Liam Spradlin

Besides being an avid Android fan and blogger, Liam is a fashion photographer with a degree in 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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Apr

[Video] HTC Helps Viewers "Get To Know" The EVO 4G LTE From Design To Manufacturing In New Video

Posted by Liam Spradlin in EVO 4G LTE, News, One X (Endeavor), Sprint, Videos

In a fascinating new video titled "Get to know the HTC EVO 4G LTE," HTC explains the ins and outs of Sprint's One X variant, from the conceptualization of its design, to decisions surrounding build quality, materials, and a pretty interesting explanation of the new EVO's soft-touch unibody form.

Senior Director of Advanced Materials Chris Porter details the EVO's soft-touch feel in the video, explaining that the device has a "warm, velvety, soft-touch feel as opposed to a harder, rougher, cold metal feel." Porter explains that creating the effect involves sand/grit-blasting the device's frame, followed by a light chemical etching process to remove the sharp "peaks." The EVO's design also utilizes around 100 custom-designed machine cutters, used to create exactly the right geometry and feel for each device.

Apr

[New Game] Kairosoft's Cafeteria Nipponica Hits The Play Store – Micromanage Your Own Restaurant Like Never Before

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Games, News

Kairosoft, makers of the wildly popular Game Dev Story (and a ton of other "Story" games), released Cafeteria Nipponica to the Play Store today, bringing a familiar art style and gameplay format back once again, but this time in a restaurant.

The game poses players as "chef de cuisine" at their very own restaurant, allowing for total control over every detail from tables to TVs to menus, ingredients, salary negotiation, dish development, and much more.

Like in Kairosoft's other games, players must recruit a top-notch crew to make their way up the restaurant ladder. Successful restaurateurs can even host special events including eating contests and cooking classes.

Apr

[Videos] Android Bootcamp 2012 Offers Over 20 Hours Of Android Web Development Instruction – Free On YouTube

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, Dev, News, Videos

Marakana, a company that's been "helping IT professionals get better at what they do" since 2001, has been busy (since January) releasing the latest series of videos in its Android Bootcamp franchise, this time updated for Ice Cream Sandwich development.

For those not familiar, Android Bootcamp is a series of videos aimed at those looking to learn Android development. Some may remember a similar project by TheNewBoston, though Marakana has broken its set of tutorials into much larger chunks, with the 2012 series currently totaling 29 videos (that's over 20 hours of free instruction).

The videos are extremely comprehensive, and cover everything from security to threading to Android UI design.

Apr

[Updated] DROID RAZR/MAXX Soak Test Set To Begin Tomorrow, But It's Not Ice Cream Sandwich

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Droid RAZR / RAZR MAXX, Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0, News, Verizon Wireless

Last Updated: April 6th, 2012

Update: Looks like Motorola cancelled the soak test due to "deployment issues." Word has it that the update could still happen sometime next week.

Thanks, DW!

DROID RAZR and RAZR MAXX users excited for an Ice Cream Sandwich update by last week's Best Buy screenshot should brace themselves for some bad news – it looks like the aforementioned devices won't be getting Ice Cream Sandwich just yet after all.

According to a letter being sent out to members of Motorola's Feedback Network, the soak test slated to begin tomorrow simply brings an update to build number 6.12.181 with various enhancement and bug fixes.

Apr

Marvel's Augmented Reality App Hits The Play Store – Grab Exclusive Marvel Content From The World Around You

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Applications, News

Announced last month at SXSW, Marvel's Augmented Reality app has finally hit Google's play store, promising to "bring the Marvel Universe to life like never before utilizing your Android powered device."

Essentially the app allows users to scan select Marvel products (which feature the AR logo) to unlock and view exclusive Marvel content. The app unlocks a surprisingly wide array of content, from 3D shorts to script excerpts, exclusive art and commentaries, and "key features on select comics."

The app's augmented reality functionality is powered by Aurasma, the self-proclaimed first visual browser, "bringing the physical and virtual worlds together." For fans of the Marvel Universe, this app seems like an awesome way to get an extra dose of Marvel content.

Apr

Google Play Books And Street View Updated – Here's What To Expect

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Applications, News

Google unleashed a small round of updates today, bringing new features to both the Play Books and Street View apps. Play Books has been updated with a brand new UI for devices running Android 2.2/2.3, including the nifty 3D page-turning animation users of Books' tablet interface have come to know and love.

Users can also add home screen shortcuts for individual books, allowing you to jump straight into your favorite book without actually opening the app. The update also enables offline search, and ensures that your device's display will stay on during TTS.

Google Street View, on the other hand, got a slightly less major update (but an important one nonetheless) – the app now includes Ice Cream Sandwich's signature action bar and action-overflow button for those running Android 4.0+, bringing its interface into line with ICS' current design standards.

Apr

Reddit Is Fun Allowed Back In The Play Store After Two-Week Exile

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Applications, News

You may remember that TalkLittle's hugely popular Reddit browser, Reddit is Fun, was banned from the Google Play Store about 2 weeks ago for "sexually explicit material," shortly after its substantial update to version 2.0. The banishment of Reddit is Fun caused quite a stir, primarily because Google's decision to ban the app seemed to be based on a vague policy regarding apps that give users the ability to find explicit material.

In a post to Reddit earlier this evening, TalkLittle announced that Reddit is Fun has finally been allowed back into the Play Store, after links to subreddits containing explicit material were removed.

Mar

JRummy's ROM Toolbox On Sale For $2.99 (50% Off) In The Play Store – Half Of All Revenue To Be Donated To Cancer Research

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Applications, Deals, News

JRummy, the developer behind Root Browser, Ultimate Backup, BusyBox Installer, and a handful of other awesome apps, has put ROM Toolbox on sale in the Play Store for just $2.99 (a cool 50% off its usual price) and plans to donate half of all the sale's revenue to the Testicular Cancer Society.

For those not familiar, ROM Toolbox is a rooted user's dream app, combining the best parts of SetCPU, Root Browser, Font Installer, Terminal Emulator, ROM Manager, and a ton of other root tools into one 3.7MB package, providing a truly impressive array of features which allow users to control just about every aspect of their device from a single app.

Mar

Hyatt Releases Official Android App – Find Locations, Check Availability, And Book Your Next Stay In An Instant

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Applications, News

Hyatt Corporation, looking to make customers' hotel experience just that much easier, released an official Hyatt app to Google's Play Store recently. The app allows users to find Hyatt hotels across the globe, viewing details about each location, booking, managing reservations, and more, all from their Android-powered device.

Besides a full suite of booking and check-in functions, Hyatt's new app gives users access to weather, maps, and turn-by-turn navigation to their Hyatt destination. The app also allows Hyatt Gold Passport members to access account details and track points.

Overall, Hyatt's official Android app seems to be just what the doctor ordered for those who prefer booking with the popular hotel operator, and is definitely worth picking up.

Mar

Auralux Poised To Hit The Tegra Zone In April, Bringing Together Osmos-Like Minimalism And Galcon-Inspired Real-Time Strategy

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Games, News

The Tegra Zone is set to get one more amazing game next month, with the minimalist strategy game Auralux coming down the pipe. Auralux, which promises to have "every feature and more from the renowned PC game," combines the minimalist, otherworldly environment/music of Osmos with the real-time galactic strategy of Galcon for what looks to be a stunning experience.

Describing itself as "an abstract, essentialized, and simplified real-time strategy game," Auralux gives players individual units, each of which can only carry out one type of command. The player and his/her opponent start each game with equal resources, and are challenged to duke it out in a strategy-intensive environment where "quick reflexes will get you nowhere."

Auralux can be played in Normal or Speed mode, with an additional unlockable gameplay mode "for hardcore players." The only catch, though, is that Auralux is planned to be a "free to try" game, with "additional" levels available via additional purchases.