Liam Spradlin
Contributing since August, 2011
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About Liam Spradlin
Liam loves Android, design, user experience, and travel. He doesn't love ill-proportioned letter forms, advertisements made entirely of stock photography, and writing biographical snippets.
Latest Articles
Update: It looks like the 16GB Nexus 10 is back in stock now. If you were one of the unlucky few who missed the first batch of orders, go ahead and claim yours now.
Thanksgiving isn't just about turkey and mashed potatoes (sorry, I had to), it's also about snapping up deals on the things you've been waiting all year to buy, or the things you've yet to cross off your holiday shopping list.
In a continued quest to bring their handy functionality of the Note line's S Pen, Samsung has again updated the stylus' SDK, this time to 2.2.5 (a 0.0.5 bump over the previous update).
Amazon, "in accordance with certain free and open source software licenses," released today the open source code files for their 8.9" Kindle Fire HD, one of the latest tablets to join their wildly successful e-reader lineup.
For many users, if an official firmware update for their device isn't available, a leaked ROM will do just as well. Owners of Samsung's International Galaxy SII (I9100) willing to run leaked firmware will be happy to know that today, XDA user izap has provided Jelly Bean 4.1.2 (build JZO54K.I9100XXLSJ) firmware for all to enjoy.
Autodesk, known for polished, highly functional software like AutoCAD, and apps that allow users to build, manipulate, animate, and plan from their Android device, also found a hit with its Pixlr-o-matic app, an image editor that primarily touted its ability to create "cool looking vintage images." I always thought a vintage filter app was a little out of place in Autodesk's otherwise power user-oriented lineup, but it was still a fun app for quick antique-ification of your mobile photos.
Popular benchmark and performance test maker Futuremark today announced that their 3DMark product, "the world's most popular benchmark and PC test," will be getting an update that brings it to Windows, Windows, RT, Android, and iOS, allowing the tool to join the ranks of cross-platform benchmarkers like the popular GeekBench.
Cold Beam Games' Beat Hazard Ultra, the fascinating rhythm-based shooter we covered a few days ago, officially came out of beta and into the Play Store today, offering to bring with it all the bullets and enemies you can handle while you supply the music.
If you're an AT&T subscriber who is yet to "do more faster" with the provider's LTE network, you might just be in luck. AT&T has announced new LTE availability in six cities across the country today, along with expansion in the Greater Seattle Area and one county in Maryland.
Today, in a post to the Official Google TV Blog, Google announced officially the new functionality offered by the YouTube update we covered yesterday, along with a few other treats set to hit Google TV users starting with LG devices "this week."
OtterBox, one of the leading names in protective cases and accessories for just about every popular mobile device under the sun, announced today the acquisition of Wrapsol, a Boston, Massachusetts based manufacturer of several lines of protective film wraps for smartphones, tablets, and e-readers, and makers of an interesting "Grip Pad" line introduced at CES 2012 that provides a, well, grippy surface to hold onto so your device can avoid the drops Wrapsol's films protect it from.
Today, with the official release of the Nexus 4, Nexus 10, and Nexus 7 HSPA+, Google has released the Android 4.2 SDK, "a new and improved Jelly Bean."
Device Art Generator Updated With Nexus 4, 10 Frames
Device Art Generator Updated With Nexus 4, 10 Frames
Since the Device Frame Generator moved to Google's Android Developer site and received its new name (Device Art Generator), we've heard nary a peep about additional frames or other updates. That appears to have changed today, however – the Device Art Generator now features gorgeous new frames for both the Nexus 4 and Nexus 10, of course with the ability to toggle shadow, glare, and rotation. If you're a developer who needs a nice easy way to build promotional collateral, or just an average user who wants to create beautifully-framed screenshots, hit the link below.
Update: At the time of last update, the 16GB Nexus 4 is consistently listed as "Coming Soon," with the 8GB version going up and down. The 32GB Nexus 10 is also consistently listed as "Coming Soon." If we receive any word that these device's are again available, we will update this post.
If you're a resident of the US waiting for your chance at one of the new Nexus devices, you've no doubt been growing envious as countries around Europe (and Australia) got to place their own orders before (and after) the rumored 12am PST launch time for the US.
Android 4.2 (Build JOP40C) Rolling Out To The Nexus 7 Now – Manual Download Link Available
Android 4.2 (Build JOP40C) Rolling Out To The Nexus 7 Now – Manual Download Link Available
Nexus 7 owners, it's your turn. Earlier this evening, before many countries even had access to Nexus 4 or 10 orders, Google began pushing the 4.2 (JOP40C) update to the Takju Galaxy Nexus. After some patient waiting, it appears the Nexus 7 is now ready for an update as well. In case you don't feel like waiting on the OTA though, we've got the download link and some super-easy instructions for manually updating your favorite 7-inch slate.
It looks like we can add one more market to the list of those to which Google has opened the Nexus gates. Customers in a few European countries can now claim their own Nexus 4 or Nexus 10 from Google Play. Note: since these orders just opened up, you may see some errors or inconsistencies with ordering or availability. If any of the devices appear to truly be out of stock, we'll update this post.
Just after users began reporting that their Galaxy Nexus devices were receiving an update to Android 4.2 Jelly Bean (build JOP40C, to be precise), it looks like the manual update package is available for download. As could be expected, this coincides almost perfectly with the launch of Google's newest additions to the Nexus family – the Nexus 4 and 10.
Update 3: It appears that both the 8 and 16GB Nexus 4 are going back and forth between "In Stock" and "Coming Soon." Customers still looking to get their hands on a Nexus 4 are encouraged to keep their fingers on the refresh key, or simply check back a little later when things have settled down. If we get word that one or both variants are out of stock, we'll update.