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If you're a fan of physics-based titles, your options on pretty much any mobile platform aren't exactly limited. However, Freeze! by Frozen Gun Games definitely looks a little more interesting than your average title in the genre. Comprised mainly of tilt-based gameplay - though accomplished through touch instead of a gyroscope, thankfully - Freeze! is the compelling story of an ocular hero (no really, he's an eye) attempting to escape from an off-world prison.
If you head on over to Google's factory image site, you'll find brand-new images based on the incremental update to Android 4.2.1. The devices with factory images currently available include the Nexus 7, Nexus 7 3G, Galaxy Nexus (takju, yakju), and Nexus 4. The 4.2.1 image for the Nexus 10 has been delayed, according to JBQ, due to an issue with JOP40C not being flashable over older builds. This has since been fixed, and you can download the new 4.2 factory image for the Nexus 10, though it's still build JOP40C.
Seeing old board games modernized for smartphones has become relatively commonplace in the last year or two, though as Words With Friends has taught us, that isn't always a good thing. BattleFriends at Sea is enough free-to-play entry into the old-school board game foray, though it's remarkably polished and well-made.
Samsung's released the open source code for the Galaxy Premier (GT-9260), as well as the Verizon version of the Galaxy Note II (SCH-I605), which just had its official sale details announced a few minutes ago.
I understand that there have already been dozens of rants in regard to Google's "launch" (and yes, that requires ironic quotes) of the Nexus 4. And I understand that sitting here whining about it doesn't help anyone - so I'm going to avoid that. Really. I mean it. Mostly. But I am going to be critical.
Do you want a QWERTY slider phone on Verizon? Then your options are pretty limited at this point. And by "limited," I mean this is basically your only one: Samsung's Stratosphere II. It's WVGA-tacular! It's also free if you use your existing Verizon customer upgrade over at Amazon Wireless, which is a good deal. I guess. New customers looking to get in on this not-exactly-bleeding-edge slider will have to fork over a Benjamin, though $100 is still thirty bucks less than what Verizon will charge you.
When Hurricane Sandy pummeled the eastern seaboard late last month, no tech event was spared - including AllThingsD's Dive Into Mobile conference.
If you're looking for the Android 4.2.1 update to the Nexus 4 that started rolling out this morning (it's a very minor patch, at only 1.1MB), you can find it, straight from Google's servers, at this link.
Galaxy Note 10.1 N8000 (3G / Wi-Fi) Jelly Bean Update Rolling Out In UK, Spain, And Nordic Countries
After beginning its steady march to wide release in Germany a few weeks ago, the Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) update for the Galaxy Note 10.1 is making its way to more European nations today. The UK, Spain, and various Nordic nations (presumably Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland) have the firmware available now (grab it here or here), if you're feeling impatient. Otherwise, just keep hitting that "check update" button over the next week or two, and sweet Jelly Bean goodness should be on its way to you shortly.
Chrome for Android is expected to start aligning with desktop releases of the browser by "early next year," according to a post by the Chrome team on Google+.
Google is sending out emails to many of those who ordered Nexus 4's during the first day of availability, and were subsequently told they'd be waiting up to three weeks to get their phones. We're now hearing from numerous tipsters that Google is sending out an email indicating those orders will ship this week. Members of our team have received the email, as well. Here it is:
If you have a European or Asian model One X (read: Not AT&T), start frantically hitting that check update button - it's peanut butter jelly Jelly Bean time. We're hearing from multiple sources that HTC is beginning to roll out Jelly Bean to the One X in various regions today.
I can't claim to have a solid grasp of what exactly makes dubstep appealling, nor can I understand Bieber Fever. I don't get swag. I do, though, know what the kids are into putting on their ears these days: Beats.Let's not beat around the bush: the Sony MDR-X10's are ridiculously overwrought, flashy, made out of plastic, and endorsed by Simon Cowell. The Beats market is squarely in Sony's crosshairs with this headphone. Even the price point ($300 - street and MSRP) matches up with Dr. Dre's previously top-of-the-line Studio model.I'm not being particularly fair to Sony here, though, by immediately lumping the X10's unceremoniously into the "designer headphone" pile - they're certainly not without their own points of distinction. In fact, Sony has long been renowned for its over-the-ear cans, making some of the best on the market in terms of value for money. Just hit up Amazon, and you'll see glowing review upon glowing review - many for products under $100.But most of those reviews are from A/V pros, DJs, audiophiles, and, well, older people. Sony's headphones don't send a young, vital image - they look more like tools than fashion statements. The X10's are Sony's attempt to tap into a growing market for designer personal audio gear, a market that is quickly becoming the only one of importance when it comes to headphone sales in the US. Just think about this: Beats controls over half of the US headphone market by revenue.So, while my gut's aesthetic sense is immediately tempted to toss the X10's aside as flashy toys, my heart desperately wants Sony to show Dr. Dre that headphones are still about the science of sound - even the absurdly gaudy and tasteless ones.
Do you have 13 minutes to kill? Is the Galaxy Camera something that might interest you? Then you may as well watch this 13-minute long video Samsung posted about it. It'll tell you stuff. Stuff about the Galaxy Camera. Personally, I like it with a glass of warm milk before bed, but we thought we'd share it, as the Galaxy Camera's features are laid out quite completely and thoroughly. If you can survive the narration.
Welcome to the Android Police Week In Review - your source for the biggest Android stories of the week. Don't forget, you can catch a lot of these stories (and more) on our weekly podcast.
[The Android Police Podcast] Episode 37: Geeks In Trench Coats And Katanas
Welcome to the Android Police Podcast, Episode 37
Welcome to the Android Police Podcast, Episode 37. Don't forget - the Android Police Podcast's live broadcast is every Thursday at 5PM PST (www.androidpolice.com/podcast). The unedited video version of the podcast can be found here - and will likely include various verbal expletives, technical snafus, tangents, and probably a good 5-10 minutes of pre-podcast banter as we prepare. Watch at your own risk!
You didn't think we'd miss a chance to give something away on this day of all things cheap, did you? Of course not. So we've teamed up with AT&T to give you a little Black Friday promotion of our own - in the form of a free Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 with LTE.
Have you been looking for a high-capacity portable charging solution without the high price? Amazon's got a great deal on the highly-rated New Trent IMP120D portable charger today as part of its Black Friday Deals Week, just $53.50 shipped (and Prime-eligible). This is a pretty standard two-port USB portable charger, though with a massive 646 reviews and a 4.5 star rating, it's hard to see how you could possibly go wrong here.
It's a deal kind of day (it's Black Friday, after all), and we've got another one to add to your list: the unlocked GSM version of the Galaxy Note II is [ebay id=350648793338 text="just $550 on eBay Daily Deals"], with free shipping included.