David Ruddock - 25/142 - Android Police - Android News, Apps, Games, Phones, Tablets

David Ruddock

David's phone is an HTC One X+. He is an avid writer, and enjoys imparting a legal perspective on Android news where it is relevant. He also doesn't usually write such boring sentences.

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Jan

HTC Forces Owner Of HTCRUU.com To Shut Down, Hand Over The ROMs (And Domain)

Posted by David Ruddock in Development, News

Last Updated: March 7th, 2013

Update: This whole situation ended up being resolved just a couple of weeks after this story was published, with HTC backing off on its assertion that the stock and custom HTC ROMs couldn't be distributed. It did request that the HTCRUU.com domain be handed over, but the ROMs that were hosted there previously will now be available at ruu.androidfiles.org. It's good to hear HTC isn't cracking down on the custom software community, though whether this resolution came about because of a legitimate misunderstanding, or simply as PR damage control, isn't clear.

It seems the days of centrally accessible HTC RUU files are at an end - for the time being - as the owner of HTCRUU.com was forced to surrender his site after a representative HTC's legal team suggested this was the only way to "resolve" his unauthorized hosting of HTC's software.

Jan

The Amazing MyScript Handwriting Calculator Gets A Major Update, Does More Maths (And Portrait Mode)

Posted by David Ruddock in Applications, News

We originally covered the kind-of-ridiculously-awesome MyScript Calculator last year back in July, but it's received a significant update today that should have you checking out this amazing app if you haven't already.

The premise is simple: write out your math equations just like you would on paper, and presto-amazo, MyScript converts them to text and solves them. Now, though, it does even more. Like portrait mode, which is sort of a weird thing to just now get around to adding (eh, eh?), but at least it's there. Undo and redo actions are now included, as well.

But one of the big additions is, you guessed it: more math.

Jan

Nexus 4 To Go On Sale In Australia At Harvey Norman Stores On February 1, Available With Or Without Optus Plan

Posted by David Ruddock in LG, News, Nexus 4

While those in the land down under can already purchase a Nexus 4 from the Play Store, like every other market, handsets are in decidedly short supply. However, LG is now saying that it will be shipping some devices to Harvey Norman, available starting February 1st. The catch? Buying one outright will cost you 496 AUD.

There is an alternative, though. "Select" HN stores will be offering the Nexus 4 with an Optus plan (see site here). Again, that's only an option in-store, beginning February 1st. The lowest tariff you'll be able to get away with without having to pay a handset repayment fee is the 60 AUD tier.

Jan

Hushed Launches Android App, Allows You To Get Anonymous, Disposable Phone Numbers In Many Countries

Posted by David Ruddock in Applications, Apps/Games, News

Are you a tech-savvy hitman? A politician with state secrets to divulge (on a budget)? Or just looking to ask Pawn Stars if they have Battletoads one more time now that they've blacklisted your number? Well, good news - Hushed just launched for Android, and it allows you to buy disposable, anonymous phone numbers right from your smartphone.

There are limitations, though. You're charged to buy a phone number ($1.99 for the US, $1.99 and up for everywhere else), and once you go past a certain number of included minutes / texts in each account tier, you either have to pay again, or if you choose a pay as you go account, refill your balance.

Jan

Carbonite Labs Releases Currents For Android, An Interesting Take On Cloud File Sync (Too Bad It's Broken)

Posted by David Ruddock in Applications, Apps/Games, News

Here at Android Police, we're kind-of-sort-of all about Dropbox when it comes to our cloud storage needs. It's easy to get free space, the desktop and Android clients are both pretty great, and the service itself has generally been bulletproof-reliable. And for us, Dropbox is less about storing things in the cloud, and more about providing easy access to files wherever we go.

Carbonite's Currents works off the accessibility mentality - it's not how much you can store, but what you want to have within arm's reach at a given moment. So, Currents doesn't have storage limits, it has recent-ness limits.

Jan

[Deal Alert] Verizon's Galaxy Note II Is Now Just $199 For Upgrades And New Subscribers On Amazon And Wirefly

Posted by David Ruddock in Deals, Galaxy Note II, News, Verizon Wireless

Verizon, out of all four of America's major carriers, is notorious for keeping the subsidized price points of its devices high long after release. Even 3rd party retailers seem affected by this trend, and, as such, we've not seen Verizon's Note II dip into real "deal" territory since its debut late last year.

In all likelihood, that's simply because of demand. Verizon's coverage and network sell handsets, and Big Red remains (if only marginally) the largest mobile network in the US. Because of its ongoing DROID marketing campaign, it seems pretty likely Verizon sells more Android-powered handsets than any other carrier, too.

Jan

[Deal Alert] All Of DualBoot Games' Beautiful (And Highly Customizable) Live Wallpapers Are 50% Off

Posted by David Ruddock in Applications, Apps/Games, Deals

While I've never been much of a live wallpaper guy myself, there's little denying that DualBoot Games (I'm guessing the name is a holdover) makes some of the best and prettiest ones out there. At least, that seems to be the general consensus, judging by the number of downloads their seven wallpaper designs have managed to achieve.

You may say "only seven? how hard can making a live wallpaper be?" Well, DualBoot Games' live wallpapers take it to the next level - the amount of customization and control you can take over one of their creations is mindblowing. If it moves in some way (and even if it doesn't), you can probably change it.

Jan

Samsung's Head Of Mobile Reportedly Confirms 8-Inch Galaxy Note Is A Go For MWC

Posted by David Ruddock in News, Rumors, Samsung

At this point, we can be fairly sure an 8-inch Galaxy Note tablet is a thing that's happening. It has shown up in numerous benchmarks (as the GT-N5100), and supposedly packs a 1280x800 LCD display, which we can all but guarantee will be of the Wacom variety.

Now, Samsung's head of mobile JK Shin has allegedly confirmed the device's existence to Korean news outlet iNews24. The announcement was made at an invitation-only dinner with some of Samsung's newly-promoted high-level officers. Also on the list were a few members of the Korean press. At some point, Shin revealed to iNews that the 8-inch Note would be revealed at MWC in Barcelona, late next month.

Jan

[Weekend Poll And News Roundup] When Are You Planning On Making Your Next Android Phone Purchase?

Posted by David Ruddock in News, Polls

Buying a smartphone is a lot like telling a joke - timing is everything. Purchasing a Galaxy S III a few months ago was probably fine and dandy, but today, everybody sort of knows we're closing in on the next round of product announcements for 2013.

When do I buy? Which announcement do I wait for? Do I buy as soon as my contract expires, or sit on my upgrade until something new comes along? It's easy to get paralyzed into a sort of gadget anxiety - where you never commit to buying anything, because who knows what could be coming next.

Jan

[Deal Alert] Get $50 In Zinio Digital Magazine Credit Just For Signing Up (That's 18 Issues Or 6 Mini-Subs)

Posted by David Ruddock in Applications, Apps/Games, Deals, News

Looking for a cheap (read: free) way to get your digital magazine fix? Zinio has extended its $50 digital 'zine credit promo until the end of this month, and you can cash in on this offer right here (you have to make a new Zinio account). Zinio also has an Android app (Play Store link below), so you can read said digital magazines on pretty much any modern Android device.