Android Police - Android News, Apps, Games, Phones, Tablets

Feb

SwiftKey 4 Finally Hits The Play Store, Brings Flow, Better Corrections, New Languages, Adaptive Typing, And Much More

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Applications, News

The day is finally here, SwiftKey users – the all new SK 4 is live in the Play Store! No longer a beta, this version includes SwiftKey's take on gesture typing, Flow. Flow is unique in that, unlike other gesture-based keyboards, it allows you to continuously swipe through entire sentences without ever lifting your finger - the company calls it Flow Through Space. If you've been using any of the beta versions, then you already know what a fantastic feature it is, and now it's finally mature. Not only that, but Flow is part of SwiftKey 4, which is a free upgrade to existing SwiftKey users.

Feb

T-Mobile's HTC One S Getting A Small 'Security Enhancement' Update

Posted by Cameron Summerson in News, One S (Ville), T-Mobile

Don't you just love these trickle updates? Little update here, little update there – but never anything major. It's all the excitement of getting an OTA, with none of the benefit! And that's what today's T-Mobile One S update is all about: security enhancements. That's it. Nothing more.

In order to pull the update, you'll need to meet the normal requirements: stock, unrooted system, at least 50% battery, blah blah blah. This package size is a around 49MB, so it shouldn't take all that long to download and get installed. Past that, enjoy your new and improved system, now with 100% more security!

Feb

T-Mobile Announces New GoSmart Mobile Brand: Contract-Free, Low-Cost, "DUM" Slogan

Posted by Ryan Whitwam in Carriers, News, T-Mobile

Little T-Mobile already has a reputation for being the carrier for budget-conscious consumers, but it's taking things even further with the new GoSmart service. The plans are cheap, and there are no annual contracts to worry about. Service starts at $30 per month and customers get access to the full T-Mobile network. It sounds like a solid deal if you can get past the contrived marketing lingo that would insult the intelligence of a third-grader.

Like other pre-paid brands, you can plug in a compatible phone that you already own, or buy one from GoSmart. There is a $49 Alcatel dumbphone, and a $99 ZTE device running an ancient version of Android.

Feb

Nexus 4 Wireless Charging Orb Review: The Best $60 You Can Spend On A Wireless Charger Right Now

Posted by Ryan Whitwam in Google, LG, Nexus 4, Reviews

Google's Matias Duarte elicited some knowing chuckles when he revealed the existence of a wireless charging orb shortly before the Nexus 4 launched. Duarte came over to Google from Palm, which developed a similar accessory for the Pre called the Touchstone. The Nexus 4 Orb took its sweet time showing up in the Play Store, but it's finally on sale for $60.

Is there any universe in which spending that kind of cash on a phone charger is reasonable? Well, maybe.

Design

The Orb is true to its name – it looks like a spherical object that's been flattened on one end, or a Nexus Q that has been cruelly sliced in half.

Feb

NARR8 Motion Comic Reader Comes To Android, Offers A Unique Take On Indie Art

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Applications, News

I like comics. They're wonderful. While the modern world makes it difficult for local shops to maintain the footprint they once did, online distribution has made it insanely easy (and cheap!) for major and minor artists to gain a following and make money doing it. However, is digitally reproducing static artwork on a powerful, portable computer really the best we can do? Narr8 doesn't think so.

The app functions similarly to most digital comic stores now: you can download individual "episodes" and keep track of all entries in a series. However, the capabilities of each story go far beyond regular graphic novels.

Feb

[New App] Qualcomm Releases Snapdragon BatteryGuru, Aims To Extend Your Device's Battery Life

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Applications, News

If there's one common issue with smartphones across the board, it's battery life. Rightfully so, we all want more of it without having to sacrifice usage. Thankfully, Qualcomm is looking to help owners of Snapdragon-powered smartphones get just a bit more out of their device's battery with the new Snapdragon BatteryGuru beta.

In a nutshell, it monitors your usage, "learning" what you do with your device. It discovers where you connect to Wi-Fi, what apps you often use, when you sleep, and the like. From there, it automatically configures certain aspects of the device to optimize battery life, like disabling Wi-Fi when you're away from common hotspots, and re-enabling it when you're back in the area.

Feb

HTC One Will Arrive In The UK On March 15th On Vodafone, Pre-Order On Clove Now For £425

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in HTC, News, One

HTC may not be too terribly specific about when it intends to release its newest flagship, aside from a vague March-ish timeline, but Vodafone and Clove are more than happy to fill in the blank space: March 15th is the date. At least if you're in the UK, looking to get this piece of hardware on Vodafone, or order from Clove.

Not only does Clove's ordering site indicate this as the date the first shipments should come in, but Vodafone confirmed the date in a statement to AP. Pre-orders for the carrier's version will begin two weeks prior to release. To wit:

Just a quick note to confirm that Vodafone will be offering the HTC One for sale from 15^th March 2013, with pre-order opening two weeks before.

Feb

These 184 Carriers And Major Retailers Across The Globe Will Carry The HTC One

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Carriers, HTC, News, One

HTC this morning officially unveiled its new flagship for 2013: the HTC One. So far, we've posted the full specs, our hands-on, and the list of carriers in the U.S. and Canada, but if you live outside those territories, you might be wondering exactly which carriers and major retailers to visit to pick up the One when it becomes available in March.

We've got the current list, courtesy of HTC, right below. I imagine it may grow in the future, but in the meantime I applaud the company for itemizing it in such great detail - something you don't get to see too often these days.

Feb

Awesome Land Is A Parallel Universe Where Mario Joined A Street Gang And Heads To The Acid Trip Kingdom

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Games, News

If you subscribe to the vastly-oversimplified concept of a multiverse, then you must believe that, given an infinite set of potential universes, all possible things can and must occur in at least one world parallel to our own. Which means that somewhere, on some alternate version of Earth, Super Mario Bros. stars a textured-yet-pixelated biker named Manley who is trying to track down his kidnapped motorcycle. Kidnapped, that is, by aliens.

To the game's credit, it's completely up front about what it is: "This retro platform game pays tribute to, and parodies, classics such as Super Mario Bros., CastleVania and Mega Man, in style!" It doesn't try to hide behind feigned originality.