Click here to check if anything new just came in.
January 29 2012
Pure Music goes live in the UK, offers streaming to your Android device for £4.99 a month
Pure Music's Spotify challenging subscription service has been on the horizon now for a couple of months. The service has now gone live, offering users in the UK unlimited music streaming for a very reasonable £4.99 a month. There is also of course an Android application that goes along with the service.
That's half the cost of a Spotify premium subscription, which at first glance is incredibly tempting. There are a couple of differences between this and Spotify though, with the most significant being a lack of offline capabilities. If you don't have an unlimited data plan, the ability to stream only on the move is going to prove pretty limiting. Suddenly that extra £5 a month for Spotify doesn't seem so bad. You do get a 1 month free trial, so you at least get a chance to play with it and see what's what before committing your cash.
The Android application has been in the Market for a while now, as a portal to their other online media content, mainly radio stations. With your subscription enabled though the very same application -- it hasn't been updated -- unlocks the music catalogue for you to browse at your leisure. The catalogue seems pretty deep as well, coming up with a number of albums from various, less mainstream artists I listen to.
The UI on the app is very pleasing to the eye, and pretty easy to navigate. One issue is the apparent lack of the ability to create playlists within the app. This I found particularly frustrating as it seems the only way to create and manage playlists is through The Lounge website on your computer.
All in all Pure Music is a bit of a mixed bag. If you can live with the limitations of the Android app and don't need offline capabilities then this could well be the one for you. It's a good initial offering, and if you own any of the Pure range of internet radios then you're even better off. It's not quite Spotify, but it is half the price. Hit the break for the download links.
More: Pure Music Lounge
January 28 2012
Android Central Editors' app picks for Jan 28, 2012
You want apps, and the Android market has plenty of them except at times finding what you want or something new can be a bit challenging. Don't worry, we have got you covered, so let's hit the break and check out some of this weeks picks.
SlashGear Week in Review – Week 4 2012
This week started with a total restructuring of the heads at RIM while they consider licensing BlackBerry 10 and Chris Davies assures us that RIM’s new CEO is a Placeholder, not a prophet. Of course other than that there’s just a brand new Year of the Dragon in China and a radiation storm hitting the Earth courtesy of the Sun. Auroras and full video documentation from NASA intact. And HP’s webOS is now open source including its good pal Enyo – and John Rubinstein is gone!
Groups such as Filesonic are cutting out file-sharing publicly to stopper up Megaupload-related mishaps. Conspiracists have an idea on why Megaupload has been targeted. Megaupload’s CEO’s home has been raided. Meanwhile the supreme court has ruled warrantless GPS tracking illegal. Pirate sharing websites have upgraded to 3D. A judge has ruled that the Fifth Ammendment does not cover hard drives. There’s a battle going on involving the ex-Megaupload users and the FBI. And Dotcom has been denied bail. Guy Fawkes has been called upon again to defend piracy, this time in Poland parliament.
We got a Spectrum by LG in the house and have reviewed it in full. The Samsung Galaxy S III has been tipped, confirmed, and considered for release at Mobile World Congress 2012. Samsung’s iPhone burn ad series continues. We’ve been slapped in the face. We’ve got a review of the ASUS Transformer Prime with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. We’ve got an unboxing and hands-on of the DROID RAZR MAXX with a review on the way. We’ve got a fight going on between Speck, Logitech, and Cygnett for the iPad 2. We got a hands-on look at Qualcomm AllJoyn.
Star Wars: The Old Republic gets a major update. You might want to get your tissues out again because Diablo III is getting more pre-release tweaks and a producer change. Good luck seeing that inside the first couple of quarters here in 2012. Saddest days!
There’s a brand new Xbox 720 in the works with an AMD 6000 GPU and an inability to play used games. A Windows 8 based Kinect notebook has been spotted. Both Microsoft Xbox Live and Steam are coming to iOS and Android. Nintendo will be releasing the Wii U fabulously. We’ve got a review of the V-MODA Limited Edition Crossfade LP2 super deluxe over-ear headphones. We went hands-on with a Mercedes-Benz DICE interior concept as well as the new Mercedes-Benz mbrace2.
Facebook Timeline is now fully live and mandatory. Wikipedia is in works to become the world’s free mobile website. Philip Berne wrote a lovely column about Booth Babes. Chemists have created the first envelopes for artificial life.
Evi turns up as a surprise hit in the Siri alternative world. Over 350,000 iBooks textbooks were downloaded in the first three days they existed. Half a million iPhone 4S users downloaded and loaded the brand new jailbreak that broke this week. Apple’s secret packaging testing room has been revealed. More iPads than HP PCs have been sold in Q1 2012. Some fabulous new iPhone 5 specs have been leaked by a Foxconn worker. Chris Davies calls Apple TV an embarrassment while Don Reisinger spoke on what Apple TV needs to become more than a hobby – he also noted how he’d much rather have an Xbox 360.
We disprove Lytro on iPhones. On how well Nokia did this past quarter, Chris Davies noted that they bought time, That Clock Is Ticking. In the Windows Phone world we’ve got a Nokia Lumia 710 review while the much more fantastically spec’d Nokia Lumia 900 comes closer and closer to an LTE UK release. There’s also a Nokia Lumia 910 coming up soon as well. The 2012 version of MIX for Microsoft Developers has been nixed for the year. So has BlizzCon 2012. There’s also that teeny tiny Raspberry $25 PC edging closer and closer to reality. Alienware’s 2012 lineup has been revealed.
Financial results came in from Verizon and the folks at Apple (complete with the most fantastic quarter for iPhone EVER.) There’s a few Nokia financial results plus Netflix dropped their numbers down and AT&T jumped in too. Nvidia let loose their earnings as well.
SlashGear Week in Review – Week 4 2012 is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Why I’d Take An Xbox 360 Over An Apple TV Any Day
I’m often asked by friends if they should buy an Apple TV. They usually head to the Apple Store to buy a new iPad or iPhone, and while there, they come across Apple’s little set-top box. For just $99, it seems like a bargain. And so, they ask me if they should plunk down the cash to buy one.
The first question I ask when I field the question is, “do you own an Xbox 360?”
Time and again, if they say yes, I tell them to skip the Apple TV. If they tell me that they don’t have an Xbox, I’ll tell them that they should buy one if they want to be entertained. Only if they tell me that they have no interest in gaming or don’t want to spend the extra cash to buy the Xbox will I tell them to get their hands on the Apple TV.
Now, I’m sure that there are many Apple fans out there that are appalled by that advice. Those folks use their Apple TVs each and every day, and they’re generally quite pleased with the experience.
However, the more objective among us might quickly determine that when it comes to a full-fledged entertainment experience for the living room, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to choose an Apple TV over a game console, like the Xbox 360.
"The Apple TV is hobbled in many ways"Let’s face it: the Apple TV is hobbled in many ways. You can’t store content on the device, and the iTunes content library is limited. Plus, I just don’t see what’s so unique about it. The device features Netflix streaming, which is great, but I can find that elsewhere. And although its $99 price tag is great and all, I can get a Blu-ray player, complete with Netflix integration, for about the same price.
The Xbox 360, on the other hand, delivers a far more well-rounded experience. It has Netflix, Hulu Plus, and all the other desirable streaming options consumers expect to find, but it also lets me stream my content to it. Even better, I can play games or pop in a DVD if I so desire.
We also can’t forget about Microsoft’s desire to make the Xbox 360 a more television-focused hub in the living room. Currently, dozens of television content providers have signed up with Microsoft to offer content, and over the next several months, I think we’ll quickly find just how desirable that offering is.
I’m a firm believer in owning the best gadgetry in any market. And although the Apple TV is a solid set-top box that probably bests those from Roku and Boxee, among others, it’s no match for today’s game consoles.
At the end of the day, living room entertainment is about finding products that solve the many needs customers have. The only issue is, the Apple TV doesn’t do that – yet, anyway. The Xbox 360, on the other hand, does.
Why I’d Take An Xbox 360 Over An Apple TV Any Day is written by Don Reisinger & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Sprint Galaxy Nexus official Google sign-up page now live
The official Google sign-up page for the Sprint Galaxy Nexus is now live, waiting for all Sprint subscribers to register for "more information". We've known it was coming since Sprint verified the rumors on January 9, and I know plenty of folks who are pretty darn excited at the prospect of an LTE powered Samsung Galaxy Nexus on the Now Network. And who could blame them? Ice Cream Sandwich on that gorgeous 720p display is a thing of real beauty, and pairing it with the last chance at unlimited data in the USA is a great idea.
It should be the networks first LTE device, and we know it's coming with 32 GB of storage. There's also a lot of rumors still going strong about features that may be different in the Sprint version. Some think there may be a higher CPU speed (don't count on that one) because of an early advertisement that showed it with a 1.5 GHz CPU which may have been a misprint. Also, because the folks at CES didn't want anyone to capture the back of the device on camera, many think it will have a larger stock battery than either the Verizon version or the GSM world version. We'll have to wait and see, because at this point nobody has a clue just when we're going to see this one on the shelves. Sprint's been cryptic, like smart companies always are, saying things like "soon" and "mid-2012". Anyone who claims to have a date is just guessing for the most part, so we're not going to add to the confusion.
In any case, just about everyone reading this who uses Sprint is ready to get their paws on an LTE Galaxy Nexus, so proceed to try to crush the servers hosting the sign-up page with hope and love. Then jump into the Sprint Galaxy Nexus forums and share your excitement with everyone in hopes that it makes the waiting seem shorter.
Source: Google; via Android Central forums. Thanks, DaEXfactoR!
Steam mobile app beta invites now rolling out; we go hands-on
As we reported on Thursday, Valve Software recently took the wraps off the Steam mobile app for Android (and iOS), as part of a limited beta. Steam users could register their interest by downloading the app and entering their details, and over the past day or so, the first beta invites have started to roll out.
Steam is a big deal in the world of PC and Mac gaming, which makes the launch of an official mobile app a big deal for Android. As such, we decided to take this initial beta version of the Steam Android app for a spin. We've got more words and pictures for you after the break.
DoubleTwist updated, includes integrated podcast catalogue, for a price
DoubleTwist has long been a favourite for those who like to sync their music and podcasts between iTunes and Android. Todays update among other things brings an integrated podcast catalogue. The catch, this particular part of the app is a 'premium feature' with a premium price.
In UK money, unlocking the podcast feature in doubleTwist costs £4.99 (about $7.85). It does, however, feature the worlds greatest Android podcast in its listings by default -- Google Listen we're still looking at you.
Aside from podcasts, the update brings improved performance and reliability, fixes to AirPlay and AirTwist playback issues, an expandable and collapsable now playing screen with easier access to your queue, and design and interface updates many of which are designed for Ice Cream Sandwich.
It's a welcome update to an already very good application. Hit the break for the download links.
sony-xperia-s
There’s no denying that the Sony Xperia S was one of our favorite Android phones at CES. The handset’s unique design certainly makes the phone stand out, but apparently Sony wasn’t ready to reveal all the handset’s secrets at this month’s trade show.
Android News: Android Community Weekly: January 28, 2012
We’re here with this week’s wrap-up to bring a those of you that may have missed a few days back up to speed! Monday, some analytics displayed that an overwhelming amount of US Android users prefer Samsung over any other carrier. It isn’t too hard to believe that Samsung is currently the most preferred smartphone brand, as their Galaxy S II line has dominated since it launched.
Latest Android Malware scare might be premature
The folks at Symantec have tipped everyone off about a new piece of Android Malware, calling Android.Counterclank "a bot-like threat that can receive commands to carry out certain actions, as well as steal information from the device." They note that starting one of the apps "infected" with the apperhand SDK package will show a second service running, and often places a search icon on the home screen. They have verified this is in 13 applications on the Android Market and are calling it "the highest distribution of any malware identified so far this year." Some reports on the internet claim it may have affected 5 million users. That's 5,000,000 -- a huge and scary number. And it makes for a great headline.
But it looks like Symantec might have jumped the gun a bit.
Lookout, a competitor in the Android security field, says that the applications are not malware, and the apperhand package actually is a legitimate, but aggressive, advertisement component. It's part of an advertising software development kit that's a modified version of the "ChoopCheec" platform” or “Plankton” SDK that was the focus of some privacy concerns in June 2011. This newer version is cleaner, but it still has capabilities common to many ad networks. Writes Lookout:
- It is capable of identifying the user uniquely by their IMEI number, for instance. But unlike some networks, this SDK forward-hashes the IMEI before sending to its server. They’re identifying your device, but they are obfuscating the raw data. (That's a good thing.)
- The SDK has the capability to deliver “Push Notification” ads to the user. We’re not huge fans of push notifications, but we also don’t consider push notification advertising to be malware.
- The SDK drops a search icon onto the desktop. Again, we consider bad form, though we don’t consider this a smoking gun for malware provided the content that is delivered is safe. In this case, it is simply a link to a search engine.
- The SDK also has the capability to push bookmarks to the browser. In our opinion, this is crosses a line; although we do not believe this is cause to classify the SDK as malware.
We're not sure exactly how far is too far, but if the applications are using practices found in "many" other ad networks, we agree with Lookouts points listed here and have to call this one a non-issue when talking about malware. On the issue of privacy and wanton sharing of user data, we're not loving it, but it's not malware.
We're not security specialists, and we never claim to be. We can tear applications apart and see what's hiding in there, but in-depth scanning and analysis is best left to the experts. That being said, we are experts at catching bullshit, and this one reeks of it. Nobody likes ads, but we can't just call them malware anytime we like. They're a part of the ad-supported app model, and we should expect to see more than we like. When they misbehave, call for someone's head, but not before.
But that's not sensational. Headlines like Computerworld's "Massive Android malware op may have infected 5 million users" cause controversy, and everyone loves a controversy. Explaining that the 5 million mark is from adding the high end of the download counters, which allows for a 4 million-device margin of error, is conveniently forgotten. And we'd like to think that if as many as 1 million devices on the low end had been infected, Google and the Android Market team would have said something.
The long and the short of it is, we're sleeping just fine tonight. Move along.
Fly Delta Android app updated to ease international travel
Delta Air Lines' Fly Delta Android app has long been one of the first things I install on a phone. It's well-designed, and has added a couple killer features since its release nearly a year ago -- mainly the ability to view upgrade/standby lists and check and change seats from your phone, and more recently they added the ability to track your checked baggage. Good stuff.
And now Delta's added even more functionality in Version 1.7. Here's the full changelog.
- Check in for flights arriving or departing international locations
- Discover Delta’s valued partners within the "Traveling with Us" section
- Support for Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwhich) [sic]
- Fixes for many of the bugs reported by our customers, along with several speed enhancements
It's nice that Delta's added check-ins for international flights. (Though you'll presumably still have to get your boarding pass when you arrive.) The "Traveling with Us" section is a little bit of advertising (we've got a screen cap after the break), where so far we have promotion of Delta's American Express credit card and something from TED. It's pretty unobtrusive, though, so no big deal. Then there's the ICS support and other bug fixes, which is always good (though the app had been working just fine for us), though there's still a menu button down at the bottom, and not as an Action Bar "overflow" as Google's pushing everyone toward. (On the other hand, the app's design is otherwise very nice, so we'll overlook that.)
But what really gets us excited is the prospect of "several speed enhancements." With previous versions of the app, you needed to fire it up a few minutes before you could get to your itinerary and find your confirmation number or seat assignment or mobile boarding pass. Things definitely feel a little quicker; hopefully that's not just a placebo -- it really was a big gripe with the Delta app.
M009 Google 2.2 Android 7″ Tablet PC Computer Netbook- I just ... (Laptophobia)
M009 Google 2.2 Android 7″ Tablet PC Computer Netbook - I just bought this item on ebay, good buy?! Help!? By LivPost, on January 28th, 2012. Question by : M009 Google 2.2 Android 7″ Tablet PC Computer Netbook - I just bought this ...
Source : Laptophobia
Late night poll: Do you hack your Android phone?
Hacking is half (or more) the fun for many an Android user. With the right phone, you can change just about everything, making it have little resemblance to the way it came out of the box. It's fun and addicting for the same reason computer tweaking and hacking is -- we do it because we can. There's a good chance many of you guys reading this are the same way. The simple fact that you found an Android site on the Internet makes you a more informed user, and you're exposed to all this hacking jazz.
There's as good a chance that you're not into breaking hacking your phone. We get that. You like things well enough the way they are, and just use your phone. We wanna hear from both sides this evening, so let us know in the poll.
Do you hack your Android phone?
Sony’s MLB 12 The Show will have cloud support on PS3, Vita
Whenever there’s a new MLB The Show game, PS3-toting baseball fans are excited. They can’t wait to get their hands on the latest roster, the always-improved graphics and control system, and the surprisingly fluid voice-over commentary. But this year, there’s another reason to be interested in the new entry, and it has to do with the fact that the game is due out on two systems.
Aaron Luke, a designer on the game, has confirmed that users will be able to save their games to the cloud. This includes Franchise, Road to the Show, and Season modes. This means users can pick up where they left off at a friend’s house, and they won’t lose any data if their PS3 hard drive happens to malfunction. That’s a pretty neat and handy feature.
There’s another interesting part of this feature, though. MLB 12 The Show is also coming out on PlayStation Vita, and save data will be transferrable between the two systems. So Road the Show mode will actually be playable, well, on the road. The MLB “The Show” franchise has long been heralded as the most realistic baseball simulation series in the gaming industry. It’s also been a favorite for Sony to showcase its new technology, including HD graphics, 3D functionality, and now cloud saving and PlayStation Vita compatibility. The game is due out on both platforms on March 6.
[via PlayStation Blog]
Sony’s MLB 12 The Show will have cloud support on PS3, Vita is written by Mark Raby & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Android apk review: Steam Mobile Beta is here now!
Apple iPhone robbery thwarted by tech-savvy cop
How do you solve a crime in 30 minutes or less? All you need is a cop who knows his tech. Police Officer Robert Garland was able to successfully track down an iPhone thief and return the device to its rightful owner thanks to his quick thinking and his knowledge of the app “Find My iPhone.” It all went down yesterday in New York City.
It happened at around 7:00 PM. A cashier at luxury clothing and accessories store Tuci Italia was taking a break when a man walked into the store and pointed a gun at her. Presumably hoping to make as quick a getaway as possible, he demanded she hand over her iPhone which was in plain sight. The cashier rushed outside, and as fate would have it Officer Garland, an Apple enthusiast, was right there.
Garland quickly opened his Find My iPhone app, punched in the victim’s Apple ID, and instantly pinpointed the suspect about 10 blocks away. He and his partner hopped into their cruiser and continued to follow the spot on the app until it stopped near a local supermarket. At that time, Garland knew what to do – he pushed the “Play Sound” button on the app and, like clockwork, a pinging sound was emitted about 20 feet away. The victim, who was not identified, couldn’t believe she got her iPhone back so quickly. Good thing she happened to run into a police officer who knows Apple. Garland and his wife both have iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers at home.
[via NY Times]
Apple iPhone robbery thwarted by tech-savvy cop is written by Mark Raby & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Activision says PS3 Call of Duty Elite confusion is not its fault
If you thought that signing up for the premium Call of Duty Elite service on your PS3 would get you access to DLC the same time as your Xbox 360 counterparts, well, Activision has no sympathy for you. The publisher says it never made any claims to that effect, and says anyone who thought that was the case “convinced themselves that it would happen because they wanted it to happen.”
Activision has a very well-known, iron-clad contract with Microsoft that guarantees Call of Duty add-on content will be released first on the Xbox 360, and then trickle down to other platforms later. Microsoft paid Activision a whole bunch of money for this privilege. But then Activision launched a service called Call of Duty Elite, which gives gamers exclusive access to special in-game events, content, and more. One of the biggest selling points is that Elite members are the very first to access new DLC packs – but only on Xbox 360. That is exactly what happened this week, when Modern Warfare 3′s first DLC pack was released.
Some PS3 gamers believed that Elite benefits were universal across both platforms because in the literature about Elite, it does not distinguish between Xbox 360 players and PS3 players. Nevertheless, Activision’s Dan Amrich wrote in a blog took the counter position – the literature also never specifically says that the benefits are the same.
“It was never one of the things listed in the official benefits chart; it was never promised by any representative of Activision, Call of Duty, Elite, or its developers. Honestly? I think gamers just convinced themselves that it would happen because they wanted it to happen. That makes sense, but it doesn’t make it true,” said Amrich.
[via One of Swords]
Activision says PS3 Call of Duty Elite confusion is not its fault is written by Mark Raby & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Urology journal finds robotic prostate surgery not meeting expectations
It was perhaps one of the biggest hopes in the advancement of robot-assisted medical surgery, but expectations have been too high, according to a new report from the research journal Urology. We’re talking about surgery for prostate removal, for those afflicted with prostate cancer. The study shows outcomes of the robotic procedure are not that different than those done by human hands.
It’s a fascinating thing to think about. Every day, doctors get in the operating room and instead of sitting at the patient’s side, he is at a computer console, operating the controls of robotic machinery that performs the delicate operation. Ever since the first successful surgery of its kind was performed several years ago, there were all kinds of hopes that patients would have extremely limited recovery time and a quicker return to their sex life.
Duke University Medical Center prostate surgeon Judd W. Moul, however, says that has not been the case. Moul, who led the Urology study, said patients who had the robot-assisted surgery were actually less satisfied in the long run. This, he conjectures, is because they have very high expectations. 89% of prostate cancer patients who had the robotic surgery said they expected to be out of the hospital in less than one day and to be back in perfect physical order within six months. And while Moul believes that is possible, the expertise in performing the surgery just isn’t there yet.
[via Vancouver Sun]
Urology journal finds robotic prostate surgery not meeting expectations is written by Mark Raby & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Android News: ZTE V66 headed to Verizon, won’t blow your mind
ZTE is trying pretty hard to get into the U.S. market, and Verizon might get a piece of the pie. We recently saw the ZTE Optik, headed for Sprint, and now another ZTE tablet has leaked in a blurry shot: the ZTE V66.
Motorola Wi-Fi-only Droid Xyboard is now available
The cheaper, Wi-Fi-only version of Motorola’s latest and greatest Xyboard tablet has begun shipping. Pre-orders for the units are now being fulfilled, and the product pages on Verizon’s website now show them as being available to purchase. The new products, which were originally scheduled for a January 18 launch, are geared at consumers who want a high-end tablet but don’t care about being able to take it online any time they want.
What could have potentially been one of the best moves for the Xyboard is that its official name is the Droid Xyboard. Unfortunately, most people just end up dropping the Droid moniker, and secondly that moniker has lost a lot of its value. Motorola should have captured that brand momentum with its first tablet, the Xoom. It isn’t making nearly as big a splash now.
Nevertheless, the availability of cheaper Xyboards should spark some new interest in the company’s second big attempt to cash in on the tablet war. There are four versions of the device, broken up into 10.1-inch models and 8.2-inch models, each with either 16 GB or 32 GB. Prices range from $400 to $600, a modest decrease from the cost of their 4G LTE-equipped counterparts.
[via Unwired View]
Motorola Wi-Fi-only Droid Xyboard is now available is written by Mark Raby & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 - 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Maybe Soup is currently being updated? I'll try again automatically in a few seconds...
