The Frozen Android: 2012-03-11

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Mobile developer news: Android Design V2, BlackBerry 10 Jam

Google's Android Design tool has been updated . One of the big new features is a stencil system to help developers make great looking Android applications.

URL: http://www.topix.com/com/android/2012/03/mobile-developer-news-android-design-v2-blackberry-10-jam?fromrss=1

Rejoice, Twitter Power Users: "Next Generation" Tweetdeck Apps Coming For Android And iOS

Eric Eldon is the Editor of TechCrunch. He was previously the cofounder and editor of Inside Network, where he managed publications including Inside Facebook, Inside Social Games and Inside Mobile Apps.

URL: http://www.topix.com/com/android/2012/03/rejoice-twitter-power-users-next-generation-tweetdeck-apps-coming-for-android-and-ios?fromrss=1

Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G: Dual-core Android, smaller screen

The Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G may not be the latest and greatest Android phone, but, with a 3.97-inch display, it might just be the antidote we need for increasingly larger screen sizes.

URL: http://www.topix.com/com/android/2012/03/samsung-galaxy-s-blaze-4g-dual-core-android-smaller-screen?fromrss=1

Rumor: Nexus tablet is a "done deal", to retail for as low as $149

Earlier this month we revealed that Google had chosen ASUS to produce their upcoming " Nexus tablet ." This report was later echoed by Digitimes , who said the 7-inch tablet could arrive as early as May.

URL: http://www.topix.com/com/android/2012/03/rumor-nexus-tablet-is-a-done-deal-to-retail-for-as-low-as-149?fromrss=1

Davinci Virtual Launches Android App for Communication Clients

The new application works for Android mobile phones and tablets and is available free of cost at the Android app store.

URL: http://www.topix.com/com/android/2012/03/davinci-virtual-launches-android-app-for-communication-clients?fromrss=1

Seagate GoFlex Satellite reportedly getting firmware update on March 19th

[![][1] ][2]

Still rockin' one of those (cargo) pocket-sized [GoFlex streaming drives][3] we showed you a while back? Marvelous. According to _Gear Diary_, [Seagate's][4] given the site intel saying it's getting ready to roll out a Satellite firmware refresh on the 19th of this month. Allegedly, the update will boost the limit on the number of devices that can be connected simultaneously, making the jump from three to eight, as well as promising to double your battery life in the process. The company says the updated firmware will come gratis to all "original devices" (hear that [Androids][4]?), while all new GoFlex drives are expected to ship with it on board. And now, you know.

[Seagate GoFlex Satellite reportedly getting firmware update on March 19th][2] originally appeared on [Engadget][5] on Sat, 17 Mar 2012 07:49:00 EDT. Please see our [terms for use of feeds][6].

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[1]: http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/03/goflex3-16.png
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[3]: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/16/seagates-goflex-satellite-portable-hard-drive-streams-content-o/
[4]: http://www.engadget.com/tag/seagate/
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URL: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/17/seagate-goflex-satellite-firmware-update/

Prom Guide Mobile iPhone and Android Apps Reveal Top Prom Dresses for 2012

PromGuide.com, the nation's leading resource for prom dresses and prom tuxedoes, has unveiled a list of this year's top prom dresses, based on input from their iPhone and Android mobile app users.

URL: http://www.topix.com/com/android/2012/03/prom-guide-mobile-iphone-and-android-apps-reveal-top-prom-dresses-for-2012?fromrss=1

Time Warner Cable brings 26 local NYC channels to iOS app, website

[![][1] ][2]

While it may not be the good news the Android army [was hoping for][3], TWC's got some Big Apple-sized bits to share. Via its _Untangled_ blog, Time Warner announced it's finally adding local channels to its [iPhone][4] / [iPad][5] app and TWCTV site, including CBS, NBC, FOX, ABC and Univision (because you can never have enough novelas). Unfortunately, the goodies won't be up for everyone's viewing pleasure, as the additions are only for folks within the NYC boroughs. That said, the cable giant plans to add "a few more markets by the end of the year." Want to find out if your favorite local news show made the cut? The full list can be found at the source link below.

[Time Warner Cable brings 26 local NYC channels to iOS app, website][2] originally appeared on [Engadget][6] on Sat, 17 Mar 2012 05:41:00 EDT. Please see our [terms for use of feeds][7].

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URL: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/17/time-warner-cable-nyc-local-channels-ios-app-website/

GeChic On-Lap 1302 is a 'Secret Tool' to give your smartphone dual screens (video)

[![GeChic On-Lap 1302 is a 'Secret Tool' to give your smartphone dual screens (video)][1] ][2]

If you've ever felt the burning urge to mirror your smartphone's display onto a larger screen, then you might consider stuffing GeChic's portable, 13.3-inch monitor into the [ol' man purse][3] for your next wayward outing. We're not promising that it'll be simple, but in addition to supporting laptops, game consoles and digital cameras, you can also rig up your smartphone to the On-Lap 1302 monitor -- with the assistance of a tangle of adapters, batteries and cords, that is. The product is said to be just 8mm thick, but most importantly, this 1366 x 768 display can be powered either from your laptop's USB port or an external battery pack. It includes proper hookups for VGA and HDMI video connections (via a proprietary 30-pin connector), but laptop users may also purchase a Mini DisplayPort accessory. Throw in Apple's [Digital AV Adapter][4] or an [MHL to HDMI solution][5], and boom, you've also got support for your iPhone and many Android smartphones. Okay, so it's a bit convoluted, but the product's video touts this as, "The best idea ever," and along with its homespun production, we think you'll enjoy it for a good laugh -- so just hop the break. Those interested in such gear will find it on Newegg next month for $199.

[Continue reading _GeChic On-Lap 1302 is a 'Secret Tool' to give your smartphone dual screens (video)_][2]

[GeChic On-Lap 1302 is a 'Secret Tool' to give your smartphone dual screens (video)][2] originally appeared on [Engadget][6] on Sat, 17 Mar 2012 03:24:00 EDT. Please see our [terms for use of feeds][7].

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URL: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/17/gechic-on-lap-1302-portable-monitor-video/

Spread Betting Made Easy With Award Winning Mobile Trading App

Spread betting apps are ideal for accessing the markets wherever you are and whenever you want.

URL: http://www.topix.com/com/android/2012/03/spread-betting-made-easy-with-award-winning-mobile-trading-app?fromrss=1

Friday, March 16, 2012

Android's Permission Problems

Mobile apps are a privacy nightmare. Some apps are constantly connected to the Internet, and can upload your personal data --such as your private photos or documents--to a remote server without your knowledge or consent.

URL: http://www.topix.com/com/android/2012/03/androids-permission-problems?fromrss=1

CyanogenMod disables root access by default, now requires user configuration

[![CyanogenMod disables root access by default, keeps it as an option][1]][2]Holy crap! [CyanogenMod][3], the custom ROM of choice for many power users, will no longer offer root access upon first install. Now before you panic, let's make this part clear: everyone so inclined may still enable superuser access -- for ADB, apps or both -- from the Developer Options menu. The biggest change, in fact, is that CyanogenMod is making a significant departure from the majority of custom ROM developers, which offer root access to all users by default (and often without their knowledge). The move is an attempt by CyanogenMod leaders to make the platform more secure, and given the number of ROMs that are based on CyanogenMod (or glean its packages), we wouldn't be particularly surprised to see this feature become more commonplace amongst other custom Android ROMs. To learn more about the rationale of the project leaders, be sure to hit up the source link below.

[CyanogenMod disables root access by default, now requires user configuration][2] originally appeared on [Engadget][4] on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 22:06:00 EDT. Please see our [terms for use of feeds][5].

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[9]: http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/post_label_source.gif
[10]: http://www.cyanogenmod.com/blog/security-and-you
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Roku 4.3 update tweaks Netflix, device discovery issues

[![][1] ][2]

Second gen Roku media streamers should be seeing a software update the next time they're powered up, as a company blog post mentions v4.3 is rolling out right now, following the last update that hit [back in December][3]. The [Roku 2][4] and [Roku LT][5] should experience a variety of improvements to Netflix streaming that include video startup, screen navigation, audio / video sync and settings for subtitles and audio. There's also upgrades to HTTP Live Streaming format support (no word on how or if that may affect [Plex][6], but forum posters report an issue with standard def video quality is still a problem after the update), multiple gaming remotes and device discovery for remote apps on [Android][7] and [iOS][8]. As usual it will be delivered automatically over the next day or two, while the impatient can hit their settings menu to grab it right now.

[Roku 4.3 update tweaks Netflix, device discovery issues][2] originally appeared on [Engadget][9] on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 19:58:00 EDT. Please see our [terms for use of feeds][10].

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URL: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/roku-2-4-3-update-netflix/

The new iPad: are you buying one?

[![][1] ][2]

Today is the day many have been patiently, or not so patiently, waiting for. The [new iPad][3] saunters onto shelves around much of the globe, and into the sweaty palms of the "gotta-have-its." So, were you dazzled by [that display][4]? Or tempted by the [LTE and new graphics chip][5]? Maybe you're upgrading, or treating the partner (by treating yourself)? Perhaps you were hoping for the rumored [smaller device][6], or just gotta have something [Android][7]. Whatever camp you fall into we want to know about it, tell us via the poll below!

[View Poll][8]

[The new iPad: are you buying one?][2] originally appeared on [Engadget][9] on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 19:01:00 EDT. Please see our [terms for use of feeds][10].

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URL: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/the-new-ipad-are-you-buying-one/

The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls in Meredith, NH Launches Customized iPhone & Android Apps

Meredith, NH The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls, located in the historic village of Meredith, N.H., and a premier lodging destination in New Hampshires Lakes Region, is one of the first properties in N.H. to launch a free and customized iPhone & Android mobile applications.

URL: http://www.topix.com/com/android/2012/03/the-inns-spa-at-mill-falls-in-meredith-nh-launches-customized-iphone-android-apps?fromrss=1

T-Mobile retires Sidekick 4G, but brand will return

[![][1] ][2]

While the fires that burn inside the hearts of Sidekick fans will probably never go out, the venerable [Android slider][3] _is_ being put out to graze. T-Mobile announced last week that the Sidekick 4G was to be discontinued, but it's now added that it's not leaving that pervasive brand behind. In a statement to _The Verge_, the carrier affirmed that there would be future devices, but didn't reveal anything more substantive on new handsets in the pipeline. We'll keep twiddling our QWERTY-addled thumbs until more details arrive.

[T-Mobile retires Sidekick 4G, but brand will return][2] originally appeared on [Engadget][4] on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 17:09:00 EDT. Please see our [terms for use of feeds][5].

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[3]: http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/29/sidekick-4g-review/
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[9]: http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/post_label_source.gif
[10]: http://www.theverge.com/2012/3/15/2874685/t-mobile-officially-retiring-sidekick-4g-but-the-sidekick-brand-will
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PayPal Unveils Mobile Payment System for Small Businesses

PayPal is targeting small businesses, service providers, and casual sellers on the move with its new PayPal Here service which allows vendors to process a variety of payments including checks and cards using their mobile phones.

URL: http://www.topix.com/com/android/2012/03/paypal-unveils-mobile-payment-system-for-small-businesses?fromrss=1

Samsung Rugby Smart review

[![Rugby Smart][1] ][2]

Not every smartphone stakes its claim on speedy processors, huge gorgeous screens or slim and sexy physiques. Some take a relatively modest set of specs and add a little wrinkle to make them stand out from the crowd. The [Samsung Rugby Smart][3] is one such device. Though it adds Android to what we'll now refer to as the [Rugby Dumb][4], we can already tell you this handset isn't for the spec snobs among you. But, if you're more concerned with durability and tank-like construction, you might want to stick around a while. This AT&T-branded phone is built to mil-spec 810F standards, meaning it's shockproof, dustproof and can be immersed in up to a mater of water for up to 30 minutes. If these are qualities you desire in a phone, meet us past the break to see how it stacks up against its competition.

**Gallery: [Samsung Rugby Smart review][5]**

[![][6]][7][![][8]][9][![][10]][11][![][12]][13][![][14]][15]

[Continue reading _Samsung Rugby Smart review_][2]

[Samsung Rugby Smart review][2] originally appeared on [Engadget][16] on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our [terms for use of feeds][17].

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URL: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/samsung-rugby-smart-review/

Engadget Podcast 285 - 03.15.2012

[![][1] ][2]

Now that the new iPad is out, we don't have anything to talk about because it changed our world in so many ways that we're not even sure what we're doing with out lives when we're not staring at an 8.5 by 11-inch slab covered in zillions of lilliputian pixels. JK! Not much is that different, which means _another_ 80 minutes of totally tubular tech talk from your favorites. And a healthy dose of beluga/Mariachi duets.

**Host:** Tim Stevens, Brian Heater, Dana Wollman
**Producer:** [Trent Wolbe][3]
**Music: **[Orbital][4] - [Never][5]

00:01:50 - [Bringing wireless to the disconnected: internet tales from the South Pacific][6]
00:12:30 - [HP Envy 14 Spectre review][7]
00:22:28 - [Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft: three very different takes on portable gaming at GDC 2012][8]
00:40:55 - [Samsung Galaxy Player 70 Dual Core hands-on (video)][9]
00:44:00 -[ Samsung considering Android-based digital camera][10]
00:48:07 - [The Engadget Show returns Friday, March 16th with Douglas Rushkoff, Sony, iRobot, MWC and air combat][11]
00:52:30 - [iRobot Scooba 390 hands-on][12]

**Hear the podcast**

**Subscribe to the podcast**

[[iTunes][13]] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC).
[[RSS MP3][14]] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically.
[[RSS AAC][15]] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator.
[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace.

**Download the podcast**

**[LISTEN (MP3)][16]
[LISTEN (AAC)][17]

Contact the podcast**

Send your questions to [@tim_stevens][18].
Leave us a voicemail: (423) 438-3005 (GADGET-3005)
E-mail us: podcast at engadget dot com
Twitter: [@bheater][19], [@tim_stevens][18], [@danawollman][20]

Filed under: [Podcasts][21]

[Engadget Podcast 285 - 03.15.2012][2] originally appeared on [Engadget][22] on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 10:16:00 EDT. Please see our [terms for use of feeds][23].

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URL: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/engadget-podcast-285-03-15-2012/
Enclosure: http://www.engadget.com/podcasts/Engadget_Podcast_285.mp3

PayPal Launches Mobile Payments Service

PayPal has launched a mobile payments service that lets businesses accept credit cards using a small triangular card reader attached to an iPhone.

URL: http://www.topix.com/com/android/2012/03/paypal-launches-mobile-payments-service?fromrss=1
Enclosure: http://www.topix.com/bigpic/mini-f0e1f02416ebce149025450d754e0639

How to make your Android browser a desktop browser

One of the common complaints of mobile browsers is that you get served mobile versions of websites, a particular problem for Honeycomb devices, but also anyone using Gingerbread on a cheaper tablet.

URL: http://www.topix.com/com/android/2012/03/how-to-make-your-android-browser-a-desktop-browser?fromrss=1
Enclosure: http://www.topix.com/bigpic/mini-c3c770d42c86294f1da9f1eb59f60fe0

Android Threat of the Week: 'Smart' Malware Targets Banking Credentials

A new form of "smart" Android malware can not only steal your online banking information, but update itself in the future and secretly send contact information stored on your device off to the Bad Guys.

URL: http://www.topix.com/com/android/2012/03/android-threat-of-the-week-smart-malware-targets-banking-credentials?fromrss=1
Enclosure: http://www.topix.com/bigpic/mini-49a77ef8f674a647d4ed63ac9d3a9419

Kainy remote desktop app brings PC games to Android (video)

[![Kainy remote desktop app brings PC games to Android][1] ][2]

Watching Skyrim run [smooth and sweet][3] on a Tegra 3 slate did a lot to re-kindle our excitement for remote gaming on mobile devices. Hoping to cash in on that buzz, a $5 app called "Kainy" has appeared on [Google Play][4] that promises to bring PC games to Android handsets at up to 60fps with customizable control interfaces, 100 preset templates and accelerometer control. The demo video after the break is full of fast cuts that make it hard to judge performance, and user reviews suggest Kainy may prioritize lag-reduction over resolution with some ugly results, but then these are still early days. One thing is for sure: picking an Android device for its processor grunt will make a lot of sense in 2012.

[Thanks, Drew]

[Continue reading _Kainy remote desktop app brings PC games to Android (video)_][2]

[Kainy remote desktop app brings PC games to Android (video)][2] originally appeared on [Engadget][5] on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 09:36:00 EDT. Please see our [terms for use of feeds][6].

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[3]: http:// http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/02/splashtop-thd-lands-on-ics-tegra-3-tabs/
[4]: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/google-play-replaces-android-market/
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Distro Issue 32: HP's glass-clad Envy 14 Spectre and the state of portable gaming

[![Distro Issue 32: HP's glass-clad Envy 14 Spectre and the state of portable gaming][1] ][2]

With the Ultrabook onslaught in full effect, manufacturers are doing their best to make their Air opponents stand out from the crowd. For its part, HP has outfitted its ultra offering, the Envy 14 Spectre, with a touch of glass and NFC baked-in. In this issue of [Distro][3] we'll find out if those two additions are enough to make it worth the $1,400 starting price. Also in this issue, Sean Buckley reports from GDC 2012 with a look at the [portable gaming][4] industry's "big three." In addition, we put HTC's Sense UI 3.6 and Sony's Xperia S to the test, Tango's Eric Setton takes on the Q&A and Box Brown draws a Last Word with the drinksman in mind. So grab yourself a beverage and get to downloading.

**[_Distro Issue 32 PDF_][5]**
[_Distro on the iTunes App Store_][6]
[_Distro in the Android Market_][7]
_[Distro APK (for sideloading)][8]_
[_Like Distro on Facebook_][9]
[_Follow Distro on Twitter_][10]

[Distro Issue 32: HP's glass-clad Envy 14 Spectre and the state of portable gaming][2] originally appeared on [Engadget][11] on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 09:15:00 EDT. Please see our [terms for use of feeds][12].

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URL: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/distro-issue-32-hp-s-glass-clad-envy-14-spectre-and-the-state-o/

Hands-on with TheAppBuilder at SXSW (video)

[![Hands-on with TheAppBuilder at SXSW (video)][1] ][2]

What if within minutes, anyone could visit a website to build a native iOS, Android and Windows Phone app, then install and run it on any phone? That's exactly what TheAppBuilder -- which launched at [Mobile World Congress][3] -- promises. It features a simple [HTML5][4]-based user interface that lets you create an app by choosing and populating some widgets -- like RSS feed, webpage, Twitter, Facebook, news and photo gallery (to name a few). Once finished, you'll receive an email with links to download and install a native iOS, Android and Windows Phone version of your app for free. From there you're able to customize and submit your app to the App Store, [Play Store][5], and Marketplace for $29 per month. We caught up with TheAppBuilder's Matthew David at [SXSW][6] and put the product's claim to the test by making and deploying our very own [Engadget app][7] -- all in record time. Browse the gallery below for some screen shots and hit the break to see the magic unfold in our hands-on video.

**Gallery: [TheAppBuilder at SXSW 2012][8]**

[![][9]][10][![][11]][12][![][13]][14][![][15]][16][![][17]][18]

[Continue reading _Hands-on with TheAppBuilder at SXSW (video)_][2]

[Hands-on with TheAppBuilder at SXSW (video)][2] originally appeared on [Engadget][19] on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 08:23:00 EDT. Please see our [terms for use of feeds][20].

######

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URL: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/hands-on-with-theappbuilder-at-sxsw-video/

PayPal Unveils Mobile Payment System

[![][1]][2]
[![][3]][4]

angry tapir writes "PayPal is targeting small businesses, service providers, and casual sellers on the move with its new PayPal Here service, which allows vendors to process a variety of payments including checks and cards using their mobile phones. The new service includes a free app and encrypted thumb-sized card reader, which allows merchants with an iPhone, and later Android smartphones, to process payments."

[![][5]][6] [![][7]][8] [![Share on Google+][9]][10]

[Read more of this story][11] at Slashdot.

![][12]

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[3]: http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/uoxovDbnObf9HLBnG-gRUty2i7Y/1/di
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URL: http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdot/~3/UzL22bVRYnY/paypal-unveils-mobile-payment-system

Aakash 2 to land in April, set budget tablet lovers back a measly $40

![][1]

The device that started as a [$10 laptop][2], graduated to a [$35 tablet][3] and settled on a [$60 reality][4] is about to get its first successor: the Aakash 2. Like its predecessor, the new Aakash is twist on a [DataWind][5] Ubislate, namely the Ubislate 7+. According to _TechSnapr_, $40 (or 2,000 Rupees) buys a 7-inch capacitive touchscreen, a 3200 mAh battery and a 700MHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor -- nearly doubling the oomph of the original. Datawind, however, pegs the Ubislate 7+ at familiar 2,999 Rupees (about $60), noting that the unbranded hardware runs Android 2.3 and features WiFi and GPRS connectivity. Students in India should be able to pick up the budget-friendly slab sometime in April.

[Thanks, Pravesh]

[Aakash 2 to land in April, set budget tablet lovers back a measly $40][6] originally appeared on [Engadget][7] on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 04:33:00 EDT. Please see our [terms for use of feeds][8].

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URL: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/aakash-2-to-land-in-april-set-budget-tablet-lovers-back-a-measl/

#Ebook Deal/Day: Building Android Apps with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript ...

It's true: if you know HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, you already have the tools you need to develop Android applications.

URL: http://www.topix.com/com/android/2012/03/ebook-deal-day-building-android-apps-with-html-css-and-javascript?fromrss=1

Google Earth for Android and iOS reaches version 6.2, supports custom KML overlays and more

[![][1] ][2]

Good news for fans of the iOS and Android ports of [Google Earth][3]: the apps are getting updated to version 6.2, which brings more customizable experience with it. Just like the browser and desktop variants, Keyhole Markup Language files are now accessible, meaning you'll be able to open up information overlays you find on websites, or from the app itself now that Google Earth Gallery's been added. Better yet, Android users will be pleased to know that their even gets baked-in screenshot functionality, while both versions feature "improvements in navigation." Although the iOS version will get released sometime soon, those of you running Google's goods can download the update from [Google Play][4] right now to get exploring. As per usual, make your way over to the source link below for all the details.

[Google Earth for Android and iOS reaches version 6.2, supports custom KML overlays and more][2] originally appeared on [Engadget][5] on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 03:08:00 EDT. Please see our [terms for use of feeds][6].

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URL: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/google-earth-for-android-and-ios-reaches-version-6-2-supports-c/

ZTE blasts past the speed barrier with field test of 1.7Tbps data transmission

[![][1]][2]That bank-breaking 150/35Mbps [FiOS connection][3] you're so proud to call your own? Yeah, it looks like dial-up next to the searing terabit speeds recently achieved by [ZTE's][4] [optical network][5]. The Chinese telco, mostly known stateside for its [mobile handsets][6], has successfully completed an experiment designed to highlight the possibility of migrating "from a 100G transmission system to a 200G system." In layman's terms, that's a data punch of 200Gbps-plus sent over eight channels, which in this case, totals about 1.7Tbps. Impressed? You should be, but don't cast your home connection the side-eye just yet. Like [Deutsche Telekom's comparatively lesser feat][7], you'll likely amass a few wrinkles and lbs before this tech becomes consumer-ready. Check out the official PR after the break.

[Continue reading _ZTE blasts past the speed barrier with field test of 1.7Tbps data transmission_][2]

[ZTE blasts past the speed barrier with field test of 1.7Tbps data transmission][2] originally appeared on [Engadget][8] on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 02:15:00 EDT. Please see our [terms for use of feeds][9].

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[Permalink][10] ![][11][SlashGear][12] | ![source][13][ComputerWorld][14] | [Email this][15] | [Comments][16]

URL: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/16/zte-achieves-1-7tbps-data-transmission/

Amazon to Give Kindle Fire to Eight Lucky Winners in Celebration of...

Amazon Appstore for Android is celebrating its first birthday with a week of deals on some of its customers' favorite apps and games, including iconic titles such as Fruit Ninja, Wolfram Alpha, Splashtop Remote Desktop, Dr.

URL: http://www.topix.com/com/android/2012/03/amazon-to-give-kindle-fire-to-eight-lucky-winners-in-celebration-of?fromrss=1

Can Android Dethrone the iPad as Tablet King?

Who does it think will claim the coveted top dog spot? Google 's A tale of two market researchers IDC says that Apple took home a 54.7% share of the worldwide tablet market in the fourth quarter, a sequential drop from 61.5% in Q3.

URL: http://www.topix.com/com/android/2012/03/can-android-dethrone-the-ipad-as-tablet-king?fromrss=1

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Confirmed: ICS coming to the Nexus S in the next few weeks

[![Confirmed: ICS coming to the Nexus S in the next few weeks][1] ][2]

Own a [Nexus S][3] or [Nexus S 4G][4]? Wondering when you'll finally get to enjoy a tasty bite of [Ice Cream Sandwich][5]? One our trusted sources has confirmed that Google is not abandoning you, and that an official Android 4.0 update for last year's Nexus is expected to drop in the next few weeks -- for reals [this time][6]. We'll keep you posted as we find out more, but for now there's always [the DYI route][7] if you're rocking the [AWS][8] model.

[Confirmed: ICS coming to the Nexus S in the next few weeks][2] originally appeared on [Engadget][9] on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 23:29:00 EDT. Please see our [terms for use of feeds][10].

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URL: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/15/confirmed-ics-coming-to-the-nexus-s-in-the-next-few-weeks/

Lumia 610 to ship with internet sharing enabled, smartphone first-timers to be none the wiser

[![][1] ][2]

[Wireless tethering][3], free of any carrier-imposed data shackles, is something of a reward for the well-informed smartphone buyer. Save for a sprinkling of Android handsets that natively include the feature -- specifically, Google's Nexus line -- only Windows Phone Mango offers users that same option, should the operator and OEM choose to enable it. So, it wasn't much of a surprise when Nokia unleashed its [Lumia 800][4] and [710][5] to the market without internet sharing switched on. Their lil' bro [the 610][6], on the other hand, stands poised to be the first to offer that WiFi hotspot access right out of the box. From an operator standpoint, the move make sense -- power users are less likely to claim the [low-specced, wee handset][7] as their own and, thus, sidestep potential network congestion. Will this knowledge force your credit card-wielding hand at the virtual register? Probably not, since most of our geek eyes are set firmly on that 900. Still, it's a good show of faith from 'ol Espoo.

[Lumia 610 to ship with internet sharing enabled, smartphone first-timers to be none the wiser][2] originally appeared on [Engadget][8] on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 21:38:00 EDT. Please see our [terms for use of feeds][9].

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[Permalink][10] ![][11][Phone Arena][12] | ![source][13][Nokia][14] | [Email this][15] | [Comments][16]

URL: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/15/lumia-610-to-ship-with-internet-sharing-enabled-smartphone-firs/

Android antivirus apps improve their grades--just not very much

Test.org revised their recent Android antivirus app report, improving the scores of six of the apps tested.

URL: http://www.topix.com/com/android/2012/03/android-antivirus-apps-improve-their-grades-just-not-very-much?fromrss=1

18 Firms Sued for Using Privacy-invading Mobile Apps

Facebook, Apple, Twitter, Yelp and 14 other companies have been hit with a lawsuit accusing them of distributing privacy-invading mobile applications.

URL: http://www.topix.com/com/android/2012/03/18-firms-sued-for-using-privacy-invading-mobile-apps?fromrss=1
Enclosure: http://www.topix.com/bigpic/mini-2b34e8ee6b5497443593b22be86bf515

Archos 80 G9 Turbo slate shipping now, Ice Cream Sandwich on board

[![][1] ][2]

Archos has been pushing out an array of slates ranging from [kid-friendly][3] to [Prime contenders][4], leaving you with a plethora to choose from. One of which, is a souped-up variant of that [80 G9][5] we showed you a while back. The [Archos][6] 80 G9 Turbo ICS, to call it by its full name, is now ready to leave its warehouse status behind and head toward your front door. Perhaps, its main selling point is the [ICS treat][7] it brings along (shockingly, this inclusion [is still][8] a relative rarity), but it's also packing a 1.5GHz OMAP4 CPU, a 720p front-facing shooter as well as an 8-inch, 1024 x 768 display. Additionally, the G9 Turbo comes in two flavors: 8GB and 16GB, both priced at around $310 and $380, respectively. Folks looking to snag one of these turbolicious tabs can head over to the source link below.

[Archos 80 G9 Turbo slate shipping now, Ice Cream Sandwich on board][2] originally appeared on [Engadget][9] on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:27:00 EDT. Please see our [terms for use of feeds][10].

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[Permalink][11] ![][12][Android Central][13] | ![source][14][Archos][15] | [Email this][16] | [Comments][17]

URL: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/15/archos-80-g9-turbo-ics-tablet-now-shipping/

Thanks to Amazon, Android Could Overtake iPad by 2016

Cheap Android tablets, namely from Amazon, could boost Android tablet sales numbers past the current dominating force known as the iPad, according to research firm IDC, thanks to budget devices like the Amazon's Kindle Fire.

[![][1]][2]
[![][3]][4]

![][5]

[1]: http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/E-0Sw4pqtGjrJu7xLZE86JTys_M/0/di
[2]: http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/E-0Sw4pqtGjrJu7xLZE86JTys_M/0/da
[3]: http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/E-0Sw4pqtGjrJu7xLZE86JTys_M/1/di
[4]: http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/E-0Sw4pqtGjrJu7xLZE86JTys_M/1/da
[5]: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/wired/index/~4/WWa0iH4i6eo

URL: http://feeds.wired.com/~r/wired/index/~3/WWa0iH4i6eo/

Acer Iconia Tab A200 review

[![][1] ][2]

It's a tired promise for too many gadgets: [Ice Cream Sandwich][3], just like the Gingerbread man before it, is coming... soon. You have to hand it to [Acer][4], then, for bypassing those vague release schedules and actually pushing out a software update to the [A200][5] on schedule. And though its specs are fairly run-of-the-mill (a 10.1-inch, 1280 x 800 display and 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2 SoC), it could nonetheless be a tempting deal -- after all, you don't see too many $330 10-inchers running Android 4.0.

The problem is, better things are around the corner, and the price wars rage on in the meantime. As it is, the A200 went relatively unnoticed at CES as Acer unveiled the [Tegra 3-toting][6] [A700][7]. The existence of that next-gen tab alone should raise a few red flags for consumers thinking of hopping aboard the Android tablet train. What's more, NVIDIA CEO Jen-Hsun Huang has already [promised sub-$300 Tegra 3 tablets][8] are on the way (ASUS even confirmed one!). So is this just a case of bad timing for what is an otherwise respectable tablet? Should you hold onto those hard-earned greenbacks until the market becomes flush with affordable quad-core slates? Or will its immediate availability and reasonable price make for an irresistible purchase now? Join us after the break as we tackle those very questions and give this tablet the fair shake it deserves.

**Gallery: [Acer Iconia Tab A200 review][9]**

[![][10]][11][![][12]][13][![][14]][15][![][16]][17][![][18]][19]

[Continue reading _Acer Iconia Tab A200 review_][2]

[Acer Iconia Tab A200 review][2] originally appeared on [Engadget][20] on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EDT. Please see our [terms for use of feeds][21].

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URL: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/15/acer-iconia-tab-a200-review/

PayPal Here mobile card reader: it's like Square, but with way more frozen accounts

[![][1] ][2]

Hear that? That's the sound of coins hitting the mental floor at a breakneck pace, and if PayPal's meteoric success is any indication of how it'll do in mobile... well, stockholders should be pleased. Nearly three years after first hearing of Jack Dorsey's [Square][3] (formerly '[Squirrel][4]') project, the most hated division of eBay is coming out with a rival. President and CEO of eBay John Donahoe took the wraps off of the device at Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco today, with an aim to bring PayPal to "merchants in the offline world." The plastic triangle module plays a familiar role: pop it into an iPhone, load up an app and swipe until you just can't sell anything else. We're hearing that PayPal will charge merchants 2.7 percent (just 0.05 percent less than Square), but further details -- and even the thing's name -- are still developing.

As much as we jest about [PayPal][5]'s polarizing nature, we've been victim to one too many unjustified account freezes to become overly joyous here, but we won't kvetch about a little competition. Here's hoping we see rates and fees on the decline thanks to another major player stepping up to bat, but something tells us those kinds of dreams are dreamt only by fools. That aside, the fact that famed designer Yves Behar ([profiled here on The Engadget Show][6]) and [Fuseproject][7] were tapped to engineer it gets a major thumbs-up from us.

**Update**: Looks [like][8] it'll go by the name Here. PayPal Here. Moreover, the hardware and app will be gratis, and shipments will begin to go out in the US, Canada, Hong Kong, and Australia today. Everyone else will need to sit tight for a few weeks, and we're still digging for information on compatibility beyond the iPhone.

**Update 2**: Look like Android [support][9] will be here at launch, but iOS devices will need to run iOS 4.0 or higher.

[Continue reading _PayPal Here mobile card reader: it's like Square, but with way more frozen accounts_][2]

[PayPal Here mobile card reader: it's like Square, but with way more frozen accounts][2] originally appeared on [Engadget][10] on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:38:00 EDT. Please see our [terms for use of feeds][11].

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[Permalink][12] ![][13][mike_isaac (Instagram)][14], [The Verge][8] | ![source][15][CNET][16], [PayPal][17] | [Email this][18] | [Comments][19]

URL: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/15/paypal-introduces-mobile-card-reader-square-rival/

Android pattern lock flummoxes FBI

The FBI is seeking a warrant to get Google to unlock an Android phone that was taken from an alleged pimp The FBI is seeking a warrant to compel Google to unlock an Android phone that was confiscated from an alleged pimp.

URL: http://www.topix.com/com/android/2012/03/android-pattern-lock-flummoxes-fbi?fromrss=1
Enclosure: http://www.topix.com/bigpic/mini-3a05ded746274fdc594204465c2c2bc9

Kindle Fire helps Amazon Appstore hit 31,000 apps in first year

Amazon Appstore for Android, which helped lay the foundation for a big Kindle Fire launch , is celebrating its one-year anniversary and has now eclipsed 31,000 apps, up from 4,000 at launch.

URL: http://www.topix.com/com/android/2012/03/kindle-fire-helps-amazon-appstore-hit-31-000-apps-in-first-year?fromrss=1
Enclosure: http://www.topix.com/bigpic/mini-672aeebd5dc8e3531d87a187a8696582

Meizu Flyme Store surpasses 100 million downloads, now boasts 10,000 apps

[![Meizu Flyme Store surpasses 100 million downloads, now boasts 10,000 apps][1] ][2]

It looks like [Apple isn't the only company][3] that has some boasting to do for its app store. [Meizu][4], the company behind the eponymous [Meizu MX][5] smartphone and the Flyme OS (based on Android), has just shouted from the figurative rooftops that its Flyme Store has now surpassed 100 million downloads. Most impressive about this achievement is that of the total sum, a full 90 million took place in the last year alone. Unlike Apple's App Store, which now contains more than 550,000 titles, the Flyme Store currently offers just 10,000 applications, which makes the achievement all the more impressive. To mark the event, Meizu rewarded its 100 millionth customer with a 10,000 yuan credit for the Flyme Store -- which means a shopping spree is definitely in order. You'll find the celebratory PR after the break.

[Continue reading _Meizu Flyme Store surpasses 100 million downloads, now boasts 10,000 apps_][2]

[Meizu Flyme Store surpasses 100 million downloads, now boasts 10,000 apps][2] originally appeared on [Engadget][6] on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:15:00 EDT. Please see our [terms for use of feeds][7].

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URL: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/15/meizu-flyme-store-surpasses-100-million-downloads/