Liam Spradlin - 36/99 - 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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Aug

[Leak] HTC Droid Incredible 2 Gets Its Own Ice Cream Sandwich ROM Based On Leaked RUU

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0, Incredible 2 (Vivow), Leaks, News

It looks like another one of HTC's handsets (besides the Thunderbolt) has gotten a Sense-ified Ice Cream Sandwich ROM of its own – today, XDA user nitsuj17 posted a ROM for the Droid Incredible 2 (aka vivow) allegedly based on another leaked RUU from HTC. Readers may remember the Incredible 2 as being among devices officially slated by HTC to receive Ice Cream Sandwich "by the end of August," so this leak's timing isn't too hard to figure out.

The ROM, which carries Sense 3.6 over top of Ice Cream Sandwich and software build number 7.01.605.01, is the stock HTC fair you may expect, but with a few tweaks ranging from root to removal of HTC's inconvenient app association settings.

Aug

[Deal Alert] AT&T's Galaxy Note Just $159.99 From Amazon Wireless

Posted by Liam Spradlin in AT&T, Deals, Galaxy Note (GT-N7000)

Despite the fact that we're pretty sure to see the unveiling of Samsung's Galaxy Note 2 at IFA this year, there are undoubtedly still some folks out there still looking to get their hands on the original. If you're among them, you're in luck – Amazon Wireless is offering the AT&T-connected, 5.3" Super AMOLED display-toting Galaxy Note for just $159.99 (a cool $40 off AT&T's price for those keeping count). We haven't seen a deal this good on the AT&T Note since way back in February, meaning those still waiting for a discount would be well advised to check this out.

Aug

[Leak] HTC Thunderbolt Gets Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0.3 ROM Thanks To Leaked RUU

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0, Leaks, News, Thunderbolt (Mecha)

Since hearing earlier this month that HTC's Desire S, Thunderbolt, and other select handsets would receive ICS updates "by the end of August," we have heard nary a peep from the Taiwanese manufacturer. Today though, thanks to an alleged leaked RUU, we have a stock Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0.3 build for the Thunderbolt (aka Mecha).

According to Administrator's post at TeamBAMF's forums, the ROM, based on a leaked RUU (and carrying build number 7.00.605.2), is said to be fully functional and fully stock, but it's worth noting that the ROM is deodexed and rooted, meaning those wishing to retain root are in luck, but if you – for one reason or another – want a strictly stock, non-rooted experience, you'll have to wait.

Aug

Halfbrick's Hit iOS Game Jetpack Joyride Finally Hits Android

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, Games, News

Jetpack Joyride, a game that's already seen huge success on iOS, finally came to Android today. The game – which ranks with Temple Run in terms of interest and demand from Android users – comes to us from Halfbrick Studios, the minds behind the insanely popular Fruit Ninja, and delivers the same action-packed, stylistically awesome experience as its iOS counterpart.

The game invites players to "take to the skies on a one-way trip to adventure," following the story of Barry Steakfries, who breaks into a secret lab to free experimental jetpacks from evil scientists, causing plenty of mayhem in the process.

Aug

Samsung Releases Kernel Source Code For T-Mobile's Galaxy Note And Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus With ICS

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Development, Galaxy Note (GT-N7000), Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0, News, Samsung, T-Mobile

After dropping source code for the Wi-Fi Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus (along with the Galaxy Note 10.1 and Tab 10.1) just last week, Samsung is once again providing eager developers with something to play with over the weekend, releasing kernel source code for T-Mobile's variants of both the Galaxy Note and the Galaxy Tab 7.0 to their Opensource download center.

Both packages carry source code for their respective devices' Ice Cream Sandwich-powered kernels.

Those looking to grab a handful of fresh source code and begin tinkering with the T-Mobile connected Galaxy Note and Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus need only click through the appropriate link below to grab the download.

Aug

Google Voice Search Now Available In Thirteen New Languages

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, Applications, Google, News

In a post to its official blog that's sure to excite users across the globe, Google has just announced that Voice Search is now available in thirteen new languages. The list of newly included languages, which range from Basque to Swedish, brings the total number of supported tongues up to 42.

In the post, Product Manager Bertrand Damiba explains just what it takes to add a new language to Voice Search – first and foremost, Google must collect "hundreds of thousands of utterances" from volunteers to bring speech recognition up to par.

While this sounds easy enough, Google engineers also face challenges in adding support for new languages – Damiba explains that languages that don't follow predictable pronunciation rules (like Swedish) require that Google recruit native speakers to pronounce thousands of individual words.

Aug

Google Play Movie Rentals Come To Germany, Hangouts On Air Spread Through Europe

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, Google, News

One of the most common complaints against Google's Play Store is the lack of certain content or functionality in countries outside the US. Google has been making progress in expanding access to other corners of the globe, though. You may remember, for example, that Play Books hit France just last month after Play Movies opened for the French in March and for Spain in June.

Today, Google (finally) brought Play Movie rentals to Germany, much to the delight of German users who have been asking for more Play content for quite some time. Strangely, the addition of movie rentals to the German market came without an official announcement, but was confirmed by multiple Twitter users and our own readers.

Aug

Verizon Galaxy SIII Unlocked Thanks To Leaked Unsecure Bootloader

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Development, Galaxy S III, News, Verizon Wireless

Despite Verizon's best efforts to keep their own variant of the Galaxy SIII locked down, ingenious users haven't been deterred in rooting, flashing custom ROMs, and even bypassing the device's locked bootloader to use custom kernels. The fact remained, however, that VZW's SIII had a locked bootloader which, in general, is a hassle for developers and tweakers hoping to customize the SIII to its fullest potential. It was this fact that made Samsung's promised Developer Edition SIII appealing to many.

Things started to look a little brighter for SIII users on Verizon today though, with the introduction of an unsecure bootloader "leaked by an African-Canadian Sock Monkey," revealed earlier this evening at XDA.

Aug

[Deal Alert] Get New Trent's 7100mAh Battery Pack And iTorch 5200mAh Pack Together For Just $55.00 With Free Shipping From Amazon

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Deals

If you've ever been caught without your phone charger, or perhaps without a nearby power outlet, you understand the potential value of having an external charging pack or two lying around. If you've ever considered picking up a charging pack but haven't been able to find a cost-effective opportunity to do so, today's deal from New Trent and Amazon is your chance.

It's been a while since we last saw a deal from New Trent on their external battery packs and chargers, but users over at SlickDeals have spotted a good one – until August 21, 2012, battery junkies can grab NT's 7100mAh and 5200mAh packs together for just $55.00.

Aug

[Deal Alert] AT&T's Sony Xperia Ion 4G On Sale At Best Buy For $0.00 (With Free Shipping), Amazon Wireless For $30.00

Posted by Liam Spradlin in AT&T, Deals, Xperia Ion (Aoba)

The Sony Xperia Ion, which we first saw back at CES (and later saw as an AT&T exclusive device), while not a flagship superphone, is definitely a decent device – it packs a dual-core snapdragon processor at 1.5GHz, a 4.55" LCD display at 720x1280 (~323ppi), 1GB RAM, and a 1900mAh battery.

If you like the looks of the Ion but are still waiting for just the right deal before pulling the trigger, this is it. Best Buy is offering the Ion for exactly $0.00 with new 2-year contract or upgrade plus free shipping. Those inclined to buy from Amazon Wireless can still get the phone at a deeply discounted rate of just $30.00.