Tab 10.1. We haven't heard a word about it lately, yet an official announcement has just landed in our inbox announcing it will go on sale in two days. The ubertablet will run from $530 for the 16GB model to $630 for the 32GB model, a $30 premium over the WiFi version. As an added bonus, Tab 10.1 purchasers will get a free $25 credit for the Samsung Media Hub.

The major specs:

Dual-core 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 T20 processor
10.1" WXGA 1280x800 TFT (PLS) screen (PLS confirmed by official specs)
1GB RAM
802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi
7000 mAh battery
3MP rear camera with LED flash and 720p video recording, 2MP front-facing camera

Full presser:

SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB™ 10.1 WITH 4G LTE AVAILABLE AT VERIZON WIRELESS

4G LTE and Wi-Fi Models Available; 8.6 Millimeters Thin and Weighing in at 1.25 pounds

BASKING RIDGE, N.J.

Jul

[Weekend Poll] Does A Manufacturer's Android Update History Affect Your Purchasing Decision?

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in Android OS, Polls

Last Updated: September 3rd, 2011

This is the latest in our Weekend Poll series. For last week's, see Do You Actually Read App Permissions Before Accepting?

Android updates are a bit of a tricky subject for all involved parties. Obviously consumers and Google are on the same page in that they want Android updates to roll out to individual devices as soon as possible. But for manufacturers and carriers, updates are costly to customize, quality test, and roll-out. Further complicating the issue, it's unclear exactly who's to blame when updates take longer than expected.

A good illustration of all these complications: the Android 2.2 update for the original Samsung Galaxy S series.

Jul

It's Official: Gingerbread Hits T-Mobile G2x, Available Now Through LG Mobile Software Updater

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in G2x (p999), Gingerbread 2.3, News, T-Mobile

In an "lolwut" moment, LG announced via their forums today that Gingerbread for the G2x would come "by summer".... and then the update landed approximately an hour later.

The current software is V21e and can be downloaded via LG's proprietary Mobile Software Updater, as shown above. Reports are just starting to trickle in, but we do know the update is 178MB and brings GRI40, or Android 2.3.3. Before downloading and installing the update, you should know that it will break root. Other than that... well, we don't know a whole lot yet, but we'll update if we hear any more major details.