Ryan Whitwam - 2/30 - Android Police - Android News, Apps, Games, Phones, Tablets

Ryan is a freelance tech writer, skeptic, lover of all things electronic, and Android fan. In his spare time he reads golden-age sci-fi and sleeps, but rarely at the same time. His wife tolerates him as few would.

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May

Google I/O 2013 App Gets Last Minute Update To V1.1 – Includes DashClock Support, Higher-Res Photos, Session Feedback, And More

Posted by Ryan Whitwam in Applications, Apps/Games, News

Even if you're not physically attending Google I/O, the official convention app might serve you well. It allows attendees to scan badges, view schedules, and just guide themselves around with vector-based maps. If you're not going to be in Moscone Center tomorrow, you can stream sessions with the app. Waiting just about as long as possible, Google has pushed an update to the I/O app, and it adds some cool stuff.

Here's the full changelog:

Added session feedback form.
Improved maps functionality.
Higher resolution speaker photos.
Added DashClock widget support.
Various fixes for stability and performance.
Added localizations.

May

[Tuesday App/Game Sales] Shiny The Firefly, Tapatalk, SoundHound Infinity, Contre Jour, Beautiful Widgets Pro, And The Sandbox

Posted by Ryan Whitwam in Applications, Apps/Games, Games

Google I/O is almost here, so surely you've got Google on the brain. Why not take your mind off things with some neat new apps and games? Oh, but the cost! At least there are some cool sales going on to reduce the impact on your wallet. The selection is solid today, ranging from classic utilities to polished games. These deals aren't just in Google Play – Amazon's Appstore is makes a few appearances this time, as well. Let's check it out.

Shiny The Firefly – $0.99 (66% off)

Tapatalk – Free (100% off on Amazon, and probably permanent)

SoundHound Infinity – $1.99 (66% off on Amazon)

Contre Jour – $0.99 (50% off on Amazon)

Beautiful Widgets Pro – $1.99 (33% off)

The Sandbox – Free (in-app purchases discounted).

May

TuneIn Radio Updated With Google Play Music Store Purchasing

Posted by Ryan Whitwam in Applications, Apps/Games, News

TuneIn Radio is one of the most popular streaming music services on any mobile platform, but it has just gotten a new feature for Android users. From now on when you hear a track you like, tap the Google Play button at the top of the 'now playing' screen to head right to Google Play and buy it. See the before and after images below.

For those not aware, TuneIn Radio streams over 70,000 radio stations live, and it's not just music. There's general talk and sports radio, as well. The podcast directory also contains a huge number of feeds to peruse.

May

[New Game] Say The Same Thing Brings Hilarious Trailer And Pricey Gameplay To Android

Posted by Ryan Whitwam in Apps/Games, Games, News

Say The Same Thing is a game backed by the band OK Go in some way that isn't entirely clear. It's a social turn-based experience where you try to get your brain to sync up with another person's as you both call out random words. It's actually more fun than it sounds.

Each round starts with both parties entering a random word. They probably aren't the same one, so you have to pick another word that's related to what you both said. You continue in this fashion until both of you say the same thing, hence the title. But it's probably best you watch this very funny demo video to get a fuller understanding.

May

Airbnb Revamps Android App In Version 2.0 – Adds Calendar Management, Host Pre-Approval, And A New UI

Posted by Ryan Whitwam in Applications, Apps/Games, News

Had enough of noisy hotels infested with bed bugs and slathered in unidentifiable fluids? Why not rent short term accommodations from a regular human being? That's the service Airbnb provides, and the startup has been making headway in recent years. In an attempt to make the process of finding appropriate lodging more convenient on mobile devices, the company has completely redesigned its Android app and added a few new features.

The new app is more attractive an Android-y than the old version, which made heavy use of gradients and iOS-style buttons. The new UI is flatter and has some Holo (#YOLO) design elements.

May

Verizon Moves Up Samsung Galaxy S4 Launch To May 23rd

Posted by Ryan Whitwam in Carriers, Galaxy S4, Samsung, Verizon Wireless

Verizon certainly likes to take its sweet time getting new phones out there, but this time it's at least making an attempt to speed things along. Big Red has announced that the Samsung Galaxy S4 will be available a week earlier than previously stated. May 23rd is now the big day.

The Galaxy S4 has already launched on the other big US carriers, and AT&T has even announced the availability of a 32GB version of the device. Verizon is late to the game, but it's probably going to push this 5-inch 1080p smartphone hard. Verizon's 16GB GS4 will be going for $199.99 with a new 2-year agreement (after a $50 mail-in rebate).

May

Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini Shows Off Its Curves On Camera

Posted by Ryan Whitwam in Galaxy S4, News, Samsung

Considering Samsung's tendency to release mountains of phones, the Galaxy S4 Mini seemed like a lock from the moment we saw the Galaxy S4. And what have we here? The Galaxy S4 Mini appears to have broken cover in China, and it looks more or less as you'd expect – like a smaller GS4.

Like last year's pint-sized GS3 variant, the Galaxy S4 Mini has the same general industrial design as the S4 proper. It's smooth and rounded, with that divisive carbon fiber pattern on the back panel. It's roughly 8mm thick, which is the same as the GS4.

May

[Deal Alert] Verizon Droid DNA Drops To $19.99 For New Accounts On Amazon

Posted by Ryan Whitwam in Deals, DROID DNA, HTC, News, Verizon Wireless

As the weekend begins, you know deep down inside what's missing in your life. Happiness, love, and security? Nah, if that's what you were about to say, that's dead wrong. What you need is a big honkin' phone in your pocket running on Big Red's 4G LTE network. Oh, and it can't just be big – it needs to have a full HD screen too. The Droid DNA certainly fits the description, and it just so happens it can be yours for the low price of $19.99 (some restrictions apply, phone will not love you back).

The Droid DNA is a bridge between the 2012 and 2013 smartphone worlds.

May

32GB Samsung Galaxy S4 Is Live At AT&T, Black Mist Color Only For $249.99

Posted by Ryan Whitwam in AT&T, Carriers, Galaxy S4, News

Our long national nightmare has finally ended – you can buy a 32GB version of the Samsung Galaxy S4, but only on AT&T for now. AT&T announced just a few days ago that the GS4 would be arriving in its 32GB incarnation, and here it is right on time.

The 16GB Galaxy S4 has taken some heat for only giving users access to about half of the internal storage. The rest is taken up by the OS and included apps. The 32GB will offer a little more breathing room, but both versions have additional microSD card slots. It's easier to have a single partition of fast internal storage, though.

May

LG Announcing New Device May 30 – Could This Be The Optimus G2?

Posted by Ryan Whitwam in LG, Optimus G, Optimus G Pro

As is the custom these days, another Android OEM has teased a phone with an event invitation. A year ago it wouldn't have been very interesting to speculate on what LG was up to, but the OEM has been returned to prominence after building the last Nexus device and delivering a competent flagship phone of its own in the Optimus G. This invitation summons press to an event in Macau, China at the end of the month, and it might be the Optimus G2.