Liam Spradlin - 12/99 - Android Police - Android News, Apps, Games, Phones, Tablets

Besides being an avid Android fan and blogger, Liam is a photographer with a degree in both Anthropology and Sociology. He can usually be found reading through blogs, taking photos, or studying ancient pottery. Liam has been known to leave on international trips at a moment's notice, and can't resist a new challenge.

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Feb

Winamp Updated To Version 1.4.6 With Notification Player Controls

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Applications, News

Popular (and well-established) music manager/player Winamp got an update today, bringing the app to version 1.4.6 and introducing (among other things) long-awaited notification player controls. The controls match the look and feel of the app they belong to, using a design language that (unfortunately) doesn't look like it's been revisited in a while. That said, they work like a charm, and add much-needed functionality.

Besides that, users will enjoy several bug fixes (primarily involving SHOUTcast and AAC playback), and some streamlined code on the Now Playing screen. In other words, behind-the-scenes stuff.

If you're already loving Winamp and want to get the notification player controls the app has so long been wanting, hit the widget to grab the update.

Feb

LG Optimus LTE, Nitro HD Join The CyanogenMod 10.1 Club With First Official Nightlies

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Development, News, Nitro HD, Optimus LTE

Claiming the title of the first MSM8660-packing devices to get CyanogenMod 10.1 nightlies, LG's Optimus LTE and Nitro HD (su640 and p930) joined the lineup today.

In a post to Google+, CyanogenMod is sure to note that the introduction of the Nitro HD and Optimus LTE does not necessarily indicate the imminent support of other devices that use Qualcomm's MSM8660 chip. "What it does mean," the post goes on, "is that the first hurdle towards more devices has been achieved."

That said, the nightlies are still great news for Nitro HD/Optimus LTE owners who have been hankering for an AOSP-inspired Android 4.2 experience with the full CyanogenMod treatment.

Feb

Samsung Posts Full Two-Minute 'Next Big Thing' Promo Ahead Of 'The Big Game' [Video]

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Samsung, Videos

A few days ago, Samsung published their "El Plato Supreme" promo video in which Paul Rudd and Seth Rogen try to develop a pitch for Samsung's don't-call-it-the-Super-Bowl ad. Rounding out the story, a full two-minute video was uploaded earlier today which shows how the two ended up working together on the pitch, throwing in a few more self-aware marketing gags along the way.

In the deliciously meta ad, Rogen and Rudd bicker over who's "the next big thing" before finding out that they're working together not in the ad, but on the pitch. Their meeting with Saul Goodman (I mean Bob Odenkirk) covers topics from diapers to crowd-sourcing to space travel before LeBron James abruptly joins the meeting by way of a Galaxy tablet, suggesting he make a cameo in the ad on – you guessed it – a tablet.

Jan

CyanogenMod Gets Cease & Desist On 'Chronus' Name, Wants To Crowd-Source A New One [Updated]

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, Development, News

Update: The CyanogenMod team has chosen a new name: cLock. According to the Google+ post, the new name was chosen by virtue of its simplicity.

In a post to Google+ titled "Pitfalls of being so big" earlier this evening, the CyanogenMod team informed followers that CM had been served with a C&D (Cease and Desist) request regarding their Chronus clock widget.

For those unfamiliar, Chronus is CyanogenMod's acclaimed lock screen (or home screen) clock widget, introduced last December, that displays the time in Android 4.2 fashion along with configurable calendar and weather information.

Specifically, the "entity" serving the C&D seems to have issue with the widget's name, which is similar to the entity's own "Cronus." CyanogenMod's post emphasizes that while the team does not agree with the C&D claim, they do not have the time or resources to fight it so, naturally, they're looking to crowd-source a new name for the clock.

Jan

LG's Nexus 4 Orb Charger Now Available For Pre-Order At Pure Mobile For $59.99

Posted by Liam Spradlin in News, Nexus 4

Since the debut of the Nexus 4 last year, users have been craving official accessories. The Nexus line has never had great luck in seeing OEM accessories come to market, but the long-awaited release of the Nexus 7 dock brought a glimmer of hope.

It looks like Nexus owners have even more to be excited about today, though, as the Nexus 4's wireless orb charger is up for grabs from Pure Mobile. We saw a few stories floating around about the listing earlier today, but it appears the item has entered stock for pre-order in the last few hours. Units are expected to arrive in "2-4 weeks."

If you're a Nexus 4 owner looking to take advantage of the device's wireless charging capabilities with an official (not to mention aesthetically pleasing) accessory, hit the link below.

Jan

[Deal Alert] J&R Offering Sphero Ball For $99.99 (That's $30 Off)

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, Deals

If you've got a hundred dollars to burn and love awesome technological toys, J&R has a deal for you. The self-described "gadget wonderland" is offering the Sphero ball for $99.99, a $30 drop from its normal price of $129.99.

For those unaware, the Sphero is a robotic sphere than can be controlled from your smartphone or tablet. The concept sounds simplistic, but all it takes is a bit of imagination to make Sphero an awesome gadget. Readers may remember Sphero's holiday display in New York last year:

What's more, Sphero has an open API, allowing developers to make their own Sphero apps.

Jan

Nexus 10 (16GB And 32GB) Once Again Available From The U.S. Play Store

Posted by Liam Spradlin in News, Nexus 10

If there's one thing we all know about the latest entries in the Nexus line, it's that they're hard to get a hold of. No one is quite sure why the launch turned out to be a total mess, but all eyes have been on the Play Store since October, waiting to catch the devices in an ephemeral moment of availability.

Following the renewed availability of the Nexus 4 (it's still there, by the way), the Nexus 10 – Samsung's ten-inch contribution to the line – is once again ready for purchase in the US. Both the 16 and 32GB versions are up for grabs.

Jan

Official Nexus 7 Dock Quick Review: A Solid Accessory That's Worth Its Price – If You Can Find It

Posted by Liam Spradlin in ASUS, Nexus 7, Other Reviews, Reviews

After months of speculation, pre-orders, and cameo appearances, it's finally here (kind of) – one of the precious few official Nexus accessories users have ever been able to purchase: the Nexus 7 Dock. After snapping one up when they appeared at B&H, I was one of the unlucky handful to receive a "we regret to inform you" email, noting that the dock was not, in fact, available yet. Just a few days later, though, my dock showed up in the mail.

Jan

HTC-Made Au Infobar A02 Set To Hit Japan In Mid-February, Marrying A Highly Stylized Android UI With Playful Hardware Design

Posted by Liam Spradlin in HTC, Jelly Bean 4.1, News

Au's Infobar phone line has been around since 2001, always featuring plenty of color and hoping to bring innovative ideas to the smartphone world through eye-popping, unique design. Bringing another stylized entry to the lineup, Au has posted a brief dossier on the new Infobar A02, designed by Naoto Fukasawa and manufactured by HTC.

One of the device's main claims to fame is its apparent use of HTC's ImageSense chip, allowing for smooth burst capture. It's also waterproof and dustproof, and has plenty of specs to ogle. Among them are its 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 4.7" 720p display, 8MP camera, LTE support, and microSD slot.

Jan

Titanium Backup Gets Update To Version 6.0.0 – Redesigned Menu Another Step In The Wrong Direction

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Applications, News

Titanium Backup, one of the most powerful – and popular – backup utilities available for Android, got an update to version 6.0 today. Don't get too excited though – the version bump consists primarily of bug fixes and optimizations, along with a few updated translations. Oh, and a redesigned menu. Yes, Titanium Backup's design is finally getting some attention, but not quite in the way we'd hoped – take a look at the before and after screens below.