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Rant: CTIA 2013 - Why You Didn't See Any Android Police Stories Out Of "America's Largest Mobile Event"
CTIA is, supposedly, the largest tech convention focused on mobile in the United States. In fact, it has generally been one of Verizon and Sprint's favored
CTIA is, supposedly, the largest tech convention focused on mobile in the United States. In fact, it has generally been one of Verizon and Sprint's favored handset launch venues in recent years. The EVO 4G was announced at CTIA. So was the EVO 3D. The Galaxy Tab 8.9. The DROID Incredible 4G. Even last year's relatively low-key show brought a few noteworthy nuggets.
Two Weeks With The BlackBerry Z10, From An Android Perspective
It's very easy to look at BlackBerry and see a technological Neandertal - the company that almost had it ("it" being smartphones), but then refused to
It's very easy to look at BlackBerry and see a technological Neandertal - the company that almost had it ("it" being smartphones), but then refused to evolve in order to keep up with the competition. Let's not mince words: the iPhone nearly killed BlackBerry, and Android is happily hammering the nails into its coffin.
Hangouts Hangover: Here Are The Major Issues Google Has Promised To Fix In Hangouts... At Some Point
Hey, have you heard? Google Hangouts is now a thing. And by a thing, I mean Google's new universal, cross-platform chat solution. Ron's closer look hands-on
Hey, have you heard? Google Hangouts is now a thing. And by a thing, I mean Google's new universal, cross-platform chat solution. Ron's closer look hands-on should give you an idea of how Hangouts works (and how it doesn't). But the launch of Google's Talk / G+ Messenger replacement hasn't gone entirely smoothly, and there remain a few bumps to be ironed out - bumps Google has promised to fix. So here's what we know so far.
Sprint HTC One Getting First OTA Update (1.29.651.10): Supposedly Fixes Dreaded Capacitive Button Sensitivity Issues
Sprint's version of the HTC One is about to receive a much-needed OTA update, albeit a relatively minor one, that promises to fix the rather annoying
Sprint's version of the HTC One is about to receive a much-needed OTA update, albeit a relatively minor one, that promises to fix the rather annoying home and back button sensitivity issues that have been afflicting the handset. I commented on this issue in my review of the One, and while I called it minor then, the more I used the phone, the more annoying it become in certain situations - particularly when holding the phone while lying down.
[I/O 2013] Google Unveils New Version Of Maps App For Android w/ New Navigation UI, Looks Absolutely Gorgeous
Google just announced that a brand-new Google maps smartphone experience will be landing on Android and iOS soon, and it looks astoundingly good. The
Google just announced that a brand-new Google maps smartphone experience will be landing on Android and iOS soon, and it looks astoundingly good. The aesthetics of 2D street maps have been completely redesigned to be easier on the eyes, and better at organizing information. The only downside is that it's not coming until "this summer."
[I/O 2013] Google Search App Updated: Set Voice Reminders, See Suggested Content, And Real-Time Transit Info
Google's official Search app (aka Google Now) for Android has been updated with a few new features, though they're pretty awesome ones. First, voice reminders
Google's official Search app (aka Google Now) for Android has been updated with a few new features, though they're pretty awesome ones. First, voice reminders are finally live - you can now say, for example, "remind me to buy milk this evening" or "remind me to take out the trash when I get home." I think we can all agree that's kind of amazing.
[Live Blog] Android Police's Live Coverage Of The Google I/O 2013 Keynote
Welcome to Android Police's live coverage of the Google I/O 2013 keynote. We'll be bringing you text and photos directly from the Moscone Center in San
Welcome to Android Police's live coverage of the Google I/O 2013 keynote. We'll be bringing you text and photos directly from the Moscone Center in San Francisco, courtesy of Artem, and the rest of the AP team will be on hand to provide commentary and additional details as the keynote progresses. To watch the keynote live on YouTube, head to this URL, or use the embedded video above the ScribbleLive widget.
Google Links Gmail, G+, And Drive Storage - Gmail Now Comes With 15GB Of Shared Storage By Default, Caps Removed
Google has finally integrated storage between its three most data-intensive consumer platforms: Gmail, Google Drive, and Google+. The result? 5 extra
Google has finally integrated storage between its three most data-intensive consumer platforms: Gmail, Google Drive, and Google+. The result? 5 extra GB of total Gmail storage, and 15GB of shared space among the three. This means you're no longer limited to 5GB of Google+ / Drive space, but all three services will now share the same "bucket."
Some Qualcomm-Powered Galaxy S4 Handsets Are Producing Terrible Audio Clipping With Headphones
A 14-page XDA thread, thorough analysis by an audio engineer, and a 100+ comment Reddit thread have revealed that some of Samsung's Galaxy S4 handsets
A 14-page XDA thread, thorough analysis by an audio engineer, and a 100+ comment Reddit thread have revealed that some of Samsung's Galaxy S4 handsets are experiencing serious sonic problems with certain headphones.
LG Lucid 2 Quick Review: It Might Be The Best $350 (Off Contract) You Can Spend On A Verizon Phone
We review a lot of high-end phones here on Android Police. In fact, we probably review a disproportionately low number of entry-level and mid-range devices,
We review a lot of high-end phones here on Android Police. In fact, we probably review a disproportionately low number of entry-level and mid-range devices, because many of them are, well, boring. We also know that you, our readers, are rarely interested in the often no-value value-proposition that these handsets tend to represent, especially in the US. Here, a wireless contract is two years long whether you're buying a refurbished Galaxy Nexus (ew!) or a shiny new Galaxy S4.
AllThingsD: Larry Page Declines To Go Forward On Physical Google Wallet Card, Kills Project, Axes VP Of Wallet
In an oddly-specific narrative published this morning, AllThingsD reported that sources close to Larry Page and Google Wallet have confirmed that plans
In an oddly-specific narrative published this morning, AllThingsD reported that sources close to Larry Page and Google Wallet have confirmed that plans for the physical Google Wallet credit card have been cut up, and VP of Wallet Osama Bedier pushed out of the company.
AT&T's New Aio Wireless Prepaid Arm: What You Need To Know, And Why It May Be Bad News For Straight Talk
AT&T launched its own prepaid arm today called Aio Wireless. It's sort of like Boost is to Sprint - AT&T owns Aio, but Aio is sort of its own
AT&T launched its own prepaid arm today called Aio Wireless. It's sort of like Boost is to Sprint - AT&T owns Aio, but Aio is sort of its own company - so it's easiest to think of it like an MVNO (Straight Talk, NET10, Virgin Mobile, etc.). Here's what you need to know about Aio, and how it differs from other MVNO providers using AT&T's network, like Straight Talk.
WSJ Says Amazon Is Working On Two Smartphones... With The Caveat That The Projects Could Be Shelved At Any Time
According to the Wall Street Journal, Amazon is working on making not one, but two smartphones. And one of them will have some kind of awesome quasi-holographic
According to the Wall Street Journal, Amazon is working on making not one, but two smartphones. And one of them will have some kind of awesome quasi-holographic glasses-free 3D display. That sounds like the kind of 3D people might actually want! The other one is... a phone of some kind. That's literally all the detail that was provided.
Carmageddon Crashes Onto The Play Store - Free Promo Version Up For 24 Hours, Too (Though It Won't Get Updates)
Carmageddon was a smash-hit in the late 90's (mostly because of its extensive banning and censoring around the world), though my introduction to the game,
Carmageddon was a smash-hit in the late 90's (mostly because of its extensive banning and censoring around the world), though my introduction to the game, sadly, was the god-awful Nintendo 64 port released in 2000. But now, a day earlier than promised, Carmageddon has debuted on Android as a result of the Kickstarter campaign. Update: The game actually went live on time - Australian time.
Sony, Wake Up: Selling A Boring Mid-Range Phone For Nearly $500 In The US Is The Definition Of 'Doing It Wrong'
Hey Sony. It's been a while since I last ranted about how you're kinda-sorta screwing up that whole smartphone business of yours. In fact, it's been almost
Hey Sony. It's been a while since I last ranted about how you're kinda-sorta screwing up that whole smartphone business of yours. In fact, it's been almost a year to the day. I had really hoped that by this year everyone's favorite Japanese electronics mega-corporation would have figured out the smartphone market to a reasonable extent in the US, but surprise: they haven't!
[Updated] Bluetooth Filing Reveals LG LS980 Running Android 4.2 - Is This The Snapdragon 800-Powered Sprint Optimus G 2?
Update: Turns out this probably isn't the Optimus G Pro - it looks a heck of a lot more like what is being collectively dubbed the Optimus G 2. It seems
Update: Turns out this probably isn't the Optimus G Pro - it looks a heck of a lot more like what is being collectively dubbed the Optimus G 2. It seems an official Sprint page with build.prop info for the LS980 has been dug up (by our commenters), and it reveals a few tasty tidbits -namely, confirming Android 4.2[.2], and an MSM8974 chipset. That's no Snapdragon 600 - that's a Snapdragon 800. That processor isn't even out yet, so whatever phone this is, it's still a ways off. Our guess is the successor to the Optimus G.
[New App] ArcNote For Android Transforms Your Crappy Photos Of Presentation Slides Into Amazing Full-Size Images
ArcNote is an app that's difficult to describe in a few, short words. So, let me have some visuals do the talking. Look at the screenshots below, and
ArcNote is an app that's difficult to describe in a few, short words. So, let me have some visuals do the talking. Look at the screenshots below, and you'll probably pretty quickly understand what this app does.
Samsung Releases Kernel Source Code For Sprint And US Cellular Galaxy S4 Variants
Samsung has just released the kernel source code for the Sprint and US Cellular versions of the Galaxy S4, models SPH-L720 and SCH-R970, respectively.
Samsung has just released the kernel source code for the Sprint and US Cellular versions of the Galaxy S4, models SPH-L720 and SCH-R970, respectively. The timing is likely due to the fact that both devices operate on relatively similar CDMA networks.
Internet DIY Community Fixya Releases Official Video Android App - Get Your Fixes On The Go
Most DIY'ers are probably well aware of the existence of fixya - an internet community / Q&A repository devoted to, you guessed it, fixin' stuff.
Most DIY'ers are probably well aware of the existence of fixya - an internet community / Q&A repository devoted to, you guessed it, fixin' stuff. The site, though, has its limitations. Uploading video is kind of a pain, and oftentimes having to run back and fourth between your laptop and whatever it is you're trying to tinker with is inefficient. Fret not, though, as now there's an official Android app, and fixya diehards will likely be thrilled to know it supports in-app video uploading, making it a heck of a lot easier to inject some invaluable audio-visual action into the description of your problem.
[Deal Alert] Wirefly Now Taking Verizon Galaxy S4 Pre-Orders - $179.99 For New Accounts And Upgrades
If you're a Verizon Wireless subscriber looking to get your hands on a shiny new Galaxy S4 come release day, you're probably weighing your various pre-order
If you're a Verizon Wireless subscriber looking to get your hands on a shiny new Galaxy S4 come release day, you're probably weighing your various pre-order options already. Well, Wirefly's one you can toss into the mix, and with a half-decent deal - their Verizon GS4 is just $179.99 for new account or upgrades, $20 less than Verizon's price. Here's the white version, and here's the black.