17
Oct
dan-rosenbergs-presentation-on-android-modding-for-the-security-practitioner-is-a-must-read

[Exclusive] Android 4.2 Alpha Teardown, Part 2: SELinux, VPN Lockdown, And Premium SMS Confirmation

Posted by in Android OS, APK Teardown, Exclusives, Features

We've got an LG Nexus system dump and endless desire to spoil every Googley surprise we can. Today's edition of the Android 4.2 Teardown could be alternatively subtitled "The Super-Serious Security Edition," because we're talking about the sort of stuff that should make your sysadmin jump for joy.

Please keep in mind this is just as forward-facing and time-ambiguous as all my other teardowns. This is a list of new stuff in the 4.2 dump, not a list of "confirmed for 4.2" features. Anything could be cut or not fully implemented by the time 4.2 rolls around; similarly to how bits of Android are currently multi-user aware, yet multi-user functionality isn't accessible.

02
Sep
hi-256-12-8b00a7e80f55fb6faddb92a4de5662e71e1c4022

[New App] TabletSMS, From The Creator Of DeskSMS, Lets You Send SMS And MMS Messages From Your Tablet

Posted by in Applications, News

Over the past year or so, my tablet has become my primary mobile device, replacing my phone for most things. However, while I appreciate the bigger screen and better battery life my tablet has over my phone, there are still things that I must use my phone for, like calling and texting.

I have a Bluetooth keyboard connected to my tablet a lot of the time, especially if I'm sending a lot of emails or taking notes for a review. Thus, it's kind of annoying to have to switch to my phone every time someone sends me a text message. Thankfully, ClockworkMod just released a tablet version of its app DeskSMS.

30
Apr
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NotifierPro And SMS Flash Are Two Apps That Will Help You Text Without Interrupting Your Game

Posted by in Applications, News

We've got a two-fer for you gamers today. While Android has always excelled at managing notifications, the one area that's always been a little bit troublesome is when you're using full-screen apps, like games. When receiving a message, your phone might vibrate, but you'll get no info on what kind of message you just received. NotifierPro and SMS Flash are two apps that are designed to help with this.

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The first app, NotifierPro, provides a notification overlay that appears above whatever you're running. This includes full screen apps like games, as well as the notification shade itself. If you're looking for customizability, this is it.

27
Mar
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Handcent SMS 4.0 Leaves Beta, Hits The Play Store With New Features And New UI In Tow

Posted by in Applications, News

All you Handcent loyalists should love this one - your favorite SMS app just received a pretty major up to version 4.0 in the Play Store. If you've been testing the open beta for the last several weeks, then none of these changes should be surprising to you, but if you haven't been in the beta loop, this version brings several new features:

What's in this version:

  1. Main update of Handcent,include universal messaging with free Handcent talk services and new style user interface
  2. Handcent Talk service,send FREE messages/picture to android & iPhone (Coming soon) users easily,fast,security
  3. Support ICS+SGS2,won't send double messages
  4. Support Group mms with iPhone,useful for US networks
  5. First version of Handcent SMS for jailbreak iPhone released
  6. New Handcent website

The update is live in the Play Store right now, so go ahead and hit the widget to grab it.

22
Feb
Sprint

Comcast Sues Sprint For Patent Infringement On SMS/MMS, Mobile Broadband, And Network Technologies

Posted by in Legal, News, Sprint

It seems Sprint just can't catch a break lately. After the LightSquared LTE fiasco (it seems eminently likely Sprint will be forking over $65 million and have to cancel the deal), this just seems a bit like kicking the company when it's already down. Comcast has filed suit in Pennsylvania against the nation's number-three carrier, and it's for patent infringement.

Namely, Comcast alleges that Sprint is violating patents it owns covering technologies like SMS/MMS, mobile broadband cards and hotspots, as well as certain traffic routing technologies (IP/MPLS). Here are some excerpts from the complaint regarding the patents:

  • No. 7,684,391: Communications System for Delivering Multimedia Internet Protocol Packets Across Network Boundaries.

13
Feb
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[Review] Despite Lacking A Few Features, Powow By HandMark Delivers A Sleek Messaging Experience To Android

Posted by in App Reviews, Applications

Powow: Text Messaging is an alternative messaging app made by Handmark, the company that produced One Louder Apps. Now, I know that you're thinking about all of the other messaging apps on the Market and want to know what makes this one special. The fact of the matter is that only a small percentage of the endless waves of similar apps are worth using, and despite missing a couple key features, Powow is one of few I would consider fully committing to.

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Features

As I mentioned before, this app does miss a few key features, but we'll get to that later.

02
Dec
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[New App] Yahoo's Hub Creates Group Chats Using Text Messages - With Several Limitations

Posted by in Applications, News
Last Updated: August 27th, 2012

The Android Market certainly doesn't have a lack of group chat-messaging clients, but it appears that Yahoo is ready to throw its hat into the ring away. Separate from the Messenger app (which has been available on Android for quite some time), Hub uses text messages over a data connection - meaning that you won't incur any text messaging charges from using it. Unfortunately, your friends who don't have the client installed will, and in fact they may not be able to use it at all.

If both you and the person (or people) you are chatting with have the client installed (currently only available for Android 2.1 and up) then your messages will be sent over data.

14
Oct

[Update: It's Official] Google Voice MMS-To-Email Rolling Out To Some Sprint Users

Posted by in News, Sprint

What? Google Voice is getting a feature update? People still work on Google Voice?

Update: Well, it's official. Just like suspected, it's currently only working for Sprint customers, and text to email forwarding must be enabled. Not to worry, though, El Goog is working on incorporating this feature into the Voice inbox.

They're also working with other wireless carriers to enable the feature for all Voice users as soon as they can, so just sit tight if you're not on the Now Network -- shouldn't be too long. [via Google Voice Blog]

Apparently, Google is taking a baby step towards one of Voice's longest running feature requests: MMS.

27
Sep
hi-256-0-e6e045871a3e73f36a817fdcb1d8d8e475850b63

[Update: AT&T And Sprint Support Added] Smozzy Bucks The System, Lets T-Mobile Customers Browse The Web Without A Data Plan

Posted by in Applications, News

Update: If you've been itching to try this workaround on a non-T-Mobile phone, then now's your chance. The Snozzy dev has added experimental support for AT&T and Sprint, and untested support for Verizon, Virgin, Cricket, Straight Talk, US Cellular, and Viaero. Since the latter group is completely untested, there's a good chance that it will be extremely buggy, if it even works at all. If you decide to give it a go, make sure to drop us a line and let us know how it turns out!

With all this talk of data plans - unlimited, tiered, throttled... whatever - one developer decided to find a way to circumvent the system and gain access to the web without paying carrier prices.

22
Sep
google-calendar-final1

[Tip] Add Events To Google Calendar With SMS And Voice Commands

Posted by in News, Tips & Tutorials

You could continue to add events to your Google Calendar the old fashioned way, or you could use this super cool (and fun!) method of SMSing things to your GCal.

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The process is so easy a caveman could do it, so follow along and you'll be one step closer to speaking (almost) directly to your calendar:

  • Add GEvent (48368) to your contacts, name it “Magic Calendar”
  • Click and hold the Search button to bring up Google Voice Search and say, “Text to Magic Calendar, Pick up kids 2pm at the Cliffs in Valhalla, New York” (or, you know, whatever event you want to schedule)
  • Wait a bit… you should receive a confirmation text and it should show up on your Google Calendar
  • Bring up event in your favorite calendar app or widget… click on the link for the location
  • Click on bubble to check out Places and to get turn-by-turn directions from your free Google Navigation
  • Extra credit – do the step #2 voice search hands-free using VLingo InCar

And that's it.

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