Liam Spradlin - 49/99 - 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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Jun

[New App] Million Moments By Sony Brings A Subtle (Yet Amazing) UI To Photo Organization

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Applications, News

Looking to help users organize their "cherished moments into beautiful albums – effortlessly," Sony Digital Networking Applications Inc. (SDNA) recently released Million Moments to the Play Store.

Million Moments, as you may have gathered from the heartwarming promo video above, is an app that allows users to not only capture photos, but categorize, label, organize, and lay them out into fantastic-looking albums, all using an undoubtedly beautiful UI.

Blowing other photo apps to smithereens, Million Moments' interface offers a great amount of functionality in a sleek, subtle design. Attaching tags to photos is a breeze, adding captions or other information to photos couldn't be easier, and finished albums are a pleasure to look at.

Jun

MOTOACTV Updated To Software Version 1.7.2/1.7.3 – Enhanced Workout Planning, Better Accuracy In Tow

Posted by Liam Spradlin in ACTV, Motorola, News

Motorola's MOTOACTV smartwatch, which the manufacturer bills as the "world's first GPS fitness tracker with smart mp3 player, all in one," began receiving a software update yesterday, bringing the device's standard model up to version 1.7.3, while its golf-oriented counterpart ascended to version 1.7.2.

Software version 1.7.3 includes a handful of improvements, including more flexible workout planning, the ability to create dedicated heart rate zones for different activities, Facebook and Twitter viewing capabilities, easier Wi-Fi setup, and more.

The golf-centered MOTOACTV's update is largely the same, but includes (surprise) added golf functionality:

To improve game tracking, we added tee location options, more choices for ball lie marking and the ability to track the distance of your putts.

May

Samsung Drops Source Code For The Galaxy SIII (AKA I9300) – Get It While It's Hot

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, Development, Galaxy S III, News

Mere days after its (official) launch in 28 countries worldwide, Samsung's Galaxy SIII – perhaps the most hotly anticipated Android phone to date – can be tweaked and modded by eager developers the world over. That's right, Samsung officially dropped the I9300's source code today at the manufacturer's Open Source Release Center.

While those of us in North America wait (im)patiently for the SIII's release, those looking to get their hands on the device's source need only stop by its listing at the OSRC here, or head over to github (here), where user chirayudesai has already uploaded the (unzipped) source into three branches: master, stock, and stock_update1.

May

Google Now Offering Galaxy Nexus Accessories Through The Play Store

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Galaxy Nexus, Google, News

After surprising (and delighting) users by selling the acclaimed Galaxy Nexus directly from the Play Store (at a substantially reduced price), Google has upped the ante, offering a trio of handy Samsung-branded Nexus accessories for purchase starting today.

For now, customers can choose from Samsung's slick Vehicle Dock ($54.00) which includes a car charger, the HDMI Portrait Desktop Dock ($49.00), or the Desktop Dock ($54.00) with pogo pin connectors and a 3.5mm audio jack.

While these reasonably-priced accessories are certainly enticing, Google reminds customers that they "will only work with the HSPA+ version of the Galaxy Nexus (as sold on the Google Play store)." This of course means that those with a Galaxy Nexus connected to either Sprint or Verizon looking for Samsung-branded accessories will have to look elsewhere (it's worth noting that Samsung offers similar accessories for the Nexus' CDMA/LTE variants).

May

JetAudio Comes To Android, Bringing Sophisticated Audio Enhancement And Playback Control To Your Mobile Device

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Applications, News

JetAudio, an audio solution that's achieved the title of CNET's most-downloaded and highest-rated media player, seems to have found its way to Android, recently becoming available in Google's Play Store.

For those not familiar, JetAudio allows users to play just about any type of audio file, from .wav to .mpc, .spx, .wv, .ape, and a ton more. The app also offers BBE, BBE ViVA, Wide, Reverb, and X-Bass audio enhancement options, and a versatile 10-band equalizer (which has 32 handy presets).

If JetAudio doesn't sound versatile enough already, the app also offers various advanced playback options from speed control to crossfading, AGC, and "much more." On top of all that, the app has a slick, easy-to-grasp interface that delivers a ton of functionality while successfully avoiding clutter.

May

ViewSonic Set To Debut A 22-Inch ICS-Powered "Tablet" At Computex This June

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, News, Tablets

Viewsonic, a US-based purveyor of various display technologies and mobile products, teased its "Touch and Connect" series prototypes today, reports Engadget.

The Walnut, California manufacturer teased several products, perhaps the most stunning among them being an Ice Cream Sandwich powered "tablet" with a (are you ready?) 22-inch display.

With such a gigantic display, this tablet will certainly blur the lines between monitor, tablet, and television display. ViewSonic seems to be fine with such ambiguity however, having lovingly labeled the device a "smart business tablet monitor."

While approximately zero details were revealed by today's teaser, more information should be available at Computex this June.

May

[Updated x2] New App Review: CallApp Makes Your Dialer Useful Again - Say Hello To Telephony 2.0

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Applications, News

Going above and beyond their promise to save "time and annoyance" when screening, placing, or receiving calls, CallApp recently released their namesake app (a TechCrunch Disrupt 2012 finalist) to Google's Play Store.

CallApp – in what may be the biggest understatement of the week – bills itself as a "super caller ID," increasing call productivity with a set of handy interactive tools and quick informational displays for everyone that calls (or initiates a call with) you. The app pulls information from various services, including Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, Foursquare and even your calendar or email, searching for the most relevant and timely info for each caller.

May

Samsung Retools Galaxy Note 10.1 To Include Slot For S-Pen (In Addition To A Quad-Core Processor)

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Galaxy Note 10.1 (GT-N8000 / N8010 / N8013), News

One of the most surprising things about the Galaxy Note 10.1's appearance at MWC was not that it included Samsung's magical S-Pen peripheral, but the fact that the device lacked a slot to store the advanced stylus.

Those familiar with the original Galaxy Note will remember that it features a convenient slot to house the S-Pen, ensuring that the stylus would always stick with the device, thereby encouraging users to, well, use it.

At a recent Samsung event, it was discovered that Sammy has retooled the Galaxy Note 10.1 to not only include a quad-core processor (which we already knew about) but also to include a place for the S-Pen to live.

May

Amazon App Store Updated To 2.6.53, Bringing Test Drive Capability To Android Devices

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Applications, News

One of the great things about Amazon's App Store is that its online interface allows users to "test drive" apps before deciding to download them. This functionality definitely comes in handy, especially when mulling over the decision whether to buy a paid app.

In an update to the App Store app today, Amazon – besides fixing a download bug and improving stability – introduced its Test Drive feature, meaning users can preview apps right from the palm of their hand before downloading.

If you've already grabbed the update but don't see the Test Drive button, don't fear – it seems that the functionality is being introduced in stages.

May

Android Cookbook Is A Crowd-Sourced Book Of Recipes For Learning App Development (Available Both In Print And On The Web)

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, Development, News

There are countless methods out there for learning Android development from the Android Bootcamp video series to the boatload of print publications currently in circulation to Google's own Android tutorials. Looking to create something both unique and helpful however, Android Cookbook has compiled a crowd-sourced set of recipes for "writing great Android apps," making them available for free online.

The online cookbook, which relies on user recipe submission and group moderation, was recently finalized for publication by O'Reilly, meaning it's now available both on the web and in print from various retailers. In its 22 chapters (plus an "other" category available online), the cookbook already has nearly 300 recipes for those eager to learn Android, and it continues to expand.