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In the ongoing effort to make apps better on Android, Google has released another new guide for the developers who may be looking for guidance on just how to build a great tablet-oriented app. The piece has some fairly detailed information, including how much to adjust padding of UI elements and how to target different screen sizes and resolutions. There is also more broad guidance on how to make the most of larger screen real-estate.
We've been waiting on Wild Blood for a while now, and it's finally arrived. Gameloft's first game built on the Unreal engine tells the story of Sir Lancelot and his quest to defeat the evil Morgana and save Guinevere. Sounds fancy, huh? The retelling of the classic story even features an 8-person multiplayer mode. We'll leave you to make your own round table jokes.
Well, that's one way to announce a new device. Today on Twitter, Japanese user @oppese posted two photos of a Nexus 7 tablet. The first photo shows the storage screen displaying 27.58GB of usable space (indicating a 32GB model), and the second shows packaging for a 16GB Nexus 7. We've heard before that some stores are setting up a place for the higher capacity Nexus 7 on their shelves, but it appears this unit was mistakenly sent to a customer ahead of the full launch.
The Customization Center, Project Roadrunner Rumor Was An Elaborate Hoax And Excellent Rumor Mill Case Study
The Customization Center, Project Roadrunner Rumor Was An Elaborate Hoax
The rumor mill giveth and the rumor mill taketh away. Late Sunday night, a commenter on our site posted a surprising confession: he was the source of several rumors regarding Android 4.2. Initially, we confirmed that this commenter was the same who had sent us some different yet equally fantastic stories. Our batch hinted that Robert Downey Jr. might have been hired to introduce the new Nexii for the next couple years, for example. Now, Android & Me has posted a retraction of the initial article stating that Android 4.2 would contain a Customization Center and Project Roadrunner.
If you happen to have any grains of salt handy, now would be a good time to pull them out. MoDaCo is reporting that sources have filled the site in with details on the rumored Nexus device to come out of LG. The specs sound about in line with what we would expect from a device of this caliber, sporting a quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro, Android 4.2, and a curious 8GB/16GB set of storage options. Given Google's preference for leaving off microSD slots, we're a little surprised to see 16GB as the maximum size option. Sure, they did it with the Nexus 7, but that was an incredibly inexpensive tablet. This, if true, is just silliness.
Even if you haven't played it before, there's a decent chance you've seen Plague Inc. around the internet. Usually, it involves seeing a screenshot that informs you your mom has killed thousands of people. If you've ever wondered how you—yes, you!—can also create silly-named diseases that annihilate Earth's population with your Android phone, the answer has arrived! Go here, download the game, then spend 15 minutes staring at the screen trying to come up with something clever. Fair warning: "BieberFever" has already been done to death.
Samsung's Galaxy Camera Is Officially Coming To AT&T At Some Time For Some Price
Samsung's Galaxy Camera Is Officially Coming To AT&T
The Galaxy Camera, which Samsung initially unveiled in Berlin back in August, is now confirmed to be on its way to AT&T. Unfortunately, the carrier hasn't offered up any details on when it will arrive or how much it will cost. The camera is no slouch, with a 4.7" 308ppi display, a quad-core processor, 4G connectivity, and, of course, a giant camera. That kind of hardware doesn't come cheap.
Sure, the RAZR MAXX HD may be the new hotness of the RAZR family, but if you're looking to get some extra-long battery life on the cheap, Amazon's deal on last year's model may be of interest to you. Today, you can get the RAZR MAXX 4G for $50 on a new two-year contract. If you're an existing customer looking to upgrade, the device will run you $70, which is comparable to prices you'll find at Wirefly.
The rumor mill churns and, having churned, moves on. The big story today is that according to sources familiar with the matter, reports have leaked that lead us to believe that an employee who asked to not be named has told Digitimes that sources say the next Nexus may have already been patented by Apple as the subject of the latest lawsuit to come out of Cupertino.
Just when you thought this whole Samsung vs. Apple case couldn't get any weirder, we're now hearing that Vel Hogan, the jury foreman on the case who helped guide the jurors on patent law and owns some patents himself, was once sued into bankruptcy by Seagate. Samsung, as it turns out, just happens to be the largest single investor in Seagate, owning 9.6 percent of the hard drive company's stock. While it doesn't guarantee that a juror's judgment could be clouded, it is the kind of information one would expect to be volunteered to a courtroom. Mr. Hogan, however, did not disclose this information.
What if I told you that you could carry an 80" Android device around in your pocket? What do you think you would say to me? Perhaps you'd say, "Clearly you are talking about a pico projector device and I'm not falling for your shenanigans." Dang, you're really good at this game. What you probably didn't expect, though, is that the Lightplay by PhoneSuit, as it is called, also features a motion controller with a built-in keyboard, a tripod and access to the entire Google Play Store. Not too bad for $500.
For the uninitiated, 2Checkout is a web-based storefront service that allows users to both create an online checkout system for their products as well as handle merchant services like credit card payments. If you've ever tried to set up your own shop, you know how difficult it can be to get all the moving parts together. Now, 2Checkout is making it even easier with the release of its mobile app that will allow sellers to track sales, issue refunds, and even contact customers.
PantechUSA announced via Twitter this morning that its Burst budget phone will finally be receiving an Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade, in a little less than a week. Curiously, it won't be available over the air. Details haven't been released yet, but the update will be made available on the company's website here.
Previously, we'd heard rumors and whispers that T-Mobile (by way of its parent company Deutsche Telekom) would be acquiring MetroPCS. Today, both companies' boards have approved the merger and, pending regulatory and MetroPCS shareholder approval, the deal should be completed by mid-2013. The two companies will have a combined subscriber base of about 42.5 million customers, which still leaves it in fourth place in the U.S. behind Sprint with 56 million and AT&T/Verizon who each have over 100 million users.
Every so often, with all the new device releases, lawsuits, feature scandals, and scathing editorials that fly back and forth across the tech world, it's nice to step back and take a look at the state of the industry from the comforting safe haven of numbers. ComScore's recent round of stats shows an unsurprising yet telling look at the US mobile industry. Predictably, Android remains the top dog with iOS following closely behind. For the period from May to August, gains made by both platforms were much higher than they were between February to May. Obviously summer is a pretty big time to buy smartphones, especially given the late-June launch of the Galaxy S III in the states.
You know what games don't have enough of these days? Censored cartoon nudity. Everyone knows it's true. Particularly in the running games category. Sure, we've got secret agents, gingers escaping death, and Pixar heroines, yet all of them are decidedly clothed. Streaker! attempts to remedy this problematic conundrum. In this adventure, you're the other man fleeing the scene from a sordid affair. Did we mention this probably isn't for kids? Because it's not.
Sure, the Galaxy S III is the first major flagship device to get Jelly Bean outside the Nexus line. That's not fast enough for you, though, is it? Of course not! We can do better! Or, more accurately, XDA can do better. In fact, a TouchWiz Jelly Bean ROM has found its way to the development forum giant's threads already!
I have a love-hate relationship with docks. On the one hand, they offer me a place to keep my devices, a home, designating where my fancy smart toy resides in an otherwise chaotic world. I may change which pocket, hand, spot on the coffee table or place in my heart that a phone belongs, but a dock is always a constant. When night comes, the dock is its resting place. On the other hand, paying or more for a dock that I can only use with one phone is not something I'm a fan of. The iLuv iMM377, aside from being in desperate need of a catchier name, aims to fill the void in my life.The Bluetooth speaker dock, which supports a wide variety of smartphones, features an adjustable micro-USB port, as well as sliding bracers to keep your phone steady. No matter what size device you have, or where the plug is placed, the iLuv speaker dock should be able to hold on to it just fine. You can also connect via Bluetooth to the speakers to play your music. The MobiAir is available straight from iLuv for $119, or you can get it on Amazon for . So, how does it fare?
One of the nicest options of ASUS' line of tablets is the keyboard dock with a built-in extra battery that can make your device run forever and much easier to type on. The downside? Those docks tend to cost over $100. In the case of the Transformer Pad 300 (TF300), exactly $127, to be precise. Right now, though, Newegg is offering it for free if you buy it with the tablet. The deal is available in both blue and white options.
Be sure to check the "2 Item Combo" check box. If you attempt to add the two accessories separately, you won't get the discount. All in all, these are some pretty nice savings. The TF300 still sells for nearly $400 by itself from other retailers. Getting a free dock is a fantastic option. So, why not?Source: Neweg (blue), (white)
