Liam Spradlin
Contributing since August, 2011
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1523articles
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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
Yesterday we reported on a shocking bit of news discovered within an XML file on Samsung's website. The file nexusprime.xml suggested that the next Nexus device was to have a screen resolution of just 480x800. This, along with the ARM11 processor listed in the file proved to be a source of concern for many, but the bewildering specs seemed too out of place to be true.
Webroot Software Inc. are the developers behind the popular security solution of the same name for desktops, and have brought the same protection to Android users with Webroot Mobile Security. This app, unlike its desktop counterpart, has features specifically for lost or stolen devices, giving the user the ability to track, lock, and wipe the device remotely from the handy online console.
For those still wondering whether Android's first Ice Cream Sandwich device will be made by Samsung, there may finally be a definitive answer. A file recently spotted on Sammy's website called "nexusprime.xml" tells us that the answer is yes.
Evernote, one of the most popular note apps for Android, got an update to version 3.2 recently, bringing integration with Skitch, offline search capability and a handful of other features that make it a huge step up from previous versions.
Something that I love about the Android development community is that developers are always looking for the newest thing to beef up current devices. The case of HTC's Sense 3.5 is no different. The newest iteration of HTC's overlay was obtained from a dump belonging the HTC Bliss, a yet-to-be-released phone that will come with Sense 3.5 baked in. Ostensibly a split-second later, Senior XDA developer Evokings got 3.5-based ROM to the EVO 4G. The new version of Sense is already available on the Droid Incredible, the Incredible 2, and a few other HTC devices.
Coming in at number 11 in our shootout is McAfee Wave Secure. McAfee is one of the biggest names in digital security, and by buying the popular security app Wave Secure, they're bringing the McAfee name and protection many have come to trust to your Android device.
Dolphin HD, one of the top web browsers for Android, got updated to version 6.2 today, bringing more accurate gesture recognition and a slew of improvements for webzine viewing. The most notable improvement brought by 6.2 is support for the Bookmark Sync add-on, a separately downloadable plugin that allows users to backup and sync their Dolphin bookmarks.
Geodog GmbH are the developers of Geodog Mobile, a new application for Android that helps the user track their lost dog via GPS by connecting with a separately-sold tracking collar. The app will track location, display topographical maps, and even provide street directions to reach your wandering pet. Another interesting feature is the ability to save maps for offline viewing, meaning no data connection is required if your dog is lost within a map that you've already saved.
Remember back in May of last year when we reported on the AR.Drone at Google I/O? The Drone is no doubt an impressive gadget, and even more impressive is the fact that it can be controlled via an app for your Android handset.
Samsung's Galaxy Tab 7.7 seemed like a promising tablet when announced at IFA, despite the fact that it was evidently not headed for the U.S. Those hoping to get their hands on the device however will be interested to learn that the 7.7 has disappeared from IFA altogether. All that is left of the device's display is a drab curtain and velvet rope.
Yesterday, we announced Sentinel 3: Homeworld by Origin8 which hit the Android market as the third game in a very popular tower defense series, and the first installment to be available for Android. Normally I am not too excited about games of this genre, but I can honestly say that Sentinel 3 has impressed me both in terms of gameplay experience and sheer visual interest, thanks to the cleanly styled environments, visual effects, and smooth animation.
Squarespace, a popular web publishing company, has released a dedicated content management app for Android which brings blogging capabilities, stats, comment management, and your Squarespace settings to your Android phone or tablet. Squarespace for Android packs these features into a clean and stylish interface.
There have been rumblings lately regarding suspicious data collection happening with HTC's Evo 3D. For those not familiar, it was recently discovered that a service in the latest update for the Evo 3D collected usage, location, and device information, causing some concern among users and developers alike.
With somewhere around 200 apps on my phone at any given time, it can be a pain to scroll through all of them to find what I'm looking for. Categorizing apps into handy folders can also be time-consuming. Fazik Logic takes the concept of sorting your apps one step further however with LiveSorter, a new app that automatically sorts installed applications into appropriate categories.
If you've been looking for a sports app that gives you up-to-the-minute scores, stats, and live commentary from hundreds of people in the know, you're in luck. OneLouder, the developer behind TweetCaster and FriendCaster, has just released SportCaster - an app that allows you to follow a variety of sports from your mobile device, and view a constant stream of tweets from players and experts as well as all the info you need about what's happening in the game.
The Samsung Galaxy W is looking like a strong mid-range Android phone, packing a 1.4GHz processor, a 5MP rear shooter, 3.7" WVGA display and 4GB internal memory. Before its debut (slated for next month on Three network in the UK) Samsung has generously posted the device's source code.
Adding to the pile of news surrounding the Samsung Galaxy S II this week, we have some new info -- some good and some bad . The good news is that the AT&T and T-Mobile variants will both be equipped with NFC. Engadget (along with François Simond) took a peak earlier today into the system files of AT&T's S II variant and found conclusive evidence of NFC presence, including a pre-installed app, but whether mobile payments will be one of the SII's capabilities remains to be seen. Additionally, FCC filings from T-Mobile confirm NFC is onboard for its GSII as well.
Remember a couple of days ago when we reported that Toshiba may be unveiling a slim new tablet at IFA to compete with the Galaxy Tab 10.1? It turns out the rumor was true, and Notebook Italia has released the first live photos of what we suspect will be called the Toshiba Excite.
Sony Ericsson's original Xperia arc was a great phone, winning Best European Camera Phone from EISA, and another award for its sleek design. The arc's next iteration- the Xperia arc S was announced by Sony today in Berlin, and ups the ante over its predecessor by packing in a 1.4 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and a sweep panorama camera function that has the capability of creating 3D panoramas. The phone also comes with access to Sony's Music and Video unlimited services, bringing a lot more entertainment to your device.
The official Galaxy S II press conference has only just begun (it's streaming live now), but all 3 carriers we've been expecting to see the S II on - Sprint, AT&T, and T-Mobile - have already sent out their press releases.