27
Jun
android

Google Releasing Platform Developer Kit To Manufacturers Before Major New Android Versions - Are Speedier Updates On The Way?

Posted by in Android OS, Development, News

Android has become somewhat infamous for slow (almost unbearably so) updates for users of pretty much any non-Nexus device. In fact, when Jelly Bean was announced earlier today, the first thought on some users' minds was that their handsets haven't even tasted Ice Cream Sandwich yet.

Google is well aware of this issue, though - last year, it made an attempt (albeit a feeble one) to solve the problem with the Android Alliance. I think we all know how that turned out.

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This year's I/O saw a related announcement: that of the Android PDK, or the Platform Development Kit. In short, it's a set of tools which will aid manufacturers in porting new versions of Android to their devices and which will be released to said manufacturers a few months before the public launch of each major Android update.

27
Jun
jb-android-4.1

Jelly Bean Feature Closer Look: Project Butter Means Enhanced Animations, Transitions, And More Responsive Apps That "Anticipate" Your Touch

Posted by in Android OS, Jelly Bean 4.1, News, Videos

Another major enhancement we've just learned about with the announcement of Jelly Bean is called Project Butter. Butter (so named likely due to the colloquialism "smooth as butter") represents a new, more efficient processing framework for Android's latest and greatest iteration, making the OS much faster (allowing animation up to 60fps). Android 4.1 also makes apps more responsive, reducing touch latency and "anticipating where your finger will be at the time of screen refresh."

"How is such an enhancement possible?" I can almost hear you wondering. Take it from the Android developer site:

To ensure a consistent framerate, Android 4.1 extends vsync timing across all drawing and animation done by the Android framework.

27
Jun
unnamed (1)

Viggle For Android Comes Out Of Beta And Lands In The Play Store – Earn Rewards From Your Couch By Checking In To Popular TV Shows

Posted by in Applications, News

Viggle, which pairs a great idea with a funny name, is an app we covered last month during its beta period. The TV check-in app, which has already seen great success on iOS, recently landed in the Play Store though, finally out of beta.

For those not familiar with the app, Viggle essentially listens to your TV's audio (at your command), and figures out which show(s) you're watching by comparing the audio it heard to a database, rewarding points depending on the programming (for instance, promoted shows get more points). Those points can then be redeemed for tangible rewards, including everything from Starbucks gift cards to sweepstakes entries or hulu PLUS subscriptions.

26
Jun
qualcommlogo

Qualcomm Announces Its Own Android SDK For Snapdragon Processors, Promises Tighter Hardware Integration

Posted by in News

Qualcomm, the company behind the S4 processor that so many US devices are receiving as consolation prizes in exchange for LTE, has announced that it will be releasing its own SDK for Snapdragon processors. The SDK will initially support the S4, and continue to support future processors as they're released, supporting multiple tiers of hardware.

The company touts the SDK as enabling developers to more tightly integrate their apps with Qualcomm hardware, as well as enabling access to more powerful hardware features, like so:

 

  • facial processing, such as blink and smile detection, which makes it easier to take better pictures of people in groups;
  • burst capture, which leverages zero shutter lag to photograph a stream of images at once to select the best shot;
  • surround sound recording for better audio capture;
  • hardware echo cancellation for better real-time audio experiences;
  • sensor gestures (tap-left/tap-right, push/pull, face-up/face-down, tilt) that enable developers and device makers to push the envelope on new, differentiated user interfaces;
  • low power always on geofencing capabilities; and
  • indoor location that enables apps to continue providing accurate location information even when the user is indoors.

25
Jun
MEIZU MX Quad-core

[Update: Available June 30] MEIZU MX Quad-Core Release Date And Price Officially Announced: Landing in China And Hong Kong In June From $475

Posted by in Meizu, News

Update: Looks like it's going to be available beginning June 30th, though MEIZU is still working out finalized pricing details.

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Chinese phone manufacturer MEIZU revealed the first MX way back in September, noting that both a dual-core and quad-core version of the phone would be coming. The dual-core model came first, and was released on October 1. Today, they've officially announced that the quad-core model will hit stores in China and Hong Kong sometime in June.

While the phone looks virtually identical on the outside, it's (obviously) powered by twice the cores. While it's not the first quad-core phone we've seen, it is the first to be powered by something other than a Tegra 3 CPU.

25
Jun
wm_IMG_1309

Asus Transformer Pad Infinity (TF700 Wi-Fi) Review: At The Crossroads Of Pixels And Power

Posted by in News, Tablet Reviews, Transformer Pad Infinity

Fun fact: a 1080p display packs 2,073,600 pixels. The Asus Transformer Pad Infinity (or TF700)? 2,304,000 - or 230,400 more. Most 1080p HDTVs are somewhere around 40-60 inches. The TF700 checks in at just 10. Compared to a 40" HDTV, that's 111% of the pixels in a package that's 6.25% of the size.

The screen may be the real headline feature with the Infinity, but it's not the only one worthy of note. It's still powered by NVIDIA's Tegra 3 "4-PLUS-1" CPU, but it's a newer revision that packs a little more punch. The RAM, too, has seen an upgrade, and the screen is now protected by Gorilla Glass 2.

22
Jun
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Judge Posner To Apple: Injunctions Are Not Meant For Small Software Feature Patents, Case Tossed

Posted by in Android OS, Legal, Motorola, News

After an injunction hearing earlier this week, Judge Posner has issued his final decision on whether to throw out the Motorola v. Apple case. The result? You're (both) outta here.

Judge Posner dismissed both parties' cases with prejudice earlier this evening (meaning Apple and Moto cannot refile against one another on these issues in any other federal court). Apple will, of course, appeal.

Posner's feeling on Apple's insistent demand for an injunction against Motorola's smartphone products was summed up best by the following excerpt from the decision:

And while the patents themselves (or some of them at least) may well have considerable value, after the claims constructions by Judge Crabb and myself and after my grants of partial summary judgment only a handful of the original patent claims remain in the case; infringement of that handful may not be a source of significant injury past, present, or future.

21
Jun
2012-06-21_14h09_21

Google Completely Revamps Android Developers Site, Not So Subtly Nudges Developers To The On-Screen Menu Button

Posted by in Google, News

Google's Android Developer's site got a massive overhaul today, with a brand new UI, tons of new features, and a unified guide for developers on how to design, develop, and distribute their apps all in one place. The new site is fantastic-looking. Clearly Google wants to engage developers more and give them more guidance on how to succeed on the Play Store. So, what say we take a tour?

About Android

For anyone who's been kept in the dark, or just doesn't know everything there is to know about Android yet, Google's provided newcomers with a section just to tout the advantages of developing for Android.

21
Jun
jellybean

[Update] The Next Version Of Android Is Confirmed As 4.1 Jelly Bean, Will Be Coming To The HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus From Google Play First

Posted by in Google, News

Google's let a bit of info slip a little early via the Play Store. When purchasing a Galaxy Nexus via the site, while checking out, the device is listed on your order as "Galaxy Nexus HSPA+ - The latest smartphone from Google, soon the first phone with Android 4.1 Jell..." This marks the first time the name Jelly Bean, and the version number 4.1 has been referenced publicly.

41jellybean

More interesting than that, however, is that the listing specifically says that the HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus from the Play Store is "soon the first phone" running the new OS. While most major versions of Android are launched alongside flagship devices, this implies that 4.1 will not have it's own new Nexus phone.

16
Jun
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62 Best New Android Apps And Live Wallpapers From The Last Month (5/22/12 - 6/16/12)

Posted by in Applications, Best Apps/Games/LWPs Of The Week, News
Last Updated: June 19th, 2012

Welcome to the roundup of the best new Android applications, games, and live wallpapers that went live in the Market or were spotted by us in the previous 3 weeks or so.

This is the app roundup. The game roundup from this week can be found here.

Please wait for this page to load in full in order to see the AppBrain widgets, which include ratings and pricing info.

Looking for the previous roundup editions? Find them here.

Featured App

Tasks N Todos - ToDo List Manager

Today's roundup is sponsored by Tasks N Todos, a TODO manager from Handy Apps, the developer of such well received apps as Easy Money and Tip N Split Tip Calculator.

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