download - 12/27 - Android Police - Android News, Apps, Games, Phones, Tablets

Dec

[Updated: Now With ICL53F] Official Factory Image ITL41D For Verizon Galaxy Nexus Released - Developers Can Now Brick Away

Posted by David Ruddock in Android OS, Development, Galaxy Nexus, Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0, Samsung, Verizon Wireless

Update: We've also got the images for the newest update to the Galaxy Nexus, Android 4.0.2:

Google Android software engineer Jean-Baptiste Queru has just let loose a factory image of the Verizon Galaxy Nexus, meaning developers now have an official software build to recover from bricks and to tinker with to their hearts' contents. You can find the image, ITL41D, here. The post also indicates more Verizon Galaxy Nexus goodies will be coming later, so we'll keep you updated as more is released.

It should be noted that this is not an image of the OTA update that was released earlier today, ICL53F.

Dec

[Video] This Is What The Galaxy S II Ice Cream Sandwich Update (Android 4.0.1 KP1) With TouchWiz Will Look Like - Flash An Early Version Now If You Dare

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Galaxy S II, Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0, News, Samsung, Videos

An early version of the Ice Cream Sandwich ROM built by Samsung itself and complete with TouchWiz has been leaked today to the folks at SamMobile. They've quickly put together this video to demonstrate exactly what Samsung has been cooking up for the upcoming update - and that would be a whole lot of TouchWiz on top of the beautiful ICS UI we've been admiring so far:

Ever since I got the SGS II in the U.S., I don't mind TouchWiz as much (though those click sounds make me cringe every time), but it's kind of starting to look and feel old compared to Ice Cream Sandwich itself.

Dec

[Download] Android Market 3.4.4 With Noticeable Speed Improvements

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Android OS, Applications, Apps/Games, News

Last Updated: March 12th, 2012

Google has started pushing out a new Market update with version 3.4.4, which upon quick inspection operates faster than before and brings a setting for auto-adding of widgets to your home screen.

If you missed the changes in the previous major update v3.3.11, read about them here. A minor update v3.3.12 is here.

Note that I did say widgets, not app icons, though according to early tests, it's still icons that are being added and not widgets. This option appears in place of "auto-add shortcuts" that is present in the current Market and not in addition to it.

Dec

Download: 11 Gorgeous Motorola XYBOARD / XOOM 2 Static Wallpapers

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Motorola, News, XYBOARD / XOOM 2

Earlier today, Verizon officially announced the upcoming Droid XYBOARD's / XOOM 2's December 12th release date, but who really wants to wait this long just to grab all of its delicious wallpapers? Nobody, that's who, which is why all 11 of them are now looking for a new home, thanks to Droid Life.

Download them one by one (right click, then Save Link As) or grab the whole collection if you want - the choice is yours. The only question is, which one of these 1920x1408 beauties will conquer your heart? Mine's quite partial to the first one here:

Dec

[Editorial] Is Google's 10 Billion Apps Promotion Hurting Developers Who Aren't Part Of It? It Sure Looks That Way

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, Applications, Editorials

In case you haven't heard, Google has been offering 10 apps a day for just $0.10 each as part of a 10 day promotion to celebrate the 10 billionth download from the Android Market. For end users, this promotion has been fantastic, as it offers quality paid apps for next to nothing. In fact, the promotion has also been great for the developers behind the promoted apps, who have seen hugely increased exposure, skyrocketing purchases, and higher spots in the "Top Paid" list. Let's take a quick look at the current state of the Top Paid list, actually:

Look familiar?

Dec

Aldiko Book Reader Gets Huge Update, Shows Love For Tablet Book Fanatics

Posted by Brandon Lancaster in Applications, News, Tablets

If you're getting tired of reading eBooks on a tiny phone screen or looking for a new eReader application for that shiny new tablet, check out Aldiko Book Reader. This popular eBook application just received a huge update geared toward tablet users. It has an entirely new tablet-optimized user interface, which means reading books on your device will look much better than before. In addition to the user interface overhaul, here's everything else the update includes:

Support for opening and importing files into the app directly from the browser, email attachments, and third-party apps like Dropbox.
Support for opening PDF file attachments in the Gmail client on Android 3.0+ tablets.

Dec

[Download] Highly NSFW - "Dick" Returns As A Downloadable APK After Android Market Ban

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Applications

First things first - if you're easily offended or recently had your appendix removed, with stitches that could come apart from excessive laugher, stop reading right now, hit the Back button, and erase the title from your memory. Cool? Alright.

So, a few weeks back, an app called "Dick" showed up in the Market, only to be quickly banned by Google (what a dick move, eh?). We called it the most WTF app to ever hit Android, and Google seems to be in agreement. Since there's a sexual connotation (who would have thought?), the Market's ToS are pretty clear - no porn is allowed, so nobody should have been surprised when the app got ejected.

Nov

[Download] Updated Android Market v3.3.12

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Applications, News

Last Updated: April 26th, 2012

An update to the Android Market bringing it up to version 3.3.12 surfaced late Friday night. This version seems to be an incremental update to the previously available 3.3.11 - in fact, we're not really sure what exactly changed between the two. A cursory run through all the menus didn't yield any obvious additions, although these improvements could be all under-the-hood.

My initial thought was it's somehow related to the Music announcement, but since the Music tab started showing up without any Market updates in 3.3.11, it must be something else. The only hint on the entire Internet comes from T-Mobile which insists you will need 3.3.12 in order to see the free songs every week, but I am skeptical.

Nov

[Update: Download Mirrors] Google Music 4.0.9 App Now Live On The Android Market

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Applications, Google, News

The Google Music 4.0.9 update (remember the pre-release version 4.0.1 we leaked last month?) is live in the Android Market. The app now integrates with the new Music-enabled Market and has a brand new, much improved ICS-like UI.

Update: For those outside the U.S., here are some download mirrors:

Note: If you are using the leaked Music v4.0.1, you will need to uninstall it first, as it was signed with a different Google key.

Grab Google Music v4.0.9 from the Market using the widget below.

Google Music

QR code for https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.music

Nov

Get Into The Holiday Spirit With Christmas HD Live Wallpaper - Possibly The Most Well Thought-Out LWP Yet

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Applications, News

The creators of such marvels as My Beach and Celtic Garden, DualBoot Games, have outdone themselves this holiday season with Christmas HD - what I believe to be the most intricate live wallpaper I've seen on Android in a long time (ever?).

Customizable lights, gifts, tree topper, snowflakes, garlands, and a Christmas countdown are just the tip of the iceberg. Wait till you see your own photo above the fireplace, your family's names embroiled on the stockings, and a note to Santa signed by the same guy or gal who's looking back at you in the mirror every morning. And all of that in gorgeous 3D.