Archive for: Google
It may sound like everyone in the world is picking on Google/Google Wallet/Android about “security”. Truth be told, we’re not meaning to (at least not today). But this latest issue is something that Google Wallet users will want to know as it could put them in the financial hot seat should their phone be lost, stolen or simply sold.
The new bug: A thief/hacker can delete the user data for Google Wallet on the device, set up a new account complete with new pin, and then select an option to use a previously used/saved pre-paid card.
Bug #2 was found by TheSmartphoneChamp team and have backed it up with video proof. We’d try it ourselves but we don’t have a Google Wallet capable device. That said, the same way to protect yourself in this instance (similar to the first security scare from earlier this week) is to put either a password or lockscreen pattern on your phone. It might be inconvenient for you now, but we’re fairly certain having to deal with stolen money/personal information will be a much bigger pain in your ass should your phone get snatched.
- February 9, 2012 12:54 pm
The process in which Android manufacturers update their hardware is pretty maddening. It goes something like this: New Android update is released by Google –> wait 2-8 months –> release to customers. So when Motorola’s Senior Vice President of Motorola’s Enterprise Business unit, Christy Wyatt, sat down to answer a few questions with PC World regarding Android’s upgrade process, one would think we’d get some juicier details on the inner workings of Moto’s system for Android upgrades and a valid reason for why updates take so long. Humorously, the response Wyatt gave to PC World is the same thing we’ve said time and time again — there are too many useless (our emphasis) variations in hardware that ultimately mean more time is needed to developer for each different model.
Another gem: customization (by Motorola) is also cited as a reason for update slowdowns. Our response is the same as it was to the “too much hardware” comment — get rid of it. The empty UI skins that manufacturers slap on top of Android add zero value. Let us stress that skins and manufacturer apps are two different things. The former is a waste of everyone’s time while the latter are generally pretty lackluster too, though do offer up some added functionality here and there.
Further casting doubt on the legitimacy of Wyatt’s response is the fact that individual Android developers whom have far less time, money, or living bodies to devout to updating hardware manage to get it down far faster. Why a company as large as Moto (or HTC, Samsung and LG) can’t have this stuff handled in a more timely manner is a conundrum that might have even stumped Einstein himself.
Motorola is calling out the very things they do as problems getting in the way of speedier Android updates yet they continually shoot themselves in the foot. How do these people get hired?
A teaser image showing what appears to be LG’s upcoming MWC handset of choice, the “Optimus Vu”, has trickled out. Physically speaking it’s about as simple and plain as a smartphone gets. On top of that, the dual-core 1.5 GHz Qualcomm processor, 8 GB of storage, 1 GB of RAM, 8mp shooter, NFC, and Android 2.3 aren’t exactly grabbing our attention like “quad-core” or “Android 4.0″ would. Though, the 5″ display is somewhat unique all things considered. That said, should Android manufacturers even bother with “high-end” Android devices if they’re not going to ship with Android 4.0 moving forward? We don’t think so. LG?
For those looking for a bit more, Engadget has a photo of a phone that is supposedly the Optimus Vu in the flesh. Thoughts?
Web browsing on Android’s stock browser has been pretty decent so far. Next to Safari for iOS, it’s the next best (native) browser. But it could certainly be better.
Today, it gets better. Google has officially unveiled Chrome for Android, a more portable version of its desktop counterpart but with some interesting and useful finger friendly features tossed in.
After the break you’ll see a quick video showing off Chrome for Android’s new user interface as well as unique tab management and navigation. Nifty navigation/tab features aside, the underlying guts of Chrome for Android is better than the old stock browser, too. For starters, now that Chrome for Android is built off of the same open source Chromium project, updates should be (in theory) faster and easier for Google to push out as it allows the entire mobile-desktop browser landscape follow a much closer path.
Also, while Google has focused more on UI presentation and “natural” feeling throughout, the browser itself is a wee bit faster than the outgoing version. Finally, we’re stoked to see the ability to sign into Chrome for Android and have it automatically open up the tabs you’ve left open on your desktop version of Chrome, perfect for continuing your web browsing on the go.
Hop past the break for a quick video, screenshots and the download link (Android 4.0 required)!
Announcements of new hardware and software often get mistakingly posted before their official release (if they’re not already leaked beforehand). The “bad” affect it has on the company in question is debatable. We’d argue that the small leaks here and there only increase the anticipation and hype around a genuinely lusted after product/service.
Instagram for Android is the latest to suffer from pre-release release. The screenshot above was captured by an AndroidGuys reader and shows the Android Market’s “Featured App” as the currently unreleased Instagram for Android. Clicking on the link by said reader resulted in a failed journey into awesomeness (read: the link was broken). Still, despite leaving the Android Market empty handed, the person who caught the image above (as well as the rest of us) shouldn’t have to wait too much longer. Details around Instagram for Android have been constantly bantered back and forth in the online world.
Keep waiting everyone. It’s almost here.
The constant back and forth fighting over old, outdated and common sense patents and IP is getting ridiculous. Seriously. Look no further than this morning’s news which sees Apple and Motorola currently battling it out in Germany over email push services (the biggest infringement claim, according to Motorola). The initial result of the two cases is a permanent injunction on Apple’s iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4 and iPads in their German online store. (It’s worth noting that Apple retail stores and authorized Apple resellers can still sell the banned Apple gear because of how Apple separates their businesses.)
Florian Mueller from FOSS Patents believes the new injunction is actually the result of a case that took place back in November of 2011, and is coincidence that the new lawsuit(s) and their outcomes are being announced at the same time iPhones and iPads are disappearing from Apple’s German online store.
Motorola is now deciding on whether or not to enforce a patent on high-end, highly advanced pieces of mobile gadgetry (iPhones/iPads) with a patent that pertains to pagers and push services like email. Yes. Fucking pagers from the dawn of the mobile industry. The fact that a company (regardless of who it is) can stop another company with a patent, that by this time should have been invalidated/rendered a museum artifact, is mind boggling and troubling to me. Even more disturbing: Motorola is looking to use the same patent(s) in question to sue Apple in U.S. court, too.
In order for Apple to comply, they’ll have to either (1) license motorola’s pager technology or (2) remove the feature in question. So Germans will have to either get non-push iCloud email or Apple will have to figure out another way to push email to devices — all stuff that should be common IP not “owned” by anyone at this point.
Innovation around the world isn’t being hampered by copying between companies/people. It’s being hampered by useless and unnecessary lawsuits that do nothing but fund IP lawyers’ fancy houses and extreme vacations while the rest of us suffer.
This has got to stop.
Update
The same German court that issued the injunction be enforced beginning this morning has pulled it (for now). If they haven’t already, expect Apple’s online German store to once again see iPhones and iPads available for order and shipment.
We’ve been pretty unimpressed with the Android tablet scene thus far. The hardware has been drool worthy, for sure, but when it comes to software, things are sorely lacking. Thankfully that situation is changing (albeit slowly).
Today, Rhapsody released their new 2.2.2.380 update to their popular Android app, with the most important addition being a new UI for tablets. Quite simply, Rhapsody did a pretty awesome job. The tablet UI for the updated Android app is better than many of the other tablet specific UIs we’ve seen on Android apps. The only kicker — it’s only for tablets 9″ and bigger and only available on Android 3.0 and up. Considering how hard Android manufacturers have touted their 7-9″ tablets over Apple’s iPad as a prime example of “choice” over the last year and a half, we find it pretty shortsighted and a bit ridiculous on Rhapsody’s part to cut off this sector of the market. Then again, the 7-9″ tablet space has been pretty reliant on ancient builds of Android 2.x. But alas, it is what it is. Here’s to hoping Rhapsody has a change of heart and gets the smaller tablets into the party, too.
Get the new update right over here: Downlaod – Rhapsody 2.2.2.380 (Android Market link) Another screenshot after the break.
We love it when big tech companies screw up and release software/hardware early. Today’s tech gaff leaving many Android users very happy is brought to us compliments of Sprint. It seems someone had a small case of itchy clicky fingers and posted the Nexus S 4G’s upcoming Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich ROM online. Sadly, it was quickly removed, though not before an eagle-eyed XDA member snagged it and subsequently re-shared it with the rest of the internet.
While we’re not yet certain if this Android 4.0.4 (yes, 0.4) build #IMM26 is the actual final to be released copy or not, it’s a lot better than the 2.x crap many Nexus S 4G users are currently making due with.
If you happen to venture over to XDA and download the ROM in question, be sure to let us know how it goes. We love that kind of stuff.
Well well well. What do we have here — an upcoming HTC Ville smartphone and Sense 4.0 unearthed and unveiled.
The unofficial reveal is unlikely to please anyone at HTC. For us, however, it’s a nice chance to see the biggest changes to Sense UI since 1.x before they actually drop. And we like what we see. For starters, the cartoony bottom bar/launcher, icons, and color tones throughout have been released by a more modern, simple assortment of whites, grays and blacks. But it’s not too simple. One particular thing that we find pretty spiffy (and that you’ll see in the video after the break) is the animation for menus and lists; each section appears and disappears in a scrolling shade type of way. Kind of hard to describe, but easy to enjoy. In fact, we’d say Sense went from our increasingly least favorite skin — And we hate skins! — to our favorite.
As for the specs, we’re still looking at a 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon, 1 gig of RAM, an 8 megapixel rear shooter (with 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera), a 4.3″ qHD (960 x 540) display, and a vast assortment of wireless technologies.
Hop past the break for a sneak peak at the HTC Ville and Sense UI 4.0. Be sure to let us know what you think!
