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

May

TV Guide Mobile Version 3 Released With Interface, Experience Overhaul For ICS, Jelly Bean Users

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Applications, News

If you've been paying attention to TV Guide's official app, you know that it's needed some attention for a while. Its UI through version 2.x was an outdated pastiche of Gingerbread tabs and gradated iconography desperately in need of a redesign (and support for 4.0+). Today, TV Guide has fulfilled that need (for the most part), bringing to the Play Store TV Guide Mobile version 3.0. The update also brought "many cool new features" to the app, which we'll discuss momentarily. First though, check out the difference between the old and new interfaces.

Before: ew.

After: yay!

Dec

New York Times App Updated To Version 3.0 With Adaptable (Tablet-Optimized) UI And More

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Applications, News

It's always exciting to see a new app hit the Play Store intended for tablets, but it's even better to see an existing app's UI updated to accommodate larger devices. Looking to bring Android tablet users a more aesthetically pleasing experience when reading the news, the New York Times Company today updated its app to version 3.0 with an interface that is no longer just a blown up version of its phone-centric counterpart.

That isn't to say the interface is totally new, however. As NYT indicates, the UI is now adaptable, meaning it reacts to your device's display to deliver the most appropriate interface for the form factor.

Feb

[New App] Redditastic Is A Fantastic Way To Add Reddit To Your 3.0+ Homescreen

Posted by Brandon Lancaster in App Reviews, Applications

Okay, so Redditastic isn't technically an app, but it is a pretty sweet widget that lets you throw your favorite subreddits on one of your homescreens. Unfortunately it's only currently available for devices running Honeycomb or ICS, and it probably won't see any previous builds of Android simply because scrollable widgets aren't supported by them unless you use a custom launcher. That being said, if you do own a supported device, this Reddit widget is definitely one to check out.

Overview

What's cool about Redditastic is that it lets you create individual widgets for each of your favorite subreddits. You can also choose to have the feed populate with hot, new, top, and controversial threads.

Feb

PRADA By LG 3.0's Marketing Campaign Featuring Edward Norton Utterly Confuses Us, But I Can Get Behind The Idea

Posted by David Ruddock in Editorials, LG, News

Why? That is the first word that pops to mind when I see this, LG's marketing campaign for its PRADA-branded smartphone.

The second thing I think is, "I kind of want to watch Fight Club." Two hours later, I get back to thinking about just how terrible an idea this phone is, and just how great an actor Edward Norton can be. Anyways, the PRADA by LG 3.0 is being sold as a stylish smartphone, with the design-house PRADA having had at least some level of input so LG could stamp the logo on its back (and front). And in these marketing photos, it looks utterly bland.

Feb

Rhapsody Updates With New Tablet Interface For 3.0+ Devices

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Apps/Games, News

You guys remember Rhapsody, right? The music streaming service that was sitting in the back seat next to Rdio, MOG, and GrooveShark back when Spotify was stealing all the U.S. spotlight? Rhapsody was the one desperately trying to wash the stink of Real Player off its clothes. Well, it's back with another update to its mobile app, and this time it's bringing with it a sweet new tablet interface.

Of the major music streaming services, Rhapsody appears to be the first to create a proper tablet interface for its mobile app. You're able to explore new and popular music or customized suggestions while your current playlist stays active in a sidebar.

Dec

[Updated: Here Is The Winner!] Mega-Holiday Lightning Giveaway #4: Win A Toshiba Thrive 8GB And Wireless Keyboard

Posted by David Ruddock in Contests / Giveaways, Thrive / Regza / Antares / AT100, Toshiba

Last Updated: January 5th, 2012

Do you like connectivity? Well, today you're getting a chance to win what is probably the most connectable Android tablet around, the Toshiba Thrive. Our friends at Toshiba have graciously provided us with one, along with a Toshiba Wireless Keyboard for maximizing your tablet productivity.

This contest is now over. Here is our winner, selected at random:

Daniel James

Congratulations, you will be contacted for your information in the near future!

Everyone else - keep participating and stay tuned to Android Police so that you don't miss our upcoming giveaway announcements. You can follow AP on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and RSS.

Nov

PayPal For Android Updated To Version 3.0 - Adds NFC Support, Tablet Compatibility, UI Design Changes, And More

Posted by David Ruddock in Applications, News

PayPal's popular app for Android has received a significant update this morning, and the biggest change allows those with NFC phones to request money from other NFC-enabled devices using PayPal - nifty. While NFC has been slow to see adoption, Google's efforts with Wallet and MasterCard WavePay have no doubt raised a few eyebrows (and one lawsuit) over at PayPal, the world's largest online-only payment service.

NFC support is enabled via a widget, and when in proximity to another NFC-enabled, PayPal-widget-using handset, you can hit the "Request Money" button and the request will populate on their PayPal account.

This version also enables tablet support, though the interface is not what you'd call "tablet-optimized" so much as "tablet compatible." Other changes include a general revamp of the app's UI, and particularly of the "Send Money" feature, which allows you to categorize your transaction as well as select and save PayPal info to your Contacts.

Nov

Motorola XOOM 2 Ad Confirms Honeycomb And Pre-Christmas Launch, Will Likely Retail For $400

Posted by David Ruddock in Motorola, News, Tablets, XYBOARD / XOOM 2

A page from a catalog of the popular UK mobile retailer Carphone Warehouse was recently leaked, and it clearly states the Motorola XOOM 2 will be available in the UK in time for Christmas.

The catalog was intended for the Irish market, and thus the price has been listed in Euros as €399. Generally, prices in Euros and GBP for consumer electronics aren't reflective of exchange rates when attempting to determine a comparable price in the US - we're fairly certain the XOOM 2 will retail for $400 here in the US of A. And as Motorola is an American company (and we've apparently seen the XOOM 2 in Verizon's internal product system), we can probably expect it will launch here a little earlier than in foreign markets.

Jun

New App: Kaspersky Unveils Honeycomb-Compatible Tablet Security

Posted by David Ruddock in Android OS, Applications, Honeycomb 3.0/3.1/3.2, News, Tips & Tutorials

One of the geek community's favored anti-virus solutions on Windows, Kaspersky has recently made its move to secure the world of all things Android. Next up the company's sleeve is Kaspersky Tablet Security (clever name, right?), which brings Kaspersky's virus protection to Honeycomb (3.0 and 3.1, plus non-Honeycomb 2.1+) tablets. And it also runs on your phone, which allowed me (I am tablet-less) to take these screenshots:

Basically, it's Kaspersky Mobile Security 9 spruced up for tablets, with all the theft protection, call blocking, SMS, and other phone-specific features removed. It is kind of handy to have those superfluous features axed (except theft protection?) for the purpose of navigating the menus, but it seems like this app doesn't add much functionality over its phone counterpart, aside from a streamlined (and admittedly much better) home screen.

Jun

Editorial: Android Tablets - Is It Just A Summer Fling, Or Are Manufacturers Here To Stay?

Posted by David Ruddock in Android OS, Editorials, Honeycomb 3.0/3.1/3.2, Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0, Tablets

I've been thinking about writing this editorial for some time now. And today, with the announcement of Panasonic's upcoming Toughbook Android tablet, I finally decided to go for it. The point this article is trying to make may not be abundantly clear in the title, so let me see if I can get it across as a question: Is it just me, or are there a suspiciously large number of companies in or planning to enter the Android tablet market?

It sounds like a silly question to ask. And to a degree, it's not exactly a hugely relevant question, either. Who really cares how many companies are trying to get into the tablet market?