Thursday, October 25, 2012

Flipboard for Android now supports audio content.

Flipboard has rolled out an update for supported Android devices that lets you listen to audio contents within the app and into your newsfeed. According to the change log, "now you have a soundtrack for your Flipboard. Listen to segments from NPR Fresh Air, PRI’s The World, and lots more great audio content". Flipboard is my news reader of choice on my Galaxy Nexus and if you haven't try it yet, let me give you two reasons why you should. One, it is free and second, you flip through your news like reading a magazine. It's really cool.

Change log:
- Now you have a soundtrack for your Flipboard. Listen to segments from NPR Fresh Air, PRI’s The World, and lots more great audio content.
- Discover, like and share music from your friends on SoundCloud.
- Bug fixes and performance improvements.


Download: Play Store

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Google Calendar for Android is now an app of its own for non-Nexus devices.

My first Android device was the Nexus One and ever since I had it, I never thought of getting any other Android phone that wasn't a Nexus. I skipped the Nexus S and got the Galaxy Nexus. Today I realized how things are different in the Nexus world compared to the other Android phones out there. Of course, the Nexus devices are stock Android and get updates faster than the others. The others very often do not get more than one update or none at all. But the differences is not limited to updates. 
Today I found out that the Calendar app on my Gnux, which is a stand-alone app does not have the same status on other devices. The other phones's Calendar were still built into the OS. That has changed now that Google has posted a new Calendar app to the Play Store for the other devices running Android 4.0 or later. For once, these other devices will have extra features not yet available on the Nexus:

  • Snooze events directly from a notification if you’re not quite ready and want to be reminded later.
  • Use predefined messages to send quick "I'll be late" updates to your event participants directly from the notifications or the event itself (of course, you can always write your own).
  • Pinch to zoom in and out of a day.
  • Set a home time zone to help you manage your time better when traveling.
Download Google Calendar on Play Store.


Google schedules Android event on October 29.

According to Engadget, Google will hold an Android event on October 29, the very same day Microsoft will have it's launch event of Windows Phone 8. The fact that Google chose that same day is just a long term planned coincidence. Nothing else. Google's invite mentions that it is an Android event and and has no more details. Engadget assumes  that Google will show off the next generation of Nexus device made by LG. The event will be live-streamed at youtube.com/Android.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Adobe Reader updated with Cloud file storage.

The latest update to Adobe now lets you share documents between all your devices through Acrobat.com, Adobe's new free Cloud storage service for Android devices. While a welcome addition, it's of course not a revolution. So your documents will be available anywhere, anytime. Unless Adobe's server goes down.


What's in this version:
• Store and access documents in the cloud with Acrobat.com
• Fill out and submit online forms from Adobe FormsCentral
• Forms support for Validation, Formatting, and Calculation
• Calculations using Form Field Hierarchies
• Select and mark up vertical and Asian text
• View rights managed documents with dynamic watermarks


Read more on Adobe's blog

Thursday, October 4, 2012

App updates: Astro File Manager, Street View on Google Maps, The Verge & Google Play Music.

It's nice to see apps being regularly updated with features to make them cool and enhance their usability. Today, I have four apps with updates on my Galaxy Nexus. Check out what's new below.

  • Astro FileManager/Browser
    - Side swipe to get to different locations fast
    - Manage files on Google Drive & DropBox from Astro
    - Search files by type regardless of location
  • Google Play Music
    - Minor fixes
  • Street View on Google Maps
    - Bug Fixes
  • The Verge
    - Completely new Holo UI redesign
    - New Navigation
    - Forum access
    - Bug Fixes
These apps are available free in Google Play Store and may not necessarily work in your region.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Press Release: HTC announces the HTC One X+ with Jelly Bean and Sense 4+.

2012 — HTC, a global leader in mobile innovation and design, today unveiled the HTC One™ X+, a refreshed version of its award winning HTC One™ X smartphone, running the HTC Sense™ 4+ experience on Android™ Jelly Bean. The HTC One™ X+ combines the iconic design, amazing camera and authentic audio experience of the HTC One series, with increased performance, longer battery life and expanded internal storage.

"We are taking the HTC One™ X to a new level with the introduction of the new HTC One™ X+," said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. "Our customers will have super-fast browsing, an even better camera and more immersive entertainment with Beats Audio™."

Performance, Endurance and Storage
Featuring a 1.7 GHz quad-core NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 AP37 processor and 64GB of internal storage, the HTC One™ X+ LTE version is up to 67% faster than the HTC One™ X LTE, making the HTC One™ X+ the best rated Android phone on the market. Developed to be lightning fast, the HTC One™ X+ enables quicker web browsing, fluid gaming and graphic rendering, and speedy downloads, providing effortless usage on the go.

In addition to its increased performance speeds, the HTC One™ X+ introduces extended performance with the inclusion of a 2100 mAh battery, giving you up to 50% (6 hours) more talk time, and longer to browse the web and enjoy your favorite music and videosii .

Imaging, Music and Movies
Combining the amazing camera capabilities of its predecessoriii with a series of intelligent features, powered by Sense™ 4+, the HTC One™ X+ has been designed to deliver the most premium mobile experience. The newly launched Self Portrait mode on the front camera helps you capture high quality photos by intuitively detecting the human face at various angles and applying subtle enhancements to skin and eyes. Sightseeing mode makes sure you'll always be ready to capture the moment - one touch of the power button bypasses the lock screen and launches directly into the camera. Two new views in Gallery display images and videos and group them according to where and when they were taken.

Exclusively available on HTC smartphones, Beats Audio™ provides authentic, studio-quality sound that delivers the most immersive sound experience with an enhanced audio profile, crisper vocals and detailed high notes for your music, games, movies and videos. Making it easier to listen to music out loud, and through Sense™ 4+, the HTC One™ X+ introduces a new Tap and Go function, which allows you to connect the phone and your music to Beats speakers' when you tap them. To disconnect, it is just another quick tap.

Spectacular Sound with Beats Audio™
Exclusively available on HTC smartphones, Beats Audio™ provides authentic, studio-quality sound that delivers the spirit of the original recording. The Windows Phone 8X by HTC featuring Beats Audio™ also offers a unique audio amplifier powering the 3.5mm audio jack and the speaker, boosting the audio signal for even better sound no matter if you're listening to music, playing a game or watching a video.

Providing exclusive access to thousands of movies through HTC Watch 2.0, the HTC One™ X+ will appeal to both the avid film fan and the casual movie-goer. Combined with the introduction of video hub, another benefit of Sense™ 4+, for the first time you will be able to put all your video entertainment in a single place.

Easy Set Up
A new feature in the HTC One™ X+ is HTC Get Started, a new web service that guides the user painlessly through the set-up and personalisation process from a desktop web browser. Designed to enhance the experience of setting up a phone for the first time, this feature ensures that users will get the most out of their new phone from the beginning. With the touch of a button, users' phone will reflect the settings and apps that were chosen on the Web. Visit start.htc.com for more details.

Availability
The HTC One™ X+ will be available in Europe and North Asia from October and in South Asia from November 2012. North America will make a separate announcement regarding availability of the HTC One™ X+. The Android Jelly Bean with HTC Sense™ 4+ update is scheduled to begin rolling out for the HTC One™ S and HTC One™ X from October.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Day 5: 75% off top apps in Play Store. Last day.

This should be the last day of the $0.25 offerings in the Play Store. Your last chance to buy great apps at 75% off. Check out today's list below:

  1. The Dark Knight Rises
  2. Haunted House HD
  3. Smart tools
  4. Nova Launcher Prime
  5. Great Big War Game
  6. Scramble With Friends
  7. Kids Numbers And Math
  8. Guns'n'Glory WW2 Premium
  9. Gravity Guy
  10. Air Control
  11. SPY Mouse