Liam Spradlin - 24/99 - 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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Nov

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Android VP Of Engineering Hiroshi Lockheimer Opens Up About 4.2's New Security System

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, News

We knew that Android 4.2 would see the introduction of new security features both on your device and in the Play Store, but Computerworld got a chance to speak with Android's VP of Engineering, Hiroshi Lockheimer, about the platform's beefed up security measures, specifically Android's new real-time app scanning utility.

The scanner builds on the functionality of the Play Store's existing security features by bringing app-scanning security to the frontend, scanning incoming apps from third party sources (including apps like Amazon's App Store).

The service is of course "opt-in" – when you first install a third party app on your device, you'll see a friendly popup asking if you'd like Google to check on all your incoming apps for "harmful behavior." The decision to include this feature, according to Lockheimer, came down to the idea that "security [is] a universal thing.

Nov

Google Releases October's Android Platform Distribution Numbers – Jelly Bean At 2.7%, Gingerbread Still Hanging On At 54%

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, Gingerbread 2.3, Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0, Jelly Bean 4.1, News

Once again and right on time, Google has released Platform Distribution numbers for Android, this time for the month of October. The numbers still show Gingerbread holding on at just over 54%, but Jelly Bean is gaining a little more ground at 2.7%, up 0.9% over the previous month.

Again, the Gingerbread/Jelly Bean numbers are a bit disappointing considering the extremely small change from the previous cycle (a change of less than 1% for each), but it's worth noting that these numbers will (hopefully) be helped along by updates rumored to be coming soon (or those that just arrived).

Nov

Panasonic Eluga Gets Update To Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich Courtesy Of A Play Store App

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Eluga, Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0, News, Panasonic

Taking a new approach to firmware upgrades, Panasonic has decided to update its Eluga handset to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich via a downloadable Play Store app appropriately named 'ELUGA ICS Update.'

For those who don't remember, the Eluga is a little-talked-about handset that debuted in Spring 2012 in Europe and Japan, touting a waterproof and dustproof chassis.

According to its description, Panasonic's update app "connects to Panasonic download server [sic] and downloads the Ice Cream Sandwich software update." Of course, many of us are familiar with what improvements Ice Cream Sandwich brings over Gingerbread 2.3.x, but Panasonic emphasizes the new "powerful new features" of its custom skin as well, listing the lock screen, status bar, home screen, and app drawer as areas of improvement with the update.

Nov

Download The Android 4.2 Camera/Gallery App With New UI, Editing, Photo Sphere [Update: Now With Working Sphere Viewer]

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, Applications, Jelly Bean 4.2, News

UPDATE: We've updated the links below with an install package that lets you capture and view Photo Spheres right on your handset.

One of the most popular features introduced Monday with Android 4.2 was a revamped camera/gallery app (that we got a peek at early). The camera introduces a new focus/settings UI (popping up with an "options ring" only when you need it), a refreshed gallery interface, and of course – Photo Sphere.

Photo Sphere, for those who missed it, allows users to capture 360° images of their surroundings a la Google Maps, using XML data in concert with an enormous JPG file to help you save an immersive photo experience of where you've been.

Oct

Creatives At San Francisco-Based Autofuss Release Gorgeous Promo Video For Google's Nexus Family

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, Google, Nexus 10, Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Videos

If you thought Google's official Ask Me Anything video was a good promo for the new Nexus family, wait till you see this. A design studio called Autofuss (based in San Francisco) has created their own promo video for the Nexus 4, 7, and 10, that does a great job of showing off the new line. Take a look:

Not only is the thirty-second spot a pixel-perfect promo in terms of style, polish, and overall concept, but it stays true to Google's own Nexus branding, art style, and features copy that feels right at home in a promo made for Google.

Oct

ARM Announces Cortex-A50 Series – 64-Bit Processors 'Set To Drive The Next Era In Mobile And Enterprise'

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, News

At ARM TechCon today, the titular purveyor of semiconductors announced its Cortex-A50 series, dubbed "the world's most energy-efficient 64-bit processors." Based on the ARMv8 architecture, the line will launch with the Cortex-A53 and A57 processors, allowing not only for significantly more energy-efficient processing, but SoC scalability that makes the line applicable to devices from smartphones to high-performance servers. The A57 is geared toward high-performance, while the A53 is lauded by ARM as its most power-efficient. Both chips also support 32-bit and 64-bit ARM code, and according to ARM, the A53 can live up to the performance of the Cortex A9 at 60% the die area.

Oct

[Update: It's Gone] Samsung Korea Hints At The Existence Of A 64GB Nexus 10

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, Google, News, Nexus 10, Samsung, Tablets

Update: Samsung amended the picture and took out the 64GB option. Was it included prematurely or just a mistake? We'll have to wait and see.

Hurricane Sandy may have stopped Google's live announcement of the new Nexus family (and Android 4.2) yesterday, but it didn't stop Google from releasing a truckload of information on its upcoming products online, including the Nexus 10.

The Nexus 10, in case you missed it, is Google's new 10" slate (in partnership with Samsung) that has an incredible 2560x1600 (~300ppi) display, Samsung's latest and greatest A15 dual-core processor at 1.7GHz, and 2GB RAM. All that is on top of Android 4.2.

Oct

Skitch Updated To Version 2.0 With Revamped Interface, Improved Evernote Integration, New Markup Tools

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Applications, News

Skitch, a popular annotation and sharing app, received an update to version 2.0 today with a redesigned interface, a handful of useful markup tools, and improved Evernote integration.

For those unaware, Skitch is an app that allows users to "communicate visually with friends, co-workers, or anyone." Essentially, it can draw in resources like notes, photos, screenshots, or maps, and then add markup to convey ideas or highlight important aspects of the document for later reference or sharing. The app was acquired by Evernote late last year, and today's 2.0 update gives Skitch the "full Evernote treatment."

This not only means a new interface, but full Evernote sync with improved integration (when Evernote is installed), the ability to view and edit Skitch notes made using the app on other platforms, and last but not least, a couple of new editing tools including a pixelator and highlighter.

Oct

Polls: Are You Planning On Picking Up A Member Of The New Nexus Family?

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Google, Nexus 10, Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Polls

Now that we're acquainted with the new Nexus family, many users are beginning to make plans to pick up one, two, or potentially all the new additions to Google's flagship product line.

There's no doubt that all three devices are tempting – the Nexus 4 packs a Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, an 8MP camera capable of creating beautiful "photo spheres," and a 4.7" 1280x768 display.

The new Nexus 10 tablet has a display that might melt your corneas at 2560x1600 (~300dpi), a dual-core A15 processor from Samsung, and 2GB RAM for exceedingly speedy performance.

And of course, the Nexus 7 has also received a refresh with 32GB and 3G-connected variants making their debuts soon.

Oct

T-Mobile Set To Carry Google's Nexus 4 And 3G Nexus 7 As Premier Launch Partner

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, Google, News, Nexus 4, Nexus 7, T-Mobile

In addition to the absolute mania of incoming announcements we saw from Google today, there was one interesting carrier-related development for the Nexus line – T-Mobile, the US' fourth largest carrier, announced that it would be carrying Google's LG-built Nexus 4 and ASUS-built 3G Nexus 7 as a "premier launch partner" starting this November. In fact, users can already sign up for more info at T-Mobile's website.