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“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”
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Tuesday, April 23, 2013

AOSP stock Android available now for Sony Xperia Z




Sony’s willingness to support third-party developers and hackers is well known at this point. Just some months ago, with support from Google, Sony more or less turned the Xperia S into a Nexus smartphone. They provided all the binaries they could for the device, along with a developmental AOSP, stock Android, build for developers to play around with. Unfortunately, Google backed away from the project within a short time, and the Xperia S never became a bonafide AOSP managed device. But that didn’t stop Sony from keeping all the necessary files to run stock Android available on their github page.

Announced today on their developer blog, Sony is now doing the same thing with their latest flagship smartphone, and has released an AOSP build for the 5-inch 1080p Xperia Z, complete with as many binaries as they can possibly supply. Sony was able to provide the necessary files to get the SD-card, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, LED light, and most sensors working, but cannot provide the binaries for the camera or modem. Although they do have both working well internally.





Because of the broken modem and camera support, along with a handful of bugs, AOSP for the Xperia Z isn’t ready for every day use quite yet, but it could be only a matter of time. A quick look on XDA shows that the Sony released AOSP code for the Xperia S was used to make a successful ROM. There’s little reason to believe the Xperia Z won’t follow suit. All the files needed for getting AOSP up and running on your Xperia Z are located on Sony’s github, ready for contribution from developers committed to making this project daily-driver worthy.

The decision to give developers and consumers the tools needed to customize the firmware on their Xperia S was, as you would imagine, very well received. Sony was celebrated for being open minded and receptive to consumer demands. Doing the same thing with the Xperia Z seals that reputation. What do you think of Sony’s decision to release vanilla Android for their flagship devices?

Source: Sony Developer Blog
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Google Glass retail launch still a year away


google-glass-head-630

So you’ve been tuned in to the hype machine for the last year. You’ve seen the unboxings, you’ve read the Google+ Posts, and now you want to know: when can I, a plain ol’ consumer, get my hands on Google Glass? I’m sorry to let you know, you’ve still got another year’s wait ahead of you.

In an interview with BBC Radio, Eric Schmidt made it clear that a retail launch of Google Glass is still “a year-ish away.”
Well, the developers are beginning now. It would be fair to say that there will be thousands of these in use by developers over the next months. And then based on their feedback, we’ll make some product changes – and it’s probably a year-ish away.

Eric SchmidtGoogle

As badly as we’d like to see Glass available to the public at a more affordable price (developer editions run $1,500), a smooth launch of a finished product is much more important. There will surely be handfuls of bugs to sort out from Glass’ current position, and new features introduced as well.





The Next Web is reporting, citing Glass-Apps.org, that a series of gesture-based actions may be added to Glass in the coming months. Found deep in the code for Google’s My Glass app are references to the ability to pinch (in the air) to zoom and control a browser window, and wink to take a picture. While there is a proximity sensor on the inner edge of Glass, some of the features hinted at may require a hardware revision, which would push a retail launch back even further.

Hopefully by I/O 2014, we’ll be talking about how to buy Glass, and what kind of apps to install once you get your hands on one. This year though, we’ll still be salivating at all the fancy Glass demos, hoping to get our hands on one right along with you.

Via: DroidLife

Source: Telegraph
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LG Optimus G Pro US unveiling set for May 1



As a follow up to an event invitation sent out early last week, LG has announced that their upcoming May 1 event in New York City will showcase the unveiling of the US LG Optimus G Pro.

It’s no secret that Samsung’s Galaxy Note series of devices has captured a fair share of success, but LG isn’t content to sit back and watch Samsung dominate. LG’s answer to the Note II, the Optimus G Pro, will finally launch in the US sometime after its upcoming May 1 unveiling, as announced by LG in a press invite to the event.

The international LG Optimus G Pro is a high-end larger smartphone, featuring a 5.5-inch 1080p HD display, Snapdragon 600, 32GB of storage, 2GB of RAM, a 13-megapixel camera, Android 4.1 and a 3140 mAh battery. While the US variant will undoubtedly feature region-specific radios, don’t expect much else to change.

LG has found success in Korea with the Optimus G Pro, selling over 500,000 handsets in just 40 days. It took four months for the original Optimus G to sell one million units; LG is on track to easily beat that. Keep an eye out for more LG Optimus G Pro info as May 1st approaches.



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Is Google really working on a 32GB Nexus 4 with LTE for I/O? 0 inShare



Even though the Nexus 4 was released just some five months ago, the rumor mill is quick at work, spinning tales of new hardware set to be announced at Google I/O. Among the rumors that a new Nexus 7 will be announced, there is a recently surfaced rumor that Google is working on an updated Nexus 4 with LTE and 32GB of storage.

When Google released the Nexus 4, it was made perfectly clear that a lot of the things missing from the device were intentional. The lack of LTE and limited storage being the two most prominent issues picked at by practically everyone talking about it. Andy Rubin, then the head of Android, was quoted as saying the absence of LTE was, “tactical.”





The LTE situation across the globe is complex. To access GSM/HSPA+ speeds all over the globe, only a handful of frequencies need to be accessible to a device. The issue changes greatly with LTE, and even more so with America’s CDMA/LTE hybrid networks. If Google were to release an LTE device, how would it work?

Any LTE enabled Nexus device would most likely only work on one or two LTE networks. The most likely scenario would be Google releasing a revised Nexus 4 that works on AT&T and T-Mobile LTE. Rumors that an LTE enabled Nexus 4 would work on other carriers, or that it would include CDMA, seem far fetched.

While there is a sizable user base to be captured with CDMA devices in the US, the amount of negotiating, update hassles and AOSP headache needed outweigh the benefits. Right now, there’s simply no easy way to craft one device, and have it work everywhere.

The rumored Nexus 5, on the other hand, could be a totally different story. At Mobile World Congress this year, Qualcomm announced the RF360; A single chip capable of working on a staggering amount of networks. Everything from GSM, to EV-DO, to LTE. Unfortunately, it won’t be ready until the second half of the year. Or, right around the time when the Nexus 5 is rumored to launch.

If you were hoping to see the Nexus 5 at Google I/O, you shouldn’t hold your breath. Rumors on the Nexus 5 have been swirling for over a month now, but the timing is a bit off. Google still has a lot of life left in the Nexus 4, especially if this latest rumor comes true, and it’s updated with access to AT&T and T-Mobile LTE.

As for the Motorola X Phone, it’s hard to imagine it being tacked onto Google I/O. It’s totally possible, but if the Nexus 7 and an updated Nexus 4 with LTE are announced, along with Key Lime Pie, it’s highly unlikely Google would stuff the X Phone in there as well. Even more so if it really has been pushed back to August for release.

So, to answer the question, is Google really working on a 32GB Nexus 4 with LTE for Google I/O? It’s very possible. There was a refreshed Nexus 7 released, once Google had access to cheaper radios and storage, so that may be the case with a refreshed Nexus 4. Just keep in mind, the more you add to the rumor, the less reasonable it becomes. Supporting Sprint and Verizon CDMA and LTE, along with T-Mobile, who is the only official launch partner right now, and AT&T LTE doesn’t seem feasible. And releasing more than one new device, mid-cycle, doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.
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Sunday, April 21, 2013

Stealth Black HTC One appears on AT&T and Sprint sites




Despite the name HTC wasn’t trying to stay under the radar of AT&T and Sprint customers with this alternative to the recently launched Glacial Silver One as they had previously stated that it would be available in the coming weeks. You still can’t hit the buy button on either site, however, HTC One fans are used to timelines slipping at this point so it should be of some comfort to see evidence that both carriers are likely ready to flip that switch soon.

AT&T is showing both the 32GB and their exclusive 64GB version of the Stealth Black One on their site with the simple message that “The device you’ve selected is not available in your area.” They are a little less forthcoming about it than Sprint though as you have to track the pages down on your own rather than being able to click through from the HTC One page.

Sprint is limited to the 32GB version, but they are actually showing the black version as an option and are a bit more helpful with their terse message, “Black HTC One Coming Soon.”

So are any of you still holding out for the ninja edition One (seriously HTC I think you missed an opportunity there) or did the anticipation of putting together all those awesome video highlights and Zoes get the better of you?




Via: Sprint

Source: AT&T
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Top ten most popular Android Apps



Every week we cover new Android apps with Fresh Meat on Wednesday, followed by Android Gaming on Thursday and Top 10 app updates on Friday (returning this week). Now every Monday we will look back and see which ones were the most crowd-pleasing among our audience. Read on for the 10 most popular Android apps among your peers from last week.

1. Facebook Home





Facebook is the world’s largest social network, so it’s no surprise that the new Facebook Home app was the most popular Android app last week. We tested out the app and found it had promise, but the coolest featured called Chat Heads is available in the stand alone Facebook Messenger app. Facebook Home is only supposed on a handful of devices, but MoDaCo has instructions if you want to side-load it on another device.





2. StatusAgenda





StatusAgenda is a free app that brings your calendars to your pull-down notification area. The app integrates with Google Calendar so there is nothing to set up. I normally have the a Calendar widget stuck to my home screen, so I have yet to test out StatusAgenda, but it currently has an average rating of 4.4 in the Google Play Store.  

3. Twilight




Twilight got a lot of buzz in last week’s Fresh Meat column, and it appears the app might live up to the hype. The app makes your device screen adapt to the time of the day by filtering the blue spectrum on your phone or tablet after sunset and protecting your eyes with a soft and pleasant red filter. The average review score is 4.6, and I’m installing it right now.

 4. InCall Recorder





InCall Recorder might be one of the first call recording apps that works well, and it’s actually free to install. Some users report it works great, while others say it’s not compatible with their device. Filter the Google Play reviews by your device to see what others are saying before you take the time to download it and try it out.

5. Burner




If you like to sell items on Craigslist and you need a disposable number, then Burner might be the solution you need. Burner maintains a pool of numbers that you can rent on-demand and then dispose of when no longer needed. The Android app comes with one free Burner number to test out, and then you will have to pay for continued use after that. The app was just released this week and it already received an update over the weekend, so keep sharing your feedback so that the developer can improve the experience.

6. Flatout: Stuntman




Last week’s most popular game was Flatout: Stuntman from Team6 Game Studious. The Flatout series is one of the most popular stunt titles on gaming consoles, and this mobile version delivers all the same exciting action. The game is optimized for Tegra-powered devices, but it runs on a wide variety of Android smartphones and tablets. It’s free to play, so check it out if you enjoy ragdoll fun.

7. Rando





Dustin wrote a brief preview of Rando last week, and I’m surprised it’s not higher up on this list. The simple app allows you to anonymously share photos with strangers and it’s strangely addicting. We normally take pics and upload them to get likes from people we know, so sharing a photo with a random stranger really changes the behavior of how you capture images. I have been playing with the app for the last week, and it still has me entertained.

8. Overkill 2



Overkill 2 is a new game for people that like to customize guns. This sequel to the popular original lets you modify 30 realistic 3D guns the way you feel they should be and then take them to the action. These stand-still type of shooters are not my thing, so I have yet to check it out.

9. Swizzle





Swizzle is a well designed app that can help anyone make cocktails and mix drinks like a bartender or mixologist. The app features thousands of drink recipes, including a selection of non alcoholic and virgin drinks. Additional features include a My Cabinet section that allows you to store your ingredients inventory, a built-in shopping list, and the ability to create your own recipies and share them with friends.

10. Fetch




Rounding out the Top 10 is Fetch, an app discovery platform that is powered by tags. Users can define the traits they are looking for in apps, and then Fetch creates a personalized feed of apps that match what they are looking for. The app allows you to follow some detailed traits like “button mashing,” “boss battles,” and “war games” so it’s easy to create a feed that will deliver apps you will love.
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Facebook enables free voice calls in US via Messenger app

Facebook Messenger


Early this year Facebook started testing free voice calls in Canada via their Messenger app, and now the feature is slowly being rolled out to the US. If you have Facebook Messenger already installed, just open up your contacts list and click info on any person to see if there is an option for “Free call.”

Facebook calling works essentially the same way as any other V0IP service, such as Skype, but Facebook has the huge advantage of being the largest social network and having access to all your contacts.

I tested out the Facebook free calling feature last night and found the voice quality was pretty good. Calls can be made over a WiFi network or a cellular network. Facebook warns users that they still have to pay for data, but we are not sure exactly how much data a call consumes.

Most carriers now provide unlimited minutes, so there might not be an immediate advantage to making a VoIP call when data consumption is often limited. However, there are still a lot of people on older plans that have limited minutes and unlimited data, so Facebook calling could be appealing to them.

The feature is slowly being rolled out to Facebook accounts in the US, so don’t worry if it’s not available yet. If you have a Facebook account and want to test it out, grab Facebook Messenger from the link below.
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Saturday, April 20, 2013

HTC One now on sale across US, Developer Edition delayed



After a small delay, the HTC One is now available for purchase at AT&T and Sprint retail stores. HTC also notes their new flagship phone will be available at Best Buy, Radio Shack, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Target, Costco, Car Toys, HSN.com and Amazon.com. T-Mobile has begun their pre-order program and they expect their version of the device to hit stores on April 24th. Unfortunately, those who pre-ordered the 32GB unlocked and 64GB Developer Edition will have to wait at least another week.

Today we received an email with an update to our online order of the HTC One Developer Edition. HTC states there were “shipping issues” which caused a “slight delay”, but they still expect the phones to be delivered by the “end of April.” To make up for the delay, all orders will be delivered via overnight shipping. Also due to “overwhelming demand”, those who purchased the Double Dip cases will not receive their order till “mid-May.”

It’s unfortunate that some orders were delayed, but at least two carriers put the device on sale today. If you were lucky enough to pick up your HTC One already, please share your initial impressions in the comments below.



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