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

Apr

Android 2.3.4 To Introduce Video Chat - No Need To Wait Until Google I/O

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Applications, News

On Monday we told you that Google may bring video chat to Android 2.3.4, and that we expect an announcement at Google I/O. It looks like we got it half right - Google has officially announced Talk with Video Chat integration in Android 2.3.4, but we didn't have to wait until I/O to find out.

The service looks like it will work almost identical to its desktop counterpart: the status icon displays whether or not the person is available for video chat (or capable of it). Tap the icon to start a video chat session, and you're good to go. It's cross platform, too, meaning that you can chat with desktop users and other mobile users alike.

Apr

DROID 3 Display And Digitizer Assembly Shows Up Online, Is This Really The Targa?

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Droid 3, Motorola, News, Rumors

Well, I can honestly say that I didn't expect to be typing this today. It looks like things may be starting to unfold with the Bionic/Targa drama - as in, the Bionic may not be the Targa at all. Now you're curious, right? Allow me to explain, but keep in mind that this is all speculation.

We all know that manufacturers use code names for their devices. For example, the original Droid was codenamed "Sholes" while the EVO was called "Supersonic" during its testing phase. Several weeks ago, we saw some leaked images that were supposed to be the Motorola Droid 3, which suggested a codename of "Solana".

Apr

Shazam Temporarily Cuts The Crap, Lets You Tag Without Limit Until Next Year

Posted by Brad Ganley in Applications, Apps/Games

Shazam, the music tagging service that listens to a song and tells you what it is, has announced today that the free version of their app will support unlimited tagging until January 1st, 2012. While this is pretty cool if you're a Shazam user who doesn't want to pay $5 for Shazam Encore (or didn't grab it what it was Amazon's app of the day), it's still pretty laughable for people who have been using Soundhound the whole time. While I can appreciate what Shazam is doing here with the help eBay, who is sponsoring this unlimited tag-fest, I can't help but feel that Shazam should've done this on its own a long time ago.

Apr

The Wifi-Only HTC Flyer High-Fives the FCC, Gets Clearance For Landing

Posted by Brad Ganley in Devices By Manufacturer, Flyer

Well, it looks like the good old FCC has given their stamp of approval to the Wifi-Only HTC Flyer. As you can see in the image below, the sticker is ready for deployment and I, for one, couldn't be happier.

Now that the red tape has been cut through, we could start seeing the Wifi-only Flyer in Best Buys stores all across the land any time now (hopefully sooner rather than later). The Flyer is going to launch at Best Buy running Android 2.3 (Gingerbread or, as my friend Snoop calls it, Gingerbrizzle) and will be updated to Honeycomb in short order, says HTC.

Apr

[Download] Live Wallpaper And Weather Widget From The Eee Pad Transformer (Honeycomb Only)

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Applications, Eee Pad Transformer, News, XOOM

Thanks to sano614 over at the XDA forums you can now have a few of the goodies from the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer on other Honeycomb tablets, specifically the super-nifty My Water live wallpaper and ASUS's weather widget. You've probably seen this wallpaper before - it's the beverage-esque one that moves around on your screen as you shift your tablet around, complete with ice cubes and bubbles. The weather widget offers what you would expect: current conditions and temperature in a visually stimulating package.

I've uploaded both the widget and the wallpaper to our mirror for convenience purposes, but don't forget to jump over the to source thread at XDA and drop a thank you note.

Apr

[Rumor] Samsung Galaxy S II Coming To T-Mobile?

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Galaxy S II, News, Rumors, T-Mobile

I'm a sucker for a good rumor, and I just can't pass up sharing this one with all of you. According to TmoNews, the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S II might be landing on T-Mobile. How this information came about, however, does make me a little skeptical (I said I'm a sucker for a good rumor, not that I believe every one that comes along).

The above image was taken from Adobe's website, and it appears to show a Galaxy S II on the T-Mo website. This has to be the real deal, too, because no one ever makes Photoshop errors, right?

Apr

PSA: Take It Easy, AT&T Isn't Targeting Unauthorized Android Tethering (And May Never)

Posted by David Ruddock in Android OS, AT&T, Editorials, News, Tips & Tutorials

There's been a lot of talk about AT&T's crusade against rogue tethering lately, and it all comes back to this AT&T text message sent to some poor iPhone customer(s):

AT&T Free Msg: We’ve noticed you’re continuing to enjoy the tethering feature with your smartphone service. Remember, you need a tethering plan ($45/mo, incl. 4GB) to use this feature, so we’re planning to update your line with the required plan soon.

Yes, the carrier everyone loves to hate is cracking down on unauthorized tethering - and they are automatically switching violators onto AT&T's 4GB data plan with tethering access, at a steep $45 a month.

Apr

ATRIX 4G OTA Update Change Log Shows HSUPA And Call Quality Fixes, Coming Soon

Posted by David Ruddock in Atrix 4G (Olympus), Motorola, News

ATRIX 4G users rejoice - HSUPA will soon be here, and without any sort of hacky flashing requiring root access. The official Motorola update page for the ATRIX 4G's latest OTA, 4.1.83, has appeared on Motorola's website today. Here's the change log "highlights" according to Moto:

Data Speed
Increased speed at which data can travel on the network.

Data Connection
Improvements to prevent interruptions to data connection.

Screen
Improvements to prevent screen from freezing.

Email
Improved ability for users to receive email notifications so you know when you have a new message. Also, improvements were made so that you are now able to use the same email login to access both MOTOBLUR™ and YouTube.

Apr

Sony Ericsson Xperia Play And Arc Available From Best Buy Canada Tomorrow

Posted by Zak Stinson in Devices By Manufacturer, News, Rogers, Xperia Arc (Anzu, X12), Xperia Play (Zeus, PlayStation Phone)

Once again, we find that the selection of Android phones available to those in Canada is increasing both in size and quality. The next two additions to that ever-growing range of devices available in the Great White North are to be the Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY and arc. According to a press release from Best Buy Canada, as of April 28th, these two great new handsets will be available on Rogers.

Either one of these Gingerbread-running beauties will cost you $99 on a new 3 year contract. That's no typo, 3 year contracts are the norm up in Canada (it's something we're working on.) But, hey, at least you get a sweet new phone for $99 and Best Buy will even throw in a $50 in-store gift card.

Apr

Verizon Releases Explosive New Ad For Samsung's DROID Charge - Prepare To Have Your Mind Blown

Posted by Jaroslav Stekl in Charge (i510), Samsung, Verizon Wireless

Big Red has always been renowned for its awe-inspiring commercials, but this latest spot for the DROID Charge takes things to a whole new level. Trapdoors, monolithic Microsoft Surface-style touchscreens, mind-boggling explosions - you name it, Verizon's included it. I won't spoil the fun for you, though; go ahead and watch the ad for yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz13Ecw9Fr4

Too bad that fulmination didn't rid the phone of its outrageous $300 price tag.

Source: Verizon (YouTube) via Droid Life