Google postpones Nexus Q launch, provides free units to the few people that pre-ordered

When Google placed the Nexus Q on sale last week, we joked that there would be no shortages because no one was going to order it. Several tech blogs reported that Google had sold out of the first batch of when the expected ship date was changed, but Google never released any details [...]]]>

Nexus 7 16GB now back in stock at Google Play

The Nexus 7 may well be the perfect 7? tablet, but a few glaring omissions can potentially create issues. Most notably, the lack of a microSD slot leaves you stuck with a finite amount of storage, making the 16GB option the better buy especially for those of us who enjoy gaming on our devices (FIFA 12 [...]]]>

Nexus Q preorders shipping

This will affect, oh, maybe five or six of us, if our un-scientific poll is any indication, but it appears that preorders of Google's Nexus Q are now shipping.

The flip side to that, of course, is that Google has delayed the retail release of the Nexus Q to add some more functionality. But if you did slap down $299 -- which Google's not even going to charge you now -- look for your Nexus Q to be headed your way directly.

More official Nexus 7 accessories appear online, including folio case and keyboard case

The previously-leaked Nexus 7 POGO dock and premium case are set to be joined by a few more official accessories before long. UK retailer MobileFun has revealed five new accessories for ASUS and Google's Nexus 7 tablet in a blog post today, including a host of cases that also double up as stands for the device.

The line-up of Google-sanctioned, ASUS-manufactured accessories includes --

• ?Nexus 7 Stand Case: A case that's also a stand. Slide the rear of the stand backwards to prop up the tablet in landscape orientation.  
• ?Nexus 7 Rotating Stand Case:  As above, but with the ability to rotate to portrait orientation too.  
• ?Nexus 7 Folio Case: A leather case for the Nexus 7 with a magnet for tripping the tablet's built-in magnetic sensor. This means it can toggle the screen depending on whether the case is open or closed.  
• ?Nexus 7 Bluetooth Keyboard Case: ?Similar to the vanilla stand case, but with a full Bluetooth QWERTY keyboard on the inside cover.  
• ?Nexus 7 Screen Protector: It's a screen protector for the Nexus 7. Go figure.

There's no word on when these accessories will become available for purchase, but at least we have confirmation now that they are indeed on the way. Any of these jump out at you? Hit the comments and let us know which you like best.

We've got more pics after the break.

Source: MobileFun

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Google posts updated 4.1.1 binaries for Nexus phones, including the Nexus S 4G

Google has posted the updated JRO03H (Android 4.1.1) closed binary files today, including those for the Nexus S4G.  That means one thing -- expect about a bazillion new AOSP Jelly Bean ROMs to be ready for download shortly, especially for the Sprint Nexus S. Before you ask, this has nothing to do with any OTA. These are the files that folks need to build Jelly Bean from the source code, and get everything working like it should. Developers have been working with the existing 4.1.1 source code since it dropped, but with these files there's 100-percent less hackery needed to get things like cameras, NFC, and Wimax working as intended on supported phones. While we see new files for the GSM Nexus phones, the Xoom, and even the Verizon Galaxy Nexus, Sprint's Galaxy Nexus is still absent.

As we saw when the Ice Cream Sandwich binaries were released, it could be more than a month until Google and Sprint get any OTA worked up, so this is a solid option if you need the butter. We all love the butter.

Don't fret if you're not up to speed with things like fastboot and flashing, because there's a great group of fellows in the Nexus S 4G forums who live to play with this sort of thing. Head in there, poke around a bit, then holler for any help you need. You'll be running Jelly Bean in no time.

Source: Google. Thanks, everyone who sent this in!

Google confirms Nexus S Jelly Bean roll-out, lists carriers

We broke the news yesterday that some GSM Nexus S models were starting to see their Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean update rolling out, and now we have the official confirmation from Mountain View. Google took to its +Nexus Google+ account to bring news that Jelly Bean is currently pushing out to customers on at least five carriers around the world, as well as the unlocked GSM models, presumably. Here's the official word --

"We've started rolling out Android 4.1, Jelly Bean, to Nexus S phones on a number of carriers including T-Mobile, H3G [Three], O2, Rogers as well as Vodafone in most countries, with more to come. Enjoy!"

No word on Sprint's Nexus S 4G just yet, but given that phone's history with updates, owners could be in for a fairly long wait. If you've already gotten Jelly Bean on your Nexus S, shout out in the comments and let us know how you're doing.

Source: +Nexus

Samsung Galaxy Nexus sales ban lifted by temporary stay on the handset injunction

In an unexpected turn of events, Samsung has been granted a temporary stay on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus injunction which allows the device to be sold until July 12th. Judge Lucy Koh issued the temporary stay  as the courts awaits to hear “Apple’s response.” If you’re a bit confused, you’re not the only one. Details [...]]]>

Google begins shipping Nexus 7 preorders

Good news, everyone. Those of you who preordered the Nexus 7 tablet from the Google Play Store should be receiving shipping notices over the next few days. Google runs an automated message on their Play Store customer service line, and today the message changed over to announce that the tablets will be shipped out to [...]]]>

Video: Nexus 7 unboxing montage

As we all patiently await the delivery of our Nexus 7 tablets from Google and ASUS, what better way to kill the time than by watching a Nexus 7 unboxing montage. The following video is making its way around the internets at the moment, and it’s frankly hilarious to watch. We’re having a good old [...]]]>

Factory restoring Nexus 7, SGS III camera shots [From the Forums]

Just in case you missed out on some of the Android news today, now is the time to go ahead and get yourself fully caught up. Here on the blogs and in the Android Central Forums there is plenty to talk about. Have some questions? Need some help or just looking to chat Android? You know where to go, check out some of the threads below to get started.

• Google Nexus 7 Tablet Forums - [GUIDE] Factory Image Restore for your Nexus 7
• HTC EVO 4G LTE Forums - The Good and Bad of a Dual Band Router
• HTC One X Forums -  How do I get html to display in native e-mail app w/ Yahoo Mail?
• Samsung Galaxy S III Forums - Galaxy S III Camera Shots : Lets see them!
• Galaxy Nexus Forums - ClockworkMod 6.0.0.1 Update (Recovery and Touch Recovery)

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

Android Central Podcast 103: Live nude Jelly Bean flashing, Nexus abounds, group data love

Podcast MP3 URL: 

http://traffic.libsyn.com/androidcentral/acpc103.mp3

Thing 1: Nexus 7 all up in here

• Check out the official Nexus 7 guide book
• Get to grips with new Jelly Bean features
• Top 5 Games for your new Nexus 7
• How to unlock the bootloader and root the Nexus 7

Thing 2: Software, software, software

• Jelly Bean ported to the HTC HD2
• XBMC for Android is coming soon, source code available for building and testing
• Carbon for Android will be free, aiming for release later this month
• Early CyanogenMod 10 preview build brings Jelly Bean to Galaxy S III

Thing 3: Other odds and ends

• T-Mobile Galaxy Note is officially official
• Sprint triples its LTE cities in 24 hours
• The Nexus Q running CyanogenMod
• AT&T announces shared data plans - not forcing anyone to switch though

Manually install the Jelly Bean update on your GSM Nexus S

Though only a .1 release, Jelly Bean feels like a major upgrade to the Android platform. Project Butter makes the operating system feel smooth and fluid, addressing one of the bigger criticism of Androids past. When the 4.1 OS was unveiled at Google’s I/O developer conference, Google told us that the Nexus devices would receive [...]]]>

The Nexus 7 is one tough little tablet

If you can’t possibly stand to watch the Nexus 7 thrown on the ground, pushed off a ledge and dunked in a bathtub, avert your eyes.

In their latest famous drop test video, SquareTrade is pitting the Nexus 7 against the new iPad in an epic battle to see who can withstand the most [...]]]>

Nexus 7 a hit with consumers, selling out across the US

All across the web, from the most popular tech blogs online, to even the most devout Apple fans, the Nexus 7 is being hailed as a huge success. And real world sales show it.

Google, GameStop, Staples, Office Depot and Sam’s Club have all run out of Nexus 7s, and have posted one [...]]]>

Verizon Galaxy Nexus back in AOSP; Sprint, not so much

Yesterday was a huge day for Android developers. Just weeks after being debuted at Google I/O 2012, the source code for Android 4.1, Jelly Bean, was made available in the Android Open Source Project. But that’s not all that happened. Along with the introduction of Android 4.1, the Verizon Galaxy Nexus LTE earned back [...]]]>

How to: Alter the DPI on your Nexus 7 to bring up that bigger tablet feel

There's absolutely no doubt, the Nexus 7 is a fantastic piece of equipment. But, as with all Android devices, you can't please all of the people, all of the time. One point of annoyance for some is the phone styled UI that the Nexus 7 employs, and more specifically, the lack of a proper landscape mode on the home screens. 

But, this is Android, and this is a Nexus device. So, there's tweaking that can be done. Everything needed framework wise is on board to allow you to bring about what we see here. It's simply a matter of altering the DPI settings in the build.prop. Apps can mix and match elements. 

Sounds daunting, but thankfully for the less brave -- like myself -- some of the brilliant developers the Android community can call its own have done the hardest parts for us. 

The pre-cursor; this process requires root access. If you haven't already, definitely check out the fantastic step-by-step in the Android Central Forums on how to unlock and root your Nexus 7. Once you've done all that, and you've achieved root, the rest is easy. 

There are a variety of different applications in Google Play that can do the tweaks we require here. For the purposes of this article, we used Rom Toolbox Lite, which you'll find a download link to below. 

When Rom Toolbox has been opened, swipe left into the performance pane, and look for the button labeled "build.prop tweaks." Press this, and you'll be presented with three sliders, one of which will alter the DPI settings of your tablet. 

Out of the box, the DPI on the Nexus 7 is set to 213. It's worth remembering this value, to help you go back to the standard as quickly as possible should you so wish. To achieve the best results, slide the toggle right the way down to 160. 170 works too, but for proper tablet UI in some apps, we found 160 worked better. Remember, we're not actually changing any of the physical properties of the screen, just what is reported. 

Hit apply, accept the reboot and wait for the tablet to fire back up again. When it does, you'll see a much more familiar looking tablet appearance staring back at you. No more Google search bar right across the top, this is now reduced to the small box in the top left. The app drawer is now opened in the top right, and the three on screen buttons are smaller and located in the bottom left. 

Notifications are still the new, enhanced Jelly Bean notifications, but instead of pulling down from the top, they rise up from the bottom right hand corner. 

This isn't without potential issues though, it will most likely break some apps in the Play Store. But, it's pretty simple to set up, and equally simple to undo, so why not give it a try. If you just want your home screen to look a little bit like this, you could always try Apex Launcher. But, if you want the real deal, then try this. A custom launcher such as Apex will still keep the notification bar at the top, and the buttons at the bottom just as the stock launcher does. If landscape mode is all you want though, Apex might do you just fine.  

Download: Rom Toolbox Lite

Restoring your Nexus 7 using Google Factory images -- a guide [from the forums]

So you bought a Nexus 7, partially because it's a Nexus device and you wanted to hack the living crap out of it. Cool -- me too. Whether you're just beginning, or an old pro you will need factory images to fix the things you've broken. But having them isn't enough, you'll need to know how to use them. It's one of those things that isn't hard, but when you're not used to doing this type of thing it's always nice to have a friend to guide you. AC Forums Adviser 2defmouze is that friend, and he's prepared everything you'll need to know about fixing your Nexus 7 once you've made it unbootable. And that is priceless. Hit the Nexus 7 forum link below and bookmark it right now, and be sure to give 2defmouze some love while you're at it.

The best part about having folks like 2defmouze and the rest of the great crew in the forums working on guides and how-tos is the level of support you'll get if you come across something you can't figure out on your own. We're picky here at AC, and we don't hand out Adviser badges to just anyone. You can trust these guys with your precious toys. That's why I'm always steering you guys there -- they are Android nerds to the core, and know their stuff. 

[GUIDE] Factory Image Restore for your Nexus 7

The more authentic information about Restoring your Nexus 7 using Google Factory images you know, the more likely people are to consider you a Nexus 7 expert. Read on for even more Nexus 7 facts that you can share

Be sure to check out AC on Google Currents with your new Nexus 7

Google has made Currents part of Android with Jelly Bean, and anyone with a Nexus 7 or other Nexus device who's updated has it sitting in their app drawer. That's not a bad thing -- the Currents app really is a great way to read the news, especially on today's big-screen devices. Refer back to our full walkthrough and review for tips on getting it all set up, but be sure to subscribe to Android Central. You'll find us in the Science & Tech section -- we're the ones with over 450,000 subscribers. 

Once you've got everything added, you'll find Currents a well thought out and handy way to read the news your way. Whether you skim headlines or delve into every story, the content is provided in an easy to navigate way with all the media you get from the desktop version of a particular news story. We really dig it around here, and think you will, too.

If you're not rocking with a Jelly Bean device, have no fear -- it's available in the Google Play store for devices running Froyo or higher. You can find it at the link below.

Download Google Currents  from Google Play

Building AOSP Jelly Bean for the Verizon Galaxy Nexus - a tutorial [from the forums]

We've seen the source code for Android 4.1.1 (affectionately known as Jelly Bean) drop from Google, and plenty of us were excited to see the Verizon Galaxy Nexus binaries were back online and available. Whether you're a Verizon subscriber or not, as an Android fan it's OK to get warm and fuzzy inside seeing more devices opened up for users. Nice work to all involved for getting the licensing worked out once again.

But seeing it there is only the first step. For many of us, half the fun of having a phone like the LTE GNex is building code and hacking the living crap out of it. If this sounds like you, there's a special treat waiting in the Verizon Galaxy Nexus forums -- the best damn AOSP building tutorial you'll ever see. I've written a few how-tos in my time, so I can say, with no remorse, that you won't find a more thorough, easier to understand, well-thought tutorial anywhere. Dmmarck is not just an AC forums moderator, he's a total nerd, and not afraid to let it shine. He walks you through setting up your machine, from the ground up, and in the end you'll have the satisfaction of flashing a build of Jelly Bean that you made yourself. It's the pinnacle for any Android geek with a Verizon Galaxy Nexus. The icing on this cake? Dylan is there, in the forums, all day every day, to answer your questions and walk you through when you get stuck. When doing this sort of thing for the first time, that's the key.

If you've got the hankering to do some Android building for your LTE GNex, and looking for a great place to start, you've found it. Hit the link, and be sure to give dmmarck a big thanks for his hard work!

[GUIDE][Ubuntu] Compiling Android from Source