Android Phone Fans |
- Android 4.4 KitKat KRT16S OTA rolling out to Nexus devices, Factory Images and Binaries updated too
- Motorola now offering up to 18 months interest-free financing when buying a new device on their site
- Xbox One SmartGlass app now available for Android devices
- Humble Mobile Bundle 3 is live, Ridiculous Fishing makes its Android debut
- Official Nexus wireless charger now available on Google Play for $50
- Heads-up: Nexus 7 (2013) 32GB price slashed to $240 on Newegg and Amazon
- LG “Glasstic” trademark hints toward Google Glass-esque wearable
- Nintendo is reportedly building an Android tablet, a single snowflake falls in hell
- Verizon’s Destination Stores aim to change the wireless retail experience for the better
- Official: Verizon Moto X the first to get KitKat as rollout begins today!
- No, Samsung didn’t “sell” 800,000 Galaxy Gears, they shipped that many to retailers
- International Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 rollout begins
- Dead Zebra opens “The Vault,” offers classic figurines at great prices
- Leaked Verizon Black Friday ad shows slim savings
| Android 4.4 KitKat KRT16S OTA rolling out to Nexus devices, Factory Images and Binaries updated too Posted: 19 Nov 2013 05:53 PM PST
A new bugfix build, KRT16S, has been made available for Android 4.4 KitKat. Google is currently pushing the code to AOSP and has already published a new batch of factory images and binaries for the Nexus 4, Nexus 7 (all variants), and Nexus 10. Additionally, you’ll be happy to know that many users are reporting a very small OTA update rolling out to their devices. The Nexus 5 wasn’t mentioned over at the Android building group, nor has the Nexus 5′s images been updated.   If you’re an owner of a Nexus 4, Nexus 7, or Nexus 10, there’s a good chance you’re still waiting for your over-the-air update to arrive. Hopefully the previous slow roll-out was due to a bugfix that was caught early on, fixed, and now updates will commence once again. Did you get the latest OTA update? Let us know in the comments. Source: Android Building, Ryan Lestage |
| Motorola now offering up to 18 months interest-free financing when buying a new device on their site Posted: 19 Nov 2013 05:36 PM PST
Motorola customers now have a new buying option when checking out via their online retail site, the all new Motorola Credit Account. Barely going live only moments ago, Motorola now offers customers the option to finance their next smartphone purchase, offering zero interest for up to 6, 12, or 18 months. Of course, the usual caveats apply. The most obvious being above average credit if you hope to get approved. After that, it’ll take a minimum $549 purchase (before tax) to qualify for the longer 18 months interest-free financing. That being said, your only real options are the more expensive Moto X Developer Edition, or a fancy new Motorola DROID Maxx. We’ll have to go through the fine print, but from the looks of it, you can add additional items to your cart to bring that Moto X above $550, like a couple of those Chromecasts that recently went up on Motorola’s site. More info down at the source link. |
| Xbox One SmartGlass app now available for Android devices Posted: 19 Nov 2013 04:57 PM PST
We’re barely 3 days away from the launch of the Xbox One and for those wanting to get a head start on everything the console has to offer, the new Xbox One SmartGlass app is now officially available from Google Play. Like the original Xbox SmartGlass app before it, Xbox gamers can use Xbox One SmartGlass as a central hub for all things Xbox. Sync it up with the console and you’ll be able to message friends, track achievements, or even get game help while on-the-go. Xbox One SmartGlass also acts as a companion app for games and media, bringing the second-screen experience to your Android device. Pinned content in the SmartGlass app syncs up with the Xbox One and while you wont be able to do much until the console actually launches, we’re sure that wont stop you from downloading anyway.
via XboxOneDaily |
| Humble Mobile Bundle 3 is live, Ridiculous Fishing makes its Android debut Posted: 19 Nov 2013 03:22 PM PST
Feels like it was only yesterday we were telling you about the Humble Mobile Bundle 2, a charity auction for gamers, delivering some of the hottest indie games, at bargain bin prices. Last time around we saw a few titles make their Android debut, and this time is no different. Vlambeer’s Ridiculous Fishing and Touch Foo’s Swordigo are some of the newest titles joining the cause, making their Android debut with Humble Mobile Bundle 3. By now I’m sure you know how things work. Gamers can donate a customizable amount of money to HB, the developers of these fine games, as well as the Child’s Play Charity and the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Those that donate higher than the current average — presently hovering around $4.77 at the time of writing — you’ll unlock, not only Ridiculous Fishing and Kingdom Rush, but whatever new titles to be unveiled in the coming days. That’s more than 6 titles, for just under 5 bucks. Crazy. Here’s a quick run down of the titles being offered, as well as their normal prices on the Play Store to give you a better sense of the “deal” you’ll be receiving:
Head on over to the link below to donate and claim your games. Don’t forget, the official Humble Bundle Android app is also available for free on Google Play, allowing you to keep track of your running library of games and download as you please. Enjoy! |
| Official Nexus wireless charger now available on Google Play for $50 Posted: 19 Nov 2013 02:29 PM PST
Right in time for the holidays, the official Nexus wireless charger has just hit the Google Play Store. The wireless charger is compatible with both the Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 handsets, as well as the Nexus 7 tablets. The best part is the wireless charger comes with the Nexus branding, letting the world know the only way you roll. Of course given all these devices are currently using the Qi standard, there are definitely some cheaper options out there. We’ve even seen a few Nokia wireless chargers pop up on daily deals sites in the past. Anyone happy with a particular wireless charger you’re currently using for your Neksessez? |
| Heads-up: Nexus 7 (2013) 32GB price slashed to $240 on Newegg and Amazon Posted: 19 Nov 2013 01:36 PM PST
It’s never too soon to start your holiday shopping. Those of you looking for a deal on the hottest 7-inch tablet on the planet, the Nexus 7 (2013) has been slashed on both Amazon and Newegg to just $240 (32GB version). That’s about $30 off the sticker price of the tab in the Play Store.
Looks like this newly discounted price applies only to the 32GB version, with the 16GB model sticking to its guns at $230. Avoid the long lines at your local store and get them with free shipping from either retailer (2-day shipping with Amazon Prime). Links below. Thanks, Bryan! |
| LG “Glasstic” trademark hints toward Google Glass-esque wearable Posted: 19 Nov 2013 01:19 PM PST
Smart glasses are still a fairly new concept, so not a ton of companies have thrown their hat into the game just yet. A lot of them are thinking about it, though — especially after Google decided it wanted to make this thing mainstream. Korea-based LG seems to be working on their own smart glasses, with a new trademark being filed for a product called “Glasstic.” Filed November 14th, the trademark specifically mentions that it could be used for areas of mobile phones and spectacles, as well as clocks. There’s not enough information to draw any meaningful conclusion right now, but no one says we aren’t allowed to dream a little. So what could we be seeing from LG in the near future? Will the company be creating its smart glasses experience? If so, will they use Android or some proprietary piece of software? Or could they be looking to claim a spot as the first third-party OEM to adopt Google Glass and launch a product line out of it? None of it is for certain, but we’re glad that they’re at least thinking about something. Wearable smart glasses probably won’t take off until well after Google successfully launches their own creation to retail early next year, but competitors will have to get started on the future of their portfolio now if they don’t want to miss a potentially big train. |
| Nintendo is reportedly building an Android tablet, a single snowflake falls in hell Posted: 19 Nov 2013 01:01 PM PST
Hell hasn’t frozen over just yet, but it’s definitely getting a little colder down there. According to Nintendo software engineer Nando Monterazo, Nintendo is has been hard at work on a new tablet, and it’s based on the best mobile OS on the planet: Android. Monterazo spilled the beans on Twitter where he says he’s currently testing the “communication environment” of educational games kids will be playing on the new Nintendo tablet. Yes, you heard right. Looks like this will be an educational tablet aimed solely for children (think Leap Frog or Nabi Tablet). It’s been one year since the Nintendo Wii U was released and there’s no question that the console has gotten off to a very slow start. But it seems Nintendo could be looking for new hardware avenues to help generate some additional revenue. We’re not sure how big of a market there is for educational kids tablets, but it’s nice to see Nintendo thinking outside their normally rigid box. While it appears that this mystery Nintendo tablet is indeed in the works, whether or not it will ever see the light of day on these shores is another matter entirely. Would anyone be interested in picking up an Android-based Nintendo tablet for the kiddies? Do you think this would launch with KitKat or Gingerbread?
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| Verizon’s Destination Stores aim to change the wireless retail experience for the better Posted: 19 Nov 2013 12:21 PM PST Verizon Wireless today announced a new initiative for the wireless retail industry. They’re calling it the Destination Store, which is a fancy name for “tricked out store where we show you cool stuff so we can try and sell it to you.” The company showed the first of these stores off in a live stream event on their website today. So what, exactly, will this store be doing to help make the retail experience better for you? For starters, they want to make it more than just a wall of dummy units and demo phones. They want the store to be vibrant, big, and full of different devices that will help you in your everyday life. No longer is it just about phones and tablets — it’s about everything. Treadmills, safety tools, music accessories and more will all be flaunted in this retail space.
Verizon will section off different parts of these stores and dedicate them to specific things. The Sound Zone, for instance, will house all the wireless speakers and headphones you could ever need. And all of these products will be unboxed, turned on and ready for you to play with, because no one should have to decide on buying something without being able to try it out. What’s more is that Verizon is looking to provide interactive information displays, giving users more information about the products they’re looking at in a modern, more approachable way. Beyond all that, Verizon will look to entice you even after the sale, as they will use these Destination Stores to host training workshops that are designed to help people learn how to use their new products. Most interesting to us is the new “integrated” checkout experience the company is touting. They want you to be able to carry your online shopping cart with you into a Verizon store, so when you walk in the customer service rep will already know exactly what you’re looking for. They’ll drive that home by emphasizing pick-up in-store options, same day delivery (in four cities to start) and more.         Verizon isn’t doing much more than any big box retailer store has been, but that’s just it — wireless carriers aren’t expected to provide that same level of retail experience. Verizon has made it their mission to do so. It’ll be interesting to see just how much this influences the other guys in the future. |
| Official: Verizon Moto X the first to get KitKat as rollout begins today! Posted: 19 Nov 2013 09:36 AM PST
Yesterday, Motorola posted details about a Verizon Moto X soak test that would begin rolling out to users “very soon.” They had no problem confirming it was KitKat, though they decided to redact that information after realizing someone broke the NDA and leaked the news online. That said, the cat is out of the bag and Motorola and Verizon Wireless are still thrilled to announce that the rollout will begin as soon as today! You should note that this upgrade will be going out in stages, so not everyone will have a chance to dig in right away. Don’t fret if you don’t, though — we’re sure those upgrades will be delivered straight to your phone before the cows come home. So not only did the Moto X beat the Nexus phones, it also happened to be the Verizon version. Where are those flying pigs, ma? Prepare yourself by charging your phone up and finding a WiFi connection, because we’re pretty sure this one’s going to be a hefty download. We’ll be updating this post whenever we can confirm the rollout actually begins, but be sure to start mashing that “check now” button if you’re as eager and impatient as we are! [Update]: It’s rolling out! Several folks are reporting that the update is now live and going out to the first batch of folks. This process should take a few weeks to get everyone up and going, though you may get lucky and find a way to pull it down before you’re “scheduled” to receive it. Go ahead and check for it in the Settings > About Phone menu of your Verizon Moto X.     [via Motorola] |
| No, Samsung didn’t “sell” 800,000 Galaxy Gears, they shipped that many to retailers Posted: 19 Nov 2013 07:57 AM PST
Yesterday, we reported on a story that suggested Samsung only sold about 50,000 Galaxy Gear units. It’s quite the paltry number considering how big the Galaxy S and Note line-ups are. Samsung, who had been under fire from critics about what could be considered a flop, decided to fire back with word to Yonhap Korea that there are about 800,000 units that have been shipped. It’s imperative to note that “shipped” doesn’t necessarily indicate sell-through, meaning this number accounts for all the units that have been sent to all retailers. What they actually sell to the end-user would be considered sell-through, and that number very well may be squarely at the previously reported figure of 50,000. Did Samsung intend to confuse folks with their wording to try and do a bit of damage control in the midst of this week’s news? Was this simply a translation error? We’ll never know for sure, nor will we probably find out how many Galaxy Gear units Samsung actually ended up selling — they tend not to tout numbers when they’re low. Just know that they didn’t already sell nearly a million to the general public. [via Reuters] |
| International Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 rollout begins Posted: 19 Nov 2013 06:57 AM PST Yesterday, a new test build for the Samsung Galaxy Note 2′s Android 4.3 upgrade leaked, giving folks a chance to flash the goodness ahead of an official rollout. We weren’t sure if this firmware would be considered final, but Samsung decided to answer that question for us no more than a day later. SamMobile is reporting that Android 4.3 rollouts have started for the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 GT-N7100 and GT-N7105. These are the unlocked, international models of the devices, with the latter being the version outfitted with 4G LTE radios. Samsung is likely employing a staggered rollout process, so you might not be able to pull it down right away.
To add to that, you should also note that it may take a while for the upgrade to start going out to those with carrier-branded or issued devices after the obligatory rounds of testing. This upgrade brings a ton of improvements, both in terms of key bug fixes as well as Samsung’s latest features. Stuff like Galaxy Gear support, Samsung Knox security, photo improvements and more will all be waiting for you. The full list can be found below, but if you want to jump right into it be sure to charge your phone up and turn your WiFi radios on to check for the upgrade over-the-air.
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| Dead Zebra opens “The Vault,” offers classic figurines at great prices Posted: 19 Nov 2013 05:51 AM PST
Our friends at Dead Zebra have opened what they call “The Vault,” and no, it’s not quite as epic as the vaults featured in games like Borderlands or Fallout 3. This vault is more like an over-stock warehouse where they keep extra figurines to replace lost shipments and the like. Well, as it turns out, a ton of these figurines were never used, and they’re just taking up way too much space. They want to get rid of all the excess baggage now as they begin to make room for new launches in the weeks and months to come. You can find figurines like Go Go China, the Werewolf and the Power Vampire and more for $10 – $20, which is a nice discount considering these rare specimens are often on sale for a bit more on eBay. Dead Zebra also has a number of “damaged” products for a discount. The figurines themselves aren’t actually damaged, but the box they come in are. If you aren’t a sealed collector and you just want some new figurines to prop up on your desk, these will be a great option at just $6 a pop. Dead Zebra’s site has the full list of items, so whether you want to treat yourself to another toy or need a great gift for an Android lover this holiday season, head over there and get shopping. |
| Leaked Verizon Black Friday ad shows slim savings Posted: 19 Nov 2013 05:12 AM PST With over a week to go until Black Friday, you can bet carriers and retailers are already finalizing their sales and ads for the big shopping day. Verizon is one such company, with the carrier planning to put various smartphones and accessories on sale.
Not all of these deals are going to blow your mind. In fact, most of these deals can be had from various places throughout the year, including from Verizon themselves. Here’s the full list of Android smartphones and tablets they’re advertising:
Of course, all of these deals will bind you to a new two-year contract or will require you to enter an Edge agreement to pay the smartphone off in as much as 24 months’ time (options to upgrade after six months to a year are available). Accessories deals aren’t mind-blowing either, but they’re there for those who need some new headphones or wireless speakers to jam Christmas tunes with throughout the holiday season. They also have great deals on 4G wireless hotspots. Here’s the full list:
And that’s it! Not the most amazing crop of savings ever, but hey — a deal is a deal. Be sure to keep Verizon in mind whenever you wake up at the crack of dawn November 29th if any of these deals interest you. [via BlackFriday.com] |
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