Showing posts with label Android. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Android. Show all posts
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Android Overload: Google exec says there should be more carrier UI’s, T-Mobile 2-day sale for select Samsung phones, and more
Sprint adding Spotify Premium to carrier billing for Android customers starting November 11th
A few months back Sprint's Android customers gained the option to charge Google Play purchases to their monthly wireless bill. In an effort to keep the carrier billing party going, the Now Network will soon be adding this option for Spotify Premium customers. An anonymous tipster has shared with us that starting on November 11th, Sprint's Android clientele will be able to add the music streaming service's $10 monthly charge to their bill. While we're sure that some customers will take advantage of this new option, we can't help but long for the good old days when people could bill a new phone to their account. Ah, Sprint giveth and taketh away.
Acer CloudMobile review: an ambitious Android phone that arrived a little too late
By James Trew 
posted Nov 10th 2012 2:30PM 
Acer CloudMobileSony Xperia TLHTC One X (AT&T)GLBenchmark Egypt Offscreen (fps)SunSpider: lower scores are better
posted Nov 10th 2012 2:30PM It's been a while since we last took a look at a smartphone from Acer. Today's offering -- the S500 CloudMobile -- however, might not be all that unfamiliar, having first met our eyes way back at MWC in spring. This time around Acer presents us with a leaner, slicker, much more design-conscious handset, one that isn't just about the pretty looks, either.
With a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 Plus processor, 1GB of RAM, an 8-megapixel camera and a 720p display, all for £289 SIM-free, it's pitched against similarly specced phones like the HTC One S. In short, it's yet another alternative for people seeking a full-featured smartphone, except it comes without the pocket-draining price tag. More importantly for Acer, however, is the chance to get back onto people's smartphone radars. So, now that the CloudMobile has gently drifted over our shores, does it have us looking to the sky, or putting on our raincoats of indifference? Read on to find out.
"This is clearly a handsome phone -- one that won't suffer a case of mistaken identity"
The CloudMobile has already enjoyed a rare Engadget accolade: we were so intrigued by it in Barcelona that we felt compelled to take a second look. The phone, which won an iF Product Design award, has a memorable look and feel, with Acer opting for a combination of sharp corners, curved sides and a dimpled matte back that contrasts nicely with the flat, glossy front face. Materials-wise, it's made of plastic but still manages to feel solid -- the kind of build quality we're used to seeing in Samsung's handsets. In fact, when this editor placed it in the same pocket as a Galaxy Nexus, the similar texture on the two phones made the two indistinguishable by feel. The dimpled battery cover not only provides some much-needed personality, it also makes it easier to grip. The metallic accents around the mic and top speaker grille add some visual interest as well. Regardless of whether you think this deserved the iF Product Design award, this is clearly is a handsome phone -- one that won't suffer a case of mistaken identity.
The display measures in at 4.3 inches, which should make the CloudMobile easy for most people to grip. In a world where phone screens are getting larger and larger it seems Acer has opted to make its product fit in as many hands (and pockets) as possible. It's lightweight and comfortable to hold, and yet we never felt we were making concessions on screen size. This might -- in theory -- lend itself to easy use with one hand, but the placement of the power / standby button on the upper-left edge requires a modicum of dexterity for right-handers. It's only your index finger you'll need to train to reach that far, though, as the volume rocker sits more comfortably on the right-hand side, with the rest of the input happening onscreen. That leaves the USB port, mic and headphone jack as the only other openings along the edges. (Note: there's no dedicated camera button, but the volume rocker will perform this role in camera mode.) Those edges also create a slight lip around the display, no doubt making it a bit more scratch-resistant when you place it face-down.
"The display is bright, clear and wonderful to look at."
The overall design is eye-catching enough, but that screen is what's bound to capture your attention. Acer describes it as an HD720 IPS LCD, which means, of course, that it has 1,280 x 720 pixels. We, on the other hand, would describe it as a bit of a corker. It really is bright, clear and wonderful to look at. Colors are crisp and the whole image just pops. This isn't surprising given that its screen density of 342 ppi bests other current flagships like the iPhone 5 and Nexus 4. Some of this "pop" has to do with the manufacturing technique used: Acer presses the glass up against the digitizer, eliminating any air. The screen is viewable from a broad range of viewing angles, even in direct sunlight. Images and photos are reproduced faithfully with dark blacks and no hint of saturation.
Look past that exterior, and you'll find some respectable innards. It might not be the quad-core monster you were hoping for, but the 1.5GHz dual-core chip keeps itself busy without causing any apparent problems -- that is to say, we were never caught cursing its performance. All told, it should be more than adequate for most people, but we'll elaborate on that later once we throw the phone to the benchmark lions. As for the 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage, these are fairly pedestrian specs these days, but the option to augment the storage capacity using a microSD card should come as a relief to many people. To get at the SD slot, you'll need to pop off the back cover, where you'll also find the micro-SIM slot and 1,460mAh battery. The rest of the non-radio hardware is made up of a front "HD" (0.9-megapixel) camera and that rear 8-megapixel shooter, along with Dolby Mobile 3 sound enhancement and DLNA. The unit we've been testing supports quad-band GSM / GPRS /EDGE and UMTS / HSPA+, as well as 802.11b/g/n, GPS, NFC and Bluetooth 4.0.
It's true that the Acer walks among an increasing number of quad-core competitors, but as we all know, it's not what you got, it's what you do with it that counts. Under the hood, the CloudMobile packs a perfectly adequate dual-core Qualcomm 8260A Snapdragon S4, clocked at 1.5GHz. Not once did we feel we were using a phone that wasn't capable of doing what we wanted it to. Bear in mind, this packs the same processors as ASUS's Padfone, Sony's Xperia T and the HTC One S -- not a slothful crowd by any stretch of the imagination. Also, thanks to that light, unobtrusive skin atop Android 4.0.4, there's little getting in its way. We also put it through some long bouts of casual gaming as we went about our day, and we're pleased to say that those angry birds flew with nary a glitch, Hill Climb Rally was as smooth a ride as possible, and Cut the Rope never looked better. When not gaming, we jumped back and forth between apps equally unabated. Of course, talk is cheap, so we've prepared some quantitative comparisons to help put the performance in context.
Acer CloudMobileSony Xperia TLHTC One X (AT&T)GLBenchmark Egypt Offscreen (fps)SunSpider: lower scores are better
You can see right away that the CloudMobile gives HTC's One X a good chase on most of our regular tests -- in fact, it bests it on several of them, including Quadrant. There's not a lot of bragging rights left over for Xperia TL owners with Acer's plucky upstart holding its ground against Sony's flagship. Ah, you say, but with only a 1,460mAh battery to keep the CloudMobile on the road, it probably dies halfway through the day. As it happens, that's not the case. In our regular test (video looping, WiFi and 3G on, display brightness fixed, etc.) it managed a little over six hours. While this isn't exactly marathon territory, it's not a poor showing. With more casual use, the CloudMobile can hang in for almost two days, and that includes being kept on overnight. We know for our readers, though, light use is a rarity. We hear ya, but even then you'll be getting some average runtime to cover a regular day's use.
As for data and downloading, based on the UK's O2 network, the CloudMobile regularly got faster speeds than the Galaxy Nexus when we performed side-by-side tests. The CloudMobile tended to get between 4 Mbps and 5 Mbps on our speed tests, while the Nexus peaked at 4 Mbps in the same areas. Voice calls on the other hand were crisp and clear. Audio in general is boosted by the Dolby support. When enjoying music with the phone, this feature really makes a difference. It's hard to gauge whether it's mainly down to the increase in volume it provides, but it's definitely a step up from the meeker sound without it. The small metal Dolby plate isn't just for branding, it also covers the loudspeaker. How does that speaker perform (when used for something busier than voice)? Well, if you're a fan of listening to music this way, you'll like the CloudMobile more than most. Sound is louder than on the Galaxy Nexus, but it's still just a tiny speaker, so don't expect much. The best thing about the audio is that you have more control over it than just a standard Android install. But the same inevitable limitations (e.g., where to put a better speaker?) are still ultimately there.
If it's numbers you're after, then for this section, the one you'll care about is eight. That's how many megapixels are crammed inside the camera sensor. But as you likely know, the number of pixels isn't the only measure of a camera's capabilities. In fact, sometimes, it can be a downright rotten one. In any case, what can it do with them? Well, before we get to that part, it's worth noting that even though the CloudMobile's software is fairly close to stock Android, there are some notable additions in the camera department. The main difference is the inclusion of some extra photo modes, with a choice of Panorama, HDR, Low Light and Continuous.
"Even though the CloudMobile's software is fairly close to stock Android, there are some notable additions in the camera department."
Panorama mode works surprisingly well, with a very simple and clear on-screen display that has you leading a blue ball along a horizontal line, into a central circle. Once you guide it there, it automatically takes the next photo until you tell it to stop. HDR and Low Light modes work as you might expect (i.e., all the magic happens behind the scenes), remaining active for just one photo before defaulting back to normal mode. This is helpful because it keeps you from leaving these modes on accidentally. Still, it's also a chore to activate every time if you happen to be taking a series of similar shots in the same place. Lastly, Continuous mode shoots 10 pictures in a row. There's no way to configure the interval, but it's handy for the occasional action shot, or if you want to be use a scatter-gun approach, and go back to choose the best one. It's worth mentioning that you can tap to focus, if the phone's own autofocus isn't homing in on what you want it to. In general, our sample shots were pleasing so long as light conditions were favorable -- we thankfully didn't notice any compression. When lighting conditions weren't so great, though, quality drifted to the fringes of acceptable.
As we've mentioned, Acer decided to mostly keep its sticky fingers out of the Android experience, which will please many users. While we're not against manufacturers adding a dash of spice and flair to the phone's software, it's much better when it's just a light dusting of features, rather than a heavy-handed attempt at making over the software. Fortunately, the team at Acer liberally sprinkled in a few unobtrusive treats that largely enhance -- or, at least, don't detract from -- the overall experience.
As far as the bread-and-butter features go, it's all Android (4.0.4, in this case). The on-screen buttons, WiFi, battery and signal icons remain unchanged. The same is true for the app tray, home screens and core app icons (camera, browser and so on). In fact, you might not even spot the differences immediately. But when you do, the first will likely be the pull-down notification list. Unlike stock Android's slide-to-dismiss notifications, the CloudMobile has its own list, which can be discarded with "X" buttons. When in this screen, you might also notice that there are some quick access controls at the top. These allow you to dive right into the music player, notifier, quick settings (WiFi on / off, Mobile data, etc.) and the alarm clock.
Another welcome addition are shortcuts on the lock screen. Press the stand-by button to wake the phone up, and you can either swipe to unlock, or press, then swipe, one of four icons along the bottom to be dropped straight into that app. These can be configured to applications of your choice by long pressing an empty location on the home screen. You might also be pleasantly surprised to find that Swype is installed out of the box, so if you're an ace with that, then you are good to go. If not, you can always turn it off, or install your own preferred keyboard.
The last software function we're going to mention is the cloud piece -- you know, the set of features hinted at in the phone's name. Though the handset was clearly named after its cloud-connected services, this functionality actually has a rather low-profile place in the phone's software. Once opened, a pre-installed AcerCloud app will prompt you to register for an account. After you do that, you can set your phone to automatically sync photos, videos, music and documents across any other devices with the app installed. Currently, this is limited to Windows PCs and Android devices.
The service works as expected: take a photo, and then it'll appear in your synced folder on other devices. From what we can tell, however, there's no way to view these files online via the browser, which seems like a key feature to be missing. It seems, therefore, that the feature is more about helping you sync your media across different devices. That's nice, but this functionality is already available in several different popular incarnations like Google Drive, SkyDrive and Dropbox, among others -- none of which require a hardware buy-in. It's a shame that this feature wasn't more fleshed-out, but perhaps this is something Acer intends to build on with later releases.
If it feels like we've kept the the lid on our enthusiasm throughout this review, well, we have. It's no surprise that a phone we first saw back in February isn't offering swoon-inducing specifications in November. However, there are a few occasions where excitement levels touch the red. That screen, for example, is a delight to look at, and some of the tweaks to Android are good enough that we'll miss them when we go back to our daily drivers. All told, it's a phone that just keeps calm and carries on.
Most importantly, Acer has created a device that stands its ground against some pretty big competition. It's just that with Google's Nexus 4 newly on sale for about £50 less SIM-free, it's hard to find a reason to pick this over the other. If there's any consolation Acer can take from this, it's that it's a challenge other Android handset manufacturers are likely to face over the coming months. The big takeaway here is that Acer can deliver Android handsets worthy of your time -- it just needs to speed up the release cycle.
Special thanks to Expansys for providing us with a review unit.
Sprint’s LG Viper Ready for Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update
Rumors came true in the end, after hearing a couple weeks ago that LG is preparing a big update for its Viper smartphone, we now have the visual confirmation by a notification which was sent to all LG Viper 4G LTE owners. And it is very interesting, as LG Viper is a mid-ranked smartphone which came with stock Android Gingerbread and even if it’s a small sized smartphone, it gets this huge update to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. But unfortunately, this update is not for everybody, only Sprint carrier customers are going to get the Android 4.0 ICS. Other carriers are still working on it or never considered yet an upgrade.
The update of Sprint’s LG Viper 4G LTE is already out and will cover all LG Viper terminals in about two weeks, so in case you haven’t received any announcements, you can check for software updates from your smartphone menu. Don’t worry if it won’t find anything, it will probably get to you in a matter of days.
Let me tell you how the whole process of update will go: First your smartphone will detect the new update and will start the download process, and once it’s done, it will notify you about it. Once you agreed on installing the OTA update you won’t be able to do any calls or enter into the smartphone’s menu, just let it do its thing and in a few minutes you will have the Android 4.0 ICS ready to go.
The name of the software pack which contains the Android Ice Cream Sandwich update is ZVI and it will add some new features to your LG Viper 4G LTE like:
Improved User InterfaceImproved Lock ScreenHome Screen FoldersImproved Android BrowserImproved Camera ExperienceFace UnlockResizable WidgetsHope you’ll enjoy the Android Ice Cream Sandwich experience on LG Viper 4G LTE and let us know what is your opinion about the features included in this update. Also let us know if the smartphone became faster or if you feel that Gingerbread was a better choice.
Friday, November 9, 2012
New data showing Windows 8 beating Android in web traffic, but how?
If this latest data from internet traffic analytics firm StatCounter is to be believed, it appears that over the weekend the 2 week old Windows 8 somehow managed to overtake Android in total amount of web traffic. If you feel like someone’s fed you crazy pills, you’re not the only one. Keep in mind, this data represents both desktop and mobile devices (including tablets), but with the sheer amount of Android devices on the market, how could this even be possible?
This could have something to do with the fact that people spend more time at home surfing the web on their Windows 8 desktops than when out and about on their Android devices. We also don’t know if StatCounter’s data is also accounting for Windows 8 release candidates that launched back in June. but even then, the data is still a bit puzzling. Any idea what this could mean? Also, what happened the first few days of November that caused Android web traffic to drop so suddenly?
[WinSource]
Humble Bundle for Android 4 now available, pay what you want for 6 great indie games
The folks at Humble Bundle have just launched their fourth collection for Android devices. This time around the pay-what-you-want package features six great games from developers such as Omni Systems, Kloonigames, and more. If you aren’t familiar with the Humble Bundle model, buyers are asked to pay as much or as little as they want with the ability to decide how much of that payment goes towards the developers, Humble, and a selection of charities.
Always curating some of the best Android has to offer, the latest bundle will be available for two weeks only and includes Crayon Physics Deluxe, Eufloria, Splice, Superbrothers Sword & Sorcery EP, and Waking Mars. Those choosing to pay higher than the average amount will also be treated to Amanita Design’s Machinarium. It’s a great opportunity to get your hands on some of the best indie games available for Android at a great price (and a few that are only available for the first time as part of Humble’s offer). And you can guarantee you are supporting the developers who take time to craft such experiences.
In just the few hours since the latest Bundle has launched, the games have already pulled in over $20,000 (though the number is skyrocketing quickly). The average purchase is just a little over $5, which is small bucks to pay for what will amount to hours of entertainment. So go over and grab this awesome collection before time runs out!
Pulse 3.0 update for iOS and Android brings new design, better search and more
By Nicole Lee posted Nov 9th 2012 2:15AM 
posted Nov 9th 2012 2:15AM Pulse might have launched that browser-based app back in August, but most of its customers still use its mobile app. Lucky for them, both iOS and Android versions of the app have been updated to Pulse 3.0. The update promises a sleeker and more user-friendly interface, along with a new category sidebar, a search feature that lets you cull news from a wider variety of sources (from Tumblr, Youtube, Reddit, Facebook, Google, Flickr and Blekko just to name a few), infinite scrolling, and unlimited pages. The new iOS app is now universal and can be used across all iOS devices -- previous versions were divided into iPhone and iPad camps. On the Android side, users get a redesigned Pulse widget that displays top stories in a resizable view. Customizable notifications on both platforms will ensure you always stay on top of the news -- perhaps now you can finally score a win at your favorite pub's quiz night.
LG Optimus L9 review: an affordable entry-level Android handset for T-Mobile
Just when we thought LG was done with its Optimus L-series for the year, the Korean company surprised us with the LG Optimus L9, which replaces the Optimus L7 at the low-end range. The L-series devices are positioned as LG's stylish yet affordable line of entry- to mid-level phones, so they definitely don't compare to the company's quad-core offerings like the 4X HD or the Optimus G. Instead, the L9 runs Android 4.0 and boasts a 4.5-inch qHD display along with a dual-core 1 GHz TI OMAP 4430 processor and 5-megapixel camera. At $79.99 with a two-year contract on T-Mobile, it's designed to appeal to shoppers on a budget. But is it a good buy? Let's find out.
When we first laid eyes on the Optimus L9, we experienced a bit of déjà vu. It's almost identical to the L7, with its chrome trim and piano-black, Gorilla Glass-coated face. It even has the same button layout, with a physical home button flanked by capacitive back and menu keys. The back cover is a different story, however. The L9 has a textured matte surface comprised of multiple tiny raised dots, a departure from the L7's striped backing. As such, it has a nice, grippy feel that reminds us of leather (or vinyl, maybe). Its sloped edges and slender 9.1mm profile makes for a surprisingly comfortable feel in the hand despite its wide 127.6mm x 66.9mm footprint. All told, the boxy shape struck us as boring at first, but we were ultimately won over by the phone's dapper design.
Adding to the L9's good looks is that 4.5-inch qHD (960 x 540) TFT LCD, a clear improvement over the L7's 4.3-inch, 800 x 480 panel. Though not quite as crisp as the TrueHD display we saw on the Optimus G, we found the L9's vibrant display perfectly adequate. The viewing angles are decent, text is sharp and colors are rich. However, we can't help but feel a little cheated -- the international version of the L9 boasts a better-specced 4.7-inch IPS display, and it appears we're unlikely to see that stateside. We've seen these sorts of carrier shenanigans before -- the AT&T version of the Optimus G totes an 8-megapixel camera instead of the 13-megapixel shooter found on other Optimus G handsets, for example -- but it doesn't mean we approve.
Under bright sunlight the Optimus L9 is quite usable, but only if you ramp up the brightness to 100 percent. Otherwise, it looks like a slab of black glass. Sadly, we had to adjust the brightness manually every time lighting conditions shifted due to the lack of an auto-brightness setting. Indeed, the phone lacks an ambient light sensor, an omission we find terribly annoying. The rest of the usual sensors are on board, including ones for proximity, orientation, rotation vector, magnetic field and three-axis acceleration.
Aside from the aforementioned buttons, the front of the L9 is home to a front-facing VGA camera on the upper right, directly above the T-Mobile branding. The volume and power buttons sit on the left and right edges, respectively, while a 3.5mm headphone jack resides on top. Nestled inside the textured back cover are a square 5-megapixel camera lens and an LED flash. There's also an external speaker opening on the lower left. If you wish to expose the phone's innards, you'll have to squeeze a fingernail into a tiny cutout at the bottom, near the micro-USB port. You can then pry the cover open to reveal the 2,150mAh lithium-ion battery, the SIM card and the microSD card slot. Those who yearn for a notification LED will be disappointed however, as there isn't one.
$79.99 with a two-year T-Mobile contract5.03 x 2.63 x 0.36 inches (127.6 x 66.9 x 9.1mm)Quadband GSM / GPRS/ EDGE; quadband 4G UMTS/HSPA+ (2100 / 1900 /1700 (AWS) / 850)MP3, AMR, AAC, AAC+, WAV, AC3, MPEG-4, H.263, H.264, DivX, XvidWhile the L9's performance can't match the quad-core Optimus G, its dual-core 1GHz ARMv7 CPU isn't too shabby. Indeed, we found it more than acceptable, as we'll explain in the performance section below. The L9 adds a PowerVR SGX 540 GPU to the mix, along with a 5-megapixel camera and support for T-Mobile's "faux-G" HSPA+ network that tops out at 21 Mbps. Those specs aren't too bad for an $80 mid-range handset. As you might expect, the Optimus L9 supports quad-band GSM / EDGE, along with quad-band 4G UMTS/HSPA+. You won't find an NFC radio here, though there is, of course, WiFi and Bluetooth. The L9 even boasts WiFi calling thanks to the partnership with T-Mobile. The GPS works remarkably well -- it marked most of our locations precisely as we ventured around San Francisco.
The L9's 1GHz dual-core TI OMAP4430 chip is fairly out-of-date; it's the same processor used on last year's Droid RAZR and Droid Bionic, and it's definitely not as zippy as the dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor found on newer handsets. That said, screen transitions are snappy enough, and the phone doesn't take long to switch between open apps. Zooming in and out of web pages feels mostly smooth, though we did notice a bit of lag with image rendering. The camera app, though, is slightly sluggish in launching. Cold-booting takes a little more than 22 seconds, which is plenty fast for us.
Benchmark scores are about what we expected -- the L9 compares well against TI OMAP handsets, but pales in comparison to similarly specced phones that use Qualcomm's latest. Its Quadrant scores are higher than the Galaxy Nexus', but the L9 doesn't perform as well in the other benchmarks. In general, the performance is befitting the L9's budget status.
LG Optimus L9Samsung Galaxy Nexus (HSPA+)Pantech FlexGLBenchmark Egypt Offscreen (fps)SunSpider: lower scores are better.The 2,150mAh battery inside the L9 offers fairly short battery life. In our standard rundown test, the L9 lasted a little longer than five hours, which is a poor showing compared to most phones we've tested recently (eight hours would be more acceptable). Still, with less taxing usage (i.e., taking photos, using Maps and browsing the web, with push notifications set up) the L9 still had around 50 percent capacity left after eight hours.
At least in San Francisco, where we conducted our testing, we enjoyed a pretty solid signal. Call quality was good -- callers heard us loud and clear, and vice versa. However, we did encounter the occasional static buzz, and voice quality was more digitized than we would like. It's interesting to note that the L9 supports T-Mobile's WiFi calling capability. When we turned this on, call quality improved slightly -- there was, perhaps, a little less static -- but not enough that our callers noticed. Still, it's a nice option to have if you want to save those monthly minutes. The built-in speaker sounds rather tinny, but we could crank up the volume high enough. T-Mobile's HSPA+ network in San Francisco fluctuates wildly from neighborhood to neighborhood. In the southern and western parts of the city, we got around 1.5 Mbps down and 1.1 Mbps up. In downtown and more central parts of town however, we enjoyed download speeds that averaged around 14 Mbps while upload speeds hovered around 4 Mbps.
Though we would've preferred Jelly Bean, we don't really mind Ice Cream Sandwich on a budget handset like this. As with most other LG phones, the L9 has a skin overlay known as UI 3.0, which is quite light as far as Android skins go. The lock screen, for example, lets you swipe in any direction to unlock the phone. It also incorporates quick access to four customizable apps -- we especially like the camera shortcut -- and different clock designs. We'll admit we think UI 3.0 is rather staid and boring, but it's not terribly offensive either.
T-Mobile's influence on the L9 is immediately apparent as soon as you start up the phone -- you'll find a magenta-tinged wallpaper and widgets as you flip through the seven home screens. You do get ICS mainstays like that infamous Google search widget along with the ability to create folders. The dock holds five icons by default and is easily customizable. You can further tweak things by adjusting the screen swipe effect, the scrolling wallpaper, the animations and the theme.
One welcome addition is a Quick Settings menu in the notification drawer. With a simple swipe of the finger, you can adjust the sound, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and get handy access to LG's QuickMemo app. You can also add a brightness toggle that lets you switch between low, medium and full, which is extremely useful considering the lack of auto-brightness mentioned earlier.
We have to admit we're not big fans of the L9's default, LG-designed keyboard. It appears to be a modified version of Swype, where you form words by sliding your finger across the keys. It works well enough when you're using it that way, but when you're just entering text the old-fashioned way, it can be finicky and imprecise. There's no option to switch to the stock ICS keyboard, which is a big disappointment in our eyes.
The app launcher is relatively similar to stock ICS, which you can navigate by side-swiping the screen. You get three different tabs at the top: Apps, Downloads and Widgets. The sections exist independently, so you won't be kicked over to the next tab once you reach the end; you would just scroll back to the beginning again. We should note that the Downloads area represents installed apps, not downloaded files -- those can be accessed via the Downloads app instead. You can choose to fit a 5 x 6 grid of icons and you can arrange them however you wish. (To do this, simply hit menu while in the launcher and select "Show small icons.") Those who want to sort through apps alphabetically are out of luck, however -- you'll have to do that manually.
Perhaps our biggest complaint about the L9 is the amount of bloatware T-Mobile decided to toss in. You get 411 & More, Caller Tunes, Game Base, More for Me (a discounts/deals application), T-Mobile My Account, T-Mobile Name ID, T-Mobile TV and Visual Voicemail. Like most pre-installed apps, they can't be uninstalled and they take up precious storage space. Other pre-installed apps include the Amazon app store, Application Manager, FileShare, WildTangent Games, Polaris Office (which can be uninstalled), SmartShare for WiFi Direct connections and Slacker Radio. LG included its own QuickMemo on here as well, which lets you draw and annotate what's on the screen. The default browser includes an interesting toolbar at the bottom with the usual navigation keys like Back and Forward along with a Zoom key. If you want, you can hold your finger down on the Zoom key and tilt the phone forward to zoom in on a page. We think this is so you can handily navigate a large Web page single-handedly, but it's quite a limited use case.
The camera UI here should be familiar to anyone who's previously owned an LG smartphone. The controls line the left side of the viewfinder, and you can adjust the image size, scene modes, ISO settings, white balance presets, timer, geotagging settings, shutter sound and color effects. You can opt between autofocus and face-tracking, where the camera will try to focus in on what it thinks is a face. We especially enjoy panorama mode, and continuous shot is also nice if you're attempting to shoot a moving subject. The rear camera can record up to 1080p HD, though the front-facing webcam maxes out at VGA. We found the 1080p video quite sharp and satisfactory with its autofocus, though it doesn't handle low light and shadows too well.
We'll be frank: if you want a phone with a top-notch camera, the L9 isn't for you. The 5-megapixel sensor works fine for simple snapshots, but users who want something that can replace their point-and-shoots would probably scoff at the amateurish image quality on display here. Most of our sample shots showed dull, washed-out colors and there's an unfortunate amount of noise even in pictures taken under adequate light. Low-light performance was alright -- sunsets looked decent, for example -- but grain and blur continue to be an issue there as well. Touch-to-focus works fine, but don't expect a shallow depth of field in your macro shots. As you might expect, the camera works best under bright sunlight, but even then, colors are rather lackluster.
The Optimus L9 isn't totally without merit. We appreciate its boxy yet dapper design and its sharp, colorful display. And while the performance didn't blow us away, it's good enough for everyday tasks like browsing the web, updating Facebook and checking email. We also enjoyed the addition of T-Mobile's WiFi calling feature. Yet, its mediocre camera reminds us of its entry-level status, the carrier's bloatware is a disappointment and LG's UI 3.0 belongs in the past. Its short battery life is also a practical issue that buyers should be aware of before signing any contracts.
Perhaps its biggest saving grace is this: it costs just $80 with a two-year T-Mobile agreement. Those new to Android might find that $80 buys a serviceable phone, but savvier users will likely be disappointed. If you're sticking to a tight budget, we'd suggest the HTC One S instead, which is available for free with a T-Mobile contract. An extra $20 could snag you the superior HTC One X if you're willing to go with AT&T instead. Or, you might want to consider saving up for a Nexus 4 instead, especially if two-year contracts are not your cup of tea.
Google kicks Xperia S Android Open Source Project out of its nest, Sony takes it under its wing (video)
Reception and call quality 9.7 Display 9.8 Battery life 7.4 Camera 9.4 Ease of use 8.8 Design and form factor 9.5 Portability (size / weight) 9.4 Media support 9.4 Durability 8.8 Ecosystem (apps, accessories, etc.) 8.9
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write a reviewsee all reviews ?Thursday, November 8, 2012
Office for Android and iOS purportedly caught in screenshots, won't lure away Surface loyalists
By Jon Fingas posted Nov 7th 2012 11:13AM 
posted Nov 7th 2012 11:13AM We're wondering if Microsoft is a master of the non-denial. While it has twice downplayed rumors of an upcoming Office for competing mobile platforms, supposed new screenshots and details from The Verge hint that the Redmond team's use of the word "inaccurate" wasn't a flat-out rejection. The Android and iOS versions (iOS seen here) are believed to be real, but to serve mostly as hooks for those who crave Microsoft-sanctioned portals rather than full-fledged productivity suites. Excel, PowerPoint and Word apps would start off as free viewers and only unlock editing for those who dutifully subscribe to Office 365; to no one's shock, even the paid versions would be simple enough to leave Surface owners free from buyer's remorse. Anyone who hasn't already been lured away by Google Drive or iWork offerings may have some time to wait if the claims hold true, however. A mobile Office bundle may meet the rumored launch targets for iOS users with a launch sometime in late February or early March, but the Android fans among us might have to wait until May. It's safe to say that Microsoft won't clear the air anytime soon.
Monday, November 5, 2012
DIY Project: Custom comic book cases for your Android device
Alright, Phandroids. We’re nearing the weekend and I thought I’d turn you guys onto a fun, easy, and affordable DIY project to keep your favorite Android protected, and in style. Yes, I know. There are a million cases on the market, but if you really wanted to stand out from the crowd, you could always make your very own one-of-a-kind, custom comic book case featuring your favorite super hero.
A good friend of mine was nice enough to put together this custom Spider-Man case for me and now, I want to show you guys exactly how to do it. You ready to get your hands a little dirty? Alright — here’s exactly what you’re gonna need:
Plastic smartphone case (preferably with printed design)Favorite comic book1 bottle of Modge Podge (either gloss or matte finish)Paint brushScissors1 can of finishing spray (either gloss or matte)Smidgen of creativityAll the above items can easily be found at your local arts and crafts store with the exception of the plastic hard case for your Android device. I was lucky enough to find a place online that ships from China and sells in bulk, but you guys can find individual cases on eBay for around $3 a piece (just expect long shipping times).
One more thing: while this tutorial isn’t specifically for the Samsung Galaxy S3, it was for this specific kind of case. I can’t guarantee this will work with other cases, on other devices. The reason being these cases in particular only hold onto the sides of the phone, and even after wrapping the case in a thin layer of comic book paper and glue, they still held onto the device perfectly. Other types of hard cases on other phones may vary (although I’ve seen similar designs for many other phones). When choosing a case, it’s incredibly important to find one with print already on it (cassette tape, vintage camera, etc.). This is so that if you miss a few spots when applying the comic book clippings, it wont be noticeable.
Now that we got all that out of our way, we can start crafting. And don’t worry, you’ll get your masculinity back once you see the final results.
Find a totally badical comic book worthy of plastering all over your device. Spider-Man, X-Men vs Avengers, manga — whatever. Just try and be mindful of the overall color of the scenes featured in the comic. If you plan on making more than one custom case down the road, it can be fun to have a variety of cases featuring specific colors (like blues, blacks, or greens).
Handpick a few good frames featuring a badass action scene and cut out entire frames. These will be used as the “background.” Next, cut out your favorite super hero (or villain) doing something awesome. Jumping, flying, kicking someone in the face — that sorta thing. After that, cut out a few action words like, “BAMF! OOMPH! THOCK!”
Apply a thin layer of Modge Podge over the spots where you’ll be laying down your hand picked frames. Place the frames on top, almost as if they’d appear in a comic book. This is going to be your background. Continue until the entire case is covered. You may have to cut out a few very small pieces to get full coverage. Let dry.
Next, apply another thin layer of Modge Podge over the pasted frames. Apply your comic book hero cutouts, title, action words. Apply another thin layer of Modge Podge over the top and let dry.
Lastly, apply the finishing spray. Matte if you want a more authentic comic book look, or gloss. Whichever tickles your fancy. Hopefully, you’re pleased with the end result. POW!
So, as you can see, there really isn’t too much to it. With a little bit of time, and some creativity, you too could have your very own custom comic book case. Now you, and your Android phone will be the hit of the party (or something like that). If making these cases isn’t really your thing, you can custom order them from Etsy for $20 each.
[via Etsy]
Android Overload: leaks, Galaxy S3 sales, Android 4.2 and more
Your Saturday night festivities are starting so let’s make sure you get your fix of Android news before you head out the door! Android Overload covers all the stories that didn’t make it to our main page, but are still important enough to check out. Take a look!
Chromium OS ported to Nexus 7 [ChromeSpot]New HTC DROID DNA leaked picture [EVLeaks]HTC working on official Facebook phone [Pocket-Lint]HTC launches dual-SIM Desire SV [HTC]Samsung Galaxy S3 sales reach 30 million devices [Sammy Hub]ZTE Flash render leaked [EVLeaks]Inside Android 4.2?s powerful new security system [Computer World]Samsung Stratosphere 2 leaked image [EVLeaks]IDC: Android phones accounted for 75% of all smartphones sold last quarter
Just when you thought the good news for Google had all subsided, another major piece of good news comes in for the “don’t be evil” company. The IDC, one of the world’s most respected and credible analytics firms, is reporting that Android was the king of the third quarter with 75% of all smartphones being sold running the OS.
Think about that — for every 1 smartphone sold last quarter without Android there were 3 more that runs Google’s particular offering. That’s huge news for the Mountain View giant who undoubtedly wants Google Search in the hands of pretty much anyone that cares to have a smart phone.
181.1 million smartphones were shipped in all, so that would put the Android figure at 135.82 million — staggering numbers, if I do say so myself. IDC maintains that Android has outpaced growth expectations every single year since it launched in 2008, and Google continues to best quarterly and yearly expectations set by the likes of Gartner, comScore, Nielsen and the like.
The only other operating system to take double digit percentage was Apple with 14.9% of the share. And beyond the bitten fruit company? The next closest operating system was RIM’s Blackberry, and that only accounted for 4.3%.
Windows Phone is continuing to struggle as it couldn’t even pass the antiquated Symbian, though Microsoft is banking on strong Windows Phone 8 buzz to keep its smartphone hopes afloat. Also, to its credit, Windows Phone was only one of three operating systems that grew (Apple, Google) albeit at a very insignificant rate.
One has to wonder where the tipping point will be for Google. Other competition threatens the “open and free” landscape Google has dominated for four years running, but most of those projects are either on their last breath or have barely taken their first.
iOS has remained relatively stagnant all things considered, though sales of the iPhone 5 will give Apple a much needed injection in the fourth quarter of this year. Beyond that, Google pretty much has a mean sleeper hold on the smartphone market that even Chuck Norris would be proud of, and it doesn’t look to be letting up anytime soon.
[via IDC]
Jelly Bean distribution checks in at 2.7%, Gingerbread still sits on more than half of all Android devices
While Google’s tendency to keep the world updated on Android platform distribution numbers is more for the benefit of developers (after all, they have to know who to target), the tech world grasps onto these numbers with a tight death grip out of sheer interest. Welp, the latest report is up and things aren’t looking too out of the ordinary here.
For starters, newcomer Jelly Bean has managed to break a little ground with 2.7% of the share so far. Samsung’s Galaxy Note 2 has a huge part in this as it was the first device to come shipped with Jelly Bean and that phone has sold 3 million units so far. But there are also the Nexus devices which are sure to make up a good chunk of that.
Whichever way you slice the pie, though, the share is still quite small compared to previous versions, natch. For instance, Ice Cream Sandwich now exists on 25.8% of all devices. It hasn’t quite been able to break the same ground Gingerbread did on the phone side of things, unfortunately, and with Jelly Bean taking center stage it likely won’t ever reach those heights.
That’s a good thing, but none of it will mean anything unless we can get that Gingerbread count down. The legacy OS (it’s still totally operational, it’s just not the most modern version) still takes up 54.2% of all devices.
Most new phones and tablets are launching with Ice Cream Sandwich or higher so we can attribute Gingerbread’s resiliency to the fact that many phones have been left in the dark in regards to OTA upgrades. It’s a shame, but that’s the sad truth that we have to deal with. Most folks with these “dead in water” phones probably won’t be getting rid of them until their upgrades are up so Gingerbread could be the king for quite some time.
The reason it’s important to want Gingerbread to die is because it would accelerate development for Holo UI apps instead of people sticking to the old UI framework. There are a good amount of apps modernized already, but there are a lot more that simply haven’t caught up with the times. It’s not clear how things will look the next time Google updates these numbers but we don’t expect any huge jumps between now and then. Be sure to head to the source link for the full report.
[via Android Developers]
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