Android Phone Fans |
- Google Search update arrives on Nov 13th, upcoming features detailed
- SwiftKey is working on adding emoji and optional number row in a future update
- Amazon glitch sees Moto X, LG G2, Galaxy Note 3, selling for $200 OFF CONTRACT
- Rayman Fiesta Run launches on Android for $3, check out the new trailer
- CONTEST: Mystery Phrase Trivia for a Google Glass Invite [DAY 8]
- HTC M8 leaked; Rumored specs include Snapdragon 800 chipset, 3GB of RAM, and more
- Google Keyboard 2.0 hits the Play Store, brings space aware Gesture Typing and emojis
- T-Mobile users can now send MMS messages to Google Voice numbers
- Sony gives update on Android 4.3 and Android 4.4 rollouts for Xperia devices
- Hangouts version 2.0 with SMS/MMS now in the Google Play Store
- Star Wars: Tiny Death Star brings 8-bit Tiny Tower gameplay to Star Wars universe
- Google Glass XE11 update brings new “life hack” features, “OK Glass, Google” command
- You can earn Google Play Store credits for answering surveys with Google Opinion Rewards
- Not digging Hangouts for SMS in Android 4.4 KITKAT? 8sms brings the old SMS app back
- Verizon Ellipsis tablet now available for $250, and we finally have a list of specs
| Google Search update arrives on Nov 13th, upcoming features detailed Posted: 07 Nov 2013 07:32 PM PST When Google blindsided the world with the release of the Nexus 5 and Android 4.4 KitKat, we couldn’t shake the feeling that things may have been rushed on Google’s end. After finally receiving the Nexus 5 and playing around with KitKat firsthand, our initial experience only further reinforced that sentiment. Recently reviews for the Nexus 5 have been popping up online (ours is coming soon), some offering additional insight from Google themselves on KitKat, and what’s coming around the bend. Wire’s Mathew Honan spoke with Google during his Nexus 5 review for Wired and according to him, a Google Search app update is coming November 13th (the same day the Moto G will be announced) and will bring additional features to Google Now. Similar to Siri, users will be able to create a sort of dialog with the Google Search app. No, it wont have Siri’s witty banter, but the Search app will follow up with questions to commands where multiple options exist. For instance, if you tell Google Now to call someone in your contacts, it will ask you to specify which contact when different contacts share the same name. “Okay Google. Call John.” Search will then ask, “Which John?” and you’ll be able to speak back and specify. Things like that. Google Search will also be able to launch apps from within search. Looking for pizza? Google Search will have an option to open the Dominoes app already installed on your phone. Searching for Thor The Dark World info? Flixter can be opened directly from search to provide you with additional info. Google is also promising to infuse Google Now with more location based information. For instance, when visiting a national park (Yellowstone was provided as an example), Google Now will automatically show you geyser times, without ever having to ask it a single question. Seamless, and in the background. These are just some of the new additions said to hit Google Search on November 13th. Still up in the air is if all these features will be exclusive to KitKat, or if Google will throw Android users still on Jelly Bean (roughly 52.1% of active users) a bone. [via Reddit] |
| SwiftKey is working on adding emoji and optional number row in a future update Posted: 07 Nov 2013 05:48 PM PST It’s not something iOS users can relate to, but as Android users, we know that keyboard competition in the Play Store is fierce. The biggest heavy weights fighting for your hard earned money include SwiftKey, Swype, and more recently the stock Android keyboard from Google. It was earlier today we told you guys about the latest update hitting the Google Keyboard in the Play Store, the one that stuck it to SwiftKey after adopting a similar method of swiping entire sentences without lifting a finger. Google continued turning the knife after going further and including cross-app emoji support, albeit only for Android 4.4 devices on up. No doubt feeling the heat, CTO and co-founder Ben Medlock began hitting up SwiftKey’s forums today, addressing user’s concerns on adding new features. The biggest ones? Adding native emoji support and an optional 5th row for numbers. While this news probably isn’t as big as SwiftKey’s new “Layouts for Living,” it’s a feature we’ve been begging for what feels like years now. When can we see these new features? Well, only SwiftKey knows for sure. Just rest assured that they are working on it, and we can expect to see emoji and optional number row in a future update. |
| Amazon glitch sees Moto X, LG G2, Galaxy Note 3, selling for $200 OFF CONTRACT Posted: 07 Nov 2013 04:41 PM PST Oh, man. Looks like someone over at Amazon is having the worst day ever. As reported by multiple users on Google+, a glitch on Amazon’s site early this morning saw a number of Android devices marked down to just $200 off contract. It was only a few minutes, but many opportunists wasted no time in picking up this “deal”, buying everything from the Motorola Moto X, LG G2, Samsung Galaxy S4, and even the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. It was uncertain whether or not Amazon would honor their slip up, but according to reports, many of these orders have already begun shipping. Amazon was able to catch on pretty quick (no doubt from people buying some of these Android devices in bulk) and apparently many orders — the ones that haven’t shipped — have been effectively cancelled. Looks like for some Android users, Christmas is coming early this year, although they may have landed themselves on Santa’s naughty list. Thanks, everyone who sent this in! |
| Rayman Fiesta Run launches on Android for $3, check out the new trailer Posted: 07 Nov 2013 03:54 PM PST Rayman Jungle Run has gone down as one of my personal favorite Android games of all time. Taking the casual runner gameplay we’ve seen in countless mobile games, Ubisoft (pronounced “you-be-soft”, not “oo-be-soft”) managed to do it better than anyone by mxing top notch hand-drawn visuals, and the next-gen platforming of the console versions. Released in September of last year, it was high time for a sequel. Today Rayman is making a triumphant return to the Google Play Store in his all new adventure, Rayman Fiesta Run. As the name so aptly suggests, players will guide Rayman and his corhorts through 76 “latin” themed levels, facing off against traps, enemies, and epic bosses. If the game is even a shadow of the previously released Jungle Run we already know it’s worth the money. Check out the launch trailer below, and after you can download Rayman Fiesta Run in the Google Play Store for just $3. |
| CONTEST: Mystery Phrase Trivia for a Google Glass Invite [DAY 8] Posted: 07 Nov 2013 02:39 PM PST
Mystery Phrase:
To make that clear, the length of each of those words (in order): 7 letters, 2 letters, 5 letters, 11 letters. If you cannot afford $1,500 for Google Glass or are an International Participant you are still eligible. In the event you win, we'll substitute the Glass Invite with a $50 Google Play Gift Card and donate your invite to one random Android Forums member from this thread. Day 7 Contest: Mystery Phrase Trivia!
To reiterate: if you cannot afford $1,500 for Google Glass or are an International Participant you are still eligible. In the event you win, we'll substitute the Glass Invite with a $50 Google Play Gift Card and donate your invite to one random Android Forums member from this thread. The Great American Glass ContestWe’re giving away 9 Glass invites in 9 days and you don’t want to miss an opportunity to score big… so check out our schedule below to see which contests are still open!
Hints:Follow these Google+ accounts to get an early heads up when contest posts will soon be going live and additional hints at how to improve your chances of winning.
Contest Rules & Requirements
Contest Terms of Service:
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| HTC M8 leaked; Rumored specs include Snapdragon 800 chipset, 3GB of RAM, and more Posted: 07 Nov 2013 01:56 PM PST Truth be told, HTC has done a pretty good job of sticking to their plan to focus on one main smartphone per year. The HTC One has been their big dog in this fierce mobile race for 2013, with the One Mini and One Max filling out the vast majority of their lineup. It’s about to be 2014, though, and it’s time to start looking for the true spiritual successor to the HTC One. According to ePrice, that successor is the HTC M8. According to them, this thing is supposed to be specced out to compete. Here’s the limited list of internals we know about so far:
While we don’t have the rest of the low-down on this device just yet, it sounds like HTC will be pulling out all the stops. Unfortunately it will still appear as if the company is behind the times as the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 houses hardware just as powerful as the list above, but considering the HTC One Max didn’t rock anyone’s socks off we can’t say we won’t be excited. The photos that came along with this leak show a device that is largely similar to the current HTC One. We should be seeing metal make a glorious return, and this model could very well come with the same fingerprint reader we saw on the HTC One Max. If you notice closely, there are two holes on the back of the device — one smaller one above the top separator, and a bigger one that will likely house the camera sensor. We can’t say for sure what it is just yet, of course, but we’d be surprised if HTC elected to exclude the scanner for their next flagship smartphone. It’s all a rumor, though, so we’ll be doing a lot of guesswork until early 2014 when this thing is scheduled to be unveiled. In the meantime, let us know if you’d be interested in staying on the HTC train if this device is the one that ends up pulling into the station. |
| Google Keyboard 2.0 hits the Play Store, brings space aware Gesture Typing and emojis Posted: 07 Nov 2013 01:05 PM PST The latest version of the Google Keyboard — as introduced on the Nexus 5, and leaked here — has finally hit the Play Store for all Android users. The new Google Keyboard 2.0 brings lots of new enhancements, like space aware Gesture Typing, eliminating the need to lift the finger when swiping out completely sentences. Yes, this is similar to the Flow feature on SwiftKey, and from what we’ve seen, works pretty well. The updated keyboard also does away with Android’s now old blue accents and gives users the ability to add emojis to any text, regardless of the app. Unfortunately, the expanded emojis are reserved for Android 4.4 and above, so it’s a Nexus exclusive for now. Download the new Google Keyboard 2.0 for free via the link below. |
| T-Mobile users can now send MMS messages to Google Voice numbers Posted: 07 Nov 2013 12:44 PM PST For the longest time, MMS messages between Google Voice and T-Mobile numbers has been a very miserable experience. And by miserable, I really mean nonexistent. Things are getting just a bit better today, though, as Googler Alex Wiesen has announced that Google Voice phone numbers can now receive MMS messages from T-Mobile numbers. The experience isn’t totally seamless, of course. For starters, any images sent via MMS will be sent to that Google Voice account’s associated Gmail inbox. Users have the option of being notified via SMS when a new message is received, though, so you shouldn’t miss a single message. Unfortunately, this still isn’t a two-way street — Google Voice members can’t send outgoing MMS messages. Google says they are working to bring this at some point next year, but truth be told we’re starting to believe that’s little more than an urban myth. In other words, we’ll believe it when we see it. [via Google+] |
| Sony gives update on Android 4.3 and Android 4.4 rollouts for Xperia devices Posted: 07 Nov 2013 11:55 AM PST While the early days of Sony Ericsson didn’t make us believers in Sony’s ability to get their devices upgraded, the company has spent the last couple of years trying to clean that reputation up. As you’d expect, Sony wants to get as many of their customers up to the latest version of Android that they can, and that won’t stop with the launch of Android 4.4 KITKAT. We still have some unfinished business to take care of, though, and I’m talking about that Android 4.3 update they promised before. Thankfully, they haven’t forgotten about those who were already promised the last bit of Jelly Bean goodness:
Of course, many folks are now wondering when they will be able to break off a piece of that KITKAT bar. Sony had news to share about that as well, with the company confirming that the Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia Tablet Z, Xperia Z Ultra and Xperia Z1 would all be in line to receive the upgrade. These are some of the company’s latest devices and we’d be disappointed if they weren’t in the plans to receive it. You should note that rollout timing varies based on your market and carrier of choice — in other words, ” don’t be surprised if you have to wait until 2014 to see the upgrade on your device and carrier of choice. Sony didn’t give a solid timeline for KITKAT just yet, so we’ll have to stay tuned for more details as they’re available. You can find more information over at the Sony Mobile blog. |
| Hangouts version 2.0 with SMS/MMS now in the Google Play Store Posted: 07 Nov 2013 11:10 AM PST We saw the new Hangouts version 2.0 app leak after the Nexus 5 was announced, and those with actual Nexus 5 units have been enjoying the app pre-installed. Now, Hangouts version 2.0 is here, and it brings the SMS/MMS convergence we’ve all been waiting for. It’s sitting in the Google Play Store as a free upgrade right now. Alongside being able to use Hangouts as your default SMS/MMS app, the new upgrade brings a number of significant changes. You’ll have a full suite of built-in emojis, as well as the ability to view animated GIFs within a Hangouts chat. You’ll also be able to share your location, change your “mood,” and more. Curiously enough, this version of the app is newer than what you will find pre-installed on the Nexus 5, so pretty much everyone will want to grab it as soon as possible. We’re not sure much else is new outside of what we’ve already been using, but it doesn’t hurt to stay up to date. (Update: we’re hearing it fixed a minor video calling issue that was present on the previous version.) Grab it from the Google Play Store here. |
| Star Wars: Tiny Death Star brings 8-bit Tiny Tower gameplay to Star Wars universe Posted: 07 Nov 2013 10:15 AM PST Looking for something to play on this glorious Thursday afternoon? Why not check out a new rendition of Tiny Tower reimagined with the Star Wars universe in mind? Dubbed Star Wars: Tiny Death Star, this 8-bit game takes after the original with a coat of paint authentic enough to make Yoda speak perfect English. LucasArts says you’ll be able to “build the largest death star around,” which is odd considering the name of the game, but we’ll roll with it. There will be over 80 different commercial and residential Star Wars-themed floors, including Rebo’s Karaoke and Cloud City Spa. Wookiees and Ewoks are available for hire, and your position alongside Darth Vader puts you on the dark side for a change — it’s about time someone lets us be the bad guys in a Star Wars game. Tiny Tower might have gotten stale for a lot of you addicts by now, but this Star Wars-themed reboot proves the legendary franchise can make any old experience worth revisiting. Head to the Google Play Store for your free download. |
| Google Glass XE11 update brings new “life hack” features, “OK Glass, Google” command Posted: 07 Nov 2013 09:31 AM PST The folks at Google have announced that Glass update XE11 is now available, and it brings with it some great new commands. They’re calling these “great lifehack” commands, which simply means they’re designed to make life easier for you in peculiar, unique and extremely awesome ways. Most of the new commands have to do with calendars and directions. Here are just a few examples:
More Google Now-esque commands is always a good thing. Beyond all that, Google also made Glass setup easier (likely because users will soon be getting them without having to go to an orientation), added a screencast shortcut, and disabled the long-press gesture to activate search. The long-press gesture is now replaced by three quick taps of the touch pad, or by saying “OK Glass, Google.” Be sure to fire your Glass unit up and get the upgrade as soon as humanly possible. Don’t have a Glass unit yet? Try your hand at our Great American Glass contest to win an invite to buy one — we still have a couple left to give away! [via Google+, Google Support] |
| You can earn Google Play Store credits for answering surveys with Google Opinion Rewards Posted: 07 Nov 2013 09:03 AM PST While many of the app and game purchases in the Play Store amount to just a few dollars each (if that), some people are still very conscious about spending money on digital goods. We are in a recession, after all, and any opportunity to save money is highly appreciated. That’s why we’re excited to see something like Google Opinion Rewards. Simply put, Google Opinion Rewards will give you Google Play Store credits for answering surveys, likely for use with anything other than devices and accessories. Here’s how Google puts it in the app’s description:
Interesting. Some examples of questions are “when do you plan to buy your next car” and “what kind of car will you most likely buy.” I don’t know about you guys, but it sounds like Google just found another way to find out even more information about you and your interests. I obviously don’t think Google will use whatever information they happen to want for malicious reasons, but you can bet these answers aren’t going to just sit on a server for the fun of it. It sounds like Google will want to target ads toward you even more effectively based on the answers you give. Oh, you’re buying a car in two years? Well, we’ll just conveniently show ads from top manufacturers leading up to that point. By no means am I a paranoid person, nor do I have anything to hide, so I’ve never had a problem with Google using their knowledge about me to target me with more ads. I can’t imagine things will change now (even if they’re gathering said knowledge in such a blatant and direct way), especially since I am actually being rewarded for it. Of course, all of this is just an assumption based on Google’s historic monetization model. I could be way off the mark. Either way, if you have no qualms with it then you can find your free download in the Google Play Store. |
| Not digging Hangouts for SMS in Android 4.4 KITKAT? 8sms brings the old SMS app back Posted: 07 Nov 2013 08:02 AM PST Android 4.4 KITKAT brought a lot of great new changes, and one of those changes was Google Hangouts finally bringing us the SMS integration we’ve all been waiting for. While most folks are thrilled, there are sure to be some who aren’t fans of the new convergence. For you, there’s one saving grace — 8sms. Simply put, 8sms is an adaptation of the stock SMS app from Android 4.3 and earlier. The code was borrowed from CyanogenMod, though the developer added a few useful features, including notifications popups, a quick replay interface, built-in emojis, an optional dark theme and more. In fact, it doesn’t like a bad SMS app to try for those who are on earlier versions of Android. The app is being distributed in the Google Play Store, and you can follow development over at this XDA thread or at the official website. Be sure to head over there and donate some bitcoin if you want to reward this developer for their hard work! Stay tuned for a video tutorial where we show you how to switch SMS providers in Android 4.4 KITKAT! |
| Verizon Ellipsis tablet now available for $250, and we finally have a list of specs Posted: 07 Nov 2013 06:56 AM PST It wasn’t but two days ago that Verizon announced the 7-inch Ellipsis, a $250 Android tablet ($150 if you’re willing to sign a two-year contract agreement) that would house Big Red’s 4G LTE radios (and an oversized bezel). Those were literally the only things we knew about the device, though, because Verizon wasn’t interested in highlighting a specs sheet — likely for good reason.
Now that the device is available (right here if you’re interested), we most definitely are interested. So what’s inside this thing? Well, the tale of the tape is just as dull as we imagined it’d be. Here’s how it reads:
The user interface looks like mostly stock Android, though you can expect many of Verizon’s own applications to be pre-installed on board. It doesn’t sound like it’d be a terrible experience, but when there are tablets like, oh, say, the Nexus 7 sitting out there for about the same price, it’s a tough sell. Of course, the issues with getting the LTE-enabled Nexus 7 up and running on Verizon’s network haven’t gone undocumented, with the company going as far as releasing a statement as to why they have been unable to allow the tablet to be activated. Long story short, they say it’s Google and ASUS in the wrong, not them. Many of you called bologna on that, but that’s the only official word we have to go on at this time. Whatever the case may be, the Ellipsis is the affordable 7-inch 4G LTE Android tablet wants to push to consumers, and they will look to do just that with today’s launch. |
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