Android Phone Fans |
- Google releases Mini-Games, their new video game compilation for Google Glass [VIDEO]
- Cyanogen Inc continues to build their Dream Team, snatches up ChaOS ROM founder Clark Scheff
- Google Search glitch sends one unlucky soul thousands of unwanted emails
- Get $100 off a Moto X for 1 hour only starting Jan 27th (while supplies last)
- LG G Pad 8.3 with Verizon 4G LTE bands stops by the FCC
- South Korea outlaws permanent bloatware, world to follow?
- Mobile Roar 29: iPhone 6, Nintendo mobile games, and Samsung’s new UI
- Motorola’s Project Ara should take some hints from customizable Kano DIY computer kit
- It’s not just you, Google services are currently down
- Internal Samsung memo hints at something big for Valentine’s Day, could be Galaxy Pro tablet launch
- New Nexus 5 colors tipped in second, slightly more believable leak
- Got a friend at Motorola? You could save some money on a Moto X or Moto G
- LG G Pro 2 to debut at MWC with 6-inch display and Android KitKat?
- Samsung sees slight dip in profits for Q4 2013
- LG G Flex now available for pre-order from AT&T
| Google releases Mini-Games, their new video game compilation for Google Glass [VIDEO] Posted: 24 Jan 2014 05:54 PM PST While we patiently wait for our monthly software update, Glass Explorers are being treated to some new Glassware from the Project Glass team by way of a video game compilation dubbed Mini-Games. “Hacked together” by the Google Glass team themselves, the mini games more or less serve as a proof-of-concept or basic framework to help get developers’ creative juices flowing when it comes to gaming on Glass. With all those sensors and a screen always attached to your head — it’s easy to see how Glass can provide for a gaming experience matched only by more “extreme” VR headsets like the Oculus Rift or Epson’s Moverio Smartglass. Mini-Games is a bundle of 5 pick-up-and-play games designed to get Glass users in and back to the real world with a swipe of the touchpad. Featuring simple graphics, musical soundtrack, and gameplay — Skyrim this is not — but then again, it’s not supposed to be (at least not yet). Games can be pulled up in Glass by speaking the command, “Ok Glass, play a game with… (and then the corresponding game). Here’s the lineup. TennisYour face is the racket, and simply point your head in the direction the ball is moving to volley the ball back to the opponent. In our brief time with the game, it seemed to work well, only there wasn’t much of a challenge involved. Shape SplitterLike a simplified Fruit Ninja, players swipe their hands in front of their Glass camera to cut blocks, avoiding bombs that occasionally pop up during play. The game definitely doesn’t have as much precision as Fruit Ninja as big, long swipes will cut everything in sight. Still kind neat to see a game working in conjunction with the camera. BalanceOne of our favorites, the players tilts their head in the real-world in order to keep the falling blocks balanced on the virtual head. One wrong move, and they topple over. This was definitely one of the more difficult games of the bunch. Clay ShooterUsing voice commands, players shout “PULL” and launch a clay pigeon, and aim their sites by tilting their head, shouting “BANG” once they’ve lined up their shot. While this sounds like it’d be the funnest out of the 5, lag issues on Glass kept everything from working smoothly. MatcherA simple game of match 2, players move their heads around a 3D prism, selecting cards by tapping on their touchpad. The Glass team mentions they used the Photosphere camera mode to map everything in 3D which makes us wonder — where the heck is Photosphere for Google Glass? More to come? While games on Glass aren’t anything new (back in August, we showed you guys a Missile Defense-inspired game called Psyclops for Google Glass), it’s nice to see Google officially making even the smallest push in that direction. Hopefully this is only the beginning, and soon Glass will catch the eye of gaming bigwigs like EA, Sony, and/or Microsoft where they’ll include some level of second-screen connectivity in games like GTA or Halo. Maps, HUDs — just think of the possibilities.. Google Glass users can activate Mini-Games in their usual Glassware web portal (or through the MyGlass app). |
| Cyanogen Inc continues to build their Dream Team, snatches up ChaOS ROM founder Clark Scheff Posted: 24 Jan 2014 03:25 PM PST Last night we reported that AOKP founder Roman Birg would be joining CyanogenMod Inc. Today, we have confirmation that Clark Scheff, the founder of Chameleon ROM aka ChaOS, will also be joining the CyanogenMod team as a software engineer in Seattle. For those not aware, ChaOS ROM is an Open Source MIUI-esque alternative. ChaOS is based on CyanogenMOD and focuses on users having the ability to customize each piece of their Android device. The most notable feature of ChaOS is their theme engine. The entire framework on ChaOS has been modified around their theme engine, which allows users to mix and match themes until the user gets it just right. Fans of ChaOS ROM should be happy to know that Clark still plans to contribute to Chameleon OS as time permits and as long as there are no conflicts of interest while being employed at Cyanogen Inc. It seems that CyanogenMod is building a Dream Team of ROM developers from the Android development community. Clark’s knowledge and skills surrounding custom user interfaces and themes on Android should fit in nicely with CyanogenMod’s upcoming custom user interface plans. Congrats Clark! Image Credit: Chris Sewell |
| Google Search glitch sends one unlucky soul thousands of unwanted emails Posted: 24 Jan 2014 02:46 PM PST Remember “the Great Google Service Outage of 2014″? Yeah, the one from a few minutes ago. Well, not only did it screw up everyone’s ability to access and send emails through Gmail, but for one unlucky soul it may have been a brief period of relief after a strange Google Search bug sent thousands of unwanted email’s into his inbox. It looks like some wires got crossed, and anyone searching “Gmail” on Google’s homepage were presented with a search result. In that search result was a link to some random dude’s Hotmail address. A David S. Peck reported to TechCrunch that Google’s little glitch has sent him thousands of emails (mostly blank), approximately 500 emails per hour. He also mentions this is his primary email address in which case it’s possible Google is simply trying to send him a hint. Not a very subtle one. Ha. |
| Get $100 off a Moto X for 1 hour only starting Jan 27th (while supplies last) Posted: 24 Jan 2014 12:55 PM PST Good news for those that have been keeping the Moto X — and it’s newly affordable wood back options — on their Android radar. Motorola is having a quick 1 hour sale starting Monday, January 27th at 3PM ET, where they’ll be offering $100-off the full off-contract price Moto X. This means you’ll be able to customize your own 16GB model for $300, or $350 for the 32GB (add $25 for wood options). It’s one of those “while supplies last” sorta promotions (just like their last one), so you’ll have to be quick. Should you find yourself missing out on this deal, you can still nab $70-off as a door prize, running all the way until Valentine’s Day. Mark your calendars, folks. [Twitter] |
| LG G Pad 8.3 with Verizon 4G LTE bands stops by the FCC Posted: 24 Jan 2014 12:30 PM PST What with the nearly-pocketable Nexus 7 2014 coming in LTE varities, we suppose it was only inevitable that LG’s similar sized/spec’d tab would follow suit. Yesterday, the LG VK810 ( LG G Pad 8.3) made a pit stop by the FCC, supporting Verizon Wireless’ LTE bands, as well as GPS, Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi a/b/g/n and the like. While “ LG G Pad 8.3″ wasn’t specifically listed in the paperwork, the dimensions line up perfectly with LG’s 8-inch tablet. Expect an official announcement in the coming weeks. [FCC | via Phone Arena] |
| South Korea outlaws permanent bloatware, world to follow? Posted: 24 Jan 2014 11:57 AM PST The people's of at least one country will soon be free of the tyranny of bloatware. In South Korea, a new set of guidelines governing the mobile industry will require manufacturers and service providers to allow users to delete most of the pre-installed software that ships with a device. Dubbed bloatware because the software takes up valuable storage space, the guidelines were created with the goal of giving users more accessible memory on their smartphones. More importantly the rules aim to cut back on "an abnormal practice that causes inconvenience to smartphone users and causes unfair competition among industry players," according to Korea's Ministry of Science, ICT, and Future Planning. Required will be the ability to delete all pre-installed apps (except for a few deemed necessary). Could the rest of the world join South Korea in the war against bloatware? User annoyance with not being able to uninstall apps that are never used is hardly a regional issue. It's a chief reason many choose to root and modify the software that ships with any new Android. We definitely would not mind if wider regulations were in place to limit the amount of software permanently installed on mobile devices. We will find out how Korea fares when the guidelines become official in April. [Press release via ZDNet] |
| Mobile Roar 29: iPhone 6, Nintendo mobile games, and Samsung’s new UI Posted: 24 Jan 2014 11:34 AM PST The gang is back together again as Edgar returns from his trip to court. Why was he at court? Tune in to find out! We also discuss the latest iPhone 6 rumors, Nintendo and their dinosaur approach to mobile gaming, Samsung’s new Windows Phone-like UI, and so much more! Find all the news and follow us below. The News
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| Motorola’s Project Ara should take some hints from customizable Kano DIY computer kit Posted: 24 Jan 2014 11:29 AM PST We just about lost our minds when — out of the blue — Motorola dropped a bombshell on the mobile industry with the announcement of Project Ara, the company’s modular-based smartphone concept. Like Kelly LeBrock in Weird Science, Project Ara was nothing short of an Android fanboy’s wetdream manifesting itself into reality. Taking cues from the PC industry and an earlier concept called PhoneBloks (the creator would later join up with the Project Ara team), Project Ara allows for users to switch out and essentially upgrade the specific components of their smartphone’s hardware (RAM, battery, CPU, display) however, and whenever they want. A stark contrast to the all-in-one smartphone model we’ve grown accustomed to, the idea was aimed at eliminating the need to trash an entire smartphone simply because the device wasn’t quite fast enough, didn’t last long enough, or couldn’t snap as nice a pic as the next device. Imagine our surprise to find, only a few short weeks later, that Project Ara was already nearing “prototype status,” and that the device (and its pieces) could one day be sold through Motomaker. We already have a good idea of what the customization process might look like (even if we didn’t intend on purchasing, we’ve all built our own custom Moto X, right?) but how might Motorola go about presenting it on its own homepage? We’re hoping something like this… Kano In our endless travels across the net, we came across another upcoming product that gave us a very “Project Ara-like” vibe: a DIY computer kit called Kano. One look at their packaging – and drooling at every pixel scrolled down their homepage – we’re wondering when Project Ara will drop, how it will be packaged, and hoping it takes queues from Kano’s beautiful simplicity. Aimed at getting our youth up and coding, Kano features a Raspberry Pi Model B acting as its brain, and plug-n-play hardware that you customize through their site (sound familiar?). The entire customization process seems more than simple, with the buyer picking out the individual components, first by choosing a custom case, a DIY speaker, keyboard, and various cables. While this doesn’t sound too exciting, it’s how it’s presented on the Kano webpage that makes it fun and easy to user-friendly. After all is said and done, you’re customized computer kit is sent to your door, some assembly required (and really, that’s half the fun). After hooking it all up, your child will be on his way to not only playing games, but making games of their very own. While Kano isn’t available just yet, those interested can start by pre-ordering one for $120 with shipping kicking off in July. If putting together and building your own device sounds like fun, maybe that will help quench your thirst until Project Ara arrives. |
| It’s not just you, Google services are currently down Posted: 24 Jan 2014 11:19 AM PST Hey, guys. Try not to freak out but… Google services are down. We know it doesn’t happen often, and we’re sure you’re probably already screaming at your phone, ISP or wife about it — but don’t. It’s not their fault. This includes but is not just limited to Gmail, Hangouts, Google+, YouTube, and everything in between. We’re sure everything we’ll be back up shortly, so no need to wipe your ROM. Hey, at least now you can tell your grandkids you survived the first great Google outage of 2014. |
| Internal Samsung memo hints at something big for Valentine’s Day, could be Galaxy Pro tablet launch Posted: 24 Jan 2014 10:32 AM PST An internal memo has been making the rounds at Samsung that suggests we could be in for an "exciting launch announcement" coming Valentine's weekend (side note: it's a whole weekend now?). The memo calls for "all hands on deck" and specifically says Samsung can no longer grant employee requests for time off for the weekend of February 14-16th. Here it is in full:
The memo is most likely directed at Samsung field reps and employees that work in pop-up Samsung shops like the ones found inside many Best Buy stores. Our source says the dates will coincide with the launch of the Galaxy NotePro and Galaxy TabPro. It was not specifically mentioned if all three Galaxy TabPro tablets — the Galaxy TabPro 12.2, Galaxy TabPro 10.1, and Galaxy TabPro 8.4 — would be available simultaneously. The Galaxy Pro series of tablets was announced earlier this year at CES featuring a variety of options to meet almost any niche. The range shares a good deal of high-end specs, including octa-core Exynos processing in all but the TabPro 8.4 (that device features a Snapdragon 800) and 2560×1600 displays all around. Living up to its name, the NotePro features Samsung's popular S Pen input. Samsung would only announce at the time that the devices would be available during the first quarter of 2014. Perhaps a Galaxy Pro tablet would make a great last minute Valentine's Day gift for that special someone in your life, or at least Samsung seems to be hoping it will. If you haven't yet, check out our full hands-on with the NotePro and TabPro from CES. |
| New Nexus 5 colors tipped in second, slightly more believable leak Posted: 24 Jan 2014 09:13 AM PST Yesterday we saw what amounted to a fairly dubious leak suggesting Google would soon launch the Nexus 5 in a variety of new colors. Most prominently featured was an off-looking yellow, but red, orange, green, blue, and purple were also mentioned. One of those colors has turned up in a second leak featuring an image of a product sample of the purported handset. The red Nexus 5 pictured certainly appears a bit more believable than what we saw yesterday (though we're still not completely sold). As Droid Life points out, the color is consistent with the red Nexus 5 bumper already sold by Google, making it a more realistic possibility than the funky yellow spotted in the previous leak. However, while not pictured, the source did say that a yellow version is indeed also in the works. If you notice the trend, the color options seem to mimic those of Google's logo, which begs a question. If red and yellow versions become a reality, can we also expect blue and green? The story accompanying the image doesn't say. It also makes no mention of a specific release date for the new color options, but a February or March timeframe was mentioned. [via Vietnamnet] |
| Got a friend at Motorola? You could save some money on a Moto X or Moto G Posted: 24 Jan 2014 08:21 AM PST If you happen to know someone that works for Motorola you might want to look into the 'Friends with Moto' program, especially if a new Moto X or Moto G is on your radar. Just as Motorola offered friends and family of employees a free Moto X (for completing a survey about the Moto Maker experience), the company is extending a $50 discount good toward the purchase of a new handset. A link to the program surfaced yesterday via Reddit and XDA where potential buyers could fill out a quick form to request a coupon code. The link, as it turns out, is meant to be shared privately and tied specifically to a Motorola employee's email. While some did manage to obtain a discount via this means (even without knowing the Moto employee in question), we won't be sharing any links here. Few things are worse than what amounts to random strangers hitting you up for $50. After applying a Friends with Moto discount the Moto X's off-contract price is reduced to $349. The Moto G can be had for as low as $149. The offer apparently does not apply to on-contract purchases, nor can it be used for purchases made anywhere but online. And while you might not know anyone at Motorola now, it's never a bad time to make some new friends (we suggest Twitter or Google+). |
| LG G Pro 2 to debut at MWC with 6-inch display and Android KitKat? Posted: 24 Jan 2014 07:40 AM PST With the LG G Flex up for pre-order and rumors that the LG G3 could launch as early as May, LG still has time to squeeze one more handset into the mix. It could come at Mobile World Congress. The LG G Pro 2 is expected to carry specs that would make it a slight upgrade over the G2 and a suitable device to carry the torch until LG officially follows up with the G3. From a report from ETNews, here is what the G Pro 2's hardware compliment might consist of:
The device would also run Android 4.4 out of the box. LG announced the original G Pro at last year's MWC show, though it never quite took off. It was briefly offered in the US as an AT&T exclusive but quickly superseded by the G2 when it launched in the fall of 2013. Most recently LG announced the G Pro Lite, a mid-range take on the original 5.5-inch smartphone. [via ETNews] |
| Samsung sees slight dip in profits for Q4 2013 Posted: 24 Jan 2014 06:48 AM PST Samsung saw a minor drop in operating profit in Q4 of 2013, seeing an 18 percent decline from Q3 to earn 8.31 trillion won ($7.72 billion). Overall, Samsung saw saw a modest increase in revenue year-over-year, finishing 2013 with a record 228.69 trillion won (a 14 percent increase). The number equated to a 27 percent increase in yearly operating profit at 36.79 trillion won (about $34 billion). Any slight declines in quarterly profits Samsung attributes to several factors, namely year-end inventory adjustments and a rather extravagant marketing budget. Other factors included a $745 million employee bonus payout as well as the recent performance of the Korean won. Samsung, however, says that there is stronger demand for the company's line of mobile products than ever before, noting that tablet sales were double that of 2012. There was also mention of a larger investment in wearable tech, though sales figures for the Galaxy Gear smartwatch were not discussed. |
| LG G Flex now available for pre-order from AT&T Posted: 24 Jan 2014 06:00 AM PST What's 6-inches, curved, and available for pre-order starting today from AT&T? The LG G Flex, duh. The novel smartphone designed with a flexible OLED panel can be reserved for $299 on a new, two-year contract. But AT&T ain't about that contract game much anymore. They would much rather folks go with their Next plan. In that case, the G Flex can be had for as low as $26.73/month. The LG G Flex's unique design builds on the impressive LG G2, matching a quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor with a curved 6-inch HD OLED display and specially designed 3,500mAh battery. Flexible construction and a "self-healing" back add durability to the device. Those pre-ordering today can expect AT&T to begin shipping the G Flex come February 4th. Check out our hands-on video with the phone below. If you plan on buying, let us know if you come across any bubbles on the display. |
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