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If you have been on the internet in the past couple of days, then you probably know that BBM for Android was supposed to hit the Play Store promptly at 7:00AM ET this morning. You probably also know that didn't happen, and the app still isn't available. Blackberry has now taken to its business blog to tell us exactly what's causing the hold up.
[Quick And Dirty Hands-On] Check Out This Little Box With A Retractable USB Cable In It From Scosche
A few weeks ago, I went on my semi-annual trip from Texas to Virginia to spend some time with my family that lives there. Throughout the duration of my stay, I had to tether for internet access, as I generally stay with my grandparents (<3), who don't have internet. They're extremely old-school country folks who like to keep things simple. Visiting them is actually incredibly refreshing – the air is pure, and lifestyle is vastly different than what I'm used to.
To put it simply, HP isn't the most sought-after name in the tablet game. The company's first real Android tablet, the Slate 7, didn't work out quite like expected, while the recently-released Slatebook x2 managed to miss the mark when it came to the display. They say the third time's a charm, so HP decided to go all out with its third tablet announcement and drop four new Android-powered device on the world. Say hello to the Slate7 HD, Slate10 HD, Slate8 Pro, and the most notable of the bunch (no pun intended), the Slate 7 Extreme.
Google AdSense App Updated To Version 1.2 With Its Most Requested Feature: A Widget [Update: APK]
Google AdSense App Updated To Version 1.2
What you read is true. If you're an AdSense customer and want to keep an eye on your AdSense and AdMob accounts, the oft-requested widget is finally part of the official AdSense app. Breathe a sigh of relief – you're days will be be better moving forward, everything will be more convenient, and life as a whole is going to be good, maybe even great. All thanks to this convenient widget.
The day is finally coming, ladies and gentlemen. After more than four months since the announcement that Blackberry would be bringing its incredibly popular messaging service to Android (and iOS), we finally have a launch date. In an official blog post today, the recently-renamed company announced that the app would hit the Play Store on Saturday, September 21st promptly at 7:00 AM Eastern Time. We've been seeing more and more leaks of the app as of late, so this announcement isn't much of a surprise. Still, it's nice to finally have something concrete.
NVIDIA Announces The Evolution Of The Kai Platform: Say Hello To 'Tegra Note'
NVIDIA Announces The Evolution Of The Kai Platform
Last year, NVIDIA announced a then-groundbreaking tablet design called Kai. It was essentially a reference – a blueprint, if you will – for manufacturers to design and build extremely affordable tablets. The plan was clearly laid out, but the platform itself was incredibly flexible so the manufacturing costs and retail pricing could fluctuate as much as the design of the tablets themselves. Google's 2012 Nexus 7 was just one of the tablets that took advantage of Kai.
Google Wallet got off to a rough start. Carriers didn't want to support it for various reasons, it only worked on certain devices ... it was really just a big mess. As time passed, it didn't get much better, either. Today, however, Google is looking to change everything when it comes to Wallet. It's rolling out v2.0 of the app that brings a slew of new features, as well as making it available for basically all Android phones running Gingerbread (2.3) and higher.
You guys remember Bump? It's been a while since we've had a reason to discuss the app, but that changes today; Google just bought the company. For those who may not be familiar with Bump, it's an app that allows files, images, apps, and the like to be transferred from device to device by touching the two together. It was actually pretty popular a few years ago, before NFC and Android Beam (which, honestly, still doesn't work correctly half the time) came along.
If you're one of the many who thinks Motorola's X phone is the bee's knees, then Amazon potentially has a deal that may be of interest. Why "potentially," you ask? Because this one's only good for Sprintsters (or those considering the jump).
Most of the Bluetooth speakers that we review here at AP fall into the portable category (with the exception of this one). Since portability isn't a requisite on everyone's "I need this in a Bluetooth speaker" list and some users may just want a standard set of wireless speakers for the desk, we decided to venture out and take a look at Logitech's sexy new Z600 desktop Bluetooth speakers ($150, Logitech). What makes this set unique is that it can pair with and connect to three device simultaneously, making it extremely easy to pull audio from multiple devices – simply pause one and hit play on the next. To add even more convenience, the Z600 is also cross platform; it works with Windows, Android, iOS, OSX, and any other Bluetooth A2DP-enabled device.
When I was a kid, every Saturday my parents would to have cookouts and invite the rest of the family (and some friends) over. Almost everyone showed up week after week – my aunts and uncles, cousins, people my parents had been friends with for years, and many of the kids I was friends with from the neighborhood. Everyone knew that during the summer, my house was the place to be on the weekends. We would eat, play croquet, volleyball, badminton, and basketball until well past dark. Those cookouts are some of the best memories I have from my childhood, and I hold them even closer since I now live over 1,000 miles away from most of my family.As fun and festive as those weekends were, I recall a distinct lack of music. That was probably 20 years (or thereabout) ago, so taking tunes outside of the house wasn't nearly as easy as it is now – hell, I take millions of songs with me everywhere I go these days thanks to Play Music All Access. If we had those cookouts nowadays, you better believe that a killer Bluetooth boombox would be clutch in making the experience even better.While we've reviewed many Bluetooth speakers over the last couple of years, we haven't really spent a lot of time in the Bluetooth boombox category – the Logitech UE Boombox is probably the only qualifying speaker we've taken a look at. At $250 though, it can be a tough pill to swallow for many. So after hearing about the G-Boom from G-Project, seeing its rugged exterior and $99 price tag, we had to see what it's all about.And in short, it's awesome, price be damned.
When it comes to Android tablets with detachable keyboards, one name comes to mind: Transformer. There's no denying that ASUS has carved out a pretty specific niche in the Android tablet/laptop convertible category. HP is looking to change that with the SlateBook x2, a 10.2-inch Android tablet with a keyboard dock that essentially converts it to an Android-powered laptop. It's small enough to fall into the "netbook" category, but that's a dirty word I try to stay away from.Here's the thing though - this feels nothing like ASUS' offerings. When I heard about the SlateBook x2, I just assumed it would be an ASUS knockoff - a copycat of an already-successful product. But it's not. It's actually kind of strange; the Transformer series has always felt like a tablet with an attachable keyboard dock, whereas the SlateBook x2 feels like a small Android laptop with a detachable tablet. I guess what I'm saying here is that where the Transformers have always felt like tablets first and foremost, the SlateBook feels more like a laptop from the ground up. Maybe this is because traditional PCs are what HP is most familiar with. Whatever the reason, it's actually much better at being an Android laptop than the Transformers have ever been.But let's not get too complimentary right out of the gate – it's far from perfect.
If you've been reading AP for the last couple of years, then you've probably heard about Apps World and know what this post is all about. If you're a newcomer to our readership and are also a developer, listen up – we've got a pair of tickets to one of the best app developer conferences around to give away.
The Droid DNA was sort of an unprecedented phone. It was the first device in the US to feature a full 1080p display – something that has since become the norm. But at the time, its 440 PPI was absolutely mind-blowing. While mobile technology has undoubtedly progressed since the DNA's release, this phone is still able to hold its own in nearly every situation.
At last week's IFA Conference in Berlin, Germany, Samsung showed off a tablet-optimized version of the official Twitter app while talking up all the features the the 2014 Edition Note 10.1 has to offer. Of course, at the time we weren't sure if this was just a mockup or screenshot mishap on Samsung's part (it does look exactly like the iPad's version of the app, after all), but it now appears that it's indeed the real deal. German Android site AndroidNext has gotten its hands on a leaked copy of the apk, which seems to be fully-functioning.
We've talked quite a bit about mobile security in the past, and the name Bitdefender Mobile Security for Android always seems to make its way into the conversation. There's a good reason for that – since its initial release, Bitdefender Mobile Security has always been one of the top choices on Google Play when it comes to device protection. But the company hasn't been stagnant since the first release, it has pushed a steady stream of updates to the Play Store, brining new features to the table on a regular basis.
Sprint's Moto X Will Be Available On September 6th For $199, Comes With A 'Lifetime Unlimited Guarantee'
Sprint's Moto X Will Be Available On September 6th
Sprintsters (and potential Sprintsters of the future), listen up: Motorola's new flagship is hitting The Now Network tomorrow. That doesn't give you a whole lot of time to get ready to pick up the new handset, so you better start digging through the couch cushions now.
If you use PayPal (and who doesn't?), and have been pretty unhappy with its mobile app (and who isn't?) today brings a much-needed change. The company just released v5.0 of its app, which brings a completely redesigned interface – and I'm not talking about one of those "completely redesigned" interfaces that moves some menus and changes a few colors, either; this is a complete overhaul – along with a slew of new features. Here's a quick look at what to expect in the new PayPal:
[IFA 2013] Lenovo Announces The Vibe X Smartphone And S5000 Tablet
Lenovo Announces The Vibe X Smartphone And S5000 Tablet
If you've been waiting on new mobile hardware from Lenovo to hit the scene, well ... you might be the only one. And if that's the case, then this post is just for you. Feel special.