Liam Spradlin - 7/99 - 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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Mar

[New Game] Alien Hive Puts A Well-Executed Twist On Match-Three Gameplay

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Games, News

The creators of Sporos (which found a place in our top seven games list from February) today released their latest creation – Alien Hive. The game is based on the familiar "match three" dynamic, but don't be fooled – Alien Hive isn't just another Bejeweled clone. Hive adds several interesting gameplay elements that put a new twist on the genre, keeping it challenging and entertaining. Best of all, the game can be played at your own pace – there's no pressure to be super speedy about swapping tiles.

If you couldn't tell from the video, the general objective in the game is to slide various seeds and eggs around to evolve alien life forms into more and more advanced beings without running out of energy, using powerups like blasters or worm holes to help along the way and eliminating pesky robots that will grab hold of your developing aliens.

Mar

AT&T Offering Free Nexus 7, Kindle Fire, Sonos Play:3, Or Xbox 360 To Customers Packaging U-Verse Internet With TV Or Voice

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, AT&T, Deals, Kindle Fire, Nexus 7

If you're a new AT&T U-Verse internet customer (or considering becoming one), listen up – the service provider announced yesterday that it is now offering a selection of devices free when new customers package internet service with either U-Verse TV or Voice. Customers can choose between a Nexus 7, Kindle Fire, Sonos Play:3 (with WiFi bridge), or an Xbox 360. What's more, customers will get access to AT&T's WiFi network free of charge.

While a free Android tablet (or Play:3 or Xbox 360) may not be your primary reason in signing up for brand new lines of service, those in the market for new internet, TV, or voice service who also happen to want a new gadget (Android-powered or otherwise) may find this deal appealing, and would be well-advised to mention the offer when ordering.

Mar

Samsung Publishes Open Source Kernel Files For Galaxy Note 8.0

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Development, Galaxy Note 8.0, Jelly Bean 4.2, News

Maybe it's just me, but it seems like Samsung is getting even faster with open source file releases. Today, the Korean manufacturer dropped open source kernel files for the Galaxy Note 8.0, Samsung's first foray into the tablet-that's-also-a-phone market. Both international and North American variants are represented, so those interested can take their pick.

Mar

Deal Alert: Amazon Offering SanDisk Ultra 32GB microSD Class 10 UHS-1 Card For Just $19.99

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Deals

There are those among us who simply need more storage. Phones like the Nexus 4, which offers only 8 or 16GB of storage just don't provide enough space for some users, and for them there are phones with microSD slots. MicroSD cards, though, aren't cheap. If you've been looking for a card with a high capacity but not a high price, Amazon has a deal for you.

The retailer is offering up the SanDisk Ultra 32GB microSDHC Class 10 UHS-1 card (with adapter) for just $19.99. In recent memory, we haven't seen a better price on this card.

For those confused about what makes this a great microSD card (besides its 32GB capacity), it's class 10, meaning it's guaranteed to record video at at least 10MB/s, with promised data transfer speeds of up to 30MB/s.

Mar

[Update: One More Time!] Deal Alert: 32GB Nexus 7 With $30 VISA Gift Card And Ear Buds Is At eBay Daily Deals For $259.99

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Deals, Nexus 7

Update 3/18/13: Those who missed out the first forty-seven times now have another chance. Alternatively, a bunch of refurbished units popped up for $219.99. It's $10 cheaper once it's all said and done, but they are refurbs after all.

Update 2/23/13: How about a third round?

Update 2/14/13: The deal has popped back up today. Grab them while they're hot.

If you're still looking high and low for a good deal on the Nexus 7, and eBay's recent deal on refurb 16GB units didn't entice you, we've come across yet another deal: seller buydig, through eBay, is offering the 32GB Nexus 7 for $259.99.

Mar

HTC Extends $100 Trade-Up Program Through April 26th Following Rumored Launch Delays

Posted by Liam Spradlin in News, One

Last Updated: March 25th, 2013

Last month, HTC announced a smartphone trade-up program, offering potential customers the chance to trade in their old cell phone for a $100 prepaid VISA card or the value of the phone (whichever is greater) after buying a new HTC One. The decision was a good one, especially for a phone that – while technically great – is badly in need of some effective marketing.

The deal was set to expire March 31st, but HTC has decided to extend the offer all the way up to April 26th. Here's what HTC had to say in our correspondence:

HTC is thrilled with the positive response we have received to our $100 trade-up offer, and as such we are extending the offer for customers who purchase The new HTC One by 4/26 and trade in their old device by 5/31.

Mar

[Update: Annnnd, It's Back] Nexus 4 Bumper Ends Its Rollercoaster Ride Of Availability, Now Listed As 'No Longer Available For Sale'

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Accessories, Google, News, Nexus 4

Update: Oops! Looks like Google classified this one as dead just a bit too early – it's back for a thirtieth go in the Play Store. If you want one, you should probably buy it now before they really do disappear forever.

Shortly after slimming down the Play Store's selection of Nexus 7 cases, it looks like Google has brought out the axe again, this time aiming it at the Nexus 4 Bumper. The bumper, which enjoyed an absolute roller coaster ride during its tenure, finally ended its on-again-off-again relationship with the Play Store today, with no warning at all.

Mar

[New App] Autodesk Brings Instructables To Android With Over 100,000 Projects On Board

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Applications, News

If you've ever been one to tinker, build, or indulge in DIY projects, you've probably visited Instructables at one point or another. It's a great resource for those looking for specific how-tos, or just wanting something to do on a rainy day. Illustrated instructions are provided by the site's users, and can be discussed, favorited, or even downloaded.

Today, Autodesk (purveyors of other excellent apps like Pixlr Express) brought the crowd-sourced do-it-yourself spirit of Instructables to Android in an official app. The app allows for just about all the functionality of the website, in a nice holo-inspired package (the #EEBA26 looks stellar, doesn't it?).

Mar

Google To Lay Reader To Rest This Summer As Part Of A 'Second Spring Of Cleaning'

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Applications, Development, Google, News

"We're living in a new kind of computing environment," says Urs Hölzle, SVP Technical Infrastructure and Google Fellow in a new post to Google's official blog. The search giant has resolved to make a second sweep at spring cleaning that began two years ago. After this round of cleaning is complete, the total number of features and services Google will have closed will number 70.

In the post, Google announces the closure or deprecation of eight features and services, but buried four items deep is the one that will probably affect the most users: Google Reader.

Mar

HTC Announces One Developer Edition For The US

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Development, HTC, News, One

In a post to its official blog today, HTC asked developers "what could better than the HTC One," quickly following up with the answer: the same phone. Okay, not quite the same phone – this one is shipped with SIM and bootloader unlocked.

Positioning the device as "a modern platform to build and test your apps," HTC reminds potential buyers of the One's Snapdragon 600 processor, 2GB RAM, 64GB on-board storage, HTC's open APIs for low-energy Bluetooth, Infrared, and "more," along with its dual speakers and microphones.

For those wondering, the developer edition will support the following frequencies:

HSPA/WCDMA 850/1900/2100 MHz
GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
LTE 700/850/AWS/1900 MHz

^{Unfortunately, the real Developer Edition won't come with a see-through back}

HTC says the Developer Edition of the new flagship will be available in limited quantities to US customers "when the HTC One is released in the United States," costing interested parties $649 a pop.