Camera Focus, Invalid Password [From the Forums]

This is it, folks! The countdown for Mobile World Congress kick-off has begun and you're gonna want to keep it locked to Android Central for all the latest news coming from Barcelona. We've got plenty of people on hand to take it all in and bring it all back to us when things get rolling but in the meantime, check out the Android Central forums for a lot more discussion.

• Samsung Galaxy Nexus Forums - Almost did not get the Nexus


• AT&T Galaxy Note Forums - Visual Voicemail for the Galaxy Note?


• HTC Thunderbolt Forums - Camera won't focus, any ideas?


• Droid Bionic Forums - Password invalid on built in Picasa account?


• Droid RAZR MAXX Forums - Backup Assistant not working any more


• Acer Iconia A100 Forums - Leaked Ice Cream Sandwich

If you're not already a member of the Android Central forums, you can register your account today.

The official Temple Run for Android still isn't out, anything else is just malware

A lot of excited Temple Run fans may have thought the day had finally arrived this morning. Despite having previously confirmed that an announcement would be made via their Facebook page, probably the most convincing fake of all showed up today in the Market. 

The 'developers' were shown as being Imangi Studios, the actual developers of the iOS smash hit. All seemed well, until you actually installed the app. Reports were flooding in suggesting that no levels would be available for another four days. Of course the alarm bells should at this point start ringing and anyone who had downloaded this should uninstall immediately. Imangi -- the real Imangi -- took to Twitter to try and get the word out. Thankfully the malicious app has been removed from the Market. 

To try and calm down the fever pitch that anticipation has reached for Temple Run, Imangi have offered some further information on the release -- you guessed it, on their Facebook page. Everything is a scam, until they say otherwise. They have promised to deliver at least a weeks notice prior to launching in the Market, which rules February out of the equation. The message is clear though folks, you might be excited for the game, but there are some horrible people out there who will stop at nothing to take advantage of that. However, hit the source link below to head over to the official Temple Run Facebook page. After all, that's where everything will be revealed. 

Source: Imangi (Facebook)

Third-party store uploading Android apps to BlackBerry App World without developers permission?

The long awaited OS 2.0 update for the BlackBerry Playbook brought with it a whole host of opportunities for new apps. Now that repackaged Android applications are compatible with the PlayBook, and being accepted into BlackBerry App World, some well known names are starting to appear in the listings. 

One such name is Dolphin Browser HD. A highly respected Android replacement browser appearing on the BlackBerry Playbook. Impressive. Despite being a phone browser, Dolphin is absolutely superb on the PlayBook and many already prefer it to the stock browser. Quickly -- although not surprisingly -- it has become one of the top 25 free apps in the App World catalogue. 

Everything is rosy then yes? Well, no, not quite. The submission to App World wasn't made by MoboTap, the developers of Dolphin. The submission was made by Handster, a third party store owned by Opera. Someone else doing the work on the behalf of the developers -- a win surely? Turns out MoboTap were blissfully unaware that Handster had repackaged and submitted Dolphin to the App World for approval. Handster had already put out a statement prior to the OS 2.0 launch that they were to be uploading apps on behalf of developers. 

A spokesman for MoboTap told Engadget that; "We do not condone Handster submitting our Dolphin Browser app to BlackBerry's App World for us and are currently working to take it down and assure Handster will not submit our app for us again. We will assess developing for BlackBerry when the time is right."

Even though Dolphin is a free application in the Android Market, the question still remains over why Handster are submitting an application to BlackBerry App World without permission. A quick search finds a pretty big selection of apps that Handster have submitted -- albeit a lot of them aren't that good -- including paid applications. 

In any case, it seems that MoboTap are doing everything they can to remove Dolphin Browser HD from App World. Questions have been raised, but more importantly we're hoping that there aren't any Android developers being taken advantage of. 

Source: Engadget

Cloud storage apps - what are they and how do they work?

 

Dropbox and Box.net have been in the news recently, updating their apps and giving away tons of free space, so it's understandable that a few of us are wondering what the heck they're all about. Sure, you know you get Gigabytes of space, and great looking apps, but what exactly do they do, and how do they work? We're about to tell you! I'll focus on Dropbox here, because that's the service we use here at AC. I'm not recommending it over any of the others, but they are all similar and we've already got all our stuff uploaded there and we're too lazy busy to switch. 

Dropbox is storage space, reserved for you, on a computer somewhere in San Francisco. Other services, like Box.net or Ubuntu One may be in different cities, but they all are in big fancy data centers where nerdy people type in the command window all day and night to keep things running smoothly. They aren't just old Windows machines sitting in a basement somewhere, they are dedicated places designed to hold lots and lots of data. They routinely make backups, and have excellent uptime -- your data is going to be there when you need it to be there. They also use things like SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and AES-256 encryption to make sure nobody can peek at your files without your login credentials. Your stuff is safe in these types of cloud storage centers. Things like file encryption and obfuscation are best left for another day, so we're not going to discuss that type of security -- just don't do anything illegal, OK?

Most of these companies offer a set amount of storage space for free, and have yearly plans for folks who need more. The amount is different from service to service, so be sure to read those terms before you sign up for one. This storage is yours, to put any files you want there, so you can get to them from any Internet connected device anywhere on Earth. You can do this at the company's website, or more importantly for this conversation, through a program on your smartphone or computer.

The program on your computer is usually set up to sync a folder with your online account. Inside this Dropbox folder are all the other folders and files you've placed in the cloud, and they stay synchronized -- change a file on your computer and it uploads the changes to your cloud account, and those changes are available from anywhere. You can also share these files or folders with other users of the same service, which means someone can make a change to a file and it will sync to their cloud account, through Dropbox, and into the shared folder on my computer. That makes collaboration pretty easy, and we share folders and files a lot here at Smartphone Experts (You should see Bla1ze's lolcat pictures!).

Things are different on our smartphones. We don't normally have tons of free space to sync everything, so it's a bit more selective. The data about each folder and file in your online account is sent to your phone when you start up the app, and you can see everything that's there without having to download it all. When you need a file, you can choose to download it to your phone's memory somewhere and access it through your phone. You can also upload files, which will then sync to your cloud account and any connected computers you may have. 

As you can see, there are all sorts of ways this could be useful. I have a folder in my Dropbox with names and phone numbers I may need in an emergency. If something happens, and I end up losing my smartphone while I'm out somewhere, I can still have access to them from any computer with a web browser. My wife likes to keep her shopping list in a shared folder, and either of us can add something to it from anywhere. Bla1ze likes to share his lolcats. I think just about anyone would find these services useful, and if you aren't using them yet you should give them a try. Links to Android apps for the three mentioned in this post are below, give one of them a shot!

Toshiba Brings World's Thinnest 10-Inch Tablet to U.S. Market

Toshiba's Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced that the Excite™ 10 LE tablet will be available for purchase from select U.S. retailers on March 6. Previously introduced as the Excite X10, the Excite 10 LE is the world's thinnest and lightest 10-inch tablet measuring just 0.3 inches (7.7mm) thin and weighing just 1.18 pounds (535g).

"We have engineered this tablet with premium materials and components, given it elegant yet durable styling and more connectivity options than any other tablet in its class, while fitting everything into an astonishingly thin and light design."

The Excite 10 LE tablet, powered by Android™, carries a starting price of $529.99 MSRP for the 16GB model and $599.99 MSRP for the 32GB model.

"Excite 10 LE embodies what a luxury tablet should be," said Carl Pinto, vice president of product development, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division. "We have engineered this tablet with premium materials and components, given it elegant yet durable styling and more connectivity options than any other tablet in its class, while fitting everything into an astonishingly thin and light design."

A More Premium Design with All the Essentials

The thin and light Excite 10 LE features a vivid high-resolution 10.1-inch diagonal AutoBrite™ display, delivering optimum browsing, reading and entertainment. Designed for durability and style, the device also features a high-quality magnesium alloy surface and scratch-resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass display with an anti-smudge coating for greater resiliency.

The tablet also comes with an array of connectivity interfaces and ports on board, including micro-USB and HDMI® ports, a micro-SD slot to share content and files with other devices, plus Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® connectivity. Stereo speakers with exclusive sound enhancements by Toshiba and SRS® Labs deliver superior audio capabilities. Front and back HD cameras provide convenient photo capture, plus 1080p video recording and video chatting.

Smart Multicore Performance with Long Battery Life
Powered by the 1.2GHz Texas Instruments OMAP™ 4430 multicore mobile processor and dual-channel memory, the Excite 10 LE offers smooth web browsing and multitasking plus the performance for high definition video and entertainment. Extremely power efficient, the Excite 10 LE delivers up to 8 hours of battery life.

Powered by Android

The Excite 10 LE tablet features Android 3.2, Honeycomb, and will be upgraded to Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich later this Spring. Also included is a full suite of familiar Google™ Mobile Service applications, including the Android Market™, YouTube™, Gmail™, Google Maps™, Music, Videos. Additionally, the tablet comes pre-loaded with a mix of Toshiba software and third-party applications including TOSHIBA App Place, TOSHIBA Book Place, TOSHIBA Media Player, TOSHIBA File Manager as well Netflix™ and Zinio™.

Docking and Accessories

Toshiba will also offer a suite of tablet accessories for the Excite 10 LE, including a docking station, multiple cases and more.

Specifications

• Android 3.2, Honeycomb (upgradeable to Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich)
• 10.1-inch diagonal LED Backlit widescreen Corning Gorilla Glass display with IPS technology and 10-finger multi-touch support
• 1280 x 800 resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio
• Texas Instruments OMAP 4430 multicore processor; 1.2GHz with 1GB LPDDR2 RAM
• 16GB and 32GB configurations
• 2 megapixel front-facing camera
• 5 megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash
• Micro USB, Micro HDMI ports
• Micro SD card slot
• Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• Gyroscope, Accelerometer, GPS, eCompass and Ambient Light Sensor
• Stereo speakers with sound enhancements by Toshiba and SRS Labs
• Built-in 25 watt-hour rechargeable lithium ion battery
• 10.1" (W) x 6.9" (D) x 0.3" (H)
• 1.18 pounds (535g)

Source - Toshiba

Orange UK gets a little excited, unveils HTC One X early

By now, the HTC One X isn't exactly a secret any more. The device has leaked plenty of times already ahead of any official announcement but we can add another leak to that mix. It seems Orange UK got a little excited and already posted the device along with the specs to their site. Guess there is no doubt about them picking the device up now is there?

Source: Orange UK; via: Cool Smartphone, Thanks, Luke!

ZTE Goes High Definition with the PF112 Smartphone

ZTE Corporation, a publicly-listed global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions, today announced the ZTE PF112 – a high definition smartphone with exquisite image quality.

The ZTE PF112 has a 4.5-inch HD screen giving 1280x720 pixel image quality with 16M colours and is the latest in a new portfolio of ZTE smartphones running Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). Launched today at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the ZTE PF112 packs exceptional video, audio and comms capabilities into a high-end metallic 130 x 66 x 8.5mm candy bar form factor handset with capacitive touch screen.

Equipped with an 8 MP auto-focus and LED flash camera, a front-facing 720p camera for video calls, face recognition，touch focus and HDR exposure bracketing, the ZTE PF112 is aimed at anyone who demands a high quality screen experience from their smartphone. Also included in the device is HD Voice, Dolby audio and HSPA+ and WiFi connectivity with UMA, together with 8GB eMMC and 1GB RAM memory.

“The ZTE PF112 raises the bar in Android smartphones,” said Mr. He Shiyou,Executive Vice President and Head of the Terminals Division of ZTE. “Consumers increasingly expect High Definition and, with this new Android 4.0 smartphone, we have made this HD experience accessible so that more people can enjoy their visual content such as videos and photos to the maximum.”

ZTE will be on stand B145 in Hall 8 at Mobile World Congress 2012, which takes place at the Fira exhibition site in Barcelona, Spain, from February 27 through March 1, 2012.

ZTE PF112 specifications:

• Network Band: GSM/EDGE/GPRS/HSPA+
  GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
  HSPA+ 900/1900/2100 MHz
• Platform: MSM8260A running Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
• Size: 130x66x8.5 mm
• Display Screen: 4.5 inch HD (1280x720) TFT, 16M color, Capacitive touch screen
• Camera: 8M AF（LED Flash) +720p, video calls
  Smile recognition, touch focus, HDR Exposure Bracketing
• Battery: 1650 mAh
• Memory: 8GB eMMC+1GB RAM
• Main functions: FM, WIFI, BT3.0, GPS, double MIC
• T-Flash (32G)
• Weight sensor, Near / light sensor, Electronic compass, Gyroscope
• MHL, HD VOICE, DLNA
• 720p video calls, 1080p shot
• UMA/FOTA/Dolby
• High-end metallic shell

Source - ZTE

Chrome extension allows for downloading of Android apps from Market to desktop

For those who know their way around the insides of an Android smartphone, pulling the apps off the device in their .apk form is a pretty trivial exercise. (We showed you how to do it many moons ago.) Now, thanks to a clever developer and a Chrome extension, you can download Android apps to your computer straight from the Android Market -- no smartphone acting as a middle man.

The trick is to install redphx's APK Downloader Chrome extension, turn off SSL error notifications, and then set a cookie for your Android Market e-mail and device ID. (Which means you need to be giving that sort of info up to the dev's cookie.) From there, you go to an App in the Android Market, hit the icon that now appears in the Omnibar, and download away. We've tested it out, and things work as advertised.

All that said, we've got no idea how Google's going to feel about this, but we imagine the Android Market doesn't have this sort of download capability in the first place.

We've got some demo video after the break if you want to see what you're getting into.

Source: code ki?m com blog; Thanks, redphx!

Sony Tablet P Available on AT&T 4G Network

AT&T today announced Sony Tablet P, a dual screen, multi-functional tablet ideal for mobile communication and entertainment, will be available beginning March 4. The 4G tablet will be sold for $399.99 with a two-year service agreement in more than 1,000 AT&T company-owned retail stores and online at www.att.com.

The new Sony Tablet P pushes the design of a tablet even further by elevating the user experience to entirely new levels. The unprecedented dual-screen layout of Sony Tablet P allows its two 5.5-inch displays to be used for different functions such as playing video on one screen while using the other as a controller, or checking email on one screen while using the other as a keyboard. Customers can also combine the displays into a single large screen and its unique folding design means it can fit easily into a pocket or purse.

At launch, users will be able to download apps optimized for the dual screens of Sony Tablet P via Sony’s “Select App,” including games, entertainment and lifestyle applications. In addition to optimized apps, Sony Tablet P users will have access to the full suite of Android applications via Android Market. Like its predecessor, Sony Tablet P is PlayStation™ Certified and provides access to the full suite of Sony Network Entertainment services. Sony Tablet devices are distinguished by four key features that set them apart from any other tablets on the market. These include: uniquely designed hardware and software, a “swift and smooth” experience (which includes Sony original features, Quick view and Quick touch), network entertainment services and cross-device connectivity.

Running on Android 3.2, Sony Tablet P is 4G capable and Wi-Fi compatible. With a qualifying data plan, users of Sony Tablet P also have access to AT&T’s mobile broadband network and unlimited access to AT&T’s nearly 30,000 hot spots nationwide. With both 4G and Wi-Fi, customers can browse the Internet, access digital content including videos, games, and check e-mail, while on the go, nearly anytime.

Data Plans

Customers who sign a two-year service agreement have two postpaid data plan options to choose from, including:

• AT&T DataConnect 3GB: $35 for 3GB
• AT&T DataConnect 5GB: $50 for 5GB

Customers may still choose from the existing monthly billing options, or prepaid options, with no long-term commitment. The Sony Tablet P without a long term contract will cost $549.99.

The prepaid plan options include:

• AT&T DataConnect 250MB: $14.99 for 250MB
• AT&T DataConnect 3GB: $30 for 3GB
• AT&T DataConnect 5GB: $50 for 5GB

Specifications

Display

• Resolution: 1024 x 480 (each screen)
• Screen Size: 5.5" (x 2 - dual screens)

Hardware

• Camera: Front – 0.3 Megapixel Rear – 5 Megapixel

Inputs and Outputs

• Headphone Output: 1
• MicroUSB: 1

Memory

• Internal Memory: 1GB

Power

• Battery Life (Approx): Up to 7 hours (based on general usage)
• Battery Type: Li-Ion

Processor

• Processor Type: NVIDIA® Tegra™2 mobile processor, duel-core 1GHz

Software

• Operating System: Android 3.2

Storage

• External storage: microSD card slot (expandable up to 32GB, 2GB microSD card included)
• Internal Storage Capacity: 4GB

Weights and Measurements

• Dimensions (Approx.): Open - 6.23l x 7.09w x 0.56h (inches) Closed - 3.12l x 7.09w x 1.03 h (inches)
• Weight (Approx.): 0.83 lbs

Wireless/Networking

• Bluetooth® Technology: Bluetooth version 2.1 + EDR
• Wi-Fi: IEEE802.11b/g/n

For more information on AT&T, please visit www.att.com/tablets.

Who to follow from Mobile World Congress

We know you love to keep up to date on all the latest and greatest Android news, and that is why you are here, right? Well as you know some of the Android Central folks have made the long trek to Barcelona to bring you all of the latest updates as they come pouring in from Mobile World Congress. While we will be posting as much as we possibly can on the blogs, following them on other social networks can give you a sneak peak of what's to come, and some extra behind the scenes action. Whether you prefer Twitter or Google+, give these guys a follow, or a circle, and let's get ready for the mayhem to take place.

• Phil Nickinson - Twitter | Google+


• Alex Dobie - Twitter | Google+


• Simon Sage - Twitter | Google+


• Daniel Rubino - Twitter | Google+


• Android Central - Twitter | Google+

Of course, keep it locked here for all of our coverage of MWC 2012. Let the madness begin.

AC picks: Apps from the world of rock music

Everyone likes different music, so some of you out there probably won't find anything contained within that will whet your appetite. Personally, I love rock music. If there's guitars involved there's a good chance i'll give it a try. It's a pretty diverse category with so much different -- and killer -- music to offer. 

As more and more people get smartphones, we're starting to see musicians use apps as a new way to reach their fans. Everyone (well nearly everyone) uses Facebook, Twitter, Google+ to keep up with their idols. But what about an app? Like all apps the offerings vary in quality, but a lot offer some really nice features for fans to take advantage of. 

What we don't seem to have is just an RSS reader with a smattering of pictures and tour dates. Video catalogues, music clips, even notifications are all available from some of the biggest and best in the world of rock. We've picked out a selection of apps to get you started which you'll find linked below. 

• Slayer


• Foo Fighters


• Incubus


• Red Hot Chilli Peppers


• Linkin Park 


• Five Finger Death Punch


• Ozzy Osbourne


• Bullet For My Valentine


• InnerPartySystem


• Bad Company


• Bon Jovi


• Nuclear Blast (label)


• Snow Patrol


• Skunk Anansie


• Pixies


• Black Label Society

If there's any that you guys feel deserve a mention, shout out in the comments and we'll build the list up. Lets rock!

Android @ Mobile World Congress!

Welcome to Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. This is the annual event in which we'll see some of the newest phones from the world's top manufacturers, as well as app developers. The event is in its last year at the Fira de Barcelona -- in 2013 it moves to the nearby (and newer) Gran Via facility.

We're live in Barcelona all week, bringing you all the announcements as they happen, along with hands-on coverage of all the new Android phones, tablets and apps. We're expecting big things from HTC, Sony, LG and others. Plus there's always a bunch of cool stuff that we might not get to see in the States. So keep it locked to AC in the days ahead for all the latest developments as they happen! If you can't wait that long, be sure to check out our MWC preview article.

A quick reminder that for those of you in the United States, Barcelona is between 6 and 9 hours ahead, depending on your time zone. Your best bet? Wake up early and keep your eyes glued t this page. (Sponsored by copious amounts of tapas, cervezas and smartphones.)

Here's a quick look back at what we've seen in the past year or so at Mobile World Congress:

• HTC unveiled the Legend and Desire lines in 2010, and sequels in 2011, including the ChaCha Facebook phone.


• Samsung at Mobile World Congress in 2011 unveiled the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Galaxy S II.


• Sony Ericsson has improved its Xperia line each year at MWC -- including the Xperia Play in 2011.


• LG unveiled the Optimus 3D and Optimus Pad at MWC last year.


• Google had one hell of a "booth" -- more like an entire hall -- in 2011.

In addition to all things Android, we'll be lending a hand for our sister sites, CrackBerry.com, WPCentral, iMore and webOSNation, so be sure to check them as well. Events kick off on Sunday, Feb. 26, and run all week. Be sure to bookmark this page for the latest Android news.

LG demonstrated world’s first voice-to-video conversion over LTE network at MWC 2012

LG Electronics (LG) successfully demonstrated the world’s first voice-to-video conversion over a LTE network at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2012. The demonstration, which was based on LG’s proprietary technology, enabled users to switch back and forth between high quality voice and high resolution video call modes during an ongoing telephone conversation. Also demonstrated was a video sharing service, which enables real-time sharing of videos over a LTE network, as they are being recorded.

LG’s LTE voice-to-video conversion process adheres to the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) Profile for Conversational Video Service, the industry standard established by the GSMA to govern the delivery of both video and voice data over LTE. LG will launch LTE-capable smartphones compliant with Conversational Video Service later this year.

“LG will continue to lead in LTE by developing and introducing innovations that consumers can actually experience and benefit from,” said Dr. Jong-seok Park, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “The LTE sector is advancing at light speed and our voice-to-video conversion technology is in the best position to be adopted industry-wide.”

At last year’s MWC, LG successfully demonstrated Voice over LTE (VoLTE) and video calls. Prior to the introduction of LTE technology, high definition video calls on smartphones were not possible, as 3G networks were unable to handle the volume of data at the speeds required for high quality video images.

HTC One X specs leak - 1.5GHz Tegra 3 and dual-shutter cam with dedicated image chip

We expect to see the HTC One X tomorrow in Barcelona, but if these leaked images from Greek site FullGSM are the real deal, we can discuss the specs today. And there's a lot to discuss! The leaked product sheet lists all sorts of goodies that HTC fans have been waiting for. The One X is expected to ship with HTC's version of Android 4.0, and the Tegra 3 4-PLUS-1 SoC is confirmed here as well. All the basics are covered, things like Bluetooth 3.0 and a full array of motion sensors, and we see that NFC is on-board and that the One X is said to be Google Wallet compatible. Maybe the most interesting thing is the new camera hardware. The 8MP shooter comes with a "smart" LED flash, a backside illuminated f2.0 aperture, a 28mm wide angle lens, a dedicated HTC Image chip and a dual shutter module to allow taking pictures while filming 1080p video. This one should take beautiful pictures in any lighting conditions. Here's the bullet-point highlights:

• 4.7-inch Super LCD2 at 720p resolution


• Gorilla Glass


• 1.5GHz 4-PLUS-1 Tegra 3 CPU


• 32GB storage


• 1GB RAM


• 1800mAh battery


• Wireless HDMI via HTC Media Link unit


• DLNA


• Pogo pins


• 8MP rear camera, 1.3MP front facing camera


• Beats audio

You can check out the full list of specs on the product sheet, and a handful of pictures after the break. Be sure to tune in tomorrow when see everything HTC has to say at Mobile World Congress.

Source: FullGSM

Live from Mobile World Congress!

Greetings, boys and girls, from beautiful Barcelona, Spain! We're live at Mobile World Congress. That is, we will be live starting Sunday afternoon (U.S.) time when things get going -- namely Huawei, HTC and and Sony, among others. Mobile World Congress officially kicks off Monday morning at the Fire de Barcelona -- the lovely venue you see before you here (as shot from atop the renovated Arenas de Barcelona).

A quick reminder that for those of you in the United States, Barcelona is between 6 and 9 hours ahead, depending on your time zone. Your best bet? Wake up early and keep your eyes glued to our Official Mobile World Congress 2012 Page™. (Sponsored by copious amounts of tapas, cervezas and smartphones.) Also be sure to check our our comprehensive Mobile World Congress Preview for a look at everything we now (and everything we think we know) is coming this week.

Thanks for coming along for the ride, and stay tuned for Greatest Android Coverage in the World -- from Mobile World Congress!

Locale GPS for Android

Artificial intelligence for Android.

Judge Robert Restaino jailed 46 people when a mobile phone rang in his courtroom and no one admitted responsibility. So we invented Locale!

Locale's advanced artificial intelligence manages settings automatically. For example: arrive at work and instantly your ringer silences, your wallpaper snaps to that scenic Caribbean photo, and Wi-Fi switches on. With Locale, never worry about your ringer going off accidentally again. Once you experience Locale's power and convenience, you'll never want to be without it. Set it and forget it!

LOCATION

Locale leverages groundbreaking artificial intelligence algorithms to combine accelerometer, cell, Wi-Fi, GPS, and other signals for instant location detection.

Configuring is simple—it just works! To create a location, drag and drop the pin on the map, resize the radius using your finger, and Locale does the rest.

The best part? No huge battery drains because Locale typically uses 3% or less of the battery. During our extensive testing across twenty popular Android devices, we found the battery lasts several days with Locale running.

PLUG-INS

Locale manages more than your ringer. Along with built-in conditions (Battery, Caller, Location, Orientation, Time) and built-in settings (Bluetooth, Display Brightness, Display Timeout, Ringtone, Volume, Media Volume (Android 3.0+), Shortcut (Android 3.0+), Wallpaper, Wi-Fi), Locale expands with an advanced plug-in architecture. Over 250 Locale plug-ins exist on the Android Market.

Imagine increasing your productivity by combining Locale with Astrid—an amazing task and todo management app—for location-aware reminders. Learn more at: http://blog.244.am/astrid

SUPPORT

With Locale, you get what you pay for: Locale is fast, accurate, reliable, secure, and battle tested. We stand behind our app 100%. We provide incredible ongoing support and respond to all inquiries right away. Have a question? Just ask! Email us at up@244.am

Looking for troubleshooting information and tips about how to use Locale? Visit our website: http://www.244.am/support.html

Locale is tested and fully compatible with all of the latest Android devices, including the Galaxy Nexus, Droid Bionic, Galaxy S II, and Sensation.

BUZZ

"I'm really taken with Locale. [...] The idea that I have an intelligent phone that configures itself depending on where I am is very powerful."

- Fred Wilson, principal of Union Square Ventures

"Locale has a lot going for it. It's easy to use, but has some advanced functionality under the hood. We have found the battery usage to be absolutely amazing. [...] We feel the level of polish and overall quality are more than commensurate with the asking price."

- Ryan Whitwam, Tested.com

"Super-useful"

- Lifehacker.com

One of the top 10 apps that best use location.

- Wired Magazine

One of the top 10 apps for your Droid.

- PCWorld Magazine

[source]

Using Webtop Apps in Motorola Droid Razr

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Huawei Introduces the World’s Fastest Smartphone: The Ascend D quad

Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, today introduced the world’s fastest quad-core smartphone, the Huawei Ascend D quad. Powered by the Huawei’s K3V2 quad-core 1.2GHz/1.5GHz processor and boasting the most compact design among 4.5-inch smartphones, the Ascend D quad expands the realm of possibilities for consumers with an Android 4.0 operating system and Huawei’s proprietary power management system which provides up to 30% in energy savings.

"We’ve listened to people’s top demands from smartphones: speed, long-battery life, high quality visual and audio capabilities, and a compact, lightweight handset. The Huawei Ascend D quad exceeds these expectations," said Richard Yu, Chairman of Huawei Device. "In January at the Consumer Electronics Show at Las Vegas, we achieved a world record for the world’s slimmest smartphone with the Huawei Ascend P1 S. We are proud to once again introduce a world-first at the 2012 Mobile World Congress with the Ascend D quad, the fastest smartphone."

The Ascend D quad is an entertainment dynamo with its 4.5-inch 720P high definition touchscreen, and the industry’s most powerful 32-bit true color graphic processor. Its PPI 330 screen providing crystal clear display even under direct sunlight, is complemented by its Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound and Audience earSmart™ voice technology for an experience which excels across the senses. Its 8-megapixel BSI rear-facing camera, 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera, and 1080p full HD video-capture and playback capabilities enables you to record your special moments in clearer, richer detail.

The Ascend D quad comes with an 1800mAh battery, which lasts for one to two days with normal usage. The smartphone’s prowess is enhanced by Huawei Device’s proprietary power management technology which provides a longer battery life of up to 30% compared to industry average by adjusting power consumption according to usage needs. It also ensures higher chipset performance and efficiency by maintaining a low chip temperature.

Measuring 64mm narrow and 8.9mm slim, the Ascend D quad is proof that good things do come in small packages. With an ultra-thin frame, the lightweight and compact smartphone’s 4.5-inch touchscreen seems to vanish into the edge, creating an “infinity” feel and allowing an exceptionally narrow body.

In addition to innovative hardware design, the Ascend D quad also has outstanding software design. In addition to its Android 4.0 operating system, the Ascend D quad optimizes user experience, ensuring greater ease of use.

As part of the Ascend D series, Huawei also introduced the Ascend D quad XL and the Ascend D1 smartphones. The Ascend D quad XL comes with a 2500mAh battery which provides two to three days of normal usage. With the same specifications as the Ascend D quad, the Ascend D quad XL measures 10.9 mm slim. The Ascend D1 runs on a 1.5 GHz dual-core CPU and has a 1670mAh battery.

The Ascend D quad series will be available in China, Australia, Europe, Asia-Pacific, North and South America, and the Middle East in Q2 2012. The Ascend D1 will be available in the above markets from April 2012.

For more information, please visit at MWC2012 Minisite.

Huawei Debuts the World’s First 10-inch Quad-Core Tablet

Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, introduced the world’s first 10-inch quad-core tablet today at the Mobile World Congress 2012. The HUAWEI MediaPad 10 FHD is a fast-performing tablet with unsurpassed audio-visual entertainment features including a Huawei 1.5GHz quad-core processor, Google Android 4.0 operating system and a 10-inch IPS high definition display screen.

"Most consumers use tablets for entertainment purposes such as gaming, viewing multimedia content, browsing the internet and reading e-books," said Richard Yu, Chairman of Huawei Device. "We have created the HUAWEI MediaPad 10 FHD to excel in all of the entertainment capabilities including speed, power, web-browsing, high definition display and audio, and packaging it all in a compact and portable body."

The HUAWEI MediaPad 10 FHD is the fastest quad-core tablet available. Running on Huawei’s proprietary 1.5 GHz K3 quad-core processor, the smallest quad-core processor in the industry, the HUAWEI MediaPad 10 FHD leverages the K3 chip’s embedded GPU to provide incredibly fast processing power and 3D graphics processing capability, ideal for high definition video clips or large-scale 3D games. The HUAWEI MediaPad 10 FHD enables high speed wireless access of up to 84 Mbps (HSPA+ 21/42/84Mbps), while at the same time supporting a number of network standards including LTE.

The audio-visual functionalities of the HUAWEI MediaPad 10 FHD bring a whole new entertainment experience to users. Boasting the industry’s highest screen resolution and high-definition 1920 x 1200 IPS display that supports multi-touch, its colorful and clear display gives users the ultimate visual experience. HUAWEI MediaPad 10 FHD uses Dolby surround sound technology and offers perfect experience for users when playing games, watching HD movies and listening to music. The HUAWEI MediaPad 10 FHD is also installed with an 8 megapixel rear automatic-focus camera and a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera and memory storage of 2G RAM, making it easy to record and store high-definition photos and videos.

HUAWEI MediaPad 10 FHD follows the design principle of all Huawei’s products: elegant, simple and easy to use. The uni-body of the HUAWEI MediaPad 10 FHD is made of the trendiest aluminum-alloy materials, providing a glossy and light finish. The tablet is 8.8mm thin and weighs only 598g which makes it convenient to use and carry.
The HUAWEI MediaPad 10 FHD is the fourth generation tablet from Huawei following after the S7, S7 Slim and MediaPad (Android Honeycomb). HUAWEI MediaPad 10 FHD will be available for global market in Q2 2012.

For more information, please visit at Huawei Device MWC2012 Minisite.

Samsung Galaxy Note review (AT&T)

In regards to this AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note review, we, the writers, editors and readers of Android Central, hereby stipulate the following:

• It is a BIG smartphone. Anyone who says differently is just wrong.


• Not everybody's sold on using a stylus; nor will everyone ever be - and that's OK.


• If we never see another Galaxy Note press release, it'll be too soon. (Unless it's the one saying it's being updated to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.)


• Anyone who calls the Galaxy Note a "phablet" in an un-ironic manner should be unmercilessly ridiculed even more than they likely already are.

Seriously. It's BIG. We know it. We get it. Nothing we say will change that fact.

So what it is about the Galaxy Note that's made it so popular? Samsung's shipped more than 1 million so far. That's different than "sold," but a million is not a small number. And will that popularity translate over to the North American markets? Will Samsung's aggressive marketing win out? Will it just be too darn BIG for our American sensibilities?

It's a smartphone. A BIG smartphone. With a stylus. Not so hard to wrap your head around. But wrapping your hand around it? That's another matter.

Orange first to deliver exclusive new smartphone to Europe, powered by Intel technology

• Orange celebrates the tenth year of its successful portfolio of own-branded devices by extending its range to include a new high-performance smartphone, powered by the Intel® Atom™ processor, which will be offered exclusively to Orange’s customers in the UK and France
• Orange is the first operator in Europe to launch this new smartphone offering the customer high-performance capabilities with a rich user experience and at an affordable price
• This first Intel-powered Orange smartphone will feature a number of locally-relevant and unique Orange services including Orange TV, Dailymotion, Deezer, Orange Wednesdays, Your Orange and Orange Gestures

Today, Orange announces that it will launch a new high-performance Android smartphone in Europe this summer. Powered by Intel® technology, the device currently codenamed ‘Orange Santa Clara,’ will deliver the latest in smartphone capabilities and rich entertainment experiences to more customers. The phone will first be available exclusively to Orange customers in the UK and France, where its commercial name will be unveiled at launch.

The launch of this smartphone marks a significant development in Orange’s long-standing and successful strategy to deliver phones under its own brand. Now in its tenth year, it has helped drive new device partnerships and support Orange’s customer and mobile multimedia growth by introducing more affordable feature phones and smartphones to its whole customer base. These phones are differentiated by being customised with simple and relevant Orange applications and services. Customer demand has led to the doubling of Orange’s own-branded portfolio in 2011, increasing volume from 7 per cent to 15 per cent of its total device portfolio. Orange aims to increase the volume of its own-branded device portfolio to 20 per cent in 2012 to better meet its customers’ needs, making innovative features, services and technologies more widely accessible.

Today, Orange is broadening its own-branded device portfolio with a new mobile partner, Intel, a world leader in silicon processor technology and computing innovation. At launch, the Orange smartphone will run Android’s Gingerbread platform with a planned upgrade to Android’s Ice Cream Sandwich platform shortly thereafter. The new Orange smartphone is based on Intel’s smartphone reference design and is powered by the Intel® Atom™ processor Z2460 and supports HSPA+ with the Intel® XMM™ 6260 Platform. Together, these Intel solutions deliver leading performance and energy efficiency while facilitating fast browsing and a responsive user experience. The phone has a 4.03” display, slender dimensions at 123mm x 63 x 9.99, 16 Gb of memory and weighs in at 117g.

In addition, high-definition (HD) video will support a rich entertainment offering together with mobile HD voice for outstanding audio quality. It also boasts a camera that can take 10 pictures in under a second with 8-megapixel quality to ensure customers capture all the action so they can choose the very best pictures to keep and share. Also pre-loaded will be a number of services unique to Orange, including Orange TV, Dailymotion, Deezer (France only), Orange Wednesdays Your Orange and Orange Gestures.

“The proliferation of smartphones has brought a wealth of new experiences. At Orange we firmly believe that all our customers should benefit from the smartphone revolution, and we remain committed to delivering innovative content and services across a wide range of devices to help customers stay connected and get more from their phone,” said Yves Maitre, Senior Vice President of Mobile Multimedia and Devices, Orange. “For ten years, Orange has pioneered a successful own-branded approach to delivering to its customers high quality, affordable handsets in all price ranges, packed with locally relevant and unique services and features. We are delighted to be partnering with Intel to add such an exceptional device to our portfolio.”

Today’s announcement builds on Orange’s long-standing and close relationship with Intel across its PC and tablet portfolio, and Orange continues to support Intel’s innovation and development on convergent platforms.

“The Orange device is a fantastic example of the innovation happening on Intel’s smartphone reference design,” said Mike Bell, Intel Vice President and General Manager of the company’s Mobile and Communications Group. “We are pleased to extend our close collaboration with Orange to Intel-based smartphones. Orange has a long and successful track record of innovation which has produced great mobile products and services for their customers. By combining Orange’s unique applications and services with an attractive high-performance Intel-based smartphone, Orange is once again demonstrating its wireless leadership while providing more value and customer choice.”

Francisco Jeronimo, Research Manager European Mobile Devices, IDC, commented: "This announcement is a bold move from Orange. In today's smartphone environment it is extremely difficult to differentiate without compromising costs. This device pushes the boundaries of innovation and provides consumers with premium experiences at affordable prices."

Source - Orange

Mobile Nations Special: Mobile World Congress 2012 kickoff

Phil, Simon, and Alex have splashed down in Barcelona and are ready to assault Mobile World Congress 2012, Mobile Nations style, and bring you back absolutely everything Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, (and even iPhone and iPad if they can find it!). Listen in!

• Our podcast feed: Audio | Video


• Download directly: Audio


• Subscribe in iTunes: Audio | Video


• Subscribe in Zune

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Samsung outs Galaxy Note 10.1 Android tablet in Barcelona

Behold, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Android tablet! We're at Plaça de Catalunya in Barcelona where Samsung has unviled its oversized version of the already oversized 5.3-inch Samsung Galaxy Note. No official announcement has been made last we looked, but this one just went up in the past 24 hours or so -- it wasn't here when we swung by the Plaça de Catalunya on Saturday morning.

It's pretty clear to see we've got a 10.1-inch tablet on our hands, with another version of the S Pen. We can't quite tell from the billboard itself whether the Galax Note 10.1 is sporting Honeycomb or Ice Cream Sandwich, but we'd be willing to bet on the latter. And you can see the telltale signs of Sammy's TouchWiz improvements, which we've loved on its previous tablets.

Stay tuned for the official announcement on this one.

Dropbox v2.1 now available in the Android Market, automatically upload photos and videos using WiFi

Just in case you skipped out on testing the recent experimental builds of Dropbox from their users forums, you can now head on over to the Android Market and grab the official release. As noted in the change log, they've addressed some bugs from the beta and added some new features as well:

• Allows you to automatically uploads photos and videos in the background using Wi-Fi or data plan


• Up to 3 GB of free space for uploading photos automatically (in 500 MB increments)


• Upload files of any size


• Various performance improvements & bug fixes


• We now store your Dropbox credentials in Android’s secure Account Manager. This means Dropbox can’t be installed on your SD Card and requires the “Your Accounts” permissions. These permissions only allows us to access accounts we create.

If you're a Dropbox user and haven't grabbed the latest release, now is a good time to do so and take advantage of that free space they're offering. Download link is past that for you all.

HTC sends greetings from Barcelona, shows a box of goodies

On their new official blog, HTC has posted a short greeting from Mobile World Congress in Barcelona post from Director of digital marketing John Starkweather. While it's nice of him to say hello to all of us here on the Internet, and we certainly wish him well, we're more interested in the picture he attached. 54 pieces of "something amazing" are in that box (we counted), covered teasingly in pink bubble wrap. 

We don't have much to go on, but I have One good guess. We'll know more when we see HTC on Sunday. 

Source: HTC Blog

ASUS PadFone and upcoming Transformer Pad Lineup unveiled at Mobile World Congress 2012

At today's "Incredibly Mobile Endless Possibilities" ASUS press event, Chairman Jonney Shih unveiled the revolutionary PadFone and upcoming Transformer Pad lineup. "The time has finally arrived when every screen in your lives could transcend into a portal with real time access into your digital world," said Mr. Shih as he introduced the ASUS PadFone which transforms into a three-in-one combination of a smartphone, a tablet and a notebook when accessorized with the PadFone Station and PadFone Station Dock.

The ASUS PadFone is an incredible 4.3" smartphone featuring a Super AMOLEDqHD display, the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual core processor and an ultra-sharp 8-megapixel digital camera with Fuji image processor all wrapped in an exquisite design that is optimized for Google's Android 4.0 operating system. When placed inside the optional PadFone Station, it transforms into a 10.1" tablet with 5 times the battery capacity. The PadFone offers unmatched versatility via ASUS' proprietary Dynamic Display technology which allows seamless transition between the PadFone and PadFone Station display screens. In addition, the PadFone Station offers an optional keyboard dock that essentially turns the PadFone into an ultraportable computing device. The PadFone also comes with the option of a PadFone Stylus Headset which is a Bluetooth stylus pen that transforms into a headset for picking up calls easily.

ASUS is redefining the future of mobile computing devices and is excited to announce the new and innovative ASUS Transformer Pad lineup. Offering three distinct models to fit the unique needs of mobile media consumers, ASUS believes in providing consumers with choices. The ASUS Transformer Pad lineup includes the ASUS Transformer Pad Prime and upcoming ASUS Transformer Pad Infinity series and ASUS Transformer Pad 300 series.

The Transformer Pad Infinity Series is poised to be the go-to tablet for HD mobile entertainment as it features an impressive 1920x1200 Full HD Super IPS+ display and ASUS SonicMaster technology. The 4G LTE model comes armed with the powerful Qualcomm MSM 8960 Snapdragon S4 Krait Dual-core 1.5Gh processor and is capable of download and upload speeds of up to 100Mbps and 50Mbps respectively. The WiFi model features the NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 quad-core processor for incredible application and gaming performance. The Transformer Pad Infinity has a 2MP front camera for HD video conferencing along with an 8MP rear camera with a large F2.2 aperture, 5-element lens and LED flash for stunning high quality images or HD video capture.

The Transformer Pad 300 Series makes for an ideal mobile web surfing and gaming platform with its NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 quad-core processor and high quality 10.1" 1280x800 IPS display with either 4G LTE or WiFi options. It features a 1.2MP front camera for video conferencing and an 8MP rear camera with a large F2.2 aperture, 5-element lens allows for high quality images along with HD video recording. The Transformer Pad 300 Series has battery life of up to 10 hours, and that is extended up to 15 hours* with the optional keyboard dock.

Source - Asus